Gerald D'Cunha

  “Surely, of all the wonders of the world, the horizon is the greatest.” Freya Stark M y dear friend, Jayaprakash, and his wife, Shital, are both Chartered Accountants. Their son, Vedant pursues Chartered Accountancy and daughter, Shrushti, pursues Law. All of them are voracious readers, music lovers, while Shital and Shrushti are Bharat Natyam dancers. But, what I admire the most about these four is their insane love for travel… Every summer, this family explores one more part of the globe - often, a remote one, and often, a buzzing one. (On foreign lands, they rent a car and drive for days). On realizing how richly this family has been valuing travel around the world, I only end up consoling myself with Harun Yahya’s words: “I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth; then, I ask myself the same question.” Well, that’s my way of justifying my limitations, and, yes, concealing my envy of those who travel the way my...

  It’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok If you’re lost We are all a little lost and it’s alright It’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok, It’s ok If you’re lost We are all a little lost, and it’s alright (From the original song ‘It’s ok’ by   Nightbirde)   ‘G race’, ‘Gratitude’, ‘Acceptance’, ‘Peace’… we use these words so regularly; but, I would say, so loosely, too. These words assume a spiritual dimension only when we express them from the depth of our existence… When we meet ‘Life’, and fear no death. Life of Jane Kristen Marczewski, who wrote songs and sang them under her professional name ‘Nightbirde’, testified to what I have just said in the preceding para. On February 19,2022, at the age of 31, Jane lost her battle with breast cancer. From the time she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2017, Jane was declared ‘Cancer-free’ twice. But, the disease returned to haunt her, again and again. During this painful period, Jane had to undergo enormous amount of, both, ...

“The suddenness made me realize how you are just a cork floating in the ocean with unpredictable currents! And you are desperately trying to control it.” Irrfan Khan I t’s almost a week now, and I haven’t scribbled a single word… And what a big deal? And who really cares? The Sun, the Moon and the Stars went about their daily routine, so did all the birds in the sky and the fishes in the seas… Animals in the jungle followed their routine, and so did the clouds in the sky, leaves on the trees and the flowers in the garden… It’s only the human race – to which I belong – seems to be obsessed with voicing its opinion – commenting, tweeting, reacting, trolling whatever you call it … Yes, it’s only animals like me that have this strange need to be visible, audible and circulated… lest we fade into oblivion, insignificance! How strange it is, even in times like these – when we are forced into our home confines, willy-nilly! Yes, th...

“The real question is not whether life exists after death. The real question is whether you are alive before death.” - Osho Rajneesh H e was called Chander watchman. He was a Nepali. The housing society, where my classes and office are situated, had provided him and his family (wife and three children) a small temporary- shed to live. He mostly did night duty, and, to supplement his income, he and his wife both washed many cars early every morning. Three children, all boys, were in the age group of 3 to 13. None of them went to school, despite the best efforts made by some good-hearted residents. Essentially because, Chander’s stay in this colony was uncertain. He was an alcoholic and engaged in ugly scenes with his wife regularly. Many residents had complained about it and had asked the Managing Committee to remove Chander and his family from the society as it, according to them, posed a security threat for the residents… But, Chander was a...

“Don't ever save anything for a special occasion… Being alive is the special occasion.”  ~Author Unknown W ell, this Post is not about dying… It is about living… living with gratitude, joy and no regrets… Yesterday, in our Tai Chi class, we saw our oldest (youngest!!) student Sundandaji – who is some 80-plus – after a long absence. As soon as she arrived, she handed to our sir, Rakesh, an envelope containing fees and started explaining to him why she had been absent for such a long time.  There were so many genuine reasons… Sunandaji lived alone… Despite two maids at home, the situation was as good as having no help at home… “I end up doing everything,” Sunandaji told us. Rakesh sir doesn’t make any fuss about our absenteeism, even though commitment and continuity are of utmost importance in his view. When we all come out with our excuses for our absence, he is really cool about it… “Now that we are here, let’s make the most of it”...

Pic.: Pradeep Nanda O ne of the greatest advantages – rather, privileges – for teachers like me is that because we are constantly in the company of our young and buoyant students, we tend to think and behave like them… young and spirited. At times I wonder, what if I was not surrounded by these young-guns… who seldom worry about money, paying bills, serious relationships, health issues, and that mother of all the concerns – the death… yes, what if I was to work, surrounded by some grumpy oldies (sorry)… what if my young-ones were not there in my life… every morning, every noon, every evening… all day long till I landed home, late in the night? Does aging weigh me down? Yes, it does. Health issues of not just mine, -  my wife’s our  my parents’ and  my young son’s – yes, I am not immune to any of them… Death stares at me every day… and, it keeps me sane and grounded. It keeps me alive! L ast evening, some of my students were pulling my le...

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...