I bought this book little over 11 years ago in BS 2066/2/09. It was very confusing for my seven years old son then. He was doing his homework – writing about cow and “cow gives milk” was his first sentence. To add to his confusion he often overheard our milk delivery lady talk about how much milk her cow gives each morning and for how long and so on. After some explaining he came to terms that milk has to be actually extracted drop by drop. But in general terms we say cow gives milk. Fair enough!
But it also has a profound meaning and inferences can be drawn on how we learn certain things, understand and use them to solve our day to day life issues. Oftentimes we get habitual to the half-told phrases or stories and never really give them deeper look that they deserve. Maybe cows give milk or don’t give milk is so simple and straightforward thing that it is hardly a subject of serious intellectual pondering.
Generally, intellectual appearing folks have developed a habit of using jargons that are difficult to grasp. Followed by a set of tools, matrix, or indicators to do things that do not even require any tools in the first place. One who can make these elements more complex and confusing, better Guru he is and paid higher as well. Therefore, simple meaning phrases usually don’t appeal to them.
In the rush of the rat race most of us take shortcuts and happily copy and follow and copy and follow again such folks to suit or changing needs only to get in trouble later. Unfortunately, due to the simplicity of it’s appearance such basic knowledge in its incomplete form, is often used by all of us in dealing with very complex and real life situations. Overtime some of us even forget the subsequent lines and use the only first popular part. This is where the problem lies.
Consider a popular saying in Sanskrit “अहिंसा परमो धर्मः। धर्म हिंसा तथैव च॥” which means “Non violence is ultimate Dharma (duty). So too is violence in service (protection or following)of Dharma“. When only first part is considered it would mean someone to follow complete non violence even if it means becoming a victim himself. But if both parts are considered simultaneously one can also be inspired to protect his Dharma in case of intrusion from undesirable sources.
This is what many Indians today debate about how Mahatma Gandhi led or misled them during their independence movement or during partition of the country afterwards. Dots left unconnected or fine prints forgotten in the glamour of the day! Personally, I tend to think it is perfectly fine in our Sanata Dharma where even the God is also questioned until a satisfactory answer is provided.
So what has glamour to do with the dots left unconnected in general? Glamour as I understand is a quality that makes something attractive. It applies to professions, works, Jobs, or wealth and so on. As many people say film industry is glamorous. True as it appears to be. But most of us would not know or even imagine what it takes to live that glamour in day to day life.
Here I am reminded of an article published in a popular daily in India titled “Do you want to build a bridge or inaugurate it?” It was circa 1993 I heard about this news story alluding to the increasing number of graduates from Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) opting to work and settle in the US. Those who stayed back also opted for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) rather than looking for careers in Engineering. It discussed a case of brain drain sponsored by the government.
Getting into IITs itself has always been a glamour par excellence not to mention what a pay cheque they can be offered after the graduation. A vital means to almost all material glamour for some at least. Many students in engineering who could not qualify for IITs in the first or second attempt opted for other colleges but continued pursuing their IIT dream. I had a friend in my first year who quit AMU for IIT after a year.
Likewise, I heard many more stories from my colleagues and acquaintances from India over the years that Bihar produced most IAS officers than any other state in India. The reasoning often given is that the rate of dowry for an IAS was the highest among all other jobs. Though I don’t know for sure but it sounds convincing given the situation of dowry once was there.
Wearing a different hat, both these scenarios can also be debated like the glamour of becoming an IAS officer is akin to becoming a pricy price tag item of a man bought over by the girl he is marrying for life. Likewise, for graduating with flying colours from IITs and leaving your family, friends, or heritage behind for the glamour of living an American dream as one of the most qualified man sold to America at the price of a serious national loss!
However, it is a very simplistic analogy of glamour I can think of. Maybe this is a completely wrong expression or a very extreme thought that was recorded in real time. Flow!
But when I dive into it a little deeper from the status and responsibility perspective, I see glamour for some people is in mere seeking or securing coveted job positions paid or unpaid. While for others it is about undertaking works and delivering results that have potential of transforming lives and landscapes and becoming role models for others and the future generations.
My simple understanding of job and work is as follows.
JOB: synonyms: position of employment, position, post
WORK: synonyms: labor, toil, exertion, effort
While Job and work are interrelated much like “Cows Don’t give milk, it has to be extracted drop by drop” or “अहिंसा परमो धर्मः। धर्म हिंसा तथैव च॥”. Only job or work is incomplete to say the least. If you have a job or a position of an authority you are expected to work and put enough effort to accomplish what is expected of that given position. But if you considered title position is of the higher order in glamour and ignore your responsibility of accomplishing what is expected of your position then you will miss the whole point or even qualify for the punishment.
to put the case in Nepalese perspective just give a minute to yourself and see all position holding politician of our time in Nepal. Likewise, most of the businessmen, rights champions, Administrators or Judiciary, so called development agencies, people in multilaterals, associations and unions of all kinds (Schools, colleges, students, employees, lawyer, doctors, and engineers), universities, financial institutions, cooperatives, honorary consuls, or even the neighbourhood communities. Everywhere everyone (with exceptions of course!) is after the coveted positions of employment or authority just to massage their inflated egos or for their own personal gains.
A case in point is one of Mr. Sulav Agrawal- Honorary Consul of Kyrgystan in Nepal and Executive director of a fairly large business organization who undermined his position and used his Blue plated vehicle (only given to diplomatic missions!)to avoid police checking, screening or frisking and blackmarket thermal guns at the height of COVID-19.
Similarly, one can see and feel sorry for the state of the state where each member of a particular family is a consul of one country or the another just because they are rich. Can anybody explain what have they contributed by holding their positions except getting VIP passes and special treatment among us all? Is it because they have not learnt their responsibilities? Not at all. They are the people who have the best of everything as available here and what any other privileged person can afford elsewhere.
While it paints a very grim and sorry picture of our country there are those minority exceptions in all fields but they are limited to be exceptions. Imagine a forbes listed Billionaire is nowhere in the ranks of highest tax payers or even in terms of good governance in his conglomerate as it is called. But a media shy businessman who has been on the top of the list both for being highest taxpayer for many consecutive years and best corporate practices within his businesses would quietly donate fortune to a humanitarian organization and ask for no photo ops!
Dharma Adharma, positions and responsibilities, and glamour of position and work, delivering on promises and expectations, being a role model in one’s own small way are not only for those few select ones in the society. It’s for all of us at every level of society ranging from a small household, a society of few households, or a small start up, or mid sized company or a public limited, multinational company or lowest level of administration to any of the highest order of national or international stature. If you wish to be there you must ensure to leave no stone unturned to deliver what is expected of you. Then only you can get the real nourishment from the cow milk.
सिध्द विचार 
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