ओल्ड इज़ गोल्ड - शनिवार विशेष - 56
'ओल्ड इज़ गोल्ड' के सभी श्रोता-पाठकों को सुजॉय चटर्जी का सप्रेम नम्स्कार! दोस्तों, भगवान से इन्सान और पशुओं को जितनी भी अनमोल चीज़ें मिली हैं, उनमें सबसे अनमोल देन है आँखें। आँखें, जिनसे हम दुनिया को देखते हैं, अपने प्रियजनों को देखते हैं। अपने संतान को बड़ा होते देखने में जो सुख है, वह शायद सबसे सुखद अनुभूति है, और यह भी हम अपनी आँखों से ही देखते हैं। पर ज़रा सोचिए उन लोगों के बारे में जिनकी आँखों में रोशनी नहीं है, जो नेत्रहीन हैं। कितनी अन्धेरी, कितनी बेरंग होती होगी उनकी दुनिया, क्या इसका अंदाज़ा आप लगा सकते हैं! पर मैं और आप अपने एक छोटे से प्रयास से कम से कम एक नेत्रहीन को नेत्र ज़रूर प्रदान कर सकते हैं। २५ अगस्त से ४ सितम्बर भारत में 'राष्ट्रीय नेत्रदान सप्ताह' के रूप में पालित किया जाता है। आइए आज 'ओल्ड इज़ गोल्ड शनिवार विशेष' में इसी पर चर्चा की जाए। चर्चा क्या दोस्तो, आइए आपको एक कहानी सुनाता हूँ जो मुझे इंटरनेट पर ही प्राप्त हुई थी। यह एक सत्य घटना है अनीता टेरेसा अब्राहम के जीवन की।
I don't remember my grandfather, as he passed away when I was three years old. He was known as a very terrorizing person. There was nobody in the town who did not know about his thundering anger. My father hardly remembers his father talking to his children or expressing some kind of affection or love towards them. He was always remembered as a person who gave blunt replies and didn't care about what other people felt. But I guess, eventually as he walked closer to his gray old days, he reformed himself to a sober person.
With the birth of his first grandchild (me), he became even more sober and sweet. My grandmother and father saw different changes, they started seeing a face they had never seen before. But my grandfather still remained very reserved. My first three years were with my grandparents, far away from my parents, who flew to Dubai for work. For my grandparents I was the child, God had gifted them in their old age, to pamper, love and caress. My grandmother cooked me all the possible food the three year old, could eat and my grandfather carried me everywhere this three year old girl could go. There was nothing this little fairy had missed in that small village.
Soon, the whole village knew this inseparable grandfather and granddaughter. There was never a moment one could see either of us alone. My grandfather loved me so much, that he wouldn't open his eyes in the morning without seeing this little fairy who taught the art of living.
After three long years, my parents came home, with a passport and a visa all ready for me to fly away. My grandparents though very hesitant and sad, were helpless and so had to let me go with my parents. Although they brought me up those three years, they had to accept the fact that I was only their grandchild and had to let me go with my parents. Never did I know, when I bid him good bye, I would part from him for life.
After that day, my grandfather went back to his old ways. He used to get angry and irritated even at the smallest creek of door. He spent his time all alone. He sat at the veranda with a confused stare on the plain floor. He missed his little fairy. He kept telling my grandmother that, they shouldn't have looked after me, maybe then he wouldn't be in this state!!
In a year's time, on a dreadful morning, the news of my grandfather's death reached us. Since I was a small girl, the reality of death was too complex for me to comprehend. But I knew that there was something very bad that happened and the next time I went home, I would never be able to run into those warm arms again.
After a year I came to know, that my grandfather had donated both his eyes to two blind people, who rejoiced in his name with the power of vision. Nobody in the family knew about it, except my uncle. While donating grandfather had told my uncle that he wanted to donate his eyes once he dies so that his eyes would still live to see his little fairy. Every time I think of that thought of my dear Grandfather, my eyes fill with tears.
I have met the two people who can now see because of his great deed. Though I don't know them, those eyes do smile at me. If my grandfather, who was a very rude and reserved man in others eyes, could do it, I think all of us can do it. Donate your eyes, you can make many witness the world of love.
इस कहानी को पढकर शायद आपकी आँखें भी मेरी तरह नम हो गई होंगी। अब इसके बाद कुछ और कहने की आवश्यकता नहीं। अगर हमारे इस विशेषांक को पढ़कर आपमें भी नेत्रदान करने की इच्छा जागृत हुई है, तो इसे हम अपनी सफलता मानेंगे। आइए चलते चलते 'अनुराग' फ़िल्म का गीत सुनते हैं लता मंगेशकर और मोहम्मद रफ़ी की आवाज़ों में। आनन्द बक्शी के बोल और सचिन देव बर्मन का संगीत। हम ख़ुद अपनी आँखों से दुनिया तो देखते ही हैं, पर क्यों न हम ऐसा कुछ कर जाएँ कि हमारे जाने के बाद हमारी आँखें किसी और के आँखों को रोशनी प्रदान करें। नेत्रदान असल में प्रेमदान, जीवनदान है, सबसे महत दान है। आप इस गीत का आनन्द लें और मुझे, यानि अपने इस दोस्त सुजॉय चटर्जी को अनुमति दें, नमस्कार!
और अब एक विशेष सूचना:
२८ सितंबर स्वरसाम्राज्ञी लता मंगेशकर का जनमदिवस है। पिछले दो सालों की तरह इस साल भी हम उन पर 'ओल्ड इज़ गोल्ड' की एक शृंखला समर्पित करने जा रहे हैं। और इस बार हमने सोचा है कि इसमें हम आप ही की पसंद का कोई लता नंबर प्ले करेंगे। तो फिर देर किस बात की, जल्द से जल्द अपना फ़ेवरीट लता नंबर और लता जी के लिए उदगार और शुभकामनाएँ हमें oig@hindyugm.com के पते पर लिख भेजिये। प्रथम १० ईमेल भेजने वालों की फ़रमाइश उस शृंखला में पूरी की जाएगी।