It was, and no doubt will be the unforgettable day of my life. Many more may come, but I certainly can’t forget this day. It was the third day after the month was born. There were twenty percent chances of rain predicted that day. I prayed for clear sky and no wonder several thousands of people would have done the same.
I was sitting in a room at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium reminiscing the moments, events and the efforts that got me here. Perhaps, a decade ago, I would have been considered a dreamer and may be a year ago, a mentalist. Few would have anticipated this moment in my life. I should have got an astrologer look at the horoscope or gone to a tarot card reader. Most certainly, destiny has had a role to play in it, I felt.
My joy had known no bounds that moment which was experienced a couple of months ago. No doubt the fact was known in 2003 itself that New Delhi would host the Commonwealth Games 2010. Every effort was taken to put up the best face of Delhi forward during the Games. But myself being a part of the opening ceremony of the Games — well I had to pinch myself twice for it to register in my mind. No wonder, destiny has a unique way of making people achieve things in life.
Ever since then, I had been quite busy with the rehearsals for the multinational event, shuttling between school and the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium. I had found a rejuvenated interest in my hobby. I had no doubt put quite some effort to sit here. Now was the time, this was the place, where I felt my decade of an enriching experience of learning mridangam would culminate.
My reverie was broken by the excited chatter of my fellow participants who had just entered the room. With just about a few minutes left for the opening ceremony to begin, the television in the room was showing the live footage of the events transpiring outside the room, barely a few metres away. The Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Delhi, Organizing committee chairman and other honorable dignities had taken their seats and the spectators were loudly cheering out of excitement at what they may witness. They knew for sure this time may not come again in the near future, at least.
A few metres away from them, inside the enclosed chamber we were in, the excitement was palpable. One by one, we started changing to the costumes of kurta and dhoti we were supposed to wear for the night. The mridangists wore the purple kurta, the tabla players wore green coloured kurta while the sitarists donned red colour kurtas. The Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohini Attam and the Manipuri dancers were all in their respective costumes as well. No wonder we were to become the cynosure of all eyes, a couple of hours later.
In the couple of hours that separated us from giving our performance, the spectators were already left spellbound by the performances of leading music composers. The aerostat floating above the stage gave the already electrified surrounding an unmatched aura. No doubt they had high expectations and they were getting value for their money.
With just about fifteen minutes for our performance, I was getting ready to leave for the stage, to become the cynosure of all eyes. My mind drifted back to the first rehearsal where in we were assigned our positions on stage and a number for identification. Our team was called the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ and why not, we were to showcase the rich and diverse culture of music and dance the country possesses. The subsequent rehearsals merely reiterated what we should be doing today. Practice makes one perfect. Unfortunately, how much practice is something that no one can measure. Nevertheless, it was a proud moment for me and as I stepped out on stage, I came back to the present to take my already assigned position in the north east side of the stage.
To the incessant flashes of light emitting from the digital cameras from the spectator’s stand,
I ended up playing mridangam for ten full minutes in front of the thousands of common men watching live from the stands and the television sets from their homes and the select dignitaries present for the event.
To the thunderous applause of the spectators gathered, I left the arena looking around for one last time the moment which is never to be erased from my memory unto death.
By the time I entered into my bed, I knew the opening ceremony was conducted the previous day and that in the annals of history could I always mention myself being associated with the Commonwealth Games 2010 held at Delhi, the place which had Leela Menon rule over it uninterrupted for the last twelve years.