Being human, pain is inevitable due to our Past Karmas (Prarabdh); however, converting this pain into positive force is in our hands. Our Present Karmas (Purushartha). Let me share with you my own personal story on this long and at times very painful journey, where I am being guided by Shiv Shakti. Whatever I share today I learnt from them.
I was born in 1953 and graduated from IIT with a B. Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1974. After completing my Cost and Works Accountancy, standing second in All India, an MBA from University of Santa Clara in 1976 and C. P.A. from State Board of Accountancy – State of California in 1977. I began working at Price Waterhouse. I later moved to the World Bank in 1982 while also completing my M.A. in Economics at California State University, Hayward.
In 1985, I got married to Priti in Mumbai. Shortly after, in 1986, our first son, Siddh, was born in Mumbai under the medical supervision of the best team of doctors. Yet two days after birth he developed hypoglycemia, and his brain was severely damaged. It was a major shock of my life. At that time, I used to faint at the sight of blood.
WHY ME? We were both young, first born with no family history. We went to several well-known hospitals in the USA for the next 6 years. We did not get the answer for why it happened. Would our next child be normal?
Finally, when the Kennedy Krieger Institute, affiliated with John Hopkins and one of the most renowned institutes in the world, told us that nothing could be done since his brain had been severely damaged, we decided to migrate back to India leaving behind a flourishing professional career.
All three of us surrendered our permanent residency. It was a major decision for my professional career but then I considered Siddh as BUDDHA’s son. If BUDDHA wanted us to take care of Siddh, we must do our best, no questions asked. Priti has done a wonderful job of taking care of him as a mother for all these years. Even today we feel it was the right decision.
Being a Technocrat, I wanted to know, “Why Me? What did we do wrong in our past lives to have this situation?” We did not get any clear answers from medical professionals.
Pain can be a Very Good Teacher
As they say when “Dawa” (Medicine) does not work, one goes for Dua (Prayers). Being a Jain, we asked a Jain Monk then a Hindu Monk and finally a Buddhist Monk. All of them told us Siddh (my son) was a very big monk in his previous life but then they stopped. If he was such a big monk, then why in this life he could not talk, he could not walk and remained in diapers till the very end?
In 2005, finally, thru “Naadi Shastra” part of “Shiv Shakti”. “Agasthya Maharishi” told us about what we did wrong in our previous lives. The past cannot be changed but future courses can be corrected. Mistakes were made in the past and that cannot be undone now. However, we can certainly do something positive in this life. The reason we suffered is due to our negative Karmas and only asset that stays with us like a shadow is our own Karmas in this life and even after this life.
In July 2021, Siddh left his mortal body. Just prior to that I started “Siddh Divyang Foundation” to build the Karma account. “Divyang” means Differently abled.
Siddh Divyang Foundation (SDF) – Our Vision: Prevention is Better than Cure
If a weak sapling is supported early in its growth, it has a better chance to be a stronger tree. Having experienced the pain and suffering of Divyang son, I had realized that early intervention can change the quality of lives for newborn babies and Divyang children.
We registered the Siddh Divyang Foundation in June 2021 as a Non-Profit and Charitable company and as a Section 8 Company under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013. We have undertaken a number of initiatives including apps for diagnosing risk factors for neonatal mortality as well as for early diagnostic and corrective actions for babies; an RFID card based system replacing flash card training; and a talking map to teach geography for the visually impaired. More details can be found on our website.
Together we can make it a better world. Let us be grateful to the Creator for the Wonderful World we live in.
IIT Bombay 1974 Reunion 