Manage Your Problems - The Gopal Bhand Way E-Book

Vishal Goyal

• Herausgeber: V&S Publishers
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 240

Beschreibung

The gopal bhand way

Leseprobe

Published by:

F-2/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002 011-23240026, 011-23240027 • Fax: [phone]Email: [email protected] • Website: www.vspublishers.com

Regional Office : Hydrabad

5-1-707/1, Brij Bhawan (Beside Central Bank of India Lane) Bank Street, Koti, Hyderabad - 500 095040-24737290Email: [email protected]

Branch Office : Mumbai

Jaywant Industrial Estate, 1st Floor - 108, Tardeo RoadOpposite Sobo Central Mall, Mumbai - 400 034022-23510736Email: [email protected]

Follow us on:

© Copyright: ISBN 978-935-05733-3-4

DISCLAIMER

While every attempt has been made to provide accurate and timely information in this book, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, unintended omissions or commissions detected therein. The author and publisher make no representation or warranty with respect to the comprehensiveness or completeness of the contents provided.

All matters included have been simplified under professional guidance for general information only without any warranty for applicability on an individual. Any mention of an organization or a website in the book by way of citation or as a source of additional information doesn't imply the endorsement of the content either by the author or the publisher. It is possible that websites cited may have changed or removed between the time of editing and publishing the book.

Results from using the expert opinion in this book will be totally dependent on individual circumstances and factors beyond the control of the author and the publisher.

It makes sense to elicit advice from well informed sources before implementing the ideas given in the book. The reader assumes full responsibility for the consequences arising out from reading this book. For proper guidance, it is advisable to read the book under the watchful eyes of parents/guardian. The purchaser of this book assumes all responsibility for the use of given materials and information. The copyright of the entire content of this book rests with the author/publisher. Any infringement/ transmission of the cover design, text or illustrations, in any form, by any means, by any entity will invite legal action and be responsible for consequences thereon.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Gopal Bhand's P.R.O.B.L.E.M. Philosophy for Success

Stay Dumb

Coming of Age

Masterstrokes

Star Power

What an Idea!

Warning Signs

Tough Opponent

Speaking his Mind

More on The Anvil

Aiming for Reform

Mental Issues

Good Luck, Dear Gopal

The Perfect Answer

The Blame Game

Mind Muscle

Blind Greed

Smarter Way

Chasing A Dream

Dangerous Liaison

In the Red

Just Like That

Load-Sharing

Loop in A Loop

Lucrative Business

New Ideas

On a Slippery Track

One For Many

One-on-One

Out of Sync

Play of The Day

Precious View

Call of Duty

The Ugly Truth

Thinking Out of The Box

Too Little, Too Late

Tough Reality

Unlearn To Learn

Spirit of Devotion

Waste not, Want not

Utterly Devoted

Wit and Wisdom

Wrong and Right

Serious Approach

Desire Again

Hope Floats

Leading the Way

Preferred Choice

Swinging Fortunes

Surprisingly Solid

Supporting Role

Helping Hand

In principle

Hack and Steal

Divine Presence

Dynamics of Business

End of Embargo

Falling Flat

Fatal Course

Fuel for Thought

Gallant Effort

Rare Insight

Sigh of Relief

Some Respite

Speed of Thought

Chasing Wisdom

Brazen Attack

Cause for Celebration

Between the Lies

Thought for Today

A Progressive Decision

Droplets of Wisdom

An Inbox

Dedicated

To

My Mother and Father

The Masters of Profound Wisdom

Acknowledgements

No one walks alone on the journey of life. So, perhaps this book and its pages will be seen as “thanks” to the tens of thousands of you who have helped me, joined me and walked beside me all along the way continuously urging me to put my thoughts down on.

Among the many people who helped me with this book, my special thanks to my parents for encouraging me and showing keen interest in the progress. Above all, I want to thank my brothers, my wife and rest of my family, all of whom, in their own ways inspired me and subconsciously contributed a tremendous amount to the content of this book. My son Aryan, who at his tender age sacrificed many hours which we could have spent together.

I am grateful to Sh. Sahil Gupta, Director of V&S Publishing for having great confidence in me and enabling me to publish this book. I am truly thankful to Sh. Dibya Borah, Executive Editor, for giving the final shape to this book with beautiful illustrations and pleasing cover which in itself speaks a lot. V&S Publishers is an amazing organisation comprising talented individuals who shared their knowledge, their ideas, and numerous tips all of which culminated in the completion of this book.

Last and not least: I beg forgiveness of all those who have been with me during the course of completion of this book and whose names I have failed to mention.

— Vishal Goyal

Prologue

India's extraordinary history is intimately tied to its geography. A meeting ground between the East and the West, it has always been an invader's paradise, while at the same time its natural isolation and magnetic culture allowed it to adapt to and absorb many of the peoples who penetrated its mountain passes. No matter how many Persians, Greeks, Chinese nomads, Arabs, Portuguese, British and other raiders had their way with the land, local Hindu Kingdoms invariably survived their depredations, living out their own sagas of conquest and collapse. All the while, these local dynasties built upon the roots of a culture well established since the time of the first invaders, the Aryans. In short, India has always been simply too big, too complicated, and too culturally subtle to let anyone empire dominate it for long.

The Indian history has variety which is its special hallmark. Underneath its history, lies the continuity of Indian civilisation and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day.

During medieval India, a prominent Hindu Kingdom was Krishnanagar, also called Krishnagar, named after Raja Krishna Chandra Rai. It is located in Nadia District of present day West Bengal State, lying on the banks of River Jalangi. An important centre for culture and literature, it contained the residence of Raja Krishna Chandra Rai.

The Krishnanagar (Nadia) Empire included the present day prominent city of Nabadwip meaning “9 islands” in Bangla. Being the birth place of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nabadwip is a pilgrimage city and had been a great centre of learning and intellectual prowess to be aptly referred to as “Oxford of Bengal”. Other well-known towns of Kalyani, Ranaghat, Kaliganj, Birnagar and Tehetta were also a part of the Krishnanagar Empire.

During the 18th century (1710-1783), Krishnanagar (Nadia) was ruled by Raja Krishna Chandra Rai, son of Raghuram Rai. Raja Krishna Chandra was an able Ruler and an Administrator par excellence. The Empire flourished under the rule of Raja Krishna Chandra Rai.

The 18th Century was a time of political turmoil and instability in Bharat. The Mughal Empire declined after the death of Aurangzeb (the last Sultan of Delhi Sultanate) under the later Muslim Rulers, i.e. Bahadur Shah Zafar and so on, and the Maratha Empire (Marathas are an Indian caste found predominantly in Maharashtra) was rising. In Bengal, however, the Muslim governor became independent and the Nawabs flourished.

At that time, the Marathas spread terror in Bengal especially amongst the Nawabs through their constant raids and Bargi invasions (large scale plundering by armed Maratha horsemen). The Nawabs usually sought the help of Bengali Hindu Rajas. Raja Krishna Chandra realised that Muslim power was on the wane and a new era was going to start. He always wanted to revive the Hindu Rule.

At first, the relation between Krishna Chandra and Nawab Alivardi Khan was cordial. But things changed when Siraj-ud-Daula (grandson of Alivardi Khan) became Nawab of Murshidabad. Raja was sad to see the suffering of Hindus during the reign of Siraj especially the Hindu women.

Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula of Murshidabad remained a constant nuisance for the Raja. He collaborated with Robert Clive (a British officer who established the military and political supremacy of the East India Company in Bengal. Together with Warren Hastings, he was one of the key early figures in the creation of British India) against Siraj, thus hastening the downfall of Siraj in the Battle of Plassey. Again during the time of Mir Kasim, Krishna Chandra was imprisoned and sentenced to death. But the British helped to secure his release with whom he maintained cordial relations.

Raja Krishna Chandra is still remembered for providing relief to Hindus besides leaving his mark in field of literature, art and architecture. Krishna Chandra Rai was proficient in Bangla, Sanskrit and Persian and during his reign, the Bengali literature developed. He was known for his public welfare activities. His wife, Rani Bhabani, was also a patron of Sanskrit culture in Bengal. He established a large Shiv temple at Shivnibash. He was the first to introduce Jagaddhatri Puja in Bengal.

Like King Vikramaditya, he too, maintained a Navaratna Sabha (Royal Court with Nine Jewels) which included men of letters like poet Raygunakar Bharatchandra, Ramprasad Sen, Pandit Baneswar Bidyalankar, Krishnananda Bachaspati, Jagannath Tarkapanchanan and Hariram Tarkasiddhanta and the famous GOPAL BHAND.

Gopal Bhand, the barber, was a simpleton but a witty village barber who spent his early days in extreme poverty. He later became the chief jester at the Rajbari (royal court) of Raja Krishna Chandra. Gopal was immensely clever and wise, entertaining the Raja and imparting wise lessons by telling anecdotes, parables and stories appropriate to the issues at point. Gopal was a genius and the King considered him to be ‘gem’ of his Court just like Sultan Akbar considered Birbal and Raja Krishnadeva Raya took Tenali Raman to be. Not only did Gopal entertain the King and the courtiers with his unusual wit, but he often helped the King with unexpected advice when no one else could. Gopal was given great freedom of speech. For these reasons, Gopal Bhand could be described as the Birbal of Bengal. His native shrewdness enabled him to turn every situation to his advantage.

He was favoured by Raja Krishna Chandra and whenever the eccentric Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula of Murshidabad gave Raja an impossible assignment, it was Gopal who came to the Raja's rescue. Being the Raja's favourite, however, did not turn his head. He mingled freely with the common people and often helped them too to solve their problems. That explains the popularity of this folk-hero to this day.

Gopal's concise observations concern people from all walks of life – the common man, beggars, Kings, landlords, the clergy, scholars, the trading class, warriors and others. In most of his tales, the fish – the favourite cuisine amongst Bengalis, had been his cherished subject matter.

Gopal's witty tales usually contain some hidden meaning or moral and can be interpreted at various levels. His anecdotes are now being spun in modern avatars, however, this book deals with his tales of yore right from his vagabond childhood days through his initial days of struggle to the Rajbari.

In one story, there was a rich farmer who grew watermelons in his field. Every day, the vagabond Gopal with other village boys would pluck his watermelons. To scare them away, the farmer put a sign in his field: “There is a poisoned watermelon in this field.”

He felt sure that now his watermelons would be safe and was proud of his bright idea. The next day, when he came back, he saw that none of the fruits were missing but there was another sign kept in the field which read, “Now there are ‘two’!” Gopal just reciprocated with his ‘Tit for Tat’ idea.

The book starts with Gopal's P.R.O.B.L.E.M philosophy which guides one not to be upset with the problems instead take problem as a challenge and solve it energetically. The stories show that our problems are just man-made, therefore they have to be solved by man himself.

For ingesting the essence and feeling the insights of the tales, the author has given his narration and creative interpretation in the form of ‘Fact Of The Matter’ and ‘Popular Version’ in the modern context before and after ‘Fact Unfolded’. Thus the superficial way of reading this book is through wise understanding of the tales and their interpretation in the modern context to encounter and manage one's problems precisely. Gopal's stories are deep rooted in the realism of the prevalent Bengali life. Gopal was indeed a renowned entertainer whose countless stories where he outwits other fellow courtiers and men are mirth in Bengal and Bangladesh even to this day.

Modern education has led us to more literacy and less understanding. This book is designed to provide an all-round understanding for managing our problems. The morals from Gopal's tales have endurance without death and are beyond the reach of destruction.

So there is a need for all of us to immerse and nourish ourselves with the understanding as to how to manage our problems. … with this book as a small dose in the offing to start.

A really good read that shouldn't disappoint any reader…..

Gopal Bhand's P.R.O.B.L.E.M.Philosophy for Success

‘As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.’

‘Act with a commitment that every problem contains the ingredients of the solution within itself.’

‘Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.’

This book is an assortment of many timeless stories of Gopal with thoughts, advice, anecdotes and hard-learned lessons on issues and themes related to day-to-day problems of life, which support such maxims. After a story is read, one is left with a fine thread of thought which slowly burrows deeper and one realises that Gopal was actually passing on a profound message to ‘Manage the Problems’ neatly

The stories guide one not to be upset with the problems, instead take problem as a challenge and solve it energetically. The stories show that our problems are just man-made, therefore they may be solved by man himself.

Gopal's stories empowers one to be successful and satisfied by interpreting ‘PROBLEM’ as an acronym to signify essential, self-evident and universal qualities as follows:

Perceive the situation not to kill but strengthen us.

Resolve sternly to crush and overcome obstacles.

Opportunity lies on the face of the Obstacle itself.

Braving obstacles and hardships is nobler than retreat to tranquility

Learn to unlock the door to opportunity.

Exert the body, heart and head to arrive at the solution.

Method ideally selected to solve the problem improves odd situations.

Not just that the stories are short instances that touch the reader's mind and heart but with the lessons and messages imparted by Gopal's stories, one should weed out anything that is superfluous in this tense and busy world to overcome the problems.

If one chews, digests and absorbs to use the rich wit and wisdom, one will understand that ‘there are no problems in life, only opportunities’ and would be able to ‘Manage the Problems’ peacefully in life.

StayDumb

Fact of the Matter

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Hear one side, and you will be in the dark; hear both the sides, and all will be clear.

Fact Unfolded

Gopal as a young boy used to lazily roam around the whole town like a vagabond. He often visited the grocery shop of his neighbour Lakhindar who was quite showy and always boasted himself to be a brainy chap.

Once, Lakhindar pointing towards Gopal, whispered to an elderly customer, “You see, this is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you.”

Saying this, Lakhindar put a coin in one hand and a few cowries1 in the other and called the boy to proudly ask, “Gopal, which one do you want, son?” Gopal smilingly took the cowries and left the shop. While Lakhindar and the customer both made fun of Gopal, he went to the nearest sweet shop to buy himself sandesh2.

‘What a dumb kid,’ the customer continued to think for long. Later that day, the customer came across Gopal roaming lazily in the market place. Already puzzled by Gopal's peculiar behaviour noticed at Lakhindar's shop, the customer called Gopal and curiously asked, “Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the cowries instead of the coin when you know that the coin has far more money value than the paltry cowries?”

Gopal with his mouthful of sandesh and smacking his lips replied, “It's simple! Because the day I take the coin, the game is over uncle!”

The customer blushed and walked away saying nothing.

Popular Version

Often one makes conclusions to his own disadvantage. A conclusion should never be a place where you got tired of thinking. Digging up facts may be a hard job, but it is much better than jumping at conclusions. To draw inferences, a wise man should proportion his belief to the evidence he has.

1. Cowrie (Kauri) is a glossy bright shell of any marine molluscs. It was used as money/currency in many parts of South Asia during ancient and medieval periods. It was the smallest unit of a coin in currency.

2. Sandesh is the heritage sweet dish/dessert of Bengal culture.

Coming of Age

Fact of the Matter

Panchatantra rightly says, ‘Learn from any who is wise, though a boy.’

Fact Unfolded

The 18th Century was a time of political chaos and instability in Bengal. The Mughal Empire was gradually declining after the death of Aurangzeb1, and the Maratha Empire was rising.

In Bengal, the Muslim governors became independent, and the Nawabs were flourishing.

The Hindu Rajas were mostly semi-independent and had to depend on Nawabs for the Kingdoms’ internal affairs. They had to face frequent torture because of Nawabs’ indifferent approach towards non-Muslims, mainly the Hindus.

Once, a shrewd Nawab challenged the entire Krishnanagar Empire to answer his three peculiar questions. He proclaimed that the questions were a hard nut to crack and whosoever answers them would be undoubtedly acknowledged as a scholar.

No scholar in Krishnanagar could answer his three questions… thus he made fun of the Hindus publicly. He constantly ridiculed the Hindu population.

One day, the young vagabond Gopal heard the Nawab yelling and screaming at the innocent Hindus in the market place. He was challenging the people openly to answer his three questions.

Gopal stood quietly and watched. He decided to challenge the Nawab. He walked up and calmly told the Nawab, “I will accept your challenge.”

The Nawab laughed at the boy and ridiculed the Hindus even more by saying, “A young lad of 16 summers challenges me. Is this all you have to offer!”

But Gopal patiently reiterated his stance. He continued to challenge the Nawab, and with Maa Durga's2 help and guidance, he affirmed to put the Nawab's silly challenge to an end. The Nawab finally accepted Gopal's standpoint.

So, the next day, the entire city gathered around a small ‘hillock’ where open addresses were usually made. The Nawab climbed to the top, and in a loud voice asked his first question, “You have great faith in your God! So tell me, what is your God doing right now?”

The young Gopal thought for a while and then told the Nawab to climb down the ‘hillock’ and allow him to go up in order to answer the question.

The Nawab said, “What? You want me to come down?”

Gopal said, “Yes. I need to reply, right?”

The Nawab made his way down and Gopal made his way up.

Gopal's replied, “Oh Almighty! You be my witness in front of all these people. You have just willed that a nasty, arrogant and cruel person be brought down to a low level, and that a holy, kind person of the masses be brought to a high level!”

The crowd cheered and screamed in excitement.

The Nawab was humiliated, but he boldly asked his second question … “What existed before your God?”

Gopal thought and then he asked the Nawab softly, “Sire, please count from 10 backwards.”

The Nawab started to count arrogantly… “10 .. 9 … 8 .. 7 .. 6 .. 5 .. 4 .. 3 .. 2 .. 1 ..0..”

Gopal asked, “What comes before 0?” “…Nothing!” the Nawab declared with pride.

Gopal replied with his wandering eyes, “Exactly. Nothing existed before God, for He is eternal and absolute.”

The crowd cheered again…. The people were thrilled and praised Gopal.

The Nawab, now completely frustrated, asked his final question harshly, “In which direction is your God facing?”

Gopal again thought and thought. He then asked for a candle. A candle was brought to him. Gopal handed it to the Nawab and asked him to light it.

The Nawab proudly did so and remarked, “What is this supposed to prove?”

The young Gopal politely asked, “In which direction is the light from the candle going?”

The Nawab responded, “It is going in all directions.”

Gopal continued to explain in a clam and thoughtful manner, “You have answered your own question. God's light (aura) goes in all directions. He is everywhere. There is nowhere that He cannot be found.”

The crowd cheered again….and overwhelmed with joy applauded Gopal.

The Nawab stood speechless. He was so impressed and moved with young Gopal's knowledge and spirituality that he hugged Gopal and swore never to ridicule the people or their religious sentiments.

So ended the never-ending debate.

Popular Version

Wisdom is the power to put our time, awareness and knowledge to proper use at an opportunate moment for converting unfavourable circumstances into favourable ones. This is the evolution, less and less in the body and more and more in the mind.

1. The last ruler (Sultan) of the Mughal Dynasty (Delhi Sultanate).

2. Hindu deity.

Masterstrokes

Fact of the Matter

For life to turn into a great victory, you have to win many small battles along the way.

Fact Unfolded

Gopal Bhand had lost both his parents when he was still quite young. He lived all by himself in the village. He just had a goat with which he stayed in a tiny thatched hut.

Gopal had two mischievous uncles, who always tried to cheat him out of his goat and hut. They made his life really miserable.

One day, the uncles stole his goat and tied it alongside some other goats that belonged to the village butcher. Poor Gopal looked everywhere for it. The butcher, meanwhile, took all the goats and killed them for their meat. Now, Gopal's goat wore a distinct bell around its neck. When the butcher cut that goat, he threw away the bell. Gopal found the bell soon after and was heartbroken. He knocked at the butcher's door for justice. By then the butcher had realised that he had killed Gopal's goat and felt sorry. Scared that the boy would tell everyone he had killed a stolen goat, the butcher anyhow gave Gopal some money and sent him away.

When the uncles saw their nephew coming home with the coins tinkling in his pocket, they were amazed. How had Gopal made money from a lost goat? When they asked, Gopal said, “Everyone wanted goat's meat today in the market. My poor goat somehow ended up at the butcher's shop. He sold its meat and made a lot of money. This is my share.”

The uncles thought this was a good way to make money. The next day, they bought fifty goats and slaughtered all of them and went to the market to sell the meat. But now there was so much meat in the market that the prices had come down and they got only few coins for their goats. So they incurred heavy loss.

Angry at being fooled, they decided to burn down Gopal's hut. So one night, when Gopal had gone out, they set fire to his little hut. The young boy was stunned to come home and find a pile of blazing ash where his hut used to be. At once he knew who was behind it. Miserably, he gathered the ash in a bag and decided to leave the village forever. With the bag slung over his shoulder, he set off. After walking for many miles, he at last reached a village near Kutabpur. He sat down under a tree to rest and thought what to do next.

He sat under the tree all day long. The passing villagers watched Gopal sitting under the tree. Soon a crowd of curious villagers gathered around him. ‘Who was this stranger? Why was he carrying a bag of ashes,’ they all wondered. Finally one man asked him, “What is the matter? Why are you sitting quietly like this? Why are you carrying so much ash with you?”

Gopal's hut had been his dearest, most blessed possession, so he said, “It is the ash from a holy place.”

Now the villagers were eager. “Will you sell it to us?” they asked. “No,” replied Gopal.

But the desperate villagers did not gave up. “Give us a pinch at least,” they begged. Gopal agreed and gave them a pinch of ash each. Soon, word spread in the village that, ‘a holy man had come from the Hindu Kush1, who looked like he was in his twenties but was really more than seventy years old. He was carrying a bag of sacred ashes with him that could cure all hardships, misfortunes and disease. He was giving away a pinch of it to each person, and though he wanted no money, it was only right that you paid him a coin at least for such happiness.’

Thus a long queue formed in front of Gopal. Each villager took a pinch of ash and left a coin in return. At the end of the day, Gopal discovered that the ash was all gone and in its place he had a heap of coins.

Cheerfully, he decided to go back to his village and start life afresh. When he came back, his uncles could not believe their eyes. How had Gopal done this? They asked Gopal his secret. Gopal said, “There is a great demand for ashes in that village near Kutabpur. I sold the ash that I gathered from my burnt hut and got all this money.”

Both the uncles were amazed. If Gopal could get so much money by selling the ash from his little hut, how much would they get if they burnt their grand houses and sold the ash? That night itself, they burnt down their houses, gathered the ashes in huge sacks and set off for the village near Kutabpur. But as soon as they reached and uttered the word ‘ash’, all the villagers pounced on them and beat them battered and tattered! By then the villagers knew there was nothing magical in the ash. And here were two more people trying to fool them!

The uncles somehow saved their skins and ran home. Now they were even angrier with Gopal for having deceived them a second time. They decided to kill him. One day, they invited him for a walk with them by the River Bhagirathi. As they stood on the bridge, where the river was at its deepest, one of them pointed at the water and exclaimed, “See! A gorgeous mermaid2!”

As soon as Gopal leaned over to look in the water, they pushed him from behind and ran home. Poor Gopal nearly drowned. Just in time, a girl washing clothes nearby heard his screams for help and dived in. She was a good swimmer and saved his life.

A grateful Gopal told her the story of his life. The girl felt pity at Gopal. She thought for a while and then whispered a plan in his ear.

The next day Gopal arrived at his uncles’ house. With him was the girl, dressed in beautiful clothes and jewellery. Gopal also held a fine bag in his hands. His uncles were astonished to see him alive. How had he survived? Gopal said, “When I fell into the river, this fine-looking girl saved me. She has a Palace at the bottom of the river. She fell in love with me and married me. She also gave me half her riches. Now we will live in the river. Do come and visit us some time.” Saying this, they left in the direction of the river. The uncles had a quick discussion and decided that they would follow Gopal to his Palace in the river and perhaps cheat him of his latest riches. So they hurriedly ran to the river and dived into its deep waters.

They were never heard of again.

Popular Version

You can let a bad situation overwhelm and embitter you, or you can decide what must be done, do it, and get on with your life.