WHY BABIES AND WHY BABIES ARE FEW

 

WHY BABIES AND WHY BABIES ARE FEW 

Jerry Seinfeld writes, “Make no mistake about why these babies are here – they are here to replace us.”

Let me quote the editorial in The Times of India of 10^th February 2026 in full as it is very relevant these days.

Don’t Kid Yourselves

Why Indians won’t have more babies just because Bhagwat & other notables want them to.

At various points over the past decade, headline makers have urged Hindus to have ten, eight, five, and four children per couple. RSS Chief’s exhortation to all Indians – not just Hindus – to have three kids, is the most realistic, but it won’t happen for the same reasons that it hasn’t in Japan, S Korea, Italy, Poland, France and China. Pope Francis passed away after warning, “The Old Continent is becoming an elderly continent … have children, lots of them.” In US Vance said, “I want more babies”, and a baby Vance is on the way, but it won’t lift the national average despite uncle Musk’s cheerleading:”immediate increase in the birth rate is needed.”

Babies are lovely, no doubt, but they have a nasty trick of growing up. Then you need to school them, and educational inflation in India averages 11-12% pa, while mom and pop’s wage growth doesn’t. One child can prematurely grey your hair, two can mean financial ruin, who wants three?

You also need to put a roof over their heads, but house prices have been growing at 9% in the top 10 cities, 24% in Delhi, where everyone wants to be. Heaven forbid, someone in the family falls ill, and the reality of 10-12% medical inflation hits like a sucker punch. So, from a couple’s POV –Point of View – babies are a luxury. Each one can cost more than a premium German car, long-term, and may not have a job eventually in an AI world. Separately, consider the mother’s POV. Each baby is a hurdle for her self-realisation because she alone bears the physical and career costs of child bearing. Caring responsibilities can be split, but are they?

So, population collapse looks inevitable everywhere. Five years ago, India’s average fertility rate had already slipped below the level required to keep the population stable. By now, the five states that were growing fast then – including Bihar and UP – may have also slowed. So, we like China, will face all the problems of a greying economy one day. But asking young couples to ward off this scenario by having more kids is like expecting workers to buy fuel for the factory furnace. Not fair. Won’t happen.

EVANA EXPRESSES HER CREATIVITY

                                                                      EVANA 

                                                  EXPRESSES HER CREATIVITY

                                                        8TH FEBRUARY 2026

                                                              

                                                                         

PENCIL DRAWING Evana

                                                  

                                                                    PENCIL DRAWING

                                                                             Evana 

                                                                      9 February 2026

                                                                                 

                                                                      

WATER AND A BAD COUGH

 

First letter

I had an opportunity to visit the famous textile shop on 2ndFebruary2026 along with my wife and my brother who is based in the city. 
We stay in Trivandrum. 
While we have shopped at a similar shop elsewhere, we could never do that at the city under reference..
Since we had enough time on hand yesterday before our return, we thought it was the best opportunity to explore the famous shop.
My wife wanted to purchase some dresses. As she was into the Sarees, a bad cough started to bother me. I was sitting on a chair near the counter where my wife was immersing herself among the Sarees.
I quietly asked the salesman for water. He responded. He pointed his finger in the opposite direction and told me I could have water from that end. Though the throat was bothering me much, I just sat there quietly.
Later I went to a billing counter and advised him that the shop should teach basic courtesy to its employees.

He at once said he was sorry and arranged a bottle of water. It was a big relief. I request that this gentleman may please be acknowledged for the good turn he did.
I have no complaints against the one who was disinterested in looking after my request
My only suggestion is all your employees must be given training in basic courtesy 
Humility pays.

Second letter

Indeed grateful for the quick response.
The Officer in Charge spoke to me on receipt of my message. I reiterated I had no complaints against the salesman.
The Officer was receptive. He listened. We had a hearty conversation.
He invited me to visit the shop when I visited the city again. I have agreed to that. The only hitch is, I have no idea when I would do that.
The Officer appeared to me the right fit at the right spot.
I told him my visit to the City was to receive a literary award for the best book (general) 2025 from the CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese for my book A WALK THROUGH THE RAIN published in 2025 by the KUTSeminary, KUTS Publications, Kannammoola Trivandrum. The book was the compilation of my blog posts in childisprecious.blogspot.com.

Thank you once again for the prompt response.
I wrote because I wanted your shop not to lag behind in customer service.

Shobha De

 

Lovemaking involves your partner's brain, imagination, emotions, tuning in to you, and your response to your partner.'

'If you look at it as something transactional or something that's a part of a relationship formula as determined by society, then it's fornication, not lovemaking.

ROSES ROSES ROSES

 The pictures were  taken at 2.20 pm. The Sun shone at its brightest. And at its harshest. The heat unbearable. It was burning hot.

I was not in the pink of health. I knew exposure in that weather would worsen my cough and wheezing.

I took a risk. I had to.

Two minutes in the Sun was terrible for me.  Even after 10 minutes, the burning sensation on the uncovered parts of my body persists at the extreme.

But it was worth it.

The pictures came out superb.

You won't get a chance like this after the Sun went down.

     Lalchaya, you took those pictures braving the elements. 👏🏼👏🏼 I could feel the heat of the sun. 🌞 Could we please compare them with golden hour shots?

                                                          

                                                           Taken at 6.15pm yesterday

                            Wow, the pictures convey the ambient temperature so clearly.

                                         Can almost feel the relief in the second pic.

                                                          5.47 pm the next day

           

 

                This is a masterpiece. We can see the curve and depth of each petal. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

                                                                       

                                               Roses Roses Roses

                                                                  

                                                                           

                                                                           

     

Humorist Dave Barry

 Humorist Dave Barry

If you had to identify in one  word the reason why the human race has not achieved and never will achieve its full potential, that word would be, "Meetings."