Flinging shoes can boomerang
Madan Mohan Malaviya was a freedom fighter, author, editor &
publisher of newspapers, educationist, staunch Hindu. He is credited
with popularising the slogan " Satymeva Jayate ". He was the first one
to establish a private university in India which based on the model
of historical Nalanda, Takasheela Vidya Peethams.
When Malaviya was trying to build a good university, he had to
overcome many difficulties and barriers. He worked with determination
to start the university. There was a funds crisis; but he did not get
disheartened. He went from town to town, met many rich people and
traders to collect donations.
He went to the Nizam of Hyderabad (then reputedly the richest man in
the world) to request him for funds. The Nizam was furious, " How
dare you come to me for funds and that too for a Hindu University ? "
He roared with anger, took off his footwear and flung it at
Malaviya.
Malaviya picked up the footwear and left silently. He went directly
to the market place and began to auction the footwear. As it was
Nizam's footwear, many came forward to buy it. The bids kept going
up.
When Nizam heard of this, he became uneasy. He thought it would be an
insult if his footwear were to be bought by someone for a pittance. So
he sent one of his attendants with the instruction, 'Buy that
footwear no matter whatever the price be!'
Thus, Malaviya managed to sell the Nizam's own footwear back to him,
for a huge amount.
He used that money to build the Banaras Hindu University.
Moral of the story : It does not matter what you have, but how you
make use of what you have, in your life.
Comments