The sorrow and the pity

Another new year dawns. In line with socialist ideology, one must question why should new year's eve matter any more than any other day of the year? Why for instance was 31st December any different from 26th November? Or for that matter from May 13, July 25, July 26, September 13, September 27, September 29, September 29, October 1, October 21, October 30?

After all time is a continuum. What was valid on Dec 31, 2008 is likely to be valid on Jan 1, 2009. Sure enough, it was! A a few unfortunate people in Assam found out. Perhaps six of them didn't quite find out, at least we hope they didn't.

By now we know the answer. We now know that 26/11 was not our tragedy but seculars' non-9/11. That is why it was wholly inconsequential, but for the pithy columns and editorials.

Year 2008 was the year of conspiracy theories. Alternately it was the year of the non-state actor. It was also the year our neighbors frustrated us with their constant prevarications and denials. Funny thing is, the whole episode had a ring of familiarity to it. At first we could not put a finger on it .

Then it dawned on us. It is all part of humanity, a mere continuum in time and space. We are but a tiny speck of dust. Even the part of the world we reside in, South Asia as they call it now or the Indian subcontinent as they used to call it. As one flies away the cities and the villages merge. The cattle and humans become indistinguishable soon after. The rivers, the mountains, the plains and the deserts. At first patches of distinct color. Then it starts to merge. In the brief interlude before the clouds envelope the dusty horizon below, there is not Pakistan, no India, no Sri lanka no Bangladesh. There are no state nor sovereign nations. No civil society, no human rights activists. No ISI, no militants. Everything merges into one. Shock turns to disbelief before the clouds obscure everything.

In the stupor induced by a momentary lack of oxygen, we remain comfortably dumb. Then the cabin comes alive with the hum of humdrum passengers as we wait for another new year. Then another ...