Page 54 - #letter to son

NOONTIME PLEASANCE
Dear son,

The professor of entrepreneurship, my father, was a man of bold
vision, cold steel and warm heart.

His life’s journey was an example of the dedication of spirit in the service
of others. He deeply cared about community welfare. And though he
did not come into great money, his life was as rich as the soil of his
village. It was as pleasant as the cool green breeze of his countryside. It
was as abundant as his lush fields. It was as infinite as the sky.

For a village and its inhabitants, the fields are the center of their
existence. It is as if the sun around which their universe revolves. If farm
incomes are up, there is happiness and joy. If farm incomes are down,
the support system helps absorb the shock. In this respect, the people of
our countryside are a hardy race, having been exposed to the vagaries
of life that go beyond their immediate control. Yet, they always remain
hopeful. Hopeful of a better tomorrow. Confident in the knowledge that
unity is ultimate strength.

In a lot of ways, the professor of entrepreneurship, my father, was
also a messenger of hope. He was woven as one with the fabric of his
community. He understood the needs of people like no other. When
he started the grain business, he kept a minimal margin for meeting
expenses, keeping a tight lid on prices. In frugality, he ensured consumer
affordability. Soon, when people started to place their trust in him, he
emerged as the bridge that linked their produce with the markets. He
covered this crucial distance, a space that his fellowmen were typically
wary of. Examples are abound even today of how middlemen corner the
majority of the profits, deliberately distorting market prices and sinking
farmers in debt. In this context, to use a financial term, my father was
the chief of the village’s asset-liability committee, ensuring that the
value of the assets always remained ahead of liabilities.

As he earned greater trust amongst his brethren, they started to leave
their extra cash with him. They knew that their savings in this ‘bank’
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