The Window Seat – Bipin Bala

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from a negative situation – a trait not just required in Sports but equally important in life.

The earliest sport I competed in was a 25m race. I was just 4 years old. It is etched in my memory not because I won it, but because I froze at the starting line. Can’t fathom the reason, but I cried, and just to stop the bawling, I was given the consolation prize. Certainly not a great start to my foray into the world of sports, but this taught me that to succeed you have to try.

As the years progressed, I made it to the school, college & university teams of football, cricket, athletics (track & field), squash & tennis. I dabbled in every sport I got the chance simply because it gave me happiness. Sports has also taught me to be disciplined in life. It is a lifestyle change! Your diet, sleep patterns, training – come rain or sun, the small sacrifices and the never-say-die attitude.

My best friends from across the world are those I met either in a marathon or on a tennis court. The bond that connects us is special because we know the pain that one has gone through in training. On the field, the spirit of competitiveness is always high, and off the field, we share a friendly relationship.

Athletes get a “high” because they experience a rush of happy hormones after exercise. The release of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin makes you more alert and improves your concentration. Endorphins help in combating stress. Among other things, dopamine is released by the brain for athletes to focus better. Serotonin regulates sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, and appetite and lowers pain sensitivity. this makes training all the more fun.

In my corporate career, I have always tried to motivate people to get into this lifestyle as it has tremendous benefits. I am proud to say that there are quite a few people who have hooked on to sports and thank me for it.

For those not yet immersed in sports, start with walking. It is the cheapest form of exercise with excellent benefits. Walk for 30 minutes at a stretch per day. Do this for 21 days and see it transform into a habit.

And on the days your spirit seems to hide, ask yourself – Do you have it in you to get fitter?

As part of my first job in the early ’90s, I was transferred from Pune to the magical city of Bombay. The city remained close to my heart for 8 long years. Speaking of matters of the heart, some trivia about the city. Bombay or “Bam Bahia”, as it was called during the Portuguese rule, was given in dowry when Princess Catherine Braganza of Portugal married Charles II of England.

As a bachelor, I stayed as a Paying Guest in Pali Hills. My flatmate, over 6 feet with his leather boots, was an aspiring “B” grade actor. Every day he made rounds of the Film City, hoping to strike an audition. Wonder whether he made it big.

After marriage, I moved to Raheja Estate, Borivali East, just adjacent to the colony is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It was full of large open spaces and lush greenery – a great luxury to have in Bombay. The 2000-year-old Buddhist Kanheri Caves are located inside this park.

After my daughter was born, we moved closer to my office to shorten the commute and shifted to Hiranandani Society, Powai, a very modern and well-equipped society. Over time, after getting to know my neighbours well, I realised that they were not living the life they wanted. It was majorly their job constraints that made them stay where they were.

Every weekend we used to drive to Pune, where my parents live. At that time, we took the old, single-lane Bombay-Pune road. The drive took us a minimum of 5 hours, and sometimes during traffic snarls, it extended to even 10 hours. But we never complained. The beauty of the landscape, especially while climbing and descending the ghats, fascinated us. During the monsoons, clouds hang so low that you drive through them.

With a population of 27 million, Mumbai is the 4th most populous city in the world. A majority of the middle class lives in dingy & cramped apartments with zero privacy. Even with the hardships, I wonder what makes people willing to stick to Bombay.

It is nothing but dreams & hope. Hope, to strike it big one fine day and finally live the life they have always dreamed of. Acres of open spaces, pollution-free air to breathe, naturally grown food & houses. A lifestyle that every Mumbaikar hopes to live.

This is exactly what Beforest is coming out with through the Mumbai Farming Collective.