In death and in sorrow we all come together, holding each other, sharing, giving hope and courage

Jalsa , Mumbai    Aug  16,  2011     Tue 11: 19 PM

In death and in sorrow we all come together, holding each other, sharing, giving hope and courage, transferring as it were our energies to the other that suffers. The ‘chautha’ this evening for Shammi ji demonstrated that. We may be all from the same profession, we may be competitive with each other, we may cringe and nurse hurt egos, tolerate deflated pride, laugh at our success and privately show joy at the others failure .. but … when one of us passes away we come together to mourn and share our feelings. We are a collective force, not bound by any circumstances but that one, of being together in the others grief. I saw many today whom I had never seen in years, many years. We all live in the same city, almost in the same region. We travel and work simultaneously on locations that are similar, but seldom do we get the time to meet up as friends and colleagues. There are exceptions of course and may they be blessed, but largely we remain islands of our own making.

The joy of coming together, of joining hands and minds for a common cause is a potential that has never been put to test within us in this beautiful Industry of ours. There have been sporadic efforts in the past, but have never retained their strength and importance. The individuality of our work is the biggest enemy. Our moment of truth is the moment of the camera and ‘action’. Nothing else matters, nothing else comes in the way, except our sincerity and caliber. At the end of the day that is what shall bring us our recognition our value and our presence and our notice. We all work to excel. We all work to do better. Yes for the final product, but somewhere for ourselves too. When we are alright, everything else seems justified and proper. Somewhere in the middle of all this there creeps in that temperament of ‘what are the others doing’ or worse ‘how much are the others doing’. The caliber of each is perhaps of similar intensity. It is the opportunity and the favor of the drift, that brings in the difference. And that is what builds the so called divide among us.

I see it happening in the field of sports nowadays. We know as do they that participate, that each one is now at a stage of similar talent and competence. It will be that one lucky chance that shall make the difference. That opportunity of the coveted goal, or the strike of the ball in the right direction, that leap that had the benefit of the absolute timing or the stroke of the racquet swing in the right place. When and how it would convert itself to success, is at times unpredictable. Some call it the placement of the stars, or rather its displacement in the astrological hemisphere. Others call it misunderstandings of potent act. But whatever be the reason there is and always shall be one that shall win and succeed and the other that shall not.

For years and till not too far away, our cricket team and its captain Dhoni were the masters. One loss in England and suddenly they are incompetent. People reaction is as subtle and as ruthless as this. It requires immense accumen to be where they put you and in some manner to maintain it. Some understand the futility and the improbability of the situation and reconcile to it. Others and many others do not. Once there they believe they are there and no where else. This is not entirely an adverse situation. It is quite possible that it thrives too. Others succumb to the moment, understand and accept. This is not entirely wrong too. Both can co exist, its a matter of reconciling with its complexity.

There are those too that despite all their gain believe that there is none. This can be a complexity that would require deeper understanding and research. For them there is one surety. Their process of continuance shall never come to an abrupt halt, because they are continuously searching for that one pinnacle, which ironically they may never ever reach.

Dear Lord ! Give me the strength to recognize these moments in life. To have the benefit of sifting the good from the bad, the reasons for the failures and the related competence, together. To know when it shall be time. To give in when asked, to strive despite that. To perhaps never achieve anything, yet be joyed by the effort to have tried. To acquire yes, but to give away more, better. To listen wisely. To express nothing. To estimate our own value and never allow it to be weighed by another. To judge with conscience that stimulates my being, and never permit it to be polluted by another. To rest in the assurance that no further assurance will be required. To know to feel to understand, but never allow to be known and felt and understood against.

But in the end give me the strength and power to use it wisely and in competent benefit, for the other ..

Amitabh Bachchan