F is for Far Far Away

1988-1990, G.B Pant University, Pantnagar, District Nainital, Current: G.B. Pant University, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

Far far away, in the late 80’s, there lived a teenager in a small, lush green, well-knit community, called the GB Pant University, Pantnagar that lay nestled in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas and was the teenager’s birthplace. She spent most of her growing up years in this beautiful campus that had meandering landscapes of foliage and a multitude of trees. These included the fruiting varieties like mango, guava, banana, papaya, litchi, and gooseberry, to name just a few. These grew in almost everybody’s backyard. People also cultivated their fresh food produce of organic vegetables and harvested their own rice and wheat.

The youngster had lived and travelled to other places too, as her father, was a scientist who loved taking up new challenges and was always struck by wanderlust. He kept moving to newer horizons as he climbed the echelons of academia as a plant pathologist. But Pantnagar, the quiet, pretty and picture perfect little campus remained their one-stop destination. The residents of the university were like family. In times of distress the entire community would stand together united, as one supportive unit, rooting for each other.

This gangly youngster with thick rimmed glasses had also had lived in New Castle Upon Tyne (UK), Gujarat and Assam in India, but her heart belonged to Pantnagar. Also a place were she was conjoined in heart and soul to her best friend whose birthday was just two days apart from hers and held a very special place in her heart. They were born in the same hospital and their families were friends ever since they were babies. She and her best friend along with a bunch of other friends spent many a spring evenings chasing after butterflies, bumble bees and catching them ruthlessly with their badminton racquets. They even tied the bumble bees with a thread and tried to force them to fly!! Now when she looks back she realises what monstrosity she had engaged in.

Well, if you haven’t yet guessed, this young girl was none other than me. Today I travel back in time and reminisce, the time far, far away when life was filled with care-free abandon, frolicking in the endearing lap of nature, sometimes taking nature for granted, as it always had ample to give back. This journey into time is also a reminder that it’s important to stand together as a community, to be kind to human kind, Mother Earth and its silent inhabitants. This post is a reminder to cherish all the little blessings life has given us. This post is also a reminder that when I was growing up I wanted to live in a metropolis, and now when I live in one, I ponder over the benefits of living in natural climes, breathing fresh air every moment, and eating only healthy organic food.
This post ironically is also a reminder, to be thankful for what I have now. Though I live in a city, I stay in a location that has a good cover of greenery.

Life is short, so let’s celebrate it, let’s cherish whatever we are given at this point of time. I leave you now with these thoughts to celebrate life, while I treat myself to a large bowl of Burmese Khow Suey. Till I see you tomorrow with my gobsmacked G, so long!

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My theme for this year’s Blogging from A-Z Challenge is Travel Epiphanies that are my very own tales of adventure and revelation. I will be writing 26 posts throughout the month of April. You can read my theme here.