Happy Republic Day

A republic means that the state is not the private property of a ruler, a dynasty, or a family. It belongs to its citizens.

A group, too, carries a similar connotation. Membership does not demand confinement to one’s immediate wants or needs. Beyond these boundaries lies an unlimited world.

Once upon a time, I taught at an elite institute. Every year, we organised a cricket match that included students, support staff, and teachers alike. It was joyous, noisy, imperfect, yet deeply human. After a few years, a student remarked that he saw no sense in holding these matches. They were of no use, he said.

We often restrict ourselves this way. We hesitate to walk paths that do not lead to a victory stand. We measure worth only in outcomes, not in experiences.

Had I not come to Jaipur, had I chosen only familiar victories, I would never have seen the world as I now do.