The Word As Zeitgeist
Those of my readers who still follow the gibberish I churn out every week will be glad to know that I am haemodynamically stable….
<table> <tbody> <tr> <td>The author retired from the IAS in December 2010. A keen environmentalist and trekker he has published a book on high altitude trekking in the Himachal Himalayas: THE TRAILS LESS TRAVELLED. His second book- SPECTRE OF CHOOR DHAR is a collection of short stories based in Himachal that was published in July 2019. His third book was released in August 2020: POLYTICKS, DEMOCKRAZY AND MUMBO JUMBO is a compilation of satirical and humorous articles on the state of our nation. His fourth book was published in July 2021. INDIA: THE WASTED YEARS - chronicles all the missed opportunities in the last nine years. His fifth book - THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER'S DOG AND OTHER COLLEAGUES - released in September 2023, portrays the lighter side of life in the IAS and in Himachal. He published his sixth book, DISAPPEARING DEMOCRACY-DISMANTLING OF A NATION in March 2024; it is a commentary on events from 2021 to the present, a sequel to THE WASTED YEARS. Shukla writes for various publications and websites on the environment, governance and social issues. He divides his time between Delhi and his cottage in a small village above Shimla. He blogs at <a href="http://avayshukla.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://avayshukla.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1736664371498000&usg=AOvVaw3o_LPdYzXi-iEODoei4RXj">avayshukla.blogspot.com</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Those of my readers who still follow the gibberish I churn out every week will be glad to know that I am haemodynamically stable….
The DC (also known as DM or Collector) and the SP have a distinct parabiotic, interdependent relationship, they have to work in tandem, otherwise the district is likely to fall apart, as is happening in Unnao (UP) these days……
We need to move away from our unhealthy GDP obsession: it has to be balanced with wider considerations: of humaneness, equity, compassion, concern for the environment, responsiveness.
Alcoholics deserve a level playing field. Non-drinkers should either pay a cess on the milk they consume, or it should be made mandatory for every teetotaller household to buy at least two units of booze every month.
Any more infusion of animal spirits into our economy will result in even more squirreling away of the national wealth in Antigua and the Cayman Islands, and wildebeest type of migrations of our uber rich to greener pastures abroad
The internet, competitive consumerism and the breakdown of familial relationships drive us to constantly seek “new experiences” and new vistas
The first major test of Ayushman Bharat, a program of assured health care for millions of India’s poor, was in Muzaffarpur – and it failed miserably.
Washing machine has been improved upon and today the clean chits come out smelling of roses, the dirt flushed into the holy Ganga and recycled under the Swachh Bharat programme.