Part I — Growing up

1. Aiming at the Heavens

When I was a little boy, I had a small torch — what you call a flashlight — and I used to enjoy looking at things. I used to shine it on the top of a mango tree and say I was aiming at the Heavens. My brothers and relatives used to laugh.

In the Mahabharata there is a story about how the Pandavas tried to walk to Heaven, but each of them dropped dead on the way. We had a cook who was a real joker. He would say, “In the Mahabharata the Pandavas failed to walk to Heaven. Now he is sending the torchlight first so we can follow.”

My father didn't appreciate that kind of joking. He would say, “Don’t discourage the children!”