Tissue Issues!

Thanks for paticipating in the opinion poll. It will help me immensely with my research work...

However a wise man once (I hope) said “There are three arguments to any issue – yours, mine and the right one”.

If you have better answers to “How best could one misuse toilet paper” than the ones listed in the opinion poll, fell free to leave them here as comments!

Of Pages and Penseives

It’s more or less the same every evening; the front seat, the pencil, Paulo and me. When I’m not reading, I look ahead at the world rushing at me head on, pondering on what Paulo Coelho and I have just exchanged through his book, “Like the Flowing River”.

He feels that every book must be allowed its journey. Reminds me of an American artist cum advocate I’d once made friends with. I’d lent her a book by an obscure Indian writer - with every intention of taking it back. As Murphy would have it, I couldn’t.

Parting with a friend’s gift had been painful. But looking back, this book had embarked on a journey its siblings had probably never managed. It would now be in the hands of established artists as against an engineer who could draw perfect circles in Paint Brush.

I nod in agreement with Paulo and add, in pencil that books are like memories we carry in our penseives*. Some make it to the paperwala*, some to the garage and others to old cartons in the store room. A few decorate the shelf until they move to the other locations.

But where is that book you loved the most? In the hands of a person who might appreciate it as much – with or without your sign on it. The book travels – because it decides to; it deserves the honor. Some day though, it might fall into your hands again – a new relationship, a new journey…

I walk back home, lost in thought. And only when I reach into my bag I realize that Paulo has decided to travel. I chuckle fondly and wish him luck, reaching for “Veronica Decides to Die”. Now why would she do that...


*Penseive: Harry Potter lingo: A basin steaming with swirling white mist. Used to move excess thoughts/memories from one's mind by leading them into the penseive with your wand. Harry Potter fans might like to correct me if I'm wrong!

*Paperwala: A guy who pays you in return for used newspapers, magazines and other stuff made of paper. The heavier the book (as in C++, Computer Architecture), the greater your profit ;) Some variations also collect plastic and glass items.

Ke Bas

In this country, where respect for women and children once bordered on reverence…

I wonder - while there are vans scanning cities for stray dogs to grab and sterilize; people have the right to reproduce like it were their life’s only mission and then send the bi-products away with a price tag.

I’m at a signal now, seated in my car trying hard to ignore the lady who’s banging on my window, child in hand; I steal a glance at the creature that lies within, crumpled and quiet; hardly breathing.

I have seen them before - babies hung on shoulders, stung by the scorching sun; young children breaking bricks with hands that can write construct and create. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to be born male.

If she’s not thrown into the lake or strangled or poisoned the minute she is born, if she hasn’t died of sunburns before she can say “ma”, if she hasn’t had a leg torn off for effective begging, she is prone to the worst kind of damage.

Dance bars must be licensed – prostitutes have the right to pursue what they want to. When you were 5 wasn’t your greatest ambition to be a postman? These incorrigible illiterates – these heartless people - this absolutely irresponsible Government. Pah.

I shake my head in absolute disgust. But then there is this meeting to attend – I have an assignment to complete before my clients return from their holiday at the Bahamas. After all I contribute to the country’s GDP; I help the country through technology and progress.

And so I urge the driver to speed up, away from that miniature hand dangling lifelessly out of a bag.

PS:
The Government of India through the Indian Council of Child Welfare, Tamilnadu (ICCW), the Don Bosco Anbu Illam and four significant working partners: World Vision, Nessakkaram, Guild Of Service and Asian Youth Centre, has established Childline 1098.

Call 1098 or 04426260097 to help a child in any form of distress (folks from out of Chennai can do a Google on Childline.) Every call is handled with tremendous enthusiasm; false alarms are attended to - and forgiven. Most importantly – your presence/signature is not required once you’ve reported an issue.

Let’s make liberal use of it – it’s the least we can do.