Its been fours years since I visited the metropolitan capital of Tamilnadu. The ancient temple architecture, classical music are definitely a part of itinerary, however today’s blog is about some unexpected features. Its was Friday morning 5 AM and most of the family went to bed. A few cocktails helped me sleep through the 19hr flight and I had to go through a minor phase of insomnia. For many of us a morning walk would be one of those things which requires luck and time. I slipped out the door without disturbing rest of the family and walked around the corner to meet my first acquaintance, Mr. Karuppan, the medium size street dog who watched the front of our community. His watch is worse than the US embassy in Chennai, only a few renowned people with references can get past him. To me, Karuppan belonged to the community of social workers with the motto of “Selfless Service to humanity”.
No Regular dwelling place
With the exception of milk suppliers, chauffer’s, crow’s and some of karuppan’s friends, Chennai was still sleeping. A mist of smoke was visible and it’s the first sign of increasing air pollution in Chennai – well..so does any other city. My next destination was my major childhood attraction the local corner “tea kadai” (in Tamil means “shop”). It’s a “hot and happening” place with a handful of people sitting in front of the shop and smoking. I sipped my favorite “Bru cappee” (Bru coffee) for a meager 4 Rs.
Surya Namaskaram
I cannot help but notice the heap of trash with quite an interesting mix of things – cigarette packets, orange peel, package materials and in the middle a budding fresh green leaf. The first metaphoric sign that chennai is budding inspite of all the smoky circles and corruption. Across the street on the wall were posters from an adult movie and locally dubbed Chinese action movie.
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I walked back home with mixed emotions – “one doesn’t connect with his roots entirely by doing the richest of activities the traditions brings, but by experiencing these small little things that were a part of ones childhood”.
More in the next couple of days 
….am going to quench my thirst with some tender coconuts. One of those very many instances where the shop comes to you….CRM (Customer relationship management)at its best.
Mom buying “elani” (Tender coconut) for me.
June 22, 2008 at 4:36 pm
They say ‘One can never go back home’. My interpretation of that one’s memory of home is not likely to match the current experience, due to the time that has passed and everything that has happened in that time, to the so called home and to the individual. But you have made a valiant attempt, and succeeded in re-capturing the memory through the little things that remain today as they were when you were a child. Looking forward to more. Keep it up:)
June 23, 2008 at 3:11 am
How lucky that you got to experience your first morning in such an intimate and personal way. A fitting and serendipitous way to begin your journey – just you and your city – you and you memories. Almost as if while the rest of the city slept, you were able to have a secret rendezvous, known only to yourself. It is rare that we get to experience these moments, when we feel like the world has stopped almost, the pause button has been pushed… but still you are able to proceed, observe, remember, experience, cultivating awareness deep in the quietest part of yourself. This morning walking in New York City, at 9:30 am (not as early as your 5 am venture – but early enough for the west village on a Sunday morning), I was brought to thinking about your experience, and I too, observed the world and my surroundings in a different light. Runners, dog walkers, a man dropping off his laundry, a girl still dressed in last night’s party clothes making her way back home, the street fair vendors just starting to set up their booths; its a wonderful feeling to be able to observe life in this way. Quiet. Raw. Innocent. I think we should seek out such experiences now and then with both our surroundings and with the people in our lives – to be in the moment, the quiet still moment where the most authentic and rich encounters are unveiled. And how lucky we are that we can “SEE” in this way – that we can notice the milk vendors, street dogs, dog walkers, soft breeze, and the life growing amidst the garbage – the small sprout reaching out to the morning sun. The metaphors are numerous. Aren’t we sometimes like the budding green leaf? Whatever “corruption”, sickness, sadness around us – can’t we be that leaf, growing and reaching and surviving through it all, watering each other along the way.
Mixed emotions you experienced that morning – thinking of where you came from, where you’ve been, where you’re heading – but your true raw self, your deep connection to your roots, your surroundings, your loved ones… that remains… and will forever remain, no matter what your latitude.