Gerald D'Cunha

  “Once all struggle is grasped, miracles are possible.” Mao Zedong   E very time we say, “Struggles make us strong”, we, also, ask God earnestly, to make our lives less struggle-some, if not completely struggle-free. So, it’s given, that Life comes with struggle and it stays there as long as Life stays. Only thing we get to see about struggle is, that some have more of it, and some have less of it… but, none has none of it! People like J.K. Rowling and Sindhutai Sapkal had not just more of it – they had mountains of it. But, these Legends turned their mountains of struggle to generate something sublime and make the society a better place to live in… give hope to those whose lives were struggle-some… When Life gave them lemons, they chose to make a lemonade… This was the old wisdom of the sages. In fact, J.K. Rowling said, “Rock-bottom became the solid foundation in which I built my life.”     T he life of Sindhutai Sapkal was a life of true Legend. Born ...

“S he’s (our daughter) found at VT. We go down on our knees and thank Mumbai Police who have turned Mumbai inside out to find her. A thousand friends have been with us for the last 18 harrowing-hours keeping vigil outside her school No parent should go through what we went through. Thank- you. Thank-you.” I had no plans to write on this subject. Late day-before-yesterday night, I read about this incident (12-year-old Alina’s missing from her school gate y since 8.15 am). A member of our Society had shared on our Society members’ WhatsApp group this appeal from Alina’s heart-broken parents. Immediately, so many of our members voiced their concern and prayers… I went off to sleep after that. Yesterday morning, TOI had carried the same news… “12-year-old girl went missing from Powai school… and the search to find her is on…” That’s the last news item I read before leaving my home, last morning… And, here, when I reached my office, I saw the breaking news on our...

Pic.: Madhusudan D. Jeurkar T his morning, as our Tai Chi session was in progress, it was pouring heavily.  “We have good rains this time,” I said to Kannan, “God has been kind.” After many Sundays, I found Kannan back in form, today. “Gerry, there is a powerful Sanskrit shloka  – a prayer – which is recited at the end of most of the Hindu ceremonies...  I was curious…  Kannan recited: “Kale varshatu parjanya, Prithivi sasya shalini Deshoyam kshobha rahitaha Sajjana santu nirbhayaha” “ Let the monsoon be timely and plentiful, Let earth be covered with vegetation, Let the country live without (conflicts) problems, And let good people never have fear.” It struck me like a pleasant lightening… “Wow!” I said, “Kannan sir, let me hear that prayer again.” “Kale varshatu parjanya,” “ Let the monsoon be timely and plentiful, “Prithivi sasya shalini” “Let earth be covered with vegetation,” “Deshoyam kshobha rahitaha” “ Let ...

Pic.: Sheela Krishnamony T oday is my friend Vikram’s 58 th b’day. A while ago, I had called him to wish. “May God grant you good health and peace in the years to come,” I said. “That’s all I need at this stage of my life,” Vikram said, quite emotionally, “not the blessings from Dhana Lakshm i but from Dhairya Lakshmi .” I loved the two words… Dhana Lakshmi and Dhairya Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi has been kind to Vikram, all the way to his 58 th b’day, today. He has been blessed with fine education, a great wife, two brilliant children, both now settled in the US. He has been successful as a businessman, been able to earn good amount of financial status. He has been, also, blessed with a very positive attitude towards life… a great optimism and understanding of the Tide of life… that is, the ability to remain graceful, both, in good times and bad times. So, today, Vikram doesn’t need money - Dhan , success or status. He needs Dhairya – fortitude (cour...

Pic.: Chetna Shetty A fellow-learner in our Tai Chi class seemed quite disheartened and restless during our session, last morning. “Relax my friend,” I heard Kannan trying to cheer up this fellow-learner, “Don’t take it so seriously.” Kannan himself was a student… After more than eighteen months in our Tai Chi class, he himself wasn’t getting so many moves right… and, on seeing the disappointment of our fellow-learner, Kannan had said the right thing: “Relax my friend… Don’t take it so seriously.” But, then, Kannan could go only so far… For, the fellow-learner wanted it ‘perfect’, and it was not happening… Later, while I was with Kannan alone, he told me this: “When I was battling for life in the hospital (Kannan is a cancer survivor), tied to tubes, masks and machines all over me, when all including my doctors couldn’t tell whether I would come alive or dead, I would worry about the people at home – my wife, my son who was still studying… I would worry ...

Pic.: Pradeep Nanda T oday is 2 nd Jan. Every 1 st Jan morning, I call my mom to wish her a happy new-year. And, she leaves me with mixed feelings… The New-year in 1983 had come on a Saturday. My dad was 57, then. Despite the meager means at his disposal, he was, to the boot, a fun-loving soul… He dank like a fish, smoked like a chimney… and he sang, danced and made merry like a Brazilian … Yes, to him, ‘tomorrow’ was, always, another-day! So, he had partied hard right through the Christmas week till Saturday, the New-year day. The next day was Sunday. Mom and he both had dressed up to leave for the Sunday mass. But, then, as they were about to leave, dad told my mom that he wasn't feeling good and, hence, to proceed alone for the mass. That’s, really, unusual of him. However, not wanting to be late for the mass, my mom left. When she was home, she found my dad on the same sofa, in the same sitting position… But, he was no more! It was a mas...

Pic.: Vinod Krishnan A n hour ago, I had been to my friends’ - Sunil and Soniya’s - classes. They both love Christmas sweets, especially, the plum cake. So, without announcing, I just dropped by. When I showed up, they were in the midst of a lecture; the room was packed… So, not wanting to disturb the class, and yes, feeling a lot shy, too, I thought I would wish and pass on the parcel from outside… “No sir, not before meeting these young-ones,” Soniya made it clear to me, “They have heard so much about you… You must meet them.” Before I could gather my wits, the introduction was, already, done, “Here is Gerry sir!” As the young boys and girls looked back, I felt so shy - as if a  Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan was being ushered in - that I was trying desperately to hide somewhere in that room! But, then, that’s how I had, always, been… Shy as a ‘touch-me-not’… ‘see-me-not’. And, that’s how it was – and it is – even after years and years of helpin...