Bonding beyond a blood-relation !!!

A good heart has stopped beating, a good soul ascended to heaven. Someone rightly said when we lose a loved one here on earth, we gain an angel in heaven that watches over us.  

I am writing this condolence notes with the memories of the past and extend my deepest sympathies to my very good friend, Krishna, who has lost his mother-in-law today. She was a wonderful person who I had the good fortune of meeting and spending time with. I will never forget the image of her gentle and bright face. Remembering her wonderful and gentle soul will forever remain in my heart. May God give her eternal rest !!!

Me & Aunty at ISKON Temple, Chennai 

Let me take you back to the time I met her. It was late December last year. When I had just shifted from Mumbai to Bangalore. I shared my accommodation for few months with my best friend, who was staying alone in a 2 BHK rented apartment. As It's not always easy to settle down immediately in a new town because there are always a whole lot of pain to start with household things again. Moreover, my friend wanted me to join him because he was staying alone in a big rented house and we haven't met each other for more than five years. So I agreed upon to join him.

One day, Krishna called me and said his mother-in-law and wife had the plan to come to Bangalore for a few days and asked me if it would be Ok with me if they stay with us, else he would make some other arrangements for them. I scolded and asked him what even made him think of asking such a question. It was obvious that they would stay with us as long as they were in Bangalore.

Krishna mother-in-law had been living in Chennai with her daughter i.e. Krishna's wife. Krishna's wife was working for an IT company in Chennai while Krishna my friend was working for another company in Bangalore. 

Finally, the day came when his wife and mother-in-law were to come to Bangalore. I still remember the exact time when I met Aunty, it was quarter to seven in the morning. I greeted her "Namaste Aunty and she gave a big smile back and hugged me. She told me "I don't have a son and I will call you as my son here after." I was overwhelmed with an emotion as it was such a heart-touching moment for me. I was speechless but was able to nod and reply “Of Course Aunty !! You can call me anything that makes you happy.”   

After a few hours chatting with her, I was shocked when she told me that she has been diagnosed with Cervical Cancer a few months ago and that it was in Stage 4. She explained the reason for visit, to Bangalore - she was to visit Shimoga, a famous place in Karnataka for Cancer Treatment, to consult an Ayurvedic Doctor. Her regular allopathy treatment would continue at  Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, where the Cancer was initially diagnosed.

After hearing about the Cancer and how she described the whole thing, I was completely blank for a while. Somehow I could muster the courage and murmured "Don't worry, you are going to be fine very soon". Her next statement will always echo in my ears whenever I remember her, "No Beta!! Cancer has no answer. But I will certainly live a life as if nothing has happened to me. I don't want my loved ones to suffer because of something wrong happened to me.". 

And I must say she did live a life like a lioness till her last breath. She fought this deadly disease like a great warrior on the battlefield. But we can't fight death.  

From the first day I met her, she was always happy to talk to me. We talked for hours whenever my time allowed me to connect with her. Her daughter and son-in-law would both tease me asking "What is the special bond we guys have". They would tell me she is their mother and mother-in-law but she would never talk to them as much as she talks to me. All the time she talks something good about me. They would also tell me what kind of a magnetic charm I have. I would always smile back and say "Why don't you guys ask her ?". 

Aunty would talk to me in different capacities, like a best friend, a guardian and a mother. She would advise me on many things and would always ask how things are going on the personal front. Her questions would vary from "Why don't you have a girlfriend?, When are you getting married, Do you want me to find someone for you?" to "I want you to marry and see your wife before I die". I would get to learn a lot about life from her. 

Me, Aunty, Nidhi & Krishan 

Whenever, she, my friend, his wife and I would get-together, either here in Bangalore or in Chennai we would engage in a many a debates. Aunty always stood by me and never let others speak anything against me about anything. Sometimes she supported  me on some topic where I couldn't justify something more logically or happen to lose my argumentative grounds. "So what ??? He said, means he is right". Later, we smiled at each other and I would thank her by saying "Thank you, Aunty !!". Her daughter and son-in-law always formed one group and wanted me to lose the debate. But aunty never let it happen. She supported me at times even without knowing the context of the debate. The rival group (her daughter and son-in-law) would start screaming "Mom !! you don't even know the context, yet you support him". Aunty would say I am her son and is not interested in knowing the context. She would support me all the time.    

I still remember every single word that you spoke to me as an advice. How could I forget your exceptional sense of understanding human behavior? If someone would have spoken to her for less than an hour, she could have described everything of one’s past and future. And, once she would have got a sense of not being an honest and generous, none could dare to be around. I was fortunate enough that you liked me and allowed me to be around you. I can’t describe who you were, no matter how much I talk about you. It won’t be easy for me to forget the past.  

Aunty's health started getting worse after July this year, as the frequency of chemotherapy increased with each subsequent month. The infection was spread to the whole body and all vital organs were almost stopped functioning. Last month, she called and asked me to come to Vellore to visit her at the Hospital and see her as it might be our last meet. Sadly, it turned out to be true and it was the last I would ever meet her in person. 

I went to Vellore and stayed in the Cancer ward till quite late that night. Though the hospital administration doesn't allow any visitors to stay more than the designated time, that day I guess the hospital made an exception. Whenever I tried to return to my hotel from the patient ward and ask her "Aunty, it's too late. You should rest now." She would have tears in her eyes and say "I may not get to see you after this." 

Her words would break me and I wouldn't dare to leave. She would further share that seeing me would make her pain go away. She held my hand and shared how much she loved her daughter and son-in-law and how much they took care of her. Yes, she was right! Both her daughter and son-in-law were working professionals but they took care of her without ever batting an eyelid. Great job guys !! I respect you both.    

Until last December, I hadn't even known this great soul and now it is impossible to ever forget her. Sometimes, we meet a person for a very short period of time, but they leave the biggest of footprints in our lives. Aunty's kindness and love can never be matched. 

Aunty !! You will always remain in my heart. Your love was unconditional, truer than most blood-relations, even. How I wish I could have met you once again. 

A person that departs from this earth  never truly leaves, for they are still alive in our hearts and  minds and through us, they live on. My heartfelt condolences.

R.I.P !!!

With tears,
Sudarshan

Global Warming – A grave threat to Ecology

“The earth has a natural system of balancing the absorption and release of heat, which it absorbs from the sunlight, but for the last few years, the balance seems to be under severe threat. There has been an enormous increase in gases like carbon-di-oxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc.”

As the temperature rises, there is a rise in sea level, due to the melting of glaciers and the ice sheets of Greenland and Anatarctica. While sea level is expected to rise almost every year but a considerable variation is seen nowadays. In some regions, the rise in sea level may be almost nil, but other might experience a rise of as much as twice the global average. The predictions are that rise in sea level in some parts of north pacific and to the west of Greenland may be comparatively more and it can spoil the ecological balance of the respective region.

As per the latest report of U.K. Met office’s Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, global warming over the next century might turn out to be much worse than estimated. If the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions are stabilized, which means immediate cut of 60-70 % emission of Carbon Dioxide globally, even then, the rise of atmospheric temperature would be 1⁰C and rise in sea level would be approximately 1 Meter. Based on the finding of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Centre predicted that warming overland could lead to a 6⁰C rise in temperature by 2100 that is 2⁰C higher than the earlier estimates.

As per the findings of a joint study conducted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi and Hadley Centre, the global warming may also cause a good increase in rainfall over the western coastline of India.

Effects of Afforestation:-

It is assumed that planting more trees will solve the problem as the trees absorb more carbon dioxide, but it is a wrong presumption. Planting more trees will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in some parts of the world, but in other parts, global warming may hamper the growth of trees or even may cause their destruction. Therefore, afforestation may not be a perfect solution to this problem. One important point to note is that forest area is usually darker than the other areas, especially when the surface is snowclad and being darker absorbs more sunlight comparatively. Hence, it might accelerate warming. Different forests reflects different amount of sunlight, dark green forests absorbs more solar radiation that land surface and so the benefits of their carbon intake could be reduced and in some areas be reversed by the darkening effect. Dying forests might result in greater emission of carbon dioxide, thus changing the climate to our peril.

The Hadley Centre reported that average temperature in 1999 was lower than that of 1998, but the year 1999 was still the fifth warmest year since global records began in 1860. The Centre has further discovered that by 2050, the trees and soils will start falling and perishing which will result in less absorption of Carbon Dioxide.

Global warming due to sunlight is likely to be set off or reduced to some extent by volcanic aerosols. During the 21 century, the large-scale reduction in rainfall is being expected in some areas such as southern Africa, Australia, Central America and the northern region of South America. The highest increase in perception over land may occur in East Asia, Central Africa, Eastern South America and at high latitudes.

The Hadley Centre has also predicted that Antarctica ice may have all but melted away by 2100, if urgent precautionary measures are not taken to cut down emission of Green House Gases (GHG). The melting of ice is due to warming of water of the North Atlantic as well as due to rising air temperatures in the region. Melting ice from the frozen continents shall increase the level of sea. Melting of sea ice can further accelerate global warming, as the ocean surface would not now reflects as much sunlight as ice sheets.

Adverse effect of Global Warming

• Antarctica home of penguins is getting hotter slowly and gradually. The annual melt season has increased up to three weeks in last twenty years.
• Mount Kili Manjaro has lost 75 % of its ice cap since 1912. The ice on this Africa’s highest peak could vanish totally within next 15 years if no remedial measures are taken.
• Venezuelan mountain peaks have only two glaciers today out of six.
• India’s worst heat stroke killed more than 2500 people in May 1998.
• Polar Bears in Hudson Bay are having fewer cubs, possibly as a result of earlier spring ice break up.
• Florida farmland up to 300 meters inland from Biscayne Bay is being infiltrated by salt water rendering the land too toxic for crops. Salt water is also nibbling at the edge of farms on Maryland’s eastern shore.
• Coral reefs suffer from the loss of algae that colour and nourish them. The process called bleaching is caused by Warmer Ocean.

According to World Meteorological Organization, deaths from heat waves in big cities are expected to double worldwide over the next two decades, if no measures are taken to check the global warming. In the largest cities of USA, an average of 1500 deaths take place every year. It is expected to increase such deaths to 3000-4000 by 2020.

A study conducted by Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) reveals that the effect of aerosols in the atmosphere will magnify the warming over several developing countries. The study indicates that precipitation might change over tropical regions due to aerosols. Aerosols have both a warming and cooling effect, as they indirectly help in formation of cloud droplets, making cloud more bright and more reflective.

In 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCCC) was adopted. It recognized that industrialized countries were mostly responsible for increased Green House Gases, concentration in the Earth’s atmosphere and should be the first to act against climate change.

In 1997, United Nation’s conference on global warming was help in the ancient Japanese Capital of Kyoto for ten days; the climate change meet lay deadlocked, as none was ready to take initiative to check the further damage to planet earth. USA and 37 other industrial nations agreed to binding reduction in their Green House Gas emission by 2012, setting out a target of five percent below 1990 levels. The next meeting held at Buenous Aires, where it was agreed on Nov. 14 1998 to set a time table for discussing by 2000 the many issues that still need to be settled.

Actually the USA and Europe want that other developing countries like, India, China, should act as per the accord signed at Kyoto, but India, China have their own reasons, as in these countries, industrialization has just began, while developed countries who are actually responsible for the global warming must act fast to have some remedial measures.

In a nutshell the global warming has become a grave threat to the ecological balance of the earth. The civilization is moving slowly towards a doomsday. All the nations, particularly the most industrialized, developed countries have to be active to take immediate action on the matter, otherwise, the human race shall have to face an unimaginable peril and the day is not too far.