BYE, C U IN HEAVEN!
@Bye, C U in Heaven!
M G Warrier
In a recent article I
read online, the writer exhorted readers to record their last words before it
was too late, lest it may become impossible to express them. I took it
literally and posted my last words at Warrier’s Blog. They were:
“Lokah Samasthaah Sukhino
Bhavanthu”
(Let the entire universe
be happy and comfortable)
I had a 50:50 intuitive
feeling even before I penned(keyed in!) those words that they were quite
unlikely to be my last words and when the time comes, no one is going to write
them on my tomb. After that, I have written much more and posted dozens of blogs
that those ‘last words’ have hidden into obscurity.
But, those words have, in
a way, inspired my thoughts and made me think what actually am I doing to
ensure that my fellow beings or the generations that will succeed mine will
live a happy and comfortable life, post-Mg Warrier era. No, I am not on a pitch
batting for great sayings like “Think of what you can do for America and do not
ask what America has given you” or asking you to take a membership in “Vasudevakudumbakam”(the
concept of entire humanity as one single family). Only difference in my
approach has been that I started wondering how we respond to the agonies
around. And, while responding, are we doing our bit, in whatever small way, we
may be able to improve the situation. Let me give you one example.
Last month in Mathrubhumi Vaaranthappathippu (A four
page Sunday supplement providing space for literary and contemporary
events/writings, brought out by the popular Malayalam daily) a full page
feature was published about one Celina Michael who is in charge of cremating
bodies received in an open air crematorium near Kochi. On an average, about 20
bodies reach that crematorium in a month for getting converted into ashes.
Celina (may be according to the terms of a contract!) can charge Rs1500 per
body for the service. She has to pay Rs550 per body to the local body and meet
expenses for fuel (firewood, coconut husk etc) and the surplus left is entirely
hers for meeting the survival costs of her family. In a response, I made a plea
that the average monthly compensation for the 24X7 work which include procurement
of fuel and waiting day and night expecting dead bodies was too low and the
local body should allow a rise in her income by providing ‘fuel subsidy’ and
foregoing at least a part of the payment per body cremated, Celina has to pay
to the local body.
Once I saw my response
published, it shocked me that none of us who responded to the feature, offered
any help, on our own. I remembered Modi’s plea to forego gas subsidy which the
Prime Minister promised that he would divert to the really needy! On my part, I
entrusted Rs1000 to my son with a request to send a cheque for a higher amount
to Mathrubhumi for being passed on to Celina Michael. My daughter added Rs2000
and my son made a cheque for Rs10,000 which he sent*.
As I have made a
beginning in worshipping ‘Daridranaaraayana’ (finding God in
the poor people), my VISA to heaven is assured. As my term in the hell is
getting over soon, I am unpacking for heaven. Follow me, if you can. Bye, C U in Heaven!(Even these are not
going to be my last words. Wait for more!)
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
*Postscript: I am still
around and the cheque my son sent is traveling back to him, because a letter in
the name of the payee was misspelt. Long live the newly opened bank accounts of
poor millions! Noted to report progress in another article soon.
M G Warrier
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
(Writer
is author of the 2014 book “Banking, Reforms & Corruption : Development
Issues in 21st Century India”. His email ID is mgwarrier@gmail.com)
@Beginning this week, Sunday edition of this Blog will carry short write-ups like this meant for light reading and later regrets. Watch for the first part (Introductory of "AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BRAC" on Sunday, October 11, 2015.
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