Burn the Book

 Paper auto ignites at 451*F, atleast that is the reason Roy Bradbury titled his cult book. Books, which in effect means thoughts, are sought to be attacked, censored and silenced by authoritarian state. It’s a potent means to control ideas and differing views into streamlined narration by powerful interests. Controlling thoughts was what Nazis attempted which were then manipulated to create narrations of horror. It was a weapon used by invading forces during the medieval times -to burn books/libraries is to erase ideas, collective insights and memories of culture. That is what they did in Nalanda, it is said that books burned for weeks and months. Civilizational influence of Buddhism on the subcontinent was sought to be erased. You still see charred walls. Only brutes would do a such thing.  There is no doubt that censoring thoughts and banning books are serious threat to freedom and is an assault on humanity. It should concern every one of us.

That being said banning books or censoring by state is not same as protest by individuals or group. An individual or a group anywhere has the right to burn books or texts or scriptures as they feel the need for it. The reference of holy doesn’t stand the scrutiny. Your holy is my non holy, vice versa. The book is not being banned or censored just that I don’t like it or better still I feel like burning it -ofcourse in confined space so as to not harm anyone or property. It is a choice that defines individual right and freedom. Any attempt to curtail it is an assault on egalitarian space. I should have the right to buy any book, and need be toss into nearest dustbin or burn it if I feel like it (the argument against is air pollution as also burning book is not an aesthetic response nevertheless choice of that response matters). You cannot control my action of burning book because it seems to “hurt your sentiments”. Burning a book doesn’t ban the book nor censor the idea. Not allowing to burn a book does serious damage to humanity. Burning a book is contextual to individual action which is different from burning books. Burning a book is a counter idea, a protest, a revolt, while burning books is vandalism. We are not living in the framework of last century hence the semantics or narration doesn’t hold. Any attempt otherwise is devious control. Further, in today’s interconnected world nobody can ban or censor books or ideas. We should have website containing all the books, ideas, movies, documentaries, articles, that is banned anywhere in the world, with sponsors ready to distribute it free anywhere across the world for common people to access or private libraries to store.

Most importantly these holy books/scriptures/texts that are used by powerful forces to control is trapped in time and carry notions of medieval primitive era -which ofcourse have right to exist, these anachronistic presences have caused immense misery to people. These are actively meant to dehumanize degrade humans into unthinking herds. There are progressive ideas that have resisted these for centuries which cannot be undermined or silenced. There is an attempt by powerful forces in West (white man’s burden) to create and control narration to patronize regressive forces, essentially to redeem themselves. You cannot curtail individual right to pander regressive religions and violent herds. You cannot force sacredness on common people. Every life is sacred. Learn to value life and its diversity. That is more than enough. Burn Bible. Burn Koran. Burn Gita. Burn Holy Book of any religion. Burn the Book. As the mind evolves aesthetics will decide for the individual what is valued and society to treasure. 

*PS: personally i consider even marking with pen (and not pencil) on a book a crime! 

         

Let's celebrate

 

Why would someone ‘celebrate’ with noise, flash of intense light and loads of toxic fumes into the air? What will it take people to be aware and responsible? Why are most people compelled to mark passing of time with air, sound and light pollution, and all the ugly? Aren’t they aware how much dire air pollution is? Or that millions of species are being impacted with light as never before? Aren’t they aware that there are millions of other species too that we share this planet with who are being pushed out of existence? Is it decent way to celebrate? Is it necessary to create such ruckus as mark of celebration?

This lack of deeper connection is extension of utilitarian values and crass ways. It’s a crude way to inflate oneself to feel happy. It’s a collective expression of a deep flaw. There are aesthetics of life and there are effortless ways to attune to it. It’s what we are all made up of, and seeks connection with other life forms into intricate expressions. Everything in this world is deeply connected. This noise, flash light and toxic fumes is killing us. What kind of celebration is this? Isn’t there any quainter way to make one’s presence felt? Ways to celebrate that cares and embraces the surrounding to mark our insignificance in passing of time.    

So here we are in 2023. Let us get ready for another spin around sun with care and concern. Let us celebrate in ever diminishing time we are left with on this remarkable planet.