And Kartika lives on…….

The Hindu.3rd November 2008. Hyd. Edition-Page Three
No. Don't make a mistake.
It's not the 'Page Three' News you are looking for.
Neither is it about "Fashion'.
Nor about Obama's lead.
No. It's not about Jumbo's walk into the sunset either……

It's a news item by M. Sai Gopal
that shook most of us who read it that day.
It's about Kartika- the favourite child of Dabilpura.
Who died of End-stage brain tumour.
She was getting ready for school
When she collapsed abruptly……

However what made her immortal was
her father's decision.
Shell-shocked to be told
that his daughter's end was imminent
He decided to donate her kidneys, liver and
Her eyes….

For a few hours Dabilpura came to a standstill.
Not a word was uttered and
not a person moved
All stunned by the swiftness of the end.
"The village lost its favourite daughter"
(Nagara Gopal's photo says it all.)

Grief was written large on her parents' faces
but deep down there was also contentment
That Kartika would live on…
And Kartika lives on…
Thank you Kartika's brave father
for redeeming our collective faith in humanity!