The question was a bit out of context kinda thing and i didn’t expect her to answer.. but to my surprise she could get what i had intended to ask and she even answered it. It was regarding the issue of “Being Single”. In India if a woman wants to remain single it is considered to be a taboo (?? H–0$—-Lity or Impotency is what they think of when one says he/she prefers to remain single {even though he/she may not be so..} !!). Its true that only a small (in fact very small) percentage of women would like to be so but the point i wanted to make was “Why does the Indian society not allow this concept of being single and how can the issue be addressed through the media ?”. She made a statement.. “The relationship between a man n a woman is the most beautiful one and its more important that he/she appreciates the differences and accept the other person for what she/he is”. Honestly speaking, I have different views about relationships and all.. but I agree to some extent with what she said. After all, its not all about compromises we have to make in life. I would say it is sufficient but not the necessary condition for longevity of a relationship (I had a long discussion also with one of the bloggers, Barath on this topic). Finally what I want to say is this. Ms Revathy isn’t like what you would expect a (stereotypical) actress to be. The humility and simplicity aren’t what we generally associate with actresses. But she is an epitome of these qualities and the fact that she is constantly working to contribute to the society by addressing different issues related to women through media, tells a lot about her. She indeed is a role model for many.

P.S. : Fellow blogger Barath also has blogged about the visit.This is the LiNk. I thank Barath for he was the one who told me about the talk and Sudarshan anna for having taken some lovely snaps.

Info : The music piece was played by Manoj and was recorded with the help of the Philips Go Gear mp3 player.

Its like a tradition here in the university that the students go to the staff quarters where the faculty members of respective departments reside and wish them, put some colors on them and so did we. We were wished by them too and all of us returned back to the hostels after having some sweets they had offered (this is the best part of holi.. loadz of sweets everywhere.. ).

On our way back, I saw some kids there trying to play and fight among themselves with whatever holi arms they had.. the colors, the water bottles and all. It was then I started looking back at the yesteryears and those memories kept hitting back to me. My mind seemed wholly taken up with reminiscences of the past as I took a tour back in time. I was now watching myself closely.. the part of me which existed years ago, an innocent little boy. I could now see him playing with all his little friends. He would just go on playing till someone stops him and the only thing he would then have in his mind was how well can he throw the little amount of water he then had in his bottle, on others.. Sometimes he would be in a blissful state and some other times, totally upset. He would pour that holi water on his elder sisters and would start jumping with joy as though it was one of the greatest achievements in his life. And when he had no more energy to play he would come back home, sit quietly and wonder what if everyday would have been like holi.. No school, no studies.. only playing with colors. And when he had asked his mother the same question, she would tell him some stories and he would then happily get convinced.

Well.. as I was watching him I couldn’t help but smile for he was the one, a known stranger to me.. I could see him smile back too. He was not gone yet. I thought he was waiting for me to tell him bye bye.. So I said good bye to him.. and to my astonishment he replied back with a smile, “Never say good bye to me..” and then walked away into the thin air. At that moment, I felt that he has conveyed a message that I would try not to forget. I wish I could become a kid all over again and live all my life like that innocent little kid, who never had any feelings of hatred, jealousy or anger !! I wish..

Ever since I was born, I have been watching people and have wondered how does it feel.. to be able to walk like them.. to be able to talk like them. They are the ones blessed with the abilities and the capabilities unique to them.. I can’t even try to think of having those.. I wish I could be of some use to them than just removing the darkness from their lives. but I can only wish.. I am supposed to be a street light that has to do its duty until the last breath of its life. My life isn’t quite interesting neither can I say it is boring, for I don’t have the discretion to say anything about my life. If only I was given a chance to speak, I would convey this all to him.. that very guy who has now become a friend of mine. Can you hear me Minko ??

Last week, I had some good time (as good as it can get) with my parents and my sisters. A Puja (in telugu its called “Ammoru Vaaram”) was arranged and that was the reason my sisters had come too. It was a kinda get together we had. I just didn’t feel like coming back from home but I had to. Anywayz, on my way back I had to board a train (which I usually do) and had the opportunity to kill some fair amount of time (an 18 hour long sleeper class train journey can be a grueling experience at times). There is never a dearth of entertainment though when you find some interesting characters traveling. Train journey is not something new to me but this time it was not the same as a series of thoughts struck me. I remembered an essay (The Station by Robert J. Hastings) that I had read sometime back.

When we are traveling by train, we get to see many strangers and I have a habit (good or bad, I don’t know) of observing them. Its not always you get to meet some great people (and that to in a train, rare case) from whom you can learn a thing or two (learn “How to be”). But the other side of the coin has always interested me. I observe people all the time and I sincerely felt that I have learned from them “How NOT to be” (if not “How to be”..). Not just in a train journey but in real life too sometimes people can make you think like – “why the hell are these guys behaving like this” and some situations would make you feel – “why does it happen to me all the time that I am faced with this kind of awkward situations ?”. Irritating they can be at times. Someone rightly said, “The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination”.

Well.. life indeed is like a journey. Throughout the journey, we are faced with various situations (some pleasant and some not so pleasant..) and we just keep waiting for the destination and in the process, we tend to ignore the journey itself. Over the years, I have discovered life is a journey, an adventure, a puzzle. There are many paths to enlightenment, their teachings rich and varied (offering wisdom and “food for thought”) and everything we need for our journey to awakening lies within us. It is here we create the blueprint of our collective existence. Crises from different life changing events and transitions (all unpredictable moments arriving and intruding into our “well groomed lives”) make us wonder why it has arrived bringing with it havoc and confusion. And during these times we often choose to ignore that inner calling. We need to ask ourselves what is it we are summoned to learn ? Are we ready to accept responsibility for our life choices and embark on this soulful journey ? We have learned to be afraid of the feelings inside ourselves. We tend to bury (and ignore) them (perhaps even pretend that they don’t exist..). Life gives us enough opportunities to push past our comfort zone and begin the process of transformation. We have to claim and embrace them.. Else the beginning will never have a beginning.

You don’t even realize when you get into the beat when you have a DJ showcasing his talent(s). Beat juggling, back spinning, phase shifting.. the Jockey had them all with him. A good disc jockey is so important for a DJ night or else you will find people running away from the event (literally) and i thought this guy did a good job, at least better than the previous time (last time they caught some bakra and it was awful..). and the credit should go to the present Cultural Secretary for arranging a successful event as this one (this is the only time I can see him getting into the act.. ok fine, Sukoon* is one more..). Of course, it has its cons too.. you can guess all that can go wrong on a typical DJ night, if guys (n sometimes gals) start misbehaving. Let me not get into that. To me, it was like an opportunity to dance and have some fun and I enjoyed it. May be.. I can participate in one more. So.. Mr Cultural secretary, Sukoon kab hai bhai ??

* Sukoon is a 3 day long cultural fest thats organized every year in HCU wherein you get to see some talented guyz n galz participating in various competitions held. And DJ night is a must.

(All Pics by Oj)

The night ..

Can you see the DJs ??

OJ and one of his friends Eswhar..