“DOING NOTHING” - THE MOST DIFFICULT
TASK ! ! !
After a huge
gap, I decided to publish a blog once again today. (The page was dormant for
almost 18 months). The
immediate provocation (?) was a video (a repeat, though) in a whatsApp about doing nothing. Having entered
the ‘retirement’ phase of life couple of years back, I know, more than anybody
else, how difficult it is to stay
home, and do nothing..... ! I was reminded of this beautiful story of this
‘Saamiyaar’ (Swami Ji, or Godman) who was staying in a temple in a remote Tamil
Village.
Like
all other staff and workers attached to the temple, he too was getting his
quota of one ‘padai’ (measure) of ‘soru’ (rice) every day. All those attached
to this temple were assigned specific duties, like, bringing flowers, lighting
the lanterns, arranging the puja materials, washing, cleaning the premises,
etc., etc. However, our ‘Saamiyaar’ didn’t have any duty. He would come when
the temple opens, and leave when it closes. He was known as “சும்மா இருக்கிற சாமியார்” (Summaa
irukkira Saamiyaar), that
is, the Swamy Ji who does nothing. He would sit a particular place without
doing anything whole day, probably smile at some devotee occasionally. That’s
it. Nobody
had any issue with the practice because he was simple, well-behaved, and just
stayed quite all through the day. And, one extra measure of rice is anyway not
going to matter much. And the practice continued till the temple management
changed. The government took over the temple, and a new Administrative Officer
took charge. Obviously, the MBA graduate wanted to prove his mettle. While going
through the accounts he found out that certain amount was shown against the
food expenses of one Saamiyaar. He asked the Supervisor what the Saamiyaar was
doing, like what are his duties.
He was told that the Saamiyaar
was actually doing nothing, and he was known as SUMMA IRUKKIRA SAAMIYAAR, and
he was also provided with one measure of rice, that is, ஒரு படை சோறு (Oru Padai Soru) every day, like
all other employees attached to the temple. Now, our Administrative Officer was
furious.
“What nonsense! How
can he be given free food every day, that for doing nothing? This is atrocious”
he yelled. “I want this practice to be
stopped immediately”, he ordered.
And that day, poor Saamiyaar didn’t
get his usual morsel of rice. He found out about the embargo by the new Admin.
Officer. Saamiyaar went and met the new Officer, and requested him to listen to
him before stopping the ration. He asked, “May I know why my rice quota if
stopped?” The officer replied, “How can any one be compensated for doing
nothing? And, sitting at one place doing nothing is the easiest thing one can
ever imagine”
“Have you ever tried it, Sir?” he asked. “I have a small suggestion. Please sit quite for two hours tomorrow, and then decide on stopping the ‘oru padai soru’ which I was getting all these days.” “What is the big deal? I will prove tomorrow”
And the next day, the
Officer sat at the place where our Saamiyaar used to sit as soon as the temple
opened. People were coming and going. Some were smiling, some were making hushy
comments. The staff were chatting, and some were watching whatsapp messages, Facebook
/ Instagram videos, and sharing. The officer wanted to rap them, but he was
supposed to do nothing for two hours. His Blood Pressure was shooting up. And the
clock was moving very slow. 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes..... He didn’t
know what to do. He had to watch silently the passers by making fun of him, making
snide comments..... ! One hour passed and he just got up and rushed to his
office. He typed out something himself and pasted the paper in front of his
office. People were very curious to know what it was. It was a NOTICE signed by
him... And, it read,
“சும்மா இருக்கிற சாமியாருக்கு இன்று முதல் ரெண்டு படை சோறு .......” (Starting from today, the Saamiyaar will be served TWO measures of rice)
Enjoy your week end, chums ......................
a n a n d . . . . .
for ever..........
Friendship isn't about who
you have known the longest.
It's about who come and never leave your side.
