The Priest’s Son The story so far: Venkatacharya, a priest from Mayiladuturai, wants his son, Ranga, to learn Sanskrit and be priest like himself. But his wife, Kanakavalli, aware of the fact that a priest in the rural parts of Tamilnadu is destined to a life of poverty, wants Ranga to be a government officer, like her own brother. When Ranga excels in the twelfth standard board exams, Kanakavalli and her brother, Aravamudhan, convince the priest to let Ranga pursue higher education in Madras and not train him to be priest. With a recommendation letter from the district collector in hand, Ranga is about to leave for Madras to begin a new life. What happens to Ranga? Find out in this last part of a two-part story. Read on to find out what happens to Ranga..... At the station in Mayiladuturai, Ranga reassured Kanakavalli when her voice started to choke with strong emotions. "Don't worry, amma, everything will be alright. Mama is there to take care of me," he told her. It was very courageous of Ranga to say that because he was anxious himself. On previous occasions Ranga had been to Madras to attend important family functions or meet his relatives, but this time he would have to live there and prove himself. He did not feel confident about his abilities in statistics. The decision was made for him by his uncle merely because he knew the head of the Statistics department in a college. Ranga, however, realised that he could not voice his opinions as it would make everybody nervous. He prayed to God for strength and maintained a calm exterior. Aravamudhan gave Ranga a small room in his own house. It was much cheaper than paying for a hostel room in Madras. In the room there was a desk, a chair and a small bed -- everything a student would need. Ranga eased into the city life and realised that much of his initial fear and anxiety was ill-founded. The courses in the first year at college were relatively easy for him. When it came to academics, he was still the topper. The theorems and proofs that seemed so logical to him eluded the grasp of his classmates. Ranga had a good set of friends, but their behaviour was very strange to him. Most of them could not motivate themselves to attend two lectures in a day but were willing to wait in a queue for over three hours to watch the movies of their favourite movie star. A few of the students would seek him out at home and borrow his class notes to start preparing for the exam on the very last day. Ranga thrived amidst such a group of students. He scored the highest marks in the entire university in his main subjects and broke the record in Sanskrit, which he had elected as a language to study in the first year. In Sanskrit, his score was even higher than the students who had chosen it as their main subject of study. Ranga was granted a tuition waiver for the following year under the university scholarship program. Ranga and his parents saw the scholarship as a sign of success and good fortune, but Aravamudhan viewed it differently. He saw it as an opportunity for Ranga to achieve even more. "Success is all about staying two steps ahead of the crowd and exploiting the possibilities that are presented to you," he told Ranga on numerous occasions. Aravamudhan had heard of many young graduates who were finding jobs not with their college education, but based on the computer skills that they had picked up through private classes. The tuition fees that Ranga could save through the scholarship would help pay for the computer classes. He asked Ranga to enroll for an evening class near his college. "Mama, do I really need these computer classes? It will help my parents if I send them some money back," suggested Ranga. "Let me tell you something, Ranga. As you grow older you will understand that progress comes through investing in one's own future, not by saving money. If you think that a mere bachelor's degree will make you successful, you are mistaken. There are thousands of graduates with your qualifications but only a handful of them are skilled at computers. Almost everyday I see advertisements in the Hindu for graduates with computer skills. Degrees and scholarships by themselves don't mean a thing unless they can get you a job. Now if you invest that money to gain new skills that will fetch you a job then the scholarship has added value in your life. Otherwise it is useless." Ranga enrolled for the computer course. After his college lectures, he commuted in an overcrowded bus for over an hour every day to get to the computer class. The weekends were spent either preparing for the exams or completing the project assignments. It was a very hectic period for Ranga, he had no time for pleasurable activities. But he realised that it was needed to improve his chances of finding a job. And just as Aravamudhan had foreseen, Ranga managed to get a high paying job with his newly acquired computer skills. His degree in statistics was only good to pass through the initial screening process. He landed a job in a computer software development firm, and his first assignment was to work at a client site in California. Ranga's first paycheck would be in US dollars! When the offer letter arrived by mail, both Ranga and Aravamudhan were exultant. Aravamudhan felt that he had delivered on the promise that he had made to his sister. He had successfully engineered Ranga's career as per Kanakavalli's wishes. The news about Ranga's job, however, had a very different effect on his parents. Venkatacharya resented the fact that Ranga would have to travel overseas and Kanakavalli didn't like the separation that this would bring. That weekend Aravamudhan accompanied Ranga on his trip to Mayiladuturai. To him it was clear that this was the best course for Ranga to pursue, and he didn't want anyone to talk him out of it. " You had promised that you will find Ranga a job in Madras, but now you are encouraging him to go overseas. Leaving one's homeland to go abroad is not the right thing, you know. Ranga is still a young boy and I am not sure he can manage by himself in America," said Venkatacharya to Aravamudhan. "Athimber, success entails some sacrifice and risk taking. Not every graduate in Madras can land with a job like the one that Ranga has managed to get. The pay is in lakhs of rupees every month! Can you imagine that? It took me fifteen years to save that much amount of money. It is like winning a lottery ticket. We cannot deny him of that kind of success. It is not fair." "But I still feel that leaving India to go to work in a different country is not the proper thing to do." At this point, Kanakavalli pulled her brother aside and talked to him in a hushed tone. "The priest doesn't understand my pain and suffering here, Aravamudha. One has to be practical and learn to reject the things in religious texts that cause hardship and worry. If Ranga starts to earn that kind of money my life will be so much easier here and my daughters can be married off into wealthy families. You go ahead and make the plans for sending Ranga to America and I will handle my husband here," she said With the help of a friend in the bank, Aravamudhan managed to get Ranga a bank draft for his visa application and two hundred dollars for his initial expenses in the States. He accompanied Ranga to the American consulate and waited outside till he emerged out of the gates with a receipt in hand, which indicated that he had been granted the visa. Aravamudhan hugged Ranga and his face was glowing with joy. On the day Ranga was to leave for the States, his family arrived from Mayiladuturai. All of them accompanied him to the airport and it was a heartrending moment for Ranga at the time of departure. He felt the same anxiety that had gripped him when he had left his family in Mayiladuturai to come to Madras. Ranga loved his parents and this separation was very difficult for him to take. Venkatacharya tried to instill some confidence in his son. "Ranga, as long as you pray to the Lord and write to us regularly, you will be fine. Remember the lessons from the Bhagavad Gita. This is your dharma and you cannot shirk from your duty," he said. The priest had a cryptic way of expressing himself, but both Kanakavalli and Aravamudhan immediately understood that the priest had approved of his son's trip to America. Although everyone told Ranga that his apartment complex was full of Indians and very much like India, he had a hard time settling in. He missed his family terribly. He did not have anyone to consult with when he needed to make decisions. There was no Aravamudhan in California for Ranga. At work, however, he excelled. Scott Woytera realised that Ranga was a great addition to his team. With minimal guidance he could deliver whatever was required of him, and he was very easy to manage. All he needed was a desk and a computer and with minimal fuss he would set out to achieve any target that was set for him. Scott, however, did find Ranga's behaviour a bit strange and curious, but he delivered on projects and deadlines. He couldn't understand why someone would have the same yogurt rice with lime pickle for lunch everyday. Ranga was fussy with his food, didn't drink beer and never once went to a party. "You have got to get yourself a life, Ranga. There is more to life than work," he told him numerous times, but Ranga didn't quite understand what he meant by that. Scott was a true Californian and he never let a weekend pass by without getting the most fun out of it Ranga did have plans for the weekends. It was more of a routine. Every Sunday he went to the Indian temple to pray, make friends and have the afternoon prasadam. It was the only way to escape the lonely and cold world that he found himself trapped in. The temple was a newly constructed one with deities from both southern and northern parts of India. It had two priests: one from Benaras and the other from Kancheepuram. Wealthy Indian doctors and entrepreneurs had raised funds, bought a piece of land in the costliest part of real estate and constructed this temple. In some ways it was a symbol of success for the immigrant Indian community. For Ranga it was a place of refuge. He involved himself fully in the activities of the temple every weekend. He was the leader for a small group of devotees who gathered on Sunday mornings for prayer. Sometimes the temple priests would consult with him on the arrangements for important religious functions as he was so familiar with the procedures. Some parents asked Ranga to teach their kids a few Sanskrit slokas and he readily obliged to their request. For the Gita recital competition that was held for young children, Ranga was elected as the judge along with the two priests Soon Venkatacharya's family started to prosper back home in Mayiladuturai. Every month Ranga would send them a cheque for a thousand dollars and they managed to save nearly three-fourth of that amount. At times the postman was more anxious than the family about the US stamped envelope, as it meant he could expect a twenty-rupee tip. Even the bank manager smiled when the priest entered through the doors at the beginning of each month. Kanakavalli started to buy gold and jewellery for her daughters' marriage, and she got her husband a new bracelet and a gold chain. The family moved into a larger house farther away from the temple and the priest bought himself a two-wheeler for the daily commute. Kanakavalli couldn't have asked for anything better. Ranga had put an end to her financial woes. The marriage of their oldest daughter, Padmavathi, was finalised without much of a struggle. The boy was an engineer from a wealthy family in Madras. The groom's parents wanted the marriage to be held in Madras, and Venkatacharya didn't hesitate for a moment while agreeing to the request. With Ranga's money and Aravamudhan's help anything was possible now. Ranga flew in from America to attend his sister's marriage. For the immediate family, he was the hero who had made it all happen. Venkatacharya could afford an expensive marriage hall in Madras mainly with the dollars that he had sent in from the States. Kanakavalli bought some of the most expensive silk sarees for Padmavathi with that money. And Ranga was happy that he was able to financially help out his family. "Ranga, it looks like you have lived up to your mother's expectations," said Aravamudhan when the family gathered together to chat after dinner in the marriage hall. "Mama, I have to thank you for that," said Ranga modestly. Arvamudhan smiled smugly and Venkatacharya's face betrayed a nervous, shy smile. "He would have lived up to my expectations only when he helps get his other two sisters married," said Kanakavalli. "That means Ranga will have to stay a bachelor and save money till he is forty years old," joked Aravamudhan, and all of them laughed heartily. After Padmavathi's marriage, Ranga returned to the States and suffered another bout of homesickness. On the first day at work he was on the verge of tears and felt like abandoning his work completely to return home. He started going to the temple more frequently and spent longer time there. To add to his gloom things got more chaotic at work. The stock market started to dip and the company started losing money. Ranga's group was the first on the list of layoffs and it came as a rude shock to him. He had always believed that his hard work and effectiveness in the company would keep him safe, but that was not to be. When Scott summoned him to his office on a Friday and delivered him the terrible news, he broke down and cried. "You should not take this personally, Ranga. Market forces determine our actions and we have little choice here," Scott said. The shocking news left Ranga speechless. He did not know how his parents would react. There was so much more that the family wanted from him and he was not sure what he could do to help them. Ranga tried to hide the news from his parents and hunted for another job desperately, but his temporary worker's visa status made it almost impossible for him to find a job quickly. To top that, the company immigration lawyer told Ranga that he had to pack up leave within a month or else his stay would become illegal. With a heavy heart Ranga returned home to India. At Mayiladuturai Ranga could see the pain and disappointment that his return had caused to his mother and it was very distressing for him. Venkatacharya took the unfortunate turn of events with a sense of resignation. "It is not for us to try to understand God's plans," he told Ranga and Kanakavalli several times. But Kanakavalli found no comfort in that statement. She would remain silent. Ranga went back to Madras to look for a job. Suddenly it seemed as though his education and experience was of no avail as he did not even receive an interview call. Ranga would set out every morning expecting to get a break but would return home late in the evening with a long face, indicating that he had been through another fruitless day. "Indian companies are hesitant to hire you because they think their pay will be too little for you," Aravamudhan said, trying to reason out the difficulty that Ranga was having with finding a job. It was in these times of general gloom that a phone call that Ranga received had such a dramatic effect on the family. On a Saturday morning, when Ranga was reading the morning newspaper, eagerly scanning for job openings, that a young boy from the neighbouring house came rushing in with the good news. "Ranga mama has got a call from America," he shouted in excitement as he entered the house. Ranga abandoned his newspaper and coffee and rushed behind the kid to take the call. Aravamudhan followed them, too. It was a call from Ved Gosain, the treasury secretary of the temple that Ranga visited frequently when he was in California. He had called to tell Ranga that one of the priests had left the temple to go to New Jersey and they were short handed at the moment. "The priest has recommended you as his replacement because you showed such sincerity and dedication in the activities of the temple. Also, many of the parents here want you back to teach their kids slokas and Sanskrit prayers. Will you be interested, Ranga?" he enquired. Ranga consulted with Aravamudhan and agreed to the proposal immediately. "OK then, I will arrange for the paper work and we should be able to get you here shortly," said Mr. Gosain and hung up the phone. The effect that this phone call had on Ranga's family was like the effect that the first heavy downpour would have on the mood of a farmer who had been through a harsh summer without rains. It instantaneously lifted everyone's spirits and brought back hope and life in the family. Kanakavalli was elated at the very thought of going back to the times when a cheque would arrive at the beginning of every month and magically make all her troubles disappear. And Venkatacharya was happy because at long last his wishes for his son was about to come true. Aravamudhan was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events but was very happy for Ranga. Soon the papers arrived from California and Ranga was granted a 'Religious Visa' this time. On the day Ranga was to leave for America, the family gathered again in Aravamudhan's house. "You know Ranga, all along I was convinced that you were on the right path, but didn't quite understand as to why God had willed it to be so very different than what I wanted it to be. But today he has revealed His plans completely and it makes perfect sense now," said Venkatacharya with a sense of satisfaction. "Don't forget your sisters marriage, Ranga. We are dependent on you," said Kanakavalli. Ranga assured her that he would send her money every month and she wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore. The taxi arrived on time and all of them set out for the airport. This time Ranga did not feel the anxiety that he had felt on his previous trips. He felt a sense of relief instead. Back in Mayiladuturai, the postman was happy to resume delivering the US stamped envelope to the priest's residence and the bank manager was glad to see Venkatacharya enter with a thousand dollar cheque at the beginning of each month Mukund Narasimhan Home Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~mnarasimhan November 2002

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