I AM A JAMMUITE: Manzil Aur Safar

Kahin manzil ki chamak, kahin safar ki thakaan, Zindagi ek pal ki khushi, ek pal ka imtihaan.

Anil Kumar Sharma
Each one of us lives life with a purpose — a manzil (goal) that calls us silently from far away. We dream of reaching it someday, believing it will give meaning to everything we go through. Yet, it is the safar, the long walk through uncertainties, joys, struggles, and discoveries, that truly shapes who we become.

In this journey, we gather countless experiences from the world around us. The environment we grow in, the people we meet, the culture we absorb, and the state of mind we carry, all of these keep moulding our thoughts, our decisions, and our inner compass. Life keeps moving, moments disappear like breath on a mirror, and we realise that nothing waits for us unless we walk towards it with intention.

I often think of my school days, a time when life felt open and limitless. The destination was a distant dream, glowing quietly somewhere in the future. But as we entered professional life, things changed.

Responsibilities came first, and time became a luxury. The journey became fast paced, and slowly, the manzil we had imagined faded into the background.

And today, when I stand at an age where reflection becomes natural, I sometimes feel that perhaps we could have utilised time differently. But regrets too are teachers. They tell us not to repeat what once slipped away.

Life teaches us that people remember your manzil, but it is the safar that explains who you truly were. History records destinations, but the stories under those names come from the paths walked, the storms faced, the victories earned, and the moments of quiet courage that no one saw.

On this path of life, the teachings of the Mahabharata guide us like a lighthouse in a turbulent sea. It reminds us:

Stand by dharma, even when the road feels difficult. Greed, ego, and injustice may bring momentary gains, but they destroy families and kingdoms. Truth survives. Actions shape destiny. And in every situation, reaching the destination of dharma is the true manzil of life.

This wisdom remains eternal, just as relevant today as it was centuries ago.

The story of the five men in the forest reflects this truth beautifully. Five travellers, lost in confusion, each chose a different path:

• One went left and learned patience.
• One turned right and found courage in fighting wolves.
• One walked back and discovered companionship.
• One went straight and found warmth among strangers.
• One climbed a tree, reached first, but with no story to tell.

They all arrived, but each carried a different truth in his heart. Not because they chose the correct direction, but because they walked with the nature they possessed. The forest was never judging their route, it was revealing their character.

In the same way, life never tests us to frustrate us. It tests us to show us who we truly are.

So, walk your path with sincerity. Trust your intentions. Stand by your dharma. Let your safar (journey) nourish you and let your manzil give meaning to your effort. Every journey has its own beauty, its own lessons, and its own reward.

Safar bhi khoobsurat hai, manzil bhi zaroori, Aur kahani unhi ki likhi jaati hai, jo neeyat se chalte hain, zarra zarra poori.
(Straight Talk Communications Exclusive)