Marmik Kathayen (Stories that touch our hearts):

                              Greatness Lies in Dutifulness

As Diwan of Mysore he was on a tour of the state. In a village he suddenly fell ill. The fever ran so high that he could not get up from bed for two days. When the village doctor heard of his ill-health, he came running to look after him. Diwan recovered speedily with his intense efforts.

When the doctor took his leave, he offered him a cheque of Rs 25 as the fees. The doctor was overwhelmed. He said, "Sir, it was my great fortune that I got an opportunity to serve such a great personality as you. I do not want any fees."

Diwan insisted and forcing the doctor to accept the cheque said, "Every service offered to a man of high stature becomes a punishment for the lowly. You must always collect fees on such occasions and use this money to serve the poor free of cost. Never cure one person and charge it to others."

Such was his greatness. Where most higher ups display their importance by demanding free service and undeserved praise and attention, he believed that true dignity lies in hard-work, regularity and devotion to duty. It would be no exaggeration to say that these qualities alone raised him from an ordinary being to the highest status he earned.

He was awarded Bharat Ratna for his contributions to the development of nation. He arrived in New Delhi for the investiture ceremony. By rule all those who are awarded Bharat Ratna are considered guests of the President and stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was also invited to stay there. Dr Rajendra Prasad used to meet him every day and felt enriched in his company.

On the third day of his stay, the President saw him pack his bags to leave. He was amazed and asked him, "What are you doing? You have plans to stay on longer, haven't you?"

He replied, "Yes I have, but I shall have to stay somewhere else now. Rules say that no one can stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan longer than three days." The President insisted, "But you please stay on longer." He replied with all respect, "I understand your affection for me, but rules are the same for all big and small. If I disobey rules, wouldn't ordinary people be unhappy?" Saying so he bowed down to President and left. Despite several requests from President he stayed on elsewhere.

When the Sun and the Moon, despite rigidly following the rules that bound them, are revered and treated as deities, how can a man's value get lowered by following rules and duty. This great person was none other than Sir M. Visvesvaraya, the great engineer of our country who earned respect all over the world, not for the posts he held but for his qualities - his sincerity, earnestness, discipline and for diligent dutifulness.

Upakhyan (Anecdote):

Three travellers were crossing the hills on a long, tiresome voyage. They reached on top of a high hill and were exhausted in the heat of the sun. Their throats were parched and they needed water urgently. There was no source of water nearby except for a tiny stream somewhere deep down. On of the travellers cried out, "O God, help us, give us some water." Another cried out, "O Lord, Indra bring on some rains for us." The third person did not ask for anything. He quietly climbed down the hill, reached the bottom to the stream and satiated his thirst.

Two thirsty voices kept getting echoed in the hills beseeching help, but the third who dared to believe in his own efforts satiated himself and moved on on his journey.

SADVICHAR (Thought of the week):

If education fosters ego, laziness and immoral behavior, then it is better to remain uneducated.

SAMPARK (Contacts):
Yug Shakti Gayatri Kendra

16/2, 1st Floor, 3rd cross, 3rd Main Road,
Prakash Nagar, Bangalore 560021
Phone: 91-80-23526694
Mobile: 9844503818 / 9880679755

GATIVIDHIYAN (Activities):

• Bangalore youth group is organizing a 1-day workshop on 'Corporate Responsibilities in Spiritual Perspective' on August 26 to spread mission's message to the intellectuals in Bangalore. Please join hands with us in the organization of this workshop and make a positive contribution towards the society.

Please help us spread Pragya Sandesh as far wide as possible. Kindly encourage your friends to become members of http://groups.google.com/group/awgp_bangalore.

Please visit the All World Gayatri Pariwar site at http://www.awgp.org