India, March 23 -- That lowly, insignificant, cup which contains our coffee, tea or sundry warm liquids, needs much more attention than we tend to accord it. True, it only dons a vibrant, steamy, effervescent, avatar once a liquid of substance is poured into it. But once a cup does transform itself into a cuppa, people's moods change, and there is every reason for meaningful conversations to be ignited.

There's something of an X factor in the fragrance, feel and touch of a hot cup in hand which elevates the human consciousness to a potentially supreme level. Gossip and lowly thoughts also tend to germinate sometimes when two friends meet over a cuppa. But it is my experience that people are generally better behaved once they envelope a c...