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Courage, differently
Over the years, several books have been written that encapsulate heroic individual struggle against debilitating physical adversity, in which human willpower triumphs over sickness or injury. While most of these bestsellers have been penned by well known faces, there are many such sagas which go unreported, unless one is blessed with a social conscience, love, and commitment of Mohinder Singh Sahni, whose book, "Joy of Love and Care" was released this past week by Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.
Dedicated to his wife Ranjit Kaur Sahni, fondly known as Jeet or victory, who succumbed to cancer in August 2006 after waging a valiant nine-year battle against the disease, the book is meant to be a guide for people undergoing similar trials, and moreover, their families. As Kaur very pertinently quoted from the Gurbani "Dookh-sookh is man ki birtha... ." meaning that good times and bad times are all a creation of this mind and should not sway a human being, something which holds true for Sahni and his family.
The punch line
As the punch line on the cover of the book "cancer not a dread" says, the autobiographical story has been narrated with the sole objective of conveying the message that cancer is like another disease, and not necessarily a dead end, something which can be fought with courage of the patient, and strength of love, warmth and care of immediate family members.
As the well known oncologist, Dr. S.H. Advani, who was the focal point of Jeet's treatment of non-differentiated ovarian cancer elaborated, "She had a tremendous zest for life, love for nature and took tremendous care of others, which probably gave her the strength to bear pain with a smile and not get lost in despair; a will to live a life of quality and contribute to the society and family."
Also present on the occasion was Justice Kuldeep Singh, retired Justice of the Supreme Court who said, "The first prognosis gave her barely six months to live, but she went on for nine years, indicating that the ugly head of disease can be crushed if the family stands behind."
As excerpts from the book, written in a simple style, were read on the occasion, one could feel the pathos and internal turbulence which M.S. Sahni would have undergone in those nine years.
Perhaps, the most befitting point was made by Trilochan Singh, Member Of Parliament and ex-chairman of the Minorities Commission, when he said "Most of us take nuptial vows without getting to comprehend their true meaning, but Sahni, through his care of his wife has shown what family support can achieve, something which no NGO can accomplish." No wonder the world salutes us for our family bonds and values.
APS MALHOTRA
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