Discretion Is The Better Part Of Valour

Discretion is the Better Part of Valour

Two days ago, an errant motorcyclist was admonished by a policeman in a police vehicle for erratic driving and causing traffic snarls. The policeman had to move away as the traffic was held up. However, the motorcyclist chased the police vehicle and stopped it. When the policeman got out of the vehicle, the motorcyclist thrashed him and boasted about his connections. The policeman was helpless as the motorcyclist was a gym instructor and seemed experienced in fighting, supported by his strong biceps.

As a young man, I often felt like thrashing people when witnessing injustice or indiscipline. However, my actions stopped at mere thoughts, as I was neither supported by a sturdy frame nor quick enough to attack or defend myself. Action scenes of MGR and Rajnikant, at best, made me jump in my seat but never stirred my spine into action.

Years ago, there was a humorous snippet in Ananda Vikatan, describing a five-year-old boy who came home crying. He told his father that, after the ball he was playing with hit a glass window, the owner pinched his ear and made him do ten deep knee bends (Thoppukaranam). The boy's father, built like the actor Nagesh, told his son, "Show me the house—I will teach him a lesson." Upon knocking on the door, a muscular man appeared. Frightened, our hero quickly said, "I have come to apologize for what my son did. You taught him the right lesson," and beat a hasty retreat.

On one occasion, I was driving on the Cuttack-Calcutta highway with my friend Murthy. For almost 30 kilometers, a truck ahead of us refused to give way. My friend became hysterical, shouting, "Come on—overtake him! I will kick him!" Pushed by him, I managed to overtake the truck and stop in front. A burly Sardarji driver got out, twirling his moustache, and asked what the problem was. He reeked of alcohol. I politely pointed to my friend, who quickly retreated and told the Sardarji to drive carefully for the sake of his family. He also handed him a packet of chewing gum, suggesting it would help with boredom and reduce his speed. Not a word was exchanged between us, but there was a quiet understanding: discretion is the better part of valour.

You can’t help but be in awe when you encounter bouncers at pubs, malls, and hotels. They handle unruly clientele and, at great personal risk, protect VVIPs and celebrities. Lest we assume their life is a bed of roses, it’s reported that they often face verbal abuse, confrontation, and even physical assault in groups. Sometimes, to appease influential customers, bouncers endure public humiliation at the hands of their employers. A few days ago, armed goons attacked some bouncers and forced them to kneel. There are even cases where bouncers have been marked for assault outside of work. On the other hand, some bouncers engage in unsavory activities to settle personal scores, as in the case of Sushil Kumar, the two-time Olympic medalist.

After reading all these stories about bouncers, I’ve come to a conclusion: don’t confront anybody. If you ever feel agitated and tempted to hit someone, head to a Rajnikant or Salman Khan movie, comfortably seated with a cone of popcorn in hand. You’ll likely agree that, after all, discretion is the better part of valour

 

Thanks for the FB.Apart from moral and ethical issues let us be realistic about physical limitations.Recently a woman was being brutally beaten up in broad daylight on the main road.People were watching and some were taking video of the scene which was totally despicable.The desperado was carrying a knife and that perhaps explains the inaction of the group.I shudder to think of something like this happening to me.What has happened to the code of social responsibility?

 

Quite an interesting episode. one should know when to fight and when to retreat.

 

Thanks.People shy away from mediation for fear of violence.Invariably extreme provocation or inebriated condition behind every violent situation and that is not the best situation to butt in.

 

On one occasion the train stopped close to a jhopadpattee for forty five minutes and I had the opportunity to improve my vocabulary. The fight lasted between two women with vociferous encouragement by men.I understood the adage that hell has no fury like a woman scorned.