Reflections

As we go past yet another new year, yet another winter, the news is again splashed with articles on Pollution… just the same as last year. While this year, realization is wider, happily – but the changes are insufficient, given the scale of the issue. As Humans and their Science progresses, as Population grows, as consumption grows and needs grow – these and similar problems will continue. There are no easy solutions; no easy answers. Solutions will have to be a combination of kneejerk & planned; these will partially alleviate, while leaving the core problems untouched, leaving   a scope for future isssues to arise. A circular circle… one that needs to be broken! THE CORE To understand these issues from the core requires an acceptance that it is we Humans, our Science, and our Consumption that lies at the core. This is a hard thing for people to grant – especially the last 2 points. Our Scientific Progress is held in high   esteem by most; and it is this pro...

It was late at night – for me anyway. My sleep time stands at around 10-1030; it must have been around that time. I switched off the lights, and was in the Balcony outside my French windows. The Saptarshi Contstellation is visible just outside my bedroom window – from the balcony. As is my habit, I looked up at the Saptarshi; only this time, there was one difference. My eyes were in 2018, but my mind was in my childhood, in the 80s, when I recalled the seeing the Saptarshi and the Mruganakshatr constellations almost every night. My mind’s eyes saw them as they were seen then : bright, clear and easily visible. But now, as my physical eyes looked up, I could see only the Saptarshi – but the stars were barely visible. Most vital – I used to stay outside town both in the 80s, and now, with clear skies above me, and lots of open space; both then and now. And, even more critically, I could not spot one star in the 7-star constellation, try as I might. I just couldn’t spot it! ...