The Mind Reader!!

(This is a reproduction of an earlier article written by me on June 25, 1998 when I was in Kochi, Kerala.  Have made a few additions and deletions from the "original.") Come evening and the atmosphere is buzzing with 4-track sterophonic surround sound.  Amazing capability of such a small being.  They occur in numerous varieties.  Some are minute while others are "monstrous."  But morphologically they are very similar. Two strong, light wings, two small forelegs and two long hind legs, two small eyes, somewhat round head, a cylindrical abdomen and the most important a sharp pointed proboscis.  This is all what makes Monsieur Mosquito a dangerous customer. Mr. Mostquito is very powerful and can carry millions of germs, especailly viruses.  They are helpful in spreading malaria, filaria, etc. which can take the form of epidemics. But mosquitos have to fight hard to survive.  Their biggest host as well as enemy is the man.  These vampires swoop down from

In this Golden Year of Independence Let us turn the pages of history The foreign rulers suppressed us n may ways Yet we never gave up our faith We fought them tooth and nail And sent them back from where they came The “Sun which never sets” was eclipsed by our courage and determination We broke the chains of bondage to give birth to a new age The post Independence saw the nation progress And brought smiles on the faces of the depressed But times have changed since then and clashes take place very often The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer Equality is only namesake, women are treated shabbily, and casteism still prevails in families. Some narrow minded people attack our religious sentiments, on the impulse of jealous “neighbors” So my friend you see, there is still work to be done Until we are fully free. We have to spread literacy And build up a strong bond among everyone Thus, we build a strong nation Where every man and woman is free Relig

The world is progressing faster everyday Man is becoming stronger But we who are happy and gay Are in severe danger. We build vehicles and factories And forget our environment We ignore the animals and trees And pray for wealth and enjoyment. Pollution is playing havoc now By acid rains; you know how. Cutting trees causes floods Which all the people dread But my friend the solution lies in our hands. Plant trees in different lands Plants two if you cut one So that deserts remain none We can clean our environment By creating an awareness Let us make it a movement And break away from idleness Let us save the world we live Let the animals and plants live Let us, my friends, believe Live the let others live. October 16, 1996

I am a small green plant Fighting to survive today The Sun shines all day long And tries to burn me down But I use this severe heat To make food and help me grow To help me bloom to provide shade I consume the poisonous gases That’s emitted from vehicles and kilns I help to sustain human life But they treat me very badly I cannot resist their wrongdoings Because I am only a small green plant.                                                                            Created on September 12, 1996

A fish from Ganga And a fish from Yamuna Were friends very close They lived together all day long And swam far from their home. Once it happened so The fire of competition flared in both - I’m pretty, Oh! I’m pretty. They fought all day long in vain And saw a turtle lying in the sand Enjoying the winter’s Sun The fish went near him, greeted and said, Who of us is prettier than the other? They steady minded learned turtle Shaking his head said – O! fish from Ganga you’re pretty O! fish from Yamuna you too are pretty Both of your claims is valid. Hearing this they shouted in disgust - Did we fight all day in vain? Tell us clearly justice favors whom? Shall I disclose the truth? Asked the aged turtle shaking his neck. - You’re pretty fish from Ganga - You’re pretty fish from Yamuna But in comparison to you both I’m the one who is more prettier Look at my soft flexible glass like neck Look at my back like a banyan tree Look at my eyes like glittering gems

Tears roll down my eyes As I watch the once called Golden Bird The land I love, the land I live in Yes! It is my dream, it is my India The land of Rama and Buddha Is now so pitiable That people read about it like a fable People who once sacrificed themselves for others Are turning blood thirsty We climb the ladder of prosperity But humanity has become a taboo We fight shouting caste and creed Though my friends we’re of the same breed Others laugh as our color fades Which once sparkled with blues and jades Open your eyes and join your hands To save the nation from selfish hands God will help you night and day If you confess to your faults today Come, work hard, work humanely To bring back to life the Golden Land Before it turns into stones and sand. Created on August 15, 1996