When I was searching for a shelter, one of my friend
suggested an beautiful flat in a gated community. It was fascinating to Watch from
the balcony of the bedroom of that flat, to view the water fall with birds
sounding the place. The interiors were providing good ambiance. The thought
that strike my mind was why the owner of the flat wanted to sell such a
beautiful spacious flat. Why there are
no buyers and why is the owner wants to disperse the flat at a lower market
value. These were some of the thoughts that lead to be inquisitive. As I walked at the rare gate to catch a cab, sharing
my thoughts to the party, the broker informed that there is a graveyard belongs
to a particular community nearby the vicinity. Obviously after due diligence with friends and family, we
never visited that place.
Death is inevitable. Today using the technology and having a
futuristic view, we are planning the birth. The date of birth is also chosen on
an auspicious day, however whatever may be the circumstances and technology,
till date we could not defeat the death or even plan our death.
My house was located near the church. On the backyard
crossing the road was a large grave yard. When I was serving as an altar boy, I
have watched a number of funeral mass. I do even remember and recollect some of
the funerals of rich and poor, old and young, loved and hated ones. I recall
when I was a child, far away there was a death of a community member and when
the priest was performing the funeral mass there were only five people
accompanying the body. In most of the other funerals, the church was filled
with community members, but in this case the community was absent, the people
staying nearby the church were missing. The nuns staying in the convent near
the church were absent. I was in deep distress to understand what was wrong ?
even in death. After a deep exploration, I could understand that the family
migrated few years back from a neighbouring state and were working as a labour
in one of the estates. The news of the sudden death could not reach the near
and dear ones and hence only handful of people were present to show their
respect. I reflect, today most of us, have migrated to build an future, leaving
behind our family and friends are we be lonely in our death…
I had one Master, with whom I would debate on certain beliefs.
Apart from teaching in the school, he would play the keyboard in the church. One
could feel his absence when the coir would sing. He would attend all most all
the funeral and lead the choir. The voice and hymns would make the atmosphere
in the church as something we have lost deeply. Many a times after the seventh
day rituals, he would narrate his plans on his own funeral. He would always mention,
that he would like to see from the coffin as the body leaves the church to the
graveyard, how many had come to pay there last homage and respect. I had listen
to similar narration from my grandmother. I always wondered why so; today when I
echo, people paying there last homage and respect is all about how you have
respected and helped others in your life time. Life is all about struggle between
the birth and death. Each individual has to overcome turbulence in order to
find the purpose or float in life. When the purpose has a shared mission life
is respected and when the respected life ends, people pay homage. When we are born
in a hospital bed and when we move to our house, we are usually carried by our
parents. But when we depart our life, we are carried by the people whom we know
or who loved us. So in death we are dignified.
Life is experienced at three places, Hospital, Prison and
Graveyard.
Hospital – where we
are born and we visit every time when we are ill. The irony of being in
hospitalized makes the difference. May be rich or poor the pain of being
lonely, the stress of unhealthy and examination to share becomes unavoidable. But
we humans, in hospital show our power and hierarchy on the way we get treated
and visited. The poor or the rich bears the same pain, however the rich are
treated with hygiene and poor is surrounded by the loved one to shower care.
Prison is another
place, where the innocent is tourchered with agony of shame with loneliness and
guilty of having no love.
Graveyard is the
place where we ultimately rest our body. The place where someone distant or
close, remember the good or bad deeds seeded in his life time. Graveyard
reminds that whether you are rich or poor, your body is made of dust and
detoriates to dust, still we live a life filled with ego, prejudices, envy and
hatred all the time.
Graveyard or
shantidama is a place of peace or rest. Most of the graveyards are surrounded
by trees with memorials. Graves in the graveyard reminds the homecoming. Walking
around a large graveyard is a mixed feeling, a feeling of how we lost our loved
ones and memories of best times we had with them. A visit to graveyard on All
Souls Day is a holy day set aside for honouring the dead. All Souls'
Day commemorates the faithful departed. It is one day, in a
year when the family stands near by the grave and pray for the departed soul,
it is a moment when the tears of love and affection and hurt that we carry is reconciled.
A day, when flowers and candles are burned on the grave in remembrance when the
prayer are said in open. A day when the graveyard and graves are filled with faithful
joined together in prayer.
How sad, when there are many graves that are left alone, no
one to place flowers and burn candles and pray for the departed when their
loved ones are preoccupied with their own needs and wants. A day, even the dead
may wonder to see the love or hate when they would look forward. I too miss…….
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. | He
makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, | he
refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. | Even
though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with
me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | You prepare a table before me in the
presence of
