A 'New' year, altogether!

        4 days since I reached UK and moved into my accommodation. I'd attended the orientation held for our course a couple of days ago and now was waiting eagerly for the course to start. This was it! The new beginning I'd wanted. And I was going to make the best of it in each and every way possible. Studies, friends, travel, everything! Before I'd reached Colchester I had met another fellow classmate of mine on facebook. We kept in touch about things and were eager to meet up once the course started. Aiden Matthew Jayanth, my first friend outside India.

        Classes started. First day was as fun as I'd always hoped it would be. The most mention-worthy thing so to speak is about my classmates. We were friends with each other before we became actual students striving to obtain our post-graduation. After the first day of classes, a group of our classmates sat in the University square, talking about ourselves. We all were people who enjoyed traveling. We were giving off accounts of our previous tours and places we'd been to. One thing led to another and Aiden had the best idea, one I'd already been suggested before I left for UK.

        'Guys, whatever we do or don't do, we should go to London for New year's!' Surprisingly enough, everyone knew already that it was an absolute brilliant idea. 'Alright, we're going to London for new year's!' We agreed just like that! I was left wondering, basing my previous plans with other friends; 'We seriously going to hold by this decision? My history of outings, so to speak, is not on my side. Oh well, there's enough time to know anyway.' Indeed, New Year's was 3 months away, but that time passed like it was nothing. During this time, I made a new friend and definitely one of the reasons my one year in UK was awesome. She wasn't from our course but she was definitely one of our classmates. Divya Sukumar, my classmate Jiny Ann Abraham's flatmate was doing English Literature at our university. I was happy to have known such a wonderful person and one of the best cooks ever who's cooking I've had the immense joy to taste! And once we all got to know each other, well, it has been the craziest, wonderful-est and the nicest group of friends I've ever had ever since!

         We all were so hyped to get out to London for new year's! And thus we set out to London, finally. Me, Anisha Nazareth, Divya Sukumar and Jiny Ann Abraham. Aiden was going to meet us halfway through as he stayed at Southend-on-Sea, a place quite far from us. We got to London by train and got down at the Liverpool station. We all had huge backpacks, filled with stuff for the night in the then financial capital of the world. For me that was the second time I'd be in London within a week so I'd already gotten an idea of a few good places to visit and couldn't wait to go there with my friends. 

        We got to Hyde Park and ate at the McDonald's there. We had our fill and rushed out as we were eager to explore the city before it was time to get to the Big Ben area for the big night. There were a lot of rides in the far corner of the park which we wanted to get on but having just eaten, couldn't risk. I must say the fun part, though might come of as a little evil, was watching my friend Divya steer clear off the birds as she was afraid of them. We were walking around Central London all day, without a hint of fatigue or boredom, reveling in the history and grandeur that truly was 'Great' Britain. We walked past the Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus and a lot of other amazing places before we got to the bank of the Thames river from beside the Big Ben.

        The crowd was so huge and so enthusiastic, we didn't even complain about the rush there! People were so hyped up about the coming New Year and seemed to have forgotten about everything else. Luckily, we found a good spot and sat down there. We (Or the girls rather) thought things through and brought a blanket to sit on, food to eat and games to play along with them. We were having a whale of a time! Not just amongst ourselves, but occasionally someone beside us would say something and that would spark up a lively conversation! Everyone was in such good spirits and it seemed as if nothing could dampen them. No, literally. It even rained at one point but no one cared. They were happy rather, that the rain had chosen to take part in the festivities! And then something happened.

        My friend from Undergrad called. Ajay Venkatesh, my thick friend through my days as a B.tech Biotechnology student at VIT was in UK too, doing his Master's at the University of Warwick in Coventry. I knew he was in UK too but hadn't actually planned to meet him for new year's. Apparently he saw me walk into the area with my merry bunch of friends and called me. He too was with his friends there for the celebrations. I was so happy to see him! I introduced him to my friends and we had a nice time catching up on stuff. After he left back to join his friends I couldn't but revel at how happy I was. The most amazing part was that he and I could reach other by phone in that busy time. There was so much aggregation of mobile phones at that one area that we couldn't call our homes to wish our folks.

        And then the clock struck. Not literally though. There was a high rise building on the other side of the river and the countdown was showed on it, through it's windows. Everything seemed so truly brilliant to me! When it was 12'midnight, the crowd went crazy. The fireworks started, and then there were none. Such brilliance in the atmosphere, such happiness and love in the air, such peace and satisfaction in the mind, seldom has anyone else ever experienced, I believe. We were just standing there, so happy to be a part of the wonderful festivities that we forgot to even wish each other! Normally I'd take a moment to appreciate the emotions running through my mind but this once I lived the experience instead of trying to analyze it and understand why I was so completely happy.

         I'd be wrong to do so if I forgot an important part of our new year trip to London. The 'Joey hat' from the TV sitcom 'Friends'. Divya and Anisha got each a hat, and I was trying the whole time, just for the fun of it, to steal Divya's! Needless to say, I didn't succeed. 

 Aiden, Jiny, Divya, Anisha. That's my bunch of merry folks!

         Cliched, though it may sound, my truth in that moment was that I wished that tranquil happiness would last forever. With my friends, it was an absolute possibility! After the festivities, reality hit us. WE WERE SO TIRED! OUR THROATS WERE SO HOARSE FROM ALL THE SHOUTING! And above all, WE WERE HUNGRY! It was about another couple of hours before we got out of Central London and found a place to eat at. On our way back we passed through King's Cross Station. The train station featured in the Harry Potter books, from where the protagonist leave for school. Anisha was a huge fan of the novels and wanted to visit the fictional platform no. 9 3/4, which was commemorated by a luggage trolley halfway through the wall. Such appreciation of the creative genius that was the Harry Potter books really made me happy. But sadly, it was closed and we couldn't visit it.

        We then slowly made our way back to Liverpool station and waited for our train(s) back. Our minds were as energetic as ever but physically we were exhausted!Aiden left earlier as his train was a different one. The rest of us were waiting in the Liverpool station when it hit us. The 'high' we get into when our brain is exhausted, yet forced to stay awake and function. We were giggling and laughing and talking about random stuff. One memorable moment we all took away from this was a friend behaving like 'Mary Poppins'. Once we reached Colchester, it was exactly 24 hrs from the time we'd left the day before. We all crashed into our beds and slept like logs, not having the strength to do anything else. 

         I for one, did not want to sleep, holding back tears of joy that I'd gotten such wonderful friends. The amount of fun we all had in that one year away from home, the amount of support we gave each other, was something like the fireworks we'd all witnessed in London that night of New Year's. In our entire lives, it might be only one year, but it was magnificent and grandiose while it lasted. Such friends and such moments of tranquil happiness are what make life worth moving forward in, for me. I will always treasure you guys!

Bobbing my head on a religious journey.

        I'm a Hindu by birth and have a very pious family, save for me. My way of looking at religion, be it mine or others' has always been my own. I believe every religion to be a path to God, of whom I believe there is only one form: nothingness that encompasses everything. And at the same time is of more than one form, because there are so many religions that claim their god is the only one. I digress; this isn't about my views on religion but on my own 'religious tryst', rather.

        In my state there are quite a lot of temples, out of which the most famous is that of Lord Venkateshwara atop Tirumala, better known as the temple of Tirupati Balaji. If there is any temple which comes second in fame after the above, I believe it has to be that of Lord Shri Ram at Bhadrachalam. Since I was a kid I'd always wanted to visit three temples more than any others. And not because of their religious fame but for their place in my mind as places of mythological significance. I've only been able to visit one from Bhadrachalam, Antarvedi and Mantralayam so will share with you guys how that went.

        Of all the many friends I have, the oldest and my best friend is one Mr. Sitaram Veeramreddy, whom I've known since I was about 8 years old. We've known each other for around 17 years now and have been nothing but the thickest friends all this while. I'd planned a journey to the Shri Rama temple in Bhadrachalam previously too; once after my 10th class finals were done (end of high school), once after y 10+2, and many times during my B.Tech. It was always with Sitaram that I'd planned to go visit this place. I don't know why, but I'd decided it had to be with him; it was probably because he was the one who was around and agreed when I first had the idea 10 years ago. We both thought the same thing once we set out on our journey; 'This has been a little too long put off!'

        I'd returned from the UK after my masters and it had been 4 months since. In the year I'd been out of the country, my friend had started working for the government and was doing well. I brought up the long put off idea up and he too was excited. "Dude, this time we are going to Bhadrachalam for sure!" "I'll plan within a week and let you know." "No man, I've got this covered. We'll plan it for the weekend following the Republic Day. That way I won't have to worry about using my leaves at work." "Alright, let me know." And just like that he got everything sorted out. We both stay in different cities but luckily the place from where we'd have to leave for Bhadrachalam was more of a halfway point for us both.

        I'd gotten a little idea and advice from my folks who'd been on this journey previously. I had a picture in my mind of what to expect but decided not to spoil the surprise by over-analyzing things. We met up at Rajahmundry and I asked him "How long is the bus journey for?" dryly. I had little love for buses; they made me travel-sick. "Bus? We ain't taking no bus. We are going by boat." "Sorry what?" "Yes. It's a boat ride for most part. And then a bus, but just for a little distance." Now this was something I was hoping would come to fruition. I knew about the boat route but was worried he'd plan it differently because it was summer. But no, boat ride it was going to be and something I'd always remember.

        It was 7 in the morning and the sun was already beginning to drop hints of how hot the day would be. Normally we'd both complain about the heat and stuff but that day we were so truly psyched about this trip. The boat started at about 8 and it was quite the event. The guide giving us accounts of a lot of places on the way which had their place in history. One noteworthy one was the story of a freedom fighter Alluri Sitaramaraju, a revolutionary termed "Manyam Veerudu" (hero of the forest). Alluri Sitaramaraju was a guerrilla warrior who fought against the British oppression in pre-independence India and a legend who's life has been told in many forms and many times. The places where the police stations and post offices he'd attacked during his time were shown, and we could not but get goosebumps as to what we were experiencing. There was a story told to us, of which I will give but a brief gist.

        Apparently Alluri Sitaramaraju had given a sort of an ultimatum to the authority of a police station of then that he'd attack his police station and raze it to the ground for his atrocities. But in reality he'd done the same to about 3 other police stations. The personnel were on high alert to capture and end the great man when he attacked, unaware that he'd planned the same with other police stations to which they'd sent for help. And when the announced time came, the man was seen fighting on all four fronts one after the other, decimating his foes. The guide, of whom I have quire a respectable opinion, had a sense of strong not to mention over-flowing pride when he narrated this tale. "This is where the British felt the wrath of a Telugu man. This is where they feared him. This is where they fled before him. This is where they fell before him. This is where the great man once walked." Goosebumps and speechlessness. Me and my friend who were chatterboxes and always had something to say to everything, were rendered speechless.

        Then we passed through an area called 'Paapikondalu'. The boat containing all of us tourists passed through between two hills of which one had its peaks resembling the face of Lord Vishnu, the original form of Lord Rama looking upwards as seen from a side. I've always looked to Lord Rama not as a god but as a man who set an example of a man who stood by his rules, come what may. "Okka maata, Okka baanam" - One word, One arrow. This was Lord Rama's motto. Though he is a form of Lord Vishnu who'd taken birth to eradicate evil, Lord Rama can be easily said to be the most human of all of Lord Vishnu's forms. The level of emotional and ethical deliverance Lord Rama is put through sends us all one clear message- "Life hits hard, whoever you are."

         Through the course of the day on the boat, the guide told us a lot of things. About the surrounding places, those places' troubles how many good samaritan helped them, the story of how the Bhadrachalam temple was built, and above the story of Lord Rama which we'd all heard from the Ramayana a lot of times since childhood. Out of the many many gods my religion has, I've always had devotion only a few, Lord Rama being one of them. Being in such a serene atmosphere that day, I couldn't help but notice how peaceful I felt, accepting for once that there was a higher power which oversees us and looks after us. I like to believe that there is a god, indeed, but I do not buy the stuff preached by 'god men' or in most false places of worship. I believe that the concept of 'God' was originally created long before affirmed so as to give people an eternal source of hope. A sign of comfort.

        But then, it hit me. Such a pure concept has been turned into a money making idea by some today. Why must man keep pushing? Why can't be accept that somethings aren't to be trifled with? I do not intend to preach about God, no way. For what its worth, I'm only a quasi believer so to speak. I just wish people would stop twisting the concept of God and the purpose for which it was originally accepted. One day, I intend to go back to Bhadrachalam, not as a psyched up kid but as a wiser human willing accept more of what God has to offer.

A Scien'tryst'.

        The last semester of Under-graduation. Reality checks. Future plans. Tear-filled goodbyes. Interviews. And above all, the final thesis and dissertation work which counts for a lot on the grade card. Most of the students carry out their projects in their university under one of their professors. But some go out; be it in private enterprises or government labs or such. Everyone has their own mental image of what they want to work on or whom with or how. That is the beauty of science, to root itself into even the most disinterested of minds and nag at it to do something.

          I too wanted to do my project in a big fancy lab abroad through a student exchange program, but it was not to be. I had gotten myself into a bit of situation, neglecting my studies in the previous semesters and had to now remedy it. I was worried as to how I'd be able to do a good project if I was saddled with other subjects, and under which professor. And then my friends suggested we talk to their Molecular Biology professor whom they highly exalted, basing the manner of instruction they received from him. He was everything my friends had made him out to be, an intelligent man who was willing to let us work on our idea as long as we did gave our sincere effort. And he introduced us to his two PhD students who'd be overseeing us. They in all actuality were the reason our project came out as well as it did.

         I had always been a fan of the Scientific American magazine, thanks to my science savvy father. I'd done more than a few assignments using the information from those magazines. When our guide asked us to come up with topics we'd like to work on, I looked to Sci-Am again and it did not disappoint. Out of the three topics I'd chosen, two were from the magazine and one was my own. Our supervisor made out the one I had come up with to be the most appropriate and useful one to our educational level and technological availability. And we were given a month's time to study before the work started.

        That was the first time I'd ever worked on my own idea and was both excited and scared at the same time. But my best friend who was working on a different project was in the same lab and I was a little at ease thanks to him. We started at the basics, sub-culturing the micro organism which we'd use, from its parent culture. I almost got the parent culture contaminated. "On the first day itself? Oh, come on!" I was always a bit of  a klutz but this was too much to take even for me. Luckily the PhD students who were overseeing us made sure the situation did not go out of hand and everything came down to normal. I'd begun thinking, "If I can't even handle something like streaking a parent culture, do I really belong in this field?" It was probably a bit of an over reaction but I'd always prided myself in my ability to think, reason and carry out things that were expected of me well. I talked about my conundrum to the PhD students overseeing us, and they said just one thing which I relate to even today; "Everyone makes mistakes. If mistakes weren't around, how'd you know what not to do?"

        Determined to make a wonder out of my research idea, I kept working hard. The PhD students were always around help us out, no matter how banal our doubts or how stupid our mistakes. I look up to them to even today, wondering how they could stand someone who had doubts about every teeny tiny detail, literally. This project also gave me something else; someone, rather. I made a friend out of another student of my degree, also working under the same professor as me. And if I may say so, this person has changed me a lot. Both as a student and a person, I learnt so much from my new friend. I finally knew how to make friends and on a seriously corny note, I could use some. I had quite a few friends by the time I left undergrad as opposed to how I'd spent 3 out of the 4 years mostly alone and on my computer.

        I kept pushing my research forward, no matter how many times I failed. The PhD students too appreciated my efforts, realizing I was just a not so intelligent kid, trying hard to make up for his intellectual shortcomings with effort. And I finally hit my target. My professor from whom we'd had to get our reports checked before submitting appreciated my work. My results were actually validated! I was on cloud 9! Sir and the PhD students were the brains behind my wonderful thesis for most parts but I can proudly claim that the very first research idea I developed was, if I may say so 'A grand success', given the scale on which it was performed and with the objectives we'd hoped to achieve, nonetheless.

        This period of time taught me something; If you don't dare to make mistakes, be it knowingly or otherwise, it means you don't care enough to learn. And I personally benefited quite a lot from this piece of wisdom. I haven't been one to listen to advice from others. I do things my own way. I make mistakes. I fall flat on my face. And I learn. And I never make the same mistake twice. I never have and thanks to my friends and peers, hopefully never will. Finally, I say this "Science isn't made by the one right answer, but rather the forty one wrong ones". Work, work till you get your results. Or your mistakes are good enough to be learnt from by those around and you.

To wit 'my wisdom teeth were chattering'.

    For me, it had been an eventful, wonderful, one year. But it was now time for it to end. Submissions, all done. Tickets, all booked. Luggage, fully crammed. I was getting ready to leave Queen and Country for my home and country. That one year alone had taught me enough to rival what I had learnt in my entire life till then about the world and a lot of things in it. As saddening as it was, it was life and I had to deal with it. No choice. And then I get a phone call from my friend 'Dude, want to go to Stratford-upon-Avon before you leave?'

        'Are you joking? I don't have the money for it! And what all I have, I've got to convert it into my currency for when I reach home!' 'I'm paying'. 'No you're not. I don't know when I'll be able to pay you back.' 'So don't'. 'Not happening.' 'Do you like Shakespeare?' 'Of course I like Shakespeare!' 'So lets go to Stratford-upon-Avon, it'll be our farewell gift to you.' 'Our? Who else is- Oh okay, he's coming too? Thanks but I can always return to UK in the future even if it is to just visit Stratford!' 'When?' 'I don't know but I will.' 'You're here now so lets go.' 'I don't have the money!' 'I'm paying.' 'Dude!' 'I've already booked our rooms in London where we'll be staying the night before moving on to Stratford. We reach London tomorrow evening, check in at the hostel, go to Heathrow, deposit your luggage at the airport and return to the hostel. Day after in the morning, we leave ASAP for Stratford and return to London by night in time for your flight.' 'Wow you really thought this through.' 'Yes, now shut up and come.' 'I don't have the money, man.' 'Like I said, don't pay me back right away. There's something called internet banking, you know.' 'Idiot. Fine, we'll meet at TESCO and push off from there.' 'Now that's better.'

        Ever since I was a kid I'd had this penchant for or rather, obsession with English. I loved the subject during my school years. I used to always find an excuse to study English over other subjects and daresay was quite good at the subject. When I got older, I was introduced to the vast and unending world of English Literature. It started with the Famous Five and Secret Seven books by Enid Blyton and thanks to my father who was a book collector, extended to the classics. My first ever Shakespeare read was Hamlet, which I delved into after hearing the intense story line from my grandma, a literary enthusiast herself. Eventually through the years I'd read quite a lot of Shakespearean works and become quite fond of the great man. So much so that visiting Stratford-upon-Avon hit the top of my bucket list.

        And then, things got twisted and sorted themselves out, and me who was to go to the US for a Masters landed in the UK. I, for one, was very happy. I was actually in the place about which I'd heard great stories from my grandma. Kings, Knights, The Queen, and above all, my favorite author,poet and playwright of them all, Sir William Shakespeare's country. The one year passed quite eventfully and I'd been to London quite a lot of times but never to Stratford-upon-Avon. I was to leave for home in a couple of days and now I get this opportunity. I was ever so happy and grateful towards my two friends who, if I may say so 'literally dragged me' to visit the one place I'd always wanted to.

        On my way to Stratford-upon-Avon, I had but one thought on my mind. 'What happened to me? Visiting Stratford was one of my main goals on reaching England but did I really not have the time to do so this past one year? I was both happy and disappointed with myself.' But then again, when you have wonderful friends like I do, you do not have to worry about having unfulfilled dreams. I am ever so grateful to my two friends for taking time to make sure I got my visit. We reached Stratford on the planned day, which took 2-3 hours by train from London. Immediately on getting out of the train, I had to curb the urge to cry tears of joy and shout out, 'I'm here at last!!' .

        As we were reaching Shakespeare's place (Yes, his house still stands!), I was as excited as a shaken bottle of champagne. My friends never thought my interest in Shakespearean literature was absurd or over the top or out of place; they could understand my genuine interest in his works and  the English language itself and took part in celebrating my joy. We entered the museum first, which is situated right beside the house. Shakespeare's various original works, still preserved thanks to the authorities, were put up for display in there. 

         And the minute we entered the place, I felt weak in my legs. 'This is it!' The house of the man I've admired all my life! As we were shown through the rooms by the guide, I was so so happy. We all have moments in our lives when we feel like everything is in place and that nothing could be any better; that time spent in Shakespeare's home was mine. The guide was walking us through the customs and life practices of the then culture. How the most expensive property owned by the household would be offered to the visiting guests to establish for themselves a social image, how the families fared through difficult times and such. And then we were shown into Shakespeare's bedroom. 

        Almost as if reading my thoughts, the guide said 'This is it. If any of you are looking for a source of inspiration in this place, here is where you'll find it.' I was asking the guide so many questions to all of which he patiently gave well informed answers. The attic, the drawing room, the room where Shakespeare used to work, everything were shown to us. I was elated beyond human emotions and literary expressions. And then we were shown outside into the garden, all the while being narrated excerpts from the great man's life. The guide too took immense pride and a lot of joy in educating us about Shakespeare's life and I must say, he did a really good job.

        As if all the wonderful things I'd experienced that day weren't enough, in the garden were people randomly performing extracts from Shakespeare's works like from Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar and the like. If requested, they even performed dialogues of our choosing. I was too awed and in admiration to ask them but my friend did, and from Macbeth the renowned 'Off with you, damned spot!' scene was performed. The performers too were so good! We then entered the souvenir shop. It was nothing exceptional, but the variety was commendable. 

        I had to hold myself back from borrowing money from my friends and buying the books though. Sure, I had Shakespeare's works at home, but these would be from the store at the place of his birth!! We were there till evening; there was a Harry Potter merchandise store nearby but I was not going to indulge myself in anything else. I did not want to lose the image of Shakespeare's home or life from my mind (Sorry, J.K.Rowling!). There was a peaceful park nearby and we all sat there, amazed by how well the world and UK in particular had treasured Sir William Shakespeare. For one man's work to stand the test of time and pass on through the ages is a beautiful beautiful thing, but then again, when your creativity is unabashedly let out in the form of silently swiftly flowing literature, maybe that is what happens. 

        I write all this not to share what Stratford-upon-Avon offers but what the mind goes through when being subject to the fulfillment of a goal long sought; what wonderful emotions one man's work can stir through our hearts when whole-heartedly accepted; what we can all do to follow our dreams; what we all have to be grateful for.

Finally, I say this. My friends Benedict and Karan, you have my thanks. And Stratford-upon-Avon, thank you for the wonderful place that you are; I will be back.