Though it has been quite some
time since I have written anything, this idle Sunday afternoon reminded me of one
of my old interest- Blogging. It has
been long time since I shared my feelings through this blog; hence there is lot
which I want to speak of.
My Life: Life is moved into a new phase- from being just a bachelor
to better half of Sucheta and now a father to be (Yipeeeeee). I feel like many
things have changed in so little time, and I am rest assured that they have
changed only for good. I can see a great future standing in front of me.
Opportunity: As they say opportunities keep coming in life. One has
to keep its eyes wide open to recognize one and to make the most out of it. Such
happened to me around a year back. An opportunity to work with an investment
bank came by my way and I instantly grabbed it. However, this new stint was
supposed to be in a different city- Chennai. Not very sure of what was waiting
for me in store of future; I took up this challenge and decided to shift my base
to cultural capital of India.
Chennai: I landed in this city in September last year and my first
impression was not very good. On my way to hotel, I could see unfinished
flyovers, clattered roads, unforgiving traffic and much congestion all along. My
first interaction with a tamilian – the cab driver- was also not very pleasant.
Neither could he make out of a single word I spoke, nor could I make out of
what ever he spoke. We kept on guessing all along the way. That’s Chennai- You
got to know the local language.
Days, weeks, months passed by as
I began exploring different parts of city and other major tourists spots in
Tamil Nadu. I travelled from Marina beach in the east to madras war cemetery in
the west and from Sowcarpet in north to Mahabalipuram in the south. My experiences
at all these places were completely different. Rock-cut ancient temples at
Mahabalipuram speaks of great Tamil lineage, association of French and Tamil is
notable at Puducherry and handicraft industry at Kodaikanal is worth
mentioning, leave aside the natural beauty all these places have to offer.
I am still at my journey to
explore this part of the world and to experience its rich heritage. A lot still
to be explored. I will keep on sharing as the journey progress. However, with
experiences I had over last one year, my opinion about the city and its
inhabitants is now some-what softened. Of all the parts of India I have
travelled, this is the place where culture and traditions are given utmost
importance. Even in the current world of glitterati, this is the place where
inner self is still valued. “Dhotis” and “gajras” is the way of life here-
simple living and high thinking. Of course you can contradict me by asking - “What
about yearning for gold ornaments?” On this I would say they are investing in
the asset in which governments of almost all the countries invest. Isn’t that
intelligent!!
You got to
live here for sometime to experience the city. Am sure you will much safer than
other metros of India. BTW there are other benefits of living in this city- you
get to eat lots of dosas/ idly/wadas- experience lots of Rajnikanth/ Amma’s
frenzy…
….MIND IT!!
