In the Quest to Redefine the Destiny

In the quest to redefine the destiny…

It relates to one Gopala, one of the dejected and deprived people of a small village. In this village, they all know their course of life and parametres of success. Yet, Gopala dared to see dreams of happiness defying the road map of his “destiny”. Gopla is a depiction of common man at large in our society. They have lost faith in their capability and wisdom and feel defeated in their endeavours. But still, they are keeping hope against hope. In this juncture, a small “signal” of hope and assurance from any quarter in any form, though illogical/unfounded and “misplaced, it would impart a fresh momentum in their lives, to defy so called “destiny” to perish.

It is story of poor Gopala who is an elderly man with a family to look after. The village has no facilities or resource for employment. He is living on a very meagre income. Like him, the other people in his village are fighting day and night for their survival against increasingly unbearable adverse social and economic conditions. Going through a very constraint lifestyle, they hardly laugh and seldom exchange common pleasantries when face each other. They are not happy and are normally seen grim and with sad faces. Gopala is also one of them. Compared to villagers of other surrounding prosperous areas, the people of his village look haggard, starved and frustrated. For few years, there have been series of severe drought. Most of the people has lost their Land and other properties due to non-payment of loans and their cattle have also perished. For them, love, emotions have dried long back with the successive droughts. When they look up you would see the fear in they eyes. It is the fear of survival. The village consists of mainly infirm, dejected and frustrated ones who have faith in themselves but yet to yield anything significant. They feel that “destint” has already laid a life full of miseries for them and it is not possible to wriggle out. Most of them feel defeated and submitted to this irreversible situation of life.

But Gopala is a different person. If you watch very closely and speak to him you would wonder if ever he had heard a sweet word or appreciation from any one. But still he is not rude in his attitude/ communication and he is receptive to new ideas. While sharing silently your company, he would never let you know the deep sadness inundating his heart. He would not let you know about his worries and frustration. But gradually, he is also slowly breaking down. His conviction that “good days” would indeed come one day is dissipating with each passing day. He has heard that this year also there would be another year of drought with severe consequences. His daily prayers have also yielded nothing. But he is still keeping faith. Gopala is almost now one of the villagers who are lost, motionless and totally defeated. He has lost confidence, his capability and to some extent his rational thinking.

He has now heard about the “miracles” of magic stones of an astrologer. After wavering in mind for few days, he has met him last week. After examining his birth chart, the Astrologer has advised him a stone that would bring end to his misfortune and he would embark upon a new happy life. Not only that, after his palm reading, the astrologer has told him that a great fortune is waiting for him. He had given a deep thought of over the issue. He is not sure if this could be the new beginning of his life. But the “lure” of achieving a good life through the power of stone has overpowered him. By sacrificing a good amount of his life long savings, Gopala is now wearing a “Ring of a semi-precious stone”. Despite opposition from my family members. he is keeping his faith. He somehow convinced other that the power of stones would remove the shadow of misfortune and lead him to the path of success bringing happiness to his family. Gopala is now seen little upbeat and cheerful. With ring in his possession, he feels confident, hopeful and waiting impatiently “miracles” to happen soon.

Gopala has heard about miracles of stones. He has learnt that villagers nearby achieved immense benefit and wealth after possessing the rings. He has also heard that complex ailments have been cured by appropriate stone. He has told his neighbours about this. They have also noticed change in him and are seeking the blessings of the astrologer. Some of the villagers are now this prescribed rings and after “knowing their possible future” a new storm of confidence is blowing through them.

Days have passed by. Nothing has changed. It is the same old story and the same poor condition. But Gopala is now not a totally broken man and has a stone of promise. The patience with other members of village has started wearing out. They have come out openly with their “disbelief” over the stone and “predictions” made for them. They have thrown out rings/ shouted at Astrologer and asked Gopal to take out the same and take the life more seriously. Gopla, however truly believed each and every word told by astrologer about the stone/ palmistry and is patient and composed. The words of astrologer had given him a fresh “motivation” to fight back to defy his destiny. In the society, we need support from each other. When such help is not forthcoming from any quarter, a faint signal of help in the form [even in a form of a stone] is seen as a lifesaver. One subjugated to misfortune, would tend to belive anything, anybody, if it could convince him that by that he would be able to change/ rewrite his destiny, defying logic and reasoning.

Gopla is not deterred with shocks of life. Come what may and what other villagers think, he is hopeful. He would watch his shiny little stone fixed in the ring every night under obscure moonlight, with the hope that it would bring a new lease of life for him and family.