“কোভিট- ১৯” হতে “কো-ভাদিস”

রোম শহরে “কো-ভাদিস” (Quo Vadis) নামে একটা গীর্জা আছে। কথিত আছে,  অত্যাচার সহ্য করতে না পেরে সাধু পিতর রোম শহর থেকে পালিয়ে যাচ্ছিলেন। পথিমধ্যে যীশুর সাথে তাঁর সাক্ষাৎ হয়। সাধু পিতর রোম শহর ছেড়ে যাচ্ছেন আর যীশু রোম শহরে প্রবেশ করতে যাচ্ছেন। মুখোমুখি তাঁরা দুজন।
যীশুকে দেখে হতভম্ব সাধু পিতর প্রশ্ন করেন, “প্রভু আপনি কোথায় যাচ্ছেন?”
যীশু বললেন, “আমি রোম শহরের যাচ্ছি ।”
সাধু পিতরের মুখটা বিষন্নতায় ভরে গেল যীশুর কথা শুনে । বুঝতে পারলেন কত বড় ভুল করতে যাচ্ছিলেন তিনি। হয়তোবা তাঁর মনে পড়ে গিয়েছিল যে একবার সে বড় মুখ করে তিন তিনবার যীশুকে বলেছিলেন, প্রভু আমি আপনাকে ভালোবাসি। আবার সে নিজেই কিছুদিন পর যীশুকে তিন তিনবার অস্বীকার করেছিলেন। যীশু জানতেন সাধু পিতরের মানবিক দূর্বলতার কথা। তাইতো, তাঁকে তিরস্কার না করে, তাঁরই হাতে দিয়েছিলেন মন্ডলীকে পরিচালনা করার দায়িত্বভার।

যীশুর সাথে সাক্ষাৎের পর সাধু পিতর আবার রোম শহরের ফিরে আসেন। আর সেখানে সে যীশুর জন্য,  প্রাণ উৎসর্গ করেছেন। তাঁরই কবরের উপর আজ দাঁড়িয়ে আছে সাধু পিতরের মহামন্দির।
আর যীশুরর সাথে সাক্ষাৎের স্থানে গড়ে উঠেছে একটা ছোট গীর্জা, যার নাম “কো-ভাদিস”। সেই গীর্জায় মধ্যে রয়েছে একটা পদচিহ্ন। অনেকে বলে থাকেন যে সেই পদচিহ্ন হলো যীশুর পদচিহ্ন । আজও অনেকে সেখানে যান এবং প্রার্থনা করে থাকেন।

“কোভিট- ১৯” শুরু হ্ওয়ার পর থেকে আমার বার বার মনে হচ্ছে আমরা কোথায় যেন হারিয়ে গিয়েছি। আমরা দূরে সরে গিয়েছি সুন্দর এবং পবিএ জীবন থেকে । ভুলে গিয়েছি সৃষ্টিকর্তাকে। ধর্ম থেকে কর্মই বেশি প্রাধান্য পেয়েছে আমাদের জীবনে।

আমরা শুধু যীশুর কাছ থেকেই দূরে সরে যাইনি। আমরা একে অন্যের কাছ থেকেও দূরে সরে গিয়েছি। নিজেদের মধ্যে একটা বিচ্ছন্নতা ভাব গড়ে উঠেছে। আমাদের মনোভাব হয়েছে, আমাকে আমার মতো করে বাঁচতে দাও। পারিবারিক দ্বন্দ্ব নিত্যদিনের ঘটনা। পিতা-মাতা ও সন্তানের মধ্যে বিশাল ব্যবধান। ভাইয়ে-ভাইয়ে ঝগড়া এখন আর নতুন কিছু না। পাড়া-প্রতিবেশিদের কথা না হয় বাদই দিলাম!

এমনকি আমরা বিচ্ছিন্ন হয়ে গিয়েছি আমাদের নিজেদের কাছ থেকে। আমরা কি সত্যিই নিজেদের ভালোবাসি!  নিজেদেরকে যদি সত্যিকার অর্থে ভালোবাসতাম তাহলে হয়তোবা কথায় কথায় আত্মহত্যার চিন্তা মাথায় আসতোনা। মৃত্যুর কারণ হতে পারে জেনেও, আমরা নেশায় ডুবে থাকতাম না।

হয়তোবা “কোভিট- ১৯” এর কঠিন সময় আমাদের খুঁজতে হবে আমার জীবনের “কো-ভাদিস” কোথায়? কোথায় গেলে আমি যীশুর সাক্ষাৎ পাব? কোথায় গেলে আমি আমার হারিয়ে যাওয়া মানবিকতা ফিরে পাবো?

আশার কথা হলো, যীশু আবারো আমাদের ডাকছেন তাঁর কাছে ফিরে আসার জন্য। তিনি আমাদের সান্নিধ্য লাভের আশার উন্মুখ হয়ে আছেন। আসুন সবাই চেষ্টা করি “কোভিট- ১৯” হতে আমাদের জীবনের “কো-ভাদিস”- এর সন্ধান লাভ করার জন্য...

সেই মার্চ মাস! সেই সাধু পিতরের চত্বর! সেই পোপ ফ্রান্সিস!

এইতো সেদিনের কথা। তারিখটা ছিল ২৭.৩.২০২০ খ্রীষ্টাব্দ। টিভির পর্দার সামনে বসে আছি। গণমাধ্যমের মধ্য দিয়ে জানতে পেরেছি পোপ ফ্রান্সিস সাধু পিতরের চত্বরের প্রার্থনা করবেন মানবজাতির কল্যাণে । তিনি সবাইকে অনুরোধ করেছেন এই দুর্যোগপূর্ণ মুহুর্তে  তাঁর সাথে প্রার্থনায় অংশগ্রহণ করার জন্য।

Corona Virus Diary -1

Corona Virus Diary -1 (March 23, 2020)

(I have been confined in a building for the last two weeks. We are more than 70 of us in the same building. We try to keep ourselves isolated in our respective rooms and have very minimum interactions with each other. But life has not stopped. Life keeps on going like a flowing river. It is all together a different experience.)

It’s Monday! Like many other students, Monday is the most boring day of the week for me. After the weekend, it is difficult to get back to the classroom again and eventually at the centre of consultation for the practical work. Every Monday, I used to be at the university around 8.20. But today, I have to remain in my room.

8.00: As usual, after the morning prayer and breakfast, I took my smartphone to connect with the world. There were messages from Bangladesh, India, Srilanka, USA, Italy, Ireland...The world has indeed become a global village. It is a humbling experience that many people care for me. They wish me ‘stay safe’ and assure me ‘prayer’.  

10.00: I got a phone call from one of my classmates, with whom I am supposed to present a seminar next week. After the initial business talk, we began to share our life of these days. Then we connected with another friend. Three of us had video call by using zoom. What a joy ‘being’ together online. We have been together for last four years in the university- attending the lectures, having a chit-chat during breaks, doing assignment and occasionally eating Indian food outside! A sudden epidemic has brought our life into a standstill. But this has helped me to value the friendship.

12.00: As usual, I celebrated Mass with another friend. In spite of suffering, we try to ‘find’ God in everything. We find consolation and become energetic as we celebrate life with the Eucharistic Lord. 

14.00:  After the lunch, I was talking with a senior Jesuit, who happened to celebrate toady his 75^th birthday. I had to entered to his room to get a book. It was a mini library. I could find only books and books. Of course, there is a small cot and a very few personal belongings. I have seen many Jesuits, who have only books as their personal belongings.

20.30 After the dinner, I went to the terrace for a walk with the same friend with whom I celebrate Mass these days. It was so windy that we had to cut-short our walk. I went to the community recreation room to watch a film with some of the community members. My friend arrived little later. He gave me a chocolate and sat next to me. We kept on laughing as it was a hilarious film...Perhaps, this is the Jesuit community life, friends are always there to be with you to bring little ‘chocolate’ at the most difficult time...

Coronavirus: A lazy thought (Part 2)

Coronavirus: A lazy thought (Part 2)

Yes! Finally, I have made it. I have remained in the closed door for 24 hours. It must have been one of the few days in Rome that I spent whole day inside the four wall! It is possible to break the usual habit when situation demands.

It was coincidental that I dedicated a good part of the day reading on Adlerian psychology. Alfred Adler has a positive approach to life as he says human beings are holistic, creative and responsible beings. He claims maladjusted persons are not ‘sick’ rather they are ‘discouraged’. He insists that every problem can be solved and invites us to ‘live in present’. I was also reminded the words of my founder (St Ignatius of Loyola)- “finding God in everything.” Where do I find God! What good do I find in this situation! What can I do! What can we do! The endless thoughts destroyed my ‘peace of mind’. 

I came out of my room to take a short stroll. Near the stair case, I met an Indian friend with a huge mug of coffee. The fragrance of coffee reminded me of coffee that I used to take in India. I was so tempted to grab the mug from him and take a sip! I wondered from where did he get Indian type home-made coffee? Usually we get coffee from the 'coffee machine' and the fragrance is entirely different. Before I could ask him anything, he smilingly said, “I was feeling boring in my room. I went to the small kitchen and prepared Indian style coffee.”  He entered into his room without even noticing my 'tempted face'.

I felt he was very innovative. It clicked me that even in this crucial time, we can do many simple things to rejuvenate ourselves. I returned to my room and immediately took a pen and began to write of what we can do during this time of coronavirus.

1.      We can spend time with ourselves. Often we say- we are busy people in a busy world. It is time when we can enjoy our presence. We can feel our emotions, listen to our desires and dream for a better tomorrow.

2.      We can spend time with our near and dear ones. Perhaps, someone wants to share something personal. We can also share our personal stories to someone.

3.      We can even spend time with the Lord, who is our creator and saviour. It is a time that we can build personal relationship with Him.

4.      We may get in touch with a friend, whom we have not contacted for so many days. We can just call him/her up or send a mail. It refreshes our lives when we recall our old memories.

5.      We can devout sometimes to any creative work. We may have had many hobbies in the past. But our hectic life must have forced us to give up all our hobbies. It is the time that we can get back to these good hobbies. 

6.      We can read a book, watch a film or listen to the music that we wanted do for a long time. (To be continued)

Coronavirus: A lazy thought (Part 1)

Coronavirus: A lazy thought (Part 1)

It takes just seven to eight minutes to reach to the university from my residence. It is the same road that I have been taking for the last four years. I wonder that I might even go to the university by closing my eyes! Along the way, I meet and greet certain people like restaurant waiters, street vendors, shopkeepers...

I ‘had’ to go to the university today. Every day, I go to the university but today I ‘had’ to go! As I was leaving the community, I was surprised when the receptionist wanted to know the motive of going out. Usually he never asks. He listened to me carefully and finally said, “be careful.”

The narrow road going to the university was empty- a complete deserted look. There were very few vehicles. Public transports were running without any passengers. The street vendors, near Via del Corso, happen to be my countrymen, were with masks. They were sad and frightened. One of them greeted me and said, “be careful.”

I have been entering into the university building for the last four years. I know every corner of the building. I was surprised when the receptionist stopped and asked me where I was going. It was for the first time! I had to explain the motive of coming to the university. With a puzzled look, she said, “be careful.”

I had gone to meet a professor. The professor, who usually takes a lot of time, took less than a minute. I was surprised that she did not even ask me to sit down. At the end, her simple advice was- “be careful.”

I went to my work place. It is always crowded. I found just one of my class-mates was sitting in the office. I was surprised that she greeted me very softly. She is the most social-able and outgoing person that I have met in Room. Her usual smile was missing and she did not even show any interest to talk to me. As I parted from her, she said, “be careful.”

As I was returning back to my community, I was reflecting on “be careful” that I had heard from many people. In fact, many seem to be warning me- don’t do this, don’t do that. I have also received a few instructions of what I should not do during this time from the authority. Reflecting on their words, suddenly I asked myself – what can I do these days! (to be continued)

Narrowing down!

Narrowing down!

Having a meal with a friend (preferably in a restaurant!), discussing a number of issues, is something that I always look forward to. Ever since I met Mariano (just a week ago), I was surprised to see his curiosity to know new things and his insightful opinions. He critically observes things from a different perspective and tries to bring something new.  We have had difference of opinions on number of issues but this has not become a barrier in our friendship. Moreover, reflecting over certain disputed issues that I had with him, made me more ‘awaken to the realities’.

Let me share what we discussed during lunch. We were trying to get ‘connotation and etymology’ of a particular word. At one point, he went to bring his dictionary and eventually encyclopaedia to get the meaning. While he was glancing through the pages, I took my smartphone and browsed into ‘google’. He looked at me and commented smilingly, “this is the problem of our time. We want everything instant, readymade and prepared. This small device (pointed to smartphone) makes our world small. We are narrowing down our thinking patters, working ability and creative sense.” I did not agree with him. I put forward my own perspective of smartphone. He gave his own opinions and I gave my own counter opinions. Eventually, after lunch, I returned to my room to take a short nap.

While lazing on bed, I took my smartphone again. I wanted to get some points as I was to give a talk in the same evening. But before putting my password, I was reminded the words of friend, “smartphone is narrowing down our world.” I asked myself, “what am I going to do with this device?” I was looking for something instant, readymade and prepared. I stopped for a while. How true the words of my friend!

My first heart beats!

It was about 20 years ago, I was then in the Jesuit noviciate in Calcutta, India. I had just begun to learn English. I would read all sorts of magazines, books and would collect phrases or sentences that would appeal to me. One day, I happened to read an article titled ‘my first heart beats’. The title captured my attention. It was very simple but catchy. I still remember the title, though I don’t remember the content of the article. I wanted to write an article and use the same title. Finally, just two days ago, I had an experience that made me to feel ‘my first heart beats’.

After the day long sessions, I was having a leisure walk in the evening with a Jesuit friend in Berkeley, California. It is my first visit to USA. Thus, I try to observe every little thing with uttermost attention.  After crossing the campus of the university of California, we came to the Berkeley city centre. My friend wanted to take an ice-cream. Due to cold weather, I decided not to take ice-cream. But I followed my friend to the shop. Suddenly I saw a middle-aged woman entered into the shop with her daughter. Both were in shabby dress, looking very pale but with innocent smile. The woman asked for just one spoon full of ice-cream for her daughter and gave one cent to the shopkeeper. The little girl was extremely happy when she got just one spoon of ice-cream. The woman made her to say ‘thank you’ before taking ice-cream. Then they went out of the shop. Everything was happening so fast that I did not know what to do. I was just overserving them helplessly.

There was an elderly gentleman, sitting just near the door asking for alms. As the lady came out of the shop, he called her and wanted to give her ten dollars to buy an ice-cream for her daughter. The woman gently declined to take the money from him. She thanked him again and again.

I overserved everything from the shop. I immediately came out of the shop and thanked the elderly man. He looked at me and said, “it is nothing special. I wanted to give an ice-cream for the little girl. They must be having financial cries.”

I was stunned. I lost in words. It was for the first time in America that my heart beats…yes, really I felt it. The smiling face of the girl, the kind gesture of the elderly man and love of a mother will remain with me always…