Call of Destiny Part 1

CALL OF DESTINY

Most of the younger generation in my household is averse to discussing superstition and astrology. They feel that this is baggage carried from the past and is irrelevant to any human being. I hold a slightly different perspective on the issue. I believe that all that has or will happen to us is pre- ordained and we willingly or unwillingly will be pulled into corridors earmarked for us to enable ordained events to pass. My children, however, ridicule my belief and request me to stay away from that topic while conversing with them.
It was quite interesting for me therefore to listen to my Centurion uncle narrating the story of how he became a teacher and retired from that profession after putting in over 30 years of service. As per him, after he had successfully passed the intermediate examination he was thinking of going to Madras to study Medicine, not because of any burning desire to become a doctor, but as a natural corollary to continued education, as most of his classmates were doing so. As was the custom those days, the ‘tharavad’ karanavar ( head of a Nair household ) was the one to decide what was best for the children . My Uncle went to meet his Karanavar who was also his maternal grand uncle, and expressed his desire to go for medicine. The karanavar, who was pacing to and fro in the verandah, pretending not to have heard his opinion, stated that he wanted him to become a teacher in the school started by him and he was to teach Mathematics there. My uncle, as an obedient youngster put paid to his medicine idea and decided abide by his elders decision and joined for his BA course in a college nearby. The Karanavar, however, did not live to see his grand nephew join the school as a teacher as he passed away a few days after my uncle started his degree studies. Time flew by and my uncle successfully finished his degree and returned home to think about employment. By this time the school at home was being managed by his uncle’s son and my uncle was asked by him to join the school as a teacher straight away. What he had forgotten was that a new teacher could be taken only if there was a vacancy and at that time there was none. My uncle was therefore forced to start looking out for job elsewhere. This is where as per him destiny raised its head and decided for him what his vocation would be. A few days before the school was to reopen, one teacher passed away suddenly and that paved the way for his entry into the school as a teacher , one to which he remained wedded for the next three decades or so. As per him if the teacher had not died probably he would not have been a teacher nor would he have had the continued stay he was fortunate to have in his hometown. He retired as the Headmaster of that school 40 years ago and even to day he cherishes the memories of that fate determining day. So much for all those who decry the concept of destiny.
What made the tale all the more interesting besides the content was the fact that it was narrated by a person over hundred years old and his power of recall, by God, was truly amazing . It was indeed an afternoon well spent as far as I was concerned.