Thank you Life!

Narcissism Alert !!!

As I near the end of a chapter in life and cherish the last few days of this unforgettable holiday, I could not help becoming a little reflective. I felt the need to pen down and acknowledge all those experiences which became instrumental in shaping me the way I am.

Being my Maa’s son has taught me that having a career does not mean having a comfortable job that pays you well- it means doing something with all the passion in your heart so that you can truly make a difference. Being my Dad’s son taught me that life is about nothing but people and the relations you cultivate; how genuinely you cared will determine how long and how fondly you will be remembered after you have left this planet.

Being an epileptic taught me that the brain is an unpredictable and unreliable organ which can make you feel really vulnerable and scared at times. The key is to have faith in forces above you- doctors and God – who will ensure that you come out of the turbulence feeling safe and in control.

Growing up in the beautiful township of Ghatsila that had dismal electricity supply back then, taught me that after a few hours of ‘load-shedding’, the light always comes back. It is for you to decide if you want to sit in the dark and complain or light a candle, go to the terrace and sing songs. Kolkata and a group of enlightened Bengalis who were an integral part of my childhood , taught me how the left and right hemispheres of one’s brain can act in wonderful synchrony to keep both the scientist and the artist alive in you. Mumbai has taught me that it is very ordinary to dream, but to never give up on those dreams ,no matter what comes along the journey, is extra- ordinary. My brief association with New Delhi and an amazing bunch of loud North-Indian friends have taught me that the more you celebrate life, the more there is to celebrate.

Being in Grant Medical College taught me that no color- no matter how bright- alone can make a rainbow; you need to have all the seven colors within you. Studying and practising medicine taught me how to save lives, but it also taught me that life is full of unfathomable injustices.You can do everything that the book says, but the heart can decide to stop beating whenever it feels like and it does not owe anyone any explanation! My love for kids has taught me that it is okay not to have your guards up all the time. If you fall asleep without planning, there will always be someone stronger and wiser to hold you in his/her arms and make sure you are fine.

Being an ardent follower of Bollywood movies has taught me that a lot of drama is an essential precursor to a happy ending- an ending with a lot of singing and dancing. Being a SRK fan has taught me that a hero can cry. Being a Vidya Balan devotee has taught me that you need to be odd, to be number one.

Falling in love with that one person and then everything falling apart taught me that noone can break you heart, it can just break open so that more people can fit in.

Being a sculptor who has primarily worked with clay , has taught me that if anything is not ready to be molded, it is not going to be a masterpiece. Being a poet who does not ( or perhaps, CAN NOT ) make his poems rhyme, has taught me that it is okay not to have control over your thoughts ; what is important is to retain the honesty and the beauty in those thoughts.

An incredible assortment of friends have taught me incredible things- ranging from doing shots to meditating . They all look different, speak different tongues, are from different ages and different places; but they have all left indelible impressions on me. I intend to discuss all of those impressions more lucidly some other time. But what I have realised is that everyone has insecurities and everyone has ambitions; but everyone is capable of loving you if you are capable of letting them love you.

The undiminishing presence of Goddess Durga in my life has been teaching me how to deal with Demons- mostly the ones inside me and the few outside too.

Writing this award speech has taught me that you can not stop yourself from being full of yourself, the challenge that remains is to accept that everyone is as special as you are.

I feel overwhelmed, I feel blessed, I feel grateful….towards the universe for making sure that I got the perfect blend of these ingredients. I am ready to move ahead now to a different chapter and do everything that I need to do, but I also intend to hold on to these precious life experiences .

Dear Past,
Thank you for the lessons!
Dear Future,
I am ready!

— Kuntal Sen, MD

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