The bleakness of existence

Originally written on 12th Sep 2009

Certain habits, formed over years, tend to become addictive. As a child I was encouraged by my dad, elder brother, teachers etc to read the newspaper. Over the years, waking up each morning, one of the first things that one did was to reach out for the paper and sit with a cup of coffee... some things have changed - during my school/college days, by the time the paper reached my hand it no longer had the crisp freshness, having already passed through my dad and brother's hands. The coffee cup too was a medium sized one.... today my paper is unspoil'd and the cup has given way to a L-A-R-G-E mug with the words "COFFEE ADDICT" embossed...

 

Yeah, so some things have changed and yet some things haven't, not really... each morning I realise within 15 minutes of glancing through the paper our newspaper's predilection with the bleakness of our existence. Pages and pages of tales (true, no doubt) of exploitation, corruption, scandal, terror, cheating, rape, murder... is this really worth the time and trouble? I wonder...

 

This morning a friend wrote me a mail about the inanity of TV shows such as "Sach Ka Saamna" generally bemoaning about the declining values of our times. I replied (rather facetiously, I now think) why do you watch it then? I now realise this same rule applies to newspaper reading too. Why, at all, should I allow my morning to grow bleak by reading the paper? It has become an addiction that saps one's soul each morning.

 

Our Home Minister, the Minsiter for External Affairs, Prime Minister et al keep expressing their disappointment, frustration etc at Pakistan not acting against Hafez Saeed despite dossiers and dossiers of evidence given to that country about Saeed's involvement in 26/11. I read about this. Then on page 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 I read that "dreaded dacoit so-and-so" has been acquitted by this or that High Court for want of evidence! Our own courts do not recognise "evidence" and "investigation" by our "premier" agency the CBI. What a mockery?! Moninder Singh Pander of Nithari walks free?

 

Occasionally a gem shines, making the morning worthwhile - yesterday, for instance, a simple statement by a Dalit primary teacher: I no longer remove my slippers and hold it in my hands when a Thakur walks by.

 

Yes, some things HAVE changed....

 

Sats