`Why
the life is so short? `(`jiban eto chotto
kene`) - asked Netai, the hero of the famous Bengali novel `Kabi`, written by leading Bengali
novelist Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay (1898 – 1971). 1 Really our human
life is very short. Days are going on day by day and we are also growing older
day by day. Present human life expectancy is nearly seventy years. In this
short span of human life, actual active period is twenty to thirty years. We
have passed some inactive periods in our childhood days. Again we have to pass
some inactive periods in our ripe old age. If you are 50+, then you can feel
your diminishing physical strengths. High blood pressure, blood sugar,
cholesterol etc., etc., are slowly capturing us. Once upon a time, we were young,
now we are facing the problems of middle age. In future, we have to face the
problems of old age. This is universal law. We have passed our golden days that
will never return. But, don’t look back. You have another twenty to thirty
years in your hand. Utilize this period in a meaningful way. You have covered a
long way and you have gained long and valuable experiences. What is your
conclusion about the world? It differs as per your past actions.
Our
human life is precious. It is a gift of God. We can make our life beautiful. We
can make our character perfect. We can make our life which can feel for others.
Lead a life of Man. We have very limited period of time in our hand which is
full of uncertainty. Today’s sun set may be the last sun set in my life. So
don’t waste your time and energy in secondary things. First, make some good
habits and at the same time leave the old bad habits. Bad habits are dangerous in human life. Habits may be our friend if
it is used in a proper and positive way. We have passed hours after hours in
our life either in organized or unorganized way. But those days will never
return. From today, please try to manage your time in a constructive way.
We
came in this world alone and without anything. Again after some years we will
leave this world alone and certainly without anything. This is fact and we all
know this. But we have not learnt from the conclusion of the king Jajati. We
love to lead our old pattern of life.
If
you think that your old pattern of life is not satisfactory, try to change the
pattern. All we want happiness and peace which will come only from our inner life. So, build your life first. It is a very
tough job, but possible. Material world can not bring happiness and peace in
our life. If we expand ourselves, we can feel for others. If we feel for others
and do something for them, it will bring an inner joy. When we only think for
ourselves and for our family members, we are limited. Try to break this created boundary. Spread your love and
sympathy to other members of the society. Feel for the poor and helpless. Give
them food, shelter, money and education as per your ability and capacity. You
can bring the smile of a poor or helpless person through your positive
activities. When this human life is short and we have to leave this world, why
we should be limited? People will remember you for your love, for your
sympathy, for your good behavior and certainly for your good character.
Swami
Vivekananda wrote in a letter 2 to the H.H. The King of Mysore, ` …..
this life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone
live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.`
______________________________________________________
1.
Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay (24 July 1898 -14 September 1971) was one of the
leading Bengali novelists. He wrote 65 novels, 53 story-books, 12 plays, 4
essay-books, 4 autobiographies and 2 travel stories. A notable man of wisdom,
he was awarded Rabindra Puraskar, Sahitya Akademi award, Jnanpith Award, and
Padma Bhushan.
[Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasankar_Bandyopadhyay]
2. Letter dated 23rd June, 1894
from Chicago
