Part 2
Now, before I proceed further, I think I must take up the task of explaining who and what we were visiting in Dhamapur, Sindhudurg, Konkan,
This is not so easy because the who, the what and all the links to them are rather overwhelming. This is just a humble effort at trying to explain a profound Philosophy- a crucial and successful Experiment in education.
http://www.vigyanashram.com/
In a small village called Pabal, about 2 hours Northeast of Pune, is an institution called Vigyan Ashram.
Students at Vigyan Ashram build everything they and their community need to live, with their own hands and improvise and innovate with their own minds. It is probably one of the very few centres of education in the world which build self confidence and the spirit of enterprise in the youth. Here, one can finally be envious of people for the right reasons; people who work with their hands and who will never depend on any electrician, plumber, mason, scientist or even politician to make their lives easier.
At Dhamapur, a young couple- has started 'Syamantak'- a sort of Konkan chapter of Vigyan Ashram. (I think, and I am backed by very visionary people here, that there can never be enough in the country and even in the world.)
So here we were; my friend- to spread the Vigyan Ashram concept to more people and me.... well, to just listen, absorb and revel in my good fortune of being in such progressive circles. (And of course because I love taking off to random places and showing off my sleek SLR!)
For sometime now, I am thinking about life. (Don't you dare moan...) Actually, I have been thinking about the Scale of life, about what constitutes 'la dolce vita', a good Standard of living.
During this trip, I realised that every aspect of lifestyle is a matter of choice and all the talk about ' being stuck in a rut' etc. is something we bring on ourselves. Some people, like us atleast, can think about what really makes us happy and make the necessary lifestyle changes.
So,
Do I want to live in a metro (or a wannabe-metro) with its malls, crowds, accidents and 'modern', 'happening', 'connected' life?
OR
Do I want to live in a small-town (or even downright rural area) with nature, space, gentleness, 'roots' but bad toilets?
I know that my contempt for the familiar urban makes me romanticise the rural and my craving for coffee and conversation make me doubt if I will ever fit in if I move out of the city.
The pros and cons for me are evenly balanced. But let me set aside my existential issues for the moment. My capacity to write interestingly about it stops here.
I have serious concentration span issues too... so more in Part 3.
To be continued…
