"Truths We Ignore"

As human beings, we often reach out to help those who are falling, extending our hands in times of need. The recent news of the stampede is deeply shocking and hard to grasp. The loss of so many lives in such tragedies is undeniable, and it's a stark reminder of the fragile nature of life. Those who survived often attribute their escape to divine grace, suggesting that those who perished were somehow not favored by this grace. When will we acknowledge our mistakes and understand that such incidents often result from the overwhelming rush towards the divine? The God we worship does not require us to rush or discriminate between those who arrive first or last. God does not promise special blessings based on our punctuality or crowding into sacred spaces. We are aware of the congestion at temples—whether we are local residents or regular visitors. Yet, we continue to crowd into these places, bringing both children and adults into potentially dangerous situations. In the chaos, we ofte...

In the wake of the recent tragedy—the rape and murder of a medical trainee—I find myself gripped by a familiar fear. When my child was late by just fifteen minutes, my heart raced, my senses screamed that something was wrong. I was overwhelmed with dread. I spoke to the driver, but still, disbelief gnawed at me until I saw my child's smile. Even then, I needed reassurance. I asked random questions, seeking comfort that my three-year-old daughter was safe. This is not the first time I have felt this way. The shadow of such incidents has loomed over me before. Yet, despite the gnawing fear, I try to push these thoughts away. It's as though confronting them makes the world seem even more futile, as if humanity itself is dying. We live in an era devoid of trust, where faith seems to be in short supply. How do we raise our children in such a world? Have we made a mistake by bringing them into this troubled existence? I wish to avoid such grim thoughts, to turn away from the darkness...