Sapiens: A brief history of Humankind' by Yuval Noah Harari.

Since the last few days I have been thumbing through  an unusual book: "Sapiens: A brief history of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari.  'Thumbing through' as this book requires readers to devote considerable serious time to it- some thing which I have not been able to devote. 

The writer, Yuval Noah Hariri has a PhD in History from the University of Oxford and now lectures at the Hebrew University of Jarusalem, specialising in World History.

Page two of the book (inner cover) summarises this historical journey of the Sapiens in a remarkably pithy manner. He says:

FIRE; gave us power;
GOSSIP: helped us co-operate;
AGRICULTURE: made us hungry for more;
MYTHOLOGY: maintaineed Law & Order:
MONEY: gave us something we can really trust;
CONTRADICTIONS: created culture, and
SCIENCE: made us deadly.

One may not agree with all these formulations, but still it is a wonderful book to start the new year with. .......

'Blot on metro: ' - Editorial in The Indian Express

"Blot on metro: Yes, the BJP plays petty, but the DMRC undermines its autonomy by not inviting the Delhi chief minister"- Editorial in the Indian Express

Lack of grace.......... 

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/blot-on-dmrc-delhi-metro-magenta-line-bjp-arvind-kejriwal-modi-yogi-adityanath-4998579/

Keep on smiling in 2018.....

A bit dated, but funny none the less...

(Source: BBC Hindi)

Delhi's CM not invited for Delhi Metro's Magenta Line opening- News

Delhi's CM not invited for Delhi Metro's Magenta Line opening- news.

Lack of grace and sensitivity on the part of function organisers.

'Phew! I am so glad to be awake' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Photo source: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170116-the-man-who-tried-to-photograph-thoughts-and-dreams

I am convinced that lucky are the people who  enjoy good sleep without bad dreams.

I sleep badly and I get terrible dreams.

Earlier these used to be dreams like action movies with a beginning, tense middle and an end. Now ever since I have started travelling a lot, the oft repeated dream is that I get up at night and go out of the place where I am staying and then can not find my way back. And to make it more complicated, I do not have the address of the place where I am staying.

But last night/ this early morning's dream was dead (pun intended!) serious. I am travelling by plane and the Captain announces that we are going to crash and one sees lights. I am surprisingly calm and wait for death without any panic.

But ultimately the plane lands safely. I get up and am writing this note.  

Phew! I am so glad to be awake.

'Respectful salute to the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives in upholding the unity and safety of the nation' - by K.J.S.Chatrath .

Respectful salute to the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives yesterday in upholding the unity and safety of the nation.

Martyrs

(Clockwise from top left) Major Moharkar, Lance Naik Gurmail Singh, Lance Naik Kuldeep Singh and Sepoy Pargat Singh

MERA BHARAT MAHAAN.

JAI HIND!

"Saffron coaches will keep women safe in Mumbai locals: Railway ...indianexpress.com › India

"Saffron coaches will keep women safe in Mumbai locals: Railway ...indianexpress.com › India

2 hours ago - To ensure the safety of women on Mumbai suburban trains, the Central Railway (CR) has suggested that the exterior of ladies compartments be painted in “soothing saffron” to inspire “courage and valour” among women and “sacrifice and chivalry” among men. In a concept note submitted to the Railway .. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/saffron-coaches-will-keep-women-safe-in-mumbai-locals-railway-4995202/ "

'Spend Rs 7 crores on improving facilities for women and child medi-care instead of constructing a Gate' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

An indicative photo of a gate- not of the proposed gate.

“Ambala City to have Swarna Jayanti Gate” – The Tribune, September 22, 2017.

My request to the authorities would be, "Please  spend these Rs 7 crores on improving facilities for women and child medi-care in the town instead of constructing a Gate".

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/ambala-city-to-have-swarna-jayanti-gate/470926.html

'Good Lord! The Hon'ble CBI Court has really castigated the prosecution in 2G case' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

"...The charge sheet is based mainly on misreading, selective reading, non-reading and out of context reading of the official record...   ..."
 
Good Lord! The Hon'ble CBI Court has really castigated the prosecution in 2G case.

'Gentlemen, please do not treat your lady colleagues in a patronising way' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Industrialist Mr.  Anil Ambani with the French Defence Minister (in white dress)

Chinese Foreign Minister with India's Minister of External Affairs.

Why do some gentlemen treat their lady colleagues in a patronising way?

'How supremely silly!' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Internet photo for illustrion only

'World's Longest Wedding Dress Train Sets Guinness Record' - reports NDTV.

How supremely silly!

 

'Happy birthday Rajni Sir' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Today, 12th December is the birthday of Rajni Sir who is so disarmingly simple.

And there is another Super Star, who is older to Rajni Sir, is reported to be totally bald, wears a smart full wig and merrily keeps on advertizing for use of a particular hair oil for improving hair growth!

For the background of the above photo please read my earlier blog: 'Yes, I am a fan of Rajni Sir' - by K.J.S.Chatrath ; http://anaap-shnaap.blogspot.in/2016/07/i-am-fan-of-rajni-sir-by-kjschatrath.html

'Tomatoes turn sour at Rs.70-100 per kg in city'- Today's news

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/tomatoes-turn-sour-at-rs-70-100-per-kg-in-city/articleshow/61426934.cms;

'Rang de Basanti' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

(Source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, November 1, 2017) 

What is in a colour after all?

By the way, one understands that all the state transport buses of U.P. are also going to be painted saffron. Knowledgeable persons may please advise if it is true or not.

But one sincerely hopes that this exercise will help in reducing , if not altogether eliminating,  the spate of unfortunate children's deaths in Gorakhpur Hospital, U.P.

'In praise of beauty...and talent'- by K.J.S.Chatrath

Recently I watched the Pakistani drama 'Mohabat tum sey nafrat hai' on Youtube. I was so charmed by the beauty and extraordinary acting abilities of the heroine Aiza Khan that I took a few photos of the screen while watching the series. Take a look:

May I invite my readers to see my earlier photo article also : 'Ten pretty and extremely talented Pakistani TV actresses' - by K.J.S.Chatrath . http://anaap-shnaap.blogspot.in/2016/05/ten-pretty-and-extremely-talented.html

'Why do some men behave in a patronising way with ladies?' - K.J.S.Chatrath

Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier (L), French Defence Minister Florence Parly (R) and Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani at stone-laying ceremony of Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited in Nagpur. Photo source: AFP

Why do some men behave in a patronising way with ladies?

France to support ‘Make in India’:http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/france-to-support-make-in-india/488452.html