Today (02.12.09) I saw a beautiful thing in the desert. Beautiful thing in the desert? I too wonder how, but yes. The moon, in its enchanting best was just peeping through the top of a distant hillock. Gradually it came out of the hiding to show off its full shape. It was a full moon day. And thus I have completed seeing 500 full moons, well almost close to that. Guess, what is my age? The moon raised from the eastern hillock by 1630 itself. The grandeur of the raising was hard to miss, but it had limitations. What could the moon light beautify in the land of nothingness? Where ever we look, we can see only vacant lands. Nothing except bushes grows there. Watching a moonlit desert never gives any kind of pleasure.
Imagine a backwater body or a river. You are sitting in a small hand rowing wooden boat and the boat is slowly moving on the gentle water. The moon is just above the coconut trees on the bank. The refection of the moon in the water gives a thick line. Everything we see looks bright. Lively. Heart brims with joy. The beauty that transcends carries away one and all who has a heart to enjoy. We used to enjoy this splendor during our usual journey from Kuthiyathode to our village in the nights on boat.
I have to mention one more thing about 02.12.2009. Twenty Five years back, in Bhopal thousands died on this day. We have almost forgotten this. The miseries and helplessness of the victims are just their personal problems. We have nothing to do with it. If the treatment is not available or compensation is not yet given, let them run from pillar to post. Luckily, in our country we have made enough pillars and posts and adopted running between this our national game. Earlier it was Hockey. Now everyone outside India learnt hockey and we Indians were terribly marginalized in our own game. I too read the news paper articles about the Bhopal gas tragedy. All papers dwelt at length on what had happened in that night. It is no doubt horror of its worst kind that had unfolded there. Mind got disturbed, till I finished reading the paper. But, it has not directly affected me. So, why should I bother about it? In this desert, no one even organized a candle light vigil in memory of the victims. If anyone did that, I could also have lighted a candle! Or if anyone took initiative to collect a monetary fund to help the victims I would have contributed my one day’s basic salary.
Syrians like many other Arab world hate Israel. Yesterday during discussion I deliberately raked up the issue of Palatine with the Syrian workers. They were shivering with anger when I started talking in support of Israel. Even a child is taught to hate Israel. Syria has compulsory military service for the youth only to keep everyone prepared for war against Israel. They believe that peace with their neighbor is not possible as long as they are occupying the Golan Heights. Whatever be the politics of this issue, Syrians are a motivated lot when it comes to Israel.
Imagine a backwater body or a river. You are sitting in a small hand rowing wooden boat and the boat is slowly moving on the gentle water. The moon is just above the coconut trees on the bank. The refection of the moon in the water gives a thick line. Everything we see looks bright. Lively. Heart brims with joy. The beauty that transcends carries away one and all who has a heart to enjoy. We used to enjoy this splendor during our usual journey from Kuthiyathode to our village in the nights on boat.
I have to mention one more thing about 02.12.2009. Twenty Five years back, in Bhopal thousands died on this day. We have almost forgotten this. The miseries and helplessness of the victims are just their personal problems. We have nothing to do with it. If the treatment is not available or compensation is not yet given, let them run from pillar to post. Luckily, in our country we have made enough pillars and posts and adopted running between this our national game. Earlier it was Hockey. Now everyone outside India learnt hockey and we Indians were terribly marginalized in our own game. I too read the news paper articles about the Bhopal gas tragedy. All papers dwelt at length on what had happened in that night. It is no doubt horror of its worst kind that had unfolded there. Mind got disturbed, till I finished reading the paper. But, it has not directly affected me. So, why should I bother about it? In this desert, no one even organized a candle light vigil in memory of the victims. If anyone did that, I could also have lighted a candle! Or if anyone took initiative to collect a monetary fund to help the victims I would have contributed my one day’s basic salary.
Syrians like many other Arab world hate Israel. Yesterday during discussion I deliberately raked up the issue of Palatine with the Syrian workers. They were shivering with anger when I started talking in support of Israel. Even a child is taught to hate Israel. Syria has compulsory military service for the youth only to keep everyone prepared for war against Israel. They believe that peace with their neighbor is not possible as long as they are occupying the Golan Heights. Whatever be the politics of this issue, Syrians are a motivated lot when it comes to Israel.
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