Countless conundrums

 It is that time of the year again. Yes, of course, the Diwali days are here again. Equally predictably here are the farmers' sit-in's regarding the sugarcane rates. Luckily, this year, onions have not so far made housewives cry. Otherwise, the rates shoot sky-high like the  Diwali crackers known as flower pots, and so much so that I pat myself on the back for following Aai-Papa's tradition of not eating onions n garlic during the "chaturmas." 

Yet, as usual, in fact, more regularly than the rains, have begun the sugarcane farmers' protests. Honestly, the bumper production of this crop which is problematic every which way is difficult to understand. First and foremost, it guzzles water more greedily than a dipsomaniac does alcohol. It ruins the farmland texture. Very harsh it is on the sugarcane cutters' families, especially women and children. Yet, year after year, the same sad saga goes on as if it is the bread n butter of the concerned leaders! 

In addition, this year, there is a new variety of demonstrations, the grouse against the data centers. Yes, indeed, they, too, are water intensive. They need more electricity, too. They create a unique kind of noise pollution. Can these problems be solved? For instance, India is supposedly rich with solar power. There must be modes of recycling water, right? Sound-proofing could be sorted out, too. Yet do data centers make Indians more the blue collar workers of the AI economy? That is the real issue.

Ah, yes, the usual protests against the firecrackers! I have not read up the Dia Mirza debate, but it deals with some such issue, I believe.  Well, why snatch away the simple joy of a kid whose face lights up as bright as the sparkler, as colourful as the flower pot. Sure, there could be strict prohibition against fire crackers that cause terrible noise pollution. Yet entirely denying children that fab fun is quite problematic. Incidentally, more poisonous gas is released by the livestock maintained for the non vegetarian palette! Indeed difficult to re-solve are such conundrums! 

Pratima@ Equally problematic for me is the annual ill-treatment of the poor calf during the 'Vasu baras Puja'. It is so very small. It is tied away from its lactating mother. A highly sensitive animal, everybody is touching it here, there and everywhere! How to control the devotees' enthusiasm? That is the question! 

Quote of the year:                                                       "We are between the wild throat of certainty and the mad zitidar of fact - we can escape neither,"  asserts Edgar Rice Burroughs. 

Word of the day: conundrum                                       A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem that is hard to solve, or a riddle that often uses a play on words or a pun.