A former banker by profession, a humourist and philosopher in real life, RAKESH POPLI, in his inimitable style, describes the joy, the freedom and liberation in letting go
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) was a cult dark comedy—a satire on the absurdities of life. Often, real life imitates reel life. My essay explores this reality—the complexities of the mind, its unresolved knots, its stubborn refusal—to let go.
We hold on to things long past their expiry date, be it relationships, possessions, memories, regrets, beliefs, and identities. We guard them as though our very existence depends on them. And yet, somewhere within, a soft voice keeps whispering: “Jaane Bhi Do…”—let it be, let it go.
Holding On Hurts More Than Letting Go
Letting go reflects the quiet courage of a heart that trusts the flow of life. We cling because we fear emptiness—the loss of what once defined us: a fading love, an old success, a past mistake. Our hands tighten, believing that letting go would make life meaningless.
But think of trees in autumn—they shed their leaves without moaning, confident that spring will return.
Letting go doesn’t erase love or memory; it only breaks the chain. What you love becomes part of you. When you lose it, let it go, because it has already served its purpose.
Letting go is a gentle, untying of knots—be it anger, expectation, sorrow. Let go, my friend. In doing so, you are letting go the illusion that life could have been different.
In that final release, you meet yourself again—in better shape, with a new meaning and outlook in life.
Empty Hand, Full Heart
In our busy lives, we hold on to routines, possessions, and endless digital noise.
Our hands are full, but our hearts are empty.
We cling to our plans, beliefs, and biases—forgetting the beauty of simply being.
The tragedy is not what we hold, but what slips away—the unread book, the unspoken word, the quiet walk, the soft tune of self-connection. These are not small losses. They are life itself. And life is all about taking things in our stride.
Those who carry nothing in their hands are entrusted with the greatest tasks; those who keep their minds uncluttered glimpse the sunrise of awareness. And those who refuse to be weighed down—they learn to fly.
My Father’s Story
My father, late Om Prakash Popli’s life was a living example of letting go. At seventy-five, he turned a corner and began a second life. In his first innings, he stayed in the background— quiet, humble, diligent, yet unnoticed. Then something shifted…changed within.
He became cheerful and expressive—making friends half his age; joking, smiling, living. I used to tease him, “Papa, a new soul has entered your body!” He would laugh, eyes gleaming with joy and freedom. He had simply let go—of his old image, of expectations, of how he was supposed to be.
And in doing so, he found joy, vitality, and childlike curiosity again. From him, I learnt there’s no age bar for learning new things—and no time too late to let go of the old.
The Lesson: Lightness is Freedom
1)Letting go is not loss; it is liberation.
2) Every ending hides a beginning waiting to be born.
3)The hands that release are the hands that receive.
4) The heart that forgives becomes free to love again.
When we let go, life expands—inviting us to dance again under the open sky of now.
A Timeless Song of Letting Go from the movie Guide—Welcoming a New Dawn
Kaanton se khinch ke ye anchal,
tod ke bandhan baandhi paayal
Koi na roko dil ki udaan ko,
dil wo chala
Pulling this veil away from the thorns,
Breaking the chains, she tied on her anklets.
Let no one stop the flight of the heart—
The heart has set out on its way.
It’s a beautiful, poetic expression of freedom, courage, and inner awakening— evoking an image of someone breaking free from constraints and moving forward with spirit and grace.
A song of release—of breaking old bonds and stepping barefoot into the freshness of a new morning. It speaks of shedding the weight of what was, and humming softly towards what can be.
So laugh a little, forgive a lot, loosen the strings, and keep walking—light, free, and smiling.
And when life throws another scene your way, just tilt your head, let a gentle smile play on your lips, and say—Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro.
Rakesh Popli, a retired banker and blogger, writes about his observations of life. He lives in Sonipat.
