• Welcome to Tamil Brahmins forums.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our Free Brahmin Community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.

Jewels can be found..any where:Interesting Anecdote from Chennai Giri Stores

Status
Not open for further replies.

AnanthaNarayanan

Active member
courtesy Pattars group
gods eyes evey where, in all peoples

Hope you'll like this nice story on losing ahankaaram (for those who don't know, Giri Trading just outside the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar temple is one of the best sources in Chennai for religious literature and related more mundane articles like pooja articles)


RM
Rajan Mani,
Professor - Marketing & Strategy
IBS, Hyderabad
Mobile: 95420 55417


--- On Sat, 28/8/10, Swaminathan Murthy <[email protected]> wrote:

From: Swaminathan Murthy <[email protected]>
Subject: Interesting Anecdote from Chennai Giri Stores
To: "suresh kumar" <[email protected]>, "VNB" <[email protected]>, "Mahalingam C" <[email protected]>, "rajan mani" <[email protected]>, "RAJARAM R" <[email protected]>, "Nandlal" <[email protected]>, "Nathan, SV (US - Hyderabad)" <[email protected]>
Date: Saturday, 28 August, 2010, 7:13 AM






After a simple Temple Darshan we entered "Giri Trading" and started searching for this Book on Thatva Bodha..

We found many people buying various Books and CDs and from their smart walks and accumulation of CDs from Bhajans to Bombay Jaishree,sent a nice feeling in us,that,we have come to the right place indeed...
I was looking for this Book while my wife started collecting Bharathiar's songs and Ms's Music..I searched everywhere for this Book..
There was this Girl Kalaivani,standing next to the Cashier,sincerely watching all our movements..a Black Girl,should be from a nearby Village,might be 17 or 18,should not have crossed 8th Std.,Might be out of POverty she is here..all my Journalist's brain unnecessarily calculated about this Gullible Girl..and tho' she was repeatedly watching me,I ignored her and started searching for"Thathva Bodha"
I saw many books from"Sandhya Vandanam" to Swami VIvekananda's Chicago Speech" but having spent a good 40 minutes..I looked at her..she also looked at me curiously..
I asked her,knowing fully well that such a girl cannot have any idea of anything,leave alone Thathva Bodah..
"Sir,Shall I help you?"(in Tamil)
"Yes I am looking for Thatva Bodha?"
"Sanskrit Text or English /Sanskrit?"
God..she knows..
"Sanskrit& English"
"Do you like to have the PUblication from Chinmaya Mission or Indu Publications or by Ramakrishna Mutt?"
"I dont know..I just want to only Learn you see..I dont really know indeed"
"Do you read Tamil Sir?"
"Yes I am a Tamilian "
(thinking to myself how most of mylife time
I like to act in most otherplaces
that I am not)
"Then Sir,you can take this"..she ran to the Shelf where I had searched for 30 minutes,removed the books in the front side and came out with a Book in Tamil
"This one in Tamil by N.Sivaraman by Indu Publications infact is simple and wonderfullYou have the Sanskrit Text too inside.."
My God..Why did I under estimate such a Genius..Just because of my Arrogance that I am an NRI..

Or Just because I presumed such a Black,gullible girl,
who wd have come for this JOb out of absolute poverty,
wdn't have any idea of"Thatva Bodha"

I decided to change my attitude and realise that I am absolutely an 'Idiot' at this moment in front of this wonderful girl and submitted myself in all humilty..
"Madam,Ireally don't have any idea of even who wrote Thatva BOdha till Yesterday..I just attended a lecture on this subject and was fascinated by the lecture and hence"
"Did you attend Goda Venkateswara Sastri's lecture in BHarathiya Vidya Bhavan?"
"Oh God..How did you know?"
"He regularly takes classes on such subjects..infact he is one of the best Sir,in the city on such subjects"
"You are interested in such subjects?"
"Yes Sir,I read a lot about Swami VIvekananda and Ramakrishna and Thathva Bodha incidentally is my favourite Subject"
"You mean to say you have read Thatva Bodha.?"
"I have read this one by Sivaraman and once you read it you won't feel like keeping that book on the table at all.."
"Why what is so great about this Book?"
"Sir,you must be Joking that you don't know about Thatva Bodha.."
"Really I accept my ignorance.."
my wife was watching from the corner,admiring all her Cd collections..
"Sir,according to me if you read this it gives the entire Vedanthic Saramsam and one wd become a bit more humble in life..
leaving Ahamkaram once for all.."
"Is it a fact that reading this simple book one wd get so humble..
"Ofcourse one shd be involved totally into the text..
Needs lot of conviction and devotion.."

My wife joined the conversation and she felt this girl is indeed a very very talented intelligent girl..so she told me
"Why don't you interview her for Washington Post..why at all you shd think of Paris Hilton?"
I also felt that I owe something to her..so I asked her whether she can spare sometime for an interview..
She politely refused saying
"My boss is to give me permission..Besides many people are looking for guidance like you and hence I have to go.."
"What is your name anyway?"
"Kalaivani"..
My wife's admiration for her devotion to duty and her total involvement in her work..made her go direct to the Boss.."Sir,that girl Kalaivani.."
"Yes very hard working Girl.."
"This is my husband Viswanath .."
"Nice meeting you Sir"
"He is the Senior Journalist in Washington Post.."
Boss stood up.."Washington Post?"
"Yes Sir..I wd like to interview this girl..I am highly impressed..with her ethics.."
Boss called her..Time was 5:45 Pm...
"Kalaivani,they have come all the way from USA..they wd like to spend sometime with you..can you?"
"Sir,there are so many customers waiting for some guidance..
it is a rush time..if they can come again tomorrow.."
"OK OK I can come again tomorrow.."
I again came next day morning leaving all my appointments with Times of India just to see this girl..It was no rush hour..
My wife and myself found out....

Kalaivani is from a nearby village near Arcot..She has 5 sisters..She is the eldest one..Her father was a drunkard and he died a few years ago caring for none of them..Her mother used to work as a helper in Masonry and passed away two years back..leaving all the 6 on the streets..
This girl who had completed her 9th std decided to search for a job and Giri Trading came forward to help her out..She brought all her 5 sisters with her and with her meagre salary she is taking care of them..all the 5 sisters are going to a nearby corporation school..
"Kalaivani..but when did you get this enthusiasm to learn about Thatva Bodha?"
"Sir after joining here,I decided that the best way to be of help to the customers is to know the subject first..I took small Books on Swami VIvekananda and started reading..I found the subject so fascinating..I decided to read other books in Tamil like Bagavad Gita and Viveka Choodamani..Thats how.."
"What is your salary?"
"Rs 2500..Sir"
"Are you able to manage all your expenses with the 5 sisters..?"
"Not at all Sir but the Boss helps me a lot..?"
"What is your aim in LIfe?"
"I want all my sisters to get education..
then they wd get easily employments is it not?"
"If I give monthly Rs 10000 for meeting all your expenses..wd that suffice..?"
"It is indeed too much but that also I wd accept only thro' my Boss.."

We took her to the Boss and told him that we wd like to send Rs 10000 every month so that all her sisters' education wd be completed..Boss said
"She deserves it Sir..You can trust me I will hand over the amount to her every month or alternately you can open an acct in her name and start transferring.."

My friend John Paul,
who is the Regional Manager of Times of India had also come with me..He said"You have done a good thing.."
My wife said"I pray that Karpagambal helps Kalaivani to become an expert in Vedantha and start giving lectures in USA..
We can arrange for her lectures.."
We left wonderstruck....If we go into the interiors of BIhar and Barrackpur..how many moreJewels can be found..
I really became humbled


K Guruvayurappan

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Last edited:
i have read this before.

each time i read this, not only do i have goose pimples, but also tears me up in the end.

atleast this gentleman had a chance and opportunity and ability, to analyze his own built in prejudice and racism, come to terms with it and do penance.

many of us go through life, not even aware of our small minds, and even smaller to boast about it.

God Bless kalaivani.
 
i have read this before.

each time i read this, not only do i have goose pimples, but also tears me up in the end.

atleast this gentleman had a chance and opportunity and ability, to analyze his own built in prejudice and racism, come to terms with it and do penance.

many of us go through life, not even aware of our small minds, and even smaller to boast about it.

God Bless kalaivani.
I am reading this first time. I think that girl kalaivaani is a rare example of greatness. If I were in her position I don't think i will have the enthusiasm to read books on such abstruse subjects, first of all.

My best wishes for kalaivani and her sisters.
 
Is this a real story?

As Shri Kunjuppu ji says, it can tear up anybody

Kalivani god bless you.

May all your dreams be fulfilled and may you be a guiding light for others.
 
happy, i searched washington post and couldnot find any reference to this story or purported author viswanath. it could be a figment of someone's imagination, but a good figment nevertheless. this probably won a short story contest somewhere, is my guess :)

sangom,

the story says more about us as a community than kalaivani. there are probably millions of folsk like kalaivani in india, unappreciated and under paid. but look at viswanath's first impression - 'black girl' - i find both term offensive, what colour TBs think they are, and a 'girl'? that term is often used in self effacing terms in the usa and mr. viswanath must be aware of it.

it is on those terms, that i said, that viswanath had a chance to redeem himself with offering to support the kalaivani family. we are too simply full of ourselves, even the poorest among us - to think the rest of the world, especially the indian, non TB world full of idiots. when will we ever learn?
 
happy, i searched washington post and couldnot find any reference to this story or purported author viswanath. it could be a figment of someone's imagination, but a good figment nevertheless. this probably won a short story contest somewhere, is my guess :)

sangom,

the story says more about us as a community than kalaivani. there are probably millions of folsk like kalaivani in india, unappreciated and under paid. but look at viswanath's first impression - 'black girl' - i find both term offensive, what colour TBs think they are, and a 'girl'? that term is often used in self effacing terms in the usa and mr. viswanath must be aware of it.

it is on those terms, that i said, that viswanath had a chance to redeem himself with offering to support the kalaivani family. we are too simply full of ourselves, even the poorest among us - to think the rest of the world, especially the indian, non TB world full of idiots. when will we ever learn?
Dear Kunjuppu,

I had my doubts from the start, especially after the reported Rs.10,000/=p.m. offer offhand. It is one of the many senti stories making their rounds in the net!!

Someone in Chennai can check with Giritrading co., I think.
 
இந்த ஆங்கிலப் பதிவில் இருக்கும் நிகழ்ச்சி உண்மை அல்ல என்று இணையத்தில்
படித்தேன். இந்தப் பதிவு முன்பு ரீடிஃப் பில் வந்த ஒரு கற்பனை என்றும்
தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது
 
ஒரு ராஜாவிடம் குதிரை வியாபாரி என்று சொல்லிக்கொண்டு ஒருத்தன்
வந்தானாம். "ராஜா! என்னிடம் மிக உயர்ந்த அராபியக் குதிரை ஒன்று இருக்கிறது.
அதன் விலை ஆயிரம் பொன். இன்றைக்குக் காசு கொடுதால் நாளைக்குக் குதிரை
கொண்டு வந்து தருகிறேன் என்றானாம். ராஜா உடனே காசு கொடுத்து
அனுப்பினாராம்.
அருகிலிருந்த அமைச்சர் ஒரு ஓலையை எடுத்து என்னவோ எழுத ஆரம்பித்தாராம்.
மன்னர் "என்ன மும்முரமாக எழுதி கொண்டிருக்கிறீர், அமைச்சரே?" என்று கேட்டாராம்.
"மன்னா! நான இந்த நாட்டில் உள்ள முட்டாள்கள் பட்டியல் ஒன்று தயாரிக்க
ஆரம்பித்திருக்கிறேன். அதில் முதலாவதாக எழுத ஒரு பெயர் கிடைத்தது!" என்றாராம்.
"யார்?"
"நீங்கள்தான்!"
"ஏன்?"
"வந்தவன் யார், என்ன, ஏது என்று விசாரிக்காமல் சொன்னதை நம்பி ஆயிரம் பொன்
கொடுத்தீர்கள் அல்லவா? அதனால்தான்!"
"அப்போ உண்மையிலேயே அவன் நாளைக்குக் குதிரை கொண்டு வந்தால்...?"
"அப்போ உங்கள் பெயரை அடித்துவிட்டு அவன் பெயரை எழுதிக் கொள்ளுவேன்"
என்றாராம்!
நாம் எல்லோரும் ஏதாகிலும் ஒரு நாள் முட்டாள்கள் ஆக்கப் படுகிறோம். பெயர் வரிசை
முன்ன பின்ன இருக்கலாம். அவ்வளவுதான்.
 
kesavan,

i do not personally think any one is made முட்டாள் by narrating this story. this is yet another example of the power of words.

if at all, this story is evidence of our own TB racism - as perhaps my own reaction would not have been much different from that of viswanath. we have all been programmed such since our childhood (sic)!

but the story is also one of redemption. we can change our views, become enlightened, do பிராயச்சித்தம் and move on in life. there is nothing wrong in that, is there?

it is in this context, i feel, your comments vis a vis, this story, rather harsh. thanks.
 
Respectable members,

This thread is very interesting. I don't doubt 'Kalaivanis' in Giri Trading and in other places too. It may or may not be a true story; nonetheless, the charecters are true.

I visited Giri Trading during my last visit. I was looking for books; after 5 minutes, one very slim (skinny?) girl came to help me. She ended up suggesting authors for the subjects I was seeking; she was right too. She even wanted to carry the books to the counter; I had none of that, said to her, she might break in the middle from the weight of the books....My point is, she could be one of the Kalaivanis; she knew what she was talking about.

I visited a DVD shop in Vellore town. After 5 minutes of choosing, here too, one young girl came to help me. From 1000s of movies, she clearly knew where to get the movie I was searching for. (When choosing Malayalam movies, both of us were stumped! neither of us could read Malayalam......still she managed to pick few very good movies).

Most of the Indian youth are not afraid to work. Kalaivanis may not need 10,000 rupees hand out every month; but Kalaivanis would do very well with more decent wages they rightly deserve.

Cheers!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest ads

Back
Top