Beyond the stars - What could be there?

I am on my roof, looking at the bright starts. It is quite unusual to have such a clear sky in this season. Have you ever thought what could be beyond the stars? You would probably say more stars. It is true. One quiz game which we used to play as kids involved asking tough questions which required innovative answers. The answer to the question “how many starts are there” was “as many as there is hair on your head”. Good that we never used it on anyone bald.

The Stars : What's beyond

I now hear that there is not one but multiple universes. But the question I wish to ask is not the normal “whether there is life out there or not” but in fact the question is - if there IS life out there, is it possible that it’s a mirror image of life out here.

Just imagine what would THAT mean.

It could mean 2 things:

First: for every person here there will be an absolute identical person out there. An absolute twin in looks, appearance and having same relations. So there would be an identical Abhishek blogging away. There would be an identical you:  Your parents; your wife; children; friends; girlfriend everyone would be replicated in that universe. But is it a duplication of life here? No…it’s a mirror image right?  What we see in a mirror is absolutely reverse than what is actually happening (try holding your right hand up while looking in the mirror – the reflection is always  holding the left hand up).

What would that mean. It would mean, if you are rich, your mirror image in that other universe would be poor;  if you are generous, he would be stingy; if you are educated,(S) he would be illiterate.  But one thing, which will probably remain the exact same is the basic characteristic. So if you are a fighter in life, your mirror image in that universe would also be a fighter. Only the odds and challenges would be different. It could also mean that if given a choice between 2 cross roads you take one road, he would always take the other one. Also both of you will have the same equations with your relations to begin with, but then you would be thrown into the pool of circumstances.

What would you do if you find yourself in that situation suddenly. If in this world, you are struggling with your life (say in your job or studies or whatever) then the mirror image in that other world is in an entirely opposite situation. One thing common would be, he too would be struggling - in an opposite way. So if money is a problem, he probably would be the billionaire but the situations and fights would be exactly same. While you would be struggling to meet the basic needs of life, of a decent house, good clothes  etc, he would be struggling with how to fulfill the tax demands and how to meet the basic needs of keeping his factory intact. Both of you would have same odds and evens but of differing proportions. And remember, both of you have exactly same characteristics. So if you are a whiner, he is too. Both have problems in life -  only the proportions are different.  Only circumstances would change but the basic theory, the basic character would still be the same.   

The weather today is indeed astounding. Will buy the much awaited telescope one of these days and explore some more stars. It is true. Everyone sees his or her own life with a telescope. As if he or she is indeed the center of the universe and all the goodness or badness happens to only him or her. All this probably can be plot for a movie. Maybe I’ll write the plot anyway…just for the heck of it…..or maybe my other self in that other universe already has?

 

India: Travel Advisories & Disaster Recovery

I see the travel advisory which most countries have published on India. It says India is a risky place to be. I look at it and think. Just how big a population these countries support? India. Home to 1/6th of the population of the world. That’s more than a billion people! If this billion can survive and live to reproduce more, just how big is this “risk”?

I am still fuming at this, when I hear of the Uttarkhand crises. The floods which have claimed many lives and have at current estimates left more than 60 thousand stranded. 60 thousand! That’s a huge number. But floods are a natural phenomenon right? It can happen anywhere right? Then India is not really to blame right? Right on first 2 counts, wrong on the last.

While there is still a debate on how this is a man made ecological disaster, the poor show which is really to blame is the disaster recovery program.

The news says, 60,000 people stranded. 22 choppers put in place to ferry them (http://www.mid-day.com/news/2013/jun/210613-uttarakhand-floods-22-helicopters-pressed-into-rescue-operation.htm)

 22 choppers for 60,000 people! WOW! That’s 1 chopper for every 2,700 people. Assuming a seating capacity of 6 passengers, one seat for every 455 people. Just how many rides will these choppers be making daily?  If all 22 choppers are ferrying 6 passengers and doing 10 rides daily, it would take 45 days to take out all the 60 thousand people. Just how many would survive? Floods bring about disease. I shudder to think what would the death toll be when this happens. Infections, no medical care: children and elderly – stranded with an endless wait for a chopper? That’s not the best thing to happen in the world.

I am proud of India and its accomplishments. It has only been 66 years since independence and India is already on the verge of being super power. But: a super power which manages just 22 choppers for a devastation of this scale.

It has been 8 years since the National Disaster Management Authority has been formed. And all we could manage were 22 choppers. Where are the others – ferrying politicians and tycoons ??

Having vented out the anger, I still feel India is not a “risky” place as such. Let’s not jump to conclusions. It is, after all a natural disaster. Management of the disaster is another thing, but it does not show that India is a dangerous place. The billion people are still living. With so many people, problems are bound to be compounded (I am not at all saying that disaster management in India is good. In fact, the disaster management system in India is a disaster). I am however saying that 1 billion people still survive to an old age in India without disasters: hence the travel advisories may not be accurate.

 

So just how does the billion survive and where do they get their fighting spirits from? Faith plays a major role here. In Uttarkhand, while the latest houses fell to the nature’s fury like a house of cards, the 1000 year old temple still survives. What would you say to that? While some may argue that the modern and latest techniques used are not good enough; that like other things the material used is of inferior quality; that corruption has seeped into house building – something which probably did not exist 1000 years ago. For others – it is faith! The house of God cannot be swept away by a flood. Those that died, will find their way to the havens. With the situation at ground looking so bleak, I certainly hope so!

 Abhishek

Wait! Don't eat that burger yet

We went to see the latest Ranbir Kapoor flick, Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani. Big Cinemas at the Great India Place, Noida is a favourite destination for movies in our family. The screen is good, seats are comfortable and sound is awesome.

 

The Great India Place, Noida

The snacks ...that is another story however!! The guys at the snack counter (yes it’s always guys), are pressed for work, with long queues in waiting. They however don’t forget to do one thing every time. They actually put the burgers in the microwave, with the plastic cling film still on. This despite the supervisor being reminded every time we visit (and its almost every week whenever a new film is on) that, cling film is plastic and non microwavable at that. Eating that burger which has been microwaved wrapped in a plastic film is cancerous.

The least they can do (yes despite being pressed for work!) is to remove the film before putting in the microwave. Its somebody’s health and life that is at stake. I am a RK fan (used to watch his father as a child, who is also RK and now watch him as a grown up) but certainly won’t like putting my life at stake for him!

I motion for the supervisor. He eyes me suspiciously. He has been summoned on numerous previous occasions for the same thing and his instinct possibly warn him of the impending danger.

He comes almost apologising before he has reached me. I tell him the problem - again. Taking the still heated burger in my hand I explain him how eating this will be harmful for me. I tell him to check www.cancerresearchuk.org on their advisory on cling films. They say cling film may be microwaved but not while still in contact with the food. He apologises profusely and arranges a “fresh” burger. It is cold of course. No one bothers to heat it after removing the cling film: that that would be customer service. Unthinkable actually! How could I even imagine that. I am given the cold “fresh” burger and again showered with apologies. I take the burger in my hand, take my tray and the balance cash and move outside the line.

The huge rush at the counter is growing impatient. The doors of the hall just opened and people want to rush in. So what if their seats are already pre-booked and no one else can occupy it?  For their money they also wish to see the ads which are screened before.

I still see the counter. The guys are busy taking orders, putting the fries in the case, pouring the soft drink, putting the burgers - with the plastic film still on, in the microwave.....

Jago filmy audience Jago! Go a  minute late to your seat..no one would take it, you’ve paid money to book it. But please ask them to remove the film before putting it in micro. You need to be sure, what you put in your mouth atleast!

 

 Eat right, be health!!

Abhishek