The ocean is very restless. His restlessness, surprisingly, is never disturbing; it is peaceful. It’s inspiring. That’s your life. Some of your photographs, your actions, your speeches, show me a restless soul. Yet your restlessness seems so determined. It is deeply inspiring. He wants you to dream more and do more.
Until today, my restlessness would make me feel very bad. From now on he will make me do amazing things. My restlessness will be filled with positive energy. My concern will be useful and meaningful. It will not be like a lamb that smells a tiger nearby and is scared to death because it will soon be eaten. It will be like the drawn bowstring of an archer as he is ready to work and live his purpose. It will be like the restlessness of an innovator who has a brilliant idea. It will be like the concern of a child who has performed better than expected and wants to share his achievements with his parents. It will be the concern of a devotee who is about to experience the divine.
On your birthday, my birthday gift to you is, my restlessness will always be positive. It will lead to focus, purpose, evolution, and meaningful contributions. Just like you dear Bapu I promise!
Nothing worthwhile can be accomplished when I’m busy feeling sorry for myself. When you got thrown off the train, you didn’t resort to feeling sorry for yourself. You took the initiative and took action. The rest is ‘history’.
When you were imprisoned several times, when Netaji left you and took up armed struggle by forming an army, you did not resort to feeling sorry for yourself. You stubbornly went your way by means you thought were right. You lived an amazing life.
There are moments in life when I am tempted to blame, complain, and find an excuse to escape creating an amazing life for myself. How deeply I want others to do it for me. Maybe it’s because life has been relatively easy for me. Perhaps I have been spoiled too much. I think, I wish the same forever. Ironically, life has different plans. So it tests me, it pushes me, it pushes me. He assures that there are quite a few things that do not go my way. When this happens, I feel sorry for myself. That’s when I blame and hope that blaming will fix things. Blaming seems like such a natural and convenient response. I like to feel ‘most let down’ when blaming didn’t improve anything in my life. On your birthday, my birthday gift to you is that I will never blame, complain, or make excuses. Just like you, dear Bapu, I promise you…
Ultimately, your life is a shining example of ‘Nothing amazing can be done in life, without amazing goals’. You had an incredible goal. Independence through nonviolence. Never before and never after, has no other country in this world achieved independence through non-violence. Under his leadership, with the cooperation of the Indian masses, the incredible was done. You had them do it for you and you inspired others to have that incredible goal.
Before we left this planet, my dear Bapu, we too would have done “some” amazing things. I promise!
My dear reader friends, would you like to give Bapu something as a gift? That will be the best way to celebrate his birthday, right? He is no longer with us, but every birthday he gives us a holiday. How about a return gift for him?
Oh yes, remember, once a gift is given, it cannot be taken back. This means that a promise you make must be a promise that will be kept. I think our dear Bapu is waiting for our gifts.
With much love, prayers and best wishes,
Narendra Godani
While I live… I learn
