To do, or die

The debate of life after death is a very lively one, often kicking up a lot of heat and dust. Some say we just simply return to dust, while others insist that we simply move on, taking the comfort of another body. Like dropping the clothes you are wearing and wearing new ones.

So they say.

Not an easy notion to decipher, analyze and resolve. The debate will likely last a lifetime. Till death do it part, from us.

But I ask, while there's the present moment to live with, why really bother about what may happen later? Like, uh, isn't there enough to do in our current life?

Last Saturday, some of us AOL buddies went off to a nearby slum to invite folks to attend a program called 'Nav Chetan Shibir'. We've been conducting this program for slum-dwellers around our neighborhood.

Slums have literally mushroomed all over Bangalore ever since construction has kicked off in a big way. These people put together any odd pieces of plastic to create a makeshift tent. They cook, clean and sleep in these tiny tents.

The Nav Chetan Shibir program was designed by Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar. It teaches people about hygiene, sanitation, good food habits and some breathing exercises. It also mixes in some fun, as we make participants sing and dance. Three consecutive days, each session lasting around 1 and a half hours. None of these folks can spare any more time- they work so hard throughout the day.

The particular slum that we visited had tiny houses fitted with asbestos rooftops. Each house had a tiny room and an adjoining toilet. The front door couldn't possibly be higher than 5 feet.

Not all the scenes were as pleasant as the smiles of these two girls.

There was Thomas the drunkard who chattered incessantly, often mumbling to himself. Even as we tried to move away from his reeking breath, he would lean forward and generously invite us to his home.

We thought there was some animal enthusiast amongst these folks who had tied a red ribbon around the neck of the neighborhood dog. On closer look, however, we were shocked to find that the 'ribbon' was actually a nasty red weal caused by some infection. We winced at the sight and wondered how the children roamed about freely with sick stray dogs frolicking about.

The 3-day program starts this Friday. Hopefully, by the end of the program, many among the slum-dwellers will start boiling their drinking water, washing their vegetables, cleaning their surroundings.

Well, this is life. Never mind what comes beyond it.