My Grandmother's Tweets: Stories Inspired by Avvaiyar's Ancient Wisdom

By Geeta Gopalakrishnan

In this book, author Geeta Gopalakrishnan presents 109 sayings by the seventh-century saint Avvaiyar that have inspired women for centuries, and continue to inspire the new generation. Using multiple examples from Indian and Western mythology, as well as real life, she illustrates the veracity of these age-old aphorisms.Reminiscent of The Alchemist in the simplicity of the narration, this book will inspire readers while providing helpful life lessons that cut through eras and religions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harper India
• Release date: Nov 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9789353023911

Geeta Gopalakrishnan

Geeta Gopalakrishnan has around thirty-five years of experience in advertising. Now, she channels her energy into two causes - children with special needs and underprivileged children. All the author royalties from this book will go towards the treatment of underprivileged children with cancer at the Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata.

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Aram Seyya Virumbu

DESIRE TO DO GOOD

The Transformation of John D. Rockefeller

He made a million dollars by the age of thirty-three and he was among the world’s richest men in the 1890s. When John D. Rockefeller earned lots of money, he was happy but if he lost any, he would go into deep depression. He did not like to lose even a single dollar. Sadly, he was driven by greed and losing money was his greatest fear.

By sheer coincidence, he heard of an articulate Hindu monk, Swami Vivekananda, who was staying at a friend’s house in Chicago. When Rockefeller entered Swamiji’s study, he was struck by the fact that Swamiji was aware of his flaw. Swami Vivekananda told him that he was a channel for God’s money. He had to be an instrument to do good for the starving millions in the world.

Rockefeller felt offended and departed. However, he reflected on the conversation later and visited Swamiji again. This time he handed over a cheque to Swamiji, saying that it was a donation for him. He asked Swamiji if he was happy. Vivekananda replied that it was for Rockefeller to consider whether he was happy.

Over the next fifteen years, after due consideration, Rockefeller set up his eponymous foundation. By the end of 2016, the Rockefeller Foundation was supporting various projects around the world through grants to the tune of 173 million dollars.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

In 1892, two students at Stanford University were short of funds for their education. They requested the great pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski to perform at a concert for $2,000, the proceeds from which would help pay their tuition fees. However, they could only raise part of the money for the show. When Paderewski learnt about their predicament, he said that he would forego his fees. He told the boys to use the $2,000 to pay for all the concert expenses and the balance to pay their school fees.

Fifteen years later, Paderewski was prime minister of Poland at a time when the country was devastated by famine. He approached the US Food and Relief Administration for help. Immediately, tons of foodgrain were shipped to him.

Paderewski then called on the head of the FRA, Herbert Hoover, to thank him. To his surprise, Hoover told him that of the two boys he had helped get through Stanford, he was one!

Dialogue in a Seminary

‘Giving has four stages,’ said a professor in a seminary.

The first stage is when one stands up in church and announces that he is donating a hundred dollars. The second stage is when one donates and ensures that people find out. The third stage is when one donates but does neither of the above, and yet feels righteous.

After that the professor changed the subject. One of the students interrupted to ask him about the fourth stage. ‘Who knows?’ the teacher replied.

‘It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping oneself.’

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Aaruvadhu Chinam

ANGER OUGHT TO SUBSIDE

Genghis Khan and His Hawk

Genghis Khan’s favourite hawk would always be perched on the wrist of the great king and warrior. Whenever his master would command him to fly and attack prey, he was always ready.

Out hunting on a hot and humid day when all the mountain brooks had dried up, the king finally spotted water trickling down a rock. Leaping from his horse, he had just filled his silver cup with a little water when in a flash, the hawk knocked the cup down, spilling the water.

Genghis Khan picked up the cup and refilled it but the hawk knocked it down again. When the hawk did this for the third time, the king was so angered that he pulled out his sword and slashed at the bird, which then lay bleeding and died at his feet.

Unrepentant, the king decided to find the source of the water. When he looked, he found a poisonous snake at the bottom of the pool. He wailed loudly, realizing that the hawk had saved his life and his anger had cost him his best friend.

A Lesson in Medina

When a distraught tribal in Arabia went to Medina to seek an audience with the Prophet (Peace Be Unto Him) for advice, he was advised to control his anger.

On his return, he found his tribe was out to take revenge on another clan for stealing their money. He was about to join the fight when he suddenly remembered the lesson he had been taught. Putting down his arms, he addressed his enemy, saying that he would compensate them for their loss in the war from his personal wealth.

The leaders of the other tribe were moved and realized that anger would only lead to bloodshed and not peace.

A Father’s Advice

Every time his son lost his temper, the father would ask him to take a nail and hammer it into their back fence.

There came a time when the son conquered anger. No more nails needed!

The father then told his son that for every instance when he controlled his temper, he should pull out one nail. Over time, all the nails were out.

The father then pointed to the gaping holes in the fence. The son understood that when you lose your temper, you always leave behind scars.

‘You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.’

THE BUDDHA

Iyyal Vadhu Karavel

DO NOT HIDE WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF GIVING

Jesus Lauds a Widow

In a temple, Jesus sat opposite the receptacles for donations, observing the crowd as they offered their money.

Many rich people put in large amounts of money.

Then a poor widow made her way through the crowd and put in two very small copper coins, amounting to a penny.

Calling his disciples, Jesus said that the poor widow had put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth, but she, despite her poverty, gave away all that she had.

She who should have received charity instead gave away her entire money!

Alexander’s Concept of Giving

A roadside beggar stretched out his arm, asking for alms from Alexander the Great as the emperor was passing by. The emperor threw several gold coins at him. Taken aback, a courtier told Alexander that copper coins would have sufficed to meet the beggar’s need; what was the need to give him gold? Alexander gave a remarkable answer. He said that copper coins might suit the beggar’s need but gold coins suited Alexander’s giving.

A Child Opens Her Heart

Ten-year-old Riley Christensen once decided to buy a bike for her dad’s birthday. She was browsing a website when she came across a video clip. The video was about how specially engineered bicycles were created for children with disabilities and how much they enjoyed riding these bikes.

Riley immediately decided that she would buy a bike for one of these children. With the help of her mother, she wrote a letter asking for donation in which she spoke about how happy the kids would be to receive these bikes. Since the bikes were quite expensive, Riley and her mother sent the appeal to several relatives and friends. Within days of the campaign many were moved and responded. Cash and cheques rolled in.

By Christmas, Riley had raised $12,000 and she was able to give a bike to not just one but many kids. It was so heart-warming to see the children, some with cerebral palsy and others with rare genetic disorders, collect their bikes. Riley made a Christmas resolution that she would do this every year.

‘Not all of us can do great things, we can do small things with great love.’

MOTHER TERESA

Eevathu Vilakkel

NEVER STOP GIVING

The Cry for Help That Led to World Vision

Around the time of the Second World War, a young Baptist from California, Robert Pierce, visited many cities in China. He concluded his tour at Amoy Island (now Xiamen) where he was invited by a lady named Tena Holkeboer to speak to 400-odd students of her school. Pierce agreed to stay back and address them.

When he went to the school to say goodbye to Tena, he saw her hugging a little girl who was sobbing. She had been badly beaten by her family. Tena had many such children to support and asked Pierce to contribute and help this child. Determined to help the child, Pierce gave Tena his last $5 so that she could admit her into a school. He promised to send money for her education when he returned to the United States.

Pierce was moved by the experience and felt that so many more children could come under his loving umbrella. That was the turning point which made him launch a charitable Christian movement called World Vision.

Today, World Vision has partnerships in 100 countries. It has rallied support from thousands across the world to bring about a transformation in the lives of the underprivileged. What is really moving is the quote Pierce inscribed on one of the pages of the Bible, which has become the core philosophy of his organization:

‘Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.’

Kalyanasundaram’s Lifetime of Giving

Anybody who has a Master’s degree in literature and history and a gold medal in library science could easily get a great job and live a luxurious life. But not Kalyanasundaram. He would donate the entire salary he got working as a librarian towards charity, month after month and year after year, from the very first salary he received. To fulfil his basic needs, he would do odd jobs.

He has the most wonderful philosophy for this – he feels that money can be obtained in three ways – through one’s earnings, through one’s parents’ earnings or through donations, but nothing is more fulfilling than giving all to charity.

Serato’s Story

Bruno Serato, a poor Italian immigrant, was thrilled when he realized his dream of opening a restaurant in Anaheim, USA. But when he and his mother visited a charity, they were shocked to find a little boy eating potato chips for dinner. They then decided to feed underprivileged children for free at his restaurant.

The restaurant has an impressive clientele, but Serato’s favourite customers are the thousands of little ones who get a free meal.

‘You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.’

KAHLIL GIBRAN

Udayadhu Villambel

DO NOT FLAUNT WHAT YOU POSSESS

Medusa and Athena

Medusa from Greek mythology was excessively proud of her beauty. She claimed that fresh fallen snow paled in comparison to her skin and her hair was brighter than the sun. She bragged that even the Aegean Sea could not match the exquisite beauty of her green eyes. Not to forget that her red lips were ‘redder than the reddest rose’.

Holding a hand mirror in the morning and looking at her reflection in the window in the evening, she would admire her looks. She would also preen while gazing at her reflection in the well. So engrossed was she with her own image that she would often forget to even fetch water!

One day she visited the Parthenon, the temple dedicated to Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. Visitors were wonderstruck by the goddess’s beauty and expressed their gratitude towards her to Athena for bestowing her grace. Medusa intervened to say that her statue would be more beautiful than even Athena’s. Perhaps some day, someone would build an even greater temple for her.

As Medusa gazed at her reflection in the bronze doors, Athena cursed her. After all, there was more to life than beauty which is short-lived. Medusa turned into a hideous monster and strands of her hair turned into snakes. Since the curse decreed that those who saw Medusa would turn into stone, Athena banished her to the ends of the earth where she would never be seen.

Aftermath of Bragging

A rich landlord once boasted to his poor friend about his wealth, gardens and servants. His friend asked him to remember that he was but a creation of Allah.

The haughty landlord