Adieu Ratan Tata!

Ratan Tata, all of 86 years, passed into the mist of time yesterday. A thorough gentleman and a successful business icon, he believed in ethics and principles without caring a damn for profits!

Here's an incident - in his life - that he often recounted.

When Indian billionaire Ratan Tata was asked by the radio presenter in a telephone interview : "Sir, what do you remember when you got the happiest in life?"

Ratan Tata said :

"I have gone through four stages of happiness in life and I finally understood the meaning of true happiness.

The first stage was to accumulate wealth and resources. But at this stage I didn't get the happiness I wanted. But at this stage, I didn't get the happiness I wanted.

Then came the second stage of collecting valuables and items. But I realised that the effect of this thing is also temporary and the lustre of precious things does not last long.

Then came the third phase of getting a big project. That was when I had 95% of the diesel supply in India and Africa. But even here I did not get the happiness that I had imagined.

The fourth step was when a friend of mine asked me to buy wheelchairs for some disabled children....about 200 children. At the behest of that friend, I bought them.

But the friend insisted that I go with him and hand over the wheelchairs to the children. I got ready and went with him.

There I gave these children the wheelchair with my own hands. I saw a strange glow of happiness on the faces of the children.  I saw them all sitting in wheelchairs, moving and having fun.

It was as if they had reached a picnic spot, where they were sharing a winning gift.

I felt real happiness inside me.

When I decided to leave, one of the kids grabbed my leg. I tried to slowly release my leg but the child looked at my face and held my leg tight. I leaned over and asked the child : do you need anything else?

The answer the kid gave me not only shocked me but also completely changed my outlook towards life.

The child said" :

"I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I can recognize you and thank you once again". 

My take

Adieu Ratan Tata! Om Shanti!! Sadgati!!!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready by a half past 8.

Sundaran was my sa'arthi and we were off to the Department of Defence Pensions at Chembukaavu, in Thrissur. Mr Asokan was replaced by Ms Rajalekshmi, who was also very helpful.

Got my User ID and had my password inserted. Got the extracts of the two Corrigendum PPOs.

A quiet day, otherwise.