Monday, October 12, 2009

A Mighty Heart

Dear Mariane

I trust this note of mine finds Adam and yourself doing well.

I'm not sure if I should ascribe my reading A Mighty Heart on Danny's birthday to an act of coincidence!

Every once a while, there come people, who call upon themselves, mustering unseen courage, to show the world the elements of truth and choose to be the exponents of this powerful virtue! One can gather in such an illustrious league the names of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, who lost their lives while relentlessly pursuing the Godly mission of upholding the values of truth and educating the world about it.

I believe Danny is part of this list of people-extraordinaire, someone who saw it as his job, not any extraordinary mission, to bridge a gap between fiercely opposing cultures and their people.

Your day by day account moved me a great deal while making me recall the early days of 2002 when I relied on the BBC to bring me the news of Danny’s release, which I believed was imminent. Extremely pained by this senseless killing, I comforted myself in the belief that heaven is certainly a better place, now that he’s gone up there!

Above all, he was himself, doing what he did best and martyred himself in the tedious and painful process of constantly demonstrating unity and togetherness to a world that calls itself civilized yet remains glaringly devoid of peace or the very understanding of it!

Like the millions of those who have read and understood the courage and sacrifice of A Mighty Heart, I want you to know how grateful I am to you for bringing this chilling account for me to read, which under ordinary circumstances would have been safely cast away in a mourning mind!

Today, we continue to celebrate Danny's life as an epic moment in history, one that has had many good associations and causes attached to it, and in doing so emphatically tell the perpetrators of terror that while good people and their bodies can be destroyed by their meaningless massacres in the name of religion - not once, ever, can they destroy the will of the spirit which is higher than any cause or effect!

Nothing will give me more pleasure than to see Adam grow up to fulfill his father's prophecy of being able to change the world!

I pray that you, Adam, Danny's family, friends and colleagues find renewed courage and strength to further your lives in living the legacy Danny left behind.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Rakesh

Footnotes:

The Daniel Pearl Foundation

27 comments:

  1. even i was pained by the act,
    I am glad that he isnt forgotten by people, because given the ultimate sacrifice for not he country or caste but humanity as a whole makes him special

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  2. i just read it, Rak...and interesting is the way you write :)

    i can't mourn nor do i know to comfort others when they have to endure someone's death...

    I turn the most numb and inhuman when i face death...and normally don't like to read accounts of it...not good may be, but thats how i'm,

    wishes,
    devika

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  3. honestly speaking I don't know anything about Danny and his wife's agonies or the deplorable situation they might have went through....but even than I pray for their happiness...

    and one more thing yours is a very beautiful and creative method of writing book review

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  4. Nice post, Rakesh.. I have somehow not come to your blogspot before this and I feel like I have really missed something...

    I like your easy style of writing and the subject chosen shows your mind.

    Keep writing.

    cheers

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  5. Shahid

    Yes, I too was closely following this news, back in 2002, in the hope that he would be released!

    But fate, had other means to play out!

    Rakesh

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  6. Devika Chechi

    I certainly do understand how you feel and assure you that it is perfectly normal to be so!

    Rakesh

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  7. Rahul

    It was, I must tell you, probably the most gut-wrenching of cases that I have come to follow!

    Rakesh

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  8. Vishwanath Sir

    Thanks very much! I'm glad that you find my space interesting!

    Truly appreciate your visit and comments!

    Rakesh

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  9. Vimmuuu

    Thanks pal! Please follow the inbuilt links to read more about Danny!

    Rakesh

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  10. I havent read the book. Nice post.. though.

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  11. Aria

    Thanks very much!

    You must read the book! Its a very good read!

    Rakesh

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  12. Survivor

    Thanks very much pal! Truly appreciate your gesture!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  13. I read the book,
    Have not seen the movie though..
    You put our thoughts in the perfect words.

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  14. as always ure way of wrtitin is excellent..wonder how one can write so simple and that to eleganlty.Well I neither read the book nor watched the movie.Thanks for the information that i buy one book..tc.

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  15. Marie

    Thanks very much! I've not watched the movie yet, I've heard it makes a good watch - will do so, sometime soon!

    Rakesh

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  16. Rahul S

    My dear friend - thanks so very much for the rich compliments, which make me feel very happy!

    You must read the book! Its awesome!

    Rakesh

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  17. A very well written piece.I haven't read the book..now I think I should. Thank you.

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  18. Old Monk

    Thanks very much Sir! You must read this book - it is a wonderful read!

    Rakesh

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  19. I was in 9th when i remember they said in sun tv news such "people with weak heart please dont see this" and displayed video of decapitation(i dont remember whether it is daniel pearl)..I nearly vomitted after seeing it.Let his son follow his dad's steps and do the right thing by spreading peace.

    I dunno why media people show such videos...they too are cruel. And why we watch besides warning? Am i cruel or is it the human tendency of going behind forbidden things?

    Touching letter!

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  20. Sri

    Yes, I do remember 2002 Jan very vividly due to Danny Pearl!

    I chose not to see the video as I did not have the courage to watch something as gory as that, and to date do not have the guts!

    The media should have shown some respect to the man by refusing to screen the video.......but then you know how people are after ratings, trps and a whole lot of stuff!

    Rakesh

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  21. ah, the man! :) i vaguely remember danny. I was younger back then. Class X to be precise and he was the first charming journalist I had come across. I think he was my first virtual crush too! He inspired me. I was THIS close to taking up journalism. Sadly, like million others i chose security over passion. I regret. I do!
    As for 'A Mighty Heart'..this is something that should be mandatorily be screened for some of the Indian journalists and make them aware of their shoddy journalism. I remember watching this piece on TimesNow..on how a beheaded cop's son in bihar vowed revenge. And that when he had just received news of his father's death. Will we learn to give the affected some 'space' that they rightfully deserve? Is this news?

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  22. Swati

    I can understand how Danny influencesd many people through his display of passion and having been able to motivate people!

    More importantly, he was an icon, as I have mentioned in the post, one who sought to showcase truth above all else!

    And with regards to journalism of today - the least said the better!

    Rakesh

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