Once, when he was a young boy, Gandhi stole a bit of gold out of his brother's armlet to clear a small debt (not his own) of about twenty-five rupees. But the act became more than he could bear. The crime bore heavy on his heart and he kept thinking about it.
He made up his mind never to steal again. He also wanted to confess the crime to his father. But he didn't have the guts to do so. Gandhi was worried more about the pain that he would cause his father. After a lot of thought, Gandhi decided that the risk should be taken. He wrote out the confession on a slip of paper and handed it to his father. In the note he not only confessed his guilt, but also asked to be punished for it.
With trembling hands, Gandhi handed the confession to his father who was then suffering from a fistula and was confined to bed. Gandhi sat opposite his father on the small wooden plank that served as his father's bed. As he read the note, tears trickled down his father's cheeks, wetting the paper. For a moment he closed his eyes in thought and then tore up the note. He had sat up to read it. He again lay down. Mohandas also started crying. He could see the pain his father was going through.
About the incident Gandhi said later, "Those pearl-drops of love cleansed my heart, and washed my sin away... This was, for me, an object-lesson in Ahimsa (non-violence). Then I could read in it nothing more than a father's love, but today I know that it was pure Ahimsa. When such Ahimsa becomes all-embracing it transforms everything it touches. There is no limit to its power." - Mahatma Gandhi
If someone did – Its an experiment. If we took the initiative – Its a true experiment. Here is an example for the later part the true experiment. A circumstance has been developed for the students to develop their truth experiment at Women Government Higher Secondary School located in Thiruppur District, Uthukuli.
When we stepped inside the stationery shop residing inside the school premises, few students are choosing their needed stationery material from there. You may ask what is the astonishing thing here is? The shop doesn't have any vendors, no supervisors and things are not locked. Amazing right! Students can pick their needed stationery items like books, scales, pencils… etc from there and pay the equivalent price in the price box and if they pay additional then they can take their balance amount from the price box. As the price box will remain opened.
This first and foremost formulated shop in TamilNadu is named as 'Sathya Sothanai Angadi'. This idea of this shop has been created for the young students residing in the same locality jointly with the 'Anbu Aarakatalai'.
Speak only the truth, Don't steal, Don't hurt, Live in morality, No ill talking are the key slogans that should be nourished in the student's mind from their infant. "We have taken this chance to guide the student with these moral values." Says Geetha - Anbu Aarakatalai's incharge.
"We thought of doing an innovative thing in remembrance of the students died in Kumbakonnam fire accident. The outcome of our initiative is 'Sathya Sothanai Angadi' started 15th August 2007. The deeds are fully for the students and to extol the student's good quality. Our expectations, confidence, missions, actions are all around the students." Says S.Ramakrishnan – One of the Sathya Sothanai Angadi's Managers. He answered our few questions.
"Sathya Sothanai Angadi" – What does it mean?
Love, grace, morality are not to be taught to the children. These characters will dwell in them naturally. So we have given them a field to motivate their nature and to build their ethics in the form of 'Sathya Sothanai Angadi'. Two friends of mine, working as IAS in Andhra Pradesh formulates the identical type of shop in Shreekaakgulam – Schools for gipsys. We have done the same type in their advice.
What were the public's view / opinion about this?
Many people said the items in the shop will get stolen. But nothing happened like that. Instead, students got pride in their morality and ethics behaviours.
Why in choosing the Government School?
Government student's character, managing skills and morality are judged incorrectly by the outsiders. To remove this bottom line we have brought this into the Government Schools. The need materials for the students are brought in lump-some. The price will be same as that of MRP and lesser than the outside market. The price of each item will be marked on them. So they can buy the items and pay themselves. The price box remains open as usually.
How about student's reaction?
Students are totally got surprised on the first day. They even haven’t entered the shop. Later day, they themselves stared to buy the items and pay for it. The money will be used for the school improvement. School's Head Master gave us the full fledge support to this shop.
Do you believe that this will glow brighter?
Each and every plan has own ups and downs. Government school students are fantastic. We usually don't trust in their truthness and ethic. But as of now no items got stolen from the shop. We did a proper counselling to the students about the shop's mission and vision. We have the confidence that the student won't fail us in any form.
How about taking and implementing this idea in other schools?
We have just started this. If the shop ran successfully for long time with morality and ethic then we will start practicing the shop in other schools. So the implementation of this idea with other schools completely depends on this student's hand.
Words from N.Karuppaswamy – Head Master
"'Anbu Aarakatalai' has taken initiative in planting and maintaining the trees inside school premises, teaching fine arts for our school students. They are helping each and every individual in this school."
Inspired Incident!!!
"One day in that shop, a student bought a pen for Rs. 10. She dropped her Rs. 20 inside the price box. Then she directly she came to me and asked for the balance. We declined her request and asked her to take the balance amount from the price box itself. The main aim of this shop is to experiment your truthness. We got surprised about her ethics. Each and every child will be having this. "
"Gain is not the vital thing in this. We sell the stationery item as of the bought price. Till date the bought amount and the sold amount are tallied and balance. The sales reached Rs. 2000 on the first day itself. To verify the items and money we have represented four students." Says N.Karuppaswamy – Head Master of the school.
This truth battle among the youth will be certainly a best example for others. The whole success factor is in the hands of the students. Hats off.
Courtesy: Dinamani – Sunday Kondattam
Essay: "Sathya Sothanai Angadi"
Author: Raghunathan
Published On: 21st June 2009
