My Thoughts

For someone like me, who complacently exists in a state of blissful oblivion, it was a pleasant jolt to encounter so many thinking minds involved in creative endeavours, each unique in its own way.

The Conference venue was an excellent choice. The online romantic descriptions of the Natarni auditorium were expectantly exaggerated, however I didn’t mind a slushy river frothing with pollutants or the persistent pigs meandering outside my temporary accommodation.

The talks were informative, each covering a different aspect of creative aspiration. I preferred the post lunch session as most of the speakers were talking about their personal experiences, and it was easy to get inspired. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a practical session by mainstream industry folk talking about the financial aspects of creative endeavours. All of us have fantastic ideas but not many funds. Maybe a marriage of the two (however appaling it sounds) will help.

Day two of the conferences wasn’t very well structured but it was pleasently spent, exploring the city, its cuisines and wonderful atmospheric marketplaces. The clouds of acrid smoke looming large over Ahmedabad aren’t the most welcome sight for a visitor, I was quite prepared to spend the entire trip holed up in my room. I think the local participants and volunteers at "Beware!.." were extremely friendly and introduced an alternative vision of Ahmedabad to us outsiders.

Getting to know a new Indian city was an important aspect of the conference for me and is the reason I am willing to overlook the organizational glitches of the event. I think such events in the future should play the additional role of exposing the youth from different parts of India, especially from the metros, to different Indian cities.

I guess the success of any event can be judged by the networks, partnerships and new projects which take shape consequently, which is why I feel that "Beware!.." despite the lack of crowds or back to back events was a success.

Go Raibh maith agat... Slan, Abhay