Editor's Note

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
-Anaïs Nin

Writing is a vicarious pleasure. It allows you to exist in different worlds, different realms at the same time. Writing liberates and empowers you. It allows you to take the road less travelled, at least in your thoughts. As far back as I can remember I found pleasure, calm and solace in writing. I was one of those kids who maintained a diary to pen down their excitement and angst (at 8? Seriously?).

Words were my friends. I loved playing around with them, extracting the best out of them, coaxing and cajoling them to reveal and express more than they wanted to, jumbling them at times, muddling them up and then picking up the best, being loyal to some favourites for years. Words are indeed tools to express emotions, ideas, philosophies that change the world. Words build bridges and create possibilities.

Writing has helped me deal with most situations and challenges in life. It is my panacea for pain, it is my temple of peace, and it is my getaway and ‘me-time’. Writing helps one find the hidden answers to life’s myriad questions. It forces you to think a little deeper, delve more completely into subjects, ideas and impulses. It forces you to give time to issues that matter. It chisels your random thoughts into a concurrent shape.

When I was entrenched in corporate life I often dreamt of an after-life to my career. A laid-back, sepia toned, Plan B. I thought one day I would get into teaching and impart the pearls of my wisdom to a younger generation. I would look back at the ‘working years’ and hold forth on running corporations to young, impressionable minds.

Well two months at G D Goenka University have breezed past. Phew! Did I say laid-back, after-life? We have already witnessed a Mega Conference, talks by Authors, Journalists, Social Entrepreneurs, Fashion Leaders, Sessions with Marketing Gurus, Psychologists; a Diwali Fete; Cultural shows, Festival celebrations with full gusto; a Fresher’s Day; a TV debate on racism; a visit to a Children’s home, Halloween and interactions with Le Cordon Bleu chefs!  We're now gearing up for Sportopia, our Sports Meet. There are, on an average of 2-3 events per week. I feel it is an atmosphere conducive to immense growth as an individual, evolving new thought processes and providing great intellectual stimulation.

The fact is that GD Goenka University is a very happening University and I am absorbing everything around me like a sponge. It is like my own education all over again!

Did I say impart my ideas to young minds? I learn something new in my class every day from these young minds! I didn’t, for example know of the existence of Hardwell and Rehab before this! (They are world famous DJs by the way.) But seriously, sometimes I am just staggered by the intuitive intelligence of young people. It inspires one to unlearn a few layers of pretence that we gather over the years and learn it afresh from these young adults.

I can only fully agree. Hence, this blog. These are our students- bright, bustling with ideas, energetic, vibrant and alive with passions they pursue, dreams they visualise and imagine, new horizons they explore every day. Their enthusiasm is infectious, their originality unmatched. I felt their writing must have an outlet, a platform. Reading their articles has made me think, smile, reflect and evolve. So I urge you to come by once in a while to our blog, immerse in this ocean of youthful abandon, be in sync with their thoughts, their voices and feel rejuvenated! I can promise we will keep up the tempo!

Ms. Shivani Mohan teaches Communication at G D Goenka University. She is a writer and journalist who has written for many international and national publications.