I rise from the Ashes....

Birds have fascinated human beings since a long long time.  One of the greatest inventions of modern times, aeroplane or airplane, was motivated by and a  result of man's umpteen efforts to fly in the air like birds.  Birds have been an inseparable part of our lives, dreams, imagination, stories and literature.

We were taught in schools that animals were classified in various categories and one of them was as Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.  It is not known whether Lord Maha Vishnu also went to one such school or was the founder of this school of thinking.  He started his "DashAvatara" (ten incarnations) on similar lines - the first was a Fish (Matsya) followed by a Tortoise (Kurma), an Amphibious Reptile.  Amphibious since it can live both on land and in water but a reptile as classified by Zoologists.  He chose a reptile (Adishesha) for a bed and a bird (Garuda) as a vehicle. Then there was a Boar (Varaha) incarnation followed by a Lion-man, Narasimha.  While describing all other incarnations, Bhagavata uses the adjective "Adhbhuta Roopam" (fantastic form).  When it comes to Narasimha avatara, it uses the adjective "Atyadhbuta Roopam" (unbelievably fantastic form).  After Narasimha,  normal service was introduced with the next six incarnations in human form, Vaamana onwards.

Birds have been used as symbols in ancient philosophical literature to drive home complex tenets and principles.  Mundaka Upanishad's verse Dwa Suparna Sayujaa Sakhaayau is an excellent example of explaining the concept of "Atma and Paramaatma" through two beautiful birds sitting on the branch of the same tree.  One bird eats the fruits on the tree and is sorrowful; the other does not eat the fruits and is yet happy.  Many scholars have used this verse to further their own interpretation of vedic knowledge.  The beauty of this example, like many others in vedic literature, is that it is amenable to multiple interpretations and each one appears to be just right when you contemplate on it!  The earliest discourses on Bhagavata were given by a sage in the form of Parrot, a bird, Shukacharya, believed to be the son of Veda Vyasa.  Shukacharya, being a bird with a sweet voice was a perfect medium for giving discourses on Bhagavata to King Pareekshita, son of Abhimanyu.  Shukacharya was also chosen as the emissary of Srinivasa (Lord Balaji) to go to Asskasharaja, father of Padmavathi, to settle the marriage related issues as there were no matrimonial websites in those days.

Birds have been used extensively in ancient Indian literature and many of them could speak as human beings.  There were also birds using their own language in some stories, but there were expert men and women who could understand their language!  The earliest epic "Ramayana" had the two brothers, Sampaati and Jataayu. In fact, Ramayana took is birth itself due to a hunter killing one of the two loving "Krouncha" birds.  Mahabharata had many birds with the Swan of "Nala-Damayanti" fame again filling the role of matrimonial website.  Jataka Tales have their own bird stories, one of them being "Naagaananda"  where Jeemootavaahana prevents Garuda from killing snakes in future.  Panchatantra's Pigeon King Chitragreeva continued the tradition of the bird stories. Shukasaptati is a collection of seventy stories told by yet another parrot to a woman, one story a night, to prevent her from going to meet her paramour when her husband is away from her.  These are only some examples of how birds have made our stories and literature rich and interesting.

Western literature has its own complement of birds and bird stories.  Just as we have "Gandabherunda" (a bird with two heads, which is the official symbol of the Karnataka Government) and Sharabha (a bird-lion that can fly), it has the bird Phoenix, a bird that is a legend in itself.  (Picture shown alongside is taken from the internet).  Having its roots in Greek mythology, this bird is believed to die by fire and a new bird takes birth from the ashes of its predecessor.  Some versions say that the dead bird decomposes and a new one takes birth from the decomposed remains of the dead bird.  Hence the saying, The Phoenix rises from the ashes.  This bird is believed to be associated with the Sun and similar to the size and shape of an eagle.   

There is a small town by name Phoenixville in Pennsylvania, USA.  The town is about 30 miles north-west of Philadelphia and is situate at the junction of French Creek and Schuylkill river.  It was an industrial town some decades back with iron and steel factories, silk mill, hosiery and pottery units.  There is a tradition of Phoenix burning in this town.  Phoenixville has a "Fire bird Festival" every year.  A giant wooden Phoenix is constructed before the festival. The construction of the wooden bird takes several days.  The festival also provides an opportunity to local artistes to showcase their talents.  The festival has several shows and activities and is organized on a grand scale and is similar to our village fairs.  At the end of the festival, the wooden Phoenix is burnt down.  The picture given alongside, taken from the internet, shows the bird being burnt down.  The festival brings the memories of our own "Ramalila" and burning of the three statues of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanaada.

This years Phoenix burning was slated for 14th December and we were ready to go and enjoy the sight despite the biting cold and snow.  Unfortunately, snow turned into rain and we had to give up our plans due to bad weather as watching the spectacle in the snow and rain in an open ground was not suitable.  The festival itself went off very well though things were scaled down due to bad weather.  May be, we have better luck next time!       

Of meeting or extending deadlines

The earlier definition of the word "deadline" was in relation to a prison.  In that context, a deadline was a boundary around a military prison beyond which a prisoner could not venture without risk of being shot by the guards.  Crossing the deadline was an invitation to death and the prisoner was well advised to stay within that boundary line to stay alive.  Death could not be prevented by staying within that boundary; death is a certainty of life.  Though death could not defeated by staying within the deadline, its coming could be ensured in due course without an invitation for early arrival.

Modern definition of deadline has entirely changed.  It is the time by which something must be finished or submitted.  It is the latest time for finishing something, usually an assigned task.  Not finishing the task before the deadline is considered as an indication of inefficiency or of being not serious about achieving the assigned task.  When life was proceeding at its own leisurely pace, things were done as and when they were actually completed and not when they were expected to be completed. In individual-centric tasks deadlines may not assume as much importance as work to be accomplished by teams.  This becomes all the more critical when the achievement of deadlines is linked to performance of organizations, like meeting customer expectations or reaching a sales target.  Unless all members of the team work with single-minded dedication, meeting the prescribed deadline may not be possible.

There are people who question the very rationale of having deadlines.  They may argue in favor of "natural way" of doing things and allowing issues to take their own course.  They may suggest that deadlines are not always necessary and it brings more mental pressure and blood pressure than working with pleasure.  But experience has taught us that adopting an attitude of "allowing natural way of doing things" often results in matters drifting and reaching nowhere.  However, there is a need to fix a deadline after evaluating the resources and reasonable possibilities.  Excellent teamwork can do wonders and the sum total of team's capabilities may exceed the arithmetic aggregate of individual capacities.  Fixing a realistic deadline provides a better chance of achieving it.  A reasonable deadline provides energy and enthusiasm to start the assigned work with the confidence of achieving it before the expected date.  Artificial deadlines tend to make the very effort of traveling the path laborious and painful.  A deadline arrived at after free exchange of views of the members of the team has a higher chance of being met than those imposed from above. Organizations have to often fix a deadline first and work backwards to plan and mobilize resources.  This is the reality of the given situation at times and finding additional resources to meet deadlines in the circumstances becomes necessary.

Attitude of different members in a given group to achieve deadlines makes an interesting study.  Some always believe that deadlines are there only to be extended automatically. They neither contribute their share of efforts nor allow others to proceed systematically. They act as an impediment in the progress of others as overall progress is impacted by individual lethargy.  Periodical review of the progress of the task becomes necessary in such situations and blocks have to be ironed out firmly in the interest of the team.  There are bound to be some weak members in the team.  The issue is not whether they are weak, but one of whether they are willing.  It then becomes the responsibility of the leadership to provide support to the weak but willing and carry them along.

There is also an issue about relevance of deadlines in creative assignments.  Creativity does not yield to deadlines.  There is a certain minimum time before creativity incubates and emerges.  But a very creative production which arrives after the time limit for its utility is past is also a waste.  Thus there is a need for achieving a golden mean between creative brilliance and practical schedule for delivery.

There are some who always achieve the deadline and there are others who never achieve it.  For the achievers, it is a sacred duty.  For the non-achievers, well, it is a way of life.  They often stay that way because they are able to get away with such attitude.  What should be done with such weak links in the chain?  Their continuance in the team is to be evaluated and suitable decision taken without hesitation.  Just as rewarding performance is important, punishing non-performance is also necessary.  Never leave out the failing man and do not put unnecessary extra burden on the efficient horse! Teams drift because performers are disheartened by watching non-performers get away easily. Leadership should also dispassionately watch individual performance in team tasks and ensure that true performers do not go unrewarded just because they are shy of blowing their own trumpets.

What should a member of the team do when he feels that he cannot deliver his share of output before the deadline?  It is advisable to frankly say so, with valid reasons, before accepting the assigned task.  This will provide the team leader to choose an alternate player or press additional resources to reach the goal.

Not meeting deadlines lead to time overruns.  Time overruns lead to cost overruns.  Cost overruns threaten viability of the projects and very survival of organizations.  There was an excellent cartoon by R K Laxman in which a senior officer is explaining about a project to a minister in a dilapidated project site.  The explanation goes something like this: "Finishing this project costs a big sum of money.  Abandoning the project will result in wastage of even bigger sum of money already invested.  We are, therefore, implementing it at a slow pace to keep the losses at a minimum".  Projects that do not meet deadlines probably belong to this category!

The Little Girl's First Book

Schooling and Education has undergone a tremendous change in the last five decades.  Of course, it has been undergoing change constantly over several centuries and the last few decades is no exception.  But for us, having seen three or four generations in the past decades, changes that have taken place make an interesting study.  In our childhood days, schooling was something that hardly caused any worries in households.  The number of children in each family was large enough and provided sufficient examples to teach the early lessons in Arithmetic.  There was neither any need for queuing up near schools before the child was born nor planning for a child after ensuring that a seat will be available three years down the line.  Children were considered as an integral part of a family's wealth and every new arrival was treated as a new chapter in the Lord's scheme of things.  Nobody said "We cannot afford children" in those days.  If anyone grumbled about the high number of children in the family, an elder member of the community would admonish him or her instantly.  "People ask you how many children you have.  Not how much wealth you possess!" would be the refrain.  Basic concern for the families was providing food for all.  Other things were secondary and assumed to take care of themselves.

Schooling in our childhood days began at the age of five or six.  There was no concept of pre-schooling and pre-pre-schooling.  In rural areas, Government Schools were the ones available and met the requirement.  There were no issues about the availability of seats.  Like the proverbial "Pushpaka Vimaana" (an airplane that expanded its seating capacity as and when passengers entered it and always had one seat vacant for the next entrant), schools accommodated any new student without hesitation.  The school fee was also nominal and the concepts of "Freeship" and "Scholarship" were taking care of even this minimum fee in most cases.  There was no requirement of school uniforms and some students were lucky to have an acceptable level of dress on them. Uniforms became the norm later on in High Schools, say from eighth or ninth year of education.  Once admitted to first standard at age five or six, a reasonably agile student could reach a level of High School education.  College education was a luxury and only a fortunate few got that distinction.  A graduate was more scarce than "Doctorate" scholars of today.  The situation was slightly different in cities and some private educational institutions were available.  But the overall situation was nearly the same as in rural areas.

Early schooling, known as primary schooling, had only one book to study each year.  Written mostly in local languages, once prescribed as a text book it was in force for several years.  A single book was used by many siblings and was often sold as a second-hand book when there were no other children at home to use it.  Carrying lunch box to school was unknown and school bags and baskets were not heard of.  Early schooling was with a slate and chalk-piece.  Local language and arithmetic were the basic subjects taught at schools.  Teacher was a God for the students and disciplining the students by beating with sticks was an accepted norm in society.  In fact, parents would meet the teacher and tell him to take care of their ward, meaning an additional dose of reprimanding and beating. A student complaining of beating by a teacher at school was assured of another generous installment at home. Home work was indeed very little as there were no books for doing it.  Fortunately for the students, slates provided a limited area for assignments. Student notebooks were indeed a luxury and many children finished their education without using even one in their life.

The contrasting events of today and the amount of preparation to receive a new born astounds us.  Inquiries about schooling facilities starts immediately after the newly-wed couple return from honeymoon.  Some, of course, may decide that they never will have kids to avoid all the resultant problems unmindful of the fact they miss the innumerable pleasures of being parents and thereafter grandparents.

I chanced upon a neatly printed and bound book recently, presented to an expectant mother by her friend.  The title of the book was "Thank heaven for little girls".  This was going to be the first book of the little girl and it was waiting for her even before her arrival.

• The book - "My baby book" - starts with details about the mommy and daddy of the baby and their history since their birth.
• Then there is provision to record the family trees of the mother and father, going up to the arriving baby's great grand parents on either side.
• Details of the arriving baby's initial details follow, including the expected date and actual date of arrival.
• It chronicles the first reactions of the would be parents and the many preparations made by the parents for receiving their baby.
• it records the guests present at the "Baby shower" function and the gifts they presented.  (Do not go to a "Baby shower"function without a gift.  Otherwise it will be "NIL" against your name!).
• Then there is a page for recording the details of the "day before"and all the excitement that it brings to those who were there to "see my arrival".
• The next page puts on record the actual arrival and incidental details including the name, length, weight, color and what people thought "what I looked like".
• The child's birth certificate and tiny prints, hand prints and foot prints, are imprinted thereafter on the soft page that follows.
• Headlines of World news, National news, Local news on the day the baby was born is written down on the next page.
• Two pages are reserved for the "homecoming" and those who waited at the home to receive the baby with the gifts they brought with them.
• The world around the baby with even the price of a measure of milk, diaper, gas, car, computer, and even babysitting rates can be noted down in different pages.
• After immunity chart for mentioning dates of various injections and inoculations, growth ingredients are put on record month after month.
• The recordings continue till first day at school after which other books take over!

If you look at it physically, it is just a book or just another book.  If you view it with feelings, well, it is much more.  It is a chronicle of beginning of a new life and nature's continuity process.

Doctor-Father's advice to a Doctor-Son

The flight from Bangalore to Frankfurt was delayed by one hour due to late arrival of the plane from Frankfurt on the previous leg. The wait was rather boring and such delays at the beginning of the journey have the effect of making one feel tired even before the journey starts. Once inside the magnificent Boeing 747-800, the atmosphere was altogether different. The mind was working on a different plane now and started wondering how such a big metal bird floats in the air at speeds in excess of 600 miles an hour carrying over 400 passengers and crew. The redesigned and highly efficient new aircraft, introduced only last year by Lufthansa between Bangalore and Frankfurt, took off with relatively less noise level and started doing its job unmindful of other things. Boeing claims that this aircraft is more than 10 percent lighter per seat and consumes 11 percent less fuel per passenger than its nearest competitor Airbus A380. This translates to a trip cost reduction of 21 percent in terms of seat-mile. The journey is enjoyable due to the perception of lighter per seat weight even for those passengers whose own weight has not come down despite several crash weight reduction programs!

Persons sitting by our side on long haul flights generally tend to sleep off and avoid conversation with strangers. But once drawn to talking we can find some very interesting personalities among them. Towards the end of the flight I succeeded in drawing the person sitting next to me into a conversation, though I suspect that he will be claiming that he succeeded in drawing me out of my shell. Either way, it was an enjoyable two hours of talk and the fact that he was a dozen years older did not come in the way of our discussions.

He turned out to be a Doctor from South India, a Paediatrician, who moved to USA in the late 1960s. His father was also a Doctor and was instrumental in grooming him in his earlier years of practicing medicine. He shared with me some of the learning points he inherited from his father in those formative years of his professional life. The knowledge he thus gained from his father was very interesting and absorbing. Before we parted at Frankfurt I sought his permission to use those fine learning points wherever I found fit. He was very understanding and encouraging and gladly permitted me to dos so.

The young doctor reached USA and wrote his first letter to his father about his status and life in the new land. Writing a letter was the best form of communication in those years as telephone was difficult and electronic communication was nearly non-existent. Within a few days he received a letter from his father listing out the grammatical  mistakes in the letter and asking him to rewrite the contents after rectifying the errors! This gives an idea about the rigour adopted by the father in grooming the young doctor.  Some of the interesting points he recalled are summarised below:

• Look like a Doctor, feel like a Doctor and behave like a Doctor.  That will make you feel confident and earn respect in the community you serve.
• Have a Stethoscope around your neck. (More required in those days).  It makes others recognise you as a doctor!
• Never visit a patient with an unshaven face or with a baseball cap.  Remember you are visiting a patient or a patient is visiting you.  You should not look like a patient yourself.
• Have eye-contact with the patients but do not make it excessive as it may make them uncomfortable.
• Always sit on par with the patient, neither above nor below his seat level.  You are neither superior or inferior to him.  Treat the patient as a equal human being.
• Treat the mind of the patient.  It automatically opens up treatment of the ailing body.
• When the patient is talking keep your mouth shut.  Do not interrupt. Let him/her unload whatever he/she has to say.  Some part of it may be vital for the course adopted for treatment.
• When the patient is about leave ask him/her whether he/she has anything else to say.  Vital information may come out in such moments that may help during treatment. 
• Understand the patient.  That enables you to understand the disease.
• Do not use medical jargon and terms while talking to a patient.  Use simple language which they understand.  The patient is interested in getting healed and not in your knowledge as a doctor.
• If the patient starts talking about medical jargon and terms, then you raise the level of your interaction. Let him know you are the boss in your field.
• Treat the patient first for the problem he has come with.  Do not discuss and treat some other ailment you may diagnose in him/her. That can follow later. 
• Never go to the room of a woman patient without knocking.  Even after knocking, never enter the room of a woman patient without a woman nurse or assistant.  That may save a lot of troubles later on.
• Do not hesitate to levy a reasonable fee.  Remember you have to make a living by practicing medicine.  Be considerate to financially weaker patients.
• Finally, relieve the pain and relieve the purse.  The patient should feel the first, but not the latter. 

Many of these words of wisdom are equally applicable for other professions as well.  Teachers and trainers for example.

Just as we were parting at Frankfurt, the doctor mentioned about a woman athlete who had a long and distinguished career and won many laurels and prizes in competitive games.  She developed pain in the joints and went to a orthopaedic surgeon. The doctor advised her that she needs new joints to replace worn out ones.  "No doctor, I am convinced that I do not need new joints", she shot back.  "All I need is a new doctor!", she said!

All packets are intact!

Traveling has its share of pleasures and pains.  Packing and unpacking are indeed an integral part of the traveling saga.  Packing and unpacking woes leaves their scars on the trips and sometimes even beyond them. Missing suitcases, rerouted or late arriving baggage, broken handles, torn bags are all part of the traveler's worries.  Broken bottles, leaking creams and cracked souvenirs leave indelible marks on materials as well on the mind.  The relief one experiences when things are in order after unpacking at destination is sometimes seen to be believed.  This is all the more true when the journey is through three or four long flights and crossing many countries and airports.

There are funny instances too.  At the baggage receiving areas in many international airports warning signs are displayed: "Beware of similar looking baggage!".  Despite this warning passengers sometimes take out the wrong suitcases and realise this only after opening them at their hotels or homes.  When they make a quick trip back to the airport, they find another passenger confronted with a similar problem.  If it is a boy and girl suitcase swap, it may result in a marriage in true "Bollywood" style.  Afterwards they need not worry since it will be common suitcases thereafter.  Of course, they may not worry about suitcases at all as there would be many more things to worry about.

Recently I had to help pack a close relative's luggage items for a long trip to a far away land.  I was cautioned not to open a carton box and that it should go in the suitcase as it is.  Instructions were faithfully carried out and the carton box was loaded along with other items, many of them being glass ones.  When the phone call came after the person reached destination, the first thing I heard was that all the items were safe and just as they were before they were packed.  "All packets are intact!" was the first communication.  Other details of the journey followed only thereafter.

The problems involved in moving (shifting to a different house) is no different.  First is the problem of sorting out the existing items at home.  Even bigger problem is the one of discarding useless items.  In fact, the existence of some of the items at home dawns on us only when we see them at the time of shifting!  Life has been going on for several years without their use and yet it is difficult to discard them.  They are again packed and carefully taken to the new house only to keep them in the attic till the next move is made.  Even with all the care taken in packing and moving the items, there are always some parts broken which even the best "Fevicol" cannot bind.  This loss of goods due to breakage is universally accepted and many companies give a fixed or variable allowance called "breakage allowance" when employees move on transfer.

Modern living has introduced the services of "Packing and transporting agents" who take care of all the packing, transporting and unpacking at destination.  Some of them advertise that they are the "Second best packers" meaning that the Lord is the best packer ever in business.  They even exhibit a Pomegranate or Jack-fruit in their advertisements as a tribute to the best packer in business.  When shifting work is entrusted to these second best teams, one need not worry about shifting except the big bill and broken items.  They are not responsible for breakages as it is a natural by-product of shifting.

A close friend met with an accident and was admitted to a hospital for treating a fracture.  When I met him at  the hospital, his first request was to move the wrecked car to the garage of his house.  Not being familiar with automobiles I was at a loss to meet this request.  The car had been moved by the Police from the accident spot to the yard in front of the police station.  If the car was not moved immediately, there was the danger of many parts missing in a few days.  Anyone who has seen vehicles dumped in front of a police station knows this.  I suddenly remembered an advertisement by a "Packers and Movers" company that claimed "We move anything, anywhere, anytime".  When I called the company over phone, the person receiving the call said they do not do this kind of work.  I asked him as to why they claimed to move anything, anywhere, anytime if they could not move a wrecked car from police station to a garage.  The person at the other end said that he did not know about it and would ask his father who was the owner of the business.  I left my telephone number to call me back.  The call was returned in the evening and they agreed to do the job.  The father-son duo came in their Jeep and towed the wrecked car from the police station to the garage at the friend's house.  "I am not charging you anything, Sir.  Thank you for reading our advertisement and reminding us of its value", said he senior man.

While thinking of packing and forwarding, an old accountancy joke comes to mind.  Managing Director of a company was in the habit of charging all personal expenses also to the company's account.  His accountant being a paid employee had no alternative but to comply with the given instructions.  When the Managing Director's mother died, MD instructed that all the funeral expenses should also be charged to the company's account.  The Accountant queried as to what "Head of Account" he should debit the expenses.  MD thought for a while and nonchalantly replied - "Packing and Forwarding expenses".  Some wonderful accounting that was!             

Wedding Reception, with a difference

Marriage functions were a week long affair in this part of the country, some six or seven decades ago.  It was pruned to five days in the 1950s and 60s.  It was abridged to a three-day capsule in the later 60s. This continued till the 70s after which a two-day function became the norm.  The second day was for the main event and a reception would follow in the evening.  Elders considered the main event on the second morning very sacred.  When they attended this part of the function, they felt it as a duty performed sincerely.  Modern busy life style brought a new meaning to "Wedding Receptions".  There are some advantages in  such receptions; there is no need to be at the venue at  fixed timings.  One can go at any time during the time slot of three to four hours.  Neither the host nor the guest have time for each other.  A mere broad smile and shaking of hands will assure the host that the invitation has not gone a waste.  The guest also does not bother about niceties of being taken care of.  In such gatherings, everyone takes care of himself or herself. In fact, except the photographers and videographers, everyone is relaxed and comfortable.  Or one does so believe and behave.

In many countries, such events are planned in detail and often the job is entrusted to a "Planner" or "Consultant".  Even the table at which the guest is to sit is per-planned.  There is no place for gate-crashers. "I just came to know that the function is arranged.  What is the meaning of formal invitation between us?  It is our own function, no?", one does not have the luxury of saying so in these countries.  Hosts here believe that they are planning all the details of a "Wedding Reception".  The events are certainly planned, but not by the hosts.  The Choultry or Hall owner decides what are the decorations to be made.  We are allowed limited freedom of selecting from one of the photographs in the album shown to us.  The caterer decides what the guests eat.  Videographers and photographers decide where we stand and for how many seconds.  There may be some excellent music concert by well known artistes, but it is more of a humiliation to the artistes than recognition of their talents in the high decibel level noises in the hall.  When the reception is to be held is decided by the rent paid for the hall.  This often dictates that the reception is held before the actual marriage ceremony.  In the initial days this was frowned upon.  Now everyone has reconciled to it.  One can even say that families who hold the reception after the main event are still backward and need to become progressive.  More important than all, when the bride and groom arrive at the hall and give "Darshan" to the waiting guests is decided by the "Beautician".  An answer has now been found for solving the problem of restlessness among the guests.  Many wedding receptions now allow guests to have a sumptuous dinner before greeting the newly-weds.  If you are in a hurry and the newly-wed or going-to-be-wed couple have not arrived at the venue and held up at the beauty parlor, hand over the gift (mostly in the form of an envelope as it is easy to carry and avoids pains of shopping for an ideal gift) to the parents of the couple.  Assuming that they have also not gone to visit another beautician.  There is perfect understanding among all concerned and there is no possibility of being misunderstood.

A wedding reception that we attended last week was indeed a reception with a difference.  We knew only the bridegroom, one of our students.  But the invitation was extended to us by his parents who had traveled some 30 kilometers only to invite us personally.  The invitation had a long list of family members of the hosts and indicated that they were from a cultured family.  The invitation requested the guests to be present at the venue by 4 PM.  Some cultural programs were also planned as depicted in the invitation.  When we reached the venue at 4 PM, all the persons mentioned in the invitation were present to receive the guests.  Refreshments were served in an orderly manner.  Cultural programs started on time.  Little children recited "Shanti mantras" to begin the program.  They were followed by four young girls who represented the four directions - East, West, North and South.  Each one had a message for the gathering; peaceful co-existence, spirituality, patriotism and teamwork.  There was a group dance in praise of the Mother Goddess Chamundeswari.  Elder members of the family were called upon the stage to light the lamp to inaugurate the celebrations.  All of them were given mementos specially made for the wedding reception function.  All the teachers of the bridegroom were invited one by one and honoured on the stage and newly-wed couple received their blessings. There were teachers starting from Nursery school to College. Those who taught music and Hindi were also there.  There were other items of cultural programs including skits and group dances.  The bridegroom himself took part in the events through singing and mono-acting. 

At 7.30 PM the newly-weds entered the stage from the two sides, singing and dancing.  Thereafter it was a regular wedding reception.  The only difference was it was a served banana-leaf dinner instead of the usual buffet fare.

The quality of cultural program was of a very high quality and received wide appreciation from all the guests.  It was indeed a "Wedding Reception" with a difference.  

        

Artha Shoucha - Purity in "Financial Dealings"

It was a hot afternoon and the sun was blazing in full glory.  Most of the people were indoors and taking rest after lunch.  Their afternoon siesta was disturbed by the continuous noise of the ringing of the big bell.  The King had arranged for fixing a big bell in an elevated place in front of the palace.  A long  rope tied to the gong was enabling ringing of the bell by pulling the rope.  Anyone aggrieved could go to the bell and pull the string.  The reverberating noise would bring all concerned to the adjoining court hall.  The King himself would arrive and the court would be in session.  The hearings were open and the general public could sit and watch the proceedings.  There was no need to file a complaint and wait for a date for hearing.  The parties to the litigation would be heard immediately.  The evidence would be evaluated and judgement pronounced then and there, save for rare exceptions.  The judgement was just and often harsh on the wrong-doer.  There was no escape from the consequences of wrong-doing, irrespective of who the accused were.  In the early days after the bell was fixed, there were a number of instances when the bell was used by parties seeking justice.  In due course, the very existence of the bell reminded the people of the harsh and merciless judgement that would follow if they did anything wrong.  Now the people were law abiding and did not dare to do any injustice to others.  The community was living peacefully and the state was prospering making everyone happy.

Ringing of the bell after a long time triggered a plethora of questions.  Who is ringing the bell now?  What is the reason? Who is the complainant?  What could be the contents of the complaint?  These were some of the questions on the lips of the people of the city as they flocked the courtyard.  The King also arrived shortly.  Everyone was surprised when they saw the complainant.  The rope tied to the gong was being pulled not by a man or woman but a dog!  It did not make any difference to the King.  He started the proceedings in right earnest.

"What is your complaint and what is the relief you require?" asked the King.
"I was going in the street without disturbing anyone. One man threw a stone at me.  It hit me with full force and I am bleeding profusely.  I want him punished for his act", said the dog.
"Who was the man?", the King asked.

Dog gave the description of the person who hit him.  While this inquiry was going on, the palace Vaidya (Doctor) started applying a bandage on the wounded part of the dog's body.  Within a few minutes, guards of the courtyard brought a man fitting the description given by the dog.  The dog identified its assailant.  Court proceedings continued.

"Did you hit the dog with a stone?", the King thundered.  The assailant did not muster courage to lie.
"Yes, your majesty. I hit the dog with a stone", he agreed.
"What was the reason for throwing a stone?  Did it attack you?", asked the King.
"No your majesty, it was an unprovoked action", said the man sheepishly.

Guilt was established beyond all reasonable doubts.  The attacker had confessed to the crime.  The King had developed a practice of asking the complainant to suggest the nature and quantum of punishment.  He asked the dog to suggest the punishment to the accused.

"Make him a Dharmadarshi (Trustee) of a temple, Your Majesty", said the dog.  Everyone present, including the King and the ministers, were surprised.  To avoid any misunderstanding King asked the dog: "Are you sure of what you are suggesting?  Do you think it is a punishment? Is it not more of  a reward"?

The dog replied in the affirmative.  "Yes, your honour.  I was myself a trustee of a place of worship in my last life.  I had to handle a lot of temple funds.  I could not resist some misappropriation of funds for my own benefit.  I am now born as a dog.  Let this man be made a trustee of public funds.  He is most likely to misappropriate funds for selfish ends.  As a consequence, he will be born as a dog in the next birth.  I am repenting for my misdeeds in the last birth.  I may be born as a man again in my next birth.  Then I can throw a stone at him and take revenge!"

Whether there is a next birth or whether dogs could talk is not the question in this story.  Whether taking revenge is a proper response is also not the moot point.  Handling public funds or others property without misuse is the basic issue.  This has become all the more focused now in view of the multitude of scams that are unearthed regularly, day after day.

Bharata Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya, former Devan of the princely state of Mysore and identified with the KRS Dam, was known to be an epitome of utmost probity in public life.  He is said to have two sets of candles in is office.  He would use the candle bought from government funds in the night until he finished his official work.  Just as he finished his official work, that candle would be extinguished and another candle bought from his personal funds would be lit for doing other chores.  There cannot be a better example of "Purity in Financial Dealings" than this.  The word "SCAM" would not find any takers if such is the practice today.

Purity in financial dealings is the most precious of all purities.  Especially when it involves public funds or others money.  Hence the saying:

सर्वेषामेव शोउचानां अर्थशोउचम् परम् स्मृतं |
योर्थे शुचिर्हि स शुचिः न म्रुद्वारि शुचिः शुचिः ||

SarvEshAmeva showchANam arthashowcham param smrutam
Yorthe shuchirhi sa shuchihi na mrudwari shuchih shuchihi

"Purity in Financial Dealings" is the most sacred of all purities.  A person not pure in his financial dealings remains impure even if he is clean in all other respects.  Bathing any number of times using any quantity of cleaning material (like mud, soaps etc.) does not make him clean.

Who can tell this to our leaders and their followers (us)?