HONESTY PAYS
This real-life incident speaks volumes of the fact that the world is still a better place to live, on account of good people. Lest, the world would have become extinct by now. The irony lies in the surge in the crime rate and the various atrocities committed by the human race on itself.
The incident dates back to 15 years from now, in the month of June 1993 when my parents had been to Vizag, the steel city of Andhra Pradesh, to attend the wedding of my paternal uncle’s son. This trip was the last my parents made together, since my dad passed away after a year of the wedding. Hence this trip has fond memories, for an indelible mark left on me, although I never got to travel with them on account of my Post-Graduate exams.
Let me share with you the mindset of my dad who detested accepting anything from any body, be it his own people. But he was always a giver. Coming back to the incident, my parents attended the wedding and came back to Hyderabad, with loads of stuff, of which sweets and clothes dominated the weight of the entire parcel from the wedding venue. My dad had no other option but to accept the gifts from my uncle, since it was his disposition not to hurt anyone with his ‘NO’.
My parents hired a taxi from the railway station and came back home, and to their utter surprise, without the gift bag. It was just luggage in the real sense to my dad, since he accepted it just to please his dear brother, and was bearing the burden of unwanted stuff on his shoulder. My dad was very upset, and I remember the conversation between we two had. He said: “ This serves me right, I took the gifts half-heartedly and now as ill-luck would have it, lost it even before I thanked my brother for his kind gesture”. I told him “Take it easy papa. Don’t worry, the person who would have got it will make merry. Anyways, it is your innate nature to help people. Look at it as an indirect means to extend help. The finder will make good with the sweets and new clothes too”.
After this dialogue between us, we got back to our routine schedule. I remember going to college that day and saw my dad home, upon returning. It was most unlikely to see my dad home at that hour of the day. My mom told me that he was preoccupied with the sorrow of the lost luggage and was feeling miserable of having lost it. It was not for the contents, but for the mere fact that he took it unwillingly and that feeling perpetrated to make it actually happen. I tried to share his sorrow and just hinted to him that we go and have a look at the place where my parents boarded the taxi. Although we knew the effort was a wild goose chase, we thought it was not a bad idea to at least try, and then call it quits. I remember it was in the month of June when the first monsoon showers have just arrived and it started pouring. We two got on to his scooter and headed towards the railway station. Dad was carrying Rs. 500/- in his pocket, of which he spent Rs. 100/- on his petrol on our way to the railway station.
We reached the railway station, thoroughly drenched. My dad started looking for a bearded taxi driver, since his beard was the most distinguishing feature in his countenance. Finally, he could locate the taxi driver. As it was still raining, the taxi driver asked both of us to be seated in his taxi. We both got in and sat in the rear seat, wiping our wet heads with a hanky. The driver sat in the driver’s seat and my dad started narrating the episode when the driver picked them up and dropped them to their destination. The driver was all ears when my dad was describing the looks of the bag. He then asked my dad to bend a little and grope for the bag under the seat. I still cherish the expression of content on my dad’s face, which was synonymous of having won a losing battle. My dad could not believe his eyes, grew so ecstatic and thanked the driver profusely for his noble gesture. He placed his hand inside his pocket and pulled out four hundred rupee notes and gave them to the taxi driver, in appreciation to his honesty. I remember that he also made a mention that it is because of good and honest people like him, there is still goodness on this earth. I too thanked him and wished him good luck. The driver looked happy and cheerful upon handing over the bag to us.
We came home with a sense of victory and I remember the first words my dad said upon reaching home. He told mom, “The Rs.400/- I gifted the taxi driver him does not in any way commensurate with the intrinsic and emotional value of the contents. These were the items presented by my dear brother to share his happiness on his son’s wedding and I have got them back, with the grace of God. The taxi driver could have relished the sweets, took them home and sold the new clothes. I admire the honesty in him, when he found the unattended parcel in the railway station in the morning and kept it untouched till late evening. It is because of such just people that there is still life on earth”. He then called up his brother and narrated the entire incident and thanked him for his gifts.
This incident although did not happen as part of a journey, was a journey towards humanity and the progress of honesty as the biggest virtue of mankind. I now believe that it is not the taxi driver’s beard that stands out to recognize him, but his honesty which sets him apart from the rest of the crowd.
MAY GOD BLESS THE HONEST AND THE JUST
SINCE THEY ARE BUT A FEW
BUT ON WHOSE SHOULDERS, THE ENTIRE BURDEN
OF THE EARTH THRUST
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Real Life Incident During Travel
Nature's Philosophy
The supreme creation of God Almighty is Nature. The all-pervasive nature manifests itself in many forms and has a lot to offer to mortals. It teaches mankind the essence of life. This article is the juxtaposition of all the forms of nature and the aspects of life which one has to learn from it. The expansive blue sky teaches us that the love of God is boundless and unfathomable. the Sun depicts the brightness and energy of life while the cool moonlight is the solace and tranquility one looks forward to and enjoys. The trees teach us to be attached to our roots. No matter how big one grows, he should be grounded to his principles and then only will the tree bear fruit and man will get his desired results. The colorful flowers in full bloom teach man that the superficial beauty is short lived, when they finally wither. Birds flying in the sky denote the freedom one wants to enjoy, breaking all the shackles of encumberances. The chirping of birds teaches us that life is musical and should be enjoyed with full blast. The intermittent rains teach humans that blessings from above come in small packages, but are always bestowed on us by Him, when the time is ripe. The untiring flowing river teaches us to continue toiling, without bowing down or yielding to pressure/obstacles posed by huge rocks in its flowing path. The shedding of leaves in autumn clearly reinforces the fact that there is always a brighter tomorrow, awaiting us when the tree bears new leaves in spring. The once peaceful ocean which suddenly transforms into a turbulent storm warns humans about the perils of taking things for granted.
Mother Teresa - An Embodiment of Universal Peace
Mother Teresa - An Apostle of Love, Compassion and Universal Brotherhood.
Mother Teresa - A Brief Insight…..
Mother Teresa, originally named as Agnes Gonxha Bojadziu in Latin was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun, with Indian citizenship. She was the founder of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950. She was a renowned humanitarian whose untiring efforts brought the poor, destitute, sick and dying people into her open arms through her charitable missionaries.
Her Early Years….
Agnes Gonxha (meaning "rosebud" in Albanian) was born on Aug 26th 1910, in Skopje, the present capital of the Republic of Macedonia, to Nikola (father) and Dranafile (mother). While Nikola who was involved in Albanian politics died in 1919, Agnes and her only elder sister were raised by their mother as Roman Catholics.
An analogy between Rose Bud and the inherent characteristics of Mother Teresa….
The natural characteristics of a rose bud namely its color and fragrance are synonymous to the innate characteristics of Mother Teresa. The fragrance of the rose is synonymous with the acclaim she earned worldwide for rendering philanthropic services to mankind. She made her presence felt to the needy by offering her frail shoulders for them to rest their worries on and finally solving them through her self-less service. The beauty of the color of the rose is juxtaposed to efforts made by Mother to make this world a better place to live in, through her unconditional love and care to the needy.
In sharp contrast to her frail body, she had a rock hard faith in her capability in uplifting the lives of the unloved and unwanted people to which she attached utmost importance. She opined that satiating hungry pangs of the poor is only momentary since hunger resurfaces again. In contrast, addressing the problem of unwanted, deserted and unloved people by offering a helping hand has long standing positive effects. Hence she was more inclined towards caring for the unloved and destitute.
The inspiration behind missionaries……..
Written sources about her life have mentioned that stories of lives of missionaries and their nature of service were instrumental in inspiring her to serve mankind. The influence of these stories left an indelible mark on the 12 year old Agnes that at such a tender age she committed herself whole-heartedly to a religious and disciplined life, dedicated to the lives of the needy. When she was 18 years old, she left home and joined the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary. The biographies also mention that she never met her mother and elder sister.
The call from within…..
The 10th of September 1946 bears utmost significance in the life of Mother. Her decision to dedicate her life to serve mankind was prompted by a revelation which she refers to as “call from within”. This was an order from the Almighty to surrender herself to the benefit of mankind. She had to obey it, lest it would tantamount to breaking the faith in Almighty. Hence this eventful day marks the journey of Mother to universal brotherhood, when she responded to the call from within.
Missionaries spread their wings wide……….
What started as the first Home for the Dying in 1952 in the city of Calcutta with 13 members then, the number of missionaries increased manifold to account for a phenomenal 4,000 nuns running orphanages, AIDS hospitals and charity centers world-wide. The year 1955 saw the birth of Nirmala Shishu Sadan, a home exclusively making place for lost children and shaped up as a haven for orphans and homeless children. By 1960, the missionaries made their presence felt in all the spheres of human service. This paved way for many recruits and charitable donations to support the causes of the missionaries. The year 1963 saw the birth of Missionaries of Charity Brothers, in an attempt to support the physical and spiritual needs of the poor. Two years later in 1965, the missionaries gained a strong foothold in many countries like Rome, Tanzania, Austria and in many parts of Asia, Africa, Europe and the US. By 1996, Mother Teresa was operating 517 missionaries in more than 100 countries. Over the years, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity grew from 12 to thousands serving the “poorest of the poor” in 450 centers around the world.
Awards and Criticisms….
It is but natural for successful people to experience the prick of the double-edged weapon namely ‘Popularity’. Criticism is the price such people pay for all the acclaim they earn as a result of their noble deeds.
The Laurels…….
1. Mother Teresa was conferred the Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 1962.
2. She received the Phillipines-based Ramon Magsaysay Award, in 1962 for her work in South East Asia.
3. The first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize was conferred to her by Paul VI, in 1971.
4. She garnered acclaim through the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1972.
5. Mother was a receiver of Terri’s Award in 1976.
6. The notable Nobel Peace Prize was conferred to her in 1979, honoring her work. She received a cash prize of $192,000 which was utilized to cater to the needs of the poor.
7. The prestigious Bharat Ratna, referred as India’s highest civilian award was presented to her in 1980.
8. Mother Teresa became a humanitarian with international recognition she gained through the President Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House Ceremony in 1985.
Other civilian awards include: the Balzan Prize promoting humanity, peace brotherhood in the year 1978 and the Albert Schweitzer International Prize in 1975.
When asked to comment on the above recognitions, Mother opined that these were dedicated to the glory of God and in the name of the poor.
A solution to world peace……..
When asked “what can we do to promote world peace?” Mother replied, “Go home and love your family”. This response speaks volumes of the fact that efforts to maintain peace in a small minuscule fragment of the world like a family, will trigger off a global peace revolution.
The criticisms…….
Although Mother Teresa gained recognition worldwide, she was not spared of her bitter experiences with criticisms in the form of brickbats from her then critics. David Scott opined that Mother Teresa focused exclusively on keeping people alive without addressing the root cause of all miseries: namely poverty. The British Medical Journal disapproved of the quality of care offered to terminally ill patients in the Homes of the Dying, citing the poor living conditions. Mother was criticized for misappropriating funds received as donations aimed to support the poor being diverted to other projects.
Words straight from her heart……..
These words are a manifestation of the deep-sense of humane character of Mother Teresa.
“Keep the joy of loving the poor and share this joy with all you meet. Remember works of love are works of peace. God Bless You”.
“It is only by mental prayer and spiritual reading that we can cultivate the gift of prayer”.
“God still loves the poor and He sends you and me to be His love and His compassion to the poor”.
The last days of Mother…..
Mother Teresa suffered a heart attack in Rome in 1983, enroute her visit to Pope John Paul II. She was put on an artificial pacemaker following her second attack in 1989. The year 1991 saw further deterioration in her health when she suffered a bout of pneumonia. In 1996, bouts of malaria and failure of the left heart ventricle worsened her condition when she came under the knife of a surgeon for a heart surgery. But in vain……. Disease had the better of Mother, the apostle of love when she succumbed to it on September 5th 1997. This event brought the end of the compassionate era of a lady who can rightly be called the Mother of all the needy people. As the saying goes “GOD COULD NOT BE EVERYWHERE AND THEREFORE HE CREATED MOTHERS” is very apt in her case.
Mother Teresa - A Brief Insight…..
Mother Teresa, originally named as Agnes Gonxha Bojadziu in Latin was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun, with Indian citizenship. She was the founder of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950. She was a renowned humanitarian whose untiring efforts brought the poor, destitute, sick and dying people into her open arms through her charitable missionaries.
Her Early Years….
Agnes Gonxha (meaning "rosebud" in Albanian) was born on Aug 26th 1910, in Skopje, the present capital of the Republic of Macedonia, to Nikola (father) and Dranafile (mother). While Nikola who was involved in Albanian politics died in 1919, Agnes and her only elder sister were raised by their mother as Roman Catholics.
An analogy between Rose Bud and the inherent characteristics of Mother Teresa….
The natural characteristics of a rose bud namely its color and fragrance are synonymous to the innate characteristics of Mother Teresa. The fragrance of the rose is synonymous with the acclaim she earned worldwide for rendering philanthropic services to mankind. She made her presence felt to the needy by offering her frail shoulders for them to rest their worries on and finally solving them through her self-less service. The beauty of the color of the rose is juxtaposed to efforts made by Mother to make this world a better place to live in, through her unconditional love and care to the needy.
In sharp contrast to her frail body, she had a rock hard faith in her capability in uplifting the lives of the unloved and unwanted people to which she attached utmost importance. She opined that satiating hungry pangs of the poor is only momentary since hunger resurfaces again. In contrast, addressing the problem of unwanted, deserted and unloved people by offering a helping hand has long standing positive effects. Hence she was more inclined towards caring for the unloved and destitute.
The inspiration behind missionaries……..
Written sources about her life have mentioned that stories of lives of missionaries and their nature of service were instrumental in inspiring her to serve mankind. The influence of these stories left an indelible mark on the 12 year old Agnes that at such a tender age she committed herself whole-heartedly to a religious and disciplined life, dedicated to the lives of the needy. When she was 18 years old, she left home and joined the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary. The biographies also mention that she never met her mother and elder sister.
The call from within…..
The 10th of September 1946 bears utmost significance in the life of Mother. Her decision to dedicate her life to serve mankind was prompted by a revelation which she refers to as “call from within”. This was an order from the Almighty to surrender herself to the benefit of mankind. She had to obey it, lest it would tantamount to breaking the faith in Almighty. Hence this eventful day marks the journey of Mother to universal brotherhood, when she responded to the call from within.
Missionaries spread their wings wide……….
What started as the first Home for the Dying in 1952 in the city of Calcutta with 13 members then, the number of missionaries increased manifold to account for a phenomenal 4,000 nuns running orphanages, AIDS hospitals and charity centers world-wide. The year 1955 saw the birth of Nirmala Shishu Sadan, a home exclusively making place for lost children and shaped up as a haven for orphans and homeless children. By 1960, the missionaries made their presence felt in all the spheres of human service. This paved way for many recruits and charitable donations to support the causes of the missionaries. The year 1963 saw the birth of Missionaries of Charity Brothers, in an attempt to support the physical and spiritual needs of the poor. Two years later in 1965, the missionaries gained a strong foothold in many countries like Rome, Tanzania, Austria and in many parts of Asia, Africa, Europe and the US. By 1996, Mother Teresa was operating 517 missionaries in more than 100 countries. Over the years, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity grew from 12 to thousands serving the “poorest of the poor” in 450 centers around the world.
Awards and Criticisms….
It is but natural for successful people to experience the prick of the double-edged weapon namely ‘Popularity’. Criticism is the price such people pay for all the acclaim they earn as a result of their noble deeds.
The Laurels…….
1. Mother Teresa was conferred the Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 1962.
2. She received the Phillipines-based Ramon Magsaysay Award, in 1962 for her work in South East Asia.
3. The first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize was conferred to her by Paul VI, in 1971.
4. She garnered acclaim through the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1972.
5. Mother was a receiver of Terri’s Award in 1976.
6. The notable Nobel Peace Prize was conferred to her in 1979, honoring her work. She received a cash prize of $192,000 which was utilized to cater to the needs of the poor.
7. The prestigious Bharat Ratna, referred as India’s highest civilian award was presented to her in 1980.
8. Mother Teresa became a humanitarian with international recognition she gained through the President Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House Ceremony in 1985.
Other civilian awards include: the Balzan Prize promoting humanity, peace brotherhood in the year 1978 and the Albert Schweitzer International Prize in 1975.
When asked to comment on the above recognitions, Mother opined that these were dedicated to the glory of God and in the name of the poor.
A solution to world peace……..
When asked “what can we do to promote world peace?” Mother replied, “Go home and love your family”. This response speaks volumes of the fact that efforts to maintain peace in a small minuscule fragment of the world like a family, will trigger off a global peace revolution.
The criticisms…….
Although Mother Teresa gained recognition worldwide, she was not spared of her bitter experiences with criticisms in the form of brickbats from her then critics. David Scott opined that Mother Teresa focused exclusively on keeping people alive without addressing the root cause of all miseries: namely poverty. The British Medical Journal disapproved of the quality of care offered to terminally ill patients in the Homes of the Dying, citing the poor living conditions. Mother was criticized for misappropriating funds received as donations aimed to support the poor being diverted to other projects.
Words straight from her heart……..
These words are a manifestation of the deep-sense of humane character of Mother Teresa.
“Keep the joy of loving the poor and share this joy with all you meet. Remember works of love are works of peace. God Bless You”.
“It is only by mental prayer and spiritual reading that we can cultivate the gift of prayer”.
“God still loves the poor and He sends you and me to be His love and His compassion to the poor”.
The last days of Mother…..
Mother Teresa suffered a heart attack in Rome in 1983, enroute her visit to Pope John Paul II. She was put on an artificial pacemaker following her second attack in 1989. The year 1991 saw further deterioration in her health when she suffered a bout of pneumonia. In 1996, bouts of malaria and failure of the left heart ventricle worsened her condition when she came under the knife of a surgeon for a heart surgery. But in vain……. Disease had the better of Mother, the apostle of love when she succumbed to it on September 5th 1997. This event brought the end of the compassionate era of a lady who can rightly be called the Mother of all the needy people. As the saying goes “GOD COULD NOT BE EVERYWHERE AND THEREFORE HE CREATED MOTHERS” is very apt in her case.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)