Now we move over to a very unusual aspect of Balasore. Like many, many places, it has ants. But the curiousity shown in the ants of Balasore by by Rev. Charles Acland, who was the Chaplain at Pooree, Cuttack and Midnapore, is absolutely amazing. He stayed in Balasore for some time during 1842-1843. He describes how the ground for five or six miles from his house in one direction seemed to be covered with mounds of earth and small bushes. However, on examining these closely, he found all those to be the nests of white ants. The green ones were those that were deserted, and over which grass had grown- the others were still inhabited. He estimated that in the plain visible from his window, there must have been many hundreds of thousands of these hills, varying in height from three feet to ten or twelve, and by little insects no larger than the common English ant. He quite lovingly described the process of building of these anthills. He found one part of their manner of building to be most extraordinary; their nests are always completely covered in, so that without kicking them one cannot see a single ant inside; there are one or two doors in different parts of the building, but those are seldom used.
The he describes their mode of building of anthills in some detail, “One day, perhaps, you will perceive a single pinnacle of an ants’ nest. You go and see it done day, and you will find it slightly raised, but curved, like a headstone. So it increases daily untill it reaches the size I have described. It is like building a house- as if he made a little closet with a roof on it, and then went inside and stayed there, while the closet swelled untill it became a perfect house. At the foot of these ant hills are a number of large black ants on the watch for any straggling white ants, which they kill and eat. These creatures abound in all our houses, and run about the floors: they are about an inch in length, and bite, but not sting.”
The Priest was after all human, and did, what many of us would have done. One day he just went and broke one of the ant-hills with a robust kick. And all hell broke loose! What happened thereafter is best read in Acland’s own words: “I walked towards what appeared to be the remains of some mud hut: it was about five feet high, and in irregular blunt points at the top. When I came down to it I tried to break off one of the long bits, but it was too strong, and was as hard as a wall. However, on the other side I found a smaller projection, which I broke off by kicking against it, and found it full of round passages perforating in all the directions, the smallest about the size of a quill and the largest as big as my wrist. This was the large white ants hill.
Immediately after I had broken a portion of it there came a rush of the inhabitants from all the passages to see what was the matter. They examined the parts broken, and some of them ran back. Presently a number more came, some dragging forward the others untill they got them quite to the edge, when a bigger ant took hold of each of these prisoners and bit him in the neck untill he killed him. I suppose the prisoners were those who had been on guard at that spot, or else those who built that part, and so were punished for my fault. Soon, however, they turned and attacked me, for I found many of them on my clothes and experienced the smart of their bite.”
That was administration of Justice – Ants Style - quick and ruthless.
Is there not a message in it for some of us who do not take our duties seriously?
Notes:
(i) The above is an anecedote quoted in my forthcoming book "Some Vignettes of Balasore and its French Loge."
(ii) Balasore is a town and a district of Orissa bordering West Bengal
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
THE ‘NEUTRINOS’ AND ‘GOD’S DEBRIS’
The neutrinos have thrown a challenge at Einstein. Weather they hold ground or not is difficult to say at this time. But one thing is clear, howsoever well explained the concept of time and space may be, it does keep baffling us in newer and newer ways.
I have a young niece whom I used to give a book or two on her birthdays. Time passed. My niece is now 15 and when I met her last week she was holding a book in her hands. In fact it was a very small little book. Have you read it, she asked excitedly. No, I said somewhat sheepishly. Take it and read it. It is amazing. It was “The God’s Debris.”
I realised that in the last 3-4 years, I have become, from a giver of ideas to this young child to a taker of ideas from this exceptionally brilliant young lady - and very happily so.
Having just gone through this book, I can say that it is surely an amazing book. It looks at the idea of God at a rational and not emotional or religious level and challenges the existing ideas about the universe, its creation and God. It proposes the idea that the omnipotent God self destructed himself since he knew everything except about his own non-existence. Consequently what we see around is ‘God’s Debris’. In This novella is a conversation between Adams the information seeker and ‘Avataar’, a wise old man.
I will not tell more as I would strongly recommend you to read the book yourself. No, you can’t say OK I will go and buy the book next time I go to a book shop. It is on the internet in an attractive readable format and free. http://nowscape.com/godsdebris.pdf
Interestingly the serious and thought provoking book is written by Scott Adams, the author of the Dilbert comics. The idea and use of ‘Avataar’ in this book pre-dates the James Cameron’s movie ‘Avaatar’ by a good 5 years as this book was first published in 2004.
I have a young niece whom I used to give a book or two on her birthdays. Time passed. My niece is now 15 and when I met her last week she was holding a book in her hands. In fact it was a very small little book. Have you read it, she asked excitedly. No, I said somewhat sheepishly. Take it and read it. It is amazing. It was “The God’s Debris.”
I realised that in the last 3-4 years, I have become, from a giver of ideas to this young child to a taker of ideas from this exceptionally brilliant young lady - and very happily so.
Having just gone through this book, I can say that it is surely an amazing book. It looks at the idea of God at a rational and not emotional or religious level and challenges the existing ideas about the universe, its creation and God. It proposes the idea that the omnipotent God self destructed himself since he knew everything except about his own non-existence. Consequently what we see around is ‘God’s Debris’. In This novella is a conversation between Adams the information seeker and ‘Avataar’, a wise old man.
I will not tell more as I would strongly recommend you to read the book yourself. No, you can’t say OK I will go and buy the book next time I go to a book shop. It is on the internet in an attractive readable format and free. http://nowscape.com/godsdebris.pdf
Interestingly the serious and thought provoking book is written by Scott Adams, the author of the Dilbert comics. The idea and use of ‘Avataar’ in this book pre-dates the James Cameron’s movie ‘Avaatar’ by a good 5 years as this book was first published in 2004.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Shoaib Akhtar on Sachin Tendulkar
Let us not become touchy about Shoaib Akhtar's remarks on Sachin.
We know what a wonderful player and a thorough gentleman Sachin is.
Besides we also know that even an average book with some controversial remarks sells well...
We know what a wonderful player and a thorough gentleman Sachin is.
Besides we also know that even an average book with some controversial remarks sells well...
Saturday, September 24, 2011
'Le Corbusier brouhaha'- by K.J.S.Chatrath
The common design of atomic plant chimney & Chandigarh legislative Assembly's cut-chimney.
Original by Le Corbusier?
You must be joking....
Anna Hazare & his magic lamp called the 'Jana Lokpal'
"PC would be in jail had there been Jan Lokpal: Hazare"
Who needs the Judiciary? Who needs the due process of law?
Anna Hazare jo hai with his magic lamp called the 'Jana Lokpal'.....
Who needs the Judiciary? Who needs the due process of law?
Anna Hazare jo hai with his magic lamp called the 'Jana Lokpal'.....
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
1,50,000 volunteers are cleaning up Delhi...Bravo
I am not a follower or sympathiser of any "Dera". But today's news that 1,50,000 followers of Dera Sacha Sauda have reached Delhi and have started a clean-up drive througout the Capital does get my 'Thumbs Up"....
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Public Interest Litigation... ... IAS Officers and "mukhi maarna"
Public Interest Litigation... ... IAS Officers and "mukhi maarna"
"The Tribune Chandigarh, Sept 20, 2011
HC tells state to check fly menace
Kalka, September 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court have issued directives to the state government to find out a solution to fly menace in Panchkula district. In its decision on a public interest litigation, a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Chief Justice Adarsh Goel and Ajay Mittal on September 5, 2011, issued directives to financial commissioner, environment, Haryana government, to tackle the fly menace within one month..."
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110920/harplus.htm#21
"The Tribune Chandigarh, Sept 20, 2011
HC tells state to check fly menace
Kalka, September 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court have issued directives to the state government to find out a solution to fly menace in Panchkula district. In its decision on a public interest litigation, a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Chief Justice Adarsh Goel and Ajay Mittal on September 5, 2011, issued directives to financial commissioner, environment, Haryana government, to tackle the fly menace within one month..."
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110920/harplus.htm#21
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Come on, be gracious...
Abolition of discretionary quota of the ministers, a good number of Special CBI courts to be set up, permission for prosecution agains public servants to be given within 3 months etc appear to be positive steps by the Government to combat corruption...Sadly, far from appreciating these as steps in the right direction, the self-appointed leaders of the so-called "Civil Society" are strangely silent.....
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Peterhof
I lost my heart to pretty Peterhof Garden in St. Petersburg... I also lost my passport there...
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Ah, these French!
"MAN FINED FOR DEPRIVING WIFE OF SEX: A 51 year old man has been fined 8,500 Pounds by the Highest Court in Aix-en-Provence in Southern France for depriving his wife of sex.The wife had filed the case for damages against her husband for failing to have enough sex with her during their 21 years of marriage..."*
*Source: Daily Post, Chandigarh, September 8, 2011
*Source: Daily Post, Chandigarh, September 8, 2011
Civil Society in Action
"Rally against monkey menance
Shimla Nagrik Sabha, a civil society body, on Monday held a protest demonstration at the MC office against the failure of the civic body to check the increasing attacks of monkeys, langoors and dogs on people of the town... ..."*
I remember that about 5 years back I was climbing up to the Jakhu hill, when a determined group of three monkeys accosted me, and not being satisfied at finding me empty handed, one of them put his hand in my trouser pocket. last month I did succeed in going to Jakhu hill in a per seat Taxi service started by Himachal Government. When the taxi reached the precincts of the temple, the driver casually warned us "Those of you who are wearing spectacles, please remove them". Being taken aback at this 'firman' of the taxi driver I asked him why? His reply was again very cool, "Aj kal bandar chashma utaar lainday nay"....
Yes I also raise my feeble old voice in support of this campaign of Civil Society.
*Source: The Times of India, 13.9.2011
Shimla Nagrik Sabha, a civil society body, on Monday held a protest demonstration at the MC office against the failure of the civic body to check the increasing attacks of monkeys, langoors and dogs on people of the town... ..."*
I remember that about 5 years back I was climbing up to the Jakhu hill, when a determined group of three monkeys accosted me, and not being satisfied at finding me empty handed, one of them put his hand in my trouser pocket. last month I did succeed in going to Jakhu hill in a per seat Taxi service started by Himachal Government. When the taxi reached the precincts of the temple, the driver casually warned us "Those of you who are wearing spectacles, please remove them". Being taken aback at this 'firman' of the taxi driver I asked him why? His reply was again very cool, "Aj kal bandar chashma utaar lainday nay"....
Yes I also raise my feeble old voice in support of this campaign of Civil Society.
*Source: The Times of India, 13.9.2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
OLIVE RIDLEY TORTOISES AND POMFRET FISH:
Recently on May 15, 2011, there was a news item that the forest officials of Odisha had released about 350 baby Olive Ridley turtles into the sea at Talasari beach located under Bhogarai block in Balasore district. The officials had located a bunch of Ridley Olive turtles laying eggs at Talasari beach along the coast of Bay of Bengal and provided protection to the turtles’ eggs. These eggs were protected by these personnel for three days with the help of some fencing. As the eggs were hatched, the hatchlings were released into the sea. Going back a few decades, it was only in 1974 that the phenomenon of mass nesting and laying of eggs by Olive Ridleys’ on the Orissa coast were first discovered and recorded.
But that is not really the full story. One Captain Alexander Hamilton described about the mass nestings in 1727- a good 284 years back and almost two and a half centuries before their recording in 1974. This is what he wrote: “About twelve leagues to the northward of Cunnaca, is the river's mouth of Ballasore where there is a very dangerous bar, sufficiently well known by the many wrecks and losses made by it. Between Cunnaca and Ballasore rivers there is one continued sandy bay, where prodigious numbers of sea tortoises resort to lay their eggs and a very delicious fish called the Pampleey come in shores, and are sold for two pence for hundred. Two of them are sufficient to dine a moderate man.”
(An extract from my forthcoming book on the French Balasore)
But that is not really the full story. One Captain Alexander Hamilton described about the mass nestings in 1727- a good 284 years back and almost two and a half centuries before their recording in 1974. This is what he wrote: “About twelve leagues to the northward of Cunnaca, is the river's mouth of Ballasore where there is a very dangerous bar, sufficiently well known by the many wrecks and losses made by it. Between Cunnaca and Ballasore rivers there is one continued sandy bay, where prodigious numbers of sea tortoises resort to lay their eggs and a very delicious fish called the Pampleey come in shores, and are sold for two pence for hundred. Two of them are sufficient to dine a moderate man.”
(An extract from my forthcoming book on the French Balasore)
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
OH NO, NOT ANOTHER “RATH” YATRA?
Having spent 36 years in Orissa, any mention of Ratha Yatra at once brings to mind the early part of July, heat and high humidity and over 5 lakh devotees on the Badadanda (the great path) braving it all to have a glimpse of Lord Jagannaths’s Ratha or the chariot. It is faith and devotion in its purest form.
But today’s piece about Rath Yatra of another type- yesterday’s announcement of the veteran leader Shri Lal Krishan Advani that he is going to take out another Rath Yatra - this time to focus on the problem of corruption facing the country. Remember he is a vetern of Rath Yatras? The Sarathi (driver) of Shri Advani’s Rath (which really is a bus) must be getting ready to get the vehicle serviced and preparing for a long journey on the road.
First of all why not keep this ‘Yatra’ clearly distinct from Lord Jagannath’s Ratha Yatra and not christen it as “Rath Yatra” but call it something like, say Yatra against Corruption?
As is known, Shri Anna Hazare has already announced that he would be taking out a march or Yatra against corruption in the country. May be the two leaders would consult each other so that they are not doing ‘Yatras’ in the same area. One doesnt know at this stage if Anna’s Yatra would be from North to South of the country and the Advani Yatra from West to East or the other way round.
It is not unlikely that taking a cue from their leader, the MPs and MLAs belonging to Shri Advani’s party would take out such Anti-Corruption Yatras in their respective constituencies. And the ruling political party (which seems to be having very good prospects of becoming the future Opposition Party) MPs and MLAs too would be under pressure to take out such Yatras against corruption in their respective constituencies.
Likewise the NGOs would not be left far behind and they would also take out their Yatras. The Left Parties would surely launch their Yatras too but may term those as ‘Marches by the Workers and the Peasants’. Schools would vie with each other to take out such Yatras. The rating agencies would have a whale of a time coming out with facts figures and future projections of various yatras and deciding whose was the biggest.
Imagine what? There would be hundreds of Yatras against corruption crisscrossing the country at the same time. Would this not adversely impact the economic and academic activities in the country and push important social issues to the background, one might ask. “Dont you think we care too?” someone would roar in to explain, “after all we are doing this for eradicating corruption and speeding up development.” What can one say to this except giving a silent look of utter amazement at the explanation.
I remember when I was young there used to be a popular digestive called the “Rambaan Choorun” which was supposed to be the cure for all diseases. Perhaps there are some people who feel that taking out “Yatras’ is the sure shot remedy for all the ills facing the country.
If nothing else, we may at least end up in the Guiness Book of World Records as being the country which has had maximum number of Yatras in a year. Some smart researcher may do a Ph.D. on the "The Paradigm shift of strategies and the Socio-political impact of Yatras agains corruption in India"... ...
Should one not appeal to both Shri Advani and Shri Anna Hazare to take care of their health and not to overstrain themselves by taking such long avoidable journeys.
But today’s piece about Rath Yatra of another type- yesterday’s announcement of the veteran leader Shri Lal Krishan Advani that he is going to take out another Rath Yatra - this time to focus on the problem of corruption facing the country. Remember he is a vetern of Rath Yatras? The Sarathi (driver) of Shri Advani’s Rath (which really is a bus) must be getting ready to get the vehicle serviced and preparing for a long journey on the road.
First of all why not keep this ‘Yatra’ clearly distinct from Lord Jagannath’s Ratha Yatra and not christen it as “Rath Yatra” but call it something like, say Yatra against Corruption?
As is known, Shri Anna Hazare has already announced that he would be taking out a march or Yatra against corruption in the country. May be the two leaders would consult each other so that they are not doing ‘Yatras’ in the same area. One doesnt know at this stage if Anna’s Yatra would be from North to South of the country and the Advani Yatra from West to East or the other way round.
It is not unlikely that taking a cue from their leader, the MPs and MLAs belonging to Shri Advani’s party would take out such Anti-Corruption Yatras in their respective constituencies. And the ruling political party (which seems to be having very good prospects of becoming the future Opposition Party) MPs and MLAs too would be under pressure to take out such Yatras against corruption in their respective constituencies.
Likewise the NGOs would not be left far behind and they would also take out their Yatras. The Left Parties would surely launch their Yatras too but may term those as ‘Marches by the Workers and the Peasants’. Schools would vie with each other to take out such Yatras. The rating agencies would have a whale of a time coming out with facts figures and future projections of various yatras and deciding whose was the biggest.
Imagine what? There would be hundreds of Yatras against corruption crisscrossing the country at the same time. Would this not adversely impact the economic and academic activities in the country and push important social issues to the background, one might ask. “Dont you think we care too?” someone would roar in to explain, “after all we are doing this for eradicating corruption and speeding up development.” What can one say to this except giving a silent look of utter amazement at the explanation.
I remember when I was young there used to be a popular digestive called the “Rambaan Choorun” which was supposed to be the cure for all diseases. Perhaps there are some people who feel that taking out “Yatras’ is the sure shot remedy for all the ills facing the country.
If nothing else, we may at least end up in the Guiness Book of World Records as being the country which has had maximum number of Yatras in a year. Some smart researcher may do a Ph.D. on the "The Paradigm shift of strategies and the Socio-political impact of Yatras agains corruption in India"... ...
Should one not appeal to both Shri Advani and Shri Anna Hazare to take care of their health and not to overstrain themselves by taking such long avoidable journeys.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Stretch Limo....
Stretch Limo is a car found in great abundance on the roads of Ludiana district of Panjab, India - Originally an American invention of the pre-financial mess days......This is the sole one that I ssaw in St. Petersburg.
Extract from " Saintliness In Politics Cuts Both Ways" by Dileep Padgaonkar
“... what Hazare has done is to act solely according to the dictates of his ‘conscience’, his ‘inner voice’, to attain his goal. He places those dictates well above Parliament – the repository of the will of the people – and the Constitution – the touchstone of our republic.
Like other claimants to infallibility – the Pope, the communist Commissar, the fascist ideologue, the jihadi theocrat – Hazare too appears to abide by what he believes are self-evident propositions. He alone can distinguish between vice and virtue; he alone knows the truth; there is only one path to reach it and that is the path laid by him. In other words, he alone is entitled to deploy his very own means to eradicate corruption. ... ...”
Like other claimants to infallibility – the Pope, the communist Commissar, the fascist ideologue, the jihadi theocrat – Hazare too appears to abide by what he believes are self-evident propositions. He alone can distinguish between vice and virtue; he alone knows the truth; there is only one path to reach it and that is the path laid by him. In other words, he alone is entitled to deploy his very own means to eradicate corruption. ... ...”
The Neighbourhood... ...
One hears that "The Government of Sindh in Pakistan has decided that teaching Chinese language in all schools from Grade VI on wards shall be compulsory from 2013 onwards."
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thus spake the Gandhian yesterday....
"Hang MPs & MLAs taking money for voting"--Anna Hazare
(Source:Daily Post, Chandigarh, September 7, 2011, page 7.)
(Source:Daily Post, Chandigarh, September 7, 2011, page 7.)
Today's Gems
“Send Digvijay to mental asylum”.... Anna Hazare (Gandhian)
“Send Wikileaks' owner to mental asylum”... Ms. Mayawati (Leader of the Dalits)
“Send Wikileaks' owner to mental asylum”... Ms. Mayawati (Leader of the Dalits)
Monday, September 5, 2011
More on the so-called "Heritage" furniture
This is to update my blog "Hertage" dated Wednesday, June 22, 2011. I went and saw the "Heritage Museum" a few days back. Not very impressive as the maintenance goes. But what really got my goat was the furniture said to be "Heritage" furniture designed by Le Corbusier and his relative Jeanneret. The chairs and tables were so very ordinary and commonplace that one feels embarassed. Believe me really ordinary. I have seen such chairs in hundreds of government offices across the country. Yes only Le Corbusier and Jeanneret had not sat in those.
Come on let us stop kidding ourselves- a fifty year old ordinary commonplace chair does not become a heritage item just because some foreigner sat in and worked.
By the way, one should climb up to the Rashtrapati Nivas in Shimla, where the Indian Institute of Advanced Study is located to see what 'heritage' furniture means.
.........................................................................
Earlier Blog "Heritage" dated June 22, 2011
It is amazing to see how everything used or touched by Chandigarh’s planner architect Le Corbusier is being revered as a ‘heritage’ item. One fails to understand how the simple chair or the stool used by Paul Jeanneret, an associate of Le Corbusier becomes a heritage item?
The notebooks in which Leonardo Da Vinci used to scribble his notes and draw sketches of machines over 500 years back are surely heritage items. The pyramids constructed in Egypt thousands of years back are heritage items. But the 50 year old note books of Le Corbusier. You are not serious!
Let us see the dictionary definition of ‘heritage’. These are the “Valued objects and qualities such as cultural traditions, unspoiled countryside, and historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations”. What are the heritage items are, for example, the remnants of the Indus Valley Civilization not the 50 year old stuff. What is a 50 year old article or a drawing in a country like India which has thousands of years of known history.
Let us now read this with The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. This Act defines an ancient monument as a monument which is atleast 100 years old.
May be since Chandigarh is a newly built town and we don’t have any old building to show off our pedigree or class, so....maybe....
Come on, let us have some sense of proportion.
Come on let us stop kidding ourselves- a fifty year old ordinary commonplace chair does not become a heritage item just because some foreigner sat in and worked.
By the way, one should climb up to the Rashtrapati Nivas in Shimla, where the Indian Institute of Advanced Study is located to see what 'heritage' furniture means.
.........................................................................
Earlier Blog "Heritage" dated June 22, 2011
It is amazing to see how everything used or touched by Chandigarh’s planner architect Le Corbusier is being revered as a ‘heritage’ item. One fails to understand how the simple chair or the stool used by Paul Jeanneret, an associate of Le Corbusier becomes a heritage item?
The notebooks in which Leonardo Da Vinci used to scribble his notes and draw sketches of machines over 500 years back are surely heritage items. The pyramids constructed in Egypt thousands of years back are heritage items. But the 50 year old note books of Le Corbusier. You are not serious!
Let us see the dictionary definition of ‘heritage’. These are the “Valued objects and qualities such as cultural traditions, unspoiled countryside, and historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations”. What are the heritage items are, for example, the remnants of the Indus Valley Civilization not the 50 year old stuff. What is a 50 year old article or a drawing in a country like India which has thousands of years of known history.
Let us now read this with The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. This Act defines an ancient monument as a monument which is atleast 100 years old.
May be since Chandigarh is a newly built town and we don’t have any old building to show off our pedigree or class, so....maybe....
Come on, let us have some sense of proportion.
Whom should I vote for?
If Congress is corrupt and scheming, BJP corrupt and not secular and the Left Parties still live in the age when Russia was Soviet Union, whom should I vote for in the next elections?
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Union Cabinet Mnisters' Property Statements...
Who says all politicians are corrupt?
Kudos to Mr. A.K. Anthony for being the poorest Minister in the Union Cabinet.
Kudos to Mr. A.K. Anthony for being the poorest Minister in the Union Cabinet.
Trust IKEA to stun you....
I saw this ad in St. Petersburg, Russia...Trust IKEA to stun you with their creations...
Friday, September 2, 2011
Spoken Like a True Gandhian
Thus spake Anna Hazare,
"The ruling dispensation consists of 'cunning' persons" and the "Home Minister is 'mischivieous'" and he "urged the people to give 'repeated shocks' to the government..."
"The ruling dispensation consists of 'cunning' persons" and the "Home Minister is 'mischivieous'" and he "urged the people to give 'repeated shocks' to the government..."
Thursday, September 1, 2011
“THE CASE OF THE MISSING LEMON”
(Photo courtesy Supreet Dhiman)
I lose no opportunity in bragging about being a rationalist. I believe I look at things through the specs of logic and am not impressed by Godmen, their miracles and superstitions. And now for my little story.
I am amused to see persons with white turbans and a can with a little bit of mustard oil asking for money on Saturdays invoking the name of Lord Shiva. On a Saturday last month, I was waiting at the red traffic light when one such person approached me. I asked him for a string of green chillies and lemon which they distribute for a price. He gave me a piece and asked for ten rupees which I paid. It had seven chillies and a small little lemon. The traffic light was still red so I asked him tauntingly, sounding as innocent as I could, "What do you do for the remaining six days of the week?" His simple and honest reply was "I sell baloons". The light turned to amber and then to green and I moved on.
Back at home I hung that little garland of chillies and lemon on the front top of my kitchen’s door frame.
I went out of station for trip abroad and returned yesterday. I was surprised to notice that while the 7 chillies of the garland were there, though turned brown, the lemon was missing. I have tried hard to look around on the floor in case it had fallen but have not been able to find it. There is no way a rat could have climbed up.
Quite interestingly the trip on which I had gone out of station had to be aborted as my passport got stolen. I know 7 chillies and a lemon string is used to ward-off evil spirits or jealous glances. I also know that it is tempting to link the issue of loss of my passport and disappearance of the lemon.
But as I said, I do not believe in miracles or superstitions. Of course I have no logical explanation for the disappearance of the lemon and I am still looking for a rational answer.
“The Case of the Missing Lemon” as Earl Stanley Gardner would have called it.
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