Flashes of visions

A flash.

Life goes out.

A flash.

Life comes back again.

In between lay years of silence;

Awaiting redemption from the pain.

Dedicated to the Polish Railway worker, Jan Grzebski, who fell into a coma after he was hit by a train in 1988 and woke up a week ago ( ie 19 years later!)

A few days back, a friend of mine had messaged me that I was prone to meet with an accident. My initial reaction was to laugh at it and then I became serious and for sometime, I tried to be careful and acted all paranoid ( U never know whats gonna hit you and where!) And then, I wondered what would happen if I do get hit by something and lie in coma for 19 years ie till 2026?(“Abishtoo.Nallathey nenake maatiyaa..Abachaaram..Abachaaram”)

What would happen to the world in those years? Change? And in what way and form. Would the world in 2026 be like the Utopian ones potrayed in Shankar’s movies? Or more like the dystopian potrayal of the world in Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men? My bet is status quo. I do not see the world changing much in those years. Yes, the glaciers would melt away and every country would still try and evade responsibility. A bunch of clowns would realise Indian brains are far more precious than oil and more dangerous and hence start invading all the countries where we have a strong immigrant presence amidst calls and protests of “NO to war” and intelligence reports and counter reports that Indian brains are not so valuable, Indians do not have any brains and so forth. Every party in our country would be wraggling as to who should be the next president (the fight would be between a moviestar, ex cricketer amongst others). Bollywood would still be lifting movie plots from all around the world and then call it inspired versions( inspid though would be more appropriate). Our 20th cricket team coach since 2007 would have resigned by then and a very wise mind would recommend my name (“the greatest player never ever to played cricket…”,one would quip) The “men in blue” of course, would readily agree.

So as Hegel quoted once, history would keep repeating itself. After all, He only wrote one script. Its upto us folks to improvise.

Obit

Two very popular literary figures breathed their last the previous month: Sidney Sheldon and Art Buchwald. Both have had a profound impact on my life: The former’s novels allowed me to glimpse the cynical attitude prevalent while the latter showed that being funny is the best form of revenge.

I was introduced to Sidney(Windmill of the Gods) during my class 6 vacations. Fast paced action with a lucid storyline, his novels saved me from eternal boredom during my high skool years. His masala novels have inspired many a bollywood and kollywood writers(even serial writers).

My sunday mornings used to begin wit a cup of coffee and The Hindu. And the first article used to Art Buchwald’s syndicated column. At first, I use to find it difficult to understand what he wrote about(american politics was as alien as pizzas back then!). With time though, I was able 2 appreciate his humor. If laughter is the best medicine, then i guess researchers don need 2 look far to cure AIDS.

Both the writers would be sorely missed 😦 May their Soul rest in peace