Those were the bohemian days. Bindaas 5 years of (pre-university & under-grad) college – spent without an iota of pressure or studies

Being rebellious was very much in. And so was Sri Sri (but it took a while to realize that!)

Having studied in a “liberal”, “hep”, one of the best colleges in Bangalore – life was “chilled out”. Bunking classes, painting the town red, hanging off in open jeeps, puncturing the tyres of teacher’s vehicles… It was all part of our idea of being “in”. Sharing a favourite anecdote of those days

Our group was always active in English classes – debates, writing articles & such.  So we chose that Wednesday morning English class to get our plan going. Ten mins before 11 am, my friend Chan and me walked up to the teacher and asked “Maam, Can we go?”… “Yes you may go.” Simple. Swift. Sweet. Hanging out was never so easy! I’ll tell you why:

Wednesday 11-12.30 was the most dreaded hour of the week: for it was the VALUE EDUCATION hour! Yes! It was the embodiment of mid-week blues. Our college knew how to rub it in: The gates would close at 10.55 AM and would open only at 12.30pm! And there would be patrols in our sprawling campus to check on bunking students!

And so, having the ever-considerate English department in our kitty before the Val-Ed hour, helped. That early December morning, we stepped out before 10.55 to accomplish a new mission: Eye-Brow piercing!

After a sudden brain-wave in the previous week, I had concluded that piercing my eye-brow was the next coolest thing to do..

Chan and me rode out to Jeweller’s Street (which is perpendicular to the famous Commercial Street in Bangalore) – dotted with piercing agents. After some “fair evaluation”, we decided on the most decent looking guy. A quick prayer & a prick later – I was suddenly sporting a super-cool eye brow silver ring !

We returned to college just in time for the very important class on Financial Accounting & was welcomed inside the class by 100 girls hooting at our newly accomplished mission

 What followed the next few days was: people suddenly pulling the ring (thinking its some insect sitting on my face!) ,  dad refusing to acknowledge my presence, grandma & ma trying every trick in trade to convince me to remove it & some ridiculous looks from strangers. Obviously I was quite enjoying the attention

 And then my parents hit upon this brilliant idea – they got the family doctor to convince me that the piercing had happened next to a blood vessel by mistake (which was why it had bled a couple of times) and that I should get it re-pierced “a centimetre away”. At this juncture, I gave in – because I thought God has not approved it And so my eye-brow pierced, attention-grabbing-super-cool-idea became a short-lived affair.

College life & hanging out with friends was quite aimless like the above incident. Unproductive hours wasted in restaurants, pubs, coffee days, baristas, clubs….

And then, a beautiful dimension to life opened up with Art of Living – transforming, meaningful & empowering…

Today I have realized that even though all that was fun, Satvik-Fun is an amazing gift that I have received from my Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. We can be crazy & naughty without having to be rebellious. We can have fun, frolic without having to hurt anybody. We can be drowned in problems & sorrows, but we can still serve, sacrifice & celebrate. It’s surreal! The same fun & hep attitude – but we now know what lasts longer and what is momentary….And you have the opportunity to experience this surreality ! (ok ok i only coined the term ) .

 What has transformed millions of people around the world? What has brought a sense of purpose to youth who are wasting their energies on mindless tamasic pleasures? What has awakened the conscience in businessmen? What has channelized the free time of home-makers into serving the society? What has increased the productivity & ethical quotients of small, medium & big corporates across the world? What has healed prisoners, war survivors, trauma patients?

The answer is here:

If you want to know how this can happen, just grab this opportunity to Hangout on Google+ with H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on 26^th January 2013 at 8.30pm IST, which is also 64th anniversary the Indian Republic Day.

If you agree/disagree with Him, If you love/hate Him, If you want to Question Him, If you want Him to hear you, If you want Him to see you – then THIS IS IT! Register NOW! http://goo.gl/ATWDz

In the glory of my Jagadguru who is Nityam, Poornam, Nirakaram, Nirgurnam & ever centered in the self.

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