GOOD DAYS ARE BACK

‘GOOD DAYS ARE BACK’

By

J. L. GUPTA

Yesterday, on Jan.21, 2015, I reached the 73^rd milestone on the road of life. Today I have started the journey towards the 74^th. During the year, on my way to the 73^rd, I stopped what I had started 51 years back in Feb., 1963 – the practice of law.  I retired, not because I felt tired. Nor for lack of work to keep me adequately occupied. Nor for lack of ability or inclination to cope up with the legal conundrums. It was only on strict medical advice that I decided to hang my gown. Repeated Cycles of Chemo therapy and other medicines administered  to take care of the remnants, if any, after surgery for the removal of  ‘glioblastoma’ that was detected in July, 2012, have had the inevitable effect of reducing the level of my physical immunity. As a result, I was vulnerable to the slightest exposure to any kind of infection.  And even a minor infection showed the potential to flare up into a serious problem. Actually, two visits to the Court had led to my hospitalisation on both the occasions. Thus, the doctors had firmly advised against my going to any crowded place and the  family, understandably, refused to grant me any further chance. Still, I am not sitting still or idle. There is always enough to keep me occupied. Even when I am not going to the Court, I get a chance to be an Arbitrator and decide disputes. It is really a satisfying job.

Law is undoubtedly, a jealous mistress. Despite that, I had long back cultivated a close liaison with the good old Lady Golf. It is a grand game played in the open and totally green surroundings. One of the few games, where one hits a stationary ball. Yet, it provides a complete diversion from the day’s drudgery. You can hit a good shot only when you are totally relaxed. The Slightest stress tightens the muscle and changes the direction and the distance of the ball’s travel. Thus, a round of golf with friends ensures total diversion and real relaxation to the body and mind. God is kind. I do get a chance to have a round of golf. And Mr. Amandeep Johl @ GONY, my golf Guru still gives me hope that the best has yet to come. He kindles and fans the fire to sustain my desire to some day, by sheer chance and luck, score a ‘hole in one.’

I have also savoured other good things of life. Scotch has been one. Ironically, I developed an aversion to Alcohol while in Scotland in 2012. After the surgery, the surgeon has been kind and generous, but not the Oncologist. However, the aversion is gone. And the appetite is coming back. This reinforces my belief that the tumor is gone. And hopefully, the good days are back!!

NEW RESOLVE FOR THE NEW YEAR

“ NEW RESOLVE FOR THE NEW YEAR”

by

J.L. Gupta

A FEW hours back, the clock ticked 12 midnight. The solemn sound bid goodbye to the year 2014. It also rang in the year 2015.  Day one, in the New Year, has dawned. I say a silent prayer. May it be the  dawn of a new era! The harbinger of health happiness, peace and prosperity for all! End of corruption, drought, disease, illiter­acy and uncontrolled increase in numbers. May it be the  beginning of a new resolve to attain higher standards of  education and efficiency; higher ideals and values. May we all be able to hold our head high in the comity of nations. Our ancestors were tall. May we grow taller. It is an ardent desire.

True that a desire alone may end in despair. Yet, to have some desire is really desirable. It is essential for existence. It is a pre-requisite for progress. One cannot chop off the feet to overcome the desire for shoes. No desire and no motto would only lead to no action. It would bring about stagnation. It is human to wish for more. Every wish is like a prayer before the Lord. Wish and hope are the primary, if not the only means of sustenance for the poor. The desire to get something is the first step towards doing. Only he, who wants, wishes and works, wins.

We are more than a billion people. What is it that a billion pair of hands cannot accomplish or achieve? We are the second largest nation in the world.  We are heirs to a rich heritage. We are even rich in natural resources. Still, we are one of the poorest nations of the world. The majority of our people cannot read and write. A large number do not get even potable water. The facilities for health care are not adequate. Despite that, we are under debt.

In our lifetime, we have witnessed the rise of Japan. The nation faced the great earthquake in the year 1923. It is the only nation in the world that has really faced an atomic holo­caust. After the war, it presented a picture of charred rubble and starving masses. Infested with lice. Most recent is THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR DISASTER that occurred when the Plant was hit by a TSUNAMI triggered by the 9.0 MAGNITUDE TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE. Yet, it has made a spectacular come back. Less than 3 per cent of the world's population living on 0.1 per cent of its inhabitable area is producing more than 10 per cent of its eco­nomic value. A report published some time back indicated that with the only natural resource of approximately 124 million people, Japan has achieved a gross national product of more than $ 28,200 per capita per annum. How? The people of Japan are the nation's best asset. They are the most valuable natural resource. They have progressed.

Let us look at ourselves. We have more than ten times the population of Japan. Ten times its inhabitable area. Yet, our annual, per capi­ta GNP is embarrassingly lower. While Japan is one of-the largest creditors in the world, we are one of the biggest borrowers. In 1950, we were 15th among the exporting countries. Today, we have probably gone below the 40th. What a fall, my countrymen!

It would be futile to pretend that we are not aware of the reason. We know that we do not work. We have not developed a work culture. We have forgotten our old values. We have virtually no sense of national pride. No patri­otism. As individuals, we can compete with the best in the world. Man to man, we can hold our own against anyone. From any coun­ty in the world. But as a people, we are seldom united. No wonder, we are hardly respected and not at all trusted.

Is it not time to adopt some corrective mea­sures? Should we not resolve to get out of this degrading ditch? Can we continue to live with our present image of a poor, corrupt and non­performing people? Does it not hurt our sense of self-esteem?

Day one is the day. Today is the time. To resolve to work to restore the lost glory. There is nothing that a determined people, more than a bil­lion of them, cannot achieve and accomplish!

A PERFECT PANORAMA

“A PERFECT PANORAMA”

By

J.L. GUPTA

The Indian roads present a perfect panorama. We have the Autos. Bikes, buses.  Bullock & Pony carts. Cars & creaking camel carts.  Cycles & cycle rickshaws. Trucks, Tractors & trolleys.  Anything from an old Ambassador to a Fiat and a Ferrari. So much of vehicular variety on just one road. Also a cacophony of sounds. Smell & stink of all sorts of fumes. Equally irritating to the ears & eyes. Causing respiratory congestion & cough. An avoidable wastage of precious petroleum & time. Traffic jams have become a regular routine on our roads. Sometimes, the pedestrians move faster than the fastest cars on the road. Why? What is the cause? What is the way out?

The wide variety of vehicles on a road.

1.     Reducing congestion on the roads is a national imperative. To achieve this, an efficient, affordable and reliable public transport system is the first requirement. It should be good and be used by all – the Ministers, Senior Officers and the people. Use of Government and private cars should be totally banned or made substantially more expensive by withdrawing the concessions of free petrol etc. available to the Government cars. No caravans with blaring sirens and red beacons (an unmitigated nuisance on the road) should be normally permitted for anyone. Even raising the parking charges can help. The money thus saved or collected can be used for improving the existing public transport system.

The Pony Cart in  Chandigarh

2.     The roads present a pathetic sight. Big potholes. Sudden turns without any warning sign on the National Highway. The G T Road in Haryana.

The condition of the NH speaks for itself

Not fit for even the bullock carts

Incomplete flyovers; poor condition of the road and unsafe inter-sections. All these despite the fact that the State govt. charges substantial sums of money by way of toll. Where is the money going? Why are the fly-overs not being completed? These are a death trap from the beginning to the end, from the berm to the verge. Yet, no one seems to know the answer. Someone has to do something.

3.     In the cities, the young and physically fit should be compulsorily made to use only bicycles. It is already a practice in various countries. To illustrate: In Netherland, most of the people can be seen on cycles. The cycle is picked up from a parking lot, used and dropped at the next stop. It keeps the people fit & healthy; saves on petrol, precious foreign exchange and also helps in reducing the environmental pollution.

4.     The space required for a cycle on the road is much lesser than that for any other kind of vehicle. The number of vehicles per person in Europe may be substantially higher than those in India. But the traffic jams are far fewer. The roads are better.  

5.     It should also help reduce the number of accidents and resultantly, the claims for compensation against the Government or the Insurers.           

Shall we do something? We have to. Otherwise, the traps for which the govt. is charging toll may soon take their own toll of the govt.

GOD! Not GOLD!

GOD! Not GOLD!

By

J.L. Gupta

Sacrifice atones for sins, sanctifies the sinner. It leads to his salvation. The scriptures record the sacrifices made by various kings. On one of the occasions, the golden plates and utensils which were used in the sacrifice were thrown in the dustbin…. The heaps of gold remained unclaimed property for a long time. Even the ordinary mortals were not enchanted by the lust of gold. It was primarily meant to be given in charity. Maya was shunned.

         This is our heritage.

         Today, Mammon has enslaved man. Materialism has come to have its Sway. Just as “moths are captivated by the glaring brightness of light”, the “deluding energy” of Maya has made human being a “prey to the fire of delusion”. Man today talks in “money syllables”. The dialogue devolves around diamonds. Sapphires add a little sparkle. “Fiscal fitness” is more important than physical fitness. Fun is synonymous with “fund”. The love is at “purse sight”. Loving is becoming the means to make a living. Matrimony is a “matter of money”. The motto is “dough or die”. “Stones” are the secret of success. Gold is no longer an instrument. It is an end. Man’s goal is not God but gold. The almighty gold.

         Today, man worships gold. It is the deity. It is worshipped in all countries and in all climes. Man believes that gold is a curtain which can hide all his defects from the world. It is an ornament which can cover all the bodily deformities. It seems like the Alladin’s lamp. Man believes that loaded with the precious metal, he can reach any height, attain every position and enjoy all the pleasures. He will do anything to have it. He will even “marry a puppet or an old trot” for a few pieces of gold. He will divorce his beloved for a similar reason.

         Today, what a man stands for has become irrelevant. That he can fall for gold is the common belief. Having been made into God, the yellow metal has plagued man like the devil. Having got him into the well of wealth, it has drowned his conscience, taken away his happiness, endangered his honour and deprived him of his peace of mind.

         God can help the needy. No one can satisfy the greedy. A tub was large enough for Diogenes. Even the whole world was too small for Alexander. There is nothing in gold that may give lasting happiness. The more one has, the more he wants. Great fortune only ensures great servitude.

         Man labours. He goes through the irksome drudgery of a monotonous routine. He toils. He sweats. He even offends his most faithful friend - the conscience. He acquires wealth by and by, he amasses a fortune. But what does it give him? Can it prevent sickness? Can it postpone the mortal hour? Can it buy the heavenly bliss? No. In fact, the wealth becomes a source of fear. There is a nagging apprehension of losing it. The greater the wealth, the greater the fear. The fortune becomes a misfortune.

         It is true that money is needed to meet the needs. To an extent, it is a necessity. Too little of money is like a tight shoe. It is uncomfortable. It gives pain. But too much would be like a loose shoe. One can stumble and fall. Just the right amount to meet the essential needs would be ideal. Sometimes, a tree laden with too much fruit breaks its own bough. So does too much of wealth. It destroys the virtue of its possessor. Man can meet the perils of wealth by performing good deeds and becoming rich towards the creator.

         The scripture says- “Human life is the opportunity to get free from all the material miseries”. Gold, jewels, pearls and valuable stones are nature’s gifts to man. So are the sun and the stars. We value the sun for its light. Not for its height. Similarly, the other gifts of nature like gold are good only to the extent we use them for the good of others.

         Let us make gold the slave. Not the end or idol. God is Almighty- not Gold.