Penitence or Repentance

In April while I was on the way to Mt. Abu, I met with a guy named ‘Shantanu’ popularly known as ‘Guddu’. He is a symbol of social responsibilities in his village. We were discussing on the burning national issues. When I came out of his chamber, an elderly man who was waiting outside asked me “Guddu Kahan Hai?”(Where is Guddu?) “Who is Guddu?” I asked. ‘Wo to Bhagwan Hai,’ (He is like God) replied old man. I became curious and asked him to narrate Guddu’s past. He told me that Guddu’s father was a farmer. He had three children- two sons and one daughter. Guddu was the eldest. His father’s earning was not enough for three children to continue studies. So, he started doing tuition not only to continue his higher studies but also to support his family. Being eldest son he had the full sense of responsibility of an elder brother.  He used to send money home regularly. He completed his masters degree with good marks. In course of time he fell in love with a girl to whom he was teaching. He expressed his desire to marry the girl to his parents. But the parents turned down the marriage proposal. They told him that if he would marry a girl from other caste, who would marry his sister. They insisted Shantanu to marry within same caste. But the boy very clearly told them that he would marry only her else he won’t marry.

After few years Shantanu’s sister got married to a doctor and the couple left for UK. He left no stone unturned to see his younger brother at zenith. His brother got through IIT exams and after completing his B.Tech in Computer Science, got selected by MNC. He joined a company in USA and got married with an American girl of Indian Origin. When he had left for USA he was alone. But when he came back to India to see his ailing father, his parents saw their first grandson. They returned to USA after a week. In the meantime, Shantanu completed his Ph.D and is now teaching in the same college. His parents are living with him. He is still unmarried and looking after his parents.  Now he spends most of his time in social activities. Providing free coaching classes to needy and quality education to street children are his hobbies. His parents are now eager to see him married, but to Shantanu, it’s no more relevant. Shantanu does smile but his smiles put many questions on society.  Lines appearing on his forehead clearly show the expectations from an elderly child and lack of maturity in the social set up. Nobody knows whether it is penitence or repentance by his parents. But definitely it is a supreme sacrifice by a man who does not give preference to his personal life and desires but to his duties and responsibilities.