India with ICC: Long way to go

by Manish Anand

International Criminal Court is now 100-member strong organisation. It came into existence in 2002 with Rome Convention as its background. Currently, its members are mostly small nations belonging to the European and African continents. It’s yet to get any significant membership from Asian and American countries. Hence, the second visit this year of ICC president and judge Mr Phillipe Crische to India recently to convince the Indian leadership for ratifying the Rome statue and joining the ICC.

ICC needs big nations like India, the United States, China and others on board to be really effective in its mandate. Its mandate, as set by the Rome statue, is to look into cases of genocide, ethnic cleansing, mass rape, forced confinement and torture, Human Rights violations and others. It takes up cases only when judiciary of nations where incidents took place fail to give justice to victims or show symptoms of breakdown of judicial system. India and other nations are not impressed enough to join ICC so far. There seems no reason, either.

Reportedly, the United Progressive Government is inclined towards joining ICC. There is no harm if India joins. Rather, the gain will accrue in higher level of accountability by its people. The Gujrat chief minister Mr Narendra Modi could be prosecuted if India were party to ICC for his alleged connivance in the killings of innocents in the Gujrat riots of 2002.

But, to ratify the statue in the parliament, India needs more reasons. It would be proper for ICC to bring under its ambit crimes like acts and financing of terrorism, drug-peddling and others. Not only this, nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, the US must also be brought on the ICC’s board. India faces terrorism and drug-peddling threat from these countries except the US apart from shelters being provided to insurgents and criminals who commit large scale crimes in India. Task is tough, but if the US does ICC’s bidding, Indian concerns could be addressed.

India abhors the compulsory jurisdiction of ICC over the listed crimes. It wants an optional obligation which will only dilute the purpose and at one’s convenience matters could be referred to ICC for investigation. India also fears political use of ICC by big countries to arm-twist her. This has not much relevance as ICC is an independent entity separate from International Court of Justice which is a wing of the United Nations. ICC is the logical evolution of a globalised world order and growth in the standard of human civilization.

Mr Judge Krische did well to inform the Indian audience that ICC is not going to come shopping for cases in India. Rather, India could take ICC to higher level of legitimacy and efficiency. But, it’s a long way that ICC will have to travel India to ratify the Rome statue and maybe the scheduled 2006 review of ICC’s charter may throw answer to India’s participation in International Criminal Court.

Romantic moorings

by Manish Anand

Delhi is at its romantic best these days. In winter’s arm, thick fog is what people find themselves kissed by. With wind gently blowing, you start searching for a warm cover. Warmth is what everyone is searching for these days in the Capital of India.

The university days come refreshingly back with all the stroll you took with your partners, friends or whatever. Searching for a coffee shop, you would walk at the slowest pace possible with so much of stories told in between. Autobiographical you might have been at times. Lots to share and lots to cheer the youth that a university campus gives.

Delhi also becomes lot more colourful, literally. With most of the time spent sweating in dullest of clothes, colour is what everyone sports. A break from tiring schedule that winter gives to Delhi. Rejoice you must because Delhi is never so romantic.

You bond also well in these months. Remember sharing cigarettes with friends all with the belief that it beats cold. Many pick up the habit of smoking, seeing the outside smoky fog being matched by ciggy smokes. Ah, the days when we had so much of time and we stood in a circle cracking jokes, laughing our hearts out.

In the classroom, the little petite girl with cream colour sweater, pulling it out to cover her hands till the end, and taking deep breath, and if you were lucky enough sitting beside her, experiencing the warmth of her breath on your hand you would have your heart beating for her. The days passed by never come back, someone had said. So true it was.

Collective we are in our acts also. Isn’t it? Hey, planning drinks also and if you were good at cooking then be in the kitchen, right. But yaah you would not be left alone there as your friends would join there. We have so much to talk about. Friendship also comes to its best in such a season.

Sun becomes so lovable. People assembled in groups to let the rays fall on them are common sight. Get warmth, get warm and be warm that’s what winter get from you.

Delhi waits for winter to love others and be loved by others. Misers are excused!

Mafia politics

by Manish Anand

Delhi has always been builders' City. It remains so even today. The government, the civic agencies and others have all been subservient to the interests of builders over the years. At the end of the day, the Delhi politics remains hostage to the builder Mafia, which has no respect for any sort of law or interest of the common people or tax payers' money.

Among the journalists, it has been an open fact that the strident opposition to the municipal Corporation's ongoing demolition drive at the prodding of the Delhi High Court is much to do with their own violation of building norms and themselves being due for the rough treatment by the MCD if it had its way.

The Delhi edition of The Statesman and The Indian Express through their series of reports laid bare how the Delhi politicians made the City a concrete madness. The city now waits for a disaster to learn to respect building sanity.

Voluble Ram Babu Sharma who has been more of an albatross cross on the neck of the Delhi chief minister Sheila was exposed for why he opposed the demolition drive. He had his own multi-storeyed sweet shops violating all the laws whereas Mukesh Sharma, prominent leader of Congress in the Delhi Assembly, has a chain of schools in Vikaspuri, Janakpuri violating not only building norms, but also encroaching into public lands. Another loud voice against the demolition drive and leader of the Opposition in the Delhi assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, too found himself among the building mafia. But worst of all Mukhi went wild enough to assault Express team only to be knocked by the paper where it hurts more. The list is too long, and if all are exposed very few among the Delhi politician will have clean image.

The Delhi politics is equally cursed with the worst breed of politicians. The industry minister Mangat Lal Sharma is the most absurd of them. In one function where he was to pin up medals on some awardees, he took more than three minutes to pin up a medal on the blouse of a lady scout with embarassment spreading far and wide, inviting scorns of everyone in the audience. He has a mill which also flaunts all laws and when a fire broke out in an industry, Mrs Dikshit had to ask him to shift his mill. Embarassment that Mrs Dikshit has to bear !

In the last few years Delhi saw a mushrooming of liquor bars, wine and beer shops not only in posh areas but also in Delhi's rural areas. Some of them found space in residential areas also. The Delhi BJP chief Dr Harsh vardhan speaking to the author had accused the Delhi governmnet to be under the influence of liquor mafia, which has all the evidence to be true. Recently, the Delhi cabinet was all set to lower the legal age to consume liquor from 21 to 18, ostensibly to raise the revenue as well as to fill up the coffer of liquor mafia. But it was the media which broke the news and explained behind the scene stuff that ultimately led to the postponement of decision.

The High Court has more than sufficeint reason to keep a tab on the doings of the Delhi governmnet.

Celebrity nonsense

by Manish Anand

Television Channels engaged their airvaves on scuffle between media and security personnel of Amir Khan, who recently married his girlfriend Kiran Rao after divorcing his first wife with whom he had two children. Media wanted to cover the event as supposedly many of their viewers wanted to see Amir wedding second time. 


A day earlier the newly launched News Channel CNN– IBN devoted half an hour to know why there is so much frenzy to cover celebrities. Rajdeep Sardesai could be forgiven for the drab show as his wont is sheer enthusiasm, akin to that of an activist, but misses out on substance and engages in verbal juggelary.


Celebrities make their livings through their public image and work in the public domain. They are sold out to the mass. And that too with their own choice. So, all of a sudden if they decide they want privacy, they make themselves a public relations headache. For them it is accolades yes, but bricbates, no!


It’s easy to throw blame on viewers for the celebrity frenzy, which basically gives cover to the inefficiency of the media organisation. NDTV brought Amir Khan for its special show after the marriage, ostensibly to score points over its competitors. It had also brough Abhishek Bachhan and Rani Mukhrji to present news to viewers. It also ran many an episode showing celebrities interacting with army personnel. Anything to do with a news channel ?


Viewers react with much angst when they are dished out entertainmnet shows in news channels, and finger runs swiftly on remote. It brings to mind what a bureaucrat said recently as he snubbed a news channel correspondent, saying first become what BBC is today then come to discuss national security issues. And you will take another 100-year to reach the position where BBC is now, he quipped.


Where is research in TV news programme? Where is any substantial findings or investigation apart from the sensationa stuffs like catching people on camera having sex or taking bribe or indulging in malpractices. Inform you must, but you have also to raise the level of understanding and awareness!


Ironically, newspapers, too, across the board have fallen into the trap of entertainment, which depicts a sorry picture of Indian journalism. Corporate culture has taken Indian journalism to the dismal state, which needs to be debated and understood.


There is no justification on the part of scribes at the recieving end at the hands of the security personnel of Amir Khan to say that they were doing genuine journalistic stuffs and accused should be penalised.

The incident was of their own makings, and they should not shield themselves with general public who have nothing to do with whom Amir Khan marries and sleeps.

Bureaucracy blues

by Manish Anand/SNS

An evening in Jia Sarai. One small room on the roof. Humidity at its maximum. A group of three people sitting in a circle with one smoking deeply. Room is heavily stuffed with books in all corners as well as good number of CDs in one corner. Ghazal is playing on a CD player.
The host had just cleared a state public sevices examination and was allocated minority welfare department. His guest had cleared Providend fund commissioners’ examination and was posted in Delhi. And the last one had quit a public sector job to prepare for the civil services examination.

Host ( now in IPS ) was curious to know whether money will come to him in sacks or briefcases in his new job. Few moments back, his father had called him up and had given his sane advises. As per his father, he should work very honestly and diligently for the first three months and afterwards he could think of making fast bucks. But, the son was not convinced. He did not understand the reason why he should let go three months’ easy money.

The providend commissioner shared his insight with the host. He said, “we at providend fund department earn money by harassing people and that we do by sitting on their files. Now with the computerisation every file can be tracked and with the Right to Information Act people can demand to know why their files are not being acted upon. At the level of centre it’s happening and it will also happen at the state level soon. So, don’t think that you can now earn fast bucks so easily.” Sharp and clear lines appeared on the forheadof the host.

The host had the final shot at the commissioner, “ Haan Saahab,why should you bother about money. You already have got Rs.60 Lacs in cash, a Kothi in South Delhi and one Honda City Car. Why should you bother.” Commissioner had had a broad smile and took a counter shot, “maleek you are still in the race of IAS.We will see how much you take.”

The commissioner got married at a South Delhi farm house where the Honda City Car was parked properly decorated. One cabinet minister also dropped in and blessed the couple though the minister in no way was even remotely related to the bridegroom.

People stashed with lots of money chase the men who qualify the civil services examination. As most of these young people come from the middle class, the power of money seems irresistible. Two years back one who ranked in the top ten was chased by many monetarily rich and eventually he fell for Rs50 Lacs,a flat in Delhi and a Car of his choice.

A research scholar in JNUwas going around with a co-student in JNU for at least four years. They were complemented for the pair that they made by their friends. The research scholar qualified a state civil service exam with a very good rank that ensured him the post of Deputy Suprintendentof Police. The High of their romance was rocked by his success as many bureaucrats, businessmen and politicians started chasing his parents. The girl’s parents also pooled in their resources and tried to compete with others but they could not match Rs.25 Lacs and other goodies that a top bureaucrat offered. The long time companion was left in the lurch.

Once there was a discussion going on in a room where the civil services aspirants shared their thoughts on new bureaucrats falling for the lure of money. One of them shared the story of his friend who was ranked among the top in the civil services exam and got into IAS.As is the pattern lots of people chased his parent including a top bureaucrat holding very high post in one of the Sate administration. Father of the young IAS officer could not resist the offer and went ahead with the marriage. Elders of the family saw the girl but did not engage her in any sort of talk. The boy never met her before the marriage. The script went deeply wrong as the girl turned out to be totally immature provoking those who had chance to visit their home to call her mentally challenged. Too late to do anything for the boy but to live with her.

Civil Services probationers have an interesting experience to share. When they reach Mussourrie for their training where for the first six months all the selected candidates of civil services undergo training and the IAS probationers undergo training for two years, the boys come across an unusual competition. The boys who get the cadre of Noth-East or some other state that they don’t like focus on girls with the cadre of their choice. This is because after the marriage the couple can be posted in one state and mostly in the girls’ cadre. Apart from this as the sex ratio is always adverse for the female, they compete for the suitable boys among the probationers.

Finding a suitable boy for female IAS or IPS officers has been found to be a nightmare for their parents. And for this reason, the Lal BahadurShastriAcademy has the record of being a centre for grooming relationships that lead to marriage. A good thing about this is that it acts as a cross cultural bridge where a boy from Kerala marries a girl from North-East or a Punjabi boy marrying a South Indian girl, its all happening there.And the cool and romantic weather of a hill station that Mussorrie has just spurs the warming of hearts.

Civil Services still attract some who stand by their words and remain unaffactedby the swarming vices always eager to catch them. An Indian Revenue services recruit stand tall among those who fall for the lure of money and power of connections with top bureaucrats. Hailing from a very poor background, he has the humility to credit his education and success to the Rajasthan government’s scholarships. His father had given his word to his friend to marry him to his daughter when he was a kid. After clearing the civil services examination, he too was chased by many as has been the case. But his father and he too kept the word given and married the same girl. A story that can be termed of the rare species who keep their words.

The parents’ dream of marrying an IAS or an IPS lead them sometime to the net of the frauds. As are some of the cases in Bihar, where people have been trapped by the cunning people who claim to have cleared the examination and got married with all the goodies with the daughters of unsuspecting parents. When they come to know of the truth, they find themselves with no options but to continue with the relations. Bihar also reports of many instances where the parents bet at the potential of the boys who just might have cleared the preliminary test or the mains’ examination and get their daughters married with hefty dowry. In rare cases, their bold decisions do turn out to be right but in most cases it’s otherwise.

It’s said that a person changes dramatically with one sight spanning few seconds at the result either on the UPSCweb site or the result pasted on the wall of the UPSCbuilding or by taking a call from someone who breaks the news on the phone. The change unfortunately seems to be unfavourable for the governance whose steel frame the constitute of. Can those who change with one incident in their lives respect the exhortation of the Prime Minister who exhorted them recently to set examples through their conducts for good governance.

Babus deliberation on Delhi blasts

By Manish Anand

Organisation for research foundation brought retired bureaucrats to discuss on a topic – “Delhi blasts: What next?” The participants drew heavily from the IPS and IAS fraternity with few exceptions being General (retd) VP Malik and former ambassador to Pakistan G Pathasasatry.

The “What next” part of the discussion vanished from the minds of these chattering ex-bureaucrats as they lapsed into the politicians’ bashing game with all the blame thrown on the poor folks.from the repeal of POTA to the Indian government’s attempt to make friendship with Pakistan and mollify Bangladesh and Myanmar; all came under scathing attack.The ever arrogant former Intelligence Bureau chief KP Singh had all the ills facing this nation as per the security of the nation is concerned ascribed to the political class.

The gathered scribes could not tell him that the government all the time heavily leans on these very bureaucrats for advices and suggestions, but Mr Singh is all the time into the habit of having last word, so why listen to the voice of the people who the journalists represent.Some of these gentlemen also simplified their analysis of terrorism by picking up the soft target that the Indian Muslims present themselves to be.

But it was all left to the General (retd) Afsir Karim to remind that it was the same what Pakistan has been trying all since many years. To substantiate his point, he said the Delhi triple blast was cleverly chosen on pre-Divali eve with Eid on the tow to play the Hindu-Muslim game.General Karim also said it was the great desire of Pakistani ISI sleuths to see the Babri Masji-Ramjanmabhoomi imbroglio to continue as that would have made Indians to directly play into the hands of Pakistani game plan. Hence, as Gen. Karim said it was important that we were cautious while doing any communal analysis of terrorist attacks. Pakistan is an outright enemy of India and it will remain same as those who control the Pakistani regime are too deeply indoctrinated with anti-India psyche to come out of its so easily.

The former governor of Jammu and Kashmir GC Saxena was too lost in self-appreciation to lend any substantive inputs on “What next after Delhi blasts” concern.Despite having so many retired IPS officers present on the occasion no one thought in proper to shed insight on the incompetency of the Delhi police, which despite being the world’s largest metropolitan police force with around 60,000 men in its force remain out of sync with the challenges that the modern age terrorism has thrown to it.

Condemned women

By Manish Anand

It remains a question if a girl enjoys the right to grow as boys in India even today. Not much effort will be needed to reach at a negative conclusion. A girl in India is condemned to be a commodity or rather a prisoner of man’s wishes.

Some instances of individual achievements are thrown by the gullible apologists to save their skins, but at the end of the day girls cringe within a never crumbling domain that limits her potential to enjoy the growth that she is capable of. Subordinated, sacrificed or drowned into the trap of inferiority complex and self-doubt, girls remain in the loop of identity crisis.

The more fiercely they try to break open of this the more intense resistance they arouse from male members or rather from the collective strength of the society. Still committing suicide in large numbers; still burnt in developed as well as remote places; still condemned to be unfaithful; still killed before breathing; still damned and cursed for bearing girl child; still looked by cynical eyes if walking shoulder straight; still blamed for being victims of man’s brute violence — girls or women live lives of dependence, begging to be loved and empathised. Education was tipped to deliver them from bondage. But is it really so?

Education became another cosmetic that men wanted them to apply to gain a little respect. Another value addition to a commodity that she has been made out to be since centuries.The face of a society in India has always been that of the most brute and ruffians with rascals masking themselves as the guardians of society. Society could never have delivered them from their curses and it did not despite begging for years.

Democracy promised to empower them, but it itself became the mistress of the rascals of the society who remain morally and intellectually corrupt as ever they were.Economic empowerment was again thrown as a euphemism for their deliverance. For all practical purposes, all economic empowerment that women have seen are categorical, selective and skewed.

What other path that they should tread?

Amrita Pritam brought their pathos to her readers. Other continue to do so in their domain. But to become a human being from the crass commodity something extraordinary will be required at a massive level to deliver the whole race from the bondage of men. Time is ticking.

JNU: A fallen varsity

by Manish Anand

Last week the Delhi police recovered five magazine of cartridges wrapped up in cloth from the bushes in the backyard of the Jawaharlal Nehru University camous in New Delhi. The recovery is intriguing as well as disturbing.

JNU has been a den of Leftist students who take on the romanticism of the Left ideology and engage in its political activities all throughout the year. Students have told the author that in the recent time the campus is seeing lots of naxalite activities too. Its apart from the various north-east rebel groups making the campus hunting ground for their causes among the students.Very recently, Issac Muivah, the NSC(IM) leader, basked in the glory of red-carpet welcome that the Naga forum in the campus gave to him. He addressed a receptive audience as well.

The campus is proving to be the safe place for the naxalite leaders who remain most of the time anonymous. Students have seen the naxalite literature in the capus apart from the videos supporting the nxalite causes. The capus well soaked into the old fashioned left ideology as per information is turning into a recruitment centre for the naxal leaders as well as rebel groups of the northeast India.Much worse is the sheer wastage of the taxpayers' money as the University has failed to make any meaningful contribution to India's socio-economic development. In the name of research activities the University has helped in letting a florishing business of cyber cafes and photostate shopsnear its capus with students downloading information from the net and xeroxing for their thesis.

And what these students do all throughout years ?Preparing for Civil Services Examinations or making their political career are what the students engage in. So much so one of the library is known as Dholpur House after the name of the Union Public Services building with few knowing the real name of the library.One student in conversation with the author told that he was doing research on the Cyberian river sysytem for the last five years and all these years has been getting a scholarship of more than Rs 9,000. The governmet has spent more than Rs five lakh on this researcher and what he has been engaged in al these years; preparing for an elusive IAS job.

Another student told that he has been in the capus for the last seven years and now he is too aged for a job and at best he can expect an NGO work. NGO job is what the student yearn for after wasting their prime time in redundant activities.Many of the facult members too are on the board of various NGOs and at best these faculties have taken the garb of experts writing articles on national and international issues for various newspapers. Great intellectual satisfaction for these intellectually stimulated faculty members a the cost of taxpayers' money.

Can the JNU administration come out with a white paper telling the nation what authentic research work the University has done in the last one decade and wha contribution the University has made to India's socio-economic development or in furthering India's understanding of international scenarios orhelping the Indian foreign policy makers with planning India's foreign policy.

JNU is at best has become a drain on India's national taxpeyers' money which could otherwise be spent on some real developmental activities.

Vintage judicial activism

by Manish Anand

The Delhi High Court’s directive to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to demolish all unauthorised buildings in Delhi in four weeks time refreshed the memory of “Judicial Activism” that India saw in 1990s when governance saw massive breakdown all over India. Now, the MCD bulldozers are razing down these buildings with alacrity.

No surprise that the politicians of Delhi have gone into a huddle to save their vote banks. They are now pressuring the Delhi chief minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, and the MCD commissioner, Mr Ashok Kumar Nigam, to find out a face saving formula, reportedly through an amendment of building by-laws and promulgation of Delhi Master Plan-2021 as well as by delaying the demolition campaign itself to buy further time.


As mean they are, they just can not come out of it!


Why did all these unauthorised constructions came up in the first place, that too in utter violation of building by-laws.It’s a known fact that the law-makers in India themselves have no regards for the laws and they do not lose any opportunity to wreck the existing laws. They have their vote banks to protect with whom they can not reason on their lawlessness and hence they would like that the government legalise all these illegal constructions post-facto.Delhi hosts too many conferences and seminars with experts telling people how Delhi is waiting for a disaster to strike and with all these lawlessness in real estate business, having no regard for the mandatory safety norms required due to Delhi being in highly sensitive seismic zone.


The politicians come and listen and give the most stale lecture only to close their eyes to their collusion in the building racket that is going unabated in Delhi.Most disgusting are the urban prowls, enjoying the status of villages. Being in the heart of Delhi, they enjoy all freedom to go on with building activities with no by-laws and no tax policy on the rental that they earn in place.


The result is an utter urban madness. Visit any of the urban prowl and you would just shake your head for the ghettos that the people live in. The only exception is that these ghettoes are concrete madness. The so called village inhabitants earn rent in lakhs every month and with greed unending buildings are only touching sky. Come any disaster, the population will be just wiped out in one stroke, many experts have said time and again. Then the “royal living politicians” will comfortably dole out obituaries for the lives lost.


Judiciary remains the only hope for Indians and it must pursue in its act relentlessly and intelligently read into the cunning acts of the politicians and save people from them.

God calling

by Onkar Kashyap

In the last few years, my belief in the existence of a supreme power has been strengthened through unique personal experiences. It is said, “Some things you need to see to believe. Some others you need to believe to see.” God (whatsoever be the definition) definitely falls in the second category.

By this piece, I attempt to share such experiences. I hope they trigger readers to question their beliefs and maybe, and some will start believing beyond the ordinary.
This particular episode happened during my recent trips to Rai Bareli, a town in west Uttar Pradesh. On a visit to my place, I took a night bus from Jaipur, which dropped me in New Delhi at six in the morning, five-and-a-half hour later. From Delhi I had to take a train And then take a train that leaves Delhi and drops me for Rai Barreli. At the guest house, I sat down for some chat with Suresh, contractor of the guest house.

Over dinner, I told him of my travel to Rai Barreli and he mentioned that since I was going all the way to Rai Barreli, I should also plan a visit to a nearby town famous for Sai Baba temple and pay homage to Sai Baba. I have a different sense of religion and do not put much stock in any kind of temple or image. I hardly ever visit temple and whenever I do, it is when it is least populated. So, in tune with my sensibilities, I replied to Suresh’s suggestion with haste and maybe with some contempt. I said, “Who has the time for a visit to temple?” Something inside me shouted — “mistake!”, but since he did not react, I too kept silent.

The early morning air in Delhi was fresh and one could feel a lot of life in it. Delhi probably never sleeps and true to this image there were people even at early hour. There was a certain bounce in my walk. This was helped by the wonderful FM music on air. What else could I have asked for? Before I realised I had reached the spot where I was to board the train. Waiting is usually the difficult part in any journey and I prefer to be on the move. Sure, there are occasions when simply sitting without a thought or movement is bliss. I looked around for a place to settle down as the train was due two hours later.

Then, I caught sight of a small structure with stairs in front of it. This was under a tree and poor light prevented a clear view of what was inside the structure. It looked like a temple, but was not clear. Anyway, I settled down. I stretched my legs and continued to enjoy the FM music. A tea vendor nearby leaped my joy. So passed my next one hour. By then the sun had peeked through the darkness and it was a cozy (but not bright) light around. I got up for my next cup of tea. The shock came when I returned to the stairs which had been bearing me for the last 60 minutes. The “mandir” was of Sai Baba. For a few seconds I just stared. And in those moments, I was grounded into dust. I felt washed away and in some strange manner being loved. My nonchalance of the last evening flashed by and I rarely felt ‘smaller’ in my life. I also experienced an absence of ego.

Once I got through the shock a smile broke my lips. A silent thank you was said somewhere. Not only for the generosity of God, but more for his utterly unique and unforgettable manner of teaching a lesson. It is said there is no teacher greater than life. I agree! Now on each occasional I go through Delhi I sunk into the pleasure of sitting on the same stairs. Each time I feel reminded of my lesson. Each time I feel loved and wanted. Each time I feel connected and belonging to the universe. Time did not permit me a visit to temples and that too of famous one. Hopefully, I have still been lucky to realise a truth and be blessed with. I have purposefully left out putting into words on my realisation. It needs to be felt and not read or written. One passing note – there is hardly a day when we are not touched and caressed by God and Life. One need not read any book if one can read the book of life.

One full lifetime. One full circle.