No place for negativities!

Today India celebrates not one but two major festivals. Id-ul-fitr and Akshaya Tritiya. This is the beauty of a diversity of our country, which, people believe is the symbol of unity in a world torn by war and pandemic.

Eid is celebrated after a month-long fasting, to regulate, more importantly the mind than the body. The cravings of mortals are overcome by rigorous abstaining from any food intake, the more religious not even sipping a drop of water from sunrise to sunset. The Iftars are after fasting, which the politicians have merely turned into photo ops. The culmination of the fasting month ends with a visit to the mosques, praying and meeting friends and relatives in a spirit of peace and gaiety. Nick named, sweet Eid, the Muslim community feasts in sweet dishes made of vermicelli.

Akshaya Tritiya the third Lunar day in the month Vaisakha is perhaps one of the most important days in the Hindu religious calendar.  Akshaya itself means unlimited, This was the day of birth of Parasurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. This day Lakshmi annointed Lord Kubera as the treasurer of the heavens. Sage Vyasa started dictating Mahabharata, which was written by Ganesha. Lord Surya gave Akshaya patra to the Pandavas, who were driven to the forest. Tretayuga began this day. Krishna went this day to Kusela (Sudama’s) house. Adi shankaracharya recited the Kanakatara Stotra today. The work to begin the holy Juggannath chariot begins today. In many Krishna temples like Madan Mohan in Orissa, the sandal journey begins today. Ganga devi descended this day on earth. The Gangotri and the Yamunotri temples are opened after a long winter closure today called the Abhijit Muhurat of Akshaya Tritiya.

In Jainism, Akshaya Tritiya commemorates the first Tirthankra, ending his one-year asceticism by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands. Fasting and ascetic austerities are marked by Jains, particularly at Jain pilgrimage sites.

On this day, Jains who observe the year-long alternative day fasting known as varshi-tap finish their tapasya  by doing parana, breaking the fast by drinking sugarcane juice).

Where is the place for anger, stone-pelting, or attacks amid such holy thoughts and deeds?

Jai Hind!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

The much-maligned IAS babus!

There are three pillars of our constitution, legislature, executive and the judiciary. The legislature consists of elected representatives, also called ‘lawmakers,’ and are the top rung of the three. The executive consists of officers of various branches, like the IFS, IAS, IRS, IPS etc. Though IFS is considered crème de la crème, the officers are mostly on assignments abroad or assigned to various external affairs desks in India. The judiciary’s role is to interpret laws and deliver justice when needed, and in exceptional cases, strike down laws considered violative of our constitution.

Periodically the question arises as to the role of the civil service officers and if their quality has fallen in the nearly last seven decades of independent India. The answer is a mix, as I have had the opportunity to work with many officers in various capacities. IAS continues to be a much sought after job with the most brilliant minds in India. However, the excitement soon fades when they have to stand before corrupt politicians, who have one key for taming the officers, compulsory waiting, or transfers to most obscure posts and locations. Their dream of changing India soon evaporates.

Therefore, one can only view any fall in the standards of IAS with a corresponding fall in the quality of politicians, many with pending criminal cases ranging from murder to rapes. It is the officers whose signature validates any and all acts of commission and omission. A former Bihar CM could not have amassed his wealth and plundered the treasuries had not the officials collaborated with him.

In another case, a senior police officer, personally known to me, was harassed to no end for exposing corruption. In this case, building a bridge where existed no canal or river. I was in the minister’s room when he gave a dressing down to an officer who stood ashamed and quiet. That was also when I decided my children would never appear for the UPSC. The corruption machinery by politicians have only been oiled and polished like never before.

Notwithstanding these, the role of the IAS officers in our nation-building has been phenomenal. But fewer officers would dare to point to the ministers of their lapses or refuse to toe their political bosses.

If the lateral appointments in Indian bureaucracy are the new norm, weeding out the most corrupt is the onus of the officers. The officers in Uttar Pradesh, if I remember, used to vote the most corrupt in their cadre, which was a unique way. The judiciary’s role as for administration is concerned could be minimal, to enforce and ensure compliance of laws. However, the judiciary has not done enough to book erring politicians, which is also a root cause of the wider malice.

I knew of a senior bureaucrat who disclosed once that for non-performance, one does not lose jobs, but one must be careful not to get caught red-handed. Not to confront politicians is the preferred survival link for many officers, who manage to survive until they are posted elsewhere. Merely claiming cirrhosis of the liver without admitting that the system is addicted to corruption would mean only scapegoating the IAS.

In the end, India must learn to weed out corruption from all the three pillars of our democracy to survive and grow.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

The Bengal rumblings!

I had written last year about how a computer-savvy and technology-driven poll-strategist cannot fit into the ecosystem of West Bengal politics. The party is run by an ageing Mamata Banerjee and winning handsomely in elections by believing in her old ideas. She relies heavily on the support of the poor, for whom all that she can do is offer some freebies, like rations and bicycles.

Those youths, who intend to grow beyond rallying around the leaders, quietly make a beeline for jobs outside West Bengal. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka attracted most Bengali youths, both educated and illiterate, for their many jobs. Simultaneously, like the Bengalis crowded IT sectors, I have seen boys in the remotest places, factories, and restaurants doing menial jobs. Bengal could have done more, but for the rigidity in a few policies of the present government, which has given it the mandate to govern for the third time in 11 years. The hard stance could become a millstone on the party’s neck in the future, hindering employment growth.

Back to where I began, Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist, is passé. He can win only winnable elections and suddenly seems to become jobless. Most of the party stalwarts stiffly resisted his rather ambitious attempt to enter the rudderless Congress party, thus ending his dreams. His next appointment as the advisor to Capt. Amarinder Singh, the Punjab CM, ended abruptly with his employer quitting. I guess i-Pac might wind up much of its operation for lack of newer takers for PK’s ideas. I will credit only Mamata for the landslide win in the 2121 Assembly elections. Mamata Banerjee is a grounded leader and a far better strategist than PK but suffers from the older theories to stick to power in fast-changing politics.

Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Mamata, recruited PK’s i-Pac to strategise a win in 2021. He is full of modern ideas, all of which may not suit the environs of Bengal politics. The latest salvo one man-one post is the result of an ongoing tussle between the young Turks and the old horses of the TMC party. Some were emboldened to toe Abhishek’s line resulting in Mamata convening a high-level party meeting today. As usual, they did what could be done, appointing a committee with Didi taking over the reins.

The idea is good and bad. On the flip side, Didi is the lone unifying and driving force, an authority that very few leaders exercise in the party. She is now forced to forsake, at least for the moment, to shift her focus from Goa and UP polls. Goa was a mistake, which I wrote long back. A few young leaders led by Abhishek were euphoric about expanding from the end-to-end of India. TMC, who dreamt of ruling Goa, may find no place in the winners. The gamble was entirely PK’s at Didi’s cost and image. Save giving a few leaders a taste of the spirited Goan beaches, the Goa experiment might be a disaster.

Someone within the party must dare, rise, and say that the emperor has no clothes if the party wants to win not by default of the weak and disoriented opposition in Bengal but by able governance. Meanwhile, the confusions in the party are temporarily rested by doing what is best done- by appointing a committee. Hope this will end the powerplay of a few.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

The hijab controversy!

The beauty of our country is its diversity; dress, food, way of life and culture changes every few hundred kilometres. The one thing that binds the nation is its religion. Without Hinduism as the core adhesive for our States, many States might have declared their independence by now. However, India chose to be a secular nation instead of a religious one, unlike Pakistan, which was born out of dismemberment of India by the British and never shied in declaring itself as an Islamic nation.

Be that as it may, independent India has made great strides in every field and can boast of a US$ 3 trillion-plus economy and nearly $400 Billion as foreign exchange reserves, unlike our bankrupt neighbour Pakistan. This growth was even as the British left us as paupers and dependent on outside help and aid for decades. One of the greatest virtues of India was to include all citizens in our growth, irrespective of their religious practices and virtues.

However, our country enslaved by Moghuls, Islamists and the British for nearly a millennium seem to have left a deep wound in the heart of Hindus. The tweaking of history to favour the invaders and obliterate Hindu rulers’ successes was silently digested for long.

The election of the Modi led BJP in 2014 could have been an expression of despair on the pent-up centuries-long discrimination and on a hope of a resurgent Hindu nation, which meant to be an all-inclusive and all-embracing one. Such a shift has not suited a few who were so far enjoying the polarization of the minorities, causing an eternal apprehension and fear in their minds of a Hindutva bulldozing every minority hope and aspiration. Periodically some right-wing Hindu extremists too exhibit intolerance to the extent of lynching anyone seemingly offending their religious beliefs.

For our country’s adversaries, it pays to keep our country engaged in internal disturbances, provoking one against another and polarizing communities. One should not fall for their manifestations.

The latest example of another religious unrest is over the disallowed hijabs in the schools. One section of students, even those who were liberal, are now made to come to the schools wearing hijab, while the Hindu students show up wearing saffron scarves or saffron headgears. The students seem to be deeply divided over defending their supposed right to dress in the manner prescribed by their religion.

No religion may have prescribed anything to school-going girls or boys. The girls in Afghanistan are fighting for just the opposite: discard the hijab and a right to education. In Pakistan, Nobel winner Malala was shot for going to school. She, too, was then forced to wear a hijab, which she discarded after settling abroad.

The Karnataka High Court hears the hijab matter is certainly not a matter of pride. On the contrary, it is a matter of concern and shame. Whichever way the court decides, the perpetrators of disharmony with the children will not rest. It is sad to see that the future of India, which rests on these students, both Hindus and other minority communities, must start with discord and which would grow to bother the country in the future.

I despise every provoking group, regardless of their political and religious affiliations. Stop playing with fire!

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

Budget 2022i

Union Budget always used to be an exciting annual affair. However, many components of today’s budget were a repetition of the past year’s proposals or presented in a new avatar. In a developing economy like India, the focus must be on macro issues and matters of a larger interest. Therefore, the Indian FM, Nirmala Sitharaman’s tight-rope walking by focusing on growth by leaning heavily on the Increase of a massive 35% in Government’s Capital expenditure for growth comes as no surprise. While the estimated GDP growth is 9.2%, one cannot miss out on the lower average growth in the previous year due to Covid.

Besides the Capex of 7.5 lac crores, Rs.48000 crores for the PM Awaz Yojana and Rs. 2.38 lacs have been proposed for the MSP of farm purchases. The proposal to interlink rivers went without any specific allotment. The proposal must pass the NGOs’ scrutiny and the courts. Such dazzling announcements merely satiate a few in the government.

Nirmalaji emphasized the PM Gati Shakti scheme, the multimodal connectivity, essentially a digital platform integrating 16 ministries, including roadways and the railways. Four hundred new Vane Bharat trains would be introduced in three years. Rs.20000 crores have been allotted for Urban transport, and 25,000 km of National highways added, which I am sure, Shri Nitin Gadkari will utilize the best.

Many non-fiscal policy steps occupied the speech, like rolling out E-passports by 22-23, or 2023 as the ‘Year of Millets.’ The announcement of one portal for all approval is merely a repainted one-window scheme, repeatedly announced for several years. 5G Spectrum is likely to be in 22-23 and could earn nearly Rs.4 lac crores, though resisted by telecom companies.

The defence had an outlay of 4.78 lac crores in 21-22 and could be much higher in 22-23, given the worsening global scenario. 1 lakh crore additional funds for states have been provided. A cover of Rs. 5 lac crores to the hospitality sector, Rs.19500 crores for solar energy have been announced. Health and E-learning have received emphasis with planned e-universities all over India.

The government announced that the RBI would be introducing digital currency, while profits from the digital currency will attract 30% tax, and digital gift a tax of 9.3%. New employment to 60 lac persons under PLI scheme in 24 sectors is expected. Post Offices will enter and integrate with the core banking system.

A cleaner environment has not missed focus, as investments in EVs and swappable batteries have been encouraged with fiscal sops.

I have not covered all the micro details, which will soon flood the social networks. For the critics, the Hon’ble FM made a special mention of the government’s allotment to the National Tele Mental Health Program. I guess she also had me in mind!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Ukraine, the new flash point!

On the 6th of December 2021, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, made a whistle-stop visit to India, calling on Indian Prime Minister Modi. On the 7th of December, I wrote that there could be a war, Russia fighting the NATO forces on the question of Ukraine. The intervening holidays, New year and diplomatic efforts have caused the six weeks delay, but the chance of a likely war has increased multifold now.

Ever since America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, it has lost much of its credibility in the world as a leader. The U.S. has been trying hard to reclaim its lost image by temporarily shifting its focus away from China and instead challenging the might of Russia. There have been organized protests mass movements in several past Soviet Union nations like Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Poland, and Belarus.

The latest is the move of the EU to admit Ukraine as a member of NATO, over which Russia has serious objections. Putin has demanded that no member of the former Soviet Union be admitted into NATO, eventually threatening Russia militarily. The U.S. is unnerved by the Nord Stream 2, an 11 Billion Russian twin pipeline of 1230 km below the Baltic Sea, delivering Natural gas directly from Russia to Europe. Germany is currently the biggest buyer of Russian gas and draws more than 50% of its gas imports from Russia.

The U.K. and the U.S., which always suspected Putin’s motives, have been arming Ukraine, to which Russia has objected. Parts of Ukraine bordering Russia, Donetsk and Luhansk, are already controlled by Ukrainian rebels favouring Russia. Russia has amassed about 100000 soldiers, tanks, and artillery at Ukraine borders, but it may be grossly inadequate to launch a full-scale invasion.

If Russia wages war, it could face a dollar freeze, cutting out from the SWIFT bank transfer system, and a technology squeeze, which will push Russia a few decades behind.

India has maintained a studied silence, as Russia and Ukraine are their important trade partners. Supporting Russia will invite the wrath of the west and, in particular, the U.S. Right now, it looks like Russia will intrude into Ukraine and occupy a small territory, symbolically defying the west. Germany, an important EU member, has declined to offer military weapons and limit only medical supplies. Its offer of 5000 helmets to Ukraine came under flak today.

Though it is an inopportune time for a war, when the world is recovering from the Covid shock, a show of supremacy between the U.S. and Russia might force other countries unwittingly to become players in the mindless game.

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

Civil awards 2022

Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, was formally approached by the National Awards Committee to seek his consent for inclusion in this year’s civil honours list with a Padma Bhushan. He has declined the award, which is well within his right, like his once-famous statement, ‘I exercise my right to remain silent,’ when pushed to answer an embarrassing subject. Likewise, two eminent Bengal artists, singer Sandhya Mukhopadhyay and table maestro Anindya Chatterjee have declined the offer.

Governments are run by parties wedded to particular philosophies or opposed to certain ideologies, based on which the people elect them. The moment they are in the government and take the constitutional oath, the opposition must keep aside their differences in matters concerning national image and respect. The government must also cease working as an extension of the political parties to which they belong.

As much as I know, being a recipient of a civil award, a knighthood, I was phoned by none less than the ambassador to seek my consent. In most countries, the practice is followed to take advanced consent from the awardees.

Be that as it may, excepting the dare to break from the ideas of the left bastion, Buddhadeb babu, other than being an honest man of high integrity, failed to do much for his State. The very choice reeks of suspicion of the government to appease the left cadres in West Bengal. Smt. Sandhya, a nonagenarian, apparently felt that a Padma Shri, the lowest in the list, was not befitting her. She was awarded the State’s ‘Banga Bibhushan’ in 2011. Anindya Chatterjee did not court any controversy while politely declining the award.

The media has now got a new chance to criticize Modi and his government over the snub of Buddha babu ‘refusing’ the Padma Bhushan award. The so-called jubilant but misplaced mood is also reflected on the social networks from the walls of many of my leftist intellectual friends. If he had to refuse the award, which is a national honour, Buddha babu must have been graceful in remaining silent, the right that he had exercised while being the CM.

To me, publicizing refusal of awards, then returning awards, ‘Award Wapasi,’ as a rebellious group movement against a government, etc., is unwise. But then, we are belligerent and rebellious from the British period and cannot change.

A Padma Bhushan award was announced to Ghulam Nabi Azad, which he has gracefully accepted, regardless of the wide extremities in every issue between his and the ruling party.

National awards must not become political missiles to settle scores.

Jai Hind.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Will Tesla invest in West Bengal?

Ever since Md. Ghulam Rabbani, the Hon’ble Minister, Minority Affairs & Madrassah Education in Government of West Bengal, tweeted Tesla’s founder and CEO Elon Musk to “drop here” we in West Bengal have best infra & our leader @MamataOfficial has got the vision. He ended with Bengal means Business…’ The minister’s tweet was after a tweet by Musk, which stated, ‘Still working through a lot of challenges with the government.’

Ever since the social networks exploded, many mocked the minister, and a few welcomed him for the invitation to Musk. I’m not getting into these trivialities by groups wedded to a firmly moulded ‘for and against’ stand on any and every issue pertaining to the State.

That Tesla is scouting for a good location in India is no secret. It is also not a secret that the founder CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, is regarded as one of the most intelligent specimens of Homo sapiens. Therefore, one must exercise caution, courtesy and diplomacy in communications, particularly relating to any government. An invitation by the Chief Minister of the State would have been ideal, if not, by the Commerce Minister, if not by the Chief Secretary, Commerce Secretary, the Chairman of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, in that order. Invitation by a Minority and Madrasah makes it confusing because someone must explain to Elon Musk what a minority and majority in the Indian context are.

One cannot wish away the ghost of Nano now chasing Didi and the reasons for her earlier chasing out the auto major from Bengal. They are heavy shackles, impeding any progress. The repeated affirmation that the government will not acquire any land for industry must be revisited, reviewed and recalled if West Bengal needs to grow on the industrial front. As one intensely following the industrial scenario in West Bengal, contrary to the bytes from the State Commerce Ministry, the growth compared to the fast-growing Indian states is tardy and might remain so.

Emotions of a few individuals on the social networks are fine but will not bring in investments on a large scale, which is the domain of the government. Right now, Tesla is demanding duty concessions, which, if permitted by the Central Government, would put all other EV manufacturers at a disadvantage. The complex situation requires a balancing between the already existing manufacturers and Tesla, only after which Tesla can finalise its India entry and the beginning of the States’ roles.

Notwithstanding Tesla, electric vehicles are a big churner, and many States have already started building big infrastructure for the same. Why should not Bengal declare an EV park well in advance with proper infrastructure to woo the budding industry, which could be trillions worth in the next decade?

Regional love and high passions are fine to mourn together, but Bengal cannot achieve industrial growth without changing the mindset and change in the State’s industrial policies.

With offence to none!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix.

Kabaddi, Kabaddi!

Kabaddi, kabaddi; I do not know why my school days suddenly appeared before me when I was surrounded by others preventing my reach to the borderline. I must slip through the weakest point of the firmly held hands of many. I try to escape, in vain, despite a bit of deceit and a supportive referee. The opponent team is euphoric as I settle down, sulking. A similar game was on for nearly two years, as I had succeeded in dodging the Covid virus, most part without any vaccines, as none were available then.

Between March and April 2021, I got vaccinated with two shots of vaccines. I guess the vaccines lose their potency after a while; the news states three months from the second dose. Most like me may feel eternally immune after the second dose and may have started normal lives. But wait! We are roaming merely with surmises. A third booster dose is a must, as is talked of now. Countries like Israel have started administering even a fourth dose to those above sixty years old.

It all began three weeks ago, with an uneasiness, followed by fatigue and body pain. It progressed with a bad throat, to the extent that those on the other end thought it was my wife and not me addressing them. I had difficulty convincing them that my throat had done a digbaji, a somersault. The voice, until now sounding from inside a well, soon became from a dark abyss that even I could not hear.

I must say a few words about our cook, from Bihar, who could effortlessly dish out any continental, Chinese, north or South Indian varieties. His sambhar is legendary, our neighbour choosing an entry for a quick grab. Next to my throat was my nose. Save for running like a street-side tap, it had completely lost the sense of smell. I tried hard to inhale the smell of tiger balm or the vapour of Karvol, a more aggressive one. It was no use. Another prime aspect of my senses was down and out.

That was when I decided to get a test done for Dengue, now widely prevalent. Costing a cool 5K, it showed nothing. The test was repeated, but the result was no different. My mind warned me, ‘get an RT-PCR done.’ The man appeared in a PPE kit. It was kind of funny, as I had already two vaccines. ‘I couldn’t be infected with Covid.’ I had to wait for the next few hours, and the mailed report claimed positive. The report is an oxymoron when positive could mean negative and negative, positive news.

My wife quickly acted, from hot Kada- a concoction of Tulsi leaves, black pepper, clove, and a few other herbs in place of water; oximeter every few minutes, crocin for my body pain whenever, and isolating me in the farthest room. Tons of advisory came from doctors, Covid affected, a vet expert (!), friends and relatives. The treatment included vibhuti (the holy ash) and picture laminates of several gods under my pillow.

Someone had even brought a dozen huge papaya leaves, which could have filled all the three refrigerators at home! So much was their love and concern. I look around as I see a steamer, a balloon-blower, oximeter, glucometer, hot water bag as well as cold press, a kilo or close tablets, a litre of cough-syrup etc. herbal decoctions etc. etc. All this because I might’ve missed wearing the mask for a few minutes!

Today, the Tamil Associations of Kolkata, led by Bharati Tamil Sangam and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, have organized an award ceremony. The Governor Manipur was doing the honours, which I had to forsake, for the safety of all concerned.

I’m getting better, but a full recovery could take two more weeks, during which time I must guard against Pneumonia or any other infection. It’s one of the rare periods when the mind is unhumorous and bland. But I’m not the one to give up easily.

I thank Dr. Sundar and scores of friends but have to end with a warning: ‘You catch, you suffer.’ So, don’t catch Covid and stay safe.

Kabaddi, Kabaddi!

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

Cryptocurrencies Part II

In my first part, I had written on the genesis and growth of Cryptocurrencies led by Bitcoin. There are more than 10,000 cryptocurrencies in existence as of November 2021. India has over ten exchanges in dealing with a dozen popular cryptocurrencies. A leading crypto exchange founder claims that the global crypto population is in the 150 to 200 million range. India has about 15 to 20 million users currently. Indian investment in cryptocurrency is estimated to be around US$ 10 Billion.

The Chinese government has banned all private cryptocurrencies, which includes mining, investing, and trading. On the other hand, India has lagged in its understanding of the impact of cryptocurrencies as an alternative source of stashing black money, roundtripping funds. The dangerous element of cryptocurrencies is that they are used for drug and arms trade, affecting the country’s sovereignty.

Faced with a poor investment climate, despite tall claims by the Centre and the States after unearthing huge scams by Chanda Kochar of ICICI, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya, which may be tips of icebergs. The banks’ officials had to save their jobs and pensions and promptly tightened their lending, imposing stiff lending terms. It resulted in heavy deposits and less demand for loans. It would have meant only one thing, a fall in Industrial output, which the government could not afford. Covid added to the misery as the interest rates were slashed steadily, both for the banks’ deposits and lending.

India has 58 million people under various pension schemes, who could depend on balancing the ever-rising living costs with interests earned from bank deposits. The lower rates have made many run to the risky bourses, which are risky. Indian bourse crashed by 1688 points on Friday over the fears of new mutant Covid variants, wiping off Rs.7.68 lakh crores of wealth.

The youth increasingly rely less on the government and rebel against constricting systems. In the words of Matt Stoller, the author of the book Goliath, one of the best books of 2019 on how to improve the economy by rethinking capitalism, “Crypto is an angry rebellion against a crooked system organised by billionaires based on enticing the rebels into an even more crooked system organised by different billionaires.”

Unless the laws are changed, Cryptocurrencies do not contribute to the economy, which makes it worse. Internationally enforceable laws must evolve to regulate the cryptocurrency, ensuring safety and transparency, which might conflict with the basic idea of deregulated cryptocurrencies.

I would not invest in an invisible asset with anonymous owners. A hack or a crash in the system could wipe the entire fortunes of many chasing better returns in the absence of alternatives. Anyway, the parliamentary discussion over cryptocurrencies could last a few months. Until then, both the coin desks and investors can see their fortunes change, for the better or worse.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix