UNSC must take action

There is something heinous unfolding in Syria, and is quite clear that Assad regime is involved as more and more video evidences come out. Further confirmed by the fact that the UN investigating agency is prevented, nevertheless any action has to wait for final authorization from the UNSC. We are quite aware of 2003 Iraq invasion. Any such misadventure and macho moves will have severe repercussions as is happening in Iraq –a country reduced to everyday misery, and still no sign of WMDs. Those who ‘sexed up’ are still roaming free, I am sure all expense taken care by arms dealers. Wonder how the civil war is sustained in Syria, obviously outside forces are involved. An arms embargo to the region will be a good start. Instead of preventing the civil war and losses of lives outside agencies are fueling destruction.   

Despotic regimes who give no importance to democracy and people’s aspirations are no different to the so called Royals. They want to hold on to their privileges, thus they create system which fights for self preservation rather any human values or ethics. Even symbolic presence in countries like Britain speaks volume of the mindset. Any privileges due to birth should have no place in civilized society, these anachronisms are also an insult to former colonized countries, these represent a symbol of past atrocities (for a start how about jalianwala/bengal famine). Huge castles are built on miseries of common people, in this context the Independence Day speech by Indian PM from red fort is jingoism in its setting, you really cannot express values of liberty from a medieval edifice, for that some egalitarian framework is needed. Shocking was the admission by a head of a State, namely Julia Gillard, that she is knitting for royals, thankfully she is out. So when countries like Britain takes high moral ground on Syria we know what they are standing on, it is ‘proud’ history that beckons. As far as India is concerned it is a dustbin case, a nation sold out by its mediocre manipulative elite.  

Last of the grand

Zafar Futehally was truly last of the best that humans had to offer. It is also quite telling that the market media missed it. A reticent understated man deeply concerned with issues of Conservation, regularly involving -even when he was in his 90s, on environment issues of Bangalore. I recall receiving some mails from him just about two years back. He was a birders delight, with tons of perceptive writings and valuable observations, ever encouraging youngsters. I had met him few times, and took a picture of his once (you may visit me at http://iseeebirds.blogspot.in/2011/01/red-breasted-flycatcher-tiny-siberian.html). 

Happen to attend a condolence meeting held in his honour the other day. Zafar Futehally was the last of the celebrated troika of finest from a family in Ornithology that includes Salim Ali and Humayun Abdulali. It surely is passing of a generation…

Money can take you places!!

To their favour they will argue that this is only for entrance/tuition fee you will have to clear the exams to finally be awarded the doctorate. Very true and the same argument is also true in case for reservation where atleast a minimum criteria is adhered to. As the market says if you have money spend it, more spending is more consumption therefore more production and ofcourse employment and hence GDP.  More products will lead to competitions and hence quality and lowering of prices. We have seen that these haven’t really happened, prices have continually increased. Despite not doing anything wrong people tend to lose their money, as the value of rupee plummet, god knows why. Bernanke makes a statement and the economy of countries across the world is shaken, god knows why. Economists insist that the basic structure is intact and we should be proud, and should leave it there. And that this is globalization. I am sure I am simplifying things, but people at the street can only see these logics. The hardwork (mostly physical) is quantifiable input and is to be compensated in money but when the money is devalued then that is cheating, if it doesn’t compensate inflation then there is something wrong, it is not a fair system. In the meanwhile those who haven’t really done anything quantifiable get inflated returns. You may think it’s about great ideas, innovation and so on, the truth is profane. It seems the money has value in itself, and so they stack it from one place to another as is the return, no wonder it gets devalued because it is inflated on nothing. Slowly but surely it tends to become worthless. I am sure we are getting the drift, with crony capitalism it gets worst. In this context the only thing quantifiable is the Nature which will have to be exploited (looted is a better word). The villagers in Odisha (specifically Nyamagiri hills) said get lost to exploitative companies –neo colonial British company headed by an Indian (proud moment for making-the-country-proud seekers), desperately dangling employment generation carrot. What they don’t understand is for many people employment means much more than cutting the hills and making profit, and these choices are made by extremely impoverished people. Not very ironically the effort to entice them is made by extremely rich people, who could if they had the competence, put the money for better use. It is the greed and easy money, a terrific combination that defines Indian capitalist to a large extend. These are basis for investment, and so when they say ‘investment friendly’ you know what they are talking about. 

           

Consumption led system has not benefited people, it has only helped some section, who in turn haveexploited the Nature and degraded surrounding in the name of development. Most people know and it’s instinctive: it is not consumption but saving and judicious spending that helps them in long run. But market seems to be enticing them to fault, that is how the system functions!! Consuming less will see more products in market at less price, I think that is a better cycle despite the fact that it will make corporate less on profit or bankrupt, than consuming more, prices increasing and exploited for profit. 

If colleges in India are asking money for admission without any entrance criteria, as it is profitable, I am wondering what are the criteria for “prestigious” colleges like Harvard and yes Trinity College. I did some search and found there isn’t any except a terrific combination of money and power. Backgrounds of students from “third world countries” are a study in itself. There is reason for likes of Amartya Sen being proud, it is so subtle that it goes well with high tea!!

JNU ka junoon!!

That is how one TV channel put the gory happenings in JNU. It is unbelievable that this could happen in such a pristine and yes prestigious University. JNU has changed in last 15 years, atleast the type of students. Though the infrastructure and the surrounding haven’t changed, we did birding at JNU few months back, and I was so much thinking of days spend here, ferment and hotheaded days. The quality of students and the influences have surely deteriorated. I had the good fortune to study in JNU, quite briefly and significantly I was attending session/seminars/conferences/lectures randomly of different departments as it suited my liking rather than following any syllabus, it was a place to explore. I get to know some terrific people, though had a bitter showdown with some, for instance regarding Suhasini Ali’s big talk on Palestine during election campaign, which I thought was utter nonsense, as there are issues closer home and indeed urgent. These big talk falls into pattern, and are quite predictable. Anyway I moved out of the crap very soon, and found other interests, and yes I had expenses to cover!!  

I must add School of Language Studies runs mostly on the market demand than the real idea of exploring languages and its nuance, it seems to be a front for call centre and translator kind of quick job fixes. It generally tends to attract students of very low caliber and intent, they seem an extension of market. Though School of International Studies was rated quite high but I thought Social Science and Historical studies was the happening place, in retrospect I should have spend more time at ecological studies!!