Every year, on the occasion of the Tukaram Beej, i have this heart tugging yet very warm memory of Aai. Before i talk of it, let me first tell you about the Beej. It falls on the Phalgun Krishna Dwitiya. Phalgun, as i explained in my blog on "Holi", is the last month of the Indian calendar. The Krishna Paksh refers to the second half of this lunar month, the waning fortnight. The Dwitiya is the second day of this fortnightly period. The Vaikuntha Gaman of Sant Tukaram took place on this day according to the Warkari panth/sect.
Now let me tell you why/how the day is inextricably linked to Aai. Just as Aai read "Dasbodh" and "Dnyaneshwari" in depth, and studied genuinely in detail while appearing properly for examinations based on these treatises, so did she as far as "Tukaram Gatha" was concerned.
As she was reading the "Gatha" in depth, i used to get her related critical and analytical books from the college library. She had found such referencing very useful for her study of "Dnyaneshwari". So we continued the practice even with the "Gatha". One such book i got for her was by Aa. Ha. Salunke.
The analysis in that book is radically different from the usual discussion of Sant Tukaram's Vaikuntha Gaman. It must have been almost a cultural shock for Aai. Believe me, despite that, Aai read the book completely, discussed it with me. I found her readiness to try and understand a viewpoint, diametrically opposed to her thought patterns, both absolutely touching as well as energising. Indeed it reveals a wonderful breadth and generosity of spirit! Superb, i felt, it was because she was nearing her seventies!
In the world today, where each and every one is madly obsessed with his/her viewpoint and is hell-bent on proving himself/herself alone to be right, such a largeness of heart is indeed worthy (of emulation, too!). No wonder, they say, old is gold!
Pratima@ 'Real gold is not afraid of the melting pot,' says a Chinese proverb.
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