It was raining on that morning. As usual I was up by 2:40am. Got ready. Due to rain, I could not go for the usual morning walk. Having left with no other option, I proceeded to my library to study undisturbed. My morning reading resulted into the present title FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS.
When a Hindu dies, he is taken to his final rest in place with the sounds of drums; when a Muslim dies, he is taken to his final rest in place with the religious cries ‘Allah Ho’; and when a Christian dies, they ring the church bell. In some small towns and cities across the globe you find this practice even today; but with the mushrooming of the metropolitan and cosmopolitan cities this practice…rather all the above practices of Hindus, Muslims and Christians…either go unobserved or not religiously practiced.
In the olden days when someone in a town die – in Europe especially – the church bell used to toll – an indication that someone has died. This was an age-old custom and practice. When the church bell tolled for over five minutes only indicates that someone has died in the city or town…an intimation to all.
Let us take the example of an island. When an island is either washed out or sunk in the sea it is not the island that is lost; it is a part of a continent that is lost. That continent now measures less because the island is no more…it is sunk. Similarly in a massive earthquake if a building is collapses (it could be your building or neighbours) it is not lost either for you or for the neighbour…it is a part of the city that is collapsed. Similarly, when someone dies it is not that person who is dead…but it is the part of you that is dead, because you’re a part of humanity. A part of you is no more…it does not exist.
Hence, do not stop to see for who is the departed Hindu for who the music of drums is being played; do not stop to see for who the crise of ‘Allah Ho’ are being chanted; and don’t stop to see for who the church bells are tolling. The drums the cries of ‘Allah Ho’ and the church bells are for you…forget not because you are a part of humanity that is no more!
About the Author
Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional.
What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”.
Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com
