Koi din gar zindagaani aur hai By Justice Katju

Justice katju

According to Hindu shastras, when one reaches 75 years of age he should take sanyaas ( renunciation ).. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sannyasa

I am now almost 79, so I should have renounced everything, and spent my remaining time on earth in transcendental meditation. 

Psalm 90:!0 of the Bible says that the life of man is 70 years. Some may live till 80, but then those last 10 years are full of toil and sorrow

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2090%3A10&version=NIV

Precisely at this time, when my body has become weak and I have several ailments, and I should have rest and peace, my country has called on me to put on my armour, go to battle, and start fighting for it.

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-a-call-to-indian-patriots

I am reminded of a stanza from the English poet Robert Browning’s poem ‘Rabbi Ben Ezra’ which I had read over 60 years ago when I was a student of Allahabad University :

” And I shall thereupon

Take rest, ere I be gone

Once more on my adventure brave and new:

Fearless and unperplexed,

When I wage battle next,

What weapons to select, what armour to indue ”.

Very well, if that is what my country wants, I will do my duty, though that was really the job of people half my age. But since they are not doing it, I will.

I am reminded of a sher ( couplet ) of the great Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib :

” Koi din gar zindagaani aur hai

  Apne jee mein humne thaani aur hai ”

which means :

Only some of my life is left, as I am now old. Yet I have decided to do something with my remaining life ”

Author

2 thoughts on “Koi din gar zindagaani aur hai By Justice Katju

  1. So true with your wisdom and understanding you will hit a Century. I am positive you are going to live over a 100 years for sure

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *