Foreword
"There is no cure for birth and
death save to enjoy the interval."
I have known George Paul for
well over three decades now, and his writings and ruminations, over the years,
on various subjects have always left me fascinated. When he sent me a copy of
the manuscript of his book ‘Riding a Pale Horse’ and requested that I write a
foreword, I felt honored.
Reading the manuscript was no
trouble, owing to the ease with which it flowed. I realized that he chose to
ask me for a foreword because he has mentioned me at least twice in his book.
My opinions obviously mattered to him.
He has approached and covered a
subject that many people may consider macabre. He has, in the past, researched
and written extensively about the subject of death and mortality from the
perspectives of biology, law and ethics. Amongst other aspects of death and
dying, he has also revisited the concept of brain death, which is so imperative
in this age of cadaveric transplantation. And so, this book comes as a natural
conclusion and compilation of his experience on a seldom-written-about subject.
An incident I distinctly recall
is George narrating an anecdote to me where a person approaches a wise man and
asks him what the key to happiness is. The wise man hands over a piece of paper
to the answer-seeker who is shocked to read, "Father dies, son dies,
grandson dies." The man who posed the question, demanded how such a morbid
set of phrases could hold the key to happiness. The wise man reportedly
answered, "follow this sequence; it's the natural order and progression of
life; grief will be temporary and pass. Break the order, and life will never be
normal." This was profound indeed. Happiness relates itself to how
generations progress and pass on. It fails to account for numerous factors such
as social standing, religion or wealth. Death, inherently, serves as a profound
equalizer.
George had no qualms in telling
me that he would like me to write the foreword for the very reasons he had
mentioned me in the book. Since 2007, I have weathered numerous encounters with
cancer. As I pen these words 16 later, I remain standing, despite the enduring
trials of extensive medical interventions and surgeries. Currently, I have had
a relapse of multiple myeloma. While I am getting the best treatment possible,
it is likely that things may not go as planned. I will consider myself very
fortunate to see the publication and print edition of this book. Many ask me
how I can be so pragmatic and stoic about a matter that has so much implication
on me and my family. Well, in the grand scheme of things, the day we are born,
we are also hurtling towards our deaths, and both are destinies over which we
have little control. Death as a consequence of birth is the most singular and
predictable event we experience, and the acceptance of both, should be a thing
of beauty, not ignobility.
The book adeptly navigates the
intricate theme of mortality with remarkable fluidity, rendering what might
initially appear as a sombre subject into a palatable and enlightening
discourse. As healthcare professionals, we frequently encounter instances where
families opt to shield elderly patients from the gravity of their diagnoses,
and justifying it with reasons such as "It will frighten them; there is no
need for them to know." George’s work has the potential to challenge such
antiquated perspectives. Regardless of age, patients possess a moral
entitlement to be informed of their afflictions, affording them the autonomy to
choose the most suitable course of treatment or decline it altogether.
An alternative perspective
presents the opportunity for individuals to acknowledge that life's conclusion
may not be distant and to strategically plan the remaining chapters of their
existence in a manner that aligns with their personal satisfaction and
preferences. This allows for the prioritization of relationships and the
allocation of time and energy towards cherished ones. Naturally, this does not
negate the possibility that optimal treatments, capable of extending and
preserving the quality of life, may be available and warrant consideration.
Understandably, this stands in
stark juxtaposition to the abruptness of sudden death, which has the capacity
to leave families in profound despair and disarray. Amidst the shadows of such
gloom, the resilience of humanity and the inexorable march of life persist.
Over the course of millennia, life has consistently demonstrated its innate
ability to persevere. This fundamental truth unfolds in the culminating chapter
of the book.
I was a few days late in
reverting to George as I was shuttling between the hospital and home in trying
to seek solutions for my recurrent malady. All the while, I had been
subconsciously and consciously contemplating the content of my ‘foreword’. As I
took a break between treatment cycles, one morning, I casually picked up The
Week, a magazine that one invariably finds in waiting rooms of Indian
hospitals. In the opening pages, I came across a quote from the famous filmmaker
and director Shekhar Kapur. "A lot of human endeavor is based on the fact
that you won't be able to make it…the possibility of human failure makes human
effort worthwhile, just as the possibility of death makes human life
worthwhile."
In the matter of existence,
where mortality and the inevitability of death are woven into the fabric of our
individual narratives, George Paul's most recent literary offering,
"Riding the Pale Horse," emerges as a profound tapestry in itself,
promising to unravel a distinct and personal perspective for every reader
Kishore Nayak
Bangalore
20th December 2023
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