50 - THE DEADLIEST TERRORIST IN THE WORLD

In my school there is a very old Anglo Indian church, from the 1850s and it has wall plaques dedicated to Brirish soldiers and their family members who had died in those years, before India's freedom.  Most of the eulogies show that young soldiers and their young family members, wives, children had died due to Malaria.  Malaria caused by the bite of the female anopheles mosquito.

 Recently the Zika virus scourge in Mexico and  south America and Brazil, was spread by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, also known as the tiger mosquito because of its black and white colouring.Its bite affected the foetus in pregnant women, causing them to be born   with microcephaly or serious brain abnormalities. 

These episodes one hears in news and then they are forgotten.  But recently there is an increase in dengue, chickunguniya cases in Mumbai and many of my students were also affected.  So they remained absent, rested, in the absence of any medical recourse for these diseases, certain home remedies are resorted to, eating dragon fruit, papaya leaves etc to increase the haemoglobin count, etc.   But the one disease that does not allow any type of recourse or reprieve is the encephalitis infection caused by mosquito bite and the filariasis disease.

Mosquitoes are vectors or carriers for many deadly diseases, like malaria, dengue, chickungunya, yellow fever, filariasis, encephalitis and the zika fever.   These tiny creatures, weighing a mere 2.5 milligrams, are responsible for the maximum number of deaths, all over the world.  There are 2700 species of mosquitoes and most of them have originated in the African continent. 

The word 'mosquito' is a spanish word, meaning 'little fly'.  The life cycle of a mosquito lasts for about 4 to 10 days, depending on the heat and humidity of the area.  The eggs thrive in wet spots, then they change to larvae, pupae and then the adult flying scourge is born.  Females live for upto 2 months and the males only for about 10 days.  Both male and female mosquitoes feed on fruit and plant nectar, but a female needs blood protein to develop eggs.  Mosquitoes do not posses teeth, so they do not 'bite'.  The females have 2 long proboscis, which is a long serrated mouth part, with which they pierce the skin and locate a capillary, to suck blood.  The other proboscis tube injects saliva with a painkiller and an anticoagulant into the victim.  This process is when infection is transmitted into animals and humans from an infected mosquito. 

The Aedes species is active during the day, so mosquito nets are not so effective to prevent its bite.  Nowadays many repellents are available in the market.  Some are to burn, some are electronic, some are to apply to the skin and a most recent one is a body patch repellent and fabric rub on.  But the best deterrent is to not let the mosquito lay eggs, or to let natural predators thrive.  Snails, ants, spiders, frogs, dragonflies, goldfish, eat the eggs and thus curb the menace.  One toad can eat upto 100 mosquitoes  a night.  But a female mosquito lays upto 300 eggs, 3 times, every 3 days......whew.

In order to save oneself from the mosquito borne diseases, it is important to know what attracts them.  They find hosts by sight, by detecting infra red radiation emitted by warm bodies. Mosquitoes are also attracted by chemical signals, carbon dioxide and lactic acid, from upto 25 to 30metres.  Smelly feet, active fidgety people who sweat a lot, and dark clothing attract them. 

In Pune, a restauranteur got the deadly filariasis disease, and his leg swelled with the worms and had to be amputated, and his son who cared for him also got the infection and both his legs were amputated but after living a painful bedridden life for a few years, he too could not be saved.  Another tragic memory is connected with an uncle who was a chemist in Ghatkopar.  He too contracted the deadly disease from some visiting patient, and died a painful death after suffering with the swollen extremities.  Just recently, I have observed a cycle repairer who used to have a stall near the Babulnath temple, afflicted with the disease.  It is a sad state of affairs, but he must have caught the infection from someone with the disease visiting the temple for heavenly reprieve.  Now he is a source of infection for any unlucky person who gets bitten with a mosquito that bites him.

Sometimes it makes me wonder why God created  this tiny animal which only spreads disease and despair.

12 - .............AND MORE ECSTASY

Shopping for the family's needs is a regular and lonely chore.   Sometimes for vegetables and fruits at the Nana Chowk Bhajigalli,  and other times at the Reliance and Nature's Basket stores at Mahalaxmi.    The pain is that the BEST bus service to my residence  is irregular and taxi drivers seem to purposely ignore you,  if you are in desperate need for one,  with lots of loaded bags etc.    

Today was my first day of school with students, after the summer holidays and I was extra tired.    To add to my sorrows,  the Reliance security misplaced a  cardboard box that I had checked in with them.   When I reached  the bus stop, laden with my bags,  the seating was occupied by some insensitive rich person's driver and he also had the temerity to block the bus stop with the uber expensive vehicle.     Passing taxis were occupied or heading home for Friday prayers.    After almost one hour,  I managed to flag down a cab and he decided to take me along Peddar Road.   

At the Cadbury Junction,  I peer to my left,  whenever I'm on my way towards Kemp's corner.   It has become an involuntary gesture through the years that I have lived in south Mumbai.    No,  you are mistaken if you assume that I am trying to catch a glimpse of the designer clothes' shops.   I am paying my obeisance to the nightingale of India.   The talented and famous Lata Mangeshkar,  who lives at an iconic building at this junction.  

Today,  the sight was an exotic one.   God had decorated her residence around the walls with the prettiest white bougainvillea,  (I think),  in full bloom.    The sight is such a pretty picture that all my woes were forgotten and I felt a sudden peace. 

I would not have agreed readily with anyone,  if they had said that flowers can change one's mood,  because I abhor being gifted flowers that wither and die within a few hours.   But the pure white flowers blooming over Lata Mangeshkar's compound wall,   seem to be a heavenly cloud or halo that is extremely aesthetic to look at.   I  wish that I could 'stand and stare'  to my heart's content. 

Anyway,  the pretty image is embedded into my memory.

11 - WHAT GETS ME ECSTATIC.........

Our school organises a picnic for the students and of course, teachers have to go along and be alert,  keeping the childrens' safety in mind.  But teachers are allowed to enjoy the picnic too.   Our last outing was to Tikuji-ni-wadi,   at Thane.   I enjoyed the journey much more than the destination,   especially to the venue.  

The weather in the early morning is pleasant and all the kids are happy and eager,  and full of happy anticipation.    The traffic is moving smoothly and the fresh breeze is almost pollution free.    The sights and sounds along the road are viewable,  unlike the ones when one travels by the local train.

On this particular trip, what made me ecstatic,  were the blooming Jacaranda trees along the Vikhroli highway.   All the trees were in full bloom and their soft purple blossoms lined the central path of the highway for a few kilometres.   It was as though God had used his paints to beautify the roads for us!

The other sight that gave me a high were the birds.   Along the highway to Tikuji-ni-wadi,   there are a few high rises which are connected by electrical wires or so it seemed from the moving bus.   Atop these wires,  families of birds were perched, probably chatting and deciding the day's schedule among themselves.     The silhouette that these birds presented seemed almost ethereal.   There were parrots,  crows and sparrows.  When I see birds and animals that happily and freely co-exist on this planet,  an inherent calm assurance overwhelms me,  that all is safe and that the world is a happy place to be in.

The feelings of peace are not a little influenced by the fact that the parents of the students who have come along,   have faith in us as teachers and guardians.    That they have allowed their wards to travel in our custody.

So,  as a teacher,  I too enjoy a picnic,  but for different reasons.

 

7 - THE AMBANI ROLE MODEL

A very rich personality,  someone who had all the good things in life,  and was obviously out of shape,  was woken up by a taunt,  to get back into shape.  Aka Abraham Lincoln, who grew a beard on the advice of a school girl.   Our rich and wise man, is Anil Ambani.   Anyone who goes for early jogs along Marine Drive,  is familiar with this man's sincere commitment to achieve and maintain the goal he set for himself,  to keep in physical shape.   No matter how rich one is,  each one has to work hard, to keep a non paunchy figure.  This sincerity has earned him my respect.

I  have started going for walks along the sea face,  to motivate my daughter to become slim -  a goal she has to achieve, in order to live upto the expectations of eligible bachelors.    We also go to the Hanging Garden, via the secret steps.    The garden is pristine,  but the vehicles and stalls on its outskirts are a painful experience.  Expensive cars are owned by rich people,  who display their callous side by honking unreasonably,  breaking the one way rule to suit themselves,  eating and drinking and littering the road.  The two gardens have fountains that are switched off by 8pm.   So whenever we manage to visit during the 'on' time,  it is a very aesthetic experience.

The problems along Marine Drive are caused by vehicles too.  The police encourage 4 wheelers and 2 wheelers to park on the beach and the footpath along it.   Pedestrians have to dodge vehicles while walking on the footpath,  and the last straw that breaks the camel's back,  is the audacity of the riders to honk nonstop when they approach pedestrians from behind.

Along the seaface,  hawkers are all targeting the public to buy neon lighted bands,  'make-a-wish' lanterns,  lighted up hairbands,  tea-water-bournvita,  When I used to visit the seaface as a child,  I can recall only the freshwater coconut sellers and  vendors roasting corn-on-the-cob.   The problem with hawkers is that they make the beach their home.   They live on the beach and use the sea as their open latrine.   That is the dark side of allowing anyone to earn a livelihood unchecked.   Sometimes,  I almost feel that I'm walking along Dharavi.   But the people are almost oblivious to the vicious circle that they create, when they provide sales for these squatters.

  Now it is the rule that every walker has headphones plugged into their ears,  or they are listening and chatting with someone on their mobile.    And the 'selfie' fad is the most popular obsession I have observed.   Once dogs had been banned from being walked along the seaface,  but now,  dogs are walked here and no one enforces rules that were once set,,,,,,,,and then the rules 'are forgotten'.

The majestic Saifee Hospital is aesthetically illuminated, a treat one can witness only as a night walker.

Nowadays,  it is the wedding season and at the gymkhanas across the seaface,  gaudily decorated and ostentatiously lighted up shamianas are seen almost daily.   What makes me angry is that there are always people trying to cross the road randomly,  braving the obstacle of having to climb over the  cement road dividers.  And of course, the 2 wheeler dare devils,  who decide that they can speed and shout and 'enjoy' themselves.

As we take our round along the seaface,  we observe the  'serious walkers'   wearing expensive nikes and adidas shoes and the 'evening out'  ones,  who just prefer to  sit along the platforms.  The next category is that of the lovers,   sitting very close to each other,   some of them a bit apart-arguing with each other,  and others with little kids playing nearby,,,,,,,every stage highlighting the time frame of the relationship.

The walk along the sea face,  is a refreshing experience,  in spite of the numerous downsides.   God has made the sea have its soothing waves, that you can fine tune your ears to be able to hear.   And the sky above which encompasses eternity,  keeps me enthralled and motivated to walk along the shores of the Arabian Sea.