Epitaph

Epitaphs are inscriptions on a gravestone marker in memory of a deceased person, sometimes including a phrase, short poem or holy text. Though generally inspired by the dead person's life or accomplishments, most epitaphs are simply brief records of the family, with "Rest in Peace", or RIP.

April is a special month for us, IS's parents birthdays both being this month. Usually one does not do much on such days but we never fail to mention it, and raise a silent prayer to them.

Whenever IS is in Bangalore he makes it a point to visit his father’s grave, usually once every couple of years. Late last month we were driving through Bangalore (took three hours to find our way through the city, thanks to the metro work, one-way detours and traffic), just a couple of days before his father’s birthday.  The grave is in a small family graveyard (part of a larger cemetery), and for the first time we got some photos, then the inscription on the gravestone translated ... it reads as follows-

Mohammad Sulaiman Sait

           1910-1968

Allah Allah kya yeh hasti thi                                         (hasti - personality)

Zindagi jiski haq parasthi thi                                         (haq parasthi - implies worship of Allah)

Mauth gham hum ko deney aaee thi

Makhpherath inko lene aaee thi                                    (makhpherath - forgiveness from Allah)

Khuda ke arsh ka saya rahega teri turbath par               (arsh - sky; turbath - grave)

Duaa key phool barsengey hamesha teri turbath par

Having just realized the meaning of the inscription IS is now grateful that his Bangalore uncle (who got on very well with his father) arranged for such a moving message to be there ...