Hollow-scope?

Data scientists and economists exist to make astrologers feel better, they say. That planets  and palms and positions and patterns have some influence on human affairs and terrestrial events may not actually be too far-fetched from the other predictive disciplines -- if only, you want to believe.

Belief. That’s all it comes down to then, isn’t it?

Well, what?!

Is it the upbringing of a typical marathi middle-class brahmin family? Or is it that both my grandpas were purohits/astrologers by profession? I remember one incident vividly - a couple coming to our doorsteps, absolutely helpless, having lost their beloved cow. And my grandpa would ask some trivial information, look at the panchaang and say something like ”Search in North-west direction.. She is not more than 80 km away” as I sat besides, absolutely fascinated. The enchantment changed to skepticism to rude disbelief over time— as should be the course for a Science student. And if you stayed less than a kilometer away from Narendra Dabholkar’s place for most part of your formative years, there was never a question about it, was there?

Alright, they were no psychics. What they did, though, is tried to hold on to a legacy, in a very diligent, mechanical way.

Still respectable, IMO. Especially since this must be the profession marred the most by pretense, buffoonery and mediocracy. Honestly speaking, (much contrary to my current mythological reading spree) I find the concept of God as preposterous as I do narratives around Astrology, if not more. Because there's potential evidence to suggest that the latter might have been originally envisioned as something highly data-driven with at least some backing of statistics and probability theory.  How do  you, then,  tolerate a few "Messengers" of God but not those of Astrology?

(To sound like "Ancient Aliens”, the History Channel show) Is it possible that the fountainheads of this arguable “science” put an unjustified and intentional veneer and crypt around it?—  As Freemasons would potray themselves: “We are not a secret society but a society with secrets”. Should we blame it to exclusivity and selective passdown? Is it something that always did not make sense or something lost in translation? Or are we doing it a disfavor by not exploring it the right way?

Coincidences are too powerful and randomness, too beautiful. Truly, as you get to know more, you also know it better that there’s more unknown.  So while this branch may deserve your complete disregard, what it may not deserve is your arrogant censure, especially if it’s just some harmless entertainment.
You never know --  if some genuine flag-bearers of the questionable science dig it up some more, it all might turn out like magic.. To the person unaware of the sleight of hand or its existence, everything seems illogical. So till the revelation presents itself - just sit back, relax and enjoy an occasional show.

I guess what I am saying is: If you are anything like me and Bejan Daruwalla doesn’t exactly seem a very respectable "name" to go with, just try somebody else and have a good laugh about what 2016 might have in store for you.