He is there, but.....

The jackfruit tree is in one's own backyard. There are many fruits hanging on it. Some of them can be touched even while one is standing on the ground. One of the fruits has become ripe in the tree itself. It is time to cut it from the tree and bring inside the house. Even while cutting it from the tree, one can imagine the sweetness of the edible contents inside it. It is indeed mouth watering!

The fruit has been brought inside the house. It is now lying in front of us. The only thing left now is to eat it and savour its rich sweetness.

Oh, this not a easy fruit like banana. How we wish it was as simple a fruit as banana. Anyone can easily peel off a banana and enjoy its delicious part immediately. But jackfruit is not like it. It is a complicated fruit.

Its exterior is thorny and a little carelessness in handling would scratch our skin. A proper knife is required to cut open the hard exterior of the fruit. The knife should be sharp enough to cut the fruit. It should also be handled carefully as otherwise it will cut our fingers. First a knife has to be found and it is to be used skilfully as well.

While cutting the fruit, a lot of sticky substance comes out and soils our hands. We want the sweet part of the fruit but not the sticky substance. Cleaning the hand is also not easy once it sticks to the hand. How to prevent this mess? Experience has taught us that use of oil can prevent this mess. A layer of oil spread on the hands prevents the substance from sticking to the hands. Patience is another requirement to separate the edible part from other parts of the fruit that are to be discarded. Discarded part is to be disposed expeditiously as otherwise it would result in unbearable stench on the next day. Edible fruit part is to be taken out carefully and preserved properly for consumption after cleaning the mess and the hands. Oil was indeed required for separating the edible part, but not an oily hand while consuming the fruit!

Now we have the delicious fruit ready for consumption. A little honey would enhance the experience of eating the fruit. Of course, getting the honey and bringing it to the present form is also another task, probably even more troublesome than dealing with jackfruit itself. Honey is to be procured when the fruit is with us.

*****

The pot of Curd is before us. It was in the form of milk yesterday. The milk was properly heated and cooled. A little amount of curd was added and mixed well. After carefully preserving it overnight, it has now become curd. We want butter from it. We know from experience that butter is in the curd before us. It is not visible. The pot of curd is to be churned systematically before the required butter emerges from it. Churning stick and rope are to be found and used. Patience is required while churning. There is no shortcut in the process. The butter so obtained is also to be safely stored away. The period for its quality to hold is also limited. If it is to be preserved for long, it is to be heated carefully and converted to Ghee. Ghee can be stored for a longer time and used for many purposes. Both butter and Ghee were indeed present in the curd and in the milk before that. But they were invisible and presented before us only after due process and patiently working for them. Lot of effort, process and patience were the key.

*****

A voluminous literature and belief over generations claim that God is omnipresent. Believers trust the Lord created the universe. Everything around is his creation, they state. How to believe? Why to believe? If the Lord is present everywhere, why is he not visible?

A jackfruit grown in our tree in our backyard requires so much of effort, process and patience to get the taste of it. The butter and ghee available in the milk and curd also required the same effort, process and patience for them to present before us. 

Even if the Lord is omnipresent, should he not demand some effort, process and patience before presenting himself before us? Would we care for him if he was available easily and effortlessly?

*****

What about those who do not believe in the existence of the Lord? They have no problem at all. They can continue their efforts and patience in finding other things in life! There is no escape from efforts, process and patience whether one believes in His existence or not!

We Are Not Going Anywhere, Mother!

Various rituals were being celebrated in full swing at the wedding function. There was the usual noise of the greetings and acknowledgements among friends and relatives. A long time friend moved in and sat next to me. He lives in a village along the west coast. He had traveled overnight to reach the venue of the function. Usual greetings and enquiries about breakfast were exchanged. 

It was time to find about how farming activities are going on around his village. 

"How are your agricultural lands? What are the crops this year?"

"No crops for the last few years. I am unable to manage the activities."

"Why? What is the problem?"

"Agriculture requires continuous attention during the cropping season. We need labourers for assisting in various farming activities."

"What is the problem in getting agricultural labourers? Were they not available all these days?"

"Now they are not available. All able bodied young people have migrated to towns and cities. There are only old people in villages."

Though this was being heard often, its intensity had not struck me till then. 

"Why such large scale migration?"

"The conveniences and pleasures of city life attracts youngsters."

"What is the reason?"

"Who wants to soil his hands when working as an office boy in a city is more appealing?"

"What about women agricultural labourers?"

"They are taking the lead in urging the menfolk to move to cities."

"Why so?"

"City life appeals more to them. They also get cleaning and maintenance jobs. More and more boys are taking up driver jobs with Ola, Uber and other transport companies."

This is closer to our experiences. 

"What are you doing with the lands now?"

"I have allowed some elderly people in the village to use the lands to grow whatever they want."

"How is the crop shared?"

My question arose from the experience I had some fifty years ago when our lands were given to sharecroppers. They would share one third of Ragi and half of coarse Rice grown in the lands. Expenses were borne by them. They kept more Ragi as it was their main food item. 

"There is no sharing of any crop now. I am happy if they grow something and keep it for themselves. My only condition is to give me fodder for the cattle."

"Oh, you have taken up dairy farming! How many cows do you have?"

"Are you crazy? I have only one local cow and its calf. Milk production is only for our household use. It is difficult to find fodder for that one cow!"

I had no courage to ask further questions.

*****

There was the usual crowd at the evening wedding reception. A relative, elder to me by about ten years, arrived. We greeted each other. I had some knowledge about his achievements as a progressive farmer and how he stuck to his native village when all other close relatives moved away for various employment opportunities. Though he was also employed in the nearby city, he kept his contact with his village and continued to be a farmer. 

"How are your farming activities going on in the village?"

"It is going on quite well. It is tough to manage, but I am carrying on fine."

"I am glad that you stuck to your roots in the village. We still have representation in the village because of you."

"There is a big reason behind my holding on to the village and being tied to farming. It is a part of my life story."

This was indeed an interesting phase. I asked further questions. His answers opened up many issues.

Some hundred years ago, the head of the family moved to that village migrating from another place, looking to start a new life. He started as a farmer and made the village his base. His five sons were also initially involved in farming. Two of them moved away on other employment. Members of the next generation found employment elsewhere. There was only one branch of the family left in the village. Landholdings had become fragmented and income from farming activities was not sufficient to manage a big family.

On one of his visits to the village, the young man observed that his mother was very sad. He desired to find the reason for her being upset. 

"What is the reason Mom, you appear to be very sad."

"Nothing in particular. The usual ups and downs of life"

"What are the usual ups and downs you are referring to?"

"I have lived all my life in this village and in this house."

"I know that. What about it?"

"Everybody in the family has moved away from the village and we are only left here."

"What if so?"

"You have also taken up employment elsewhere. Some villagers are telling me that one day we will sell this house and little lands we have and we too would move away."

"You do not want to move away?"

"No. Given the choice, I would live all my life here. This is where I belong."

The young man reached a sudden decision.

"We are not going anywhere, Mother. We shall stay put here and show others what we can do. This is my promise", he said. 

He devoted more time to the family's affairs in the village. All the brothers worked as a team. Two younger brothers became full time farmers. Others too chipped in with whatever additional resources they could bring in. In course of time, the family bought lands of those who told the mother that one day they would leave the village and go away. 

The family took up modren methods of farming. Irrigation sources were found and bore wells were dug. Now they grow a variety of crops including rice, vegetables and other seasonal crops. An orchard with 100 Amla (Gooseberries) trees has been developed. Dabur come every year and buy the crop at the orchard itself. Some Chyavanprash you bought last week may have those Amla as an ingredient. "Dhatri Havan", a religious-cum-social festival is celebrated every year in September-October as a mark of growing Amla. New varieties of mango are planted and harvested. All manure used is manufactured in-house and organic farming is practiced. It is indeed tough to manage all these activities, but it has also generated employment for many in the nearby villages.

A hallow brick factory has been developed as a local industry. The old family temple has been expanded. Ramotsava is celebrated every year around Lunar New Year's Day (Ugadi and Ramanavami). 

The promise of "We are not going anywhere, Mother" has been fully realised, and is being expanded in the next generation.

***** 

More and more agricultural lands are being converted into non-agricultural uses nowadays, especially for housing near and around cities and towns. Vast fertile lands are becoming industrial areas or utilised for other infrastructural requirements like roads and flyovers. Migration of workforce from villages to towns and cities continues unabated. These are disturbing signs indeed.

At the same time, statistics show that food grain production is increasing every year. Organic farming has become the in-thing. People are prepared to pay much more for organic agricultural produce, believing merely the print on the packages sold as organic produce. Health consciousness has brought back "Siridhanya" with vengeance, the grains that were liberally used five or six decades ago but forgotten later. 

The two instances referred above are reflections of the two paradoxes summed up in the above two paragraphs.

Water In The Vessel

We all desire to have comfortable days, day after day. No one likes to have difficult days, one after the other. Not only a bad day one after the other, but not even a bad day amidst many good days. The want is to always have happy days and thereby enjoy life. Comfortable days with good health, lot of money and all other things that we want. We do not want even the streaks of anything that we perceive as bad amidst plentiful good tidings.

Desire is one thing but the reality is something else. If everything turns out to be the way we want, there would be no problems in life. It never happens that way because we are unable to control many things. If we contemplate further, we are unable to control even things that are apparently under our control.

Sufferings may be of different types. Financial sufferings can be one of them. There are times when all the hard work done does not result in financial benefits. There are instances when hard earned money is lost due to unforeseen happenings. Trusted friends and relatives borrow and fail to return when needed by us. Friendship is lost with money lent. Previously made out plans are now upside down. Many times new beginnings have to be made at later stages in life. These turn out to be painful and frustrating times indeed.

Loss of social status can be another cause of suffering. Loss may occur due to one's own failings or due to mechanisation of trusted ones. Many times retrieval of the lost status may not be possible. Some are able to get on with life in changed circumstances; others suffer in the very thought of having lost in the race.

Physical health is another important issue in life. One may ignore financial loss or social status being taken away. But setbacks in health is something which is very difficult to ignore. The problem continues to haunt during days and nights. It comes with us wherever we go. If the loss of health is coupled with pain, then it is even more miserable. Pain killers are temporary relievers of pain; they have their side effects too. Fighting pain and still carrying on daily activities is indeed very testing and demanding.

We see many people around us who suffer setbacks in health. There are some who cannot come out of the setback and succumb to the difficulties. We also see many others who are brave and fight their way out of trouble. These are the people who show remarkable tenacity amidst very adverse conditions. They do not give up even when others around give up hope. They are the examples of exemplary bravery and astonishing resilience. Watching them fight it out and come out successful inspires others.

*****

An young man entered his office in the morning as usual. "Are you not feeling well?", The first colleague he met near the door asked him. "No. I am fine", he said and started his work. Another colleague came and asked him why he did not take the day off as he looked sick. The young man ignored and went on with his work. Another three or four colleagues had the same question and now he started getting doubt about his own health. He went to the rest room and checked his face in the mirror. He felt he looked tired and not normal. By afternoon he developed high temperature and felt very sick. The prank played by his colleagues had indeed taken its toll.

*****

Psychologists say that there is a direct relation between physical health and mental health. State of mind plays an important role during sickness and recovery to good health. Pain and physical suffering have their impact on mental status of a person. Similarly, a disturbed mind acts on physical health.

Though physical health and mental health are inter dependent and affect each other, the effect of mental status on physical wellbeing appears to be even more significant. One important attribute that can be seen in those who fight physical adversity is their healthy mindset. They remain to be cheerful even amidst physical pain and suffering. They do not resign to their fate and believe in combating the troubled days and emerge victorious. This could even be seen the way they interact with those around them. It is this mental strength that sees them through the physical pain and suffering. 

On the contrary, we have many examples of mental weakness amplifying the physical troubles. People attending to the sick know this better than others. Brooding over the difficult things mentally directly impacts physical wellbeing. Mental troubles increase physical pain and suffering. A healthy mind is indeed a strong tool to restore physical health.

*****

All this discussion is well summed up in this verse from Aranya Parva of Mahabharata:

मानसेन हि दुःखेन शरीरमुपतप्यते |

अयःपिण्डेन तप्तेन कुम्भसम्स्थमिवोदकम् ||

Maanasena hi dukhena shareeramupatapyate |

Ayahpindena Taptena Kumbhasamstahamivodakam ||

Physical body suffers due to mental disturbances. Just as the water kept in a vessel gets hot when the vessel is heated. 

*****

The relation between the mind and body is like the vessel and the water in it. Even if the water is not heated directly, the heat of the vessel results in the water becoming hot. Therefore, all efforts should be made to keep the mind cool even in times of adversity. This ensures that the body remains healthy at all times. This is all the more important when the body suffers pain. A calm mind reduces the effects of such pain whereas a disturbed mind would only increase the pain and suffering.