While America is considered the richest country in the world it is alarming to learn that 53% of American population is suffering from depression, which is otherwise described as mental sickness. While man constantly strives to become richer by amassing wealth but fails to realise that wealth alone cannot give you happiness, it is the spiritual and mental growth of the person which is of primary importance. While wealth is necessary for comfortable living, it is important to maintain harmony with spiritual and material wealth, which is essential for a peaceful and prosperous life. 

In order to maintain fine health, it is important to have a perfect synchronisation between mind, body and spirit. Shakespeare had remarked "Laugh away your blues", hence humour and comedy is essential for a wonderful life which is short and momentary. It is believed that laughter is the best medicine to cure all illnesses, particularly psychosomatic ailments and also enhances the complete blood circulation in the body.

Here I would like to draw your attention to India's funny man, Raju Shrivastava, who recently passed away in New Delhi on 22^nd September 2022. Raju suffered a heart attack while he was at the gymnasium on 10^th August 10 and went through angioplasty and was kept on ventilator as he was running a high fever. He was also being treated by neurologists and was critical. He was hospitalized for over a month.

Satya Prakash Srivastava, popularly known as Raju Shrivastava is an acclaimed comedian, actor and politician. Born on 25th December 1963 in Kanpur, Raju developed a passion for acting and mimicry at an early age, often imitating his friends and relatives with a comic touch.

Since 1988 Raju acted in various movies with small character roles, beginning with "Tejaab","Maine Pyar Kiya" as the truck cleaner, "Baazigar" as a college student, "Amdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya" as Baba Chin Chin Choo. "Waah - Tera Kya Kehna" as Banne Khan's asistant, "Main Pyar Ki Diwani Hoo" as Shambu, Sanjana's servant, "Big Brother" as a auto rickshaw driver etc. It was his participation in the popular comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge on Sony TV, Raju was declared the the second runner and subsequently in the Great Indian Laughter Challenge - Champions show,  Raju was decalred "The King of Comedy" that attracted lot of media attention and he became an overnight celebrity, being recognised as a top comedian. Raju participated in Big Boss (Hindi season 3), "Nach Baliye" (season 6) along with his wife Shika. He also appeared with Kapil Sharma in Comedy Nights and in "Maazak Maazak Hai"(Life OK) which was judged by ciricketers Harbhajan Singh and Shoiab Akhtar.

Raju, 58, was nominated for "Swaach Bharat Abhiyaan" and conducted several programmes to enhance the clealiness drive in the country. I had the privelege of meeting him on few occasions, he had the down to earth attitude and once remarked, "Life is humourous, it all depends on how you perceive life. As a young boy I used to find humour in everything, in the surroundings and in the people around me, I used to constantly pass comic remarks always, my parents were irritated and disgusted with me, wondering when will I take up life seriously, that's when I realised that homour is serious business and it is not easy to make people laugh. My friends suggested that I must try my hand in comic acting which I did in movies and serials but the real turning point came in my career came when I was judged the Comedy King in "The Great Indian Laughter Challege" show on television.".

Sivastava was also a animal lover and fought for their rights at times. He helped PETA India highlight the rampant use of illegal spiked (or “thorn”) bits to control horses used for weddings through pain via a video in which he urged his fans to report the use of these cruel devices to police and to have a horse-free ceremony. PETA India and animals have lost a great friend.

Raju Srivastava was married to Shikha. The couple has two children, a son Ayushman and a daughter Antara.

By Guru Vijay Shanker

Guru Vijay Shanker is a professional Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Bharata Natyam exponent, dance teacher, choreographer, actor and eminent arts critic for over four decades based in Mumbai. He can be contacted on email: vijaydance@gmail.com