HOME IS EVERYWHERE YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND IT

Day 5 in India 💃(I actually taught I would not last that long), Anyway today we said goodbye to life in the Kautilya leadership centre in Khumbivali, which meant last night was bitter- sweet, it was bitter because we were leaving a place which we had gotten so used to, it felt like home but it was sweet because finally we get to truly explore and experience India.

Today we got to visit the GATEWAY TO INDIA, it was so beautiful. The completion of the gateway as explained by Sridar was in 1924 though it was to commemorate the visit of King George the Vth in 1911. The gateway was used, as the name states, the gateway in and out of India, significantly the same gateway was used by the last British troops to leave India following the independence of India.

As I heard Sridar explain this beautiful place, I had a realization that the gateway was built as a symbol of oppression but when the British troops left through that same gateway it became a symbol of freedom. This took me back home to South Africa and reminded me of the time the late Nelson Mandela was released from the gate of Victor Verster prison, as he marched out from that gate walking hand in hand with the late Winnie Madikezela Mandela, with a clutched fist in the air, That gate of Victor Verster was just like the gateway of Mumbai, it was built as a symbol of oppression but when the late Mandela and Mama Madikezela-Mandela walked out of that gate it represented freedom and how finally in some sort of way we were free at last, just like the gateway of India. This all just showed me that home is everywhere you just have to find it in the beauty of the place.

India is just too beautiful and rich in history, great food and beautiful places. If I had the opportunity to stay in India forever I would grab it without hesitation.