There was an article on a news portal regarding a thief who broke into a Virginia shoe store. This thief had headed for the store without using his head and jumped in feet first as he stole thirteen shoes on display that were all for the right foot. The left shoes was kept in the storage area and the thief either did not know about the left shoe policy and location or in his need for a hurried exit, he did not notice his error. Also, it looks like he probably did not keep count as thirteen shoes would mean one shoe would remain on its own.

On this Indian Independence Day, rather than penning more mundane meter, the best tribute to India would be to let the sublime stanzas of this genius – a multi-talented polymath, Nobel Prize in Literature winner, poet, philosopher, composer of national anthems of 2 nations (India and Bangladesh), painter, scholar, administrator, founder of a nature-immersed school (Shantiniketan) and University (Visva-Bharati), man of letters – resoundingly resonate:

Excerpt from Gitanjali – Rabindranath Tagore

Home was not built in a day: Several nations, including Ireland and many nations of former Warsaw Pact in Eastern Europe, were able to improve their economies due to the time, effort and financial contribution of their repatriates. The developing nations, formerly referred to as Third World nations, that have been in a developing nation status for decades would similarly improve and enter developed nation status with the input and physical presence of their repatriates.

A news article in the BBC, some years ago, reported that even as thousands of young West Africans try to make it into Europe illegally each year with many dying en route, the European Union is set to open its first immigration centre outside Europe, in Mali's capital, Bamako. According to the BBC, the EU hopes the new centre will help the citizens of Mali find legal work in Europe and cut down on illegal migration.

Today is International Yoga Day 21 June 2018 and the following paean to Yoga is more relevant than ever:

Yogic Logic:

It is not debilitating and draining
Yoga is fortifying and fulfilling.
It is not tearing down others defences
Yoga is about enhancing your senses.

It is not overwhelming your opponents
Yoga is overcoming your impediments.
It is not about material possession
Yoga is about spiritual ascension.

As individuals, families or social groupings we all have our likes and dislikes and want to be in control of who we associate or are associated with.

As an independent individual, I have a strong aversion to profanity, vulgarity, and violence of any kind (including politically induced wars).

I am not alone in my desire to be surrounded by an environment of propriety, politeness and peace.

The following quotes by various personalities highlight their views on vulgarity.

Financial estate
Backing military state
Sets national fate

The old saying that “Politics is a dirty sport” has been justified many times over in almost every country in the world based on the numerous new reports of official corruption, misuse of official power and in many extreme cases the killing of opponents, critics and whistle blowers. Political machinations and misconduct have always been an aggravating but accepted necessary evil in many developing nations.

A long running conflict, which has been taking place under the radar on one level has been revealed. Heightened tensions recently have exposed the deep-rooted divisions and raised this quarrel to an elevated plane. The yardstick of the simmering anger was that both sides were inches away from all out confrontation.

The conflict in question is the perennial struggle between short and tall men. Some of their viewpoints and grievances are listed below.

Politicians in many countries are judged for their personal morality and pay the price for their personal shortcomings. Ideally, these issues of a personal nature should be of no concern or consequence to the general public and are matters to be decided by the families and / or related parties of the errant politicians. However due to the resurgence of family-based, conservative and religious movements, the politicians are being held to account in many cases and a number of the political leaders end up resigning from their posts.