At a time when the talk is centered on “The Future of Work” and Cadbury 5 Star’s “Do Nothing” Campaign, our Happiness Unlimited program brings the spotlight back to a crucial old question:
“Why do we work?”
As someone who braved dense forests, tough terrains, and wild animals every day for three decades without a single day off- all for the sake of his work, Shri Sivan D, our October Professor of Wisdom is a quietly inspiring answer to this fundamental question.
But why would anyone go that far for work?
This retired Coonoor postman has a simple reply, proud and humble at the same time:
“Because I am the only one there to do it.”
One for the Job
Trekking 15 to 18 km daily, Shri Sivan D served as the only means of communication for the remotest Nilgiri villages and tribal settlements for 35 years. Having missed even his daughter’s wedding to deliver everything from deeply personal letters and consignments to life-changing job offers, money orders, and old age pensions, Shri Sivan has come to truly embody the essence of his profession as a postman.
In an interactive afternoon with our students, he shared the secret behind his unwavering dedication to work, captured in a 2020 documentary, “Thabalkaran”.
Here are our top picks:
“Choose a work that serves others. Your hard work must benefit others.”
“Sometimes delivering a money order on time made the difference between life and death for people. So, never put off your work. ”
“Get rid of your fear. You need presence of mind, not fear, to survive.”
“Everyone says that you shouldn’t have desires. I say… have a lot of desires. If you want something, you must dream for bigger things.”
One with the Forest
Shri Sivan’s anecdotes from his time in the forest are a must-listen. Our students are all ears as he details his unique ways to stay safe in the forest:
“I cover myself with the soil that elephants use. It masks the human smell with elephant scent.”
But our students’ favorite is this one:
“To let the animals know that I mean no harm, I started wishing them ‘good morning’” he says. “I have said ‘good morning’ to the animals more times than I said it to my superiors and officers at the post office!”
“Over time, they started seeing me as just another regular of the forest. Some even respond to me!”
In short, this month’s session has been a grounding experience and a lesson in coexistence with nature and the meaning of dedication to work. Shri Sivan’s closing remark is a good answer to our initial question of why we work:
“The community I serve… they don’t even know my name… but they all know me as ‘the postman’.”
We are bringing more interesting stories! Check this space for our next installment of Professors of Wisdom, Life Labs’ monthly interactive session with seasoned minds from all walks of life.
