Is Religion more important than a HUMAN BEING?

2.5-yr-old boy fasts for 40 hrs
Manan Sanghavi is the youngest Jain to accomplish feat

Is it a feat or a curse? We keep a child of 30 months old hungry in the name of God. A child has no religion. He has no faith or belief. A child is said to be demi version of God. How can you not feed the God? Of all the religions that I have known/understand, Jainism is one community which only believes in causing pain to its followers. They are forbidden from eating some of the finest foods in this World. What good a religion will do to its followers if they prohibit them from eating? All of them know and understand, we have reached the stage when its practically impossible to follow such religious practices. Nowadays all food stuff are adulterated.

From that point of view, Sikhism is the best religion that I have known. It’s a new religion and does not bent on the old age archaic farcical so-called customs or traditions which are the foundation of all the living practices in India. Although some debate it as a Style of Living. Well the Style of Living becomes the Faith for Living. I would say it’s a very healthy style of living.

Secondly it’s the parents, besides doing something exceptional for themselves in their lives. They give all their desires and failures to their children to achieve something. I am still wondering is this a feat or a CURSE?

Read the following news item which appeared on front page of DNA newspaper on 25th April 2009.

A two-and-a-half year-old boy has shot to stardom within his community by becoming the youngest Jain to fast for 40 hours. Manan Sanghavi, a "fickle-minded naughty boy", as described by family members, started the fast on the evening of August 15 and ended it on the morning of August 17 with nothing but boiled water for comfort.

"We did not force him. It was his will that got him to fast for such a long time. His mother asked him if he wanted to fast and he readily agreed," said Manan's father, Sohil Shah, a Mumbai Central resident.

"His sister, 8, had done it when she was around his age. That was when I thought of asking him if he would like to fast. I explained it to him and he agreed," said Manan's mother, Dipali.

Manan's fast was part of Paryushan, a 980-year-old ritual comprising eight days of fasting during which priests preach the teachings of Mahavira. The first fast is for 40 hours. Jains believe fasting purifies the soul, kills greed and allows one to attain spirituality. "We never thought he would be able to do it. He is fussy and naughty and has several mood swings in a day. We even attempted to feed him midway when we thought he was feeling hungry," said Prakash Sanghavi, the boy's grandfather. "Normally, he cries for milk at five every morning. But when we took him to Jinsundar Maharaj Saheb, our local guru, he refused milk saying he was fasting. That is when we knew he would pull th...

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Suvendu Roy of Titan Industries shares his inspirational encounter with a rickshaw driver in Mumbai

Last Sunday, my wife, kid and I had to travel to Andheri from Bandra. When I waved at a passing auto rickshaw, little did I expect that this ride would be any different.

As we set off, my eyes fell on a few magazines (kept in an aircraft style pouch) behind the driver's back rest. I looked in front and there was a small TV. The driver had put on the Doordarshan channel. My wife and I looked at each other with disbelief and amusement. In front of me was a small first-aid box with cotton, dettol and some medicines. This was enough for me to realise that I was in a special vehicle. Then I looked around again, and discovered more -there was a radio, fire extinguisher, wall clock, calendar, and pictures and symbols of all faiths - from Islam and Christianity to Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. There were also pictures of the heroes of 26/11- Kamte, Salaskar, Karkare and Unnikrishnan. I realised that not only my vehicle, but also my driver was special.

I started chatting with him and the initial sense of ridicule and disbelief gradually diminished. I gathered that he had been driving an auto rickshaw for the past 8-9 years; he had lost his job when his employer's plastic company was shut down. He had two school-going children, and he drove from 8 in the morning till 10 at night. No break unless he was unwell. "Sahab, ghar mein baith ke TV dekh kar kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaam aayega." (Sir, what's the use of simply sitting at home and watching TV? If I earn some income, then it will be useful in the future.)

We realised that we had come across a man who represents Mumbai - the spirit of work, the spirit of travel and the spirit of excelling in life. I asked him whether he does anything else as I figured that he did not have too much spare time. He said that he goes to an old age home for women in Andheri once a week or whenever he has some extra income, where he donates tooth brushes, toothpastes, soap, hair oil, and other items of daily use. He pointed out to a painted message below the meter that read: "25 per cent discount on metered fare for the handicapped. Free rides for blind passengers up to Rs50?. He also said that his auto was mentioned on Radio Mirchi twice by the station RJs. The Marathi press in Mumbai know about him and have written a few pieces on him and his vehicle.

My wife and I were struck with awe. The man was a HERO! A hero who deserves all our respect. I know that my son, once he grows up, will realise that we have met a genuine hero. He has put questions to me such as why should we help other people? I will try to keep this incident alive in his memory.

Our journey came to an end; 45 minutes of a lesson in humility, selflessness and of a hero-worshipping Mumbai - my temporary home. We disembarked, and all I could do was to pay him a tip that would hardly cover a free ride for a blind man.

Some Pictures:

He has got a first aid box on the left and a newspaper box on right (which had all hindi-english- marathi-gujrati and economic times)

He has got a tv on the top with cable (I was watching colors channel) and below tat is the tissue box. on the left is the mandir types and dont miss the "Only gandhigiri" written there , below tat is the calender and a notepad and pen along with a blue fan (which is blowing towards the customer who sits)

25% discount for handicapped !! who on this earth can expect somethin like this from a rickshawala yaar!!

Its amazing there are ppl still alive like him in this world!

I hope, one day, you too have a chance to meet Mr Sandeep Bachhe in his auto rickshaw - MH-02-Z-8508