Where I Live: Home Is Where The Heart Is - Gautam Banerji

It is difficult to pinpoint where I live. I guess home is where the heart is and presently it is Armenia. Many call me a perfect "ABC" , an acronym we use here for an Armenian By Choice. I guess they are not wrong. My family name lends itself to be transformed conveniently to Banerjan, the suffix, a Persian derivative, meaning the 'heart' or 'soul' which is added with affection to the name of every Armenian. In fact Dilijan, where I presently live, is a shortened form of Dil-hi-jan, which translates loosely to : "the heart alone is the life force". It all boils down to the 'heart' here - and I love it! 

 

Our present home - United World College, Dilijan, Armenia

Outdoors - Residences on Campus

I guess the magic charm started in Kampala, my first home away from home. This was in 2010 when I returned to an empty home in the UK from my second tenure in Baghdad after my retirement from legal practice. Madhu had a smashing offer at an international school in Uganda while I was still away on assignment in Iraq and proceeded to take it up, the house keys left with our neighbours. Upon arrival there, she wrote to me: "Come and join me; you will love it here!" And she was right!

Our home in Kampala, Uganda where all the magic charm began!

I made the first visit, returned, sold my house, packed a few belongings, gave away some to my two daughters that they wished to keep and the rest to charities. It was the best decision I ever made in my life! Sub-Saharan Africa was simply amazing and our six years there, coast to coast in turn, transitioning from Uganda to Gabon, brought us much to cherish for the rest of our lives.

Gabon, where the magic charm of Africa continued.

The charm of Africa continued in Libreville as we moved from coast to coast to yet another enchanting experience for three years on the Atlantic before we made the final transition to Armenia. That’s where both Madhu and I picked up a spatter of French to survive and called it our ab initio learning. Armenia in turn has paved the way for acquiring rudimentary knowledge of Russian.

And then we moved to Armenia in 2016. Having spent six years here already, I guess I have found my mini United Nations at the United World College with students from 82 countries and teachers from close to two dozen more. Nurturing young minds to build a sustainable future based upon peace and understanding within an intentionally diverse context is a challenge enough. And the six years have added much to my experience.

The academic building at UWCD on an early start in winter with my classroom all lit up to receive me!

A view outwards from the campus gate, a cold winter morning with clear blue skies.

Outdoors on campus when spring finally descends with a riot of colors!

Armenia, a land of monasteries and much more!

Another restored Monastery in Gyumri, the 'second' capital of Armenia,
with a rich and distinct legacy

Maybe it's time again to seek new pastures before I finally retreat to the lotus feet of the Buddha! That's where my life began, in Myanmar and I wonder if I will ever be able to wind my way there again! You never know what turn life takes. Mine has been full of wonders, with my home where my heart belongs!
 

At the lotus feet of the Buddha, my final resting place: Bago, Myanmar on my recent visit to capture early childhood memories: that's where life began.

Our home in Kolkata greets us with a splash of color when we retreat.

Gautam Banerji may be reached at gbanerji07@gmail