The legend called STEVE IRWIN

The sudden death of Steve Irwin (44), the Australian television environmentalist, came as a shock to me. The newspaper carried the sad news of the ‘iconic’ environmentalist being killed in a freak stingray attack. To me, Irwin was more than just a crocodile hunter. Watching his daring shows on the Discovery channel was a treat to the eyes as the ease and intrepidity with which he handled the reptiles and hunted them was awesome. He was ‘the man’ to watch on the show. I remember watching one of his shows in which he was paddling through muddy and dangerous waters of the Amazon in search of don’t-know-what creatures. He ended up catching a deadly venomous snake with an elegant though rusty fashion, much to the surprise of the reptile!

His attachment to the world of crocodiles was immense. His fearless approach to the animal kingdom won him praises and to me he was a super-human.

But, this however provoked international outrage when he involved his infant son in one of his death-defying antics. In early 2004, he fed a 4 metre crocodile with one hand while clutching his baby son Bob in the other during a show at his Australian Zoo reptile park.

May his soul rest in peace.

Obnoxious Thinking

Thinking about what’s happening around me, I prevaricate my happiness and joyous mood and depart from being elated. I am confused. I am speechless. At what? Kya to ki! Kya maloom?

I am moved by what I read in the newspapers every morn. My mood changes. I used to be happy to read. Now I think twice. Why? I’m disturbed to read people’s sufferings, political mayhem, natural calamities, meaningless trivia, futile gossip (I’m choosing my words carefully), non-‘sportive’ sports, fatwa, dowry, rapes, extortions, XYZ scandals, XYZ scams, terrorist attacks, bombings, blasts, wars, N-weapons, deals, pacts, issues absolutely issueless, clueless political leaders, and what not shit! I’m disgusted. My day begins on an abhorrent note. All this is so very disturbing. So very sickening. I feel sick to the bottom of my ***. It’s so unwanted and unreasonable. I am far from ecstasy when I read all this.

Why are we all not humane? Why this oafish attitude of human against human? We are all of the same species. All on one single planet (out of 8, in our system). Then why this sickening drama? How would I benefit by bombing my fellow planet-mates and killing them? How would I benefit by killing fellow humans on the basis of religion, region, caste; more so, at times, for no reason?

How beautiful would a world be without indiscriminate killing, without inhuman deaths, atleast to the extent that we can help? The entire human race needs to come together, not through our political leaders, as they mean business; but through mutual help, understanding, and a peace loving attitude. I miss the serenity I used to enjoy as a child, maybe because I was oblivious to the happenings. But now, I cannot do away with these thoughts which disturb me and many like-minded people. I want to do something, but I’m handicapped alone. I can only dream of a tranquil world with beautiful-hearted people where there would be respect for every human being and the value of life and its offerings. I just fade away into these thoughts and wander exasperatingly if I should consider myself fortunate to be born on this planet! You may feel I think too much. Just can’t help!