It was a few days before the Diwali festival many years ago. The mood was festive and we children were eager with anticipation of eating the sweets and other savouries that would be made at home, bursting the crackers, wearing new clothes etc. The mid-term exams were over and the vacation had started.
Although we were not very well off and belonged to a simple middle class family, our parents ensured that we celebrated such festivals within our modest means. Those days, we used to buy clothes only twice a year during such occasion or on birthday. On the day when we were about to go shopping for new clothes my elder brother (aged about 10)announced that he did not want new clothes.
We were surprised by his decision and were wondering what was wrong with him. Did he feel offended by something and is expressing his dissent in this manner? Or did he wish to get something else instead of clothes? When he was asked the reason, he just kept quiet and did not give any special reason. Our mother would not take no for an answer and probed him further.
After a lot of questioning, he finally gave his answer. He said one of his friends, who stayed in the same building as ours, came from a poor family and he normally does not get new clothes during Diwali. So, my brother felt it would not be appropriate for him to strut about in new clothes while his friend continued to wear his old clothes. It was an unbelievable act of self-denial and selfless behaviour from someone as young as my brother.
At that time, I just couldn't relate to this spirit of sacrifice that my brother displayed. However, I learnt a very big lesson from him that has stayed in my heart ever since. In our joy and our success, we should not forget others. Share with and care for others. Keep the feelings of others in mind. True happiness is when we bring a smile in the face of others..
Greetings of the season to all my readers... May the festival of lights bring joy and peace to your family and you..
8 comments:
This is indeed very moving Sir, for a person who at such a tender age could empathize with another so deeply! A lesson for many to learn from!
Please accept my wishes, to you and family, on the occassion of Diwali! I pray that you be rewarded with unending peace, true happiness, good health and more importantly a state of togetherness that shall never come apart!
Thanks very much for visiting my space and leaving me a wonderful comment!
A wonderful post..
By keeping people around you happy..you will definately experience happiness.
"Life laughs at you when you are unhappy,Life smiles at you when you are happy but life Salutes you when you make others happy"
WISHING YOU AND YOUR NEAR AND DEAR ONES A VERY HAPPY DIWALI.
Tyaagi.
HI Vish,
that was soo nice about ur brother..hats off of him..
thanks for sharing this ..as a younger it woul dhave taken his kind and inocent heart to do so..say my wishes to him..and its always interesting to know experiences of such..
happu diwali to u tooo
Ohh that was such a nice read..really an inspiring one...Happy Diwali!!
Sir, Wishing you & your family blessed, Safe & Environment friendly Diwali. God Bless you.
Regards,
Nilesh Joshi
Dear Vish,
Wishing you a bright n wonderful DIWALI,
May GODDESS LAKSHMI n LORD GANESHA BLESS YOU to lead a life filled with peace,prosperity n wealth.
Hey,both u bros are great,yaar.:)
Convey my best wishes to your elder bro who had the kind heart even at young age!
Vish,both of us put the same image for DIWALI.:)rows of lamps,lanterns and flickering candles illuminate dark nights.
And you brighten up the readers' minds with wonderful thought provoking posts.:)
BE IN HIGH SPIRITS N ENJOY!
SASNEHAM,
ANU
Sir, that's wonderful of your brother
such sensitivity at such a tender age-May God Bless Him. This also shows your parents values of life. Blessed indeed to be born in such a family.
Hema.
Please convey my warm regards and appreciation to your brother. He is noble.
This post of yours, touched my heart.
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