THINKING ALOUD
Every little squirrel helps in its own way
Sudheendra Kulkarni
Posted online: Sunday, May 13, 2007 at 0000 hrs
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/30786.html
“When I saw the Amrita Sethu, my memory went back to Rameshwaram. It is said that Lord Rama ordered the construction of a bridge at Rameshwaram Dhanushkody. His vanaras [monkeys] built the bridge in time for Rama’s troops to go to Lanka for waging the war against the evil Ravana, as mentioned in the Ramayana. Satellite pictures show that the remnants of a bridge still exist between Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka.”
Who said this? President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on December 20, 2006, when he inaugurated a unique seva project called ‘Amrita Sethu’ in Kerala. Inspired by Mata Amritananamayi (‘Amma’ or the ‘Hugging Mother’), thousands of her devotees had built, through voluntary effort, a bridge connecting Alappad Panchayat with the mainland. Alappad had witnessed massive devastation after the tsunami of 2004, with nearly 150 deaths. The bridge would help quick evacuation of its 25,000 residents in the event of a future calamity.
The president then said something deeply touching. “I have seen, in my younger days, how the Rameshwaram cyclones shattered the dreams of my father, a boat builder. So, friends, as a boatman’s son, I can understand this bridge’s importance. Amma has a noble mission. Every time I come to Amritapuri, I have found a unique thing. That is, give, go on giving. In giving, one gets pleasure, happiness, anand [bliss]. It’s not only money. You can share knowledge. You can remove the pain. And you can even go to the person who is suffering. Every one of us — the rich and poor — can give.”
Now we know why Dr. Kalam, a ‘People’s President’, has become one of the most popular occupants of the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan. If the people of India, and not just our MPs and MLAs, had a say in electing the next president, he would surely secure a second term with an overwhelming majority. But this column is neither about the politics of the upcoming presidential election nor about the current debate over Ram Sethu in Tamil Nadu. Rather, it is about that profound ethic of “giving”, best explained by the little story in the Ramayana about a little squirrel’s contribution to the construction of the mighty bridge to Lanka.
When Hanuman’s vaanar sena was busy building the bridge, a squirrel was seen doing something funny: rolling herself in the sand and then shaking off her body to deposit sand particles amongst rocks brought by the monkeys. When asked, she said, “I am making my own small contribution to build the bridge for ending the injustice against Sita.” The monkeys roared in mocking laughter: “We have never heard anything so foolish.” Seeing this, Rama remarked, “Blessed be the little squirrel. She is doing her work to the best of her ability. Therefore, she is quite as great as the greatest of you. Never despise those that are not as strong as you. What truly matters is not the strength one has, but the love and devotion with which one works.” Then he gently stroked the squirrel on the back, and it is believed that the marks of Rama’s three fingers are still seen on the squirrel’s back.
This story is cherished by all Indians except those who are not proud of their nation’s cultural and spiritual heritage. It is so much a part of India’s rich folklore that nearly every Indian language has a phrase to extol it. In Kannada, it is ‘alilu seve’ (squirrel’s service). In Marathi, it is ‘khaaricha vaata’ (squirrel’s contribution). Sadly, as our folk traditions get rapidly eroded by fake modernity, our ruling elite also seems to have rejected the moral of the squirrel’s story. In India’s current efforts to build a bridge to a brighter and more prosperous future, only the contribution of big companies and billionaire businessmen gets applauded.
Nobody cares for the “small” men and women toiling in their fields, factories, workshops etc. Neither is their “giving” acknowledged, nor are they getting their due share in the benefits of what they are building.
For example, when is the last time you saw a prime minister talking to the cart-puller in a busy bazaar? Do any of our business tycoons ever lend a helping hand to the sweeper cleaning their offices and homes? I have often seen arrogant political leaders, who give sanctimonious speeches on party building and nation building but treat their own ordinary karyakartas like dirt. Do we — you and I — talk to our chaiwala politely as we discuss the nation’s economic or security policy? Do we all really believe that every Indian, howsoever small, should have an honoured place in our society? Point is: there are ‘human squirrels’ all around us, but they are not made to feel that they too are making a valuable contribution. Despite talk of “inclusive growth”, there is little effort to promote an inclusive mentality. India can become a great nation only when the rich build bridges with the poor —emotionally, socially, and spiritually — and when all Indians are motivated by the culture of giving, with love and devotion.
Who said this? President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on December 20, 2006, when he inaugurated a unique seva project called ‘Amrita Sethu’ in Kerala. Inspired by Mata Amritananamayi (‘Amma’ or the ‘Hugging Mother’), thousands of her devotees had built, through voluntary effort, a bridge connecting Alappad Panchayat with the mainland. Alappad had witnessed massive devastation after the tsunami of 2004, with nearly 150 deaths. The bridge would help quick evacuation of its 25,000 residents in the event of a future calamity.
The president then said something deeply touching. “I have seen, in my younger days, how the Rameshwaram cyclones shattered the dreams of my father, a boat builder. So, friends, as a boatman’s son, I can understand this bridge’s importance. Amma has a noble mission. Every time I come to Amritapuri, I have found a unique thing. That is, give, go on giving. In giving, one gets pleasure, happiness, anand [bliss]. It’s not only money. You can share knowledge. You can remove the pain. And you can even go to the person who is suffering. Every one of us — the rich and poor — can give.”
Now we know why Dr. Kalam, a ‘People’s President’, has become one of the most popular occupants of the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan. If the people of India, and not just our MPs and MLAs, had a say in electing the next president, he would surely secure a second term with an overwhelming majority. But this column is neither about the politics of the upcoming presidential election nor about the current debate over Ram Sethu in Tamil Nadu. Rather, it is about that profound ethic of “giving”, best explained by the little story in the Ramayana about a little squirrel’s contribution to the construction of the mighty bridge to Lanka.
When Hanuman’s vaanar sena was busy building the bridge, a squirrel was seen doing something funny: rolling herself in the sand and then shaking off her body to deposit sand particles amongst rocks brought by the monkeys. When asked, she said, “I am making my own small contribution to build the bridge for ending the injustice against Sita.” The monkeys roared in mocking laughter: “We have never heard anything so foolish.” Seeing this, Rama remarked, “Blessed be the little squirrel. She is doing her work to the best of her ability. Therefore, she is quite as great as the greatest of you. Never despise those that are not as strong as you. What truly matters is not the strength one has, but the love and devotion with which one works.” Then he gently stroked the squirrel on the back, and it is believed that the marks of Rama’s three fingers are still seen on the squirrel’s back.
This story is cherished by all Indians except those who are not proud of their nation’s cultural and spiritual heritage. It is so much a part of India’s rich folklore that nearly every Indian language has a phrase to extol it. In Kannada, it is ‘alilu seve’ (squirrel’s service). In Marathi, it is ‘khaaricha vaata’ (squirrel’s contribution). Sadly, as our folk traditions get rapidly eroded by fake modernity, our ruling elite also seems to have rejected the moral of the squirrel’s story. In India’s current efforts to build a bridge to a brighter and more prosperous future, only the contribution of big companies and billionaire businessmen gets applauded.
Nobody cares for the “small” men and women toiling in their fields, factories, workshops etc. Neither is their “giving” acknowledged, nor are they getting their due share in the benefits of what they are building.
For example, when is the last time you saw a prime minister talking to the cart-puller in a busy bazaar? Do any of our business tycoons ever lend a helping hand to the sweeper cleaning their offices and homes? I have often seen arrogant political leaders, who give sanctimonious speeches on party building and nation building but treat their own ordinary karyakartas like dirt. Do we — you and I — talk to our chaiwala politely as we discuss the nation’s economic or security policy? Do we all really believe that every Indian, howsoever small, should have an honoured place in our society? Point is: there are ‘human squirrels’ all around us, but they are not made to feel that they too are making a valuable contribution. Despite talk of “inclusive growth”, there is little effort to promote an inclusive mentality. India can become a great nation only when the rich build bridges with the poor —emotionally, socially, and spiritually — and when all Indians are motivated by the culture of giving, with love and devotion.