Gift for a Lifetime!

“Vandetvam bhoo devim arya mataram. Jayatu jayatu padayugalam. Te nirantaram….”

As our nation celebrated the 77th Independence Day on 15th August, I recalled this Sanskrit song in reverence of Mother India, that I learnt in my college days. A rare one that I have never heard after that. I vividly remember the group song, the number of times we practised during break time for the Independence Day back then, the teacher who taught us and even the room where we all huddled together. What patriotism it evoked. How mesmerising the lyrics were. How peppy the beats were. Decades have rolled by. Many things in life have faded away. But the knowledge the teacher has shared in the form of this beautiful song still remains etched fresh in my memory ! Sharing of knowledge, know-how, skills is the best gift one can give and receive.

Once I was visiting my school friend in another city after many many years. No TV, no mobile, no practice of giving return gifts back then. We spent several hours talking and singing together. Her mother taught me a simple, nice devotional song which my sister and I still sing together for almost all festivals. This was decades ago but I still distinctly remember the room where we sat to learn it from her. She wrote it down for us in her own handwriting (thank god there was no computer back then) and I copied it into my music book. This is the best gift I have received – a song that needs no efforts to store, except in memory and heart, no maintenance costs, no fear of it being stolen nor destroyed – so long as we continue to sing it. An invaluable gift shared with pure love and affection.

Eons ago my aunt drew splendid rangolis in my diary that was a collection of all that I held dear – good quotes, recipes, songs and trivia. Even today when I open it, I know who taught me that, what context it was in and why she drew that for me. She left me long ago but the art form that she handed me down is still with me, close to my heart. It costed her nothing. Nor me anything. But it means a world to me. It just bonded us and is a symbol of the times we spent together.

A decade ago when I was battling with cancer, a good friend, a soul-sister, an angel filled me with hope and confidence and sent me a short meditation track that she specially recorded for me in her voice. It is so healing and calming that even today I hear it regularly. It was neither money nor sympathy that she offered. It was her knowledge that soothed me like a balm during my difficult days. Both, the meditation track and the lady hold a special place in my life.

My mother is no more, but all the shlokas that she taught us as kids, the stories that she narrated, the books that she read out to us, the meaning of the lyrics in various languages that she explained, the recipes that she painstakingly wrote and handed me down, the life lessons that she taught – all are treasures that no one can steal from me. They are cherished for life. They are simple, yet long lasting.

All of these were different forms of knowledge, art forms, skill sets that were shared freely with no expectations. Just pure love with an intent to spread happiness. Some were taught formally while some were simply shared with no pre-conditions. As we celebrate Teacher’s Day, I want to express gratitude to all my teachers including the wonderful souls, present and past who have touched my life in myriad ways by sharing knowledge openly and sincerely. A short song, a simple recipe, a splendid rangoli, a soulful meditation track…whatever it may be. Knowledge shared is knowledge doubled. Gifting knowledge is the best form of giving. Both, the giver and the gift remain immortal, so to say.

Can you recall any such precious gifts of knowledge that you have received in your life ? Who gave them to you ? When ? Why ? How ? What impact has it made on you ? What efforts are you making to pass it on to others ? As you hustle along, take time to sit back and think.

In this August, 2023 issue of Samhita you will find updates from SEBI, MCA, IT, GST apart from the Factories Act amendments carried out by the Government of Karnataka with respect to working hours and other matters. Even while Chandrayaan 3 is a successful mission, drawings lessons from its past mistakes, MCA V3 is claiming success without actual breakthrough on ground level. We are talking of activities on the earth and not moon ! Wish errors are acknowledged, mistakes accepted and remedial action taken !!

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