It’s been more than a month since I have written a single word to amuse myself as a writer, but, frankly put, I have been on a determined walk with the carrot hanging in front of my face. Such a walk never ends, and, I have been walking the entire month of April. 

I was busy at work. 

Then came a chance to travel to India. Originally, it was for a family function and paved the way to find the source of my next writing projects. 

I had ordered a book on Vedic history (which I thought would be delayed to arrive on time. Eventually, it came), which will lay the groundwork for one of my esteemed projects. There is one more, which I have almost struck an approval to write from the concerned people. 

Therefore, this time my approach is a tad different, and, I’ve traveled 2000 miles too far to achieve my goals. 

I fancied to write about all these from 30000 feet above the ground, and here am I doing the same, at the midnight, on a flight. 

……… 

I was reading a Stephen King’s novel called ‘Salem’s Lot’ in night mode on my mobile, on an Air Arabia flight to Bangalore, when this idea hit me. It just brings a spark. Sometimes that is enough to write an entire book. 

It’s a four hours long flight, and the cabin crew was serving food to uninterested people, who were mid way through their slumber. 

I had freshly cut fruits and washed them with lemon tea. Enough to fuel my passion. 

Back in the U.A.E, I had a noble thought to write non-fiction, and rallied it with a topic called ‘Theyyam – the Dance Art form of Kerala’. 

I had witnessed a couple of Theyyam at our caste-based ceremonies in Kannur. I stayed overnight to watch them play. It’s a fascinating combination of faith, devotion, and unmatched passion. The natural colors adorned by the Theyyam artists speak a lot about patience and they, abstaining themselves from consuming alcoholic drinks (if at all) or non-vegetarian food consumption (if at all), for about (or maybe more than) two weeks before the function, is a testimony to how the artists honor the ritual. 

It fascinated me, and after more than six years of churning thoughts ranging from ‘Should I write a Non-Fiction’ or ‘Should I focus on Fiction alone’, which resulted in no serious writing at all in the years to come, I finally decided to write a book of this kind. 

And, I’m doing that with zest, starting from downloading research papers online, but I was not totally convinced. Either the research papers were not of the quality as I had expected, or they were just, arbitrary papers. 

So, continuing with the research, I had a chance to speak to one, Mr. Ajith in the UAE, who is a dedicated patron of this ancient art form, and who has been trying his best to reach out to all modern day Malayalees in UAE, encouraging them and informing them about this ancient art form.

Kudos to him for giving me his valuable inputs, and a special thanks to encourage me in writing a book about it. 

So, here I’am on my first trip to research on a beautiful topic in a beautiful place called Kannur, a Malabar town, which carries a rich history on Theyyam. 

But first, I had to seek blessings. What best than meeting and speaking to your Guru, Sri Sri Ravishankar ji of the Art of Living (AOL) . 

More than a mere habit to go to the AOL Ashram, rather, it’s a must visit each year. There is a definite need to bring peace in one’s system, and making time for the Master is something that we know, goes a long way. As per Sanathan Dharma principles, if you take one step towards the Divine, the Divine will take two steps towards you. 

I had been dreaming to write a book for AOL (which I mentioned above as striking a deal), and I was determined to seek His Blessings, walking the slopes of the Ashram, long waits in the hot summer weather, and not sure what to tell the Master, if you ever get the chance to meet Him up close. 

Nature treats one with a good will, and that was mastered yet again. We eventually got the chance to meet the Master. He came to meet His Devotees, reminding us the Sanathan Dharma principle which I had explained earlier. 

However, I had no courage to ask Him what I wanted to, because you simply dissolve when you see the Master. You are merged with your Master. While I spoke to Him, and as if He knew what I wanted, He put a flower garland on me. Was that a gesture? I couldn’t realize at that moment, perhaps, it was. Maybe, my long awaited moment has finally arrived.

When I looked into the eye of the Master, I saw my own reflection in the beady eyes there. Maybe, it was indeed the time.

There is a saying – When you come to the Master, all seeking stops. Blossoming begins. 

Perhaps this is not the gist of a momental passion, but, I have a super good feeling that I would reach my destined goal.