Friday, August 16, 2013

Think before you act : Two short stories


Two Contrast stories highlighting the need of patience and thinking before taking actions




1.] Newton and his Dog

newton's desk on fire


 It requires much patience and imagination to discover something like calculus or design a figure like a telescope and hence the world reveres Newton for his contribution to the field of sciences. Here i want to highlight the more human side of newton with this short story.


Newton possessed a Dog called Diamond. Since Newton lived alone the dog was one of his treasured possessions. Newton had a habit of working at his table and leaving the papers in the same unkempt state at his table in a stack and leave them. Since nobody ever was allowed access to his study except Newton and his dog he did not care much to keep the table in order. Once when Newton had gone out His Dog Diamond seeing a plate of food on the table leaped on it and knocked a lamp which fell on the papers burning them to soot.When Newton came back he was shocked to see the state of the half burnt table and his papers reduced to dust. Seeing the amount of damage done Newton minced the famous words " Viewing the destruction, Newton said, “O Diamond, Diamond, thou little know est the damage thou hast done" . 

 Newton lost 20 years worth of work in the flame.  He had to start again from scratch. It is believed that he was never able to recreate the same theories again and could not recount some theories at all. But in contrasts to all his hardships and his loss, Newton continued to love the dog the same way as before.Herein lies his greatness and adds another feather to the cap of this great scientist! 



2.] The Loyal Mongoose


mongoose and cobra
There was once a Brahman named Devasharma in a certain town. His family consisted of his wife son and a pet mongoose. 
One day in absence of her husband who had gone begging for alms she tucked her son in bed, took a water jar and went to fetch water in a hurry leaving the door ajar
While she was gone, a black snake entered the house ,  & as fate would have it, crawled toward the baby’s cradle. But the mongoose fearing for the child  fell upon the vicious serpent halfway, joined battle with him, tore him to bits, and tossed the pieces far and wide. 
When the mother saw him outside the house with his bloody mouth and his excitement, she feared that the villain must have eaten her baby boy, and without thinking twice, she angrily dropped the water-jar upon him, which killed him the moment that it struck. There she left him without a second thought, and entered the house only to find the baby safe and sound, and near the cradle a great black snake, torn to bits. Then, overwhelmed with sorrow because she had thoughtlessly killed her benefactor, her son, she began to weep and wail out loudly. But one thoughtless action had cost her an innocent life ! 

From these above stories i want to convey the message that there will be various situations both good and bad alike where in a fit of emotion we make take a decision which may affect our entire life. Regrets and sorrow is all which can be achieved by such thoughtless act so never forget the age old proverb 

"THINK BEFORE YOU ACT" 

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