Memory is a weird thing. When Ania and I left Romania four years ago, I had a strong case in my mind about how the hippies weren’t actually hippies but hypocrites, about how their reality was distant from their values of free love and openness. Now, four years later, living among people who have a similar energy in Dharamkot, I have a much gentler opinion. They were just people doing the best they could, while using
Your write up proves that you are a story teller and that you feel like sharing your experiences with others. You do have a flair for writing and your English is commendable. God bless you in your continued journey being a non conformist! It takes a lot of courage to be so!
I can't believe I missed this earlier! Turned off Susbtack emails for my sanity, so that is to blame. Loved this essay, thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts! I haven't known hippies very closely but as you know they are everywhere in the mountains and places like Pondy so I have crossed paths with a few every now and then. "They were just people doing the best they could, while using much grander words than their actions deserved." - pretty much summarises it! They usually come across as nice people - the bit around them not being racist is an example - but I have struggled to see depth in their words and actions - especially their ideas of freedom without acknowledging privilege, or spirituality minus the hard work that goes into practice and intentions. Thanks for writing this post!
For once I am at loss of words. I did not know much about the community or their ways before this but I had some idea. I was not way off and it feels good to read that someone who was in it was able to see glaring contradictions in the 'vision statement' and the 'walking the talk-ness'.
I absolutely hate how good you are at zooming out of things to have a balanced view. You are special Pritam. I taal-oed a long time to read this because of 2 reasons
1. Not at all important to be written here.
2. I always want one post from you in the bank that I have not yet read.
You made me broke the (2) tenet. Make it up for this please Pritam.
I had the image of hippie life but never really dig deeper to know about it. Your post was the introduction of this lifestyle. Your post intrigued few thoughts, do you think people like to be stick to the idea but somehow gets distracted about the larger purpose, for example in your story the purpose is to live self sustained life which was happening in the village next door but the people you lived with wanted to start something of their own. I wonder what are the core values they were operating from .
I loved the ending freedom is more than getting rid of chain :)
The way you describe the Valea Babii is fascinating. It sounds like a community trying to be idyllic but real-world tensions simmering under the surface. Was that how it felt to you when you were living there? Is that what added to the sense of hypocrisy?
Would love to read more about your time with them. It seems like there were many interesting stories. :)
Freedom is getting bound by our own chain of beliefs with a feeling that I am not bound by the society and its chain of rule and regulations.
This freedom according to me is short lived as we all are born in a society ,live in the same society even if we discord and die in the same society.
Dear Pritam,
Your write up proves that you are a story teller and that you feel like sharing your experiences with others. You do have a flair for writing and your English is commendable. God bless you in your continued journey being a non conformist! It takes a lot of courage to be so!
Love you!
I can't believe I missed this earlier! Turned off Susbtack emails for my sanity, so that is to blame. Loved this essay, thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts! I haven't known hippies very closely but as you know they are everywhere in the mountains and places like Pondy so I have crossed paths with a few every now and then. "They were just people doing the best they could, while using much grander words than their actions deserved." - pretty much summarises it! They usually come across as nice people - the bit around them not being racist is an example - but I have struggled to see depth in their words and actions - especially their ideas of freedom without acknowledging privilege, or spirituality minus the hard work that goes into practice and intentions. Thanks for writing this post!
For once I am at loss of words. I did not know much about the community or their ways before this but I had some idea. I was not way off and it feels good to read that someone who was in it was able to see glaring contradictions in the 'vision statement' and the 'walking the talk-ness'.
I absolutely hate how good you are at zooming out of things to have a balanced view. You are special Pritam. I taal-oed a long time to read this because of 2 reasons
1. Not at all important to be written here.
2. I always want one post from you in the bank that I have not yet read.
You made me broke the (2) tenet. Make it up for this please Pritam.
I had the image of hippie life but never really dig deeper to know about it. Your post was the introduction of this lifestyle. Your post intrigued few thoughts, do you think people like to be stick to the idea but somehow gets distracted about the larger purpose, for example in your story the purpose is to live self sustained life which was happening in the village next door but the people you lived with wanted to start something of their own. I wonder what are the core values they were operating from .
I loved the ending freedom is more than getting rid of chain :)
Looking forward to read more & unlearn :)
The way you describe the Valea Babii is fascinating. It sounds like a community trying to be idyllic but real-world tensions simmering under the surface. Was that how it felt to you when you were living there? Is that what added to the sense of hypocrisy?
Would love to read more about your time with them. It seems like there were many interesting stories. :)