Santa is impressed by official reports on the large numbers of registered pilgrims and deployed staff for the Char Dham Yatra. Banta uses a simple matchbox analogy to show the absurdity of this “counting contest,” arguing that counting people without managing their flow is simply perfecting the record-keeping for a future disaster.
Santa Banta
Banta’s Buried Treasure and the Resilient Disco
A story about a man who thinks the best disaster plan is a shovel, and the friend who has to explain that you can’t dance away an earthquake. Banta declared his disaster plan: “I’ve buried my life savings in the backyard!” Santa sighed, “That’s not a plan, Banta. That’s a treasure map for the local mice.”
The WhatsApp First Responder and the Vetiver Army
“We are not helpless victims,” Banta declared. “We are the First Responders. Today, we will raise our own army: The WhatsApp First Responders and the Vetiver Army.”
The Three Unlucky Cousins
It was a visit from three very dangerous cousins, Ignored Warning, Poor Planning, and No Cooperation and not mere bad luck that caused the recent Himalayan disaster.
The Case of the Greedy Mountain
A story about unplanned construction, geological vulnerability, and why you should never build your house in a giant’s mouth.
The German Lesson and the Bamboo Army
A story about moving from despair to action, and the discovery that the best solutions are often the simplest ones.
The Ghost of the Buried River
A story about a modern road, an old map, and the discovery that sometimes, the biggest floods happen where there is no river at all.
The Riverfront Property Steal
A real estate bargain can well turn out to be a high-risk liability – better ensure you are not encroaching the floodplains and not partnering obliteration of drainage as waas done in the Doon Valley.
Shadi ki Davat in the Middle of a Storm
Prevention is always better than cure and arranging Shadi ki Davat amid clear signs of storm is nothing but foolishness.