BOOK QUOTES … INTERESTING LINES

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ULYSSESHARRY PORTERBENHUR

  • He followed her into the bedroom. In a week–it was only a week–her appearance had degenerated extraordinarily. Her hair looked greasy. All her lockets were gone, and she was wearing a Manchester longyi of flowered cotton, costing two rupees eight annas. She had coated her face so thick with powder that it was like a clown’s mask, and at the roots of her hair, where the powder ended, there was a ribbon of natural-coloured brown skin. She looked a drab. Flory would not face her, but stood looking sullenly through the open doorway to the veranda.
  • “Thank you, Monsieur.” She spoke in English but her voice was foreign, a rich low voice very seductive in quality. As she was about to pass on, she hesitated and murmured: “Pardon, Monsieur, but I think…

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QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY-HALLMARK OF ANY BUSINESS

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business consistency quality

    By quality we generally mean. Standard of a product, when compared with other brands of the same product; and how good or bad something is. And, when we want to classify it, we call it poor, good or even excellent.

    Quality, to my mind is also deliverance of what you promise. For, quality is something that keeps evolving, and anything that evolves cannot become an ‘excellence’ overnight. So quality varies along the process of evolution of a product or service.

    Sporadic quality here and there has little meaning, unless it comes along with consistency. As that once-in-a-while approach to quality, appears as an insouciance dabble by any producer or marketer.

    Recently, when I was in my hometown. I visited ‘King of chaat’ (a street food joint) a couple of times in Hazratganj—an up market of Lucknow, that I used to visit some thirty years back. Since, then, this food joint has gone through a generation and has even grown exponentially.

    But that apart. I was more astonished at the very fact, that each dish tasted just the same as it used to taste some thirty years back. And, in all probabilities many of their employees also by now, must have changed hands. But the food joint has been able to maintain its foot fall only through its dictum of quality with consistency, I’m sure.

    And this is not an example in isolation. As in every city you will find similar street food joints that must have commenced with tasty quality. But those that have survived, and saw growth had the element of consistency in them and the rest packed off.

    That brings me to the moot point. That each business professional should also be like a street food joint that needs to consistently give quality output to grow in life. I am particularly comparing such professionals with street food joints, because they operate under the most difficult circumstances and are not as resourceful as big enterprises. And, apart from internal pressures they also take on fierce extraneous pressures to which they are often vulnerable.

    So, after having a good fill in ‘King of Chaat’ that day. Before leaving the place, I asked the current owner who happened to be the son of the founder. His key to success and this is what he had to say,

    ‘My father gave me three important business tips. One, never be in a hurry when you get a chance to understand your customers taste. Two, quality without consistency is flippancy. Three, consistency without quality is stagnancy.’

    Have a good day.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*****

A MAGGI SALESMAN’S HEART IN CONVERSATION WITH HIS MIND

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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A MAGGI SALESMAN’S HEART IN CONVERSATION WITH HIS MIND

Heart:  I just don’t feel good these days.

Mind: But why, what happened?

Heart: Arrey yaar for the past five years I’ve been selling ‘Maggi Noodles’ thinking it is perfectly healthy and suddenly the lab tests by FSSAI reveal it has a high lead content which is extremely bad for health.

Mind: But that’s not your fault. As a loyal salesman you did what the company told you to do–sell. Plus, you have your wife and kids to look after. So you if won’t sell who will? And, as a matter of fact there are many salesmen who even sell cigarettes and liquor both being killer products, for the sake of their career, family and themselves; so how should they feel?

Heart: But there is a huge difference between the two situations; for a salesman selling liquor or cigarettes knows he is selling poison to his customer, and the customer too knows he is buying poison and that squares off. But in this case neither I, nor the customer, mostly children, knew they were consuming something poisonous, not good for health. And, considering it safe, I must fed thousands of Maggi packets to my own children, and today my wife and children question my wisdom and integrity when they see the product being banned on TV.

Mind: But you haven’t done it knowingly, so you shouldn’t feel guilty. And for all this while your company kept advertising it’s a quality product and perhaps the safest to consume. Am I right?

Heart: Yes you’re right. But I guess the company forgot the meaning of quality. Where, I always thought quality means, deliver what you promise, but in the case of Maggi it was not so. And the Food Safety and Standards authority of India also kept sleeping all this while, and they should also take the blame.

Mind: What is done is done, and can’t be undone, but what are you planning for your future.

Heart: Well, I haven’t thought about all that. But yes, I guess in the last five years I too could have taken a personal initiative, like that food inspector in Barabanki town, to get Maggi tested, but I didn’t. We often trust big names and brands for the simple reason that we believe they will deliver what they promise. But this was not the case here. And even brand ambassadors ditch the consumers.

Recently Nestle India had to destroy ‘Maggi noodle’ stocks worth three hundred and fifty crores as same was banned by Government of India, because tests revealed it had high lead content.

We have many dutiful salesmen in the food industry, putting their heart and soul together, in bringing about various delicious food products to customers across the world. And in this fraternity we also have Maggi salesmen. And there is no need for them to feel guilty, for, they have only done their duty in providing what the customer wanted and it was for Nestle to have ensured quality—deliver what you promise which they couldn’t. And so, I will not be surprised if this turns out to be one of the biggest cases of brand erosion under a big banner.

SHORT STORY: DIVINE ALIGNMENT

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c1c

    Today, once again, early in the morning I was woken up by a phone call from Sukhwinder Singh. He is a Granthi in a Gurudwara in Faridabad. But he also happens to be my friend, in the abstract spirits of comrade-in-arms. It appears he has a satellite connect with God and is able to figure out. When, over a period of time my entire self goes into a depression, thinking about my younger son, whom I lost some six years back. And just then he calls up.

    He doesn’t understand English and I can’t talk fluent Punjabi and so we make the most of it in Hindi. His occasional calls pep me up but I am not sure if it’s the other way round too. And, unlike most Sardars he is short and stout and often wears a saffron patka. We came together in life because we both share the curse of losing our sons in a space of a week.

    It was sometime in mid-February when I had admitted my younger son, when he was towards his last in a hospital in Faridabad for palliative care, where I found Sukhwinder’s son also admitted for liver disorder. He was in serious state, around twenty years of age; and the next day he expired. Our rooms were adjacent and so I had enough opportunities to picture and frame him in my mind. And, upon the sad and untimely death of his son, that afternoon, I walked across to his room and paid my deep sense of condolence. Thereafter, in a ballooning bundle of grief, he along with his wailing wife, family and the body of his son left the hospital.

    I was feeling sad for him. But I too wasn’t far behind. As my tragedy too, befell upon me within the next four days. I was thereafter on leave for a couple of weeks. And when I resumed office. Every morning I used to drive past a Gurudwara where one day I spotted Sukhwinder. I stopped my car and went up to him. Just to ask how he was, and quite frankly also to discern, better or worse than me. He was looking the other way when I put my hand on his shoulder. He turned around and without wasting time, I reminded him of the hospital and politely enquired about him, post his son’s death. He could recollect me in seconds and asked about my son. I gave him the tragic news. He sounded hurt. I decided to leave after a brief chat, but he ordered for a cup of tea. And our friendship thus began.

    Since that day till the time that Gurudwara was on my way to office, once in a while we used to meet over a cup of tea and he used to narrate quite a few invigorating episodes from ‘Granth Sahab’ and ‘Gita’ that helped me tide away, and soften my tragedy.

    It is now more than six years we continue as friends and we make it a point to talk to each other at least once a month just to share happiness and sorrow, and probably one day when we stop receiving calls from each other one of us will know the other has kicked the bucket.

    Our world is full of affinity, when it comes to being from the same religion, sect, ethnicity, language and food. But after I lost my son I realised there is also an affinity that takes birth out of unusual tragedies in life. I and Sukhwinder had similar tragedies leading to a very unusual experience in life not known and felt by many, and that brought us together.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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POETRY: MY PAST IN MY LIFE AHEAD

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LA LA3 DA1

MY PAST IN MY LIFE AHEAD

 

 

In the life ahead lies the toil of my yesterday,

In the life ahead lies the heat of my today,

And in the life ahead slumbers my unruffled dreams waiting to unravel,

Is when my unknown life ahead tow-chains with my pristine past.

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And in the cantabiles of today lies the unresting rehearse,

And all along the soft dribbles of the winding brooks,

Lies the harsh and cruel nature,

Yet life ahead only believes in its bloated ego.

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Sanity says forget the past enjoy the present for future is unknown,

But i say unknown is unknown till it is known,

So be with your present,

And never dump your past,

For bright days ahead will only evolve out of your vibrant past.

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And between the flashy today and the glamorous tomorrow,

Exists my mother of lifetime–my past,

That held my hand and showed me the way.

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And when the flash dwindles and glamour recedes,

Much evaporates and little is left in the days ahead,

But a treasure to applaud,

In the realms of past and the bygone days.

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And that is when i realised,

There is no future without a past,

But there is a past without a future.

****

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainties to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Now available in Amazon.com

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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YOU ARE AS STRONG AS YOUR GOOD TIME … Uppar wala sab dekh raha hai

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roy 

    There was a time when Sahara Sri Subrata Roy, had become the all-time cynosure of Lucknow city. To the masses, he was no less important than the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Many VVIPs, VIPs, Politicians, Film-stars and even Sports personalities took pride on being invited by him to his ostentatious functions, where they would eagerly surround him for a photo-op.

    His palatial house often staged big shows in which many film-stars flew down from Bollywood to participate. But over a period of time. He had become arrogant in his own unmindful ways. So much so that he had even started taking orders from the honourable courts, lightly. But he did not realise that his good time is running out when one day he was finally arrested more than a year back. And since then most VVIPs, VIPs film-stars, Sports-personalities and even dignitaries who flocked around his glamour vanished overnight like thin air. When, he was left alone to fend for himself. Perhaps, after having tasted the selfish world this time. As and when Subrata Roy steps out of the jail he will probably be a different person altogether.

lalit

    Good times is no one’s monopoly. Lalit Modi former IPL Commissioner, President and Managing Director of Modi Enterprises, Executive Director of Godrey Phiilips India and scion of renowned Modi family from Modinagar is leading a fugitive’s life abroad in spite of having a great legacy back home. Before reaching the status of a fugitive he too was a cynosure, and an awfully flamboyant personality of India. And it is interesting to see where, once people died to know him, today some people are on the verge of losing their jobs, by helping him. With all the power and pelf back home, Lalit Modi leads a life of a criminal even when he appears to brazen it out on various TV channels. But bad times are here for Lalit Modi.

    In our lifetime we often assure and reassure ourselves that we are rich and powerful and nothing wrong will ever happen to us. But the fury of nature, comes as a bolt from the blue. So be careful, you could be the next … for Uppar wala sab dekh raha hai. And in bad times only your good deeds help.

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

 

POETRY: TAKING THE FIRST STEP

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TAKING THE FIRST STEP

 

In the journey of life,

Taking the first step was always a fright,

For there was no direction in sight,

Because it was a maiden flight,

And success was nowhere in hype.

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A small beginning was all that mattered,

To bring about even a big charter,

Determined I coursed my way as I began my tread,

Only to realise the first step was bigger than the chapter.

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Big things have small beginnings,

Small steps have longer journeys,

For first step breaks the inertia,

And first step starts the journey,

And journey takes you on the mission.

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Remember first step is the dare,

And so you need to be beware,

For first step is path breaking,

And path-breaking is water shed.

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And to bring about your watershed,

Don’t fear the first step,

For fear is road block and fear is your enemy,

And between fear and action,

Lies the destiny,

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And if you don’t feel the need of a first step,

Ask yourself why,

For if you want moments of high,

It has to be through the skies,

And skies are not available,

Till you take the first step to fly.

****

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Share it if you like it

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainities to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Now available in Amazon.com

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

 

FLOWERS FOR KERALA DEITIES BLOOM IN MUSLIM FARMS

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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In Lucknow many actors who take part in the annual Ram-Leela are Muslims, where they play the lead role of Lord Ram, Hanuman & Lakshman to name a few. In the TV serial of 1st Mahabharat the lead role of Arjun was played by a Muslim actor. And it is so refreshing to read that flowers for Kerala Deities are grown in Muslim farms.

And this indeed is the beauty of India where our society has an undercurrent-life-connect with each other and resides in a bindass environment.

FLOWERS FOR KERALA DEITIES BLOOM IN MUSLIM FARMS

TOI article

Malappuram:  Balanced on a battered canoe. Aslam gently plucks a lotus that is just beginning to bloom and carefully places it in a pile.

He moves through the vast expense of Valiyaparappur lake in Malappuram, collecting more flowers, all meant for different temples in Kerala. Twenty-five-year old Aslam belongs to one of the 30 Muslim families in the village of Thirunavaya, on the banks of the Bharatapuzha river, who share a deep tie with Kerala’s Hindu temples.

It is known to very few devotees that the lotus blooms used in all major temples across the state including Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, Sabarimala, Kodungalloor Bhagavathy Temple, Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple, Thriprayar Sri Rama Temple and Parshinikkaadavu Muthappan Temple are all farmed by these families.

“We have been doing it for over a hundred years,” says Musthafa Chakkaliparambil, who has 40-acre farm on the valiyaparappur lake. He supplies at least 7,000 lotuses a day to temples in Guruvayur and Kodungallur.

On an average, the village collects and distributes around 20,000 blooms every day. “Our business has thrived only because of the blessings of the deities and the revenue from temples,” says Abdul Rahman Karakkadan, who supplies flowers to Guruvayur and Paramekkavu temple in Thrissur from his 85-acre farm. The flowers are handed over to members of the Warrier community, who handle floral decorations in temples.

SHORT STORY: TEXTILE MERCHANT … know your strengths

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TEXTILE MERCHANT … know your strengths

    Once upon a time. There lived a merchant who used to deal in textiles. He used to reside close to a port where ships from foreign countries used to dock with loads of merchandise. And from whom, he used to buy goods to sell in the local market through his shop.

    He had five workers who use to work under his manager. And the manager in turn used to report to him. So in all he had six employees. Each time, when a ship moored in the port. The merchant used to send his manager to get the details of the merchandise available, and basis his acumen and the information collected by him. The Merchant used to buy the merchandise, and the same used to get conveniently sold in his shop located in the market.

    One day, the employees working under the manager came up to the merchant and started requesting for a higher salary on the plea, that they work harder than the manager. Who only sat there and gave instructions while they did the entire labour. The merchant gave them a patient hearing and promised to look into the matter.

    One day when the merchant received a communication from the dock that a ship had arrived loaded with textile. He, instead of sending his manager sent one of the employees working under him to find out about the merchandise that had arrived in the port.

   The employee happily left, thinking the merchant this time had given him a chance to prove himself, instead of the manager. And after sometime he returned from the port when the merchant asked,

    ‘From which country has the merchandise arrived?’

    ‘I don’t know about the country master, but it is big ship with lots of merchandise.’

    ‘What kind of fabric do they have?’

    ‘I don’t know about that master, but there are big bundles, appearing to be thaans’  (bolts of fabric).

    ‘But are the thaans designed for children, ladies or gents?’

    ‘Master I didn’t ask about that. You want me to check again?’

    ‘Then tell me the price range of each thaan? Basis which I will be able to make out whether it is for ladies, gents or children?’

    ‘Sorry master I missed that too.’

    ‘And what about the total value of the merchandise?’

    ‘No idea master.’ Replied the employee, somewhat embarrassed and staring at the floor.

    Merchant looked at the employee pensively and said, ‘Few days back you and your fellow colleagues had come asking for an increase in salary. Because you felt you work harder than the manager. This time I gave you an assignment of the manager. Thinking you will be able to at least equal what he does, if not out-perform him. Had I sent the manager he would have got all the details without my asking and perhaps he could have answered ten more queries of mine. Basis which I could have made my purchase decision.

    Now to get all the relevant information in one go. I will again have to send someone. So, whom should I send this time?’ asked the merchant.

    The employee looked up and politely replied, ‘the manager master.’

    Moral of the story: Before we expect a higher salary or consider ourselves appropriate for a higher position. We must analyse how talented, skilled and knowledgeable we are about the assignment we are aspiring for. In this case while the jobs of employees had more of physical work the manger’s job was to gather niche information about the merchandise. But that alone helped in making purchase decisions, leading to sales, generation of revenue and profits.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US that includes Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada, Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai and Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India)

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; Available for reading in Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be the undying characteristics of Lucknow. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K.)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

RHYTHM … in poems

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day to day life. The book is available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available in Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

Short stories and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20 2020; Indica, 15.8.20; The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; Happy Days, November 15, 2020; The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15,2020; Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021;

(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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SHORT STORY: THREE REFUGEES … lessons of life

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SHORT STORY: THREE REFUGEES … lessons of life

    Once upon a time during the partition of India there were three refugees who landed up in Calcutta. The three had walked for many miles over the days and were tired and hungry. They were looking for alms as they had no money to buy food.

    As tired souls, they looked around the streets, markets and even nearby colonies. But no one provided them with either money nor food. Tired, they filled their stomach with some tap water, after which, they walked across the road, and entered a park, to rest under a tree.

    They had not, adequately, befriended themselves, even when, they were together for the last couple of days, because their focus was on, rest and food as they were tired, hungry and even sick. For them crossing the border, organizing food, water, shelter and survival was the immediate priority during the days that they had traveled together, and not so much befriending themselves.

    Their hunger was now reaching a burst point. When a group of people from a charitable organisation came up to their rescue, having realized they were refugees. They gave them a dozen bananas each. Upon receiving the bananas they were thrilled, and they started jumping in joy as if they had recovered their lost fortune.

    Soon, the first refugee, who appeared the most hungry had all the bananas in a go and burped loudly, and then decided to rest.

    The second refugee, had six out of them, and kept the balance six bananas close to his chest and decided to take some rest.

    The third refugee, after having six bananas got up with the remaining six, and told the remaining two, that he is going up to the nearby market and will return soon.

    Now see what happens:

    The first refugee who had finished all the bananas was rather puzzled at the banana-behaviour of the balance two refugees. As hitherto, they were cribbing, they were extremely hungry and could eat a man, but when they got bananas to eat, they couldn’t finish it. By now about half-an-hour had passed when he saw the third refugee walking back without bananas in his hand. Upon seeing the third refugee without bananas, number one’s inquisition started tickling him. He couldn’t resist and without waiting for the third refugee, he suddenly asked the second one.

   ‘Arrey yaar, you were so hungry but you didn’t finish all the bananas. Why are you keeping these six bananas with you?’

    The second refugee replied, ‘I have kept it for the evening. For who knows in this unknown city you might not get any charity again, so as a precaution I have kept it for my dinner.’

    ‘And, what about you? You had gone out with six bananas but now you have none with you.’ The first refugee asked the third refugee.

    ‘Well … well I ate six and sold six and now I have money for two more meals.’ Replied the third person.

    The story conveys a smart worldly message. The first refugee ate all the bananas thinking some other Good Samaritan or God perhaps will not let him go hungry. The second refugee showed a streak of saving and cautiousness for the rainy day so he ate six and kept six for dinner but the third refugee had that entrepreneurial drive so he ate six and sold six.

    Introspect, what would you have done under the circumstances?

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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