When life goes topsy and turvy
When bends on the road seem too curvy
One day at a time is the way to go my friend
One day at a time!
When the rugged road makes you stumble
And all your plans seem to crumble
One day at a time is the way to go my friend
One day at a time!
When the cape of misery cloaks and shrouds
Peep at the rainbow, forget the clouds
One day at a time is the way to go my friend
One day at a time!
When face to face with a malady
Sport a smile, turn it into a melody
One day at a time is the way to go my friend
One day at a time!
Just stick your neck out, don’t whine!
Trouble will be on its knees, let your spirit shine!
One day at a time is the way to go my friend
One day at a time!
Remembering Tauji today…although you have left all of us for your heavenly abode but your fond and inspiring memories live in our hearts.
The world knew Tauji as Shri Surendra Pal Singh Rana. God did not bless him with children and Tauji and Taiji adopted Taiji’s niece. After retiring from the Govt.job as Nayab Tehsildaar he settled in our paternal home at Meerut. He was second of all the siblings. His life is a living example of the wonders which optimism, courage and will-power can bring about.
In 1990,he seemed to have some minor symptoms indicating a kidney problem for which my sister Dr.Rekha Panwar who was then studying in the Medical College took him for consultation in Surgery Deptt. where he was diagnosed as a case of Renal Cell Carcinoma. An operation was planned immediately by renowned surgeon Prof.V.B. Bhatnagar . One of the kidneys was removed by Nephrectomy in Meerut Medical College. Tauji improved rapidly after the surgery and as time passed, cancer seemed to be a temporary nightmare.
In 1994, he felt a mass in abdomen and drew everybody’s attention to it. It was found to be a firm matted mass of para-aortic lymph nodes sticking all around the aorta. All in the family were alarmed and immediately took medical advice. He was also a patient of Hypothyroidism, Diabetes and Hypertension and also very weak at that time so Doctors in Meerut didn’t advice surgery as there were many chances that he would not return alive from the operation theatre. But if left in that condition, the prognosis was barely a 1 or 2 months according to the specialists. My brother Dr. Rajeev Singh was working as Senior Resident in Surgery at that time in Holy Family Hospital Delhi under Dr. Mahajan. So he decided to take Tauji for an opinion to him. Dr. Mahajan, agreed that the surgery was a very high risk one but operation could be planned if the patient conceded after knowing the risk. After returning from Delhi, I still remember the whole family was in a dilemma…after much discussion the situation was truthfully conveyed to Taiji. The whole family then decided to tell Tauji the truth and do whatever he decided. Tauji decided to go for the surgery..he said “Either I will go or stay” “ If surgery is successful then at least there is a chance that I can live but if it is not done then I have to go…how do a few days matter. It is either this side or that.” The surgery was planned in Holy Family, it was an emotional moment when all of us had tears in our eyes as Tauji bade farewell saying “ Don’t know if I will be able to see you all and my dear home again.”It had been explained that he could expire on the OT table. With God’s grace and the operating surgeons’ expertise, the surgery was successful. Those were happy times, I still remember…all were happy as though we had won a battle.
After recovering from the surgery, a month of Radiotherapy was planned. It was done in Kamla Nehru Hospital Allahabad. Tauji and Taiji stayed at my Bhabhi Dr.Anurita Singh’s home for a month where her mother LateMrs.Saroj Baveja and Buaji Prof.Raj Baveja, who is a renowned Gynaecologist, and was in Kamla Nehru Hospital at that time, took real care of them. The whole family will always be thankful to them. After 1 month of radiotherapy, Tauji and Taiji returned from Allahabad and Tauji was never ever troubled by cancer again in his life. Decisions are so important in life. One minute can change the destiny of man. If Tauji would not have opted for surgery, he would have left us 20 years back.
My father and Tauji…
Happy family times….
Tauji lived a normal life after that, going for regular medical treatment to Dr. Adhip Mitra, a renowned Senior Physician in Meerut. A few years back Chronic Renal Failure was diagnosed but I can say that with only one kidney and that too in failure, Tauji managed well with only medical treatment needing hospital admission for minor problems only twice or thrice. In April 2013, his Serum Urea and Creatinine which had been stable for so long, started rising. Dialysis was advised but both Tauji and Taiji were not in favour of it as Tauji was very weak . At first we listened to him but he started becoming drowsy , had vomittings and was in a bad state. One morning my father came with tears in his eyes and said, “ I can’t see him like this…lets go for dialysis and leave to God. What do you say?!” My husband Dr.Veerottam Tomer was already of the same opinion and I too thought that we should leave no stone unturned. So Papa took Tauji for dialysis continuously for 2 months. His drowsiness went away and he was alert talking to everyone and much better. But one day when he returned after dialysis, he was drowsy and in a bad state. Immediately he was admitted where he was found to be in Septicaemia, Dr. Veerottam put him on ventilator for a few days and then miraculously was weaned off from it. Here I saw a Doctor’s judgement and dedication to save a patient. Everyone advised him against putting Tauji on ventilator and not trouble him too much but my husband told me “He will live long after this if we treat him and being doctors we must try to save the patient till the last breath.” His words proved to be true. Tauji came out of ventilator, was shifted to home much better and was conscious. Although he was bed-ridden but was otherwise perfectly fine.Taiji took great care of him at this time. Started walking with support after sometime. The most amazing part was that his serum urea and creatinine had stopped rising even without dialysis. Every doctor found this miraculous. He lived 1 year after that enjoying all the festivals always thanking all the doctors and family members for taking so much care of him. He completed 80 years in January and 55 years of marriage in May.
On 30th May I got a call from Taiji, she said, “Beta! It seems your Tauji will leave us all today, he wants to meet you… is remembering Veerottam and Rajeev a lot.” I went immediately…his eyes were closed, and he immediately recognized me as I kept my hand on his forehead saying “Tauji…” He immediately responded “Haan Beta” .He seemed to have difficulty in speaking. I sat there holding his hand for sometime. My husband and Rajeev Bhaiya too met him….blood tests were sent. It was in the morning of 31st May that Tauji breathed his last peacefully at home…..
All of us will always miss him. His life being an example for us and the ultimate proof that,
“ If you love life, life loves you”
We will always love you Tauji…May your blessed soul rest in peace…Thank you for being in our life….
‘Zindagi Pyaar Ka Geet Hai’ is a song originally rendered by Lataji for the movie ‘Souten’….I have combined the song with a few lines I wrote about Life….the lines and the English translation are given below……
Bulbule-si ye zindagi….
…..Life just like a bubble
Kabhie to saare rangon se chhalak uthati,
…..Sometimes spills over with all the colours
Kabhie sirf saleti-si reh jaati
……Sometimes is left coloured only in greys
Ek hi pal…phool mehek uthate,
……One moment,flowers spread their fragrance
Man gaa uthate, hanste-khelte, ithalaate
…..Hearts sing,dance and play with happiness
Dooje hi pal…muskaata chand pheeka-sa ho jaata
…..Next moment,the smiling moon fades away
Raat ke ghane andhkaar mein na jaane kahan gum ho jaata
…..And disappears in the deep darkness of night
Kabhie shaant nadi-si behti jaati
…..Sometimes, flows on like a peaceful river
Kabhie ek aandhi sab tehes-nehes kar jaati
…..At other times, a storm wreaks havoc
Kabhie saare jawaab de…hairaan kar jaati
….Surprises sometimes by giving answers to all the questions
To kabhie khud hi ek sawaal ban jaati
…..At other times, becomes a question itself
Bulbule-si ye zindagi…..
…. Life just like a bubble
Bas abhi thi aur abhi nahin
….Just now was there and next moment no more
Kabhie aansoo kabhie hansi bankar-
….Becomes a tear in a moment and laughter in another
Kathputli-sa sabko nachaati
….Makes everyone dance like a puppet
Bulbule-si ye zindagi…….
….Life just like a bubble Mani
Lyrics of the song and english translation are as follows……
(Zindagi Pyaar Ka Geet Hai
ise Har Dil Ko Gaana Padega) -2
….Life is a song of love That every heart will have to sing
zindagi Gham Ka Sagar Bhi Hai
….Life is also an ocean of sorrow
hanske Us Paar Jaana Padega
….which everyone has to cross smiling
jis Ka Jitna Ho Aanchal Yahaan Par
….Whatever one’s capacity
us Ko Saugaat Utni Milegi
….Gifts are bestowed on him accordingly
la La La, La La La, La La La La La La La~
jis Ka Jitna Ho Aanchal Yahaan Par
….Whatever one’s capacity
us Ko Saugaat Utni Milegi
….Gifts are bestowed on him accordingly
phool Jeevan Mein Gar Na Khile To
….If flowers do not bloom in life
kaanton Se Bhi Nibhaana Padega
….One may have to get on with thorns too
zindagi Pyaar Ka Geet Hai
ise Har Dil Ko Gaana Padega
….Life is a song of love That every heart will have to sing
hai Agar Door Manzil To Kya
….How does it matter if the destination is far-off
raasta Bhi Hain Mushkil To Kya
…..How does it matter if the path is difficult
la La La, La La La, La La La La La La La~
hai Agar Door Manzil To Kya
….How does it matter if the destination is far-off
raasta Bhi Hain Mushkil To Kya
…..How does it matter if the path is difficult
raat Taaron Bhari Na Mile To
….If one does not get a starlit sky
dil Ka Deepak Jalaana Padega
…..Then light a lamp in your heart
zindagi Pyaar Ka Geet Hai
ise Har Dil Ko Gaana Padega
….Life is a song of love That every heart will have to sing
zindagi Ek Paheli Bhi Hai
….Life is also a riddle
sukh Dukh Ki Saheli Bhi Hai
….is also a friend in happiness and sorrow
la La La, La La La, La La La La La La La~
zindagi Ek Paheli Bhi Hai
….Life is also a riddle
sukh Dukh Ki Saheli Bhi Hai
….is also a friend in happiness and sorrow
zindagi Ek Wachan Bhi To Hai
….Life is also a promise
jise Sab Ko Nibhaana Padega
…..That everyone will have to fulfill
zindagi Pyaar Ka Geet Hai
ise Har Dil Ko Gaana Padega
….Life is a song of love That every heart will have to sing
zindagi Gham Ka Sagar Bhi Hai
hanske Us Paar Jaana Padega
….Life is also an ocean of sorrow That everyone has to cross smiling
ग़र धूप न हो, तो छाँव ही क्या ?
रात न हो, तो सुबह ही क्या ?
गुज़रने को तो ज़िंदगी गुज़र ही जाती है….
ठोकर न लगी तो रोज़ की इस
कदमताल का मज़ा ही क्या ?
ग़र आँसू नहीं तो मुस्कान ही क्या ?
सूखा न हो तो बारिश की बूँद भी क्या ?
ज़िंदगी के रास्ते अच्छा है ग़र आसां हों…..
पर मुश्किलें न हों, तो मंज़िल पा जाना ही क्या ?
जब निराशा नहीं तो आशा ही कैसी ?
और हार न हो तो जीत भी कैसी ?
आगे बढ़ते जाना अच्छा तो है मगर….
ज़मीं न देखी तो आसमां पा लेना ही क्या ?
मणि
The English translation of this poem is given below…..
When life goes topsy and turvy
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