For A Brighter World!

Ma’s death on the forenoon of August 11^th, 2006, was an eye-opener of some sort for me. A revelation, realization or reminder, call it what you will. A reminder of the grim realities regarding the great hold that the mighty Yamraj or the Lord of Death has over all living beings. Ma’s demise also taught me a painful lesson and helped me reevaluate one of my beliefs. The belief I held that people who lead an uncomplicated, unblemished life, people who are kind and compassionate, the sacrificing and forgiving type, are never subjected to a tormenting, traumatic end, in some ways they are assured of a place in heaven without fail.

Ma was, to a great extent, responsible for instilling this belief in me, when, towards the fag end of her life, she used to talk about her own mother, my grandma’s death:

One lazy, hot afternoon at my maternal grandfather’s residence behind Ashutosh College in Bhawanipur, somewhere in south Kolkata (?), on entering into my grandma’s room late chhotomama ( my youngest maternal uncle), found her reclining in her bed. In order not to disturb her as she had been exhausted owing to a hard day’s work  (she led and active life till her last day) and thinking that she was asleep, chhotomama was about to leave the room stealthily, when grandma requested him to fetch a glass of water. She drank from the glass thirstily and handed it back to my uncle. As uncle turned back after inquiring if she was feeling all right or not, there was a pull at his dhoti (cotton cloth). Uncle turned his head  to find out if she needed anything more. But he was in for a surprise and shock, when he could find his mother’s head slowly drooping sideways on her shoulder.

And that was that!  Nothing difficult or uncomplicated about it. What a marvelous way to take one’s final leave of the world! That was Death at his glorious best. No diseases, no visible pains or troubling others. In today’s trouble-torn world, a death like my grandma’s is hard to envisage, a rare occurrence, a dream!

Ma had the gift of the garb and her powerful account of grandma’s death, had a telling impact on my mind and made me believe from early on that good people go out gloriously, while the bad and wicked, suffer in their final hours like hell. Their ends are a sad and glowing example of living death, not only for themselves but for others as well.

Why then Ma, whom till date I consider the epitome of Love, Kindness, Sacrifice and Forgiveness, met with a tragic end? Why did she have to be in a coma in the first place? I am not sure if she was in pain because when someone is in a coma, there is no knowing whether s/he can feel any physical pain or not. But at the same time I have heard it from a few that being in a coma, in that state itself, is a painful process. Considering the opinion of the minority to be correct, I simply cannot help myself wondering why my Ma, of all people, was made to suffer for nearly two weeks.

I have spent a lot of time with Ma on various occasions and at various places. And I can honestly say, not because she was my mother, that Ma was a gem of a human being. She never tried to cheat anyone, was honest to a T, and never was greedy for all those materialistic possessions and all. A pious lady to the core, Ma had a steadfast faith in the ways of the one crore plus gods and goddesses of Hinduism and therefore, tried living a simple, trouble-free life.

Since the time of her death or even before that, I have had the misfortune of witnessing some people die in front of my own eyes. I have at the same time heard of people the world over dying of hunger, starvation and diseases. I have also heard of people dying a terrible death out on the streets, without the on-lookers doing so much as bothering in the least about their plight! Nothing can be more inhumane than that. Looking from the point of view of the one, who is lying helplessly somewhere on the way, painfully coming to terms with the reality that her/ his final moment has arrived, being face to face with Yomraj, the Lord of Death -  nothing can be more tormenting than the feeling that s/he will never get to see the loved ones anymore coupled with the irresistible craving for reliving a better life, given a second chance, even if it is for a short time.

For a life better than the one we live, or in other words, for an exemplary life, we need to be mindful of the Values of Love for all, Compassion, Sacrifice and above all Forgiveness. Our life  also has to be dedicated to the well being and betterment of all sentient beings, one heck of a noble cause for the attainment of nirvana.

I am no philosopher, nor do I have any intentions of winning accolades or acclaim by delving on a serious topic. All I am trying to express here through this blog, dear Reader, is to caution you about the purpose and meaning of the present life. If you do not believe in the importance of leading an unblemished life, if you have no regrets about failing to discharge your filial duties, if you are unduly jealous of the successes of your siblings, relatives, friends or acquaintances, adding on to their woes and worries always, knowingly or unknowingly – you are distancing yourself not only from the attainment of nirvana, but also closing the door on being born as a human being in your next, due to all those sinful acts in your present life.

I am sorry for sounding, in spite of myself, a bit philosophical. But I am being absolutely honest when I say that these are the lessons I have derived from my Ma’s life and the conclusions drawn from the tragic ends of some others. And you will have to forgive me, Reader, if I could not help sharing them with you for the sole intention of a better and brighter world.