On The Way To Delhi - 10th March 2011

We’re on our way back now, to Delhi, after reaching the top of our journey. Finally!

What a journey it’s been.. Really.. The ups and downs and twists and turns, and I’m not just talking about the roads! Every place we went, everything was so different – weather, language, food, dress, song, dance, culture, customs, traditions and everything, but so complete in its own way. And so colourful! Each place was such a learning experience... On sooooooo many levels. Meeting the people and learning about their lives and what they enjoy and what problems they go through was such an eye opener for so many of us. It totally shattered so many assumptions we had and educated us in a way to make us more aware and richer for having interacted with them.  And definitely something to cherish and treasure forever.

On the way back we’re passing Kurukshetra and there’s the setting sun and I see the chariot with the horses on the gate as we drive by. It reminds me of watching the Mahabharata when I was younger and the whole thing about how they made rules for the war for ethical conduct, like many warriors cant attack a single warrior, or an unarmed warrior, or any warrior who has surrendered or whose back is turned. But the main one was that war would only commence at sunrise and end at sunset, to be resumed the next day. After sunset, the war was on hold and people from opposing camps could actually go meet each other, eat together, talk, laugh around, play a friendly game of dice even. It’s like after sunset, there was no war. And it got me thinking, that at the end of the day, we are all meant to be friends. Even back then, they believed that. At the end of the day, war is not important, nor are any of the things associated with it.

Watching the sun set, watching that golden orange orb descend towards the horizon, witnessing the sunset of our own journey, it gave such an overwhelming feeling.  I just couldn’t help but think, that our journey was based on the very same principle. And everywhere we went, it felt just like that. People would just set aside their differences and come together for the sake of their country. At the end of the day, we are all one.

And now we were reaching Delhi, coming full circle. A very wonky, wobbly circle all over the country at that, but all the way back, after starting from here more than 2 months ago.

We reach Delhi at about 10:30pm, after 17 hours of travel, but everybody is fresh and enjoying the welcome we get at Sacred Heart Cathedral. It was like a feeling of coming home, after a very long day, and our ‘family’ at the national office is here to embrace us and welcome us and take us in.

Our yatra isn’t over yet. There are 3 more days to go. But I have a feeling it wont end even then. In fact it feels like – this is only the beginning.

New Delhi - 11th March 2011

So today begins our 3 day Youth Festival in Delhi to conclude the Jago Yuva Bharat Campaign. On today’s agenda was to visit ‘Places of Hope.’ We started by assembling at the Jama Masjid. What a beautiful piece of architecture! The magnificence and splendour of this massive building and it’s gates was breathtaking..

We get the privilege to be guided by one of the members of the Jama Masjid authority who knew the history and significance of the building and in full enthusiasm he took us around and explained everything to us.  The Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan out of red sandstone and white marble in 1650 AD. It combines Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture.  It faces west, and Jama Masjid means ‘Friday Mosque.’ We were also showed all the places where the Mosque was restored and what the meaning of the writings on the building were.

There was also a ‘pool of nectar’ in the center of the compound inside. People are believed to be healed of ailments and diseases by washing the affected part of their body with water from here.

Again, like other places, the peaceful vibe was prevalent, but here there was some kind of feeling that one could write very beautiful, profound poetry here as well. The arches and the domes, the writings in Urdu on the building, the combination of the white and red of sandstone and marble of which it was made, and the subtler elements of people’s thoughts towards God, their prayers, they way the whole place is illuminated by the sun and just to be witness to the majesty of this structure was enough to inspire anyone..

After this we moved on to Birla Mandir, which was like the largest temple many of us had seen, in terms of housing the largest number of idols of Gods and Goddesses under one roof. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the second in the Hindu Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer, and his consort, Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth. It had a look of some of the temples that you’re find in Orissa, with tall curved towers. It was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1938, and is open to people of all faiths.

The idols that were here were a true thing of beauty.. There were so many, representative of the various Gods and Goddesses of Hindu Mythology, and the most striking thing was that they were sculpted with such care, so ornately decorated and with dedicated finish, truly royal in their appearance and so pleasing to the eye. And a rare thing to see so many of them together, shining their splendour to all those who came to pray.

There was a hall inside, called Geeta Bhavan, which had paintings, done very well with intricate details, depicting scenes from Indian Mythology. There was also a temple devoted to Lord Buddha that has fresco paintings showing his life and work. Open verandas and gardens and some fountains flanked the back.

Unfortunately, photography was strictly prohibited inside, which is a pity, as the whole scene is something worth treasuring a copy of.

The next stop of the day is Bangla Sahib Gurudwara where we were explained how things run here, especially about how Langar is prepared. Then we get a guided tour by some of the top authorities here, and are shown where the food is prepared and how it is done. It was very similar to that which we had seen at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, just on not so large a scale, I guess. But the best part was that we got to do seva ourselves too! The whole K2K team made rotis, which would be served later at Langar. It was a looooot of fun! So many of us aren’t too proficient at cooking and trying to make the roti round and even was quite a task, and to watch it was hilarious!

After this, we all went into the Gurudwara and sat for the Kirtan, breathed in the bhajan that was being sung and just suspended thinking for a while.. Felt all the negativities being cleansed.. Floated away a little bit...

The day was definitely one of Hope, inspiration, positivity and coming together, as we visited these places of worship. And despite each place being different, followed by different religions, with different languages and customs, that didn’t feel like an impediment in accepting each, learning from them and respecting them. The intention was to acknowledge the journey we just completed, express a huge ‘thank you’ in gratitude to the Lord for guiding us through it all and bringing us back safely, but mostly for the journey to keep on going, throughout the country, through the incredible people we met and interacted with, for further positive action, and peace and harmony to blanket our country.

Sometimes things are so simple.. We just need to slow down enough to see it and let it sink in..

New Delhi - 12th March 2011

Today we have a symposium for the day. We arrive bright and early and have quite a panel with Mr. Josy Joseph, a senior journalist from the Times of India; Prof. Ram Kumar, a professor from IP University, Delhi; Ms. Tripti Srivastava, President Lioness Club; and Ms. S. M. Rao, Manager, Victoria School. The discussion was moderated by Fr. Vakkachan Kumpail.

It was interesting to hear what each of them had to say. They all spoke about how our country has a boon in more than 50% of it being under the age of 35, and what enormous potential this is. But the most important thing is that this potential realized – would make India invincible.

Mr Josy Joseph spoke first. He spoke about youth and the whole value system in India.“Youth led development should be in our value system, a value system which is sadly missing in our country.  Elections have become so expensive that young people cannot think of running for elections. The youth should believe in standing up for what they believe in, whether it’s something like clean money over black money or something like that. Dont shy away from truth even if it means being unpopular in society.”

Mr. Ram Kumar took the podium next. “Youth are like clay – what you do with that clay is what matters – you can use it for good or you can spread terrorism. Youth are important because they are in the middle of life. Here I see 25 young people – I want it to translate into more people, and you started in India – I expect it to spread the whole world. All your messages should be like lightning and it should be like rain so that it spreads over a large area and benefits everyone. Youth have the power like nuclear power. If you use it positively you can do so much good, but in the wrong hands it will be that much more destructive.

“Swami Vivekananda said ’Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.’ It is the individual. If 1 rises and awakens, it awakens the society – 1 society – 1 country – 1 country – 1 world.

Through the K2K Campaign, your strength should come out and at the same time your weakness should also be rectified. I would like to see another such vehicle – this was Kanyakumari to Kashmir – the next should unite the world. The climb is difficult, but once you reach the top, things become easier and you see the whole world from that place.”

Ms. S. M. Rao gave us a tip on how to progress beyond yourself - always carry a pen and note down points that knowledgeable people say. She also spoke intensively about the Millennium Development Goals, what they were, how they were important and what all we can do to help achieve them. We all have a responsibility and if each of just fulfils our own responsibility, we can always be on the progressive road.

I kinda agree with her point of view. We all have a role to play somewhere.

Dr Tripti Srivastava said a whole bunch, but I just managed to get the gist:

“Young people proactively creating a better future for themselves and society.

“Youth have energy to spare. What needs to be developed is willingness to use that energy.”

“Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. Let this be that generation.”

Yeah the last one I remember being said by Nelson Mandela, but it still makes sense today. I particularly like the second one because its rings so true and yet I never heard anyone put it crisply. Energy to spare. Just think of the wonders that can be achieved if it is channelized and utilized.

Then there was a question-answer round where the audience got to throw questions at the speakers. One gentleman asked on where we went wrong. Greed, sex and no value system seem to rule the youth these days and they have no respect for elders. What is the solution to that?

Mr. Joseph answered  that if you look at America and Europe, the best of the lot like Clinton and Obama go into politics, here worst of the lot go into politics, so if the people leading the country are such, it will percolate to all levels of society.

The question for Mr Ram Kumar was that we don’t have good role models as such. How do we take lead in development?

Mr Ram told the youth “You need to take initiative. The power to make change lies in your hands. Just the way one vote can make a difference, you can make change in your family, in society. If you start a movement, like-minded people will join. Just take that first step.”

Rakesh then posed a question – when times comes for young people to take lead, older senior people take them as competitors rather than partners. Why is this?

Mr Joseph said that there are many people to guide the youth, but everything depends on how open are the youth to take guidance from the senior people. They must be open to learning and that will make all the difference.

Aparna, a youth in the audience spoke up. She mentioned how light has been put on certain issues now, but they were always there. The one especially where elders don’t allow their children to go out and take risks. To clean up a mess, you have to get dirty as well. But how many of our parents will allow us to jump into the fray, take that risk and get scratched to fix something. “Personally my mom wouldn’t allow me to do something like that. She’d tell me to stay away, but I am willing to take that risk. So I feel the older generation must allow the youth to go and get scratched and get dirty to clean up the mess.”

Another youth, Sylvester, put forward, “Why are no youth in politics? You are only allowed to enter Rajya Sabha and all if you are 35? Then you are an ‘oldie,’ so where does the ‘youth’ have a place in politics? Besides that, the salary of the President of India is 1 lakh 50 thousand and for someone like the Ambanis is 50 crore, so where is the incentive to join politics?

Ms. Rao replied that it is the tendency of the youth to blame others first, then think. It is important to gather correct information and then take any action. “If you become an expert in something and join its movement, then no one will stop you.”

Mr Ram Kumar also responded by saying that all political bodies have a youth wing. If the youth train themselves till they are 25 and then enter politics, they have plenty of time to lead after that.

It was a very stimulating day.

New Delhi - 13th March 2011

And so we reach the final day of our campaign! Surreal!!

We all assemble at Rajghat for an inter-religious prayer service. A prayer for peace and harmony among the people of our nation, in front of the memorial for the Father of our nation, who struggled so hard for this same purpose in his lifetime. Watching the sacred fire burn in the center, it brought to the surface memories of the entire journey, seeing the same flame burning in so many eyes, so many hearts, so many minds.. The flame that translates into the roaring change these young spirits want to see.. And accompanied with prayer. What a full circle moment..

After the service, we have a cycle rally to St. Columba’s School where we have our last program of the campaign. The number of people there outnumbered the cycles, so the rest of us clambered into the buses and followed. It was funny! Even a couple of priests and a bishop cycled all the way! And the best part was the way people were noticing us as we passed. Wondering what we were and then the expression brightened and they broke into a smile when we made eye contact. Hehe.. So cool to just connect like that with random people.

We reach St. Columba’s and the welcome is so grand, it’s as if they’re welcoming home a troop of heroes who had just fought a war and come home! There’s excitement and jubilation in the air, and smiles are passed around as extra helpings.

One of the first items on the program is a street play by the Asmita Theatre group. They had actually written this particular play for our campaign and performed it here at the concluding function. They included themes like crimes against women and being responsible citizens. And by jove! They totally ROCKED the performance! Their voices were loud and clear, and normally you know how voices dont carry so well over open spaces? It’s like that just magically wasn’t there. No matter where you stood to watch, you got the whole experience.

But their expressions! Such deep feelings and emotions articulated so well on their faces! They created such an impact! Their message came across so powerfully it was like someone giving you those two-finger punches (which Bruce Lee was famous for) and you go flying backwards with the force. Really quite something..

I remember how we used to do street plays in college.. They were nothing like this! It makes our attempts look soooo half-energied! Lame! And silly even.. Haha..

After it was over, all the participants scattered into the audience and asked them what they thought of the play and everything.. It was cool to be able to interact with them like that. Brilliant actors and such down to earth people. Their director, Mr. Arvind Gaur, also was there and spoke to the audience about their theatre group and how showing all these issues so graphically was so important. Truly, it was a performance which shook you and inspired you on a very deep level.

Our girls also performed their dance drama here. I dont know if it was coz today was the last day or what, but felt that their performance was more full of emotion than it had been before. Or it could have just been in the air.. Whatever it was, was filling everyone up slowly.

To bring the program home was a long list of bands performing – The Messengers, Ignite, Zephyr Station, Shalom and Tantra. Each played their set to enthral the audience and lead them away into the night.

It couldn’t be a more fitting finale to the Jago Yuva Bharat Campaign. Getting the youth to “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached” through music was just another way to do it. (Hey whatever works right?)

It’s been a long journey to reach this point, but completely worth it. Each kilometre travelled, each experience, each piece of learning, each interaction, each place, each person, each smile, each embrace, each new friend, each heart touched, each tree planted, each light switched off, each moment of realization, each moment..You cant measure it or put any price on it.

The true journey begins now. Following through will be the new challenge.

You gonna help us do it?

Watch highlights of the journey here: