Why This Kolaveri?: The right attitude and living with honour

Why do people suffer? Is it because of their fate? Why is India still struggling to be called a developed nation? This story revolves around finding answer to these questions. Please note that it is based on a true incident though all the characters and places are fictitious.

The autorickshaw was about to cross the junction when the yellow signal turned red and obstructed its way. The digital timer below the traffic light started counting 111, 110, 109. “Huh! I have to  wait again for two minutes”, Souvagya Srinivasan, who was onboarding the auto murmured. He had waited for longer duration at each of last three traffic junctions before this, another two signals had to be crossed for him to reach his office at Diamond district. He was worried of getting late. But it was Bangalore's traffic at peak hour, he had to bear!

A woman soon appeared from nowhere and started pleading for money with the auto driver. She was carrying a baby and three kids were following her. The auto driver shook his head in denial, but when she was not leaving and stood requesting, he ended up saying that he was unable to help even with a penny. The signal turned green and the auto moved forward. Souvagya observed the short interaction of his auto driver with the woman from behind quietly. He was not happy with the unkind attitude of auto driver towards the woman. On the way he was thinking, he could extend help, but he did not get the opportunity as everything happened in a short while.

Three minutes later they reached the penultimate signal where they had to wait for around one minute. Souvagya’s office was just five minutes away. A similar incident took place. An one-legged man limped towards the auto and beseeched for alms from the auto driver while the driver shook head left and right again in his characteristic way in denial to help. Souvagya could not withstand this and offered a ten rupee note to the beggar. They left the traffic signal.

“It is unkind behaviour not to care about people suffering from abject poverty, I think you were rude towards the disabled. You could give a one rupee coin, but you denied to give a penny.”, Souvagya told his driver on the way. The auto driver was silent. Souvagya repeated his statement to attract his attention. “I am sorry sir, I do not want to comment. I just want to tell that I do help people, but not all”, was the reply. This irked Souvagya as that was too generic statement. They soon reached Diamond district. Souvagya did not have change to pay the auto charge of 200 rupees, he offered a 500 rupees note. The auto driver also did not have change. So he requested Souvagya to get the change from nearby shops. The shops were at a location where autorickshaws were not allowed. Souvagya was reluctant to go and asked, “Why don’t you go?”.  

The driver silently took that 500 note from Souvagya, took out two crutches from beneath his seat and started walking towards the betel shop nearby. Souvagya was awe stricken to see that the auto driver did not have both the legs. He was numb and could not move or express his feelings for a moment.

“I salute you! Now I understand why you were not willing to give a penny to those beggars on the way!”, Souvagya told to his driver upon his return and hugged him. The driver smiled and said, “Sir, I strongly believe in myself and the Almighty. Due to my past karma, I might have been deprived of both the legs, but I have never given up in my life. I am living with honor. So do I expect from my fellow men and women who have limbs unlike me!”

Note:

If people are suffering it is because of their wrong attitude and actions and not because of their fate. This YouTube video will give you further insights on attitude.

The only disability of a man is his bad attitude

Why This Kolaveri?: You are not supposed to fall sick on Thursday or Friday!!

Freaking Mind is a well known software company in south India. It is still growing in terms of revenue and number of employees. It publicizes for its smallest achievements including its philanthropic works if any, which has created a positive impression among masses associated with business as that of Freaking Mind. Therefore, people often think to join Freaking Mind; however, it has certain internal employee exploiting policies unknown to outside world - read on to find out. Needless to say, "The grass on the other side always looks greener." 

Manasi Rupa was also biased by media like others. Her happiness knew no bounds when she got offer from her dream company Freaking Mind last year. No sooner had she joined, she came to know the loop holes in internal processes, policies and management. It was her second company and she had six long years of experience in a small organization prior to joining Freaking Mind. She could not survive the exploitative rules and at last decided to resign after her encounter with senior management and HR last month. 

 

What was the last encounter she had? Was Freaking Mind so inhumane towards her? The incident goes like this. Manasi fell sick due to severe cold and headache on December 01, Thursday. She informed her manager that she was not in a position to come to office due to sickness, she needed rest, and she would be back to work on Monday. On Monday, back in office, when she tried to apply sick leave before leaving for the day, it was rejected by the system!!

Manasi came to know that those two days will be compensated as follows: 

1 - her only left over annual leave would be deducted 

2 - she had to incur loss of pay for one day

She had never experienced such pernicious rules before. She raised her concern with senior management and HR, but failed in all attempts as they dismissed her plea citing that the decision was in conformity with company policies. She could not reconcile and decided to put her paper soon after the incident. She started looking for job and got several offers within two weeks. Manasi noted that the policy literally had below constraints which were ridiculous.

1. Employee is required to be sick at least for three consecutive working days
2. By sickness, it is imperative that the employee is hospitalized, otherwise, his or her application for sick leave will be rejected. So taking first point into consideration, you are required to be hospitalized for three consecutive working days, to be eligible to avail your sick leaves!!
3. You are not allowed to apply sick leave if you fall ill on Thursday or Friday because you won't be able to apply sick leave for three consecutive working days. Your annual leave will be deducted.
4. Cold, Flu, Fever, Acute headaches cannot be considered as sickness. Only hospitalization is considered as sickness.
5. Only prescription is not enough for sick leave approval even if it is for three days. A written letter from your doctor with his contact number has to be submitted for verification. After verification with your doctor by HR only will your leave be approved.

Heck to all such rules! Better to remove the choice of availing sick leaves than to put so many constraints that literally tortures the employee!! Why is this kolaveri...?

Note: Real names have been avoided. Coincidence is incidental.