Offscript Weekly: Of ‘Insaniyat’, Pilgrims Progress & Some Data Magic

Her eyes are closed, as if in a trance; her face immersed in deep meditation. A trace of a thin smile plays on her small, wrinkled face, marked by a maroon bindi and framed by a mop of silver hair. It’s not a rosary that her hands hold, but a stethoscope that gently moves over my belly. I’m awed — not just because she’s privy to the heartbeats of my unborn child, but by the godly aura she exudes.

“This is my direct communication with God,” she whispers, almost reading my mind. “There cannot be a connection more intimate and pure than this.”

This moment from many years ago flashes before my eyes as I read about a doctor refusing to treat her seven-month-pregnant patient simply because of her religion. Spewing hatred at her Muslim patient—one who has been under her care for months—the gynaecologist curses that the woman may suffer the same fate as the victims in Pahalgam, the death of her husband. Forget the Hippocratic Oath, the very essence of ‘insaniyat’ (humanity) seems crushed here.

The horror that played out in the idyllic meadows of Pahalgam is now playing in a loop in the minds of the entire country. There is pain, there is anger. And in many, there is hatred—not just for the enemy across the border, but for fellow citizens who happen to worship a different God. Former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, decorated with the Vir Chakra for his heroism in the 1971 war, captures the essence of this growing divide: “If you allow a Hindu-Muslim divide at home, you walk into the trap Pakistan seeks…”

Speaking of neighbourly ties, this week saw developments on the other front too—a positive one. The reopening of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after five years is special beyond the pilgrimage factor, as the sacred route goes through China, with which economic and diplomatic ties are now more crucial than ever before.

Here’s an interesting tidbit about Mount Kailash, towering over 6,600 meters: considered the eternal abode of Lord Shiva, it holds deep spiritual significance for Buddhists as well. While climbers have scaled Mount Everest, which is much higher, and Kanchenjunga, which is much tougher, no one has climbed Mount Kailash—because it’s considered sacred. Instead, pilgrims perform a circumambulation, called the ‘Kora’ in Tibetan and Parikrama in Sanskrit. Some things are meant to remain untouched, sacred, and purely symbolic.

The weekend brought the end of an era with what was described as a grand funeral and a humble burial for Pope Francis, who touched the hearts of billions worldwide. Among the many vignettes from the event at the Vatican, one clearly stood out.

In St. Peter's Basilica, a picture of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky sitting so close their knees almost touched! It was their first encounter since the dramatic fallout that led to the eviction of Ukraine’s president from the Oval Office less than two months ago. The huddle, described by CNN as "a remarkable collision of diplomacy and coincidence," appeared to make some diplomatic headway. “I see him as calmer,” Trump said of Zelensky the next day. “And I think he wants to make a deal.” Of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, he said: "I want him to stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal." Could this be a glimmer of hope for an end to the three-year-old war?

Back here in the national capital, political heat is revving up city temperatures, already sizzling to a three-year April high. Now in the Opposition, the Aam Aadmi Party accuses the BJP-led Delhi government of fudging the overall pollution data by installing new air quality monitors in green, low-pollution areas! Not unexpectedly, the charge has been denied by the ruling party, even as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari did call out Delhi's air quality, saying the air is so toxic it could shave 10 years off your life! So, what about the AQI numbers—real or just smoke and mirrors?

Before I wind up for the week, ICYMI, here’s something that caught my attention: Scientists have uncovered a brand-new colour they call ‘Olo’! It’s a unique shade of teal, a blue-green that’s completely invisible to the naked eye—until you use a device named Oz (yes, inspired by the Wizard of Oz), which tricks the eyes into seeing a colour never seen before. Only five people have experienced it so far, and it’s sparking the idea that there might be a whole hidden spectrum of possibilities we never knew existed. Ola Olo!
As the country enters the full summer blast, remember to stay hydrated, stay cool, and stay curious.

Ranjana Chauhan