The End of Life
Death can come at any time, taking us to another world. Therefore, we must exert our time and efforts in this world to prepare for the next world where all of us are bound.
Masti Venkatesha Iyengar (1891-1986) was a famous Kannada language writer. As a young man, he went straight into the Mysore Civil Service from the university. A conscientious civil servant, his seniority and ability qualified him for ministership, but he was treated unfairly and denied the promotion he deserved. Disillusioned, he went into premature retirement.
After his retirement, he took to writing short stories and novels. With approximately 150 works to his credit, he became famous as an outstanding and prolific writer. For one of his books, Chakaweera Rajinder, he received the Gyaan Peeth award from the Indian government and a prize of Rs. 150,000.
Mr Masti’s interview with Sri Dhar was published in The Times of India (August 12, 1984). Although Mr Masti held his works in high esteem, he was not particularly moved by the latest acknowledgement of his literary prowess. He said, “I am too old to be happy.”
Mr Masti meant that he was too old at 94 to appreciate any happiness. A sad end to a literary career spanned a century’s larger part. Mr Masti’s first book was published in 1912. Then, he had to wait 70 years for the award that should have crowned his efforts. However, when the climax of his literary career came, he was in no position to appreciate it. Old age had dampened his enthusiasm and made him indifferent to success.
The same is true of everyone in this world. Like Mr Masti, everyone works for something here on earth and exerts all his strength to achieve a particular end. However, only after an extended period, as in Mr Masti’s 70 years, one’s efforts reap the rewards. At that time, the concerned person is too old to relish his reward; besides, death may come, closing the pages of the story of his life, and transporting him to another world. Therefore, it is better to exert one’s time and efforts in this world on preparations for the next world where all of us are bound.
