C.N.Annadurai

The Wooden log

C.N.Annadurai(One of the most popular leaders of Tamils known as 'Anna')

Tranalated by:Vaiyavan

Dharmalingam began repairing the house which went ruining step by step for a long time. Taking much pains, spending much money, he changed it for a suitable to live. The house would have gone as a mound of mud, if he had not taken such arduous steps.

’ It needs a lot of money and pains. Instead of it Dharmalingam might build a fine new house. He is wasting his efforts and money. The result would remain as a wasted labour.’ People who could not preserve their houses properly commented.

‘You know, there is an anthill in the backyard.’

‘Yes.. yes. I know. There is a dried up well also. I have seen.’

‘They say the foundation alone remain stronger.’

‘What stronger? They have laid the foundation with materials considered to be stronger before two generations. That’s all’

‘In walls there were…’

‘Yes. So many cracks. Many pits in the floor. The roof is leaky.’

‘If left without troubling, it would end as a mound of mud.’

‘Then we can cultivate brinjal or ladies finger there.’

‘Dharmalingam says he is going to repair it fit-enough to reside.’

‘Does he want to reside there after repairs?’

‘How mad you are! He is going to reside there first and then do repairs after.’

Many people went on commenting.

Some went to him and advised not to undertake such a kind of trouble.

But he did not say anything as, ‘It can be repaired. I can do it… I will do it … These are the plans.’

Instead, he said, ’Yes, It would be painful .troublesome…I know. Waste of labour even. But if we leave it like this it would become a total ruin. Mere spurges and mushrooms would grow up there, making donkeys to mow and finally left as a waste ground.’

With this firm reply he shifted his residence there to repair; bearing all sufferings he made it a worthy play to reside. His critics too appreciated it.

Many came to see the repaired house and to congratulate him. One among them saw a wooden log on the way to the backyard.

‘Is this redwood?’ He asked Dharmalingam.

Dharmalingam replied as if he had seen it for the first time, ‘Might be. Or some other variety.’

But the questioner continued, ’No.. Dharmalingam. This is a piece of teak. You can make a beautiful roof layer out of this.’

‘Yes..yes.’ Dharmalingam shook his head and replied something meaningless.

But the questioner went on explaining how to make the roof layer and what kind of carving work should be made on it e and where to place it and how the look of the building would improved beautifully.’

‘You can make roof layers, suspension layers ...this and that could be done ...’

Many people gave many ideas. But Dharmalingam did not yield to any of them, neither he accepted nor denied…ending their advices with,’ Yes.. yes.. Let me see.’

The wooden log was there in its own place where it was. Days, months even years passed on. The wooden log was there in its own place.

Some innocent persons would enquire,’ Isn’t it a good piece of wood?’

Dharmalingam would reply them,’ No..no.. It’s a fine variety.’

Then they will wonder and begin advising,’ Why should you keep it as a junk? Make it useful.’

The reply from Dharmalingam would be the same, ’Yes.. yes. Some thing should be done.’ But nothing was done. It was there in its own place.

The wooden log would get a move when cleaning the house or on discovering the hidden scorpion or some poisonous insects; then it would be moved back to its own place.

‘Keeping this log here disturbs the passage. Moreover it accumulates trash and garbage under.’ The house members made bitter complaints.

‘It is there at one corner. How does it trouble you? It is not blocking the way.’ Dharmalingam threw aside all those objections.

‘Good piece of wood. Worthy for fine wood-work. Beautiful things could be done..’

In spite of all these praises and recommendations the wooden log was there in its own place.

Time went on. The familiarity of the wooden log lying at the same place made its merit degraded. The same persons who valued it as a fine piece of wood began to call it then as usable only for firewood. Some got the guts to go to Dharmalingam to advise him to cut it to pieces and use for stove.

Dharmalingam rebuked them, ‘Don’t you get anything to use as firewood? Do you know anything about the use and standard of finer wooden materials?’

‘It is kept useless. So that we told you to use it as firewood.’ they tried to explain.

‘Okay.. okay . I know.. You please go.!”

The wooden log remained there where it was.

‘Scorpion would pass over it. Lizards would run upon it. Garbage and trash went accumulated beside it. It was not affected. What if a scorpion stings it? It is just a wooden log.

‘I have seen a wooden log at Dharmalingam’s house. It would suit our purpose.’

‘Yes. I too had seen it. He has it for a long time.’

‘I think he keeps it for some purpose.’

‘It does not seem so. He might not know what to do with it.’

‘He won’t give it rather to anyone.’

This kind of talk was going on around the town. Dharmalingam let the wooden log to be in its own place. How can it move? Was not it just a wooden log?

Wind and rain followed one day. The mud walls went up to dissolving. Window doors sounded terrifically. The kitchen wall seemed to disintegrate. Every one was worried.

‘The wall is going to fall’. Somebody shouted.

Dharmalingam saw that the wall was preparing itself to fall down. He thought for a while. He called some persons and gave an order. ‘ Aye… you go . Get that wooden log and prop it as a support before the wall.’

Some persons who knew about the condition of the kitchen wall thought that it would have crumbled and fallen and there might be a calamity. One of them came there after the rain and saw the wooden log used as a prop supporting the wall.

‘Did you keep the wooden log just for this purpose for a long time?’ He asked Dharmalingam.

‘Yes.’ Dharmalingam agreed for namesake just to avoid him.

The wooden log did not know what they talked about it. And it did not know that it was used as a prop to support a wall which was about to be fallen. It was just a wooden log.

After a proper repair was done to the weakened wall, the prop was found unnecessary. So it was removed to its own place. Slowly the time passed on.

Time went on. The wooden log became a prey to termites. They entered into it, began eating it inside, destroying the quality and the strength the wooden log once had.

A person who came to visit Dharmalingam saw the wooden log in that stage pushed it to see its strength..

‘Oh! It is useless. So that you keep it idle.’ He commented.

As usual Dharmalingam did not give any specific reply.

‘There was a time. Then I was strong, I would have been useful. Many suggested, many expected. No use. I was kept in a corner. Now termites eat me. What can I do?’

It did not explain such because it has no tongue. It was just a wooden log.

[Tranalated by:Vaiyavan]

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