Subash.M | Assistant Professor

Today my thoughts kept circling around one question who am I? It feels strange because everyone seems to have a different answer about me. To some, I am a joker. To others, I am wise. A few may find me boring, while some think I am a hustler chasing life too fast. At times, I am seen as an introvert, and at other times as an extrovert. Some say I talk too much, some say I am hurt, and a few even see me as a headache or a burden. How can one person hold so many roles? And if all these roles are just perceptions, then who is the real me? I also wonder whether I am searching for something in others that I lack in myself, or if I am simply projecting what I want the world to notice. If money was not important, who would I be? If fame was not a goal, what would remain of me? Am I truly bothered by people’s opinions, or is it just a fear I carry? The more I think about it, the more I feel that my identity cannot be found in the eyes of others. It must be found in the quiet moments when I sto...

Today my mind felt restless yet strangely curious. I have always loved listening to podcasts, especially the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and other detective stories. Perhaps it is that influence which often pushes me to read the minds of others, to guess their hidden thoughts and feelings. This evening, while returning home from college on the bus, I looked outside and saw countless faces. Each face seemed like a page of a book written in a language I could not understand. One man walked slowly, as if the weight of the day pressed heavily upon him. Another spoke eagerly into his phone, his words spilling out with urgency and excitement. A group of children played with careless laughter, as though the world belonged to their joy. I kept asking myself What are they carrying within? Are these smiles real? Do those eyes hide pain? But no answer came. The truth is, I cannot step into their minds I cannot decode their emotions like a detective untangling a mystery. Then, a simple thought s...

This morning I had a plan. I wanted to write about yesterday’s workshop at ANJAC, Sivakasi. I opened my notes, thought of a few lines, and then suddenly quit. Not because I had nothing to say, but because my mind simply refused to push. So, I let it go. Now, as I travel to my college, sitting in the front seat of the bus, the road stretches out before me. The wind brushes my face, reels play on my phone for a while, and then bam! an idea sneaks in. Not a solid topic, not even a proper concept, but something small, like a spark. And just like that, I feel light. Relaxed. Calm. Almost free from the heavy “to do” list that usually follows me like a shadow. I realized something time is the best healer. There is no use in worrying, hurrying, or forcing life to move faster. The present moment is already happening why should I spoil it by overthinking? Sometimes all we need is a deep breath, a seat by the window (or in my case, the front seat), and a little trust in life’s flow. My small sugg...

This evening was supposed to be just another ride, but it turned into something more a classroom without walls, where the road became my teacher and my companion became the reason I learned. We started like we always do, reporting our weekly highs and lows as if it was a ritual check in. But this time, I wasn’t just riding, I was also observing. That’s because my companion let’s call him my “life brother” (a mix of brother, friend) was right there. His presence made me look beyond the speedometer. Every curve reminded me how life bends unexpectedly. Some turns were smooth, others tested balance, just like moments in life where we need to slow down, think, and adjust. The broken patches of road? They screamed reality life won’t always be polished sometimes it’s rough, but still, it moves forward. As I sat back, I noticed the tall trees standing like silent mentors, teaching patience and endurance. The barricades whispered reminders of boundaries where to pause, where to slow down. Vehic...

Today reminded me of a truth I had forgotten I am stronger than I ever thought. Life has its own rhythm it breaks, bends, and tests us, yet each trial builds an inner force no one else can see. I may carry countless unseen pieces within me, but those pieces are not my weakness they are my strength. My former Head of the Department often said, “Comparison is the theft of joy.” Now I truly understand. Why should I compare my journey with anyone else’s? The earth never compares itself with the sky both exist in their own beauty. My life too is my own path, with its own lessons. I have realized that life is not about control, it is about acceptance. Can I control the heavy rain? No. Can I command when flowers bloom? No. Can I decide the happiness of birds? Never. Like the earth, I must simply accept whether it is rain or sunshine, silence or song. Acceptance is not weakness it is wisdom. It gives us peace even in storms. When pain strikes, I no longer fight against it. I remind myself this...

Today was one of those days that felt like carrying a backpack filled with bricks. Every step, every word, every thought heavy. I kept hearing that famous line “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, and small minds discuss people.” Maybe Eleanor Roosevelt said it, maybe someone else I’m too tired to Google it. But the line hit me like a slap. Because today, all around me, it was gossip, gossip, gossip. Who did what, who said what, who wore what. I wanted to scream, “Please, people, the world has bigger problems than your neighbor’s new haircut!” My ears begged me to shut down like a stubborn laptop refusing updates. But here’s the twist I’m not claiming to be a “great mind” sitting on a mountain of ideas either. I have tons of half baked thoughts and unfinished projects lying around like socks under my bed. I want to do more, write more, create more. But when everyone is busy dissecting people’s lives, I feel like an alien. Fit or unfit? That’s the question I keep as...

Today my mind feels like it has finally learned the art of skipping not skipping rope, not skipping meals, but skipping people. Especially the ones who drain my energy like a phone running twenty background apps. For a long time, I thought I had to face every toxic person, give them an answer, or at least a comeback. But now, I hear this clear voice inside me saying, “Why bother? Just smile and move.” It feels strange, almost funny. Earlier, if someone threw words that stung, I would carry them all day like an unpaid load. Now, the same words reach my ears, knock at my brain, and I just tell them politely: “Sorry, we’re closed for negativity.” The final decision is mine. Sit. Relax. Skip. I don’t know what changed in me. Maybe it’s the hours at work where I bury myself in tasks, or the gym sessions where I sweat out all the nonsense. Or maybe it’s the bike rides, when the wind slaps my face and reminds me that life is too short to stop at every silly traffic signal of drama. Whatever i...

Today felt like one of those days that moved in fast forward but still left a handful of stories to tell. Morning began with my usual DDE classes, which went surprisingly smooth. Students were lively, questions kept flowing, and I felt the energy bouncing back. I walked out of class thinking, “Okay, that was worth it.” Next, my laptop decided it needed some pampering. Off it went to the service center, and like a royal guest, it returned only in the evening with its “system upgraded.” Honestly, I was half-expecting it to demand a welcome back party. Evening had its own plans for me. I had meant to meet my friend, but life played its little trick, and I ran late. Still, when we finally met, the mood of the day completely changed. Our routine unfolded the usual way riding, sipping sugar free coffee (because we like to keep diabetes away but happiness close), and hitting the road without worrying where it leads. He shared many things, I shared too, and it felt good because at the end of t...

Sometimes I sit and wonder why do I need to be so brilliant all the time? In Tamil we call it “vivaram.” Honestly, too much vivaram only gives me a headache. If I start projecting myself as Mr. Know-It-All, what’s the big achievement? Will the earth stop spinning? No. The globe will happily keep turning, with or without my brain cells. If someone wants to use me, fine go ahead, make me your Wi-Fi connection. If someone wants to cheat me, go on life is already cheating me with petrol prices, so what’s new? Why should I waste my energy chasing people, money, or recognition? I’d rather chase my sleep, at least that gives me peace. I trust the universe. It knows what to give me and what to snatch away. If it gives me success, great! If not, maybe it’s just saving me from stress. My beliefs are mine, and yours can be yours. Who cares? Nobody has time to care; everyone is busy scrolling reels. So, instead of breaking my head trying to appear brilliant, I choose to be funny, simple, and free....

Yesterday evening was a little different for me. Out of nowhere, my friend called and asked, “Shall we watch a movie?” After a long time, I was about to hit the theatre again. But one problem popped up my gym workout. Skipping the gym always makes me feel guilty, like I’ve betrayed my dumbbells. For a few minutes, I argued with myself, but finally, I pacified my inner fitness freak with the magic line: “One day is OK.” So off I went. Honestly, I had no idea what the movie was. My friend promised it had good reviews, so I trusted him. The theatre vibe was nostalgic, and soon the screen was filled with nonstop action gunshots, fights, and of course, the mandatory Tamil movie love story. The hero was brave, loyal, and madly in love. So far, so good. But then came the twist the hero was ready to change everything about himself just because the heroine wanted it. His likes, dislikes, habits all reshaped for love. That’s when a question struck me harder than the hero’s punch: Why should we c...

Today was one of those days when anger slowly rose inside me. At first, I questioned myself what am I really angry about? I looked around and realized that I have nothing much in hand: no great wealth, no heavy savings, nothing material to hold on to. If I had enough money or possessions, maybe I would have expressed my anger more freely. But here I am, with only one thing I truly own my loving job. That is my strength, my identity, and my reason to keep moving forward. Yet people around me never stop testing my patience. Their silly reasons, their unnecessary triggers, all push me into exhaustion. Sometimes I wonder if reacting to them is even worth it. In my mind, I carry long miles to go, dreams yet to be chased, and goals still waiting for me. But between all this, a big question often stands: why does life test me like this? Strangely, an answer came today in the form of an Instagram reel. It said, “Don’t think too much. Life has another better and best plan for you.” Those words ...

Today has been a day of contrasts one side heavy with grief, the other glowing with unexpected warmth. Morning news struck me like lightning the sudden and unfortunate demise of my UG college professor. It felt unbelievable, almost unreal, and yet it was true. When I rushed to the hospital, what broke me most was not just the silence of his lifeless body, but the cries around him his mother’s uncontrollable wail and his wife’s tears that seemed endless. Standing there, my own tears flowed without permission. That moment shook me to the core. I realized once again that nothing is permanent, and permanent is nothing. We may earn, we may plan, we may chase dreams, but when the Almighty calls, all we have built in this world fades into dust. Life is so short, like a candle that shines bright for a while and then disappears, leaving us with memories and lessons. While I was still wrapped in this thought, evening arrived with a different face of life. Yesterday, I had met someone for the fir...

Today was another memorable day in my journey as a teacher and speaker. I had the privilege of delivering a guest lecture on Communication Skills at Jamal Mohamed College of Engineering. The program went well, and the students engaged actively. But beyond the classroom, the real highlight of the day came during my travel. On the bus, I happened to sit beside a gentleman whose presence immediately struck me. Something about his calm confidence made me think he might be a lawyer and to my surprise, I was right. For nearly half an hour, we traveled in silence, until I asked him casually how long it would take to reach Dindigul. That simple question sparked a conversation that felt anything but ordinary. He introduced himself as a lawyer, and as we exchanged our stories, I found him to be not only articulate but also grounded. Like me, he had pursued his education away from his hometown and had now returned to be with his family. What impressed me most was the ease with which we connected....

Today moved differently. After many restless days, I suddenly felt a kind of peace. I can’t explain why or how, but I started noticing the little things happening around me. It was almost like stepping into an Emily Dickinson poem where silence has its own music. At times, I could even hear a drum beating inside my mind, reminding me that my thoughts are never truly quiet. One funny thing about life is that it never allows us to stick with just one problem. The moment we start worrying about something, a brand new problem shows up at the door, and suddenly the old one doesn’t matter anymore. It’s like life plays a prank: “Here, take this puzzle instead!” I’ve realized that nothing is permanent not problems, not peace, not even our moods. Everything is in motion. I remembered my old habit of humming songs during my college bus rides. Back then, the road, the trees, and the passing sky were my stage. Now, I think life itself is the biggest stage, and we’re all performers sometimes good, ...

This morning began with a scene that made me pause. An old lady stood at the temple gate, speaking to God as if He was standing right there in front of her. No one else was around, but she prayed with such confidence that I felt she was having a private conversation with the Almighty. I didn’t know what she asked for, but in my mind I told God, “Please grant her wish.” That small moment filled me with a strange kind of peace before my busy day began. College hours were nothing less than a marathon. The entire day flew like a rocket, and I hardly realized I didn’t even sip water. Between classes, paperwork, and running here and there, time felt like it was playing a prank on me. The biggest highlight was drafting a letter to the principal for the approval of our theatre club. It sounds simple, but trust me, the effort behind a single signature could win a national award for patience! And as if that wasn’t enough, a meeting with the chairman came along. Let me be honest it was over issue...