|| Work
is Worship ||
Dr. Arunshankar's English version of my 7th Marathi Short story
॥ कार्यनिष्ठा ॥
“Forget it, Nana … what you say is totally
meaningless. I tell you, aphorisms like ‘Work is Worship’ are all right for
textbook lessons and moral lectures. The reality is far, far removed from them.
“Maybe these sayings were valid in a bygone era …
but at present? … no way. Wherever you look, you find everyone busy buttering
up the boss. Subservient scoundrels! Won’t put in work worth a dime … but come
time for promotion or increment, and they are all right in the vanguard!!!
It was a pleasant morning in 1981. My friend Madhu
had landed at my home quite early, fuming with indignation, and picked up an
argument with me.
Madhu Gore is my childhood chum. Right from
standard one we shared a bench in the class. Straightforward by nature, he had
a temper and could flare up instantly. Hardly a candidate for light-hearted
banter, mischief, or teasing. His parents were also regular visitors to us, and
so he was like a member of our family. Naturally, he treated my home as a safe
haven to give vent to his indignation or frustration. So whenever he landed
home in such a mood, I enjoyed playing the devil’s advocate, and never missed
an opportunity to do so.
Although Madhu was elder to me by just six months,
he addressed me as Nana. Some oddball must have once shortened our
family surname Nanivadekar to Nana. As a result, right from the
primary school, everyone who came in contact with me started calling me Nana,
right till my retirement. In a variegated country like ours, few issues must
have enjoyed such unanimity of opinion as the issue of my surname’s short
form!!
Madhu had gone a step ahead of this nickname, and
made it a practice to address my wife as Nani. If she ever joined our
argument taking his side, he used to get doubly energized. And that precisely
used to be the moment when I enjoyed playing the devil’s advocate and adding
fuel to the fire!!
I said, “Madhu, such disappointments are to be
expected once in a while … that’s life … … …c’est la vie … as the French
say.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?” roared Madhu,
“What sort of life is this? Is there no such thing as justice? Here I am
breaking my neck over coping with the workload … that too without asking the
boss for overtime !!… … Is this all in vain?”
Trying to pour oil over troubled waters, I said,
“What is the point in tearing off your hair over this? Look Madhu…, you are
doing your job conscientiously… … aren’t you? If you don’t get promotion this
time, you will definitely get it next time. Your boss will have to take notice
of you one day! Each and everyone is not working just for the salary… … … are
they?”
Just then, Nani appeared with breakfast trays to
join Madhu in the argument. “Madhu is right,” she declared. “Nowadays no one
cares for honest hard workers. The rot has spread to our bank too... … What
else can you do, except make fun of us? Eat your breakfast now …!! or else it would
get cold.”
Sensing support, Madhu got second wind. Stuffing
his mouth, he roared, “What’s the use of being a beast of burden? Besides, this
‘next time’ of yours … who the hell can tell whether it will arrive at all? …
and if it will, as you say,…then WHEN ? What do you say, Nani… … …,
am I not right?”
I said, “You see, Madhu, man is a creature who is
not satisfied with salary alone. Besides salary, he also needs the joy and
pleasure associated with his work. Granted, that the extent may vary from
person to person … … but it is never zero. Haven’t you received
this pleasure in plenty…um?... … Then why worry? For the boss also, his
colleague’s dedication to work is very valuable… make no mistake about that. !!
And only such dedicated workers distinguish themselves. Servile people can
never enjoy this sort of satisfaction!!”
“What nonsense do you talk!” erupted Madhu.
“Are you living in the age of Ramayana?
In this Kaliyug everyone is hankering after money … that’s all.! ‘Dedication to
work’… and all that, is sheer humbug!!! … Have you noticed it anywhere? Can YOU
show me just one example of it?... …Can you?... … eh?”
As Madhu paused for breath, Nani called me from the
Kitchen, “Do you hear?...Kaka is calling you … please see what he wants!”
Kaka means my father. Everyone at home, including
Nani, called him Kaka. A farmer by vocation, he was well versed in all arts and
sciences. From creative arts to cobbling, he could do anything … and do it to
impeccable perfection too!!
Suddenly, an idea flashed across my mind… …Turning
to Madhu, I said, “You want to see a live example of “work is worship”… don’t
you? Come… … have a look with your own eyes.”
I also called out to Nani, who came with the ladle
still in her hand. The dialogue that followed was this:
I: “Why is Kaka calling me? What does he want?”
Nani: “You see, he was about to visit the toilet early
in the morning … but the latch was not sliding home properly … so he has been
repairing it since then.”
I: “How long has he been at it?”
Nani: “Maybe for a couple of hours or so.”
I caught Madhu by the arm and dragged him in.
Kaka was about to complete his latch repair work.
With great concentration he was tightening the last couple of screws home.
I: “Why did you call, Kaka? What is it that you
want?”
Kaka: “Tell me… …since when has this latch been out
of order… um? You know well that it can’t be left like this… … can it?”
I: “Yes… you are right Kaka…but somehow I didn’t
get the time to repair it.”
Kaka: “Is that so?... … … And you have been
carrying on just like THIS?... Great heavens!! Mercy I noticed it
before I entered the toilet.”
I: “Well… …have you finished? Because I
want to visit the toilet now.”
Kaka: “Wait!!... Let me go first.!!!...
… I have been struggling with this latch since morning!!!!”
I merely looked at Madhu… … …
Having witnessed
Kaka’s total dedication to the work in hand, oblivious of
even Nature’s call, Madhu was dumb-struck… … … slapped his forehead in
awe, and bolted home even before I could turn around and size up Nani. !!!!!
*********************************************************************
DR.
ARUNSHANKAR.
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