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The Law

Revisiting - XXV

My grandfather retired from service in the 50s. His retirement benefit and his savings amounted to over Rupees One lakh. In 50s, this was a big amount.  He had married off all his sons and daughters, except one, prior to his retirement. He expected to have a comfortable post retirement life. While making this premise, what he did not consider was the effect of inflation and the depreciation in value of the currency. By mid 60s I saw distinct signs of worry on his face. He just sat in his favorite chair in his home, with a cigarette glowing between his lips, and worried on how long his money was going to last. I saw him counting even the smallest coins in his purse, twice a day. He even talked of his apprehensions on the possibility of begging for money. My grandfather was a very competent engineer. The thought of re-engaging himself in some work, to generate fresh earnings, never did cross his mind. He had retired. His entire focus was on cutting costs.

His youngest son, my youngest uncle, completed his graduation in Architecture in the late 60s. A darling son of his parents, my grandfather and grandmother did not want him to leave house for pursuing his career. That suited my uncle's psyche too as he was addicted to the security of his home. In the city, where the grandparents stayed, the scope for architecture, in those days, was very limited. My uncle got an employment with a privately owned company who did not pay well. Although better offers were available to him, away from that city, my uncle preferred to stick to the home pitch. Till the early part of 2010, he was still with the same company earning a low salary. He tried to increase his earning by taking up additional assignments beyond his working hours. But his failing health coupled with overwork has crippled him no end. Now he needs to rest his body but can not do so as he has to earn his sustenance. he must be close to 80 years old now. He expects his relations to bail him out on a continuous basis and when does not get the support, he blames others and his fate.

My father, a diploma in civil engineering, suffered from the same mindset of preferring to stay within a secure zone. After passing out he succumbed to the allure of a secure government job, ignoring the better prospects in private companies. The government jobs in India have always been low paying. He retired at the age of 58 years and he stayed retired. He did not accept the offers of employment from companies, who were interested to avail his expertise, after his retirement. The mindset in those days was that once you retire, hang up your boots for good and lead a passive life, even under scarcity. He was supported in his decision by my mother. The mindset of the generation was ruling them.

These are the three male members i had seen during the period I was growing up. In those days, the ladies of the house rarely ventured out of home. They were hundred percent homemakers. My sister was the first female member of the house, who passed out as a doctor, and went out of home to earn money. That was in 70s. 

This background created my mindset too. My mindset was also that of playing safe, not taking risks, making do with whatever I could earn, staying close to my home or near my relations, not focusing on generating wealth as money was the root of all evil learnt in my childhood from my grandmother and mother etc. When I found a seat in an engineering college, I was delighted that the college was hardly six kilometers away from the home of my parents. After passing out as an engineer in the mid 70s, I got a job in a public sector steel company. I had jumped with joy as the job was very secure and the company had its manufacturing unit very near to my sister's home, which was more security. There was hardly any accountability in that job, promotions were time based, working hours were limited and a huge amount of paid leave was a very attractive perquisite of the job. The salary was not low as in government jobs was much inferior to what was paid by private sector companies for similar jobs. This job was a blessing from heaven for me. I was potentially a good catch for any bride's family, as I was engaged in a secure public sector employment and therefore a safe bet. Ooooh la la! my life was made.

And then the bug bit me. A sense of frustration, worthlessness, restlessness and discomfort with the reality overwhelmed me. It was that little fellow inside me - call it conscience or soul or whatever -  telling me that I was wasting myself. 

I decided to change myself and how I approached my current reality and that started my journey to abundance. I have narrated my strategy of excelling in the current assignment as the starting point for moving to abundance.

I have narrated this part of my life to make an important mindset issue. I will elaborate on that in the next post.

Take a look at this video. It takes about 4 minutes.

Namaste

आपण लवकरच भेटू

(Āpaṇa lavakaraca bhēṭū)

Prabir