What is happening with President Putin?

So.... It has been 5 days since the start of Putin's ill advised war. The Ukrainians seem to be holding up and no major city has fallen into the hands of Russian forces. Russia has become the international pariah and even Switzerland, that bastion of neutrality has adopted wholesale EU sanctions against Russia. One has to stop for a second if the Swiss are taking a stand. Russians, themselves are protesting against this war. Many of them are on the streets while many more are withdrawing their money from ATMs. The rouble has tanked and all for what?

Everything that has been the stated objectives of Putin have failed and the opposite has been achieved. I think Putin thought that this would be a re-run of the Crimean annex. A quick military exercise, the current Ukrainian leadership toppled and replaced with a pro Russian one and Bob's your uncle. Most probably, the rest of the world would have made some noise and slapped a few sanctions which Russia could have ridden through. The fierce resistance of the Ukrainians and the condemnation of the whole world must have surprised him. One thing that Putin has done is the unity of so many. That would have been an impossible feat normally. 

There has been some news that President Putin is quite ill and wanted to roll the dice before he died. His face does look quite puffy. So, could it all be true? If so, how is Putin going to react to all this setbacks?

Mother

 This is a poem that I wrote. I also tried to translate it into Tamil. Please enjoy.

My Mother, of the dark hue and flashing eyes

Gives out a laugh of sheer joy.

Her tresses flow hither and thither, 

Her ornaments, in a disarray. 

Drunk on wine and blood, 

She dances wildly in the cremation grounds. 

Again and again, She dances

Thaam Thakita Thaam

My Father, clad in the skins of the tiger

Sits and looks at Her with love.

She fills His Heart and half of His body

She calls out to Him to join Her

“Come, Shiva!” She says and His Name 

On Her lips thrills Him. 

Together, They dance in bliss 

And, everything dances with Them. 

கருநீல உடலுடன், வெட்டும் விழிகள் கொண்ட என் அன்னை, வாய் விட்டு சிரிக்கிறாள்.

அவள் கேசம் இங்கும் அங்கும் பாய்கிறது. 

அவள் அணிகலன்களோ, சீர் அற்ற நிலையில்.

மதுவும் உதிரம் கொடுத்த போதையில், 

ஸ்மஷானத்தில் தன்னை மறந்து ஆடுகிறாள். 

மீண்டும், மீண்டும் அவள் ஆடுகிறாள்

தாம் தகிட்ட தாம்.

புலி தோல் உடுத்திய என் அய்யன், 

அங்கு அமர்ந்து, காதல் கொண்ட கண்களால் நோக்குகிறார். 

தன் இதயத்தையும், சரி பாதி உடலையும் ஆட்கொண்டவள் அவள்.

தன்னுடன் சேர்ந்து ஆடும்படி அன்னை அழைக்கிறாள்.

“வா, சிவா!” அவள் சொல்கிறாள். தன் பெயரை அவள் உதடுகள் உச்சரிப்பதை கேட்டு பூரிப்பு அடைகிறார்ஈசன்.

இருவரும் ஆனந்தத்தில் ஆடுகின்றனர்.

அவர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து அனைத்தும் ஆடுகிறது.

Back again..

Well. I have had a vey long hiatus but I am back now. In these years I have been absent, I have had my children and life is certainly very busy. Especially, when you have 3 children under the age of 7. So, my hellos and vanakkams to my readers. :)

Now, on to the most important topic today. Currently, Russia is waging an unprovoked aggressive war against Ukraine. President Putin announced the war on Thursday, the 24/02/2022. The Ukrainians are defending ferociously. 

To be honest, I am actually doubting Putin's sanity. I am unable to understand what he intends to achieve with this unjust war. Literally, every nation is against this and Russia has lost a lot of goodwill. There have been may demonstrations against this war in Russia itself. Ordinary Russians are unhappy and do not support their leader. About the only countries supporting Russia are North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela and some other non state actors. The Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan has met with Putin after the invasion. So, I suppose his country supports Russia, too.

What IS Putin's objectives? Apparently, it is to stop Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO. However, Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic country which has all rights to decide who they wish to align with. If Russia wanted them to be in their sphere of influence, this war is really not the way to go. Many people, including myself thought President Putin was a wily and pragmatic leader. By provoking this war, he has bought that assumption into question.

I don't doubt that Putin thinks he is fighting for the defence of Russia. Yet, I somehow feel that he has succumbed to paranoia and may have accelerated the decay of Russia. 

My prayers are with Ukraine and President Zelensky. My prayers are also with ordinary Russians who have been caught up. Finally, my prayers are with us all. May this war end soon and with minimum casualties.

Om Tat Sat.