There are some people on earth, who are immortal and all of us know who they are. They are immortal not because their bodies defy the laws of nature but because they will live from century to century, in the hearts and minds of generations to come. They have become immortal legends because of the work they produced during their life time, exceptional people who contributed magnificently to society, in their own particular fields of interest. Famous political leaders like M. K. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Kennedy; Nobel Peace laureates like Mother Teresa; scientists and inventors like Einstein and Da Vinci; artists like Michael Angelo, Van Gogh, Rubens and many more, musicians and composers like Beethoven and Bach, philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, Vivekananda; movie makers like Satyajit Ray and Sydney Pollack; singers and entertainers like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson; poets and writers like Shakespeare, Rabindranath Tagore and countless others. I feel poets - writers and movie-makers have an advantage because as long as their works are read or seen, they will continue to live on.
How many of us, who’ve had loved ones passing away before their time, or even at a ripe old age, wish that they had something of their loved ones to cling on to, to keep the beloved memories fresh and ageless in our hearts. We pay homage in a place of worship and revere their precious memories in our hearts, but frankly each one of us would be thrilled if the loved one, who has so far away from us, could reach us from beyond the grave and communicate with us one last time. What were they thinking there at the end; what made them choose to take certain tough choices at various points in their and our lives; we may never know, if they haven’t told us while they were alive.
Each one of us knows that inside us there is a unique spectacular story that would astound our children and some of the friends that have known us all our lives. They have never met certain aspects of our personalities, and would be amazed if they heard about some of the things we’ve done in our life. During our life time it just doesn’t feel right or necessary to share such details. Still, imagine writing a book: “The Story of My Life” or “My Life Story” or simply “My Story”; I bet, the story inside would not be simple. It is well known that truth is often stranger than fiction and sometimes our loved ones actually need to know. An explanation of past actions could bring understanding and solace to sore hearts and wounded emotions. It could be a way of expressing and explaining our wishes, like writing a colloquial will, to give our loved ones the opportunity to fulfil our final wishes. It does help the grieving process to know that I have been able to carry out the last wishes of my dearly departed. The death of a beloved family member is often followed by only emptiness and grief. It would certainly give those left behind, succour by providing a sense of purpose, to be able to do something more for that well loved person who has left us forever. It would also be a step towards immortality for every time the memoire is read, the writer will continue to reside in the reader’s mind and heart.