There are very many stones out there laughing at our inability to turn them

By Barrack Muluka
So what is this precious thing we call life? Is it just a candle that can be snuffed out with the simple fillip of two fingers? Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) in his fascination with the supernatural world often mused about the President of the Immortals in Greek mythology.

When Tess is taken to the gallows in the classic Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Hardy remarks, “ . . . President of the Immortals had finished his sport with Tess. Pain has been and pain there is.”