Majama!

I’m two days into third year. Third year is something that is still sinking in, mostly because I’m at that point of Law school where I’m almost halfway through with my degree. Obviously very excited, getting to the meatier part of studying the Law, and also getting toward the end of my time at University.

But also a very good time to reflect. And what better place to do this than a long Uber ride away from campus toward the city?

The past two years have been frenetic. Utter madness. And I’ve loved every single moment of it.

It was only today, however, that I realized that I haven’t explored as much as I wanted to when I first came to Gujarat. A very big part of why I stayed in India was because I could not associate with my country to the extent I was hoping I would. The only way I felt I could do that, and that’s an idea that hasn’t changed, for me, is by exploring and having conversations with people from different parts of the country. Understanding their stories, their livelihoods, their lifestyles.

It’s been three years, and I’ve been so caught up in reading books and living behind a grey fortress that I’ve forgotten about my dream of visiting the White Rann of Kutch, or going to the Old City of Amdavad.

I’ve also forgotten about my desire to learn Gujarati – the maximum I can manage is with the storekeeper and the autowallah. And that simply isn’t good enough for me. To live in a place and not learn their tongue is horrid. Because some things get lost in translation, and I really want to be able to read some original Gujarati literature before I leave this place. I know there is some waiting to be found.

Till I can resume these dreams, I’ll sit with my Kannada copywriting book, for I am actively attempting to learn how to read and write my mother tongue. Maybe one day I can read Kannada literature also.