How to be remembered forever

A story that could be true

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Little Bomonjee turned and looked at his mother. They were both seated at the back of a carriage, dressed in their sunday best. As the carriage chip-chopped its way towards Bandra, Bomonjee had grown serious.

“I’m thinking, Mamma.”

“About what?” She asked

“About my parakeet that died last week. I am afraid I will forget what Polly looked like.’

His mother reached out and pushed back a lock of hair from his dark, worried eyes, as she gently reassured him, “No, you’ll remember Polly forever.”

“Mamma, may I ask you something?”

She smiled, “Yes, you may.”

“Will I die someday?”

His mother clasped her hands, suddenly the carriage felt cold. But she knew she had to answer him. Very softly she said, “Yes.”

He sat up straight and looked at her, “Then what can I do to be remembered forever?”

As she wrapped him in her arms, he heard her say, “I’m sure you’ll find something.”

And he did.

I’m always struck by how a set of steps built by Bomonjee Jeejeebhoy and presented to the Bandora Municipality in 1879, is still used by so many people.

He made it for pilgrims who were walking up to Mount Mary. And now you have all kinds of people, specially women who work as domestic help use it to take a mini break. Between jobs, between work, between houses, between a long walk, a small space that’s got shade and is free to use.

Perhaps it’s a lesson. If you want to be remembered forever, build a public space.

PS: The headstones (picture right on top) had sunk to the ground, and the Habib family that lives nearby restored them and set them back on top of the steps.

Thanks for reading this. Here’s a song for you, that has nothing to do with the steps or this story. I just like the song.