The Man from Nowhere

It was a warm April night. I had decided to make a quick visit home as the next day's classes were canceled. I rushed to the bus station to take the overnight bus home. After buying the ticket I quickly seated myself by the window, trying to take make this journey as comfortable as possible.

As I was observing the late night bustle of the bus station, a voice came from behind, "Is this seat taken?". Startled, I quickly turned back and mumbled "Huh?". The stranger repeated his question again, to which I replied no. "Do you mind if I sit here?". I shook my head. There was a fundamental dissonance in the stranger's appearance and the way he spoke. He was dressed ordinarily bordering on the shabby while his English belied a considerable stint abroad. On the whole he was just another face in the crowd except for his eyes. They were sharp and fiery.

As soon as the bus started, he asked "Going home?". I said yes."So you must be one of the students studying in the engineering college here. I believe that this college has a good reputation.". I nodded my head. He went on "Unfortunately I know very little about engineering or science as a matter of fact. I feel a bit like a fossil with your generation.".I asked the next question to keep the conversation going, "Are you heading to Hyderabad?". "I have no choice I am afraid this seems to be a non-stop service", he said with a laugh. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to ask, "Have you studied abroad or something? Your English seems so polished". "While your appearance isn't" he added as if completing the unspoken part of my question. "As the old proverb goes 'Appearances can be deceptive'. To answer your question yes. I studied or at least tried studying Economics and Philosophy at Oxford during the sixties.". I remarked immediately, "Oxford, wow!". He smiled at me and said, " I really enjoyed my stay there. The atmosphere, the peers it was a wonderful experience. Anyways who wants to hear an old man talk about his youth.". I urged him to continue.

He said, he had received a scholarship to study philosophy and economics in 1965. "I arrived probably during the peak of student politics, days where we thought we were agents of change, days when ideas were more important than material possessions. At first I decided to keep away from these discussions. I had come with some preconceived goals and I was in no mood to waste my time. Within a week there was no way I could keep away from discussions, they had a magnetic effect on me.

In May 1968, 3 years after my arrival, an important thing happened, French students shook their country for a month. We were keenly following the events unfold across the channel. This was real action, away from the safe confines of the university, a seismic shift from the theoretical to the practical. It was around this time that I took a decision that changed my life forever.

We were at a friend's house discussing the usual mix of philosophy, economics and politics. I do not remember what the exact topic of discussion was, that's not important anyway. All I remember was that I had accused the west of the many ills that plague the developing world. And suddenly one of my friends said, "Accusing the west and being a permanent victim of the past is the easiest thing. We live in the present now. You were the one who was impressed with the May riots in Paris; it's time for you to move away from the domain of thoughts to the domain of action.". At first, I thought he was trying to change the topic in an attempt to defend the west. But on careful reflection, I realized that my friend had a point, if I wanted to make a difference, I had to get back home. I decided to discontinue my studies, a decision that has labeled me as an eccentric in my family for life. Life's funny sometimes, a decision taken with absolute conviction can reduce someone from a role model to a failure.

Even though I had decided to move back to India, I had no idea what I would do once I got there. After consulting a few professors and friends I had decided that I would move to a village in one of the poorest districts in my state. A few weeks later, I landed in a village not far off from your campus.

One of the first things I had learned was humility, something that cannot education cover. I thought that my knowledge would yield instant results and bring about a transformation. I couldn't have been more wrong in my life. Changing people is tough, one needs to understand them to change them. Its a long and patient process. The journey has not been easy but I cannot think of a profession that gives me such happiness."

I had not realized that we had reached the bus terminus. "Looks like the journey's end young man.". I wanted to ask him many more questions but before I could do so the stranger picked his bag, waved a goodbye and merged into the morning crowd at the bus station.