The whole feeling of watching the night morph into dawn is something truly magical. Its not just the lights that change, not just the skyline which brightens but its the changes in emotions that makes the whole experience surreal. The Solitude of the football field, marked golden yellow by sodium vapour lamps, accentuating the earth’s orange. White goal posts, standing far apart from each other and the emptiness of the field. The field seems to tell you several journeys of its own. Further into the night, the gregariousness of conversations, of pockets of people and conversations. You drift further into the night, the boisterousness of gangs, of celebrations over alcohol, loud shouts, of merry chants and of the want to forget everything happening around you. The night progresses further, the rush to eat something before dawn catches up. The sky doesnt reveal it yet, but watch tells you that soon its going to come to an end. Walk further into the campus, and to the terrace; of guitar and fine music, of romantic strains and songs of longing and belonging with cold winds and a cloudy sky for company. The sky is already brightening up at the other end. Walk through continues, journey through lives, of new friends, old stories and older truths. Sleep seems a distant companion, its not something you seem to be pining for. You have smoked passively more in the one month here, than ever before. Mellowing of mood soon, its almost bright; the sky is clear blue in color. Dawn has arrived. Along with it the realization of the day ahead. The merriness of the night has vanished. You step outside and walk through the corridors. There is remains of chaos everywhere. Tattered plastics, Assortment of containers - tins, bottles, bottles, spilled liquids, spilled food, assorted smokers’ packs. The night must have been a good companion. You walk across the hostel blocks, back to the solitude of your room. You are fresh as ever. Today is going to be a long day, you tell yourself and proceed to power on your laptop. MSS’ divine voice fills the room, calling on the lord - the merciful to awaken, and bless the day - Suprabhatham. The Day has arrived.

Sometimes, I feel the role of Gandhi in our struggle for independence is slightly overrated. I dont agree when people say that he was amongst the most influential persons of the twentieth century. If he really was as influential as our doctored History textbooks claim him to be, we need to question ourselves - If the world was really influenced by MKG, has there been a reduction in armed rebellions world over?

Read for one such (slightly extreme) view…

http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2000/0214/india.godse.html

So whom do you think is the most influential person of the twentieth century?

Good Night!