Musings on Kahn

I was watching My Architect couple of nights ago. I saw it before, but I fast forwarded through most of it the first time, because I found it too slow, and wanted to get to the part about Bangladesh. Yesterday, I needed to sleep. So I put it on and watched the whole thing.

It is a moving documentary about Louis Kahn, the famed (notorious) architect who designed the parliament complex of Bangladesh. Nathaniel Kahn, his illegitimate son, did a great job in humanizing his father: the jewish upbringing, the link with nature, the uncertainty, the multiple relationships.

What struck me most was a statement halfway into the movie. It basically said that Kahn at 50 years of age was still trying to find himself, and hasn't discovered a distinctive style yet. He used the remaining 20 years to rush and catch up on his accomplishments.

This month marks my 10 year back in Bangladesh. I came home in Jan 2000 like the typical prodigal son: no money or savings, an unfinished degree, no job, no idea about what to do with my life. I was depressed and lost. Thanks to family support, a small job interview with a then unknown company, in ten years I feel I've flourished personally and professionally, found my niche, and have been mostly happy.

Now what if I realize in a few years that I need to reinvent myself again? At 50? How will that look? What will I be like? Hopefully it won't be like last time.

Kahn had it easy, methinks.