Devam Saxena is a marine engineer, a teacher, an MBA student from IIM-Calcutta and a budding entrepreneur. Hailing from Lucknow,Uttar Pradesh, Devam has done his engineering from MERI(Marine Engineering Research Institute) Kolkata. He is currently studying in Kolkata from where he is doing his MBA. His life is an inspiration of how a person can tread a path of his own by continuously introspecting what he wants out of his life and finally, finding means to achieve the same.

Tell us something about your background and your family.

Devam Saxena: I was born in a middle-class family, rather a lower middle class family, in Lucknow. Progress has always been an essential part of my family’s lifestyle. So, I never had to learn the importance of progress in life.

It seems your journey from a marine engineer to an MBA student to a budding entrepreneur is driven by self-motivation. Can you provide us with a glimpse of your journey till now?

DS: It all started in 2009, when I decided to leave Marine Engineering and switch to something else. I studied in Lucknow with science stream and then entered marine engineering. But by the end of it, I had already decided that I had to leave engineering and get into MBA as I thought that that will provide me with much wider horizons. So, in 2010, I took CAT (Common Admission Test). While waiting for the results, I felt that I was wasting time. That was when I decided to work on something of my own.

So, how a shift from a marine engineer to a faculty at T.I.M.E to an organization of your own and then an MBA?

DS: First of all, I’d like to correct the order. It is marine engineer to MBA aspirant, to my organization, to faculty at T.I.M.E. and then to MBA. So, as I was waiting for CAT results, I decided to work on something of my own. After pondering a little over the problems I faced as a student, I decided that I’ll create a model which will help the school students in their decision-making process by making them aware of the career options they have. For this, I approached my fellow aspirants and we worked on it for two months in Kolkata. And then, we moved to our respective hometowns. In my hometown, I joined T.I.M.E. which gave me further opportunity to interact with students. Looking at their need for awareness, we decided to reunite after our respective MBAs and continue with our organization.

Would you be sitting for the placements? And what’s the long term aim of your life? What do you want to do finally?

DS: Yes. As of now, I am planning to sit for the placements, but would be working on my organization side-by-side. Finally, I wish to return to my organization and work in the education sector.

So when did this idea of entrepreneurship or having an organization of your own came to your mind?

DS: It happened when I had completed my engineering and had some time to rethink my goals and aims. Reflecting back on my past experiences, I found out that the school students need a little more clarity and awareness in order to take proper decisions. But, someone had to take an initiative for that. I decided to take the initiative and utilize the time. Gradually, the work I did, started turning into passion and I decided to continue with it after pursuing MBA and knowing the insights of business.

Where do you see yourself a few years down the line?

DS: Few years down the line, I see myself working with a prestigious organization, learning from my work and simultaneously creating a pitch for my organization.

What are the major hurdles that you see?

DS: Raising capital would be a major hurdle. But once the organization gets established, there won’t be many hurdles.

Who is your inspiration?

DS: Definitely, my mother. Whatever I am today is only because of her. I can’t remember even a single moment when she had to teach me what is good and what is bad. Her actions were enough to teach me how to be confident about the decisions I take.

A message you would like to convey to the aspiring youth?

DS: This is awkward. Have I grown old? (Laughs). Anyways, for my aspiring friends, I would only say that believe in your dreams and follow them religiously because no one can stop us from achieving what we really want.

Padmavathy Dhillon

Forty-five kilometers off the main coast of Phuket, lie the Phi Phi islands. These islands in the Andaman Sea are a place truly worth visiting. An hours’ flight from Bangkok to Phuket or Krabi and another hour by boat and you are into this ‘blue paradise’. The two main islands are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lee. Phi Phi Don is the bigger one.

As one approaches the islands you get an amazing view of gigantic cliffs, leading to a beach with snow-white sand and the crystal clear blue water. The limestone mountains with cliffs, caves and beautiful white sandy beaches, make the view absolutely breathtaking.

These islands are known for snorkelling, scuba-diving, kayaking and rock climbing. Maya bay has been an attraction for scuba divers for years, its amazing corals and diverse aquatic life makes it a divers’ dream. It is rated as one of the top diving sites in the world. For those not interested in underwater adventures, there is the Phi Phi Viewpoint, one of the highest points on the island, a twenty minute walk from the coast. Elevated at 186 meters, it is not a very tiring walk and is completely worth the effort. When tourists reach the top, they can buy refreshments, relax on the hammocks and ofcourse enjoy the view. From the Viewpoint, you can see a mesmerizing view of different shades of water and the whole island.

The islands also have a vibrant nightlife .When night falls in Loh Dalum, the city seems to light up with fire dancers. There are pubs and bars found all around the islands. Though they are large in number, they are never devoid of fun and excitement.

All types of tourists visit Phi Phi– budget backpackers, honeymooners and families. You can find accommodation to fit different budgets, though there are world-class hotels also in Phuket and Krabi..

When in Phi Phi, one has the opportunity to eat the authentic Thai cuisine .The mouth-watering meals and exotic drinks will always leave you craving for more. The locals, like the whole atmosphere of the island, are laid-back and friendly people. Best time to visit these islands is from February to April. The beauty of the islands is so renowned that they have been locations for both Hollywood and Bollywood movies such as ‘The Beach’ and ‘Kaho na pyar hai’. Rumour has it that the shooting of these films caused some environmental damage to the islands.

The 2004 Tsunami left these islands completely devastated. Thousands lost their life, 850 people went missing. But now, most of the island has been restored and there is a tsunami warning system installed on the island.

These islands remind me of a line from a famous poem by John Keats ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’. So, be it for an adventure or a laid-back beautiful holiday, visit Phi Phi.  It will be a truly unforgettable experience and the one you will never regret.

Akhil Kapur

Just as Anno Domini (AD) and Before Christ (BC) are used to label years of two different eras, today’s generation will probably use BM and AM. Confused? I meant Before Mobile and After Mobile. Even though I have lived in both the ‘eras’, I really can’t recall how life was before the mobile phones stormed into our lives and for that matter I can’t understand how we possibly survived back then.

Nowadays, everyone seems to possess a mobile or two. Indeed, I didn’t bat an eyelid when one ice-cream seller took out his mobile to calculate 25+15. But, today mobiles are not merely communication devices, they are mini-dynamites packed with some mind-blowing features, performing multiple tasks with great ease.

So be it those tiring hours at office, the endless lectures in college or long lonely rides, dread them not. A good collection of music or games like Angry Birds and Temple Run will come to your rescue.

The success of Angry Birds, a game which runs on the Apple and Android, highlights how the mobile industry is now a massive money spinner. This game has over 600 million downloads, a number which has inspired thousands of App Developers to try their luck.

And, why carry that bulky digital camera when you can click high resolution photographs from your 8 mega-pixel inbuilt mobile camera. And ofcourse, you can always tweak them to perfection using Photoshop, developed specially for operating systems like Android and iOS (Apple’s OS).

Use notes to record random thoughts which pop into your head or do a quick status update as social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are just a touch away.

The obvious flipside of too much technology is a sedentary lifestyle, not to mention health and safety problems. Talking too much on the phone can adversely affect your hearing. Studies have determined that distraction due to mobile phones while driving or crossing roads has been a major cause of road accidents.

And then, there are other kinds of accidents as well. Recently, a friend of mine was stuck in a meeting when he longed to take his wife out for a spin in his brand new car. As the meeting dragged on, he grew increasingly irritable and to make matters worse his wife messaged him asking when he was planning to return home. He typed a message generously abusing his boss and sent it to his wife. Or did he? Because, moments later there was a deadly silence in the room as his boss read the message and gave him a murderous glance!

The long and short of it is that too much of anything is harmful. If used judiciously, mobile phones will make your lives simpler and exciting. But they come with a caveat: don’t make them the centre of your existence and on a lighter side of it, the reason for an ungraceful exit from an organization or relationship!

Anusha Venkateswaran

‘The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page!’- Saint Augustine

Lush greenery, picturesque surroundings, gushing waterfalls; after all it is not called ‘Queen of the Hills’ for no reason. Ootacamund or Ooty, as it is popularly known, is a hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. The closest airport to it is the Coimbatore Airport, from where I embarked on a journey to discover the delights of this beautiful place.  If this has captured your imagination, then read on!

The four-hour journey to Ooty is mesmerizing. Clouds float by, tea plantations stretch on and as you climb higher you’ll be hit by the intoxicating smell of tall eucalyptus trees. Aromatherapy for you and that too free of cost! And oh, did I mention the legendary steep hair-pin curves? Beware for they can really make your stomach churn.

After a quick stop at a hotel, my family and I headed out to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. It is apparently the first wildlife reserve in South India and houses animals like tigers, elephants, leopards and spotted deer among others. The sanctuary provides a “safari” in a rickety bus, but it turned out to be quite a fun ride. We spotted a herd of playful elephants, deer and some unusual species of birds.

On our way back, we landed at the Pykara Falls. It’s actually a river which runs down the plateau and forks into two falls. The Todas, a small pastoral community in the Nilgiris, considers the river sacred and worships it. Its beauty is breath-taking.

The next day a visit to the Botanical Garden proved to be pretty interesting. It spreads over 55 acres and contains rare species of trees like the cork tree, paper bark tree etc. There was a tree called the monkey puzzle tree as apparently the monkeys can’t climb this one! A part of the garden is called the Italian Garden because it was built by Italian prisoners of war during the pre-independence days.

The next stop was Dodabetta Peak. Dodabetta means ‘big mountain’ in the native language.  At a height of 2,637 meters above the sea level it’s the highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills. An observatory at the top with two telescopes provides a stunning panoramic view of the hills.

One of my favourite moments in Ooty was visiting the Tea Factory. If you loved the tea plantations you’ll simply find this one fascinating. It walks you through the process of tea production. You’ll see how the fresh green tea leaves end up as a packaged product at the end of the whole process. And that’s not all. They also give you samples of different varieties of tea. I ended up gulping elaichi and cinnamon tea. They even had a chocolate flavoured one. Yes, chocolate! And all this while the tantalizing smell of fresh tea envelopes you.

Be it naturists, enthusiastic trekkers or someone looking for an escape from a busy life, Ooty is a perfect destination for all. Its pristine beauty is unmatched and Ooty deserves the sobriquet bestowed upon it.

Bon Voyage!

Anusha Venkateswaran

On 7th March 2011, the Supreme Court of India denied the plea for euthanasia in the Aruna Shanbaug case. However, the verdict did not end there. The Supreme Court has also passed a ruling, allowing “Passive Euthanasia” in our country, making India one of the few countries which allow the concept at all. Philosophically, the issue of euthanasia has been a long standing three-way debate between those who completely condemn it, those who agree to it to some extent and those who condone it. One, however, cannot forget that in the Aruna Shanbaug case, the euthanasia plea was a very small issue compared to the grave injustice done to her. Her attacker was never charged with rape and infact, served a relatively small sentence compared to the brutality of his crime. Her condition may be stable but there is no way we can ignore the events that led to it, and yet we have!

Her right to die can possibly be debated but can any sane person debate her right to justice? There is a lot to be said about how we have become completely used to the way society is treating cases like Aruna Shanbaug or Bhanwari Devi. It’s sad that a woman has to think twice even before standing up to a crime.

Nevertheless, the issue of euthanasia is a very important not only in the field of Applied Ethics where it is studied and debated over but also something that each and every one of us must be aware of because it pertains to life in itself.

So, what exactly is Euthanasia? Euthanasia is popularly known as “mercy killing” but the etymological meaning of the term comes from the Greek “eu” meaning good and “thanatos” meaning death. So the meaning of the term is closer to “a good death” than to mercy killing. Just to clarify, the concept of euthanasia only comes up in the context of terminally-ill patients or those having suffered crippling accidents.

Furthermore, one must be clear about the difference between “Active” and “Passive” Euthanasia. Active euthanasia is when the patient is administered a drug or medication that terminates his/her life. In passive euthanasia, the patient is in a way allowed to die by withdrawal of all life sustaining support, for example food or ventilator. Due to the difference in the two kinds of deaths, active euthanasia, according to the Indian Penal Code, is a case of murder under the sections 302 and 304, whereas passive euthanasia is now legal in our country. The Court has laid down strict and comprehensive guidelines for passive euthanasia until the parliament passes a law.

What we need to remember is that, at the end of the day, euthanasia refers to ending a life. Whether we think we are alleviating a person’s suffering by giving a good death or not, it is still a death. Whether it is active or passive, it is a question of taking a life.

The bottom line is that it is not easy to take any position on this issue. There are moral repercussions of whatever we say. We need to think before we act. It is not so simple and we shouldn’t try to make it so, by blindly supporting or rejecting someone’s plea for euthanasia.

Can euthanasia be a simple topic for classroom discussions and political or social debate? NO! Unless we understand life, unless we understand its value, the importance and the significance attached to it, we should not be engaging in pointless and insincere debates about this issue. This also doesn’t mean that we stop questioning, thinking and reasoning about euthanasia; it just means we should start doing it properly.

Saee

Paint a picture in your head. You’re an average human being, working to earn an average living, buying groceries and doing chores. All of a sudden, your life transforms. Imagine sitting in a sleek black limousine, attired in the best designer clothing that the Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Jimmy Choo world has to offer. You step out of the car to be fanatically greeted by a crowd of thirty thousand people who have assembled for one of your concerts. People are shouting your name and the paparazzi are interested to know everything about you. Fans are admiring your every move. The spot light is fixated straight on you as people yearn to catch even a mere glimpse of your talent. You’re twenty, you’re young, and you’re full of dynamism.

And then, in the same anonymous way that it came, it’s gone. Reflect on what had transpired. You were a platinum record selling musician. When you had that success, you lived in a Utopia because everything was going exactly the way you wanted it to. The drugless high kept you vibrant as you sauntered from concert to concert and across the red carpet at the Grammy’s. Your name flashed in the ‘Top 10’ on billboard charts and your face was splattered across magazine covers. You had recorded your music at the Abbey Road. You had been invited to perform at festivals like Coachella, Glastonbury and Tomorrowland. There was so much to choose from. You were a superstar, treated royally.

But before you knew it, you hit the ground again and reality dawned upon you. You couldn’t deal with it. You wanted to shut out that public eye. The adrenaline rush that came from fame was no longer there. But you needed it. After contemplating in vain, you found a kind of refuge in drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. But even when the stars were positioned in the right way and you’d been lucky enough to actually acquire the success you’d dreamed of, you found that you couldn’t handle it.

“What do you want the most in life?” The culminating answer to this most frequently asked question is usually success. The 27 Club is the name of a list of prominent musicians who died at the age of 27. Some of whom are Grammy Award nominees and winners. Jimi Hendrix is considered to be the greatest electrical guitarist in musical history, finding a place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He supposedly asphyxiated himself in 1970. Janis Joplin was the lead vocalist and songwriter for the band Big Brother and The Holding Company. She was found dead from heroin overdose in 1970. Jim Morrison, poet, writer and lead vocalist of ‘The Doors’ died in 1971, again, due to drug overdose. Kurt Cobain, lead singer of ‘Nirvana’ struggled with heroin addiction and depression. He shot himself in 1994. Amy Winehouse, beehived soul-jazz singer died of intoxication in 2011. Each one of these renowned personalities has left their mark in the world. All these ‘successful’ music sensations will undoubtedly have their songs commemorated through the ages. But, whoever said that success can kill, somehow, they’re right.

Kadambari Shah

It was a pleasant day. One of those days, when you feel that the Gods must be in love with all of us down here. Enjoying the weather outside wasn’t in my schedule for the day. Nevertheless, I knew I would sneak out a few moments of pleasure. And I was happy about that, until, the doorbell rang.

It was my domestic-help, S at the door, who had come earlier than her usual time. I let her in and headed straight for the balcony, where I could indulge in the serenity of the beautiful weather. She started with her usual chores, without a word, which was quite unusual.

I am not a morning person. I am quite irritable at that time of the day, so if you want to talk to me, do it at your own risk. But S, is someone, who starts her work at 6 am. She has been to, at-least four to five homes, before she comes to mine. She is always gossiping, looking for hints of adventure tales in my home as well, and poking her nose into all the matters. She gives, a new meaning to the freedom of speech and expression (and broadcasting as well, in her case!) I noticed her silence, but didn’t give a thought to it, until I saw a few bruises on her body. It took a lot of convincing on my end, to get her talking. Apparently, she had been a victim of domestic violence, since she got married, almost five years ago.

Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone you love and think loves you. The suffering, the pain, the torture, has become an inseparable part of her life now. And probably that is the reason she started her day early.. The thing which struck me hard was that she had accepted it as a part and parcel of marriage. For her, and many more women around us, domestic violence is a synonym of marriage itself. The reasons behind such cruelty might vary from dowry to birth of a girl child, or just to prove dominance over an ‘abla – naari’(helpless woman).

But , is naari, really abla today? I guess not. But still, she chooses to suffer, each day of her life, maybe for a hollow relationship, maybe for the kids, maybe for the fear of society. Every woman is strong, some use the strength to stand up for themselves, and bring about a change while some use it, in another way-by accepting whatever struggle life brings to them, and keeping mum. Maybe, they don’t know that not reporting a crime is a crime in itself.

In case of S, the biggest irony of all is that she is the only earning member of her family. She supports her kids, as well as her husband. The only work her husband does apart from drinking cheap liquor is, beating her up for money, or sex. She fears, the society would blame her, if she dares to be different from the rest and stand for her respect and dignity. I agree, it would not be an easy road for her, if she chooses to stand up for herself and try to bring an end to all the suffering. But, isn’t bringing a change in her life, worth all the trouble it brings along?

Today, we boast of having a woman-president, of equality of genders and women flying into space on one hand, and on the other, we comfortably forget about the a few for whom the doors of 21st century haven’t opened yet. For a common woman, it is a mad world out there-from domestic violence at home, to the rapists who roam around freely on the streets. It is the real kal-yug, where the women aren’t safe at home, or outside.

Akanksha Dureja

The 21st century brought a plethora of changes. Technology changed the way we work. Communication, changed the way we live. Globalization changed the way we trade, but some issues still need to be addressed.

Suffering is a characteristic of this century. ’Terrorism’ shook the world with the advent of the century, with one of the world’s most successful democracy waging a war against terror and the international community bolstering it. Similarly, in 2007, the economic crises created a terror of social and monetary insecurity, increasing unemployment, evaporating social security and creating unhappiness. Every economy is a victim of some kind of terrorism, and every individual lives under fear, though the magnitude and means may vary.

The question that needs to be answered is why does a society suffer from terror of any kind? To answer the same history was my weapon of choice.

I realized that unfavorable circumstances caused sufferings, whether it was the ill-treatment of the Jews, the Nanging massacre or the Jalliawala bagh bloodbath. They were all victims of hapless circumstances, but is an unfavorable circumstance a justification for the mass murders,? Certainly not. Society and Civilization were not what they ’ought to be’. Religious leaders who were looked up to  now seemed terrorist to me. Quintessential institutions for governance  are lulled  and have lost effectiveness. A class of people are promoting inhuman deeds like bombing, hijacking and assassination; all in the name of religion and the media is profiting from the popularity of such events and sensationalizing others.

Equity, equality, law, justice is spoken under a vile of ignorance. Secularism has become an oxymoron. Lawlessness is palpable and the concept of change has been assassinated.

What is the reason for all this? Is it man made or is it human nature? In my opinion it is human nature. Let me explain how.

The Reserve Bank of India is the only institution to print currency notes.The government issues bonds against which the RBI prints currency noteof the same amount. These bonds serve as a collateral for the government with the Reserve bank and then this freshly printed currency is pumped into the economy via a spider web channel of various financial institutions.

Now here comes the interesting part. The RBI gives the government the money on a certain rate of interest. However if all the money is printed by the RBI then how can the government return the interest? This effect of the monetary policy make the institutions inherently inflationary as the interest can never be returned. The byproducts are bankruptcies as the rich get richer and the poor more miserable. It creates an inherent need for greed as someone has to give up something for for someone else’s interest.

So, here is the answer to the primary question we started with. Are unfortunate circumstances reason enough for mass killing and suffering. No they are not but human nature is. We, from our very early age are trained to compete, to be better then others, to be rare, which when mixed with the poison of increasing social recognition and the coveted prize of power makes greed an inevitable character of every human beings fundamental nature. Since everyone is an equal, greed creates harmony and equality.

Verdict, the situation can only change if we change, can we change? Pragmatic answer to that would be no and a situation like that surreal. So what do we do? Just sit back, sympathize and pray for a better future This is the paradox we’re living each and every day!

‘Marriages are made in heaven’, but only typical Indian parents seem to possess the power to see the great bond between two people. Parents apparently have the special ability to foresee the future of two individuals with the help of a single glance. Whereas full grown adult children can’t be sure about their future even if they have spent years together.

In the last decade the world changed a lot. A tyrant like Saddam Hussain was killed in public, mass murderer Osama was captured and shot dead, India’s population increased by a few millions, Apple Inc’s liquid assets increased more than the US’s government – but marriages in India are still ‘arranged’. The age-old formula of a formal family gathering to exchange pleasantries, along with food that is high on cholesterol and blocks the arteries is still in practice. Praising each other’s under achieved, over grown families they then send the children out to   ‘talk in private’. The  ‘Adults’ in the families then fix a price on their children’s freedom. Since we all know, asking for dowry is a punishable offence in India, people don’t ask for dowry, instead they ask for “things, which will make life easy    for their children in the future”. A sophisticated way of fulfilling one’s greed indeed and a privilege the bride’s father does not enjoy. This really does go on to show how mature are the minds of those who decide their children’s future. But who am I to question, tradition and culture that has been preserved for centuries, it’s called ‘paramparaa and I need to imbibe it. How delightful!

The parents ask their children to meet each other so that they are well acquainted with their future partner. All this is expected in one meeting, post that they need to give their assent. It is taken for granted that both the individuals will be themselves and will not put forth their loveable or best self forward. How convincing! All our lives we are told not to talk to strangers and one fine day they ask us to marry one. But this is where the irony begins, in spite of all the negatives, arranged marriages seem to work just fine. All married couples seem to agree on the fact that they were mature enough to adjust and mould their life according to their partners’ and that’s what  made the bond of love between them stronger and everlasting.

Arranged marriages to me, is like a game of cards in which you gamble with all your chips. If the outcome is in your favour, it gives you twice as much; but if you lose, you are left with nothing.  What is your take?

Saurav Goyal

This is not the story of a man feeling sorry for himself; that is not what I want it to be. It is the story of a man reminiscing the old days and wondering about the choices he made. And that would be me, Jack Moore. I was an artist. No, I am an artist; for art never leaves you completely. The zest for excellence on canvas does not care that I am 79 years old.

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be an artist. As a child, I was drawn to colors all the time. The soothing blue of the sky, the mesmerizing blue of the sea, the fresh green of the grass, the bright yellow of a sunflower, the stunning brown of a horse, the lovely white of the moon and the eye-catching red of a rose. Growing up, every work of art caught my attention for it had something appealing about it.

The works of legends and their journeys as artists inspired me deeply. Even today I am fascinated by the canvas, the palette, the brushes and the colors of every shade possible…All you need is to let your imagination go wild and you can make a whole new world on a piece of paper. Any place in any corner of the world can come alive in front of you. The things or events that simple physics does not allow in the real world can dance to your tunes when you paint. Even gravity does not matter. I feel the main purpose of art is not to make sense, but to help a man grow in any way possible, because the rules of the actual world cannot bind you when a tiny paintbrush can set you free.

There is a certain magic in being able to create something that even God has not created around us. There is a calmness in being able to imitate the exquisiteness of nature. There is a sense of nostalgia in being able to reproduce the legacy that history has left behind. There is a comforting feeling in being able to predict what the future may hold for all of us.

There is some freedom in painting what is beyond your control. There is a pure joy in being able to capture the innocence of a childhood. There is something that brings a smile on my face in being able to translate the beautiful bond between a mother and her child to paper. There is something special in being able to portray the passion that two lovers share. There is something about art that completes me. Perhaps it is everything.

But there was hardly anyone who appreciated the fire in me to make it on my own as an artist. It came as a rude shock for my doctor parents who expected nothing less than a Harvard medical school degree from their only son. The thought of their scholar son not continuing their medical practice upset them. Art as a hobby was something they let me pursue; but to make a living out of it was completely impractical from their point of view.

How can one not want the sense of security that only a formal academic degree can provide? They never understood it. I wish they had made peace with what I considered as an essential part of my life. I wish they had seen their son feel creatively satisfied and content doing what he had always desired to do.

Years went by and life moved on. Like every other young man, I fell in and out of love. Suffered heartbreaks. And finally ended up marrying my childhood sweetheart Marie. Every emotion I felt and every feeling I had, impacted me not only as a person but also as an artist intensely. I remember making a particular portrait of Marie and though she loved it, I always thought it was not even half as beautiful as her. She looked up to me, totally encouraged me and supported me unconditionally.

Marie sort of became my Muse. Painting her over cups of coffee and conversations, time used to fly. Few years into the marriage she gave birth to our daughter,  Sarah and I realized that the joy of becoming a parent is not at all overrated. The feeling of being responsible for another human being is very overwhelming and yet so fulfilling. Becoming a father had its own influence on me as an artist as well. I became more inclined to doing commercial work in order to provide better facilities to my family as opposed to only doing what I love, but I guess it is part and parcel of the deal we all make.

After all the years, when Sarah declared that she did not see herself becoming an artist, I was displeased. It disappointed me that she wanted to become a teacher. I now realized how my parents felt years and years ago. In an ironic way, a circle was completed. At that time, I could not put myself in her position and understand for I thought she had what it takes to be a fine artist.  I wish I had understood her point of view better and apologized for being unreasonable.

Today, I am a grandfather to two adorable kids, who love to sit with me in the fields to observe and draw the scenery. I look into their innocent eyes and find the young-me in them. Teaching them little things, running around and playing with them is an absolute delight. They are surprised to know that I am 79 years old and ask, “What did you do for 79 years Grandpa ?!”

I like to say, “I lived life the way I wanted to.” Looking back I realize that I made many mistakes. I was wrong at times. I could not become the next Picasso. I did not live a perfect life; but I have no regrets. Because I lived on my own terms, followed my heart and did the best that I could do and that was the right thing to do. And as they say, you only live once but if you do it right, once is enough.

Nishiggandha Kerure