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Finding Self
Finding Self
Very recently, on a Saturday morning, I met Sandesh again. Together, we participated in one of the flagship heritage walks that Sandesh conducts. Amidst the old structures and forgotten stories, he reminded me that it had been five years since he began this journey — and five years since we first thought of doing a walk together.
The memory struck a deep chord, pulling me down memory lane, once again reminding me of the transformational power of theatre.
Out of the many reasons why I love theatre, I realize today that the highest priority for me is this: to see people evolving, little by little, day by day. Facing every challenge, every hurdle, but with theatre — and the skills they learned through it — becoming a guiding light in their moments of darkness.
I believe in this idea with all my heart.
If I remain the same person after a rehearsal process, then I am not truly doing theatre.
For someone like me, whose exposure to theatre was initially confined to the traditional boundaries until 2009, and who only later, around 2015, began believing in the transformational power of theatre, this realization feels profound.
My alma mater gave me the vision to start thinking of theatre in a way that was beyond performances and applause.
It was Aanand dada who made us look at humans through theatre.
He made us believe that even without the pressure of a performance deadline, there can still be a performance — collaborative, transformative, and everlasting.
This wasn’t about ‘either/or’; it was about seeing theatre from the other side of the river — or better still, the other side of the same coin.
It was in 2015 that I truly realized: if there are ten people in a group, each will have their own time to ignite their own spark. The speed cannot be the same for everyone. The process of transformation will never look identical.
Where, how, when, and why it happens — we don't know.
But one thing is certain — sooner or later, the seed of transformation sown through theatre will help a person evolve into who they aspire to be.
Not in a moralistic sense, but in the sense of becoming the person we hope to find when we are alone, facing moments of doubt.
This blog might read like a reflection on the transformational power of theatre.
But it is, above all, a thank you.
A thank you to every soul who trusted me, who trusted theatre, and most importantly, who trusted themselves enough to embark on this journey of transformation.
The First Meeting
The First Meeting
Somewhere around 2017-18, we decided to do an experimental workshop on the basics of theatre for a group of bachelor students in a Belagavi college.
That’s where I met Sandesh.
He had come from Mumbai to Belgaum to pursue his BCA, while preparing for the UPSC exams.
Back then, he was someone who spoke little, who was underconfident, who was still trying to find his place in the world.
We didn’t do anything fancy — just some monkey dances, silly faces, noises, exploring how body, breath, and mind align to help us live more consciously.
Yet, theatre had already started working its magic.
Some students stayed in touch even after the workshop ended. We kept meeting, talking, trying to make sense of the questions life threw at us.
The journey was exhausting but meaningful.
Sandesh would talk to me about his struggles — stuck in a BCA course he didn’t love, trapped between family expectations and his own aspirations. But I knew — this boy had the strength to keep coming back, to keep seeking answers.
One day, he called me: “I am done with UPSC.”
Another fine morning, he arrived with new dreams:
He wanted to pursue conservation. He wanted to study at St. Xavier’s, Mumbai.
He worked hard and got in.
Finding His Calling
Finding His Calling
At Xavier’s, I saw a transformation that surprised even me.
The same boy who once struggled to express his thoughts was now confidently referring to classical and contemporary texts, articulating his ideas with academic rigour and clarity. He had changed.
He had found himself.
Around 2020, when he started exploring heritage deeply, I saw how much he had grown. He wasn’t just visiting temples and reading about monuments — he was feeling them, understanding them, trying to narrate their stories to the world in a way that preserved their true spirit.
Even when COVID lockdowns brought everything to a standstill, Sandesh did not stop. He organized a virtual heritage tour — a testament to his determination and passion.
The Birth of Sthaptya Samvad
The Birth of Sthaptya Samvad
The journey continued, quietly but steadily.
Eventually, Sandesh founded his own initiative — Sthaptya Samvad.
A boy who once studied computer applications was now conducting powerful heritage walks across Mumbai, narrating forgotten stories, bringing alive the soul of the city.
From CST walks to Ambarnath, Dadar, Kalyan, Dhobi Ghat, Belur-Halebid, and apart from doing it for non-English speaking communities around the world, he did the walks for kids too — he kept moving forward.
He collaborated with tourism companies, worked with international visitors, and carved a unique space for himself.
One of my proudest moments was when the priest committee of the Ambarnath Temple asked Sandesh to conduct a walk for them.
His work wasn’t about showing old stones.
It was about narrating the living soul of heritage.
Making people care about what lies hidden in plain sight.
Bringing value to stories that otherwise would have been lost.
The Journey Ahead
The Journey Ahead
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without challenges.
There were financial hurdles, personal struggles, professional ups and downs.
But Sandesh kept moving.
Meantime he worked with mentors like Kishor Jhunjhunwala and also at Art and Charlie, Bandra, which gave him some upgradation of his skills along with financial stability.
Now, with his dreams in hand, Sandesh is preparing for the next level of Sthaptya Samvad.
He is ready.
Ready to fly.
The photograph with Dosa and Chatni, the food was made by Sandesh's mom :)
The photos are clicked by me, except the last one !
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