Australia faced wildfires in 2020, now in 2022 it is facing floods

Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia declared a national emergency because of the death of 22 people along the east coast due to floods. He described it as - "This is a major catastrophe... of national proportions." Many persons had to be rescued from flooded regions. The emergency would ensure ready availability of emergency powers. The country faced wildfires in 2020 that destroyed the vegetation and wildlife. Heavy rains led to the emergency in the states of New South Wales and Queensland. It seems members of the community stepped up rescue efforts and helped to keep the death toll to a minimum. The authorities carried out mass evacuation from areas that endured the highest floods ever recorded.

Personnel of the military extended assistance in the flood recovery in northern New South Wales. The number of homes and businesses flooded in southeast Queensland was more than 20000. Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. It is the biggest city of Australia and it had to endure the wettest start to a year ever recorded.


Sky News dated 9 March 2022

Assembly Elections 2022 – a prelude to Lok Sabha Elections 2024

Five Indian states had been to the polls for the Legislative Assembly 2022. The counting of votes is on and the states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur. All eyes would be on Uttar Pradesh, where there is the Ram Mandir, Taj Mahal and other historical monuments. It has 80 parliamentary seats that makes it an important state when it comes to the issue of being in power at New Delhi. Obviously, the stakes are the highest in this state. BJP is already in power here and would like to ensure that the status remains. AAP has high expectations in Punjab. It could create upsets for the ruling Congress party. As far as Goa is concerned, BJP is already in power. It had formed the government five years back even though it got fewer seats than the Congress. Right now, the BJP is confident of retaining its hold through alliances. In Manipur, BJP snatched power from the Congress in 2017 in spite of having fewer seats. Here also the saffron brigade hopes to continue to be in power. There is likely to be a tight race in Uttarakhand also.

Votes have been cast, counting is on and fingers are crossed. Once the results are declared the leaders would get into action to ensure that their empires remain safe. In states where the figures are satisfactory, there could be the tussles to get prominence in the hierarchy.

Home delivery cooked meals – an example of work from home

Necessity is the mother of invention. Home delivery of cooked meals is a concept born out of necessity. As the joint family system broke up into nuclear families, the question arose of how to manage the kitchen. It needs investment of funds for utensils, gas oven, microwave heater, refrigerator etcetera. Then they should have knowledge of cooking and the time to cook. Right now, time is at a premium for many because in most families, both the husband and wife have to meet deadlines at work. Hence, there has to be a source of food. One option is to order them online. The other option is to go in for home delivery of cooked meals.

The story of a popular Bengali TV serial is on this subject. A young girl who lives in a slum sets up such a business and manages to build a mini empire. She procures raw materials from the local market. These include vegetables, fish, chicken etcetera apart from rice, lentils, spices, cooking oil. She has a team of local girls who help in the cooking and a handcart to deliver the meals. Her operation is within a small area. It is, in short, a mini edition of well-known brands like McDonald’s, Zomato and Swiggy. Many individuals like her have joined the bandwagon and have become their own masters.

The fast food culture in India

People eat food for various reasons. They do so when they are hungry, when they are in a celebration mood, or when they want to let down their hair and experiment with new cuisine and food outlets. The street food culture has spread because at times, people get fed up of dining at home or in hotels or restaurants. They want to enjoy their foods in the open and in the company of strangers. Thanks to the social media, this variety of food has flourished. You name it and they have it. They have very little overheads, hence can offer foods at unbelievable prices. Their patrons love to go to the street-side food outlets with others in queue. The menus offer South Indian items like dosa and idli to North Indian items like chana bhature, and biryani to egg based snacks. There are also the universal favorites like golguppa or fuchka and bhel puri or jhal muri.

The popularity of fast foods has encouraged them to set up their own and unique business models. Any person who operates one of these outlets tries to offer something unique. He wants his customers to keep coming back. He does not need to rope in PR teams – his foods do that. He has the uncanny ability of maintaining an inventory that will never run short of the ingredients. Each of them is a successful businessman or a business woman. Yes, many women are also into these ventures.

In the wonderland of washing powders

India is on a mission to clean up its dirt under the Swatchh Bharat scheme and political leaders take up the broom once in a while to sweep the dirt – not from under the carpet to clean the mess but to hide the mess.
Anyway, this is not about such cleaning. My story is about the cleaning of dirty clothes. Gone are the days of bar soaps and the women who struggled to bring the shine back to the clothes. They would use wooden mallet-like stuff to literally beat the dirt out. Those who lived in villages would thrash the dirt on stones positioned on the banks of the ponds.

But, the innovative nature of man relieved the stress from the mothers and a product called the washing powder entered the scene. Initially, there were a couple of brands and the market today is flooded with innumerable brands. The good old days of Lalitaji and her ad with the catch line of ‘Surf ki khariddari mein samajhdari hai …’ have made way for umpteen plus one variants. Some are meant for clothes, some others are exclusive for woolens. And, they contain varieties of blasters like dust blasters, stain blasters, mud blasters.
The advent of washing machines have made the washing powder a mandatory product in every home. And – apart from women, kids have been roped in to promote the products. Obviously, cleanliness has its advantages. If only people would stop spitting pan juice and tobacco juice, our surroundings would be as clean as our homes.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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In the wonderland of agarbattis

The agarbatti or joss stick or incense stick is an item that is found in every home. It is believed that the Gods love the scent, and the smoke that billows out from the burning agarbatti act like magic on those who are within its range. It is a product that used to fall into the category of a cottage industry, but has now been relegated to something much more. It is a product that must be sold, and an aggressive marketing technique is essential to exploit its export potentials.

In order to achieve this objective, the industry has roped in celebrities from the movie world to cricketers. There is an aging heroine who, with her daughters, beams at the priest and offers packets of agarbatti instead of flowers. The reason is simple – her daughter forgot to bring flowers and the mother offers the agaratties as an alternative. Wonder how agarbatties can substitute flowers during the anjali (floral offerings)!
Then there is an actor in his 70s who also is a fan of agarbatties. In fact, of late, he is seen to be endorsing any and every product that comes his way. His appearance in movies have reduced because the younger crowd has edged him out, but he probably wants to remain in focus to ensure that people do not forget him. As the saying goes – out of sight is out of mind.
And then there are the cricketers. They are also seen to endorse agarbatties. They have a reason – before the start of any major game, they invariably make a beeline to the temple for a meeting with the Gods to seek their blessings. All of them extoll the virtues of the incense stick. Wonder when the yoga guru will enter the field and who he will select to endorse his brand.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Jharkhand to become plastic free, ban on polybags less than 50 micron thick

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Gurgaon to get environment friendly electric buses


He was a Chinese and his assistant was a Muslim

He was framed for a crime he did not commit

He was my first boss and be taught me the basics


Clint Eastwood's upcoming film "The 15:17 to Paris"

Work on superhero film "Deadpool 2" begins

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' brings back the teenage crime fighter


Two Americans gored by bulls in the San Fermin bull running festival

At least 15 killed in shootout in Mexico between police and drug gangs

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He helped me to bring home my scooter

Here is the thirty second unforgettable character in my life …

It was in 1978 that I bought my scooter. It was a Vijay Super and grey in color. I had just learned how to ride a two wheeler and went to the outlet in the city at Shalimar point to buy one. The dealer asked me to come the next day to collect the vehicle. I was still with an ‘L’ license and would need someone to ride the scooter back to township, a distance of nearly 15-Km. The next day was Maha Ashtami and my friend and I left for our mission by an ST bus.

However, things were not as simple as I had expected. There were plenty of formalities involved in getting the two-wheeler on the road like installing the accessories, testing the engine, going for a test drive etcetera.
We had thought we could be back by late afternoon but by the time we were ready to take off, it was evening and the roads were crowded. I was pillion riding and my friend was negotiating though the traffic. When we reached the Adgaon naka near Tapovan, he stopped the scooter and got down.
‘Ghose,’ he said, ‘you must now drive.’
I was shocked. I was still a learner holding an ‘L’ license and township was nearly 10-Km away! I lacked the confidence to ride the scooter on the Mumbai-Delhi highway.
‘I am having trouble with insects getting into my eyes,’ my friend explained. ‘I have not brought my goggles. Don’t worry. I will guide you. Just go slowly.’
Well, that is what I did. And – it boosted my confidence to a new level. I remembered the management policy – nothing is impossible. Throw someone into the water and he will trash his hands and feet and learn to swim because of the survival instinct.
I meet him on and off even now on special occasions like the Durga puja and will always remain thankful to him.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Jharkhand to become plastic free, ban on polybags less than 50 micron thick

Conflict between man and elephants on the rise in Odisha

Gurgaon to get environment friendly electric buses


He was a Chinese and his assistant was a Muslim

He was framed for a crime he did not commit

He was my first boss and be taught me the basics


Clint Eastwood's upcoming film "The 15:17 to Paris"

Work on superhero film "Deadpool 2" begins

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' brings back the teenage crime fighter


Two Americans gored by bulls in the San Fermin bull running festival

At least 15 killed in shootout in Mexico between police and drug gangs

Suicide bomber kills at least 15 in Mosul