FORESIGHT

In May 1992, a man from Andhra Pradesh visited Delhi. He brought mangoes as a gift for us. While handing over the basket of mangoes, he mentioned that when he bought them from the market in his hometown, they were in perfect condition. However, because of the intense heat during the trip, most of the mangoes spoiled.

I remained silent. At that moment, a “gardener” was also present at the gathering. Looking at the mangoes, he said, “Brother, these mangoes didn’t spoil because of the heat. They spoiled because of a mistake on your part.”

Then the gardener asked him if the mangoes he bought from his local market were ripe. He said, “Yes.” The gardener explained that this was the reason they spoiled. The truth is that ripe mangoes are meant for local consumption. When mangoes need to be transported over long distances, unripe mangoes are purchased. If you had bought unripe mangoes, not a single one would have spoiled, and they would have all arrived here in good condition.

This incident highlights the importance of foresight in handling matters. When you create a plan to be implemented in the future, simply knowing the present isn’t enough. In such cases, it is crucial to understand what lies ahead and look beyond today to anticipate events that may happen tomorrow.

A plan is made now, but its results always appear later. Planning essentially involves preparing for the future. To create a successful plan, it is important to rely on careful thought rather than fleeting excitement and to take a realistic approach instead of an emotional one. More focus should be given to predicting future conditions rather than just dealing with current problems.