Barahmaha by Guru Nanak Dev Ji Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

 

II

Barahmaha by Guru Nanak Dev Ji

As the term suggests Barahmaha is an euology in the praise of twelve months of the year. There are two Barahmaha in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. One is by Guru Nanak Dev ji and the second one is by Guru Arjan Dev ji. This Barahmaha is in Tukhari Raga in the beginning of the sacred text. It is in folk poetry style that expresses the human heart’s emotions and yearning through the changing moods of nature over an year. It is one of the oldest composition in this genre and perhaps the first one to transform love poetry into spiritual one.

Taking up the analogy of lover beloved relationship like most of the Bhakti Movement saints Guru Nanak Dev Ji also considers the relationship between individual soul and and Lord or Oversoul as similar to the relationship between a lover and a beloved in which individual soul is women or beloved or bride and God or Oversoul is man, or lover or Spouse or Groom. Here he suggests that if bride (individual soul) gets the blessings and grace of Lord, through Guru, then every season is pleasing to her and even the harshest weather of the year cannot affect her, and if she does not enjoy the favour of her Groom then even the pleasantest weather of the year appears virile and uncomfortable to her causing her innumerable sorrow and agonies of separation from her lover. Similar analogy has also been traced by famous metaphysical poet John Donne in sixteenth century when in his sonnet Batter My Heart he finds lover-beloved relationship between God and individual soul. American thinker R.W. Emerson in his essay The Oversoul has examined various aspects such as the existence and Nature of Human Soul, the relationship between the soul and personal ego and relationship of one soul to another soul and ultimately the relationship between an individual soul and God or The Oversoul.

Text- Prologue

Hear You O’ Lord, each individual enjoys peace and suffers sorrow as a result of deeds done in the past. Whatever deeds You bestow is good. O’God creation is Yours. My Lord I am of no account sans You. Without You I cannot live even for a moment. Sans my Beloved I am miserable, I have no companion. It is by Guru’s grace that I get Nectar to drink. The Formless Lord is contained in His creation. This act of obeying the Lord is best of all acts.

O’Nanak, Thy bride is beholding You was Him, You O’ Omnipotent Spirit.

The sparrow hawk cries Beloved and the cuckoo sings the lays.

The bride enjoys all the pleasures and merges in the Being of her love. When she becomes pleasing to her Lord God, she merges in His being she is contented then.

Establishing the nine doors and a royal mansion above them, God the foe of ego abides in that mansion. All are Thine, You are my Beloved. Night and Day I make merry in Your love.

Nanak, the sparrow hawk of the mind cries- spouse, my spouse and the cuckoo of the tongue is embellished with His name.

Hear You O’God my Beloved, I am drenched in Your love, I utter Your Name with my body, mind and soul and do not forget it even for a moment. How can I forget You even for a moment ? I survive by singing Your praises O’Lord I am a sacrifice unto You.

No one belongs to me. To whom do I belong. Without my Lord I cannot survive even for an instant. I have grasped the refuge of God’s lotus feet and live there and my body has become immaculate. Nanak I have obtained deep vision and peace and with the Guru’s word my soul is consoled. It rains a torrent of elixir, delightful are its drops. When Guru, the friend meets in a natural way then Love with the Lord is established.

The Lord God comes into the body when it pleases Him and the bride rising up uttering His praise.

In every home, the Spouse enjoys the chaste bride. Why has Spouse forgotten me ? The threatening dark clouds have covered the sky. It rains pleasantly and the God’s love is pleasing to my soul and body. Nanak, when the ambrosial Gurbani rains, the Lord graciously enters my home.

Chetra

Indian calendar begins with the month of chet or Chetra. It is a month of splendour, flowers in the woods are in full bloom. It is springtime when nature is at its prime and the air is impregnated with joy. Every creature seems to have someone to celebrate season’s beauty with the bumblebee, its blossoms, the wood, its flower and Koel singing melodiously from a mango tree. But the Groom has not returned home so how can the bride feel comforted. She shrivels away in pangs of separation. The young bride then is the only one who stands isolated. She does not have a groom by her side. The beauty and lusciousness of springtime sharpens her sense of deprivation. Whereas everything is blooming in nature, she is withering away in separation. This state of contrast though paradoxical presents a picture of an organic structure to which she belongs and is even the centre but she cannot enjoy her status and participate in the reigning beauty of the season as her Groom is not with her. It is due to the separation and her sense of forlorn that she becomes aware of togetherness and rupture of everyone around her.

In Chet agreeable is the spring and beautiful the bumblebee. The forests are flowering in front of my door. May !my Love return home. How can the bride obtain peace, when her spouse is not at home Her body is wasting away in distress of separation. The beautiful cuckoo sings on mango tree. How to bear the pain of separation in the mind. The black bee is flitting on the blossoming branch. How can I live as I am perishing in separation O’ Mother. Nanak in chet peace is easily obtained, if the lady gets God as her Spouse in her home.

Vaisakh

Following Chet is the month of Vaisakh ( mid April and mid May) when tree branches get covered on fresh leaves. The bride sees the newness in verdure and requests the Groom to return home. As it is reaping season, peasants negotiate business deals and commerce enters the vocabulary of bride also. Without her Spouse she is not worth even a dime while with Him she is priceless. Nature, commerce, fellow human being’s spiritual quest gets synthesised in bride’s world view.

Pleasant is Vaisakh when the tree branches adorn itself anew with green foliage. The bride is anxious to see God at her door. Come my Love, come and have pity on me. Come home O’ my Beloved ferry me across the terrible world ocean. Without You I am not worth even a shell. Who can appraise my worth if I please Thee, I see and show You to others, O’ my Love. O’ Lord I know that You are not far. I believe Thee to be within me and I realise Your presence. Nanak whosoever obtains the Lord in Baisakh, his soul is satiated True Name’s meditations.

Jeth

In the month of Jeth why should the Groom be forgotten sings the bride. In the rising temperatures of Jeth month earth burns like a furnace. The external unpleasant weather (heat) drives all beings to inwardness. In search of the cool, all the creatures are looking for their farther most shelter. Bride also moves to her cool,pleasant, internal shelter and contemplates on the Divine Groom and His virtues. Geographical locale is in harmony with her psychological state.

Sublime is the month of Jeth. Why should I forget my Beloved. The Earth burns like a furnace and bride prays to the Lord. She makes supplication and utters His praise. I become pleasing to Him. The Detached Lord lives in the true mansion. With His consent bride will go to Him. Dishonoured and powerless is the bride. How can she obtain peace without Him. In Jeth, O’Nanak she who knows her Lord beams like Him and grasping virtues through His Grace, she merges into Him.

Asar

In the scorching month of Asar, the Sun blazes in the sky its fire sucks the sap of the earth. The land gets roasted and suffers. Even the cricket’s wail but the Chariot of the Sun marches on Bride seeks cool shade. Here she is a full participant in the cosmic scene like other creatures and shares the sufferings of the earth. The great Earth and tiny cricket symbolise the entire creation. All suffer and search for a cool shade to get respite including Bride.

Good is the month of Asar when the Sun blazes in the Sky. It suffers sorrow and is parched and singed with fire. The heat fries up the moisture and men die in anxiety. Even then the Sun is not tired in its task. The Sun’s chariot moves on, the wife looks for the shade and grass hopper chirps in the forest. She, who departs with the bundle of sins suffers hereafter and she, who remembers the True Lord obtains peace. Nanak my death and life are with Lord to whom I have surrendered my soul.

Savan

After the blazing heat of Asar comes the month of Savan bringing welcome rain showers. The land is cooled, quenched but not the bride as her Spouse is in far off alien land and she lies alone on her bed. Along with the fear of solitude is the fear in the lightning amidst the monsoon clouds terrifies her. Nature around her does not provide any respite. She addresses her Mother and says it is as painful as death. After losing her sleep and appetite the bride is death like life in the month of savan.

In sawan, be thou happy O’ my soul as in this season clouds bring rain providing relief to the parched land and creatures. I love my Spouse with my soul and body but He is away in some alien land. My Beloved does not return and she is dying of sorrow of separation as the flash of thundering and lightning terrifies her. Lonely is her couch and she suffers greatly and tells O’ my mother I am dying of pain of separation. Without Him sleep and appetite does not come to me and even clothes do not provide any respite. Nanak, she alone is fortunate bride who merges in the being of her beloved Spouse.

Bhadon

It is month of opulence- both land and river are in flood. During the entire dark night it rains. Birds and other creatures feel invigorated. They shriek at the fact that they cannot attain fullness within them. Peacock sings, frogs croak and Babiha cries. Overflowing with life, the snakes sneak out to bite, the mosquitoes swarm out to sting, as the pools of water overflow with water. The pulsating animate and inanimate worlds are coordinated into a vivid pattern. Juxtaposed to this bursting forth of nature is bride’s desolation. She yearningly contemplates the fullness, the energy and the joy surrounding her. She utters where is comfort for one without her Groom.

In Bhadon, bride is in the bloom of youth, strays in doubt that she regrets afterwards. The ponds and meadows are full of water. It is the cool pleasant weather of rains and the time of merry making for all the creatures of the nature. The frogs croak and peacocks shriek that young bride without her Spouse cannot attain peace. Pied cuckoo cries Beloved, O’ my Beloved and snakes sneak out of their holes to bite. Mosquitoes sting as the pools are overflowing with water but without her Lord, how can a bride obtain comfort ? I will ask my Guru and act accordingly , where ever my Lord is, thither shall I go.

Asuj ( Ashvin)

The bride’s actualisation of Asuni- the seventh month is a realisation of her own self. The cosmic time and space mirror her situation. As she is beguiled by sense of duality, she stands forsaken by her Singular Groom and remains in separation. On the land the country shrubs with white flowers are in full bloom. These white flowers represent her own white hair- the bride is greying. Furthermore the forthcoming season terrifies her as gone is the summer and cold winter is soon approaching- this makes her heart tremble. What the bride realises at this juncture of life is loss of her youth and fears of approaching old age. But with that she also sees in this autumn month some green boughs that instils optimism in her. The possibility of meeting her Groom again strikes her that lone is sweet that ripens gradually in its own sweet course of time.

In Assau come o’ my Beloved, Your wife is getting old and moving towards death. If the Lord makes her meet, then alone can she meet Him, but she is ruined by love for another (duality). When she is disfigured by falsehood then she is forsaken by Spouse. Then reed and tamarisk olivia blooms. Summer is left behind and winter is approaching. Her mind wavers at this situation. In all the ten directions branches are green as verdant. That which gradually ripens is truly sweet. You meet me O’ my Love Lord in Assau through the Guru by meditation.

Kartik (Katak)

In the month of Katak days get shorter, lamps are lit earlier in the evenings. Lamp become a symbol rich in nuance, as it signifies the refined emotional and intellectual faculties of the bride that will lead eventually to face the Divine. Traditional lamp is a tiny clay bowl and only that lamp shines steadily that is lighted with match of knowledge and which is fuelled by oil of rasa- the aesthetic essence of love. Simultaneously the lamp is essential to seeing and recognising. The powers of eyesight and insight coalesce in it. Suggesting coalition of knowledge ( kindling match) and love( Oil) in the bride’s psychological condition the dipak (lamp) connect her physically with cosmic time with the evenings of the month of Katak. In this state she feels that she is closer to attain her goal of merger with the Guru.

In Katak only that is recorded in mortal’s destiny that pleases the Lord. That lamp burns easily which is lit by quintessence of love that is in the oil of love in the lamp that unites the Groom with bride. She, who is killed by sin does not become fruitful at her death, if she is killed in virtue then she dies easily and accepted in Lord’s Court. They whom You, O’ Lord bless with Your Name and devotional service sit in comfort and peace in their own home. Even then their hope rests on You. Nanak says, open the shutters of Your door, O’ Lord and meet me. Even a moment’s delay seems like an age to me.

Maghar

In the month of Maghar or Makar, the bride listens to the praise of her Divine Groom through song, music, poetry and her sorrow of separation departs. Here the effect of aesthetics on human mind can be seen that travelling in the external atmosphere penetrates into the being of Bride. So her sorrow vanishes literally. Conspicuously her image of sitting amidst women through passage of time and relishing the celestial music and poetry can be seen. She is part of symphony of gatherings- the congregation or Sangat is in Tolstoy’s sense is community created by fine art. In this month bride is a participant within a community who cherishes the recital of Divine Being can be seen clearly.

Good is the month of Maghar for those who unite with Him by singing God’s praises. The virtuous wife utters the Lord’s praises. My ever stable Lord is pleasing to me. Stable, Prudent, Omniscient is my Creator Lord but the whole world is fickle and unstable. They who possess the virtue of gnosis and meditation merge with the Lord’s Being. The are pleasing to the Lord and He is pleasing to them. I have heard a lot of songs, music and lyrics of diverse poets but only by uttering His name, my sorrow flees. Nanak only that bride is pleasing to Groom who in His presence performs the hearty and devoted service of her Beloved.

Poh

The description of the month of Poh begins only begins with the line “ says Nanak, the bride who is in love with her Groom has the rasa of the charming Beloved to savour. In this season the cold white frost covering the land is sapping away rasa of all vegetation is in contrast to the bride, who is in love of her charming Groom, would be savouring her Rasa. Perhaps it is in this contrasting panorama that ignites bride’s imagination that warm and vibrant fantasy. In this month she also discerns the fact that she is related with all the creatures. One light permeates all the created being whether coming out of eggs, foetus, sweat (born by division of cells) , or the earth. Through singular devotion bride sees the unity of universe.

In Poh the snow falls and the sap of the grass and forest dries up. O’ Lord why do not You come and reside with my soul, body and mind. God- the Life of the world is permeating in mind and body. Through Guru’s word I relish His love. The Lord’s Light is contained in heart of all beings- egg born, foetus born, sweat born or earth born. Compassionate God, bless me with Your vision and grant me understanding so that I may attain emancipation. Nanak says, with love and pleasure He enjoys the bride., who has love and affection for the Almighty.

Magh

In Magh, the month of pilgrimage, the bride realises that pilgrim’s seat is within herself. The sacredness of all holy places and of all time would be hers, if her beautiful Groom was pleased with her. This would be my bath in the Ganga, the Yamuna, and confluence with Saraswati and in the Seven Oceans as well. All charity and worship for me is the recognition that throughout the ages (Yugas) there is One Singular Groom. Says Nanak, in the month of Majh, to taste the great essence of the meditation upon the Beloved alone worth bath in sixty eight holy rivers. The pilgrim seat is within and not anywhere out. The sacredness of all holy places and of all time, the merit of bathing at Ganga and the Yamuna and their confluence with Saraswati as well as in seven oceans, of all charity and worship would be the bride’s if she were to win the Groom’s favour. The view that external ritual is hollow and unnecessary is here artistically established. Also time is not chopped up : Ages or Yugas in literal sense yoked together by the knowledge that the Singular Beloved Lord pervades time- past, present and future.

In the month of Magh I become Immaculate by realising that the place of pilgrimage iw within me. I have easily met my Friend by enshrining His virtues and merging in His being. Hear You,O’ my Beautiful Lord. Your merits I have enshrined in my mind. If it pleases Thee I shall bath in Thine Holy pond. The Ganges, Yamuna and the confluence of Saraswati with them, seven oceans , charity, alms and worship are contained in Lord’s Name. I have realised that One Lord is pervading in each and every age. Nanak, in the month of Magh, the ablution at Sixty Eight Holy Shrines is contained in the meditation of the supreme elixir of God’s Name.

Phagun

Finally in the month of Phagun, the bride effaces her ego. With ego gone her desires have ended. Paradoxically with the integration of time and space gone what remains is the integration itself. Continuous Bliss is experienced. All the duality vanishes. Even day and night are conjoined for what is experienced continuously is utter Ecstasy. In Phagun, the soul of those whom Lord’s love is pleasing is in bloom. She , who effacing her self conceit night and day resides in spiritual bliss. What it pleases Him is that I efface the worldly love from my mind as a result of which Lord has mercifully come to my home. Though I may wear many garbs yet without love, I shall not find a place in His Mansion. When my Beloved wishes, I decorate myself with garlands, strings of pearls, perfumes and raiments of silk. Nanak says, the Guru has united me with God and I the bride have obtained my Groom in my very home. The twelve months, the seasons, the lunar days, the week, the hours, the minutes, the seconds and moments are all sublime when the True Lord comes and naturally meets me. The Sweet master has met me and mine affairs are arranged. The Creator Lord knows all the ways. I am dear unto Him, who has embellished me. I have met Him and enjoyed His Bliss. The couch of my home is graced the moment when my Beloved enjoys me. By the Guru’s grace the destiny of my forehead is awakened. Nanak says, day and night my Beloved enjoys me and obtaining God as my spouse, my married life has become eternal.

Thus the twelve months are very significant for it is within then the interaction between the Time less with time takes place. The young bride in just envisioning her Timeless Beloved within her historical context. One discerns here the foundations for the positive approach to life. In the final passage of Barahmaha, Guru Nanak Dev Ji esteems all the twelve months, the six seasons, the lunar and the solar days the hours, minutes and seconds as blessed giving their own contribution to the spiritual journey of an individual soul.

Some Aspects of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji- Preface & Introduction Author : Dr. K. S. Kang

 

Some Aspects of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Preface

This work is an attempt to study a few aspects of the Sacred Book of Sri Guru Granth Sahib that is gaining the reputation of the holy book not only for the Sikhs but for entire humanity as it ia a wonderful anthology of the verses composed by Immortal Gurus and prominent Bhakts during the Bhakti movement who viewed relationship between individual Soul and Almighty God to be same as the relationship between a lover and a beloved. An attempt has been made in this work to translate some of these verses so that non-punjabi, non-Hindi readers too can relish the delight of these immortal verses soothing and healing the soul of any person voyaging in this terrible ocean of life. The rising popularity of The Holy Granth specially among the non- Punjabi readers like Sindhi and a few muslims residing in Punjab, has given motivation to put these compositions into English for the benefit of non- Punjabi, non-Hindi readers so that they can also grab its essence and make their journey of life in this terrible world of ocean easy, convenient and fruitful. As Sacred Granth does not entail worship for any particular or specific deity but it asks to bow before that Creator, Immaculate, Omnipotent, Ever present Cosmic Power of Lord who has created everything in the universe and is present even in the smallest particle and creature of it. On one hand it talks of Hindu deities like Ram ji, Shiv ji or Shankar ji and on the other hand it says “ Allah is purest of the pure, doubt it if any another is like Him” ( Allah pakam pak hai, Shak kare je Dusra hoe). I sincerely hope that readers would find this work interesting- specially non-sikh, non-punjabi, non- Hindi readers and enjoy the elixir of life contained in these immortal verses.

Author

I

Introduction to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji

Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism. It is also regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal Guru following the lineage of ten human gurus. The Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji deeming the probability of word to be less corruptible than a human being granted the Granth the status of the Final and Eternal Guru of the Panth. Its first edition- the Adi Granth- was compiled by The Fifth Guru- Guru Arjan Dev ji and its composition was completed on August 29,1604 A.D and first installed in Harmandir Sahib, Golden Temple at Amritsar in September 1604 A.D with Baba Buddha as its first Granthi. Shortly afterwards Guru Hargobind Singh ji, the Sixth Guru, added Ramkali Ki Vaar. Later Guru Gobind Singh ji added hymns of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, the Ninth Guru and established this text as the next Guru of Sikhs after him.

This holy text consists of 1430 pages or Angas. Here it should be mentioned that taking Guru Granth Sahib ji as a live human body,its pages are deemed as angas or limbs by the Sikhs. It contains 5894 shabads ( line compositions), that are poetically rendered and set to rhythmic ancient North Indian Classical music tradition that is its unique feature and this distinguishes it from the sacred texts of other faiths. The bulk of the Scripture is divided into 31 Ragas with each Raga subdivided according to length and author. It has compositions of six Gurus- Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Angad Dev ji, Guru Amar Das ji, Guru Ram Das ji, Guru Arjan Dev ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur ji and Ramkali ki Var by Guru Hargobind Singh ji. It also contains fourteen Bhagats from Bhakti movement like Ramanand, kabir , Tirlochan, Dhanna, Pippa, Namdev, Ravidas, Jayadeva, Parmanand, Sain, Surdas, Balwant Rai, Sheikh Farid, Bhikhan, Beni and Sadhna. Bhatts have also contributed to it like Balh, Bahlh, Bhika, Gayand, Harbans, Jalap, Kirat, Kalshar, Mathura, Nalh and Sulh. Gursikhs who have contributed to it are Bhai Satta, Balvand , Bhai Mardana and Bhai Piara.

History

Guru Nanak Dev ji composed hymns, that were sung by followers in ragas set to music. His successor Guru Angad Dev ji opened centres and distributed these hymns. The community would sing hymns and his agents collected donations or Dasvand ( ten percent of income). This tradition was continued by Guru Amar Das ji, the third Guru and Guru Ram Das ji, the fourth Guru. Guru Arjan Dev ji, the fifth Guru found to his dismay that his elder brother Prithvi Chand who was also his rival to the Guruship as he placed his claim over it, had an earlier copy of the Granth known as Pothi Sahib( Palm leaf manuscript) with hymns and he was distributing it along with his own hymns to his followers. Guru Arjan Dev ji started compiling an officially approved version of the Sacred Text. As he was concerned about establishing an authentic anthology of approved hymns so he sent his followers to all the corners of the country to collect the hymns by various sages and saints of Bhakti movement. He also convinced Bhai Mohan, son of Guru Amar Das ji to donate the collection of the religious compositions of three Gurus. Even Guru Arjan Dev ji had to compose the praise him in order to get these priceless compositions from him in words.

O’Mohan, your temple is so lofty,

and your mansion is unsurpassed,

O’Mohan your gates are so beautiful,

fit to be worship houses of the saints ( SGGS ; 248)

When his followers returned with their collections, Guru Arjan Dev ji selected and edited hymns to be incorporated in the Holy Granth or Adi Granth that was scribed by Bhai Gurdas. This effort yielded several drafts and manuscripts some of which have survived even in the modern era. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru issued the definitive and final edition that included the hymns of his father- Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. This copy is called Damdama Bir, and a 1707 A.D copy of this manuscript is preserved in the Toshakhana of Hazur Sahib Nanded. Out of the total shlokas Guru Nanak Dev ji’s contribution is 16.53%, of Guru Angad Dev ji is 1.10 %, of Guru Amar Das ji is 15.38 %, of Guru Amar Das ji is 11.52 %, Guru Arjan Dev ji’s is 32.63 % and Guru Tegh Bahadur ji’s contribution is 5.92 5 and rest 16.92 % are the contributions of Bhagats, Bhatts and Gursikhs.

Forced Labour Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

 

Forced Labour

Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

It was not that their labour was not paid for, but due to certain economic and social conditions and circumstances they had to work hard even against their will so as to earn their bread daily. Debu a young man of 19 years of age, had to line up daily at 9 a.m at the labour market near the railway crossing of the town so as to get work so that he can earn two meal a day for himself and his family of others. He made it a point to rise up early in the morning despite the weariness of hard work of earlier day so that he reaches in time in the labour market to get the work. Whenever he was slightly late he sometimes had to come empty handed in the evening without adding anything to the income of his family. He used to be in stress if he did not get any job even for a couple of days. He had to get up early to do hard work from dawn till dusk and he could not afford to take leave from his work because he had to feed a family of his parents and two unmarried sisters. So family circumstances forced him to work hard daily even if he had to do unwillingly. His father was unable to contribute anything to the income of the family as he was ailing from some chronic disease that had disabled him lifelong. Though Debu’s mother worked as domestic servant in the neighbourhood but her income was inadequate to assure two square meal a day for the family. Even in shivering cold winters or scorching summers he could not afford to take a break from his job and his parents and his sisters looked at him for security and food, so he was inspired to get up early in the morning and prepared to do hard work throughout the day, under the prying eyes of the contractor who did not allow him to take respite even for a minute except during the one hour break of lunch, and even during this break he used to order him to clean the implements used in construction work.

Another labour who was forced to work to the market daily unwillingly was a lady of 40 years of age named Mena Devi. Her life was even harder than Debu as she had to look after the needs of her family too besides working hard throughout the day so as to insure decent evening meal for her family. Her day started at 4 a.m in the morning and complete household chores like cleaning, washing clothes, cooking meals for her family, sweeping the house and the like. After doing all this work she had to be punctual in the labour market or there was risk of not getting the job that which would bring financial crisis on the family. She did not get respite even after working for seven hours a day because when she returned back to her house in the evening she had to repeat all things that she did in the morning like cooking meals, brooming and washing utensils. She use to get bed to stretch her body not before 11 p.m in the night. She had to undergo this ordeal daily due to her good for nothing drunkard husband who did not contribute anything to the income of the family. Besides that she also had to feed her three children at least twice a day. There was no respite for her from the routine and then Contractor gave less wages to women and children under 18 years of age which further enhanced her economic problems. That is why she prayed daily to make her children to earn for themselves at least as early as possible, so that she can take respite form her arduous routine occasionally. Whenever she saw the faces of her children that inspired her to undergo strict ordeal that she had to face daily in order to earn bread for her family lest all of them would have to sleep empty stomach.

Tom, Dick and Harry Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

 

Tom, Dick and Harry

Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

It is a tale of state of orphanages and its three inmates – Tom, Dick and Harry, who entered it almost together and of same age when they lost their parents in sudden accidents. Their childhood was spent almost together till Tom and Dick were adopted by couples and went to live with their foster parents. Government had devised scheme of adoption of children by interested and childless couples in a bid to solve the problem of Homeless Children. Government even paid some amount to such couples who adopted the children till they were of 18 years of age. Not only orphans but even the children who were victims of broken families were also its beneficiaries.

To begin the tale, Tom entered the orphanage at the age of four years after he lost his parents in an air crash while going to attend some meeting of the firm in which both of them were working. Tom was left alone in the care of governess who after the demise of his parents handed him over to social welfare authorities who brought him to this orphanage- Home for Homeless. He managed to survive on the bare minimum food and other facilities provided by the orphanage. When Tom was six years old he was put along with other children of the orphanage for adoption and he was lucky that an elderly kind couple Mrs Diana Waltz and Mr. Peter Waltz, who had no children and a very thriving and prosperous business. Tom’s life changed at once as the kind couple took care of food, education, clothing and of his other needs quite well. They integrated him into their family like the member of their own family and Tom also responded quite well cultivating affection and regard for his foster parents and considered them just like his own real parents. After passing away of Mr. Peter Waltz, Tom inherited his property but he did not forget Mrs. Diana Waltz and continued to keep her with him looking after her needs in her old age treating her just like his mother and lived a peaceful and contented life with his spouse and two kids, and of course including his mother.

Dick was not so fortunate as Tom in getting kind foster parents. Though he was also adopted at almost the same time when Tom found his foster parents but his foster parents – Mr John Trapeze and Mrs Celina Trapeze were not as kind as Waltz. Their source of income was meagre and they were hardly able to meet both the ends meet. They had adopted Dick so as to get the subsidy amount from the administration so as to augment their income so that they can lead their lives comfortably. Though they were giving food, clothing and shelter to Dick but they were spending minimum possible amount on him and they did not even care much for his education. So Dick’s life was not much different from the life that he lead in the orphanages surviving on minimum of meals and other facilities. As per legal provision Mrs and Mr. Trapeze stopped getting subsidy amount the moment Dick was of eighteen years of age. So very next day they left him to his own resources. As Dick was not much educated so he could not develop any skill that could help him to earn his livelihood. After wandering for many days in search of some job that he could not get due to lack of any skill joined a gang of petty criminals who committed crimes like pickpocketing and shoplifting as he was disparate to survive in this world. Every day he would not succeed in his campaigns, sometimes he even had to stay in prison for a few days, and sometimes taking advantage of lenient laws he used to get off with penal fines only. Dick’s life was a classical example of misuse of the funds provided by the establishment to the childless couple to look after orphans and homeless children. How people in their greed were spoiling lives of young people even after getting the money in for keeping them in their house.

Harry was even less fortunate that Tom and Dick. Despite being paraded before couples a number of times nobody was ready to adopt him. So he had no option but to continue living in orphanage surviving on bare minimum supplies provided by the establishment. He was heavily dependent on the leftovers of food and clothing donated by the charitable people of the town. Even at the school he did not enjoy any social status like other children as he had no parents or support of anybody. He often became the target of rebuke, scorn and sarcastic remarks by other children.

Gradually he was alienated from the mainstream and did not like company of any body and led a solitary life that built anger and frustration against the society for the unjust treatment that he faced for none of his fault. Still ignoring these things he tried to concentrate on his studies and games in the school. One day his pent up anger and frustration burst up like a volcano when Captain of his school baseball team thrashed him as he held Harry responsible for the match loss of the team. Whereas the reality was that the tactical and strategic lapses of the Captain were primarily responsible for the loss of the team but so as to save his face he wanted to shift the blame of loss to Harry. Now this was too much as it was a boiling point for him. He immediately took out compass from his geometry box and stabbed Captain of the team repeatedly. Captain was taken at once to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to his injuries. Harry was put behind the bars of a prison called as Child Reform House, as at the time of crime Harry was not a full adult so he was put in the jail for juvenile delinquents instead of in the regular prison for criminals. After serving his sentence Harry came out of the prison and as he was moving towards the building of his school, he heard the teacher’s voice telling the learners “ I was simmering, simmering, simmering Emerson brought me to boil” Harry looked at the shining board of the school thinking for what crime the society has treated him unjustly and unfairly.

Boiling Point Author : Dr. K. S. Kang

 

Boiling Point

Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

“ I was simmering, simmering, simmering,Emerson brought me to a boil”, echoed the voice of teacher reading these famous lines from Walt Whitman’s poem to entire class, including girl of Vietnamese origin Chun sitting in the corner of the second row. Chun’s parents were one of those fortunate ones who succeeded in escaping oppressive regime of their country and succeeded in getting asylum in this country- the beacon of freedom and democracy in the world. Chun had a pleasing temperament with a fine sense of humour but she was an odd person our among the class due to her sharp, small eyes and chinki face among the young people mostly of blue eyes, white skin and yellow hair. She was also slightly plump and as she was a minority so she often became aim of the remarks like pumpkin, fatty, sumo and the like from her class fellows. But she ignored these remarks in good humour did not take any offence or ill will against her class fellows.

One day as she was going to put her things in the locker room a few girls belonging to her class obstructed her way deliberately as a result of which she fell on the floor and had a minor fracture in the leg with injured knees amidst the furore of laughter of her class fellows. More than that her conscience and soul was wounded at this strange and unexpected show of hatred of her own class fellows towards her. Due to fracture and injured knees she had to take a few days off from her school. Though her parents protested against this incident but school authorities did not take their complaint seriously and gave a mere warning to the offenders, as most of them belonged to majority white community and their parents were rich business magnates of the town. Chun tried to nurse her wounded soul by mostly remaining confined to her room and she rarely used to step out of her house even for a stroll and fresh air. As she remained confined mostly to her room and house, attending online classes, so she gained a bit more weight. Her parents felt that isolation was affecting her personality adversely so after she got well they asked her to rejoin her school.

Though she did not want to go back to her school again as her frustration and anger was building up in her against the unjust society that cannot assure fair treatment to all irrespective of gender or class. However complying with her parent’s wish she rejoined her school. On her return to school she got a cold and hostile welcome from her class fellows as their comments on the shape of her body, her appearance and clothes recommenced and were growing sharper day by day. One day as she was coming to collect her things from the locker room, she saw a group of her classmates,she stopped at once to overhear their conversation. She was baffled to hear that they were making plans to humiliate her more. Now this was too much the frustration and wrath that was under her so far came to a boil and with raging eyes she entered the locker room. Some of her class fellows slipped quickly as soon as they saw her in fury. But Chun succeeded in grabbing the hair of one of her class fellow and banged her head with the locker of the room as a result of which the knob of the locker pierced through her nose and cheek bone. A great turmoil ensued as the medical team and security rushed to the locker room, taking the wounded one for medical aid to a nearby nursing home. As security personnel were taking Chun to Principal office she heard the voice of the teacher reciting Whitman’s famous lines to the learners “I was simmering, simmering, simmering ,Emerson brought me to a boil”. When Principal came to know about this unfortunate incident he immediately took decision to rusticate her from the school as the injured girl not only belonged to majority community but she was also daughter of an influential personality of the town. As Chun came out of Principal office with rustication letter in her hand, accompanied by two security guards teacher was again reciting the lines “ I was simmering,simmering, simmering,Emerson brought me to a boil.” Chun was thinking about the Principal’s action who had taken decision only taking into consideration “boil”, that is today’s violent incident he had not cared to look at the causes that resulted in today’s violent action that is the frustration and anger that was simmering in her against the insults and humiliations that she had to face daily in the form of remarks and physical manhandling from her own class fellows. So Principal had fully ignored the simmering in her by ignoring her protests and complaints. While coming out of the school building Chun was thinking, such is the unjust society in which she was living and hoping to build her future bright.

My Goa Journey Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

 

My Goa Journey

Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Day-1

My son decided to take us on a journey to Goa. Starting from my home town early in the morning by cab we reached the nearest airport Dabok, hundred kilometres from my home town, to take flight to Mumbai that would take us from Udaipur to Mumbai and then to catch another flight that would take us to our destination Goa. Here I would like to mention that officially this was my first flying experience, though I had some experience of flying during my childhood during Dusshera Mela in Kota when a plane took us to the sky for fifteen minutes to make three rounds of the town before getting down. This was the only flight that I had with my parents and sister in my life so far. For my wife it was first flying experience. At the appointed counter our boarding passes were given, luggage was booked and the frisking by security officials completed well in time. After the security check we went on upper floor of the building by an escalator. After some time we entered the plane through a tunnel connecting the upper storey of the building with the entrance of the aircraft. Here we were greeted by well decked smiling air hostess and other crew of the plane. This aircraft had capacity to take nearly 250 passengers. After all the passengers entered and took their seats Captain of the plane introduced himself through a public address system. After that an air hostess demonstrated to the passengers the correct way to wear seat belt, and correct way to use oxygen mask and inflate life jackets in the time of emergency landing on water surface. The duration of this flight was nearly one hour that was to take us to Mumbai. Air plane crew thanked us for selecting the flight by Indigo- which is a low cost but quite comfortable airlines with its headquarter at Gurugram. Founded in 2006 A.D, it is the largest airline service of the country as far as number of passengers carried and fleet size was concerned. It nearly had 61.6% share of domestic market in May 2024 A.D. Mr. Rahul Bhatia is its Co-founder and Managing Director the other founder being Mr. Rakesh Gangwal and Mr. Peters Elbers is its Chief Executive Officer. Starting as a private airline company it got its aircraft in 2006 A.D and commenced operation a month later. It rose to become the largest Indian carrier by passenger market share in 2012 A.D, and it went public in November 2015 A.D. On 17^th August 14 it became the largest airline service in India surpassing the giants like Jet Airways just six years after starting its operation. In January 2013 A.D it became the fastest growing low cost airline in Asia just behind Indonesian airline Lion Air. In August 2015 A.D it placed an order for 250 Airbus A 320 neo aircraft worth $ 27 Billions making it the largest single order ever in Airbus history. In October 2019 it surpassed its own record of the single largest order in Airbus history by placing the order for 300 air bus 320 aircraft worth Rs. 2.3 lakh crores. In January 2023 it became the first Indian airline to own more than 300 aircrafts. In Feb. 2023 it added the first wide body aircraft a Boeing 777-300 ER to its fleet. In June 2023 it place an order for 500 airbus A 320 neo family flying machines making it the largest flying machine order in entire commercial aviation history.

In the flying time of about one hour we reached Mumbai and fortunately our next flight from Mumbai to Goa was also from the same terminal. As the airline service was the same that is Indigo, so we had little difficulty in changing the plane and after flight of another hour landed at Dabolim Airport Goa. From here, after collecting our luggage, a taxi brought us to Candolim where we checked in the Taj Resort and Spa, Fort Aguada Candolim in the afternoon.We checked in at the Resort and greeted with a welcome drink and Goan music on guitar and lute by two musicians and singers who were both singing as well as playing the instruments. After taking lunch of Pizzas at the restaurant of the resort, we were taken to our rooms where resort employees were already waiting with our luggage. It was a great transformation from dry hot weather of Rajasthan to humid wet weather of Goa with its famous torrential rains. This Fort Aguada Resort and Spa is situated in Candolim 1.9 kms away from Sinquerim beach. Free private parking, accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a garden are some of the features of this resort. Built on the 16^th century Portugese fort, Fort Aguada showcases the real Goan cultural spirit. This place is known for stunning panormic view of the Arabian sea and the surrounding landscapes. Construction of this fort began in the year 1609 A.D and was completed in 1612 A.D under Ray Taoara, the then Viceroy of Goa. Located in the south of Candolim town at the shore of Mandovi river, the fort was built to defend Portugese against the Dutch and the Maratha assaults. Our cottage’s number was 410 and we were taken to our cottage from the reception of the resort by cab. From the window of the cottage we could see the waves of the Arabian sea in full swing, as it was full moon so the swell of the ocean was at the prime. Waves breaking on the walls of Fort Aguada reminded me of two poems Break, Break, Break by Lord Alfred Tennyson and Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold interestingly both poets belonged to 19^th century England.

Break, Break, Break

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Break, break , break

On thy cold gray stones, O’Sea !

And I would that my tongue could utter

The thoughts that arise in me.

O,well for the fisherman’s boy,

That he shouts with his sister at play!

O, well for the sailor lad

That he sings in his boat on the bay !

And the stately ships go on

To their haven under the hill;

But O for the touch of that vanish’d hand

And the sound of the voice that is still !

Break, break, breaking

At the foot of thy crags, O sea !

But the tender grace of the day that is dead

Will never come back to me.

Dover Beach

Matthew Arnold

The sea is calm tonight.

The tide is full, the moon lies fair

Upon the straits; on the French coast the light

Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,

Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.

Come to the window, sweet is the night-air !

Only, from the long line of spray

Where the sea meets the moon blanched land,

Listen ! You heart he grating roar

Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,

At their return, up the high strand,

Begin, and cease, and then again begin,

With tremulous cadence slow, and bring

The eternal note of sadness in.

Sophocles long ago

Heard it on Aegean, and it brought

Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow

of human misery; we

Find also in the sound a thought,

Hearing it by this distant northern sea.

The Sea of Faith

Was once,too, at the full, and round earth’s shore

Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.

But now I only hear

Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,

Retreating, to the breath

Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear

And naked shingles of the world.

Ah, love , let us be true

To one another ! For the world, which seems

To lie before us like a land of dreams,

So various, so beautiful, so new,

Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,

Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;

And we are here as on a darkling plains

Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,

Where ignorant armies clash by night.

In the evening we went to see the Sun Set Point that was at the walking distance from our cottage. Here I experienced the first torrential rain of Goa that came so heavily in waves that we had to take shelter under a shade. That brought to close the first day of stay in Goa.

Day-2

After the comfortable, sound sleep of about 5 to 6 hours during the night, Day 2 started with a cup of steaming hot tea on the terrace of the hut watching the sea waves hitting the beach and the walls of the structures put up across the beach like the walls of the resort and the rampart of Fort Aguada. After taking shower and getting ready we went to the restaurant of the resort to fill our tummies nearly to the capacity with free complimentary breakfast provided by the resort. After finishing the breakfast we hired a cab for the day to take us to the different places of tourist interest in Goa.

First of all our Cabman Aman took us to The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception that was built at the time when this area was under Portugese settlements with a number of small Portugese villages. It was put up basically to cater to the religious needs of the Portugese sailors. As the church opened only on Sunday Masses and morning prayers so we had to content ourselves by seeing its enchanting exterior that had grand architecture. The Immaculate conception is the belief that Virgin Mary was free from original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Marian dogmas of The Catholic Church. The iconography of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception shows Mother Mary standing with arms outstretched and hands clasped in prayer.

From Church we went to the part of the old Goa that is known as Fontainhas which is one of the most popular streets, located in Latin quarter inhabited mostly by Portugese. It is also known as Rua 31 de Janerio. Roaming in the cobbled streets of the old town among the brightly painted old house of Panji which is a quaint and beautiful part of the town it was observed that the lanes were flanked by vibrantly colourful Portugese style villas with wrought iron balconies. One of the building marked the year of construction in 1834 A.D named Casa- Da- Moeda was used as a Mint during the Portugese regime.They were almost last remains reminding the people about Portugese colonial rule. After that we came to a 94 years old bakery nestled in 31 Janerio Road. Founded in 1930 A.D its name was Cafeitaria 31 de Janerio. It is famous for serving fresh baked goodies in a wood fired oven. It beautifully portrays through a glass covering its famous oven and an old bicycle that was used by Vendors to distribute the products of the bakery. We had a cup of tea and and some other products of the bakery and bought bright coconut balls and a Goan chocolate cake from the shop. There was also a wall painting of vendors with a bicycle and a heap of bread in the basket tucked up on the carrier of the bicycle, recognising their precious services by these words

Respect to our poder

Iramos for giving us

our daily bread. Dev

Borem Korum and Obrigado

From bakery we went to a curiosity shop named Vehla Galleria to see the famous Portugese tile painting art and to buy some products. All the material was imported from Portugal. Situated on Rua-de- Qarem Fontainhas this store specialises in traditionally hand painted azulejos and a line of ceramics and other products imported from Portugal. Then coming out of this shop just across the street was an art gallery of oil paintings which was situated at E-212, Rua 31 de Janerio, Altinho, Panaji . It was owned by gentleman of Portugese origin from the last five generations. His Highness of Jodhpur Maharaj Gaj Singh had also contributed to this gallery. It was named after the masterpiece of Rabindranath Tagore for which he got Noble Prize in literature.

Before describing our next destination that is State Museum Goa a few words about Goa. It is a state in western India with Panaji as its capital bradly divided into North and South Goa. Despite being the smallest state of Indian union it has a long, diverse and a rich history. The Usgalina rock engravings belonging to upper Palaeolithic or Mesolithic periods exhibiting some of the earliest traces of human settlement in this region. During the iron age this area was ruled by Mauryan and Satvahan rulers. Then it came under Kadamba dynasty from 2^nd Century C. E to 1312 A.D and by the muslim rulers of the deccan from 1312 A.D to 1367 A.D. It was then annexed by Vijaynagara Kingdom and later on conquered by Bahmani Kingdom. It was Bijapur Sultnate that founded Old Goa in 1510 A.D. Then Portugese invaded it in 1510 A.D after routing the Bijapur regime. Portugese rule lasted for about 450 years before it was taken by the Indian Army in 1961 and merged with Indian Union as a union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. In 1987 A.D it was given status of full statehood of Indian union becoming the smallest state of the country.

The Museum of State Government of Goa is divided into four sections as per the history of this area. Earlier it was set up on a small scale in 1977 A.D at St. Inez, Panaji. It was shifted to the new premises constructed at Palto and inaugurated by President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma on 18^th June 1996 A.D. It consists of four galleries in accordance with the four periods associated with Goan history. The first gallery exhibits a diorama depicting an ancient temple of Lord Shiva and Tambadi-Surla, carved wooden pillars of temple at Sankahali, models of Tulsi-Vrindavan Tarang, traditional musical instruments and worship utensils. In the second gallery besides the rock carvings of pre historic period and early copper plate inscriptions dating back to 4^th century A.D, a copper plate inscription of King Kadamba Varmana dating back to 1049 A.D, stone sculptures of diverse deities, Hero and Sati stones. Third gallery presents wooden statues of Christian saints, Pieta and furniture pieces. Remarkable objects like first available printing machine, lottery machine and a flag and banner to commemorate Portugese Victory over the Dutch Forces is also shown. The fourth gallery depicts the story of Goan freedom struggle from Portugese rule through photograph exhibition. The Annexation of Goa was the process in which Republic of India merged the Portugese territories of Goa, Daman and Diu. It started with the armed action of Indian Army known under the code name Operation Vijay. It was commenced in December 1961 A.D. However, in Portugal it was referred as invasion of Goa. First Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru hoped that popular freedom movement and world opinion would force the Portugese auhtorities to grant it independence. But when Indian government saw that Portugal was not in any mood to grant freedom to Goa, the then Defence Minister Mr.V. K Krishna Menon suggested taking Goa by armed action against Portugese forces. Operation Vijay involved air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours ending in the decisive victory of Indian forces and liberation of Goa from Portugese rule and its merger with Indian Union. This engagement lasted for two days resulting in 22 causalities on Indian side and 30 causalities on then Portugese side thus ending Portugese rule of 450 years on Goa. After the end of Portugese rule, Goa was placed under military administration headed by Mr. Kunhiraman Palat Candeth as Lieutenant Governor. Civilian rule replaced military rule on 8^th June 1962when Lieutenant Governor nominated an informal Consultative Council of 29 nominated members to assist him in the administration of the territory. Fourth Gallery of the museum exhibits the photographs of Indian military heroes like Mr. V.K. Krishna Menon, Vice Admiral R.D Katari, Army Chief General P,N, Thapar, Air Marshal Aspy Engineer, Lt. Gen J.N Chaudhry, who later on became army chief, Rear Admiral B.S Soman, GOC 17^th Infantry Maj. Gen K.P Candeth who later on became Lieutenant Governor of Goa, Brigadier Grewal, Air Vice Marshal Erlic Pinto. We also went to another art gallery but were disappointed to find it closed as it was under renovation and maintenance. Tourists are advised to find out in advance to find out whether the sights will be open that day or not so as to avoid disappointments at the eleventh hour. Beaches were also closed as a security measure during the monsoons so as to avoid any untoward incident. As we came out of the museum we were too tired so our taxi driver dropped us at the resort with the promise to return the next day too and show us some of the other sights in Goa. With that our second day of stay in Goa came to a close.

Day-3

On third day of our visit to Goa we again set out after having a hearty breakfast at the restaurant of the resort. Today also Taximan, whose name was Aman and who had familiarised with us came at the appointed time and first of all he took us to one of the most famous cathedrals of Goa- Basilica of Bom Jesus that contains the preserved body of St. Francis Xavier in a silver casket this famous monumental church of Goa. Ceremony to honour his death is performed on December 3 every year. Placed on a high platform in a silver glass enclosed casket, the remains however are not clearly visible. After every ten years the body is displayed before the devotees. This iconic Church of Goa is the must visit pilgrimage centre, particularly for Christians. It has been recognised as World heritage site by UNESCO. It holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. Work on this church began in 1594 A.D but still no one was able to put a cross on the church. It was consecrated in May 1605 A.D by Archbishop Dom Fr. Alexo de Menezes. Bom Jesus is a word from Portugese language meaning good infant Jesus. As it contains the body of St. Francis Xavier and as St. Ignatius Loyola turned him towards religion so a few words about them before moving forward.

Francis Xavier was born in the castle of Xavier in Kingdom of Navarre on April 7 1506 in an influential noble family. His father passed away when he was nine years old. In 1525 A.D he went to study in Paris at College Sainte-Barbe, University of Paris where he spent eleven years. In 1529 A.D he shared lodgings with another gentleman named Pierre Favre. He earned reputation here as an athlete and a high jumper. A new student, though much older than them named Ignatius Loyola came to stay with them. He succeeded in convincing Pierre to become a priest but he failed to convince Francis who had aspirations for worldly achievements. He did not take Ignatius seriously and he took him casually as a joke and was sarcastic about his efforts to convert him. But Ignatius did not give up and slowly and gradually he broke down his resistance. One sentence of Ignatius Loyola that changed Francis’ life for ever was “ what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul”. In 1530 Francis completed his degree of Master of Arts and started teaching Aristotelian philosophy at College de Beauvais, University of Paris. St Francis Xavier and St. Ignatius Loyola were one of the first seven Jesuits who took vows of poverty and chastity Montemarte, Paris in 1534 A.D. and founded Jesuit Society. After that St. Francis Xavier led an extensive mission to Asia, mainly the Portugese Empire in the East and was influential in evangelisation work most notably in early modern India. He was extensively involved in missionary activity in Portugese India. In 1546 A.D he proposed the establishment of Goan Inquisition in a letter to King John III of Portugal. He actually asked for a special minister whose sole aim would be to further Christianity in Goa. As a representative of the Portugese King he was the first major missionary to venture into Borneo, the Malacca Islands, and Japan and other areas. Here in face of local opposition he had less success than he had in India. He was about to extend his mission to Ming China when he passed away on Shangchuan, Taishan in China. He was beatified by Pope Paul V on October 25, 1619 A.D and canonised by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. In 1624 A.D he was made Co-Patron of Navarre. Popularly known as Apostle of the Indies, Apostle of Far East, Apostle of Japan and Apostle of China he is one of the greatest missionary since Paul the Apostle.

A few words about St. Ignatius Loyola also who was mentor and friend of St. Francis Xavier. He was born in Castle at Loyola as his parents belonged to a minor nobility from the clan of Loyola. Soon after his birth his mother passed away and he was looked after by the wife of a local blacksmith Maria De Garin. He joined army at the age of 17 years after becoming a page to the treasurer of the Kingdom of Castille Juan Velazquez de Cuellar. He saw action when he took up arms at the ageof 18 years for Antonio Marique de Lara, 2^nd Duke of Najera. Under Duke’s leadership he participated in many campaigns without getting injured. However in the battle of Pamplona in 1521 A.D he was gravely wounded and he returned to his father’s castle at Loyola. Due to injuries his one leg got shorter than the other as a result of he had to limp throughout his life. While recovering from his injuries and surgery he underwent spiritual conversion and discerned a call to religious life. The book that influenced him the most for his entire life was De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxony. It inspired him to devote his entire life in service of God and emulate the example of Francis of Assisi. After completely recovering from his wounds he decided to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land to “kiss the earth where Lord had walked”. In March 1522 A.D he visited the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Monteserrat. There he carefully examined his past sins, confessed and donated his fine silk clothes to the poor and wore a sack cloth. He wanted to settle in Holy Land but he was sent back to Europe by Francisians and he came to Barcelona where he attended a free grammar school in preparation for University entrance exam. He moved to France to study at University of Paris. It was here that he came into contact with St.Francis Xavierto s who was sharing his lodgings with Pierre Favre. At that time Loyola was 38 years old while St. Francis Xaviers and Pierre Favre were only 23 years old. He inspired them to come to the path of religion in service of Christianity. His miraculous sentence that transformed the life of Francis Xaviers was “ what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. He gathered around him six companion, all of them his fellow students to take vows of poverty and chastity and to form Jesuit Society. These six companions were , Francis, Alfonso Salmeron, Diego Lainez, Nicholas Bobadilla from Spain, Peter Faber form Savoy, and Simao Rodrigues from Portugal. It was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540 A.D and Ingatius sent his companions on missions across Europe, Asia, and Africa to create colleges,schools and seminaries. He also wrote Jesuit constitution with the help of his secretary Alfonso-de Polanco that was adopted in 1553 A.D. He passed away in Rome in July 1556 A.D, beatified by Pope Paul V on July 27, 1609 A.D and canonised by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622 A.D. Numerous institutions were named after him across the world like Loyola University, founded in 1852 A.D in Maryland and Loyola College in Chennai. A number of biopics have been produced based on his life like a Spanish film Loyola, the Soldier Saint, and a Filipino film Ignacio de Loyola in 2016 A.D.

This cathedral contains the body of St. Francis Xavier who died on Sanacian Island while going to continental China on 3 December 1552 A.D. His body was first taken to Portugese Malacca and two years later it was shipped to Goa. It is said that his body was as fresh as it was on the day of his burial. It is one of the oldest Church not only in Goa but India as well. The floor of the church is of marble inlaid with precious stones. Apart from the gilded altars the interior of the church is simple. The main altar holds a large statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who was one of the closest companion of St. Francis and co-founder of Jesuits Society that is responsible for spreading Christianity in Asian and African countries. The gaze of the gilded statue of St. Ignatius Loyola is fixed upwards in awe at the name of Jesus, on the gilded emblem of the Jesuits, encircled in radiant rays. Over the emblem is the Holy Trinity- God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit- the ultimate muse and focus of a pious Christian. The altar table used in the holy mass is gilded and adorned with the figures of Christ and his Apostles at The Last Supper. It also exhibits the paintings of scenes from the life of St. Francis Xavier. The mausoleum on top of which is placed the silver casket holding the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier was a gift from Cosimo III de Medici, The Grand Duke of Tuscany. This mausoleum was designed by the 17 th century Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini. It took him ten years to complete it. On the ground floor of the Church the vestries, garments and other relics used by the Priests and Saints have been displayed. On the upper floor, overlooking the tomb, is Bom Jesus Basilica Art gallery containing the works of Goan surrealist artist Dom Martin. It exhibits St. Xavier’s vestments and other relics, the paintings of famous Christian Theologians, philosophers and thinkers like St. Augustine- author of the famous work The City of God and political thinker and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, Italian priest and author of the famous works Summa Theologiae and Summa contra Gentiles.

From Church our cabman named Aman took us to Sahkari Spice Farm located at Ponda in South Goa is a 113 acres spice plantation. At the entrance we were greeted by a golden and white coloured cat that jumped before us from nowhere. My wife patted the cat. This farm has rich plantation of originally grown spices, fruits and herbs that tourists can explore through guided and informative tours. At the entrance of the farm tourists were welcomed in the traditional manner with a garland and kumkum on their forehead. Then they were served welcome drink made of coconut water kokum juice or raw mango juice. After introductory refreshment tourists were divided into groups and a group of ten to twelve tourists were allotted to an experienced guide. Our guide took us on a narrow bridge over a water stream which was one of the four streams that irrigated the farm all the year around. Then he took us to the trees, shrubs and herbs of various spices. In fact the farm was a rich repository of fresh spices like cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, cashews, cardamom, betel nuts, all spice leaves, lemon grass, nutmeg, turmeric, vanilla and the like. Our guide also showed us the machine that was traditionally used to grind cashew so as to brew Feni out of it. The best part of the tour in the farm was when our guide poured a cool liquid on your back bone to give an instant relief to the tired limbs of the tourists, and a half pint of Cashew Feni that acts as both as a digestive as well as appetiser and the tasty spicy lunch, both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, of Goan cuisines whose cost was included in the entrance ticket of Rs. 500 per adult.

Another novel experience awaited us when our driver took us to see Divar Islands for which we had to cross the river on a steamer boat as the Island was on the other side of River Mandovi. Here I was reminded of another poem by American poet Walt Whitman entitled Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry, as our cab drove into a steamer with half a dozen other vehicles, and passengers. It took us ten minutes on the ferry ride to reach the other shore of the river. Our vehicle came out of the steamer and moved into Divar Island. This island lies in Mandovi river and it is one of the major island of this river. The other islands in this river are Ilha-de-Goa, Chorao, Vanxim, Cambarjua, St. Estevam and the like.

The original inhabitants of Divar Island were people who once lived in old Goa. They were mainly of Laso-Indian and Goan descent. It is believed to be a site of Hindu pilgrimage. People had to leave due to a plague that reduced the population of this place considerably. Located approximately hundred kilometres upriver from state capital Panjim it is also connected to Old Goa through ferry service. A launch also connects this place to the city of Panjim from further north-west in the island village of Vanxim. First of all we went to see Church of Our Lady of Compassion, Piedade which is one of the largest Church on the island that has a great panormic view as it is situated on a raised ground. It was designed by a Goan priest and is the first christian structure built here and is a charismatic building dating from the early sixteenth century. The huge bell that today adorns the Se Cathedral in Old Goa was originally donated to this church by a master of a sinking ship who took a vow that if he survived he would donated his ship’s bell to the first church of the village or town his ship touched. Coincidentally it touched the Divar shore. Keeping his promise he donated the bell to this church that was located on a hillock. Unfortunately every time the bell the rung it shattered the windows of the Church and the houses located in the vicinity. So this bell was taken from this Church and placed in Se Cathedral at Old Goa and the bell of Se Cathedral was brought here. Some of the notable people associated with this Church were Don Mattheas de Castro the first Indian bishop of The Catholic Church. He was a native of Divar and was consecrated Bishop of Chrysopolis by the Vatican and sent to India during the Viceroyality of Conde-de-Averias as Vicar Apostolic for the kingdoms of Bijapur, Golconda, Abyssinia and Pegu. His nephew Dom Thomas-de-Castro was consecrated Bishop of Fulsivelem by the Vatican in 1671. He became Vicar Apostolic for the kingdoms of Cochin, Tamor, Mysorre, Cranganore, Cannanore, and the Coast of Canara. Father Jacome Gonsalves, another notable personality associated with this island was made Catholic missionary to Sri Lanka. He is also regarded as Father of Sinhala Catholic Literature. Father Jose Antonio Gonsalves, another leading personality of Divar, was one of the initiators of the Conspiracy of the Pintos and planned a rebellion against Portugese rule in 1787 A.D. He was Professor of Philosophy at the former Jesuit College of Maddel, Chorao. It is also home to musicians like Anibal Castro who was well conversant in playing a multiple instruments like guitar, Saxophone, flute, sitar, etc. Jose Mathias Pacheo, a band leader at Madras Gymkhana Club. He migrated to Ceylon and worked as Piano tuner in Colombo before returning to Madras to set up music business of hiring pianos and other musical instruments. Another leading musician belonging to this place was Lucila Pacheco, the first female to play an electronic instrument and caused sensation in Bollywood.

As this island hosted various temples of Saptakoteshwar, Ganesh, Mahamaya and Dwarkeshwar. Due to Christianisation of Goa in 16^th century many idols were shifted by Goan Hindus to other places. It is also believed that the current cemetery near the Church on the hill top was once a Lord Ganesh temple, though ASI studies could not find any such archaeological evidence. Rui Gomes Pereira in his book Goan Temples and Deities writes that “ The original temple of Saptakoteshwar was constructed in 12^th century by the Kings of Kadamba dynasty as it was their patron deity. It was destroyed by the Sultan of the Deccan in the middle of 14^th centuury. The idol of this temple was relocated to Naroa in Bidholim. Later the temple was reconstructed at the same site by Madhav Mantri of Vijaynagar at the close of 14^th century. However, it was then abandoned due to diversion of pilgrims to the new temple that housed the idol. So by the time Portugese discovered it in 1515 A.D these temples were a forgotten ruin in the wilderness. As per Dr. Olivinho J.F. Gomes, Professor of Konkani, Divar was one of the first places where the Portugese converted the locals into Christianity. The Hindu Brahmins and Kshatriyas readily embraced Christianity creating Bamonn and Chardo communities. From the Church we went to see the ruins of these temples and then we returned back to the main land again enjoying the ferry ride form one shore to another on Mandovi river.

Another novel experience awaited us in the form of Cruise voyage of one hour on River Mandovi. Tickets for us were booked on mobile from the jetty from where the decorated cruises commenced their voyage. But at the Jetty we had to face the heavy torrential rain that had nearly made me sick as I started shivering with cold. I had not seen such a terrible torrential downpour in my life. There were different Cruise services operating in Goa like Royal Sunset Cruise, Ohana Sunset, Paradise Cruise to name a few. However ignoring the shivering we got on the Cruise that was decorated with electric bulbs and it was playing loud music. There was atmosphere and environment of fun, frolic and gaiety on the deck of the cruise that took us on a ride on Mandovi river. Snacks and drinks were available,of course on payment, on the deck of the cruise. Most of the tourists were singing and dancing on the music that was being played on the cruise. Besides the dance of the tourists Cruise entertained the guests with the folk dances of Goa by the local artistes. During the cruise ride I observed a number of decorated buildings on the surface of the river which were Casinos as it was the law of the land that live gambling cannot be played on land,so all the Casinos were on the river. Only mechanised gambling can be played on land. Hence, all the live gambling centres were floating on the surface of the river with diverse names like Deltin Royale, Casino Pride, Deltin Jack, Big Daddy, Casino Carnival to name a few. We enjoyed the cruise ride except the loud blaring music and I felt concerned with people who worked on the deck must be suffering from partial deafness due to the blaring loud music in which they had to live atleast for a couple of hours. Some of the tourists-particularly young one- enjoyed the ride very much. From the cruise Jetty we rushed back to our resort as I was already having a slight cold, sore throat and fever. Reaching the resort we took a light dinner and took our beds after taking a tablet of Paracetamol to get some relief by the morning. That brought to close our third day of stay in Goa.

Day-4

In the morning I felt some relief as the fever had left my body though I still suffered from slight cough, cold and sore throat. So we decided to remain mainly in resort as I was not in the finest state and then next day we had to travel back so we wanted to avoid exertion that may aggravate my malady. While having breakfast we saw a circular announcing various activities for the tourists of course at a fee, so we decided to make use of that offer though some of the activities like Table-Tennis and Cricket were free but still we decided to go for Archery and Air-rifle shooting. After a brief nap post breakfast we went to the place where these activities were being held and paid the requisite amount for five arrows and ten bullets to be fired from Air-Rifle and participated in these activities with moderate success. Here we also saw Sun set point again and the Jail at Fort Aguada. The last evening was spent by all of us together by the pool side of the resort watching the waves of rainfall and the waves from the Arabian Sea that were crashing on the walls of Aguada fort whose embankment was running into the Arabian sea. from the windows of the restaurant of the resort where I had snacks and a cup of coffee. We came back to our hut after taking a delightful dinner of Goan local cuisines at the restaurant that was exclusively meant to serve delicious Goan cuisines to the tourists.

Day-5

On the last day we enjoyed the last complimentary breakfast at the resort, that was diverse and full of variety. After the breakfast we hired a cab that took us from Candolim to Dabolim Airport after the driver of quarter of an hour. Though we reached well in time but on the airport it was announced that our flight to Mumbai was running two hours behind schedule due to rough and uncertain weather. After booking our luggage and getting the frisking clearance an interesting incident took place at the airport. Flight to national capital was delayed by forty five minutes due to half a dozen passengers who did not turn up in time perhaps due to some reason like traffic congestion as one of the passenger was quite old on the wheel chair and their names were being announced repeatedly on the microphones of the airport and as the doors of the aircraft were about to be closed they turned up and airlines also decided to accommodate them by allowing them to board the plane. Perhaps tey gave a second thought that it is better to wait for them then to accommodate them on some other flight. Delaying a flight by quarter of an hour and that too to national capital due to a few passengers could only happen in India. Our flight to Mumbai was running two hours behind schedule and as our connecting flight to Udaipur was from another terminal so we were a bit worried as changing the terminal would take at least some time. So as to save time to reach the other terminal at Mumbai Airport we took taxi as a result of which we were quite well in time to get the flight to Udaipur. After one hour of flying from Mumbai we reached Udaipur and after collecting our luggage we hired a cab from Dabok Airport Udaipur that brought us to my home town by dinner time that is about 8.30 p.m on 26-7-2024. Thus our Goa journey ended on a note of joviality and happiness.

The Savior Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

 

The Saviour

Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Akshit woke up in the middle of the night due to sudden brightness. Opening his eyes he saw blaze in the ICU of Neo Natal Care Unit, where his own newly born child was also admitted with number of other ailing children. In the lobby adjoining the ICU a number of parents like Akshit were sleeping while their children were being treated in the ICU of Neo Natal Care Unit of the hospital. Only God knows the cause of fire, whether it was short circuit or due to some leak of oxygen, as it is lethal if not handled properly, or something else but it was certain that there was fire in the ICU and looked threatening to the existence of newly born babies, who could barely even move their limbs on their own.

Akshit decided at once and like other parents dashed towards ICU to rescue the children though the flames were blocking their way. Still he did not lose his courage and jumped through the ball of fire to reach the smoky room- full of suffocation making breathing difficult. The first instinct of Akshit was to pick up the infant that came into his hand first, without caring whether infant was his own or of somebody else, as he saw God in the face of every infant and took the child to safety. Every parent was contributing his bit in rescuing the infants. Akshit after rescuing nearly half a dozen children fainted due to suffocating air. Meanwhile fire fighters had entered the building to douse the fire.They pulled Akshit from the blaze and put him on the bed in the hospital.

When Akshit regained consciousness he found himself surrounded by gloomy faces of his parents, relatives and wife. There was a sad news awaiting him that his own child was consumed in the fire though Akshit had succeeded in saving nearly half a dozen futures and potentials of human generation in the form of infants from which humanity may benefit in future. Though he could not save his child but still he had sense of satisfaction at saving at least half a dozen hopes of other parents. For this act of courage administration decided to honour him with the Grand Saviour Award of the Year for saving the infants at the cost of his life without any discrimination.