Dear Colleagues

Here is another round of random reflections for your perusal:

  1. FIFA World Cup captured the attention of much of humanity around the world recently. The real excitement was in the fighting spirits of 'under-dogs' from Curacao, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Iran. What shocked most viewers was the widespread racism shouted at and written about players and teams from the global south. In the semi and final matches, fans of Messi and Argentina were shocked to watch their abusive game and language. Few know the history of Argentina and the large-scale migration of Hitler's Nazis to that land after the second World War!
  2. Telengana and its capital Hyderabad are emerging as one of the most dynamic cities/regions of the country. Highest per capita income, low pollution, reasonable and safe mobility and largely pleasant civic sense tempt one to move there. Hyderabad's educational and cultural dynamism is matched with a vibrant civil society too. At present, its political leadership seems to behave in less pompous manner in comparison to their brethren from north of the Vindhyas.
  3. The other day Supreme Court of India gave a ruling that pedestrians have a right to pavement. Wow!! I was shocked because I did not know about this right of mine; more so because I have not found pavements in parts of Delhi I have been living in for 4 decades. Of course, the judges seem to enjoy the pavements in and around their homes and offices (since those are in Lutyens' Delhi)!
  4. When I went to a Gurudwara to join a condolence meeting recently, I realised, once again, how inclusive the Sikh culture and religion is. The music was composed on key lyrics of the Granth (the holy Book); the 'prasad' (offering) is cooked and served by volunteers of the Gurudwara itself. On my way out, I noticed that decorations for a wedding were being arranged in another part of the Gurudwara compound, with equal intensity and quiet efforts.
  5. India's moment of GenZ protests happened recently in the centre of Delhi at a venue called Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar is a 300 years old observatory 'designed to be used with naked eye'.....and has 'instruments for measuring the harmony of heavens'. GenZ invented some new instruments to measure 'harmony' in their education (and life) during this period. The creative GenZ showcased their newly ‘invented’ instruments in many more sites around the country (more than the five original ones built in Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi, in addition to Delhi).

Stay well, sincerely
Dr. Rajesh Tandon