111 - Parliamentary wit - 5

For sheer wisdom, wit and repartee, none could excel Rajaji. He once said, "The Government has only two ways of taxation, direct and indirect. The direct tax applies to the rich and the indirect tax to the common man. It can impose the direct tax on the industrialists to the extent they can tolerate it and impose the indirect tax on the common men to the extent they do not understand it."


source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

108 - We'll manage without him

A man very much wanted to renounce the world but he claimed that his family loved him too much to let him go.

"Love?" said his guru. "That isn't love at all. Listen..." And he revealed a yogic secret to the disciple whereby he could simulate the state of death. The next day the man was dead to all outward appearances and the house rang with the cries and wailing of his family.

The guru then showed up and told the weeping family that he had the power to bring the man back to life if someone could be found to die in his place. Any volunteers?

To the corpse's astonishment every member of the family began to bring forth reasons as to why it was necessary to keep their own lives. His wife summed up the sentiments of all with the words, "We'll manage without him."

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

096 - Faith and crocodiles

A seeker, in search of a Master who would lead him to the path of holiness, came to an ashram presided over by a guru who, in addition to having a great reputation for holiness, was also a fraud. But the seeker did not know this.

"Before I accept you as my disciple," said the guru, "I must test your obedience. There is a river flowing by the ashram that is infested with crocodiles. I want you to wade across the river."

So great was the faith of the young disciple that he did just that. He walked across the river crying, "All praise to the power of my guru!" To the guru's astonishment the man walked to the other bank and back unharmed.

This convinced the guru that he was more of a saint than he himself had imagined, so he decided to give all his disciples a demonstration of his power  and thereby enhance his reputation for holiness. He stepped into the river crying, "All praise to me ! All praise to me!"

The crocodiles promptly seized him and devoured him.

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

093 - Can you walk on water ?

A milk-maid used to supply milk to a brahmana priest living on the other side of a river. Owing to irregularities of the boat service, she could not supply him milk punctually every day. Once, being rebuked for her going late, the poor woman said, "What can I do?" I start early from my house, but have to wait for a long time at the river bank for the boatman and the passengers."

The priest said, "Woman! The cross the ocean of life by uttering the name of God, and can't you cross this little river ?"

The simple-hearted woman became very glad at heart on learning this easy means of crossing the river. From the next day the milk was supplied early in the morning.

One day the priest said to the woman, "How is it that you are no longer late nowadays?"

She said, "I cross the river by uttering the name of the Lord as you told me to do, and don't understand now in need of a boatman."

The priest could not believe this and said, "Can you show me how you cross the river?"

The woman took him with her and began to walk over the water. Looking back, the woman saw the priest in a sad plight and said, "How is it sir, that you are uttering the name of God with your mouth, but at the same time with our hands you are trying to keep your cloth untouched by water? You do not fully rely on Him."

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

069 - Another long program

A merchant had a hundred and fifty camels to carry his things, and forty servants who did as he ordered. One evening, he invited a friend (Saadi) to join him.

The whole night, he couldn't get any rest and talked constantly about his problems, troubles and the rat race of his profession. He told of his wealth in Turkestan, spoke of his estates in India, displayed his jewels and the titles to his lands.

"O Saadi," he sighed, "I have another trip coming up. After this trip, I want to settle back and have a heard-earned rest. That's what I want more than anything in the world. I want to take Persian sulphur to China, since I've heard that it is very valuable there.  From there I want to transport Chinese vases to Rome. My ship will then carry Roman goods to India, and from there I will take Indian steel to halab. From there, I will export mirrors and glass to Yemen and take velvet to Persia."

With a sad expression on his face, he than proclaimed to Saadi, who had been listening with disbeief, "And, after that, my life will belong to peace, reflection, and meditation, the highest goal of my thoughts."

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

058 - Unusual marksman

A king was passing through a small town, and he saw indications of amazing marksmanship everywhere. Trees and barns and fences, had circles painted on them with a bullet hole in the exact centre.

He asked to see this unusual marksman. It turned out to be a ten year old child.

"This is so incredible," said the Kind in wonder. "How in the world do you do it?"

"Easy!" was the answer. "I shoot first and draw the circles later."


We get our conclusions first and build premises around them later. We listen not to discover, but to find something that confirm our own thoughts.

We argue, not to find the truth, but to vindicate our thinking.

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

028 - Who is greater?

Two disciples in an ashram started arguing on who is the greater of the two. To put an end to the discussion, which was going on and on, they went to the guru, who said, "This is very simple! Who thinks the other is greater is greater."


Now the argument changed, "You are greater, you are greater!"


source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

022 - Blind observance of the law

Like Jesus had done centuries before him, the Master warned people about religion because, left to itself, it sanctified the blind observance of the law.

This is how he put it. A commanding officer was asking some recruits why walnut was used for the butt of a rifle.

"Because it has more resistance", said one man.
"Wrong!"
"Because it has more elasticity," said another
"Wrong again !"

"Perhaps because it has better shine than other kinds of wood," said a third.

"Don't be a fool," said the CO, "Walnut is used because it is laid down in the Regulations."

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

018 - Will I be paid more? and motivation theory

 A manager, who had just returned from a Motivation Seminar, called an employee into his office and said, "Henceforth you are going to be allowed to plan and control your job. That will raise your productivity considerably, I am sure."

"Will I be paid more?" asked the worker.

"No, no. Money is not a motivator and you will get no satisfaction from a salary raise."

"Well, if production does increase, will I be paid more?"

"Look," said the manager, "you obviously do not understand the motivation theory. Take this book home and read it; it explains what it is that really motivates you."

As the man was leaving, he stopped and said, "If I read this book will I be paid more?"

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

011 - A bright future

We often make efforts to motivate our team members. Many times we promise a bright future for the company and the individual.

There was a dhobi. He had a donkey which was doing, as usual, all the donkey's work. The donkey was totally fed up, tired and frustrated with his life. He was just waiting to quit.

One day his donkey met another dhobi's donkey at the ghat. They started talking. The first donkey expressed his total dissatisfaction with his life.

The second donkey said, "Look. I was also totally frustrated like you. There was no motivation in my life. But, last week my master said something which made me believe that I have a bright future. He was very upset with his daughter and shouted at her in a very angry voice, "If you do not mend your ways, I will get you married to our donkey. Now there is something for me to look forward to. I believe that I have a bright future!"

Now whenever I speak of a bright future to any team, a smile comes on my face as this story immediately comes to my mind!

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

007 - Prayer - 1

They had made it their custom to invite their pious aunt to go with them on their picnic each year. This year they forgot.
When the invitation did come at the last minute, she said, "It is too late now. I have already prayed for rain."

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

A traditional view of a Creditor and a Debtor

divide between rich and poor increasing in India

translation: This is the life story of India. The difference is increasing between the rich and poor. For humanity's sake, please show a way to the poor to live.