Change in Perceptions

by Anushka Shahdadpuri (India)

I didn't expect to find India

I have been struggling to come to terms with how huge this experience is but it’s like staring up at a mountain that doesn’t seem to have a peak, you just have to keep moving your eyes higher and higher , searching for the sky and it never appears. Add that feeling to the scale of the mountain and you arrive at an approximation of what my current state of mind is. I started the journey as my first solo trip at the age of 21, which in itself was special to me in many ways; little did I know that this trip would be a life changing experience for me. I wish I’m able to enumerate every single detail of my entire experience , but I don’t think I can convey everything I have felt and experienced and it would be anti-climax because anything I write about the place and its philosophy, it will be underwhelming compared to what I actually experienced. A heaven residing on a hill in the heart of a serene landscape, amidst the deep pine forest in Bir, Himachal Pradesh- we (Rupinder, Swati and I) tooling on our way up with the luggage heading slowly towards Dharmalaya when the first hint that things were changing appeared. Before embarking my trip, living, studying in a concrete jungle where people build houses aimlessly for self-regarding needs without any consideration of the environment and community, my fascination with this field of architecture was slowly vanishing. It was only after living in Dharmalaya, I began to understand the true meaning of architecture- as a way of living. From the moment we open our eyes for the first time and throughout life we are learning constantly, staying in Dharmalaya, I learnt a lot. Every day, I could feel things change around me, my clothes were falling apart, my chappals were getting moldy, my body felt clean with muddy hands , my mind and body felt energetic after carrying logs of wood on my back, what made me feel energetic was the relief and the power of contributing in the making of something. I left my comfort zone, everything was different there; if I could summarize what I learned there, I would say that I learned to question, why are things the way they are? Each day was an enhancing experience that broadened my fundamental knowledge of the concept of compassion, by living with the local community, looking after one another and catering to daily needs for a sustainable future, an alteration. Right from working collectively to having food together everyday sharing a cross culture, reflecting on our thoughts, I was intrigued to know about the Israelian culture from Inbal. We sat on the grass, mud floors, the contact with nature was elementary, there were times when monkeys passed by, it was the most natural thing in no time. I found happiness in small things like dancing in the mud pool, gazing the stars, enjoy listening to sounds of nature and the guitar fuse in one. As a matter of fact, I did not notice this subtle difference until I came back to futility of this city. I constantly began to be cognizant of the ethereal alteration and it makes me question what prosperity is. I am not sure if I want to live in ignorance and elaborate hallucination of city life. I was and hopefully still am deeply inspired to spread this learning. I wish I could translate and displace the warmth, endearment and the deep affection that reached to me through the people, the endless conversations there. And what I tell you now; you might not want to believe. On my last night, I was so sad about leaving Dharmalaya that I dreamt of missing my flight and coming back. And I guess, some dreams do come true. I felt like the place was calling me back to itself and I realized the most difficult thing about Dharmalaya was valediction; it was perhaps the humble lifestyle that makes it harder to leave. But the place is the one thing I have to say goodbye to. But I can hold on to the memories and the spirit.