Seeking that elusive youthful fire

 Watched Rang De Basanti at home with kids, after more than 20 years.

Saw this first time with young team at Mirafra, at Forum Mall Koramangala in 2006. The afternoon is still etched fresh in my memory. It was my farewell day as I was set to move to XLRI. The treat was from our manager, who incidentally happened to be a senior from NIT Trichy. 

What a youthful passion the team of 5 at Mirafra shared- youngsters bubbling with energy, in a country that showed a million possibilities. I remember how the somber message from the movie hit us hard and how "Ae Saala..." song kept echoing in our hearts all through the remaining day.

Cut to the present- 2026. Student protests and subsequent crackdown has left me ambivalent. While my rational millennial self wants status quo, my younger 2006 self seeks rebellion and change. 

Its a weird feeling in mid-40s. Are we too old for change? Are we so engrossed in the comfort zone of status-quo that any change seems challenging? Have we stopped learning?

A head slapping moment came when my 17 year old remarked: "I cannot help that you are an andhbhakt"!

Probably its time for change. Probably I need to do something to bring back realization, quoting Prasoon Joshi, "...Ki aag hai mujhmain kahin"