The last week
and a half kept me so engaged that I couldn’t even find time for writing.
Rather, the outstation duty enervated me so much that I couldn’t even care to
switch on the laptop. When I got time today, being Sunday, I turned to my
laptop. Quickheal antivirus was very prompt to warn me that my software had
gone outdated. Just a week is enough for things to become outdated in our world
where everyone is in a hurry.
Will I become
obsolete or redundant if I stop writing? The question hit me with a pang. The
hit counter of my blog showed readers coming though I was not writing anything
for a week. However, no one except a good friend from Delhi bothered to ask why
I was not writing. That friend was kind enough to text me that she “returned
from the [blog] page slightly disappointed…”
Curiously, I
got an unexpectedly large number of friend requests on Facebook during the week
so much so I remarked in an FB update that “When I stopped writing I started
getting a lot of friends.” I have no way of knowing whether the two – my not
writing and the offer of friendship – are correlated. Most probably it’s just a
coincidence.
However, one of
my FB friends suggested that I should stop writing so that I will get more
friends from all “categories”. My response was: “More doesn’t always mean
better!” There’s no question of my stopping writing. Asking me to stop writing
is as good as telling me to stop breathing. I’m glad that the hit counter of my
blog kept ticking even when I didn’t write. It shows that there are people who
take me seriously. Thank you, folks.
A former
student of mine raised the question whether it is “really worth it” in response
to my Facebook update. Maggie told me a couple of days back how she was
confronted by a group of my present students, on her way back home from school,
to enquire when I would be back in the classroom. “They said they miss you awfully,”
Maggie teased me. I grinned. It’s nice to know that you are missed. I have no
intention of becoming an ascetic with stoic detachment or indifference to people’s
attention.
I missed the
classroom even more than blogging. Retirement is going to be a problem, I
think. There are some people whom I don’t want to miss.
Just one more
day. After that I’ll be back to normal life. That awareness is a cool relief.
For the past 10 days my car was parked just near this tree at the place of my temporary assignment. I couldn't but notice the scars carried by the tree. I felt love for the tree. "I'm like you," I told the tree yesterday. "The only difference is I don't flaunt the scars like you."
Sir, i was one of those who missed your writings, i used to open your blog daily at 10pm and felt disappointed and even thought of sending you a friend request on Facebook to know why you were not writing from the past week and now i feel relaxed
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed a heartening response. Thank you.
Delete"I’m glad that the hit counter of my blog kept ticking even when I didn’t write. It shows that there are people who take me seriously."
ReplyDeleteWell, I did come and check a few times since you are one who writes with a regular frequency, on important topics at that! Glad to see you back.
I will be regular now that my extra duty is coming to an end.
DeleteYour words are engaging as ever :)
ReplyDeleteAnd your words are as encouraging as ever. :)
DeleteHere's to the scars usurped by our desires. I'll never tire of your works Sir.
ReplyDeleteWhat is man without his desires?
DeleteYour writing is excellent and I am sure your teaching is too. Who doesn't have scars ? Some carry them in their hearts while others bury them deep under ground and few flaunt them !!! I wonder which is better.
ReplyDeleteBetter not to reveal. The world loves to scratch scars. Especially the religious people whose tribe is on the rise.
DeleteMy personal experience says Restarting may be more difficult than starting and yes no one missed me but after all we write for pur own joy and expressions!
ReplyDeleteBut the same doea not hold good for stalwarts like you and the readers would be eagerly waiting for your daily dose of gyan and prolofic thoughts very cogently put forward