Let us get on His feet

 

 The five Pandavas survived the Bharata war because of Sahadeva Bhakti, the absolutely invisible Bhakti. Of the five Pandavas, which one is most devoted to Krishna? Everyone had a deep affection for him in their hearts.

Since violence and adharma are on the rise on Earth, Lord Vishnu had promised Bhudevi that he would solve her bhoobharam problem. In light of this, He would have wiped them out during the Kurukshetra conflict. Pandavas will also stand in it. Sahadeva was the one who knew that secret. After accepting Dharmaputra's request, Paramatma departs for the Kaurava King peace mission. Each of the five Pandavas was then asked by Sri Krishna if they preferred peace or war. Then, only Dharmaputra says, "Peace.”.Arjuna, Bhima, and Nakula declare that they want to fight.

 "But why are you asking us?" was all Sahadeva said. "In any case, whatever you think will only come to pass. Do it".Then Krishna realizes that Sahadeva is saying something important because he is an expert in astrology. When they were alone, Paramatma asked Sahadeva, "Tell me what can be done to prevent the war from coming." Sahadeva asserts, "The only way to stop Bharat Yuddha from coming is to bind yourself up."

"Where can I see you tie me?" inquired Krishna, who at that very moment spread out across the hall in the form of sixteen thousand Krishnas. It seemed that Paramatma occupied all of the visible space. How do you construct all these dimensions? Sahadeva did not hesitate, though. He sat on Padmasana. He closed his eyes. He pondered resolutely on Lord Krishna's names, attributes, and forms. He spoke the praises of Krishna with a tongue in a state of devotional ecstasy. Sahadeva's composition, *Sri Krishna Mantram, was then born!

     "Om namo visvarupaya visya sidhyanda hethave

       Vihvesvaraya visavaya govindaya namo namaha!

       Namo vijnana rupaya paramananda rubine 

       Krishnaya gopinathayagovindaya namo namaha!!"

As Sahadeva chanted the mantra, the forms taken by the Supreme Lord mingled one by one, merged into one, and bound it inside Sahadeva's heart. He creates in his mind the actual form of the Kṛiṣhṇa bound in this way.

Krishna was pleased with it. “Sahadeva, you have won!” “My mother tied me to the Ural!” "The gopis of Brindavan bound me!" "God can be bound with devotion, you have convinced me!" "Untie me and let me go!" "What boon do you want?" and so on.

 "Swear to save us," states Sahadeva upon hearing that.

Krishna said, "I am with you all.”

You took Prahlada, Vibhishana, and Karna to your side. No one can know your divinity! Those who know cannot change! What you anticipate happening. "You came here to kill Hiranya and Ravana, Krishna," chuckled Sahadeva.

"I will keep you safe," declared Krishna, who was trapped in Sahadeva's thoughts. He smiled and blessed Sahadeva by revealing his Vishvarupa.

"Let us cling to His feet." Om Namo Narayanaya!!

 

ONE MORE RUPEE

 

                                                                

Traditions are deeply influenced by beliefs and practices, and "Shagun," which means "good fortune," is no different. One such custom is typically observed during auspicious occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and ceremonies marking significant milestones in one’s life and has a deeper meaning.

 

Hinduism emphasizes the cyclical tradition of life and death, where ‘zero’ (shunya) indicates the end and ‘one’ is the beginning of something new. Beginnings are linked to optimism and ends to negativity. Giving money as a gift in numbers ending with zero, like 500, 1,000, and so on, has ominous implications. So an extra rupee is added to ensure a fresh start.

The addition of one rupee to monetary gifts, as above, is far more than a mere token of generosity; it is laden with symbolism and significance. It is seen as a blessing and prayer of happiness and prosperity for the recipient.

Festivals and gatherings are good opportunities to foster and strengthen communal ties. This was especially prevalent in the days of the forefathers. To encourage this community feeling, the additional 'one rupee' was seen as a benign debt on the receiver’s part. They had to repay it by accepting and attending the giver’s festivals whenever the time came, ensuring a continuum in social relations.

Drawing an analogy from the Mahabharata, where Lord Krishna’s boon of a vessel (Akshyapatra) to Draupadi would always have some extra rice (anna) for feeding everyone, the ‘one-rupee’ signifies a bit of leftover money for the receiver as well. The extra amount becomes a symbol of hope that difficult times will pass.

In the olden days, social gatherings were generally limited to marriages. Guests blessed the newlyweds to be united against all challenges. It manifested into the idea of gifting a sum of money that was not an ‘even’ number and could not be equally divided. This was to ensure that the couple did not quarrel over wealth and prospered together instead.

Further, the additional rupee is always a coin because they are made of metal, or ‘dhaatu’. The human body is constituted by ‘Ashtadhaatu’ or eight elements. Metals are propitious and a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of wealth. Gold and silver coins were given as gifts in the past before the minting of steel and copper coins. Therefore, the gifting of a metallic coin adds to the holiness of the festivity.

Finally, both practically and symbolically, Shagun is a force for development and prosperity. With the extra rupee, the recipient is encouraged to invest in their future, even though the primary amount is meant for immediate use. Like the popular tale of an enterprising boy who made a fortune from a paisa, it also encourages the receiver’s intellectual capacity to make a lasting impact from small but steady efforts.

The fact that generations are still carrying out this ancient tradition is evidence of the timeless customs that unite communities across time and location.

 

A Trader's perspective

Lashkar (Baade) market is in the heart of Gwalior city. Being Sunday, market was brimmed with pre-festival crowds with people from the outskirts and cantonment areas of the city. Brisk business activity in shops decorated with colour lights and illuminations, dwellers with variety of items were occupied in pavements. Eateries selling hot samosas, Pani puri, kababs and colourful drinks have added to a Mela atmosphere. Dogs and cattle without fear crisscrossed amongst the crowd. Pickpocketeers and urchins have a field day unnoticed. Party volunteers and other agencies and law protectors were also busy, collecting their ‘hafta’ as a right.

As Lokesh Bhai of Umang Textiles canvassed from the storefront, he noticed two people approaching his store, giving him a half-smile. He courteously invited them into the shop.

‘ Do you have Baniyans?', asked the lanky first person.

‘ Yes sir, and showed them a famous brand. ‘ Sir, this is of the best quality, and your size is 36 inches.’

He was searching for the label, Lokesh Bhai thought and asserted it as‘Turtle’ brand and of ‘36’ inches. The visitor took a card from his pocket, which displayed him as an Inspector from the Weights and Measures, never even in the dreams expected by Lokesh Bhai.

‘What happened, sir?

‘ Don’t you know that the measurement rule has been changed to show in ‘centimetres’ and not ‘Inches'? When shall it be enforced if it goes like this in the  country? Are you not aware of the law”.

‘Sir, it’s mentioned there in small...’ Moreover, is it not the company responsible for the label’?

‘ Shut up; you will argue and teach me? Shouted the Inspector.

' Sorry sir, I’m a small trader and illiterate, so clearing a doubt, sir.’ Lokesh Bhai closed his mouth with his hands.

The Inspector took the challan book, scribbled something and asked to bind the whole bundle.

‘Sir, sir, please, I am a small trader,” pleaded.He was sweating and took a towel and freshened himself, keeping an eye on him for the next word.

‘ Now small, and like this has become big’, Inspector extended the Challan to him. The other person came from behind and murmured in Lokesh Bhai’s ears not to accept the challan, come what may.

Lokesh whispered back 'Do you think I am mad? What are you in W&M?’

Before waiting for his reply, he packed two more 36" Turtle Baniyans, folded in Shops’ cover, and with a broad smile gave Inspector. Without turning back, he collected the package and moved to Lallan Singh's next shop.

‘ I am Chaprasi ( Peon ) to Sir. You only give me two 32’’ briefs”, Peon said.

Infuriated, Lokesh Bhai abruptly ordered him to hurry to his boss. The peon then left after threatening to see him in court sooner in a louder voice.

The incident was eventually forgotten. Three months after the incident, Lokesh Bhai was surprised to receive a court notice requiring him to appear in Moti mahal Sessions Court on the Challan issue within twenty days of the notice date. After morning prayers, he hurried to the court on the appointed day.

Lokesh Bhai managed to stand in front of the judge in the box when his call came, even though the courtroom was packed.

 When the judge asked him to give his version of events, he asked him directly, "My lord, are you wearing a banian?"

 The court burst out laughing.

 The advocate from the petitioner interrupted to question the trader. On the other hand, the respondent asked if he also wore a banian. "Yes." What is wrong with you? 

To the security officer positioned beside the judge, Lokesh Bhai loudly posed the same query. He gave the same response as well.

Looking at the Judge he said:" When a customer requests it, I will only give them 36", not 90.

 As his interest in the scene grew, the judge also checked his Baniyan size in between.

Lokesh Bhai then stated, "I was given a challan for displaying a 36-inch banian that the company had labelled." I will only give 36 when a customer asks for it, not 90. You have confirmed that the banyan worn is in inches, my lord, after seeing the Advocate and Security. I want to know if there is a court justice system in place or I received an unfair treatment for no fault of mine".

"So where is the Inspector who issued the challan?" the judge inquired.

"My lord," said Lokesh Bhai, "he got away after obtaining two additional sets of 36" from me and was never seen again, but his peon is present here."

The judge rendered the following decision after hearing the entire story in detail:

"Until additional investigation is conducted, the issued challan will not be enforced and will be considered, cancelled. Future sales of Lokesh Bhai's products under inches are permitted at Umang Textiles.

The judge smiled and glanced at Lokesh Bhai to see if he was happy.

 The trader then said, "No, my lord," to the judge. "Although the peon has taken two 32-inch briefs, he has not paid for them".

The judge instructed him to leave the courtroom and promised to settle the amount with him shortly.

Neither the judge, the advocate, nor the security could track down the peon in the courtrooms.

Lokesh Bhai continues to serve the community as before with excellence.

Later on, it was reported that the peon's unpaid debt was never recouped!

    ---------------------------------------

(Credits : Col. KR Mani, EKLM  for the subject, freely adapted to this story.)

The metric system in weights and measures was adopted by the Parliament in December 1956 with the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, which took effect beginning 1 October 1958.

The Bell

Annamalai has been working as a peon in the company for almost twenty years. Although the salary is not very attractive, his face suggests that he is not satisfied with it.

 It was Annamalai who reached the office early in the morning, cleaned the place thoroughly, and did all the things to set it in order on the tables. No one called Annamalai by name. He knew that every bell was a call for him and from which table it came. An uncultured Manager once poured tea on him saying that the tea served was too sweet. But Annamalai swallowed his manager's arrogance patiently.

For whom is Annamalai living?  Nobody knows where does he live? Nobody knows Annamalai is from which place? Nobody knows anything about him. Everyone knows only one thing that Annamalai was here with the same work when they joined to work in this company. No one needs to ask anything. Annamalai will be there if you ring the bell in front.

 On the day  he gets the salary, there is a small smile on his face. But it may seem more beautiful than a smile with two lips parted and teeth visible.

The manager who came after the old manager who retired was a clean man. He started calling Annamalai, Anna, out of respect for his age. He looked curiously at the bell on his desk. And then said. "This is for you, Anna, I don't need it."

He took it and tucked it into his waist, keeping his reply to himself. The new manager's modesty has not caught any appreciation of other staff. Someone whispered there that every new fellow came with reforms.

Months later...  Annamalai did not come to the office that day.

The manager asked angrily as he came out of the cabin after hearing the bells ringing many times.

 "Doesn't anyone here know what his name is?

By ringing this bell in turns, do you want to make a fuss?

After a moment of silence, someone said softly.

 "I'm sorry sir, I haven't seen him until now, in office."

 "Is this what we need to do? Is it not proper enough to call him where he lives? What if he is not well or something? What's wrong if you do what he does for one day?.

 After a few minutes he shouted again. "Someone give me that number. I'll call and tell you the rest."

The manager dials the number on his mobile. After talking inside his cabin, he came out and said something to everyone with a bit of  sober voice. 

 "He won't come anymore if you ring this bell again. He died last night. Anyway, I am going to his place. It's not enough for me to show at least that much courtesy to that man. If any of you want to come with me, you can come. If nothing else, don't you all call on him."

Three people accompanied the manager. There was silence in the office.

Annamalai lived in a building attached to an old age home called "Nirvana". In the past, Annamalai was in this shelter with his wife. After his wife died a few years ago, he lived alone. Their children did not come as all of them are outside India. None came, either of their parent's demise. Even though he received all the money sent by them every month, Annamalai did not use a single penny of it. He has given it to the welfare fund of Nirvana. His affairs were going on with the money he got from working. He liked to spend his free time with the inmates of the asylum.

 As the ambulance went to the crematorium with the dead body, the watchman stopped describing Annamalai. With a sigh, he walked towards the premises of Nirvana.

The bells may still be ringing in that office, without Annamalai hearing the call. Thinking that Annamalai might be silently listening to the bell as if he were in some other world where the bells do not ring, the manager and his colleagues got into the car and started their journey back.

Another year passed by and a new Manager took over. As part of his reforms, he abolished the post of Peon and along with vanished the bells to market with other sundry items and old newspapers. 

It was not known, anybody remembered Annamalai then!

The Weight of Price: A Fisherman's Struggle

 

Madappa sold fish in the early morning at a corner near a busy junction and took on odd jobs in the evenings. Despite his efforts, he struggled to make ends meet while supporting his wife and two school-age children. He collected fish from a wholesaler named  Hydros Haji in the early hours, typically on credit, and repaid him weekly. Any unpaid dues were usually accepted by Haji as he allowed for easy installments. Like many others, Madappa felt the impact of inflation and often found himself echoing the common sentiment of frustration with the government's failures. There is no point in crying over something out of his control and has been surrendered to fate. 

Days went by, and one day, Madappa caught a good haul of healthy, large Braal fish for sale. He quickly reached the market, settled on a concrete slab, and confidently displayed his catch to the public.

The first client was a regular, government contractor named Ramaiah. With a broad smile, he addressed Madappa, saying, "Oh Madappa, I haven't seen you in a long time, and you've brought a fresh piece! How much should I pay for half a kilogram?"

"Are you serious? I can't cut and sell you half. The whole piece costs six hundred rupees, and there’s no room for negotiation," Madappa replied.

"It's fish, not gold to keep in a locker," Ramaiah retorted. "I don’t print money to waste!" He then left without waiting for a response.

Lazar from the RTO office approached Madappa and quoted a price of 400 Rupees, claiming that the fish would spoil by tomorrow and urging him to sell it quickly. However, Madappa refused, stating that he doesn’t collect a commission every day and is willing to wait until the fish is sold. A mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces came by to look at the fish, which was lying out of the water on a leaf mat in the mud, its eyes wide open and lifeless. Madappa felt equally drained, with the rising sun beating down on him and his stomach grumbling after more than 15 hours without food since the previous day.

Madappa then noticed a white Maruti car screeching to a halt in the nearby bylane. A tall young man wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses stepped out. He had a prominent tummy and was headed toward the opposite side of the road, where a chubby beauty named Vasanthi was selling flowers. Vasanthi had many young clients who often came to buy flowers and flirt with her.

In the next moment, the shadow of the man fell across Madappa, and to his astonishment, he recognized the young, handsome guy. The man had a tie around his neck bearing the name "Ravi Gulati," along with the logo of a well-known IT company. Madappa stood there, eyes wide, staring at him in disbelief.

“How much is it, and what’s the price? I hope it’s fresh. Do you sell it for me?” he asked breathlessly without taking a pause. 

Madappa felt a bit shaky, unsure of what price to quote based on his previous encounters. The urgency to get home for food weighed on him heavily. His mind was crowded with thoughts: school fees for his children, the unpaid debt to Hydros Haji, his wife showing him empty cans and requesting provisions, and more.

Madappa quickly regained his composure, fearing his client might return. "Sir, this is a rare and fresh piece that weighs more than one and a half kilos. I will charge you only eight hundred and fifty rupees”.

Ravi Gulati took two 500-rupee notes from his wallet and handed them to him, explaining that he didn’t have a carry bag and asked him to pack the fish in a piece of paper instead. Madappa quickly wrapped the fish using some leftover leaves and a sheet of newspaper where he sat down. As he searched his empty pockets, he found a twenty-rupee note and offered it to the young man, saying he didn’t have enough change to repay the balance.

The young Turk collected the parcel, smiled, and walked back to his parked car, leaving a few astonished onlookers behind.

Madappa closely followed the young man, admiring him for several yards as he thought about the protest march on "Inflation and Its Effect on the Common Man," which was addressed by Prof. Kamath, the State's Chief Economist.  Prof. Kamath said: "With other factors remaining constant, the sudden influx of money from the IT sector is causing inflation."

Even though Madappa didn't understand English, he made sure to have two new five-hundred rupee notes in his pocket.

Mannarasala Ayillyam.

Mannarasala is a renowned snake temple in Kerala, located near the towns of Alleppey and Harippad. It is believed to have been established by Sage Parasurama.

This area was once the Gandeeva forest from the Mahabharata, where Arjuna set a fire. The villagers who lived here worked tirelessly to save several snakes by continuously pouring water and soaking the land. Initially named "Man aariya Salai," this place later became known as "Mannarasalai" because it was a location where "the mud became cold."

Lord Parasurama built a temple at this location and brought several Brahmins to live there. However, the Brahmins eventually left due to the presence of numerous snakes and the saline water. In response, Lord Parasurama performed penance to Lord Shiva, who advised him that if he requested the help of Vasuki, the king of snakes, everything would be resolved. Following this advice, Parasurama approached Vasuki, who was pleased with his request.

Vasuki assured him, “These snakes will stay here but will not harm anyone in this village. The people of this village must build a snake temple in their homes and light a lamp in front of it at dusk. I will personally remove the salt from this village and mix it into the sea.”

With this assurance, Parasurama was pleased and returned with the Brahmins. They were all Namboodiri Brahmins who settled in the village and lived happily. Parasurama then built a temple dedicated to Naga Raja and Naga Yakshi in that location. He designated one family, known as Irinada Palli, to reside in the temple compound. The first residents of this house were Vasudevan Namboodiri and his wife, Sridevi Andarjanam.

The family continued to care for the temple. Over time, the only surviving couple did not have any children. They prayed at the temple, and as a result, they were blessed with two sons. One of these sons was a five-headed snake, born under the Aslesha (Ayilyam) star in the month of Kumbha (February-March).

As soon as the snake's son was born, he spoke to his mother, saying, “We, the snakes, are very happy with your family. We would like the eldest female member of your family to conduct the ceremonial worship in our temple. Since you are the eldest, I will teach you all the rituals that must be followed.”

He taught his mother the rituals, and from that day onward, the worship in the temple has been performed by the eldest woman of the family, known as Mannarsala Amma (Mother).

The snake's son entered a dark storeroom in the house, cautioning that no one should enter. However, the room is opened once a day for worship by the Amma of the temple. She usually places a cup of milk inside and then closes the door. The next day, she discovers the cup is empty.

The snake in the store is known as "Grandfather" by everyone and is revered by all. The son born from this snake established two temples in Mannarsala: one dedicated to Naga Raja and the other to Naga Yakshi. One of the snakes at the temple was given as a dowry for a girl who married into a Brahmin family in Kayamkulam. This snake later entered the storeroom of their house, which led to the construction of a similar temple to Mannarsala, called Meypalli, located near Kayamkulam. The most important offering in the temple is “noorum palaum,” a mixture of rice powder, turmeric powder, and milk that is placed outside the temple at night.

In the morning, the contents of the vessel are poured into the ground. The Noorum Palum is also given to the grandfather in the storehouse. However, when the store is opened the next day, the contents of the vessel have vanished. It is well known that the snakes of the temple do not bite anyone; even if they do bite, it has no harmful effects on the person. Additionally, it is widely accepted that nothing is stolen from the temple, as the snakes are believed to protect the property.

A significant festival is celebrated in this temple during the Ashlesha (Ayilyam) star, which falls in the month of Thula (October-November). One of the most popular offerings at Mannarasala is the Uruli Kamazhthu, which involves offering a traditional bronze vessel. This temple is well-known for helping couples conceive children, and thousands of people visit to perform this sacred and unique offering to Nagaraja.

Individuals who wish to have children and those affected by Sarpa dosha visit this temple in the hope that their issues will be resolved. A special turmeric paste available at the shrine is believed to have the power to cure leprosy.

                                                     🙏

Mystery of Chanakys's death

In ancient India, Acharya Chanakya was highly regarded as a great philosopher, thinker, and politician who extensively influenced economics and statecraft. In fact, the highly cherished Indian books on Economics, Arthasashtra, and Chanakya Neeti, were attributed to him. Chanakya lived from 275 BC to 350 BC.

He was often called Kautilya, which means "shrewd," or Vishnugupta because of his extraordinary talent for elevating great kings with his intellect. He received his education at Takshashila, the foremost educational institution of his time, and he was born into a high-caste Brahmin family.

Emperor Chandragupta appointed Chanakya as the Prime minister of the Mauryan kingdom. Chanakya, always vigilant to the movements of the emperor's enemies, remained by Chandragupta's side like a shadow, serving him as a true confidante.

Although Chanakya was a well-respected figure known for sharing life lessons, much about his own life remains mysterious. Scholars have made numerous attempts to uncover the true circumstances of his death, which still appear unresolved.

Possible explanations for Chanakya's death, as recorded in history, thus follows:-

Over time, the people of Pataliputra faced severe famine. Distressed and disillusioned by his inability to ease their suffering, Chandragupta chose to pass the kingdom to his son, Bindusara. Disenchanted, he left the country, converted to Jainism, and lived as a Monk.

Bindusara, who took on the kingdom's responsibilities, allowed Chanakya, his father's right-hand man, to remain as Prime Minister.

Chanakya continued to serve Bindusara and developed a close relationship with him. However, out of jealousy and the desire to become Prime Minister, another minister named Subandhu poisoned Bindusara's mind against Chanakya. He falsely accused Chanakya of being responsible for the death of Bindusara's mother. Under this mistaken belief, Bindusara severed all ties with Chanakya. Heartbroken by this betrayal, Chanakya chose to starve himself to death. Later, a nurse who had cared for Bindusara's mother, Durdha, revealed the truth about her death, which cleared Chanakya's name of the false accusations against him.

After learning the truth about the incident from the palace physicians, Bindusara decided to fast and sought forgiveness from Chanakya, pleading with him to return. However, Chanakya remained resolute in his decision and continued his own fast. Bindusara's frustration over the failure of his mission was directed at Subandhu. At the palace, Bindusara summoned Subandhu and ordered him to apologize to Chanakya and bring him back immediately. He warned that if this order was not fulfilled, Subandhu would be punished severely.

Subandhu, disapproving of Chanakya's return to court, decided to eliminate him by any means necessary. He convinced Bindusara that Chanakya had agreed to return and organize a grand reception to honor him. As preparations were underway to receive Chanakya, Subandhu stealthily approached Chanakya's hermitage (Parnashala) during his hunger strike. He threw a torch at the hermitage, setting the cow dung surrounding it on fire. Chanakya, who was meditating in the area, was unaware of the impending danger. Exhausted and weakened from his prolonged fasting, he was unable to escape the flames. Tragically, the great minister of the Maurya Empire was consumed by the fire.

Acharya Chanakya dedicated his life to demonstrating his strategic mastery. His calm demeanor led to the creation of the Chanakya Neeti Shastra, which significantly influenced historical patterns.

Return to roots- a reflection for a new journey of peaceful life.

  

Tottathil Tamarakshan Pillai, often called TTP, has had a hectic week filled with meetings, interviews, and challenges related to production targets, leaving him exhausted. He yearns for a weekend of complete rest. After more than 15 years in various senior positions across different corporations in the Gulf, he feels that he has had enough of this strenuous lifestyle.

He suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to transfer money to both his mother and wife separately this month. Feeling nostalgic for his family, friends, and hometown, he began to look through the emails and letters that had been left unattended for some time. He particularly considered the idea of settling down in his native town. His close friend, who had organized the correspondence in alphabetical order for no particular reason, had left it neatly arranged on the bedside table as Pillai scanned through it.

What is a viable business idea to start in my hometown to promote a peaceful life after returning from expatriation?

Aleena Thomas: Sales of Kerala State Lottery Tickets.

Babu Kallingal: Try to become a Panchayat President; everything else will follow.

Charles Korea: Brandy trade is increasing in demand, and many people are buying brandy from beverage sub-agencies where you have applied to the government.

Damu Poriyath: Join CPM and experience a life of ease without the need to work.

Epen Varughese: A recruitment agency specializing in hiring foreign workers, assisting with visa and travel document arrangements, and more.

Fathima Moidu: Spiritual business. No Investment. Canvass people for Umrah and hand them over to a Travel agency.

Govindan Nair: When you return, try to keep the money you have. First, buy a cane chair and place it in a sit-out area. Sit on it, buy a few newspapers, and spend your time reading. Food will be provided from time to time.

Hariharan Potti: Don’t wait to start your work or business as soon as you arrive. Delaying too long may lead to running out of cash and having to return home. Make sure to deposit your money in a Co-operative Bank so you can earn good interest.

Indira Korath: Start a beauty parlor and hire two or three young beauticians. The ambiance should be excellent, and your income will be assured.

Jamaludeen: Fish trading requires less investment and offers the potential for greater profits throughout the year.

Kunhikannan: A small tea stall offers native snacks like parippu vada, pazhampori, and Bajji, and boasts a thriving business.

Lazer Pothiyil: My opinion is that it would be very, very good if shoe, bag, and umbrella shops were started on the part of any school and near the town area.

Moideen Mamprath: If you have the cash, consider purchasing an affordable small plot of land nearby that has access to water. On that land or your current property, you can take out a loan to secure government benefits and insurance. Use the funds to build a stable and acquire five or six buffaloes. These buffaloes can be used on the farm during the growing season and can also be sold for meat at local markets.

Nanu S. Pillai: If your current work is going smoothly, consider postponing your plans to go home for now and focus on settling in. Instead of using the company ticket, buy your own ticket and enjoy your time with your family.

Obaidullah Kareem: Start a travel agency as a broker, earning commission on bus tickets between minor and major stations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or Karnataka. This can be a lucrative business.

Parvathy Puranthoppil: Consider starting a business in Tamil Nadu instead of Kerala to live happily.

Quttabuddin Hyder Ali: Open a bakery goods and refreshing beverages shop.

Ramesh R.: Select a suitable location for a small shop selling newspapers, magazines, books, and writing materials. Aim for a relaxed atmosphere with less business stress.

Sadashivan Kuruppath: A distribution agency for paints and related activities can be profitable.

Tomy George: Be cautious; starting a business in a country with communist influences can be challenging.

Ubaid Hasan: Stick to your current profession; this minimizes risks associated with starting anew.

Viswanathan Iyer: Affordable meal delivery services are essential for senior citizens in Kerala who face age-related health issues and cannot manage household tasks, including cooking.

Wilson James: Sports equipment is in high demand. Stores that stock these items can sell them for significant profits.

Xavier Johnson: Cattle, chicken, and pig farms offer significant business opportunities, especially when supplying college hostels, hospital canteens, and military camps.

Yasodharan Thambi: Consider obtaining a franchise for Ayurvedic and homeopathic products. This option offers low risk and the potential for steady income.

Zakaria Kurien: A mini supermarket offering stationery, provision items, and vegetables is rapidly growing, leading to reasonable and consistent profit. 

The mobile phone rang persistently, interrupting his sleep and dreams. It was a call from the Chief General Manager, requesting an immediate meeting with His Highness the Sheik. TTP was to personally collect the promotion order and take on the role of Salala Project Head. Without hesitation, TTP left to meet the Sheik, setting his dreams aside for later.