TWO FUNERALS AND A SECOND THOUGHT

Recently India witnessed two funerals. One, that of a constructive, inspiring mind – Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalaam and the other that of a destructive, vicious mind – Yakub Memon. Remarkably both were highly qualified – one rose from scratch to the highest office of the country to inspire millions around the globe and the other, a qualified Chartered Accountant who crept into the dark alleys of crime via white collared economic offences and eventually couldn’t really keep the account of his doings err misdoings. The passing away of one was mourned across all sections of society and age groups not only in India but across the world – evidently he had struck a chord with each one of them while the others execution was eagerly awaited by many and eventually when all the legal provisions failed to save him from gallows there was none standing by him. In Maharashtra every care was taken that there would be no funeral procession for Yakub Memon and participation in funeral would be restricted. In Rameshwaram, every care was taken so that the arrangements to bid the final adieu to the ‘Missile Man’ were minutely looked into so that the grandeur of the final adieu could match the stature and the popularity of the departed soul! Memon had to seek shelter of religious identity to evade the law of the land while for Dr. Kalam his religious identity or for that matter even his nationality didn’t really matter! Both associated with the same element – fire, one used it for destruction and the other for construction. One used it to propel the country into a new era of technology and self sufficiency and the other for devastation and distortion of lives. The outcome – one had family but couldn’t really be happy and all he could give them was pain and suffering while other who chose to be a sphincter had millions of households across the country holding back tears, holding the books he authored, remembering the inspirational speeches he delivered, resolving to tread his path and take his work nay mission ahead. One has left behind a rich legacy and other a dark blot on humanity!!

Dr. Kalam never married but left behind a legacy big enough to provide undying inspiration to millions and their children for years and years to come! And then there’s an Engineering College named after him and I am told there’s a plan to set up a city in his name in Bihar! Yakub Memon has a family but only God knows whether or not they will ever be willing to inherit the fruits of his misdoings or for that matter even associate with his name and the resultant shame? -I guess we all know the answers!

                                                -Bhushan Kumarsen Sarmalkar,

                                                         Mumbai, 01.08.2015.