Just a thought, just an ordinary thought...

so here is the story of a very ordinary man.. and it might sound very un-real but that was my grandfather, and when i drove 600 kms to console my granny's unconsolable loss, my mind wandered...

my grandfather was the only surviving member of his family. his parents and other siblings didn't survive, as used to be the norm at that time. he grew up with his maternal uncle who treated him like a slave. though his paternal aunt knew that he was entitled to all the property of his father which the m.u. had an eye on. so when he came to the legal age, his p.a. fought with the m.u. and gave him his due rights. he came to MP where the land was (and is) and started working days and nights together. from nothing he created everything. almost enviable. and severed relations with everyone from his maternal side.
he wasnt an educated fellow, but he knew he had to educate his kids, and so he sent all his kids to p.a.'s house in city where they all grew by themselves.
he was a true soldier, fought till the end. he was a man of the soil. he was the man who gave me passion to drive that long. a lot of my nature is like him.

its almost like tagore kept my gradfather in mind when he wrote this (english version):

"jodi tor daak shune keu naa aashe, tobe eklaa cholo re"

If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou of evil luck,open thy mind and speak out alone.
If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
O thou of evil luck,trample the thorns under thy tread,
and along the blood-lined track travel alone.
If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,
O thou of evil luck,with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
and let it burn alone.


my tributes to a man who stood on the ground, and challenged the sky.
my salute to "mannu patel", because you taught us "mushkil nahi hai kuch bhi agar thaan lijiye"

:'(