Lost

There she wanders by the dusty
streets, lost in thought
reminiscing each moment, the
glorious ways she fought
no self pity, no grave introspection,
but nothing seemed sane
and yes, it did not rain.

There was the sea with its calming
winds ruffling her hair
strange it may feel, this unending
freedom put her in a lair
tangled, entrapped, she looked at
those mystic window panes
well, it did not rain.

long break from 'academy'

My sullen mood was lifted by my friends Manasa and Chythra (with whom I’m celebrating my 10^th friendship anniversary this month) as we got ready to visit Mysore’s Pratham branch. They were conducting their scholarship selection test to the economically weaker kids who had completed 10^th standard and the ‘software giant with the biggest campus’, where Manasa works, sponsors 150 of them throughout their education till PG. I was excited to go there and listen to her encouraging speech to the kids to do well in life :P The efforts put in by Pratham are very well known by their ASER surveys but I was mighty impressed by this particular CSR , the contribution for which comes directly from the employees like her and the enthusiastic spirit of the ‘corporate volunteers’ in conducting the various activities related to education. This observation comes especially since I had seen these activities of the corporate sector becoming a farce, as a photo shoot opportunity with the underprivileged once a year and then believing that their job was done. The visit was also interesting as I got to interact with the field workers who spoke of the increasing migration to private schools even though no perceptible improvements in quality of education has been seen in them when compared to public schools till now. The kids looked bright and I was told that the cut off to take the merit test in the science stream was 85% and income limit was 50000pa and the response was impressive.

Even though it feels great to see such private initiative, the plight of public schools and the quality of education still needs lot of reworking. In fact, the only dampener today was the plight of the public school in which this test was being conducted. If this was the case in a city, I wonder how it would be in the other parts of the state and the country. I’m surely looking forward to some really varied experiences in the northern part of the state during my ensuing training. Can’t wait to discover!!

Green

Woke up to new truth, not insipid, not dud
Woke up to new life, fresh as blooming bud
Spring kindled, ah green, can I have more?
A slight twitch you say, um, salubrious sore
Dissent looks in the eye, as seasons clash
Does it matter,ever again in this cosmic bash
Potpourri of thoughts and emotions overwhelm
As it ensconses the truth, smugly, at the helm

3..2..1..Bungeeeeee

My mind went blank, heart stopped and the world around me came to a standstill. Some 4 seconds after I took the leap of faith (literally, trusting the bungee experts from New Zealand) I regained some sense when the rope pulled me up as it recoiled. This time I got back both my senses and my voice! What a scream it was, one which people who witnessed still tease me about! But, it was one heck of an experience which transformed me. That too for a girl, who always fancied doing that jump, it was truly a dream come true.

The jump was 83 m straight down the beautiful gorge at Rishikesh. One thing which struck me throughout this activity was resilience – both mine and of the rope which held me J Now, come to think of it. Why would anyone want to simply tie up their legs and jump down, leaving to the mercy of technological innovation (of superfine fibres, designed for different weights of which mine was at the border of some arcane blue-green coding, compounding my anxiety) and of course, finally God? Crazy stuff, really. But, one which was nevertheless exhilarating and unforgettable.
I’m so glad I DID IT!

Unloading the Albatross

Did you just see her glide past
out into the wilderness, unto last
Did she break free, get answered,
walls insurmountable as it seemed

rupture in her shell of anxiety
reborn in this life of gaiety
was she? or is just a facade
perfectly tailored,this charade

to fool the world,as always
of peace within and chirpy days
Is there a way to unravel her thought
some eclectic plan,carefully wrought

For now we shall believe this stance
croon with her lovely times, take chance
and wait for the trump,the morning dew,
harping on the man who made this true.

Andaman calling

Blue it is,emerald,vibrant,pristine
Unraveling myriad shades, most unseen
Joyous conversations which slid past night
The sea, now black, multiplying our delight

Green it is,peeping through this canvas so huge
Braving all odds, dealing blue's deluge
Then they blend, this communion divine
Paradise blooms,satiating all pines

White it is, mother of colorful dreams
Love abound, unhindered, bursting at seams
Binding all together,uncluttering convolutions
Becomes the sole reason for life's celebration

cal-cutta

Thus Kolkata moves on with its two lives
one subsisting hand-to-mouth while the other grooves and jives
Mockery all around,plentiful,undisturbed
filth piles up the streets as on minds unabated

But something strikes a chord,call it the spirit of the city
The enlightened populace being pretty,witty and gritty !
Monuments punctuated with history dotting its landscape
Also the sweetness of Rosogulla, all leave me agape

I sense a connection here, this bond getting stronger
Pleasure I cannot fathom,wish this stay was longer
Served here,a concoction of spiritual, intellectual bliss
Hadn't I been here this 'joy' would surely be amiss