0959hrs:
Countdown to end of 2025: 2 days
A pattern even worse than yesterday and the day before. For a number of reasons - including guests coming after 2000hrs - I couldn't get to sleep till beyond 0100hrs this morning, at least 5 hours later than I needed to. I did get up just before 0700hrs though, almost by instinct.
Reparations to the public are merited and I am in the process of designing what shape they can take.
....
An Important Lesson from British Indian colonial history (Courtesy Qoura )
During British rule, a British officer once slapped an Indian youth across the face.
Instantly, the young Indian struck back with full force, slapping the officer so hard that he fell to the ground.
Shocked and humiliated, the officer wondered: How could an ordinary Indian dare to slap a military officer of an empire on which the sun never sets?
He rushed to his post and demanded strict punishment for the Indian.
But the senior commander calmed him and said,
“He should not be punished — he should be rewarded. As a reward, give him ten thousand rupees.”
The officer shouted in disgust:
“This is not just my insult or yours — it is an insult to the British Queen herself! And you want to reward him?”
The commander replied firmly,
“This is a military order. You will obey it without delay.”
The junior officer had no choice. He went to the Indian youth with ten thousand rupees and said,
“Please forgive me and accept this as a gift.”
The young Indian accepted the money and soon forgot that he had been slapped by a colonial officer on his own land.
Ten thousand rupees was a huge amount in those days. He used the money wisely and within a few years became wealthy and respected in society.
A once ordinary man had now become a prominent figure.
Years later, the same British commander summoned his junior officer and asked,
“Do you remember the Indian who slapped you?”
The officer replied,
“How can I forget that insult?”
The commander said,
“The time has come. Go find him — and in front of everyone, slap him hard.”
The officer protested,
“How is that possible? When he was poor, he dared to strike back. Now that he is rich, he will kill me!”
But the commander insisted,
“Do as I say. This too is an order.”
The junior officer obeyed. He went to the Indian — and slapped him across the face.
But this time, something completely different happened.
The Indian youth did not react. He didn’t even dare to look the officer in the eye.
Confused, the officer returned to the commander.
Seeing his bewildered face, the commander asked,
“Why do you look so surprised?”
The officer said,
“When he was poor, he retaliated without fear. But today, when he is wealthy, he could not even raise his eyes. How is this possible?”
The commander spoke softly,
“The first time, the only thing he had was his honour.
He valued it more than anything, and he fought fiercely to protect it.
But now he did not defend it — because now he has something he values more than his honour: his wealth.
The day he accepted those ten thousand rupees, he sold his dignity for money.
And when a man’s self-respect is sold, his spine bends forever.”
Let us protect our self-respect.
Never bend for position, gifts, or greed.
Stand straight — always.
....
No comments:
Post a Comment