Tid Bit from My Diary

Growing up in a small town in 1970s India, I, like many other boys, harbored dreams of a bit of fame. Not excelling in studies, sports, or the arts meant the odds were heavily stacked against me. If I were to hear my name on the radio, it would likely be through a "request-a-song" program. As for seeing my name in print, it would only happen if an editor appreciated my contributions. Reader's Digest was our popular window to the outside world. Each edition brought us inspirational stories of perseverance, fascinating information, and humor from the Western Hemisphere. It introduced us to the world of subtle humor. I remember one particular story where someone was advised to apply grease on his car bonnet when their town faced a sudden onslaught of flies. The next time he took the car for service, the mechanic asked if he had a tight garage. This type of humor was fresh and delightful to us. We were particularly captivated by the letters from readers, sharing life experien...

An ode to the desert trees of Bahrain.  In the parched realms, it seldom rains, Life is sparse,  yet the hardiest reins, In those barren lands to nature’s dare, Trees stand resolute but few and rare. Adversities turn to occasion for brilliance,  Not soil sweet, strong winds built resilience, In the arid silence, their roots entwine,  With each storm, their strengths redefine. Twisted but resolved,  the sentinels of hope, Throughout time, they persist, they cope, Silhouetted, against the expanse of sand, testament to the enduring spirit of this land.

When I looked at the boat, I got a bit emotional and reflected on the life in general..... The Old Boat Towering waves, I twirled with grace,  Each fierce storm, a fleeting embrace, Sang melody to the gulls, carefree,  Flirted along fishes silver and glee. To wind’s might, my sails aligned, Salt and Sun in  journey intertwined, Forces then I braved, as a child’s play, Those memories now softly sway. Old and abandoned is today’s reality, Time is relentless in its truth or cruelty,  To kings and paupers, its march unkind,  In its silent hands, all destinies entwined.

  There is one thing in common among young hostel boarders and particularly those from engineering colleges. All have spent hours debating, arguing and fighting on topics ranging from anything to everything on their tryst to establish a point or two. Walls of our hostel rooms have been exposed to countless ideas, arguments and logical interpretations fueled by gallons of coloured liquids be it tea, coffee or any other fermented variety. There were some who built their arguments on a solid foundation of references and statistics while others relied on the strength of their vocal cords.  My way of life was more like Winnie, finding more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?” ( A.A. Milne , Winnie-the-Pooh ). One live issue had been India’s post independence growth and development alibi our successive government’s inability to alleviate the conditions of the poor. My point of view has always been that ...

 Today, I remembered that I do have an active blog but the reality is that I am a bit lazy to write.   Here is a picture of a fishing port in Arad, Bahrain from last weekend

Sooner we accept the reality that COVID-19 will not go away soon, the better equipped we shall be to endure it. Moreover, when it does go, it won’t be a definitive ending like a project completion, It would fade away rather slowly with only statistics to confirm its departure. Our history syllabus although designed for a broad grasp of major historical developments, missed out on the pandemics of the past centuries. Absence of these from our collective subconscious left us out of depths when COVID struck. Microbes were the invisible enemy then as now and the survivors will be left behind licking the wounds like the in the past. The Bubonic plague, which also originated in the East Asia continued for 5 years from 1347 claiming an estimated 75 to 200 million scalps. The Spanish flu of 1918 is more recent and continued for over a year claiming 17 to 50 million human lives. If history is to be believed, a recession with unprecedented impact on the global economy is inevitable....

The last Friday, I was there to welcome the Sun and bid him goodbye. The Sun was rising but the moon stayed back. As if hanging around to bid goodbye before leaving to the other side of the planet. Sometime we need to pause and look around. There are so much beauty in our everyday life.