Page 21 - Gujar Mal Modi

gressive and socialistic. He showed a deep insight into of business affairs and

had a firm grip over the work entrusted to him. He was always willing to set an
example of hard work before his workers. Any compromise with the ideal of sin-

cere hard work on the part of an employee was not acceptable to him. He was a
strict disciplinarian.

A small incident illustrates well his keen desire to adhere to the principle of dis-

ciplined and diligent work. Among the persons employed to keep a watch on
the large number of weighmen (Palledars) employed in the factory was one Ba-

rumal. He was a clever man. Whenever the father was present in the factory, he
would put up a show of real hard work. But the moment the father was away, he

would slip into his normal habit of lethargy. But Barumal could not escape the
observing eyes of Gujarmal. The result was that one day he was removed from

service for dereliction of duty and for indiscipline.

The dismissed employee approached the father for mercy. The father was gen-

erous and forgiving. So the young Modi had to bow before the orders of his
father. But while re employing him Mr. Modi warned him to be careful in future.

This Barumal could not do. So after one month he was once again given the sack
and the large-hearted father had to intervene once again. However, this time the

young Modi was unbending and instead of saying anything, he sent in his own
resignation to the father. This was surprising and

unexpected but, perhaps, a better way of expressing his strong indignation

over the episode. However, the benevolent father would not be outwitted. Hav-
ing been a magistrate he knew that an erring man could always be won over

through forgiveness. He called for the young Modi and made him see reason.
While working as Magistrate, the father had let off many an offender with a sim-

ple warning. No police officer had ever shown indignation or disgust over his
orders. Why, then, should the young Modi feel offended? And then the father

had never meant that the erring employee should not be punished in future.
He felt that on being forgiven again, the employee might see reason and might

mend his ways. Once the erring employee was made to feel sorry for his mistake,
it might become a turning point in his life. The young Modi appreciated the wis-

dom of the arguments put forward by his father.

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