Just a week back or so, our boss posed an intelligent question to all his teammates – what would be the population of India at the end of this century in 2100? The question took all of us by surprise and it started a spate of guesses? From 175 crore to 250, there was not a number that was not conjectured. Most of us couldn’t believe when the actual answer was shared by the questioner ! The answer was it would be lesser than what it was today!

While people googled to find the rationale and logic, today’s Times of India actually has details of study conducted by Lancet. According to the study, India’s population after peaking at 160 crore in 2048 will start shrinking, ending at 109 crore by the end of the century in 2100. China will peak much sooner in 2024 and its population will be 73 crore in 2100. This phenomenon will be repeated for most of the countries resulting in “ jaw dropping” decline in population.

The study further observed that female productivity at 2.1 barely replenishes population and any fall below this leads to decline. Increased life expectancy cannot make up for decline on account of lower female productivity. By 2100, productivity of Indian women is expected to decline to 1.29.

The study further predicts tremendous adverse consequences of declining young working population and corresponding increase in older population above 60 that will be burden on the states.

Isn’t it a big irony and dilemma that today countries are fighting to control the population explosion fearing shortage of food, residences, resources and above all potable water? In future, when population starts declining after reaching the peak, such a scenario will pose challenge of a different kind, as explained above.

Population explosion is a challenge,

Countries are working to control it;

Very soon population will start declining,

Have patience and just wait and watch it.

Lower population will also be challenge,

With fewer youngsters and more oldsters;

What can man do other than to look skywards

For where will he dump these oldsters?

It seems human life is nothing,

But a never ending saga of struggle and problems by tens and hundred;

The man strove to survive in Stone Age ,

And he will face a different challenge on twenty one hundred .

Just to conclude, let’s plead to the divine power that we need no pandemics like Corona to reduce our numbers; as it is we will be considerably reduced by 2100 , but continue to look up to divinity for different reasons.

“Life is Beautiful”

My yesterday’s blog on Good times pushes me further to explore this theme of yearning for future more. As explained in my previous blog, living the moment is easier said than done because of our fascination with a happier tomorrow.

The contrarian view is that while there could be disenchantment with the present and obsession for the future, when I reflect on the past, there’s this general feeling of the all being well in the past on the hind sight. The missed opportunity, the momentary shock, the spontaneous disappointment were in fact all blessing in disguise on reflection! This is further emboldened by the thought I came across in Mahatria’s latest message that says-

“We are all created for unique destinations. It seems like we are all in the same game! Yet, each one’s direction and finishing line is unique and different. No replacement. No substitution. You can take no one’s place. No one can take your place. You are here to be YOU.

All times are unique to us because we are we. Whether the same is good or bad, it’s all in mind. Whether this Covid time is the time to introspect or commit suicide depends on us. When Covid goes, whether we fall back into the rut or imbibe the learning to make our lives better is entirely our prerogative,

If the good times have not lasted

Bad times will also not last;

Very soon the current Corona pandemic

Will be a thing of the past!

Unless we live in present

And enjoy each day as it comes in time

We will keep in on waiting for good times,

Killing our present for some unknown future time !!

We all philosophise that a person should live in present; he or she should live the moment rather than chasing the future. A person should cherish whatever he or she has rather than chasing more or better. Howsoever true the above philosophy may be and how frequently we may either be preaching or be preached about it, the fact is that we all live in future – physically in present but mentally and wishfully in future! Needless to give a caveat here that in current Corona times, all of us are yearning for the future, ironically that’s going to be replica of our much abhorred past!

Readers must be wondering why this post and what’s its relevance in today’s context when mentally and wishfully all of us are yearning for Corona free future? The reason is that it’s been striking my mind that in less than 2 years I will be retiring from active service – another name for 9 to 6 job that of late has acquired monstrous proportions thanks again to Corona and it’s consequence viz. Work from home- and then I will be having all the time to pursue or cover up whatever I couldn’t do all these times while satisfying my physical and familial requirements. I would read, travel, sleep, learn music, go on long walks, spend time with my daughter’s family, visit my extended family and meet old time relations and friends etc etc. However, then suddenly the above philosophy of which I have been both – a preacher as also a follower – came to beckon me forcing me to rethink. Indeed, all my life I have chased the future. As young school boy, I fantasised free college life, as a collegiate I longed for financial independence by becoming a professional , as a professional I dreamt about being rich and top executive and while with the grace of god, most of the chased targets have been largely achieved with 20-30% plus and minus, the chase has not ended! As I put it in verse:

In the childhood I chased youth,

But I was indeed such an uncouth;

For in youth I chased old age,

Considering it to be a golden age;

Now that old age beckons me,

The reality suddenly reckons me;

Where will be the end of this chase?

Will it be only at the grave?

My readers may again accuse me of spreading negativity, which I heartily detest. But living in the present is easier said than done. I think inherently it’s in man’s nature to chase a better tomorrow. If it’s indeed better, we should not forget the struggles of the past and become more humble ; if it’s worse, we should not grudge and be gratuitous for the God having been kind enough to have given us our share of good times!

And if it’s all in the mind, let’s train our minds so that not only today, but all times to come are good times!

Hinduism is different from other major religions such as Islam, Christianity and Sikhism as it’s the only religion that actually has bestowed names and forms upon the God(s). So we have trinity of Brahma, Vishu and Mahesh and we have their incarnations like Rama and Krishna. In other religions, God is supreme creator of this entire universe and is not given any form or name. These religions have in fact been started by either messengers of Gods like Prophet Muhammad and Guru Nanak or by the son of God, as Jesus is addressed as.

There are holy scriptures like Bible, Quran Shareef, Guru Granth Sahab and Bhagvad and Ramayana that encapsulate teachings of these Gurus, Prophets and Gods. Also, there are stories around lifetimes of these prophets, Gurus, Son of God and gods themselves that have inspired generations of the followers of their respective faiths.

In the matter of faith, it’s absolutely impertinent to question the veracity of the facts concerning these stories that have been passed on from generation to generation as aforesaid. The theory of “to each his own” aptly applies to such matters of faith and in a secular country like India, where the constitution treats all citizens irrespective of caste, creed or religion as equals, respecting not only one’s own faith but all other faiths becomes an essential prerequisite.

It’s most heartening that in the above backdrop, today “ shilanyas” or “laying the foundation “ ceremony of the proposed Ram temple at Ayodhya has been solemnised and that too with utmost peace, grace and dignity for all. Invitation extended to the Muslim litigant and his hearty acceptance of the same, attributing his attending the ceremony to will of Lord Rama, speaks volumes of the communal amity that runs deep into the ethos of our country.

As someone rightly said, Lord Rama has two Swaroopas or forms – one of the God and another of Maryada Purushottam or a Human par excellence. While his Swaroop as incarnation of Vishnu can be matter of faith, his Maryada Purushottam Swaroop is an ideal for all the Indians. In that sense Ram belongs to no faith in particular but to the entire country and in fact, the entire world and therefore, it’s an occasion to rejoice for all and not any particular community or section of citizenry! Like so many religious places that are holy to all communities like Dargah Shareef, Ajmer, Velankini church, Golden Temple and Vaishnodevi, let the Ram temple in Ayodhya be the new symbol of communal harmony and national unity that binds the people of this county together.

Jai Shri Ram !

31st July 1980 was one of the darkest days in the history of Indian music. That day, the king of Bollywood playback singing Mohammed Rafi bid adieu to this world at an untimely age of 56 years.

He was a simpleton who was born in a poor family in Kotla Sultanpur near Amritsar. How he went on to scaling the highest peak in Bollywood playback singing is a well known story that has inspired thousands of other singers and artists to try their luck in Bollywood.

Between 1944, when he made his debut and 1980 when he breathed his last, he sang thousands of songs in multiple languages for almost all the leading men. Of the triumvirate of Dilip, Dev snd Raj, while Rafi was the voice of Dilip, he sang some scintillating numbers for Dev as well. For the next lot, Rafi ruled the roost. Two of the biggest stars Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor owed their popularity to some extent to ditties sung by Rafi for them. Ditto Joy, Dharmendra as also Sunil Dutt and Manoj Kumar in his initial days. In 1969, Kishore finally made it to the top of his singing career after a very long struggle and though he became the first choice of music directors in 70s, Rafi continued to enthral his fans with his silken voice.

It’s amazing that 40 years after his death, how the repertoire of songs left behind by Rafi continues to regale the new generation of listeners , adding to his ever growing list of fan following. Many aficionados of his music are aware Rafi clones that came on the music scene to fill the vacuum created by legend’s death – Anwar, Shabbir, Munna even Sonu to an extent. But what many people may not know is the fan following Rafi has in our neighbouring country. I saw a programme on YouTube, where obeisance was being paid to the legendary singer on his 40th death anniversary. Khalid Baig, who has done his masters in musicology from London and has also done an elaborate research on Rafi, is his big fan who is known in Pakistan’s music circle as voice of Rafi. In connection with his research, he also visited India couple of times and apart from members of Rafi’s family, he also met Bollywood stars and singers including Dev Anand and Manoj Kumar. The conclusion of his deep research is something that we all know ! He was humblest of the persons, who knew nothing apart from music. A simpleton, whom Lata once described as “ Khuda ka Banda”, was a great human being that makes him the greatest singer ever born.

On his 40th death anniversary that just went by on 31st July, let’s keep the great man’s music and his legacy alive in our country, the way Khalid Baig is doing in our neighbourhood.

As he once sang, “ Tum mujhe yun bhula na paoge”. In his lifetime, he might not have guessed that his prophecy would turn out to be true and generation of Bollywood music fans would uphold him at the top of their memory.

Covid is refusing to go. If anything , it’s intensity and coverage are going up with number of infected persons and mortality rate both continuing to rise.

It all started around Holi- I distinctly remember as our society had cancelled annual holi celebration as advisory for social distancing was already doing rounds. How there was Janta curfew and total lockdown and mass infections at Dharavi etc are now part of oft discussed and written about facts.

Navratris, Easter and Eid Al Fitr were celebrated under complete lockdown situations. Already, Lal Baug cha Raja is going to write history by not making an appearance this Ganpati breaking a non stop tradition of 80 years. While there are some claims by pharma companies of having found some cure, vaccine still seems some distance away in spite of its testing being fast tracked. God knows whether Janmashtami, Dahi Handi, Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Christmas will be celebrated with traditional gaiety or will the current pandemic conditions continue to put a spanner in all our festivals.

Currently affected festivals are Eid al Adha being celebrated today and Rakshabandhan to be celebrated on 3rd August. While Eid is a community festival celebrated by offering prayer, feasting on that which has been sacrificed and partaking of the feast with the needy and providing them with alms, Rakshabandhan is a family festival, where all family members assemble to celebrate delicate and sensitive emotion of affection between brother and sister.

Muslim brethren all over have celebrated Eid today with sobriety and restrain in view of the current pandemic. Many opted by donating money for online qurbani to avoid physical congregation in these pandemic times.

Rakshabandhan is also going to be celebrated in a similar fashion with sisters tying virtual Rakhis on the wrists of their brothers through video calling,

Lesson here is that spirit of festivals is more important than rituals observed while celebrating them. Eid teaches us the importance of sacrifice and charity, while rakhi is a festival of trust and affection. Current Covid pandemic is indeed teaching us so many new ways of life, which we probably knew in our subconscious but were too busy with the worldly pleasures to let them be manifested.

Happy Eid and Rakshabandhan. Let’s stay safe and defeat the pandemic. Festivals are part of our milieu and will come again for us to celebrate them with traditional gaiety but without forgetting the learning from Covid.

What distinguishes human beings from other living creatures is their sense of relationships. While some relationships are by blood – one’s parents and children – there are others that are acquired through betrothal or contract like spouse and in laws. However, one relationship that’s neither acquired by blood nor betrothal and that entails no responsibility, obligation, duty , compulsion or formality but is purely a matter of heart and choice is friendship. Today being the international friendship day, I dedicate this write up to all my friends.

First set of friends get acquired in school. Today, in the jet age, while children may have to change schools frequently on account of their parents changing job and station, I was lucky to have studied in the same school for 12 long years and in the process make some enduring friendships that have lasted till date after more than half a century!

As one moves to college, the bonhomie of school starts going amiss, but those who pursue professional courses by staying in hostels do build up lasting friendships. I didn’t have that opportunity but still have a few college friends.

As one turns professional, priorities change and rat race begins. During our day to day working, we do come across colleagues, associates, vendors, clients etc, but all acquaintanceships are not friendships. In fact, there’s a thin line between the two and sometimes when it gets blurred is difficult to ascertain. Similarly in our personal lives we come across neighbours, good Samaritans et al, but friendship is different as mentioned above.

We are all busy in our lives chasing our dreams and running day and night to fulfill needs of our own self and our family members – more luxuries than needs. In this daily struggle, we may not frequently call up friends, send them WhatsApp messages, wish them happy birthday or anniversary, but deep in our hearts we know that those friends are there for us ! The very thought of meeting them and spending some quality time reliving the old times is in fact the fuel that keeps us going.

On this international friendship day, let me tell all my friends that I truly nurture and value our relationship and pay an ode to them that reads-

Diamonds are forever,

That’s how the saying goes

My coffers are empty having no diamonds

But is it really my loss?

Not quite, if you don’t believe

Have a look at my treasure, at my trove;

It’s full of precious gems called friends, that too without any behove!

Let’s celebrate, nurture and value this selfless relationship on this international friendship day!

My readers by now have a fair bit of idea on why Mahatria’s thoughts are found to be so very inspiring by me, motivating me to share the same with the larger audience for their benefit.

In a discourse broadcasted on YouTube, he has very effectively highlighted the need to develop one’s subconscious mind. As explained by him, our conscious mind is only 1/8th of our total mind, the remaining 7/8 being the subconscious mind. And all our lives we use only 1/8th of our mind, which is as if in factory called mind that’s employing 8 workers, only 1 is working while the remaining 7 are being subsidised by this one!

According to Mahatria, power of man is in his mind, power of mind is in subconscious mind and power of subconscious mind is in subconscious beliefs. To build a powerful subconscious mind, he suggests a three pronged approach comprising the following steps:

(1) Avoid mixed associations – As he brings out in a very nuanced manner that’s become his hallmark, he says that during the course of any feeling, any emotion or any action, our mind thinks in favour of it as also against it. We have no clarity of thought and we tend to mix the issue in for and against parlance. If we try, what if we fail? What if our request is not accepted but turned down? He explains that having mixed associations is a basic trait of conscious mind, but when we build clarity of thought and purpose, we reach subconscious mind, stoking our subconscious beliefs. We must pursue our goals and objectives with a single minded devotion.

(2) Honour every commitment – As he cites an example that if you say that you will do yoga each 365 days of the year, you are likely to fail your commitment. When you are sincere and make a commitment with an unfailing promise to honour it, it reinforces subconscious beliefs.

(3) Run your victory laps – As he explains, negative feelings are more deep rooted and are embedded in the subconscious mind and beliefs. Sadness, anger, failure, loss are all deeply embedded. To overcome these, we not only have to seek success or victory, but celebrate !

All the above are simple truths that we are aware of – clarity of thought, dedicated commitment and inculcate positivity! But when explained in simple words and structured manner by Mahatria, the impact is immediate and lasting. He, in fact, inspires you to follow these simple time tested truths to improve your life!

I find his thoughts even more relevant in the current Covid scenario, because unless one sees this pandemic with a spiritual lens, it can be heart rending and extremely traumatic!

Life is uncertain and difficult,

Covid has added to its miseries;

Listen to divine and think differently,

Clarity will emerge by unravelling all the mysteries!!

Work from home (WFH) is posing newer challenges such as unlimited working hours, no breaks, mental fatigue and above all monotony. People are not taking leaves because as it is they are at home and there’s no scope for any outing or visit. People are not dressing up, grooming themselves, taking care of their physical health, binging on junk food and leading an unscheduled life style that’s hovering around office work and television. There’s no physical activity or mental stimulation. In fact, household tiffs and obesity are being cited as two most adverse outcomes of the current lockdown.

The problem is that most of the organisations are seriously exploring implementation of WFH even in post Covid times. It’s said that this is expected to result in substantial savings to the organisations ( rent, electricity, overheads etc) as also employees ( conveyance, travel time etc)

It’s not as if everyone is adversely affected by WFH situation. Women with dependent elders, young children and other such issues are rejoicing the idea of WFH. It gives them flexibility as also opportunity to fulfil other familial obligations. Those who used to spend hours commuting to office and back home should also generally be happy.

But besides everything, man inherently is a social animal and notwithstanding conveniences and flexibilities offered by WFH, he needs to meet people, exchange thoughts, mingle socially and at times, celebrate his existence. The very concepts of social distancing, avoiding crowds, working from home, staying indoors etc are anathema to his basic trait and that’s the reason why Corona’s impact is being felt so severely much beyond its contagiousness and fatality.

Corona has hit the very basis of mankind’s existence. It’s not so much to do with WFH, but overall constriction associated with it that’s driving people to psychological disorders, including suicidal tendencies. Yoga, meditation or mere chanting of God’s name can prove to be great stress busters in these Covid times. We need to treat it as a passing phase rather than being apprehensive about its permanence. If change is the only constant, then this scenario will also change and those who will see through it successfully and come out relatively less scathed will be the winners.

If those days are gone

How long will Covid survive?

Man’s resilience knows no bounds

Tomorrow is a new day of his life!

I love both The Dark and The Light, Evil and Angel, Good as well as Bad, because they all are incomplete without each other!

It’s Friday evening and after an excruciating week, as I just sit to relax and chill, a few random thoughts come to my mind. These are:

(1) As India overtakes Spain in number of deaths and stands at third position behind US and Brazil in total number of Covid cases, the country is unlocking slowly. Number of people on the streets, vehicles on the roads, shops open, offices gradually opening, sale of cars and bikes going up and several other activities almost touching pre Covid levels is a great dilemma, very hard to explain. When there were few cases, we were under strict lockdown ! Now that pandemic is peaking and so are deaths, we are trying to be going back to normal!

(2) Oxford vaccine is now getting into phase 3 trial, while as I am writing this blog, I understand our own Covaxin ( under the auspices of ICMR) has been administered to a patient in AIIMS and as last heard, so far there has been no side reaction. Is effective vaccine really about to be mass produced shortly and we are all going to be vaccinated over the next 3-4 months to be Covid proof?

(3) India and China are talking at military leadership level, but outcomes are not very clear! It’s said that while China has moved back its forces in Galwan valley, it’s not doing so in finger region of Pangong Lake. Indian Army is stocking up for long Ladakh winters! What’s happening there?

(4) Mumbai and Eastern parts of India are receiving record rainfall. But Mumbai lakes have 29% stock of water only while devastation in Bihar is unprecedented. Government is relying on record Agri production for Indian economy to piggy ride rural recovery! But with poor and farmers at the forefront of all natural calamities, this optimism seems slightly misplaced!

(5) Pakistan’s rhetoric on Kashmir is unfazed by Corona pandemic , while Nepal’s claim on owning up real Ayodhya is only adding to the confusion on the chances of improvement in India’s relations with its neighbours in short to medium term!

(6) A well run, largely profitable and having the distinction of acquiring numero uno position in aviation sector company like Indigo is cutting its staff by 10%. I think, earlier it had cut staff salaries too. Employees contributing to reserves built up over a period of time are getting sacrificed at the altar of pandemic for no fault of theirs. This in turn is leading to loan defaults. The job market is at its nadir.

(7) A bunch of Kerala doctors working in Mumbai decided to go back on not being paid salaries. There are several health workers, teachers and other government/semi government employees not getting salaries regularly! How will their kitchens run?

(8) Price of gold has crossed Rs50000 per 10 grams and interest rates on deposits are now hovering around 6% level. With 35% tax on interest, the return on deposits are proving to be too meagre for pensioners depending on this for survival!

(9) I haven’t touched a physical news paper for 4 months and am reading e papers, solving Sudoku and crossword in my register, which is very inconvenient !

(10) I am dying to go to my favourite South Indian restaurant at Matunga for my staple of idli, dosa, vada and thali! Don’t know when will I have all these?

The crux is that even in randomness, Corona is not sparing! It’s made such a deep impact on our psyche that while all our considered thoughts hover around it, it dominates even our random thoughts! Hope our country, businesses, rural economy, health sector and above all citizens, especially those who have struggled for food, jobs, livelihood during these Covid times show resilience to survive this to see the golden future that will come back for sure! Don’t miss the thought stated in bold italics at the beginning of this article! Without pandemic, we wouldn’t have valued our normal life!