( Photo from Facebook)
Raju G. Mendez
He, Arjun at his thirty embodied his soul, organizing his life centered around the seed of Light within his being….!
His life purpose had deepened and matured. He made every effort to fight the odds in his life through hardships, with determination, dedication, and diligence. Thus, within the short span of his life, he could fulfill many of his dreams. A ‘patron saint’ of many youths!
The fatality of Arjun in Shiroor Gangavali has created ripples across Kerala and the world at large. The landslide had seeped down his close associate, the lorry and him sleeping inside, into the depths of Gangavali, in Shiroor Karnataka. He always has had a great charm for traveling which led him to become a lorry driver of extensive traveling through the most naturally blessed and yet ‘mysterious’ labyrinth of destinations as a part of his job.” He used to earn nearly seventy-five thousand (Rs.75,000) from every trip” said Manaf who was his employer. He made every journey a Joyous occasion for, he never felt the strain of doing a job but enjoyed the pleasure of a trip. Unfortunately on July 16, the miserable weather had cut short his last journey in the world in the middle. He was only thirty years old.
“After thirty the world becomes softer” (Fanny Fink)
On Saturday 28th 2024 a large number of people including the Ministers, MLAs, high officials, and a mob of strangers, swarmed onto the street at Kannadikkal, their eyes welled with tears as they tried to hold them back.
They could see Arjun in their mind’s eyes standing near his mortal remains recovered from deep within the Gangavali river after 72 days, by the single-minded efforts of Manaf(the lorry owner) who struggled to stand the test of time by simply nullifying the public censure, Easwar Malpey, an acclaimed expert in diving in addition to the deployment of other machinery at strategic locations, at the State level. It was a reassuring, camaraderie grip, an unspoken pledge fulfilled for Manaf, not simply a guarantee for the insurance amount of his lorry.
Everyone might be wondering what makes Arjun so exceptional, or what made him have an edge over the others in his area of work, that attracted the general public to his mishap in particular and become a constant guest and for many a dear son, brother, friend, while too many others also succumb to unnatural deaths due to accidents of various types.
To a certain extent, it may be attributed to the preference for younger hard-working people to a variety of social, psychological, and biological factors. Youth is often associated with a drive that can influence attraction patterns. Societies glorify youth, associating it with beauty, vitality, and energy, making youth desirable.
Younger individuals may embody traits like optimism, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks, which can be appealing in social and romantic contexts. Older individuals may find younger people refreshing, as they often bring new ideas, perspectives, and cultural trends that challenge the status quo. People may feel a sense of rejuvenation or nostalgia when around younger individuals, which can enhance their sense of vitality and engagement with life. People can be influenced by power dynamics.
Moreover, Arjun was greatly a family-oriented youngster, which could be yet another reason for his power of attraction. In Indian societies, we show a peculiar kind of love and respect towards people who are family-oriented and those not so, have to undergo trials and face a great deal of troubles beyond imagination. However, Arjun was well taken care of. The support and security he radiated to the family members through his unconditional love, and help especially through difficult times, established strong mental bonds among themselves. Thus the sense of belonging could make him much cared for and needed for. This was an impetus that gave him a sense of purpose and meaning and motivated him to grow and succeed.
He felt loved by his family, which made him feel happier and safer. The family significantly influenced his values, beliefs, and actions. It helped him face challenges. A strong family bond can help one better face life’s challenges.
The next phenomenon assumingly could be attributed to, Thalassophobia, an intense phobia or fear of large or deep water. Many of us may have thalassophobia, being afraid of the ocean, sea, and large lakes. Some people may deal with a little anxiety about the ocean. It may either stem from a traumatic childhood event, which a person may have experienced directly, seen, possibly onscreen, or heard about. The escalated and high degree of empathy of people must have gone through the traumatic scenes Arjun went through while Gangavali had gulped Arjun in cold blood.
Further, for Indians, the name Arjuna straight from the epic Mahabharatha signifies bravery, skill, and passion for work.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 14, Verse 14-15 says.
“Those who die with the prevalence of the mode of passion are born among people driven by work, while those dying in the mode of ignorance take birth in the animal kingdom”.
( About the Author: Raju G. Mendez is a language and life skills trainer, writer and Journalist based in Thiruvananthapuram )
