Earth Day

From time to time, in my life, I suffer from a strange depression. It has nothing to do with my personal life, in the sense that it is not about me. It relates to me, yes, but on a level beyond me. I think I must start calling it my "green" depression. It occurs because I start thinking about all that is happening in this world that is destroying our beautiful planet. I cry, and cannot stop crying, because it seems to be an unresolvable problem. This depression is really severe. Not suicidal, of course. But just imagine, I can't think of anything else right now until I get this off my chest. I have a paper day after, and I need to research 3 long paper proposals, but here I am! writing this blog posting... I don't know how I finally snap out of this mood, because the issue doesn't quite dissolve, I never forget about it... I think, I console myself with hope.

Hope is the only thing perhaps that keeps me going. I HOPE that maybe gradually we will learn to nurture and cherish the environment. That we will accomplish successfully the preservation of valuable Eco-systems of the Earth. That we will preserve the beauty and goodness of nature for future generations - and preserve it not merely on film, but in actual tangible reality. I hope that issues of environmental concern will be a priority someday for most _if not all_ of Earth's population. I hope that we will wake up before irreversible damage is done.

What depresses me most is when I think of all the poor and the recently-not-so-poor percentages of people on this planet for whom a daily hand to mouth existence excuses their slight regard for the environment. When there is no full meal to be had in a day, then why must one care to not cut a tree for fuel on a cold winter day? True, that it is the moral responsibility of those like me in more fortunate circumstances to take the lead. And yet I see educated youth like me contributing to the attitude of "I-give-a-damn-about-anything-but-frivolities" that seems to be pervading DU these days. I am not wholly pessimistic, but I am not fully optimistic either. And there does exist a middle ground. It is called hope.

I wanted to plant a tree today, to complete a 101 in 1001 goal while also commemorating Earth Day. But I changed my mind and felt it would be too cliched. Instead, I have resolved to plant more that one tree on any random day in the coming future, for everyday must be Earth Day. I will attempt to grow them from seed, just so that I know how its done, when it is time for me to teach my children the same.

Fire Fire!

On Thursday, 17th of April, I would have had what would have been my last ever short paper presentation of M. Phil. But, the Olympic torch came to town that day. The tight security in the Rajpath area of Delhi for the torch relay necessitated road blocks and disconnectivity through the metro. Until 11 o clock that night before, I had no clue that such a thing would happen to postpone my paper. I had just gotten off the phone with a friend to whom I was cribbing how I wasn't ready etc. And I got a call from a course-mate who lives 10 mins away. She informed me of the possible commuting upheaval. I called up my supervisor in the morning and now I have my last and final short p.p. the coming Thursday! Am so excited about getting over with them! But how lucky am I? I so needed a little more time to polish my p.p. and I had been exhausted. The Monday before I found myself walking the distance of perhap 3 kms in the 1.30 pm sun! Tuesday was similar, but less walking. I was tired and pukish and wanted to die that day! So, it was a relief actually, to postpone my paper!

But, I am not done talking about this silly torch relay hungama! What utter nonsense it was! The distance of 2.75 km was cordoned off as if a nuclear test was scheduled there. And for what? For 70 runners to carry the torch in the name of "peace" and "harmony". My mother switched the TV on for its live telecast and I was seething while watching such a stupid thing. First of all, this is a sporting event, so what were saif ali khan, sagarika ghosh, and aamir khan (You disappointed me big time aamir!) doing there? Was this a bollywood movie shooting? I am proud of Jaspal Rana (our gold-medalist shooter) for having refused to carry the torch on this same reason. Secondly, was so much security really needed for a just a gesture? For the carrying of the flame is just that - a gesture. I am proud of Kiram Bedi (the most awesome police-woman in this universe) for criticizing the barricading and not carrying the torch in a "cage". Thirdly, the Tibet issue. Everyone who gave a speech, diplomatically avoided the issue but mentioned vague terms of harmony for all and goodwill and so forth. Now, I do agree that pro-Tibet protesters could not have found a better time to strike while the China-iron is so red-hot with the Olympics round the corner. But really, why don't people stop the diplomatic bullshitting and just be forthright for once. Especially India. We don't want to spoil our already volatile relations with china. So we bow down and ignore the many Tibetan refugees in our own territory. We ignore the fact that china still claims Ladaakh and Arunachal Pradesh in the name of Tibet. We ignore that we had a war with china because of its territorial greed. I know I want the impossible, but I do hope Tibet will be free one day. And that the Indian police be more sensible when coordinating such security affairs. My sister was stuck in the traffic for over 3 hours coming back home that day and those going to Gurgoan were stuck for longer than that! It was a nightmare!

Piss-on-Juhi-Didi Day!

This cute and adorable baby is our neighbour's son. His name is Aarav. "Aarav" is a hindi word which means peaceful, calm or serene. Aarav used to be what his name signified when he could not sit up by himself, and that was a few months ago. Now he can crawl faster than the speed of light and can roar louder than a sonic boom. Yesterday he happened to piss on me twice... not that I minded it very much, he is the cutest baby in town after all!
Rash summers and nappie rashes resulted in lack of diapers.. and you can figure out the rest. They say that it is a blessing to be pissed upon by a babe... if that's the case, then thank you very much! But please be benevolent on someone else next time! :)

(May 5th, 2008: I have removed the picture of Aarav. He is very sick and has been sick for quite some time now. I feel that maybe my posting a picture of him has allowed an evil eye to be cast at him! yes yes, i am superstitous about this... too bad for people who poo-pooh me on this one!! I don't care for your opinions! I just hope this lil gesture of mine may get him well again. poor babe has been admitted in the hospital! :( !!)