Purani Jeans...!!

“Your name” has been tagged on a photo, was the message I received a few months back. I clicked on the link and it was a group photograph which was clicked around 16 years back, in the year 1994. It was a photograph of Class 12, Section C. I was amazed to see myself in the photo and my memories went back to the day this photograph was clicked, last day in school before our board exams.

The notification was from my class mate in school and comments on the photograph showed profile pictures of my classmates. Some had receded hair line, some were holding their babies, some had put on weight and a few looked just the same. A few more photographs were added within next few days and messages were all reflecting memories of those days. One of them had written, he first time drove a car on our farewell day and another one related to how slim he was then.

16 years seemed as it was just yesterday, when I was in school and our class teacher was taking attendance. I still remember our class had 9 Amit’s who were differentiated only by their surnames, one of those faces was a proud sports captain, another one was a classical dancer, yet another was a very good singer and all of them now are well settled professionals. I was happy to see 2 Amit’s out of those 9 were still in touch and met often.

When we had left school, we had put our signatures on each other’s shirts and taken vows of never forgetting each other and being in touch. But as life progressed, those names and faces got registered into memory and we soon fell apart. As we walked further in life, we made new friends, relationships and life went on. But those times still remained in memory and those instances became stories which we narrated to new friends and ties we made.

Am appreciative of community platforms like facebook, which has brought some of them back to me, and am happy to look at their pictures, their kids, read their progress in career. But some where I still miss some faces whose names are on my school shirt and my autograph book, but I have not met them since.

I often wonder, how will it feel when I will bump into them on road some day, will they talk to me or even recognize me.

I spent a day today, reflecting on those good times which I shared with them, the funny & stupid things we used to do and longing for a day, when those closed chapters of life will unfold and I will meet them again.

Common Wealth Games …A New Religion@Delhi !!

Gasping for Breathe, face flushed with sweat and heart beat racing high, she bent towards the floor, to get back some strength then looked at the trek she has just finished running…in the midst of loud cheers she picked up India’s flag and waved at the audience.

Such was the view at CWG where Indian athletes made India proud. From Shuttlers to wrestlers, boxers to shooters, High jumpers to athletes every participating player has pushed themselves to the next level to make India end 2nd. Many won gold medal for India for the first time, many records were broken, new games learnt and new friendships made.

Delhi became the center of attention for the world with shadows of Media outrage, stories of corruption, cleanliness, snakes and monkey’s emerging in games village which were all dumped by a spectacular Opening ceremony, an extensive showcase of Incredible India. A night which showcased the immense talent in India raging from Shyam Bengal(the sutradhra), AR Rehman(CWG Anthem), Hariharan(Swagatam), impressive dancers with cross culture dance styles, drummers, sand artists and Yoga practitioners. World would always remember, the bangle shops, kullarh wali chai, the dabba wala, mithai wala with big jalebi’s and long forgotten sugarcane juice extractors.

Delhi prepared well to host our special guests with its world class Games village, widened & cleaned up roads and parks, rejuvenated CP, CWG lane with Rs 2000 fine, special coach for women in metro, hop in hop off buses, hoardings of Shera and last but not the least, world class stadiums which were all light up as if they were decorated for Diwali. Special folk dance performances, mushayar, crafts bazaar and trips to one of the 7 wonders of the world Taj Mahal.

Delhites poured at the stadiums in huge numbers to support the games, volunteers spent endless days working in shifts to support the efforts of athletes and guests. Doordarshan which had become mostly extinct by hoards of news and entertainment channels, once again emerged as the channel with highest TRP as every eye was glued to the games. We appreciated the High Definition transmission, professional commentary and relay of the award ceremonies. Special advertisement on railways (Rail Gaadi), games we used to play(ankh micholi, pithu, kabbadi), tourism ads on Gujarat, kerala etc which struck a chord with many became a big hit.

Many of us visited some of the games, painted our faces with flags especially for India vs Pakistan Hockey match and waved Indian flag at the games. Hooted slogans for Indian players, prayed on the last day for 2 Gold medals for India to finish 2nd. 38 gold and great performance of some our women athletes who have made a new mark in these games.

All played, worked and contributed together for a common purpose, Common Wealth games where SPORTS became the only religion of Delhi.

For those 11 days, every Delhite felt proud of participating in some way in the gala CWG event and all related to a beautiful song written by Palash Sen for Delhi….

Mera Ghar, Mera Pata, Meri Shaan…..Delhi hai Meri Jaan..!!