Travel Musings - Shillong

The silent gushing of the winds,
The effortless meandering of the pines,
Switching between the ironies of life and road,
The wanderer tries to find reasons galore.

Why do the clouds cover the stars?
Why do the waters merge into one?
The wayward tramp and the spiritual monk,
All find a place in winter and fall!
There is the rum and the endless stroll,
The smile on many faces ashore,
"To each his own, to each his own.",
Kept saying the woman unknown.

Hogwarts through the eyes of a Muggle...

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the ultimate fantasy world that paints a vivid imagination in the minds of every Potterhead across the world. The grandeur of the Hogwarts buildings from afar is imagined to be aesthetically pleasing. When one approaches the gates, one expects a sense of ecstasy of being transformed from the world of muggles to that of wizards. The Great Hall of Hogwarts has been home to a plethora of events and one expects to see the sky from the ceiling. The arrangement of tables according to four houses and the unlimited food on the dishes are integral to it. Then comes the moving staircases, the living portraits and the swirling ghosts across the passageways. I have always imagined myself to be in Gryffindor and approach the Gryffindor common room by bypassing the fat lady. Coming to the classes, Snape's dungeon has always uncannily fascinated me. A room of potions brewing from all quarters with the dungeon master at the helm is a sight worth imagining. The secret passageways of Hogwarts symbolize the endlessness of the castle. Then come the castle grounds. The sports freak in me imagines it to be large and full of activity during Quidditch matches. The Forbidden Forest just adjacent to it and the never ending Black Lake in all likelihood offer an amalgamation of awe and enthral to the onlookers which can be matched by none. In a nutshell, Hogwarts is that Utopic place that never ceases to amaze.

THE THREE MINUTE WALK

There is so much I could have told you,
In the walk through the dusty lanes,
Amongst the cattle and the cacophonic cars,
A sense of urgency in despair.

If only life was not so fast,
If only I had time in hand,
If only it was divine’s plan,
Could I still have told you what I wanted to?

In your sparkling eyes I found,
A thousand tales yearning to be shared,
Myriads of questions yet to be answered,
And yet I chose to remain aloof,
For it was just a three minute walk.

MY OPEN LETTER TO NARENDRA MODI

Dear Mr. Modi,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your thumping victory in the General Elections. The people have given an overwhelmingly decisive mandate in the favor of your party and your alliance. I must confess I was a bit surprised to see your party cross the magic figure of 272 all by itself. After all, it has happened for the first time since 1985 that a single party has got a clear majority in the lower house of the parliament. It largely means that the people of this country have voted for change. And, in you, they have found the best humdinger of change.

While you seem to be in celebratory mood, which I believe is set to last for quite some time, I am sure a part of you must have contemplated the enormity of the faith that people of this country have reposed in you. You have successfully managed to sell your dreams to the nation. But, now comes the time to deliver. And, I am sure you will agree that living up to the hopes and expectations of the 1.26 billion people of this country is a much more difficult task than winning the largest election of the world.

Here is what the very same electorate, which propelled you to the most powerful position in the country, expect from you:-

      1.      Revive the economy: The economy of India has gone to the dogs. Vital parameters of the economy lie ailing, the most important being the G.D.P. growth rate which was 8.2 % at the time of Vajpayee ji’s regime and has been brought down to 4.7 % by the U.P.A. government. The country expects you to set the ball rolling when it comes to strong fiscal policies that will reduce the deficit and increase the growth. The appointment of an able Finance Minister will be a good start.

      2.      Centre-State Relations: Having been the Chief Minister of a state for close to 13 years, you know the importance of federalism better than anybody else. I was reading an article in which it is suggested that your operational style as the Prime Minister will be through the states. It is a welcome sign as federalism is becoming more and more inevitable in Indian polity as the days progress. But, it is worthy to note that the success at which you will deal with non-BJP ruled states will determine your true mettle as the Prime Minister.

      3.      Countering right-wing extremism: Sadly, your party’s image has been synonymous with the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Your personal role in the 2002 Godhra riots has been one of the talking points of this election. The fact that you have been acquitted by the highest court of the land absolves yourself from any criminal offence. But, your biggest challenge will be to curb the religious chauvinism emanating out from the groups associated with your party. The people have voted for your party because of its developmental agenda and not because of its majoritarian approach. You are provided with an excellent opportunity to show that development from which all sections of the society benefit is the best advertisement of secularism.

      4.      Foreign Policy Initiatives: You must be busy receiving congratulatory messages from world leaders after your emphatic victory. The message from Mr. Obama and the U.S. State Department signaling the end of your nine-year U.S. visa ban showed that you had the last laugh. But, foreign policy is a much more serious issue than it seems. The prosperity of our nation heavily depends on the geo-political stability of our region and the manner in which you will address issues relating to China and Pakistan will be of special significance.

The nation has bestowed its fate to your hands. And, to be fair, you have rightfully earned it. Your dream of making the country Congress-mukht is largely realized. Now, it is your turn to make the dreams of this great nation come true.

‘IDEAL’ BUREAUCRAT – AN ENDANGERED SPECIES

A bureaucrat in India is often viewed in the eyes of the public as someone who has a monopoly over the enterprise of corruption and is responsible for all the misgovernance and lack of development throughout the country. Politicians and bureaucrats are often painted by the same brush. One fails to differentiate between the elected representatives and the functionary executives. Therefore, all the rant that is directed towards the politicians is often deflected to the bureaucrats. The act of 'bureaucracy-bashing' is something our country has never grown tired of.

Today, for a change, the entire country is rallying behind a brave, young officer of the Indian Administrative Services by the name of Durga Shakti Nagpal in a fight between right and wrong. The news of her suspension for presumably taking on the sand mafia sent shock waves across the country. She, in a way, epitomizes what bureaucracy actually stands for. She justifies why the bureaucracy is considered “the steel frame of India”, as dubbed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. She is the ‘ideal’ bureaucrat.

While there are many Durga Shaktis throughout the country in the form of officers who go beyond the average call of their duty to protect the interest of the country, the kind of treatment meted out to them by the so-called 'political masters' is disturbing. A generalization cannot be made in this regard as there are many parts in the country where the political establishments work hand-in-hand with the bureaucrats for the betterment of the society. But, the fact that an unholy nexus between the mafia and the politicians exists in most parts of the country results in deterring the honest bureaucrats from discharging their duties appropriately. Most bureaucrats then shed their 'honesty' and join hands with the unlawful authorities. Some of them, like Ms. Nagpal, fight the system from within. They are the ‘ideal’ bureaucrats.

The recent course of events has highlighted the need to have safeguards in place for the bureaucrats who are willing to go the extra mile in fighting tooth and nail against those who violate the rule of law. There should be strong mechanisms to ensure that honest officers are not suspended, dismissed or harassed by the arbitrariness of the political authority. Our country is vehemently confronted with the challenge of preventing the ‘ideal’ bureaucrat from becoming extinct.

As I write, the fate of Ms. Nagpal is yet to be decided. One can only hope that better sense prevails and her suspension order is revoked. But, irrespective of whatever happens, what this saga has done is it has aptly demonstrated the power of an ‘ideal’ bureaucrat.

Also published as my editorial at STIMULUS INDIA !

IRONY EXPRESS

Ved’s life had reached a dead-end. Poor grades, failed relationships, low self-esteem, all amalgamated into something which made his life more miserable with every passing second. He desperately needed some time off. So, he was going home. Sitting in an empty compartment in a weekly train to Bhubaneswar on a Friday evening, Ved was busy contemplating how his life had become so miserable.

Train journeys and self-introspection often seem to go hand in hand. With the earphones plugged in, one often tends to wonder why life can’t be as simple as the flushing meadows passing by. And to add to that, the sentimental music playing through the earphones often mix with the emotions joggling inside the head to give an exaggerating effect. Ved’s case was no different. As the train chugged along, the voices inside Ved’s head too gathered momentum. The contemplation was soon approaching alarming level when he saw a tall, fair-complexioned man, probably in his early thirties; take the seat in front of him. The man was dressed in plain white shirt and black trousers and appeared to be from a well-to-do background.

Ved was a social introvert. On any other day, he would have continued listening to the music and indulging in his thoughts irrespective of anyone coming or going. But, today was different. He needed to vent out his emotions to somebody, preferably a stranger. He was tired of explaining things to known people and seeking advice. It seems god had listened to his inner desire. Soon, he removed the earphones.

“Are you going to Bhubaneswar?” asked Ved.

“Hmm…Yeah”, replied the stranger, sounding a bit unsure.

There was a brief moment of silence.

Then, the stranger asked, “I can sense that you are visibly upset with something.”

Ved was astounded. “How on earth was he able to figure that out barely seconds after they had met?” he thought.

“Can you read people’s minds?” Ved asked in amazement.

“No. But, I can certainly sense sadness. That is what I had been carrying throughout most part of my life.”

“Well, yes. I am passing through a tough phase. There is no point denying it. In fact, I was secretly hoping that I get someone who listens to all the tragedies of my life without having an opinion on them.” Ved said in a straight-forward manner.

“I have seen too much of life. Listening to the problems of others is not new for me. I don’t mind listening to yours too. And, as I don’t know you, I won’t have an opinion on them as well. So let’s get started.” said the stranger.

The train was gaining pace, and so was their conversation.

“I was truly, madly, deeply in love with a girl. We were in a relationship for the past four years. I spent too much time with her. As a result, my grades went from bad to worse. But, I didn’t care. She was more important to me than my grades. A few days ago, she came up to me and said that she did not want to be in a relationship with me any longer as I was “failing to meet her standards”. My world crashed. I had sacrificed everything for her and what she gave in return was pain and agony. I don’t know what to do with my life now.” elaborated Ved.

 

“I hope you are feeling better now. Sometimes, venting out is all that one needs.” said the stranger.

“Yeah, sort of. It doesn't solve the problem though. But, anyways, thanks for listening.” said Ved.

 The stranger took out an envelope from his pocket.

“I need a small favor from you. Can you post this letter when you reach Bhubaneswar tomorrow morning?” asked the stranger.

“Yes, I can. But why do you want me to post it?” asked Ved, looking perplexed.

“Well, I just remembered something. It seems that I have to get down at the next station of Palasa. Have some work there. There is no post office nearby. So, it would be great if you can post my letter.” explained the stranger.

“Ok, I will post it as soon as I reach Bhubaneswar.” said Ved.

“Ok, then. It seems I have to get going. The station will arrive in an hour or so. I need to go to the other compartment to charge my phone. It was nice meeting you.” said the stranger.

“Nice meeting you too.” said Ved.

They shook hands.

“And yes…do remember to post the letter.” said the stranger in jest.

Yeah, sure.” replied Ved, with a subtle smile.

And soon the stranger departed.

Now, Ved was back to his loneliness. He was just going to plug in his earphones and return to his world of contemplation when he saw the envelope he was holding. It was not sealed. His curiosity got the better of him and he snatched the letter out of the envelope to have a look at it. Soon, he started reading it…

Dear Stuti

I wanted to thank you for breaking up with me last year. Yes, those 10 years spent with you were fun. But, after you decided to move on, I realized how much more I was capable of doing. I learned to take nothing for granted, gave my 100 % in each of my endeavors, and stopped thinking too much about things that are not in one’s hands. Probably, we won’t meet again but I just wanted to thank you for letting me unleash my true potential in every domain of life.

Amar

Ved kept re-reading it until his eyes were tired of doing so. The words of the letter sank into his subconscious mind. The answer to all his questions lied in the piece of paper that he was holding. He had got a clear idea of how to approach things from now on and make his life worthwhile.

The night had beautifully set in and soon Ved dozed off to sleep.

The clattering of footsteps, the sunlight indicating daybreak and the huge commotion outside forced Ved to awake. Bhubaneswar had finally arrived. Ved, along with his luggage, moved out. His first duty was to post the letter lurked in his pocket. Thankfully, the post office was adjacent to the station. He sealed the envelope and posted the letter to its intended place.

He then took a newspaper from a nearby vendor and called an auto-rickshaw. The wheels of the auto-rickshaw were set in motion as Ved approached his home. While browsing through the newspaper in his hands, a particular piece of news caught his attention.

MAN JUMPS OFF MOVING TRAIN, DIES

Railway officials discovered the body of a man, supposedly aged between 30-35 years, on the railway tracks near Palasa station in the early hours of Saturday morning. The identity of the man is yet to be established but the officials have confirmed that the first name of the man was Amar. The deceased man was dressed in plain white shirt and black trousers. Although no suicide note has been recovered, it is being viewed as a clear case of suicide.

GROWING UP WITH HARRY POTTER

I grew up listening to the cliché that, “Books are a person’s best friend”. But, it was actually when I stumbled upon The Harry Potter Series that I realized what a delight books can be. I had the life-changing encounter of getting introduced to the magical world of Harry Potter purely by chance. I was all of 12 years old when I read the first Harry Potter book. Little did I know back then that it would mark the beginning of a life-long obsession. If I remember correctly, the first five books of the series were published by then and the first two had already been converted into movies. I could have watched the movies first and read the books later. But, as I had no access to the movies, I turned to the books instead. The fact that I read the books first and then watched the movies is something I consider as a blessing in disguise.

The Harry Potter books offered me a chance to delve deep into the world of Harry, Ron and Hermione. A world in which “love” and “friendship” existed in their purest forms. It has been close to 6 years since the world of Harry Potter was brought to a fitting closure by the one who created it at the first place – J.K. Rowling. But, it continues to flourish in the hearts of millions of Potter-maniacs like me.

There were so many moments in the series when one would simply be in awe of what had been written. Whether it was Harry seeing his parents in The Mirror of Erised or Draco’s predicament while killing Dumbledore, each moment had its own speciality. And to top it all was the breathtaking climax in which the proverbial notion of victory of good over evil took centre stage. Also, the manner in which the characters were developed throughout the seires is something astonishing. My personal favourite character of Severus Snape had so many layers embroiled unto him that it was a treat to see the various facets of him unravel in the way it did. The character of Albus Dumbledore was also remarkably portrayed. “The only one you-know-who ever feared” came across as the wise old man who knew everything. The duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore at The Ministry of Magic remains to be one of my favourite sequences in the series.

Two of the greatest wizards of all time engaged in a fierce duel

"I show not your face but your heart's desire." ~The Mirror of Erised

"Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe." ~Albus Dumbledore to Draco Malfoy

The final battle

The fact that I was reading Harry Potter books at a stage when I could connect with the emotions of the adolescent characters enriched my experience appreciably. Puppy love, conflicting thoughts, risk-taking impulse – Was Harry facing the same dilemmas as I was? It is amazing how books can influence various aspects of your day-to-day life. Using 'Alohomora!' in front of locked doors, mistaking every other black dog on the street as Sirius Black, wishing you could apparate to places instead of going there normally, developing a crush on Hermione Granger (or, rather, Emma Watson)  – these are things only a Potteraholic could have experienced.

Every generation is associated with certain things which cast a spell (no pun intended) on it. I will always feel that I am lucky to belong to a generation which saw the advent of Harry Potter.