FOUNDATION STONE

Be it the Taj Mahal, the Burj Khalifa, the Sydney Opera House or any other wonderful creations. Whenever, you see a historical monument, an architectural marvel, what is the first thought that crosses your mind?

Beautiful creation! That’s it, we see carvings, the artistic finesse, colours of the monument, the fine work of paintings on the walls, the dome at the top, the gateways, the staircases, etc. We appreciate it, we speak about it. If we have a guide, he tells about the historic importance of the place, the time it took to build the whole structure, the resources, the cost. Rarely does our mind wonder about the foundation stones.

The world sees the beauty, sees only the top. We do not appreciate things which are not beautiful. Otherwise, when we would look at a monument and be appreciating the foundation, the solid truths behind the glory. We MUST.

We must appreciate things which we generally do not because they remind us of the harsh realities. It is the reality of life that things are not always beautiful. Truth is not always beautiful. Truth is harsh.

Naturally we would appreciate the brick that is placed on the brim for the purpose of attraction. But we must learn to appreciate those bricks too which are ten feet in the ground and has been supporting the building for long time. We must appreciate them as the reliability of the entire building depends on the strength of these bricks. Shake them, the entire structure will fall on the ground.

Wikipedia defines-

“The cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.”

While laying done the foundations, these bricks are broken into appropriate sizes and laid down to sustain the weight of the entire building. These bricks get so damaged in the ground so that the world would get the building. These brick that are more compact than all the bricks above the ground and are the reason the structure is still standing tall. But these bricks see that the dynamics of the building are dependent on them, so offered themselves. They went several feet inside the ground so that the building could reach up to a hundred feet. These bricks that confessed to themselves so blind that all companions above would get clean air, keep getting sunlight. These bricks dissolved their existence so that the world can see a beautiful creation. Beautiful creation always seeks sacrifice.

It should be our nature as humans to pay attention to the bricks of foundation. Be it for a building or a society. Not only that, we should try to imbibe the characters of being the bricks of foundation for a better society.

In the society and the workplace, we must be like the foundation stones, keep the needs of the society or the workplace above our personal needs of glory. These will result in the creation of a beautiful society, a better society.

- Ayush Agarwal