Update...

I. In the last couple of days I came across two people with who I had a brief interaction and briefer still introduction. Funnily enough, both interactions were online, and were initiated from the other side.

I am really amazed at how the communication revolution has helped people develop more contacts with fellow human beings. The distance is now immaterial. I talk to my mother almost every alternate day over the phone, and really, since cell phones have become our primary instrument of communication, I do not feel homesick as much as I used to before I acquired the gadget.

Blogging is another technology that simply amazes me. It has been able to keep friends and relatives informed about ourselves, or voice our opinions to other, or form communities with shared interests, or develop acquaintances with strangers. It is incredible to see the different kinds of people and their varied blogs that we encounter on the webspace. Yes, the variety does exist even if the bloggers are not entirely honest in their online avtaar.

I wonder what the next communication revolution will be!

II. I am seriously thinking about the future course of my life. I have converged on two paths and it is a matter of I choosing one of them which, I must hasten to add, is proving to be an extremely difficult task. The first path, hold your breath, is to pursue a PhD and though a little intimidated I am with the thought, especially after the ordeal I went through during my Masters, it seems to me to be the next logical step now. The other path is UPSC, or more popularly known as Civil Services, or IAS as is usually referred to. The reason I want to go for this is the immeasurable power that I will be in possession of, and the perks that I will be eligible to enjoy which are available to the common citizenry only at a premium. The disadvantage, of course, is the lack of money and a chance of I ending up in an insignificant desk job in an obscure department.

III. The honeymoon with Trilogy seems to be coming to an end. Now the tough and mundane life of a regular job seems to be catching up. It is not as exciting as it used to be though not half as bad as how some other people find their jobs.

IV. Two films I want to watch - Mumbai Express & Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events . I read the first three books of the latter, and though they are what one might describe as suitable for a young audience only, I found them very interesting and humourous to read. I intend to buy or borrow the next eight books in the series and read them.

V. Bunti aur Babli has nice hummable songs, and definitely downloadable.

Should we even care?

A bus service is announced between Sri Nagar and Muzaffarabad, and the media men hail it as a stepping stone toward lasting peace between India and Pakistan, the politicians project it as one of their major accomplishments toward bringing about a "solution" to the problem, and the people are in general made to feel as if the world is now turning into Utopia.

Then comes out of nowhere a threat from militants, or as Mushy likes to put euphemistically, "freedom fighters" who boldly announce to the world that they are ready to kill their own people if they decide to mingle among themselves. That allowing kashmiris to meet kashmiris is in a way trying to divide kashmir and kashmiri people. Interesting!

The people are alarmed, the government under pressure, and the media in a frenzy. I beg to ask why we should at all be bothered. If the militants are so keen to cause harm to the people whose rights they apparently are fighting for, why should we even bother with the security cover etc.? The Indian government is doing the best it could to ease the tensions, and if the militant organizations are hell bent on earning ill-will of the people, so be it.

If anything, this will be good for the Indian cause in the long run.