The Child in Me
This weekend was spent with a group of schoolmates whose friendship stretches back nearly five decades. We come from different backgrounds, faiths, professions, and political viewpoints, yet we are connected by six formative years together from the 5th to the 10th standard. What struck me was that our differences made very little difference to our relationships. It made me wonder why. Was it because we first met as children, before labels and loyalties became so important? Or was there something deeper? Our country today often seems marked by divisions, with differences amplified and conflicts nurtured, sometimes for the sake of influence and power. If we had wanted to, our group too could have found enough reasons to disagree. After all, five decades have given us plenty of time to collect opinions, convictions, and a few stubborn certainties. Yet that was not the point of our gathering. There was an unspoken agreement to enjoy one another's company, laugh at old stories, revisit ...