Saadi says

 

Rookhi Sookhy Khai kay - By Khushwant Singh @ 98

The following is my other favorite article from KS after his article on life lessons

Rookhi Sookhy Khai kay

By Khushwant Singh @ 98 

Coming on to 98 and still earning more than I did in my younger days, people ask me how I manage to do it. They regard me as an expert on longevity. I have pronounced on the subject before; I will repeat it with suitable amendments based on my experience in the past two years.

Earlier I had written that longevity is in one’s genes: children of long-living parents are likely to live longer than those born to short-lived parents. This did not happen in my own family. My parents who died at 90 and 94 had five children, four sons and a daughter.

The first to go was the youngest of the siblings. Next went my sister who was the fourth. My elder brother who was three years older than me went a couple of years ago. Two of us remain; *I, who will soon be 98, and my younger brother, a retired Brigadier three years younger than me and in much better health*. He looks after our ancestral property.

Nevertheless, I still believe gene is the most important factor in determining one’s life-span. More important than analysing longevity is to cope with old age and make terms with it. 

As we grow older, we are less able to exercise our limbs. We have to devise ways to keep them active. Right into my mid-eighties, I played tennis every morning, did rounds of Lodhi gardens in winter and swam for an hour in summer. I am unable to do this any more. The best way to overcome this handicap is *regular massages*. I have tried different kinds and was

disappointed with the oil drip and smearing of oil on the body. A good massage needs powerful hands going all over one’s body from the skull to the toes. I have this done at least once a day or at times twice a day.

I am convinced that this has kept me going for so long. Equally important is the need to *cut down drastically one’s intake of food and drink.* I start my mornings with guava juice. It is tastier and more health-giving than orange or any other fruit juice. My breakfast is one scrambled egg on toast. My lunch is usually patli kichri with dahi or a vegetable. I skip

afternoon tea. In the evening, I take a peg of single malt whisky. It gives me a false appetite.

Before I eat supper, I say to myself “Do not eat too much.” I also believe that a meal should have just one kind of vegetable or meat followed by *a pinch of chooran*. It is best to eat alone and in silence. Talking while eating does not do justice to the food and you swallow a lot of it. For me no more Punjabi or Mughlai food. I find South India idli, sambhar and grated coconut easier to digest and healthier.

Never allow yourself to be constipated. The stomach is a storehouse of all kinds of ailments. Our sedentary life tends to make us constipated. *Keep your bowels clean* however you can: by laxatives, enemas, glycerin suppositories, whatever. *Bapu Gandhi fully understood the need to keep bowels clean. Besides, taking an enema every day,* he gave enemas to his women admirers.

Impose strict discipline on your daily routine. If necessary, use a stop-watch. I have *breakfast exactly at 6.30 am lunch at noon, drink at 7 pm, supper at 8.* Try to develop peace of mind. For this you must have a healthy bank account. Shortage of money can be very demoralising. It does not have to be in crores, but enough for your future needs and possibility of falling ill. Never lose your temper, it takes a heavy toll and jangles one’s nerves. Never tell a lie. Always keep your national motto in mind: *Satyamev Jayate* - only truth triumphs.

Give generously. Remember you can’t take it with you. You may give to your children, servants or charity. You will feel better. There is joy in giving. Drive out envy of those who have done better than you in life. A Punjabi verse sums up: *Rookhi Sookhi Khai kay Thanda Paani Pee, Na Veykh paraayee chonparian na Tarssain jee* (Eat dry bread and drink cold water Pay no heed or envy those who smear their chapattis with ghee) Do not conform to the tradition of old people spending time in prayer and long hours in places of worship. That amounts to conceding defeat. Instead take up a hobby like gardening, growing bonsai, helping children of your neighborhood with their homework.

A practice which I have found very effective is to fix my gaze on the flame of candle, empty my mind of everything, but in my mind repeat *Aum Shanti, Aum Shanti, Aum Shanti*. It does work. I am at peace with the world. We can’t all be Fauja Singh who at 100 run a marathon race but we can equal him in longevity and creativity. I wish all my readers long, healthy lives

full of happiness.

*~ Khushwant Singh*

On Karachi's famous BVS school

 Bai Virbaijee Supariwala is one of the most famous, competitive, and high-caliber schools. While going to 'peela school' in Karachi, it was one of my wishlists. Following is an interesting write-up on its foundation and founder.

SHAPURJI SOPARIVALA PARSI SUFI 1890

(In the telling of this tale I take no help from Google but write it as I heard it from his own kin).

One night I met Dinoo, his granddaughter who also served as Principal, at a party. After dinner, we sat in a quiet corner jand the topic of her grandfather came up. This is her tale as she told it:

Coming from a middle-class family, in his lifestyle, he showed no Mystic tendencies. One morning he went to work and never came back. Search availed nothing.

After a few years, they reconciled to his loss and moved on. Twelve years passed, and one morning there he was in a mendicants robe, with a long staff, at the door, seeking permission to enter.

He was robust, even vibrant, at 60. He spoke little and ate less. He never spoke of his absence. Presently he began speaking of “doing lasting good”, which when spelled out, became, “I will build a school for boys”.

One day he sought an interview with the British Viceroy, got it, went in his robe and slippers, and returned with a Grant of the land on which the school stands.

By the same token contributions came in and the foundation was dug. The rest is history, except he asked the school be named after his wife, Virbaijee. Hence the name Bai Virbaijee Sopariwala Parsi High School, or BVS Parsi High School, is open to all communities.

I have left out details given by a granddaughter as these are sacred. 

The School stands firm, sturdy, now about 125 years old. Protect it, it is your heritage.

(Homi Jehahngirji Kaikobad)

Quote

 

Gussa - Anger

غُصہ پہاڑ کی برفیلی چوٹی کی طرح ہے۔ آپ چوٹی پر جا تو سکتے ہیں مگر وہاں قیام نہیں کر سکتے

 مُمتاز مُفتی

(Anger is like an icy top of a mountain. You can get there but can stay there) ~ Mumtaz Mufti

I became a huge fan after reading his book, " Alipur ka Eli." Unfortunately, at the end of his career, he became somewhat illogical and needlessly start believing in religious miracles.

Meaning

 

Love and care combo

Not necessary to agree with - but intense!

"If love dies, care walks way" ~ Anonymous 

 “چاہ مر جائے تو پرواہ کا بھی اِنتقال ہو جاتا ہے”-

Aas ka cancer

کاش انسان کو آس کا کینسر نہ ہوتا 

امرتا پریتم

BaraN ke Shodi Mapras

~ A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blossoms.~

جب برسنا برسانا ہی ٹھہرا

پھر نور کیا نار کیا خاکی کیا

حرم کیا مسجد کیا میخانہ کیا

Power of Songs

Songs are funny things. They can slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history. 

~ Pete Seeger

Evil of Lying

 

Sahir's Pal do Pal - full version