An Anecdote

Zen is popularly known for its anecdotes and so is Superstar Rajinikanth. I liked this anecdote that he instantly shared during his interview to Sun  TV on Nov 5, 2010 (first time after 1996, if I am not wrong).

There was a kingdom located on a river bank. It had a rule that the king can rule only for five years and after five years he would be sent to a jungle on the other side of the river where the man-eating animals and cannibal tribes lived. No king who had been sent to the jungle ever returned. They were killed, apparently. Many of the kings died even before their five year tenure in the fear of the cruel death in the jungle.

Then came a king who ruled unusually happily for five years. On successful completion of his tenure, he departed from the country and was on his to the jungle on a boat. The boatman was quite surprised by the king's placid and cheerful state of mind. He finally asked the king, "I have seen only the kings who were weeping and crying while travelling to the jungle. How could you manage to be cheerful and calm?"

The king laughed and answered, "When I became the king, the first thing I did was to send the hunters and soldiers into the jungle to hunt down all the predators and cannibals living there. Then, in the second year, I built palaces there and in the following years I converted the jungle into a livable place and populated the area. The only thing left now is that I go there and ascend the throne."

Rajinikant said this anecdote to explain the importance of planning in the context of Endhiran project. If we make our goals clear, set the plan for achieving the goal and execute it as planned, everything is possible. Though we all know this, hearing this from Rajinikanth with his style and accent was a fantastic thing to remember.