India, May 26 -- The other day, I met an old friend who was really old. Despite his semi-blind eyes, he was able to recognise me. Both of us were happy at heart, and the very first question I asked him to keep the conversation moving was: "How is your health?" He answered: 'My health has never been very good.' A few seconds later, he smiled toothless and added: "The leaf has yellowed. It knows that it has to fall of the tree when the latter disowns it. Till then it has no other go but wait and watch."

I heaved a sigh as his words set me thinking. All that dwell on earth knows that death is inevitable. They are aware that death struts in innumerable ways and has countless hands. Different societies have different attitudes to death, as th...