As expected the lockdown has been extended for another two weeks across India. Now the supposed opening date for normal activities has been extended to 17 May. The cases of virus are not declining nor are the deaths. Nearly 2,300 new cases were reported yesterday in India, the biggest single day jump. World over the cases of affected people are increasing and the lockdown is being extended in country after country. A few European countries are toying with the idea of opening trade and economy soon. I suspect it will be a decision in haste. 

The interstate commute between Delhi and Haryana has been made strictly for limited needs. A large number of migrants are being moved (by rail and buses) from their states of work to their home states. I wonder why? If the government was confident that the virus spread can be contained or will not last long time, this should have avoided. The working people should have been helped whereever they are, so that as soon as the normal activites begin the productive populace could get back to their livelihoods the soonest. With the migrant workers moving back to their home towns, the agriculture, trade and industry will be majorly affected. Their return to work in distant states will become more delayed and difficult once they adapt themselves to small jobs in their own home state while being with their own families and people. 

With me, being idle has become a routine. Without any paying work at hand and absolutely no interest in pursuing anything else I am gradually accepting the inevitable called ‘retirement’. Retirement from an active work life. I was not expecting this to happen without my having planned it. 

An ineteresting observation during the morning walk was that birds and squirrels in the park (which remains without any human presence) are now not scared or surprised by my intrusion. They stay where they are, sometime as close as 20 inches, without moving or flying away. Birds such as crows, pigeons, mynahs, babblers – almost all of them stay unconcerned of the nearing human, that is me. Squirrels stop midway, keep chewing on bits as I get closer. They dont run away and climb a tree or hide any longer. 

In a press briefing yesterday, 1 May, President Trmp, talking about the suspected lab origins of Corona virus in China labs said ” I know for sure that it is. I have been told not to tell you.” Why? Why cant he tell his own people whatver is the truth, why hide. By hiding it he is doing more harm to his own people and to himself.​

Speculations of ill-health of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were put to rest yesterday as he made his first public apperance after nearly four weeks