Tribute to Manoj Todaria
By Alok Ulfat
Manoj embarked on an eternal odyssey, departing from our midst far too prematurely, leaving behind a treasure trove of cherished memories. His demeanour was typically reticent, yet his eyes sparkled with inquisitiveness. He exuded an effervescent persona, perpetually adorned with a radiant smile. Although he is no longer physically present, his memory will be eternally enshrined in our hearts.
His devoted wife, Kiran Bhatt, renowned for her magnanimous spirit and dedication to social causes, stood steadfastly by his side through every vicissitude. Their progeny, son Dev and daughter Devyani, are both promising individuals poised to make significant contributions to society.
Kiran and Manoj frequently visited Nanhi Dunya Creative School on Inder Road, where they held the institution’s endeavours in high esteem. On one occasion, I suggested the idea of tiling some ground areas, and shortly thereafter, Manoj and Kiran generously sent a truckload of tiles. His benevolent heart and acts of kindness will be profoundly missed.
In Indian Sanatan culture, it is believed that one does not perish but merely transitions to a different dimension. This metamorphosis of elements signifies the soul’s journey onward; obviating the concept of Rest in Peace Dehant – means the end of the body and the beginning of a new birth. The Upanishads, in concurrence with the Vedas, propagate the belief that every living being harbours a spirit capable of transmigrating between various forms. In Bharat, we see death as the transition of one’s spirit into a new being, undergoing a continuous cycle of births and deaths.
I still can’t believe that Manojji has gone. Bon Voyage dear Manoj. I have a feeling we shall meet gain in a different form and space. Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti. Here is a poem dedicated to him.
Like a lotus, I blossomed, pure and bright,
And as the petals fall, I drift into the night.
Do not mourn my friends, though I must depart,
For in the fabric of your lives, I remain a part.
My essence, like fragrance, will softly recede,
Yet in your hearts, my spirit will still lead.
I am with you all, in memories and dreams,
In the quiet moments and in sunlit beams.
We are all part of the vast, endless ocean,
Where waves rise and fall in a timeless motion.
In the dance of the tides and the songs of the deep,
Our souls blend and merge, in an eternal sweep.
Like a wave that rises, only to dissolve,
We journey through existence, mysteries to solve.
Yet as the water in the wave meets the ocean’s embrace,
We are never truly apart, just in a different place.
The water in the wave is the same as the sea,
Boundless and infinite, forever free.
In every crest and trough, in every ebb and flow,
Our spirits are connected, more than we know.
So let not sorrow take the place of joy,
For life and death are but a continuous ploy.
As I move through realms and into the great unknown,
Remember, I am with you, though I’ve journeyed on.
In the grand dance of existence, we all play our role,
Bound together in essence, heart, and soul.
We rise and we fall, we merge and we blend,
In the endless cycle where beginnings meet their end.
And as the lotus blooms and fades away,
Know that I am with you in the light of day.
For in the ocean of being, we are all the same,
Waves in a boundless sea, forever part of the same eternal flame.
(Alok Ulfat is an engaged cultural worker, director, playwright and educationist)
