India, Jan. 24 -- Old Bollywood songs had lyrics that reflected life and love in their myriad forms, and brought us closer to existential realities that we may otherwise have missed. The other day, I happened to listen to the song 'Seene mein jalan, aankhon mein toofan sa kyon hai, is shehar mein har shaks pareshan sa kyon hai' (Why is there a burning in the chest, a storm raging in the eyes? Why does everyone in this city seem so troubled?) from the movie Gaman (1978). It, at once, brought our current corporeal state into sharp focus-a fear that pervades humanity, the rising jitters in the gut, and a dismal prospect looming on the horizon.

As nihilistic as it might sound, it is a truth one cannot run away from. Mankind is slowly descend...