There is a new revolution
underway, it is being referred to as Start Ups, and Bengaluru seems to be the
epicentre, atleast in India. Now if the startups are substantial in its idea
and intent then it’s worth noting, otherwise this hoopla is misplaced. Some
people are only trying to fill in the gaps that the new technological devices
have unleashed. Those who are aware of these and have the wherewithal will work
it out to multiply the money. It is true that some of them do create set ups
that increase/improve convenience so on. These opportunities for easy money
should be placed in its context. And I dare say many of these are but
sophisticated touts, a rather sanitised jugaad.
They can carry on but when meritorious engineers and research student shift
their attentions to these then it need to be scrutinised. The culture of making
money by whatever means, more money indications of god’s favour (hence some cut
to temple) gets consolidated, money therefore is the indicator of merit,
therefore easy mobility to respect and power. The reason why not many are
interested in dedicated research or sustained inquisitiveness that education
provides. Indeed education is seen as only a conduit to money making
enterprises.
Innovation is an essential
feature of vibrant society but within the framework of seeking opportunities
for easy money it is a rather limited concept. In an increasingly moribund
society like India ideas of innovation falls into set pattern, it lacks passion
or sustained interest in knowledge building, though it has constant claim of
high culture of knowledge and enquiry. There is some truth to the claim but
these were far and rare, as also there was no tradition of consolidating these
nor were based on egalitarian values. Indeed one can assert that best of
tradition worked with the Buddhist, and this is the cradle of Indian philosophy
that carries a tradition that predates and persistently negates squatter manipulation.
The reason why Nalanda, Takshashila, as also worthy scholars of ancient India,
were mostly part of Buddhist framework, as also there began a tradition of
consolidation and dissemination of knowledge and thoughts. This was an attempt
on framework of excellence in a society that was slipping into primitiveness
and crassness. What is paraded as contemporary Hinduism is negation of these egalitarian
values, it is squatter’s degraded world that is being sought to be consolidated
and equated with other religions, hence clever claim for religious rights and
expression. Wherein, these were constant threat to Hinduism itself and product
of feudal power. Secularism, as is understood by Indians is strident negation
of squatter, and strive for a compassionate and encompassing world view. It is
to be noted that in the last many decades these ideas have weakened as squatter
sickularists –hinging on market liberalism, and right wing –hinging on squatter
traditions, have been tail spinning the society for power grab. The general
deterioration in society can be traced to these manipulations; it lacks
egalitarian or ethical values. 
Innovations therefore are for
short term gains and hinges on bigger changes that is unleashed from, as it is
for an observer, an alien world; hence these startups are only minor novelties,
scrambling akin to gold rush of the Wild West. Very soon the gold in cave is
depleted and rush is over, what we are left is a ghost town, akin to dot com
bubble burst. Startups are refreshing additions but my concern here is that in
the rush for these short term easy money some people with huge potential for
research and intelligence, for developing path breaking theories and ideas are squandering,
and seeking these incremental roles/gains firmly hinged on short term money and
gains. This is celebrated, and excited commentary, brings in skewed
understanding of success in this mediocre thriving society. Money greed is
overwhelming as it comes with ideas of being blessed, hence mobility and power,
therefore the mindset for somehow grab is internalised. The situation becomes grievous
since unique problems of India need innovative solutions, and not replication of
west or waiting for ideas from contexts that has nothing in common. Innovation
needs not only an exceptional technical expertise that constantly seeks to
improve but more importantly an awareness and empathetic connection to the surrounding. Startups rarely, are exhibitions of these intents. It is a collective loss
to society when people who could have utilised their talent for better use are
reduced to these indulgences and manipulations. It becomes rather acute when we
are aware of the desperation that inflicts the society, educated section have a
huge responsibility, in the context of things to aim for multiplying money is
pathetic if not deeply unethical. It took some bright western technologists to
work out gravity as source of renewable energy (GravityLight by UK engineers).
This simple, elegant but sturdy device, functions in the poor and remote areas
of Bihar. Another startup I came up recently is based in Lagos, Nigeria, where
this fellow observed fish skin being wasted, hence worked out converting fish skin
into leather products and marketed online, giving employment to women of impoverished
fishing community but also converting into affordable product from what was
considered waste.
Such innovations are rare from
Indians, enmeshed in squatter crude worldview as tradition and attitude. These
crudeness are so entrenched and overwhelming that they are in denial, accepting
would collapse their well camouflaged world, that is cleverly mimicking western
liberalism, and expose their primitive ways. Shocking statistics of Indian
deprivation when put in context to civilised world is an eye opener to this
entrenched crudeness. When I was out of college and roaming around I got few
opportunities to make big money (people were rushing to USA for Y2K issue and making pots of money, i recall going to the gate of the training center with few friends and then decided 'no this not what i am going to do') as also nepotism favoured jobs with good steady
income, somehow it didn’t excite me, worst I was interested doing part time
jobs (for me it gave lot of time to do nothing, precisely what I wanted) that didn't need any certificates, that
seemed like taking me nowhere, incidentally it never did, not the least I wasn’t
aiming going anywhere!. Frustrated by my nonchalant attitude one elderly fellow
tried to guide me with some Malayalam sayings, the one I recall, “kaat adikimbol morom veeshanum”, winnow
when there is a wind. Startups are winnowing in the favourable wind. The wind
that is controlled by some smart people, somewhere else, that this society
lacks the calibre to initiate or sustain. The best can only function when they
migrate, escape is the right word.
That the society puts premium on
these attitudes creates aspirations that are amazingly trivial, hence the
mediocre nature of the society. Capitalism seems to have consolidated these
attitudes hence these successes are celebrated. Not surprising from a society
that has success written all over, indeed considered an epitome of marvellous
success (and blessing, ofcourse) when the miserable fellow scrambles through
IIT and then sniffs IIM and then drivels through as finance consultants or
whatever that fetches (now startups), keeps using all avenues with the single
most aim to multiply money. Winnowing in the favourable wind. This unscrupulous
fellow is the ideal of Indian success, indeed seen with reverence, a role model.
Meanwhile less fortunate are scrambling for job security, a peon post has attracted
lakhs of applicants many even holding PhDs. Is it such a surprise that none of
the thousands of universities, of this second largest populated country in the
world, find mention anywhere near top hundred in the world?
It is not really a providence
that I decided not to follow any conventional pattern of jobs, nor was keen on
structured education and certificates herein. Though I started with a specific
intention of deconstructing education (and did spent few years reading about
pedagogical methods, philosophies herein and visiting educational institutions)
I never thought this would become so all-encompassing thought and spread so
wide. The reason for DePalan is also not
a coincidence. That millions of people are trapped in squatter’s worldview as
also market created inane jobs, that keeps them occupied all day (and night too
if you are Amazonian!!) and create spurious path to upper mobility and further
richness. When you deconstruct these, or read someone at it, it is an amazing
feeling. That I kept myself unoccupied most of the time brought me in direct
conflict with traditional elite, and their entitled worldview, this head-on
with depraved bourgeoisie is no doubt in line with two worlds collapsing in its
contradictions, irony . Elite sections have nothing much to do except
manipulations, creating perceptions and consolidating power structure and
benefits herein, while common people are occupied in their daily dungeon,
unaware or most likely incapable to question these bourgeoisie charades. These
charades and consumption are placed as liberal values. The elite section is
very much assured of their immoral ways as liberal, as much as common people
try adhering to moral values as religious favour. What is moral in here is
debatable except that it has very strong control mechanism. What is clear is
that this tacit connection helps elite section to work out their profligate
ways and have control. That I was able to come out of it and look at these
functioning as an observer is what makes it amazing for me. It is unlike common
people, it is not something that was part of the bargain, that could be
manipulated. “Gentleman with independent means” (as my intro reads in this blog)
is not something that is in line with where I am placed. It is mocking the
entitled and their worldview.
Targeting Rehman, con couple at
work: Rehman has serious reason to
worry, not because of some excited mullah (fatwa mullah should be arrested as
immediately as the scoundrel utters the death threat, clearly some find it
difficult to functions in democratic ways. Criminals should be punished, right wing threats to rationalist should be dealt severely), but con couple. Instead of worrying
about fatwa mullah he should keep track of con couple, they are much dangerous.
Rehman has been on a high target list of our con couple. It is not unknown that
Crude woman has fatwa mullah in her emergency call list. Anyone connected to
bollywood are known to give them wide berth. More these people create noise –ostensibly
for Rehman sake, more they are taunting the mullah to make the move. They are
furiously branding themselves at Rehman’s expense. ZK explained to me “budiya ko lusaka ke pani wallon ne hakal
diya, bola isme trustworthy brand ka dum nahi hai”. Rehman must understand
that people support him, he is universally liked, but after con couple hooliganism
and ransacking people are embarrassed, hence quiet.
I asked them “thum logon ko aajkal call back athe hai kya?”
“Arre jiski dukan bandh ho gayi unse humko kya lena dena?” Crude woman
countered, as she chiselled her huge claw like thick toe nails with a large
hammer like contraption. ZK flinched at the sight, but came back into his self
as soon “Isko aajkal Hollywood se callback athe hai” “budiya ke sab topz classz
rishthedar holywood meh settled hai”
“How so?” I enquired.
“wo jo Streep haina wo iski chacheri behen legthi hai, Clooney mua
iska fufaji ka muh bola beta hai. Oprah mue ko iska baap ka sthan hai after
sexz changingz”
