Just a Thought: Five

The energy and dynamism of a city makes it harder to be lonely than the peace and inactivity of a countryside.

The boon and the bane of the “Local”

The train network of Mumbai (referred to as the “local”) that transports thousands everyday from one corner of the city to the other is often referred to as the Lifeline of the city and I couldn’t agree more. It’s undoubtedly the fastest, surest and cheapest way to travel in the city, which even the sea link failed to do. How on earth could one otherwise even think of living in Borivali and working in Churchgate. On Ganesh Chaturthi, when the entire city is in a jovial mood and is out on the roads, one couldn’t even imagine travelling form one part of the city to the other, had it not been for the local.

So there’s no doubt that the local is a boon for the city but then there’s no free meal after all. The train network has divided the city in east and west. What this has done is that going from east to west or vice versa in the same locality is more troublesome than going to a neighborhood in the same direction. For example going to Goregaon West is easier than going to Andheri East from Andheri West.

I’ll share my example here when the other day I was going for a movie to Andheri East from where I stay (Andheri West). My friends had left in an auto and by chance I could not find one for myself. All autos refused to go towards east but were ready to go anywhere in the west. After twenty minutes of looking for an auto I began to walk towards the theatre and after crossing over from the railway station reached the theatre in thirty minutes (walking), earlier than some who were in an auto. A small inconvenience and an even smaller problem. The boons far outweigh the banes and there is no doubt about that. Nevertheless, I thought I’ll show the other picture also.

Bow down to The Genius

24 February, 2010, a day cricket fans and especially Indian cricket fans will never forget. Few would have imagined what lay in store for them when Sehwag and Sachin walked out to bat at 1430 hours. As the day progressed, Sachin scored runs after runs with complete ease, milking the South African bowlers. The elusive milestone (and the only one left in his cap) in ODI history awaited him as an entire nation came to a standstill. 200 not out. None other deserved it more.

The South African team, the Umpires and the three Indian batsmen were so privileged to see history being created at such close quarters that I envy them. It’s amazing how even after completing 20 long years in International cricket, the hunger for runs just never dies. In times where players come and go after their 15 minutes of fame, here’s a man whose stood the test of time and carried the dreams and hopes of a nation for over 2 decades.

It’s been a complete privilege to be in a generation that witnessed the magic and madness of this great player. I wonder what Indian cricket would be without Sachin and I pity those in the coming generation who didn’t have a chance to watch Sachin play. Hats off to you Sachin. The entire nation (or should I say the entire cricketing world) bows down to you.

Dissonance

It’s basic human nature to exaggerate, spice up things and portray oneself in a better light, at times a much better light. Why only humans, organizations are no different. They also like to put up an image with which they want to be associated. The problem creeps when it’s just all say and no action.

One can go on shouting from a roof top and claim to be the sole guardians of whatever little integrity, ethics and culture is left in the world but it’s important to believe in it also and put it in action. Imagine an organization which is so blinded by the garb of this belief that it has become a breeding ground for everything that it doesn’t stand for. No file moves without signatures, signatures are obtained only after some egos are massaged, no selection is done without negotiations, collaborations and pulling of strings. The place could give the Indian bureaucracy a run for it’s money. However, the place preaches about the Gita and ethics and culture and values.

Well I know what a lot of people will say – “welcome to the real world”. My point is what’s the harm in accepting that this is what the real world is all about and we are preparing you for that. But no, how is that possible. After all we are the only one’s left in the world who still believe in such novel concepts. Well, did someone say Dissonance.

GASP

I never thought that I’ll be able to do a full length play after leaving school but fortunately I had the privilege of being a member of the theatre group of SP Jain – the Guild of Actor @ SP (GASP). Even though I was a part of the production team, the experience of being a part of a team doing a play was simply phenomenal. It provided the team an escape from the banality of the daily schedules, from the boring lectures and the useless assignments. It gave us all something to look forward to every evening. To top it all up we were privileged to pick up a classic – “Evam Indrajit” which gave us all enough food for thought during this period. Actually it still is.

The poetry with which the “Writer” memerises everyone and raises pertinent questions highlights the beauty of the play. The monologues (specially towards the end of each act) are amazingly scripted bringing to the fore the struggle that each one of us go through. We all know about these struggles and want to escape, want to be different but can’t do so. Yes, as the writer himself says – “And yet there is no escape”.

I’m really glad that I could be a part of the team and do this exceptional play. Maybe these 3 months will be the best that I’ll spend at SP this will be the best memory that I’ll take with me from SP. J

Just a Thought: Four

There are theories, paradox, phenomenon, dreams, imaginations and then there are facts.

Absence

As usual the realization of a person’s impact in one’s life surfaces only in the person’s absence. The conceited me never wanted to believe that someone could impact my life in any way unless reality dawned.

I could never imagine that one person could impact so many lives, unknowingly binding people and weaving dreams for them, and then all of a sudden the absence brings everything down. The dreams vanish, disillusionment sets in and the weaving begins to wane away. Everyone holds on their respective forts, fighting their own ghosts, behaving like nothing has happened, giving strength to all the others, but in reality all of them need each other. It can’t be explained in words how one moment can change the lives of so many people.

The absence is a part of our life, an inseparable part that can’t be removed. It’s just about trying to accept the absence, face it and maybe try and find peace in it. Till then we are all holding our respective forts.