Here is another round of random reflections for your perusal:

• The season has been playing up last few weeks. Mumbai was flooded so many days that boat rides for commuters on local railway tracks have become ‘sustainable’ alternatives. A newly constructed and recently inaugurated (by the Prime Minister) 8- lane super-highway in Delhi witnessed ‘floating’ cars on the ‘new river’ on highway bed, 50 feet above ground. In Sweden & California, huge wild fires are destroying communities and forests. Something is amiss, indeed? Could it be climate?
• Rural England is very different from the buzz of London or Manchester. Farms, cattle, sheep and related activities continue to prosper. Some families continue farming, and some have ‘returned’ to the farm. A store, pub, cricket team and social bonding characterise most of these villages in England. It is here that arrival of an ‘unknown other’ is noticed immediately. Not in London or Manchester!

• I am in that age group where my peers have generally slowed down, mostly retired. Maintaining friendship with them entails receiving a lot of WhatsApp messages daily. Youtube clips, photos, Quotable Quotes, Flowers---everything ‘swims’ into my phone several times daily. Instead of saying hello to them, I am busy deleting these ‘messages’ so that my phone doesn’t choke!

• A ‘new’ visitor to UK may find some surprises, of late. First, heat wave, dry spells, scorching sun—in a country known for cloudy and wet weather throughout the year. Then, a large number of Korean and Chinese youth—studying English, generally in most ‘exciting’ locations (like Brighton). And a large number of big buses floating around, taking international tourists on ‘pre-packaged’ sites. Most popular snack—samosa.

• The world witnessed lunar eclipse last Friday night; it was full moon night, and Mars was shining red, closest to the earth. This day is designated as ‘Guru Purnima’ in India—remembering your Guru, the teacher--. In Indian tradition, respecting one’s Guru has been considered more sacred than praying for God. Since modern generation has become accustomed to ‘Google Guru’, Guru Purnima also got ‘eclipsed’ this year!

All the very best

Sincerely

Rajesh Tandon