From a reckless lad in 1997 when I left
the safe haven of school to face the big, bad world, never did I expect that my
pursuit for education would continue for years to come and would take me all
the way to Southampton. And now that I have come back to Delhi, I have two
Master’s degrees, six years’ work experience as a marine engineer and exposure
and education from a world-renowned University – University of Southampton. I
am no more an ambivalent eighteen year old – indecisive and uncertain about my
future, but a confident engineer who can command attention during a
conversation. I am no more a self-obsessed youngster but a husband and a
father.
While I address the BIG CHANGE that has
occurred in my life in the last fifteen years since I left this city, one thing
that has not changed is the city itself. It remains the same old Delhi
– capital of the largest democracy in the world and the seat of power, brimming
with politicians, diplomats and bureaucrats. The grand look of India Gate – an
iconic monument to honour the war heroes – still stands tall and proud and does
not fail to inspire you. The old heritage buildings of the city still remind
you of the British Raj in the pre-independence era. The energy that the city
infuses in you still remains the same. The smell of the Mughlai food and the
roadside eateries – the typical Delhi cuisine – still lingers on for hours. You
still enjoy the extremes of weather here – summers hot and dusty – and winters
extremely cold and chilly. You still look forward to those evening
get-togethers in the winters on the stately lawns with kebabs and scotch –
where the topics of discussion range from issues as serious as the US elections
and the Eurozone crisis to as mundane and bizarre as the hairdo of an actress
in the next Bollywood flick. You still find lots and lots of European tourists
swarming around the places of interest. Even the people who live here have not
changed. Delhi is called the city with a large heart and the people here are rugged
– very moody and erratic, their vocabulary full of obscenities – and that has
not changed. But all things said and done, the city has a character – a
distinct and unique character – and that has not changed over the years.
So, when I arrived in the city last week
as the new me, I fell in love with it once again. The look of the city has
changed and it looks good with the latest infrastructural developments – a
world class airport, massive urbanisation drive, a very efficient Metro train
network and much improved lifestyle. I happened to come across a newspaper ad
for a UK education fair at the British Council. I was really tempted to go and
had it not been for a personal commitment, I would definitely have gone and
stood by the University of Southampton stall in the fair. It gives you a sense
of immense pride as the association with the University and the country is
everlasting and immeasurable.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited Delhi
last week and met the Chief Minister here and offered her a few tips on the
city’s expertise in higher education, public transport and other infrastructural
areas for India’s capital. During a discussion with my family members over
dinner about his visit to Delhi, I felt a sense of belonging as I told them
about the flamboyance and enterprising acumen of the Mayor and his meticulous
approach and planning that resulted in the most successful Olympics to date. No
doubt, I am a proud Indian and love everything about India but at the same time
I have been a proud UK resident and a student of the University of Southampton
– that not only has imparted quality education but has taught me a way of life.
It has been two months away from Southampton and I look forward to wrapping
things up here and returning soon. Till then, I shall bask in the warmth of
Delhi.
Rohit
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