There has been some
strident talk on the idea of India in recent times, and then the usual mishaps
in Kashmir –where again the innocent soldiers are killed. I need to stress the
word innocent here. In the clamour of
claims and counter claims, it is sometimes forgotten that a soldier is as
innocent and only performing the task for which he/she is recruited for. Idea
of a nation is very much hinged on territory and Army is meant to protect its integrity.
Any intrusion in its border is an attack on its sovereignty –the idea of
nation, and therefore will be severely dealt. Though this blogger will like to
see a borderless world but I guess Homo
sapiens have come a long way and be divided in every conceivable way and create
misery, we call it civilization!! Jammu&Kashmir is a state that is in
turmoil for last many decades very much abetted by fundamentalists as also
terrorist from across the border. The convenient claim by Pakistan that it in
itself is a victim doesn’t cut much ice since it has to answer why terrorist
find it easy to operate from that country, as also why that society is getting
radicalized at an alarming rate, indeed an epicenter of world misery? It is a
concern that the policy makers of that country will have to address.
The whole idea of
“Islamic nation” itself is so narrow, and is biased against other communities.
To declare one’s land as ‘pure land’ (most likely taking inspiration from pure-vegetarian-didn’t-fight-for-anything but-got-everything status quo peace loving fighters across the border)
is itself against the idea of inclusion!!
In such a set up is it surprising that massacre of marginalised
communities happens so frequently, afterall they have to make it pure (the recent horrific massacre of Christians
add to the tally, without any soul searching. This society has become so
deviant that these colossal events are but series of incidents). It is a
country that stands on wrong foundation and is paying its price. Right from,
what is taught in school to the respect for other faiths, the idea of tolerance is
trampled with impunity furthermore not finding any legal redressal, add to it
continuous subjugation of democracy by the Army. The institutions of checks and
balances are weak, and the framework that favours the voice of people has a
minor space. It is a 
matter of time when radicalized elements seize power,
already they have been tolerated on the streets, and gaining acceptance. Look
at how LeT murderers are roaming around and spewing venom (I cannot conceive such
a thing happening in India or any other civilized society. Britain, thankfully for us lesser people, has learned some valuable lessons. I gather the recent attack in Nairobi has British connection). Though common
people have fought valiantly and came for elections to elect their
representatives but the odds are heavily stacked against them. The
fundamentalist elements in organized religions, specifically Islam (which
hasn’t had much modernising period like Christianity, where it is opened to
scrutiny/ debate and acceptance of counter views), come with a very narrow and
potent readymade theocratic framework that reduces human beings to fanatic
robots and women to child producing machine. It creates a system that
smothers freedom, and is death knell to smaller traditions, counter views and
myriad ways of living. It systematically takes away vibrancy of life. Religious
fundamentalism of every religion creates such deviant spaces but organized
religion makes it easier. This makes it extremely dangerous and the world is
facing the consequences for some time now. Across the world where Islamic
insurgence is active we need to ask: Why is that the presence of this religion
make some followers to behave in such extreme manner? Right from Philippines to
Russia to Somalia… why is that some of the followers of this religion get
radicalized so easily, and become threat to the society? Faced with this onslaught the State will
have to respond, grievous the incursions severe will be the State's response. In
the melee innocent people get caught up and so further radicalization as
victims of unjust State and thus religion as saviour. In this framework the
criminals, who should ideally be languishing in jail, becomes role models. That
is the destructive power unbridled religious systems can unleash. I realize
core of all religion has greater goodness but the system can be manipulated by
worst of it kinds, as matter of faith tend to be accepted unscrutinised in 
the name
of tolerance and secularism and so become instrument of exploitation. In this
scenario murderers, goons and other regrettable creatures roam the street to
hero’s welcome. Taliban is such a set up, acceptance of these by society shows
how much it has putrefied. If the pus spills over then Nawaz Sharif cannot
claim that the wound is our, we are in pain. He will have to take action,
before it gets gangrene. Don’t expect the neighbours to empathize if they are
in danger of being infected. Instead of looking at the situation as victims,
therefore victimhood and so reasons for creating miserable world which favours
the nasty elements, the society concerned will have to introspect.
matter of time when radicalized elements seize power,
already they have been tolerated on the streets, and gaining acceptance. Look
at how LeT murderers are roaming around and spewing venom (I cannot conceive such
a thing happening in India or any other civilized society. Britain, thankfully for us lesser people, has learned some valuable lessons. I gather the recent attack in Nairobi has British connection). Though common
people have fought valiantly and came for elections to elect their
representatives but the odds are heavily stacked against them. The
fundamentalist elements in organized religions, specifically Islam (which
hasn’t had much modernising period like Christianity, where it is opened to
scrutiny/ debate and acceptance of counter views), come with a very narrow and
potent readymade theocratic framework that reduces human beings to fanatic
robots and women to child producing machine. It creates a system that
smothers freedom, and is death knell to smaller traditions, counter views and
myriad ways of living. It systematically takes away vibrancy of life. Religious
fundamentalism of every religion creates such deviant spaces but organized
religion makes it easier. This makes it extremely dangerous and the world is
facing the consequences for some time now. Across the world where Islamic
insurgence is active we need to ask: Why is that the presence of this religion
make some followers to behave in such extreme manner? Right from Philippines to
Russia to Somalia… why is that some of the followers of this religion get
radicalized so easily, and become threat to the society? Faced with this onslaught the State will
have to respond, grievous the incursions severe will be the State's response. In
the melee innocent people get caught up and so further radicalization as
victims of unjust State and thus religion as saviour. In this framework the
criminals, who should ideally be languishing in jail, becomes role models. That
is the destructive power unbridled religious systems can unleash. I realize
core of all religion has greater goodness but the system can be manipulated by
worst of it kinds, as matter of faith tend to be accepted unscrutinised in 
the name
of tolerance and secularism and so become instrument of exploitation. In this
scenario murderers, goons and other regrettable creatures roam the street to
hero’s welcome. Taliban is such a set up, acceptance of these by society shows
how much it has putrefied. If the pus spills over then Nawaz Sharif cannot
claim that the wound is our, we are in pain. He will have to take action,
before it gets gangrene. Don’t expect the neighbours to empathize if they are
in danger of being infected. Instead of looking at the situation as victims,
therefore victimhood and so reasons for creating miserable world which favours
the nasty elements, the society concerned will have to introspect.
The onus is on the
religion concerned (read Islam, in USA its Christianity of White Republicans
and other supremacists) and much less on society at large. If we are seeing
these symptoms of violence manifested across the world, then the problem seem
to be with the religious system. The reaction that “our religion doesn’t teach
violence” so on has become rather trite. We need better explanation and rather
unbiased stringent introspection. Further it need be introspected whether
adherence to one’s faith or idea of life is impinging on others and creating
problems. It needs to start with an evaluation of what kind of
system is in place like Saudi, if it doesn’t respect other faiths and different
worldview then the rot is somewhere inside. It also needs to start with USA (in
particular) and the lifestyle of wanton profligacy they spread through market
driven framework that has started to affect not only the world but earth. If
one’s faith or way of life is causing genuine problems to others or society as
a whole then rather than insisting on other to tolerate, it is important to
change a bit or give some space be rational. You cannot insist on medieval
practices and expect people to respect. Yes they may tolerate but will not
respect, and that is where the seeds of prejudices and biases take shape and
finally leads to hate and violence.
I need to add here that
the West, in particular the USA, in the garb of modernising is pushing in an
insular neo-colonial worldview that very much has radical Christianity at its
core. It is being projected as a choice, masquerading values of freedom, but
when we have a dominant choice spread across then it is not much of a 
choice.
Take for instance the Gun culture in USA and how it is being spread across the
world in the name of Hollywood/TV serials. The responses to such blatant
incursions also help consolidation of reactionaries as happens in India. English is being projected as harbinger of
modernity but the popular culture space is being evicted to American sitcoms,
which spread a worldview that seems egalitarian in its pointers but deeply
insidious. It’s amazing that Indians cannot produce programs, even in a country
that has such diversity not only as a society but as also biodiversity. Still
the english channels churn western nonsense (some good for instance David
Attenborough so on, but mostly the channels are full of crap), that is focusing
on projecting lifestyle, ably supported by product sellers. In this
increasingly consolidating worldview common Indians are seen as suckers –the
consumers; while the Indian elites are the pimps –service providers. All the
innovation, creation and manufacturing are done abroad, it is no wonder that
Indian elite so zealously guard English as merit. It is a society thriving on
mediocrity and manipulation, it’s all an exaggeration. Whatever Raghuram Rajan
may do, Rupee will remain weak and will be susceptible to the American sneeze.
Clever ones may call it globalization but if the masters aren’t doing well it
is quite unlikely that the servants will prosper.
choice.
Take for instance the Gun culture in USA and how it is being spread across the
world in the name of Hollywood/TV serials. The responses to such blatant
incursions also help consolidation of reactionaries as happens in India. English is being projected as harbinger of
modernity but the popular culture space is being evicted to American sitcoms,
which spread a worldview that seems egalitarian in its pointers but deeply
insidious. It’s amazing that Indians cannot produce programs, even in a country
that has such diversity not only as a society but as also biodiversity. Still
the english channels churn western nonsense (some good for instance David
Attenborough so on, but mostly the channels are full of crap), that is focusing
on projecting lifestyle, ably supported by product sellers. In this
increasingly consolidating worldview common Indians are seen as suckers –the
consumers; while the Indian elites are the pimps –service providers. All the
innovation, creation and manufacturing are done abroad, it is no wonder that
Indian elite so zealously guard English as merit. It is a society thriving on
mediocrity and manipulation, it’s all an exaggeration. Whatever Raghuram Rajan
may do, Rupee will remain weak and will be susceptible to the American sneeze.
Clever ones may call it globalization but if the masters aren’t doing well it
is quite unlikely that the servants will prosper.
Tail piece: I have a huge
respect for UR Ananthmurthy, one of the foremost Indian writers. The response
by the goons to his views is highly regrettable. It is unfortunate but this Modi ‘debate’ is
pushing into the Bush ‘either you with us or with them’, in cyber world it gets
really nasty. I steer clear of these talks, futile 
since it is very highly
unlikely Modi could be the next PM. I will not put my money on him, despite all
the posturing he remains at longer odds though in a much better position than
Mister Gandhi. So much so for This Vs
That. These are TRP driven talks that
usually sedate TV anchors indulge in to spice up their miserable life. Mr. Modi
can take few lessons from Mushraff: exaggeration by social media may not
translate into reality, indeed quite literally for Mushraff –bali ka bakra!!. My money is on an
outsider, not from BJP nor from Congress, that is why I am so much disappointed
with Akhilesh Yadav, indeed they could have easily called the general election
and be in a better position. I am wagering on Ms. Mayawathi or someone like her
from the regional parties. Not that PMs or governments make much difference,
they don’t have much difference in policies, indeed they cannot, its being
decided by the market stupid! But I guess I have got into the habit of
wagering. Though immensely stupid and waste of time, the game cricket, I guess,
is tailormade for betting, even BCCI chief’s moves are worth wagering on, it is
a shame it is illegal.
since it is very highly
unlikely Modi could be the next PM. I will not put my money on him, despite all
the posturing he remains at longer odds though in a much better position than
Mister Gandhi. So much so for This Vs
That. These are TRP driven talks that
usually sedate TV anchors indulge in to spice up their miserable life. Mr. Modi
can take few lessons from Mushraff: exaggeration by social media may not
translate into reality, indeed quite literally for Mushraff –bali ka bakra!!. My money is on an
outsider, not from BJP nor from Congress, that is why I am so much disappointed
with Akhilesh Yadav, indeed they could have easily called the general election
and be in a better position. I am wagering on Ms. Mayawathi or someone like her
from the regional parties. Not that PMs or governments make much difference,
they don’t have much difference in policies, indeed they cannot, its being
decided by the market stupid! But I guess I have got into the habit of
wagering. Though immensely stupid and waste of time, the game cricket, I guess,
is tailormade for betting, even BCCI chief’s moves are worth wagering on, it is
a shame it is illegal. 
