Vishal Sharma

Deconstructing Existence Vishal Sharma

Thousands of years of evolution and yet we often get this feeling that we have failed as a race. Notwithstanding the tremendous technological progress, we have this unpleasant intuition that we are heading for a disaster. Why have we failed to evolve into a balanced and judicious civilization? One of the glaring explanations for our debacle is the fact that one half of the race has contrived to keep the other half - the women - subdued and deprived of most privileges. How can one expect a race to evolve to its full potential if half of its members continue to suffer exploitation and abuse? Also, we have this regressive habit of referring to historical events, buildings, and identities to create hatred and animosity in the present that ultimately causes destruction in form of war and riots. Deconstructing Existence, an account of an American woman's journey to self-discovery in the cradle of civilization and spirituality (India), is an attempt to not just raise questions that have been staring us in our faces for a long time but also point towards the possible answers or solutions. Nicole, a victim of extreme abuse in the US, travels to India in a quest to rediscover and reclaim her lost identity and self-possession. Her journey through India takes her from the crowded and yet fascinating lanes of New Delhi to the mystical and stunningly picturesque landscapes of Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh. In the course of her journey, her relationship with Aryan - an idiosyncratic guide; interaction with Shirin - a fiery engineering student; and a special bond with Archana - a crusader of women's rights, lead to an overwhelmingly transformative experience.