Which is better?

"ABCD party calls for statewide Hartal next Friday", Vinodh read the newspaper headline. His face turned pale, as another Friday holiday meant another day of PT period gone in school. Vinodh is the captain of the school football team and is touted to be a future Football star. Though he had his daily training sessions from the coach, the boy still in his eighth standard loved to play with his classmates in the PT period. "Why do these people call for bandhs only on Fridays?", he thought. After skimming the dozen and half pages of the newspaper almost at the speed of Chitti(The Robot), he concluded that newspapers are not having anything interesting these days barring the full page promotional ads. With nothing interesting to do on a boring Saturday morning, Vinodh opened his drawing book and started to sketch.

"Da Vinodh! Close that useless drawing book and study your lessons. I heard from Sunil's mother that you have your monthly tests from Monday. I also learnt that Sunil got the first rank in the quarterly exams! What have you got? A worthless tenth rank! He is also like you right? His Mom told that Sunil studies for five to six hours everyday after school. That is how students should be, especially when they are nearing the Board exams and not wasting time like you in doing trivial things", lectured Vinodh's mother. Vinodh got irritated and angry, not with his mother, but with Sunil who actually didn't do any harm to him directly. From that day, Vinodh visualised Sunil as his No.1 enemy, whenever his Mom talked about Sunil and compared them.

Comparison, thus could be the triggering point of enemity, jealousy and the feel of pessimism. I am not sure, whether the tendency to compare is inculcated in our genes by Lord Brahma during the development process. But the comparison process is seen immediately after the product release aka a baby's birth. "Lachchu! The baby is fair and cute but not that fair as Karna's daughter. You know how beautiful the baby is? Probably you didn't get Kumkumapoo for your daughter-in-law as I told. Anyways congrats di Amma!"

Another random conversation that we could hear very often in this time of the year would be " That tall fellow got a rating of 4.6, whereas I am given only 4.59. How come? I will surely go to the HR and demand an explanation for this atrocity. After all, I stay more hours in office than him" Thus from LKG marks to ratings to Dowry(sorry to say, but learnt that it is also compared) people attribute success in something only if they have gained more when compared to others or they start feeling jealous of the so called successful one.

Though there is no denial that we evolve by relating ourselves with others and comparing how good or bad we are, it should also be remembered that what is easy for Tom may not be that easy for Harry and each has their own way.

Who knows Sunil might have been scolded by his mom for not indulging himself in sports like Vinodh. After all, we sadly believe that we and our closer ones are faring poorer compared to our neighbours and other relatives. I am waiting for the day when we understand that everyone/everything is different and hence stop comparing with the so called successful ones.

My sincere advice is 'Why don't you start this journey towards realisation by not trying to compare this post with my previous posts. After all, this post is different from the other so called 'good' posts of mine :)'.

Ekalavya

Recently I got a chance to go through an article in a popular magazine about the transplantation of an arm to an Army Officer from Afghanistan, who lost his arm in a mine blast there. Kudos to the doctors who performed the miracle. Gaining inspiration from that article, I wish to  submit this blog for you.

Arjuna, the champion in the art of archery, came to know about a tribal boy, who has mastered the art all of himself without the guidance of a Guru. It is widely spoken that if he was allowed to practice in such a way further, one day he would beat Arjuna himself. The Prince of Hasthinapura spent sleepless nights over that issue and atlast brought it to the notice of his Guru Dronacharya.

Guru Dronacharya and his disciple set for the woods to meet the young boy. There they could meet him practicing archery. Everytime he succeeded in his attempt to hit his target, he came near a statue made of clay and bowed before it. Drona and Arjuna went near the youngster and praised him for his mastery in the use of bow and arrows. They wanted to know whose statue was that before whom he bowed every time he succeeded in his attempts. The lad disclosed that it was of his manaseeka guru, the great Dronacharya, whom he had had no chance to meet even once. Drona was very delighted to hear that. He hugged the young lad, patted on his back, though he was hatching a plot to undo that poor lad.

"Dear son! I am that Dronacharya, you wish to meet. I am your Manasekaguru whom you worship and I have come here to bless you in person that you shall mature into a good archer and nobody can beat you in this field. By the by your good name my boy?" Drona pretended as if he had much liking for the lad.

" I am Ekalavya. The son of the forest.". Ekalvya was very much astonished to see his guru by his side. He fell at his guru's feet. He was ready to do anything for his guru. Drona told that he was pleased with his performance with the bow and arrow and it was time for him to get blessings from the guru for which he has to offer Guru Dakshina. Whatever the guru asked for should be given as guru Dakshina; then only the blessings of the guru might befall on him and lead him to the heights of glory.

The archer was ready to offer anything the guru would ask for. Drona connived with Arjuna and thought that the young fellow henceforth should not handle his bow and arrows. Hence he asked for the young man's right thumb as guru dakshina. The poor young man could not grasp the ill effects of the demand and without any hesitation cut hs right thumb and offered it to his guru.

A jubiliant Drona with his desciple Arjuna left for Hasthinapura. Arjuna was relieved as he thought that one of his foes was destroyed and he could sleep peacefully thereafter.

After a couple of months, Drona happened to pass through the woods whereby he happened to meet Ekalavya. Ekalavya, as a mark of respect, fell at his feet and asked for blessings. Drona embraced him and enquired  about his archery training. "Perhaps you might have given up archery as you have lost your right thumb" Drona quipped.

"No Sir! I am performing much better than earlier"replied Ekalavya.

" How on earth can you do it without your right thumb? asked Drona.

" Simple Sir. Now I am having a new thumb in my right hand in place of the one you haven taken from me.Thanks to Medical Science and the ardent Medical Practitioners, now I am provided with a thumb donated by a dying patient, grafted to my right hand and it suits me better to practice my archery".

The Great Dronacharya's head sank in shame.