"Ta-Ta"(Bye) to Kaka

The legend (Rajesh Khanna) that he was became clear to the world of today as people ran after the flower bedded Truck carrying the only “Superstar” of movies. The scene was not much different from the way the world (fans) ran after his car, a few decades back, wherever he went. Somebody rightly noted in the many articles written on him in the last week – “He had to die to remind us that he was alive and a legend.” Kaka was always my personal favorite as being among the last of actors who spoke with his eyes. His enthusiasm in “Anand” and his hurt (tears within) in “Amar Prem” can still melt the sworn “non-romantics” of today’s over – professional youth, if only they had the time and the inclination to see what is True Love as compared to their “Business” love (or lust rather). But I am not blogging to tell you who was Rajesh Khanna. Seeing his life there are so many lessons and Truths of Life, we all need to learn and which we perhaps assume we know in our arrogance, innocence or ignorance.
First, we refuse to change with Times and Changing scenario. Before you conveniently choose to misunderstand this statement let me clarify that I do not mean to say this with respect to your core values, and ethics or your relationship based on Trust and Giving. These values do not change with Time, but we conveniently camouflage our inability to live them under the guise of “Changing Times.” When you give up your commitment to your friend or partner, you are not changing with Times, but you are devolving, a fact you cannot accept easily. Anyways, Kaka, a sworn romantic lover, could not gauge the changing climate of Bollywood towards action and anger. He continued to play the romantic Hero long after its age and relevance in the non–emotional world had diminished. Kaka could not take that nor do I at times.
Secondly, he chose arrogance over acceptance, that his time as a superstar was getting changed. He could have chosen varied roles and adapted to the changing world. But he could not since he was soaked in the delusion of his past popularity, something which no actor so far had ever tasted nor would ever taste in the future. But when we blame ‘Kaka’ for this, we conveniently forget that given the same environment of unqualified success and prosperity, we would not behave much differently. There is a Rajesh Khanna within each one of us which feels “I am the greatest, I achieved, I did it.” The only difference is that we cover it up by our pseudo – humility and Kaka chose to say it aloud what he felt within. Humility is nothing what we say. It is in what we feel within.
Thirdly, we need to realize the insensitivity of the world with the falling star. The ones who clapped at his every step of success disowned him when his good time was over. He felt “let-down.” We need to learn that we should never “let-down” the one who has contributed so much to what we are today. Our scriptures and masters proclaim that there is one sin for which there is no respite or repentance (Prayaschit) and that sin is “Ingratitude.” The selfish world had neither the time nor the inclination nor the sensitivity to stand by Kaka in the hour of his maximum need. Kaka sought refuge in the forbidden sources of joy to gulp down this selfishness. Kaka lost himself and the world lost its precious sensitive superstar. Nobody was ready to forgive him for his mistakes. They ridiculed him not understanding his incapability to deal with his loneliness and failures. The Star sat by himself at the Sea–side (opposite his bungalow) maybe remembering the time when entire areas were cordoned off when he would visit that place for some function.
Personally, I can relate to Kaka much more in recent times when our classes too are not doing too fine and there isn’t much support from the world which turns its face away, just as it did to him. But the faith in the Lord’s justice and love, knowledge given with so much compassion by my Guru Haribhai and other saints keeps me going, addressing the classroom which today has more benches than students, when once, not too long ago; we had to put extra chairs to accommodate everyone. I understand how difficult it must have been for him.
The day Kakaji left us, I crashed emotionally too, having lost Haribhai and my favorite Jagjit Singh too, in recent years. My bestest friend said to me, “Even Rajesh Khanna’s family must not be feeling so much pain and crying like you.” I told her, “One day you too will know what it meant to be a Rajesh Khanna and on that day you too will shed tears for a man who cried, ‘I hate tears, Pushpa.’ Kaka, I miss you. I always will.”