A glass contains water till the middle. Though the quantity of water does not change, your perception determines if it is half filled or half empty. Similarly, whether you remain cheerful or stay negative in life, depends on the state of your mind.

Ordinarily, parameters to be successful are material objects like a good job, bungalow, car or enough funds with which you buy inconsequential contraptions to make your living comfortable? But well, is that all! Perhaps, not! Had it been so, the affluent and ‘rich’ would have been the happiest lot. But it is really not so?

There is more to life other than money and power and all material things associated with them. You are not what you are on the outside but who you are from the inside. What is inside your head and heart matters to the seeking mind and not the things in possession.

Being rich is not about wealth but your ability to empower yourself with inner strength to deal with temptations and desires and continuing your journey seeking greater heights.  And then maintaining your equilibrium with determination which requires tremendous grit. If you succumb, you’ve lost the battle to vices that surround your mind.  The game is to win the war. 

Gautum Buddha possessed everything possible but gave up his kingdom for one single thing he was not able to find, Truth! Looking for the whys of life, one of the greatest saints on earth found the righteous path in meditative self but by giving up all that he had.

Your satisfaction level is determined by the desires you pursue and how contended your mind is! Nature has catered for your necessities but for your luxuries, you will have to struggle. Once again, opulence is not entirely confined to the four walls surrounding you, but the sky above and what is inside you.

Nature or God has given you so much and yet a large part remains ungrateful.

There is so much in life to be thankful that it takes a life time to understand the power of positivity. Being grateful is really empowering your life happiness, peace and satisfaction. Gratitude is the one virtue that can empower you to reach greater heights. However, it is easy to espouse but difficult to follow through if you acquire it superficially.

It enables you to remain calm, blissful and gives your personality a positive aura that multiplies manyfold as it spreads. So, what is gratitude? If I tell you that just one word can change your life. What will you say? You are about to open the sluices of your revolution. Embrace it open heartedly.

Gratitude in the simplest term is a Thank You!

Saying ‘Thank you’ for being grateful for the acts people do means you appreciate their time and effort. And if you want to unravel the real power, don’t just say it but mean it.

Genuine gratefulness is found if you remain perpetually in the state of thankfulness. This can make you a true influencer and drastically transform the entire ecosystem. Sure-enough this can trigger a chain reaction in the world. The world will be one if all the people remain in a state of gratitude. It is not an utopian dream.

Remaining thankful is a mental state of being grateful for everything you have. Shouldn’t you thank your spouse, children, colleagues, peers, subordinates, or random people for their contribution and the things that they do. In fact, thank everyone you know or don’t, for just being there and all the things they do or don’t. Shouldn’t you thank the air that you breathe or the water you drink. The Corona pandemic was the challenge we faced but we should also use it as an opportunity of learning. What you take for granted is what you should be thankful for.

On a different level, you should be thankful to yourself also; for being you. But this perhaps on a metaphysical level which some may find too abstract or theoretical.

Nevertheless, let the ‘Thank you’ enter your dictionary. It’s your true and powerful weapon to fight your real enemy, ego! Knock down the wall of ego which is stopping your growth and unleash the potential of your personality. Ask yourself, if you acknowledge someone, do you become inferior? On the contrary, by embracing negativity, you become positive.

Practice thank you in your day-to-day life. Magical “Thankful for your help” with a bow and smile, can do wonders. Being grateful makes us humble and positive and less anxious and less apprehensive. Truly humble people have a natural and easy way about them.

Bow down and be the fruit tree that branches out and bends with the weight of the fruits it bears and gives shadow under which many can rest. The Eucalyptus tree stands tall but alone.

The trick to finding meaning in existence is not to worry about what you don’t have but being grateful for what you have. Remember, if you crib for a shoe, there is a man without a leg also.

However, it also doesn’t mean you give up on your dreams or worldly duties and become a hermitage by going to the Himalayas. You can be a saint in the madding crowd as well. 

Change your life, here and now. True gratitude is being meditatively calm in your journey and remaining truthfully happy. It is not a matter of keeping a record of what you receive and consequentially return in equal measure but maintaining an extraordinary minus in the book keeping entries that makes you on the credit side of the balance sheet.

Appreciate not only the finer aspects but even the mundane things. When you do so, you are giving back something more, much more to the community.

Humans are perhaps the most gifted species on earth. At a period of time, when darkness was all pervading and subjective qualities of humans had fallen to the nadir, God manifested on the earth to make human species ‘realise’. Krishna was an ordinary person. What makes him special? He lived in a state of perpetual gratitude and humility that endears Him to our hearts and makes him Lord.

Lust, greed and power surround your thoughts and cage your personality to the soiled burrow.

Appreciation will empower you to flow from narrowness into the ocean of freedom and happiness. Srila Prabhupada says, “Gratitude is the condition of the heart that enables spiritual growth to take place.” Religion guides on a certain path but spirituality allows you to seek the highest point, and beyond.

My religion is better than yours, my house is bigger than yours, my bank balance is bigger than yours will be meaningless in the end. You have delayed my cup of coffee, or have not added enough sugar or not been served properly in a pristine chinaware will be meaningless in the end. I don’t have enough money, you have cheated me or not returned what I loaned will be meaningless in the end.

End is not the end per se but the end of the moment, the day or year. Time is all that you have and when it slips, and it does very easily, it won’t come back. And neither will the glory of Time. Repenting tomorrow is not going to change your existence but gratitude today will. How much effort does it take to say thank you? How much energy does it take to appreciate your spouse, children, friend, neighbour or the man on the street?

You can start trying by just flipping the page for once. 

Remaining calm, start with a smile and keep acknowledging things and people as you go along each day. Notice the difference. And if you desire to take it to the next level, believe your body is a temple, and you will have more love, compassion and kindness.

Being a state of gratitude is a life changer. Start by starting a religion of love and gratitude. Appreciate your journey. Life is beautiful the way it is. Be grateful for everything in life and for life itself. Practice thank you every day and moment! Thank you for reading this and sharing the thought. 

By Capt M K Tayal

The post Saying Thank you is not difficult appeared first on The Correspondent.

The whole world endured the onslaught of the deadly corona virus for over two years. We are currently in the fourth stage of mutation of the virus that has created havoc having wide ranging ramifications besides impacting the healthy wellbeing of the people. But it’s not in the news these days. Ukraine and Gyanvapi issues seem to have killed the virus.

The virus is considered to be carrying varying degree fatality so much so that healthcare professionals tended to the needs of the patients wearing PPE kits ostensibly because of the variants of the virus and its ability to inflict harm to humans.

Though Omicron variant is not fatal but is more intense and at the same time hard to detect. The new variant may have the same symptoms of the corona virus, but may not be fatal as it just impacts the upper tracts of the lungs.

The war is not over yet and we don’t how many more battles we will have to fight till it ends. The fight is still on.

We have seen the worst in first and second wave with very sick patients in ICUs as well as wards. It is difficult to imagine how the hospitals worked day and night taking care of patients who were critically ill but were managed in wards due to scarcity of beds, oxygen as well as drugs. Well, there are reports also that hospitals made a ‘killing’ and squeezing the mullah from the patients, which is nothing short of blackmail.

Nevertheless, the silver lining during the pandemic is that the healthcare fraternity also took the blow on the chin. The doctors, nursing staff rose to the occasion and did everything humanly possible to help each and every patient. Everyone was a soldier in the warzone. 

It was a challenge right from start. While the world was yet to understand the virus and its deadly nature, doctors were attending to the patients. In the scientific world itself there was a host of information available but time available to assimilate and comprehend and implement the learning was not adequate to deliver the best. But some sincere ones also burnt the midnight oil, not only kept abreast with the knowledge and ways to tackle it but was in the forefront to explain it the patients and the media as well.

The hospital staff also faced with a challenged to segregate Covid infected patients and to take care of patient who were not infected with Covid-19 but required indoor care for other ailments.  While some hospitals were shut down due to this inability to tackle two types of patients, some managed.

Anyway, experts say it’s not over yet. Don’t be lax. Most people have got vaccinated but still we must not take it easy. We must continue wearing masks at public places (masks have been mandatory once again in Delhi). People are becoming lax with Covid appropriate behaviour.

PSRI Hospital Senior consultant, Pulmonology, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine Dr Neetu Jain says, “Though vaccination has helped tremendously in mitigating severity of Covid, it is still important to maintain necessary social distancing in public places and usage of masks is still relevant.”

Continue being cautious, follow Covid appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated, if you have not. Those who have suffered from COVID should follow a healthy diet as well as exercise routine and follow-up regularly with their doctors. These are difficult times but we can cope up with proper care and thoughtfulness.

The post COVID overtaken by Ukraine, Gyanvapi  appeared first on The Correspondent.

We can see throughout time how we have been slowly conditioned to come to this point where we are on the verge of a cashless society. Would it surprise you to know that the Bible foretold of this event? Don’t believe me? This may be the most important message you will read in these times…please do not ignore this!

This message reveals what the Mark of the Beast is, and the meaning behind counting a number people have been pondering for centuries, 666. This message also shares why Barack Obama is the Antichrist. This is truly a message from God!

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ given to the apostle John, we read:

“He (the false prophet who deceives many by his miracles) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16-18 NKJV).

Referring to the last generation, this could only be speaking of a cashless society. Why? Revelation 13:17 tells us that we cannot buy or sell unless we receive the mark of the beast. If physical money was still in use, we could buy or sell with one another without receiving the mark. This would contradict scripture that says we must have the mark to buy or sell. So, it deduces itself to this conclusion.

These verses could not be referring to something spiritual as scripture references two physical locations (our right-hand or forehead) stating the mark will be on one “OR” the other. It once again deduces itself to this conclusion.

Also, how could you determine who truly has a spiritual mark so that they may buy or sell? And, as you will read further in this article, to have the mark of the beast is the same to have the name of the beast, or the number of its name. You will begin to see even more clearly why this mark cannot be something purely spiritual.

Here is where it really starts to come together. It is shocking how accurate the Bible is concerning the RFID microchip. These are notes from a man named Carl Sanders who worked with a team of engineers to help develop this microchip in the late 1960’s.

“Carl Sanders sat in seventeen New World Order meetings with heads-of-state officials such as Henry Kissinger and Bob Gates of the C.I.A. to discuss plans on how to bring about a one-world system. The government commissioned Carl Sanders to design a microchip for identifying and controlling the peoples of the world—a microchip that could be inserted under the skin with a hypodermic needle (a quick, convenient method that would be gradually accepted by society).

Carl Sanders, with a team of engineers behind him, with U.S. grant monies supplied by tax dollars, took on this project and designed a microchip that is powered by a lithium battery, rechargeable through the temperature changes in our skin. Without the knowledge of the Bible (Brother Sanders was not a Christian at the time), these engineers spent one-and-a-half-million dollars doing research on the best and most convenient place to have the microchip inserted.

Guess what? These researchers found that the forehead and the back of the hand (the two places Revelation says the mark will go) are not just the most convenient places, but are also the only viable places for rapid, consistent temperature changes in the skin to recharge the lithium battery. The microchip is approximately seven millimeters in length, .75 millimeters in diameter, about the size of a grain of rice. It is capable of storing pages upon pages of information about you. All your general history, work history, crime record, health history, and financial data can be stored on this chip.

Brother Sanders believes that this microchip, which he regretfully helped design, is the “mark” spoken about in Revelation 13:16-18. The original Greek word for “mark” is “charagma,” which means a “scratch or etching.” It is also interesting to note that the number 666 is actually a word in the original Greek. The word is “chi xi stigma,” with the last part, “stigma,” also meaning “to stick or prick.” Carl believes this refers to a hypodermic needle.

Mr. Sanders asked a Boston Medical Center doctor what would happen if the lithium contained within the RFID microchip leaked into the body. The doctor responded that if the microchip broke inside a human body, the lithium would cause a severe and painful wound filled with pus. This is what the book of Revelation says:

“And the first (angel) went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2).

THE HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE NUMBER 666 REVEALED!

What I first want to mention, before I share what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me concerning the number of the beast, is that God confirms in threes. We can see this throughout scripture:

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7 NKJV).

“and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4 NKJV).

“…Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8 NKJV).

There are many more examples, but I thought I would just share three of them to make the point.

Examining Revelation 13:16,17,18, the first group of three I would like to point out is that the mark of the beast is described in three separate verses, 16, 17 and 18.

The next three I see is in verse 16, “He causes all…” is followed by three contrasting categories of people,

1 – “both small and great,
2 – rich and poor,
3 – free and slave…”.

Then unto verse 17, it opens with, “and that no one may buy or sell except one who has…”, followed by three explanations of what one must have to buy or sell,

1 – “…the mark
2 – or the name of the beast,
3 – or the number of his name”.

Now unto verse 18, we read “Let him who has understanding calculate…”, which is followed by,

1 – “the number of the beast,
2 – for it is the number of a man:
3 – His number is 666”.

The last three I see is the number “6” being used three times in a row. The reason I’m making this point about God confirming in three is because it is the key to unlocking how to calculate the number 666.

Throughout the centuries there have been people trying to calculate numbers based on titles and names that come up to the number 666 to identify one person, the Antichrist; but from Revelation 13:18, I do not see where God is telling us to count up to 666, but rather to count the number of the beast. This number is identified as 666. So the verse is telling us to count the number 666.

What does it mean to count? It means to add up. So how could we add up 666? Remember my previous point about God confirming in threes is key to unlocking the number 666. So logically, what would be the best way to count the number 666? To count it equally by using the rule of three based off the number.

We cannot count it equally as 600+60+6, this would also bring us back to the start.

We cannot count it as 600+600+600, or 60+60+60 because there are no zeroes in between or at the end of 666.

The only logical option is 6+6+6=18.

What is interesting is that the verse that reveals for us to count the number itself is verse 18 (there a total of 18 verses in Revelation Chapter 13), being the third verse out of the three verses that describe the mark of the beast in Revelation 13:16,17,18. What is 18 divided by 3? 6. So 3×6=18, or 6+6+6=18.

Another interesting point is the only two other combinations (making a total of three possible combinations) for placing a “+” symbol in between 666 are:

66+6=72 and 6+66=72.

Add both 72’s together and you get 144.

Why the number 144 is worth our attention is because the verse following Revelation 13:18 is the first time in the Bible where the 144,000 are being described in detail:

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads…” (Revelation 14:1).

Now if you add up all three numbers from counting 666 by moving the “+” symbol around, it would be 72+72+18=162. What is compelling about the number 162, is, if you divide 144,000 by 162, you get 888. The name of Jesus in Greek gematria adds up to 888. The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. Revelation 14:1 not only mentions the 144,000, but also the Lamb who is Jesus.

Now what is interesting about the number for Jesus, 888, is that if you apply the same formula that was used to count 666, you get 8+8+8=24. Why the number 24? Revelation chapter 4 tells us there are 24 elders seated around the throne of God. This is the same throne where Jesus sits.

Now if you take:

8+8+8=24

8+88=96

88+8=96

you get 24+96+96=216.

Take 144,000 divided by 216 and you get 666.

Remember that this was the same exact formula we used to count the number 666 that ultimately brought forth the number 888.

Here is a quick recap to demonstrate how this formula confirms itself as being the true way to count 666:

1: 6+6+6=18 > 66+6=72 > 6+66=72 > 18+72+72=162

2: 144,000 divided by 162=888

3: 8+8+8=24 > 88+8=96 > 8+88=96 > 24+96+96=216

4: 144,000 divided by 216=666

1: 6+6+6=18 > 66+6=72…

As you can see, it is perpetual. And remember that we consistently used a formula that worked in threes being the number that God uses for confirmation.

So what could this mean? Well we know in this world we are identified by numbers in various forms. From our birth certificate to social security, as well as our drivers license; being identified based on a system of ruler ship. So it is possible that this RFID microchip will contain a new identification that has a total of 18 characters (6+6+6).

“here the wisdom is, the one having the mind let him calculate the number of the wild beast, number for “of human” it is, and the number of it 666″ (Revelation 13:1, Greek Translation).

The Greek word “anthrōpos” being used in verse 18 where it says “of human” is the Greek strongs concordance G444. The first two definitions of the word are “a human being, whether male or female”, and, “generically, to include all human individuals”. Could the number of the beast apply to all mankind?

In the Greek (the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language), and other translations, you will notice the beast is described as an “it”, instead of “him”. The reason I’m making this point is because when a translation says “His number is 666”, this would imply a singular person, the Antichrist. But by saying “the number of it 666”, implies that it is of the beast system as a whole.

We can know the number of the beast cannot be to identify products (like a new barcode) to buy or sell because scripture says we cannot buy or sell without the number of the beast. What am I getting at? There will be instances where you could buy something someone made themselves and it wouldn’t have a store branded identification on it. But for this number to be in our chips, that is where it must be to conclude ultimately that we cannot buy or sell without having the number of the beast. As previously mentioned in Revelation 13:18, the number of the beast (6+6+6=18) is a “human number”, definition “generically, to include all human individuals”.

“Why did the Biden campaign choose 30330? 2020 divided by 666 = 3.0330 Who believes this to be a coincidence? October 2020 Isaiah 53:6 Someone said we are being whipsawed in 2020. Truly a great division is taking place between good and evil—both symbolically and literally (riots, unrest, politics). If you take the current year 2020 and divide it by the number 666 (known for its satanic implications) you will get the number 30330 (repeated). This number 30330 happens to be the number used to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Freaky? Supernatural? Odd for sure. Whatever this means, it doesn’t seem good to me. First, why would anyone knowingly choose those particular numbers for their campaign? If they weren’t knowingly chosen, then it appears to be a supernatural act by the evil one himself and I would want to change those numbers ASAP. And if the numbers were chosen knowing their significance, are you satanic? Is this campaign satanic? Either way I do not believe this is a coincidence. And one thing is certain, 2020 is truly being divided by Satan. He is the master deceiver and spreader of chaos. Jesus calls him the father of lies.”

So I looked up this number 30330 concerning Joe Biden, and I found this information:

If you send a text to that number (at that time), you would get a response asking to support Joe’s campaign to take down Donald Trump, with one part in caps saying “CHIP IN >>” pointing to a link to go and donate.

“CHIP IN”? Obama has used this phrase in the past on his twitter and people believe it is a subliminal message to receive the mark of the beast, that is to say the implantable RFID microCHIP that will go IN our body.

Revolution Bible has all the proof!

Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life? Jesus says that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God in the Gospel of John chapter 3.

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).

BARACK OBAMA IS THE ANTICHRIST:

In the Islamic religion they have man called the Mahdi who is known as their messiah of whom they are waiting to take the stage. There are many testimonies from people online who believe this man will be Barack Obama who is to be the biblical Antichrist based off dreams they have received. I myself have had strange dreams about him like no other person. So much so that I decided to share this information.

He came on stage claiming to be a Christian with no affiliation to the Muslim faith…

“In our lives, Michelle and I have been strengthened by our Christian faith. But there have been times where my faith has been questioned — by people who don’t know me — or they’ve said that I adhere to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad thing,” – Barack Obama

…but was later revealed by his own family members that he indeed is a devout Muslim.

So what’s in the name? The meaning of someones name can say a lot about a person. God throughout history has given names to people that have a specific meaning tied to their lives. How about the name Barack Obama? Let us take a look at what may be hiding beneath the surface…

“And He (Jesus) said to them (His disciples), ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven’” (Luke 10:18).

In the Hebrew language we can uncover the meaning behind the name Barack Obama.

Barack, also transliterated as Baraq, in Hebrew is: lightning

baraq – Biblical definition:

From Strongs H1299; lightning; by analogy a gleam; concretely a flashing sword: – bright, glitter (-ing, sword), lightning. (Strongs Hebrew word H1300 baraq baw-rawk’)

Barak ‘O’bamah, The use of bamah is used to refer to the “heights” of Heaven.

bamah – Biblical definition:

From an unused root (meaning to be high); an elevation: – height, high place, wave. (Strongs Hebrew word H1116 bamah baw-maw’)

The day following the election of Barack Obama (11/04/08), the winning pick 3 lotto numbers in Illinois (Obama’s home state) for 11/5/08 were 666.

Obama was a U.S. senator for Illinois, and his zip code was 60606.

The names of both of Obama’s daughters are Malia and Natasha. If we were to write those names backwards we would get “ailam ahsatan”. Now if we remove the letters that spell “Alah” (Allah being the God of Islam), we get “I am Satan”. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

These are just a few of many evidences why Barack Obama is the Antichrist. You can see many more in my article on the website above, as well as read about the dreams I’ve had concerning this man. I’m more than convinced that God has shown me that he is without a doubt the Antichrist, and we will see him rise to power in the not so dinstant future.

Jesus stands alone among the other religions who say to rightly weigh the scales of good and evil, and to make sure you have done more good than bad in this life. Is this how we conduct ourselves justly in a court of law? Bearing the image of God, is this how we project this image into our reality?

Our good works cannot save us. If we step before a judge, being guilty of a crime, the judge will not judge us by the good that we have done, but rather the crimes we have committed. If we as fallen humanity, created in God’s image, pose this type of justice, how much more a perfect, righteous, and Holy God?

God has brought down His moral law’s through the 10 commandments given to Moses at Mt. Sinai. These laws were not given so we may be justified, rather that we may see the need for a savior. They are the mirror of God’s character of what He has put in each and every one of us, with our conscious bearing witness that we know that it is wrong to steal, lie, dishonor our parents, and so forth.

We can try and follow the moral laws of the 10 commandments, but we will never catch up to them to be justified before a Holy God. That same word of the law given to Moses became flesh over 2000 years ago in the body of Jesus Christ. He came to be our justification by fulfilling the law, living a sinless perfect life that only God could fulfill; even bringing the law to it’s truest light by stating, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).

The gap between us and the law can never be reconciled by our own merit, but the arm of Jesus is stretched out by the grace and mercy of God. And if we are to grab on, through faith in Him, He will pull us up being the one to justify us. As in the court of law, if someone steps in and pays our fine, even though we are guilty, the judge can do what is legal and just and let us go free. That is what Jesus did almost 2000 years ago on the cross. It was a legal transaction being fulfilled in the spiritual realm by the shedding of His blood.

Because God is Holy and just, the wrath that we deserve could not go unnoticed. Through the perfect righteousness and justice of God’s character, it must be dealt with, it must be quenched, it must be satisfied.

For God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). This is why in Isaiah chapter 53, where it speaks of the coming Messiah and His soul being a sacrifice for our sins, why it says it pleased God to crush His only begotten Son.

This is because the wrath that we deserve was justified by being poured out upon His Son. If that wrath was poured out on us, we would all die and go to hell. God created a way of escape by pouring it out on His Son whose soul could not be left in Hades, but was raised to life on the third day and seated at the right hand of God in power.

So now when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14), God no longer sees the person who deserves His wrath, but rather the glorious image of His perfect Son dwelling in us, justifying us as if we received the wrath we deserve, making a way of escape from the curse of death.

Now what we must do is repent and put our trust and faith in the savior, confessing and forsaking our sins. This is not just a head knowledge of believing in Jesus, but rather receiving His words, taking them to heart, so that we may truly be transformed into the image of God. Where we no longer live to practice sin, but rather turn from our sins and practice righteousness through faith in Him.

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:5-7).

Come before the Lord with a contrite spirit, humble yourself, ask Him for His forgiveness, to receive the free gift of His salvation, to receive His Holy Spirit, so that you may be transformed into a new creature, into a child of the living God.

There is a reason why the words of Jesus have been translated in to over 2000 languages, and nothing comes remotely close (the Quran just over 100), because there is a God in heaven who desires to have a relationship with you, to know Him through His word, as that is how we personally get to know anybody. There is a reason why it is the year 2021, because Jesus came to earth just over 2000 years ago fulfilling major prophecy causing a divide in our timeline.

Jesus loves you! Seek Him while He may be found! We must repent and turn from practicing sin…for if we are not following Jesus, we are following the devil. There is no neutral ground. We are either living in the lie, or the truth. God bless you!

Article Received from Revolution Bible.

The post The power of 6, micro chip and God appeared first on The Correspondent.

Poornima Advani: Delhi’s air pollution has turned from low to severe over the course of the Diwali weekend due to burning of crop stubbles in nearby states and people bursting crackers in violation of a Delhi state government ban.

While the festival of lights inevitably brings the problem of smoke and ash spewed by crackers, the bigger worry is that of farm fires—a phenomenon that has been gradually choking the national capital even though the vehicle load has somewhat eased because of Covid.

The problem of crop stubble burning is hurting our society in multiple ways. It virtually buries Delhi under a cloud of haze every year, as well as destroys beneficial soil bacteria. Thousands of tons of paddy straw, convertible to green fuels or manure, simply go up in smoke.

The recurring administrative paralysis has now put the ball in the Supreme Court’s domain. Indeed this is one situation that requires wisdom, sagacity and stringent action for the benefit of society.

Burning crop residue is a crime under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and the Air and Pollution Control Act of 1981. On 10 December 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned crop residue burning in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab where the practice is prevalent.

In M.C. Mehta vs Union India, the Supreme Court had asked the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to stop their farmers from stubble burning immediately.

It has also warned that their entire administrative and police hierarchy, from the Chief Secretary to the sarpanch to the local policeman, will be held responsible even if one instance of stubble burning occurs in the future.

The apex court held state governments responsible for stubble burning and said that instances of stubble burning would be penalised. It has made the local and civic bodies as “personally responsible” as the errant farmer who puts fire to his crop residue, putting in effect the ‘Polluter Pays Principle.’

STICK ALONE WON’T BE EFFECTIVE

But wielding the stick alone won’t work. Only this week, the number of farm fire incidents in Punjab crossed an all-time high of 73,000. That too, within days of FIRs being lodged against farmers and arrests being made in adjoining states of Delhi. A solution to this complicated rigmarole requires, besides political will, sincerity and earnestness for the sake of everybody’s health.

What prompts farmers to burn their rice stubble in northern India?

A combine ‘harvester and thresher’ used in harvest of paddy, the machine leaves behind a significant length of straw and stubble on the field. This straw, lying on the field, comprises the stalk and the leaves of the crop with limited nutrients. It is reported that is September-October each year, farmers burn an estimated 35 million tons of crop waste from their paddy fields as a low cost straw disposal practice.

With often only a couple of weeks gone between the rice-harvesting season and the start of wheat-sowing, farmers burn the debris to clear the field quickly for the new crop. For them, every day matters.

The apex court has realised that regulatory action won’t be enough to resolve the problem. After all, the majority of our farmers are small and marginal, who struggle to employ farm machines needed for sowing, let alone afford equipment required to clear stubble from their fields.

In its wisdom, therefore the court has directed that a sum of Rs 100 per 100 kg (quintal) be provided, especially to small and marginal farmers, along with farm machinery free of cost to prevent them from burning the stubble.

However, such a measure would amount to states having to pay Rs 2,000 per acre to support such operations besides the additional cost of providing the machines. Moreover, the 2-4 week time window available between harvest of the summer crop and sowing of the winter varieties presents a time challenge. The result is that no state has embraced the proposal earnestly.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed the hope that a new technology developed by the Indian Institute of Technology to spray a chemical that will convert the leftover crop into manure might provide the solution.

Other scientific solutions can be used productively as well. For example, conversion of rice straw into bricks or blocks for use as biogas or ethanol which can substitute pollution-causing petrol and diesel.

It is here that a robust enforcement mechanism, well regulated, under the central government can go a long way. Earlier this month, the Central government introduced a new law through an ordinance to curb air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. The new law dissolved the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) and instead set up a commission with over 20 members.

It also says that “any non-compliance or contravention of any provisions/rules or order/direction of the Commission will be an offence punishable with a jail term up to five years or with fine up to Rs 1 crore or with both.” This will apply to the red zone for stubble burning—Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh apart from the Delhi-NCR region.

However, matters related to agriculture are not only sensitive but also complicated. With farmers comprising the country’s largest workforce spread across thousands of farms dotting the countryside, the job of policing them becomes all the more complex. Under the Constitution, agriculture falls in the concurrent list, which means neither the Central government nor state government can regulate this completely.

The Central government is due to submit another report to the Supreme Court to outline the proposed measures to stop stubble burning. Still, the bottom line is that New Delhi will need the support and cooperation of adjoining states for addressing the problem.

PADDY STRAW, A POTENTIAL GOLDMINE

Given the dynamics, the only practical solution can be when both farmers and their state governments respectively see a sufficiently strong financial motivation. World over green fuels are catching on as geographies such as the European Union and Japan are moving towards zero-emission.

India is sitting on a potential goldmine. Thousands of tons of paddy straw can be converted into green fuels like ethanol or even compressed natural gas. Of course, such a solution will require a chain of supportive infrastructure such as warehousing to store the paddy straw bales as well as sufficient processing capacity for their conversion into fuel.

Equally importantly, India will need to set up an efficient logistics system for collection of the paddy straw from the farmers and transporting them to storage hubs. This will not be an easy challenge. However, given that the Food Corporation of India already has the storage infrastructure for wheat, rice and other crops for which it pays a minimum support price, the state machinery should be able to cope with this demand.

Such an initiative will be timely as the government is keen to boost its ethanol blending programme, which currently stands at 5% compared to a targeted 10% for petrol. While it may take time to implement this fully, the programme can go a long way in trimming India’s bloated crude oil import bill.

The problem of farm fires has again underscored the need for better technology for our rural sector. Drone technology has already rescued a swathe of northern India in combating the menace of locusts. Speeding up of the draft rules can go a long way in detecting and fighting stubble burning.

Moreover, effective digitisation can make the task of spreading awareness among farmers that much easier. In essence, the means are very much at hand, if the will is there. Since India has pledged to drive down its emission intensity as part of the Paris Climate Change accord, it is hoped that robust regulation and scientific solution would drive in a new era in handling stubble burning—sooner than later.

Poornima Advani is former chairperson of National Commission for Women, and runs a legal firm called The Law Point.

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Farmer leaders have called the several rounds of talks and proposal thereafter as nothing new — what they are asking the government to do is “talk straight and walk the talk”. If government has accepted that there is a fault in the legislation, then there is only one way out — roll back.

As the farmer unions rejected the Centre’s proposal and decided to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway, going forward Sirsa, a senior farmer leader from Punjab apologised to the people of Delhi saying, “Hum Bebas Aur Majboor hai, Aapke Saath Hamari Poori Sahanubhuti Hai (We are sympathetic towards Delhities but we are ourselves helpless and compelled).

Here are the excerpts:

Since you have already rejected the proposal extended by the Central government, what is the further plan of action

Our plan of action is very clear, we had started protesting peacefully, carried it out peacefully and the same would continue in the future as well.

As far as the plan of action is concerned, we have given a call of Aao Dilli Chalo Dilli, under which, we will block the Delhi-Jaipur Highway by December 12th, while on December 14th protest would begin at district complexes pan India as those who cannot reach Delhi would protest from where they are.

Apart from this, we would boycott all products of Reliance including Jio, Malls and Petrol Pumps. We would also be carrying out Gherao of the houses of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers across the nation.

The government sent a long proposal addressing all your issues as the law has already been made amendments are the only way forward, what is your take on this?

It’s too late for the amendments now, if the government really wanted to do so they should have called us in September when we were sitting on protests in Punjab. Why are they proposing amendments now?

The proposal they sent yesterday had nothing new, on 8th, we had clarified in the meeting with the Home Minister that the answer on taking back the laws shall be in simple “yes” or “no”. The time for the amendments has passed long back, now the government shall talk straight. When you (government) have accepted that there is a fault in the laws, they should answer in simple yes or no.

How many more people are coming in to join the protest, if an estimate could be given?

Numbers? It is uncountable, this is not remained a national agitation, it has now turned into a worldwide agitation. Those who say China and Pakistan is running this movement, I want to ask them, the United Nations is supporting us, is the UN run by China and Pakistan?

Those who think this way, shall be admitted to mental hospitals.

Since the future plan is to block the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, what would you say to the people of Delhi who might face problems because of this?

We are empathetic towards the people of Delhi and all those people who are or would be facing problems due to our agitation but we are helpless (bebas) and compelled (majboor) on our end too because the demands we are fighting for today would have an integral role in the future.

I would like to apologize to the people of Delhi that they would face problems due to this agitation but there is no other way else it would lead us to dangerous times.

How are you people taking care of those who are old in age and might get sick due to cold and Covid-19?

Our brothers from across the nation are disturbing dry fruits, medical camps are already in place to address the medical issues, blankets etc.

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Dissatisfaction is an important component that leads to development. A desire to do better, achieve more and have more leads to actions in the concerned direction. However, the definition of development has varied across different ages in different cultures.

According to the World Bank development, it is a process by which people are provided with better lives- physically, economically, environmentally and socially. According to Amartya Sen’s “capability approach” development is a tool which enables people to reach the highest level of their ability.

However, both may not lead to happiness or contentment.

India is a country where people believe that ‘Karma’ is the central part of human life. True liberation comes from detaching oneself from the compulsive need to please your “indriyas” or sense organs. The culture teaches us that what we get in life is a result of our “Karma” in this life as well as those of our previous lives. “Daan” or giving away of alms can redeem our misfortunes to some extent, and so we must be content with our lot in life.

The world is a place where people come and go. Thus, contentment or “santosha”, an ethical concept central to Indian philosophy means being satisfied and comfortable with one’s circumstances in life. It also means understanding and accepting oneself and one’s environment leading to a joyful spiritual state.

In a culture like this, creating awareness about what people lack or emphasizing dissatisfaction to achieve physical and economic development is a herculean task. The question is: What is a better life?

Attainment of physical and economic wellbeing may not hold a lot of charm for people whose culture has inculcated “santosha” in them.

Economic development has led to an increase in urbanisation and higher standards of living all around the world. When technology and infrastructure improve, rural areas become more accessible and diversified and the living environment further improves. However, in a country like India, the philosophy of contentment or “santosha” creates a major hurdle in the path to development.

In a labour surplus country, we are short of labour: a labourer getting Rs. 200 per day under the National Rural Guarantee Program will work for a few hours and be content to stay where he is. He will make no effort to improve himself, earn more and do better for his family as long as his basic needs are met. In spite of the difficult odds that they face, they make huge compromises and are content with them. This attitude of making do with bare necessities has also added to the problem of population in India – in a recent television interview a man from Dharavi – Asia’s largest slum – proudly proclaimed himself to be the father of twelve children.

The problem has been accentuated by the various schemes of the different governments offering grains and other necessities at highly subsidised rates leading to the attainment of the “santosha” level rapidly. Such schemes have been enacted by all political parties for electoral gains – in fact they have all tried to outsmart each other in the process.

The National Food Security Act enacted in July 2013 by the UPA government under the Prime Minister of Dr Manmohan Singh entitled the beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System to five kgs of cereals – at Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and coarse grains at Re 1 per kg. Pregnant women, lactating mothers and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals also.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a monthly pension of at least Rs 3000 for workers of the unorganised sector after the age of 60. The Direct Cash Transfer Scheme for farmers announced by the Modi government in 2019 aims to transfer Rs 6000 to farmers who have agricultural holding of less than two hectares.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s free electricity and water (free electricity for people consuming 200 units per month and 20,000 litres of free water per month for every household) has been very rewarding electorally.

The outcome of these policies has led to the creation of unproductive labour which is detrimental for the economy.The need to exert oneself to do better does not arise because the level of contentment has been reached. The supply curve starts bending backwards very early as people start substituting leisure for labour leading to losses in production and degradation of skill. The environment thus created is not conducive either for entrepreneurship or hard work.

At some point, the government and the political parties will have to differentiate between welfare schemes and populist policies. They will at some point have to realise that these schemes make citizens irresponsible and lazy and that it is a never-ending trail. The poor will also at some point realise that the corrupt will wipe away the benefits meant for them and that they will continue to suffer as before.

For welfare schemes, rational debates should happen and experts should be called in to help promote the efficient utilisation of scarce public resources. For the betterment of the economy, however, schemes that promote self help and work culture are needed.

We have in India the shining example of Gujarat, a state ravaged by a massive earthquake on January 26, 2001. Though aid poured in, the industrious people of the state helped build back the economy in record time. The work culture was so strong that a little aid went a long way. This is the need of the nation today. With a population of 138 crores a strong work culture may not only make us a super power, it may make us tremendously happy and contented as well. So, let us look at ways to strengthen and promote a strong work  culture and environment.

Dr Misra is Associate Professor at BSNV(PG) College, Lucknow

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Imagine everyone in the world wearing only one colour shirt or eating the same food or listening to the same music! While asking you to imagine the world without tolerance, Suparna Sinha pitches in for a more tolerant world.                        

Tolerance is a very important virtue one should possess, but sadly today it seems to be missing in most of us – thanks to the headphone lifestyle of ours. But how is the headphone, and its slicker cousin, earphone, related to tolerance, you would ask.

If any particular song, podcast or mantra which we don’t want to listen is played, we quickly cover our ears with our earphones and shut the ‘noise’ out. Family members have different devices and their own earphones. Each one is busy listening or watching his or her own choice of ‘music’. What is entertainment for one is boredom to the other.

Right from school, we are told to have our own choice and to not follow the herd. We should have the freedom to ‘listen to our own stuff’. All that is very fine, my friend!

Where we go wrong is zero tolerance for the choice of others. If we desire to buy a blue shirt and wear it to office and our colleague wears a red one, we mentally tick him on his horrid choice of colour. You ought not to do that, right!

This world is such a beautiful place because of its diversity. Just imagine a world where everyone is wearing the same shade of colour as yours, wearing the same perfume, eating the same food, drinking the same beverage, or yes, listening to the same music. I bet you would want to jump off the nearest cliff out of ennui and monotone. Uniformity is lethal. Diversity is life. We are nature’s beings, full of multifariousness. So acceptance should be our second nature.

We can build up our dipping levels of tolerance by, say, watching a movie together. It could be any movie – a fairy tale or a classic. Get the family together, watch it and make it fun. Order some food, or fry some snacks. And sit with a mindset that you ARE going to enjoy it. Keep away your mobile phones for those two or three hours. And let it roll.

And yes, every member of the family should get a chance to play a movie. And then repeat the exercise. And if you have a full-time servant, ask him or her too. If you wish to get adventurous hit the theatres (not happening in these times). Whatever! The place doesn’t matter, the bonhomie does.  It will work wonders to raise your tolerance levels.

Then transform the movie to music, food or politics and religion. This way, if you wish your young niece to listen to some motivational speaker, you could do that. Let all the members of the family listen to the guru. Let all learn in their own special ways. Maybe, grandma could also get some insight. Anyways, you are never too old to learn. And then take tolerance from your immediate family to the universal family.

Easier said than done though! The challenges along the way…

At first you could make faces, be fidgety, ferret out your cellphone for a quick peek. Let it be that way. But slowly and slowly build on it.

Tolerance like all virtues is like a muscle; it needs to be exercised. Once you become more tolerant, you will be surprised to see the change in you. You will be calm, cool, and petty matters would not irk you anymore. You would start loving your job more, be friendlier with your colleague whom you first found to be irritable, and so on. And it pays rich dividends.

And teach your children when they need it most. This virtue is also needed to be taught at school. If the child is taught to be tolerant at an early age, he would somehow make himself ready for the world he grows into.

Life would be so much more vibrant and positive if we build up our tolerance muscle slowly and steadily. We can manage our emotions in a better manner, and keep away from thinking about trivial issues. Give more of your time and mental space to creative pursuits and all things good. So friends, start today. Be more accommodating and see the change. Just do it! Suparna’s blog is https://everpositive.blogspot.com/

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Charity. This word may provoke different reactions in different people. Some of us love to do charity just to make ourselves happy, for a sense of self-fulfillment. Some of us do so to prove that we are a notch higher than our peers, and show them that we can dispense off with a moderate sum of money. In short, we satisfy our egos.

Well, let’s face it! Most of us don’t think charity as our cup of tea. Most are not interested in charity; we feel that it is the responsibility of the government or the uber-rich to take care of the needy; we have enough number of people to spend our money on; we have to satisfy the material needs of our family, relatives, and friends, and are sincerely concerned about their welfare.

Where is the mental space to think about anybody else, let alone fulfill their monetary needs? That too a nameless person, whom we haven’t met, or will never meet again? Does anybody give us money for free? Never! We have to toil day in and day out to earn money. What is the use of feeding a hungry stomach when millions are dying of hunger in the world? Excuses galore!

Here is where one goes wrong my dear friend. If there are millions dying of hunger, then there are millions who fall sick due to over-eating. We are lucky to have more than enough food on our plates. Can’t we just share a little of what we have? It would fill some part of a hungry stomach.

You would say, it’s easier said than done. But I would want to reverse this. It’s easier done than said. So friends, first do it. Just find a way to feed a hungry one. It could be two slices of bread; that would mean a lot to a hungry person who is ready to end his yet another food-deprived day.

There is another argument put forth by people that beggars are lazy people. They are not ready to work. This I feel is a ridiculous statement. Do they have the opportunity to work? How many of us have told a destitute to get in our cars, taken them home or to a shop, and given them a job? How do we expect them to toil under the blazing sun, or icy chill without food in their stomachs?

So friends, instead of analyzing a beggar’s attitude, just feed him a paltry share of your food. It feels good. It really does. Just do it and see for yourself. When you see a hungry soul, just think how fortunate you are and feel privileged to share your fortune. Thank God that ‘He’ has given you this opportunity for good karma.

Charity is contagious. If you start it, others will follow suit. Slowly but surely, millions would go to bed satiated in their minds, and blessings in their hearts.

Make charity a way of life. Even if you share a page calling for donations to end hunger, you are being charitable. If you feel that it isn’t possible to reach out to the starving in Africa, you are wrong. There will be a way, if your will to do good to others is strong. New ideas would crop up, and if a wave of egalitarianism sweeps the world, governments and other organizations would rethink their strategies, or invent new ones. Food banks would be common, giving would be a way of life, and food would be like oxygen, ever available, never to deplete.

Is it too big to ask you? When all we have to do is part with a fraction of the food we eat every day, give it in the hands of a hungry child, watch his eyes twinkle, see the bright smile, and feel blessed. Just try being charitable for once, and you would never want to be the same old self again.

Suparna Sinha is an avid blogger. She feels that you have but one life. Make the most of it. Read books, reach out to the needy. There is never a good time to start, or am age when you gotta stop. Your time starts NOW! https://everpositive.blogspot.com/

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M K Tayal

A lot of water has flown down the river in the past month or so. One of the strictest and harshest Corona virus lockdown, ruthlessly enforced by the police in India, is having a profound and deep impact on the people confined to the four walls of their existence.

Even a cursory glance across the street, at people peeping from their windows, venturing out to buy veggies or essentials if already not getting at their doorsteps, reveals a picture that is not only worrisome but scary. The Lockdown affect is telling on the people.

On the last day of the first leg of the lockdown, people from a peaceful, and well do to locality in Punjab’s Mohali district, started erecting barricades even though no case had been reported in more than 10 kilometer radius. Frightened unclejis from houses trickled around chatting about the bleak circumstances. The conclusion of the ‘janta rant’ was a blockade. From nowhere, two bamboos were being lugged across the road and tied across a fairly busy lane in Dhakoli.

What followed next was another barricade erected barely 15 meters apart in matter of minutes. Ironically, the residents had earlier blocked two lanes within 100 meters. Fortified, the residents then felt safe. But fact of the matter remained they themselves are crossing the laksman rekha to meet their daily needs.

Har Har Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while announcing the extension of the lockdown for yet another two weeks urged the people to strictly implement the lockdown. The carrot dangling from the PM’s address to the nation was that good behavior and rigorous implementation by the people would be rewarded by easing of lockdown restrictions if no cases were reported from their regions.

People had already danced to the Pied Piper’s tune by thalli-banging and lighting diyas. Discounting any political theory or how a master craftsman was playing to the gallery, the bottomline being that fear was injected into the minds of the people by the lockdown.  And an over active and vociferous media was adding fuel to the fire.

Socially unsocial

The only recourse available to the people to reach out to the world, the social media wasn’t helping either.

Immediately, after the lockdown was implemented there followed a series of videos of people being mercilessly thrashed by the police for venturing outside their homes.

Then followed posts of husbands grudgingly joining house-holds chores, non-availability of alcohol, social distancing guidelines.. But none to cheer up the masses. Perhaps the omnipresent anxiety was resulting in distressful behaviours of people.

Telling tales

A journalist admitted observing the change in people in her ‘society’ in Delhi. A friend in Ghaziabad relented that neighbours in his apartment block, otherwise a very social and amicable surrounding, were not even opening doors. Everyone was sort of becoming untouchable and unspeakable.

A relative in Mumbai admitted that the essential being supplied at their doorsteps. Since a case was reported from their society, leaving windows open was also being discouraged.

The situation was equally grim in a far off remote location of Arunachal Pradesh. People had stopped walking out. “It is very bad,” said a friend from Along district in Arunachal from where hundreds of kilometers there are nothing but jungle.

However, a Hyderabadi friend did admit people were venturing out from their houses for walks.

The Muslim divide

Overall, it appeared that gloom had engulfed the masses. And yes, the Tablighi Jamaat members had given a reason to the people to vent out their pent up frustrations in the depressing scenario. The Muslims, in general, were at the receiving end of peoples scorn.

“They are not adhering to the social distancing restrictions even now. Still they are holding Friday prayers in groups, on roofs and closed areas,” commented a friend from the Hindi heartland, where the social divide increases by each passing riot.

The spitting incidents being reported in the virus days were forcing localities to turn away Muslim vegetable vendors. “For the fault of one or two, all the muslims are facing trouble,” commented a vegetable vendor in West Delhi’s working class locality.

All is not lost

Everyone is suffering social and economic hardships. With little help from the government initially, the government was also waking up. Restrictions will be removed from April 20, depending the mindset of the king.

And as situation improves, the people will get to go on with their lives post the lockdown. The people will spring back to life. No matter how tough the road seems, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.  

Also readhttps://thecorrespondent.in/nation/from-darkness-to-light-the-indian-style/

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The world has been hit by ferocity and speed of the attack of a COVID 19 (corona virus). With over a million cases worldwide, around 200 countries are struggling to deal with the lurking dangers.

A pandemic that started a couple of weeks ago in a relatively obscure mainland China, literally got regimes locking people. But almost all countries had mindful responses. But are we in the mindful response category or struggling to meet the challenge sort?

Acting ‘promptly’ to counter the corona virus menace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a lockdown. And as a result, 130 million people in India have been witnessing world’s biggest and strictest lockdown. The only thing that we have got right so far is that God has been with us right from the start.

Modi acted promptly earlier also and got back hundreds of Indians from virus hit nations. Ironically, back home, thousands and thousands of workers and labours in cities were left at the mercy of God. With jobs gone, for the daily wage earners, it was a matter of life and survival. They had to return to their roots and the journey to the villages had to be covered by foot with trains and buses off in the ‘lockdown’.

In the theatrical announcement of ‘janta’ curfew that translated into a 21 day lockdown, the economic aspects of the lockdown had been completely overlooked. Frankly, Modi has had a track record of implementing bold decisions but with little mindlessness. Demonization, good, bad or horrible apart, resulted in deaths of many citizens. Who was to blame? GST implementation is yet another example. The government had to even form an authority to deal with the problems it raised. Even today, businessmen have to deal with the mess it has created.

The Lockdown is no better. In fact, it is worse as the bread and lives of the people are based on the erroneous decisions of a ‘great’ leader. Where and when the government could have handled the situation better, it passed the baton to the common man. The government couldn’t check the virus affecting the foreign-travelling rich at the airports. As the situation kept slipping from its control, Modi did the best possible action. The poor, hoi polloi, are bearing the brunt of it and will do so in the future too.

Modi announced the lockdown, we don’t know who he consulted. Frankly, it is too late for that now. But to lift the lockdown, Modi is looking at the state chief ministers for suggestions. Where is the strategy to deal with situation, dude!

And laudably, even the sportspersons were held in dialogue. Not to question the abilities of those distinguished personalities but should we not have public administrators, doctors, policy experts doing the needful. What would the disaster management mitigation committee experts have to say about their space being taken by photo ops of 7 Race Course Road aka Lok Kalyan Marg?

Forget any strategy, but we have a lot of sound and light to the story. We are beating the virus with clapping of hands and thalis and lighting diyas. And the people are taking to the next level, beating the virus with Diwali-left over bombs. The diya festivities had the Power Grid in the country worried with possible excess supply and less demand. Thankfully, 27 percent dip in consumption left the grid intact.

Where is the update on the hospitals, or increasing the number of testing facilities, or enhancing medical capacities? This is for the scribes to cook up from the comforts of their homes. What is the need to go out? The virus is lurking just outside the bloody door.  

And with no money to make, the police had a field day beating the citizenry into solitude.  And they can come up with the most absurd of things. No two people could travel together to buy groceries.  Even husbands and wives travelling together in cars have been told to sit away from each other. Welcome to the law enforcements in the country. Though masks are not compulsory, the cops are questioning people who are not wearing one.

And on that note, couldn’t the governments have at least got the roads cleaned, cities and towns sanitized. The cleaning departments are also strictly observing the lockdown, sporadically moving their vehicles for media attention.  

The situation requires a well-thought response. But how serious is the threat of the virus? The Government of India has perhaps placed its eggs in the basket of God. And God has blessed Modi abundantly. So as a nation, we are in safe hands.   

And we are at it. India Whats app groups have founds ayurvedic solutions to the virus even as scientists across the world are trying to crack the virus.

Questioning the economic fallout of the lockdown is sure to be vehemently countered by the bhakt variety, but Mr Prime Minister, we need governance. We need to go out and work. People need to earn and feed families.  You have turned hundreds and thousands of people into beggars who are out of their homes looking for food. A few good NGOs, gurudwaras and concerned citizens have thankfully stepped in.

Let us educate the people on how to stand in queues and how to buy and sell vegetables. Let manufacturing commence. Monitor those affected and have controlled isolation wherever required. Do not let the country suffer your ineptitude supremacy.

Time to really move from darkness to light -Support our PM, please do light a diya!

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