Author: Banjara Academy

“Where do you belong to ?” People often ask this question to new persons they meet. Whenever someone asks this to Aab, he is puzzled. He would perhaps be able to answer the “where” if he knew the meaning of “belong”. On the one side, he firmly believes that everyone…

Because of his unusual name, and since he does not have a surname, people often ask Aab what religion he belongs to. And as usual, Aab is stumped. He would himself like to know what faith he belongs to, if any. Everyone seems to have a religion, a community, a…

Aab does not know the date when he was born – nobody does. He may not have been very welcome in this world, or maybe people were just too busy to keep track of mundane things like an insignificant baby’s birth. He does have an idea how many calendar years…

Aab thinks he is an aberration; an anachronism and an imposter. He wonders whether he was born in the wrong place or at the wrong time – or both. When he sees people going about their tasks and duties so seriously, when he sees the intense belief and purpose with…

Aab knows he can never become an orator. He cannot shout, he cannot scream in the frenzy of artificial passions. He can only speak from the heart, whether he is speaking to one person or one thousand. He speaks only what is necessary, only that which can benefit the listener.…

Aab knows what loneliness is. He has not only experienced it, he has seen it written in bold capital letters on people’s faces – people who laugh, dress up well, mix freely, and communicate with ease. Because when he looks at faces, he does not stop at the surface. His…

Historians are human too, and they select who to write about, depending on what they perceive is the importance of the person. Since Aab never had, or acquired, any importance, historians did not record his coming or going. Aab probably came into this world, long, long ago, unsung and un-celebrated.…

Aab likes people. He likes children, and he sees a Child in every adult — the Child who has not been given sufficient love, pampering; the Child craving to be hugged and held. Aab would love to hug everyone, child or adult, man or woman. He wants to give his…

He does not manage to get away very often. Not because he is busy or has a job or business, but he has a certain sense of loyalty and responsibility to the few people who keep catching up with him on whichever road corner he is hanging around, and ask…

When no one is watching, he goes close to a bungalow, a hut or an old ruin and opens a conversation. Some of them are shy, but others are thrilled and open out because he is the only human being who actually pays attention to them and wants to interact…