A popular web site is running a contest – 10 things to do before you die, based on the 2012 Phenomenon on the so called end of the world. Here is my list of the things that I wish to do, the world may end or not (the list is not exhaustive, these are the ones that spontaneously flashed in my mind):

1. Immediately ban reality shows featuring children below 18 years; kids are
made to go through things that they cannot take at their age! (The major inspiration for this post is one such TV show)
2. Implement strict IB laws that would ban news channels from showing ‘breaking
news’ of ANY kind!
3. Loot everyone who has wealth that they have acquired illegally and distribute
to the needy.
4. Ensure that justice is done to all the pending murder and terrorism realted
cases which are pending in courts across the country (which otherwise would
never be solved) at the earliest.
5. Call up all the people I love and care for and let them know that they mean a
lot to me! Spend a day/ eat a meal with each one of them if possible.
6. Take up a crash course on photography and become a pro!
7. Travel to all the continents and the places in my (yet to be prepared) 100-
places-to-visit-before-I-die list with my wifey (to-be)
8. Try to find out all the things that my parents’ wish they had/did in their life
and help them get/do them.
9. Fly to Jo Berg, SA to watch the final of 2010 FIFA World Cup.
10. Make a list of all the great people whom I wish to meet and try to meet all
of them.

It was a Thursday night in Bangalore city railway station. It was drizzling and the place was buzzing with people hurrying to make it to their coach on time. I was also moving towards mine with my parents for a short trip to Kerala. Suddenly we hear a loud thud; we turn around to see a porter, probably around 65, on the ground with luggage in his hands. The poor man looked very weak; maybe he had not had any meal that day. His amused customers were also there, cursing him for the time they were losing because of his slip. In a jiffy they collected their luggage and rushed to find their train, without even paying the poor old man who was struggling to get back on his feet.

This might not be an isolated incident; there might be many more helpless souls in different parts of the country living through similar helpless situations every day. I say country because the media last week were abuzz with the government appointment of a council which is expected to implement the much awaited Multi-Purpose National ID card Project, which would provide every citizen of the country with an ID card – I wonder what a smart card would mean or how it will fill the millions of empty stomachs across the country.