Suppose I were to ask you a question "Given a choice, between 10000 mandays put in by as many men on one hand, and the life of a man on another, what would you choose ? “

There's nothing sacrosanct about 10000 mandays. It could be 5000, it could be 50000 too.

Its not an easy question. Not for me at least. We have been brought up to believe that life is invaluable. And therefore priceless ! So how can you choose between something priceless and something quantifiable ?

But then again 10000 mandays spread amongst as many men is no mean joke either. Remember the soldier at the border gives his life to bring those 10000 mandays of happiness/security to his countrymen, going by simple averages !!

But hang on. There's another twist to the tale yet. What if the choice is between the lives of 1000 men and a billion mandays which might be comparable to a nation's GDP.

I suppose some of you might identify where I'm coming from. At least the context, if not the question. But let me not say anything about the context lest it should color the opinion of people who havent the faintest idea about it.

I love the bombastic Rajnigandha one-liner "Jawaab hume pata hai lekin sawaal ka intezaar karna hamari tehzeeb hai...." :-P

Well the 'Sawaal' is here ?

Is there a 'Jawaab' ?

PS - Yaad rakhiye, agar aapke pass 'Jawaab' hai aur incidentally munh me Rajnigandha bhi, to aapke kadmo me doniya hai....