During our morning walk along Hingna Road we pass in front of large piece of land belonging to Airport Authority of India. When VOR was state of the art navigation facility Nagpur VOR was located here.

 Advances in technology made VOR a thing of the past. Land was not being put to any useful purpose.  Few years back in this huge area thousands of trees were planted. If all had survived it would have become densest forest. As normally happens with tree plantation drives, the moment political big wig had left after planting the sapling and all the babus had also gone, young saplings are left to fend for themselves. Out of thousands only handful survived. 

Gagan Indian reference Station is now located here .

With onset of Monsoon and rains of past few days this huge area has tremendous amount of thick greenery.

During our morning walk, when it is overcast with low clouds while passing this area many times we used to hear calls of Peacocks. Due high security wall and thick growth never saw any of the peacocks.

 Today we were at the right place at the right time. When heard the peacock call, looked and saw four of them sitting high on the poles within the ground. 

Unfortunately all of them seem to be peahens. May be next time we will be lucky and capture a peacock with long plumage.    

Sorry did not have digital camera. Results of my smartphone camera. 

Three on the right are Peahens. Forth one on the left may be a peacock. Cant be sure.

Corona Virus and Generation Gap.

Corona Virus and Generation Gap.
Coronavirus cases were reported by China to World Health Organisation on
31 December 2019.
First case of covid 19 was reported in USA on 19 January 2020. Spain reported first case by 31 January 2020.
 By February 2020 multiple nations in Europe and around the world were reporting Covid 19 cases.

Within a couple of weeks active coronavirus cases world over were in tens of thousands and deaths by the thousands. Italy and Spain were down on their knees. Mighty USA was in.no better shape.
First case in India was reported on 30 January 2020. On 22 March 2020 82 hot spot districts were locked down. On 25 March the lockdown was extended to all fo India. Every thing came to grinding halt. This was Phase 1. 
News media, electronic as well as print were full of frightening  details. Nothing was known about the virus. 

As time rolled on so did the number of active cases and the deaths. Gradually things about whys and hows of the virus became known There were numerous articles by experts, virologists and doctors. Also to remain safe, Dos and Donts of all kinds were written about.

 For almost three months, we and the next generation were reading/ viewing the same news. Next generation may have read a bit more due to more exposure to additional sources in electronic media  my generation did  not even know about.
It was universally agreed by all experts, virologists and doctors that to prevent spread ans self protection three actions were essential
1. Frequent washing of hands to kill the virus germs attached to hand, due to touching of any surface. (As far as possible avoid touching any surface in the first place)
 2. Maintain social distancing.
3. wear mask at all times while going out.
Both generations reaslised the danger and gravity of the pandemic. 

With almost same inputs and awareness of dangers, perceptions and reactions of the two generations were poles apart. Every reader will know what I mean.
Activities of our generation of morning and evening walks, to go out shopping for daily needs, our habit of, without our being even conscious of doing so, of  touching surrounding surfaces, like walls when descending the staircase or the staircase railing. Shop counters in shops.
All these actions we did without realising we were doing them were now taboo a big NO NO.
We knew the dangers of these actions yet our generation found it difficult to avoid or control them, 
Next generation also found it difficult to understand why, despite knowing the dangers fully well we still forgot to take the mask when going out, kept touching everything, forgot to immediately wash hands on returning home before venturing anywhere else.
And many more such things .......
Resentment on part of my generation.
Frustration for the next generation.
Covid 19 has proved that generation gap is not a cliche but a reality.
Why it is so no idea, may be brains of our generations and the next generation are wired differently.
We are now in phase 4 of lockdown. As compared to Phase 1 everything has eased. Hardly any restrictions.
In fact now is the time the pandemic will spread dangerously if precautions are not continued.
Despite differently wired brain I now realise how right the next generation is.
1.Now we do not go out unless essential, with the relisation that nothing is essential.
2. No news paper,
3. All purchases on line.
4. to get each and every thing not available on line delivered at home.
4, Every item delivered at home not to be touched or used for at least 24 hours.
5. Try to consciously take every precaution advocated by next generation.
For the well being and health of friends and fellows of my my generation, I appeal to follow the regime I have now adopted.
If despite all this the pandemic strikes well All I can say is
Que sera sera.
Stay well.
Stay safe.   

COVID-19 and Murphy's Law.

Over period of time people, known and unknown have made Murphy's laws to meet various situations. Some examples.

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
It is impossible to make things fool proof because fools are so ingenious.
Light at the end of the tunnel is only the light of an on coming train.
If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.

With onset of COVID-19 for almost 6 months plus, practical experience gives a new Murphy's law to meet COVID situation.

The New Law.

"With mask on, one will develop irresistible urge to scratch nose and area around the eyes in public place".

New Finagle's Law.
With mask on, one's forty years plus son will SEE, while one is vigorously scratching the nose and area around the eyes.in a public place.

(Finagle's Law is Murphy's Law with an addendum, it states that anything that can go wrong will, and at the worst possible time.)

Story about "Breakfast Story"

Story about "Breakfast Story"
Before the BC (NOT Before christ BUT Before Corona) virus outbreak, we had some wonderful times with our veteran friends at this place.

Breakfast Story. The rendezvous.

What a time we had.

During this morning walk saw a notice at the same place.

Sad because we have no idea if and when BC (Before Corona) times will ever return.

Glad at least SOME business is back. Solace to their staff as well.

All our, The Veterans, sympathies with this and all similar establishments.

Central Museum Nagpur

Central Museum Nagpur.

Central Museum Nagpur had opened after major makeover almost a year back. There was a even a write up in the Hitavada praising it in its new avatar. That was almost a year back. We had read it and forgotten about it.

Some time back our son with his family had visited us. Jayati, our daughter-in-law had visited it. Had Liked it. She presented us with a very nice coffee mug with photo of Shiva-kalin painting. To a question, where she got it. I was told that we were going all over the world but had not visited a worth visiting places in our own backyard.

 Fact is we HAD gone there not once but three times over a period of six months, very long time back. Every time we were told it was under renovation. No one knew when renovation work would be completed. So we just forgot about it.  

Truth is generally bitter and though made in jest so was Jayati’s jibe.

To make amends we did go and see Central Museum Nagpur yesterday.    

While going around noticed that during renovation it was very thoughtful of the planners to provide ramps connecting passages between different level corridors to make it friendly for differently able persons..

Located in one of the huge sprawling heritage building of British Colonial era. It is  single storied building with many corridors spread out over vast area. It has two nicely maintained open lawns surrounded by these corridors. Lager stone statues of historical value are displayed here.

 Very vast and interesting collection. We spent almost 2 hours going around the museum. Every minute was enjoyable and educative. Definitely worth a visit.

However signs of neglect in maintenance are now visible.

 Matter of fact description and guide to museum follows.

Very reasonable entry fee of Rs 10/- is charged.

Photography WITHOUT flash is permitted. For this entry has to be made in register at entry counter.

Pamphlets in Marathi and English are available on demand. These are not displayed in open.  

Every effort has been made to make the museum as visitor friendly as possible. Indeed a praiseworthy effort.

All the display cabinets throughout the museum in all the nine galleries are very well sign posted giving information about the specimen on display. In addition every cabinet has QR code displayed. Scanning QR code also gives information about specimen in that display.

There is an interactive monitor in front of lot of cabinets which displays information in Marathi or English about specimen in display. Unfortunately almost every display was hung-up at some stage of its operation. Visiting public and the museum people are equally responsible for this unfortunate state.   

Museum has nine different categories. Each of the nine galleries has different category of specimen on display. Each gallery has its own corridor. Name of the category is displayed at the on the door at entry to corridors.

The displays are illuminated. Signs of neglect have become evident as quite a few bulbs are either not working or not fully lit up . Lighting of displays needs improvement. I felt that lighting if done from bottom upwards will prevent reflecting lighting spoiling a photo.  

Nine galleries  are

1. Natural History Gallery. :- Specimens of Fossils and minerals collected from central India on display. Very interesting. Skull bone of elephant, White translucent rock crystals, petrified tree fossils are particularly of interest.

2. Nagpur Heritage Gallery. :- As name indicates specimen of heritage value in Nagpur on display.

3. Mammals Avian and Reptiles :- Taxidermied

specimens on display. A large map of India shows habitat areas  where the avian specimen are found. Some of the specimen are so old that they are shedding skin and body feathers. Either something should be done about it are they be removed from display.

4. Art and Craft Gallery. . Art and craft related specimen. Some very beautiful objects in Brass, and ivory are on display.

5. Stone Sculpture Gallery.:- Displays pride collections of numerous stone sculptures of various periods from ancient times till 18^th century AD.  Some very beautiful sculptures and statues. Do not miss out on wonderful statues displayed around the lawns. Large stone slabs with very lengthy inscription in ancient Indian script are very interesting as even the translation is also displayed on a board alongside. As these shed light on the history of that time .

6. Arms and Weapons. Arms and weapons used in ancient warfare mainly from Mogul and British period are on display . very interesting.

7. Archeological Gallery :- Stone age and brass / copper age tools make for very fascinating collection on display. Coins of earlier era are on display. They were surprisingly small in size.

8. Tribal Art Gallery :- objects of daily life of Gond and Bhil tribe are on display . Interesting to know a bit about life of these tribal’s.

9. Painting Gallery  :- Unfortunately it was closed so we could not see it. Sadly missed out on some beautiful paintings.

 A souvenir shop is also attached to the Museum. Beautifully printed coffee mugs. Water bottles, gift and decorative articles are on display and sale at this shop.  Beautifully mounted reproductions of paintings on display in the museum are also on sale. These make for good gift articles

Once again worth a visit.