Contrasting Times

Chirping birds, innocent laughter

Vibrant butterflies children ran after

Oh, dew on roses, green grass and trees

No smog in the morning, cool evening breeze.

No asthma or SARS 

No late night TV hours

Books were companion to the children

Oh, the olden days were golden.

Grandpa, Grandma, uncles and aunts

Giant families had huge children gangs

Sharing, caring, loving together

Life was fun and simple rather.

No hectic pace, no mad race

Writing letters was people's craze

Honesty, integrity took precedence

Over money, power and influence.

No terrorist attacks, no war cry

No orphan, injured children, no wet eye

How green was the valley 100 years ago

I wonder the robotic generation would ever know!

THE AGE OF ROAD RAGE

Scene 1 : A busy interaction with traffic cops and lights conspicuous by their absence. High drama is enacted in the square jam packed with vehicles with drivers yelling and honking their loudest.

Scene 2 : One motorist whizzes past another. Not to lag behind the second one opens the throttle fully. The resultant race ends up in a smash on the centre divider, run over and multiple head injuries.

Welcome to the age of road rage. Our roads are fast becoming a theatre of iring public behaviour with motorists speeding down the way becoming more and more intolerant. reckless and rash. In this insane rush it is depressing to note that people's blood scoots faster that their vehicles, resulting in skirmishes which at times provoke reactions, fatal in nature.

The face of drivers are quite a sight to study with stress and tension written large on them. It is alarming how people shed the family and work related fury on their steering wheels. And others speed just for the incomprehensible pleasure, putting their lives at stake. They just don't care about the fact that "Speed Thrills But Kills".

If there is a will, there is a way. We can change the present scenario. That is, if we want to. It is in our very own hands, provided we amend our ways. Following traffic rules, keeping in mind that "Lane driving is Sane driving"  and keeping cool and alert is all it takes transpose road rage into a driving pleasure. Remember while driving that someone awaits you at home! 

ULTRASOUND SCREAMS : THE FEMALE FOETICIDE

In the 1980s it was a suspicion, in the 1990s, it was a near reality, in the 2000s, it is an indisputable fact : India is a country which likes to ensure that girls are never born.

Education is a very important factor, which decides how people react to social issues. But somethings are fixed in the people's mindset. That is the case with India. The rich, the poor alike, both are turning deaf to the silent screams of the girl child.

Advancement in technology was expected to bring a revolution. Well it has! The girl child is now killed even before she is born. And those who are born ..... well most are suffering way more severely. the emancipation of women is a much talked about issue. But action seems far out of sight.

Saina Nehwal - badminton sensation, Kalpna Chawla - woman in space, Aruna Kesavan - IAS topper.

Do we need any more examples? Its high time now!

Wake up India. Listen to her screams and save her. Remember, female foeticide is a crime.

FAST FOOD : THE TASTE OF DEATH

The times are for sure changing, and so is our lifestyle, our diet!

The readily available fast food is much in demand. Cheap and speedy. the 'Heat, Thaw n Eat' principle they call it. But where is it taking us to? Well, we certainly end up in the hospital after sometime.

The lifestyle of the city people is such that no one has time to cook. And those who do have the time, have no intention of taking the pain to cook. It is of course alot easier, to pick up the phone, dial a number and order. Within minutes the delicious delicacy is at your doorstep!

But do we think further, about whats inside that ready made meal you are happily devouring? 

Oil which would increase the cholesterol, tasting chemicals that lead to mental disorders, calories which we don't burn and much more. Over a period of time, regular exposure to them starts showing up in the form of heart diseases, obesity, blood pressure problems etc. We are left to take numerous visits to the hospitals, spending gigantic sums of money on treatment.

Thus, it is better to think before indulging as life and health are more important taste, for life is golden!