A remarkable man...

Andre Beteille’s day out

This blogger had the fortune (in certain way misfortune!!) to listen to Andre Beteille, one of the leading sociologist in the country. Intellectuals in power seeking alleys of Delhi live in allusion of grandeur surrounded by competing sycophants, untroubled by appraising eyes, but then “what is excluded doesn’t disappear but always return to unsettle every construction, no matter how secure it seems”  (Derrida).  
 

Mr.Beteille seems like an unabashed follower of MN Srinivas, from this perch Sanskritisation is a stellar view. A question was asked by a young lad on a contrarian stream –essentially subaltern in strictly hierarchical Indian pantheon– Palisation/Dalitisation (recently put forth by Kanchan Illiah). There was a gasp from the audience, irritation writ heavily on somber faces that has learned to live on taxpayer’s money (indeed Nehru library talks are costly affair -adding the value of property and historicity). To be fair Beteille seemed unperturbed even managed a sly “I was expecting it”. That “the sociologist is only being objective” is valiant effort on hiding an elephant in the room. That it adds to skewed narration makes it vulgar. 

In his long talk on MN –almost a eulogy– he also mentioned how MN’s english skills attracted the British. Aha. Indeed Beteille on being asked about importance of field research did say, apart from other things “...on away from mother and wife…”. The question was asked to a sociologist by an aspirant (this context has to be emphasized), if this is objectivity by ‘leading sociologist’ then god save us. What about “father and husband”? Clearly he was not able to dissociate himself while answering. Objective analysis has embedded subjectivities, we live with ‘multiple identities’ (Amartya Sen). That MN Srinivas, indeed any social researcher, was uniquely qualified to be objective, therefore sanskritisation is objective is gibberish. When most theorist/intellectuals come from one section of society these prejudices gets reiterated. Indeed Indian sociology seems to work on these frameworks. If Sanskritisation makes sense then Palisation should very well make sense, it is a new entrant, since for so long, there was no one to see the world from this reality, the very reason why Sankritisation got so much credence, though the theory essentially is reflection of MN Srinivas’s background that is sought to be generalized (in this context Westernisation is a tribute to masters). 

Sociologists, particularly from Indian reality that too in the beginning of the 20th century, are difficult to be objective. It isn’t possible. Sociology is not a science, despite the tools employed and intentions. Ultimately subjective reality does come in when one seeks to analyze empirical evidences and judge society. Therefore it is important for different understandings to exist. Palisation should find mention in texts, indeed there need further study on this. Prima facie there is substance to it and should be encouraged. Otherwise it is monopolization of reality.            

     

It is the Indian corporate that gives it a junk status

Recently the government tried to see that the corporate spend some money (atleast marginal) on CSR. It is not too much to ask. Barring some corporates and establishments there is not much concern for common people or degrading environment. Indeed Indian corporates are notorious for their lack of giving back to the society. We have to look towards the West for examples.  Indeed the business of business is business but then as one earns more it is expected that you give some, you contribute for cause and concerns that plagues this rather impoverished society.  

It is unfortunate that the corporate too fall into neo-brahminical framework and fails to take responsibility. Indeed they tend to be exploitative of not only the workers but the nature; they bring in the worst kind of business ethics (ofcourse there are exceptions…we here are discussing majority).  The soul seems to be coming from the ‘traditional shops’ that tend to treat workers are slaves. I was at the famous shops in paratta wali gali the other day. It is the worst that has to offer. Unhygienic surrounding, exploited waiters and workers in dirty cloths, wholly unhealthy food. It is a sad sight. The saddest part is that these don’t require much expense, indeed empathy is least costly. It needs attitudinal change, unfortunately though the neo-brahminical reference adding to profit driven nature of professionalism makes it difficult. They have Nehru’s picture of him eating in the shop. Well the historians will point to many mistakes of Nehru, eating at Paratta wali gali is one. Shops/Business establishments like these are existing for ages (prachin as they claim) in most cases are not because of any unique expertise, just that during those days majority of people were not in a position to open establishments/hotels, only miniscule section were allowed. It is interesting to note that from this miniscule section we have this tradition of “pure vegetarian” breed. I never could understand the difference between “pure vegetarian” and “vegetarian”. The difference I realize is where the mediocrity peeps in as tradition. This is the tradition that the Corporate has acquired as its soul.

With rare exceptions the traditional businesses meet the modern professionalism on these parameters. The soul is exploitative and lacks empathy. It seems to conduct business as entitlement. While half of children in this country die of malnutrition the traditional elite still encourage wonderful concept of pouring milk/butter on statues! I cannot blame the common people, these rituals and believes that supports were created by the traditional elites. It needs one to be uniquely cruel to be part of this (probably why, disgusting American profligacy is emulated and celebrated, the spin is liberal values). This is a minor example from a framework that worked to create exclusivity and traditional claims, creating an amazingly mediocre society that thrived on disconnecting itself from existential problems of the people. Consider that Mundaka Upanishad was trying to bring transient nature of life (which is true) but in the process unfortunately classified knowledge of empirical world as lower knowledge –apara vidya, this idea when met the mediocre nature of society had regrettable outcome. For centuries this became basis for discourse, attitude, therefore inaction, as society slipped into morass.  

    

This then is how we should understand the aspirational soul of Indian corporate. Empathy can only come when the achievement is not because of privilege but talent. Talent here needs to emerge from concern, that is the nucleus of innovation. That really is competence.

    

It is indeed matter of shame that India lacks majorly on investment in R&D. The lack of concern for innovation is therefore clearly a neo-brahminical framework. Further it also shows lack of commitment on the part of the policy makers to encourage originality in solving unique problems facing the country (wonder why the top policy makers had their training in World Bank!!). Though one of the largest economy (that clearly is because of population) India’s investment in R&D is only 1.03% of GDP, this has a strong bearing on the competitiveness.  As expected, in the ranking of competitiveness India ranked 49th out of 130 countries. China’s rank on this index is 30^th (improved from 34^th rank in 2007-08), whereas India slipped to the present position from 48^th rank in 2007-08. Also note India’s share of total global R&D spending is 3.7% while China’s is 17.9 (Japan 12.4).

Corporate R&D is the driver of R&D investment and is the incubation point for innovations. But almost 75% of R&D investment in India comes from government, while the industry accounts for only about 23%. In countries like Japan and S.Korea it is other way round –75% is contributed by corporates. It need indeed be noted that even emerging economies like Brazil has about 40% contribution from corporate. Not surprisingly according to patents granted India’s position is very weak in comparison with other emerging economies of Asian origin e.g. Taiwan, Korea, and China. India stood at 39^th rank in the world as far as the value of high tech exports is concerned. The US is on top of the world followed by China at number two and Germany at number three. But when high tech exports are calculated as proportion of the total manufacturing export, India has even lower rank at number 54.

Considering above fact isn’t it right to say that India is already in a junk status thanks to its incompetent Corporates?  We are, or is it we were, in the reckoning because of large population that is a potential consumer/customer for imported goods/technology, in effect making other economies gain. We get the crumbs, large crumbs gives us large business and illusion of grandeur. Secondly, the land mass has much value (indeed more than humans) the rich natural resources are exploited to fill up the coffer, most millionaires and billionaires are from this section. Thus some people make huge amount of money exploiting natural resources while smarter people in Japan and Korea make value out of these raw materials –the difference between feudal and equitable society, between entitlement and empathy. As innovation is connected to people the concerns get translated into CSR related activities. As exploiting natural resources and accessing is part of good fortune, corruption and nepotism, therefore huge gifts to temples (like say, Bellary brothers), propitiating, thus crudeness and apathy. The neo-brahminical reference celebrates crony capitalism as favorable luck that surely is outcome of past karma, therefore ordained, therefore not much of a concern and should be seen as normal part of social transactions.

Prosecute judges not Tytler

Another sterling example of nonsense called judicial system in India. It is a joke that after almost 30 years (try believing that!!), when thousands of people were massacred in the streets of capital city of India, the scoundrels have again found that there is a case against Mister Tytler. Really that surely is news to us. We are excited.

The judges have become a system onto themselves, indeed even after retirement they continue sucking by getting into some commissions with never ending time frame, it is also clear that they succumb to political pressure.  Mylords have a charming life while people suffer in one of the callous archaic judicial system that seems to be maintained as a tribute to colonialism. In the meanwhile their genes get into Harvard and Oxford or other pretentious places/profiles and emerge as foot soldiers of freedom of expression and harbinger of liberal thoughts. These ofcourse we know by now are cleverly placed euphemism for market friendly world. Americans have made it a beautifully inter changeable world. Indeed they are so viscously predating through TV channels that increasing sections of Indians have their souls permanently in US of A, they have seceded. There are too many white men, too much red meat, baking and guns….It is the easiest capitulation that has happened. So much so the West doesn’t really have much respect for Indians, we are easy suckers.

In the meanwhile, as Indians surf TV channels imbibing American garbage, the elite as is the tradition have abdicated their responsibility. Indeed they have taken up the role akin to brown sahibs they performed so well for many centuries under colonial rule. They are now facilitators, investor friendly you may, service industry you can. National political parties like Congress and BJP are easily controlled therefore our immediate redemption would be smaller parties -the chaos, is our only option that will delay this. In the last few decades markets tentacles have become firm. It is no wonder market media is carefully playing Congress Vs BJP; it is a narration that helps. It is a perfect American/British model that helps the Indian elite to be an alibi for West. They call it development, the reality being everything and anything is degraded, while the material benefits accrued by few. The obvious literal implication is that the land is cut and exported. No wonders we have so many, indeed most, millionaires and billionaires who haven’t ever heard terms like innovations or R&D (Corporate R&D investment in India  is one of the lowest in the world). Knowledge is reduced to an equipment that help suck, unlike era of colonialism things have become sophisticated. Some people call it neo-colonialism.      

      

In context of things Indian judiciary is only extending tradition of mediocrity that comes embellished with qualities of general apathy and complete lack of empathy.  Only economists seem to have the amazing ability to stare at this and rue the decreasing GDP.   

  

Condolence: Chinua Achebe was a great writer and humanist