The Public Private Place

Samuel goes frenzy on seeing a train, since childhood. He would always feel happy being  lost observing trains, their arrivals, departures and mostly helping people to choose correct train which would take them a little earlier to their destination. It is his peace and happiness. Though the little museum on platform number one in Bangalore City railway station is very tiny, he feels that knowledge it contains in form of photographs and little artifacts is very vast.

 Anoop always like spending time at metro art centre located in M G road. His legs will never stop him taking a step ahead towards that place. He rejoices every noisy, chaotic, peaceful  moments spent there listening to live bands, playing drums, watching plays, listening stories, observing paintings and photographs. He always tells that he couldn't think of anything except happiness when he is there.

Nandini, a bookworm feels Church Street near Brigade Road as Diagon alley. Books are her world and that street have a lot of them containing all the genres available in English literature. Her moment of happiness is to just be inside each shop as long as possible. She had to control for not buying too many books each week. That street is her place of joy.

Daniel cannot control himself being happy when he watches bright, smiling faces of kids walking proudly after finishing their day through the gates of Kendriya Vidyalaya. He is fortunate to work in a shift which starts during evening, allowing him to rejoice the time sipping tea at his balcony and watch future of nation marching out. He says listening to them yell brings calmness to his mind.

Food Street is Hari’s favourite place. Visiting Food Street at least once each month is a must in his calendar. His happiness lies in watching street food of all states in nation being prepared together at one place. Choosing an Item out of too many favourite foods is a tough task for him. It appears to him that street has a food festival running everyday!

Yasmeen feels that she is in a carnival whenever she is walking through market areas. It may be passing through avenue road to K.R market or a walk through Commercial Street. She spends countless moments observing flower vendors , watching flowers and feeling their fragrance in madivala market or Sampinge road.  Her mind floods with happiness when she strolls through annual events like kalekaya parishe and chitra sante.

Anand is a philatelist. His hobby drags him to the general post office very frequently. He is taken away by the majesty of the building and the beauty of little garden in front of it. One can finish watching a movie during time he spends there.

93% of people would definitely feel tired or hold their head spending time in places mentioned above. The honking locomotives, traffic passing by roads, cries of kids when they come out of school, noise of ladles hitting against frying pans and mayhem in a government offices are definitely not going to bring happiness. Shouts of vendors in market streets would bring joy in no way.

I was surprised when I heard about them. How can they find peace when they are surrounded by hundreds of people? Is it even possible? Are these people weird? , but something made me think and realize that I met remaining 7% who were happy, amidst chaos in most noisy places. I had a presumption that solitude is a reason many people choose to feel peaceful and happiness is felt only when people spend time in less crowded places. I feel that’s why people took a lot of effort and discovered hills stations and valleys. Money is another factor which comes to my mind when I think of peace.  These people proved me wrong.

For a guy who likes trains noise made by them doesn’t matter. If one is deep into music or arts he will never worry about the people around him as long as he is watching or performing, even on road with heavy traffic. Books pave way to a whole new world and book stores are the gateways. One will never be aware of situation around when selecting a new book. They are having their peace doing the work they like and their mind feels quieter being there. Kids yelling will be a soft melody if looking at their innocent faces is what you like. People in markets shouting at highest of their pitches will not bother you much if observing them is the sole reason you are there. A noisy office may be a head ache for people working there, but not for people who enjoy its products.

Often times I hear people mention that they had a good time going to pubs, restaurants and being happy in other places surrounded by walls and roofs. One would also end up spending a good amount of money being there. I don’t see any reason in spending a lot of money in the name of happiness for pricey drinks or costly dinners. Is happy feeling one gets there real ? or is it just a fancy to display people around ? On the other hand locking yourself away from the world is also not a way to calm heart. 

Breaking all myths about solitude, less crowded people and money these 7% people paved a new way for being happy, enjoying their happiness privately in public places.They have chosen their secret gateways of happiness right in middle of town and with people they live along . They are enjoying solitude being in presence of lot of people. Enclosed concrete walls may not fill your heart with joy when compared to large public fun houses outside.Everyone is supposed to have such a place which takes away all your sorrow. The place which speaks back to you, which reciprocates your thoughts and feelings. It can be only present outside your home . It is your Public Private Place. It is the beginning of realizing yourself.

 I see that whole point of living is being happy in a responsible way. A major part of having such feeling depends on the place you are at and work you do at that particular place and time. You cannot do that work, unless you are there and if you are not there that work cannot be done. They go hand in hand. It all depends on the way you look at task in hand.

A beautiful road in your town, a cafe where you hangout with your buddy, a park beside your home, a tree few blocks away or anything which stops you which holds for longer times. It may be right beside your house and you may not have realized your favourite place yet.Find your place, have your peace and be happy. After all that’s what life is about.