2020: Year in review
Same time, last year. Jan 4, 2020. We were hopeful that the year might bring success, joy and peace. Unknown to many of us, an unknown microbe jumped from an animal to a human in Wuhan, China, and then started spreading across the world like a wild fire. The entire world was subject to COVID19 Pandemic.
I too had my plans for 2020. Then, things turned different. Here are the major events of my life that happened.
What happened:
1. Pongal 2020 : January
Pongal, the harvest Festival of Tamil Nadu, was celebrated on January 15th, 2020. Folks in our apartment campus gathered together, and cooked a community ‘Pongal’, a rice dish that reflects the harvesting season. It was the last community festival that we would attend for the year. The festival reflects self-sustaining and indigenous practices while bringing joy and happiness among people.
2. Mahashivratri 2020 :February
This is one function that I celebrate every year. Shiva, the ascetic God, resembles detachments from material things, while discharging duties for the world and the family. He also guides me on how one can become a God by seeking the inner self, and letting the good in oneself manifest.
3. My last business trip for the year :March 2020
This would be my last business avatar in 2020 before COVID19 hit us. I remember the dates — March 20–21, 2020. There was panic at home, as the states ( Karnataka, where our business headquarters is, and Tamil Nadu where I live) were closing down the borders. The borders were to close by 9 am, and we crossed the border around 7.45 am! My partner and I drove after getting up first thing in the morning. We were not sure about the impact of the virus. Both our families were worried. One cannot imagine the relief once we reached our homes.
4.COVID 19 struck — March 23, 2020
The battle against an unseen enemy started in earnest. Quarantines and lockdowns — international travel, interstate travel, inter-street travel and inter-home travel, all came to a standstill. For the first time in my life, indoors felt safe. Hand sanitizers and masks became a norm. We could step out only once a week to purchase essentials. This was the beginning of the experience of a lifetime.
5. Poetarrati : My first Poetry Series book: April 2020 — June 2020
An impressionable and inquisitive mind, I have been writing poems for more than a decade. With nowhere to go, and no work to do, and only COVID19 news floating around, my mind churned and discovered the pile of words written in multiple places — Facebook, diary, blogs, notepad etc.,
I compiled the poems into two neat volumes & published them under the name of ‘Poetarrati’. The book received patronage, readership and support across the world — especially India, the US and the UK.
6. Youtube Channels — Poetarrati & Literati
With my son Anirudh’s support ( he is a Visual Communication student & a Youtuber) and my creative advisor Shwetahitesh, we started two channels.
a) Poetarrati — which brings out the poems and discussions around Poetarrati Series.
b) Literati - Which focuses on interviewing fellow poets and authors.
7. Mental Health issues — April to December 2020
One of my dear ones fell apart due to mental health issues. It was unexpected. The struggle to cope and recover, especially during COVID19 times, has taken lot out of us as a family. I have greyed a lot in the last 8 months. Patience and faith have been our strength in these troubled times.
8. Conceptualization, Creation and Editing of Short Fiction Collection — A City Full of Stories: July — December 2020
I lived in Mumbai between 2009 and 2014. The city brought the best out of me, and changed my life forever. I started writing from August 2011, and at least 5 of manuscripts were conceptualized during that time ( including Poetarrati).
With Poetarrati achieving some success and setting up the platform for me as a published author, I started the work on my second manuscript for the year — ‘ A City Full of Stories’ a short fiction collection based on events and people of Mumbai.
I am ever grateful to my team — Shwetahitesh & Sridhar Ramachandran ( who helped visualize and has contributed to the pictures for the book) for partnering with me on my creative endeavors — the Youtube Channels and this book.
9. Fitness and Health
It has been a struggle through the later half of the year. I visited the family doctor quite a few times for treatment from acid reflux and allergic bronchitis. I was diagnosed with early stage ulcer, mostly due to stress.
I kept my runs coming after the relaxation of lockdowns. Running has been my catharsis through the year. I run in my apartment track following distancing based on COVID norms.
10. Poetarrati Poetry Review 2020 : July — December 2020
While I was busy with my literary pursuits, I stumbled across a poem called ‘ Touch’ by Shwetahitesh. Then, one after another, I found gems in medium.com and LinkedIn — poems that touched my heart and soul, and I endeavored to review them.
I am happy to share that the anthology of reviews will be soon published as ‘Poetarrati Poetry Review — 2020’.
I would like to thank all the poets — Adam Prockstem Smith, Desiree Driesenaar, D .G Torrens, E J Rose, Murray Alfredson, Nicole Oaten, Poornima, Sourabha Rao, Vaishnavi Sanoj, Shwetahitesh and Sakshi Arora for their consent and the wonderful poems.
Expect it in February — March 2021.
11. Poetarrati Volume 3 — Upcoming in 2021
Volume 3 of Poetarrati is a contemporary anthology of poems by Shwetahitesh and me. The poems reflect our lives and times, especially this tough year.
We have completed the first draft. Look forward to it in April — May 2021.
12. My work through the year 2020
I trust few people, but the few I trust, I trust deeply and without inhibitions. My partners in business — Shrihari Allangala and Mahesh Krishnamurthy, have stood by me through thick and thin, and we survived the lockdown together successfully. We understood each other’s challenges and worked around them.
We did have our share of challenges though — a fund we had planned has not taken off yet.
We enter 2021 with lot of optimism and faith. I thank my partners, our colleagues, associates and most importantly, our clients for staying with us through these tough times.
Work life went on in Zoom and Google Meet video conference calls from April 2020 onwards. Juggling between kitchen, chores and attending calls, it was a new challenge. Post lockdown, we venture out for occasional customer meets, but do not travel outside the city.
13. A trip to Pondy: December 2020
A trip to Pondicherry was the breakout we all needed as a family. We went to Pondicherry just before Christmas. The weather was pleasant and we had a great time away from the confines of our home. It was good to breath the fresh air and feel the salty breeze of the sea, view the sunrise, and take in the foliage in the Auroville forests.
14. Finally, the year ends. And much to look forward to.
The year ended with lot of learning and introspection. I discovered myself within and without.
Family, friends and quality of life are more important. Mental health takes primacy. Chasing special interests as goals — in my case, my literary pursuit, is paramount. And most important, keep the faith and keep at it.
I look upon what I have in gratitude, my friends and folks, this beautiful planet earth. My special thanks to my family — my wife and son — in particular for giving me an opportunity to be me.
There is life ahead with renewed purposes and enthusiasm, and much to look forward in 2021. I will share the last poem I wrote in the year 2020.
Poem: Footprints over time, December 26, 2020
Oh, Dear Child!
There were footprints before
Wiped away by
The sands of time.
Walk across the sand
Leaving your own imprints
Under the afternoon sun
Before the tireless waves.
But keep in mind
The afternoon breeze
Will blow the sands
Over your footprints.
Yours shall disappear too
Like those before
Only the afternoon sun
And tireless waves remain.
I wish everyone who reads this blog a happy 2021.
~Ashok Subramanian
