Monday, May 11, 2009

Life vs death: The eternal struggle

Life and death can be seen as two entities that are constantly and perennially embroiled in a struggle, a tug of war. At the atomic level, we humans as an organism have to fight for our survival, just like millions of other different species. Even though the modern advancements in medical science have made possible extension of our life span beyond what was earlier thought possible, we live as long as we have a burning will of fire to live. We ensure our safety to live and that's what our efforts are in our fight on the side of life. We well know that for the other species, "survival of the fittest" is manifested on a physical level. For us, it is applicable on a mental and a financial level.

All being said about the fight between life and death, have we ever even thought which one is more important, or which one is more powerful? Given a choice, would you like to eliminate the entity called death altogether? Now, don't jump to conclusions straightaway, first read on...

For starters, if you observe the scene in a jungle, or even in or around the undergrowth in a local park, you can see fresh plants, saplings and leaves and blades sprouting out of just about everywhere. The dead plants and trees are very quickly replaced by the new ones. Does this not suggest that life is more powerful than death and always wins over death? Where there is death, there will be life and vice versa. Only the numbers game shifts depending on the situation, say score 100-10 for death in case of an epidemic or a catastrophe, but whatever the situation , ultimately it is life which regains its hold. Was Europe or India not repopulated after the disastrous plagues of biblical proportions in the midieval and the colonial eras? Do you not get to experience the highs of life after surviving the lows? So, I am definitely tempted to say that life is more powerful than death.

That being said, it is also true that life has no meaning without death. SAY WHAT? do we even need death, anywhere or anyplace? Is death actually welcome? The answer is that death is of course never welcome, but it plays its part in the eventual winning of life. Hard to digest? In a forest, whenever an old and large tree dies, it creates space for the development and flourishing of fresh plants and fresh life. That is the part that death plays. When an old player like Kumble retires, he makes way for the arrival of a new player like Ojha or Mishra. In our household, a member becomes old and passes on the responsibility of the family to us, and later we pass it on to our progeny.

The final point that I want to make is that death makes life an enjoyable and worthwhile. am I wrong in the head or something, is that what you are thinking? Consider this: If there was not any death, then we would live on forever. Then exactly what would we do in that long a lifespan? Because of death, our lives are limited, and that very thing makes our time and our moments precious. The happenings, the moments in life just whiz by , so it is entirely upto us to make our experiences memorable and the moments enjoyable, not only for ourselves but also for the world and our progeny. Time wated is a life wasted. We can only succour those special moments because they are limited. There is no point an infinite life without purpose. We have but one life, so better make it count to something. 

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