It's been an awesome three days at WSF...simply mindblowing to witness something of such a proportion..people from all over the world, gathering to reaffirm their committment towards a belief they are so strongly rooted in. it's simply amazing, how the NESCO grounds proved to be such a leveller..i have never imagined myself to be walking next to a 'certified intellectual' (Debashish Sen) and a dalit from somewhere in Tamil Nadu at the same time. this place gives you the space to be.
Where else would you find Prakash Karat trying to find his way all by himself through the crowd, peering into the map and trying to locate the hall he is going to lecture? it's best to hang out with your politics prof, names that you have heard in class and people whom you have only imagined suddenly pop out and it's like meeting characters out of your notes.
like i was saying, this place gives you your space, none would agree with me moer than patnaik who went berserk with the camera trying to shoot the sights and sounds of WSF, and ended up shooting people making out!! haha.
bumping into your editor is not the nicest thing to happen to you at WSF. " so i hope you have been working on your articles.."
Ram Reddy still looks dazed...but he has to be sweetest guy ever. Sidey is sidey, hasn't changed one bit, except for the grunge look.
and patnaik for all the complaining is still living with menon. so life comes a full circle.
at then end of three days, at least i have memorized the landmarks. sugarcane stall, media centre, solidarity tent, et al.
saddy was ok, old wine in a new bottle. we have been discussing alternative spaces since journalism school, remember patnaik with her emotional outburst at the colloquium. " We are entering the media at a depressing juncture, are there ay alternative spaces available for us?"
skipped Ram's lec, can't listen to anymore of The Great Indian Media Bazaar.
and for all those who thought this was one helluva jamboree, that's alright as long as you belive that "Another World is possible."