Another big mistake

Executing Saddam Hussein is undoubtedly another big mistake in series of wrong. Not that this blogger has any liking for Saddam Hussein- a dictator who was responsible for many deaths and misery. He exacerbated the division between the shias and sunnis, the Kurds and Arabs. The mistake in executing Saddam Hussein being it was done under occupation army, by what is described as Kangaroo court. It also brings into context the efficacy of Death penalty, brutal and uncivilised way of punishment. This murder will definitely give incentive for extreme elements among muslims, although this may not have much to do with Islam or threat to that religion. This is where the role of mischievous media and communal politicians who will try to stoke hatred for personal gain, at national level and international level, need be questioned. Even in a by-election in small town in kerala recently they made Saddam a poll issue (??!!!!), the extent to which scoundrels can go. It is a different matter that people rejected this nonsense. Some very clever section will definitely try using this opportunity to instigate common people (muslims in this context) to ‘fight’, wherein they like most people have immediate problem of price rise or corruption, unemployment and so on. There is an attempt to ghettoize people and usurp their angst for gain in certain elite section. ‘Muslims’ are easy target in this context. It’s an old ploy.

The brutal events unfolding in Iraq for last few years is about American global interests and in this case it has to do with oil and other ‘strategic gain’ in this region- the reason why Saddam was targeted although there never was any dearth of dictators or ‘leaders’ who have committed mass murder in past or present. These unilateral actions by USA undermining all international laws and opinion in past and present are definitely leading to a more unstable world. It also needs to be reiterated that Americans particularly Bush is very much responsible for killing many innocent people, much more than Saddam. How is that going to be accounted?. Bush administration has to take the responsibility of these killings. Bush is a war criminal. There never was any doubt about this. He and his cronies attacked a country for their personal gain in the name of ‘war on terror’ and WMDs, it is very much documented. He cannot escape acting as a savior by executing a dictator. Bush is responsible for this mess. Americans for electing this foolish fellow to head them are also responsible. Marketers who have created a system and completely sedated this society to look for selfish reason- gain, profit, and celebrate morons and their attics in the name of freedom of expression and sidelining significant matters are very much responsible. This ‘american way of life’ is where the threat is, the hedonistic and blatant consumerism is root of all this. At certain level we can say Bush was just trying to satiate the ‘demands’ of a very greedy society.

How about protesting by boycotting coca cola-pepsi and also stop them exploiting our water resource?. If people want to protest this is very tangible American target and very much beneficial to society where the government are sold out. Any takers???. If ‘muslims’ want to protest they need to target these products which is very much based on misery of people. This will also be symbolic gesture against greed based ‘american way of life’. Something needs to be done about this they cannot go on like this.

Love for land.

Let me make one thing clear at the onset I am a huge admirer of JRD Tata. He was one great man and inspired millions of people. TATAs do have a great tradition and to a large extend played instrumental role in industrial development of the country. My contention is with the policy issues vis-à-vis land use. The problems in Singur start with the use of Agriculture land (discussed in www.sdepalan.blogspot.com) but that is not the discussion point in here. I am taking here the larger issue of land use, development and marginalization in context to forest land.

The forest cover of India is 63.73 M ha contributing 19.30 per cent of the total geographical area reducing at very fast rate, infact this figure may not be reliable due to encroachments,more than 25 million hectares of this forest land is degraded resulting in barely 10% of the land under forests. Per capita forest cover is only 0.06ha.Most forest covered region is inhabited by adivasis (or tribals)who are in most cases totally dependent on forests. The regions of Western Ghats as also north east have been classified as biodiversity hot spots. Thousands of acres of land in these areas were cleared a century back by the colonizers to grow tea and other cash crops. It also was converted into settlements, since the climate suited them. When they left during 1940s they gave the land to their faithful. If you travel around nilgiris (or Darjeeling) you will find vast land of tea and rubber plantations. In recent times they are converting these to holiday resorts which is a lucrative business-there is huge loot going on here. It is shocking that the land which is essentially part of biodiversity be so blatantly misused. Tea or rubber (spices and coffee plantations though do provide a certain diversity) are important cash crop but the question here is why the profit going to select few wherein the biological and ecological loss is substantial. Infact there is a law which was passed few years back it is referred to as: The Biological Diversity Act 2002, which provides for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, knowledge and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. I reckon plantations located in these zones come under Biodiversity act.

The recent enthusiasm in certain circles on Forest Rights Act giving more rights to tribal community at the expense of wildlife is misplaced. This Act not only patronizes the tribal people by assuming that they have no desire for modern way of living but it also is shortsighted in its intent on wildlife protection and conservation. The interesting issue here is that although the interests of wildlife habitations are compromised the interest of plantation owners are very much protected. The lands on which these people are making huge profit are part of biodiversity disaster zone. These lands belong to wildlife and endangered species. These lands also belonged to indigenous community. Instead of compromising wildlife land the indigenous people should be given share of profits from plantation. This is a very desirable alternative. Tigers may not have vote but they are significant part of our ecosystem and common heritage. I dare the politicians and intellectual who were very vocal in their support of Forest Act to initiate laws for distributing shares of profits to tribal communities from Plantations. If you can take the share of tigers and wildlife why not plantation owners??. Tribal communities need to compensated for "historic injustice" not by encroaching into wildlife but encroaching into comfortable world of 'people like us'. Dare anyone???.

A theory on Mediocrity

A society develops when every member is able to realize their potential. For each member to realize thier potential they should be able to have self esteem and sense of worthiness which is very much linked to rootedness of culture. It is only when this rootedness is seen as that which will bring him/her a secure and desired future that the link is strengthened, in the process paves the way for realization of self and hence once potential in the area-profession, one chooses. The key therefore is aspiration rooted in surrounding -culture (which is in a sense extension of egalitarian values over the ages, also necessarily means open to new ideas). This rootedness is broken when there is a mismatch between the aspiration context of elite section and the common people. This is accentuated in cases wherein the elite look outside, that is alien culture, for their progress or salvation also have degrading attitude for local. Since the common people have a tendency to search their reference point in elite this leads to sense of uprootedness with ‘progress’, hence they are not able to contribute to their potential, as extraneous factors gain significance, and hence mediocrity.

Language is a significant aspect of connecting with surrounding, culture and tradition. If we look around the world wherever there is common language between the elite of society and common people they have progressed faster, meaning, people were able to tap their potential and hence a dynamic society. The case of Japan, China, France, USA, Britain, Germany, Korea… to take few examples. Since the aspiration is not tagged on to superficialities of language, people focus more on the content and ideas (ofcourse this not to negate other lifestyle superficialities associated with elite in all societies!). Take also the example of societies where there is a divide between the language of elite and common people like the countries in South Asia, Africa or South America….there is a clear demarcation in these societies, and almost all outcome of colonialism or other invasions. To make the case clear let me give the examples of native people like Indians in American continent or aborigines in Australasia, although English speakers have achieved much in last few decades the common people of the region lag behind, studies show more people suicide or take drug among them. There clearly is a loss of rootedness and hence less valued. This is precisely the reason for overwhelming mediocrity in India in almost all fields most glaring being that of Media.  Thus majority of people spend more time to better themselves or aspire to be like the substandard elite- whose claims are very much hinged on the aspirations associated with language (that is English previously Sanskrit).

This is one of the major reasons for mediocrity of most societies around the world where such distinctions exists. India is a case study for the world but India’s case is worsened due to overpopulation, poverty and traditional systemic biases, add to this nepotism and corruption, so although we come across some incredible people in our daily life in commonest of places but they will never make it to the top since the system (necessarily a creation of insecure elite) prevents or appropriately asks for competence in superficialities. The superficialities in most case is lifestyle expectation of elite from common people which is also meant to degrade or demean their surrounding and connections, hence esteem or worth, so the core is lost thus we celebrate mediocrity. The mediocrity of India has to do with very substandard elite, a necessary outcome of the system which this blogger attempts to explain.

Post Script: This theory may not work with first generation immigrants to any country particularly developed countries, since their aspiration context is entirely different.

Off to hell you go

One of the worst dictators in South America is dead. He toppled the Allende government with the active cooperation of American establishment, and ruled the country for almost two decades. The fact that his cronies committed most heinous form of human rights violations is well documented but he was never put on trial and enjoyed quite a comfortable life with West very much indebted to him (Thatcher being one example). In this context it is pertinent to mention the intense amusement this blogger feels wherein Bush and his pets are after Saddam Hussein, there are many dictators- contemporary and erstwhile, who are (and were) treated as state guests!!. India too has few dudes in its neighborhood, the loudmouth feudal Mushraff ( A chief beneficiary of ‘global terrorism’- he even made money from his book. I am told the publishers had no need for Marketing!!. Crooked faced master’s accented Jaswant Singh- he is one fellow who sincerely makes me cringe, could get some tips for his next book. They I am told are leaders!!. Pathetic) and also in Myanmar.

Although every continent in the world had its own share of dictators (even Australia…well Fiji does come under this continent if I have got it right) it is Africa which has suffered the most, I guess. This blogger opines that there can still be a trial of Pinochet further the American complexities on this and every other like matters should be brought into mainstream knowledge. People around the world need to know more about American Army than the Hollywood candy stories of American saviors. This means everything from Hiroshima to Baghdad. When it comes to Army somewhere it has been implanted in the popular psyche that we have chance with goody goody Americans in contrast to uncouth Chinese, Japanese or recently Arabs (well no points for guessing I was one time buff of those pocket size war comics and very much on literature of war, later even war movies…well I had access to Army libraries in school. Good old charming world!!. Offcourse soon it switched me off as I realized what war means in reality, I thought 'Platoon' was an excellent movie). Gen MacArthur is considered a quintessential American hero and was even in line for the job of President. There is enough Hollywood floss on his ‘exploits’ and ‘leadership’ spread with zeal by American channels around the world. But the little known fact which is very reflective of his intentions and character were never revealed and that is he was nuclear hawk, very much into using nuclear bomb for ‘tactical advantage’. He nearly used it in china and rued that nuclear weapon is under civilian authority for whom he had only contempt (as is the wont of most army men around the world). There is a charming scene in a movie (Kubrick movie if I recollect rightly) where a look alike of MacArthur is shown as a maniac wanting to destroy the world with nuclear bombs. With military in possession of nuclear bomb Gen. Mushraff is one of the most dangerous man on Earth.