Facebook Badge
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I will return to this blog after two weeks...
I am going to Thailand and China on a 17 day trip. I will resume updating this blog on my return.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Two sons...
Once upon a time, there was a businessman who showered his younger son with affection and gifts, but neglected his older offspring. While the older son could do nothing right, the younger one could do nothing wrong.
When the boys grew up, they were asked to manage their father's business. The elder son was initiated into the nitty-gritties of the business.
From morning till late in the evening, the elder son was on his toes, trying to figure out how the business ran. His father was a hard taskmaster. Within a few years, the elder son was able to master the ropes of the business and even expand it.
The younger son had had the luxury of a higher education. He didn't have much to do except have a good time at his father's expense.
After some years his father felt obliged to hand the younger son his share of business. He was confident that his favourite son would be a brilliant success. If the elder son could be a successful businessman without the benefit of a higher education, surely the younger one, who the father thought was more gifted, would do much better.
Within a few years, the results of his favouritism became evident. Uninterested in business, the younger son kept up his spending spree and thus went bankrupt.
But, the elder son's far smaller share of business had expanded and he had proved himself to be a good decision maker.
Ashamed at the turn of events the father met the elder son and ranted against the younger one.
"What a scoundrel your younger brother has turned out to be. I gave him everything he wanted, and he ruined it all ! How could I have possibly known that he would turn out like this? A pleasure-loving, incompetent wastrel," he wailed.
The elder son, who was listening to all this quietly, suddenly announced his plan to set up an independent venture. "I want to strike out on my own," he said.
"Why?", asked the dumbfounded father who was hoping to start afresh with the elder son at the helm of affairs.
"I blame one person for the way my brother has turned out, and it's not him. You can't blame children for the faults of their parents, can you?", asked the elder son. And then he left his father's house.
The elder son started a new venture - which grew to become a major industrial empire. His father's business, with no one to run it after the old man became too feeble to manage it, eventually closed down.
When the boys grew up, they were asked to manage their father's business. The elder son was initiated into the nitty-gritties of the business.
From morning till late in the evening, the elder son was on his toes, trying to figure out how the business ran. His father was a hard taskmaster. Within a few years, the elder son was able to master the ropes of the business and even expand it.
The younger son had had the luxury of a higher education. He didn't have much to do except have a good time at his father's expense.
After some years his father felt obliged to hand the younger son his share of business. He was confident that his favourite son would be a brilliant success. If the elder son could be a successful businessman without the benefit of a higher education, surely the younger one, who the father thought was more gifted, would do much better.
Within a few years, the results of his favouritism became evident. Uninterested in business, the younger son kept up his spending spree and thus went bankrupt.
But, the elder son's far smaller share of business had expanded and he had proved himself to be a good decision maker.
Ashamed at the turn of events the father met the elder son and ranted against the younger one.
"What a scoundrel your younger brother has turned out to be. I gave him everything he wanted, and he ruined it all ! How could I have possibly known that he would turn out like this? A pleasure-loving, incompetent wastrel," he wailed.
The elder son, who was listening to all this quietly, suddenly announced his plan to set up an independent venture. "I want to strike out on my own," he said.
"Why?", asked the dumbfounded father who was hoping to start afresh with the elder son at the helm of affairs.
"I blame one person for the way my brother has turned out, and it's not him. You can't blame children for the faults of their parents, can you?", asked the elder son. And then he left his father's house.
The elder son started a new venture - which grew to become a major industrial empire. His father's business, with no one to run it after the old man became too feeble to manage it, eventually closed down.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
The Two Frogs - A Folktale From Japan
Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs, one of whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka, on the sea coast, while the other dwelt in a clear little stream which ran through the city of Kyoto.
At such a great distance apart, they had never even heard of each other; but, funnily enough, the idea came into both their heads at once that they should like to see a little of the world, and the frog who lived at Kyoto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kyoto, where the great Mikado had his palace.
So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kyoto to Osaka, one from one end and the other from the other. The journey was more tiring than they expected, for they did not know much about traveling, and halfway between the two towns there arose a mountain which had to be climbed.
It took them a long time and a great many hops to reach the top, but there they were at last, and what was the surprise of each to see another frog before him!
They looked at each other for a moment without speaking, and then fell into conversation, explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes. It was delightful to find that they both felt the same wish - to learn a little more of their native country - and as there was no sort of hurry they stretched themselves out in a cool, damp place, and agreed that they would have a good rest before they parted to go their ways.
"What a pity we are not bigger," said the Osaka frog; "for then we could see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our while going on."
"Oh, that is easily managed," returned the Kyoto frog. "We have only got to stand up on our hind legs, and hold onto each other, and then we can each look at the town he is traveling to."
This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws on the shoulder of his friend, who had risen also. There they both stood, stretching themselves as high as they could, and holding each other tightly, so that they might not fall down.
The Kyoto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kyoto; but the foolish things forgot that when they stood up their great eyes lay in the backs of their heads, and that though their noses might point to the places to which they wanted to go, their eyes beheld the places from which they had come.
"Dear me!" cried the Osaka frog, "Kyoto is exactly like Osaka. It is certainly not worth such a long journey. I shall go home!"
"If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kyoto I should never have traveled all this way," exclaimed the frog from Kyoto, and as he spoke he took his hands from his friend's shoulders, and they both fell down on the grass.
Then they took a polite farewell of each other, and set off for home again, and to the end of their lives they believed that Osaka and Kyoto, which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as alike as two peas.
At such a great distance apart, they had never even heard of each other; but, funnily enough, the idea came into both their heads at once that they should like to see a little of the world, and the frog who lived at Kyoto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kyoto, where the great Mikado had his palace.
So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kyoto to Osaka, one from one end and the other from the other. The journey was more tiring than they expected, for they did not know much about traveling, and halfway between the two towns there arose a mountain which had to be climbed.
It took them a long time and a great many hops to reach the top, but there they were at last, and what was the surprise of each to see another frog before him!
They looked at each other for a moment without speaking, and then fell into conversation, explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes. It was delightful to find that they both felt the same wish - to learn a little more of their native country - and as there was no sort of hurry they stretched themselves out in a cool, damp place, and agreed that they would have a good rest before they parted to go their ways.
"What a pity we are not bigger," said the Osaka frog; "for then we could see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our while going on."
"Oh, that is easily managed," returned the Kyoto frog. "We have only got to stand up on our hind legs, and hold onto each other, and then we can each look at the town he is traveling to."
This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws on the shoulder of his friend, who had risen also. There they both stood, stretching themselves as high as they could, and holding each other tightly, so that they might not fall down.
The Kyoto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kyoto; but the foolish things forgot that when they stood up their great eyes lay in the backs of their heads, and that though their noses might point to the places to which they wanted to go, their eyes beheld the places from which they had come.
"Dear me!" cried the Osaka frog, "Kyoto is exactly like Osaka. It is certainly not worth such a long journey. I shall go home!"
"If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kyoto I should never have traveled all this way," exclaimed the frog from Kyoto, and as he spoke he took his hands from his friend's shoulders, and they both fell down on the grass.
Then they took a polite farewell of each other, and set off for home again, and to the end of their lives they believed that Osaka and Kyoto, which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as alike as two peas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Hello! I'm Joygopal Podder...
