An ode to the nameless...

An ode to the nameless….

Well, IISc has been my home away from home for the last three years and in this period I have seen various shades of life. I would definitely not consider myself a people friendly person; however, as I just reflected upon my stay in IISc and the people around me, a myriad of faces emerged. Strangely I didn’t have a name for many of them. These faces are an integral part of my life and they make life so much better for me BUT I didn’t have their names. Then I realized that I didn’t really need a name for them. I love the way these bonds developed - slowly, over time, ignorant of the specific details that the world is concerned about, without any need for social norms and/or personal needs. These were bonds forged with no motives whatsoever. They were how most relationships should be…based on liking and nothing else, with no impositions on them. As soon as I realized this, I felt compelled to share these wonderfully nameless people with you. These are the people who make my day, who make the world seem a brighter place to me, who restore my faith in humanity after I ve read the daily newspaper. Be it the "watchman uncles" at Rohini and Krithika, who playfully wish me every time they see me, enquire religiously about my lunch, breakfast or dinner. Or be it the "guy at tea board" who strangely seems to be able to read me inside out. He knows when I am dull or worked up and lightens up the mood with his incessant banter. How can I not miss the uncle at the Niligiris Shop who always makes it a point to wish me with a wonderful smile when he catches me amidst his early morning travails of delivering milk to the houses. On occasions when he is relatively free, he talks as if I am his long lost grand-daughter asking me about my wedding plans. He has made sure that I invite him to it whenever that might be…. !! The folks at Kabini whom I have bugged so much for the 'Gobi Manchurian', that my visit to Kabini now makes us both laugh. The Guard at the Library whom I often meet as I come to the department in the morning, cycling towards his office, he too unfailingly enquires about my well being each time he sees me. The numerous attenders and office staff in my department who give such a wonderful smile each time they see me that it actually makes the world seem a better place. The nameless kid whom I met while roaming with my camera who chatted with me (in spite of my broken Kannada) for ten minutes and wanted me to take a picture of his. The sisters who wanted a photo of theirs to be shot when they saw me with a camera. ( I always wonder how to give their photo to them, they after all wanted it a lot). The attenders in the mess who make sure that no one leaves the mess hungry, even if they come half an hour after the mess closing time. They give you food from the kitchen with a wonderful smile. The staff at Faculty club who always have a smile when I order my usual double coffee. The uncle at coffee board who used to give my sugarless cup of coffee with such a broad smile, without my reminding him. The list is a pretty long one but the common feature is the namelessness. I don’t know anything about these people but I still care for them. I miss my watchman uncles when I don’t see them for a couple of days. I miss the folks at coffee board. I hated it when they had to leave and they were terribly sad too, telling me their problem about the price hike issue. These people don’t know anything about me … but they still remember me among the many they see everyday. I do wonder how it all started but I can’t seem to remember. I think people tend to remember the best or the worst in life. My face is definitely not among the best and hopefully not among the worst either but nonetheless, all these people from different walks of life remember me and I honestly am glad they do. Language is probably the thread that binds us together but its definitely not the only one. I am thankful for these nameless people who have made my days so much better and as I key in these words I have a hope that maybe I shall be able to do the same for several others someday. If only everyone thought this way, the world could be a much better place and life in research would not seem such a bad thing after all… !!! ;-)