A Requiem
"Rau mein hai
rakhsh-e-umr kahaan dekhiye thame
Nai haath baag par
hai, na paa hai rakaab mein"
Mirza Ghalib (Urdu
Poet, India, 1797-1869)
Meaning in English.
“The horse of the
times is on the gallop,
Let us see where it
stops,
The rider has neither
the reins in his hands,
nor his feet in the
stirrup.”
Perhaps this beautiful poem
written by Ghalib may have had its own connotation during his time, but I find
this simple couplet resonates the uncertainties of life itself.
We know not when we are born,
likewise we know not when we die, and we know not what would happen in the
space between life and death. But one thing is certain, that if we are born,
then we are surely going to die.
Death seems to be the only
certain in life.
Today I received a deeply
saddening news, that my cousin's husband had passed on. He was driving back from
work as usual and suffered a head on collision from an oncoming vehicle and his
life expired on the spot of the accident.
He was an absolute gentleman,
always with a smiling predisposition, a loving husband, doting father, and a
young grandfather too. He had no known illness, a teetotaler and always young
at heart, but the fate of human mortality took its toll.
Like Ghalib’s poem, it dawned to
me that no matter what we do, it appears we are not in control of our
existence. The cosmic logic seems to chart its own direction exponentially,
according to its whims.
Perhaps our role is to merely
play out the charted course laid in front of us, or can we make a difference by
making our lives more meaningful.
As a rider, we can most
definitely ride safe, by trying not to fall off the horse. Or whilst riding, enjoy the scenery as it comes by. And perhaps we can even ride along with fellow travelers on the same path, making our lives as well as other, interesting.
Ghalib’s poem resonates profound
meaning for reflection. Beyond the uncertainties of life, it is only human to
live life to the fullest and meaningfully.
To my dear Maniam, You have lived
your life to the fullest, though your loved ones will never have enough of you,
but the horse has stopped its gallop, and you have reached the end of your
journey……
🙏AUM TAT SAT🙏
No comments:
Post a Comment