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THIS ABOVE ALL DUE to the vagaries of the Vikrami calendar there are years when Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday comes twice. This year it will be celebrated on December 29. It is unfortunate that he has been projected only as a warrior who founded the militant fraternity of the Khalsa Panth in 1699 A.D. There was a lot more to him than a man who waged a losing battle against heavy odds, lost all his four sons in the struggle and yet remained in bouyant spirits with the conviction that ultimately he would win because he was engaged in dharamyudh, battle for the sake of righteousness. He spelt out his creed in many verses he composed in Braj, Hindi, Punjabi and Perisian. It is hard to believe that in the short span of his life of 32 years (1666-1708), he could cram in so much activity besides making the final recension of the holy Granth (he did not include any of his own compositions in it), he organised an entire community and left a sizeable corpus of his writings compiled later in the Dasam Granth. Guru Gobind Singh was categorical in stating that he did not believe in divisions based on religious differences: maanas kee jaat sab ek hee pehchan bo (know all mankind as of one caste), he wrote. Kon bheo mundia sanyasi One man by shaving his head Hopes to become a holy monk, Another sets up as a yogi Or some other kind of ascetic. Some call themselves Hindus Others call themselves Mussalmans. And yet man is of one race all over the world. God as Creator, and God as Good God in His Bounty and God in His Mercy Is all one God. Even in our errors We must not separate God from God! Worship the One God, For all men the One Divine Teacher. All men have the same Form. All men have the same Soul. His notion of dharamayudh was taken from the Bhagavadgita: once you are convinced your cause is just, fight for it to your last breath without bothering about loss or gain, victory or defeat. But only take to arms when all other means of arriving at a peaceful settlement have failed. He summed up his
belief in life and its aftermath in a few lines written in the praise
of the timeless God, Akal Ustat.
As sparks flying out of a flame Fall back on the fire from which they rise; As dust rising from the earth Falls back upon the same earth; As waves beating upon the shingle Recede, and in the ocean mingle So from God come all things under the sun And to God return when their race is done. Of his many poems, one of the most moving was composed in a mood of despair when he felt all was lost. Nevertheless, he re-affirmed his faith in God: Mitter Piyare noon, hall mureedan da kehnan Beloved Friend, beloved God, Thou must hear Thy servant's plight: when thou art not near The comforts' cloak is a pall of pest, The home is like a serpent's nest; The wine chokes like a hangman's noose, The rim of the globet is an assassin's knife. With Thee shall I in adversity dwell, Without Thee life in ease is life in hell.
Death at the doorstep I have written so much about death and dying in recent months that the contagion has spread to my readers. The following poem written by a young lady doctor, Amarinder Bajaj, full of zest for life, came as a gloomy surprise: In flowing black robes And ash white face Death came to me In a dream one night and said ‘I’ve come to grant a boon’ Incredulous, I asked, ‘You who are the end of all ends, The one thing that Saints and sinners fear alike. The one name that evokes Terror and dread; Do you have it in you To give me something good?" "Certainly," replied the ghostly one "I may be the final visitor in each life But of you, the chosen one, I ask Should I come in youth or age, With pain or with serenity? Should I ravage like a storm Or come, as gently as sleep? Should I take you bit by bit Or in one full sweep? Should I bring the twin sisters Sorrow and Suffering along Or come alone as a welcome guest? So you see I have much to offer And to you alone I offer a choice.
Catchy signs Discovered written on a Lancer in Mumbai: "Love your enemy —It’ll drive him nuts! Sticker on a Tata Indica seen in Pune: "Advice — Don’t go through life pushing doors marked ‘Pull’!" Seen written on a wall on a college campus: "If at first you don’t succeed, you’re just like 99.99 per cent of the population!" Written on a Hero Honda mobike in Delhi: "I’m an Atheist — Thank God!" (Courtesy: Shashank Shekhar, Mumbai)
Birth pangs Santa got married a day before his birthday and went on a honeymoon. In the middle of the night, the telephone rang. It was his mother, wishing him a happy birthday. Somewhat peeved, he thanked her but asked why she had disturbed him at three in the morning. "Well son, you too disturbed me at three in the morning 26 years ago," she replied sweetly. (Contributed by Anirban Sen, New
Delhi) |
