I have already told you that my son Kuntal did not find studies interesting. He thought that he was doing Goddess Saraswati a favor by attending school. Family pressure compelled him to fill PET form but on the day of the exam he kept sleeping. His mother scolded him, “Go and take the test, we have spent Rs.200/- on the application form.”
“I haven’t prepared. What shall I do there?” He replied still dozing.
“Do whatever you can, but leave home instantly.” Reluctantly he got up and attempted the test.
His other colleagues faired very well and were able to secure entry in reputed institutions. While some joined I.I.T. and others REC. This was celebrated with parties, felicitation parties followed by farewell parties. This had an unusual impact on him. He began perhaps, self-assessment.
One day when we were dining together he was engrossed, “Papa, these four friends of mine are going to join reputed institutions. I am the cleverest of all the four. They have become ‘hero’ while I am left clapping.”
“So what?” I stared at him.
“Will you grant me leave for one year? Assume that Kammu is not at home.”
“What shall you do?”
“I shall take P.E.T, prepare for it.”
Unanimously we all said, “Leave granted.” He beamed with self-confidence and our home was filled with Radiant energy. The sentence, “Will you grant me leave for one year” shaped his destiny which we had never imagined.
While at the shop I could handle the creditors with tact but when they demanded repayment on landline phone at home I faced differently. It was only a room house hence conversations on the telephone could be heard by everyone in the house and hence my crisis would be ‘exposed’ to everyone in the family. I found a way out. I would remove the receiver from the cradle to keep the phone ‘held up’ and I might enjoy uninterrupted sleep. However, Madhuri took notice of my trick and began enquiring. I had to confess that I had to resort to such tactics to avoid creditors’ calls disturbing us. Though she knew about it but had no idea that could be so serious. She enquired, “how long will such tactic work? Do you have any plan?”
“I don’t know what we can do! I work hard all day at the shop but still find myself incapable of paying the mounting interest and the principal. Even I loose no opportunity to impart training and secure an extra income but yet that does not suffice.”
“Oh, you! You will always plan something silly, where will you?”
“Pune, Pune would be all right.”
“Why Pune?”
“I shall have better training opportunities there. It will be better for children education too.”
It is difficult decision for anyone to quit one’s homeland. After consultations, we decided to conduct a survey at Pune before arriving at a final decision. I got tickets reserved for Pune and informed Sangeeta to reach Pune directly from Indore.
When a man flies in the sky of success he considers all those who failed dunce or lazy. He thinks success a trifle within everyone’s reach. He finds fault in the person for this failure, imbecile or tardy. According to a Punjabi proverb: Jinne ghar daanen ve kamale bi syaanen’, even idiots in the family of affluent & rich are counted wise. I saw many idiots riding high horse of success and people regard them clever and skillful. Note the fact that every successful person basks in the sunshine of his success, indulging in narcissism with his self confidence at the climax. He speaks with candor, his wife and children enjoy respect. On the contrary, an unsuccessful person suffers from inferiority complex, his voice remains mild and anyone can mock with his wife. His children suffer all kinds of humiliation. Powerful persons consider it their birthright to exploit the powerless. I am not speaking anything in the air but my own experiences.
The one who is rich, powerful or has a good position is held in awe by everyone in the family. Everyone takes special care of his likes and dislikes, precautionary measures are taken so as he is not offended somehow. He is consulted in every matter even on insignificant issues. His opinion gets priority while arriving at a decision. Whereas, poor, powerless and person without a position is treated as the valueless person. He is neither consulted nor ever informed about any decisions. If he is found amidst people discussing a family affair he is scorned and asked, ‘Who is asking you? Why are you standing here?
‘Inconvenience’ is a problem that lasts only for a short duration, when it prolongs it is called a situation of distress if it still persists it assumes the nature of a crisis which later on turns into a calamity. When such calamity envelops longer it is called a catastrophe. In my family circumstances, catastrophe would arise only after my death or homicide. My name was not on the list of Yamraj, the God of Death, and I was not among those who commit suicide. I was 52 at that time and my spirit was soaring high.
My business contributed little to my income, a drop in the ocean. The only possible remedy was to sell the house and repay loans and plunge headlong into training. I could see immense opportunities waiting in the training field. Metros provide the necessary climate. For such enterprise, it was necessary to reside in a metro to work on a wider canvas. Corporate sector could be impressed by the tag of a metro. I used to watch the performance of several reputed trainers. Their reputation was ‘powered’ by the place of their residence. For setting at a new place, Pune appeared to be the ideal choice. It would have brightened our future prospects and facilitate the better education of children. Hence both of us managed to raise some sum and left for Pune. After reaching Pune we stayed at a lodge @ Rs.65 per Day opposite railway station meant for patients though the manager did not ask the name of the disease and saved us the sin of telling a lie. Within six to seven hours Sangeeta also arrived and joined us. Smt. Suman Ravindranath an old family acquaintance extended full co-operation. I liked the city. Pleasant weather, lively environment, regular cultural and literacy activities and excellent arrangements for education induced me to return promptly and come with baggage.
Madhuri was a bit apprehensive. Marathi language and the metro culture made her hesitate. She wondered how we would be able to establish a thriving business but I was carefree. Training reputation would have established in a period of one year or two. Meanwhile, I wouldn’t mind selling tea and Chat on a push cart. No one in Pune knew me hence the reputation of Dwarika Prasad Agrawal, certified trainer J.C.I. who teaches management to corporate executives or son of Seth Ram Prasad stooped as low to sell Chat! I hoped that the name Pune would have its impact in ensuring training jobs and thus I would get rid of push cart sell.
Something within me was prompting there was prosperity awaiting me in a new city. It was worth while to leave the hometown but Madhuri was fifty-fifty, still undecided. Sangeeta didn’t react. She watched our activities in silence. After staying for three days we boarded Azad-Hind Express train for Bilaspur in the evening. At a midway station, Daund, a mob entered the coach. They pushed us aside, behaved rudely and occupied our berths by force. They made all of us to shift to the extreme corner of the berth and keeping us awake all the night. They were citizens of our own country, followers of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, reaching Nagpur for attending a program in honor of Lord Buddha. Their forced entry into the coach made ‘reservation’ redundant. There was not even an inch to step on. We were forced to remain fixed at our place until noon when they alighted at Nagpur. In such state of ‘jam,’ we began condemning ourselves for being born in a country of chaos. We could have neither water nor tea because that would have forced us to attend the call of nature in that packed compartment while we were unable to go to the toilet.
At Nagpur, we all rushed towards toilets after 16 hours long waiting and thus felt relieved. Returning from toilet Madhuri pronounced her verdict, Pune nahin jaanaa, apna Bilaspur achchha hai,‘No need to come to Pune, Bilaspur is a far better place.’
Thus our scheme to shift was abandoned and we remained glued to Bilaspur.
“I haven’t prepared. What shall I do there?” He replied still dozing.
“Do whatever you can, but leave home instantly.” Reluctantly he got up and attempted the test.
His other colleagues faired very well and were able to secure entry in reputed institutions. While some joined I.I.T. and others REC. This was celebrated with parties, felicitation parties followed by farewell parties. This had an unusual impact on him. He began perhaps, self-assessment.
One day when we were dining together he was engrossed, “Papa, these four friends of mine are going to join reputed institutions. I am the cleverest of all the four. They have become ‘hero’ while I am left clapping.”
“So what?” I stared at him.
“Will you grant me leave for one year? Assume that Kammu is not at home.”
“What shall you do?”
“I shall take P.E.T, prepare for it.”
Unanimously we all said, “Leave granted.” He beamed with self-confidence and our home was filled with Radiant energy. The sentence, “Will you grant me leave for one year” shaped his destiny which we had never imagined.
While at the shop I could handle the creditors with tact but when they demanded repayment on landline phone at home I faced differently. It was only a room house hence conversations on the telephone could be heard by everyone in the house and hence my crisis would be ‘exposed’ to everyone in the family. I found a way out. I would remove the receiver from the cradle to keep the phone ‘held up’ and I might enjoy uninterrupted sleep. However, Madhuri took notice of my trick and began enquiring. I had to confess that I had to resort to such tactics to avoid creditors’ calls disturbing us. Though she knew about it but had no idea that could be so serious. She enquired, “how long will such tactic work? Do you have any plan?”
“I don’t know what we can do! I work hard all day at the shop but still find myself incapable of paying the mounting interest and the principal. Even I loose no opportunity to impart training and secure an extra income but yet that does not suffice.”
“Oh, you! You will always plan something silly, where will you?”
“Pune, Pune would be all right.”
“Why Pune?”
“I shall have better training opportunities there. It will be better for children education too.”
It is difficult decision for anyone to quit one’s homeland. After consultations, we decided to conduct a survey at Pune before arriving at a final decision. I got tickets reserved for Pune and informed Sangeeta to reach Pune directly from Indore.
When a man flies in the sky of success he considers all those who failed dunce or lazy. He thinks success a trifle within everyone’s reach. He finds fault in the person for this failure, imbecile or tardy. According to a Punjabi proverb: Jinne ghar daanen ve kamale bi syaanen’, even idiots in the family of affluent & rich are counted wise. I saw many idiots riding high horse of success and people regard them clever and skillful. Note the fact that every successful person basks in the sunshine of his success, indulging in narcissism with his self confidence at the climax. He speaks with candor, his wife and children enjoy respect. On the contrary, an unsuccessful person suffers from inferiority complex, his voice remains mild and anyone can mock with his wife. His children suffer all kinds of humiliation. Powerful persons consider it their birthright to exploit the powerless. I am not speaking anything in the air but my own experiences.
The one who is rich, powerful or has a good position is held in awe by everyone in the family. Everyone takes special care of his likes and dislikes, precautionary measures are taken so as he is not offended somehow. He is consulted in every matter even on insignificant issues. His opinion gets priority while arriving at a decision. Whereas, poor, powerless and person without a position is treated as the valueless person. He is neither consulted nor ever informed about any decisions. If he is found amidst people discussing a family affair he is scorned and asked, ‘Who is asking you? Why are you standing here?
‘Inconvenience’ is a problem that lasts only for a short duration, when it prolongs it is called a situation of distress if it still persists it assumes the nature of a crisis which later on turns into a calamity. When such calamity envelops longer it is called a catastrophe. In my family circumstances, catastrophe would arise only after my death or homicide. My name was not on the list of Yamraj, the God of Death, and I was not among those who commit suicide. I was 52 at that time and my spirit was soaring high.
My business contributed little to my income, a drop in the ocean. The only possible remedy was to sell the house and repay loans and plunge headlong into training. I could see immense opportunities waiting in the training field. Metros provide the necessary climate. For such enterprise, it was necessary to reside in a metro to work on a wider canvas. Corporate sector could be impressed by the tag of a metro. I used to watch the performance of several reputed trainers. Their reputation was ‘powered’ by the place of their residence. For setting at a new place, Pune appeared to be the ideal choice. It would have brightened our future prospects and facilitate the better education of children. Hence both of us managed to raise some sum and left for Pune. After reaching Pune we stayed at a lodge @ Rs.65 per Day opposite railway station meant for patients though the manager did not ask the name of the disease and saved us the sin of telling a lie. Within six to seven hours Sangeeta also arrived and joined us. Smt. Suman Ravindranath an old family acquaintance extended full co-operation. I liked the city. Pleasant weather, lively environment, regular cultural and literacy activities and excellent arrangements for education induced me to return promptly and come with baggage.
Madhuri was a bit apprehensive. Marathi language and the metro culture made her hesitate. She wondered how we would be able to establish a thriving business but I was carefree. Training reputation would have established in a period of one year or two. Meanwhile, I wouldn’t mind selling tea and Chat on a push cart. No one in Pune knew me hence the reputation of Dwarika Prasad Agrawal, certified trainer J.C.I. who teaches management to corporate executives or son of Seth Ram Prasad stooped as low to sell Chat! I hoped that the name Pune would have its impact in ensuring training jobs and thus I would get rid of push cart sell.
Something within me was prompting there was prosperity awaiting me in a new city. It was worth while to leave the hometown but Madhuri was fifty-fifty, still undecided. Sangeeta didn’t react. She watched our activities in silence. After staying for three days we boarded Azad-Hind Express train for Bilaspur in the evening. At a midway station, Daund, a mob entered the coach. They pushed us aside, behaved rudely and occupied our berths by force. They made all of us to shift to the extreme corner of the berth and keeping us awake all the night. They were citizens of our own country, followers of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, reaching Nagpur for attending a program in honor of Lord Buddha. Their forced entry into the coach made ‘reservation’ redundant. There was not even an inch to step on. We were forced to remain fixed at our place until noon when they alighted at Nagpur. In such state of ‘jam,’ we began condemning ourselves for being born in a country of chaos. We could have neither water nor tea because that would have forced us to attend the call of nature in that packed compartment while we were unable to go to the toilet.
At Nagpur, we all rushed towards toilets after 16 hours long waiting and thus felt relieved. Returning from toilet Madhuri pronounced her verdict, Pune nahin jaanaa, apna Bilaspur achchha hai,‘No need to come to Pune, Bilaspur is a far better place.’
Thus our scheme to shift was abandoned and we remained glued to Bilaspur.
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