IPL progresses to qualifiers – Punjab vs Bangalore; Gujarat vs Mumbai.
We are now the fourth largest economy in the world. Only, the US, China and Germany are ahead of us. In a year we may surpass Germany too. On a per capita basis, we have a long way to go and catch up.
Bharat Ratna, first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, 135 [14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964] succumbed to heart attack 61 years ago, at the age of 74. Maybe because of old age and ill-health; but the China War in 1962 affected his health badly. The Chinese betrayal of trust. He spent most time recuperating in Kashmir in 1963. In the morning of 27 May, he complained of pain in the back; collapsed; remained unconscious until he died at 1344 hrs. Parliament was informed at 1400 hrs – ‘The light is out’. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, hailed Nehru – Bharat Mata’s favourite prince. Cremated on 28 May, at Shantivan on the banks of Yamuna, with some 1.5+ million mourning. Lal Bahadur Shastri succeeded him, after a brief stint by Gulzarilal Nanda as interim Prime Minister.
Padma Shri, Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Saarvabhouma NTR, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, 102 [28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996]. Actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor, philanthropist, and politician. 300 films – Mana Desam (1949) to Srinatha Kavi Saarvabhoumudu (1993), in a career spanning more than four decades. He is the Krsna, Rama et al for most people. People recollect only his face when they think of Krsna, Rama. He was voted “Greatest Indian Actor of All Time” in a CNN-IBN national poll conducted on the occasion of the Centenary of Indian Cinema. Founder, Telugu Desam (1982); Co-founder and Chairman, National Front (1989). NTR moved 75,000 km for his first campaign, with slogan ‘Telugu peoples’ self-respect’. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (united) for seven years over four terms. Most influential Telugu of our times. His family continues to call the shots in Telugu Cinema, Politics, and People. In Andhra Pradesh. And Nationally.
Peacekeepers. Individuals or groups, deployed to maintain or restore peace in conflict-affected areas. United Nations is in the fore front in peacekeeping. Peacekeepers monitor, observe peace processes in post-conflict areas and assist in implementing peace agreements. 120+ countries are contributing 75,000+ personnel for peacekeeping. 20% are non-military, including Volunteers.
Our Food Systems are broken, or breaking. 2+ billion micro-nutrient deficient; 2.5+ billion overweight; 0.9+ billion obese; 0.8+ billion go to bed hungry. Our diets are the burden of disease. Our present dominant food systems contribute to half of greenhouse emissions; 60% biodiversity loss; 30% soil degradation; and 50% fish stock depletion. This cannot work. This paradigm is outlived. We need to transition to a new paradigm. To a new food system that embeds circularity, regeneration, bio-economics, and working with, and in sync with nature. To natural living, farming. Everywhere.
We are contradictions, and we may be beautiful. Maybe a lively chaos. Maybe resilience. Maybe communities. Maybe complex simplicity, bare minimum, meeting bare necessities. We are in continuums. Minus 1 to zero to Plus 1 in most of the key dimensions, parameters of our life, living, livelihoods, leveraging, leading, learning and loving. Can we learn to play, lead and manage contradictions? Can we practice this with our body, heart, mind, and soul?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. In sync with rhythms, tunes, swings. In N? leelayoga for 7L.