That was the topic of the debate at Salaman Paapaya's Pattimandram on this lazy Sunday morning. I happened to "bump" into this program while idly browsing channels on the idiot box.
Its a very interesting debate topic indeed. Though I have never got into a heated discussion with any of my friends on this one, I have discussed something on similar lines with a friend of mine.
Elaborating on the topic in his thooya (pure) madurai tamizh, Paapaya said, "There are times in life when we face crushing defeats, when we feel extreme sadness or depressing moments filled with a sense of acute loss. What is it that gets you back on your feet and urges you to go on with life - Panamaa (money) ? illai Paasama (Love and affection) ?"
There were 3 people to speak for "Paname thaan (Money is ALL)" and 3 for "Paasam illada Panam proyojanam illai (Money without love or affection is no money)". The arguments spoken on either sides seemed true from their respective perspectives (as it is with any debate).
The "Money is ALL" groups argued that in this modern world money is THE thing that moves people. Everything comes with a price tag including paasam. The treatment and care at every hospital is directly proportional to your bank balance. Every girl dreams is to hook a MNC maapilai earning 3 - 12 lakhs P. A. (I beg to differ here). Any daughter-in-law is proud of her rich and high class mother-in-law and diligently serves her father-in-law if and only if he gets his pension on time. More money credited into you bank account, more paasam credited to your account too. The banks safeguard your "panam" however there are no banks for "paasam".
The opponents argued otherwise, firmly stating that its "paasam" that heals a broken man's wounds, brings him back to his feet and urges him to go on with life. Money can buy materialistic possessions. It cannot buy love or affection. As an example, lets assume you are stranded in the middle of no where with loads of money and an old lady of your mother's age. Your hunger cannot be satisfied with currency notes, neither can you eat them nor can you buy the food from the old lady. But what satisfies your hunger is the food that the old lady shares with you, like she would share with her son/daughter. An old sick man is not motivated to get up from his bed if you show him is bank balance statement but what cures him is the loving touch of his grandchild.
Money is always debited from one account and credited into another. However as wise men have said love is never debited; its always credited to both accounts. The best part of the debate was when Bharati (opponent) turned plates on Raja's (who enacted Rajni's father-in-law in Shivaji) argument by quoting his own words that "Madurai kaaranga paasakaaranga" (All Madurai people are full of love). She said "Is it justified that what holds outside the pattimandram changes to currency on this stage?".
To conclude, Paapaya gave the "final verdict" with a simple example. He said - Consider a man who is left broken in spirit, having lost all his money. As he feels the burden of defeat weighing down upon him, he fears that he has no courage to go on. In this situation, its not money that would make him pick up the pieces of life and move on. But what really encourages him are the words of his better half, lovingly consoling him that he was more important to her than the money he lost and that she would choose to have him over the money any day. Her words of wisdom and motivation are what he needs makes a fresh start in his life. Like money, love also has a bank - each one of us own a bank of love in our hearts. But, unlike money banks, there are no debits !! Only Credits :) !!
