On an adventurous beat

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The definition of hobbies has changed over the years and how. Gone are the days when hobbies just meant reading, singing, dancing or listening to music. From stargazing to rifle shooting and F1 Sports, teens have taken the adventurous path and are keen to explore things out of their usual way.
Seventeen-year-old Anuj Chatterjee has been skating for quite sometime. He took to it in school when he saw some students practising. “I simply enjoy the smooth thrill of skating while cutting into the air,” says Anuj, who has also won various state and national level competitions. He passionately talks about his in-line skates, which are quite difficult to practise with and his two-wheel skateboard that he is very fond of. “It has grown from a hobby to passion and I do plan to take it up professionally later on,” says Anuj.
If skateboarding wasn’t enough then there are few who derive a thrill from go-karting. Dhaval Malavia like any other teenager is crazy about Formula 1 racing and its sporting legends. “I loved the speed and thrill of F1, so I decided to try go-karting to get a feel of it. And now I am very serious about it. I have even started taking serious training,” says Dhaval who has reached the stage of state-level championship.
Hobbies are no more just about enjoying activities in one’s leisure time.
Teens today are very passionate about whatever they take to. They are keeping some serious time aside for them and think of pursuing them professionally. Tejas Shyam, an engineering student loves stargazing and often goes on such treks. “There is so much to explore in the sky. We collect a lot of data in these treks. And then study them in the astronomy club that I am part of,” says Tejas.
Hobbies have a lot to do with the aptitude for certain skills and talents. Apart from the joy that they provide, they also bring in a lot of realisation of responsibility and self-improvisation.
Harshad Rane, 19 was deeply into rifle shooting and gymnastics till two years back when studies and academic activities demanded more priority. “Rifle shooting is very challenging and it helped me improve my concentration levels to a great extent. It was about being sharp and focussed, which helps me a lot till date,” says Harshad.
Febin Mathew always loved playing with words, and hopes to become a writer. “I’ve always dabbled with word games and crosswords. I have also taken to blogging in the recent times and have created my own sets of word games and crosswords,” says Febin, who is all into MUN (Model United Nations) debates as well and considers it to be a constant learning process.