Across The Troubled Seas

Description

“Across the troubled seas” is the story of my life. Written on scraps of paper to share the loneliness of a sensitive child with myself. Writing was my comfort and refuge from a world I perceived was not my world. I wrote of feelings, experiences and some abstract perceptions. There were many ‘footsteps in the sand’ parts of my life which were ‘written’ in my mind so that no one may ever see them.
I would like to share this journey with you at the behest of someone close to me. There is a loose timeline which one can easily perceive as I walked along my path in search of the divine. From sadness came brushes with understanding, joy and revelations. My wife, friend and soulmate Hemlata was privy to the depths of my mind. The birth of our son Dhruv, whose life we believe was touched by the Grace of God rekindled my desire to pursue the spiritual path.
Feel free to read between the lines, have empathy or see a connection with your life. May you also recognise your own ‘footsteps in the sand’ and find comfort as I did. I trust this story of poems will touch your heart, or at the least leave some impression.

About The Author

Dev Keshav was born in a pious Gujarati family in Gwelo, Rhodesia in 1953. His exposure to Gurus from India who visited them nurtured his desire to follow a spiritual path as a child.
He left school early, spent time in Malawi and travelled around Mozambique. A scholarship from the Indian government took him to Bombay travelling by ship along the coast of Africa.
On his return to Zimbabwe, he was conscripted into the Rhodesian army. He left the country when his childhood friend died in an ambush. He returned at the height of the war, got married and served until independence.
His life was filled with tribulations, but he later realised that those were his “footsteps in the sand” moments when the Divine carried him over all the obstacles.
It was his childhood desire which made him stop the world at the age of 40 and get off. He sold what he could, packed his bags and took his wife and 5-year-old son on a spiritual quest of a lifetime. It took them to the holy land of Vrindavan. They lived there for seven years in the association of saints and were initiated by Shri Radha Sarveshvar Sharandev Acharya of Nimbarka Sampradaya. Dedicated to the spiritual path they spent the ensuing years between India and Zimbabwe.
They were living in India until just before the covid pandemic when he was diagnosed with a rare Incurable autoimmune illness Myasthenia Gravis.
They moved back to Zimbabwe and eventually at the age of 70 returned to his place of birth, Gwelo where he now spends his time in prayer and writing.