The Alchemist

Sampurna Pal

Kolkata, India

‘The Alchemist’ is my take on Paulo Coelho’s novel by the same title, culminated

with my experience of venturing a new land, with an excitement matching that of Santiago, the book’s main character.

It was when I took my first flight half-way around the world, from India to Holland.

I had an Andalusian shepherd boy for a companion, and the same urge to

see the inexhaustible world and meet new people.

"It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting…

And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

Life is a river in its flow, and while travelling it collects a treasure-trove of memories. It is a

collection of walnuts and bubbles, the artificially lit up dark interiors of the photography studio,

the sun-drenched plaza of a bustling city, from the singular gaze of a lone camera, to the spectacular chorus of an audience, stretched along the spectrum of emotion and engagement.

"The lake was silent for some time. Finally, it said: 'I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed

that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see,  in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected.'

Treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents…"