Those who grew up in Tamil Nadu in the late '80s to early '90s might remember Thenkachi Ko Swaminathan (TKS) and his daily program in All India Radio called Indru Oru Thagaval (இன்று ஒரு தகவல்; Translation: A Message for Today). The program ran for five minutes every morning at 7 with a thought-provoking anecdote narrated by TKS followed by a joke related to the anecdote. Like million other people in Tamil Nadu, folks in my household woke up to his voice every morning for very many years. Thenkachi, as he was fondly called, was very much part of our morning routine in those days.
I fondly remember an episode in which he narrates a story about a man who goes to the market every Saturday morning and buys vegetables for the following week. One Saturday morning, the man sets out to the market with 100 rupees in his pocket. Unfortunately for him, the 100-rupee note falls down somewhere along the way but the man doesn't realize that he'd lost his money. He proceeds to the market, picks out all of his favorite vegetables and when it was his turn to pay, he realizes that he has no money on him. No money meant no vegetables and he returns home empty handed. Needless to say, he is very upset for a few days. The following Saturday morning, he sets out again to the vegetable market with 100 rupees tightly clenched in his hand. On his way to the market, he comes across a very poor family with two malnourished children that are visibly starving.The man then spends his 100 rupees and buys them breakfast and some food for the rest of the week. The children feel better, the parents thank him and he returns home (without vegetables) with a certain amount of joy.
Thenkachi now compares the two instances:
In both instances, the man and his 100-rupee note parted ways.
In both instances, the man returned home without any vegetables.
However, a substantial difference was that the man was very upset the first week but happy the next. Thenkachi then tells us that the key difference is,
In the first instance, the 100-rupee note left the man.
In the second instance, the man left the 100-rupee note.
This story has had a profound influence in my life on decisions involving the things I think I value versus the means with which I can make those things happen. The decision to R2I was one among them. I hope this is useful to you too.
A man and his 100 rupees
A man and his 100 rupees
Fantastic story and great message Dr J. Thanks for sharing. I don't know Thenkachi and his words but there are several of such personalities all across India that keep many souls motivated all through their life.