Shekhar Kapur Reflects on Starry Childhood Nights in Unspoiled Delhi

Synopsis

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur fondly recalls his childhood nights spent under the stars in an unpolluted Delhi. His memories evoke the beauty of a simpler time, when the city offered clear skies and fresh air. Through heartfelt reflections, Kapur shares how his imagination and storytelling helped him grasp the concept of 'forever.'

Key Takeaways

Shekhar Kapur reminisces about his childhood in Delhi.
The contrast between past and present pollution levels.
The beauty of sleeping under the stars.
The significance of storytelling in understanding complex concepts.
A child's perspective on the infinite nature of time.

Mumbai, April 15 (NationPress) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has fondly remembered his childhood, sharing stories of nights spent beneath the stars in a Delhi that was devoid of the severe pollution it experiences today.

Reflecting on a more tranquil era, Kapur recounted his memories of serene evenings in a city that once boasted clear skies and fresh air. On Tuesday, the director took to his Instagram account to share a touching memory of summer nights spent on the terrace of his modest one-storey home. He posted a captivating image of the starry night sky, providing a glimpse of the vastness he admired as a child.

In his caption, Shekhar wrote, “There was a time when Delhi was not a polluted city. Not even light pollution. In summer we would sleep on the terrace of our one storey house. Beneath the open Skies. The stars were so bright, they would cast their own shadow. I was about 9 years old. I would gaze at the stars endlessly .. and the Milky Way fascinated me. I asked my Mother .. ‘How far does Space go? ‘Forever’ She said ..”

He continued, “At that age, education began to shape my thinking. I was taught that for something to exist, it had to be quantifiable. It needed to be defined by measurable aspects such as Distance, Length, Breadth, Weight, and the elusive dimension of Time. But ‘Forever’?? As a 9-year-old, I would lie awake at night, attempting to envision ‘Forever’ stretching my imagination as far as it could go .. trying to touch that realm called ‘Forever.’”

His post elaborated, “It was indeed an emotional turmoil for me. I would lie there, unable to sleep. Tears of frustration and anguish would stream down my cheeks. If something had to be tangible, what was this cauldron of magic called ‘Forever’ where I, the definable, existed in the undefinable? That’s when I stumbled upon the magic potion. The enchantment of stories. Each night I would transform the infinite into a Story. A different one.. The great Axe Man. Swinging his celestial Axe. Through Time. And at the tip of the Axe was my Universe .. in which I existed, lying in my bed, staring at the Celestial Axe Man. One day the Axe would strike the Celestial Tree.. but not just yet.. a long, long time away.. so far away that I could sleep now.. So I turned the indefinable into the definable .. Time .. suddenly feeling comfortable enough to sleep. All stories are our attempts to find our finite selves in the undefinable infinite .. to find ourselves in ‘forever’ … Just like all Mythology.”