Even as Maharashtra gets ready to observe the 361st death anniversary (Tukaram Beej) of poet-saint, Sant Tukaram on Monday, Right Reverend Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Pune feels that Tukaram would have been extremely relevant today.
Even as Maharashtra gets ready to observe the 361st death anniversary (Tukaram Beej) of poet-saint, Sant Tukaram on Monday, Right Reverend Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Pune feels that Tukaram would have been extremely relevant today.
According to the Bishop, who has a doctoral degree on the works of Tukaram to his credit, the poet saint given his predilection would have stood up to corruption in Indian society. “I am sure Sant Tukaram would have fought the system through his abhangs and kirtans. Even in his time, he was never shy to call a spade a spade.”
Pointing to the high rate of suicides among students, actors, children and farmers in modern times, the Bishop said that there were several lessons to learn from Tukaram’s life.
“Tukaram had a tough life, where he braved several deaths in his family, coped with floods and famine and even bankruptcy with equanimity. Tukaram had strength of character to pull through hardships. His life should inspire us,” the Bishop said.
Referring to the modern day world of terror and conflict, the Bishop pointed out the need to listen to Tukaram’s message of compassion which appear in many of his abhangs. Reciting the popular Tukaram abhang, ‘Je Ka Ranjale, Ganjale; Tyaasi mhane jo aapule; tochi sadhu olakhava, deva thete chi janava’ fluently in chaste Marathi, the Bishop drove home the point.
According to Tukaram scholar Dilip Dhonde, Mahatma Gandhi had translated the same Tukaram verse in the Yerawada jail in Pune in October 1930. Gandhi had written, ‘Know him to be a true man, who takes to his bosom those who are in distress. Know that God resides in the heart of such a one.’
According to the Bishop, Tukaram was doubly relevant today, because his abhangs emphasised the need to satisfy the soul.
“God made man with body and soul. However in modern times, the emphasis is more on the body and less on the soul.
The Bhagwad Gita says that God has given US an imperishable atma, while Jesus said, ‘What does it profit a man, who wins the world but loses his soul.’ The importance of Tukaram is highlighted in the fact that every single abhang emphasises the need to satisfy our souls.”
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