As the pivotal moment of your departure draws near, Prarthana, the significance of this transition - both in our family’s journey and in the broader scope of life's stages - becomes evident. The inevitability of an "empty nest" signifies not merely the passing of time, but the necessity to relinquish cherished phases of life. This relinquishment, however painful, facilitates growth. As you venture forth into the world, my hope is that you will not only remember your roots but also allow divine guidance to continue shaping your path.
In addressing a question you have posed countless times, it is appropriate to offer a final answer: Why did I name you Prarthana Charis? This is not merely a story of names, but a profound narrative that encapsulates faith, science, and the miraculous—an account that has been inscribed indelibly for those who seek its meaning.
Charis, derived from the Greek, signifies "grace." It serves not only as an homage to your grandmother but also as a symbol of divine grace—unmerited, unearned, and an ultimate gift from God. Prarthana, a Sanskrit term, translates as "prayer," and together these names encapsulate a dual testament to the grace bestowed upon us and the potency of prayer in invoking the divine.
Your prenatal diagnosis, however, offered little reason for hope. Medical science provided a prognosis that was both grim and nearly insurmountable. Leading obstetricians in Bangalore, including close colleagues and friends, informed us of the severity of your condition: anencephaly, a neural tube defect that virtually guarantees non-viability beyond birth, compounded by trisomy 13, a chromosomal anomaly that statistically permits only a 10 percent survival rate beyond infancy. Moreover, those who do survive are often afflicted with profound physical and intellectual disabilities.
Faced with such a medical reality, your mother and I confronted a decision of staggering consequence. Leading medical authorities strongly advised termination, a course of action framed as necessary for the preservation of your mother’s health. Family members, out of concern for both your mother and future quality of life, also urged us to consider this option.
Yet, despite the near-consensus of medical advice, the ultimate decision rested with me. I vividly recall the words of Dr. Sita Rajan, head of obstetrics at a prestigious medical college, who remarked on what she perceived as my "foolishness" for proceeding with the pregnancy. From her perspective, and that of many others, this decision was devoid of logic and reason. But this was never merely a decision grounded in reason; it was one grounded in faith. From the moment of your conception, Prarthana, it was evident that you were not truly ours to choose - your life was a divine gift.
Thus began a period of intense reflection on the intricate relationship between faith and science. Did the empirical knowledge provided by medical professionals undermine our faith, or did it instead accentuate the profound sovereignty of God? My internal deliberations oscillated between trust in scientific evidence and belief in the divine promises articulated in Scripture. In those moments, I questioned whether my decision was, indeed, the act of a "foolish intellect" as some asserted.
As an astrophysicist, my professional life is immersed in the exploration of cosmic phenomena - phenomena that defy conventional understanding and transcend human reason. Consider the neutron star, which can rotate at 600 revolutions per second, or the confounding presence of dark energy, a force that accelerates the expansion of the universe, despite its invisible and elusive nature. Indeed, the known universe, with its overwhelming vastness, is primarily composed of the unseen - 96 percent of it remains hidden from human perception. We are left with a mere 4 percent that is observable.
In such an overwhelmingly complex cosmos, how can one deny the occurrence of phenomena that defy human comprehension? We call these phenomena miracles. You, Prarthana, are such a miracle.
In the face of overwhelming medical odds, when the limits of human reason and scientific knowledge had been reached, I turned to God in desperation. It was in this moment of absolute surrender that I came to realize: miracles do not contradict the natural order; they simply transcend the limitations of our understanding. Only when your mother and I had exhausted all human possibilities did we witness God’s intervention. The fervency of our prayers met with a divine response that surpassed all expectations.
By all human reasoning, you were not meant to survive. The medical prognosis, delivered by world-renowned obstetricians, dictated that you would not live beyond a few days. Yet here you stand, a living testament to God’s grace and the power of prayer. Your life affirms a fundamental truth: miracles continue to occur, even when we deem them impossible. Your very existence is a manifestation of divine intervention.
Thus, after much prayer, I named you Prarthana - Prayer.
Let the place of secret prayer, Prarthana, become the most cherished space in your life. Your graduation Summa cum laude served as a powerful reminder to exercise caution in ever deeming anything "impossible." As you now pursue advanced studies in Neuroscience, my prayer is that, in your exploration of the human body’s complexities, you will encounter God’s deep longing for you. As Saint Augustine articulated, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” God seeks you, Prarthana, and through this divine pursuit, you will come to understand that your birth was not merely a biological event but an act of divine will.
The medical prognosis surrounding your condition was decisively overturned by the miraculous intervention of God, who, in His sovereign power, defied the constraints of nature. Your birth does not challenge the laws of nature; rather, it reveals their boundaries. In gazing upon you, I do not merely see answered prayers but a living miracle - a reminder that, with God, all things are possible. Miracles often emerge from profound challenges, revealing God’s ability to accomplish what no human can.
As you embark on this next chapter of your life, live as though everything is a miracle. The years will pass swiftly, and at the end of your journey, you will want to reflect upon a life well lived. And like your grandmother before you, learn to embrace stillness before God. It is in that stillness, Prarthana, that you will find your radiance.
Que Dieu te bénisse - God bless you.
Footnotes:
1. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, trans. R.S. Pine-Coffin (London: Penguin Classics, 1961), 21.
2. C.S. Lewis, Miracles: A Preliminary Study (New York: HarperOne, 1996), 54.
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