As soulful Malayalam songs play on in the background, I’m inspired to write this piece. As a matter of fact, I’ve always been intrigued by the power of music to transform people, however transiently, to calm, soothe and uplift them; whenever, wherever. Great music can transport people into imaginary lands, evoke nostalgia, throw open floodgates of memory, and as the great musician Tansen would have done, lighted fires, brought the rain and cured diseases…

So, what makes the sound of music so magical? Why is great music inspiring every time you listen to them, no matter how often you do? Why does great music always grow on you, rather than you growing tired of it? Well, as I still am clueless about the answers, I thank the Almighty for the great gift of music and His blessed musicians. (Wish writings too had the instant connect and mass reach that music enjoys!).

Speaking of musicians, my long-time favorites are maestros A.R. Rahman, Illayaraja (of “Pa” fame) and the late Malayalam composer Ravindran. For me, their soul’s divinity is reflected in their music, which is an unmistakable connection with God. So, if someone were to ask me what divinity and complete bliss are, I’d, without a grain of doubt, answer: it is in the music that moves, in their golden renderings, in soulful poetry, in nature’s magnanimity and, eventually, in mothers’ care. So, as a parting note and a tribute, I pray to the Almighty to endow His gifted children with more talent, passion, love and humility, which fuel their sublime creativity and enable them to touch lives for ages to come.

Allow me to take you to a picturesque village in Kerala, among the Western Ghats, where I was born and spent some beautiful years of my life. The beauty of the village lay in its ponds, streams, temples, lush green scenery, simple village folks, and last but not the least, the majestic mountains.

For me, the word “mountains” conjures up countless images of romance, beauty, mystery, grandeur, tranquility and pure bliss. As children, my cousins and I were perpetually intrigued by what lay beyond and over these mighty structures. Thus, to douse our curiosity, we once planned an expedition to explore them, on foot. However, despite the resoluteness, we could only muster the courage to explore the smaller ‘rocks.’

Thus, on a cheerful, bright afternoon, during the summer vacations, we set out on our ‘daring’ mission. With great laughter and excitement, we climbed the rocky terrain. Once we reached the summit, we were totally delighted by the beauty around us. Also, the exuberance of having reached the ‘top’ was evident in every tired soul. We sat there for hours, sinking in the feeling and enjoying the bonuses, like the cool breeze against our faces, the swaying paddy fields below, the people in their colorful clothing working on the fields, and so on. Most important, we got a totally new perspective; one that was very interesting and exciting! We longed to go there everyday.

Soon, as the monsoons arrived, we would watch the sight of clouds hovering over the mountains. We would spend hours, doing nothing but witnessing the clouds change shape, color, and eventually come down as rain drops. Those were the moments of true revelation; the moment of a lifetime!

As I grew up, my love for the mountains also grew; and so did the intrigue factor. The Ruskin Bond stories that I read with great interest further enhanced my belief in the mystery of the mountains. When I read these stories, I could see the entire story unfold in front of my eyes and I felt being a part of it. Then, to add fuel to fire, my friend who belonged to the Garhwal region, would relate unending tales of first-hand supernatural experiences with such conviction that I was seriously sure about the mountains’ mystique factor. The mountains continued to elicit special emotions in me.

Most recently, a wonderful rendezvous with the mountains happened during our visit to Nainital, Uttaranchal. This journey once again flamed my eternal love for the mountains. While at the hotel, we could sink in beautiful sights of the placid Naini Lake, surrounded by the rising mountain ranges. During the evening, while taking a stroll along the Naini Lake, I felt a sudden sense of nostalgia. It was probably a result of the cool weather and the beautiful scenery. I was inundated by the soothing memory of my wonderful childhood days, along with my long-cherished perceptions about the mountains and an unexplainable happiness on visiting the place. The entire experience was so humbling, it reiterated the insignificance of ‘me’ in the entire scheme of things. Unknowingly, my mind wished to be a part of it, forever, to know and love them more.

When I look back, I feel extremely fortunate to have obtained such invaluable moments of beauty and pleasure, which every man truly deserves. I also believe that it is our responsibility to preserve this beauty, so that the generations to come can cherish such wonderful moments of revelation and self-discovery, and in the process, remember their forefathers for the good things they left behind.