Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha T wo weeks ago, my wife and I had been to Kashmir on a holiday. On one side of the gigantic Dal lake stood the magnificent Hazratbal shrine. We had a strong desire in our hearts to visit this shrine… Once there, we spent a great deal of time being just there… As women were not allowed to enter the main shrine, I walked in alone covering my head, barefooted… All that I did inside was to stand in silence… I had no prayer to pray… no idol to worship… no Holy book to recite from… All that I did was to stand there and watch my heaviness fall around me… and tears roll down my cheeks… I came out deeply moved, and humbled… and, yes, feeling immensely peaceful… Allah is my God, too. Isn’t He? T his morning, when 16-year-old Shreeshay was on dais to speak, I casually asked him what his name meant. He said, that it was one of the many names of Lord Ganesh. I asked Shreeshay  if he was deeply religious. “I only have God’s name, sir… but, my fai...

Pic.: Malabika Ganguly S uddenly, Kevin, my eleventh-standard student, showed up for the class, today. He had bunked the class for one full week, without informing me. So, the moment I saw him, I was all set to yell at him... But, before I could do that, he pulled out a big-fat bar of Cadbury… “Sir, for you.” “Happy b’day dear,” I pulled Kevin close to me, “Very smart boy, haan.” “Tell me, have you watched PK?” I teased the b’day boy. “Yes sir,” said Kevin. There was Meenal, a TY student, sitting on one corner. “What PK has got to do with Kevin’s b’day, sir?” her puzzled look asked me. ”Meenal, have you watched the movie?” I enquired. “I want to,” Meenal said, excitedly, “But, I want to know why PK now?” “Because, our  PK here is very smart like the PK from another planet,” I explained, “See how well he defused the bomb in his sir’s hands!” Meenal was still puzzled, but Kevin knew what I was talking about. “Explain to her, Kevin,” I ...

  I watched the movie – ‘OMG’ – twice! Both the times, I saw in the theatre a mixed crowd – of all faiths and ages. And, I also saw them enjoying the movie thoroughly. Whatever the movie is trying to attack - our blind practice of religious rituals, our gullibility to self-serving priests and gurus… yes, we all know that, they are outright ‘stupid’, ‘dumb’. And, interestingly, we all laughed at our own buffoonery as we watched this movie… In deed, it was a real ‘OMG experience’! Kanji Bhai is, ruthlessly, an atheist. And, ironically, God comes to reside in his house… and, that too, at a time, this rebel has dragged God to the court! In one of the scenes, Kanji Bhai questions God: “I am an atheist… I don’t believe in you. Then, why have you chosen to reside in my house?” “Because,” God tells Kanji Bhai, gently, “only a true atheist can be a true theist!” I loved this statement, so much! I, personally, endorse this idea. That,...

Y es, I wish I had a life of no worries… I wish I had rich parents, great mansions… And a hundred servants to serve… I wish I had half-a-dozen young and beautiful wives… And scores of children from them… I wish I remained forever young… forever lucky… Forever on my golden throne, Right under the canopy of an everlasting full moon… I wish there was snow in the bright summer… And drizzle in the cold winter… I wish I had friends who never deserted, Neighbors who never argued, And children who never disobeyed… I wish I had strength of an Achilles... The looks of a Cleopatra … And grace of an Eklavya… I wish I were born in another planet… Under another star… For another purpose… I wish I had wings of a Falcon… The heart of an antelope… And smile of a lovely Saturn. My planet is this. Earth! My star is this. Sun. My life is this. Of joys and sorrows…Of flights and fears… Of love and desertions… Of scorching heat and biting snow. I...

"Payre pado beta," the mother reminded her teenager son, as I entered their palatial house. The son, my student, bent forward to touch my feet. A tall and handsome young man he was; but, his hand barely reached my knee. "It's alright." Before I could complete my sentence, he was already standing, all erect! I hardly felt his 'Payre pado'! But, the mother did, immensely! Bunty never, ever starts his car unless he does a small religious gesture before. His both hands touch the steering and his heart, automatically. Ditto before he enters his restaurant. His both hands go down to the floor and quickly to his forehead and heart. Never, ever would he talk to any one - even a waiting Income tax Officer - unless he climbs up his chair, lights an agarbatti, says five-minutes silent prayer with closed eyes and folded hands, then again touching with his both hands God's feet , his forehead and his heart. But, as soon as he climbs down, the first thing he does ...