Hope floats

Hoping against hope when the clock is ticking away. Seeking refuge in Fatalism when a devastating Truth confronts you head-on. And then finding meaninglessness all round, sharing the grief with your Self, staring at a void endlessly, living with a heart in your mouth, fearing for the worst every moment.
But, then there is light at the end of the tunnel. Reconciliation and the ability to forget are not enough. It's time to look ahead and hope for the best.

Not Donne to death

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

John Donne

Rude dude

Rude is the word for Delhi. Drunk on power, new-found money and the city's utter disdain for respect of human values, the youth from Hindi heartland are raising their decibel. Mannerism is a forgotten word in the Capital. Shouting out instead of Talking-it-out is the order. Over the years, the changing power equations have become a Capital Concern triggering violent behaviour in its masses. A batlefiled since the times of Mahabharata, the city has always been embroiled one or the other tussle. Mughals, British and now the modern day monarchs. They all had a different picture of Delhi. They las had their policies for the people. Change was the only constant in the lives of the people of Delhi. The Rajas fought and the subject suffered. Regimes kept changing and the people had to mould themselves according to the whims and fancies of the new rulers. Many were inducted in the forces. Many had to change their religion. They were re-converted again. Living in the Capital came at a price so mcuh so that the masses became inured to all these upheveals. And in the process, they became coarse. Confused identities and a strong will to ingratiate themselves with so-called Delhi culture has also contributed to the decline.
Change Delhi, Change for the Better now. Now that we have a booming economy and wherewithwals to build the city, time is now to change the mindset. Be a little humble.

Industrious Bihar

Sugar mills, Mahindra's food processing unit and a plant to manufacture Sonalika tractors... welcome to the new Bihar struggling to find its way on the path of industrialisation. In the last 15-year rule of social justice, industries and business were almost forgotten. Instead the only industry that flourished in the land of Buddha was that of kidnapping. Not to mention the contractor-politician-criminal raj.
But, now things are looking up. And thankfully, there's no Singur-like standoff, especially because the new industries will operate from the old, defunct factories. At least that's the case with sugarmills. I am not too sure if the Mahindras and Sonalika will seek new land for establishing their plants. But in case they do, Bihar's farmers will be more than willing to give their land at an adequate compensation. Though the state is basically an agrarian economy, few golden spots of industrialisation will not be opposed, especially after farmers have realised that the returns from farming has gone down over the years. And with no policy intervention to improve the plight of farmers, other modes of occupation will certainly find many takers.
Secondly, there's an urgent need to replace the post order economy with a sustainable source of income. Low skilled jobs will be aplenty in the new order and thus the labourers instead of heading to Punjab and metros can work and earn in their backyard. All stand to gain.

Foggy and macabre arrival of the New Year.