Turn over a new leaf
I woke up to see many missed calls on my phone. When I called my mom, I heard the news — I had just attended the memorial service of a professor at Udub the previous evening. And then this happened…..
Death is inevitable. Death is all around us and yet we turn a blind eye to it. We don’t want to talk about it. And yet, that is one of the most important things in life to reflect on. Death reminds us that life is temporary and we should make the best use of every moment.
I attended the memorial service of Vikram Jandhyala, a former EE chair and vice-provost at University of Washington, Seattle, a couple of weeks back. Many people spoke about his brilliant contributions in academia, his zest for knowledge and about his compassionate heart — It was so hearting to hear his near and dear share personal moments that they have had with him that left an impact on them. ‘What would you want people to say about you when you move on from this planet?’ — This is such a powerful question to ask. It can change the course of life — It did for me. I wanted to not be remembered for my academic papers or work, I wanted to be remembered for the impact I had on minds and hearts of people around me — Something more fundamental, something more fulfilling. That’s what made me get into volunteering with Art of Living foundation in 2015 and I haven’t looked back since — The people I have met, the courses we got to organize over the weekends, the tools we spread to help manage the emotions and mind, the smiles on the faces of people who take the courses — That says it all!
My grandmother was very instrumental in kindling the spiritual spark in me at an early age. I remember right after I would get back from my evening play of cricket or fooling around with friends, we would listen to soulful renditions of spiritual songs and bhajans by M.S. Subbalakshmi. There was something about the spiritual music that would bring a stillness and quiet happiness to my restless mind and personality. She was so dedicated to the upbringing of our extended family and took care of everyone. I remember once, I was slacking on my exam prep in 7th grade — She called my school’s principal and had me talk to him — I thought it was a prank, but it turned out to be a wake-up call. That was enough to bring in all the dedication for me to take my studies seriously, especially when my parents were not around to oversee! Though she was quite strict and particular on how things should be in the household, she made sure things worked smoothly.
The morning after I attended the memorial service of Vikram Jandhyala, my grandma passed away peacefully at the ripe age of 92. She was a fighter, deeply spiritual, an avid reader and learner, and most importantly — Cared for her near and dear.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said that death is to the body, not to the soul. I wish my grandma the best in her next adventure or endeavor. Even while we are alive, we get so many opportunities to let go of the old and ring in the new — We get so many opportunities to grow, to turn over a new leaf. We just need to seize the moment and go for it — For life is short, really really short!