?What would you say if someone told you that you had an incurable disease?
What would you do if you knew you were going to die soon?
Would you have the guts to smile and to keep smiling?
Sarthak had the courage, and he did keep smiling.
This is the true story of Sarthak Gupta, the Spirited Superstar.
He lived, he loved, he laughed, he cried, he played,?he?prayed, and he never complained. He was always smiling throughout his short lifetime.
Sarthak was born on 21 August 2000, and passed away peacefully in his sleep on 29 November 2022, after fighting a lifelong battle.
I write this on the anniversary of his passing, to—as his brave parents put it—celebrate his life, and to learn a lesson or two from a young man who lived large, though not long.
In childhood, he was like any other urban child, the only child of his parents, living in a comfortable flat and going to a wonderful school.
Life seemed normal and happy; and the future appeared bright, for he was a smart and intelligent child, eager to learn, and keen to try new things.
Unknown to him, or to anyone else, fate was about to reveal its insidious hand.
A teacher in school, in charge of physical training, reported to the parents that the little boy did not cope with others during games and other outdoor activities.
Soon the parents noticed little things that had seemed insignificant earlier, that he did differently from others, like climbing the stairs or jumping out of the school bus.
They consulted doctors in Pune and in Delhi, and the specialists confirmed the grim diagnosis.
Despite significant advances in medical science, there still are a few incurable diseases in the world, and he had one of them—muscular dystrophy, a progressive condition that leads to muscle weakness and degeneration.
Sarthak was only seven.
The doctors said there would be no cure, no hope, and no improvement, only management of the disease.?
Then began the arduous journey of his parents, who did their best to leave no stone unturned for their son.
Soon, his muscles could not support his body, and he had to take a wheelchair. He became completely dependent on his parents, and the caregiver, for ADL (Activities of Daily Living).
Then began little Sarthak’s Vanavaas, spanning a full fifteen years, a year more than Lord Ram himself.
And, exactly like Shri Ram, he met Hanuman.
Lord Hanuman was his favourite deity, and he created many beautiful images of the mighty Bajrang Bali, the god of strength and courage.
Sarthak was not only a brave lad himself, facing his complicated life with the many restrictions imposed by his disease; his positive attitude was also a fountain of strength for others.
He had a serene smile and the calm composure of an?ascetic that comes after long and hard years of Sadhana and meditation. He seemed to have gained it naturally, being forced to look inward, because the outer world, starting with his own body, seemed so uncertain, if not unfriendly.
So understanding and accepting was he, that he was counselling his school counsellor, “Just close your eyes, and everything will be alright.”
That was his way of coping.
He had an aura of positivity, hope, brightness, and freedom.
Vidya Valley School was an important part of his life. They encouraged him to take part in all social and cultural activities. For years, when he couldn’t walk anymore, nor climb into a school bus, they arranged a car for him. Also, they conducted all his classes on the ground floor, which had ramps for him.
In his mother’s words, “They were like angels.”
He had mastered the art of living freely within his physical limitations, and enjoyed travelling, watching cricket and soccer matches.
During school holidays, he travelled alone by air, with his wheelchair, to Delhi to meet his grandparents.
The only time I met him was outside a cinema hall in a mall a few years ago. When my wife, who heads the Skill Enhancement (Counselling & Remediation) Department in the school, introduced him, the young man flashed a huge smile.
That brief meeting left an indelible impression on me because his smile was so effervescent and infectious.
I kept enquiring about Sarthak from his teachers and counsellors, while hoping and praying.
He knew about the implications of his illness, and yet he lived in the moment, with bravery and joy.
Sarthak completed college and earned a degree, Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Game Design.
He learnt quite a few software packages and worked from home as a freelancer.
He also addressed a gathering of school children, advising them about a career in Fine Arts; and in an online interview, he spoke about leadership. Such was his unbounded wisdom and energy.
But, as everyone, and he himself knew, it would not be for long…
Yet he was cheerful and hopeful. He wanted to visit Japan. When his parents offered to take him there, he said he would go with his own money. Researching online, he had explored all the places he was going to see there.
With newer complications, his last few months were horribly uncomfortable.
He began to have problems doing minor, routine tasks, including swallowing.
What do you think he was thinking of then?
His text to the counsellor during that time says, “I don’t want my parents to worry.”
On his last day, his tearful mother told him, “You’ll shortly be meeting Hanumanji.”
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Translated, it means, like humans give up worn-out garments and wear new ones, the soul gives up the old body to accept a new one.
Sarthak is now growing in his new body, in a new life and new avatar.
How would he look? I know what he wanted to look like.
Here is his drawing of a God of Hope!
He is muscular, and he has wings. Which means he will not only stand; he will walk, run, jump, and fly too.
This is the power of faith and hope that kept him smiling.
And there lies a lesson for all of us.
?Please visit https://iamsarthak.org/
His mother has lovingly created this website to help people understand Sarthak’s life and the disease.?
The writer is a former fighter pilot of the IAF and is now a commercial airline pilot. He is the author of three novels and many blog posts, available at?www.avinashchikte.com