FAITH, HOPE AND INTELLIGENCE

        There is a constant war going on between faith, hope and intelligence, at very many points in life. 

        When my son was a boy of 3 or 4 years, I had to leave him at his Grandparents’ house for some family function.  They lived at Guruvayur then and my Father-in-law worked in a Bank there.  On the evening before I left them there, I was going around the stalls around the Temple.  Seeing the crowd, I told my son to be careful when coming to the place with his grandparents or mother and that he should not go astray in the crowd. (I remember that I was myself said to be notorious at slipping away at unguarded moments and as a result my parents had to suffer a lot to search and get me from various crowded areas).  ‘Even if you get lost somewhere’, I told him, ‘remember to inform them regarding your grandfather’s name and bank name, because no one will know my name or address here’.

          He looked up at my face and asked, “But will not God take care of children?”.  I was stunned for an answer. Was it his faith or hope?

          He was too young to be taught that one should pray and yet not forget to tie the camel. Too early for such intelligence to be attained either.

         This reminded me of an instance which Sr. Stella, one of the resource persons, told us at a youth camp at Divyodaya, Coimbatore, when I was in my college.  She recounted that a small child used to freely wander about in a hospital, all alone.  When he was asked whether he was not afraid, the child promptly said, ‘why should I? My father is there’.  His father was a bedridden man, with both legs amputated. This was faith and hope foiled into one.

       Faith has been best described in the story of the disciple who walked over a river at the command of his guru, though the guru himself did not succeed. The disciple had implicit faith in his guru but the guru doubted himself.

         But the realised ones are able to see the God in all living beings.  It is not their faith or hope.  It is their knowledge.  That is superior intelligence.  That person who commanded, ‘keep my legs wherever you feel there is no God,’ is an example of such a realised one. For them you and I and He are all the same.

       When vacillating between faith, hope and doubt, it is the intelligence to seek the truth that can alone prevail.  The eternal search for that intelligence alone could sustain faith and hope.  True knowledge can be derived only from that intelligence.  To abandon the path will be therefore as disastrous as not having any faith at all.

     One may not have faith in ‘a’ God, not in morality, not in karma, not in man-made laws. But even to say that, one definitely has a faith in himself.  That is the point where all searches ultimately converge at - to know the source of that ‘Self’.  Till then the search has to continue, by whatever means.  That is the road from faith to intelligence, through hope.  Though the three may look different, they are integral parts of the whole. 

     It is a combination of these factors perhaps that Christ prescribed regarding, ‘how to survive as a sheep among wolves’ – ‘be wise as serpents and innocent as doves’. (Mathew 10:16)

 

A MAGNIFICENT MAN - SHRI S R KRISHNAMURTHY

Shri. S. R. Krishnamurthy of Coimbatore is fondly known as Krishnamurthy mama.  Though he is in Coimbatore, few know the height of his greatness.

He became famous because of a role he did in Bala’s Naan Kadavul a Tamil film.  In the film he is a mouna sami.  He plays a significant role at the climax stage in the film.

But more than that, there is much to his life, many require to know.

He was born in a Brahmin family as the eighth child and therefore was named after Krishna.

But he did not have legs and hands as any one of us have.  Yet, it goes to the credit of his parents and family members that he has been nurtured and brought to what he is today.

He is an A Grade Artist in Carnatic Music in the AIR.  Till date he conducts classes in Carnatic music for children.  He has been awarded Kalaimamani award by the State Government of Tamil Nadu.

Some one asked him whether he did not get (Vangalaya) Padma Shri.  He said it has to be given, not got (Adhellam kodukkanum, vanga kudathu)

His nephew once told me this incident: 

Shri. Krishnamurthy had applied during Indira Gandhi’s time to go to an International event at Moscow.  The District Collector was asked to give a report.  The Collector had called Shri. Krishnamurthy for an interview and perhaps seeing his physical condition said that the will recommend him for a pension.  Shri. Krishnamurthy retorted, ‘I am not a beggar who has come here for money.  I am an artist’.

He himself said this:

He had gone to meet President Abdul Kalam, when he had come to his friend’s house in Coimbatore.  When Shri. Krishnamurthy was taken to the presence of the President, Shri. Kalam asked what he wanted.  Shri. Krishnamurthy said, I do not want anything, I came to give you some soothing moments by singing, if you will allow me to sing in your presence’.  Shri. Kalam said, every one comes to me only asking for something, but you are the first person to have come to give me. I read some where that President Kalam had said that Shri. Krishnamurthy was one of the two persons who had inspired him.

Later the President made Shri. Krishnamurthy sing at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

Shri. Krishnamurthy is nearing 75 years.  He does his daily chores like taking food, drinking coffee, brushing his teeth, using mobile etc on his own.  He goes from one place to another within the house by rolling over.  He can paint by holding the pencil or brush with his lips.  Singing, of course his very nature.

I had the good fortune to have him as the Chief Guest for the Arangetram of my daughter.  The entire event became memorable with his presence.

My friend Periasamy wanted me to have a person who could inspire children in a school at Tirupur.  I mentioned about Shri. Krishnamurthy and told him that his very presence will inspire the children.  It happened so.  Though he was asked to speak, he preferred to sing. And the song Kurai ondrum illai marai murthy kanna, coming from him moved every one.  Even he had tears when he finished singing.

I am providing a few links for further information on the great person:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EQQ8Q83ZMo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=qsZj5VgTS3U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=212&v=IWWfA5RPUuo

Last week I asked him how he was coping with the lock down since he cannot go out or children cannot come to him for learning music.  He said, he was spending time by painting.

If human capacity has to be tested to its limits, it is the way to defy the dictates of fate.  Shri. Krishnamurthy is a living example for that tenacity.

Where ego could rule in golden bubbles

Poem 34 from #Fruit-gathering by #RandranathTagore:

"Sire," announced the servant to the King, "the saint Narottam has never deigned to enter your royal temple.

"He is singing God's praise under the trees by the open road. The temple is empty of worshippers.

"They flock round him like bees round the white lotus, leaving the golden jar of honey unheeded."

The King, vexed at heart, went to the spot where Narottam sat on the grass.

He asked him, "Father, why leave my temple of the golden dome and sit on the dust outside to preach God's love?"

"Because God is not there in your temple," said Narottam.

The King frowned and said, "Do you know, twenty millions of gold went to the making of that marvel of art, and it was consecrated to God with costly rites?"

"Yes, I know it," answered Narottam. "It was in that year when thousands of your people whose houses had been burned stood vainly asking for help at your door.

"And God said, 'The poor creature who can give no shelter to his brothers would build my house!'

"And he took his place with the shelterless under the trees by the road.

"And that golden bubble is empty of all but hot vapour of pride."

The King cried in anger, "Leave my land."

Calmly said the saint, "Yes, banish me where you have banished my God."

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     When I first read this poem several years ago, I thought the inspiration or object behind this heart wrenching poem would have been #TheTajMahal.

     It is generally circulated that after completion of #TheTajMahal, #Shajahan had got the hands of the workers cut off and the chief architect killed. This is stated more as folk lore but no historical evidences have been adduced. Yet the grandeur of the structure made people believe in the story. So I had felt that the pain in the above poem was perhaps drawn from that instance.

     But later I came across another instance in the book #VandharkalVendrargal (Tamil) by #Madhan.

     He narrates the episode where # GhiasuddinTughlaq planned to build the #Thuklakabadfort. The Sultan had a feud with a #SufiMystic. The Mystic had cursed the project of new #Thuglakabadfort by saying that it will be deserted. The Sultan however had decided to kill the Mystic on his return from a campaign of Bengal. After the Sultan succeeded in his campaign, while he was coming back to Delhi, some one tells the Mystic that the Sultan is coming back and he may kill him on his return. The Mystic says, ‘Delhi is far away from Sultan’. As predicted by the Mystic, the Sultan got killed before entry into Delhi, at a reception arranged for him for his victorious expedition.

     On reading the above episode, I felt that Tagore had written the above poem perhaps only keeping in mind this incident. That the Sultan was returning from a campaign of Bengal, made me feel the probability, even more.

     Whatever was the inspiration, the pain exhibited in the poem is hard to overcome. It shows how the misplaced priorities of rulers and their egoistic approach to have a stamp of their name in the annals of history becomes tragic, not only to mankind, but even to themselves.

     Any project undertaken by anyone, any time, anywhere has to be, keeping this in mind.

THE DOCTORS’ TRAGEDY

          The social media is appalled at the uncouth and inhuman behaviour of people in refusing to allow the burial of the body of a Doctor who had died due to COVID -19 infection. [https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/mob-denies-burial-to-chennai-doctor-after-covid-19-death-many-ask-is-clapping-hands-enough-10-points/ar-BB12XveD ] That he had lost his life in the fight for the society did not bother them.  

           The IMA has come with a statement that "The doctors are rendering services at extreme risk to themselves. No nation sends its army to war without weapons. Doctors, nurses and healthcare workers of this country have been sent to fight against COVID-19 without PPE kits and they are dying young defending their people. If the value of such services are not realised, the easiest thing for the doctor community will be to sit at home. The bigger sufferers will be the community." They have sought stringent Central Law to protect the Medical profession in such a grave situation. [https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/chennai-dr-simon-burial-row-ima-demands-central-law-against-violence-doctors-122986 ]

   A similar thing happened to a Meghalaya Doctor also .[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/covid-19-opposition-to-last-rites-of-meghalaya-doctor/article31350073.ece ]

          Are the people justified in their inhuman and uncouth behaviour. 

          A BIG NO.

          But, if we take a step back and look at how our collective thought process has evolved over the recent past, we will understand it better:

Ø  First, fear is justified.

Ø  Particularly when it is for self preservation and ones’ own kith and kin.

Ø  Relationship between the Doctor and patient is pure business.

Ø  There is no sentiment involved.  When it is so from one side, it is so from the other too.

Ø Everyone is entitled to look at things only from ones’ own point of convenience.  For example:

o   If I am a Hindu, I am entitled and probably require to detest all other religions.

o   I have to be proud of my religion, though I may not know a damn about it’s history or even what is said to be in it’s sacred texts.

o   If I am a Hindu born in India, then I have the right and liberty to say that no other religious denominations are entitled for living in this soil because this land belongs to my ancestors alone. 

o   If still they should live here, they should give an undertaking that they also accept that this is a Hindu Rashtra and that they may kindly be permitted to live here.

o   If I am living in India, I have the liberty to abuse anyone who has left this country for the sake of making a living, by saying that they had been unpatriotic.

o   If such people living abroad however are able to contribute to my party or thought process, in any method, then they can be accepted as part of our extended family. 

o   Within the Hindu religion I am entitled to feel and propagate that my caste or community is superior.  That by claiming superiority over others, I am conferring inferiority over others is not a point.

o   Being forthright is about being politically incorrect.  Others who do not belong to this class are hypocrites at the least and against the social and national interests or could be urban naxalites, communists, or supporters of any nations like Pakistan, China, Russia, or any other such nation.

o   If I am from the forward community, then I may take credit for having born there and therefore endowed with great mental abilities, but have to also portray how my kith and kin are suffering due to lack of jobs or due to poverty.

o   If I belong to a land owning community, I can on one hand claim pride over the fact that my forefathers have fed others and at the same time can claim that since I did not have opportunity to study in schools and colleges, I should also have some reservation benefit.

o  If belonging to non-SC/ST I should find fault with reservation.  I should say that they should study and earn a position in society.

o  If I belong to SC/ST I should try to take maximum mileage out of the reservation benefit but also try to have it shared it with my immediate kith and kin to the extent possible.

o   If I am not a Hindu and have been born in India, then I have to, at any cost, preserve my right as an individual and that of my own people to live in this country and towards that I can do anything.

o  If I am in a particular profession, I have to look at it only from that point of view.

o   If I am a consumer, then only from that point of view.

o   It is for the people on the respective sides to defend themselves. 

o   The fittest survive.  Only the fittest shall survive. Only they should

o   In which ever position we are, whereever we are, then we are the fittest and we have to survive.

o  If it is by passing over someone else’s head, then it is natural – it is competitive world.

o   If I am a salaried person, what happens to the unorganised labourers is not my concern.  They should be bothered about themselves.  It is their fault that they did not study and get into proper position in society.

o   If I am a pensioner, the others should be bothered about me.  After all I have served others so much.

o   If I do not have pension, there is no reason others should get it.

o  If I am to get promotion by extracting the work from others or exploiting others, it is because I am in that position. Nobody asked others not to reach there.

o   The student need not bother about the troubles of a teacher.

o   The teacher need to bother only about the management, not children.

o   Parents need to think only about their own children.  Neighbours’ children could be tolerated only to the extent that they are of some benefit.

o   Social/religious/political organisations are for our requirement.  We have to show some contribution.  But we have to essentially confirm that we are benefitted by it.  Otherwise, it is unwise to get involved with them.

o   Making money, remaining safe, living happily is the essence of life.

o   Everyone has to take care of themselves.

Ø  The list is endless.

We have heard about a Sri Ramakrishna who while meditating upon a bull, gave a wild cry when the bull was beaten and the mark of the whip was seen on his back.

The author of ‘Lead Kindly Light’, Vincent Sheen is said to have been hurt when Gandhi was shot, though Vincent Sheen was standing far away and had no chance for any particles from the bullet to have pierced him.  There was only a wound but no foreign body. It was called a psychic wound, caused due to his constant thinking about the safety of Gandhiji.

Vallalar is said to have grieved over the grief of even saplings and plants.

Meditation in this land and anywhere else had been a method of feeling what others would feel.  This experience over a period of time is said to enable one to understand the universality of life itself.  That is what they called realisation.

But it is in the name of fighting to uphold this great ideal that the nation is currently made to become more selfish, parochial, feudal and communal.

When we have been developing this attitude as the quintessence of human existence, how could we now, hold the people who refused to allow a decent burial to a Doctor who worked for the community, risking his own life as wrong?

Just because we feel there should be some Doctors around to take care of us in case of need?

The entire poem of Tagore from which the National Anthem is taken

There has been controversy regarding whether the Jana gana mana was written by Tagore in praise of the visiting King George V.  Those who have read the works of Tagore or know his character can have no such doubts.  Yet, in spite of the Poet himself having had to deny it and defend himself in very strong terms - something for his stature was an insult - every other day, people raise these doubts.  It is indeed a great matter of sorrow that a poet who wrote, "Give me the strength never to let down the poor, nor bend my knees before insolent might  --Give me the strength to surrender my strength to thine will with love", should even be imagined to have written a poem in praise of a mere mortal.

I should thank my friend Ashish Vajpayee for having sent me the full poem (along with the English Translation) the first stanza of which alone has been made our National Anthem. The third stanza is itself enough to prove whom the Poet mentions as the Eternal Charioteer:

"The way of life is somber as it moves through ups and downs.
But we, the pilgrims, have followed through ages.
Oh! Eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot
echo day and night in the path
In the midst of fierce revolution
your conch shell sounds.
You save us from fear and misery.
Oh! You who guide the people through tortuous path!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!"

NOW TO THE ENTIRE POEM:

1. Jano Gano Mano Adhinayaka
Jaya Hey Bharata Bhagya Bidhata,
Panjabo Sindhu Gujarato Maratha
Drabiro Utkala Bango
Bindhyo Himachalo Jamuna Ganga
Uchhalo Jalodhi Tarango
Tabo Subho Namay Jagay
Tabo Subho Ashiso Magay
Gahay Tabo Jayagatha.
Jano Gano Mangala Daayaka
Jaya Hey Bharata Bhagya Bidhata
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey,
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey

2. Aharaha Tabo Awhbano Pracharito
Shuni Tabo Udaro Bani
Hindu Bauddho Sikho Jaino
Parasiko Musalmano Khristani
Puraba Pashchimo Aashay
Tabo Singhasano Pashay
Premoharo Hawye Gantha
Jano Gano Oikya Bidhyaka
Jaya Hey Bharata Bhagya Bidhata
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey,
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey

3. Patana Abhyudaya Bandhuro Pantha
Jugo Jugo Dhabito Jatri
He Chiro Sarathi, Tabo Ratha Chakre
Mukharito Patha Dino Ratri
Daruna Biplaba Majhay
Tabo Shankha Dhwani Bajay
Sankata Dukho Trata
Jano Gano Patha Parichyaka
Jaya Hey Bharata Bhagya Bidhata
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey,
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey

4. Ghoro Timiro Ghono Nibiro
Nishithay Pirito Murchhito Deshay
Jagrata Chhilo Tabo Abichalo Mangalo
Nato Nayanay Animeshay
Duhswapnay Atankay
Rakkha Karilay Ankay
Snehamayee Tumi Mata
Jano Gano Dukho Trayaka
Jaya Hey Bharata Bhagya Bidhata
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey,
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey

5. Ratri Prabhatilo Udilo Rabichhabi
Purbo Udaya Giri Bhalay
Gahay Bihangamo Punyo Samirano
Nabo Jibana Rasa Dhalay
Tabo Karunaruno Ragay
Nidrito Bharata Jagay
Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, Jaya Rajeswara
Bharata Bhagya Bidhata
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey,
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey

---

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

1. Oh! the ruler of the mind of the people,
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!
Punjab, Sind, Gujrat, Maharastra,
Drabir (South India), Orissa, and Bengal,
the Bindhya, the Himalayas, the Jamuna, the Ganges,
and the oceans with foaming waves all around
Wake up listening to Your auspicious name,
ask for Your auspicious blessings,
And sing to Your glorious victory.
Oh! You who impart well being to the people!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!
Victory, victory, victory to Thee!

2. Your call is announced continuously,
we heed Your gracious call.
The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains,
Muslims, and Christians,
The East and the West come
to the side of Your throne
And weave the garland of love.
Oh! You who bring in the unity of the people!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!

3. The way of life is somber as it moves through ups and downs.
But we, the pilgrims, have followed through ages.
Oh! Eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot
echo day and night in the path
In the midst of fierce revolution
your conch shell sounds.
You save us from fear and misery.
Oh! You who guide the people through tortuous path!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!

4. During the bleakest of nights,
when the whole country was sick and in swoon
Wakeful remained Your incessant blessings
through Your lowered but winkless eyes.
Through nightmares and fears
You protected us on Your lap
Oh Loving Mother.
Oh! You who have removed the misery of the people!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!

5. The night is over, and the Sun has risen
over the eastern horizon.
The birds are singing, and a gentle auspicious breeze
is pouring the elixir of new life.
By the halo of Your compassion
India that was asleep is now waking
Victory be to You, the Supreme King!
dispenser of the destiny of India!

Let us listen to T.M.Krishna singing the second stanza:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyP1sFN9jZE

My dear Bapuji

Happy Birthday my dear Bapu ji,

I do not know whether next year I will be able to call you as Bapuji or we will start calling you as Grand Bapu ji. I am told that like Vascodagama discovered India, another American has discovered a new Bapu ji for our country.

But even earlier, with your stick, round glasses and a watch hanging from your waist, you looked only like a Grand Bapu ji all these days. We see that Grandparents need not be given the same respect as our parents.

My own father used to say that the name of ‘Father of the Nation’ given to you was wrong because the nation was there even before you were born. He used to say that you should have been called only a Great Son of this Bharatha matha like Chatrapathi Sivaji or Bhaghat Singh or Nethaji or many other great such sons. I do not know why then some new father was discovered now. It is confusing. I don’t know whether next year onwards we will have to study some new chapters from ‘Experiments with Truth’, by the new Bapuji. I hope that I will not get confused between both chapters and get low marks.

Because if I get low marks, my teacher will scold me and my parents. In school, we are not to give respect to our Father or mother. There only Teacher and Principal know everything. Even our father or mother are only to obey the Teacher or Principal. Even if I have doubts in the lessons, I should only go for tuition to my teacher. I should not ask my parents. They do not know anything in my books.

But Father of the Nation is to be respected. I think it is because there is no Teacher of the Nation or Principal of the Nation.

But I was told by one of my teachers that you were a bad father because your Son did not like you. The teacher also told us that you were very cruel to your wife. Then I don’t know why they called you Father of the Nation. What is the position of the newly discovered Father of the Nation, I do not know. Perhaps in the next year, the teachers will tell me about that.

I think you were very much interested in sweeping the streets. Everywhere I see your photo with a broom stick and your spectacles. But I feel you failed to make the streets clean. Might be that is why they called you ‘Father of the Nation’. In our house whenever my mother sweeps, it becomes clean. When my father sweeps, he just makes a show, as if he is helping my mother.

I see your face on all the currency notes of our Country also. I have heard people saying something about “Gandhi Account’. I do not know if this photo and the account are related. I also do not know whether your photo will be replaced by the photo of the new Father. Two or three years back I remember my father going to some bank every day to get some new rupee notes. I do not know why he was going every day. But he came back late and my mother quarreled with him saying he had not gone to bank but to some other place in the name of changing notes. I do not understand why they were quarrelling. If the photo in the notes are changed will my father have to go to banks again and my mother will start quarrelling again? I am afraid thinking about that.

For fancy dress competitions we were able to have less expense to be dressed up like you. Now if there is a new Bapu ji, I do not know if we will be able to dress up like that so easily.

What all will change, I do not know. I have been discussing this with my friends also. All of us are afraid that we will lose a holiday on which we need not come to school, because you may not be our Bapu ji any more. Even on Independence Day and Republic Day they want us to come to school. But my friends also feel that we will get that holiday on the Birthday of the new Bapu ji.

Othewise Bapu ji, we will very badly miss you.

Lovingly,
A Student of 7th Standard.