Is Karma a Thing - The Journey of Judgment and Mercy

Once upon a time, in the year 2018, when I was in the 8th grade, my life was forever altered by an unfortunate event. I fell and broke my leg badly, leading to a hospital stay that lasted 17 days. Recovery took another 4 months. As I lay in the hospital bed, I watched a peculiar scene unfold beside me, involving a blind girl named Priya.

A Childhood Trajectory

The bed next to me was occupied by a blind girl who did not have any hair on her head at that time, though I later learned it was due to cancer. She had a passion for drawing, even though she couldn't see the world. Her favourite activity was drawing random scribbles, which to her, represented her perception of the world around her.

When her family came to visit her, her mother would boast about how pretty her drawings were and urge her to keep drawing. One day, I heard their parents' argument: "We should just leave her. We can barely pay our bills and we cannot afford her treatment fees. We have another child to look after, what will happen to him?" Her mother insisted that her daughter would be saved by her good karma.

The Turning Point

For the next few days, her family started visiting her less frequently. Her mother got a job, and her father worked overtime daily. No one was there to talk to her or appreciate her drawings. Feeling sympathy for her, I became her friend and asked for her drawings. I praised her work, which made our friendship blossom within a week. When I asked Priya what her dream was, she told me she wanted to be an engineer because her father wanted her to be.

On one of my final days in the hospital, after what seemed like an eternity, Priya asked an existential question: "Bhaiya, am I going to die?" I reassured her that only bad people die, that karma was real, and that good people always live on. Her father's words came back to me: "I should not have been born. I am bad luck and money is wasted on me. I am a bad girl he says." These words were a stark reminder of the psychological toll her negative environment was taking on her.

The Tragedy of Euthanasia

Of all the traumatic moments I had witnessed, the one that still haunts me the most was when Priya's family finally took her for what I thought was a surgery. Later, I learned that she was given passive euthanasia, a legal practice in India, which is the practice of ending a patient's life to relieve suffering. In my ignorance, I thought she was being treated with a surgery, but the grim faces I saw from her family that day told a different story. Their faces, with all hope lost and a wish to die dripping from their eyes, were clear indicators of their mental state.

When I was discharged, I asked a nurse about the girl, who had disappeared. The nurse replied, “Oh that child, well she was treated with EUTHANASIA.” I was relieved, thinking she was undergoing some medical procedure, but later I realized the gravity of the situation. Her family was going through an extreme financial crisis, and she ate only one meal a day, depending on the bhandara at a temple.

The Question of Karma

For a long time, I pondered the question: Is karma real? For me, taking away that little girl's smile raises serious doubts about the concept of karma. I refuse to believe that a little girl in the 5th standard deserved to die because of a previous life. If the concept of karma compels us to judge others or to blame them for their misfortune, it is not the compassionate and rational approach to life.

While we can discuss the philosophical and spiritual aspects of karma, the harsh reality is that bad things happen to everyone, and it is our moral responsibility to provide support and compassion during such times. It is essential to remember that taking away the life of a young and innocent girl, regardless of the circumstances, is one thing we cannot forgive grim karma for.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is crucial to practice compassion and empathy in our lives. While the concept of karma can be a powerful motivator for good deeds, it should not be an excuse for justification of suffering. When we face the harsh realities of life, let us remember the message from the girl who thought art was a way to express her dreams and desires. She didn't deserve to die, and neither do others who fall victims to the cycle of life's misfortunes.