Topical

Happy New Year

As we approach the end of another calendar year, everybody, if not openly, but in his or her own mind, starts reviewing the year gone by. As I look back on my own, I am reasonably happy with the progress I made in terms of physical, mental, and of course, financial health. But when one looks around, what do we see?

We saw a world go through a sort of financial crisis. The world has seen unprecedented inflation leading to near bankruptcy in many of our neighbouring countries. Even though India has done well economically, the effect of inflation is being felt by all of us. We saw a couple wars raging in the world which show no signs of abetting. The covid has receded but has also left its lasting imprint on our mind.

Indian and regional politics remains the same. The juggernaut of Modi government continues to make big strides. It is now threatening to wipe out the opposition from India’s political map. This is not a good sign. The opposition is in a disarray, caught in its own denial of accepting the reality, opposing for the sake of it. Its behaviour in parliament is childish, to say the least. Do they still believe that common public would support such stupidity? To appease the opposition, 30 odd PM chairs need to be created.

What can one say about the politics of Maharashtra? Hopefully, the issue of Sena split would be resolved soon. But seriously, the anti-defection bill is a joke. Overnight, the speaker of the legislative council changes party and continues to be the speaker. Mind you, both the Shivsena factions are not uttering a word about it.

Mr. Jarange Patil keeps postponing his deadline. Now he has threatened to come to Mumbai with ten lakh vehicles to protest for Maratha reservation. Why a community, which can pay for fuel for ten lakh vehicles just to protest, needs any kind of reservation is beyond me.

When India lost the world cup final, many things were said. Mr. Modi was called “panauti”, match fixing accusations were hurled, and theories about bankrupting Pakistani bookies were floated. But why the final was lost was clear. The BCCI and the team management tried to doctor the wicket. Unfortunately, the attempt boomeranged, and the captain and the team was left facing the brunt. But then who won? The airlines, the travel agents, and the hotel owners in Ahmedabad!

I just came across a video sent by one of my friends. In this, a lady is saying that all the birds, animals, trees or even inanimate things like the Sun and the Moon do not do things for profit. She decries that Human species is the only one which thinks about profit in life. What she does not appreciate that these so-called profits allow her to use the microphone, the camera, and the internet to air her views to the world at large. But for that, she would still be living in the cave.

All the gurus, the swamis, the sadhvis, and the self-proclaimed life mentors decry about all the things humans do, while using all the comforts created by the same human beings, like the cars, the jet planes, the internet etc. I have never seen a bigger contradiction than this.

Generally, human mind is vey simplistic. It will believe in anything that we read in print, hear in an auditorium, or watch in a video, without verifying the correctness. This is called mass hypnosis. Many people are adept at employing this technique.

Anyway, let me end this piece on a positive note by wishing all my readers a very happy and prosperous New Year!

Shashank Purandare 27/12/2023