– Saralananda Prakash
A farmland
Sometimes, I feel every man is akin to a farmland. You just need to sow seeds of humanity in this land called man to create a beautiful world. However, crops of humanity like kindness, love, and compassion may grow abundantly in some men, while a few others would remain barren as a desert. There may be a difference in the degree of fertility in the land called man, and you can’t expect that humanity would grow to its fullest in every man; but, if you and I are believers in the greatness of humanity, let’s be the cultivators ourselves. Here is a story for you to ponder over.
A man who cultivated goodness in people
Manohar uncle, a loving man ran a restaurant somewhere in a bustling city. For those who used to visit the restaurant, it was not just a restaurant; it was their second home – a place where you can sit around hour after hour gossiping cozily with your friends and anybody you may like. Or, you can sit there in a corner on your own with a hot cup of tea, and a samosa thumbing the daily newspapers lying on the table.
Kids too would come and have a joyful chat with uncle and would return with a handful of sweets or at least a candy. Everybody loved to visit uncle’s restaurant, not because it served mouth-watering delicious food items, but rather to experience the warmth evoked by loving uncle.
It was obvious that young and adults alike felt at home in Manohar’s uncle’s restaurant. The place was always filled with love, laughter, and life. However, one thing was also sure Manohar uncle hardly made any significant profits from his restaurant.
A storm!
Days never remain the same for anyone. One day, Manohar’s wife fell ill seriously. All the savings he had, ran out in her treatment instantly, still her situation remained unaltered. At last for better treatment of his beloved wife, Manohar uncle had to mortgage his last resort – the restaurant. Since he couldn’t repay the loan in time, the bank put a ‘for sale’ notice in front of the restaurant just before the festival of Diwali.
It was the festive time of Diwali. Like every year, on that Diwali too, uncle decided to do what he had been doing for years in his restaurant. In every Diwali, he used to feed homemade delicacies to the orphans of the locality to their hearts’ content. Even in that vulnerable situation of his own, he didn’t want to dishearten the expectant children who would be eagerly waiting for that day.
Fragrance of goodness
However, the inevitable was waiting for Manohar uncle in the restaurant premises. That day while he was busy preparing the meal for the kids and getting ready to welcome them, a few workers, probably deployed by the new owner were removing the age-old signboard of the restaurant. As soon as he noticed them, he confronted them but soon realized that his restaurant had been sold and it was no longer his property anymore.
As soon as he started to leave with teary eyes, a young man walked towards him. Manohar uncle tried to recognize the young man, but couldn’t. However, uncle realized soon that he was the new owner of the restaurant. Before uncle could speak any words, the new signboard of the restaurant had been raised. To Manohar uncle’s utter surprise, the sparkling beautiful signboard still displayed the old name of the restaurant – Janta Restaurant. Surprised uncle looked at the young man. The young man smiled at him and pulled out an old photograph from his pocket. He pointed to a little boy among the group of boys in the photograph. Uncle could recognize the kid and immediately exclaimed – Guddu! The young fellow gently smiled and told Uncle that he was no longer Guddu, now he had become Dr. Gulshan! Years ago he was one of the orphan kids whom uncle always took care of. He fondly remembered how they devoured the foods Manohar uncle used to feed them on various occasions. Fate put him now in a comfortable position financially. He was always grateful to uncle like many others, and wanted to do something for him. So, when he heard Manohar uncle’s hardships, he decided to repay the loan and get the paper back of the restaurant from the bank. With folded hands, he requested Manohar uncle to be at the helm of affairs again as nothing had happened and not to worry about returning the money. Uncle with tears in his eyes hugged the young man. The young man also embraced him back tightly and with tears of happiness both walked inside the restaurant.
The above story is inspired by an advertisement by Mankind Pharma featuring actor Piyush Mishra. Here you may watch it if you are interested
Cultivating Goodness in people
Goodness in people like any other trait can be cultivated. What we become as a person or a being is a result of thorough cultivation. From the very moment of our birth, parents, family, and society knowingly or unknowingly try to induce their own sets of beliefs and behavior whatever they think is suitable for us. Ultimately, those various influences create the persons we are. So, in between all the desirable and undesirable influences we have in our lives, if, someone like Manohar uncle appears somewhere with a light of love and kindness, it may deeply refine and redefine you. In other words, a personality like Manohar is the very seed of goodness required for a thriving humanity.
How good will be our society depends on every individual. So, if someone plants a seed of goodness in someone, there is a possibility that goodness may spread through him or her to make the world a better place to live.