Basant ban : Only way to bell the ‘cat’?

Extreme measures and exaggerated mass scale injunctions to resolve disorder created by a few miscreants have several grave implications. Not only do they effectively jeopardize the basic human rights of ordinary people, they also paint them in the same colours as the real mischief makers. The myopic vision of the administration to employ brute force tactics to counter simple problems leads to a sense of injustice in the population. A steady buildup of such emotions can result in anarchy, chaos and lawlessness because the law to suppress civil liberties itself appears to be unwarranted and unlawful to a majority of the people. It also leads to cynicism in the abilities of the governing bodies to handle situations of genuine crisis, which require foresight and decent analytical skills. Such antics to apply quick ‘fixes’ draw severe criticism and are perceived as politically motivated stunts to divert the attention of people from other crucial issues and policy failures of the administration.

The majority of our population is economically treading a gloomy and narrow path, leading to a perpetual vortex of misery and frustration. Most of the entertainment in our society is available to a relatively select class of people. Playgrounds for ordinary citizens are rapidly decreasing, being replaced by high end theatres, franchised and posh local restaurants, expensive shopping centres, elite golf courses and big parking lots to accommodate the vehicles of those who can afford to enjoy such luxuries. Polarity between the rich and the poor is on the rise. The ominous results of such a disparity in social and financial stature have already started to manifest themselves in the general behaviour of the masses. Protests are getting more violent, giving a clear indication of the disillusionment of the masses. The law itself has become a tool to be manipulated and exploited by people enjoying superior rank in the government, who believe themselves to be above the law. Ironically those still ‘below’ the law, are getting more resistant every day to follow it due to its inefficacy in focus, direction and implementation to deal with the real issues.

In the backdrop of all this, the authorities time and again try to tempt fate by making yet another decision that can have deeper repercussions than most of our policy-makers seem to appreciate at this moment. A case in point is the complete ban on flying kites of any kind. The majority balked at the injudicious decision to curtail the privilege of any person to fly a kite, without exhaustively examining the underlying causes of the recent events which instigated the ban.

Recently a trend has emerged to use chemically reinforced twine that has proved to be virtually unbreakable and people preferred its use because of this quality. However, in retrospect it turned out to be quite hazardous as it resulted in slitting the throats of several people and causing fatalities. A sensible strategy to remedy this situation would have been to make such twine illegal to manufacture, as well as for ordinary use. This should have been followed by a crackdown on the lawbreakers who persisted in making and selling this thread of death and then dealing with them without mercy. A few arrests and punishments focused on the people who kept flying their kites with this twine would have knocked sense into anyone who was tempted by its resilient qualities.

This would have also created a safe atmosphere for avid kite flying fans who are extremely passionate about this fairly innocuous activity, which has been the part and parcel of our culture for a very long time. From the Havelis of Nawabs to the homeless, everyone could have continued to enjoy this relatively low-cost entertainment provided the correct measures were taken to rectify the minor hiccups in kite flying. It also provided a great opportunity for the administration to step up and shoulder responsibility and make its importance felt by carefully eradicating the hurtful stones from the old and well-trod path of the kite flying tradition.

However, by imposing a blanket ban the government achieved just the opposite, causing the people to flare up and rebel. Fortunately the resistance, as yet, to such thoughtless and unjust acts has been disorganized. It can nevertheless at any time prove to be a catalyst in our volatile society, which is on the brink of frustration due to lawlessness, nepotism, lack of meritocracy, and increased poverty among the poor. In a nutshell, there are several easier and more effective ways to bell the cat and adopting an imprudent attitude is a sure recipe for disaster.

Written for The Post. Original article is archived here

Yonder Yosemite

Majestic, nearly vertical rocky cliffs surrounding a rich green valley, a multitude of waterfalls streaming in from the snow capped peaks, millennia old Giant Sequoia trees unmatched in their stature and girth, clear blue lakes continuously drinking fresh water from the melted ice and nature still untouched by human progress attract thousands of avid rock climbers, hikers, campers and tourists from all around the United States to the Yosemite National Park.






Located at 180 miles East of San Francisco, in the Sierra Nevada, this unique blend of unusual rock formations, meadows, cliffs and remarkable waterfalls serves as a haven for lovers of nature.








The drive leading to Yosemite Valley is not for the faint-hearted. Narrow meandering roads boasting a downward / upward slope of more than 10 percent that stretches at times to several miles without respite, with thousands of feet-deep trenches on one side appearing to have their jaws open, waiting patiently for a careless driver to satisfy their appetite. To do it justice, those jaws do fascinate an onlooker who has the luxury to stop the car in one of those rare scenic spots.






Such stop areas bring reprieve to the people who start feeling that they have loaned their lives in the hands of the driver for too long.







The real test, however, still awaits an already nervous passenger who has been too hasty in heaving a sigh of relief. The best scenic vista, namely the Glacier Point reserves for itself the most perilous road. That road is not only narrower, but at places has been partially worn off with the flow of melted ice reaching the base of the mountains creating fissures that can easily topple a vehicle on one side if the driver lacks the necessary skill to maneuver at such a critical point. It seems to be an open invitation to visit the valley, without the aid of the road.







Glacier point, however, opens the gates to a different world. A world full of serenity, natural beauty, filled with the sweet regular music of waterfalls falling in the distance and the magnificent Half Dome, visible in the background of summits adorned by snow. The varying textures of rocky cliffs appear different at various times of the day. When the day is bright, the cliffs appear lifeless and gray against the azure sky but as the shades of the twilight get sprinkled on them they appear to wake up. When the darkness falls, the stars twinkle against the dark fabric of space. The silhouettes of the cliffs appear to stand up like mythical gods, protecting those ancient civilizations and their faithful creatures that may have dwelled in the valley. This illusion is caused by the absence of any artificial source of energy present in the Park.
Authorities have strived hard to preserve the true nature of this place as it has been from scores of centuries.





Hiking trails offer an even closer look at nature. Though energy sapping and testing physical endurance in the best of athletes they are well worth the effort. Trails are categorized according to the level of difficulty and some of them do require special training before one can surmount their challenge.



Most of these trails take the hikers close to the head of various waterfalls allowing for even more appreciation. The mist starts becoming dense as one approaches the apex of the fall, the colors of the rainbow appear every now and then, the tiny water droplets suspended in air after striking the rocks from a height of more than a thousand feet make the trail slippery, demanding caution and agility.



Squirrels, mountain birds and other animals can be seen close to such bounties of nature singing in their own peculiar note along with the flow of water. A view from the top of the waterfall shows an observer looking downwards, water disappearing at a distance after traversing a tortuous path chiseled by time through the nonchalant rocks.




A vertical drop of nearly 4000 feet, authored by nature, appears to be done in a pain-staking manner by carving it out in a spherical rock to form one of the most amazing views in Yosemite. The Half-Dome thus formed serves to be the most precious jewel in the crown of the Valley. Its angular edges, the near-horizontal ledge that suddenly ends in a discontinuity, to reveal the extent of the depression is sufficient to make the boldest feel dizzy for a moment.



The other half is smoothly rounded to give it the appearance of a primitive monarch's head, writing history in permanent ink to give its grandeur and magnanimity the finishing touches, indefatiguably rising to its true glory to face the golden light of every dusk and dawn.




It is a place to discover one's own love for the nature as the gamut of scenic experience that Yosemite National Park has to offer is extremely rich.

Written for Baithak. Original article is archived here