I got up at around 6.30 AM , I missed clicking the Ambaaturai Station. There is an emotional link to Ambaaturai and Madurai as my dad used to catch the train from Ambaaturai to reach Maudrai to attend last two years of college. Finally after clicking a few pictures capturing some plain green fields, I reached Madurai, I expected Sun to greet us with an evil smile, but then, I found the situation completely cool! As I landed my feet on the station platform, I was welcomed to Madurai by a cool breeze. My mom and myself were then escorted by a relative. We went to the mantapam, there we had a few formal smiles and glances flying around. We then directly went on to eat what was being served, amazing morning break fast I must say. I then took out my camera started clicking. Candid shoots were fun. I then headed off to Meenkashi Temple, I had bought the camera ticket, but was scared to use it, eventually got it out and started clicking, the ticket coming to display whenever I was asked. There was this Poojari who was supposedly very dogmatic, but unfortunately with the new rule of allowing to click pictures with the ticket, no dogma in his head would work but then he scowled at me. I smiled back, gleefully which reminded me of Sharukh’s smile lessons to Priety in Kal Ho Na Ho. After clicking more pictures and showing the ticket and my right to click pictures we headed back to the mantapam, I was tired, train journey then continuous travel, I had shot a lot of videos on my digital camera and that ate my memory. I hated it! It takes 450MB for 10 mins! I then went to the hotel, took a nap, started off my journey to Bangalore. I met two wonderful people in the AC 2 tier, Mr.Venkataraman and Mr.Gopal. The former was aged 65 and the latter may be around 55 (assuming he is 55, as he has a granddaughter). Though, I found Mr.Raman very interesting, I found him to be a very reserved person but very knowledgeable, he had toured a lot of places, worked in NAL, he then went off to sleep. I then came to my berth, thats where I met Mr.Gopal, a millionaire or I wouldn’t mind even saying billionaire. Golf is his sport, a very boring game according to me, but I didn’t realize that interesting people with a lot of adventure could turn to a sport like golf. He has been to many places, I remember Africa and US of A, I have no idea to what other places he has been. There was some good vibes between us, and we started speaking, he was so free with his thoughts, that I instantly became his keen listener, I had an assumption that all golfers are filthy rich who don’t care about health, money and are very concerned with their status. He proved me wrong. I was very much stumped with his simple talk, his clarity in thought. I should blame myself for not making notes of his view on life. As we went on, I did mention about my future plans of going to the US of A for higher studies, he accoladed me on my decision, he gave examples on how opportunity exists by stating what his 8 year old grand daughter has achieved in school. Though it was motivating enough, what really inspired me was his view and his simple life. I thought all those who played golf are no doubt rich, but had a preconception that they drink, waste time in partying, speak and mingle with only those of their stature. He proved me very wrong, his line “This body has been given to you on lease, so make sure you give it back the way God gave it to you”. He clearly stressed that if I go to the USA, all I have to concentrate on is studying, utilize the opportunities, but keep away from vices the country has to offer. He stressed on prayer, I had that thought in mind, I had started doing my Sandhyavandhanam again, and I felt that I was more calm and relaxed that whole day. He spoke about the importance of saving, also advised me to keep away 15% of my salary as savings and not to think about it. I felt that was a bit low, but then, how much saving could really be possible and even if i could save more, why save too much? I was very much inspired and I had to agree, he wasn’t just another affluent man living the high life but was a careful, well planned and at the same time spiritual person with immense belief in Sai Baba. My mom being a devotee of Sai Baba, I very well understood the role of spirituality and Sai Baba in his life. He had the mixture of things which has his life flowing smooth like a small Himalayan river, his life was clear like the water, smooth like its flow and filled with beauty like the pasture lands the river flows on because of his balance with all main aspects in one’s life. What I had to learn from his was enormous but how much would I be able to be like that? I can’t be an altruist like he has been, I would rather go with the flow of life mixed with my principles and own philosophies, which, time and people have taught me. Everyone has an own life, a different one, I just won’t stop for anyone, never live for others, I should first learn to survive, the selfish gene is the one which is responsible for the evolution, similarly, its you who counts first, others come second or even third. There is a virtue in selfishness, but then I prefer to live a selfless after I have achieved what I want to, altruism may be a later part of my life. But as of now, to see as it unfolds, is the beauty, life can hold for me.
P.S – Mr.Gopal stressed on the role of parents and our duties to them. My Parents form an integral part of my life, not much of light to be shed on it I guess, all of us know how important it is to carry out our duties to our parents.
There is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child. — Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887), American preacher, speaker and writer.
P.S - no time for checking for grammatical errors, don't mind.
Matangi
April 20, 2008
good write up!