ARE YOU A ‘VALYA KOLI’?

The adversity which has come to us in the
form of the pandemic has also brought with it quiet and solitude. What was
otherwise difficult if not impossible for most of us, has come uninvited and
that, too, on a platter.

Both quiet and solitude also gave each one
of us an opportunity and the time to reflect. And that is where lies the
relevance of the question in the headline, Are you a ‘Valya Koli’?

For the uninitiated, let me for a moment
dwell on the character of Valya Koli. He was a dacoit born in a fisherman’s
family. He earned notoriety for being a highway robber; he used the spoils of
his thefts to support his family.

One day, he confronted the Rishi Narad Muni
who was passing through the area. As was his wont, Valya stopped Narad Muni so
as to loot and kill him.

However, he noticed the serenity on Narad
Muni’s face and could not move any further. At this juncture, Narad Muni
inquired with Valya the reason for his dacoities and killings. Valya quickly
responded that it was to support and maintain his family.

Hearing this, Narad Muni asked him, ‘All
that you do is a sin and you are saying that you are doing all this for your
family? Do you think your family members will share the consequences of your
sins?’

Though Valya was confident of an affirmative
answer, the question set him thinking. Seeing Valya think, Narad Muni said to
him, ‘I shall wait for you here. You go to your family and confirm their
response’. Valya went home to ask his family members – but he was stunned to
hear the response of his wife and children. They refused to share the
consequences of his sins. It was a moment of shock for Valya.

He ran to Narad Muni in a state of
repentance and falling at the feet of the Rishi asked him, ‘How do I undo my
past? I seek forgiveness.’ Narad Muni asked him to chant ‘Ram! Ram!’ which
Valya religiously did. The chanting, though difficult initially, brought about
a transformation in him and he grew in love and compassion. Valya became the
great sage Valmiki who wrote the revered Hindu text, the Ramayan.

Coming back to the question – Are you a
‘Valya Koli’? Are you only working for others (other than yourself), be it
family members, friends, clients or your organisation? Are they ready to share
your burden? Are your purposes aligned with those of those for whom you work?

I think the pandemic and the ensuing
lockdown and the resulting time for reflection may have brought these questions
to your mind, too. These questions would have made each of us think, and think
differently.

Instead of philosophising further, I shall
leave you with the question, Are you a ‘Valya Koli?’

Take an inward journey for the answers. All
the best.