My uncle is a
voracious reader from his young days and my maternal grandfather had ensured a
huge collection of books to satisfy his needs. In my childhood days-as a
routine- we spend the summer vacation in my uncle’s place that paved way for my
exposure to a good library quite early in my life. My uncle added numerous new titles
during his student days and after. Probably that was the reason for which I
enjoyed reading books and got new ideas when I was nine or ten years old. My
passion for literature remained all through. My uncle is a remarkable scholar
and academician and it is no wonder apart from critical appreciation in the
state, his books and research papers are highly acclaimed in many western
countries.
It was a proud
moment for me when my uncle received the highest award of the state for
literature for the year 2011 from the Chief Minister on 25th July. The
atmosphere in the auditorium was captivating when one finds many writers,
publishers, critics and knowledgeable crowd in a single venue. Unlike other
occasions I found senior citizens in equal proportion among the audience which
reminded me that it is the mind that creates not the age. Literature is an all-embracing
alchemy that links all which is reinforced by the presence of young faces in large
numbers as well. But honestly I was a bit skeptical about the reading habit of
young generation especially because I found most of them unenthusiastic about
reading the literature in the vernacular. I do not know the exact reason of
their apathy towards the literature in own language. Was it because of our
over-dependence on English language and literature? Or was it because vernacular
literature has failed to be as enchanting as it ought to have been! I wish it
was only a passing trend without any permanence attached to it. We must enrich
our language and literature to bring the ecstasy back that charmed many in
their young days.
Coming back to
mundane world, I never imagined, post-retirement scenario could be as frenzied
as I experienced in the last few months. I do admit I was not among the better
managers but the unfinished works had assumed such gigantic proportion that my
best efforts proved to be too little too late. To my horror I found the records
of the inherited land lying chaotically scattered in a briefcase in the most
unsystematic manner for which I had to run from pillar to post to keep some semblance
of scientific management. The task was never easy because I was unaware of the
locations and used a guide instead to show me my own land. How ridiculous it sounds!
That irritated my better-half so much so that she declared rather snobbishly
that her parents had erred in judgement in selecting the most wretched and incompetent
son in law. I cheerfully agreed to the suggestion stating rather boldly that the
distressing decision of my parents was miserably similar in choosing the stupid
daughter in law. I disappeared before she could find her bearing.
I don’t believe
in pessimism simply because it tends to drag backwards instead of taking one
forward. I am yet to find a person who is not afflicted by misfortune,
disillusionment, sorrow, bad tidings and the lot at different points of time. It
is common knowledge, life is not a bed of roses and at adverse situations there
is no alternative apart from facing it headlong. Come what may, there is no
point shying away from it. Why not put up a brave face with a sweet smile? As
the poet says, ‘if winter comes, can spring be far behind?’ Of course in this
part of the globe winter is not too harsh nor the spring distinctive. But certainly
we have not forgotten the Sanskrit saying “Chakrabat
paribartante Sukhanicha Dukhanicha” which signifies intrinsic changeability
of ecstasy and affliction in rotation like the change of positions of a moving
wheel. If transmutation of human conditions is the order of the day let us
embrace sorrow and joy in the same vein. But my wife would never tolerate such
sermons. She wanted results; effective and instantaneous. Where would I get
that magic lamp to ensure what I wished?
It so happened
that we got the opportunity to visit the nearby forest guest house to enjoy the
rich flora and fauna of the area. She was simply fascinated by the dense forest
and the rich trees all around her. It took many years to grow such diverse and
rich forest I started telling her like a guide. After all, Rome was not built
in a day-‘you must have patience to see results, honey’. She understood my
hints and started fuming but surprisingly controlled herself to enjoy nature
for the rest of the evening.
