The most happening month
By
Mahesh Verma , Muscat Daily
“I am into August these days – I am in awe of August. The name itself is the definition of grandeur, inspiring reverence and it is oh so majestic!” wrote Madeliene Rose in her Ode to August. Of all the 12 months in the calendar, this month named after Augustus Caesar is probably the most happening month.
This is the month when the first atomic bomb was dropped over the centre of Hiroshima, killing over 105,000 persons and destroying the city. Another estimated 100,000 persons later died as a result of radiation effects.
And within just a few days after this mayhem, the second atomic bombing of Japan occurred as an American B-29 bomber headed for the city of Kokura, but because of poor visibility then chose a secondary target, Nagasaki killing an estimated 70,000 persons and destroying about half the city.
The world should have hung its head in shame but instead, patted them on the back as if dropping atom bombs was the most natural thing to do – reminiscent of the ‘valley of death’ in The Charge of The Light Brigade, whose poet Lord Tennyson also happened to be August born.
August also claims to have witnessed ‘a tryst with destiny’ as India gained independence, shaking off the yoke of the British Raj. The country should have rejoiced breaking the fetters of subjugation had not the ensuing dark clouds of partition and the subsequent blood-bath reared its head.
And years later, in this same month, the world witnessed Woodstock; the three-day concert featuring some of the greatest names of the music world. The event came to symbolise the counter-culture movement of the 1960s which had been made so popular by King Presley, who at the age of 42 passed away in this month.
August also saw Richard M Nixon resign the presidency as a result of the Watergate scandal. Facing possible impeachment by Congress, he became the only US President ever to resign.
Years later in August 1998, Bill Clinton became the first sitting president to give testimony before a grand jury resulting from a sweeping investigation by independent counsel Ken Starr.
President Clinton appeared on national television and gave a speech admitting he had engaged in an improper relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. It’s August once again and there is another sitting president being investigated and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report being discussed. What is it about August and US presidents?
There is a fourth one too, but his link to August is bereft of any proceedings against him. The 44th president happened to be born on August 4, 1961 and he diligently avoided the shenanigans of the 37th (Nixon), the 42nd (Clinton) and the 45th (Trump) president and along with First Lady Michelle, left an indelible impression not only in his country but across the globe.
President Obama probably lived up to the standards set by Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, another August born. Agnes, popularly known as Mother Teresa and now Saint Teresa was born in Skopje, Yugoslavia but founded a religious order of nuns in Calcutta, India, called the Missionaries of Charity and spent her life working to help the poor and sick of India. Mother Teresa’s great friend and supporter was Britain’s Princess Diana who at age 36, died in August 1997 from massive internal injuries suffered in a high-speed car crash, reportedly after being pursued by paparazzi.
August is also the anniversary of the famous ‘I have a dream’ speech delivered by American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr in which he called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States.
Mr King and yours faithfully incidentally have a lot in common. Our names begin with the letter ‘M’, I was born on April 4, he was assassinated on April 4; he had a dream and I had a dream too. His speech about his dream was given in August and August is the month when yours faithfully, the undersigned gets a step closer to achieving his dream.
On August 10, the dream which at times gave me nightmares, is coming to fruition as our new inclusive bi-lingual IB school, called Paradise Valley opens its doors to children of all nationalities and welcomes the differently abled to study along with the mainstream children and encourages learners to actualise their potential and become exemplary practitioners of inquiry, rigour, compassion, reflection and creativity. “I am into August these days- I am in awe of August!”
And before I sign off, a few random thoughts Do you know that a golf ball is a golf ball no matter how you putt it? Do you know that when it comes to cosmetic surgery, a lot of people turn their noses up? While a few others do try and lift up the downtrodden! Do you know that when you have two daughters, most puns get labelled as ‘Dad puns’ because the girls are all groan now?
Till next fortnight…or maybe three weeks? Eid Mubarak in advance!
