The Trip back to Heaven...

Man's life has become busy nowadays, almost similar to an ant, although nobody can beat an ant! Not exaclty an opening punch line that. But let me explain. After graduating from college, getting into the corporate industry has made life so mundane. I thought I was good at time management when I was in college, but now I realise that here in this software industry with its innumerable dependencies, time management becomes highly consfusing and requires a rather high degree of diplomacy and smartness.

And yes ofcourse, my time management back during my UG days came at the price of my academics, which I did not care about much then, which but has come to bite me in the ass time and again. But that I am able to handle. All the things for which I placed my academics at the lower rung in my priority during those good old days now has taken a backseat, because of which life has become mundane and a burden you got to carry without knowing the destination or for the path to be trodden. Talk about the wheel turning half a circle!

So I decided to take a break and go to the place where I spent the last five years of my life, then things were much more pleasant! And having two other travel mates in this short trip made it all the more fun. The trip was awesome to say the least. Making a trip back to your alma mater and the joy of seeing people who you spent invaluable and joyful time with is indescribable.

I had planned this trip for 3 mnths and was trying to make a surprise visit along with V and KR. But KR's arrival was known to all. But due to some unavoidable and stupid mails being sent to campus, V's arrival was known to some and consequentially mine was guessed! But surprises apart, it felt great to be just there!

The journey was uneventful. After landing there at 4:30 am on Friday morning (the institute building looks gorgeous early in the morning fellow bitsians!), V and I were just looking at each other and grinning like two school kids who were happy to be at summer camp away from home. Not a good analogy, I know. Anywez.....

V and I having decided to put a nite-out, went straight to the Audi hoping to find someone there. It was locked, and we went straight to 2242-A, messed around a little, flicked some fotos we liked (for reasons I shall not reveal here :P), and having put up a silly message infront of the room, proceeded to wake up the guys and give them the surprise. Worked quite well I must say.

Anywez, the day passed quickly, as the guys were rather busy, being the inaug day it was. People scurring around for Reqos, Red Carpet, Flower Pots, Kuththuvilakku, mattresses, sponz banners, nails, pins, rangoli powder, flask, trays etc etc etc. It felt wonderful as we watched in the sidelines, and tried to pitch in as much as we could.

Then came the show. Simply one of the best inaugral performances Rag has put up in the five I had seen in my life. The depiction of the five elements of nature through the depiction of the navarasas and the stories...exquisite! And the instrumental ensemble to support the theme and the dance...inspiring! Guys, you put up an incredible show! Kudos to all of you. I am very proud of you all!

The concert on the first day was of Neyveli Santhanagopalan's, accompanied by M.A Sundaresan on the violin, K.V. Prasad on the mridangam and Vaikkom Gopalakrishanan on the Ghatam. And ofcourse our very own, Ms. Ramya on the Tambura. :) I was hearing a live cutcheri after almost more than three months and it was quite enjoyable. KVP and Vaikkom were amazing in their thani.

The concert the next day was of Kadari Gopalnath's accompanied by, as usual, Ms. Kanyakumari on the violin and the same percusionnists. I am a big fan of Ms. Kanyakumari, but she let me down during this particular concert. Kadari was brilliant, especially during the RTP which was in Chandrakauns, and playing the swarams in two other Audava ragams in succession - Madhukauns (new to me, but beautiful!), Basanti, though I didn't like the Tanam. And though
KVP and Vaikkom were again really good, they could have been better. A concert is good and a success if everybody who plays a part in the concert is good on that particular day. But on the whole, the concert was defintely enjoyable.

The dance I didn't see, as I was busy with some other friends. And I was happy I got to watch RAF night show also, though unfortunately I had to rush off in a hurry. But since I am going back again for Psenti nite, not much damage done. Pondatti...missing you! :)

The trip on the whole was amazing. I made some new friends. And became closer to some. And got to see the club as it is now, full of enthu and energy, learning and sharing knowledge, the way V and I and the rest of my batchmates had always wanted it to be.

Sangamam '06 was great you guys, Org Comm '06, congratulutions. You guys did a wonderful job!

Kudos to all of you guys, Ragamalikans....Ragamalika ROCKS!

God Bless!

Peace...