Partly Yours, Partly Lost

Image
Some places stay with you long after life has moved elsewhere. There is something strange about destiny. You just cannot overcome it, but at the same time, you cannot simply do nothing because something is destined to happen. In India, it is not uncommon to have your horoscope charted about a year after birth. Grandparents wait with bated breath to hear how well the stars were aligned, and what remedies might be needed to appease the Gods. So when I was a year old, my grandmother took my birth date and time to Dharmaraja Ghanapadigal, one of the most revered astrologers in Pudukkottai. He apparently told her that I would do reasonably well in studies, travel to multiple countries, and eventually live abroad. Here was an old lady asking about her grandson from a small town. My parents were then living in Gobichettipalayam. This was the eighties, long before economic reforms had changed the country. My grandmother thanked him politely, but quietly wondere...
Post a Comment

Weathering Heights!

When I was in India, I used to wonder why the Europeans and Americans get so excited when they see the yellow metal shining in the sky. What's the fuss all about! It used to be mind boggling to see them attach so much of importance to the Sun God. But it didn't take me long to figure out. First in Stuttgart and now in Rolla. I still remember the day I landed in Stuttgart. The whole land mass was covered by the white moss that could throw anybody into depression. The pall of gloom would transform to something really miserable. That's when I realised the significance of the Germans' statement. It is a great feeling to feel the sun penetrating your skin and giving that soothing touch. It is a different matter that summers in India are pretty difficult times, but that waft of sunlight does certainly takes away your depression. That's how I felt last week when Rolla was dipping to sub-zero temperatures. The weather here is as fickle as a wife (Sidhuism! Adjust Madi!).

Morning: 6-7 degrees Celsius, Fantastic weather, bright and sunny, and absolutely no need of a jacket
Afternoon: Gloomy, and a slight dip in temperature on the way from lab to home
Afternoon return: Can't come back to the lab without a jacket. Hell! it's getting cold!
Night: You need a jacket, woollen cap, gloves and what not and by the time I reach home, it starts snowing and its freezing!

No wonder Bangalore is unbeatable!

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 24, 2006 at 8:04 PM

    I bet! Colorado is better though - It snows during winter but the sun is out all 365 days in a year!!! The snow gets melted away in a jiffy and its not unusual to see a couple inches of snow the first day and everything cleared away the next day!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 1, 2006 at 1:34 AM

    cool blogging man.. like ur style...

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment