I was browsing Twitter when I came across this post. In less than a moment, I had my laptop flap down while I rest in my chair.
Just one post reminded me of everyone who we call grandparents. I lost my nani in June last year and with her were gone parents of my parents.
I had just entered teenage when I lost my nana. He did not live long for me to learn from him but his short stint had a long lasting impact on me.
In 2021 when I did 100 videos covering 100 Book Reviews, a very famous journalist asked me how long did it take to read these 100 books? Wow! A simple question. But this question reminded me of nana who got me into reading at an early age. It was the second time since his death (12 years ago) that I cried mourning him.
It was my nana who got me into habit of reading newspapers and books. He used to read puranas and other holy scriptures. I idolized him. He used to look so serene, calm and composed when he was immersed in reading. I wanted to be like him.
..and thence, I took to reading
Although I was not fond of it initially (who like to sit and read in one place as a kid) but somehow, today I am only of his grandchildren who maintains a small home library to read regularly.
I grew up in different small towns. I remember a conversation with him about how I did not like disparities as the mega cities people carried certain air around them. It was my nana who first made me learn the meaning of real India. I once summarized this conversation in a Hindi poem.
Read👇🏼
बचपन मे नाना से पूछता था
की बाबा, इन शहरों को एक सा क्यों नही बना देते ?
क्यों इतने जी जंजाल पाल रखे है?
आखिर क्यों इतना मुश्किल कर देना है हमें सब?
क्यों ये हौंसले हमने मार रखे है?
नाना मुस्कुराते थे, मुझसे पहले
अक्सर वो देश दुनिया देख आते थे।।
अपने अनुमान से कहते,
की बेटा,
तुम भी कहाँ एक ही जगह हो रहते?
दिल्ली हैदराबाद राजस्थान की इस दौड़ में
तुम क्यों नही एक ही शहर में बस जाते?
ये सवाल तब मुझे चुभता था।
नाना का व्यंग बुरा से लगता था।।
मुझे लगा कि बूढ़े नाना अब जलन खाते है
पर महानुभाव तो मेरे ज्ञान से इतर
देश दुनिया नाप आते है।।
"अरे ये भी क्या बात हुई?"
मैं तनिक गुस्से में कह देता।
बिरयानी के स्वाद लेकर
दिल्ली से बिछड़ना कैसे सह लेता?
चूरमा का स्वाद पसंद है जी मुझे
वहीं आपसे दूर कैसे रह लेता?
बस नाती इतनी सी बात है,
हिन्द के इसी हुनर में जज़्बात है।
अब अगर सब एक हो गया
फिर तुम्हें या बिरयानी मिलेगी
या तुम चूरमा खाओगे।
दिल्ली तो छोड़ो
हैदराबाद भी क्या हाथ लगाने जाओगे?
अलग थे नाना भी। कुछ कहते भी नही, सब कुछ समझा भी देते थे, कुछ कहे बिना ही सब बतला भी देते थे।
Maybe because he was the first one to leave, I remember him the most. Nana framed my childhood while dada saw me growing young into a man.
I remember him calling me once on how he wants to see me. He used to live back in village. Where I was, it was nearly 5 hours drive! It was around 8 in the morning and by the lunch, I was with him.
He kept speaking of his friends that afternoon when I decided to take him along to where we live. He loved the drive with his grandson. I don’t remember who all did he call to share how Himanshu drove me in no time to meet entire family. He was happiest, like a kid. The same time, he saw a lift for the first time. He could not believe what just happened (just like that tweet where lady thought they’d get own room in the plane)
In the last week of his life, he had lost most of his sense. I drove again to see him. He could not recognize me from a distance. Just when he heard me, he recognized the voice. Ah, broke my heart.
Life is fragile, man. A cycle ends too soon that you can only think of it years later. If you have your grandparents around, take time out and sit and learn from them. Or else you’d find yourself in tears when they are gone! Just as I am, writing this! *sigh*