The story of Puviyoor and its slave
Puviyoor was an idyllic little place and had many families living there. Each person did his/her job and everyone managed to live reasonably happily. All families grew and greatly assisted each other to grow. They all understood that no one of them was better than any other person and had truly achieved interdependece. Though the community and its setup had its shortcomings, it was still a good place to live.
The success of their setup primarily relied on a commonly owned slave who toiled day and night to get Puviyoor functioning. He was a slave in the true sense of the word. He would never say a word against the command of his masters and would always perform as the master wished him too. This slave was thus extremely selfless and the only thing he expected from the residents of Puviyoor was a means for him to survive. Even this desire arose out of his understanding that the welfare of Puviyoor's residents is inextricably linked to his welfare. He didn't feign welfare for the residents but truly wished them good and did his best to ensure that the demands of every member of every family was met with a smiling countenance. He prepared their food, treated them when anyone was ill, helped every family grow and took care of all the basic necessities of the community. This, he hoped would allow the rest of the community to spend their time in higher pursuits. All families realized the cardinal role the slave played in their lives and hence ensured that their requirements did not seriously harm the slave. Though they got the slave to do many of their jobs, each family had an internal law that limited the maximum extent a member of the family could push the slave. The slave was strong enough physically and mentally to meet all the requirements of him and ensured he met all their demands in a pretty competent fashion.
A few years of such wonderful existence passed. Then, a new family migrated to Puviyoor. They were the distant relatives of an existing family. The slave was as kind to this newcomer as he was to other families in Puviyoor. Initially this new family behaved well and used the services of the slave effectively to further itself. Some members of the new family were extraordinary and immediately recognized the importance of the slave. They even went to the extent of proclaiming that the slave was actually their god. A few other people agreed but mostly everyone decided to ignore this proclamation for all practical purposes. Some of them also ridiculed the proposition of the slave being god. They actually proposed other gods. Lots of members proposed lots of gods. None of these affected the slave. Neither was he gratified when he was proclaimed god nor was he upset when he was called a slave. It just did not matter to him and he continued to provide the residents with his services. There were a few other people in this new family who, despite the slaves presence in front of their very own eyes, blatantly denied his existence. They argued that as the slave did not talk, listen or respond in a way that they could understand, the slave has no life. Some also insinuated that the slave can be treated in any way as one liked so as to increase one's happiness. Many people in the family bought this idea. It was not clear though what members of other families thought of this new idea. But, true to his nature, even such a preposterous suggestion did not bother the slave.
Time passed by and the new family integrated well into Puviyoor. They adapted themselves so well that they started to dominate other families. A few families resisted this but this new family was all powerful and managed to easily subdue everyone else. This went to the extent of murdering members of other families for no reason. Now, the slave started to get upset. To him, all masters were important. The physical and mental capabilities of a master did not matter to him. He provided his services to all masters with no discrimination whatsoever. So, whenever some family got destroyed, he got upset. He did not react violently then but he did show his displeasure. Due to this, all families were upset. They pleaded to the new family to mend their ways but the new family, inebriated with power, was in no mood to listen. They argued that the slave should not show dissidence. They also contended that since they were the masters, they could control every single action of him. They also thought they could train him to behave in a way they liked. They also thought that the other families were also their slaves and started to blatantly deny that they were relatives of some other families in Puviyoor. So they said and they treated the other families like slaves. Though the other families dissented, they were powerless against this new family.
A few years passed and then the new family made a dastardly new invention. This new invention was never ever seen in any other family. The social setup of Puviyoor was such that when a new invention was made by some family, all other families tried and inherited some variant of the invention in due course of time. But this new invention was so bad that no other family could even understand its purpose. All other families were horrified at this new invention but almost all members of this new family were extremely proud of this. For the first time in the history of Puviyoor, a hierarchy was established within a family. Till this time, all members of a family were equal. But now, any person with more of this new invention was deemed to be better than the rest. So, almost everyone wanted to own more of this new invention. Though this new invention was available in plenty, some members of the new family hoarded a lot of it and thereby deprived many of their family members of the new invention. This created a lot of trouble and resulted in another first for the new family. The social setup of Puviyoor was such that no person caused intentional harm to any of his relatives. But the new family, thanks in no small part to the new invention, managed to break this unwritten law. They started killing each other and members of other families for the sake of this new invention. The madness did not stop there.
The slave was engaged full time by every member of the new family to enable him/her to own more of this new invention. Though the slave was upset due to this, he still managed to find ways to satiate this craze amongst the members of the new family. But, the situation only deteriorated. Though the slave possessed tremendous reserves of energy, it was not infinite. He could only do so much. The slave was made so busy that he did not have time to serve members of the other families. Members of other families were unhappy and the slave was upset but they had no choice. The new family also truly regarded the other families as slaves and used them to accumulate this new invention. Slowly, the other families started to become weak and one by one they started to migrate out of Puviyoor. The slave was trying his best to keep up to the wishes of the new family. Despite the phenomenally huge reserves of physical and mental strength that the slave possessed, he started to falter. None of this affected most of the members of the new family. A handful of people in the new family realized the importance of the slave and started crying for the slave. A few others tried to protect the slave and reasoned with their relatives to stop overworking the slave. A few others understood that the new invention was only a fad and was totally insignificant. They even tried to educate their relatives about the same. But, alas, none of this was heard and the slave was over worked relentlessly.
The funnniest part of all this was that the new invention was totally useless. It could not be eaten as food or medicine. It could not give one peace of mind. It could not give true happiness. It could not relieve one of suffering. Despite knowing this and many other properties that it possessed, even many well meaning individuals started to do ridiculous and totally insignificant things to obtain it. Some people got smart and adviced others to limit ones possession of the new invention by singing songs. But the irony of it was that the person who told others to limit ones possession of the new invention himself took home a lot of the new invention for saying what he said. It was not all funny. Lot of sad things also happened in the wake of this new invention. Almost all members of the new family started developing a number of vices that was hitherto unknown in other families. These vices caused a lot of suffering to the members of the new family, members of other families and the slave. A few enlightened members of the new family asked others to drop these vices. But, ironically, other people developed new vices and enhanced old vices in the name of these enlightened members of the new family. It is not clear what the slave thought of the new invention or of the new vices in the members of the new family. But, he was coninuing to toil to satisfy everyone's needs.
Now, after years of exploiting the slave, a good number of members of the new family are noticing that the slave is tired of their demands. They are inventing new ways of keeping the slave happy. They also identify things that can help the slave help them to obtain the new invention. They think they are trying to improve the slaves position. The refuse to see the stupidity in helping the slave to help them to make more of the new invention. They simply don't understand that its their demands that has tired the slave. Even people who understand it a little and want to make the slave happy, don't want to reduce their demands. There are some enlightened members of the family who advice others that their demands are seriously affecting the slaves plight. These enlightened folks shout that everyone is on the road to perdition. But, no one listens to them. What more, everyone mocks at these enlightened souls. Most members of this new family don't realize that the slave cannot be made happy if he is not allowed to serve all families. They don't realize that only by reducing their demands and by not monopolizing the slave can they make the slave better. They don't realize that the slave is common property and is owned by all the families. They don't realize that the other families are also masters of the slave. They don't realize that its not the slave who is dependent on them, it is actually they who are dependent on the slave. They don't realize that the slave is actually not their slave but is indeed their master and could possibly be their god too. They don't realize that unless they realize all of this fast and act accordingly, they and all the other families are doomed.
The story of Puviyoor, at least as it stands now, is indeed a sad one. What was once destined to be an idyllic place is now in tatters. The most important reason was the ill treatment of the slave. It remains to be seen if a miracle happens and if the members of the new family halt their journey on the road to annihilation.
Puviyoor was an idyllic little place and had many families living there. Each person did his/her job and everyone managed to live reasonably happily. All families grew and greatly assisted each other to grow. They all understood that no one of them was better than any other person and had truly achieved interdependece. Though the community and its setup had its shortcomings, it was still a good place to live.
The success of their setup primarily relied on a commonly owned slave who toiled day and night to get Puviyoor functioning. He was a slave in the true sense of the word. He would never say a word against the command of his masters and would always perform as the master wished him too. This slave was thus extremely selfless and the only thing he expected from the residents of Puviyoor was a means for him to survive. Even this desire arose out of his understanding that the welfare of Puviyoor's residents is inextricably linked to his welfare. He didn't feign welfare for the residents but truly wished them good and did his best to ensure that the demands of every member of every family was met with a smiling countenance. He prepared their food, treated them when anyone was ill, helped every family grow and took care of all the basic necessities of the community. This, he hoped would allow the rest of the community to spend their time in higher pursuits. All families realized the cardinal role the slave played in their lives and hence ensured that their requirements did not seriously harm the slave. Though they got the slave to do many of their jobs, each family had an internal law that limited the maximum extent a member of the family could push the slave. The slave was strong enough physically and mentally to meet all the requirements of him and ensured he met all their demands in a pretty competent fashion.
A few years of such wonderful existence passed. Then, a new family migrated to Puviyoor. They were the distant relatives of an existing family. The slave was as kind to this newcomer as he was to other families in Puviyoor. Initially this new family behaved well and used the services of the slave effectively to further itself. Some members of the new family were extraordinary and immediately recognized the importance of the slave. They even went to the extent of proclaiming that the slave was actually their god. A few other people agreed but mostly everyone decided to ignore this proclamation for all practical purposes. Some of them also ridiculed the proposition of the slave being god. They actually proposed other gods. Lots of members proposed lots of gods. None of these affected the slave. Neither was he gratified when he was proclaimed god nor was he upset when he was called a slave. It just did not matter to him and he continued to provide the residents with his services. There were a few other people in this new family who, despite the slaves presence in front of their very own eyes, blatantly denied his existence. They argued that as the slave did not talk, listen or respond in a way that they could understand, the slave has no life. Some also insinuated that the slave can be treated in any way as one liked so as to increase one's happiness. Many people in the family bought this idea. It was not clear though what members of other families thought of this new idea. But, true to his nature, even such a preposterous suggestion did not bother the slave.
Time passed by and the new family integrated well into Puviyoor. They adapted themselves so well that they started to dominate other families. A few families resisted this but this new family was all powerful and managed to easily subdue everyone else. This went to the extent of murdering members of other families for no reason. Now, the slave started to get upset. To him, all masters were important. The physical and mental capabilities of a master did not matter to him. He provided his services to all masters with no discrimination whatsoever. So, whenever some family got destroyed, he got upset. He did not react violently then but he did show his displeasure. Due to this, all families were upset. They pleaded to the new family to mend their ways but the new family, inebriated with power, was in no mood to listen. They argued that the slave should not show dissidence. They also contended that since they were the masters, they could control every single action of him. They also thought they could train him to behave in a way they liked. They also thought that the other families were also their slaves and started to blatantly deny that they were relatives of some other families in Puviyoor. So they said and they treated the other families like slaves. Though the other families dissented, they were powerless against this new family.
A few years passed and then the new family made a dastardly new invention. This new invention was never ever seen in any other family. The social setup of Puviyoor was such that when a new invention was made by some family, all other families tried and inherited some variant of the invention in due course of time. But this new invention was so bad that no other family could even understand its purpose. All other families were horrified at this new invention but almost all members of this new family were extremely proud of this. For the first time in the history of Puviyoor, a hierarchy was established within a family. Till this time, all members of a family were equal. But now, any person with more of this new invention was deemed to be better than the rest. So, almost everyone wanted to own more of this new invention. Though this new invention was available in plenty, some members of the new family hoarded a lot of it and thereby deprived many of their family members of the new invention. This created a lot of trouble and resulted in another first for the new family. The social setup of Puviyoor was such that no person caused intentional harm to any of his relatives. But the new family, thanks in no small part to the new invention, managed to break this unwritten law. They started killing each other and members of other families for the sake of this new invention. The madness did not stop there.
The slave was engaged full time by every member of the new family to enable him/her to own more of this new invention. Though the slave was upset due to this, he still managed to find ways to satiate this craze amongst the members of the new family. But, the situation only deteriorated. Though the slave possessed tremendous reserves of energy, it was not infinite. He could only do so much. The slave was made so busy that he did not have time to serve members of the other families. Members of other families were unhappy and the slave was upset but they had no choice. The new family also truly regarded the other families as slaves and used them to accumulate this new invention. Slowly, the other families started to become weak and one by one they started to migrate out of Puviyoor. The slave was trying his best to keep up to the wishes of the new family. Despite the phenomenally huge reserves of physical and mental strength that the slave possessed, he started to falter. None of this affected most of the members of the new family. A handful of people in the new family realized the importance of the slave and started crying for the slave. A few others tried to protect the slave and reasoned with their relatives to stop overworking the slave. A few others understood that the new invention was only a fad and was totally insignificant. They even tried to educate their relatives about the same. But, alas, none of this was heard and the slave was over worked relentlessly.
The funnniest part of all this was that the new invention was totally useless. It could not be eaten as food or medicine. It could not give one peace of mind. It could not give true happiness. It could not relieve one of suffering. Despite knowing this and many other properties that it possessed, even many well meaning individuals started to do ridiculous and totally insignificant things to obtain it. Some people got smart and adviced others to limit ones possession of the new invention by singing songs. But the irony of it was that the person who told others to limit ones possession of the new invention himself took home a lot of the new invention for saying what he said. It was not all funny. Lot of sad things also happened in the wake of this new invention. Almost all members of the new family started developing a number of vices that was hitherto unknown in other families. These vices caused a lot of suffering to the members of the new family, members of other families and the slave. A few enlightened members of the new family asked others to drop these vices. But, ironically, other people developed new vices and enhanced old vices in the name of these enlightened members of the new family. It is not clear what the slave thought of the new invention or of the new vices in the members of the new family. But, he was coninuing to toil to satisfy everyone's needs.
Now, after years of exploiting the slave, a good number of members of the new family are noticing that the slave is tired of their demands. They are inventing new ways of keeping the slave happy. They also identify things that can help the slave help them to obtain the new invention. They think they are trying to improve the slaves position. The refuse to see the stupidity in helping the slave to help them to make more of the new invention. They simply don't understand that its their demands that has tired the slave. Even people who understand it a little and want to make the slave happy, don't want to reduce their demands. There are some enlightened members of the family who advice others that their demands are seriously affecting the slaves plight. These enlightened folks shout that everyone is on the road to perdition. But, no one listens to them. What more, everyone mocks at these enlightened souls. Most members of this new family don't realize that the slave cannot be made happy if he is not allowed to serve all families. They don't realize that only by reducing their demands and by not monopolizing the slave can they make the slave better. They don't realize that the slave is common property and is owned by all the families. They don't realize that the other families are also masters of the slave. They don't realize that its not the slave who is dependent on them, it is actually they who are dependent on the slave. They don't realize that the slave is actually not their slave but is indeed their master and could possibly be their god too. They don't realize that unless they realize all of this fast and act accordingly, they and all the other families are doomed.
The story of Puviyoor, at least as it stands now, is indeed a sad one. What was once destined to be an idyllic place is now in tatters. The most important reason was the ill treatment of the slave. It remains to be seen if a miracle happens and if the members of the new family halt their journey on the road to annihilation.
1 comment:
nice one thala
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