Its three letters that turn an advantage into a DISadvantage. Three letters that for many can become a life long struggle... but the guys I met in Manipur seem to have found the art of turning, perhaps, their biggest disadvantage into an advantage...

Here are the things I was told when I first landed in Imphal.

-To avoid crowded places.

-To order atleast two hours before I wanted to actually eat a meal because the kitchens take too long to prepare a meal. Something I can now testify!

- to deal with the fact that Manipur is a dry state (I was only to happy being a non alcoholic.... Feeling sure my colleagues would not drink! Only to my utter dismay they found of getting liquor in black from nothing less than the army itself!)

- to be prepared for missing all hindi entertainment channels. (wow! Escape from smriti irani and ekta kapoor's endless sagas!)

- and lastly about the fact that the only film industry to thrive in Manipur is the Manipuri film industry.. because Hollywood and bollywood flicks are banned.

- lastly.... Any prospects of a pub, disco theque , lounge bar.. could be convieniently ruled out.

The list of dos and don'ts, quite honestly, made me feel very little excitement. And then, things happened.

I met the guys who've managed to turn, like I said.. these big disadvantages to major advantages.

So while most of us In the cities, spend nearly half our lives contributing to the booming coffee house economy.... The guys here were doing other things, crazy things...and that was the reason behind them being physically fitter than a city boy can ever be!

The whacked out BMX riders.. taught me... if you want to defy gravity.. you cant be afraid of falling hard! These are guys who've used all the time we, in Bombay for instance, spend on going to the movies.. in following their passion. Extreme sports. And not like they have it easy either!

The hard nut for these guys to crack is pure perception. Since Manipur is a terror struck state, the bmx riders are the ones who're most often accused of being the trouble makers. That doesn't stop them though!

The thing about this season of Minus 30 is, its giving me the opportunity to meet people and see them in very different light. Last season was all about having fun, the reason behind this season...and us coming up with this newer avatar was simple.. we wanted to know what do guys and girls our age.. (anyone above minus 30, kindly excuse!) do. How do they fight all odds..and more importantly ....to find the young India that we're all a part of.

The band we met in Manipur... vivek and his friends, made a song that actually says it all.

I think im just going to let these words do all the

Set me free

"Should luck be blamed to be born in this strange time.. to be born in this strange time...

Set me freee... oh unchain me

Set me freee..."