“GURU PURNIMA”

An auspicious day for us when we acknowledge the presence of our gurus in our life. Those whom we admire, those who have touched our lives and taught us - our teachers, our seniors, people we have been inspired by. The ‘guru-shishya’ tradition is a long and cherished one. They give us knowledge, they educate us. And because they do so they enlighten our lives, make us better humans. Education therefore was held and still does hold a most important ingredient in our growth. Indeed in the growth of any nation. Literacy has been an envied accomplishment and those that have been fortunate to achieve that I am certain lead a valuable existence.

There are many calls today and messages from all quarters wishing me on this occasion and in a sense acknowledging an association they have had with my work and thereby theirs. I am deeply humbled by this act, but embarrassed too that others should consider me of some value in their existence.

The EF has been a great source of my learning too. They correct my grammar, my expressions my spellings. They give me references to topics that I may not have known or have guessed to be known. Like the ‘hang out’ in yesterday’s post. Of course my words were written in jest, but how wonderful for EF to educate me on its origin. Look up the comments of yesterday DAY 441 and there shall be an entire description of how in the olden days there were many hangings that were conducted. And so often became the executions that due to the lack of any other entertainment in the city, people would look forward to these hangings as a form of an entertainment. Hence the expression ‘hanging out’ ! Sounds credible enough. Though I must observe that it took an awfully long time for this 21st century generation to think of it now, when perhaps the deed was executed a few centuries ago !!

I was due to travel out tonight but a small problem has arisen. I developed a pain in the stomach much like the one I got last birthday. And it happened just when I was getting set to leave from London. So I travelled home in order that I may be in a climate that understands my condition, rather than stay back in alien country and subject myself to a medical from those that are unaware of my history. I drove straight to my doctor on arrival late last night and after some external physical examinations was subjected to CT scans this morning. The results do not show anything, but the trouble exists, albeit in a much smaller scale than the last time. Some more tests have been advised tomorrow. I have therefore postponed my travel until there is a fix on the problem and a possible line of treatment. I would not want to get moving again and land up in unknown territory and end up in hospital. Its disturbing to be in such state. Frustrating that despite extreme care a repetition of this problem keeps occurring. So medications and rest have been the order of the day with a prayer that there be no further complications.

I was keen to not disclose all these gory details to you, but the link and the association is too strong to be ignored or kept away. I do not think that there is a need for alarm, but I do not want to take chances and want to give the doctors sufficient time for their opinion and diagnosis and future treatment.

So many vein punctures and needles later. Many dosages of contrast consumption, many injectables of radio resistant liquids intravenously into the system as you slide up and down in the confined cylindrical space of the CT machine, your insides warming up as the fluid lines all the important organs, I have finally been confined to the bed and … yes .. the TV.

And most of the evening has been confined to watching the memorial service for Michael Jackson at Los Angeles in the Staple Centre - a most moving ceremony of emotional speeches from near and dear and heart rendering performances by some of the leading artists of the entertainment world in USA.

I rest now in the assurance that the tests tomorrow shall also be generous to me.

My love to you,

Amitabh Bachchan