22 May, 2010

A year...

...of travel.
...of meeting new people.
...of experiencing life to its core.

Today is exactly one year since I got back to India after my studies in the US. I do not know whether I will be back there, but one thing is for sure. I have never missed it, as I have been so much more in love with India that I have not had the time for anything else.  
  • I Traveled extensively Across India - Delhi, Brindavan, Gurgaon, Patna, Saharsa, Native Village, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Indore, Bhopal, Chennai, Kochin, Bhagalpur, Baroda, Surat, Goa, Mangalore, Manipal, Surathkal, Hyderabad to name a few places that I was and experienced. This puts me back on track of covering the entire India before I turn 30 - a thing I had planned way back in 2005.

    Of other things here are the things I have done and experienced in this past one year. 
  • Witnessed a bomb blast in front of my eyes.
  • Felt the panic caused when a bird hit the plane.
  • Met an astronaut at a conference and got awed by his stories on space. 
  • Shared the stage with the man behind the Sixth Sense (Pranav Mistry), and wildlife documentary maker whom I admire.
  • Spoke at TEDx BITS Goa and met some really wonderful people, who inspire me even today.
  • Invited to colleges all across India for my photography and design workshops.
  • Interacted with a lot of children for the child education project of mine. 
  • Watched the god of cricket Sachin bat and play in front of my eyes in a stadium, not once but twice. 
  • Taught photography as a visiting faculty in different colleges. 
  • Got totally drunk (finally :P) and experienced what sleeping on the footpath feels like.
  • Started my own companies Deskala and Happy Horizon Studios. 
  • Shot at weddings and at different shows.
  • Did a documentary shoot on a theme I had planned almost 2 years ago.
  • Got closer to parents and immediate family. 
  • Helped grandma paint her house, which had never been painted before and was almost 20 years since it was built. 
  • Had a marriage arranged for and then later called off. 
  • Met some amazing people like Director of ISRO, CEOs of companies, and got inspired by them. 
  • Felt humbled when participants mentioned that the only thing they came to attend in a college festival from hundreds of kilometers, was my photography workshop. 
  • Met a lot of friends from school days, after a gap of almost 10 years. 
  • Almost had my friend's bike snatched from me in broad daylight.
  • Traveled in Indian railways and had loads of chai on stations. 
  • Realized what it means to be living your dream.
  • Spread a lot of smiles.
I am glad that this one year has been very close to being as I had imagined it to be the day I left US. I can only be thankful for it and hope to continue doing the things I have loved doing.

Thank you God.

9 comments:

Sharanya said...

oh! what a wonderful post to see in the morning..:)
all the best to you and Cheers to many more new happy experiences :)

SS said...

Congratulations & All the best :)

(which wildlife documentary maker? Mike Pandey?)

Kanchana said...

Happy Horizons indeed! :-)

Very heartening to read your post. I can identify with your post a lot. It has been a year and few days since my move back. And one heck of a journey as well. But far more humbling given the time away. And indeed nothing as spectacular as what you have achieved. Very impressive! And keep up the spirit and the good work! It sort of rubs in on others around you!

Lost Soul ( Nitin Pande ) said...

nice n inspiring post :)

~ ॐ ~ said...

Oye Shabashe!!!!

Kshitiz Anand said...

:) Thanks Sharanya ! Glad you liked it!

Thanks Swati :)

Thanks Kanchana !
Dhanyavad Nitin!

Thanks Omi!

vinay speaks said...

awesome and inspiring. Helped grandma paint house was the best :)

best wishes for the pune thing. Wish you loads of success, happiness doing what you like and a busy life.

Jas B said...

:)

Kshitiz Anand said...

:) Thanks Vinay, glad that it inspires you.

:) Thanks Jas!