Subash.M | Assistant Professor

Today was leg day. Honestly, I had prepared my mind for it from yesterday itself. Because if you have ever trained legs, you know one thing your body starts complaining even before the first squat! The three of us me, my trainer (who is also like a thambi), and another thambi started our workout together. Counting reps during leg day is almost impossible. Somewhere between pain, laughter, and "How many reps da?" we lose track every single time. But today felt different. In between sets, one of us stood quietly with folded hands. No jokes. No smile. Just silence. I looked at him and asked, "Enna da, everything okay?" That's when he opened up. He shared what he was going through. After listening to him, I found myself sharing my own struggles too. It reminded me that sometimes people don't need solutions. They just need someone who will listen without judging. Many people think the gym is only for building muscles. I disagree. For many boys, the gym is therapy...

 It's been almost two months since I last wrote here, and honestly, I owe this blog an apology. Writing has always been my way of slowing down and making sense of life. But sometimes, life moves so fast that even the things we love quietly take a back seat. That is exactly what happened to me. The last two months have been full of unexpected moments. There were things that made me smile, things that disappointed me, surprises I never saw coming, and lessons I never expected to learn. I met new people, started new responsibilities, set new goals, and found myself walking on paths I had never imagined. Every day brought something different, and before I realized it, weeks had passed without writing a single blog. One incident made me stop and think. A few weeks ago, while cleaning my desk, I found a small notebook where I had written, "Never stop writing, even if it's just one paragraph." I smiled because I had completely forgotten that promise. That little note remind...

Last week, I was on the same road, in the same bus, sitting by the same window. But I was not the same person. I remember staring outside, holding back tears, feeling heavy for no clear reason. Everything felt slow, dull, and stuck. Today, I took that same bus again. Same route, same crowd, same noise. But something had changed. This time, I found myself humming along with a random song playing on the speaker. I didn’t plan it. It just happened. And in that moment, I paused and wondered what really changed? Nothing outside. Only my mind. I realized something simple but powerful nothing will move forward if I keep sitting in sadness. Mourning doesn’t fix anything. Overthinking doesn’t heal anything. Life doesn’t stop and wait for me to feel better. It just moves. So I told myself let it happen. Let the thoughts come. Let them disturb. Let them pass. I don’t have to fight everything. I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. Not every feeling needs an audience. Not every pain needs sympa...

Yesterday evening is something I don’t think I can forget easily. I went to the hospital to see my mom after her operation. She had just come out of the OT and was moved to the observation ward. My dad called me, and she spoke to me over the phone. That voice… it didn’t feel like my Amma. It was weak, slow, almost like she was struggling to be herself. I didn’t know how to react. Later, when I reached the hospital and saw her, it hit me even harder. For a moment, I didn’t see my strong, caring mother I saw someone fragile, like a child. Her expressions, her tone, everything felt so innocent and different. And still, in that condition, the first thing she asked me was, “Saptayada?” For the past three weeks, no one had asked me that the way she does. I somehow controlled myself and said yes. Then she asked for water, and I gave it to her… like how we would give a child. That moment broke something inside me. That’s when it truly sank in money can’t buy everything. You can earn, achieve, ...

Today, I stand in Sabarimala, surrounded by thousands of devotees, each carrying a story, a hope, and a silent prayer. The air is filled with chants, devotion, and an energy that words struggle to capture. As I walked the 3.2 km trek, I didn’t just see people I witnessed faith in its purest form. There was an aged woman, her body trembling with every step, yet her spirit unshaken. She paused, struggled, but never gave up. A few steps ahead, I saw a physically challenged man, moving forward with the support of his hands. His determination spoke louder than anything else. These moments made me reflect faith is not about comfort it is about courage. So many faces, so many emotions, so many prayers each one different, yet united by belief. In that crowd, I was not just an observer I was one among them, carrying my own thoughts, my own silent wishes. And then, those sacred 18 steps… as I approached them, something within me shifted. Words failed me. I found myself searching for meaning, for...

Today at Madurai Kamaraj University was not just another day in my PhD journey it became a moment I will carry for life. I have never taken my parents to my school or college for any meeting or official work. I have always handled things on my own. But today was different. I stood there with my research supervisor someone who has been guiding my academic path yet today, she stood beside me like something more than that. We were standing in front of a table, facing a person who has seen hundreds, maybe thousands, standing just like us nervous, waiting, hoping. I had seen how authoritative and commanding that voice could be. But today, something changed. The tone softened, the intensity lowered. Still, my heart was racing. Deep inside, I knew the mistake was mine. But before I could even process it, my guide took it upon herself as if the burden was hers. That moment shook me. I could feel my ears burning, my words disappearing. I wanted to speak, to explain, to defend but nothing came o...