The Diwali Column

Here I start with a very short story from the times of global financial crisis. 

October 2011, a beautiful greek city close to the mediterranean, looks totally deserted on a sunny day. The country is facing tough times, everyone is in debt, living on credit, be it a person or an organization. Suddenly, a rich tourist from China comes to the city. He enters a hotel, accidentally puts a 100 euro bill (currency bill) on the reception counter, and asks the proprietor if he could inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one, the proprietor agrees. The hotel proprietor takes the 100 euro and runs to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher takes the 100 euro, and runs to pay his debt to the pig-grower. The pig-grower takes the 100 euro, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel. The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 euro and runs to pay his debt to the town’s prostitute that in these hard times, gave her “services” on credit. The hooker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 euro to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there. The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 euro back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything. At that moment, the rich tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 euro, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town. No one earned anything. However, a big part of the town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism.

So moral of the story is, all it takes to get free from debt is the flow of cash not the cash itself.

Diwali the festival of light, coincides with worship of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth in Indian culture and you observe a huge cash flow.  It is the season for gambling, personal gifts, corporate gifts, dry-fruit and liquor sales, expenditure on fireworks and concentrated quarter for sales of consumer goods.  Estimates of consumption expenditure are no more than guesses even ignoring sales of retail consumer goods gives a clue to an incremental consumption expenditure approaching USD 20 Billion. Truly, this festival should be the festival of wealth and Diwali. Money is flowing everywhere, from corrupt politicians buying elephant statues or selling telecom spectrums. Even those who are fighting corruption are making it flow by 'traveling' and 'talking'. And this flow of money appreciates or depreciates the hope and development of people and society, depending on its direction of flow. Hope this Diwali, the wealth flow direction changes its course to bring development or at least a hope for development for the people and the society . 

Extending my Diwali wishes globally, hopefully this festival also brings prosperity to Libyan  people who recently managed to get rid of their dictator, supposedly the richest person they had. The more important thing I wish for them is no rise of another dictator. I also wish some cash flows for the earthquake victims of eastern turkey who are still waiting for the cash flow from their western country mates. Also uncle Sam understands that they cannot control the flow of cash around the world alone, and not at least if they keep on waging wars and being aggressive to other economies or even copying other countries in terms of policies.

Last but not the least I think Englishmen should also thank the Indian "Men in Blue" for paying back the debt that they incurred this summer in cricket. This debt was cleared in a very short span of time with enough interest, wasn't it incredible? Well the debt in T20 and test is still there, Dhoni and co must keep this in mind.

With this I close my blog, I also have to make the cash flow towards me and go to work, not a holiday for me :( . 

"Best wishes for Diwali"

"दीपावली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाओं के साथ" 

The Peepul Tree

It’s been almost 20 years.  I am back in the town as the district magistrate, where I spent a most of my childhood . I was yet to get the bungalow from the government so had to stay in the guesthouse for the time being. I was being driven in an open SUV to the guesthouse and I could feel the air with an essence of memories.  The area looked familiar, a river flowing by, kids playing around. The road now had some potholes opposite to those days, when we could find some road in the potholes. The chauffeur was talkative, addressing me as ‘sahib-ji’ (a substitute for ‘sir’ in Hindi). He was almost 3-5 years elder as it looked from his appearance.  Long dense mustache, slightly grown beard and short hairs, well wet with some excessively strong mustard oil and a well-built body. He was happy and tension free, whereas I was not. His (legitimate) income will be around one fifth of what I could earn legally, still he was more satisfied and relaxed. I was not very happy as I had to He was trying to explain me about the town especially temples and the banks of the river with religious importance. To be frank I was getting annoyed and was just trying to be polite by nodding my head in response to his words, some times with a sound “hmm!”

Soon we reached the guesthouse, I paid some tip to the chauffeur saying “will fire you if you continue being talkative” within my heart, but the words that came out of my mouth were “you stay here I may go out in the evening”. The housekeepers took my luggage and lead me to my cottage. I gave him some money asked him to get some soft drinks as was the hot and humid month of July and I was not sure if I could get safe drinking water in there. I had more trust in the American cola companies than the motherlands ground water. Any way he went happily to fulfill my orders. I threw my self on the couch peeping out through the wooden window. The river, the temple and sound of bell in the temple, devotional songs being played there. When I was partially lost in nostalgia, I heard a knock on my door, it was the housekeeper with cola.  I thanked the housekeeper.  Planning to go the bed to have a nap. In order to make my nap go undisturbed, curbing the noise coming from outside was the priority. I moved to the window to shut it.  I could get a bigger picture from here. Women entering the temple, with a corner of their saaree called aanchal, on their head after taking a holy dip in the river, some of them pouring the holy water over the Peepul (Sacred fig) tree and kids playing cricket in the ground beside the tree. Peepul tree and cricket! Some memories forced me to look at Peepul again. It is the same peepul tree, as green as it used to be, as thick as it used to be and as sacred as it used to be, it did not seem that it got older.

I refuted the idea of closing the widow returned to the couch. Memories coming to my eyes like a Bollywood movie of 80’s. 20 years ago I lived in this town. As the son of district magistrate I had all the luxuries, respect and care.  But respect stuff was limited to the grown ups. There is no such thing among the kids. They play together, fight and then play again. No one knows whom is what and neither they care.  I use to play cricket with my folks here in the same ground. The shadow of the Peepul tree; use to be our strategy room, dressing room, dugout and celebration arena. I used to dominate the game every time.  Not because I was a very good player, but because the playing kit belonged to me. Others had to bear my offenses if they wanted to play and I made full use of it. They have to bowl me out at least twice to really get me out of batting.  They have to get out if I am bowling even if they are not. Every time I use to threaten them that I will take my game kit if they do not accept my rules unconditionally. I was the undeclared captain, umpire, referee and manager of the playing troop.  Beside the cricket kit I always use to have a lot of tasty food and drinks with me that was another benefit for them. Another thing that made me rule the troop if not the game was that with my repute it was easier to get the ball back if someone hits it to one of the houses. But kids are kids every time they do not accept your illegal demands. That use to create kiddy fights and finally leaving me crying back to home with my kit. But there was one good thing, next day we again played as usual.

Image source: http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?231464

That evening, I was batting even after being out three times (may be more I don’t remember), my dictatorship in the troop has prevailed. Chintu was bowling. He had me twice, once bowled out and once caught behind by the wicketkeeper. On being bowled out I just said it had bounced twice so it is not valid ball. Everyone saw it did not. But I knew they had to accept my words. A clear cheating and I got away with that. Second time when the player behind caught the ball coming off my bat I claimed it never touched the bat. Another clean cheating. Everyone saw that it touched the edge of the bat, everyone heard the sound of collision between leather and wood including me, but at that time I wanted to bat. There was a lot of argument this time. I used my trick; “I am telling it never touched my bat just spun away from it if you continue this cheating with me I will carry the bat and other things let me see how you play.” Chintu came cracking at me he said “you are cheating you are out twice its my turn to bat”. I continued with my trickery. “If you continue cheating with me I will not play with you guys I am telling I am not out” Suddenly another guy says   “even we don’t want to play with a cheater like find your way back home”. I said OK go to hell and started collected my stuff. I was expecting that now they will accept my conditions, I had tried this before and most often I was successful. This time was no exception. Chintu with anger said “OK we give you a last chance but this time no cheating” Well I got what I wanted but wanted it with pride so I said “what cheating I was never out, you are cheating I don’t play with cheaters like you” I was sure of the victory for my although not in the game and it worked. He said ok “go and bat”.  

After two balls the haunting came again. I was run out, by almost a meter.  I was no ready to quit. I said “I reached made it” This time I faced a lot of anger for everyone. Any dictator does not continue for a long time. This time I had to quit. I said “OK what can I do if all of you are cheating but I was not out. But who can win against you cheaters.”  Chintu came forward and took the bat from me. I was already angry with him. I said “it is getting late the game is over for the day”. In the game of cricket all the kids like to bat their full session but who wants to bowl. We just bowled with a hope for our batting turn if the person batting gets out. My statement angered Chintu. He said what the hell is this? You kept on batting even after being out and now when its my chance how can you leave.  I replied to show my dominance “I cannot play throughout the day for your batting I have to go home”. And by the time reached under the Peepul tree. packing the stuff. I thought what I am asking for myself are my rights after all every thing belongs to me, I get the ball when if breaks Sharma uncles window, without any reprimands for these boys. I have all the right to decide about the game here. He came on to me and said “you cannot go like that  enough of your cheating I will have my batting”. I said I don’t care, go to hell I am leaving. 

He came onto me holding my collars “I will take my batting, what do you think. I also caught his collar.  He was at least 20 cm taller and 15 kilo heavier than I was.  But as a kid usually do not make all these calculations before entering a fight. They just enter into it. A fight has already started between the two of us under the peepul tree. I had no supporters among the kids everyone was supporting Chintu (Yeah stop cursing me I know he was right). I was all onto me hitting me I suddenly grabbed the bat and hit him on his upper leg. The hit was strong but not enough for a guy like Chintu. He suddenly turned and hit me two punches really tough ones. I started crying, tears rolled down my eyes. Every one including Chintu got scared; the girly weakness that always acts as a weapon had worked for me that evening. They escaped and vanished. It all happened under that peepul tree. I also forgot everything and returned home without any signs of tears and crying. 

My mom said tomorrow we are moving to another city as your dad has been transferred. I was really happy that I will get to see a new city, new school new people. My folks in that city never entered my mind. That was my last evening in this town. Not letting Chintu bat came haunting my mind today evening. It was all I could remember. The flashback was gone, I was back into present when I realized its 7:30 in the evening. I came out of my cottage without any nap. Found my talkative chauffeur and asked him to take me to that Peepul tree. He looked at me in a weird fashion as if I had asked him to take me to a cemetery. But he had to follow my orders.  I reached under tree soon. I climbed over the tree embankment. Some similar tree awakened Buddha thousands year ago. I was not hoping for any awakening but just thought “Although the sins that I committed that day were not big but if I could fix them”. I asked my chauffeur. The kids still play cricket here? He said yes ‘sahibji’ we all have grown up here playing this game. I continued “I was 10 when I use to live here and play. You must know some of the kids from that era. Any idea about, Shashi, Chintu and..” Before I could complete he asked me “what did you ask ‘sahibji’ “Chitu”? “ I said “yes do you by any chance happen to know him?” He smiled and said “not Chintu sahibji, Cheeranjiv his full name is Cheeranjiv.” I never tried to know his real name as I never felt the need. I looked at him as he continued “Shashi is a peon in a small school in a village close to the town.”  I desperately asked “…and Chintu?” He replied “right in front of you sahibji”. I looked at him closely and got myself convinced to accept that he was Chintu. I said “I remember the last day I had here, you batting chance is still due for which you hit me”

The element of embarrassment and fear alloyed in his eyes and he said, that was the childhood sahibji, hope you have forgiven me for that. I laughed and said Chintu you were right on that day I must fix the wrongdoings of the past.  Lets have a game tomorrow evening. “Sahibji forgive me I forgot that please you forget that as well” he said. But, I prevailed and a game was organized the next day.

All the cricketing stuff was organized along with spectators sitting under the peepul tree. The peepul tree was witness how I approach to fix the misdeeds of the past. Those who were older supported me but the kids supporting Chintu.  The game started. I had to start with batting and Chintu had to bowl me out to get his batting turn. There were 10 other kids who were supposed to field for us. I started with an honest mindset. Chintu was no more a player that he used to be. But at the 3^rd ball I faced I nicked the ball and one of the kid behind caught it. It was completely against my honor to get out in the beginning itself, I decided to say no to the honesty and claimed, “I did not nick the ball”. It was a clear nick everyone saw that but no one could resist because of my reputation. Even Chintu said you must be right sahibji. Twenty years ago, his reaction used to be completely different.  Again on the sixth ball I was trapped leg before wicket, the ball hitting me on pad right in front of the stumps. My reaction was the same. I quietly move my foot a bit forward and said this is not leg before wicket, see I am leaning forward (Assuming no one saw my moving foot).  Chintu accepted this as well.  The third time I got stumped but slowly moved foot inside the crease line I called the umpire to prove that I was not out. The kid behind me got angry but I was still powerful if not with game then with  my social status. 

The entire thing did not last long. I had to accept when I was clean bowled after few deliveries. Now I had to save a target of score of 11 while bowling. I was already dark. The first ball went past Chintu. Something came to my mind, I can use darkness to defy the umpire, Chintu and the truth. I threw another ball past him and appealed for a caught behind. I knew he never touched the ball, but I pretended that I heard a nick. With my short argument with umpire and Chintu I could convince both of them. Chintu said “If sahibji is telling that he heard a nick I must have nicked the ball, otherwise why would he do so.” I was victorious, the elder ones greeted me with applause, though the kids did not like the way I played. I was feeling happy to have saved my rep, no matter how I did that. I was thinking I won the game and fixed what went wrong 20 years ago. The peepul tree was not witnessing anything new. Infact things never changed. Elder ones were still influenced buy personal reputation, kids had nothing to do with that. I was still using my social position to win games and prove my control over the game. The only thing that was different was Chintu's attitude, today he was accepting whatever I said, he was not a kid any more.

India: Young at the age of 65

Namastey (Greetings), 

I am India, a 65 years young country. Well my my actual age is few thousands years in terms of civilization but I was reborn 65 years ago from my ashes created by colonialism, losing some feathers in the process. To introduce myself, I am the worlds largest democracy, one of the oldest civilization, birthplace of four major religions of the world followed by a quarter of world's population and I house around 17.5% of world population. 

Historically, I was one the worlds first urban civilization, first country  to have developed counting, zero and decimal. The civilization I cradled was the first to start a university, a proper language and grammar system and was among the first one to know that the earth revolves around the sun. Perhaps one of the few countries with more than five kings titled "the great".  I was the richest country in the entire world before I was captured and killed and was called the Golden Bird, or the Jewel of British Crown. 

Well enough of history. Today, I have the second largest army, fourth largest air-force and navy. One of the most modernized air-force in the world. My navy in the only "to be Blue water navy" in Asia. I am one of the few recognized nuclear powers on earth, one of the five countries to have a lunar mission and  only 2nd with a lunar landing mission. I have the second fastest growing economy across the world. When the big power reduce their research  budgets I double them. There are only two countries in the world that generate more number of scientists and engineers than I do. The world is being cured by the doctors and nurses I trained. I own, the 2nd largest railway network, largest communication network. I have 8 of world's 100 richest people.  

My people claim that we never attacked any country, but thats not true, Indian kings attacked and ruled Srilanka and parts of old Persian empire, and my people still continue to attack within the country in terms of caste, religion, region and language. Most of the attack on me were the invited by my own people be it Moghuls or British.

No boasting around anymore, lets go to the irony. I have about one third of poor people of the world and $2 Trillion of my money illegally lies in other countries.  Though, I started the university system in the world, a quarter of my population is illiterate. I provide doctors across the globe but I have 0.7 hospital beds per 1000 as compared the international requirement of 3.96 and so is the trend in number of doctors. Some of my kings planted trees around the roads and today I am among the worlds highest CO2 emitter. We have a sex ratio where males outnumber females, a result of aborting female child although many of my people worship female Gods.  I import more than we export, even after such growth of economy. My national animal tiger is endangered in my own lap. I have a high desertification rate a lot of people do not get clean drinking water. Concretization of land has led to reduction in ground water recharge.

But all is not lost. I turn 65 today, I have many years of life ahead.  I believe my people can generate more wealth, fight to get back the trillions. Respect female child with equal rights, educate people, develop infrastructure without disturbing ecological and natural balance. Some of the efforts have already started paying. I am the one considered among the top countries in harvesting renewable sources of energy. The emissions are being cut in an ordered way, methods of enginnering a more eco-friendly infrastructure is evolving. People who left me for a better future want to come back. My people own some emperial companies. I am striking back. Hopefully the illegal flow of money and legal flow of Brain will slow and ultimately stop one day in near future. 

You know good thing about my people that they always hope positive no matter what the situation is. And, I am still young enough to enjoy the fruits from their efforts.

Have a great week ahead,

India

Stupid or Super Smart Government...

Most of our childhood bedtime stories started with "Once upon a time, there was a king..." That is the tagline seems to be inspiring our politicians. They don't want the future kids to listen to the stories that go like – "Once upon a time, there was a democracy, with elected representatives who were answerable to the people through the electoral process, the courts and the Lokpal." They just want to insert a big and bold "....not answerable..." in the story. 

In our civics lecture during school we learnt India is a Democracy. Well, they taught many other things but so what? A lot of it was myth. You know education ruins. Politicians want us to enjoy our confusion about India and do all sorts of hoodwink tricks. The latest salvo from it is that MPs and the PM should be kept out of the bill's purview, which in turn renders the bill impotent and pointless even before it is enacted. The issue is not the bill or the government. It is simply what you can do in democracy or what are you allowed to do in a democracy. 

The action happened last night; government's use of force on peaceful protesters, while they were asleep was stunning. No matter how outlandish Baba was, he was within his rights. Teargassing and assaulting at 1am is not what democracies do. No government takes such a ridiculous decision. What inspired them ? If they are not using this strategy properly for their political mileage I see them in deep trouble. They might have to pay a hefty price for their 'karma'. It can lead to many such protests and then it will aggravate the problem.  Opposition just getting another opportunity to get under government's nerves. A sense of displeasure that it has created among people may lead to bigger threats to the government. That's about democracy, you cannot escape people, you have to at least keep deceiving them. I know everyone involved here in the issue has something to do with politics making it hard to comment on. They are perhaps the smartest people on earth tricking billions all around the globe. But, over smartness kills.

Anyway, baba says he is continuing his fast with many more joining them, even the British didn't leave us after one protest and  demonstration, sounds good. And before my blog gets teargassed and traumatized by Delhi Police, love to all and off-course Peace. There was always a happy ending to all these bedtime stories. 

Ref: Few sentences in the Blog were taken from Chetan Bhagat's latest TOI column

I, Raavan

Here I lie, waiting for death on the land that belongs to the Kingdom, The kingdom; I won with my power, expanded and glorified with the my efforts. I know the history will always consider me as an antagonist. The future generation will call me a devil, an anti-god. No one will ever look at the positives, no one will appreciate how I struggled to be a king and found a great empire, how bravely I fought all my enemies and how I died, fighting my combatants, my kingdom’s foes. History will commemorate this as moment of victory of good over evil. 

Born to a brahmin father (A class of people responsible for religious and scholarly works), I had opportunity to learn different domains ranging from art of fighting, music, medicine and politics. I proved myself with all these. I grabbed this opportunity with both the hands. Yes, I was ambitious and was ready to fulfill them with my efforts. My father’s background did not provide me with such opportunity but, my grand father set the right background for this. Is it really so wrong if I want to use my knowledge and skills to establish a kingdom. People say I snatched the kingdom from my brother, but didn’t I do better as the king . How much was Lanka’s glory in Kuber’s time. I asked and challenged Kuber for the kingdom as I could do better and did it, in time. Every child takes qualities from its parent so did I and did the best in what I was taught by my parents. 

I worshiped Shiva, I devoted myself to Brahma to get their blessings and powers. I was a normal man not a God or their reincarnation unlike Rama. Why should the history present me as an Apollyon? Who at my time was a more devoted worshiper of these gods? People call me polygamist and blame me for exploitation of women, king Dashrath “The father of Ram” was also one. But he is the father of their hero Ram. Leave alone Dashrath who was a human, just think of the so called Gods. Shiva himself had had clandestine coitus with Madhura in absence of Parvati. Why is he a God and I am a demon?

I was a good king I know that. Its glory speaks of it. There was only one golden empire and it was Lanka not Ayodhya. A small island kingdom had surpassed the hero’s kingdom in terms of glory. Lanka although a small island but was a greater kingdom.

Source: daniel.oblak.dk

My people were happy, my city was more prosperous, I had more victories under my belt, but, history to be written in future will  present it in another way. 

I faced wars and faced them with full courage, valor and bravery.  I lost wars as well but never cheated my enemy. I lost to the king of Kiskindha; Vali but never attacked at his back. Ram killed him while hiding behind him. If these are the traits of the gallantry, I happily admit I am not the one. If the so called Gods like Ram wins and kills in this way, he should not be called as a God.   If I would have taken Sita as my lady forcibly what Ram could have done. I had enough time and opportunity to do that. I didn’t do that. Sugriv accuses his brother Vali of being partial and for taking his wife after exiling him from the kingdom. But what did Sugriv himself did after killing his brother, took the kingdom and his wife. Today even I am dying because of my dear brother Vibhishan. I would have never been killed or defeated, if my dear brother had not been a traitor. He perhaps did for the kingdom, making another Sugreeva out of him. Oh my Brother Vibhishan, I would have sacrificed the kinghood if you would have asked for it once. Betrayal and god gelled together to bring me to death. Should I really call him a God?, Anyway I will be declared a demon by history in the future, I am happy dying like a warrior while defending my land, from the hands of Rama or more appropriately my brother, because Rama could never kill me.  I was never defeated by the so called God.

Tour Italiano

Hi Folks,

I am back here to discuss you about my Italian trip (almost 50 days ago). Well I am late but, because it took some time to overcome the trauma one usually faces in Italy. To introduce you to Italy I would start with the definition for heaven and hell:

A heaven is a place where the Police is British, chefs are Italian, engineers are German, romance is French and it is all organized by the Swiss. Whereas, the hell is a place where police is German, chefs are British, engineers are French, romance is Swiss and "its all organized by the Italians".
I would say any possible combination if organized by an Italian can be hell.

Anyway, Lets begin with the story. The chaos in fact started from Germany itself because of the snowfall.
I reached the airport 15 minutes after the scheduled take-off but thanks to the airlines they were waiting for us ( :-) ). Last person to board into the plain. Because of us the flight was delayed by almost 2 hrs. So we had a lot of curses from the fellow passengers.  Well on reaching Rome Fiumicino airport at 2230, I had a feeling of a domestic airport (By no means an International Airport, forget about the airport of an European capital city). 

Famous sledges in Cricket

The incidents that appear in this text has been sourced from Yahoo Cricket (link appears at the end)


1. Rod Marsh and Ian Botham : When Botham took guard in an Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him  with: 'So how's your wife and my kids?' to which Botham shot back: 'The wife's fine, but the kids are retarded.'


2. South Africa batsman Daryll Cullinan   and Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne: As Cullinan was on his way to the wicket, Warne told him he had been waiting two years for another chance to humiliate him. 'Looks like you spent it eating,' Cullinan retorted


3. Robin Smith of England and Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes: Hughes said to Smith after he played and missed: 'You can't ******* bat'. Smith to Hughes after he smacked him to the boundary: 'Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't ******* bat and you can't ******* bowl.'


4. Merv Hughes and Pakistan's Javed Miandad: Javed called Hughes a fat bus conductor. A few balls later Hughes dismissed the Pakistan star: 'Tickets please', said Hughes as he ran past the departing batsman.


5. England's James Ormond had just come out to bat and was greeted by Australia's Mark Waugh  Waugh from the slips: 'What are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England.' Ormond: 'Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family.'


6. Warne and Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga : Wicket-keeper Ian Healy believed he knew a way of tempting the portly Ranatunga out of his crease - 'Put a Mars Bar on a good length. That should do it.'


7. Sunil Gavaskar  of India and West Indies' Viv Richards: Gavaskar, normally an opener, had decided to bat at number four, but Malcolm Marshall dismissed Anshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar for ducks, setting the stage for Gavaskar to walk in at 0-2. Richards said: 'Man, it does not matter where you come in to bat, the score is still zero.'


8. Viv Richards  and England fast bowler Greg Thomas: Thomas: (Describing the ball) 'It's red, round and weighs about five ounces, in case you were wondering.' Richards: (Having smacked said ball out of the ground) 'You know what it looks like, now you go and find it.'


9. England captain Douglas Jardine and Australian counterpart Bill Woodfull during the notorious Bodyline series: After Jardine complained that one of the Australian players called him a b******. Woodfull turned to his team, pointed to Jardine and asked: 'Which one of you b******* called this b****** a b******?'


Source :  http://cricket.yahoo.com/photos/Ten-of-the-best-worst-sledges_12973135905794#1


On Italian trip "Tour Italiano" to appear soon

The New Year Column

Happy New Year, oho wait..!  well let me take this opportunity to wish something bigger "Happy New Decade!" Writing a column at this onset can take two ways, either I write what happened during this year (or decade) or write what can happen in coming days within a length that does not test your reading patience. Daunting, isn't it ? Talking about history does not make sense as I know, "the only thing we can learn from history is that we don't learn anything from history" (Not my words).  

Images: www.goodreads.com and www.enlightenedredneck.com 

I will tell you about an incident that I came across this new year party. Two personalities meeting and greeting each other, one looks very tired, consumed and aged, the other one is enthusiastic, energetic and young. It is a farewell evening for one and welcome for the other.

The aged one greets the younger "Hi buddy I am the decade 2001-10", "It is a pleasure to meet you Sir ! I am your successor 2011-20" replies the younger. 

"I promise you to do far better than you did" says 2011-20 with sarcasm. 


"Thats will be stupendous pal, hope you match your promise. Moreover, I promised the same to my predecessor 1991-00 and I do not know where do I stand on the verge of my retirement." replies the 2001-10. 


With an arrogant smile the other replies "At the abyss sir. What you have given during your tenure is just war, catastrophes, disputes, crisis and problems." 


"Buddy I have also given development, advancement and solution to long lasting problems. " Says the older one with a sign of politeness hiding the anger. 


"As long as I can see sir, from your very childhood you have given wars, killings and hatred that still continues. 2001 started with the twin tower incident and the after effects are still there. you had Iraq war, Afghanistan war, terrorism, climate change, economic crisis all sorts of problems. Who can rate you as a decade of achievements, you just carried the thousands of year civilization into a plunge." Says 2011-20 aggressively.


"But I also brought development see mars rovers, decoding life, internet use telecom technologies so many things. I also had the emerging powers at the world's stage. The poverty reduced. And the negative things you are talking about was was in some way inherited from my predecessors." Claims 2001-10 with anger


"And thats why you aggravated these inheritances and passed on to me. You are providing me with a thorny couch and ask me to do better. But believe me, I am going to change it." Shouts 2011-20


This triggers the anger in the outgoing decade and is ready to lock horn with the upcoming decade. Before it could get worse, I interfere with a laughter. "Hi poor fellows you are fighting over an issue that is a folly. Well before I tell you further, let me introduce myself. I am a representative of the world, a human representative."


"Could you elaborate your intentions ?" says one of them 


Yes off course my dear (with nefarious smile) I said. "I am here to tell your exact role. You guys are into some kind of illusion. What makes you believe that you control the world, you can take it on the course you like? Just wake up folks, its we who are on the driving seat. You are merely the witnesses. You can just feel the course we steer on, we create war make peace, we love we hate. If we want war we wage it, we create crisis and sometimes even disasters. You cant even close your eyes to avoid watching them, you are just witnesses and we keep the records of our deeds within you. So stop bandying with and grab a drink enjoy the evening. We need you for the future."


Their heads went down and I said 


"Happy new year, happy new decade.. and went deeper into the party with my drink."


cheers,