Story 261 - Result of selfish and deceitful action

A foreigner was studying in Japan. One day he brought a book from library. The book contained a map which he desperately needed. But the boy didn't care to take the trouble of copying it down. Instead, he just tore off that page and returned the book. Sometime later, a Japanese student happened to see the torn page with that boy. He reported the matter to the principal of the college. It was announced soon after that no student of that country would be allowed to take books home from the library. Alas! For his own selfishness and for just saving himself a bit of trouble this student caused irreparable loss to his own country. You le may also commit the same mistake. It is a matter of grave concern that we don't at all hesitate in causing irretrievable damage to our country, if our personal gain is at stake. Ultimately, we ourselves have to suffer, too.

In Hong Kong the British had employed a Muslim force i.e. soldiers were paid Rs. 45 or so per month. Two soldiers some other community, who were getting Rs. 9 or Rs. 10 per month, made an application to the government to the effect that they would be willing to go to Hong Kong provided they were paid Rs. 15 per month there. The government was obviously gaining in the deal. So, their requests were granted and the Muslim soldiers were told either to work for Rs. 15 a month or quit. No Muslim soldier agreed to stay on for Rs. 15 a month. So they were made to quit. They later represented their case to the British throne but nothing was done. Why should the government have paid more when the work could be got done for a much less amount? Better and braver soldiers were recruited for a much smaller sum. As a result, the new soldiers went to Hong Kong and the Muslims were dismissed. Frustrated and infuriated, the Muslim soldiers went to Africa td enlisted themselves for Mulla's force. They successfully instigated Mulla against the British. In the ensuing battle, the British Government sent the new regiment from Hong Kong. When the Muslim soldiers learnt that the new force which was responsible for their dismissal at Hong Kong had come from there, they fought with utmost valour and venom to settle their old account. Many British soldiers were killed and many wounded. Many others failed to stand the heat of the desert. Many fell ill. All of them were ruined. One reaps as one sows. These new British soldiers had deprived the Muslim soldiers of their Rs. 45 a month just to get an increase of Rs. five only a month. They had to suffer the consequences in the shape of deaths, wounds, diseases and other ravages. Selfishness is a double-edged evil. It first harms others and then mars those who fall a prey to it.

Dear ones! As all the different limbs and organs of the body are essential for a smooth and normal life, similarly all the different races, sects and peoples are needed for an active, healthy and lively society. Who can we harm, then? Who should we look down upon? If the eyes refuse to help all the other limbs by showing them things or if the hands refuse to co-operate with the other limbs in the interest of the body or if the legs refuse to carry the burden of the whole body, what will happen? Can the body function even for a minute in the midst of this confusion? If he eyes were to say, "I have the power to see. Why should other parts of the body take advantage of my faculty," will it be in the interest of the body? If the hand which toils decides to keep itself whatever it earns, that is not possible. It will only harm the hands. The same is the case of all the limbs taken in isolation. When it is proved beyond doubt that selfishness ultimately harms the person who tried to harm others, there is no fun in becoming selfish. The foreign student, who tore the page out of the book, smote not only his country but himself also. The new soldiers of the British regiment stabbed themselves by wanting to wrong the Muslims. Innumerable instances can be quoted to show how these egotists have mauled themselves and their country. The battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas, Muslim rule in India, constant quarrel among Shahjehan's sons, the expiration of the Muslim reign, establishment of the British Empire in India, the doom of Marathas and Sikhs, are some of the examples. All this was caused by our selfishness. We would never have been enslaved but for this egoism. It is this selfishness which has made you an animal, pushed you out of the heaven into the hell and converted you into cowards from the lion-hearted peoples. Shall you not give it up even now?

Vol. 4 (199-201)