Thanks O Mother India!

April 2, 1989…

Was this real? Cognitive streams of past experiences played in rapid fire through his mind as the announcer at the Madras Meenambakkam International Airport went “ …we will start boarding passengers for AI 346 from Madras to London in a few minutes…”. Bags packed, he was on the verge of embarking on a long and unknown journey into a seemingly exciting future, something that was just a throbbing figment of his imagination till this surreal moment. He was headed to the USA to work as a software engineer at Westinghouse.

As he grappled with the weird thought streams surging at the moment, he was not very sure when, where and how exactly the seed of going abroad in search of greener pastures was sown. But the seed of an exciting dream had surely sunk deep roots into his conscious and sub-conscious, working their way deep over many years. Ah! New York! California! Walking the portals of the best educational institutes in the world and being in the thick of leading edge research! A lover of fast cars and motor bikes, he visualized himself driving on an endless road at an exciting speed with the jazz beats of Spyrogyra thumping through the car stereo system. Suddenly he would shake himself out of his day dream only to go back to the heat and reality of Madras, his only conception of the real world.

He was a simple guy. Loved to laugh and have a good time with friends. Kind of a nerd when he was not in his elements. Absolutely adored science and math and anything that was a machine or gizmo. In grade 7, he learned enough about aircrafts that he designed a flying machine made out of balsa wood, powered by a small electric motor. He appreciated the magic of Bernoulli’s principle in putting his plane in flight and why the wings had to be angled. His plane was ready to go. There was only one problem: his expressive idea was still a concept in his idea book! Undeterred by obstacles and challenges, he nurtured his love for the sciences and always dreamed of becoming an engineer.

Engineers are cool! They build stuff! Engineer was his creed! He finished high school with flying colors and set his eyes on engineering school. Just like his imaginary airplane, his plans to attend engineering school did not fly. At least right away. With his dreams shattered into a million pieces, the world suddenly became the darkest place! His parents shared kind words of encouragement and wisdom to assuage the pain. But it was his problem and he knew that he had to take charge. He moved on to Science College, a tad bit disillusioned.

His life then crisscrossed those of some wonderful people: friends, family and teachers. In ways unbeknownst to themselves, they provided our protagonist the manna (Egyptian for food) for his internal growth needed to steer his way to his ambitions. They made him laugh. They challenged him. They distracted him. Many conformed to mediocrity. They did not have all the answers themselves. They pushed him in many ways to see the world his way: expansive, free and expressive. Lying on his humble bed under a thatched roof, he thought hard. There was only one way he could conjure up to get to his world, a figment of his imagination: get into grad school abroad. Ah! New York! California! Walking the portals of the best educational institutes in the world and being in the thick of leading edge research! Change the world! Be free!

The road “abroad” was still a concept in his idea book! A series of strange events were in store to change the odds in favor of our protagonist. All his hard work suddenly came to be recognized by the karmic system. Our hero worked his way into the best engineering institute in India! An engineer at last, and an electrical one at that! He celebrated the accomplishment of a lifetime. New York! California! I’m on my way!! Not yet, young man!…More twists and turns! More disappointments! More hopes and dreams! More wonderful people shaping future events! After two more years of trials and tribulations the call came. “You have been selected to go to the US to work in Westinghouse”.

It was as though I was being prepared for about 26 years for a future which was to unfold in the US. Where else could I have been tempered and molded so well than in the lovely place called Madras. The place I grew up in. The place that nurtured my parents through whom I came to being. All my family, friends and teachers were all the children of Madras. Madras was the warm and safe nest that I needed before venturing out into the world. I love Madras. I love India and all that she has given me, unconditionally.

I got up from the chair in the waiting lounge at the Meenambakkam Airport and walked towards the gate to board AI 346. It was the moment to rejoice! As I shuffled my way through the mass of waiting passengers, I came to learn that the Air India flight from Madras to London was Air India’s first ever direct flight from Madras to London. A first for me and a first for Air India too!

I approached the gate and presented my ticket to the Air India clerk. She checked me in. Soon after, another Air India staff member garlanded me, in Indian tradition, as a welcoming gesture onto their first ever direct flight to London. She also gave me box that appeared to be a box of chocolates. That felt very special!

Right at that moment I heard someone shout “Ramesh”. It was my friend Raj standing there with his professional camera. He was Air India’s official photographer covering the special event that night. He snapped a picture of me, garland and all! Little did I know about this.

April 2, 2014…

It’s exactly 25 years since I set foot in the United States. As the cognitive streams of past experiences play through his mind, I being to realize that it’s not all happenstance. It was a plan just for me, executed perfectly. The photograph summarizes it all for me. Not only did India prepare me for 26 years for a new journey. She also bade me farewell in all her glory and generosity to go forth and help the world. Thanks O Mother India!