I was attending the inaugural session of the Journalism course at XIC, on a rainy evening in July 2000. The session was conducted in the convocation hall that had red curtains, banners with vintage calligraphy, and soft lights, which make your mind drift away from the monologue emanating from behind the podium, to a perfect world that you would like to be in at the end of the course; where you want that course to take you. :)
The footfalls of heavy-heeled shoes broke the trance. I turned around to see this pretty lady walk in with many bags, a scarf or two, and other such paraphernalia. Obviously late for the session, she took one of the seats that lined the wall, right across from where I was seated, in a chair by the wall on this side.
Five or ten minutes later, the sound of heavy-heeled footfalls made heads turn in its direction again. This time, the pretty damsel was stomping out of the hall! The whole episode was a nice comic relief. At least she had the courage to refuse to sit through a predictable monologue!
Later, months into the course, this pretty damsel turned out to be one of the brightest in Journalism class. We also got to know each other, worked on a few assignments together, and went out with other friends occassionally. I asked her once what type of journalism she wanted to do after the course. With confidence that I'd not seen in anyone else in the batch, she replied, "Sports".
Sports she did, after the course. Many months after the course was over, I was happy to see her on TV, first on Headlines Today, presenting news, very elegantly as always, about some tennis tournament. Then, I saw her on Zee Sports much later.
The same person recently wrote a novel called 'Running on Full'. Not surprisingly, it's about sport. "Men and sports", she once replied to the obvious question posted on her Facebook page. Today, February 4, her book is being launched at the Book Fair at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, by Kapil Dev!
Just a little story about a batchmate and friend, who took the effort to sail towards the goal she must've dreamt of, like I did during that first session at XIC, and made it there elegantly. To the person I've always admired and need to draw some inspiration from: Tina Sharma Tiwari, cheers to you, lady!
PS: For this little effort of writing a blogpost, Tina, if you're reading this, can you give me an autographed copy? :D
Visit her website at http://www.tinasharmatiwari.com/
Sandeep, this is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever written or said about me. I mean that. I am SOOOOO touched. Thank you very, very much.
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