Home Minister must resign

 

They can decide on what action to take against terror groups, meanwhile what is clear is that there was serious security lapse that led to innocent Indian tourists being massacred. J&K police force is under HM of India Mr. Amit Shah. He must take responsibility for this security lapse and resign. His position is untenable. He must apologise to people of India. Why is mainstream media not questioning this crucial lapse? 

*caste census is a serious transgression on idea of India (or indeed any civilized society). It is a deviously constructed rot meant to distract from reality of problems common people face while unleashing the caste force barbarians and their putrefied gangrene into society. Nepotistic corrupt INC scoundrels have been playing with it for decades as they fed regressive forces and cannibalised the society. It is they who nurtured Ayodhya issue for incremental benefit, it is they who kept kashmir segregated to showcase their high bearing, it is they who nurtured system and characteristic negligence that saw India at the bottom of HDI. Primary education was neglected while higher education lacked excellence or concern. The weak incumbent opposition leader lacking any charisma -promoted by caste family degraded construct, could push BJP into regressive path is shocking. This is beginning of the end for NDA. Something better was expected from them. Just another set of cheapskate politicians working for deal. It is also clear that after last election - as the party weakened, deep state squatter network is consolidating. What a shame.            

Even progressive measures like reservation for vulnerable and marginalised, meant only for limited time while focusing on education and aggressive anti-caste measures, was extended forever (even meagre benefits rarely reaching the most vulnerable while backlash led to caste system consolidation). Putrid pits of caste morphed as communities for civilized world is orchestrated by corrupt selfish politicians through insipid legacy media for easy control of herd. There is a reason why the best of historical references happened under Buddhism and for centuries invaders and marauders, colonisers had free run. There is a reason for systemic neglect, overwhelming mediocrity, lack of civic sense or basic empathy. Imagine primitiveness of a society that lacks even understanding of community and had the gandhian audacity to play highest morals! Any force that authenticates or nurture caste will have to be crushed with all force of humanity. 

            

Neoliberal left oligarchy controlled narration

 

There are facts then there are narrations build around it. Facts are many a time problematic since we need to scrutinize the process of acquiring facts, verified by competent unbiased authority as also whether it is complete –facts are rarely comprehensive estimation of reality. If critically scrutinized and verified facts are more or less approximation of the context. Nevertheless, having got a high probable estimation we have to now understand it. This is where narration comes in. And this is where matrix of power and control works. The narration manipulates facts for mainstream consolidation of feudal control. Though we have idealistic expectation of media as fourth pillar, the reality is these are display of dynamics of power guided by greed, nepotistic connections, cronyism and opportunism. This is how plutocracy takes over democracy (plutocracy is a system ruled by wealth and economic power). It is the rich and powerful who controls the narration. And since religion authenticates itself to the herd through material comfort and power as evidence of god’s blessing, they align with plutocracy. Hence the neoliberal right plutocracy. All across the world fantastical framework nurtured by religion (as a spiritual ruse) make people vulnerable to plutocracy. It is but natural that rich and powerful are blessed or else how are they given all the luxury –one that defines heaven, it is the easiest logical narration for the herd. Rich and powerful in turn confirm these by consolidating the narration and donating for religion. Religion authenticated plutocratic systems by associating with feudal structure, with the rise of neoliberal capitalism it connected to money and spread to political institutions.

There is a binary that is created that found opportunity in care and concern in the aftermath of neoliberal plutocratic vandalism led wanton consumption, exploitation and inequalities –this unsustainable expansion was packaged as development. Beleaguered left found new pasture as neoliberal left -particularly in richer regions with feudal values intact. This satisfied their hedonist craving while appearing to oppose the neoliberal right for the sake of people. They assumed as representatives of common people and moved with alacrity wherever they sniffed an opportunity to pose as benign soul concerned about common people (now that it cannot be pushed under carpet as also providing new opportunities, the environment). They activated the feudal control to be the voice of common people and stampeded into most opportunist comforts, crisscrossing the world to work the narration against exploitation and inequalities. Meanwhile very much part of the system, as neoliberal left, while they bargain for bigger positions posing as moral ethical guide for the world. It was meant as a vent to keep people busy in their mounting misery. There is a reason why inequalities and exploitation continued unabated because it was a con work to control narration at intellectual level and to benefit from the system. Oligarchy means control by small elite group who derive influence from various sources of power. Neoliberal left elite source is not money –though they are beneficiaries by their positioning they underplay this source since it will be an embarrassing hypocrisy that could undermine their branding, there source of power is ofcourse (apart from feudal structure that places them into these opportune connections) use of intellect and clever semantic jugglery of jargon that is so coded that acts as urine marker of their boundary and alert from intruders. Words they use have layered meaning that firm their narration into deeper anchors, as also signal their hierarchy as also other cryptic nuances that only their group is privy to. More than discussion or any attempt to understand the issue these are meant to showcase their semantic dexterity and flair in the narration and not very subtle ways to climb the power structure. It also firmly delineate them from common people whom they ardently seek to protect and ferociously represent in debating circles and get together for increasingly esoteric topics that really has nothing in common with daily drudgeries of people. Their representations and concerns become disconnected, increasingly fanciful, and so isolated from reality that it becomes ridiculous (‘woke’) and indeed adds to the problem. They associate with regressive barbaric other through relativism, easily normalized as diversity, like oil slick they seep through these horrendous ways with intellectual flair and come out unaffected nor moved by horrible systemic traps that sear vulnerable. More primitive, degrading and antisocial, the other, better is their chance for higher return of investment, more is the possibility of exhibiting finesse as champion of oppressed, these therefore acquire status of humanistic concern. Their standardized responses to neoliberal right vandalism only embolden the system. It also makes common people cynical and gradually lose faith in democracy (Note, Occupy Wall Street was a classic left wing movement with socialist intent that was effectively neutralized by neoliberal centre left as they sided with big corporate).             

Anything that doesn’t go with their carefully crafted narration, any transgression, is severely dealt and every attempt made to push out (‘cancel’) opposing views and dissent, they effectively use binary to polarize so as to chart out their domain. They therefore have complete control over intellectual discourse as they spread across higher echelons of educations specifically dealing with humanities (while the neoliberal right works its way through increasing insular technology field while questioning basic foundation of science…the clear cut answers, easy connections of reason that lacks complexities of subjective make technologists easy prey, while business and commerce are already subservient to the system). This is neoliberal left oligarchy. They seek socio-political influence through intellectual control of narration. They tag on to vicissitudes of neoliberal capitalism's progress as they valiantly ride the crest to deal with neoliberal right in all urgency to create a better world in the distraction.              

 

 

Social media is going rabid

 

Not that one expects nuanced discussion in social media but the way things are dealt is getting appalling. A civilized society shouldn’t really be concerned about sensitivities and cannot censor thoughts for ‘hurt feelings’ but if it is blatant call for violence then it must be dealt. Ordinary people are trapped in their situation by forces beyond their control. The system of control is where the attention needs to be. Every attempt must be made to demystify these systems. Have empathy for ordinary people and understand their context meanwhile ridicule the herd and be stringent on powerful people who control and nurture the system. 

  After the massacre there were some islamist posts in social media that celebrated these inhuman actions. What kinds of people do these things? Hopefully law and order machinery deals with it. Meanwhile hindu jingoism is running amok. There are inflammatory and demeaning things written and said about ordinary muslims –who really have nothing to do with what is happening, not denying that there some miscreants but they must be dealt under rule of law. One kind of nonsense cannot be replaced with other, and surely cannot be mopped under the ruse of nationalism. Hindutva hooligans are at the fore and must be dealt, anger is understandable not visceral hate. If you criticize and ridicule others then you must also be open for criticism and ridicule. It is not power display but basic decency if not democratic right. Probing questions and genuine concerns are being classified as anti-national and hounded. Things are not black and white, complexities must be understood, nationalism cannot be used to straight jacket discussions. For instance it is a valid, indeed important question, to ask about security lapse and intelligence failure. J&K is a UT that means its police force is controlled by MHA under Home Minister. They were aware that during holiday season there will be tourist rush, so why extra precautions not taken? This doesn’t take away the gravity of dealing with Islamic terror groups that is waiting for weakness. It also has to be understood that last few years it is the actions of government that brought in normalcy for tourism to thrive and majority of local population to actively participate in syncretic value systems and freely partake in democratic process. Hence you cannot be too critical too. There are problems ofcourse as much as common people face across the country.

Restrained and targeted

 

After horrifying Islamic terror attack against innocent tourists –who came from different part of the country hence the magnitude of people’s anger, Indian government is left with no other option but to target terror camp across the loc that nurture terrorism and brainwash vulnerable youth. Monster mullahs –rabid dogs, are always threat to humanity and Pakistan state has failed to rein them in –indeed are used as strategic tool by Sunni state. What must be however kept in mind is that most people are decent self aware souls caught up in wrong place and are equally concerned and against these violence. Hence utmost care must be taken to restrict civilian casualty. Pakistan has foundational issues, a country, a society, based on religion creates herd and are incapable to see humanity. Its army is too radicalized and not entirely controlled by civilian authority complicating the matter. Discussion has become futile as there is no controlling authority and terror groups are nurtured as non-state players as was made amply clear in the aftermath of audacious 2008 Mumbai terror attack as Indian govt failed miserably to respond and take stringent action while Pakistan authorities feign innocence despite clear evidence.  

In the aftermath of attack in kashmir –what was essentially a massacre of hindu tourists, social media became free for all. Barbarism of Islam, and appalling mentions in ‘holy’ text, were openly dissected and ridiculed. Religion must be ridiculed, and Islam surely has problems aligning with civilized norms. But to confine this to only Islam is problematic. As the occasion presents same enthusiasm must be shown in future to bring out barbarian values of Hinduism, and its deep disconnect with humanity must be eviscerated. Meanwhile beware of western narrators –specifically british eloi's religiophilia (compulsive islamophilia of sunni variety, and normalizing caste cannibals who now position as diversity- beleaguered, while cleverly replacing blacks), these are worst kind of people who use common people to fill their moral ethical gaps. These lazy narration controllers have exaggerated presence due to colonialism facilitated reach and feudal consolidation. Also note the reason for such heartbreaking situation in kashmir is also due to irresponsible self centred divisive politicians who ruled for last 70years, and used colonial template to keep the place ghettoized to showcase their moral high grounds at the expense of common people.   

War is the last tool and indicates breakdown of humanity, hopefully this doesn’t spiral into full fledged war and is contained to target terror groups. Hindutva nationalism belligerence must be restrained. India has support of international community as Pakistan has failed to control terror outfits. The onus is also on Pakistan to be responsible. Peace cannot be at the expense of lives of common people. Those days of manipulating narration of common people as collateral for bigger cause is over.  

The other day I was reading a short story by Luigi Pirandello titled War –a story written in early 20^th century (I recently got a book that has best of short stories from this period, all these years I was keen on short stories from 1960 onwards except maybe few masters. This is the case for movies too). War is a two page story that is executed with skilful dexterity and so much empathy that leaves you stunned. Unlike stories I prefer, with deep underlying loops and unstated patterns that wrench into reality, this one is plainly worked so that it is deceptive while deeply moving when you least expect. I also favor less of interactions and more of silence created complex ambience to work the rest. This story has interactions of simple people caught up in extraordinary situation, not of their making, as they cling to one they love very much aware that this going to end badly. Set during WW1 it is about Italian families in a train to see off their son/sons/relatives to the war front. Grim discussion ensues as to what is great suffering –those with one child or those with multiple children at risk? While some share stories of horror at the front. A man who lost his son argues that children belong to the nation and not to their parents and that young men willingly die for their country. This stoic patriotism of the man who lost his son stuns a middle aged woman who is grief stricken for her only son and who hadn’t spoken so far. She starts to question her own sorrow as selfishness. “Then suddenly, just as if she had heard nothing of what had been said and almost as if waking up from a dream, she turned to the old man, asking him: 'Then …is your son really dead?'. Everybody stared at her. The old man, too, turned to look at her, fixing his great, bulging, horribly watery gray eyes, deep in her face. For some time he tried to answer, but words failed him. He looked and looked at her, almost as if only then –at that silly, incongruous question –he had suddenly realized at least that his son was really dead –gone for ever –for ever. His face contracted, became horrible distorted, then he snatched in haste a handkerchief from his pocket and, to the amazement of everyone, broke into harrowing, heart rending, uncontrollable sobs.” What a wonderful writer.        

It is a story stripped of traditional-cultural-religious compulsions (what I strongly detest, and indeed demean the human experience, with low skilled compromised writers these are fertile sinkholes incapacitated to redeem humanity but to cleverly use as an opportunity to gather attention –they write for audience) or maybe all these quantified in metaphor of state, and speaks to predicaments of being a human in bleakest of times as death looms. The surprising level of empathy it brings out and an ability to connect to the suffering soul left me deeply distressed and aware. Brought up in cheap sentimental entertainments and tawdry crude sensibilities of Indian mainstream, it took me lot of time and effort to shrug these from my being and create evolved framework of aesthetics and nuanced outlook –it is a work in progress and I do sometimes fall into base. So even though this writer uses emotions it doesn’t slip into sentimental cringe, it carries the dignity of life, not defiance but realization of fragility. It is high art at display with deft use of words, not only a profound understanding of human condition but a deep felt empathy and anguish for humanity that is rare. 

An exceedingly nice man

 

Withering wonder

(where did hoopoe go?)

Be still

Look

Listen

Look carefully

Listen very carefully

All that you hear, see

Eavesdropped conversations, frozen actions

Pattern that spins life

Symmetry that awakens soul

Close your eyes

Soak it in your memory

Cradle it in your being

Feel it pulse out into the darkness

Say a quivering prayer

For the fading calls

Disappearing sights

Departing lives

Flickering light you hold onto   

 

We are witnessing realtime implosion of neoliberal hegemony

   

Trump has unleashed neoliberal collapse through his protectionist virulently anti-globalist measures –a schadenfreude moment for the world, as neoliberal hegemony that controlled discourse across the political spectrum in last many decades, from right to left, scramble for cover screaming dire consequences for the world. To uncover this farce, let’s trace through brief history on how they pushed the world into neoliberal tentacles. The rise of European imperialism and British colonial empire during 19^th century was on the foundation of classical liberalism (Adam smith, self regulating market through invisible hand of supply and demand, free trade) that capitalised industrial revolution for economic growth, it collapsed during great depression and Second World War exposing limits of laissez faire, paving way for Keynesian model of state intervention (New Deal) that dominated through mid-20^th century before collapsing under neoliberal surge that reframed core ideas of classical liberalism seeking to unleash capitalism’s power by freeing market from all constraints, left to its own devices it is proposed to produce greatest economic growth. It works with free movement of capital, goods, information and people across borders. Neoliberal globalisation is about deregulating market, spreading capitalism through market driven innovations and monetising everything in market terms. Human actions and relations, or even nature, have value if it can be monetised and bartered for profit in market. Classical liberalism was much circumspect and had some concern for humanity in its core hence innately held that everything shouldn’t be monetised or marketised. Neoliberalism has greed in its core, unleashed by grabbing whatever came in its path for its marketable worth and transactional value. Reducing government agencies, and privatising it, so as to compete in the market to survive and decide worth through market fundamentalism. Market was metaphor to invoke unleashed freedom of jungle for survival the fittest. Neoliberal order fused ideas of deregulation with personal freedoms, open borders with cosmopolitanism, and globalization with the promise of increased prosperity for all, a sophisticated conception, a janus faced system that shows different faces to different section on the scale of power and control. A face of benign libertarian posturing for powerful and a face of brutal exploitation for poor, a face of freedom and choices, and a face of extortion and dwindling common resources....even the word liberal gives the impression of originating or caring for liberal values –it was carefully confined to market as much as freedom restricted to expanding consumer choices and actively creating more need. Greed is normalised as choice, irresponsibility is freedom. Neoliberalism integrated natural resource extraction, production and finance at a global scale extending classical liberalism of colonial exploitation by connecting and normalising democratic societies to authoritarian regimes.

Market fundamentalism defined neoliberalism means market will find efficient optimal outcome in every case. Democratic government is incapacitated to take responsibility, even in critical areas with significant social ramification and much needed financial intervention, is how neoliberal spreads its hegemony. It has led to acute level of inequalities and concentration of power and wealth with few individuals creating an ecosystem of hypocrisy and charade of concern, gradually people lose confidence in democratic institutions and pave way for authoritarian leaders –not very ironically promoted by neoliberal forces. These ‘leaders’ exhibit clear signs of compromise hence are nurtured and elevated (countries like Britain are too compromised as a society, the reason why they churn out such low quality leaders deft in school level debating skills nurtured in an ecosystem of what is spoken is rarely intended and very rarely acted upon –these turn of sentences are prized by posers in erstwhile colonies). The farce becomes theatrics of democracy. Meanwhile as democratic states are weakened and fledgling democracies collapse the authoritarian systems gain and consolidate –and with new powerful technologies priming in these exploitative frameworks it is set to get worse as countervailing capacity of state is substantially shrinked and negated, with it aspirations of millions of people asserted through process of democracy.            

Under neoliberal system state’s role was passive hence weakening of public power and consolidation of private power; reassign economic power to private market forces, prioritising free market principle over people and nature. Critical public good services were systematically eroded and transferred to private players ostensibly for efficiency that is assumed to come with greed and self interest. Simultaneously as the state’s autonomy is compromised its capacity to effectively shape market forces is outsourced and lost. Market becomes a beast with its own will. The benign ‘invisible hand’ grew talons to grab anything and everything to monetise and consume in its gargantuan greed. It is now a neoliberal state, a nominally democratic political system. Superficial transactional values create disconnect and rise of primal feudal connections rallying atavistic emotions paving way for authoritarian undemocratic value systems. Neoliberalism was positioned as political economy of freedom, this was deviously hinged to weakening of social solidarity while cleverly appropriating and replacing human urge to free from stifling regressive collective. It was being presented as natural liberal option for humanity with market replacing state as agent of natural progress. Market deemed as system without power centre, while hierarchy it creates is natural expression of competence and merit in free society, a perverse Darwinian fitness within market defined parameters. Market efficiency is constructed as very definition of human efficiency. What defines market defines humanity is the assertion. Hence all human conceptions and aspiration will be defined from markets perspective to get meaning. State machinery henceforth is subservient to the needs of market since it defines human aspiration. From neoliberal value system perspective market is as natural as jungle and the rules defined by nature/god hence state interference is interference on natural law itself. Human in such conception is consumer fighting to survive in the competition for resources, power and profit. Grabbing more is sure sign of success hence emulated. The ruse of neoliberalism as freedom is for assimilating and asserting power, in political economy of private power, in whatever way possible to monetise and gain. It is about shifting power to powerful private entities (over market) under the garb of freedom from state and encouraging unfettered competition as emulating natural laws. State is repurposed as an agent for globalised money flow –using words like investment, which sought opportunity for easy money multiplying. State was systematically deregulated to favour powerful finance capital over operating companies that were providing valuable services and essential goods.

USA and UK moved firmly into neoliberalism in 1980s, and soon the world followed, a concerted strategy to weaken state –a democratic institution to counter private corporate power, and in the long run systems that provide direction for technology to evolve. If AI is presenting the worst possibilities then it has to do with the exploitative systems that are nurtured. Democracy is a counterbalance against brutalities of state, as also against irresponsible corporate and private interest. However flawed democracy maybe it is an attempt, or framework, to represent grassroot hence opposing feudal control, while education creates awareness thus negating regressive forces, it evolves into voice of reason and assertion of enlightened collective (at the least the wisdom of crowd). Unlike greed-filled merit-neutered from existential reality that neoliberal system values, democracy provides freedom to evolve as individual synergically connected, or the extreme possibility of nihilistic disenchantment, for better deal with reality. Neoliberal value system actively works to keep the divisive agenda (it becomes easier in primitive societies), encourage primal concerns, to keep the individual isolated. The result is a society of cogs in their grim struggle to succeed while each and every milestone in these miserable lives tabulated and monetised. Inane entertainment and banal occupations incapacitates reflective thinking and awareness of existential absurdity. The individual in neoliberal system is a juvenile who needs to be kept distracted and is trained to be excited by primate sensibilities. It encourages regressive collective that reduce humans to herd unlike aware individuals who synergise into active collective deeply connected to reality for progressive change.   

Neoliberalism vandalism is treason on life on earth. It spread through exploitative value systems and feudal institutions with deviously appropriated semantics of progressive values. It is proposed as natural evolution as if emulating life itself. Money is seen as blood passing through veins of nations to energise and prosper the world. The garbled juvenile chicanery of money dealers has wrecked the world with market defined development and growth. It has severely diminished life and living systems. Every effort must therefore be made to dismantle this neoliberalism assault on life. Nature has nothing whatsoever to do with monetary system or financial institutions. To start with nature is not in competition as is being exaggerated by juvenile minds to justify their primitive ways and limited primate mind to keep itself busy. Competition, if ever, is limited to specific context to encourage diversity and robust deal with complex reality, and surely not for permanent acquisition and complete domination that infantile transactional thinking conjures. Nature doesn’t really work that way. It will collapse if it does, and wouldn’t evolve. Natural systems optimise to grow and thrive in mutualism with constant feedback to factor the possibilities and limitations of laws of nature and availability of resources. Life is evolving for billions of years; its level of sophistication is so complex that it seems a miracle. Human created systems can attempt to factor in and learn. Meanwhile crass infantile financial systems cannot be allowed to hinge itself to nature to appropriate short term gains and insatiable greed. Life doesn’t vandalise. It is deeply connected to its surrounding for its survival (extrapolate that to life on earth), its strategies are in sync with life giving forces. This consciousness attains sophistication as lifeforms evolves. Sapiens were expected to express this enlightening expressions of life. Alas.

What we have instead is unregulated market promising a connected peaceful stable world of prosperity. What it meant was state’s role restricted as guards of vandalism –by keeping common people in control, for blatant neoliberal exploitation as “investment friendly” while corporate circumvent the same rules (take for instance exploitation of water and energy by carbonated sugary water manufacturers that was documented more than two decades back https://depalan.blogspot.com/2011/03/anecdotal-study-on-nature-of-mncs.html). Legitimate role of democratic institutions were seen as interference, common resources were opened up as trade and environmental laws deregulated for “investment and development”. Through feudal structure and greed neoliberal system extended its hegemonical influence to all spectrum of political persuasion from right wing to left (indeed china is major lynchpin in neoliberal world order). Under neoliberal sway authoritarian undemocratic societies and regressive values extended their influence and consolidated control. Neoliberalism is so entrenched and naturalised that we have strange presence of neoliberal centre right and neoliberal centre left mock fighting for control as a touchstone for colossal hypocrisy –their saccharine laden apple not falling too far from neoliberal tree (far left posing as progressives showcasing characteristic irresponsibility by pushing for globalisation’s unfettered migration as high moral commitment the reason why far right have gained intuitive traction over majority of voters). With all spectrums of political parties supplicating to neoliberal order the opposition is equally compromised (take glaring examples of US and UK –that unleashed neoliberalism vandalism onto world, whether Democrats or Labour). The backlash against wanton greed, irresponsibility, increasing inequalities, deterioration of environment, was capitalised by opportunist forces. They played with the fear, growing insecurity and apathy, by invoking primal urges and theatrics of primate masculinity perceptions as decisive leaders who will lead them to secure world. President Obama was presented with unique opportunity in 2009 to reign in the neoliberal vandalism as it stood at the precipice utterly exposed at its ethical lack and greed saturated hypocrisy of horrible world that was constructed over the last many decades, but he went for safest, indeed ‘nicest’ (aligning with market image) option of going with big banks. Neoliberalism order has so compromised and weakened countervailing institutions that democracy has become a cynical exercise for common people. Acceptance of authoritarian leaders and theatrics of demonstratively decisive is rooted in this backlash against ineffectual and compromised status quo wherein common people are bartered for bigger claims all the while nothing substantial is done to evolve or deconstruct the oppressive system. Don’t forget brutal dictator Pinochet (insurrected by CIA backed coup) facilitated neoliberal experiment in Chile to begin with. Neoliberalism needs brutality of state under the garb of rule of law, it works well when democratic institutions are weak, social contract corrupted and individual are isolated and competed into wrongly appropriated Darwinian natural law. It is therefore natural for brutal societies to gravitate towards neoliberal value system. While democratic nations are increasingly shifting to authoritarian right as a backlash of decades of neoliberal vandalism, it facilitated authoritarian countries like China, Russia, Saudi etc to consolidate their power in an anchorless world devoid of ethics. Primitive Saudi feels empowered enough to control and degrade important international meet like CoPs that has immense ramification on humanity.       

What Trump has set free through his disruption is a pernicious mutant variety of neoliberalism that shed globalism (especially migration, its demographic and economic consequences on local population) to perceived superiority of native intelligence and revivalism of folklorist hearsay, all this in the frame of social media mediated chaos of misinformation and disinformation, lack of authenticity and incapacity to critically think. This mutant is extremely vary of globalist liberal world for unleashing, ostensibly progressive, value systems that threaten their carefully constructed world -sold to herd as nostalgia of great past, essentially selectively tailored myths. “Many supposed disruptors of status quo are agents of less of a backlash against global capitalism than a frontlash within it” (Quinn Slobodian in Hayek’s Bastards). The irony is, unlikely Trump is better suited to deconstruct disestablish neoliberal order than likely (but disappointing) Obama. Strange as it is, it is the right that has undertaken this role with much seriousness while the left is reduced to stuttering spectator increasingly out of touch with emerging reality. Neoliberal order is imploding in realtime. Trump is demolishing its edifice and exposing the slithering fattened specie that was thought to be sacred by all conventional wisdom across the spectrum controlling the narration. Stock exchange (another of exaggerated manipulated neoliberal short term speculation gain) plummeted, market media went into frenzy –they are immune to real existential crisis such as the dangerously rising temperature (deplorable bbc still seeks balance). Another irony, not noted by compromised systems, is that as the neoliberal economic system implodes it is a respite for earth and most lives on earth (including humans- it is assumed that neoliberal channelized wealth and glitter indicates well being, and that wanton consumption and irresponsible market friendly ways is approximation of human worth). Though devoid of progressive underpinning and ethically contradictory Trumpism is still better suited to dismantle neoliberal world order. We live in a strange shifting anchorless time. It is a ripe moment for a new narration that sync and is responsive to the reality we live in. We cannot have same mistakes repeated and expect things to be right (accumulation of power is never good nor feeding herd solution) as the stakes are too high. Critically, neoliberalism is incapable to face crucial problems of our times (let alone solve) like increasing inequality, climate crisis, global demand and consumption model that severely degrades biodiversity, weakening of democratic institutions and rise of religious fundamentalism, humans increasingly incapable of critical thinking so on, when it is deeply embedded in the cause. Neoliberalism is a degradation that excites primitive value system; opportunism and greed creates regressive ecosystem for technological innovations and evolution. It is a significant concern for AI going rogue since the ecosystem incentivise short term gains while delegating/outsourcing consequences to common space. What is at stake is human civilisation, indeed life on earth itself, which needs large scale long term investment, innovative thinking, something that is impossible without active and effective participation of empowered state at global level. It cannot be about opportunism efficiently accomplished to please the money counting investors and share holders before moving to next opportunism of wanton consumption. Problems created and accentuated by neoliberalism cannot have neoliberal solutions. Modern economics has failed to factor in powerful externalities, which are not found in economic theories, and have significant impact.       

It is proposed that neoliberalism fuelled economic growth created prosperity therefore added value despite shortcomings. Hence it is assumed that we have no alternative to neoliberalism –it is the natural order, and that it has to be saved and salvaged from failure whatever may be the consequences (too big to fail). Keynesian economic growth in mid 20^th century was much robust, not only that, unlike greed it was more about hope and collective concern. Clearly, neoliberalism has created much havoc on societies around the world and carnage on environment and nature. It is about time it is dismantled. With diminishing US power, hence the lynchpin of neoliberal world order, it is fortuitous occasion for crucial international organisations like UN, WTO etc to stop acting as the instrument of neoliberalism and its nefarious hegemonical hold over democracies and exploitation of weaker nations (in the aftermath of colonial European exploitation China now has completely vandalised Africa for its resources simultaneously nurturing authoritarian regimes by providing latest surveillance/intrusive technologies). Organisations like UN are incredibly important and have crucial role to play to face the globalised threat to humanity. These need to be overhauled and democratised to respond to complex reality and not remain ossified in the past. Perceptive people are aware of unsustainable nature of neoliberalism as it sucks clean the fringes (poorer societies and natural resources) as it generates wealth, in the recent times the mounting decay expose deep fractures in its down spiral. With growing inequality, depleting resources, control and consumption by irresponsible few as also real time impact of climate breakdown, there is a political weakening of neoliberal foundation and a widening profound disconnect with reality of the world. There has to be an alternative to neoliberal vandalism.

Till recently those who questioned neoliberal consensus were ridiculed and sidelined. The fissures in toxic system was becoming apparent, late 90s saw East Asian crisis, then Enron collapse (also indicting consultant companies whose role seems to be intellectual emasculation and as henchmen of neoliberal sophistry) and tech bubble burst (2001) –pointing to corrupt ecosystem, Iraq invasion, banking crisis (2008) –state intervened to rescue private financial institutions and banks, exposing neoliberal lies of market discipline, extensive study of inequality hampering growth (Piketty, extremely relevant economist), catastrophic negligence of neoliberalism in dealing with climate change and bankruptcy of market solutions, finally pandemic exposed neoliberal incapacity during crisis and importance of state intervention. To be fair Biden administration understood the drift, and actively worked to rein in neoliberal runoff and regulate the big companies and private capital, support pro-union against corporate exploitation –this is the compelling reason why big corporate shifted to Trump. Biden was arguably one of the best US president (in the context of times) but he messed up by not delegating and making it a ego issue, a moral collapse, while it was obvious that he is cognitively declined. Meanwhile for TechBros democracy is a programming error that needs autocratic Caesarism hence Trump.       

What is also true is that world is no longer flat but complex and neoliberal hegemonical simplicity is spreading thin and unravelling for all to see. The growing public discontent and economic injustice is being effectively capitalised by consolidation of authoritarian right while neoliberal left lost traction as it try to appear humane in its desperate compromises (of exaggerated identity politics that did more harm while theatrics of diversity took it to ridiculous). They are too entrenched in neoliberal to break away or accept the hypocrisy. Neoliberal left is particularly dangerous specie that weaponised woke and passed it on to neoliberal right to play havoc on nuanced understandings. The surge of authoritarian right is very much effectuated through the vacuum created by neoliberal economic policies weakened democratic institutions. For beleaguered herd primate legacy provided compelling theatrics of saviour leader, the aggressive masculinity that keeps the pack safe. Meanwhile even as neoliberalism collapses (market fundamentalism ridiculed, globalisation replaced by masculine nationalism) the power and money is accumulated with few people who use it to further their grip, it’s a plutocracy that is positioning as saviours. So as humanity face existential threats that needs urgent globalised response what we see is powerful few detaching into surreal world limited by their own lack of imagination and making it a show of ridiculous crass and utter horror. We urgently need newer innovative collective involvement and grassroot level people participation. There is still no coherent economic doctrine to replace neoliberalism but it is clear that alternate needs compelling narration of collective voice and a deep felt empathy for debilitating predicaments people face as life sustaining world as we know collapse. It must strongly dissociate from using oft repeated neoliberal semantics of concerns that will surely hang around to find traction. It doesn’t sync with reality of the world. Market lobotomised media will fret and hop in neoliberal hegemonical pit siding from left to right to capitalise the angst. They have lost their relevance (particularly the legacy media). The binary of left and right is too trite and simplistic evaluation of complexity of the times we live in. Labelling and categorising leads to activating loop of the past hence superficial evaluation of the present. Contemporary has to be evaluated in the entirety of the unique present and not extricated and weaved from frayed threads of the past. The parallel comparison to the history is too tenuous, mostly tossed in by insipid academicians seeking relevance. It’s a left wing oligarchical control of narration, of historical dialecticism so on. The reason why solution is not only always wanting but is lost on people since it doesn’t reflect their reality or concern. It’s a pedantic semantic jugglery to establish pecking order in academic oligarchy for narration control. It doesn’t impress outside their carefully selected circle nor does it have any real life impact.         

 Neoliberal facilitated plutocracy has become a serious threat to humanity. The world is not here to be entertained by their inanities and simplistic grand plans that systemically dismantle progressive foundation into frivolous participation. Also, narrations of juvenile systems specifically classified as minority and migrants must be closely scrutinised, regressive barbaric values or feudal patronising concerns cannot be normalised nor miseries delegated to common people for bigger cause -for neoliberal globalists to appear empathetic, these are superficial concerns to keep populace distracted. Whatever degrades/disconnects with reality cannot be part of collective voice nor systems that approximates people into herd has any place in emerging world. Beware of such people they seek herd, a ruse to convert neoliberal nurtured values into feudal hold as change. It is not about deviously classified minority concerns or compassion for migrants or transgender, it is about systems that creates such situations. It is not about crony capitalism or about falling wages or losing jobs or economic inequality or migrants or woke that authoritarian right is capitalising from imploding neoliberalism to nurture plutocratic control as they persistently weaken liberal democracy while neoliberal left tries to appear saviour in its hedonist plume. We have well passed the posturing, nor are we interested in constructed binaries of left and right to appropriate, capitalise and toss crucial issues into meaningless. It is systemic change that is needed while every trace of neoliberal structure dismantled as it weakens democracy and nurtures authoritarianism. Empower democratic institutions and vibrant diversity with each human evaluated as a thinking individual who synergise for collective voice and evolve for better world (be constantly vigilant against herd churning control systems and their feudal angst, only an individual can be vibrant part of democratic collective, or else it is undemocratic and source for degradation). This will empower democracy and nurture a responsive system to face the complexities of the times we live in (for instance, it is not about carbon tax –it is a typical neoliberal clever solution, a distraction, which is disconnected to reality. What is needed is renewed public investment in mitigative and adaptive measures, and an active role of state in tandem with other nations in a global effort), a strong liberal democracy hinged on progressive diversity and humanistic solidarity. The power must come from fundamentals of public good and not from fundamentals of market. The state is not transactional it has moral obligations. It is obliged to empower voice of people over herd and value human dignity as a foundation to alternate social economic structure.  Wellness matters but wealth generation is not a criteria for happiness nor meaning of life, it is only an aspect deeply connected to the context, and surely, cannot be taken in isolation to fit the neoliberal narration. It is quite clear that beyond basic needs wellness is connected to quality of world we live in. Only psychopathic system will aspire for more money while the resilience of ecosystem dangerously deteriorates with rapid biodiversity loss and the world as we know collapses and incapacitated to nurture life. It also points to deeply flawed system that claims to be rational but is incapable to rationally evaluate the unfolding existential threat.       

Russia, NATO, sphere of influence, and primate legacy

 

People around the world watch with increasing dread the daily deterioration of scene in Ukraine. This is the region that instigated two world wars -to call it world war would be an exaggeration since it gives centrality to Western narration and control over world history, it though significantly impacted the world. It was war of forces whose colonial influence spread across the world. Much of the world was in an exploitative frame of brutal colonizers and local feudal barbarians. ‘World war’ had cataclysmic impact on common people in Europe, while the later war incinerated thousands of common people in Japan and continued for decades with horrible effects of radiation. Most common people around the world were not impacted, probably not even aware. That is not the case now. We live in an era of world as intimate space, connected and immediate. If this festering war in the fragile region spreads, it could possibly be genuinely a world war with fracture spreading to Iran and USA, further complexity in the region could see it spiral into deep fissures that dangerous forces have kept alive through semantics of history. It will have a debilitating impact on survival of most of life on earth. It will possibly make earth uninhabitable for most species. 

To understand what motivates these ‘leaders’ we need to understand ‘sphere of influence’, and why some have this constant urge to expand their “sphere of influence” wherein the world has much better things to offer as also serious existential threat to focus on. These are not complex people so don’t be intimidated. They have fancy weapons -thanks to science misused into technology, and they talk in sweeping statements that has devastating impact on us as it percolates, millions of people have died for no reason and million will die for no reason. These are powerful people placed into powerful positions by flawed systems, and society that is systematically reduced as herd and are incapacitated by various systems of control to respond. These powerful people, projected by system to extend its control, are not complex people. You don’t really have to think much to approximate these people. These are crude crass the worst of common denominator that flawed system churns out. They try to use jargons of sophistication to confuse as also exhibit high bearing entitlements as deciders. They however work at most basic level that make us laugh in disbelieve if not for millions of lives at stake. Observe the street dog, and wonder why does it keep going around urinating on the poles at the periphery. You get a fair idea on ‘sphere of influence’. To understand these people or the systems that controls you don’t need much intelligence, a little observation is enough. Such is the level of ridiculousness we are in. It is heartbreaking. On the one side we have so much spectacular opportunities presented to explore and progress and on the other side humans like street dogs vying to extend the reach of their piss marking. Three hundred thousand years of homo sapiens evolution is at this crossroad of utter banality.

Street dog observation is compelling and relevant but too simplistic. So, let’s listen to the experts in this field. Harvard psychologist McClelland developed a measure called nPow (need for power). It’s correlated with desire to control other people and achieve recognition through control. To understand these deviant people Social Domination Orientation (SDO) measures individual propensity to want to dominate others -and affinity for hierarchy that put some people above others. Study on chimps helps us understand this mindset better. Chimpanzees are very much into power. Researchers found it was difficult to deal with chimps as they try to dominate or intimidate you, they are testing to see where they stand relative to you. And if they perceive some weakness, they will push you and try to dominate. It is same with some humans, and systems that control them, they have not evolved egalitarian impulses that characterize much of human life on earth. Even infants show humans have innate instinct to cooperate and share. Nature survives on mutualism and symbiotic relations. The intention is not to elaborate on these. These observations seem counterintuitive and shows how much systems of control have isolated us from the reality while they deteriorate collective will to place narcist psychopathic leaders to represent humanity.

Evolution led to changes in shoulder girdle (hominid Homo erectus appropriated into sapiens) and advantaged lethal use of ranged weapons, this transformed social structure, it became more of brain and skills than brawn and size. It flattened hierarchies, from primate despotism to hunter gatherer cooperation (studies clearly show egalitarian nature of hunter gatherer societies, remnants of which can be observed to some extent in indigenous societies and tribes; knowledge and wisdom were to persuade and not wield authority), the primate instinct to dominate was superseded by strong desire not to be ruled by someone else giving way to consensus driven deliberations. That surely doesn’t mean that these primitive flat societies were utopian; homicide was common. With proliferation of ranged weapon and later neolithic agricultural revolution and easy access to food meant large numbers of people/fighters which led to hierarchy for effectiveness, and this corrupted into power as control onto other spheres of society, triggering social shift hence emergence of chiefdoms and era of inequality. Surplus food and control of fertile land institutionalised inequality. Power begets conflict and violence. More people were murdered under chiefs and despots than in egalitarian bands. Hierarchy created new systems to cooperate and coordinate in large scale society. This led to corruptible systems and equally corruptible people who seek power within the system. It is therefore natural that the worst would emerge from the lot. Simultaneously a mismatch of thousands of years of hunter gatherer attributes that is stuck in primitive mind start to assert. Legacy of primates is much exciting to primitives than complexities of evolved mind. Hence the constant urge to increase ‘sphere of influence’. These were nurtured by the neoliberal value system that arose from necessary systems of goods exchange and benign market place into capitalism and tuned to pernicious neoliberal greed and control that pervades all human interaction making it transactive thus redefining ‘sphere of influence’. Religion meanwhile systematically worked as a control to increase its ‘sphere of influence’ through hierarchy, exploitation and fantastical view of world (thus negating individual connection to contemporary reality and valued personal experience and understanding) into spiritual -in the process degrading the same. Similar is the case of feudal institutions and value systems that seeks to control and negate liberty and freedom to weaken democratic institutions. Every system of control seeks to emulate and assert attributes that made the homo sapiens succeed for thousands of years as hunter gatherers. Every attempt by human to negate these systems of control asserts millions of years of hunter gatherers love for freedom and egalitarian valuation of self -not over other. Human history saw violence, domination, exploitation and misery and went through feudalism, colonialism and all forms of control through ignorance, threat and greed. It is only in the last few decades that democratic institutions are established, egalitarian humanistic ideals percolated and rule of law gave a sense of security and opportunity to thrive, to much of population across the world. Simultaneously, spectacular development in critical thinking and knowledge created awareness while technology quantified these into everyday deal.

Much of the world is piggybacking on the effort of few, democratic values and critical thinking has not seeped into most of populace. Complacency and comfort assert simplistic outlook of the world while hunger and fear seek easy solutions, incapacitated to evaluate complexities and inability to sense the nuance they look for assurance. Herein thousands of years of primal urges find expressions and are channelized through opportunist systems of control looking for profit and influence. Hence, we have image of ‘strong’ leaders constructed for herd to connect their primal urge with all the attributes of primate legacy intact. To understand these people, we have to go back to millions of years or else study apes and what motivates wild life. So you get fair idea on how legacy of primates become central to assertion of regrettable Homo sapiens and define aesthetics of their transaction with herd. Strip of all the modern technology and this could be band of hominids on four legs negotiating dangerous world under chest thumping leader evaluating the safety of cave for the night. This hominid band (not humans who evolved shoulders to use weapons as they were nonhierarchical nor fighting medieval army as they needed serious skills to survive) projecting to contemporary is theatrics of cave dwelling apes. These primates have dangerous weapons that can annihilate the world many times over, or the least unleash forces that could seriously jeopardize lives and living systems.

 

UN independent probe implicates Russia for Crimes against Humanity

UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry report on Ukraine was presented to UNHCR few days back. It has concluded that Russia has explicitly committed crimes against humanity. There are well documented systematic and widespread brutalities against civilians. While the report doesn’t directly name Vladimir Putin (unlike ICC which has issued warrant against Putin) the implication is grievous, there are clear evidence of 'coordinated state policy'. Ideally the report should become basis for international community in dealing with Russia. A country accused of crime against humanity (with documented proof, hence cannot be dismissed as political manipulation) cannot be normalized and must be dealt severely. Hypocrisy of EU sanction on Russia is that they use intermediary to access Russian oil and gas (Russian LNG imports to Europe, particularly to countries like Spain, Belgium, and France, have remained significant, with EU data showing Russia still accounting for about 15-20% of LNG imports in 2024, often rerouted through third countries or exploiting legal ambiguities).

UN must impose sanctions against Russia. Any country siding with Russia must be isolated, and should loose voting rights on this issue. UN cannot be bystander when their own agency has submitted report of crime against humanity with explicit evidence. UN must take action. UNGA must convene emergency meeting.  

    

Time for truce in Ukraine

 

European Union was a stupendous achievement and a benchmark collective expression for humanity, of countries coming together into common frame, best of democratic expressions and institutionalizing egalitarian concerns. A progressive small step towards an awareness of earth as single geographical entity, and humans as inhabitants, as responsible citizen and guardian of all the species on fragile planet. A union like EU cannot really happen in any other part of the world, much of the world is in varying degrees of barbarism, border skirmishes, feudal control and poverty. Not that Europe epitomizes egalitarian values, there are remnants of feudal institutions that undermine liberty, and ofcourse all these progressive attempts trapped in neoliberal exploitative control that surely works effectively in neocolonial framework of greed. Take for instance the case of Nestle -a multinational company based in richer part of Europe. A report in 2024 revealed that Nestlé added sugar to its baby food products (Cerelac and Nido) sold in low- and middle-income countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, while offering sugar-free versions in wealthier markets like Europe (Cerelac sold in India reportedly contained nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving, despite WHO guidelines advising against added sugars for infants under two due to risks of obesity and chronic diseases). Nestlé exploited weaker regulations in developing nations and poorer societies to prioritize profit over child health.

Extreme complacency led to irrelevance of EU, arrogant leaders took common people for granted thus leading to severe backlash and rise of extreme right and xenophobic consolidations. Democratic institutions have weakened due to these complacency and arrogant incapacity of leaders to unequivocally assert values that are foundational to democracy and free society. Responsible citizenry is being compromised by systems of control, the extreme ones filling up the vacuum. Liberty and freedom are being bartered for juvenile claims of faith and spurious sensitivities that degrade sensibilities. Europe in many ways was benchmark for human progress. EU a collective triumph. Things have gone wrong too quickly. Not very ironically USA under Trump has exposed the hypocrisy, incapacitated by self-serving leaders/systems using common people as fodder for higher claims. NATO was a remnant of dangerous past that found itself dismantled under Trump, simultaneously exposing parasitic nature of European leadership and incapacity to face complexity of fast changing precariously placed world. They are incapacitated to present a strong purposeful united front nor have the moral authority to unite people. EU military force replacing NATO is a reactionary response. They need to push for reform of UN and a strong multilateral UN force. Putin undoubtedly is authoritarian leader with psychopathic tendencies but to blame him for all that is wrong is a limited view. Ukraine paid a heavy price for the arrogance and misplaced self-assured belligerence of European leaders. It is time to call for unconditional truce and stop civilian casualties. Russian attack on Ukraine led war cannot go on forever, nor can any side win. It can only be prolonged with increasing dire consequences for humanity (not the least of which is climate). It shouldn't be flash point that perils world. European leaders must actively engage to stop the war. Truce be called. Russia and Ukraine revert to pre-war position. NATO dismantled. UN reformed and strengthened for military intervention and peace keeping. Crime against humanity by Russia investigated in international court in a speedy manner and international warrant issued against war criminals so that they don't move freely around the world.

*

AI created pic herein is of European leaders as Elois from HG Wells Time Machine. Eloi (and Morlock) are extreme evolutionary outcomes of social inequalities into distant future, simplistic but evocative conjecture. Seemingly utopian, Eloi, are childlike frail peaceful race as a product of centuries of complacency and self-indulgence who are fed upon by Morlocks. Eloi speak simple melodious language and lack curiosity or intellectual complexity, they live in perpetual ignorance, innocence and playful distractions while all their basic needs are met by physical effort and intelligence of burly Morlock. Time traveler mistakes Elois for masters of future world but learns the grim reality that they are just raised as food by Morlocks and are utterly incapable to survive without external aid.

Reporting happiness

 

Happiness is quite a subjective matter. What makes some people happy may be displeasing for others. What is a significant source for happiness for some may mean nothing for others. If the society has evolved core -quite complex and is achieved with much effort through various factors, percolated through benign culture and humanistic traditions and valued through institutions, then it will be reflected in all aspects of dealing including art, science and daily interactions. Crass is always a presence but varies in different societies. A primitive society will have crass as its core and will be reflected in every aspect of life (for instance societies that normalize caste cannibals, monster mullahs, or evil evangelicals will find misery percolating in proportionate to degree of influence of crass). Such spaces cannot be happy on any parameters except maybe those of the perverse kind that sustains the worst of sadistic possibilities – the benign sinister exist among those posing as civilized through feudal institutions, patriarchal concerns, systems of control so on, that wait for fertile grounds to wrench the world back into cave setting and jolly world of hunter gatherers.

Kahneman (in Thinking Fast and Slow) comes out with a unique take on happiness -essentially wellness, that of the experiencing self and the remembering self. Our recollection of an event is anchored on remembering self and not all that what we experience. It is difficult to study happiness and to quantify it. The bias in evaluation and narrow parameters of undertaking within geographical entity of a nation is problematic. There are, ofcourse, some basic parameters on basis of which you can attempt to approximate level of happiness in a society. World Happiness Report is such a venture that was released on March 20^th -the World Happiness Day, adopted by UNGA. Indians (increasingly proud citizens of Bharat), it seems, are not a happy lot. Placed at lowly 118 out of 147 countries (with barbarian ruled Afghanistan rightly at the bottom) sharing happiness with the likes of Chad and Burkina Faso. That 1.4 billion people, approximately 18% of world population, are not at all happy is a serious concern. And when you thought this is the worst possibility comes the expected revelation that Indians rank 128^th in ‘social support’, expected since a society that doesn’t even have a basic understanding of community is incapacitated to provide social support to its fellow citizens. Indeed, every misery is an opportunity to elucidate lessons of fate and blessing to herd, to demarcate normal days into auspicious times, to create crowds as illustration of power of control hence faith, which then falls into the fate of incompetence and characteristic apathy to orchestrate stampede thus ultimate fate of gruesome deaths while blessings for survivors. India also ranks 118^th in ‘inequality’ – which too is on expected lines, authenticated by happy squatters, consolidated by snarling self-obsessed politicians dividing herd with all kind of distractions for easy grab for power. Despite dubious claims of spiritual, and spiritual gurus in every street corner, Indians rank 117 for harboring ‘negative emotion’ -indeed the most literate state with high HDI index comparable to best in the world, Kerala, finds itself in worst of situation with high suicide rate and increasing violence among youngsters (conveniently blamed on drugs -as if these are not available anywhere else in the country) due to crass nature of society incapacitated to self-reflect. What is redeeming, atleast in relative sense, is the high sense of ‘freedom’ (ranked 21) that people enjoy compared to hellholes around the world as also ‘generosity’ (51) -at personal level people can be quite nice despite trapped in worst of society. Ranked 16 in ‘volunteering’ cannot be taken seriously since these are mostly for gaining blessing and generally within the putrid pit -the study seems to have failed to factor in unique nature of depravity. Incidentally, tribes are very few spaces in society that show some remnants of egalitarian value systems.

What is most despicable in the whole conversation is that instead of self-reflection and critical analysis there was blatant attempt by some in the media to manipulate (indeed disinformation) the discussion and try salvage ‘great Indian culture’ (I have a very low opinion on Indian media, and so follow lowest denominator to gather national news -they show no urgency to check facts, typos nor sensibilities to value what is important -it is one crass attempt at attention and greed -and this honesty without pretensions is better than pretentious mediocres). Check this to see how they work to create a narration that is just the opposite of the reality: “India ranked 118 out of 147 countries. While it ranked well for social support, thanks to its community-focused culture and family structures, it scored poorly on freedom, reflecting a lack of perceived choice in society. India's ranking has improved over the years; it was ranked 144 in 2012, and its highest ranking was 94 in 2022”. Such depravity.

Mediocrity seeks power: it is but natural that mediocre people in whatever field they are posing in, whether as artist, journalists, writers, scientists so on, will seek power and influence -social media has added to ease in attention seeking. Greed is never satiated by money, there is always existential crave for more in beggar minded society. Squatter value system has cleverly worked these depravities as successful signs of blessedness for the herd to emulate. As noted from above example writing is just another means to control narration while data points to serious truth deficit. Since the core is rotten it is also expressed through Indian writers (very rarely you have Indian writers -in whatever language, standing up to critical scrutiny; mediocre and insipid). The reason why word defecating vermin come in different shapes and sizes to fill up all the gaps in high end manipulation. More assured they are of their special place in universe prodigious is the output, thicker the feculence/books.   

So here I was at a shop waiting to get an electronic gadget repaired. At the waiting space was collection of books, and this one from a woman (who has worked her crave into RajyaSabha. Having observed the worst kind of people posing as artists into power circle, her PR is keenly manipulating for VP position). I seldom read Indian writers -unless strongly recommended which is quite rare considering overwhelming mediocrity. As I flipped through pages, as a keen reader I felt embarrassed at the quality of writing and very soon felt violated, so before placing it back -ideally thrown into dustbin, I thought of going through the last chapter. Not to strain the precious brains of herd it was appropriately titled “What matters in the end”! “Now Mukesh realized how much he missed his Amma. She knew him and loved him more than anyone else in the world. He was not a Jat or sardar. He was a Brahmin from south India. He knew who he was now. Mukesh took the next flight from Delhi to Bangalore and slept like a baby on the plane.” This trash is Indian writing! What motivates these embarrassing mediocres to write? (also, note complexity of putrefaction here sardar is purposely in small letters -a degraded mocking version of Sikh. Squatter ensconced pus minds have deep contempt for Buddhism and Sikhism as it exposes their depravities. You may also visit https://depalan.blogspot.com/2015/05/horrible-nature-of-poetry-and-degraded.html?zx=9f31a85f57e45972 written 10 years ago for more on depraved mindset). And this despicable woman poses as simple and down to earth while her knuckle headed millionaire husband, lacking any awareness of social reality or empathy, evaluates youngsters as slaves. What is more shocking is that this lump in human form is now full time into children’s writing, posing as moral arbitrator. No amount of manipulated backstory can hide soul clogged in putrefying pus. No wonder India is such a happy place! With little more manipulation it could be happiest place on earth with gaudy gods tacked on floating clouds showering petals on chosen people!                        

Will

In the waves of possibilities 

Sensations coalesce to create

Past, present, dreams

Memories interact for newer pathways

In unlikely crisscrosses and surprising tangles

This emergent complexity

A thought

An intent

Decoheres a reality

Collapsed from multitudes

Representing humanity

 

Democracy is representation of people’s voice through votes. Each person is assured a voice in the process of governance through his or her (or their) vote. Voting age in most democracies is fixed at 18years, it is assumed that a person becomes physically an adult hence mentally mature to decide. It is also assumed that all adults have understanding to weigh in myriad factors to decide what is best for society. This is an idealist version that hinges on wisdom of voters who may not have any such proclivities, far from it they are easily swayed by emotions or crass selfishness for immediate gain, lack basic faculties to comprehend enormity of the task, or else are controlled by insular group affiliation which has least concern for general good or personal wellbeing except as primal protection through herd cave member. The level of primitiveness gives lease to systems of control that undermine process and makes democracy a structure for exploitation. This is being celebrated as democracy across the world, all the while disparities increase, nepotism and corruption are common place, as society scrape lowest denominator of possibilities. Democracy is hardly the voice of people or approximation of their aspiration. It is an expression of control, of money -as guardian of neoliberal system and feudal power -assimilative patriarchal control of human and nature through systems of faith, regressive traditions and manipulation.

To be a human is a responsibility. A responsibility not defined by human controlled systems nor confined to personal aspirations -essentially expressions mediated by controlling systems to perpetuate itself. Responsibility arises through sense of individuality, awareness of self. A human has the arduous responsibility to nurture himself or herself (or themselves) as an individual. A state is duty bound to invest in inclusive systems that essentially is about valuing humans as individuals. Which means to negate controlling systems that foster extractive systems. Commonsense observation and study of basic facts indicates that this clearly is not happening. We live within an exploitative controlling system as the arbitrators posing as different persuasions of democratic debate occupy varying scale of opportunism. It is a mock fight to keep the control and rarely about asserting democratic institutions (severely dented in neoliberal exploitation, juvenile religions isolated from reality and feudal institutionalized traditions). So, people end up using democracy to bargain and barter for short term gain from the exploitative and corrupt system. While exploitative systems wanton greed encourages more voters, more followers, more consumers, more production…consequences are dire as untenable human population and increasing consumption has severely drained natural resources and is collapsing earth’s living systems (of many indicators one is Earth Overshoot Day -humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what earth can regenerate within that year, in 2024 it was August 1^st , meaning humanity used up 1.7times what earth could sustainably provide that year).      

If this is how the world is, then an adult having voting right doesn’t really suffice to be a democratic society, indeed it has become problematic as it incentivizes human population, nor does it propose any solution for immediate problems or existential crisis. System has to evolve and be responsive to reckon with emerging realities. Voting humans are incapacitated to take responsibility of wellbeing of society nor capable to represent other species or earth’s ecosystems. It is therefore important to disincentivize human population -burgeoning belligerence as voice of democracy. Evolved societies invest on quality of living and are acutely concerned and take responsibility for their surroundings, hence will naturally have low fertility rate, while each human strives as an individual to value complexities of life, empathy for other creatures and be abreast with emerging challenges as they strive to be better humans. It is but natural for technology to take the burden of human drudgery hence give value and dignity for life. Hence AI is expected to synergize such evolved societies that care of others as also for nature. Progressive societies cannot be seen as a failure, and so allowed to be negated by barbarianism under the garb of democracy. Neoliberal capitalistic vandal narration and herd churning religions cannot be valued as votes over humanity and all that is cherished. It is time that the concept of democracy is updated to be inclusive and vibrant to fragile contemporary reality.       

Country need be demarcated into equal regions to have equal representation. It is time to realize that area of land and not number of humans that matter and that habitat needs to be represented by human voice. Democracy needs to evolve from anthropocentric framework (ofcourse it brings new challenges but the complexities of solution can be worked for fairer world, or is tried for atleast a decade so as to stop climate catastrophe and biodiversity collapse). Humans are part of society, society is part of humanity, humanity includes all the concerns of earth and other species. This representation is what now matters.               

 

Euler's equation

Euler’s equation 

Transcendental suspends its pursuit

To coalesce into fundamental

Oscillate in wild flare of imaginary and nothing

Complex contracts to align a form from chaos

So fragile an expression

A delight of unexpected poise

Resonate its brilliance into every cell

A doorway for the mind

Drifting like a dandelion seed

Unaware but aware

In spiraling silence

Or a bee settling on a planet as if a flower

Is this wonder

A hint of consciousness 

A portal to merge in the mystery

Suggested reading: Euler’s Pioneering Equation (by Robin Wilson). Euler’s equation (a special case of Euler’s identity) is considered as most beautiful equation in mathematics (and rated second in physics after Maxwell’s equation). It is remarkable in combining five entities, each with deeper mathematical significance, 1, 0, pi, e (exponential growth) and i (imaginary number), as also three fundamental operation addition, multiplication and equality. Feynman calls it ‘our jewel’, others call it mathematical equivalent of Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be”, very short, very succinct. It finds quite a few references in popular culture. Stamps were issued on Euler’s identity. There is a nursery rhyme copied!

Old MacDonald had a farm

e, i, e, i, 0

And on that farm he had 1 pi-g

e, i, e, i, 0

This book traces each entity separately, its history and significance before bringing it all together. Quite an interesting read but only for people who have some understanding and interest for maths. I found reference of Irish astronomer mathematician William Hamilton in the discussion on imaginary numbers particularly interesting. He discovered quaternions (a way to represent rotations in three-dimensional space, which has massive implications for physics, computer graphics, and robotics), after struggling for fifteen years, it is described that one day he was walking along the canal in Dublin “I then and there felt the galvanic circuit of thought close; and the sparks which fell from it were the fundamental equations exactly as I have used them ever since. I pulled out on the spot a pocket book and made an entry…it is fair to say that this was because I felt a problem to have been at that moment solved – an intellectual want relieved which had haunted me for atleast fifteen years since”. Amazing man.