A Visit to the Queen

To me, the idea of a perfect holiday is spending time in the beauty and splendor of nature. So when its time to relax the nerves, I make a quite retreat to the hills. And when I say hills, I mean Shimla, the grand old town that is so very deservingly called the Queen of Hills. So well tied is the place to the idea of an Indian holiday that it is highly unlikely that you have ever contemplated a vacation without the name springing at the back of your head.
Situated in the North-west Himalayas, Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, the Hill state of India. Although over the years, increasing number of tourists and vehicles have had their toll on its natural beauty, it still exudes a rare mystical charm. I have been a regular visitor since childhood and do not blame me if you see me getting carried away in describing its beauty.
Situated at a distance of about 350 kms. from New Delhi, the capital of India, Shimla is easily accessible through road as well as by air. During the British rule, Shimla was the summer capital of the Earstwhile British government whose mighty officials frequented the place for fun and frolic as also to escape the scorching heat of the plains. Even today, most of the official buildings in Shimla carry the same architecture reminiscent of the colonial era.
If you are travelling to Shimla for the first time, I strongly recommend the rail route to get there. Now a part of the World Heritage sites, the approximately 6-hour long journey across the Kalka-Shimla railway line makes it through 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, each complementing the abundant natural beauty surrounding it. For a taste of it, you will have to take the road route till Kalka, a small sleepy town from where there are regular trains to Shimla.
Once there, the first thing you want to experience is a quiet walk on the Mall. Usually bursting with tourists from all over, it gives you a nice panoramic view of the hill city. Also situated on the Mall are the ancient Christ Church (the second largest in North India) and the Shimla state Museum. From the Mall, you could trek to the Jakhu Hill, the highest point of Shimla at 8000 ft. It has an ancient Hanuman (a famous Hindu God) temple and provides a great view of the snow laden Himalayas.
Another magnificent building you cannot afford to miss is the Institute of Advanced Studies. Constructed sometime in 1884 and home to the Viceroy (aptly called the Viceregal Lodge) during the British rule, it is now a centre for research inhabited by leading scholars from all over the country. Surrounded by majestic Pine trees and lush green grounds, you will be amazed by the quietness and serenity surrounding the area. At a short distance of 5 kilometers is Summer Hill, the home to Himachal Pradesh University, one of the leading universities in the country. Mahatma Gandhi spent considerable time here when visiting the hill state.
I could go on and on raving about the wonders of this beautiful hill city but I guess, an easier thing to do would be to refer you to the official website of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism (http://hpshimla.nic.in/). It has tons of information on the do’s and don’t’s, places to visit and everything you wanted to know about Shimla.
One word of caution though! The weather remains cold during April to September and absolutely freezing during the rest of the year when it snows heavily. So take appropriate clothing with you.
I can safely assure you that this rendezvous with the Queen shall remain etched in your memory for a long-long time.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimla

The Rose Festival

Chandigarh, my home town, has abundant greenery (a rarity in these times) largely due to the fact that its residents like to be close to nature. So even though, Chandigarh is like any other urban city of the world with its high volumes of traffic, tall buildings, and ever increasing population, It has still managed to create and preserve huge chunks of land as gardens and lakes. One of such wonderful delights is the world famous, Zakir Rose Garden. Named after India's former President, Zakir Hussain and created in 1967 under the expert guidance of Dr M.S. Randhawa, Chandigarh's first Chief Commissioner, the garden has the distinction of being Asia's largest. It is spread over sprawling 30 acres of land and is home to 50,000 rose-bushes of 1600 different species. Apart from its wonderful layout and colorful Roses, its popularity has one solid reason, the Annual Rose Festival that takes place in the closing days of February.

The timing is just right as foggy and freezing days make way for a nice warm sunshine ahead of spring. Celebrated mainly as a tribute to the magnificence of Rose itself, the attractions remain food, drinks, joy rides, and contests of varying nature (photography, gardening, landscaping, bonsai, and Rose prince and Princess). The best bit about the contests is that they are all open to the residents or institutions from nearby places. So if an amateur does photography or gardening just for the pleasure of it, this event provides a window to show-case his or her talent. Equally, it also allows professionals from their respective fields to display their prowess in various skills. So if your idea of a weekend excursion is fun, frolic, indulgence, or simply basking in the sun, this is the place to be during this time of the year.Chandigarh has a dubious distinction, among outsiders, of being a dull city devoid of swanky shopping malls, food joints, and especially night-life. I have found this a rather illogical assumption, although I admit that I am myself a laid-back kind of person, not exactly the kind you would call a social animal. So my judgment can be highly misleading in matters such as these. In any case, when events like the Rose festival happen, they not just promise a welcome break to the otherwise hectic routine of the weekdays but also help knocking out the baseless myths related to the City Beautiful. Flocks of families make their presence count, get dressed in the brightest attires, and set out to enjoy the sun and the festivities. And since no festivity is ever complete without lots of food and drink, you can be assured of the best Punjabi cuisine to satisfy your gastronomic senses.

In these times, when growing population is exerting an undue pressure on the earth and its resources, such festivals go a long way in making people aware of preserving green belts. I have fond memories of the garden dating back nearly two decades, when I used to frequent it along with family and friends, either for small family picnics or this annual extravaganza. Although its beauty and green cover has certainly taken some beating in all these years but yet it has retained its charm, thanks to the administration that has focused a lot on maintaining it as a peaceful sojourn for the weary travelers, love-struck couples, morning joggers, and children alike.

It is our duty to ensure that its beauty and tranquility is preserved so that future generations can also partake in its beauty and serenity.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes on DVD: A Review

I have grown up much like others in my generation reading the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes and his inseparable companion Dr James Watson.
The quality of mystery, intrigue, and drama in all the fifty-six short stories and 4 novels sets them part from any other detective series. The only other writer worthy of that distinction being the acclaimed Agatha Christie and her sweet and amazingly intelligent Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Other than the remarkable and tightly woven narratives, the secret behind their exceptional success is the instant chord that they strike with the reader. So much so that when Sir Arthur decided to kill Sherlock in The Final Problem, there was such public furor that he was compelled to bring him to life in The Return of Sherlock Holmes (also a part of this series).

Between the period 1878 to the present, when Sherlock made his first appearance and rose to become a household name, several adaptations have been attempted in the form of both plays and cinema. The Guinness World Records has consistently listed him as the "most portrayed movie character" with over 70 actors playing the part in over 200 films. Basil Rathbone starred as Sherlock Holmes, alongside Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, in fourteen films (two for 20th Century Fox and a dozen for Universal Pictures) from 1939-1946.

However, Jeremy Brett is generally considered the definitive Holmes of recent times, having played the role in four series of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, created by John Hawkesworth for Britain's Granada Television, from 1984 though to 1994, as well as depicting Holmes on stage. Dr. Watson was played by David Burke and Edward Hardwicke in the series. This original series is scantily available in India, although you can order it from Amazon for a price that is slightly high but well worth every penny. I have always been proud to own the collection and it remains one of my most prized possessions.

It is generally known that an adaptation of a famous writing does little justice to the written plot. Viewers tend to form an image of characters in their mind and when you actually see the characters and incidents on screen, there is a sense of missing link. Having said that, the portrayal of Sherlock by Jeremy is so nearly identical to the original that die-hard fans of the detective are left pleasantly surprised. He has brought out to perfection the different moods that Sir Aurthur’s sleuth was known for. The excitement and passion for detection, addiction to opium, moodiness, long bouts of silence, straight talk often translating as rudeness and loneliness are remarkably depicted. Although, Edward Hardwicke, hailed as the true Watson, was intrinsically more involved with the series due to David taking early leave from playing the character after the first few episodes, he too leaves a daunting impression with his unique addition of a comical dimension to the role. Some stories have been twisted from their original narratives to suit the compulsions of drama but it only adds more punch to the tales.

It comes as a set of 12 DVDs and shall easily leave you occupied for a great deal of time. I would strongly recommend it to even those who have never had a chance to read the stories. If you have a passion and liking for detection and suspense, this is where your money belongs.

A Rendezvous with Linux Ubuntu

Back in the year 2000 when I got my first Windows machine, it was a default choice and the only one that I had heard of and could scantily understand. And although, Windows 98 looked horrible and was nowhere near what you would call visually appealing, I would still spend hours playing with the computer. Most of us who are hooked on to computers since that long have never ever contemplated our boxes without the familiar Microsoft sound that welcomes the user upon booting and the desktop icons along with Bliss, the default desktop image.

Yes, this is the Windows world! No matter how many times the computer crashes, no matter how difficult it is to reinstall the OS along with the drivers, and no matter how awfully long it takes to boot itself up to a working state, Windows is still the software that regulates our tech-savvy lives. It’s a love-hate relationship we cannot do without.

About a few months ago, I happened to lay my hands on a monthly issue of the extremely popular magazine on open-source software Linux. One of the titles on the cover page went something like “tired of driver Issues in XP, go Ubuntu”. Now I am not one of those technically-advanced geeks who are fascinated by technology, coding, and tons of technical jargon about the hip-hop gadgets around. I am just a regular guy who uses computer for some fun (don’t get me wrong). But those words hit me. Yes, I am tired of Windows! Let’s face it. Apart from the infamous driver issues and countless installation pains, once you get the system right, I have to keep updating the OS with regular security updates (don’t even get me started on the Windows Validation trap), install Office suite, anti-virus, anti-spyware, music and video players, and tons of other apps just to get started. So out of pure curiosity, I read through the entire article that boasted of an alternative to Windows called Ubuntu 8.04 (based on the extremely powerful Linux kernel) that could not just perform everything that windows did but even outshine it in some of the departments.

The article aroused such curiosity in me about trying this Ubuntu thingy, that I spend the next couple of weeks browsing the Web researching about it. This was about a couple of months ago. Today I have only Ubuntu 8.04 on my modest and somewhat ancient Pentium III serving me dollops of unadulterated fun and a browsing experience that I have never known.


Open Source Software (OSS) is a term coined to denote a community or network of programmers who volunteer to work on projects. Thanks to this revolution that started sometime in the early 60s, largely with the introduction of the Internet, today we have scores of apps delivering goods as efficiently as their closed-source counterparts. Some of the most popular being the HTTP Apache Server, the Internet Protocol, and Mozilla Firefox but the most successful of such ventures has to be the Linux operating system, an operating system similar to Unix.

As I said, the world of computers is clearly dominated by Microsoft and although I have huge respect for the multi-billion dollar company and its esteemed ex-CEO Bill (after all, he is solely responsible for bringing computers and technology to the world), over the years Microsoft has been diseased by the same plague that spreads with monopoly, the I-don’t-care syndrome. For long, users have been complaining about the unstable platform, loose security holes, issues of hardware compatibility, long release cycles, and worst of all, ever increasing costs of software. Yet, even today, Windows Vista, the latest offering remains the same old wine in a new bottle.

All this while, Linux has been slowly spreading its wings by improving its kernel with every subsequent release. For the benefit of the unaware, Linux comes with various distributions or flavors such as Red Hat, Suse, Mandriva (formerly MandrakeSoft), Ubuntu and several others. Basically what happens is that different groups of individuals, high school students, engineers, and programmers take the fundamental Linux source-code and transform it into their own packages also called distributions. Linux has for some years now dominated the Enterprise Server market but its foray into the desktop section is recent and some distributions such as Ubuntu and Suse have been consistently receiving rave reviews. Ubuntu 8.04 LTS code named Hardy Haron assumes special significance due to its resemblance to its big brother Windows. Linux, they said is all about executing commands through the command line and hence unsuitable and un-usable for non-techies but the recent Ubuntu distributions have changed that so much so that this latest release has been touted as Linux for Human Beings.

While the idea of building a Windows machine has the potential of unnerving even the most seasoned professional, a less technical user like myself was done installing Ubuntu right from the scratch in just under 50 minutes. With built-in applications like Open Office 2.4, Firefox 3 as the default browser, music and video players, and amazing out of the box support for all hardware (It may sound freaky but I didn’t even have to configure my internet connection), I did not need to install anything extra.

Apart from the ease of installation, the speed at which the system performed was also much improved, although I am sure that with faster processors of today, it will literally fly.


The biggest edge that Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution has is greater security. Windows is a vulnerable OS prone to all kinds of virus, spyware, and malware attacks largely due to its popularity but mostly due to its loosely built architecture and design. So a sound antivirus application is more of a compulsion rather than a choice on Windows. Contrary to this, the concept of virus on Linux is virtually unknown. Not that there aren’t any viruses for Linux but its design is so fool proof that you will have to be ridiculously stupid to infect your machine with any of it. I say this because for any virus to invade a Linux machine, it will have to first download itself to the system, then gain root access, and finally install itself. Only the root user has those kind of privileges and so as a root user, all you need to be sure of is the applications that you download and install on your system.

Is it any wonder then that Dell Inc, the largest computer manufacturer has decided to pack the Ubuntu punch in its latest laptop offerings? Check out http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Did I miss something? Well! Save the best for the last, goes the saying and in case you are wondering what this Ubuntu hoot is all about, guess what! It’s absolutely FREE. You do not shell out a single penny for enjoying the wonders of a great operating system that is so efficient and complete. True, it may not be perfect (and so isn’t any software in the world), but it is on the right track and with periodic releases every six months, it promises to bring even more joy to the computing fraternity.

If you are even half as tempted to try Ubuntu as I was not long ago, get to the Ubuntu website at www.ubuntu.com and download or order your copy. It should be easy. Once you have the CD, you can get a glimpse of the complete OS by booting from the CD itself without modifying anything on your current system. I recommend this check to ensure that your hardware is compatible and working with Ubuntu. If you like it, go ahead and install it in a dual-boot mode.

Initially, as your secondary operating system, you will love it. However, as you move on, you will get so addicted to it that I won’t be surprised if it becomes not just your primary but the only operating system.

A Case for Self-Regulation

There seems to be a great deal of talk these days on the growing importance of leading healthy and disciplined lives. Every newspaper, T.V channel, magazine, devotes at least a weekly/monthly feature on the same. As a result, a walk down the park and you will find both youngsters and elderly performing yoga in groups, having a loud laughter session or simply taking a quite stroll. It is heartening to note, thanks to the Swami Ramdev revolution in part and the growing health awareness among the masses that we are beginning to retrace our steps to the age-old remedies of good health and peace. These are welcome signs and indicative of the fact that we want to live healthy and happy.

Complexities of work and home take a toll on the families and relationships. Most of us live in nuclear ones and hence have a hard time balancing the time out evenly between demanding pressures at both ends. As such, it becomes imperative that we involve ourselves in some therapeutic practices that help in releasing some of the anxieties that modern lifestyle brings with it. Yoga is one such activity and so are other forms of exercises. However, there is more to it.

Our ancestors lived happier and contended lives even though they did not have access to all the resources that we have today. One sincere thought and you would know why! They followed strict rules with regard to their daily activites, ate simple food, walked a lot, depended largely on natural resources for everyday needs, and most importantly the division of work in families was such that allowed everyone ample time for themselves as well as for each other.

To imitate exactly what the past generations followed might not be possible or even practical to some extent in these times. However, I am sure you will agree that there are certain basic practices that each one of us, regardless of age, gender, religion etc. can follow to de-stress ourselves. These are not difficult to follow and, with little time management, fit within our daily chores. So get going for your own sake.

1. Practice meditation: This should be the first activity of the day and practiced everyday without fail. Choose any form that helps you focus on the Supreme. There is ample information around and you will need to pick one that works best for you over a period of time. Start with a convenient duration and then increase it to levels where you feel completely detached from the outside world (it’s possible, believe me!)
2. Draw up a timetable/list of activities: My wife often accuses me of forgetfulness and regrettably, it is one of those areas where I cannot defend myself successfully. Most of us remain unorganized despite the fact that there are tons of activities that demand our attention during the day or week. Draw up a list of such activities and check them off as you accomplish them. No more wild accusations!
3. Long walks: It is a divine pleasure to be able to walk in the wild, hear the birds chirping, smell the scent in the air, and most importantly admire the gift of nature in its flora and fauna. . Although, mornings are the best time to engage in it, choose any time of the day.
4. Turn off the news: If you are one of those who cannot start their day without a dig at the newspaper, you have company in millions. Consider replacing it with an inspirational or spiritual book for some days. As it is, news these days is more sensationalism than reality and usually fills us with remorse or sadness, one way or the other.
5. Get musical: It is said that music is the soul of life. We all enjoy it in one form or the other but often in the middle of our mindless routines, fail to appreciate its true power. Several researchers have concluded that music can not only divert your mind off tension and anxiety but also cure common problems associated with fatigue and exhaustion.
6. Sleep well: As per a recent study, we are getting more stress prone due to our tendencies to stay awake till late hours. Combine this with our crazy work schedules and you have a perfect recipe for a troublesome life. Discipline your sleeping patterns and cut unnecessary tasks from your schedule, if you have to, to get at least 8 hours of peaceful sleep.
7. Volunteer for social activities: When you engage yourself in the service of the needy and underprivileged, not only do you get a great sense of satisfaction but are also able to put your own problems in perspective. In spare times, do not hesitate to associate yourself with such activities individually or in a group.
8. Spend time with your family: You have heard this from everyone. It is a well known fact that those who spent more time with their family and close friends lead happier lives and are also more productive at work. Ensure that you provision for adequate time to stay connected to your loved ones.
9. Introspect: Although relationships help a great deal in making us aware of our shortcomings and strengths alike, do endeavor to spend some time alone as well. Visiting a quite park, museum, or library helps us get in touch with our inner selves.
10. Count your blessings: We are all fortunate or achievers in some way or the other. Rather than focusing on the negativity of life or things you could not achieve, focus instead on your successes. People who focus on positive energy experience a greater sense of well being and happiness.

Getting Real with Technical Writing

Ever since India woke up to an upsurge in Information Technology about a decade and a half ago, and subsequently became a hub of software exports to the whole world, millions of computer and engineering graduates have carved out great careers for themselves, bundling out software solutions day in and day out. However, in the early days, a software development company was happy to engage the services of engineers who could not just write several lines of code and test it but also create supporting documentation, interact with the client, and in extreme cases, even sell the software they created. Times have changed. These days, an integrated software solution, is the result of not just a lone stressed out engineer but the handiwork of programmers, testers, sales force, technical support staff, and host of other functions. But my interest in this write up is primarily a function that has grown with the industry, created great careers, managed a fair share of fortune in the IT goldmine (some highest paid professionals in the industry are technical writers, and yet remains elusive; Technical Writing!

Being married to it for some years now, I have delightfully observed it prosper. Though writing, with its different branches, has been well-known and respected since ages, the emergence of technical writers or technical communicators as some call it, is relatively new. I have always pondered about how technical writing or simply writing may have evolved through ages. The other day at the breakfast table with some of my esteemed colleagues (all technical writers), I accidentally triggered a similar discussion. In my usual boring and sometimes apparently contentious style, I leaped on every opportunity to suggest that we are writers first and technical afterwards. Hence, limiting our understanding only to the technology driven products, we were rendering extreme injustice to our own talents and skills. As writers, shouldn’t we aim at understanding everything under the sun that can be written about and then read? Aren’t we increasing our value and respect in this manner? As is customary to such discussions, I was confronted with several arguments debating the nuances of the trade.

Sadly, as it turns out, our vision appears shortsighted. The word technical has been taken so seriously or perhaps hyped that whenever we talk about a technical writer, it is assumed to be someone writing a user guide, install guide, white paper or something related, almost always for a software application (of course with very few notable exceptions). Note that elsewhere in US and Europe; writers cater to industries so diverse as health and medical care, manufacturing, education or academia, financial services, and insurance, among many others. That trend is yet to catch up here. If you can bring the same amount of versatility to your writing as is prevalent among these industries, you have carved a niche for yourself as a successful writer who is never short of opportunities and understandably money.

Ironically, it will be some years before technical writing comes to be recognized as a full-time and well-defined profession. Although almost every IT company (including big shots like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and Microsoft) employs full time technical writers and comes out with open advertisements inviting them, it still isn’t a primary profession of choice. The roots of this dilemma are numerous; unlike the west where Universities have full time courses in technical writing (U.S by the way is the largest employer of technical writers employing over a lakh of them), Indian institutions of higher education have shied away from recognizing it as a highly sought after skill. The result is career wise confused technical writers who accidentally get into this profession by virtue of a degree in English (most of the cases) or an Engineering or Computers degree.

Another disconcerting aspect is the mindset. The managements (with a few exceptions) do not consider the job of writing documentation worthy of their respect. The standard argument being “Who needs a document?” Or “Anyone can do it! What’s the big deal?” However, fact is otherwise. I have had the opportunity to work directly with customers during one of my earlier assignments. The company I was working for did not supply a user manual for a new product that was launched in the market (why this happened is another story) and I remember several irate customers getting to the phone immediately on receiving their product and screaming “why didn’t your damn company bother to throw a decent $20 user manual for a $1000 product”. In the upcoming version, the company had to create a friendly user documentation to salvage the lost reputation. Also, users are genuinely concerned about the errors (such as grammatical and spelling mistakes) in documentation. A carelessly written manual immediately tells the reader that the product he has spent his hard-earned money on was improvised by a bunch of dawdlers in their spare time. This is often true; for the first impression— which is made by the documentation—is the best. Numerous other examples substantiate the need for efficient user manuals. The efficiency and acceptance of technical products lies in the amount of attention to details that has gone into their manufacture. Bad documentation is the shortest and the surest route to disrepute.

According to the figures furnished by the Society for Technical Communication (STC) there are roughly 1500+ technical writers in India. Almost every organization is waking up to the fact that documentation is an integral part of their products since it helps users understand and use an otherwise complex product.

All said and done, writing of this nature is here to stay and it is time efforts were made to project it as a truly viable, long term and profitable profession. I can bet my money on the fact that almost everyone, who accidentally got into technical writing some few years back have come to regard it as the most enjoyable, stable and rewarding experience.

The trick is to be well informed, well read and being flexible in learning new concepts, tools, and technologies.

The AXE Effect

You will be forgiven for thinking that this write-up is about tips and tricks on catching the attention of some blue-eyed beauty. Although, it is indeed about catching attention, the subject is far more serious and relevant. During the past few weeks, the complete stretch of trees along the road leading to my workplace has been systematically wiped out, supposedly to widen the roads.

It reminds me of a news story in the local newspapers some years ago, where the regulars at Sukhna (a spectacular man made lake in Chandigarh, my home town) vehemently opposed the cutting of branches of the oldest tree along the walking track. One of the many valid arguments put forth, being that generations had grown with it and that cutting it portrayed a complete indifference of the administration towards the sentiments of the community. Chandigarh Administration was quick to apologize. How sad then, that despite the massive scale of destruction over here (virtually the entire green belt along the road has been eliminated), no one even bothered to blink an eye. In the age of 24-hour news channels, where even the most irrelevant and ridiculous stories make their way into the news bulletins, this bare act just wasn’t sensational enough for a full blown coverage?

Not long ago, we were reminded that we have only a few years to save the earth from the disasters of global warming. Today, when climatic conditions are undergoing a rapid change globally and more and more nations are talking about conserving forests, here we are, witness to several trees cut mercilessly without any remorse or second thought.

While you may argue that cutting a few trees here and there will make no difference, this utter lack of sensitivity in bringing down several trees is surely shameful. Imagine the precedent that it sets. Wherever there is a possible traffic hazard or a commercial building coming up, eliminate the trees. As it is, the growth of residential areas in and around the tricity has consumed thousands of acres of forests.

It is agreed that with increasing population, more and more houses need to be built, roads constructed or broadened to tackle the increased volume of traffic. Yet, I wonder if we have already exhausted all other options so as to sacrifice trees and forests (some as old as two decades)? Can’t the governments or NGOs work on an awareness program that puts actual facts before the public, apprises them of the environmental challenges, and pushes the fact that they need to quickly figure out their role in tackling the crisis. Or is it that it suits the purses of our governments very well to indiscriminately allow the mushrooming of concrete structures?

Consider this; at the rate the population is growing, even these supposedly broader roads will one day become traffic nightmares. Then what? Will the administrations reach out to breach parts of our legitimate houses or land to broaden the roads even more? Trees cannot protest and hence are easy targets but I am sure that when our lands are invaded, we would create a ruckus. Has it even occurred to the residents (who I believe should have been at the forefront, leading the protests) in the affected areas that these trees have sheltered their properties for years and provided their present and past generations shade and fresh air? For their sake, had they united themselves, the government may well have felt the need to reconsider. Sadly, we saw none of that. It has somehow become our tendency not to bother about things that do not directly affect us. As long as we are breathing air or drinking water (no matter how polluted it may be), we have other important businesses of life to attend to.

So where are the solutions? Can the governments take it upon themselves to rectify the situation? The answer is yes and no. As I pointed out earlier, something as important as environmental conservation cannot be left entirely to the policymakers. An active public participation is mandatory. Change yourself and show the way. Drive less and smart, use public transport, walk or cycle to shorter distances, consider the carpool options to work or school, and work with your friends, colleagues, or neighbors to create awareness or share information. This remains our only hope.

As for now, the damage has been done. The least that we can do now is to make up for the overwhelming loss by planting as many trees and vegetation as we can. Perhaps Mother Nature will forgive us. If not, God help us for I am reminded of a Greenpeace slogan that said "When the last tree is cut and the last fish dead, we will discover that we cannot eat money". Think about it.