KRISHNA NEE BEGANE BAARO
Image courtesy: Google
Just outside my classes, we have a small garden. For last
couple of days, the little kids – Vyomie, Tanish, Vishesh and a dozen others, all between
age 10 and 12 – have been planning for their mega-show – ‘Dahi Handi’. It will be staged
in our gardens, today evening, at 4. Vyomie and gang had barged into my office,
last afternoon – throwing themselves out of their school bus, they had straight
away come into my office – to announce: “Sir, you have to contribute Rs. 30/-
for the ‘Dahi Handi’; we are coming
in the evening to collect.”
“Ok sweet-hearts,” I pulled
them close to me, “Shall I give it now?”
“No, we will come in
the evening,” they said in a chorus…
At 5 sharp, in the
evening, they were here with a neatly-prepared list. They proudly started from
me…
So, I am waiting… I
am excited!
Lord Krishna is a very inspiring teacher - Dashing and dynamic…
Practical and tactical… Loving and righteous… And yes, yes… fun-loving and
serious.
I love Him for all
that…
His teachings – which
we know as ‘Gita’ – are timeless pearls of wisdom… Life-empowering and
inspiring!
“Sir, it is Krishna bhagwan’s happy b’day,” Tanish, a
ten-year old, had explained to me last evening, when I had asked the kids, “What
is Krishnashtami’?”
“Why you play ‘Dahi Handi’?” I had asked them.
“Because, when
Krishna bhagwan was a small boy like
us, he used to climb high to steal butter,” one of them had dramatized enthusiastically,
“That’s why we call him ‘Makhan Chor’!”
“I see!” I had shown
my curiosity, “That means, you are going to play tomorrow the ‘Makhan Chor’ game?”
“YESSSS!!!!” they had
jumped.
Al right. Innocence, mischief and fun are Lord Krishna’s
signature qualities.
And, there is the
serious side to His character, too: It breathes the hard reality of life… the practical
reality studded with love and hate, right and wrong, courage and weakness, envy
and magnanimity… doubt and clarity… war, peace… compassion. And, victory.
I am no more a small
kid… Unlike the little-ones, who are delightfully drawn to the makhan stories of boy Krishna, I am more
drawn to the stories of Bhagwad Gita…
God stands, always,
on the side of those who love peace, those who do not want war… He is on the
side of ones whose intention is to build, heal and keep harmony… God doesn’t propagate
war… Tells you never to start one, come what may. But, if it is brought upon
you, you have to fight it out like a real warrior… And, He promises you that He
will stand on your side!
Of the many pearls of
wisdom Lord Krishna’s teachings bring to us, today, I found a new meaning and strength
in the one I have just mentioned…
“Son, when you fight
against the evil forces,
I will be on your side!”
Please join us at 4, this evening, for the mega-show… The Dahi Handi by our Vyomie and his mandali!
GERALD D’CUNHA
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