Birth Days by God
by: Guest
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Word Count: 525
It were Gods who started this concept of birthdays. A few Gods like Vishnu condescend to come and live humans once in a million years or so. That certainly is a date to remember, gratefully. Amongst the trinity in Hindus, Shiva never incarnated and hence no birthday. Shaivites did not like it and decided to celebrate his wedding anniversary as Maha Shivratri and demanded as much importance for it as Krishna Janamashtami. They got it too. Ishwar and Allah did not like to assume human forms and get involved in their squabbles. Still they were as concerned about their devotees as Vishnu. So they sent their messangers - prophets in the name of Christ and Mohammed respectively. They were bestowed with full powers too. Hence their birthdays have a rightful place alongside Krishna.
Still, what egoist concept motivated humans to celebrate their own birthdays. Who the devil they think they are. One can understand parents celebrating children's birthday because, atleast till the age of thirteen, each year is a milestone and they are changing. To record these is an understandable human weakness. But thirteen onwards it has no meaning. In case of girls, if they like they can go upto sweet sixteen. Beyond that, in any case, no woman likes to be reminded of her having put on another year. So why force a birthday on her. A husband, I knew, once complained he was growing old alone. I remined him that he has his wife keeping him a company. "What nonsense!" he retorted. "She never put on a year since she was thirty five."
Why old people shall celebrate their birthdays? What pessimism is this? Why they want to remind themselves that another year is gone and they are another step nearer to exit! Unless they are using these celebrations as countdown. It is macabre. And the people around them who insist on celebrating it definitely have weird sense of humour - be it their relatives, friends or sycophants. When as such celebrations they sing eulogies and recall his/her past achievements, they actually tell them, "you are over the hill, old chap (or old girl)! Lump it!"
Same way it goes for anniversaries. Which man, in his proper sense, wants to remember how long he has been in captivity. Or to celebrate the date on which he lost his independence. A gentleman during the silver jubilee of his wedding has remarked, "if I were in jail serving a life term, I would have been a free man eleven years back." For a woman, of course, it's milestone celebrating her successful tenure as a jailor. Once at such party, I wished the old man, "many happy returns of the day." Resignedly he said, "it's alright, what can you do." I have a suspicion that Maha Shivratri perpetuated the idea of anniversaries.
So should one, or should one not celebrate a birthday? Oh, have it your own way! I think all the people I know should celebrate their birthdays with a grand party, where the toast is raised with the best spirits. I love it!
About the Author
Radhe Kishan, Guwahati
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