Persist

yaaro utho chalo bhaago daudo… marne se pahle jeena naa chhodo

(friends, get up, make a move… before your death, don’t give up on life)

-       song from the 1983 Hindi movie - Avtaar

The song is a call to persist on the path of life and not give up before the eventual end in death. In the film, the protagonist makes the motivational pitch to inmates of a home for elders who are homeless despite having families. It is an urge to be active instead of lamenting their hurtful predicament.

Life is about persisting until the end. Till the end is not upon us, it does not make sense to give up on life. The indefatigable do not allow life to be crushed. They do not allow an ambience of death when the body is still alive. They persist even when lifelessness sets in. They strive to revive and restore life.

My father loved to quote the famous line from the sport of cricket, ‘the game is not over till the last ball is bowled!’ Indeed, true players don’t give up before the game is over. In fact, they don’t give up even when the game is over. They know that there will be other games to redeem inherent actuality.

We have to rise up to every challenge that looms large. Even when things fail, it is never really over. We must lift ourselves and step ahead to display our willingness to live life to the fullest effort. Such resolves to persist can delay or even sometimes defer the eventuality of death. And even if it does not, it will be a life lived well!

Don’t give up or desist

Life is when we persist!

~ Pravin K Sabnis