When my space-time gets warped through music

Illustration: TBS

The concept of time travel left a profound impact on both me and a few of my classmates during our primary school days. Our fascination was kindled by comics and TV serieses inspired by H.G. Wells' science fiction masterpiece "The Time Machine." 

We were enthralled by the illusion these stories offered. And as the years passed, I started delving deeper into narratives and articles centred around similar themes. This pursuit, however, clarified my understanding of the potential for time travel on certain occasions while frequently complicating the concept as well.

Life goes on, and we continue to form perceptions and pursue our fields of interest. And, regardless of where I am today in the trajectory of my life, the idea of time travel still fascinates me. This fascination has, in fact, evolved in its shape and appeal over time. 

Odd as it may sound, I sometimes long to travel back in time and meet my younger self. I dream of being touched again by the abundance of innocence and the joyful surroundings of my younger self.

As I tend to perceive the world through a literary lens of mind, scientific theories and equations aimed at explaining this phenomenon seem remote to me. Thus, for me, capturing the unfiltered essence of the concept of time travel demands a departure from constructing theoretical frameworks and mathematical models. These seem too sterile and boring. 

So, the idea of time travelling had remained an uncracked mystery until the day I recognised music as a perfect time machine, capable of transporting my mind through the dimensions of time and space. 

Oh, all those songs I have been listening to since my childhood! Some songs always make me nostalgic no matter how often I listen to them. Some songs trigger profound emotional reactions in me over many others. 

It may sound cliché to suggest that everything around us is a mere illusion, but it is true that everything we experience originates within our brains. And this is how we can be stationary travellers through our neurons. Thus, every now and then, many songs have become my go-to place for time travel. 

Many songs from my past are deeply ingrained in my memory. Those songs are not only engraved in my head but also absorbed with emotions and mental conditions of the time when I first listened to them. 

When I listen to specific songs that I enjoyed during my teenage or childhood years, some 30 or 40 years ago, it feels like having a vault in my brain unlocked. With the lyrics and melodies of the song, the entire atmosphere of my past surrounds me like a holographic memory.  

Amongst many songs, for example, whenever I listen to some specific tracks of "Peter, Paul and Mary," I find myself immersed in moments I enjoyed back in 1997.  

It was an overnight train journey from Dhaka to Chittagong.  It was the time I started my career.  I was going on a business trip to Chattogram with two colleagues to inspect and shortlist a few properties for setting up a company guesthouse. It was significant event for me for many reasons –  first time visiting Chattogram, my first time travelling with colleagues and the first time I had a sense of professional responsibility.  

To make the most of the overnight journey, I brought along my newly purchased Sony Walkman and a new audio cassette of "The Best of Peter, Paul, and Mary."  While I was listening to that album over and over, all the good feelings and the surrounding atmosphere inside and outside of that train compartment blended finely with those songs.

Even today after more than 25 years, whenever I listen to those songs, I simply get transported to that past event.  I can clearly sense myself in that moment.  Closing my eyes, I can even still see those dim and flickering lights of the distant villages appearing and disappearing fast outside the window of that train. 

The above phenomenon can be an everyday occurrence for many when listening to music. And to me, it was quite a revelation when I could pinpoint this situation and recognise those songs as perfect examples of a time machine. 

More importantly, I realised how fortunate I am to be constantly connected to many events from my younger self – those are the times I deeply cherish. My strong desire is to remain in that time, not to become a stranger to my past self in the name of aging, decaying and distancing from the past. 

Just as "Peter, Paul and Mary" transports me back to that train journey in 1997, one can establish an intimate connection through music with their past selves, thus demonstrating that time travel is not merely a possibility – it is a reality.

Warisul Abid is a Human Resources professional with a passion for photography and a deep love for music.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.