Gerald D'Cunha

M y dear friend Vinisha, who lives in America, wrote to me in response to my last Post – ‘A PROMISE ON EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY’. I love the feelings expressed by Vinisha, as a mother of two young boys on turning 18. In fact, the feelings are so relatable… I think, Vinisha’s feelings echo the feelings of most parents around us… The joy and  pride - and that parental anxiety -  of seeing our little-babies grow right in front of our eyes… into tall, handsome, bright young men and women… into adulthood… and, there they are… all ready to be on their own… The privilege of witnessing, with mixed feelings, that great circle of life… Experiencing that great act of loving, caring, giving, and empowering…. and then letting go… with gladness and quiet pride… Heeding to the great inner prompting, that we may not have been the perfect parents, but we have done the best we could do… and our young-ones know they are loved… and realizing that, THAT is the biggest gift...

Pic.: Alka Chawra O ne of the most humbling moments in the life of a teacher – at least in my life – is when, many, many years later, your student comes back to you to give you back that priceless lesson, which you had imparted to him or her several years ago. Your lesson had empowered the student when he or she needed it the most. And, now, here comes the student to empower you, when you need it the most! I believe, this happens to all  teachers several times in their lives… The students grow up to become great physicians and surgeons… and they come back to treat their teacher… The teacher has lost strength… also, hope…”Teacher, it was you who taught us not to lose strength, not to lose hope,” the student, now, reminds the teacher… The students grow up to become Lawyers, Psychologists, Chartered Accountants, School teachers and Principals; they become Architects, Builders, Bank Mangers, movie and sports stars, even Ministers and Clergymen… They all ...

Pic.: Neerja Panchal T here is a dialogue in the Disney-movie ‘The Lion King’. I go back to it, regularly, just to refresh myself when I get weighed down by some of my daily confusions… particularly my confusions about good or bad, fruitful or wasteful… to strive or to give up and so on. Mufasa: Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope. Young Simba : Dad, don't we eat the antelope? Mufasa: Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life. I find this conversation between the father and the son – the King and the Prince – very relevant for all of us in all walks of life… Because, Life is, in deed, a great circle… and, all events, all things… and all creatures … are, in deed connected in...