THE ENDANGERED SPECIES

A friend of mine was here in my office, this morning. He is a young medical-practitioner and involved with many social causes, particularly education. For last couple of years, he has been a very active Trustee of one of the well-known and old educational institutions. Incidentally, he is its youngest Trustee and is surrounded there by old, experienced and very committed Trustees.

This morning, my friend happened to share with me two mundane incidences involving their President, who is in his late eighties.

The first incident. The institute had organized a grand function to felicitate this elderly soul for his decades of selfless service to the institution in particular, and to the Society at large. During this function, the organizers had presented this senior gentleman with a stunning statue of pure silver. It was quite a big statue and had cost a big sum, too. After the function, while leaving the campus, he expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all the organizers and said that it was really so kind of them to shower such affection on him. “I have been receiving so many of these mementos, that, of late, I am relieving myself of them, one by one,” he casually told people around him. Before, they could hear his next sentence, the elderly soul had, already, placed the beautiful memento in the hands of another elderly soul, who happened to be there on his wayside… The recipient was institutions’ oldest gardener! “This is for you,” the President of the institution said with a gentle pat on the speechless gardener, “you have been doing a wonderful work quietly for years… You deserve this!”

By now, the generous soul was already inside his car… and, all that others could do was: just look at each other… unable to say anything!

The second incident. One day, my friend, along with some other officials, had accompanied the President to someone’s residence for certain discussion. The host was the Chairman of a large organization and the meeting was relating to the development issues of the institution. It was a palatial company bungalow, and, there, the host’s family was very hospitable to the delegation. While leaving from that place, the President thanked individually every one in that bungalow for making the experience exceptionally pleasant. Then, he looked around and said, “Where is the elderly woman who served us snacks and tea?” The domestic help was called out by the house-lady. When the simple elderly domestic-help appeared, the President held his folded hands before her and said, “Mataji, you have been so gracious; thank you… May God bless you!”

Once again, all that others could do was: 

watch the scene with awe and disbelief… 

It had humbled them – 

telling so is like stating a too obvious fact.

When my friend had reached his home, there was an e-mail waiting for him. “In my entire four decades of corporate exposure, never have I witnessed such an honest and humbling gesture!” It was from the host, who was left speechless after the delegation had left his bungalow!

My friend is barely 40. “I wonder, if such a species, as this one, is extinct in this world, today.”

“Endangered species, sir,” I corrected him, “Only a few are still left… Let’s save them… by carrying their baton… for some distance, at least.”

“What you deeply admire, you attract.” This is the ancient Law of Attraction. It is still in operation…

Which means, there is hope!

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Amrita Jeurkar