DOWN-TO-EARTH

Mr. Surendra prasad is a retired professor of Mithila University, Darbhanga. His son is my friend. Once he came to me regarding health problem. He had to stay at my residence for fifteen days. He had to consult an eye specialist as he was suffering from eye disease, perhaps cataract (motiyavind). I was feeling pleasure hosting him. The very first day, he became friends of all of my family members. To my great surprise, when I awoke in the morning, I saw him sweeping the rooms, verandah and courtyard. I wanted to stop him but till then he had finished the work. From morning to evening, he was always busy in doing something. Sometimes, he was supporting in cooking works like cutting vegetables, making tea, cleaning utensils etc. Sometimes, he was busy in teaching my three children and sometimes playing with them. Sometimes he was preaching shaastras to all of us. During holidays (Sunday etc) he took my three children to zoo or any historical place like museum, zoo, gurudwara or Hanuman Temple at station. In a very short time, he became friends of all of us. He became an essential family member. After his check up, when he was departing, we all were weeping. My children were not leaving his hands.

                                                I want to recall another memorable period of my life. In those days I was residing at Doranda, Ranchi. One of my friends was also with me. There was great scarcity of water there. We were purchasing water from a water man who was bringing it from a nearby well. The cost of one tin (container) was 50 paisa. About 10 tins of water was sufficient for our daily purposes. The same water was used as cooking, drinking, bathing etc. Those days, mineral water, aqua guard or Kent water was not available. Our ego did not allow us to go outside and take fresh pure water in clean container. My one close friend was residing at Ramgarh cantonment area. He was teacher in the Central School in cantonment area. He occasionally used to come to me. He saw the water problem. Also, the waterman did not come the very day. My friend who was residing with me permanently was smarter. He went to a hotel, took his bath and performed other daily works there. But, my Ramgarh friend went to the well, took his bath and brought two buckets fresh water for me also. I used the water but was very ashamed. Since then, I left my ego and started to go on the well daily. Taking bath there brought two buckets fresh pure water for drinking and other purposes.

                           The third memorable period is also describable. I was residing at Darbhanga those days. I was totally dependent on my servant. The servant brought water from nearby tube-well and cooked food. He also brought water for my bathing and other purposes. Sometimes he came late and I waited for him. My so many daily works were delayed due to his coming late. One day my father-in-law came. He was headmaster of a high school. He saw this delay and understood the matter. He started to go to the nearby tube-well and did his daily work and brought two buckets water for me also. This opened my eyes and I also started to go to the tube-well and did every necessary work. Regarding water my problem was totally solved which was delayed due to my ego.

                                To-day, when I look behind, I see that most of my problems are due to my ego. When I leave ego, my life becomes comfortable which seems miserable due to my own fault. These types of events occur in everyone’s life but repetition of events shows my indolence and forgetfulness of the previous lessons. There is no cause of humiliation in doing my works by my own hands. I remember the period of Baapu at Johannesburg. In his ashram, there was rule to do all works by own hands. Everybody was producing corns and vegetables. They were cleaning their toilets by their own hands. Some friends who came to meet Baapu did not know the rules of the ashram and Gandhijee disposed their night soil carrying the container on his head. This was unbearable to Baa and she started to do the job but not by heart. Baapu felt this and he scolded her. For this scolding, he realized his unfair behavior towards Baa in her later days and has expressed his repent in his autobiography. When our great Baapu can do such work, what are we to show ego? 
            All above examples are similar. I think, if I perform tiny and inferior works, I become inferior. But, the things are just opposite. No work is inferior. If I do my work by my own hands, I become ideal, popular, make place in everyone's heart and I become Baapu, the greatest leader of all time.