Clepsydra’s Measure of Time

Clepsydra is a water clock or timepiece that measures time by the regulated flow of liquid into or out from a vessel. Water clocks were one of the oldest time-measuring instruments, hence it's proof that the ancient cultures throughout the globe were very conscious of the passage of time valuing it on an hourly basis. It was my legal battle in the year 2007 that woke me up and warned me of time; until then I was a half-wit, only aware of material possessions which degenerated over a period of time, and unfortunately, like many, I too developed a meaningless bond with them. Starting with my factory, my car, and other insignificant objects that had the intrinsic values for the making of a balance sheet but are not likely to remain the same in the next financial year. So when the future threatened me with a fate that will showcase me as a ‘failure’, I needed a plan to thwart it. Hence, I took stock of the assets I had, based on which I had to start from basics, and not to fear the probabilities, but only work on the possibilities. I remembered the inspiring quote of Samuel Beckett, an Irish modernist writer and a Nobel Laureate in Literature, who said, “Ever tried, ever failed, no matter try again, fail again, fail better” which applied aptly to the situation, but for then I needed a practical goal and not a dream. So, I decided to write down on a piece of paper anything which can save me from being an indigent person in the future. After an hour of intense search, I found that there was only one asset called ‘time’ which I had to bank upon and build my future, and I realised, it was priceless. None can hold ‘time’ in any fraction, but everyone can use its every second.

The second question was quantity, just like the wealth of a person is measured in multiples of lakhs or millions, I decided to assess my wealth. At that point in time, I was 51 years old and taking the average age of my ancestors, it was impossible to estimate my lifespan. I felt that the age of my great-grandfather, an ex-military person who lived for 102 years, was too obvious for an estimate. His first son, my elder grandfather, lived until 88 years and he too was in the military prior to being an entrepreneur; the second son, my younger grandfather, a freedom fighter lived until 65 years. My uncle passed away at the age of 65 years, and lastly, my father died at the age of 47, considering which I should have already been dead by then. Hence there was no actionable intelligence in taking the statistics of my ancestors to measure my lifespan and fit the same into my revival plan. But, whatever it was, I considered my gross block or net worth at any given day was those particular ’24 hours’ of time only. Other than those on that day, I never made any plans, for whatever I make would depend only on one important factor; which is ‘today’s progress’ that can be carried forward as a qualified asset. I realised that ‘time’ was the only real wealth I earn on a day-to-day basis, but ironically it erodes the next second. I cannot surrender in despondency ignoring responsibility, with the hopelessness that time cannot be captured or held. I need to making use of whatever little time I might have and build the remaining future resulting in at least a last-minute success, and not just dream about it.

The famous American President Abraham Lincoln said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” I realised that I squandered time in my youth in total disrespect, and at a later date complained foolishly that I lost certain opportunities, not realising that it was the ‘time’ that actually provides an opportunity. The senseless exercise of brooding over the past became a habit right after plus-two when I failed to pursue my Medical college admission to start with. Then, after I graduated in Commerce in the year 1977, I spent a huge quantity of time extravagantly as if I was going to live forever. No clear thoughts of further education, nor of career. I wrongly concluded that my uncle had closed all doors for me to participate in the family business by giving away our two cinema theatres for lease. Then I decided to study psychology at Sydenham College at Bombay, which obviously did not work out due to my feeble attempts. I had this interest in psychology to study people’s minds, but the idea dissolved with a lack of perseverance. I had this passion for cinema but did not comprehend to which faculty I belonged in the industry. Suddenly, one day I decided to become a film director and concluded that it was only the IIFT Pune which is most suitable to me. Swaminathan, the Manager of my younger film-producer uncle, said, “your big uncle is a small producer and your small uncle is a big producer. Why do you want to join IIFT’. At that point in time, I did not understand his sarcasm or the irony in his statement. We visited a famous Hindi Film Star who said there was no scope for me, for IIFT Pune was the most preferred destination in the industry, just like Bits Pilani is for Management Courses. All doors were closed according to me, and again I started brooding. One can never achieve anything dreaming on a sofa; which in fact was what I was doing without any indulgence, expecting that opportunities would come wrapped in ‘gift packs’.To the statement of President Lincoln, I wish to liberally structure a synonym that, ‘One cannot blame today’s ill-fate after having wasted the opportunity that time gifted yesterday.”

My career adventures that followed thereafter until 1990 were unworthy for the shameful truth is that I have generously frittered away my time acquiring no knowledge or skill which I can proudly speak of. Then a senior businessman invited me to join in the business of exports at Chennai, which took a good turn. With one small frog-leap, I jumped out of a deep well, and eight years later I started an independent export business in which I was immensely successful, but that too was for only a span of less than ten years, and then I fell flat. In between, I survived a car accident while I was driving home from my factory in the year 2001. It could have been fatal, but I escaped miraculously. All these years ‘time’ was granting me opportunities repeatedly but I failed to recognise its ‘presence’ nor its ‘value’. By March 2007, I turned 51 years, by then my export business came to a screeching halt. Much of the prime and valuable time had passed disrespected. It was then in 2007, it became necessary for me to engineer a robust plan with strong fundamentals. The question was how much ‘time’ I was left with.

Whether it is an expensive watch like Rolex or even the cheapest one available in the market for hundred rupees, it is the same. They remind the value of every second passing by, that’s the reason ‘time’ was described as ‘precious’ for ages. ‘Precious’ is the only adjective that attributes to time, and not the expensive watch. Lost time cannot be regained.

I had to knot all my guts and ignore worthy criticism, unfazed not to react to them but understand that ‘time’ is still extending its warranty to me, that was never assured in the first place. It took me 51 years to realise that no person or material circumstance gives us the opportunity again and again as ‘time’ does, until our last second. I then considered that the situation in 2007 as my final opportunity bestowed by time. My actions from that point were only to sow seeds that germinate results in consonance with my true intentions, but not fortuitous, or by luck, or chance. I have to build a future that depends only on my own source, which is my mind, my sincere intent, and my time. I found that I had the acumen to assimilate legal knowledge, for it was my then dire necessity because I was not satisfied by the services extended by the fraternity in general. Further, even if such service was available, I could not afford it at that point in time. Finally, it was ‘time’ whose grace I depended on and prayed silently to it not to abandon me until I accomplished my goal.

I approached the RKM Law College at Chittoor, the staff and faculty looked at me conspicuously, wondering ‘what can this grey-haired person achieve with a law degree at this age’, ‘maybe for a job in a law office to meet his ends’ they concluded. In the interview when the Principal of the College asked me the impervious question with curiosity before admission, I said “I have this plan to educate entrepreneurs who are the most affected in our country, and rescue them especially from the atrocities of the Banks.” The Principal looked at me as if I was some sort of eccentric, despite which he gave me admission. From that moment I became conscious of every second, and every minute. I treaded into the commentaries of legal luminaries trying to understand the parameters of the law and its scope in rescuing victims of injustice. Shocking to all and even to me, it took just six months for me to rise to the first level, which is to draft my own cases referring to various provisions of law and relied judgments. The hard work resulted in my first monthly retainer as a consultant for Rs 30,000/- in the year 2009 which was the most precious purse I ever received in my life. The shoe factory owner who retained me was impressed with my rescue strategies, hence by 2010 he enhanced the monthly retainer to Rs 1,00,000/-. At that point in time, I only completed my 1st year in Law College.

I regained my ground, creating confidence in my better half that manifested with a priceless smile on her face. The ambiance of the air was in harmony without any fears, comforting that my birth was worthy enough in the family of virtuous peers who scaled to great heights with sincere efforts. In the year 2011, I incorporated a company by the name ‘Guru Business Rescue Strategies” The Ministry of Corporate Affairs rejected the first proposed name merely ‘Business Rescue Strategies’, hence I had to prefixed it with ‘Guru’. The Principal of the Law College would have not believed it if I had told that I have reached a destination that I had earlier predicted on my own, which shockingly was even before my graduation. That was the most sincere effort I ever made in my entire life until then. I am indebted to ‘time’ to have given me another chance where I proved to be its worthy beneficiary. Within a month of my incorporating my consultancy, I received a call from my friend Sarma at Hyderabad, who earlier bailed me out in my settlement with the Bank, giving me a helping hand once again with a case of Rs 100 crores value, and shocking to all, I resolved it within a short time and received a fee equal to two years of my retainer I was earning. That was the miracle that ‘time’ helped me to create.

At this juncture, I am compelled to quote the great stoic philosopher Seneca who lived during the Roman Imperial times, “People are frugal in guarding their personal property, but when it comes to squandering of time they are most wasteful of one thing in which it is right to be stingy.” I bow to ‘time’ with all reverence, which continues to grace upon me granting opportunities. I had acquired such permanent skills that cannot be stolen or separated from me. Time had allowed me to build an asset that stays in my Balance-Sheet for life without any depreciation. I continue to respect ‘time’ with religious zeal, for it has enhanced the intrinsic value in me to priceless proportions. That very same ‘time’ has spared me even during the COVID wave despite my age being the most vulnerable, asking me ‘what next?”.