BRAIN DRAIN

There was festivity and celebration all around. A grand party was thrown and it was flooded with guests. Mr. and Mrs. Shrivastav were swelled with pride for their son Rajesh. The party was thrown to celebrate his success and to bid him farewell. Rajesh was a small town boy belonging to Kasauli, a hill station in Himachal Pradesh. He had put rigorous hours of efforts and got admission in a reputed college in Dehradoon, and now he was living the dream of every soul in Kasauli. He had achieved the ultimate; he had got himself placed in America in a multi-national company. He was respected, admired and esteemed by all. Every child in Kasauli aspired to become a success like Rajesh one day. Every parent aimed to raise a child like Rajesh. He was surrounded by aspiring students seeking his advice and guidance. His eyes were shining with anticipation. Day and night he had dreamt of just one thing, flying to America… he had made his dream come true.

He was leaving for Delhi the next day and from there he was to proceed for America via aeroplane. Before leaving the next day, he went to pay a visit to his best friend’s house Mohan. They had been childhood friends and gradually they had become intimate with each other’s family as well. The enthusiasm of Mohan’s family for Rajesh was no less. Mohan’s mother had especially invited Rajesh for a farewell lunch and prepared all his favourite dishes. But the one who could not contain his excitement was Mohan’s younger brother Suraj. He was preparing for college entrance exams and considered Rajesh as his idol. For him Rajesh’s success meant widening of his horizon for dreams. Even Rajesh used to be very impressed by the determination seen in Suraj and was very affectionate towards him. He used to guide Suraj in his studies and his advice meant a lot for Suraj.

After they had had a delicious meal Suraj came to Rajesh for one last help with his studies. He had a literature story and he needed Rajesh’s help in comprehending it. Rajesh always willing to help him started reading and explaining it to him at once. This is how the story went –

Once upon a time there used to be a huge Mango tree in the jungles of Kasauli. The tree was so huge that it provided shelter to all sorts of species of animals of the jungle whether it be sparrows, parrots, pigeons, crows, squirrels, deer, peacocks or monkeys. All the animals prospered in the shade and nourishment provided by the tree. The Mango tree was like their home and they all lived like a family.

Then there came a time when the jungle was hit with severe drought. The tree had shed all its leaves and fruits and it seemed that it would soon succumb to the harshness of the nature. The animals could no longer flourish in its protection. All the animals living in its refuge decided to leave the tree and migrate to a different jungle. All but one… there, in that tree lived an old parrot and was the wisest of all. He disagreed with all others on departing from the tree. Everybody tried convincing him saying that it had not only become difficult but impossible for the tree to survive the severe drought and that if he doesn’t leave the tree he too would die with the tree. But nothing said and done would convince him to abandon the tree. He stood firm on his decision saying that it was the tree were he had been born, learnt to fly, grown to full youth, developed his own family and lived his whole life. The tree had been his alma-mater and had sheltered him from all adversities of life. And now that the tree needed him nothing would cause him to desert the tree. He would give up his life but do all that he could to save the tree.

So, he was the only one left with the tree while all the other animals departed. He started his mission. There was a pond a little away from the jungle that had a little water left in it. He would fly to that pond, fill his tiny beak with water come back to the tree and pour water from his beak into its roots. He would spend his whole day serving the tree. Every cloud has a silver lining and so with the efforts of the parrot soon the tree started recovering. Leaves started coming out and the tree gained its full bloom. All the animals returned back to the tree and everybody was as merry as ever.

Rajesh finished explaining the story to Suraj, and something changed in his mind. There was a different shine in his eyes now. It was as if something new had dawned to him. He had learnt the most valuable lesson of his life. A little parrot had taught him to be wise. This was his country were he had been born and brought up. Whatever he was today, whatever success he had achieved he owed everything to his country. All the resources of the country whether it be schools or colleges have been utilised to nurture him. And now when he could be of use to his country, he was about to abandon it and serve another foreign country. No, he decided. I wouldn’t do this. I will serve my own country. I will not drain my brain somewhere else. My country is my motherland and I would serve it till my end, cause I even owe my life to it.