Happiness of life

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It is a story, which may pause us a while, to take one breath and think about the real purpose of the hectic run in our lives. Following is a simple conversation between a poor fisherman and a high end Management professional.

A tourist from Mumbai was traveling in a houseboat in Kerala backwaters. He saw one small boat docked in the backwaters near a small village. Mumbai tourist complimented fisherman on the quality of kerala fish varieties, taste etc... and asked how long it take him to catch them.

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Fisherman - "Not very long Sir, just 2-3 hours”

Tourist - "But then, why don't you stay out longer and catch more?”

Fisherman – “ Its enough sir” He explained that his small catch is sufficient to meet his needs and of his family.

Tourist - " But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Fisherman – giggled, “Nothing hard sir, I sleep to late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. At evenings, I go to the village road to see my friends, often a bit drink, and sing few songs... that’s all sir” I have a full life and enjoying."

Tourist - “If you don’t bother, may I help you in some way?”

Fisherman - “Sure sir”

Tourist - “I have a Masters Degree from the reputed Indian Institute of Management, and I can help you which improve your life in a great way.

Fisherman – “Sure sir, it is my pleasure and I am lucky”

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Tourist - You should start by fishing longer every day, you can then catch and sell more fish. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

Fisherman – “Nice sir, then?"

Tourist – (engrossed) - "With the extra money you can buy a larger boat., you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of even trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants or wholesalers and even can be your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Cochin, or even to Mumbai. From there you can export your fish and can manage a huge new enterprise."

Fisherman - "Superb sir, How long it would take sir?"

Tourist - "Fifteen, perhaps twenty or twenty years"

Fisherman - "Then sir?"

Tourist - “After….? mmmm, well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting,” sniggered the tourist, "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make great money, you can be a millionaire, then billionaire, and you can have airplanes your own.. a lot more…..and you will gradually learn …what all big businessmen do…

Fisherman - "Millions!! Really? Then sir?"

Tourist – Little confused, but filled anyway.. "Then you'll be able to retire, buy some land and live in a small village near the backwaters, Sleep late, play with your children, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings doing what you like with your buddies. etc… etc… a peaceful life"

Fisherman - "With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what I am doing now. So what's the point wasting 20-25 Years?" asked the fisherman.

And the moral of the story is? Know where you're going in life. Check, whether you may already be somewhere around.

Take it as a story only, but seems thinkable….. Life in the present world is indeed a rat race. Many who have good credentials too do not know where they are going in life.

Comment please….

Courtesey – Email –Jinu Jose - Melbourne

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Chanakya-worthy quotes

Chanakya was an Indian politician, strategist and a writer (350 BC -275 BC). Recently I have gone through his marvelous book “Arthsasthra”. Superb!!!. I don’t think, we have a writer now, like him. His visions attuned with any era irrespective of changes in civilizations.
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Let me list some of them.

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Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions,
Why am I doing it,
What the results might be?
Will I be successful?
Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead

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There is some self-interest behind every friendship!... There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth?

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A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.

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Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous

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The biggest guru-mantra (the most valuable advice from your educator) is, Never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.

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As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it

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Once you start working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest

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The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind, But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.

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Whores don't live in company of poor men, people never support a weak company and birds don't build nests on a tree that doesn't bear fruits

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God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple

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A man is great by deeds, not by birth

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Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness

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Treat your kid like a dear for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends

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Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth

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