From Darkness to Light: A Grandfather’s Reflection

A couple of days ago my wife and I were spending time with two of our youngest grand children, K (almost 4) and L (2-1/2 years old).  This no longer qualifies as “baby sitting” because they are not babies and our lively interaction never fails to add a sparkle to my jaded mind.

During the course of our fun-filled afternoon, K brought over a thick ball of tangled, knotted assortment of yarn and multi-coloured strings.  Handing it over to me, he looked me in the eye and made his request, “Big-D, can you please make this straight?”  Just to clarify, in a household where our son is actively involved with the music industry and artistes including rappers, the nomenclature Big-D fits right in, as it has helped the growing children differentiate between their dada (paternal grandfather in Hindi) and Dadda (or dad).

“Can you do it, Big-D?” young K repeated expectantly.  I balked at the request as I realized what was expected of me but did not have the heart to disappoint him.  Especially, since his elder brother R (8 years old) had declared a couple of weeks ago that both he and K were my “Number 1 Fans in the whole world!”  A heavy cross to carry.

I peered at the ball and – more to convince myself rather than speaking to K – stated in a muted tone, “When you believe in something, you can do it.”  Delighted, K clapped his hands and scampered back to the artwork he was doing with my wife shouting excitedly, “Dadi (paternal grandmother in Hindi), Big-D will make my string straight!”

Over the course of the next hour or so, K kept coming back to check my progress.  He would check the few untangled strands and laugh excitedly, “I believe you Big-D!  I believe you!”  For K, believing “in” something was perhaps too abstract a concept for his young mind, even as the steadfast belief in his Big-D was heartwarming. 

The afternoon ended on a high note and I was hugged several times by K to thank me for accomplishing the task he had assigned.  But then, he wanted me to start knotting together different lengths of coloured yarn to help him “make something that is a secret I can’t tell you, Big-D!” 

This morning I woke up with a smile.  K had given me plenty to think about. 

As we prepare to celebrate Halloween and Diwali this week, frequent references will be made to the Upanishad shloka excerpt “Tamso ma jyotirgamay” (Keep me not in the Darkness (of Ignorance), but lead me towards the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge).  However, our actions do not match this noble ethos and like most things – whether spiritual, religious or just plain common sense – the true spirit of Diwali is gradually being eclipsed by ritualistic and populist symbolism.  

Instead of lighting lamps annually as a ritual to dispel darkness, can we not fire up our acceptance, compassion, respect and love for an other to brighten just one person’s life – starting with those around us – each day?  It would help to spread cheer in a society and the world that is in dire need of more smiles. 

I BELIEVE.  I can do it.