Let’s speak about vanishing species

Let’s speak about vanishing species

Speak not about humans
and their problems now
speak about vanishing species
and extinctions underway
the irreparable losses
happening every moment around us, that
cannot abdicate our irresponsibility, greed and arrogance.

Lets speak about the forlorn Rhino grazing at Kaziranga
who doesn’t understand the fault of its brethren
found mutilated and hacked, same with tigers and elephants.
Black bear at the zoo climbs and unclimbs a dead trunk
in a maniacal disorientation.
It’s the vulture that pays the heavy price for the milk we nourish.

Speak not about humans
and the gods they create to fight each other
The perfect little selfish worlds
they each snooze in
and choose to ignore the calamities that knock harder each day
Lets speak about Asiatic lions at Gir
hounded and cornered they live on time we borrowed
Dwelling flattened Malabar Civet’s too is at the door
saying the final goodbye, shouldn’t we atleast get up?
The angst of dolphin pair in the Ganges, sacred and filthier,
is for mercy
for the crime they aren’t even aware
while the perpetrators choose to count profit.

Lets speak about waterbirds that is lost
to roost, in wetlands encroached by builders,
vanishing mangroves and bleached corals, lets speak about these.
Speak not about the humans now
we have listened them and their reasons enough
lets listen to the world that is not speaking, that doesn’t have much reasons
except their fragile presence
vanishing traces of splendour
like the endangered wild orchid
sparkling in its radiance under the blue sky
feet away from being uprooted
and lost forever...

(Please find time to visit my birds blog at the link or visit www.iseeebirds.blogspot.com. The traffic to that blog seems to be less than this one, which is a tragedy since that is my main blog, not that i am terribly concerned, but i would prefer readers from as many countries as possible, in particular from Africa and middle east ... It is a triumph of internet, just amazing!)

A dear King who was Beloved to the God

Asoka was a rare king, a king who lived more than two thousand years ago, a king so very contemporary that he could be even be future. A king who was referred to as: Devanampiya Piyadassi-beloved of the god who looked on with affection. Asoka (304BC-232BC) belonged to Mauryan dynasty (Capital Magadh) who ruled most of the subcontinent from present day Afghanistan to southern part of India. He started his reign as a ruthless ruler but a war at Kalinga and the suffering that he saw changed him. He sought Buddhism (which at that point was another Hindu sect), followed the Dhamma. He aimed to be a model king, erecting rock edicts all across his kingdom to guide his subjects. Hundreds of years later it was John Princep (1837) who was able to decipher these. This blogger was at Dhauli (which comes under ancient time Kalinga), the Rock Edict recommends "practise of morality consisting of courtesy to slaves and servants, reverence to elders, gentleness to animals and liberality to ascetics". Another asks for “purity of mind and self control”....and so on.

Here i quote from other edicts found across the subcontinent and you will see why he was beloved (i have emphasised some of the edicts to underline its significance)...

“everywhere has Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, made provision for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals. Wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I have had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available I have had them imported and grown. Along roads I have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of humans and animals”

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, desires that all religions should reside everywhere, for all of them desire self-control and purity of heart. But people have various desires and various passions, and they may practice all of what they should or only a part of it. But one who receives great gifts yet is lacking in self-control, purity of heart, gratitude and firm devotion, such a person is mean”

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, honors both ascetics and the householders of all religions, and he honors them with gifts and honors of various kinds. But Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, does not value gifts and honors as much as he values this -- that there should be growth in the essentials of all religions. Growth in essentials can be done in different ways, but all of them have as their root restraint in speech, that is, not praising one's own religion, or condemning the religion of others without good cause. And if there is cause for criticism, it should be done in a mild way. But it is better to honor other religions for this reason. By so doing, one's own religion benefits, and so do other religions, while doing otherwise harms one's own religion and the religions of others. Whoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with the thought "Let me glorify my own religion," only harms his own religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good. One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, desires that all should be well-learned in the good doctrines of other religions.

“In the past there were no Dhamma Mahamatras but such officers were appointed by me thirteen years after my coronation. Now they work among all religions for the establishment of Dhamma, for the promotion of Dhamma, and for the welfare and happiness of all who are devoted to Dhamma. They work among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Gandharas, the Rastrikas, the Pitinikas and other peoples on the western borders. They work among soldiers, chiefs, Brahmans, householders, the poor, the aged and those devoted to Dhamma -- for their welfare and happiness -- so that they may be free from harassment. They (Dhamma Mahamatras) work for the proper treatment of prisoners, towards their unfettering, and if the Mahamatras think, "This one has a family to support," "That one has been bewitched," "This one is old," then they work for the release of such prisoners. They work here, in outlying towns, in the women's quarters belonging to my brothers and sisters, and among my other relatives. They are occupied everywhere. These Dhamma Mahamatras are occupied in my domain among people devoted to Dhamma to determine who is devoted to Dhamma, who is established in Dhamma, and who is generous.
This Dhamma edict has been written on stone so that it might endure long and that my descendants might act in conformity with it”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, speaks thus: In the past, state business was not transacted nor were reports delivered to the king at all hours. But now I have given this order, that at any time, whether I am eating, in the women's quarters, the bed chamber, the chariot, the palanquin, in the park or wherever, reporters are to be posted with instructions to report to me the affairs of the people so that I might attend to these affairs wherever I am. And whatever I orally order in connection with donations or proclamations, or when urgent business presses itself on the Mahamatras, if disagreement or debate arises in the Council, then it must be reported to me immediately. This is what I have ordered. I am never content with exerting myself or with despatching business. Truly, I consider the welfare of all to be my duty, and the root of this is exertion and the prompt despatch of business. There is no better work than promoting the welfare of all the people and whatever efforts I am making is to repay the debt I owe to all beings to assure their happiness in this life, and attain heaven in the next.
Therefore this Dhamma edict has been written to last long and that my sons, grandsons and great-grandsons might act in conformity with it for the welfare of the world. However, this is difficult to do without great exertion”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, speaks thus: To do good is difficult. One who does good first does something hard to do. I have done many good deeds, and, if my sons, grandsons and their descendants up to the end of the world act in like manner, they too will do much good. But whoever amongst them neglects this, they will do evil. Truly, it is easy to do evil”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, does not consider glory and fame to be of great account unless they are achieved through having my subjects respect Dhamma and practice Dhamma, both now and in the future. For this alone does Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, desire glory and fame. And whatever efforts Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, is making, all of that is only for the welfare of the people in the next world, and that they will have little evil. And being without merit is evil. This is difficult for either a humble person or a great person to do except with great effort, and by giving up other interests. In fact, it may be even more difficult for a great person to do”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods speaks thus: Twelve years after my coronation I started to have Dhamma edicts written for the welfare and happiness of the people, and so that not transgressing them they might grow in the Dhamma. Thinking: "How can the welfare and happiness of the people be secured?" I give attention to my relatives, to those dwelling near and those dwelling far, so I can lead them to happiness and then I act accordingly. I do the same for all groups. I have honored all religions with various honors. But I consider it best to meet with people personally”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, speaks thus: Twenty-six years after my coronation various animals were declared to be protected -- parrots, mainas, //aruna//, ruddy geese, wild ducks, //nandimukhas, gelatas//, bats, queen ants, terrapins, boneless fish, //vedareyaka//, //gangapuputaka//, //sankiya// fish, tortoises, porcupines, squirrels, deer, bulls, //okapinda//, wild asses, wild pigeons, domestic pigeons and all four-footed creatures that are neither useful nor edible. Those nanny goats, ewes and sows which are with young or giving milk to their young are protected, and so are young ones less than six months old. Cocks are not to be caponized, husks hiding living beings are not to be burnt and forests are not to be burnt either without reason or to kill creatures.

The Dhamma regulations I have given are that various animals must be protected. And I have given many other Dhamma regulations also. But it is by persuasion that progress among the people through Dhamma has had a greater effect in respect of harmlessness to living beings and non-killing of living beings

Along roads I have had banyan trees planted so that they can give shade to animals and men, and I have had mango groves planted. At intervals of eight //krosas//, I have had wells dug, rest-houses built, and in various places, I have had watering-places made for the use of animals and men. But these are but minor achievements

On anguish of Kalinga

Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, conquered the Kalingas eight years after his coronation.[25] One hundred and fifty thousand were deported, one hundred thousand were killed and many more died (from other causes). After the Kalingas had been conquered, Beloved-of-the-Gods came to feel a strong inclination towards the Dhamma, a love for the Dhamma and for instruction in Dhamma. Now Beloved-of-the-Gods feels deep remorse for having conquered the Kalingas.

Indeed, Beloved-of-the-Gods is deeply pained by the killing, dying and deportation that take place when an unconquered country is conquered. But Beloved-of-the-Gods is pained even more by this -- that Brahmans, ascetics, and householders of different religions who live in those countries, and who are respectful to superiors, to mother and father, to elders, and who behave properly and have strong loyalty towards friends, acquaintances, companions, relatives, servants and employees -- that they are injured, killed or separated from their loved ones. Even those who are not affected (by all this) suffer when they see friends, acquaintances, companions and relatives affected. These misfortunes befall all (as a result of war), and this pains Beloved-of-the-Gods.

There is no country, except among the Greeks, where these two groups, Brahmans and ascetics, are not found, and there is no country where people are not devoted to one or another religion. Therefore the killing, death or deportation of a hundredth, or even a thousandth part of those who died during the conquest of Kalinga now pains Beloved-of-the-Gods. Now Beloved-of-the-Gods thinks that even those who do wrong should be forgiven where forgiveness is possible.

Even the forest people, who live in Beloved-of-the-Gods' domain, are entreated and reasoned with to act properly. They are told that despite his remorse Beloved-of-the-Gods has the power to punish them if necessary, so that they should be ashamed of their wrong and not be killed. Truly, Beloved-of-the-Gods desires non-injury, restraint and impartiality to all beings, even where wrong has been done.

The people of the unconquered territories beyond the borders might think: "What is the king's intentions towards us?" My only intention is that they live without fear of me, that they may trust me and that I may give them happiness, not sorrow. Furthermore, they should understand that the king will forgive those who can be forgiven, and that he wishes to encourage them to practice Dhamma so that they may attain happiness in this world and the next. I am telling you this so that I may discharge the debts I owe, and that in instructing you, that you may know that my vow and my promise will not be broken. Therefore acting in this way, you should perform your duties and assure them (the people beyond the borders) that: "The king is like a father. He feels towards us as he feels towards himself. We are to him like his own children."

H.G Wells writes “In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves 'their highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted majesties' and so on. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Asoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day”.

This quote from historian Madhav Kondvilkar sums up Asoka the beautiful king "In some cases Asoka may be compared with Alexander the Great, Augustus Caesar, Genghis Khan, Timur, Peter I of Russia, Napoleon I. But Asoka was not extra ambitious like Alexander. Asoka was an ideal administrator like Augustus Caesar, but unlike Caesar, he didn't want to be known as a dictator. Asoka was a strong general but unlike Napoleon I Asoka never was unsatisfied. Asoka wanted to be loved by his subjects. He never terrorized his subjects like Genghis Khan, Timur and Peter I of Russia. Nobility of soul, purity of mind, honesty of nature, clarity of dignity and love for all let Asoka sit with Gautama Buddha and Jesus Christ".

Shocking is understatement

The way things are happening i don’t know whether words like ‘shocking’ have any meaning. The arbitrariness and desultory process adopted in removing books from reading list is amazing to say the least and that too a threat from a boy!!. Maharashtra government, in particular, the Chief Minister is a disgrace. And what is about the book that is deemed ‘offensive’ than activities of Shiv Sainiks over the last few decades?. It is incompetence of successive governments in the Centre (including the present one) that laws are not strict and these people blackmail society. Ideally Thackeray and gang should be languishing in jail. Lax, tardy and politicised investigative agencies have seen to that people who foment hatred and threaten common people are made powerful (it is a Bhindranwala syndrome), politicians take mileage from these subjectivities. I think it also helps some to play ‘secularism’- unless fundamentalist aren’t around secularist are jobless, so it makes lots of political sense to pander Thackeray &Co. This blogger also believe that ‘minority appeasements’ (particularly some medieval practices in the name of religion like say polygamy and so on...not many civilised countries allow these kind of nonsense) has led to lots of resentment which is capitalised by Hindu fundamentalists like Shiv Sena and has got some legitimacy among the middle class. Keeping alive fundamentalism helps lots of powerful people.
It’s about playing divisive and usurping benefits. People will be killed, maimed and looted but no one will be prosecuted and we will be asked to be ’secular’ and be against ‘communalist’ (and pray how do we know who is what, should media tell us or decide?). Successive Governments at the centre (for keeping the investigation under itself) and the Judiciary (for slow process and low conviction rate) are the biggest communalist. They have failed the people; they work for short term gains at the expense of society.

It is vulgar that much liked writers like Rohinton Mistry has become a pawn in this crude game, he is arguably one of the best writers around. This blogger takes pride in mentioning that i have read all the works of Mr. Mistry and eagerly waits for his next book. Such a Long Journey (though the movie was quite feeble) is one of the best books i have read, and i strongly recommend and everyone should read as much A Fine Balance.

A book if it is against what we believe or cherish should be encouraged as it adds to our understanding (not referring to writing as slander or personal diatribes-lets reserve that to crude woman and power hungry rodents!...it’s quite fun, giving some well directed punches sometimes to these pretentious people!!. I guess we now know what Vikram Akula is all about, play act saviours filling their coffers from poorest of people, some do it with slum children, some by kidnapping orphans in Leh) and gives us interesting perspectives. Denying these understandings is a loss, and i guess youngsters should be aware of these at the earliest the reason why anti-establishment material should be given space. I believe society should be matured to tolerate varied opinions. A society that puts any restrictions on ideas and thoughts is primitive.

Revisiting Gunnar Myrdal: I picked up Gunnar Myrdal’s The Challenge of World Poverty from College Street, Kolkata the other day, this a book i was keen on more than a decade back, i recall a boy in JNU talked quite passionately about it, I read few chapters in the library. I searched for it on the pavements of few cities couldn’t find and forgot about it, anyway i was too much into fiction those days (so not really a ‘revisit’). Quite lucky to get it for 50R after so many years!!.

Gunnar Myrdal’s analysis is quite potent and much relevant to this day (the book came out some 40 years back). I particularly liked the chapter on ‘Soft State’, these lines are so very striking “...the laxity and arbitrariness in a national community that can be characterised as a soft state can be, and are, exploited for personal gain by people who have economic, social, and political power”.

Read these insightful paragraphs that were written almost four decades back

“when policy measures have been instituted specifically aimed at ameliorating conditions of lower strata, they have either not been implemented and enforced or have been distorted so as to favour the not-so-poor and to discriminate against the masses. The foreseen difficulty or impossibility of enforcing a law aimed at aiding the poor rather than the better-offs may indeed make it easier to get such law passed in a legislature, as the representatives of those who should make a sacrifice can feel that nothing much will be changed. An Indian State assembly can thus show generosity to the landless and poorer peasants by passing laws on minimum agricultural wages or moneylenders interest charges without a risk that such laws will be enforced (this blogger would like to remind readers the Minimum wage controversy in NREGA as also the fact that they couldn’t anticipate exploitation of farmers by microcredit NGOs is rather shocking). In regard to its practical effects, the whole political, legal and administrative system is thus systematically and heavily weighed against the masses of poor people. This comes about through lack of enforcement of laws and the distortion of policy measures...

The laws and policy measures are motivated as measures to realise the egalitarian ideals and, more generally, the modernisation ideals which have commonly become accepted by the educated upper class whose intellectual and political elite had been harbinger of these ideals. When it comes to actually formulating the laws and the policy prescriptions and, still more, taking measures to implement them, however, they commonly follow narrow selfish interest.

When dealing with the lower strata, including the very poorest, the state also avoids laying down definite obligations, sanctioned by state power, and relies upon inducements and voluntary adjustments. This gives a sort of conscience-consolation for not giving effect to the laws and policies instituted in their interest. ...

Though for these and other reasons the matter is complicated, fundamentally the main explanation of the soft state is that all the power is in the hands of upper class who can afford egalitarian laws and policy measures but are in an unchallenged position to prevent their implementation”.

Baby elephants made to beg at Nandankanan National Park

Elephants have been declared as heritage animals, in recent times there has been severe pressure on wild elephant due to habitat loss and encroachment, there is also spate of deaths on railway crossings. Animals like elephants are made illegal in zoos and circuses (at one point they were popular attractions), thankfully so. Spaces are made in wildlife sanctuaries for elephants, some used for safaris and so on. But nothing prepared me for the way these animals were treated in Nandankanan National Park in Odisha (about an hour from Bhubaneshwar, quite a popular destination bustling with holiday crowd), baby elephants were being made to beg, they were coerced to ‘bless’ the visitors for money. Even the ‘official guides’ seems to be encouraging these. It is natural for people to be attracted to these adorable creatures, in the beginning i thought they were being taken to another destination or something of that sort as happens in other sanctuaries, soon i realised that the purpose was entirely different as the men were taking these baby elephants around unsuspecting tourists and encouraging them to touch, pet and so on. Then money was demanded, the baby elephants ears were twisted, pocked and hit with sticks in case of non compliance. It was a pitiable sight. Sometimes the tourists were also threatened. That this atrocity is happening within a National Park makes the offense much grave , it is clear that without knowledge of senior official this is unlikely to happen. I took it up with the guard (where i lodged an oral and later a written complaint), he said he is helpless since his jurisdiction is only limited to ‘guarding’, i found that excuse quite funny. But he was quite helpful in letting me write a complaint, even offering me his pen (thanks i carry my own!!). Hope somebody reads the complaint and this crime is stopped at the earliest and exemplary action taken against the perpetrators.

(more pictures in photo blog)

Now that we have done with it...

Now that we have done with humiliating a nation because of misdemeanour (moronic would be better) of an individual and got our pride back shouldn’t the Srilankan government summon the Indian envoy and express that country’s displeasure?. It’s like this: sometime back i was watching a Hindi channel, quite popular one need add, it is supposed to be about laughter. The joke of the day was on colour of the skin of legendary Srilankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya. The pun was on expected line... since he is dark skinned he couldn’t be seen by viewers and needs light. Some in India might think this is what fun is (like some in New Zealand). But their views are not shared by civilised people around the world, for them this is blatant racism. It is definitely no laughing matter. There is no humour here but obnoxious and regrettable understandings. Just because it is in Hindi doesn’t mean it is less grievous-the New Zealand fellow spoke in English therefore we understood. If Indians are quick to take offense on these matters then they should also be open to scrutiny. Does anyone around the world know how degrading people from this part of the world can be? Joke at the expense of religion, caste, colour, gender and so on should have zero tolerance. Those running ‘entertainment’ shows this blogger has this to say: You cannot have jokes at expense of others to cover your lack of innovation and talent. World outside India is not all Fair & Lovely. We are looking at can of worms, sofar hidden under the cloak of hypocrisies and great Indian tolerance. This blogger expects world to be severe on Indians too. Shouldn’t the Indians apologise to the Srilankans?.

Post script: now I hear that Australian envoy is being summoned because of some misdeed of dimwits in Australian police. Clearly such attitudes are not expected from Police force but then should these be given such importance that too in this country? Should the Government of India get involved? I also need to point out the tardy response of sports ministry with regard to injury of Ugandan players.

Talking about shit...i am right now in Odisha (Chilka to be precise), most people around here are terrifyingly poor, emaciated and malnourished. Concept of hygiene is generally non existent, it is so shocking you wonder how they survive. Then you realize most really don't, this place is low on human development indice, and could be worst in the world. Next to Chilka lake there is a shed-most likely for tourists to wait for boat-but i found it with people sleeping, annoyed i wondered whether these people have nothing else to do or some other place to lie down. Later i walked around the place, it is appallingly dirty and heavy rain has clogged. Mud houses were half submerged-children though were merry catching fish-women managing their household in dry patches, vicinity of the house was kept clean. Probably the shed was one of the very few places they could stretch themselves. Now the question is why are these people so very poor?
Most people make a subsistence from fish and subsidiaries. They are quite hardworking and industrious (some men do wile away their time playing cards), some are also very talented in converting bamboo into useful and intricate product, watching these itself is an experience.
Why is that they don't make money? Clearly these don't have market value, therefore despite being talented and hardworking they have tough time and “live in shit”. Now a very important question here is how is that New Zealand fellow able to make so much money and “not live not in shit”. You will notice our man may not have any specific talent or competence but the system has seen to that he makes as much money in a month that the people in chilka may not make in a decade. It is not really about uncouth fellow in NZ but also in this part of the world. Some people talk rubbish, do rubbish and make huge amount of money while people who matter-or on whom society is dependent, like say farmer, artisans, people having traditional understanding so on- ‘live in shit’. What kind of system is this?.

Picture is that of a boy who could be seven or eight controlling the steering of the boat in chilka lake, in hot midnoon in the deeper part of lake, another pic is that of boy who was found sculpting out this beautiful statue in another part of the state (more photo will be put in Photo Blog soon), who didn't even had the time to look up, so absorbed was he in his work. Girls going to school in cycles which seem to be some kind of trend here...