confessions of a cynic

Disclaimer: This column is written to commemorate people i admire. This is an inspired work with some parts purely fictional.



Throughout my life i had just one endeavour-to be right. i saw a clear distinction between virtue and vile. This distinction was unsurmountable, shaped by years of experimentation, theology and classroom moral science. The right and the wrong could not overlap- people were either right or wrong,noth both.

Steel was a classmate.He was so articulate that he could even move the most intransigent person 'effortlessly'. Rarely did he show any dissent and even then the assault was sugar-coated. The enemy relented 'effortlessly'. He was certainly 'right'. I admired Steel but many people abhorred the power he exerted. Friends tried to dissuade me and it was only the beginning.

Once Steel told me why he would not ever work in the oil and gas sector. A month later, a big shot petroleum company visited the campus offering a lot of dough. I saw Steel waiting for the interview, fingers crossed. I smiled. He was certainly 'wrong'.

Steel ran a campus publication which i categorically avoided reading. 'No more Steel', i thought. Somebody once stuffed an edition into my bag and i was left with no choice.Flipping through the pages, i saw, an interview with one of India's biggest champions of literacy, mindblowing book reviews, awe -inspiring human-interest stories and some original literary works of the campus residents.

One word lingered in the air: dedication

I could not figure out what was right in me.......