Qayamat se Tomato tak

I don’t know how to put this…because we are in a tense situation with our neighbor after the pulwama attack ….and any message may be construed differently (thanks to manipulative media) …and lot of unpleasant messages are doing the rounds. But one thing does not change, whether one likes it or not. We are connected and here to stay, like Vikram & Betal perhaps (as in my last post). Strangely enough, Pakistan does appear like a person hanging from another (India’s back) on the map. It should have ideally been an elder brother carrying a younger one lovingly in his arms. But sadly it appears like a ‘historical baggage of burden’ something like a betal riddling to escape from the clutches of Vikram.

This tension affects people-to-people connect, it affects commercial transaction (trade & business). Pakistan seems to be currently affected by stoppage of exports in vegetables, particularly Tomatoes. That is however only one part of the story. Take for instance my business in ecommerce, it has attracted a lot of visitors (online traffic) from Pakistan and many have placed orders (shipped via India post from our base, Belagavi in India). Many more expatriate Pakistanis in UK & US and other European countries are regular customers. Many have left a kind message or two (reviews) about their transaction in social media (particularly on our Facebook page). Thousands of them are following us on most of our SMM channels and regularly interact inquiring medicines, and medical suggestions

One thing is apparent, crystal clear in fact, they are very similar to us in many many ways culturally and suffer the same way do (as in health matters). They of course love homeopathy (alternative medicine) perhaps much more that we Indians do. So there is a strong Pakistani connect with our business. And I only wish that situation improves from here on. 

Imran Khan was a charismatic leader on the cricket field, he brought together a bunch of highly volatile talent and won matches including the famous world cup from a hopeless situation for Pakistan. Can he do the same again? The pitch is very different this time and he is up against the devil (the Pakistan army) which draws its fulcrum of influence and power from anti-India shenanigans. He has the onerous task of dealing with the 'terror factory' set up by it. If he can win this battle (veer his country to ‘real’ democracy, free from the army clutches), he will be a hero for not only for Pakistanis but a god send for Indians also

Pulwama attack, vikram aur betaal story in Geopolitics

"History's Haunting Riddles: The India-Pakistan Saga Through the Lens of 'Betaal Pachisi'"

Once upon a time, not in a land far, far away, but rather on the soil we tread today, the tale of India and Pakistan's history began to unfold—a narrative so cyclical it could give the ancient tale of 'Betaal Pachisi' a run for its money. This 11th-century saga penned by the Kashmiri poet Somdev Bhatt seems less like a relic of the past and more like a mirror reflecting the endless loop of the subcontinent's post-independence escapades.

Let's rewind some 2500 years, with a twist, and see if this old yarn sounds familiar. Imagine, if you will, the great King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, a figure of valor and wisdom, embarking on a quest that mirrors the trials and tribulations of modern-day India, or Bharat, as we fondly know it.

King Vikram (our newly independent India) is tasked with fetching a peculiar corpse (the painful partition) that's swinging from the gnarled branches of a Banyan tree (the British Raj) in the eerie silence of a graveyard. This is no ordinary corpse; it's possessed by Betaal (a radical ideology where religion intertwines with the state's craft), a cunning vampire spirit that loves to throw a wrench in the works.

The tantric (think of our historical leaders, some of whom are revered as untouchable 'holy cows'), yearning for power, covets Betaal for his own gains. But it's Vikram, burdened with the heavy lifting, who must untangle the corpse from the tree. Yet, every time he thinks he's got a grip on it, Betaal slips away like a slippery eel.

Each attempt by Vikram to subdue Betaal (akin to the numerous wars, treaties, and diplomatic dances) is met with a story (the ever-present issue of Kashmir) that ends with a riddle, only for Betaal to vanish into thin air. And so, Bharat finds itself in a perpetual state of déjà vu, destined to grapple with this Betaal, listening to a new tale (a terrorist act, perhaps) with each encounter.

It's a historical game of cat and mouse, where every chase leads to a story, every story ends with a conundrum, and the cycle repeats—ad infinitum. The India-Pakistan chronicle, much like the haunting escapades of 'Betaal Pachisi,' is a story of pursuit, of unresolved riddles, and of spirits (or ideologies) that refuse to stay put.

So, dear readers, as we turn the pages of this living history book, we can't help but wonder: Will there ever be a riddle that doesn't lead to another? Will King Vikram—our Bharat—ever truly tame the elusive Betaal? Only time will tell, but for now, the stories continue, the riddles abound, and the chase is as relentless as ever. Strap in, for history is not just a tale of what's been; it's an ongoing saga of what's to come.