Coup On Law And Justice – 06 [Tit for Tat]

I narrate another story of Maryada Ramanna to you.

అనగా అనగా …… ……….

In a village there was a rich man, named Mallayya. Though he was rich, he was miser. That’s why nobody would come to work at his home. One day a young man, named Gangayya came to that village in search of work. Gangayya was very innocent. He was stout enough. He needs much quantity food to satisfy his hunger. That’s why in his own village, no farmer could take him as permanent servant except on daily wages. So that he was wandering in the village for job.

He approached Mallayya and asked for work. Within few questions, Mallayya could understand that Gangayya was very innocent. He said “Look Gangayya! I will give you work as servant in my house. You have to do whatever I ask you to do. I’ll give food up to your hunger satisfaction twice in a day. No more salary, if you want to quit the job, you have to pay me golden lump in the size of hen’s egg. If I want to retrench you, I’ll pay you golden lump in the size of hen’s egg. If you agree to my condition, join in the job.”

Since Gangayya was badly in need of job, immediately he accepted the condition of Mallayya and joined in the job.

Every day he had to draw water a lot from the well. He had to water the plants, washing clothes, washing dishes, cleaning the rooms, caring milch cattle. Mallayya had given enough food to Gangayya twice in a day. In beginning, Gangayya didn’t notice any pain as well Malllayya also had considered the quantity of work of Gangayya. Gradually he increased the work on Gangayya.

Days passed, Months over. Two years had passed away like this. Gangayya felt tedious work. He wanted to go to his village and settle in life. One day he asked Mallayya to reveal him from work. Mallayya demanded Gangayya to pay golden lump in the size of hen’s egg. Then only Gangayya understood the complexity of the condition of the job. He begged Mallayya to consider his service and treat him with generosity. But Mallayya didn’t agree.

In helpless situation, Gangayya had continued in the job. But he was very sad from that day. By watching this inhumanity of Mallayya, some people in that street advised Gangayya to approach Maryada Ramanna.

Gangayya went to Maryada Ramanna at night and explained about his problem and requested him to help. Maryada Ramanna thought for a while. He knew about the greediness of Mallayya. Nobody could change his greediness and crookedness by counseling. Hence, Maryada Ramanna told Gangayya what to do, to get rid of the conditions of Mallayya. Gangayya had under stood that plan and returned Mallayya’s house.

Next day morning, when Mallayya ordered Gangayya to draw water from the well, he mishandled the pots and broken half of them. Mallayya thought that it was the mistake and warned him to take care while working. When he ordered Gangayya to water the plant, Gangayya walked carelessly on the flower & vegetable plants while watering them. Half of the plants were destroyed. While washing the clothes, he mishandled them until they tore off. While washing the vessels, he had broken half of them. While feeding the milch cattle, he had beaten them, so that they didn’t give milk, on that day. Mallayya scolded him, and Gangayya kept calm. But this was repeated on next day, next day and so on.

Within a week, Mallayya noticed severe loss of things. He tried a lot to manage Gangayya to do work as he done in previous. But Gangayya was mishandling the work continuously. By losing patience, Mallayya shouted on him. He said with great anger “Gangayya, you useless fellow. I’m retrenching you from work. Get out from here.”

Immediately Gangayya demanded for golden lump in the size of hen’s egg. Temporarily Mallayya with drawn the retrench idea. But Gangayya continued his mishandling of work which caused damage of things and loss to Mallayya.

Unavoidably Mallayya approached Maryada Ramanna. After enquiring in to the problem, Maryada Ramanna said “Mallaya! You put the condition yourself. Gangayya accepted it. Now you are retrenching him, so that you have to pay golden lump in the size of hen’s egg. It is must.”

Greedy Mallayya had given the golden lump to Gangayya. He was crying like anything. The poor and innocent Gangayya thanked to Maryada Ramanna and left to his village.

Maryada Ramanna said “Mallaya! You are rich. The poor people come to the rich to service. In return the rich people should be kind and affectionate to them. Then only they serve to the boss with obedience and sincerity. You give money. They give service. That’s all the commercial relation among the boss and his subordinate. But human relation is beyond this limit. It involves the kindness, Generosity, affection, respect, obedience and sincerity etc. human values. No rules and regulations, no law and government acts could bring such human values in to implementation. It relates to our heart only. Anybody can take a horse up to the river. But nobody can make the horse to drink water by force. In such case, you should not be greedy towards poor Gangayya. Try to learn to treat the poor servant with generosity.”

Mallayya felt shy and changed his mind set.

That’s the entire story.

With respective the above conclusion of maryada Ramanna, we should think the reliability and limitations of the servant maid’s Act passed recently by A.P. State government and other such acts regarding the treating of children by parents and teachers. The rules and regulations, laws and governments Acts can guide the people but they cannot make the people to follow them with perfection. Voluntarily people should implement the rules.

For example in servant-maids act case, government decided that the boss should pay 100/Rs. For 8 hours work, accordingly for one hour. If the servant takes one hour for a work which can be finished within 10 minutes, who can solve the dispute? Who can weight or measure the concern of boss by giving eatables, coffee, Tiffin etc to the servant?

I’m not objecting the acts making. Such Acts may prevent the exploitation of servants and they may protect the servant’s right. I’m saying about the implementation limits of such Acts, in fact every Act. The language of the Act of law cannot protect the society. Only the spirit or the feeling or meaning of the Act of law can protect the society. That much I want to say.