Tribute to Author Manoj Das

 

I have this book. I picked it up at one of the book fairs held annually. I used to enjoy my pilgrimage to the book fair. It required some planning depending on where the fair was held. I would always ask one particular friend (Anand) if he could join me. Both of enjoy hoarding books and reading them at pleasure. We have exchanged books and thus ended up reading plentiful. I say with some embarrassment that we do have books that we have not read and they sit prettily waiting for us to devour them. The thought that the books are there give us both a sense of joy. We have also visited the book fair to just browse through. 

One of my favourite stalls at the book fair is the Sahithya Academy stall. I enjoy browsing through the small 'English' collection. The books are hardbound and smell from an ancient era. It was during one such visit that I had picked up some books of author Manoj Das.

Shri Manoj Das passed away at the ripe age of 87, due to cancer, on April 27th this year.

The above book is a compilation of stores and folktales retold by the author in his inimitable, simple yet impactful style.

One such story was that of a couple of young scholars who wish to seek a sage. They are guided by a savant. Enroute they meet a shepherd tending sheep and a few pigs. One of the pigs seemed to be injured and was slowing the shepherd's pace. An old man was also walking along the path. The old man paused to ask the shepherd if he could carry the pig to alleviate its suffering. The shepherd agrees. 

Now one of the two scholars could read the thoughts of humans while the other could read the thoughts of animals. Interestingly the shepherd was thinking how foolish the old man was. The pig, true to its nature, hardly had any thoughts; it seemed to have forgotten its pain. The old man trudged slowly. 

The scholars were amused and asked the savant why the old man had offered the help. The savant replied that maybe the old man would not have forgiven himself if he had not helped a creature in suffering. The young scholars finally reached on top of the hill. To their surprise the sage was none other than the old man. 

Curious the scholars asked him why he had volunteered to carry the pig. Was it to help the pig or the shepherd? Was it to forgive himself from future painful thought that why he hadn't stopped to help?

The sage seemed surprised. He didn't remember anything! His actions were like his breath. 

This story somehow stuck with me amongst all.  I am now reading this book,' Ichigo Ichie' and the sage's action, his living symbolises ichigo ichie. More on this later.

Thank you Shri Manoj Das