In 2024, my love affair with words blossomed into a full-fledged partnership. This creative alliance produced a diverse collection of articles. Some shared news with discerning views. Others condensed thoughts into two- or three-line musings sparked by instinctive impulses.
My pen wandered far and wide. It crafted pieces on wars and barbed walls. I wrote about religion and refugees. Other topics included immigration, politics, philosophy, and personalities and poets. I explored entertainment and music, health and humanity, and nostalgia and travels. I delved into humor and satire and even the quirky oddities of everyday life. If it caught my attention, it found its way into my writings.
The voices of legends filled my journey. These legends include Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Noor Jehan, Hadiqa Kiani, Mohammad Rafi, and Kishore Kumar. The Ghazal queen Begum Akhtar also resonated in my journey. This was alongside the musical genius of composers Naushad Ali and O.P. Nayyar. I paid homage to the poetic brilliance of Shailendra and Sahir Ludhianvi. I also honored the rhythmic mastery of tabla maestros Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain.
I explored everything from melody to mechanism. I delved into the brain’s neuron networks to explore the biology of thought creation. I also tackled topics on science, the environment, and the precarious state of our planet.
Philosophy drew me in with its timeless allure—examining ego, consciousness, and the realization of the self. I even explored the deeper, more practical side of divinity. I posed questions like: Is God’s awareness more valuable towards virtuous living? Is it more valuable than envisioning Him as a physical entity perched somewhere in the heavens?
The plight of refugees and migrants worldwide stirred my heart. It stirred my pen as well. This compelled me to express outrage. It also moved me to show compassion for this ongoing global crisis.
In politics, I tackled ideology with a provocative question: “Do political parties need ideology to seek power?” I also penned an extensive essay. The essay is titled “The World Needs a Political System of Evolving Rationalism Based on Humanism.” It condemns the rise of divisive nationalism and chest-thumping patriotism.
Religion was another significant vein in my work. I critiqued the divisive forces of Hindutva. I asked, “Why do pundits, priests, and Mullahs wear differently than we, the common folks?” I explored Ambedkar’s challenge to the caste system and celebrated the universal appeal of Guru Nanak’s Aarti.
Health, humor, and satire rounded out my repertoire. I reflected on mental and physical well-being. I also made lighthearted takes on Hindutva’s laughable campaigns against temples underneath mosques and even historic monuments like Taj Mahal. I enjoyed writing a fictional phone call in which Modi congratulates Trump on his win.
Sports didn’t escape my scrutiny either. I questioned cricket’s monopoly in India, championing football (soccer) as an equally deserving contender.
On the lighter side, I mused about my mother’s homemade cake baked in Amul cheese cans. I thought about the golden allure of ghee and the fate of pumpkins on Halloween. I also recalled the irresistible pull of Jalebi, the queen of Indian sweets. And an article titled: “Indians abroad get more of India than Indians in India.”
I ventured into poetry. I penned “Yuga of Plenty” and “The Wondering Bowl.” My words danced to a different rhythm.
My smorgasbord of writing included utopian dreams. They were often labeled weird and impractical. These dreams included dismantling Canada’s Department of Defence. I imagined a world without armed forces. What if no one joins the armed forces for peace in the world? I also advocated for a planet without borders or nations. “We belong to Earth, not a country,” I argued, even if it sounded like a pie-in-the-sky ideal.
Rationalism and humanism remain my guiding stars. They fuel my desire to understand the world and share my thoughts, whether on promodpuri.com, progressivehindudialogue.com, or through platforms like X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook.
At the end of the day, I’m only a mason. I cement words as bricks. I construct structures of knowledge, ideas, thoughts, and opinions. I hope that these creations foster dialogue, understanding, and connection.
Wishing you a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year!
— Promod Puri
Promod Puri.com 