Santalum Odysseys: New Year 1.1.11

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New Year 1.1.11

This year has been good. While it is passing away and just few hours hence it will become a thing of past, I decided to note it down quickly.

This year I ended up with my college life. A mixed bag of - separation with real friends, joy of entering corporate firms and starting to stand upon my own feet, pride of graduating, new friends , new company, settling back into my homeland, fighting some superficial audacity, yet working for some genuinely good cause-all left a bitter-sweet taste in the buds.
January/Feb./march saw a lot of introspection and made me light hearted. May be it was an impact of that holistic session by that gentle lady who not only made me realize many truths of my life which I had been ignoring so far. I wrote and accepted everything and became light hearted. Also facing n number of interviews and hearing equal number of ‘no’s infused great strength to bare the strong winds.
April /May were a period of completion. I had learnt to do things on my own. Also to finish things. I finished with my Graduation Project, with my college, with my juries, with my classes, with exams, with adventurous fun!
June/July was the reunion phase. My nostalgia which was highly contagious too [I admit] was collectively cured. Met many of my school buddies, mostly after 7 long years. Time has rendered them into Doctors/engineers/Professor/Business professionals but what mattered for me was the long lost friendship which was revived and Nostalgia that was cured.
August/November was a phase of facing new challenges in my job @Jharcraft. Not only was I supposed to work in a totally unconventional area but also to try creating a place for me in my own homeland! One November afternoon also gave me opportunity to wear that Black cape of Graduation!
The present scene of my place has all colors. I choose everyday which color to wear. Should it be aggressive red or cool blue or mysterious purple? Choice is always mine; I love it or hate it!
Howsoever bad might be the image of the land, the scenario cannot change until someone tries! So during this trial I had to under-go new roles everyday. From accounting to designing to forming SHGs, interviewing 30 people in a day, employing village women, training them, opening up of production units, managing raw materials, cash flow, assisting in layout of work sheds, Facing media, writing n number of applications, letters, reports and proposals, looking like a hooligan amidst all above 50 yrs old Govt.officials and still not creating fuss over Govt. [slow] speed of work.
One good thing that I have been trying is Anti-brain drain-convincing artisans to return back to their own soil and work. Although I have been successful in this to an extent yet it is a long way to tread upon.
Some quirky facts that I witnessed this year were: Artisans who were pulled back from big metros like Delhi, Mumbai were reluctant at first to speak up. They were concerned solely about work, money etc. A hungry, thirsty look prevailed. But now, few days hence they replaced their ‘mam’ for me with ‘didi’ and whenever they do a mistake , I point out and they cheerfully rectify it saying, ‘ Didi , Chai-pani hote rahe office mein to maza aata hai, warna galti hoti hai’ and we all laugh in unison.
I loved hearing this sentence, “hum log Garib hain. Aap chahe to hamara kuch bhala ho warna to wahi chulha chauka! “ Now I hate this statement! Kya hai yaar! Anyways, life moves on Love and hatred are so entwined in our lives that it cannot be separated . One complements and the other supplements.
My newly found love for playing Keybord and playing old hindi numbers is gaining momentum.. Music is the soul of life and I am witnessing it closely for the first time!
Many friends got married/engaged this year including my ex-Roomie! which made me realise that how fast are we losing our "KID-DOME!
Nevertheless, this year seems to end on a sad note since I am facing 'friend-less-ness' syndrome. Yet I will cure it and treat it myself. Hope so!
My resolution for the new year is to have no Anticipations, expectations and commitment because rest everything happens with a cause. If we cannot change things, we should divert our paths! What do you all say?
May this year bring lot of luck and work for everyone. Enjoy the internal eternal bliss. My best wishes is with everyone!