Unfolding

History is basically a collective memory of a people. And we realize that history is a sum of parts. And some of those parts, are delicious. It all began when fours guys who are history buffs (and beverage buffs!) sat down to have lunch on a hot Indian summer. They would always share their lunch and one of them would always bring a flask of delicious homemade aampanna with him. Among the four of these history (and beverage!) enthusiasts, one comes from a far away land - A land of bald eagles, of bowls that are super and of cars that are Nas. He is quickly taken to the idea of commercializing this raw mango ale.

"I want to commercialize this raw mango ale", says the man from the far away, hitherto unknown land. "Aye!" the remaining trio heartily agree. "Woof!" goes the company dog who the narrator of this tale forgot to mention until now. And thus began the journey of Paper Boat. A journey of going back in time and bringing to fore, liquid traditions. Drinks, that the many civilizations of this subcontinent inspired. Drinks, that are practical and delicious. Drinks, that are a product of generations of trial and error. Drinks, that are sadly being lost to the excesses of urban life.

We hoped that Paper Boat, much like the Tagore poem, would send these drinks, these culinary messages to those who have never tasted such concoctions. And of course to those, who long for the days gone by. Of homemade Aamras, Jaljeera, Kokum, Aampanna, Kala Khatta and many other secret recipes.

Moral of the Story: If you could make people taste memories, you should.

What is innocence?

Is it your sense of wonder? Or is it just plain naiveté?

Maybe it’s just confusion. As long as you have the ability to be confused or even slightly rattled, it should qualify as innocence, right? Because as a child, even the smallest event shook you up. Changed the course of your day. Even the smallest wisp of curiosity or emotion avalanched into something grand and all-encompassing.

Maybe innocence is that very flip-flop of your core beliefs.

"I found puppies behind the building and gave them bread. Someone STOLE my red button. I love my tonsils NOOOOO! Ice cream, you say? Fountain pens are amazing! But I don’t want to wear a monkey cap! 4 in one cartridge! G.I.JOEs aren’t dolls okay! A drawer is someone who draws, right? I got ink on my shirt pocket. I don’t eat scabs who told you? You got pao bhaji for tiffin?! I never returned that library book. HE PUT HIS FINGER IN HIS NOSE!!!”

But now we know better, right? I mean, we have clearly demarcated lines for rights and wrongs. We’re adults. We understand things better.

But do we need to?

Look around you. Look past the statistics. Look past the 9 o’ clock news. Things aren’t worse. They aren’t even bad. The life you live right now was in all probability a dream you had as a ten year old. Your phone has better looking games than the hazy cartoons that mesmerized you after school? Remember when you saw that red-green caterpillar and no one believed you? Well guess what, everything has a camera now. You’re literally everything you ever wanted to be. You wanted to be a full grown adult who can make his or her own decisions. You wanted to be taller, smarter, better dressed. And you are. Mostly.

So why aren’t you more excited?

Childhood isn’t over when you experience all the things you ever thought you’d experience. It is over when you stop wanting to experience new things.

Look around you.

Life is still beautiful.

You just need to think like you have a thousand times before.

Your first craft lesson. Your first rain when you were allowed to go out. Your first sense of accomplishment. Your first sense of loss as it drowned. Your first life lesson about staying afloat in harsh circumstances.
Your first science lesson about buoyancy.

A paper boat implies a lot of firsts.

But it also signifies a different world. With different priorities.

Maybe it implies a Tagore poem of the same name.

Or maybe it tells us that no matter who you are, where you lived or what you’ve done in your life,
you remember how to make a paper boat right?

So the real question is:

“Why not paper boat?”

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