Demographic dividends of primitive society

What an amazingly primitive and degraded cultured society. That you roll over somebody’s leftover food to get blessing and to cure skin disease is how tradition comes to be defined in this part of the world. And what is heinous is that this leftover food is the one partaken by the squatters aka ‘brahmin’. Let me remind that this is circa 2014, in case some may wonder whether we have not slipped through a time-space continuum from some medieval caves. Generously being provided by the modern amenities as if by some miracle or divine interventions, what is essentially products of research, technology, innovations...while Indians roll on in muck, as part of tradition and unique culture. The younger orangutans are growing up to be part of demographic dividend. This is where Indians negotiate their ideas of world, and their special place herein. You may think this is isolated incident, you are in for a shock, much greater variant exists in each and every place around this country. They call it diversity. The space of enlightened understanding has always been a subaltern engagement. As you see in the picture the cops are there to keep the order. That is the role of the state in democracy.

This primitive degradation has all the hallmark of what learned judges of High Court referred to as ‘ritual in its traditional form’ and therefore allowed till they decide further on subtleties and modalities. This is the caliber of Indian judiciary. Morons and regressive scoundrels as judges, in the meanwhile the learned judges of SC are busy saving the spirit of cricket, a business mistaken for sports with all kind of clever manipulators vying for lick with bunch of mediocre players. This template is something very common in Indian tradition.  

How did they define these squatters as Brahmin I would like to know?  Maybe scoundrels masquerading as ‘leading liberal journalist’ Saliva Sardesai, who also moon walks as some kind of expert on these matters could educate us. If not our self rectifying learner Gandhian Guhaji, who shares dais and promotes Sardesaiji’s book (indeed all of them are also writers, indeed Sardesaiji can even swing his fist and cuss when and where the situation demands. His words Iss hamam meh sab nange hai is immortalized in annals of, whatever can be called as, Indian journalism) should enlighten. Mishraji promotes Desaiji in an international column, so poor me is sucked into Desaiji (a heartrending peddler columnist, market’s claim on social thinking and reflection), Desaiji in turn is quick to defend Sardesaiji (which should be obvious in the complicated primitively subtle world, SarDesai is more than Desai, it is an all encompassing access to inner world that Desai will have to come in terms with!). He writes with much authority “…some recent tweets by Sardesaiji that had to do with taking pride in the achievements of some people from his caste. The truth is that most people have been brought up in the cradle of caste and to think of caste purely as a social evil is to choose to be blind to the role it plays in the lives of most Indians. A recent NCAER study tells us that only 5% of marriages in India are of an inter-caste nature, and while this is a pointer to a social problem, it underlines where we really are as a society. To pretend otherwise is to deny ourselves answers that are appropriate for the Indian context”. So here we go with the tradition of wordly dexterity, the art of packaging to whosoever it may concern. That this fellow has done exceptionally well in market is a testament to how squatters can easily ensconce to the world of pedaling. Let’s analyze Desaiji’s statement. According to our man of market with conscience of a saint, the ‘cradle of society’ is not entirely evil, where the line is drawn is not explained. It is a different matter that he finds expression of evil part as only a social ‘problem’. Sardesaiji’s taking pride, we assume, is on the non evil part. That caste is the single most source of degradation is subdued in this play of words and Gandhian diversity, it is nothing short of racism. This when taken out of this primitive ‘cradle’ and drilled into western reality becomes beacon of non violence and tolerance. It is time that international community calls this bluff and clam on this degradation of humanity. The audacity to call themselves as civilized is what baffles me. I have persistently made the point of India should be declared as a racist country.

Some high on liberalism (very likely fed by salivating Congress leftovers, who haven’t come in terms with loss of power) are quite concerned about PM Modi’s frequent foreign visits, my concern is President Mukherjee (it’s disgusting and degrading that even the first citizen of this country carries these references. Of course being a Congressman these comes easy. I can but only blame likes of Gandhi, as these were seen as normal, wherein if they were shamed in the beginning itself they wouldn’t dare to carry these in civilized world) hopping from one temple to another. Clearly President doesn’t seem to have much work nor our man is enlightened enough to dissociate from these ritualistic symbols. It is no wonder that he was able cross party lines as problem solver/negotiator before being elevated as President. We know what was working.

That these references extend to hereditary claims and degrading rituals should have been clamped down by the legislature. But then looking at the kind of politicians starting with President and down under we cannot expect much. The media too is bunch controlled by mediocre market. Only respite was Judiciary, and there look at the buffoons as HC judges who find these amazingly degrading rituals wherein people roll the leftover of others as blessing, as tradition. While buffoons at Supreme Court scores a big one by declaring the temple of Chidambaram as squatter’s property. The Indian judiciary arguably is one of most mediocre bunch with not much spine or understanding, not surprising as Desaiji mentions “the cradle…it underlines where we really are as a society. To pretend otherwise is to deny ourselves answers that are appropriate for the Indian context”.

Now that Mishraji has referred Desaiji, and Desaiji has defended Sardesaiji, and Sardesaiji has got Guhaji’s blessing. So what will Guhaji do? Well he is going to go back to Gandhi, to extract meanings from the little world…and some clever words that when taken out of Indian reality becomes beacon of hope for humanity. Nice set up. As Sardesaiji pouts 'Iss hamam meh sab nange hai'. Truly. 

Why Germany?

…and why for godsake Sanskrit? I am quite shocked by the choice of Germany in Kendriya Vidayalayas (KVs). On what basis this language was included in the syllabus, this blogger likes to know. Who decided it? Shocking indeed. KVs have no business promoting foreign languages as the market dictates. The market may need youngsters as backend employees to maintain the German economy, in the mean process cut cost in labour. Economy doesn’t decide linguistic choices in schools. Schools are not the place for producing market designed products. I have nothing against Germany as much as I have nothing against Swahili. Did PM Modi ask Chancellor Merkel why Tamil or Mundari is not taught in schools in Germany?

Clearly the mediocre people in previous government had included Germany as a hint on internationalism therefore showcasing their harebrained market initiated liberalism. While the present government as expected has replaced it with Sanskrit, a language that has squatter’s intention written all over it. It never had nor will it ever have any precedence over any of hundreds of beautiful Indian languages. This attempt to promote Sanskrit –that indeed has legacy of atrocities, should be resisted. Further learning Sanskrit serves no purpose, nor does it in any way give us any insight on nuances of Indian languages. I also studied Sanskrit in school (in KV), and did some ram ramo ramosya…and related crap. Absolute waste, it was an effort to make zombie out of children.

This blogger believes that instead of promoting any particular language there should be lessons on introduction to Indian languages. Basic understanding of all languages and the amazing legacies they carry. This blogger has, in the last many years, astounded by the linguistic diversity in India, its cultural expressions and literary nuances are sometimes so brilliant that you want more. It is absolutely incredible. That many of these languages are facing threats, indeed extinction, is a painful reality. These insights came quite accidently while travelling to different places, getting interested, then taking efforts to read and understand. What was providence could have been part of my syllabus in school, that would have introduced me to these wonders in a more systematic manner rather than bumping into them. It is undoubtedly a failure of education system. The present government should not repeat these mistakes. It will be a travesty on amazing linguistic diversity of this land which undoubtedly is collective legacy of not only Indians but whole of humanity, therefore should be cherished.    

The Indian look at US, or is it the other way around?!!

I came across these paragraphs from US army in Kolkata during 1945, as some kind of instruction to American soldiers…interesting (source: “The Calcutta Key” Services of Supply Base Section Two Division, Information and education Branch, United States Army Forces in India - Burma, 1945:  at: http://cbi-theater-12.home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-12/calcuttakey/calcutta_key.html)

The Indian Looks At You 

For a long time India looked across the seas toward that shining example, America. And now, right here in their own country, Indians are looking at Americans, they are looking at you. And what do they see? Fine strong men wearing clothes of a general excellence, possessing am abundance of material things, equipped with countless mechanical devices - men who have everything and yet are without the normal affections of the non-Indian dealing with the Indian. Your naturalness is noticed and admired. You offer a cigarette to a rickshaw wallah, and the Indian is astonished. You bewilder him in many ways. But out of the first mist of bewilderment there comes to the Hindu the realization that the American is endowed with feelings that are very much human. You are a possible friend to him - a hope for the future. You startle him from his torpor of pessimism. You provide him with a contrast. Your kind, frank, honest behavior open up for the Hindu a new vista of optimism; and on the whole he is more than prepared to accept you as a shining example, as a true friend. That poses a problem for YOU. Are you going to tear yourself and your country down in the Indian's eyes, or are you going to conduct yourself so that the Indian can keep his shining example, his hope for the future?

GETTING ALONG WITH THE PEOPLE

If you are good-natured and patient in your dealings with Indians you won't have any trouble with them even if you find some of their ways hard to understand and even annoying at times. For instance, they feel it is only polite to tell you what you want to hear. Very often that politeness of theirs will get you much misinformation. If you ask: "Is this the right road to ----?", the Indian probably will say "Yes", even if it isn't. To be on the safe side ask: "Which road goes to our camp, etc?"

Almost anywhere you go in India, you will find people who speak at least some English. Although many languages are spoken, the most widespread is Hindustani. It will pay you to learn some common words and phrases of Hindustani, which you will find at the end of this book. 
Time and punctuality 
Most Indians have a different idea about time and punctuality from ours. If a man says he will come at 5 o'clock he doesn't necessarily mean 5 o'clock sharp but within and hour or two of five. If you instruct a workman to finish a job by Tuesday, he may take it to mean merely sometime soon. If you want work done on time, you must keep a close check on the progress of it. All work stops on holidays, which sometimes last for several days. 
“You not sweep today – you not work tomorrow.” 

In the mills the Indian traditions were likewise facing a shake-up. The sergeant in charge of the workshop, seeing the workers departing at the end of the day, stopped them to inquire “What about sweping the floor?” “Sahib,” came the answer, “we not sweepers –we no sweep.” The reaction was simple. “You not sweep today – you not work tomorrow.” They swept.

Americans and the real India

On my way to Arakan in February 1943 I stopped briefly in Calcutta, through which I was to pass many times in the next two years. Calcutta, like Delhi, was crowded with American GIs and officers, and this was my first exposure to Americans en masse. Although far more informal and friendly than the British, they were more difficult to adjust to and it took time to accustom oneself to their speech and their manner of life. Later, staying in American military centres and camps, often sharing tents and bashas and roughing it together in the war areas, we came to know one another better : I count many Americans among my friends today. At the me, a good many of them struck me as more lonely and homesick than their British counterparts; more lost and bewildered. The British being the rulers were in a way at home in India. But the Americans, accustomed to see India through Hollywood's cameras as a fabulous land peopled by maharajas and elephants, were appalled and sickened by the stink and poverty of the place.

Their disillusion was heightened by the backlash of the terrible Bengal famine, then raging in the rural and outlying districts around Calcutta, and reaching its peak in the last quarter of 1943, to claim a total of nearly three and a half million lives. Outside the luxury hotels, the bars and crowded restaurants strung along Chowinghee, Calcutta's main thoroughfare, one often saw human skeletons in filthy rags gazing hungrily with avid eyes at the eatables, cakes and cookies piled behind the glass windows. They were refugees from the affected areas. 'If I were they,' an American GI growled, 'I'd smash those glass windows and help myself to all that's there.' I thought of what I had once heard Sarojini Naidu exclaim: 'Oh, the patience of India! How I hate her patience!'

Stupendous

Philae –the probe, from the Rosetta spacecraft has landed on comet (after some initial hiccups it has finally anchored on the comet, this was confirmed few minutes back). It is an amazing achievement, considering the odds: a comet hurling at tremendous velocity, and then to negotiate it as also land on what is essentially a gravityless body. It took ten years of journey to reach this comet. It is mindboggling effort. Brilliant. I am reminded of an ancient Chinese saying “May you live in interesting times”.

I also happen to see Interstellar , the Hollywood movie the other day. The last movie I saw in a theatre was Gravity, so comparison is inevitable.  I remain a big fan of Gravity, it had a tremendous impact on me. The scale of Interstellar is impressive. Some of the visuals and conceptions are riveting (frozen clouds were exciting so was passing through wormhole as also black hole). I keep an eye on Christopher Nolan’s efforts after his Inception –another of path breaking movies. Interstellar has some amazing ideas, but I am bit concerned about the intent. It seems we have moved from adaption and mitigation to abandonment, climate change is being referred to ‘dust that land on corn problem’ (?!! btw I am intrigued by American obsessions with cornfield), as also wild west acknowledgement ‘we are pioneers not caretakers’. I am not at all impressed, and I would absolutely agree with George Manbiot of the The Guardian here.   

In the meanwhile IPCC has come out with devastating report on Climate change, they haven’t minced any words. They have stood up to their responsibilities. We are quite grateful to them. The other day US-China too have taken some encouraging steps. Let us see how things are going to concretize later next year at Paris. I had become quite a cynic in recent times (look at the stupid people in Australia, with an equally harebrained leader to match…I am not even able to recall his name…never mind he doesn’t matter, these are minor nuisance in blink of time), there seems to be some rays of hope.