TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Tulips bloom in 

the cruellest month of April 

Memory of lost love. 

2.

Every bud wrenching 

to become flower soon

Lovers waiting for the Spring.

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Stormy weather 

Birds dashing to their nests 

A child adjusting his kite. 

2.

An artist drawing an image 

entangled lines and twisted shapes 

Spring brings symmetry. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

RISHI SUNAK AND HIS CHALLENGES

 Britain has got its third Prime Minister in this year in Rishi Sunak. He is 42 and had been a frontrunner after Boris Johnson resigned. With a career in financial services he is highly expected to clear away the economic mess Britain has been reeling under. He has to win back market's confidence. Taxation policy is the main thing he has to work on as it was one key cause of his predecessor Liz Truss' downfall. Tax cuts ought to be streamlined. Public spending must be curtailed. These are the prime focus for maintaining the financial health of the country and these are not easy to administer. Creation of jobs will be challenging. His opponents in the Labour and in the Liberal parties are already crying foul over his intentions to think about the common folks .

On political front his main thrust should be to keep his party in order which has been apparently in disarray. He got support from over a 100 colleagues. Some who don't have good opinion of him describe him backstabber who cheated Boris Johnson- the man who brought him in the front and made him the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Rishi Sunak has a tightrope walk ahead in keeping his house in order. The general election is in 2025. Few MPs also raised voice for convening the election. 

On a lighter note a day after Rishi Sunak assumed the top post , a fox was seen walking past the 10 Downing Street. What to make of it...?? 

A CHAT WITH A DUTCH RESEARCH SCHOLAR ON URBANIZATION IN SMALL TOWNS IN INDIA.

 Steven De Jongh, A Research Scholar from University of Amsterdam came to SAMASTIPUR - a town in the Indian province of Bihar. I met him and assisted him in his research work on the topic of Urbanisation in Small Towns in India. We visited many places and met people of all walks to gather information about the economic activities and growth.

SALMAN RUSHDIE MUST LIVE LONG !

 It has been around 2 months since the famous author Sir Salman Rushdie was attacked onstage in New York State. He was rushed to hospital and put on a ventilator. His injuries were severe and there were doubts about his life and survival. On Saturday his literary agent Andrew Wylie gave an interview to the Spanish Newspaper El Pais and offered a bulletin of sorts on the author's conditions. Sadly, the information depressed the entire world of literature. Salman Rushdie has reportedly lost the sight of one eye and his one hand is incapacitated. The only positive thing is that he's going to live. His agent however didn't divulge any further details of his whereabouts. He also lamented the dangerous rise of nationalism and far right groups in Europe, America and Latin America.

Sir Salman Rushdie was at a literary gathering at Chautauqua Institution in New York participating in some summer lecture the institution is famed for organizing every year. A man named Hadi Matar(24) suddenly rushed onstage and stabbed the author multiple times on his neck, chest and torso. The injuries were deep. The nerves of his one arm were cut as his agent reported. Hadi Matar is in prison on the charges of second degree attempted murder and assault. In an interview with NewYork Post Hadi Matar told he was surprised to know that Mr. Rushdie survived. He also praised Iran and Khomeinei's fatwa. He also confessed he had read just a few pages of The Satanic Verses- the book that created an uproar in the Islamic World causing an edict against the author. Some Muslims view the book as blasphemous. 

Salman Rushdie had to go in hiding after the fatwa and he was given heavy state protection by the UK Government. As time passed and the religious leader Ayatollah Khomeinei died, the threat perception declined and Mr. Rushdie started to live a normal life and shifted to the USA. The Chautauqua Institution didn't have much security except one policeman. The attack was unexpected. Iranian government has denied any hand in this connection and said Mr. Rushdie himself was responsible for his condition. 

Sir Salman Rushdie has always been an ardent champion of free speech and maintained that one can have fearless disrespect for religion. He is all for complete freedom of speech and doesn't like 'ifs' and 'buts' in the expression of this important right without which all other rights are in shambles. 

The best way to issue a message to the world of fundamentalists and far right groups is to honour him by spreading his message. The Nobel Prize Committee must take a serious note of the author's tireless crusade against the evil power of the extremists around the world and confer the literature prize on him next year. That shall be a befitting reply to those who are hell bent on gagging people's voice.

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

LIGHT AND DARK (MICROPOEM)

 Each day begins with morning 

and ends in night 

the air smells of weariness 

light and dark live 

in perpetual confusion. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

THREE HAIKU POEMS

 1.

White marble dome 

awash in cool moonlight 

Lovers in fire of passion. 

2.

Rain is over 

Paperboats sailing in village ponds

Eyes can't capture all beauties. 

3.

Cherry blossoms in countryside

Raindrops on the sidewalks 

Love tastes like autumn air. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

MOON, CLOUDS & BIRDS : - TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

The moon peeping 

through scattered dark clouds 

A child dreams of rainbow. 

2.

Harsh winter approaching 

Birds leaving for warmer climes

Human heart is still cold. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Rain has just stopped 

Birds repairing their nests 

Love tastes like autumn air. 

2.

Bloomed lotus petals 

in still water of a pond 

Even a pebble can break peace. 

(C). -MRITYUNJAY JHA

LOVE, WAR AND PEACE : TWO HAIKU POEMS

 1.

Fierce wind 

Tumultuous sea 

A lover finds peace. 

2.

Soft wind 

whispering a melody to grass 

Air raid sirens blare in a city.

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

TWO HAIKUS

 1.

Hazy moon

Squirrels searching nuts 

Lovers squeezing memories. 

2.

Winter morning 

Flowers still asleep

Birds leaving their nests. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

SHASHI THAROOR AND THE PROSPECTS OF CONGRESS PARTY

 A day after tomorrow there is an election in the All India National Congress Party for the post of its President. The contenders for the post are not from the Gandhi family . This is something celebratory for the party after a long time. The two contenders are senior leaders : Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor. Both are from the south. Both have a vision of uniting the party, the nation and the democratic forces. They have been on the campaign trail tirelessly putting across their viewpoints to congress workers and office bearers. Both keep emphasizing the urgent need to save the constitution and the democratic set-up of India by hitting hard on the ruling party.

Shashi Tharoor is in his 60s whereas Kharge is in his 80s. The party has constantly been on the decline and much of the credit of its debacle goes to the Gandhis - Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The party needs fresh blood in its political vein and this can only be possible by an outsider donar.

The moot question remains about the leadership post election : whether the elected president will have real powers or  he be just an extension of the Gandhis . The history of the party smells of the Gandhis' exorbitant hold and this is precisely one of the major reasons of party's present plight. The revival is possible only in freeing the party from the family and that is not in sight.

Shashi Tharoor is dynamic in every way and possesses tremendous capacity to make a turn around. His catchy slogan is appealing : Think Tomorrow Think Tharoor !

Tharoor's entry into Indian Politics has been less older than that of Kharge. The remarkable thing in him however is his transformation from a breezy bureaucratic man to someone who knows how to engage with common people. He spends time in his constituency of Thiruvananthapuram now and then is a testimony to his realization that Indian Politics is not about erudition and attending seminars rather it is based upon your hold upon the masses. He has moved from his earlier Cattle Class view of commoners and this is what will make him likeable in the electoral fray. On the other hand Gandhis won't like some strong individual to become Congress President who might not listen to them all the time. Shashi Tharoor will not fall in line every time. Kharge will always be pliable. The influence of Sonia will loom large and Shashi won't be a likely receiver of her blessings. 

Tomorrow might open a new chapter for the grand old party that always keep harping on Nehru, Indira and Rajiv and to some extent rightly so. If Shashi Tharoor wins, things will be better and the party will receive a much needed facelift. If Kharge wins (which is more likely) , things will be the same and the Gandhis will be busy pushing the party towards its death bed.

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

REFLECTION OF RIVER (POEM)

Thinking of river 

makes me sick of 

Love that doesn't last 

Cigarettes that melt in smoke

Boats that carry human bondage 

Longings that turn into loss

And, Water that becomes memory. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA

MEMORY OF WATER (POEM)

 The night gathers momentum 

 The oil-lamp flickers in dark 

 After the supper a monk

 prepares to say the last prayer of the day

 that will dwell on forgiveness and peace.

 What matters in the end is -

 Whether we have forgiven ourselves and   made peace. 

(C). - MRITYUNJAY JHA 

NEW ZEALAND PROPOSES A TAX ON COW BURPS OR FARTS

 Farting is as natural as anything else. It is still funny if you fart in public . It becomes troublesome if you fart at dinner table. No one however is taxed for this. But, if you are a dairy cattle - a cow or a sheep in New Zealand and burp or urinate fluently your owner will have to pay a hefty sum. If you are human you can still go scotfree.

In a controversial move Jacinda Ardern has proposed a tax on cow burps in order to cut methane emissions from farm and on cow urination in order to cut nitrous oxide emissions. The owner of cattles will be taxed and the ammount thus received would be reinvested in cleaner farming technologies. This proposal is in line with New Zealand's commitment to Carbon Neutrality by 2050. The country has taken a serious note of greenhouse gas emissions of agricultural sector.

The farmer lobby is an influential constituency in the country and this will definitely be a decisive factor next year when New Zealand goes to polls. Jacinda Ardern's Labor Party has been on decline in terms of popularity ranking. But being a strong leader she won't be hesitating in pushing her plans for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The lobby has severely criticized the plan saying it might compel the farmers to sell their farms or plant trees instead of crops and cattle rearing. The lobby also warned that it would severely affect farm production and agricultural productions would shift to less developed countries with bad farm practices.

New Zealand is home to nearly 5 Million humans and approximately 40 Million animals ( Cows, Sheep & other Cattles). It would be curious to see the plan to succeed. This would certainly become a poll plank and would be a tool for opposition National Party and Conservative Party to utilize against the ruling Labor Party.

Whatever happens there is no denying that the country appears serious to fight Climate Change. 

LIFE AND LOSS

 Human life is precious. It offers a kaleidoscopic view of myriad experiences. Love and loss are two most compelling defining traits. We become happy when someone we love reciprocates. We become sad when our love is not favoured. In essence we are always conscious of ourselves and little concerned with selfless approach in life. Our desires are what we are made of. And, desires are mostly selfish longings. We become utterly disturbed when we don’t get what we want.

We are bound to lose people and things from the list we love and like. Losing a person is traumatic. We can’t afford otherwise as loss is inevitable and suffering thereof remains etched in our consciousness.

There is a story about a woman named Kisa Gotami and Lord Buddha set in more than 2000 years ago. Kisa Gotami’s only son died when he was merely a child. The lady became grief-stricken and cried for help from door to door carrying her dead son. Nobody was able to help her as she wanted back her son’s life. People around her were surprised at her desire but they didn’t mock at her. They were moved by her emotional condition and innocent longing. They suggested the woman to go and meet Lord Buddha as he was heard of having mystical powers that might bring her son back to life. Kisa Gotami met Buddha pleading for her dead son. Lord Buddha understood her mental condition and instead of preaching he assured her he would make her son alive with one thing if she could bring. The lady became happy and said she would bring anything for her son. Lord Buddha asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds. The lady became joyous telling she would be back in no time after getting the seeds from the nearby village. Lord Buddha said- wait. He continued the seeds must be brought from the house where nobody had ever died. The innocent lady was still happy and went to the nearby village. She was happy with the idea that she would get the seeds in any house. She went door to door and asked for a handful of mustard seeds. Nobody came with the seeds when they heard about the condition. Kisa Gotami got herself exhausted without getting the seeds as no household was without a death of someone or the other. She returned to Buddha. The lord made her understand the inevitability of suffering and death. The lady got the knowledge of the ways of the world.

One must not grieve. Loss is common to all. We must be kind to one another as kindness remains even after one’s demise. Love people. Love life. Happiness is in selflessness and not in selfishness.

(C). – MRITYUNJAY JHA