"This was your first home." Had chuckled Ma staring at the structure after what had seemed eons. A sultry Dehradun afternoon and an uncanny familiarity with the old colonial bunglow made me feel restless. I wanted to explore the house and ask those resposible - "Why would you partition such a beautiful bunglow into three?" It was FRI after that. The majestic academic building and huge lawns. We stood by the side of a gravel path and looked upward. Mussorie in all its innocence, completey unaware of me was a picture in tranquility. "Thats where we have the academy, as a child you were learning to walk in the corridor connecting kitchen with sitting room in the course director's bunglow," she wasn't done yet. "You were fascinated by the sight of gentlemen officers on horse backs and would clap aloud. Alas, you will not understand. ..... Well each to his own."
This was about 3 years ago and the clapping was summer of 1982.
As our car took the Rajpur road on the 30th, and familiarity began to knock hard, the above conversation played like a feature in my mind. With every hair pin bend and a gain in altitude, I was trying to answer myriad questions, some exstential and some prosaic. Is this homecoming, or the mountains were up to their usual trickery? Am I not the same person who defended vehmently, his idea of serving in the private sector. Did I not force myself to believe that Mussorie was a hill station best avoided because it would remind me of a place I should have been to but wouldn't go to because of reasons galore? Did I not pin to dine at the corner table of The Savoy, overlooking Dehra and sang praises of Kasmanda Palace to a dear friend while nibbling a dosa at Lexington?
Was woken out of my reverie by a phone call, "How are you - destiny's child? Have they allotted your cadre yet? Aren't you feeling great? Would you be the sahib, will they let you wear your tweed and those detestful cufflings?......."
With a cursory reply or two I hung up and the car drove past Library Point. 2km to the academy. Alas....each to his own, I guess life has a habit of coming full circle.
24 comments:
what is ur opinion regarding sudden demise of our YSR?
I don't have any opinion. YSR was a very capable leader and had brought in an element of administrative stability in AP. His early departure is very unfortunate and I deeply mourn the same.
P.S: You can email/call if you have such queries, instead of posting it here.
So..Mr. Misra, you reached to your final destination. Most of the time memories are beautiful. I agree with your last sentence..yes life has a habit of coming full circle.
what is FRI please enlighten.
1. Not my final destination - you made it sound like a funeral pyre
2. Forest Research Institute - Dehradun
सर जी, शुभकामनाएं |
Final destination sounds like the horror movie :) This is a beginning for better things, I'm sure. All the best!
it doesn't sound like funeral pyre....i meant height of achievements :)
A Thought, A Truth, A Reality,
A Rebellion which didn't alter the finality,
Some things are inextricably connected,
A bond unexpected, A faith resurrected,
A Divine Fortitude or Nature perfected?
Who knows! The truth! Lo Behold!
Joy? Nostalgia? Peace or Relief?
Fulfillment of Caprice, or a Strong Belief?
Finding your calling is a joy entwined
With Homecoming, Happiness unwinds,
Enjoy the moment, Experience serenity
In the mountains of Mussoorie,
There is your identity.
hello sir congretulations for the success in ias. i want to know how you managed to produce quality results with long working hours?
aaahh......september ka pehla post.....
sir would you please answer the last post?
Nice
Hi Haina,
Hope u got ur Favourite place KHAMMAM..Hope u work in the interest of the society..Plz tell when u get married..keep posted
"Plz tell when you get married" ha ha ha ha.
Hope you work in the interest of the society and get married.
Haha! Your comments seem more interesting Haina...Hope you wont disappoint us by marrying yet another hifi highly qualified lady like you :)
I'm sure Haina won't marry a "hi fi highly qualified lady" as you put it, having promised to serve the society i hope it's someone who needs his desperate help.
Well Haina,
now u r one of the most expensive commodity in this planet so u ahead(marriage) with highly precious one :)
Hahahaha....so many questions on ur marriage...when will u blast the bomb and will let the people know about your life partner.. ;)
It seems most demanding question in people's mind is...."Who will be the lucky lady?"...:):)
"someone who needs desperate help"?! Do not tell me you are going to marry somebody who needs your desperate help or a hifi highly qualified woman. Beta Marriage is not a business,keep it simple.It is about two wonderful lives. Marry somebody whom you know and like, who in turn likes you for what you are(not your IIM or IAS degrees), is patient and who will always stand by you once you take up your job and responsibilities in life-let qualification and status take a back seat or no seat! That is when people will look up to you with greater respect but not by putting a price tag to your qualification. I am sure you will prove this right, and hope you make/made the right choice. Telling it out of concern and experience.May the good news be out soon.
Needless to say your post is wonderful.
God bless you my child.
aur bhai kya apne phir TIME join kar liya hai kya?
Very intresting post...i want to tell you that you are a source of inspiration for IAS aspirants like me n lods of others...you truely signifies the phrase"impossible is nothing" n ya "work hard so that you dont regret your decisons"[i read ur interview in wizard, the way u cracked the exam in the very 1st attempt]...wish u good luck for future.
P.S.-i would love to see something sort of daily or weekly dairy abt ur expreinces at LBSNAA,if u get time.
P.S.S.-plz create a link to follow ur blog.
Yes, life does have a habit of coming full circle... :)
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