Once, I was teaching Prem Chand’s Godan to some students. There is an episode in the book where a professor Mehta and a doctor Malti are in love with each other. But Mehta’s love for Malti is that of an examiner. He has got the image of an ideal woman. He has got a framework and he tries to fit Malti in that frame. Malti appears to be a frivolous woman. A charming woman, Malti seemingly tries to seduce people. Mehta finds it very loathsome. He rejects her. However, deep down Malti is very loving, caring and kind hearted. On discovering her true self, Mehta is all repentance. In a profound moment, he puts his head on her feet. For two reasons: one, he feels that he had unjustly judged her. Two, out of gratitude because Malti has taught him the difference between reality and appearance.

While discussing this episode, I asked the students if they had ever felt like touching the feet of their beloveds. They were uneasy to hear the question. Feet touching seemed like disgraceful and degrading to them in this context. Lovers are equal so how can a lover touch the feet of his beloved?

There must come a point in everybody’s love affair when he should feel like touching the feet of the other. Feet touching is simply a token of respect, a token of thanks. In love, the beloved becomes your mirror and shows you your true nature, helping you recognize yourself. and secondly the presence of that person fills you. Secondly, the presence of the other blesses you with utter fulfilment. Life feels complete. It is very natural that one should feel overwhelming thankfulness to that person. This thankfulness is so immense, so profound that no words in human language can ever express it. Your oceanic thankfulness can never be accommodated into the drop-like thank. Therefore, whenever thankfulness deepens it obviously becomes silent. Silence simply means that you have transcended the level of language.

Language having disappeared, what are you left with? How will you express your gratitude? And express you must, otherwise you remain dissatisfied, discontented. In this moment of sheer helplessness, one simply surrenders, one simply bows down, just like Mehta, one simply places one’s head on the other’s feet. Feet touching has another deep meaning. Ego resides in the head. As one grows in love, ego stars dissolving. Placing one’s head on the other’s feet is symbolic of this process.

Feet touching is the declaration that one is free from ego. And one who is free from ego is capable of love.