So, what’s my age?

My sojourns in the west wants me to refer “June-September” time frame as “Summer”, though my current location refers to it as “Monsoon”. Nevertheless, a lot of things happened this summer making it a memorable one in a long time.

When I look back at the summers from my school days I am reminded of Math and specifically algebra lessons. 30 years later, I saw an uncanny resemblance between my present and past. It inspired me to look beyond my immediate life and expand my vision and boundaries.

I cycled with a gentleman twice my age who regularly cycles 50 kms every day and on my return flight from Dubai I sat beside a youngster half my age who spent his summer teaching English to Syrian refugee children in Egypt.

So, my 2018 Summer = Y/2 + 2Z.

Can the emotions and inspiration be summarized by a mere algebra equation?

Equation 1: When I registered for the 40km timed cycling event organized by NEB spots, I thought it was just a time and distance relationship. But seldom did I realize I was going to meet some inspiring cyclists along the journey.

I was among the first batch cyclist who were able to convert their enthusiasm into pedal power without much transmission loss. Because of which I left behind a friend who came along with me for the event within in the first 500m. Though my intention was not to leave behind people, but the timed event reminded me of the proverb “time and tide wait for none”. Nevertheless, along the way I kept cheering my fellow cyclists and many youngsters who were exploring long distance cycling for the first time. And most of them were half my age that inspired me to develop another algebra equation.

So, If X is my age, then X = 2Z.

As I was starting my second lap I noticed an elderly gentleman on the other side of the track steadily pedaling towards the U-turn point. He wasn’t panting or puffing but wore a pleasant smile and made cameras and tongues go gaga over his enthusiasm and energy.

When I enquired about this elderly papa who turned cameras and onlookers into paparazzies my fellow cyclist told me he was an octogenarian and regularly participated at marathons and cycling events. Wow! This is someone who I want to meet and wannabe when I get to 80. He finished 40 kms 7 mins after me and I waited at the finish line to welcome him with a hug and cheer.

X = Y/2 (age)

X finishes 40 kms in 120 mins

Y finishes 40 kms in 127 mins

As soon as I shook hands with Mr. Bylahalli Raghunath Janardan, I confessed my admiration for him and enquired about the secret aphrodisiac he was taking. I quickly convinced one of those paparazzies to click a picture of us that I can use to remind me of my fitness goal.

 

Read his interview that appeared in the Deccan Chronicle from two years ago where he says his aim is to cycle the distance between moon and earth in his lifetime. By now he must have achieved that goal of 384,400 km.

Readers, Mr. Janardan picked up cycling at the age of 63 and covered 1900 kms every month. So, it is not late for you to get on the wheels and set your ambition.

Equation 2: We rarely get interesting co-passengers on long-haul flights. Most of the time fellow passengers either fall asleep or plug in their headsets to binge-watch airline entertainment as they get fed at their seats. This was the case during my first leg of the journey from San Francisco to Dubai. But on the second leg from Dubai to Bengaluru, I was on the aisle seat and I traveled next to a youngster returning from Egypt seated next to the window. He flashed a smile that said I’m ready to start a conversation, how about you? Our conversation revealed that he was not one of those selfie obsessed or binge-watching youngsters. And he wasn’t returning from a vacation in Egypt but returning back from a teaching internship. Wow!

I couldn’t mute the journalist in me and I fired question after question to understand the drive, purpose and determination behind this 21-year old.

Z= X/2

Abhishek is an MBA pursuant from Bellary. He spent the Egyptian Summer at Cairo teaching English to Syrian refugee kids. He traveled 60 kms by public transport 5 days a week to a camp site 2 hours away from the city. Temperatures got to 40 deg C in Cairo and he stayed in a hostel for 12 weeks with no modern comforts like air conditioning or washing machine. He appeared two shade darker from the pictures he showed me on his phone and more fluent in Arabic.

During the 3-hour flight, he reflected on the learnings, experiences and choked recollecting the last day at the camp site with the children. At his age, I boarded the aircraft to pursue my MS in the US and never thought about a teaching internship in Africa or elsewhere. I am sure this experience will go a long way in making Abhishek a Superman.

We are on the last day of September and here in Chennai it still feels like summer. And a fortnight ago, I grew a year older inspired by these two gentlemen.

So, now let’s test your algebra skills. From the two equations, can you guess my age?