By RK Lakhi Kant<\/p>\n
There`s clarity now in my vision
\nof the world moving around me.
\nThe instance is an old man
\ncoming out of the jungle with
\nhis load of firewood for the day
\nand placing it on the sidewalk
\nto rest for a while with some
\nfriends, also chatting and
\nresting there.
\nThe juxtaposition of life
\nspeeding by on the freeway
\nand another at walking pace
\nshows how much Indian
\nconditions have deteriorated
\nover the last half century.
\nThe economists are exclaiming
\nthey are on top now, so much
\nis the economic upswing
\nin the country.
\nBut those who look at life
\notherwise know how much
\nmisery is being created when
\nfuel for cooking is
\nbeing equated in terms
\nof rupees and not with
\nthe hard work required
\nin cutting wood and carrying it.
\nIt makes me excited to think
\nhow much better it would be
\nif everyone started living
\nat a pace the old man is walking at.
\nI feel instant ease
\nwith everything around me
\nwhen I think this way,
\nand conclude – why
\njoin this madness
\nthey have created and
\nforce us to live in.<\/p>\n\n