Waiting for Varanasi - 5 Days To Go

(27th October, 2014)

What is a city?

With 5 days to go before we leave for the city of lights, we start our day with introductions. 

All 26 of us settle down at 9:30 am, and state our names and the cities we come from. We are then introduced to our facilitators, following which the question is finally asked - What are we looking for, from this trip? 

Hesitant answers crop up; 'Culture', 'New experiences', 'New outlooks on life'. 

The fact is, none of us really know. 

We then split ourselves into groups, state - wise. The game was an ice-breaker of sorts, and it definitely got our spirits soaring. We were given time to discuss and jot down points, of things that represent our hometown positively and those that reflect negatively on the others. Then we were to challenge the other teams, and actually attempt to drag down their cities by speaking of all its drawbacks and concerns. Although it started off slow, it was nearly impossible to remain calm in such a situation. Soon we were all roaring in defense of our demarcated locations. With the Delhi-ites and Mumbaikars clawing at eachother, while the onlookers occasionally threw their own punches. And all that could be deciphered through the din of the battle, were random phrases. 'Your state has an ego of its own', 'your city is unsafe', 'WE HAVE BETTER TRAINS!' 'YOUR TRANSPORT SYSTEMS ARE TERRIBLE!!'

Suffice to say, we were all wide awake by the end of the session, basking in the glory of our own contempt. Who knew things would get so personal? 

As the afternoon sun arrived we discussed the outcome of the game, and realized one big fact. All of us were looking at the city as infrastructure. The roads, the traffic, the buildings and structures. In our attempts to pull the other cities down, all we had concerned ourselves with was the flaw in our infrastructure. So the thought occurs, is that what a city is? Its infrastructure? What about its people and its heritage? What about its life, its traditions?

So what is a  city? It is an experience. It is what you make of it.

It is about the aspirations and dreams of its people. 

It is the character of the place, the pace with which it moves, the lives of its inhabitants. 

So, on this trip to Varanasi, we have decided to look beyond the immediately apparent. 

We have decided to look for the character of the city. At what it is beyond its infrastructure.  

At the meaning this city holds in the hearts of its people.