Tag Archives: learning

Rahim and Marcus Aurelius had identical thoughts

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Rahiman dhaga prem ka, mat todo chatkaay—don’t break the thread of love, says Indian poet Rahim.

Kamlesh Tripathi

    The wisdom of Indian poet Rahim (officially titled Khan-i-Khanan, meaning ‘Khan of Khans’) and Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, though separated by centuries, cultures, and geography, can be beautifully tied together through their shared understanding of human relationships.

    Rahim sees ‘human relationship’ as a delicate thread of love. Whereas Marcus Aurelius sees human beings as branches of one great tree. For Rahim, when the thread breaks, it may be tied again, but the knot remains. For Marcus Aurelius, when a branch is separated from the tree, it may be grafted back, but it will never be quite the same as a branch that continued to grow in natural unity with the tree.

    Both are therefore saying something very profound. We are all well-connected, but the breaking of that connection has consequences not only for the other person but also for your own self. Rahim’s popular couplet (Doha) says:

    “Rahiman dhaga prem ka, mat todo chatkaay;

     Toote se phir na jude, jude gaanth pari jaay.”

    Do not break the thread of love abruptly. Once broken, it may be joined again, but the knot will remain.

    Marcus Aurelius extends this idea from personal love to the whole of society. A person who hates or withdraws from another human being is like a branch cutting itself away from the tree. In separating himself from his neighbour, he unknowingly separates himself from the larger human community.

    Both Rahim and Marcus offer wisdom, hope and caution. A broken branch can sometimes be grafted back; and a broken relationship can sometimes be restored. Human beings possess the extraordinary capacity to forgive, reconcile and begin again. But repeated breaks make restoration increasingly difficult.

    Perhaps the two metaphors can therefore be joined into one: Love is the thread that binds the branches of humanity into one tree. When we break the thread, we wound a relationship. When we cut ourselves away from another person, we wound the larger tree of society. We may later tie the thread or graft the branch back, but the knot or scar always reminds us of what had happened.

    That is why the wisdom of both Rahim and Marcus Aurelius ultimately teaches us not merely to repair relationships, but to protect them before they break.

    Rahim gives us the thread. Marcus gives us the tree. Together they give us a philosophy of human connectedness: we belong to one another, and every unnecessary separation diminishes the whole.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, poet and columnist Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

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Why Basant Panchami Still Matters

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Why Basant Panchami Still Matters

Kamlesh Tripathi

    Observed on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha, usually in late January or early February, Basant Panchami anticipates spring nearly forty days before its official arrival. Traditional belief holds that seasons do not change overnight; rather, they unfold gradually. The festival, therefore, acts as a harbinger to spring, often called the ‘King of Seasons,’ symbolising hope, vitality, and regeneration after winter’s inertia.

    In an age dominated by speed and spectacle, the festival of Basant Panchami arrives discreetly, with lasting effects. It is also celebrated as Saraswati Puja. It serves as a benchmark for values that remain essential, for learning and creativity. Celebrated across the length and breadth of India, the festival announces the advent of spring while venerating Goddess Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, music, and arts.

    Basant Panchami marks the turning point of the season. In northern India, the winter still lingers on, while central and western regions begin to experience a softer, spring-like weather. The festival captures this vivid moment of transition. This is when nature moves from dormancy toward growth, mirroring the human journey from inertia to wilful action.

    The prominence of yellow during Basant Panchami is deeply symbolic. Associated with Goddess Saraswati, the colour represents knowledge, clarity, and creativity. It also reflects the mustard fields that bloom across much of northern and central India during this time. The custom of wearing yellow and preparing yellow-coloured food expresses collective optimism and intellectual resumption.

    Education lies at the heart of Basant Panchami. Families traditionally encourage children to write their first letters on this day, marking the beginning of their learning. Music, learning, and artistic pursuits are considered auspicious during the festival. It reaffirms Goddess Saraswati’s central position in cultural consciousness, underscoring the belief that knowledge is both sacred and transformational.

    The fever of kite flying, especially popular in the north and west of India, adds to the festive celebrations of the day. Skies filled with colourful kites speak of the collective joy and shared celebration. It reminds communities of the simple pleasures that accompany the change of season.

    Mythology lends further fillip to the occasion. In several traditions, Basant Panchami is associated with Kamadeva, the god of love, and his consort Rati. The well-known episode of Kamadeva awakening Lord Shiva from deep meditation highlights the central philosophical theme, the tug-of-war between desire and discipline. Once, when Shiva’s third eye reduced Kamadeva to ashes at Umananda Islet in the River Brahmaputra at Guwahati, it highlighted the destructive potential of unchecked desire. Kamadeva’s revival later, following Shiva’s marriage to Parvati, represents the restoration of balance between worldly engagement and spiritual life-lessons. The lesson remains strikingly relevant in contemporary life.

    The festival is not only celebrated in the sub-continent of India but also in Nepal, Bali, Indonesia, and other continents of the world with a Hindu diaspora, thus transcending geography and religious boundaries. At its core, the festival reminds us that the renewal of seasons, ideas, and values requires patience, balance, and reverence for knowledge. In a rapidly changing world, this message remains as vital as ever.

    Basant Panchami also carries a historical significance beyond Hindu traditions, as Maharaja Ranjit Singh encouraged its observance as a day of social gathering within Sikh communities, particularly in gurdwaras. The day additionally commemorates the martyrdom of Haqiqat Rai, who was executed in 1741 for refusing religious conversion. His remembrance adds a solemn note to the festival.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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