Offscript Weekly: Skies That Roar, Stories That Soothe

“The black sky just kept assuming deeper shades of black until, suddenly, it had blacked itself out entirely.”
— Alexander Frater, Chasing the Monsoon

Decades ago, Frater captured the raw drama of India’s monsoon in that line. But if he were witnessing the skies this week, he might swear those words were lifted straight from what’s happening around. The southwest monsoon stormed in early, almost as if it was racing against time to announce itself. Kerala welcomed monsoon over a week ahead of schedule. Mumbai, a city that usually has to wait patiently for more than 10 days after Kerala, saw its earliest monsoon arrival in over 75 years. Even Delhi, accustomed to hot dry spells, logged its wettest May since 1901.

The forecasts missed the mark, the weather alerts were tardy, and Mumbai’s swanky-new, reportedly ‘rain-proof’ underground metro found itself submerged. Climate change and chaotic weather patterns seem to be rewriting the monsoon’s script, and India’s decades-old, as also brand-new, infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. The monsoon is our lifeline–nurturing crops, filling reservoirs and quenching the economy–but now it’s also an erratic threat that demands resilience and agility, along with respect.

“The deluge began…” Frater had said. This year, the season’s rains arrived with a vengeance, reminding us just how much the weather can surprise and challenge us.

On the macroeconomic front, India is making global headlines. The country has overtaken Japan to become world’s fourth-largest economy, claimed top government officials.  Some experts advised caution with a “not just yet”. Such a milestone, nevertheless, reflects decades of steady growth and it calls for celebration. Some forecasts suggest India could even move up to the third place by 2028, edging past Germany. It’s clear that the massive population has the economic engine revving. But here’s the catch: while GDP numbers grab headlines, they rarely tell the whole story. Start with the progress in terms of per capita GDP, where we are still languishing at 143 out of 194 countries, faring slightly better at 125 on Purchasing Power Parity basis. The next test is how quickly does this growth reach the millions still left out – those navigating everyday struggles amid the widening inequality. Different numbers tell different stories. And it’s wholesome to read different stories.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the political theatre with Donald Trump continues to unfold like a Netflix series. From legal battles with Harvard to flip-flops on the EU tariffs and trade deal, and now labelling Russia’s Vladimir Putin “crazy” for his country’s latest attacks on Ukraine – it is a rollercoaster of unpredictability. Against this backdrop, India seems to be wrapping up talks on a trade deal with the US. Navigating negotiations with a mercurial POTUS is no small feat. One wonders what the strategy is when the rules keep changing mid-game. It’s a high-stakes chess match where patience and diplomacy must outpace unpredictability.

Technology, meanwhile, is reshaping leadership in unexpected ways. Swedish fintech company Klarna and video conferencing platform company Zoom introduced AI avatars of their CEOs to deliver earnings updates. Klarna’s avatar kicked off with a cheeky, “It’s me, or rather, my AI avatar.” Is this clever branding or a glimpse into the future of corporate communication? As AI enters the C-suite, one has to ask: will investors soon tune in to calls hosted by these digital doubles or simply depute their AI avatars for them? More importantly, will we trust these virtual leaders with our money and confidence? 

On a darker note, climate change is fuelling more than just erratic weather. Candida auris, a deadly drug-resistant fungus that can silently eat you inside out, is spreading rapidly worldwide. Thriving in warmer temperatures and showing up in hospitals globally, it’s a frightening reminder that environmental changes ripple into unexpected health crises. It’s as if The Last of Us scenario is inching closer to reality - not just rising seas, but microscopic enemies lurking in the heat.

And if you thought the pandemic was behind us, think again. Covid is quietly making a comeback. India has crossed 1,000 new cases, with variants like JN.1 and LF.7 circulating. Singapore saw a 28% spike last month. Thankfully, the symptoms seem mostly mild, but the virus’ persistence means we can’t drop our guard. I’ve dusted off my mask – a small step for sanity in these uncertain times.

Beyond these developments of upheaval, there are stories that offer clarity and calm. Banu Mushtaq’s Booker Prize win is one such beacon. A lawyer, activist and a champion of Muslim women, Mushtaq has a mantra for much of what ails us: “Write and you will get clarity about everything.” Her collection of stories, Heart Lamp, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, promises a powerful narrative in a noisy world. My copy has just arrived. I’ve not started reading yet, but the author’s quiet strength already resonates. 

In a period dominated by stormy skies and rapid disruption, stories like those of Mushtaq remind us that at times, the clearest light comes not from the sun above, but from the quiet flame kindled within the pages we turn. 

Ranjana Chauhan