Granddad's Last Letter...

It seems like ages since I have talked to him, debated with him, fought with him. Here is the last of his letters. There were a few things unique about this letter. Daddy never did forget to write a date on his letter, and this one did not have it. Was this intensional ?

The envelope which he addessed to me, (I was at IIT those days) had this written in the From Address:

C.L.Tiku, 157/1 AMR, Kasturinagar,Bangalore - 560 016. Any Q's?

Letter:

"Dear Rohi

• Life, is a brief period between our birth & death
• It is just like a burning candle, weather we like it or not we have to get consumed.
• Life seems to be meaningless unless we give it a meaning by setting out targets & goals
• We very often reach a saturation point and a plateau
• We set short term goals and pursue a course of activity. We get satisfied and hanker for something new
• Long term and lofty goals keep our activities on the move. We may not achieve what we desire but life seems meaningful and pleasant inspite of all the obstacles. One becomes deft in accepting challenges and surmount the difficulties.
• We set a target. After we reach it we reach a stand-still state. But a live person does not stop there, he opens new paths for himself and goes on setting new goals till he really comes to learn the reality of life and also the things of higher value -> spirituality, philanthropy, research, fruitful discoveries and fine arts-music, painting etc.

Scriptures say that we have to use our faculties to achieve Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

It means that we have to be righteous in every act, we must become a part of economic activities; We must be instrumental in propogating the human race. Yet we must know and always try for emancipation & liberty.

Our birth brings with it Dearth, Disease, dependence, and Death. To overcome all these we struggle and use out physical & mental faculties and ultimately we surrender to the Will of an Unseen and inscrutable power because we cannot face the furies of Nature.

With all the reality of this mundane world, we have to chose a course of action that allows us to achieve success in protecting ourselves with dignity and make out existance blissful. Bout, how?

1. We are more dependent on others as compared to other animals. We must learn to gradually give up dependence on others and become independent, self-relaint and strong.
2. We must strive to create a social atmosphere that genetrates mutual trust and readiness for mutual help without a show of patronisation. We can't survive without a healthy society. Larger the social group, more are the possibilities of furthering your knowledge; and achieving your long term goals
3. Economic activity is the only key to overcome the feebleness, fear and fret. For becoming ecomonically sound one has to undergo a lot of pernicious toil. Wealth ill earned can never give peace of mind or honour. Self-sufficiency in fiscal matters must be gained by honest means. Even if the returns be meager, they bring you a sense of satisfaction & honour. Gain knowledge; try to excel others, Never accept defeat even if you lose at times. Be optimistic, zealous and industrious to win a significant place in the society. Your economic conditions will definitely be dependable.
   

To keep yourself healthy & disease free, you have to take sufficient care about regularity and discipline your food intake. Savoury food may not always result in good health. Incase you want to live disease free try to give due attention to each & every part and organ of your body and find out the items that cause your sickness. If disease and infections grads our bodies, we are sure to lack in our performance and get into a confused state.

Death is inevitable. So we have not to fear Death. It should only serve as a reminder that we are short lived. Lord Beverly said: 'Life is short, art is long, time fleeting, experiment uncertain and judgement difficult"

As such we have to move ahead with full faith, at a speed that allows us to achieve our desired ends expeditiously.

We must learn to use out time profitably. 'When to work and when to play', we must decide. Work should not result in tears or boredom but a pleasurable pursuit to gain the coveted rank & position. Whereas one should also be in the position to enjoy the period when he must loll & lounge but at the same time collect the pearls of knowledge and experience.

Whenever you feel you have reached a dead end, give some mental relief to yourself by thinking about the other things rather than the ones which bring you to a halt. The problem will get solved because everything is changing after every moment. The changed circumstances suggest a solution. Rest Next, Yours, Chaman."

An empty corner of the letter reads "My health has deteriorated because the Drs. were unable to make a correct diagnosis."

Daddy passed away while I was at H7, IIT Bombay, preparing for my exams. 18th April 2004, 9:10am .

Love you Daddy! Little did I know this would be your last letter. You have taught me a lot, in our 'little' times together. Whether it be the techniques of carpentry, the ragas you taught me, the paintings and sketches, your creativity, ingenuity and originality was beyond anyone's I have ever seen in my entire life. A simple clock showing different shades of your life; a rocking chair made out of used car tyres; the bed which you made by ply,hand & mind; my study table and cupboard; the "temple" of joy; your uniquely designed hand-made birthday cards; your letters; your hand made bags; and memories of everything about you, things that I learnt from you - stitching, carpentry, cooking, pronunciation, writing and infact "living life??" , still stand afresh in my mind. All of what you made, Daddy, believe me, ALL OF THEM, still stand, infact they work, and really well!!