Our Heroes
Bhai Vir Singh: An Encounter
by SANMEET KAUR
I am privileged to share my father's experience with Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh. [Author]
The strains of Rehraas had automatically transformed into the steady hum of simran in the silence that ensued and it was a while before I became aware of its reverberation within my soul. Such was the influence of the Philosopher-poet.
As we walked along the shores of the Arabian Sea, the cool-warm breeze of the sunset hour, the orange-and-pink striped horizon stirred within sweet music and a peace so profound.
My eyes moved away from the radiant skies and I watched the waves.
The waves seemed to kiss the path the Philosopher-poet tread.
Suddenly, the Philosopher stopped.
He turned his attention to a dark figure emerging from the waves.
His focus of attention was a wiry, sun-burnt man clad in khaki shorts. The man walked straight towards us. And as if sensing the deep spiritual presence that stood before him, he folded his hands and bowed reverently.
"Namaste, Sahib."
The Philosopher returned his greeting and inquired as to why he happened to be in the waters at so late an hour.
"I'm the lifeguard here, Sahib."
He wearily pointed to his stomach and added, "What to do, Sahib, one has to feed this stomach somehow," indicating that the trade demanded more than it paid.
"A good living, nevertheless! One bestowed on the fortunate," replied the Philosopher softly. "An executioner too has a job to do, to feed his stomach, but a lifeguard saves lives and also earns his livelihood."
The lifeguard looked up, astonished. His fatigue seemed to have abandoned him. Clarity filled his psyche and eyes. Lightness enveloped his being and he folded his hands respectfully.
As he walked away, I sensed in the lifeguard's carriage pride and joy that was not present earlier.
The Philosopher returned to his walk.
I followed him humbled and awed.
Simple, direct words dusted away the superficial layer of materialism that constantly threatens to bog us down, and purged from the core two souls in a single encounter with the Philosopher-poet.
For details on Bhai Vir Singh's Birth Anniversary celebrations scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2009 at New Delhi, Dehradun and Mumbai, please click here:
our_heroes/bhai_vir_singh_the_sixth_river_of_punjab
Courtesy: Panchbati Sandesh, Quarterly journal of Dr. Balbir Singh Sahitya Kendra, Dehradun. Audio link to a book on Bhai Vir Singh - Pyarey Jio: http://www.maskeensahib.com/index.php?p=p_36&sName=Pyare-Jio---Bhai-Vir-Singh
December 4, 2009