ChintaMany’s worry gate principle:

The more you worry about solving a worry, the solution emerges along with another worry. (or) Worry makes you to worry about a solution and the solution comes along with another worry.

ChintaMany struck gold and found a way to live free of worries. After much deliberation, he developed this hypothesis (nether intellectual nor philosophical) to try and find a solution, for a worry that does not bother you, but ignore the worry that bothers you and begs for a solution.

After hearing this hypothesis, he got the reaction what he expected.  His friends unanimously named it as a Hypothesis of a worry monger. He did not agree, but understood people have misunderstood one thing - perspective. 

Einstein called it a reference frame and Richard Feynman chose to call it "perspective". He bought in to this seemingly controversial naming, which essentially defined the reference frame for perspective understanding. Scared listeners managed hitherto unimaginable sprint speeds to escape farther from his yet to become famous hypothesis. 

ChintaMany ran many iterations in his mind to feed his nagging worry- what will happen, when nations manufacture, use, sell and still feel the world is safe for them, though primed to explode?

 He knew before coming to the solution, he should take many steps, careful not to step on to land mines. The DNA of these nations might have a mutated ‘bullying’ strain. He hesitated to mix biological marker with ballistic missiles, is stretching it a bit, but...

These nations, afflicted with the COD syndrome use it to bolster export potential, making it easy for anyone to mail order choice weapons. This thriving market comes in handy, to play spoilsport in geopolitical landscapes. If they are upset with the emerging threats, from other nations to their global influence, they practice a variant of the COD syndrome. 

Receive the order delay supply, deceive or supply mismatched weapon platforms, loaded with self-defeating software. Even among the upset nations, there is competition to claim a share of the COD market. As a result of this, one side gets support from a particular ‘upset nation ‘and the other side gets supply by another ‘upset nation’. Both of them aim to bring the two nations, to  their knees at the borders, when the conflict is at a crucial stage.

ChintaMany concluded that there is only one solution to this worry. “The nations outside this ‘block’, having perceived threat potential to upset other nations, should unite and say no to bullying. Games can be played by two sides. The ‘block’ nations can unliterally impose sanctions and hit these easily getting upset nations, facilitating COD transfers.”

Though satisfied in solving one worry, he stared at another worry asking him - will the nations in the ‘block’ unite?

The fake and paid news:

With population and knowledge explosion, the digital world had no choice but to undergo its own sympathetic explosions. If explosion is the cause the undesirable effects are the effects. True to this nature, the digital explosion has thrown up debris in the form of influencers. These influencers, fighting for space to be seen and heard, milk the digital channels dry. Where else they can bring out their considered independent views and analysis to get traction and net-earnings?  In the end, unsubstantiated claims and unsupported research findings, as uncensored digital contents, get released for public consumption.

Instead of fostering cooperation, compassion and build societies sans animosity and hatred, a few rogue elements corner the social media platforms, to deepen the divide with malicious and rumour based speculations, without an iota of accountability. They are bent upon self-promotion, willing to be hired and be lend-lease mouth pieces for the inimically inclined.

They digitally create “images” and masquerade as "influencers". They are the digital terrorists. Harping on the virtues of a client, they throw the client’s competitors under the wheels of earthmovers. This skullduggery does not disturb their conscience even by a decimal point. Sensation seekers and gullible elements in the society subscribe, like and share the views expressed by these influencers. These influencers walk to the bank and the followers get counted for their follies.

This malady has a remedy - Break this vicious cycle of proposers spending money, the carrier-digitisers getting the money and the gullible subscribers buying them lock stock and barrel. If the weakest link in the chain, the subscribers, decide and walk out of these digital maya, then discipline will come in to the digital world!

Satisfied with his brilliant solution, ChintaMany started searching for another worry, but he could not anticipate whether it would be, by post or a phishing attempt through his password secured and fire-wall protected e-mail?

Not as he expected, a pigeon brought his next worry, though the pigeon did not know that ChintaMany has started worrying about its plight.

Though not an ornithologist or an avian-biologist, he was closely monitoring a pigeon trying to hatch its egg. To follow its progress and his ideal curiosity, he took photographs once, every day. He marvelled at the military precision with which the pigeon was patrolling the perimeter around the egg. It had cleverly chosen the spot on the sunshade, just beyond the shadow cast by a window AC. 

The pigeon must have decided to let the sunlight be a daytime partner in hatching the egg. Whether the pigeon was counting the day for the squab (young of a pigeon) to emerge or not, ChintaMany was closely watching the minor cracks appearing on the surface of the eggshell.

A few days later, he noticed that the egg had moved to a new location, jettisoning half of its shell. ChintaMany spent some time to reason out, which one of them could have kicked and pecked the eggshell to open - the pigeon or the impatient squab? Inside the half open shell, he could see a black, unmoving mass of the squab. Finally, the egg had hatched. One or two days later and the squab still inside the broken shell had disappeared from the hatching location. With heavy heart, ChintaMany took a photo of the disaster zone.

Why the hatching ended in a disaster? ChintaMany set his chariot of worry on a trot. Then he remembered to have seen a squirrel, running down a drainpipe and having a look see near the window AC. The furry tailed squirrel searching for a safe place to add a new member to its family, and must have selected the niche behind the window AC. Now, he had the villain. The squirrel must have thought, it would be better to be safe rather than feeling sorry afterwards.  When the pigeon was not around, it did some housekeeping work. Swept off the squab and the broken shell pieces., off the ledge.

The villain had made a forced entry. The immobile squab had no chance to defend its life, as its guardian angel had left in search of food and water. The sight of a forlorn and aggrieved pigeon – searching for the squab and looking at another kind of nest under preparation, was too much to digest. But ChintaMany’s pity for the loss came with a rider.

Compassion gave way to apprehensions and worries. Simultaneously, his mind argued with pigeon facts - a pigeon will choose the same spot for bringing in more squabs into its family and will make the surroundings unclean and unhygienic, with bird droppings and nonchalantly spread diseases. He is now worried if he sympathises with the pigeon, he will be encouraging a menace. If he sides with the squirrel, then he will be encouraging “pigeoncide.”

Overcoming grief, will the pigeon attempt to use the same location, once again?  Will another squirrel wait to invade that same space or the pigeon will be lucky, the second time?

Readers, give him a sympathetic reading and leave ChintaMany to stew in his own pot of worries, lest we will also be joining the race!

Ganesha makes a U turn:

Ganesha makes a U turn:

The footfall of devotees has been falling steadily. Frustrated beyond limits, his Lord Ganesha had turned his back on his devotees. Not in a mood to relent, he sat facing the wall, in his sanctum sanctorum. Mooshik felt awkward, being forced to sit with his back to his lord , leaving him to face the visitors.  On his part, Ganesha seemed to be content to enjoy the silence from the sound of breaking coconuts and  not being startled by them.. Mooshik, reminisced, ‘If at all this decision had been taken much sooner, my fright and plight of having aching and bleeding ear drums would have stopped earlier’.

Getting wind of this U turn, a crowd started trickling in and happily spread the news to discharge their civic responsibilities. Now, the trickle has become a flood, to speculate and disperse. The reluctant devotees gathered and from the sidelines wondered whether this could be a weak miracle. Mooshik liked the speculation part but was angered by the reluctant devotees’ miserly attitude in terming it as a weak miracle. Mooshik felt insulted, when the people, who never brought any offerings to please him, have now ganged up to wrongly accuse him. He felt doubly disappointed, when Ganesha remained silent and chose not to react.

His oral hints and back-channel efforts did not alter Ganesha’s mindset. Forced to fend for himself, his back to Ganesha’s back, he mulled over his options - plead with Ganesha to relent or get in touch with his family or call Chitragupta.  Like Chitragupta, he too had mortal apprehensions about calling Ganesha’s family.

What Chitragupta would do? Spin and twist his views and leave Ganesha confused. Before the U turn phase, he was the one to offer this rash suggestion, “Perform a miracle. Simply make Mooshik to change colour from grey to black to brown and white and then back to grey, in a cyclic manner.”

This miracle was to bring back all those and some more devotees. Now, what other plots he would hatch - maybe to deport me to the land of ratholes? Mooshik was getting scared to let his imagination move into another frame.

Earlier, anticipating threat to his lie, Chitragupta had cleverly declined to mediate between Ganesha, his father and brother. But he might not be averse to sacrifice others in an effort to pacify Ganesha. Mooshik fervently hoped that Ganesha would not force him, even if Chitragupta proposes his candidacy on some pretext or other.

Mooshik seriously thought about on ways to safely approach Ganesha’s family, and request for an intervention. A worst-case scenario, which might result in a disastrous end to his career as Ganesha’s vehicle. What would be his value, if his head and tail are not in working order? If annoyed, Ganesha’s family, would not hesitate to let loose a snake and a peacock and he had no intention of becoming a meal to either of them.  An unhealthy and mortal danger as far as his well-being is concerned!

Picking up courage, Mooshik spoke, “Ganesha you are unduly worried about the dwindling crowd of parents and examinees. The days of queuing up in front of you, at the start and end of an academic year, has given way to on-line darshans. Nowadays, people think that it is better to stand in front of coaching centers for immediate gains. Everyone has to better his/her odds a bit.  Let this not worry you as full moon always brings in a new moon or vice versa. Have we not seen these endless cycles and survived together?

 " Mooshik, why did you not alert me to this state of affairs?"

" My Lord, I had no iron in this fire, because devotees never considered me worthy enough even to break a coconut, prior to or after the exams. With no teeth in this game, and no broken coconuts to gnaw at, I just ignored the early warning signs?"

 " Mooshik, what happened to your loyalty to me?"

" This loyalty question confuses me, like the student facing a multiple-choice question."

Ganesha getting annoyed asked, " What was the need to get confused by this simple question?"

"My Lord, it was a very tough question for my small brain. Instead of getting overloaded, it went into neutral stance."

The atmosphere inside the sanctum sanctorum becoming hot, Ganesha started to fan himself, vigorously by flapping the elephantine ears. He spoke, “Mooshik, stampede or stragglers, you sat by my side, with unflinching loyalty. How could I even doubt your loyalty? How could I blame your mind for speaking out or not, keeping my best interest in focus?  I like your quiet diplomacy of not shifting the blame on to someone else, for this impasse.”

Respecting their long-standing relationship, Ganesha decided to wait for a face-saving measure, which he secretly hoped Mooshik’s tiny brain would be clever enough to deliver.

Sensing an opening, Mooshik said," The minds of the pious and innocent people work on a simple principle - 'a deal without a guarantee clause is not worth the paper it is written on'!"

  "Mooshik, how does this work?"

 "In simple terms, if you give upfront guarantee with a back-end assurance, they will relent and you can assume your former posture.

Ganesha understood how Mooshik with his tiny brain had come up with a suitable explanation, though it amounted to knocking and seeking a backdoor entry. Vigorously shaking his head Ganesha said, " Mooshik, don’t force me to give up so easily. O.K?”

 “No, My lord. I give up. My very small brain is not willing to cook up anymore dishes, it makes me hungry!”

Ganesha shouted, “Then stop cooking and start eating your own arguments for all I care. Now leave me in peace.”  He had half a mind to thrash Mooshik, but realised the futility of such an act. Turning his back on his devotees was fine, like a one-time offer. But the effort of turning his neck around, to see who has come knocking at the door, is becoming painful.

At this instant, he replayed the one-way conversation in his mind, which Mooshik  dutifully carried on, to convince him.  He smirked at the irony of the situation of – both of them sitting back-to-back to each other and he straining to listen to Mooshik!

 “Oh, Ganesha, am I not your most iconic vahana.? Was I not instrumental in demonstrating your ability to control and overcome ego and desires? How can I forget your encounter to subdue me, when I was Gajamukhasura?  You forced me to shed my ego and desires: transformed me as Mooshik, and your vahana. You blessed me with the ability to navigate through narrowest openings and to overcome hidden obstacles.  Am I not now, a sitting symbol of your role as the remover of barriers? I plead to you my lord, graciously forgive these ego and desires loaded mankind, who appear when in need and then disappear.”

After a deep thought, Ganesha came to a conclusion. Instead of straight away explaining his decision, he wanted to tease a response out of Mooshik, who always whined about his limited brain power. In a matter-of-fact voice, he questioned, “Mooshik, do all the flowers smell? Do all the flowers become a garland and reach temples? Do all of them bloom, all through the year?

Mooshik replied, “My lord, why load my brain with these questions when you know the answers to them?”

Ganesha continued, “Don’t you think that the solution might be lying in the petals, in plain sight!”

Mooshik could barely think beyond the nectar in the solution form, that too not on the petals. With little stretching, he could see insects having a feast. He remained silent.

Ganesha was not in the mood to let go and Mooshik wanted to be let off.

Ganesha in a calm and reassuring voice explained, "The news of me turning my back to them has not generated the hoped for impact. Even the trickling-in attendance has started to slow down. Some have erroneously concluded that I am very angry as a pretext to avoid me. Some others are waiting for it to cool down, and not in a hurry to come.  I am ready, if they come en masse with or without offerings and vows, to resume regular visits. Are they not like flowers – perennial or seasonal, fragrant and colourful or just plain. Irrespective of these facts, flowers do bloom, is it not?

Ganesha’s ‘turning his back on people’ episode may not be once done and dumped act. The talk of flowers and people left Mooshik’s mind in a maze. He started to worry that Ganesha should not spend his frustration and try out Chitragupta’s solution on him. He liked his natural dark-grey skin colour. How could Chitragupta suggest that he might be given a colour change like a chameleon? Moreover, he could not picture himself, in a chameleon’s attire, even if it displeases Ganesha and Chitragupta.

Frantically searching for a way out, he decided to quietly open clandestine diplomatic channels, to Karthikeya and Shiva. It would be a great diplomatic coup, if he could pull it off through the peacock and snake. No threat to dear life and an assured position besides Ganesha.

At this point, Ganesha dropped a bombshell. Mooshik, I have decided to revert back to my original posture. If my manoeuvre is successful, it will relieve you of your scare and fear. Actually, your cryptic one-liner "that what is not presented doesn’t exist", had made me to come to a decision. I will go on TV, during a panel discussion, and settle the issue once and for all.

Mooshik regretted hinting about on-line darshans and cashing on it now, Ganesh wants to speak through proxies, on T V. If mention of flowers and people confused him, his lord's proposed proxy appearance raised nothing but consternation. He wondered, is this the ripe time to bring Ganesha's family on board?

Continuing Ganesha said, “as my constant companion, through breaking of coconuts and abject neglect, I grant you this privilege, to watch the preview of what is going to happen.”

 Anchor: Is the offering and breaking of coconuts a sanctioned ritual?

Scientist: Not at all. How can perishable things be an offering to a deity?

Aeronautical Engineer: Breaking of coconuts, certainly disturbs the fabric of sound, if not anything else.

Scientist: Sound is unhealthy and scientific community is of the opinion that it needs further research.

Neuro-zoologist: I would like to enlarge upon my learned friend's point on sound. Trauma to the microtubules and consciousness, in the brain , particularly of a mouse will be disastrous. 

 Not allowed to butt in so far, the anchor jumps in and fires a question. “What is the remedy then?”

Panelists (in one voice): deities did not ask for it and will not become angry, if this practice is discontinued and...

Waiting for a chance to have the last word, the anchor announced: Viewers, please leave your comments @ anchor.atsea.channel.com

The next day, Mooshik, found Ganesha with a broad smile.  He announced, “From this instant, let me face the entrance, even if it is to enjoy the pedestrian traffic.

Mooshik managed to blurt out," What has happened to you?”

“That panel discussion happened live on T V, gathering overwhelming response. Breaking of coconuts, which scares you is not going to happen. Mooshik, are you happy now?”

Mooshik blurted out, “I am left speechless and happy to retain the colour of my dark-grey skin and tail.  Ganesha, do I owe you any upfront guarantee with a back-end assurance for this?"

Ganesha started to scratch his head. Mooshik quietly left him to it!  

Type-2 Terrorists, terrorism and sponsors in "Mind sans directio moralis"

 "Mind sans directio moralis" Worms from the other woods

After understanding the psyche of worms from the woods (cross-border terrorists) and the worms that stay in the woods (sponsoring nation) and resident worms waxing sympathy, Imaginch decided to decode the working of the worms from the other woods (foreign) and its sub-sets. These type-2 worms wiggle out of different geographical locations, in support of terrorist and their sponsor.

What needles these worms, in the event of a terror attack on another nation, lying continents away from them? Do these worms derive satisfaction, if calamitous and contagious destruction is caused to that nation and its populace? Is it economic or strategic consideration opposed to the well being of fellow human beings? Is it twisted logic of imbibed liberalism that powers these worms to support heinous acts? Do these worms have the moral right to do so without standing in the shoes of the targeted nation? Questions after questions, filled his mind and set him to find some sort of answers.

Why nation that encourages and sponsors terrorists is not made accountable? At the end, what happens to the sponsor who bred and protected these worms from the woods? When political ideology conveniently aligns with religious ideology, the sponsoring nation manufactures two types of time bombs. One to explode across a border and another to implodes within. If the former is a controlled explosion, the latter will be a runaway freight train.

Why don’t the worms from other woods simply ignore such nation and their terror groups?

Why would they? The terrorists and the nation are assets on call to wage proxy wars on behalf of them, with deniability. 

For the worms from other woods taking sides is a DNA afflicted disease. Meet the worms that jump on bandwagons and stir the pot of turmoil, protest defensive actions as atrocities in the name of activism. This type of worms resides in an environment of glass jars with highly polished inner walls. Each worm doing its rounds, inside this protected domain, admiring its own reflection fails to comprehend the reality. Thinks, besides itself, there are many more of its kind, in action. Oh! What a narcissistic world, these worms that jump on bandwagons live! 

Another variant of the DNA affliction is the worms with opaque vision. This type of worms ,  having the ring-side view from the perch of global institutions, don’t see anything amiss and do not attempt to do anything, even if brought to their attention. Terrorism and terror fundings rise and grow under the very nose of these institutions. Somewhere down the line, they have developed malfunctioning conscience and an acquired opaque vision syndrome.

Their collective motto is - right or wrong support the perpetrator.  Together these worms compliment the spectrum of the main rainbow. These types of worms exist in a quantum state – pretending to be there but actually not there. Imaginch wondered ‘what would be their response, if these very institutions come under a terror attack, when they are in session!

After a terror attack, two things happen. First, likeminded worms from other woods (other terrorist outfits) come out, waving different coloured flags expressing solidarity. These worms, at the behest of their own sponsors, are ready to offer a lend-lease programme to makeup shortfall in arms and technology and willing to join forces to bolster head count. Terrorists-with-arms indeed!

Second, the worms that stay in the other woods , facilitate the terrorists to sneak across borders with impunity aiding with satellite imageries and hi-tech communication networks during the ‘terror-missions’ and ensure safe return to operational bases. These worms that waddle into conflicts don’t bother at all to read their moral compasses, analog or digital. When a gun barrel could be effectively used, why bother to rely on the needle of a compass?

These supportive worms have just one doctrine – your enemy is my enemy too. Nations with vested interest,  make an appearance and pledge support to their ‘friend’ ,who runs a factory to turn out ‘selfless’ terrorists for captive and contributary purposes. To advance their selfish goals, these worms offer upgraded military hardwares, actionable grade intelligence to mount successful cross-border attacks.

They promise to shield from global outrage and to standby to proclaim the innocence of this dear ‘friend’, when things nosedive. To be on the safer side, these comfortably placed worms, end up funding terror groups indirectly through the sponsoring nation. These worms are not averse to a direct deal, even if it back stabs the dear ‘friend’. In geo-politics, strange are the bedfellows!

These wormy nations are the proponents of ‘off-the-book’ black operations or contracted wet work and rendition techniques., suffer no quilt nor pay undue attention to their conscience.  This silenced conscience, effectively shields them from any obligation to condemn terror attacks. Be it from the ‘friendly nation’ or from ‘fostered terror groups. If the pride of the ‘friendly nation’ is hurt, they parachute monetary and ordnance dumps as gifts or bailout packages or loans. If the wormy nation is hunting for real estate, then loans could be written off, in lieu of repayments.

All these worms of national and international agencies/ activist groups, directly or indirectly collude and offer a way out for the offender- to vehemently deny the existence of terrorists and their where abouts. A classical “Close the eyes and be blind” syndrome.  It does not the end here.  The world has to has to put up with type-2, and opaque visioned worms, who invariably get an attack of moral-wave, and broadcast sound-bytes of peace. De-escalate, , bury the hatchet, mediate and so on. They have the temerity and hypocrisy, to come out with an offer to mediate.

The unfortunate victims and mourning families are forgotten. The nation responsible for inflicting this tragedy, relentlessly marches steadily toward the status of a failed state. Nations that came forward to shield become, unknowingly or knowingly the catalyst for the fall. Imaginch wondered, if at all these worms had stayed in their homestead, the failing state might have given up their gun culture.

It is unfortunate that the worms from other woods and the worms from the continental woods, enjoy a great deal of electronic and print media attention. They come out and fire bullets in air to express solidarity support of the terrorists. The blood of brotherhood runs deep red!

Besides the main rainbow, there lurks the inevitable secondary rainbow. Some 'sporty' peacenik worms from the foreign woods, wearing fancy dresses and moral hats, come out to grab the available mikes and utter their profound wisdom. Amidst media fanfare, these sporty worms eulogize terrorists, arrange to deliver token relief materials. These worms happily go after popularity rather than condemning terrorists using civilians as shield to target civilians of another country. These peacenik worms conveniently forget the active/passive use of terrorism by their own countries nor care to understand a nation’s fight against the perpetrators.

Remaining safe from such attacks, they urge to vigorously wave an olive branch and book a seat on the negotiating table to meet with the terrorist. These worms try to exploit the acts to legitimise their relevance, without realising that terror or the bullets fired by terrorists, do not make any distinction. 

The who is who - the nation or the terrorists, is the deciding factor for these peacenik types. Amidst raging conflicts, the media makes a kill - neutrality and objectivity be damned. Imaginch indicted them with one phrase - Humanity humiliators.

Steeped in bias, the worms that stay in the other woods, view these terrorists as freedom fighters and their acts of terrorism as war of independence. Are these worms think that their forefathers got them independence through terrorism?  These worms are highly disappointed with their inability to bestow military honours on them, as terrorist are not from an army’s ranks. When things go deep south, these condescending worms get united and declare a “designated list”. 

This does sweet nothing to root out terrorism or to bring the sponsoring nation to senses with enforceable economic/military sanctions. The sponsor and terror outfits proudly display this ‘list of honour’ and cash on it!

Little these worms, in foreign lands realise that their own freedom is increasingly coming under attack - courtesy of myopic immigration policies based on guilt or a means to marshal cheap work force. The foreign lands offering unimaginable and unlimited freedom, these immigrants turn the host nations into fertile breeding grounds to raise an army of supporters to stand with these "freedom fighters’ a.k.a terrorists. 

In the name of liberal thinking, reputed academic institutions, renowned teachers and their dreamy-eyed wards join the ranks of this army, to lend legitimacy and support by organising protests.

All these nations and protestors have achieved is to overlook and embolden the ‘friendly’ nation, using terrorism and proxy wars as state policy. Freedom of speech and action are guaranteed, under your constitution but what about the sovereignty of other nations? Just following the monkey’s three principles?

These nations and institutes of learning, sweep terrorism under their thick liberal carpets, without fail.  To be seen as guardian angel of peace, these nations gladly offer their good offices to mediate, de-escalate and the liberal institutions enroll and prepare the next batch of dreamy-eyed wards for yet another campus protest.

These worms lack honesty and logic in thinking. If they cross borders and nibble or gobble territory, it is to protect their sovereignty. If another nation takes the fight to the terror camps to safeguard its sovereignty, these nations aggressively take sides (pro sponsor) and sing the 'back to barrack’ song. With the song still in play, they clandestinely deliver ‘silkworm’ and ‘locust missiles’ and ‘drones and mosquitoes’ to the sponsors and terrorists, to maintain status quo ante.

At the end of his musings about worms, terrorists, sponsors and friends of sponsors, Imaginch decided to answer this question – which type of worms are dangerous? The single, explicit answer he came up with was - these Worms that stay in the woods of foreign lands. With feet very much in their mouth, these worms, wax eloquent on threat potential, escalation and end of humanity. They are willing to put their collective necks to broker a peace deal.

These hypocritic, terror fostering worms are always on the prowl, like a predator. Habitually employing clandestine terror networks and assets to gather intelligence, to further their own hidden agendas, does not preclude them from preaching commerce and tourism as a better option than waging wars. They are bidding for time, till their ships with armaments could set sail, to fulfill their commercial interests.

Now, the nations that have seeded the terrorist find themselves in an umbilical bind. The supporting/supplying nations, invade and hijack their foreign policy and force them to carry the huge debt burden. A quid pro quo for taking the responsibility of shielding them. This is the rouge nations’ huge commercial potential!

When the economy nosedives and threatens to collapse, the harbouring nation hits the highway backed by fake authorised media accounts to portray them also as victims of terror.  Motive - play the victim card to beg, borrow or steal. Smelling blood, the predator worms, magnanimously offer doles, aids or loans, of course along with long ropes to hang, multiple times. These worms turn a Nelson’s eye to the welfare of the nation exporting terror.

Who says terror does not pay? Ask the nations, which has dedicated launchpads for terrorists and the multinational funding agencies that are ready to loosen the purse’s strings, even with due diligence throwing up red flags all over the books!

There are a few fence-sitting Worms that stay in the woods of foreign lands. To protect their own skins in the game, they are ever ready to strike profitable deals, with the nation breeding terrorist. What is their end game residing, in far flung woods? Creation of chaos to keep the neighbouring nations fighting it out. 

Peace and prosperity at home and others be damned! These worms, sitting on the fence or actively prowling around, are short on wisdom and long on short-term gains, due to avarice.

Imbecile worms, a surprise lesson, surely awaits. Nothing will prevent the snake, let into the neighbour's  garden, to cross the fence and take a swipe at you? The snake is ready to bite a friend or foe. It is certain death, for it, at the hands of one or the other.

Well, what does the United worms that stay in the woods and sit on world bodies, with mandate and organisations to guarantee peace do? Hold sessions, exchange votes and vetoes, designate some as terror outfits, announce sanctions and fail to enforce compliance. They stand exposed for collective hypocrisy and powerlessness to do anything to exterminate the terrorists. 

pot of a United worms that stay in the woods has surrendered its locus standi even to call a kettle black!  

There is this global irony. The sponsor nation/nations are members in the UN. What does the UN and its ‘zombie’ institutions do, except mourning death tolls and maintaining silence? Prodded to act, it does another unthinkable - gives the keys to the thief hoping the house would be safe!  Who is to be blamed? The developed nations, who ride thorough bred moral horses and use different trots for different tracks.

This skill helps them to violate international laws. Can they be blamed or sanctioned? They will answer it with a ‘veto’.

Imaginch wondered, whether he had become a cherry picker? Maybe, but at least he is picking up something!  Cherry or apple, he admonished himself and ‘designated’ his mind as a worm-hater!

Type-1 Terrorists, terrorism and sponsors in "Guns Sans Frontières"

"Guns Sans Frontières"   Worms in woodworks and from woods:

Imaginch, did not know what made him to read about the Anobium Punctatum, a common furniture beetle. This beetle lays eggs on moist wood which become larvae (worms). They bore deep into the wooden articles and make it their home. Over a period of time, it destroys the home that sheltered it. They do not carry and propagate diseases, except causing minor discomfort. He named this beetle/larva (worms) and the likes as worms in the woodworks.

His wandering mind did some acrobatic manoeuvres, started to explore the phenomenon of terror and terrorism. He noticed that the worms and the terrorists shared many common characteristics between them – infesting to destroy. He delved deep to list the similarities. Ambrosia beetles, woodborer weevils, bark borer beetles, and deathwatch beetles infect the woodworks. 

Likewise, terror outfits of different ideologies infiltrate across borders. For simplicity’s sake, he named the terrorists as worms from the woods, as they often choose woods or forests as cover. Both like wood, infest, stay hidden, have ravenous appetite and feed on to destroy the shelter that harbours them. A major difference being, the worms and their destruction is a containable, with suitable protective treatments. No such preventive measures exist to contain this contagion called terrorists.

In his view, compassion to terrorists is tantamount to surrendering sovereignty.  The only treatment that would work is to put them down - lock stock and barrel, like in the old western movies. This will be better than naming and shaming the sponsors. Coming to the mindset of the international community towards terrorism and sponsors, he doubted that even the gunshots in the western movies could disturb their deep slumber.

To keep the narrative, on track to avoid getting lost in the woods, he came up with certain markers. He designated the ‘sponsor’ is the nation sharing borders, or in the same geographical region or has an inter-continental location, with a common ideology of inimical intent and selfish motives (this would become clear in part-2 of the narrative). The ‘perpetrators’ could be residents of the above qualifying nation/nations, as the terrorist are guns sans borders.

The worms from the woods range from ignorant and indoctrinated to learned and illogical. These camouflaged terrorists call themselves as liberators and freedom fighters. Once out, they perpetrate different forms of terror. Military grade combat training, including strategy, logistic and use of state-of-the-art technologies – under free education programme, probably with funds misappropriated from loans and grants given for developmental works. 

Modus operandi of these courageous, hardcore worms is:  On national duty, infiltrate and avoid contact with military/paramilitary forces, as much as possible. Select soft civilian targets, unleash terror attacks and escape alive to repeat the cycle, barring unforeseen encounter operations.

The tag, as non-state actors, is a meaningless misnomer. The terrorist has residences and families. And for the expedient of deniability, the citizenship records of the ‘host’ country registers them as ghosts with postal addresses, bank accounts and satellite phones. Their ethereal status draws the politicos, to hobnob, fall heads-over-heels, with these worms, to have a tete a tete. Each an invaluable asset to the other.

The safe haven enjoyed by these two-legged worms from the woods, made Imaginch to lock on to the nation that breeds and supports them. Taking the cudgel, he named the border sharing nation/nations, as worms that stay in the woods as type-1. These type-1 worms, facilitate the terrorists to sneak across borders in battle gear, with impunity. Instead of diplomatic passports, briefs or pouches, the terrorists carry grenades. 

Is it not the moral responsibility of the sponsor to ensure safe return of terrorists to home bases? The sponsor guarantees by providing satellite imageries and artillery cover during infils and exfils.

This Type-1 worms live with defunct moral compass.  As a state policy, not adverse to use terrorist as ambassadors to dispense cross-border terrorism. The nativity and the germinating pool of indoctrinated professionalism of the worms from the woods, is exploited to the hilt by this sponsor. As an added bonus, the sponsor has a perfected, successful low-cost military strategy with deniability for captive use, in proxy wars in the neighbourhood and a profitable business model terrorists as exportable commodity!  

To further their business model, this type-1 worms do not hesitate to dangle ‘strategic location carrots’ in exchange for umbrellas to shield them, from scrutiny and indictment. These quid pro quo umbrellas cut both the ways- nations, with devious minds, do not hesitate to help the strategic ally, and the ally offering FTA on all its exportable commodities and guaranteed deniability! Imaginch boiled at the callous attitude of nations hedge-funding terrorism. He decided to deal with such nations and related subjects separately, in part -2, as Type-2 worms that stay in the woods.

Two things happen, after any terror strike. First, likeminded worms from other terror outfits come out, waving different colour flags, to express solidarity and support. These comrades- in-arms are ready to offer a lend-lease programme – with munitions, technology and even able-bodied worms to swell the ranks. If they are foreign worms merrier the camp becomes.

Jostling for attention, the fledgling, home-grown version  of worms from the woods, (victim and sponsor) comes out in support. They shamelessly deliver sermons and eulogise to downplay the cross-border terrorism. They try to score bullet-points and badly needed exposure, to go up in the ladder of terrorism. These are attempts with certain aims. To address survival, financial crunch, and as a sure-shot means to move on the road to get ‘designated’. These home-grown versions, certainly have vision! Here, Imaginch had a doubt. How, the ‘designated’ outfits garner support and generate more revenue than the sponsoring nation?

The remorseless terrorists enjoy the aftermath of a terror attack, with a great deal of electronic and print media attention, focused on their heroic acts. They feel elated and encouraged by the epithets and upgrades, elevating them to the status of freedom fighters, from the ranks of mindless butchers. Their facsimiles do more electronic rounds than that of genuine freedom fighters, who never got it in their lifetime!

If at all possible, these media houses would have gone ahead, to pin gallantry medals on these ‘heroes’, conveniently forgetting that these worms are nothing but terrorists and their avocation is nothing but terrorism.  What the media attention achieves? The terrorists celebrate it by firing volleys of bullets in acknowledgement. Do terrorists worth the wasted print and pixels?   Imaginch fumed at this travesty steeped in hypocrisy!

 Second, the worms that jump on bandwagons (vocal, activist types) and worms with opaque vision (blind supporters) bravely come out from their quantum state of being there but actually not anywhere! The worms that jump on bandwagons, reside in individual glass jars. Going around, inside the highly polished inner wall of this protected domain, each worm admires its own reflection. Failing to comprehend the reality, it gets carried away by thinking that there are many more of its ilk, in action, with it. Truly, a narcissistic world, these worms that jump on bandwagons live! 

 Ring-side view or not, the worms with opaque vision refuse to see anything that is amiss and fail to do anything. Terrorism and terror funding, going hand in hand, right under their very eyes does not look bad. Forced to sit on this bullet edge, their dilemma is - to be patriotic or show loyalty to the inimical ‘friends’? Somewhere down the line, they have developed a malfunctioning conscience with an acquired opaque vision syndrome (AOVS).

Meet the faint secondary, 'sporty' peacenik worms that stay in the woods, lurking besides the main rainbow. This kind of worms, indigenous or foreign, often break cover, to bask in televised 15 second glory. Imaginch focused his attention on the indigenous ‘sporty’ peacenik worms, who miss no opportunity to seek humane treatment for the terrorists. In their sympathetic view, shooting without compunction and using fellow humans as Kevlar vests, is nothing but a minor human aberration.  

If these worms are from a political outfit, they try to exploit the acts of terrorist, to legitimise their sympathetic relevance- a pole vault patriotism. At the polling booths, this sportsmanship gets rewarded with empty ballot boxes. But the game goes on.

The other type of peacenik worms, wears political garb, grabs available mikes to dispense profound wisdom. Unfortunately, these scholarly analyses turn out to be jokes at home, and fail to tickle the audience, abroad.  Whatever branch they hail from, these ‘sporty’ worms would go after popularity rather than confronting the aided perpetrators. The who is who - the nation or the terrorists, is the catalyst to energise these peaceniks.

Imaginch wondered ‘what would be their response, if terrorists attack them!’ The attack would not happen, as these peacenik worms are under heavy security envelop.  Since they are safe from such terror attacks, they counsel vociferously to wave an olive branch and book a seat at the negotiating table to meet with these perpetrators. 

Unfortunately, these home-grown peacenik worms don't realise that the terrorists or the bullets they fire will not make any distinction, at the time of an attack. Imaginch boldly decided to shame them as humanity humiliators. He fumed, why not dismantle the security envelop and safeguard the public. This will definitely save many lives instead of a few?”

Now, Imaginch understood that all these worms, without distinction, are predators. They terrorise or lend support to the ‘heroic acts’ of terrorists. In case of the yet-to-make-the mark peaceniks, it is a way forward to grow, by hanging with the seasoned. He debated on this question – which type of worms are dangerous? The disturbing answer that came out was - Worms that stay in the woods, at home, as they bring complex dimension, in tackling the menace of terror.

Worming their ways into the hearts of academics, they have found ways to reach the courts and stall the firm handed dealing of terrorists and terrorism. In the name of activism, the combating response - swift or slow is decried in equal measures, with paralysing public demonstrations. Yet, they do not have time or artificial tears to shed for the victims and their families and to condemn the mayhem.  To give these worms company, media houses too ignored the existence and sufferings of victims’ families.

All these infected worms, vehemently deny the existence and the where abouts of terrorists because they view them as freedom fighters and martyrs. Are only those in uniforms duty bound to lay down their lives, so that all these selfish worms could enjoy freedom, protection and be opinionated? Imaginch wanted to urge the academics and activists - wake up and answer, is it not an irony, since it not personal?

Amid all these manoeuvrings, what do the terrorising worms, that enjoy the limelight do? Designated or not, as per their SOP, plan another attack with wanton impunity, spread the disease of destruction and inflict sufferings. There is one thing that is common between the worms in the woodworks and the worms from the woods – both proliferate, infest and never perish, but destroy the very shelter that housed them.

What do the families of victims do? The burden of tragedy makes them to turn over another page of life. Why there is no public outcry, demanding economic boycott of the sponsor as cost for its transgressions? Are they satisfied that the band-aid type ex-gratia or insurance payouts announced, would compensate and mitigate the sufferings? The world does not give a damn about the victims - buried or burnt. Why the worms in the woods are not forced to cease, desist, deny shelter and act against terrorists?  What prevents the sponsoring nation from doing it, helplessness?

 No. The sponsoring nation gets to play the victim card (themselves being sufferers) to get sympathy and strategic importance card to get funds to tide over financial collapse. Why would it close the well-established supply chain and forgo the profitable business model based on terror and terrorism?”

We all live in the world of victims, perpetrators, sponsors, sympathisers, and importers/exporters of terrorism. Imaginch could add nothing more. Has he become a cherry picker?  No, thanks. He does not fancy meeting a worm in the fruit!

The miffed Judge

Dripping wet and feeling pangs of apprehension, I swiped on the face and accepted the judge's call. He sounded tired and a trace of rejection seeped through his voice. 

The judge simply said, I had a fight with the Registrar, for refusing to publish my suo motu verdicts.

This electrical shocker stunned me. I asked, "Why would he and on what grounds?

The judge replied, "I can understand the why, but the grounds really shook me like an earthquake."

I asked, dropping my tone in to a sympathetic scale, "on what grounds?"

He called it as " Invitus et non-sollicitatus" extra judicial activism. Have you ever heard of this?

Yes. In one of the lecture classes and we students termed it as non-sollicitatus , meaning we did not want it.

I did not tell him that the Registrar meant that he reluctantly rejects the unsolicited judgements.

The judge: But I did not hear it even once.

Me: Probably, the intention of the Registrar was to rectify the situation.  Usually, the judge would direct a kill-stare at me, but he badly needed my shoulder to cry on.

I asked him,” why you called me and what I have to do with this?”

Counsellor, Let us talk, meet me in the court.

I wished for a miracle - a walkable distance stretching beyond the orbit of Mars. That distance might have appeared very far even for a miracle to reach. End result- the miracle let me down and my feet walked me for the talk.

He said, “You know, all these suo motu cases were argued by you as pro bono. Why should I alone wallow in misery for this highhandedness.  Ok. Is there a foreign word for highhandedness?”

Me: “Judge there are.  "Superbia" is pride and arrogance.  "arrogantia" roasts you with presumption and disdain.  "nimis manus" conveys the idea of overbearing or excessive control. Having dealt with this Registrar for long, who else would be a better person than you, to judge what he implied about the verdicts?”

Good or rotten, the apple does not fall far from the tree. The rotten ones have worms too! That old owl of a Registrar, how dare he...

Me: “Judge, please stop right there. You are about to step into a probable libel suit there. “

The judge with a faraway look replied like an automaton, “Unless this issue is resolved, how can I take suo motu cognizance of that libel suit, you mentioned, and appoint you as a pro bono counsellor?

I understood his "status mentis" and murmured to myself how do I tell him - To go back to doodling or wood carving or any other engaging activity to calm down? Will he understand that I meant well for his "tranquillare" or "lenire" or "quietare"?

The judge is known for his instant teleporting with teleprompting skills. The talk is that he does so to unsettle an opponent. Whatever it is, I am only nervous to receive his calls and not in person. The binding equation is rather strong - the only suo motu judge and his unfortunate pro bono counsellor. 

Suddenly he spoke, " You feel as though I am making noise about a legal language? Let me tell you something about noise: The type 1, from those who, with third or fourth generation getting educated in private schools/ foreign universities, wake up and make political noise on the richness of a language, which is not spoken by all. The type 2 noise comes from persons following same modus operandi, to sing praises of a particular tongue in which neither he is proficient nor has visions for future generations.

The type 3 noise maker is the one who tries to ride two boats, into a language controversy - points out all fingers on the neighbouring state's dismal performance questioning the failure percentage. This noise maker conveniently forgets that his state has a ‘no retention policy'. 

The type 4 noise maker does all the above, but tries to establish, with archaeological diggings, that his tongue and cultural roots predate the world of languages with antiquity. His 3nd and 4th generation study abroad, to probably to understand the antiquity as medium of instruction. 

In turn, he has ignited the desire in society to dig and find the antiquity or mediocrity of their beloved language. But there is one thing they don't vocally state but imply - future generations be damned or doomed.”

This lengthy speech left me speechless, literally and verbally. In confusion I asked, “Judge where are you going with all these? Why are you worried about the noise and what it has to do with your tiff with the Registrar?

Judge: “I am going back to my question of foreign words used in verdicts, denials and dismissals. By using a foreign language to reject my sound legal verdicts - suo motu or not, is the Registrar not making a silent noise?”

I felt a lightning bolt striking twice at the same place. To say, stunned by this outburst is an understatement or is it litotes? Still, the relevance to the Registrar's reluctance eluded me, like an eel fish. How am I going to ground him ,on his own repeated usage of foreign words?

As per his own words, he has no legal standing for presiding and dealing with cases, without they being filed and so on. It eluded my limited legal Latin vocabulary, why the Registrar has not used “Ultra vires” an apt phrase instead of “Invitus et non-sollicitatus" when both mean, more or less - plus minusve, to acting or done beyond one's legal power or authority! I felt lost in the woods of Latin words. At this point, I decided to end the session for the day. at the Judge, “May we reconvene, at a mutually convenient time, tomorrow?”

The judge surprised me. “Let us switch the language and meet for a “Voir dire”, so to say, 'to speak the truth'. How this works for you, counsellor?”

I vaguely recollected this legal term, with French nativity. Jury selection depends on it. The competence of a witness to testify, also can be examined with this tool. My doubt- is he trying to test my competence or the lack thereof?

To pass the competent test, I said, “Judge, usage of Latin, in the chambers of law, is as old as the Roman laws. It adds richness to legal pronouncements. Clarity and precision, stability and unchanging nature, is ideally suited for use in legal terminology. Reduces ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation. Its continued usage is a matter of tradition and legal professionals, are reluctant to abandon them entirely. 

A language is a civilisation's gift, that has endured, persevered, flourished and floundered. This does not mean the language too should flounder. English and other languages becoming the dominant language in legal practice, could not do away with this prejudice. For example, suo motu and pro bono did not be native because you are fine with using them!"

Counsellor, hold your horses there. When I am dealing with our penal code, why are you bringing in Roman and French horses? 

I sensed this travel will never go anywhere and I did not remind him that the French horse was from his stable. Politely informed the judge, a recess would be in order to tether the horses and refresh our minds.

I took this time to reflect.  My lecturer spent an hour to explain why Latin, Greek and French words got into the legal system. In his baritone voice, he intoned, “The Romans gave us the template to build upon, for the legal systems and naturally a few Latin words, came along. This language being precise and unchanging in its meaning, lent a regal voice to pronounce our legal proceedings. Not to be left behind the Greek and French languages also offered some choice words. 

Now let me introduce a few of the most often used words in court proceedings. This will help you to be in the same page as the law, which you all will be practicing.”  Some took serious notes, and I didn’t.  He was an erudite scholar, which I started to appreciate after leaving the college!

Each imprisoned in his own thoughts, we went to a nearby brew house specialising in one of a kind of coffee. The joint looked empty of patrons and a lone man, standing in front of the counter, was chasing daydreams with a napkin. The moment he saw us he appeared to be having two minds - to run us off or simply vanish. Concluding both to be impractical, he beamed a plastic smile at the judge. Without further exchange, he disappeared behind a curtain and reappeared with two steaming cups. I presumed, it could be the one-of-a-kind brew.

Yes, it turned out to be just that - burnt coffee seeds, cogitating with a little engine oil, condiments and some undeterminable ingredients. The judge took to the drink like fish to water.  Moments of silent exchange between the judge and the daydream chaser came to an end and the judge announced the recess to be over and back to where we let off.

Instead of the adjourned matter under discussion, the judge started a new ,unpublicised story. Years back when he was a lawyer, this coffee shop owner was implicated in civil suit. I argued his case, pro bono, and won. That time, the old court was functioning nearby, and he had a healthy business going. Tides turned, the court moved to a new premises drying up his business. For old times’ sake, I visit the shop whenever possible. He thinks I had something to do with the loss of business. That is why the lukewarm welcome I get, alone or in company.

Masking my sarcasm I asked, “Why you remembered this old story, now”

The judge’s sharp look conveyed annoyance and he said, “If only I had forgotten, then I should try to remember it. Did you ever wonder, why my cases always involved you as a pro bono counsellor?”

Fearing another lengthy story about him rescuing a greasy joint in a suo motu case, I kept my counsel to remain silent.

The judge provoked me to say something. Throwing caution and reprimands to the winds I blurted out slogan like responses.

 Judgement reserved with foreign words is Law in regal clothes.

Judgement without foreign words, is like peacock without its vibrant plumage.

Judgement reserved with or without foreign words is Law in darned clothes.

Should I bid adieu for suo motu cases and pro bono appearances? Mentally I started the process of filing a ‘habeas corpus’ and a ‘writ mandamus’ to be on the safer side. I took an ex-parte decision not to wait and leave the judge alone, to fight with his Latin, Greek and French demons! However, from a corner of my heart oozed empathy for this arbiter senilis.

At that point in time, a thunderous noise broke through to my mind. Postponing the debate which alerted me - conscious or subconscious type, I hastily audited the safety of my limbs and faculties.  Now, once again the thunder was trying to get admitted through my front door. Cursing silently, I opened the door and came face to face with the judge. Not only his presence but his invitation for a stroll in the park set me on fire. 

Reading my face, the judge asked " did I interrupt any romantic dreams?"

This last statement confused me more than his opinions.  Incredulous, I asked, " judge why you made such a statement?"

Calmly he said, " Look at you. Does the Latin lexicon, you are holding offers clues to daydreams or is it sub Judice to comment?"

Then only I realised that I might have fallen asleep, reading and thinking about the learned judge (not clear why). 

I agreed for the walk in the park, to clear my mind (and send off the judge), if he would be kind enough to come inside and wait for me to freshen up.