I’ve never done anything beyond normal in my life. No wonder
my school life is such a blur. The only reason why some teachers remember me is
probably because one of my first poems got published in the Indian Express when
I was in class VIII in 1994.
I would go to school with my hair combed and wearing my neck
tie. I would return home with my hair in place and my neck tie still there. For
twelve years I did just that. I was a star in junior college, I was among the
very few who could express themselves in English. In degree college, I liked
what I did but I was still the one who experienced mild culture shock…Ambarnath
to town wasn’t easy. I even tried to disown my name for a seemingly cooler
‘Harry’. My email id to this date is duke.ambarnath@gmail.com
My fiancé once tried coaxing me to change it to something more professional but
I would hear nothing of it. Well, I was young and naïve…
Wilson College was also where I met Prof. Sudhakar
Solomonraj and the Nature Club. Little did I know that treks into the Sanjay
Gandhi national park and Karnala Bird Sanctuary and sessions by this head of
political science department (and the BMM department of course) would influence
my life in such a manner. But here we are.
On a whim, I wanted to plant trees in every state and union
territory of India. Hence the number 35. A friend – Anthony Karbhari travelled
along with me, making mini films out of each trip. But travelling weekends
alone would take up all our weekends for a long time and there wasn’t much
awareness to talk about anyway.
Anthony Karbhari had a brainwave. Why couldn’t we do a
proper India tour? He planted the seed in my head and pushed me till I got
kicked about it and gave in. A 4-month trip…to go to every place in India! Who
wouldn’t be excited about that?
My parents.
My office agreed. They’ve even promised to sponsor a part of
the project. But my mom categorically told
me a lot of things I already know.
Hari, you know dad is retiring next year.
You know we live in a rented flat.
You know your sister has four more years of education
left. What are you thinking?
What I am thinking is that this is my only chance to be
25 and see the world, okay…India. I might be a little foolish to take a break
from my job and follow a dream (more dramatic this way) but I can only do this
now.
So…Project 35 Trees is about to embark upon an epic journey
along the length and breadth of India. I along with Anthony are off to live
with strangers, shamelessly take them up on their offer to feed us, give us
space to washup and dry our clothes. We hope schools and colleges open their
gates for two haggard nomads to talk to their students about why planting trees
will help not just them but their future generations. We hope every school and
college we plan to visit have some place for trees where the students can take
care of them.
So yes, basically I am banking on a lot of hope. In a way I have
never done before. For the first time I am going to do something ‘normal’
people don’t do.
