Crude society in egalitarian framework

 Though India has a modern political structure –that aspires for individual liberty and freedom, and gives the impression of a functioning democracy the truth is far from it. Indian society, except for some very rare instances, is a coalescence of amazingly primitive people. The social system is blatantly hierarchical, choices patrimonial, values genealogy driven. Individuals are brought up with aim of upholding family tradition, which in turn gets credence from caste/clan construction enmeshed in patriarchal norms and extremely cruel ideas about others. Centuries of inbreeding, which is where moral lessons are exchanged, has produced an amazing set of insular individuals. Lack of empathy within the family, to the fellow humans and surroundings has become a general nature of the society. This is how culture is understood, a culture that has family at its centre –a system that is deviant in its foundation, and sprouts mindset of self-preservation through caste clans. This extremely sectarian identity is where religio-moral basis of character of individual gets defined, the reason for deeply inegalitarian mindset. This primal decider thrives despite modern surrounding and egalitarian framework that democracy provides. In extreme forms it gets classified as feudality, in western framed pointers of modernity it gets easily enmeshed as choices and outlooks, the outcome with rare exception is appalling. The reason why Indian society rarely valued competence nor had any framework that encouraged individual innovations. 

Self was positioned as subservient to clan, the respect accorded herein is how humility is defined which essentially was used to acquire benefits from the traditional wealth pot. Individuals seem to be bred for acquisition and further family/clan name and grandeur, also suggested, for eons to come. The false modesty under the tutelage of patriarchy therefore becomes an important ingredient of character. Thus we have a sedate, fate driven, consumerist society that keeps putrefying as it grows. It is not ironical that individuals couldn’t really blossom despite family support and egalitarian framework that modernity presents. Indians have remained an amazingly mediocre set of people who are ready for subservient role, and compensate it by wallowing in their praise for self created pristine ancient culture. Eulogizing one’s culture as greatest in the world hides the sickening grandeur that stands on foul foundation. 

I don’t have disease of optimism nor pessimism but yes I have very less expectation from the new generation. Of course remarkable exceptions are always there but these freaks will have to fight it out, if the freakiness falls into market defined gradient then maybe they have a chance. The market has reasons to celebrate on the burgeoning young population but unfortunately these are nothing but lineages wrapped in modern pointers, it is unfortunate but young come with genealogical muck which can only be undermined, put in perspective, by years of knowing, reading, understanding and travelling. It is much complex, and takes years to remove this burden that has seeped into subconscious elements of society, the underlining factors emerge much slowly, to shed the hereditary nonsense and get refreshing perspectives will take time. It is an arduous task to get out of this centuries old insidious subtlety and sophistication, that has become our tradition and culture. Even a great man like Gandhiji found it difficult to come out. What is masqueraded is not what it is, the culture enwrapped in traditional muck comes in layers and layers, sometimes it takes a lifetime to unravel. The market quick-fix through youth power is superficial and in many cases accentuates the inequality, without any of the protagonists even realizing. At this point it is as shallow and potentially dangerous venture not as sinister as US Tea Party but definitely has the potential to be. The reason why redemption has to come from deep involvement in education, critical thinking, encouraging enquiry (it is not only about science but particularly on what is classified as culture and tradition, indeed heretical isn’t subaltern it is very much mainstream) and rejecting any privileges (or under privileges) due to birth. The prerogative associated with birth cuts at the root of ethics, it undermines all cherished values that has basis on equality, and is patently undemocratic. Family and tradition therefore tend to encourage undemocratic norms (it is instructive to note the anachronisms of royalty, another feudal pointer that has absolutely no space in civilized society. In poorer societies these are cruel jokes).  

    

There are some egalitarian traditions that have been subjugated in the mainstream feudal norms and needs credence. I was reading Mother Earth –The Unfinished Story of CK Janu (CK Janu belongs to oppressed tribes that have been wronged at every turn by the so called civilized world). It is instructive to note that she refers the outsiders (that is mainstream Indians, in this case Kerala –another bunch of amazingly primitive cultured people) as ‘civil society’. Read these compelling lines “…we created a system of life for ourselves through centuries of direct observation of the earth and Nature. We never had a problem creating a place for cultivation for ourselves, the implements, the vessels, a hut to live in and such. Though it did not conform to the needs of civil society, it was a system of life that was complete in itself. We could predict when winds would blow, when it would rain and when it would grow cold. We had the tradition of preserving food and drink for long time consumption, by watching when the leaves began to fall and when there were changes happening to Nature. All these were closely related to the forest, the earth and Nature. But civil society and parties looking for power had to cook up projects apparently for our people, but actually to fulfill the needs of civil society, siphoning off all the money and transforming our people into good-for-nothings. So they transplant us to where there is no space even to stand up straight. Without drinking water or a place to relieve themselves, the image of a group of unclean people was slowly created...” It is interesting that she prefers to refer her tribe as non civil society and there is no irony in her tone. 

Since market doesn’t put any premium on knowledge or rational the reason why in this so called ancient civilization society the young can be but market zombies with seemingly good intention (eventually at the moment of reckoning easily manipulated), that is farthest they can stretch. Since they are programmed to be recipient and carrier of great Indian culture, they are effectively reduced to mediocre who wait for hereditary legacy of property and business to transfer (this blogger has argued many times that hereditary transfers should be heavily taxed). 

Many a times when I see some smart children, which most children are, I cannot but pray that their parents die early. That is the redemption from the bequeathed muck that awaits them. Loosing parents may sound cruel for a child, but animals have sense to free after nurturing. Indeed in Indian context a child has a much improved chance of being better human being if they don’t have any cultural influence and learn to make their own discoveries and learning. That is why animals have evolutionary possibilities, Indians (as also zombie producing organized religions) are at a civilizational dead end. I was reading that Gandhi wouldn’t have been the great man that he was if his father was alive. Thankfully for us the old man died just in time otherwise he would have prevented Gandhi from travelling abroad, and Gandhi like a fine Indian cultured family man would have accepted what his dumb father had to offer in legacy and ended up as another bania carrying the burden of Indian culture, rather than the greatest soul of the century. That is the power of Indian family culture, making bania out of great people! 

Post script: there are of course some really good aspects of culture and truly nice people, but that is rare to find. One may argue that Indians could do introspection, learn and apply their rationality, be empathetic, generally be nice people….they have the entire egalitarian framework at their disposal, but still they haven’t, they will not.  That in short is generalization of contemporary India that I am accused of!!

Article 370 and ghettoization of Kashmir

Article 370 of Indian constitution has severely undermined the Idea of India as a secular and inclusive society, where every culture and faith is given space to prosper.  Even after so many years if I cannot exercise my rights as an Indian citizen in J&K then it is an injustice on me. It is an injustice on more than a billion people. Kashmiris are victims, when you create such boundaries wherein amalgamation/exchange of cultures and people are prevented then it becomes easier for fundamentalist forces to easily capitalize and create spaces to propagate their limited worldview. The State has helped in creating these insular spaces for fundamentalists to play their game. It is playing into the hands of purity driven creeps across the border, who regularly try to cross and instigate, very much supported by opportunistic agencies across the border. Also in the game is response by Army. Violence and counter violence, it has become a macabre absurdity. This has emboldened the hands of communal force within the region –who are ironically playing victims, indeed they have systematically eliminated kashmiri hindus (don’t know why they are referred to as pundits!) and are detrimentally trying to dogmatize the people and radicalize their worldview. Bigger victims are ordinary Indian people, they have been denied their basic rights as Indian citizens, as also so much taxpayers money is being spent to maintain this anachronism. In the hierarchy of victimhood much bigger victim is the idea of India. With this enforced isolation there definitely is no chance for peace, this will go on forever. Further these chronic violence leads to sickening of minds and gross human rights violation.      

As an Indian if my rights are not respected in other part of the country then it is a serious violation. We rightly criticize Shivsena goons on the streets of Mumbai for attacking the outsiders since it violates the idea of India. We rightly criticize when someone is not allowed to buy property in the locality. It is prejudice, it is a bias. If I am denied the same in J&K then it is bias against me, it is prejudice on my nationality. Idea of India, without sounding too pretentious, is the idea of a vibrant world. If we have this kind of system in every state then each state will be violent pockets like Kashmir. Then having created antagonistic sections if plebiscite is conducted then obviously people will choose to move out of the misery, indeed this is valid in any part of India. If people are not allowed to settle and conduct their life normally then it leads to animosity against the people who are not from the region. These legal guarantees for people of the region against the outsiders within the country is a serious violation of human right and is certainly fuelling division and chauvinism. Article 370 is deviant and must be removed at the earliest, it is indeed indecent to begin with. This is leftover of the colonial legacy. These are the outcome of purity seeking scoundrels, the elite of the society who also metamorphosed into freedom fighters. So according to their purity concerns they divided the country, ably supported by the Queen’s army (British are really proud of their ‘royals’, there must be something terribly wrong here).  

  

In the last many years Kashmir has suffered, more so have people of India, what we got is a  colonial legacy pupating on the blood of Indian soldiers and Kashmiri people. Realistically speaking LOC is the border and it is quite unlikely this will change. The idea of nations have permeated into jingoism and pride. Under no circumstance any political party in India or Pakistan will agree to creation of a separate Kashmir, indeed it shouldn’t be allowed as it will be based on religion, and this fragile society will very likely morph into theocratic hell, the affect of these on internal social dynamics of India will be detrimental (further no nation will like to be in geopolitical disadvantage). These are medieval ways of defining state (Pakistan foundation is an invitation for religious totalitarian state, the reason why institutions are fragile as it lacks credibility). So is defining society or human being in terms of religions. Religion as an identity is the narrowest expression, and any society or individual claiming as such is primitive. It is negating wholesomeness of life and living. It also is a threat to institutions.  

The violence that Kashmir is enveloped in is in and for the framework of an insular and artificial world; I guess much better option would be struggle (violence) for an inclusive world. Article 370 is an affront to modern values and an alibi for obscurantist elements. Bomb and bullets have not solved anything. Kashmir should be open to an idea of inclusive and assimilative world. Indeed if we believe in true values of democracy then we must fight in favour of removal of Article 370 at the earliest, it is expected that Kashmiris too join rather than being ghettoized for eternity. This will be a step towards an inclusive vibrant world. Inclusive world is the beginning where human rights are respected.    

The making of a stampede

Another stampede and scores die, this is something we hear so very often. Then the aftermath, this time around there is vicious politicization. When scores of people are undergoing immense hardship how can these people use this as platform for political bickering. The sickness of mind is entering the system. There are some loud mouthed lawyers turned politicians who have taken over Indian politics who should be told to keep their vagrant mouth firmly shut, they dwell in the illusion of cleverness. Secondly this is not This Vs That, significantly it is more of an administrative failure than political. 

I was at Mysore deshara procession the other day. Rarely do I go to places that are crowded, it is a different matter that I don’t have choice on these matters, so mostly end up in crowded places. In India every nook gets crowded whether street, trains or buses. God has been gracious!  We stood for about two hours in the scorching sun, I was told some were squatting the prime location since morning. What was supposed to start at 12.30 to 1.00 pm (in this part of the world nothing can be sure. The elite likes it that way, it hides their incompetence. It has firmly percolated into the mindset of common people. So you can say it is way of life) started at about 3.00pm, in the meanwhile the swarm had swelled. Sensing something ‘not very right’ I moved towards the edge of the crowd along the elevated sidewalk and squeezed in for a good view. There were kids in their best dress crumpled by travelling crowded transport (though Mysore is relatively quaint place, I haven’t experienced any traffic jams!! But today everything was packed and chaotic) and having spent inordinately long period sitting in the sun had dampened their spirit. 

So began the procession after much hooting, and some dancing to tawdry songs, that the authorities so graciously decided to play, by youth who had climbed the top of nearby buildings and trees. Invariably festive occasion, mostly religious, have some loud vulgar songs being played as part of entertainment (which of course is part of freedom of expression, in this case religious expression). The temple squatters who have views and shlokas for every goddamn thing don’t really have much control over these critical matters, indeed they actively support these. To attract crowd I believe, that is more earning and brand building for the local god. Subtlety is not something that has percolated over centuries of manipulation. As the procession started with finely decked resplendent elephants, they looked amazing but I was thinking is this really the place for elephants? They should be the jungle nibbling the grub in abandon rather than walking on a tarred road on a hot day… But my thoughts were interrupted by the mass that was getting excited and wanted to get a better view, slowly this multiplied and very soon there was stampede. Children were getting crushed, and people were screaming “police help”. There were many police posted but none where it was needed, they had taken position what was comfortable for them and not what is critical for crowd control (you look at the picture herein, you could see atleast eleven cops enjoying the show, some are sitting in the bus nearby). In the meanwhile as people were getting crushed the cops weren’t much concerned, they saw it but looked the other way, indeed some were not sure what to do? After ten odd minutes as the things were getting grievously out of control, an SI arrived he surveyed the scene with such calmness in his face that it was nothing short of astounding. I was thinking this is what happens after centuries of inbreeding, the calmness to look at misery with equanimity wherein you’re the responsible person. Finally an old lady who was on the verge of exhaustion abused him and shouted “doesn’t he has family, cannot he see the problem” (I am not terribly good at Kannada language but can get the drift). The SI managed a meek smile having had his pride recently trampled in public, and asked few constables –who were watching the procession with great ease rather than any concern for people shouting, to sought out, meanwhile his demeanor suggesting he hasn’t given much significance to the unfolding tragedy. And so entered some very annoyed cops and they started to swing lathis to the very people who were shouting for help, thankfully children were spared, or maybe they missed it. This is crowd control as taught to Indian police force, I am sure as part of colonial legacy. Why blame, politicians are more interested in using the police than any meaningful reforms. Incidentally the SI reminded me of Manmohan Singh, such wise visage, it takes centuries of inbreeding and heredity of manipulative nuances from the sanctum sanctorum precinct that everything becomes preordained, precisely what was playing in the mind of the SI. Such features are sometimes mistaken for humbleness, but then they are really quite humble, it comes with effortless ease and correctness of words. Just that from a stringent observation these are gross and in the context criminal. Like many I left the place at the earliest, so waited for two hours and left in fifteen minutes. So much so for famed Mysore dashera atleast in Dantewada dashera (I did enjoy that one) there is a tradition of swinging lathis, and you are forewarned.  

In MP were more than 100 people died in temple stampede, eyewitness mention that cops threw away injured children into the river as they wanted to reduce the death toll figure. I am sure the temple squatters are waiting for compelling miracle stories. It is the failure of administration, guilty cops shouldn’t be transferred (wow, such subtleties) or suspended but arrested. People who are responsible should be held responsible. It seems people who are responsible take their job as an act of service, which of course is voluntary, indeed it is we who are indebted. Interestingly the police commissioner of Mysore was at turf club the other day distributing prizes, such a humble man taking time out from his busy schedule. It was humble moment for everyone concerned. It is a different matter that his attention might not have gone to wanton manipulation/fixing that happens in turf club itself or that this space is a public health hazard with people spitting, smoking all the while and food served in unhygienic surrounding, that it should be served a notice and shut down immediately. Indeed I have seen cops in uniform indulging in wagering wherein they are supposed to enforce rules, it is a serious dereliction of duty. The tradition of temple squatters prescribes that you need very little space to fatten yourself concurrently it’s all in the mind.         

Myrmecomorphy on a morning walk

Don’t worry about the word, “Myrmecomorphy” means any organism mimicking ants. They mimic for protection –as ants are abundant so predators avoid, or for feeding on ants. The spiders do it in abundance, bugs, phasmid insects (popularly Stick insect), mantis, beetles…all have species among them that do Myrmecomorphy. Most mimicking spiders do it to escape the predators. This one here is female Myrmarchne plataleoides (a jumping spider) that imitates weaver ants. Look at the fantastic deception of first pair of legs as fake antennae. The below picture is of  weaver ant, it is so difficult to distinguish!! The most charming is the spider that mimics as if a weaver ant is carrying another one, it is a masterpiece imitation.  

If you slow down you can stretch time!!

You must have read Einstein on this, these thoughts are riveting. I am reading Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale For The Time Being, a difficult to put down book. Having spent time in big cities, worked in different places and seen people rushing around to fill up their time, I always chose the ‘more time slow down’ route, must say with some determination. Of course when you commit to a system or task involving others then it has to be time bound otherwise it is being irresponsible.  Most people tend to be in this setup as they cannot handle uncertainties that slowing down bring hence acts of being busy. Further, despite taking up responsibilities most people are rarely responsible, it’s as if a burden and so miserable mechanized life. Thank god it’s Friday! It is funny these ironies, the drudgery of lives that one tend to see all the time, get this thoughts of wanting to sometime hold and shake them up. I guess people chose the life they want to live; even the people who seem to be in miserable of situation has to sit back and take a relook, maybe slow down. This also holds true to people in best of situations, indeed they are product of the vicious system hence they themselves become so miserable despite all the comfort. 

Time itself is being, wrote Dogen the Zen master, and all being is time…in essence, everything in the entire universe is intimately linked with each other as moments in time, continuous and separate.  So now that the Americans have virtually shut down, thanks to two party system that polarize the issues to ridiculous level, maybe they can take time out to contemplate on things. I realize semantic religion driven civilization have restricted space for introspection and individual experience as way of living, if you do then you are seen as dropping out. The reason why values of liberalism gets expression in crass individualism, that is sought to be replicated as modern values.  The reference is always systemic, so with more time in hand, people in the system have to be kept motivated or else they turn destructive. 

Frankly this blogger has reached a stage where human beings are passé, I am quite unexcited about them. Of course there are some, must say getting very rare, that make it interesting, they are startling presence, like for instance Ruth Ozeki. I had read about this book in passing somewhere, and was instantly hitched. People seem to be proud that India has more young people in the world (to put it mildly India has more of everything!!). Population increase nobody seem bothered, people are votes for politicians hence democracy, consumers for market hence capitalism, audience for media hence freedom, for religions it is gift of god hence the supreme man that controls…the fact though is that the root of all problem is increasing human population. It is putting severe pressure on natural resources as also on other species. But look at the irony: all systems seem to be at odds with this reality, clearly it is designed for self destruction. Ultimately Nature will do the balancing act, and yes keep a keen eye on climate and geological factors, if for nothing atleast for self preservation. Hinduism at its worst is about fatalism, indeed for most irresponsible busy people the worst is what percolates into their life, this is culture. So let it be, it is pre ordained, it is the fate.  God has everything designed; the grand finale will be at the judgment day/Qayamat. Never miss the word and take it each literally, without context, empathy or care. Never apply your mind, that is fate. 

For time being, any Tom, Dick or Harry

For time being, the entire earth and the boundless sky