The indoor stadium was as big as an external stadium. I am not sure of its capacity and I would prefer not going into it mathematics. But., it was huge. It was more like a larger than life room for me. By this time, I had gathered enough information about the function. Thanks to my analysing and probing skills.
Celebration of achievement, celebration of togetherness, celebration of emotions, celebrations of victory, celebration of being wanted. In short, Free Enterprise Day. I have never seen a gathering of 20000 and odd people gather with one purpose, one aim, one motto, one intention, one wish at one place.
All the while till we settled in our respective seats, i was wondering, observing, calculating, thinking, accepting, absorbing, adopting and adapting the situation at hand. Incidentally, it was all of our first such meeting. We were all equally excited. The Amethyst, Krishna (her cousin) and me. While they were busy observing people on the stage, I was busy in analysing something else.
The stadium was peculiar one. Thankfully, to combat the heat and humid climate of Chennai, there were aplenty of AC ducts. I said to myself "huh.. I am saved." People were literally struggling to find seats to sit, for the function was about to begin. Equally and masterly arranged seats, which gave enough room for anyone to stretch either thier arms or legs. We were so glad that we got seats to sit, for our legs, and feet and toes just wanted to be rested.
I guess it was around 3pm that the function began. With music being played like doldrums in an african desert, bass effect as huge as to shake every seat in the stadium. No matter how fat you were, seat would eventually shake. Such was the effect of a comparatively ok kind of music arrangement. I was still curious to know more. To know my purpose of my presence in that stadium. Why am I here? What am i supposed to learn from this event? What will be expected of me once I get out of this stadium? Will my life change? Will there me an extraordinary change? Is this the turning point I have been waiting? many questions.. many questions were popping in my mind, I calmed myslef and trusted my heart and kept quite and let the evening to unfold itself.
How will you feel to meet a person who has been nominated 3 times for a Nobel Prize? i as ecstatic. I guess thats what motivated. Not his nominee, but his attitude. So down-to-earth personality, so simple thinking, so simple a man. He has had an enormous impact on thousands and probably millions of people.
There were 6 speeches. Each equally good. I never focussed on the speaker. I had a much bigger thing to observe. People. They were the essence of the gathering. The entire gathering was for them and they were the salt of the gathering. I prefer not to write the names of the speakers, and not even the content of their speech. Ask me and I will tell you in person.
I saw immense emotional fulfillment, emotional motivation. i was not disturbed by any speaker, for they spoke their versions of a common theme for the day and all had gone through similar situations. may be water is called by different names in different languages, but at the end of day, it still is water. So was the speech. What I noticed however was much beyond what anyone else would have noticed there.
People reacted in amixed emotional way. Thy got excited when their favourite speaker spoke. Come on,we all are humans afterall., How many times have we screamed with happiness when we saw our favourite singer / celebrity / artiste band perform on stage? we did go nuts. Because we like them. Love for what they are. But in this gathereing, it was different. The speakers who spoke, were those who had impacted thousands of lives. So it was pretty obvious for the people to get excited. However, it was the goozebums I was going through everytime the 20000 people shouted in joy and in union.
There were people from al regions of India. Mostly South Indians though. That dint deter the enthusiasm in the event.
I realised, I understood. I felt, I adapted. Though I was still not aware of the entire concept, the bonding I saw in people made me feel that may be, may be this is where I probably belong. I was still not sure. But, definitely it had made some chain reaction kind of chage in me, which just began growing and never ceased to grow.
We got back to our room, refreshed, had dinner, set our journey back to Bangalore. As always, i dint sleep, but got up before all got up.
Memories that I have, moments that I lived, just told me one thing. I lived the gap of 8.5 years in 36 hours. Could I ask for more?
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A weekend to remember
In everyone's life there are moments that they would want to cherish and the memories just become a part of their history and their very existance. Each such phase, cycle of events form an unforgettable experiences, which brings in several changes. Changes that were probably were meant for that very moment when all things fall into place, as though a jigsaw puzzle has been solved.
I have had several weekends, have been to several parties and various adventurous trips. Each brought in moments I never forget. I guess, this was one such weekend which was just waiting to explode in a such unknown manner. In a manner that I least expected it to turn out.
Stage was set. Just had to play a part in it.
Saturday, 15th december 2007
I came back from work at 0100 am. As always, completely drafting my daily journal, watched a movie, did some work on my post, and went to sleep around 0500 am. As was expected, I got a call at 1030 am. We decided to meet at Forum (famous and so called hang out place in bangalore) at 1430 pm. Venue and time got decided but place at the venue was mystery to both of us. I was excited to meet "The Amethyst" after a gap of 8.5 years. I was pretty excited. As a matter of fact, anyone would be. So was I.
To ensure that I never made her wait., I reached the venue well in advance, did my purchasing. As all girls take a lot of time to be punctual, and as I had got used for the usual delays, I thought she would be late as well. To my surprise, she was there, 1445pm. 15 minutes is forgivable. I have waited hours..
We decided to have lunch and it was fun. Talked about childhood, those good times, and were trying to cover our current present. Prior to the meet, many weeks back, she had asked me if I could join her on a trip to Chennai, which was on some business purpose. Some celebtration, sort of which I was not aware. It had somehoe faded in my mind. We happened to talk about it and that was the moment for me to decide. A decision that would make my weekend a surprisingly rocking one, or probably a normal weekend which I had been having for past 14 months, ever since my last trip to mountaneous Wayanad.
I said "I am a game for Chennai, I want to come." After few calls, a ticket was confirmed for me. That was a lucky one. I must thank her cousin, Krishna, who takes the piece of cake for that.. If not for the calls he made, I am not sure if I would have got the ticket. All set and done, I set back to my home, thinking, planning, designing the events to fall into places.
Though each of us were punctual and arrived at a common place for the pickup, we started the real journey 2300. Now thats what I call real IST!! Neither of us had a clue about how the time would unfold.
Be it me in a completely different bus than they were, making new friends, interacting with new people or be it the dinner break when I ordered for food and it never was served. I got to meet so many new people, learnt their needs, their thoughts, their motto n wishes of their respective lives. All this, in a matter of few hours.
I guess, there was something else in store for all 3 of us. One of the leaders, probably thought I was not enjoying in their bus. I was. The ony problem was with the fact that it was me who was doing all the talking. Now thats me. Cant really stop that though!! As was told, I got a seat to sit in the same bus as "the amethyst" and Krishna. Now this is when the real fun began. it was 0000am sunday. Byt this time, both of them realised the powerhouse of energy in me. I was talking talking talking talking n talking. A little secret. I dont like sleeping while I am travelling. It takes me to be awake till 0400 am in the morning to sleep while travelling and only few hours to get back to where I belong, active!
When all in the bus slept to take rest, to make sure I fulfilled my desires of being awake as much as I could, I went to the driver's cabin and started talking to him. Thats when i came to know about the fact that KSRTC made a whopping 400 crores profit for the year 2006.
Sunday, 16th December 2007
We reached Chennai around 0600. After sleeping at 4am, when all had slept, I got up at 0630, before all got up. Took some really nice videos. It is really good a sight to see people sleeping. For thats when they are true themselves. And I captured those moments. Both "the amethyst" and Krishna were stunned to see me awake!! Pleasure is mine though.
We hired a room and all 3 of us shared it. There I was in Chennai. Not knowing what the function was. We managed to refresh as soon as possible, had DOSA and headed to another place where the rest were parking themselves.
We had to reach a place called as "Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Periamet, Chennai". On the way, the famous "quisshh" thing happened. I wont tell you what it is though. It makes me smile everytime I think of it. We reached the place at 12pm odd. To by astonishment, the crowd that was gathered was enormous, huge, and unbelievable. I had never been to attend a function as big as that.
We had to wait. Wait wait and wait. For the queue was so long, I guess even the nech of a Brontosaurous (those long necked dinosaurs) would be small. But, that was the time when I had some interesting topics talked. Really nice times. The more we asked and talked about things, the more we came to know each other. No thats what I call as an interaction leading to another interaction and a conversation which took its form and pace. We finally managed to enter the stadium after 90 mins of standing in the queue.
I have had several weekends, have been to several parties and various adventurous trips. Each brought in moments I never forget. I guess, this was one such weekend which was just waiting to explode in a such unknown manner. In a manner that I least expected it to turn out.
Stage was set. Just had to play a part in it.
Saturday, 15th december 2007
I came back from work at 0100 am. As always, completely drafting my daily journal, watched a movie, did some work on my post, and went to sleep around 0500 am. As was expected, I got a call at 1030 am. We decided to meet at Forum (famous and so called hang out place in bangalore) at 1430 pm. Venue and time got decided but place at the venue was mystery to both of us. I was excited to meet "The Amethyst" after a gap of 8.5 years. I was pretty excited. As a matter of fact, anyone would be. So was I.
To ensure that I never made her wait., I reached the venue well in advance, did my purchasing. As all girls take a lot of time to be punctual, and as I had got used for the usual delays, I thought she would be late as well. To my surprise, she was there, 1445pm. 15 minutes is forgivable. I have waited hours..
We decided to have lunch and it was fun. Talked about childhood, those good times, and were trying to cover our current present. Prior to the meet, many weeks back, she had asked me if I could join her on a trip to Chennai, which was on some business purpose. Some celebtration, sort of which I was not aware. It had somehoe faded in my mind. We happened to talk about it and that was the moment for me to decide. A decision that would make my weekend a surprisingly rocking one, or probably a normal weekend which I had been having for past 14 months, ever since my last trip to mountaneous Wayanad.
I said "I am a game for Chennai, I want to come." After few calls, a ticket was confirmed for me. That was a lucky one. I must thank her cousin, Krishna, who takes the piece of cake for that.. If not for the calls he made, I am not sure if I would have got the ticket. All set and done, I set back to my home, thinking, planning, designing the events to fall into places.
Though each of us were punctual and arrived at a common place for the pickup, we started the real journey 2300. Now thats what I call real IST!! Neither of us had a clue about how the time would unfold.
Be it me in a completely different bus than they were, making new friends, interacting with new people or be it the dinner break when I ordered for food and it never was served. I got to meet so many new people, learnt their needs, their thoughts, their motto n wishes of their respective lives. All this, in a matter of few hours.
I guess, there was something else in store for all 3 of us. One of the leaders, probably thought I was not enjoying in their bus. I was. The ony problem was with the fact that it was me who was doing all the talking. Now thats me. Cant really stop that though!! As was told, I got a seat to sit in the same bus as "the amethyst" and Krishna. Now this is when the real fun began. it was 0000am sunday. Byt this time, both of them realised the powerhouse of energy in me. I was talking talking talking talking n talking. A little secret. I dont like sleeping while I am travelling. It takes me to be awake till 0400 am in the morning to sleep while travelling and only few hours to get back to where I belong, active!
When all in the bus slept to take rest, to make sure I fulfilled my desires of being awake as much as I could, I went to the driver's cabin and started talking to him. Thats when i came to know about the fact that KSRTC made a whopping 400 crores profit for the year 2006.
Sunday, 16th December 2007
We reached Chennai around 0600. After sleeping at 4am, when all had slept, I got up at 0630, before all got up. Took some really nice videos. It is really good a sight to see people sleeping. For thats when they are true themselves. And I captured those moments. Both "the amethyst" and Krishna were stunned to see me awake!! Pleasure is mine though.
We hired a room and all 3 of us shared it. There I was in Chennai. Not knowing what the function was. We managed to refresh as soon as possible, had DOSA and headed to another place where the rest were parking themselves.
We had to reach a place called as "Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Periamet, Chennai". On the way, the famous "quisshh" thing happened. I wont tell you what it is though. It makes me smile everytime I think of it. We reached the place at 12pm odd. To by astonishment, the crowd that was gathered was enormous, huge, and unbelievable. I had never been to attend a function as big as that.
We had to wait. Wait wait and wait. For the queue was so long, I guess even the nech of a Brontosaurous (those long necked dinosaurs) would be small. But, that was the time when I had some interesting topics talked. Really nice times. The more we asked and talked about things, the more we came to know each other. No thats what I call as an interaction leading to another interaction and a conversation which took its form and pace. We finally managed to enter the stadium after 90 mins of standing in the queue.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Amethyst
You might be wondering what this post might be all about. You might wonder if I would be writing about some manufacturing of a gem or its artifacts or history or even worse, its usage.. Hell no.. I chose the title because nothing else describes the passage I am about to share with you.
Many many years ago, in that golden era of my childhood, is the time it all began. Oops.. what began? Why did it begin? How did it begin? Well, these are not the questions in my mind. But they are the ones that just popped in your mind. Read on..
Back then, everything seemed so beautiful, so mysteriously amazing, so wonderful that little did the rest of the world had its effect on me. No worries about different kind of securities, whether financial gains, or materialsitic desires. Things just existed and everyone were quite content in what they had. But there was something that was lacking and it was that exact thing which started showing its presence and its glitter.
I am not a historian to give you specific dates, a chronological order of events, but i wil try my best to let you know about it.
School days:
Not sure when she joined. Not sure.. All I know is the fact that she was there. That girl with a spectacles that was as thick as a bible can possibly be!! a hair do that was so different than the other lot that existed there. She was always in her own world. Little was she amazed by what other girls did in her class. I will call her as the amethyst. I chose so for a reason.
In her attire at those times, she was unique. I did try a lot to know her. To understand her. Well, I was not trying to impress her. But she was something different. She had a very protective instinct in her, a caring nature, a tenderness of thought, a simple way of telling out the meanings of bigger things. This was often lost in the glitter that was made by the other lot. But this never ceased to exist.
Like an amethyst, she existed in the school. When you think of amethyst, what comes in your mind? A gem? A jewel? or a precious stone? or may be, an invaluable thing that just makes you feel, learn and accept the fact that there are true things that still exist? As far as I know, an amethyst is a gem, a purple shining gem. It may not glitter as much as gold does. It may not be as strong as a diamond is, worse even, it might not be as expensive as platinum. May be thats the exact reason as to why it is so different from other gems. Be it a ruby, or an emerald or a saphire. an amethyst is different. In everything, in every manner. And thats exactly how she was.
Present Day:
Years passed. With no visual contact. Nor was there any speech that happened. But years later, when I saw the amethyst, I saw what was transformed into something so different and so unique. I literally lost interest in every other gem available.
Back then, to current now, may be the outer appearance changed. I am grateful of the ability to see the inner aspect of anything. Due to which I noticed one thing. The essence of the amethyst never changed. It was still the same.
Be it the way she laughs, or the way she has that typical face expression when she is shocked, or be it the way she eats chapathi, nothing has changed. What did change is the way she talks. Back then, she talked less. But I still remember how she used to frame what she wanted to tell me about. Now, she does it effortlessly. However, the "quisshh" thing never gets off my mind. The way cornea of her eyes are and the way retina reacts to the surprise she faces, thats still the same. Walking used to be subtle, over years it has changed.. Those steps that are taken after a careful consideration, that hygenic approach for health, laughter....
Epilogue:
Hold your thoughts right there. Dont let it roll out. For the thoughts that are there in your mind right now are precious. To express is human essence. To suppress and resent the same is also a human nature.
A mystery that has been, which I have understood, as it still unfolds, makes me understand even more. The more you understand it, the deeper it gets, the lesser you try to understand, the more trivial it becomes. Thats the amethyst I am talking about.
Many many years ago, in that golden era of my childhood, is the time it all began. Oops.. what began? Why did it begin? How did it begin? Well, these are not the questions in my mind. But they are the ones that just popped in your mind. Read on..
Back then, everything seemed so beautiful, so mysteriously amazing, so wonderful that little did the rest of the world had its effect on me. No worries about different kind of securities, whether financial gains, or materialsitic desires. Things just existed and everyone were quite content in what they had. But there was something that was lacking and it was that exact thing which started showing its presence and its glitter.
I am not a historian to give you specific dates, a chronological order of events, but i wil try my best to let you know about it.
School days:
Not sure when she joined. Not sure.. All I know is the fact that she was there. That girl with a spectacles that was as thick as a bible can possibly be!! a hair do that was so different than the other lot that existed there. She was always in her own world. Little was she amazed by what other girls did in her class. I will call her as the amethyst. I chose so for a reason.
In her attire at those times, she was unique. I did try a lot to know her. To understand her. Well, I was not trying to impress her. But she was something different. She had a very protective instinct in her, a caring nature, a tenderness of thought, a simple way of telling out the meanings of bigger things. This was often lost in the glitter that was made by the other lot. But this never ceased to exist.
Like an amethyst, she existed in the school. When you think of amethyst, what comes in your mind? A gem? A jewel? or a precious stone? or may be, an invaluable thing that just makes you feel, learn and accept the fact that there are true things that still exist? As far as I know, an amethyst is a gem, a purple shining gem. It may not glitter as much as gold does. It may not be as strong as a diamond is, worse even, it might not be as expensive as platinum. May be thats the exact reason as to why it is so different from other gems. Be it a ruby, or an emerald or a saphire. an amethyst is different. In everything, in every manner. And thats exactly how she was.
Present Day:
Years passed. With no visual contact. Nor was there any speech that happened. But years later, when I saw the amethyst, I saw what was transformed into something so different and so unique. I literally lost interest in every other gem available.
Back then, to current now, may be the outer appearance changed. I am grateful of the ability to see the inner aspect of anything. Due to which I noticed one thing. The essence of the amethyst never changed. It was still the same.
Be it the way she laughs, or the way she has that typical face expression when she is shocked, or be it the way she eats chapathi, nothing has changed. What did change is the way she talks. Back then, she talked less. But I still remember how she used to frame what she wanted to tell me about. Now, she does it effortlessly. However, the "quisshh" thing never gets off my mind. The way cornea of her eyes are and the way retina reacts to the surprise she faces, thats still the same. Walking used to be subtle, over years it has changed.. Those steps that are taken after a careful consideration, that hygenic approach for health, laughter....
Epilogue:
Hold your thoughts right there. Dont let it roll out. For the thoughts that are there in your mind right now are precious. To express is human essence. To suppress and resent the same is also a human nature.
A mystery that has been, which I have understood, as it still unfolds, makes me understand even more. The more you understand it, the deeper it gets, the lesser you try to understand, the more trivial it becomes. Thats the amethyst I am talking about.
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