The Human Spirit

Sat musing today over humane, humanity and related stuff… So why talk about The Spirit at all? Ever wondered over why it is a force worth adoring, admiring or appreciating and times even worth saluting! There is no writer to be able to write the perfect epic or a composition to celebrate this unconquerable creation of the Almighty. Because this is the core where our restrictions lie but also where our abilities begin.

                

The strangest thing is that we encounter the inherent contrast in the situation so regularly, that we tend to forget to admire the beauty of the whole scenario! At one end is a flesh and blood being, breathing with a frail heart with one small bullet or just a pierce of a pin able to stop its heart beat in a second. At the other end of the spectrum is the indomitable will to survive that transcends all boundaries to stir our senses so much so that we can only look up and gape in awe.

Sample this – you are a simple boy or a girl. You face problems like unrequited love, failures at work, complications in the family; and you tend to give up hope. You feel agitated, irritated and are angry over the world, more so over yourself! The more the entropy inside you, the more lethargic and hopeless you feel. You feel wronged, dejected and try to move on. But, as a human it is very normal to cling to ones past and memories which may not wane away too soon. You are flustered – as a boy you may submerge yourself into alcohol or smoking or become totally reclusive… As a girl, you may cry, all day long, lose your appetite; concoct stories and theories to soothe your nerves. And this is just not specific to a heart-break. Other scenarios, like the loss of a loved one or rift with a dear friend may trigger similar emotions.

This was a look at the frail weak side. Now let us look at the stronger side. Remember Helen Keller or Nelson Mandela? Well, these are THE big names… What about people around us who fight a small battle everyday to make a living; gather two square meals a day for their family? If any one would have watched the latest episode of “India’s got Talent”, you would have noticed the variety of people who come in and go out everyday. These starry eyed people are so like us and so unlike us in many ways. We watched this 19 year old boy with NO legs perform surprisingly well to the beats of a fast paced number! Such was the beauty of the performance that Sajid Khan, a judge on the show was forced to say – “Tum ne aisa dance kiya ki paon waley bhi kya kar paayenge?” This little boy was a warrior, a conqueror who had decided to conquer his own disability and nonetheless he emerged victorious by making it to the next level. He may win or he may lose; but he has taught us a huge lesson and reminded us of the most fundamental thing – We may be as fragile as glass but if we delve deeper into our spiritual realms we have so much of untapped strength that can even move mountains!

This post is to salute all those who fight their small or big battles everyday; for themselves or for others – whatever may be the reason – let us thank God for this gift!