Mindset of a Traveller – 2

Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re,
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re.

Jodi keu kotha na koe, ore ore o obhaga,keu kothana koi
Jodi shobai thake mukh phiraee shobai kore bhoe, jodi shobaai thake mukh phiraae shobai kore bhoi—
Tobe poran khule
O tui mukh phute tor moner kotha ekla bolo re.

Jodi shobai phire jae, ore ore o obhaga,shobai phire jai
Jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire na chae, jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire naa chaai—
Tobe pother kata
O tui roktomakha chorontole ekla dolo re

Jodi alo na dhore, ore ore o obhaga,
Jodi jhor-badole adhar rate duar dee ghore—
Tobe bojranole
Apon buker pajor jalie nie ekla jolo re.
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re…

English Translation (by the poet himself) –
If no-one heeds your call – then walk alone
If no-one speaks (to you), O unlucky one, if non-one speaks (to you),
If everyone turns away, if everyone fears (to speak), then with an open heart without hesitation speak your mind alone
If everyone walks away, O unlucky one, everyone walks away
If no-one looks back towards the (your) unpredictable path, then with thorn pricked (of the path) bloodied feet, walk alone
If no-one heeds your call – then walk alone
If no-one shines a light (on the path), O unlucky one,
If the dark night brings a storm at the door – then let the lightning ignite the light in you alone to shine on the path
If no-one heeds your call – then walk alone

I have purposely started with the Tagore poem as it pushes us to travel, even if we are on our own and alone. Maybe it will not strike a chord at the first reading itself. So one needs to reread and reread and reread. It has a personal, inter-personal as well as an intra-personal context. Gurudev is a little too harsh about the path but at the same time a shining light guiding the traveller to be confident and adventurous. The tone of the poem may sound negative, but it has a positive message hidden in it.

In my first blog I had asked a few questions and at the end, urged that we initiate a conversation. And what an overwhelming response it has been! Am surprised by the response from unexpected quarters. The way, you, my readers have expressed and shared your thoughts is mind blowing. Frankly I have corrected myself and my understanding about today’s generation after receiving the responses. Again this correcting is all about my mindset. The way we think and the way we live are two different things, today.

I, work amongst the younger generation of today. My interactions with them keep me young at heart. The one thing I learnt from them is that they do not shun the new and are ever ready to try it out. And this is the key, my friends. Till the day we are ready to accept the new, to think over it and if right incorporate it in our thought process, we stay young. The moment we stop this, we are old.

Secondly, this generation is always experimenting. And I know many who accept their mistakes if their experiments fail. But at the same time, many new things have seen light too. Experimentation helps growth. The moment we stop, it leads to wilting.

Am sharing a few of the responses I have received, in today’s blog. Will keep sharing the others in my blogs to come.

It all depends on our perspective.

It all depends upon how we think.

It all depends on how we observe, what we observe and how do we take it in our stride.

The first response is from a 17 year old girl, from whom I didn’t expect this kind of a response. It’s absolutely mind blowing for her age.

The second response is from a 25 plus boy who has his own perspective about the blog and just shared his thoughts for which I am grateful.

The third and the fourth responses are from a mother of two kids. An excellent perspective and She is going to write more on this. Am waiting for more in anticipation.

(Let me make myself very clear that am not going to comment on the responses I have received as I respect the readers perspective)

The answers are varied. But they all move around the questions asked. I would say they all are right in their own ways as we all are together in this quest.

A quest to find ???…

Is what I leave upto you all to answer. Let us continue our conversation. Waiting to hear your side.

Travellers together as we walk,

To find The unknown, infinite and endless,

Into the light from darkness….