THE CHALLENGE
-6. The Resolve

Raghu was moved when he found a boy, who could not speak, trying to make Balachandra understand through actions that he was enjoying his stay in the ashram.  In another instance, his guru asked a boy, “How are you, Hari?”

To this the boy responded, “How are you?  Isn’t this what you asked me?”

As Balachandra smilingly nodded his head in agreement, the boy rejoiced and replied, “I am fine, thank you!”

Raghu could not understand as to why the boy had posed that question.  He observed that there was some abnormality in the speech of Hari, as he was unable to pronounce the words properly.  After some time, Balachandra asked all of them to continue with their evening stroll on the ground.  He took Raghu to a nearby window from where they could get a clear view of the ground below.  Both of them watched the members of the ashram walking and speaking with each other on the ground.  Raghu, who was very disturbed to see these disabled people spoke to the Lord in his mind, “O God!  Why have you done this injustice to these people?  What sin have they committed?”

It was then that his guru called out to him, “Raghu, you must be wondering as to why I have brought you here!”

As Raghu agreed, Balachandra pointed out to a small boy who was walking with slow steps having a stick in his hand and said, “Look at that boy, Raghu!  From the manner in which he is walking, it is evident that he is blind!  However, this disability has not made him despondent and lose hope in his life!  See how he is trying to walk without support like any other normal person despite being blind!  He is determined to do so and he is certainly succeeding in his intentions!”

Raghu looked at his guru bewildered.  He was only feeling sorry for these people and had never viewed from this perspective that one can take inspiration from the determined manner in which they were putting their disability behind the back of their minds and trying to lead a normal life.

Balachandra continued, “You remember that boy who was dumb and was trying to make me understand through his actions that he liked his stay here in the ashram?”  Raghu shook his head in the affirmative and Balachandra explained, “Even though the boy is dumb, he is not suppressing his feelings in his heart.  He is determined to make others understand what he wants to convey and he succeeded.”

Balachandra gave a pause and then recollected that event where the boy, Hari, had asked him, “How are you?  Isn’t this what you asked me?”  He, then, continued, “…That boy is deaf, Raghu!  During his younger days, he could not at all speak properly.  Later, due to therapy and his perseverance, he managed to improve upon his speech and today he nearly speaks normally.  As he cannot hear, he tries to understand what the other person is saying through his lip movement!  Another classic instance to show that nothing is impossible if one has the determination to achieve his goals!”

Raghu watched his guru speechless.   “There’s another boy whom you should meet.  Come with me, Raghu.”  Balachandra took his pupil to one of the rooms of the ashram where an unusual sight met Raghu.  A boy, who was bereft of his hands, was sitting on a wooden platform and trying to write something with the help of his toes on a piece of paper that was placed between his legs!  A lady, who helped him in his activities, stood beside him.  As soon as they saw Balachandra, both of them greeted him.  Balachandra responded and asked the boy to write on the paper.  “See how beautifully he writes!” he looked at Raghu and exclaimed.

Raghu looked at the boy confounded.  Thereafter, Balachandra brought Raghu back to that window and said, “Saw that boy?  He has no hands but is still trying to write with his toes!  Throughout the day he practices writing with his toes and he has assured me that some day he will write as neatly and smoothly like others.  Raghu, isn’t your stammering problem very minor as compared to the disabilities of these children?  When they can take up life as a challenge and fight with their impairment with such determination and grit, why can’t you too do it, dear?”

Raghu immediately fell at the feet of his guru.  “I have grasped what you are trying to say, guruji.   I am very sorry for misunderstanding you and misbehaving with you.  I will do as per your bidding from this moment onwards.”

Balachandra was pleased to hear these words of Raghu and helped him to his feet.  “Raghu, I could have brought you here much earlier but I felt that sooner or later you will improve upon your stammering through my advice.  When that did not work, I felt that if I make you mix up with my other students, it would help your cause.  But today when I heard you lay the blame on destiny for your stammering and not make any attempts to rectify it, I felt that I must bring you here so that you take an inspiration from the lives of these unfortunate children of God and get rid of your stammering through your willpower.”

Sage Suryananda who was narrating this story concluded, “From that day, Raghu changed for the better.  He boldly mixed with people and did not take it to heart if he stammered.  As his guru advised him, he thought what he wanted to say and then tried to speak slowly and clearly.  In a few weeks time, the results were impressive, as there was a marked improvement in his stammering.

As years rolled by, Raghu became a prominent singer like his guru.  He became so confident in his speech that he used to conduct shows where he recited the two holy epics of our motherland and also sung them in simple duns before a massive crowd.  From the money he got by organising such events and the wealth the King had offered him for his father’s drawing, Raghu, too, opened an ashram for the handicapped influenced by his guru.  He also gave tips to those who had a similar problem of stammering like him as to how they should overcome it.  Despite his busy schedule, Raghu did not let his father’s shop down.  When he was not around, he appointed a trusted friend of his who was his companion while he took education under Balachandra, to take care of the shop.  After marriage, his wife looked after the shop when Raghu was away in his ashram and conducting concerts.  Due to his popularity, people found it easy to identify his father’s work, which was on display in King Rajendra’s durbar.

So, dear children, do not let your shortcomings get the better of you.  Try to overcome them with your determination.  This is what Balachandra tried to make Raghu understand and he grasped it, although belatedly.  Also, always believe in your capabilities.  Had Raghu’s father shown his drawings to the King he would have become famous when he was alive and not posthumously.

As life is very short, let us not waste it by grousing over our fate and shortcomings.  Let us make effective use of our available resources and leave this world after doing something notable and generous, so that we will be remembered and our work acts as an inspiration for generations.”