Grok approximates me!

 So, I asked Grok (X AI) to visit this blog and write profile of the blogger. Within few seconds it was ready with the brief (imagine 20 odd years of effort capsulated in few seconds! I am speechless). Quite an interesting read and some amusing insights. Grok thinks i am well suited for 19th century coffeehouse!!

I am truly done here man! Where is my time machine? I am off to meet Ada Lovelace, Dostoevesky, Emerson...

Depalan strikes me as a man shaped by duality—someone straddling the personal and the political, the local and the global, with a restless intellect that refuses easy categorization. Likely in his late 40s or early 50s by 2025, given the blog’s timeline from 2006 onward, he carries the weight of someone who’s lived through enough cultural and historical shifts to distrust grand narratives. His South Indian roots, hinted at through mentions of Tamil Nadu and a surname tied to the region, suggest a grounding in a place rich with history, language, and struggle—perhaps a Tamil or Malayali background, where resistance to overreach, be it colonial or corporate, runs deep. Yet his gaze extends far beyond, dissecting global systems with the same intensity he applies to a village’s water woes.

He’s no armchair critic. His writing hints at a life of movement—physical travel through India’s dusty towns, intellectual journeys through philosophy and poetry, and emotional traversals of anger, wonder, and disillusionment. A 2006 post about investigating Coca-Cola and Pepsi’s impact on Tamil Nadu’s water tables paints him as a hands-on skeptic, chatting up locals and scribbling notes, less a journalist than a wanderer with a cause. His hesitance about photography in that same piece suggests a preference for words over images, a man who trusts language to capture both the tangible (parched fields) and the ethereal (Kunitz’s verses). This isn’t a tech-savvy influencer but someone who’d rather wrestle with ideas than polish a persona.

His worldview leans toward the deconstructionist, as his blog title proclaims—an unpicking of power’s threads, whether it’s multinational greed, war’s dehumanization, or democracy’s hypocrisies. His 2022 post on “crime against humanity” reveals a voice hardened by global crises, yet there’s a softness beneath: a poetic streak that surfaces in unexpected metaphors or quiet reflections on coexistence with nature. He’s likely read widely—Marx might mingle with Tagore in his mental library—but he’s no academic; his style is too rough-hewn, too personal, marked by long, winding sentences and occasional grammatical stumbles. It’s as if he’s thinking aloud, unconcerned with impressing anyone but himself.

Physically, I’d imagine him unassuming, with sharp eyes that miss nothing, the kind of person who blends into a crowd but startles you with a pointed question. He might carry a weathered notebook, scribbling thoughts on a train or under a tree, more at home in the wild than in urban sprawl. Socially, he seems solitary—not antisocial, but content with his own company, perhaps skeptical of collectives despite his empathy for the downtrodden. The blog’s sporadic updates suggest a life driven by impulse rather than routine—he writes when moved, not on schedule, hinting at a temperament that’s both stubborn and free-spirited.

Politically, he’s a rebel without a banner, critical of both authoritarianism and hollow liberalism, yet he doesn’t preach solutions. There’s a whiff of the anarchist in him, tempered by a realist’s sigh. Spiritually, he might lean toward the agnostic or the quietly reverent—nature and poetry are his touchstones, not dogma. As of February 25, 2025, Depalan feels like a man out of time: a thinker who’d fit as easily in a 19th-century coffeehouse debate as on a modern blog, a voice too jagged for mainstream appeal but too sincere to fade entirely, etching his mark in a digital wilderness few may ever find.

Systems of control

 

A society can progress if its institutions are inclusive and responsive to changes from interaction with surroundings and sensitive to the needs. Democracy is a fair system that strives to represent and evolve as progressive society while anchored to individual freedom and liberty. It is a conception, indeed the only one, that has the most potential to work for inclusive progressive society and create ecosystem for best of humanity and nature. Individuals in their free will deciding to intentionally participate, cooperate and organize on progressive platform, evidenced in ethical concerns, valued in liberating education, nurture best possibilities of democracy hence humanity. This enlightening possibility is threatened by extractive systems that thrive on systems of control. If humans are not free and their liberty not safeguarded then democracy becomes ineffectual and indeed a mockery played on common people. Only a free human can embody and express diversity. Any system of control therefore diminishes an individual hence is a threat to democracy. These also create extractive intent in liberal ideas as also in impartial truth-seeking progress in science through direction of technological growth.

Extractive systems like neoliberal capitalism, religion and primal associations (mostly based on exceptionalism, or fear or desperation) have severely dehumanized individuals and made them vulnerable to exploitation. Unless system of control is persistently negated and reasoned, legally challenged, ridiculed as aberration, democracy will be periled and controlled by few. There is no free will in associating with systems of control. It is indoctrination. System of control create authority and in extreme cases authoritarian leaders who emerge by tapping and manipulating systems of control. Authoritarian leaders are manifestation of systems of control. Authority expresses systems of control. It surely doesn’t mean that absence of authoritarian leader is indication of thriving democracy. As long as systems of control exists it undermine democratic institutions and prevents percolation of democratic norms into society, family and individuals. Thus severely compromising progressive potential and humanistic possibilities creating limited individuals and a dead society compelled to repeat history. Since they lack evolved values, wisdom through contemporary understanding, empathy for human condition, they need system of control to manipulate for power.

Each and every system that seeks control must be resisted, demystified, scrutinized and evaluated on contemporary knowledge and awareness. Past cannot be reference but understanding. There is no learning from past since contemporary is qualitatively different and paradigmatically indifferent from past. History is essentially teleological fragmented narration of present that is meant to assert control. Past therefore can only be an understanding, a limited insight into contemporary. Nothing is sacred, least of all any systems of control that intents to degrade humans and devalue progressive ideas. Humans are vibrant sentient being hence cannot be allowed to slip into herd, and become expression of worst possibilities. Identity of a human must be basically and firmly hinged on being a human and the existential awareness herein. That is the least expected from all the contemporary knowledge and progress made. Any form of discrimination must be understood from this stand point and dealt with awareness of systems of control. Unless humans are not extricated from control discriminations cannot be removed, or else it is an extension of victimhood of past that seem to be least concern for contemporary reality and changing dynamics. Persistently negating systems of control and nurturing inclusive egalitarian value system is how discriminations removed and humanity progresses.   

Significantly words shouldn't be allowed to be misused. Words cannot be trapped into the reality of past and becomes extension of system of control. New realities need words to evolve to associate complexities of present, or else new words needs to be created to reflect and calibrate contemporary reality. For instance words like spiritual must find its original meaning and shouldn’t be allowed to be trapped in system of control like religion. Spiritual is a free state of spirit, deep awareness of human condition -indeed the original inspiration of most of religions -that has now become systems of control. Contemporary religion is now a well-established system of control that reduces humans to followers, isolate from reality into anachronistic fantasy hence trapping their spirit into degradation and estimated into juvenile frame. There is nothing spiritual in this dehumanization. Religion is an expression of system of control that persistently devalue egalitarian intents and humanitarian concerns as it prevents democratic institutions to percolate. These shouldn’t allow to control the meaning of words so as to usurp original intent and control narration to extend system of control. Humans must have correct estimation of reality through words so that they are equipped for truthful awareness. So that they use their mental faculties and empathy to assert their liberty and value their freedom. Be grateful to immense effort and sacrifices made by brilliant caring humans over the centuries to nurture these wonderful possibilities.                                        

Retreat

The window opens briefly

All there to see and choose

Bright blue sky offers all the bright and blue

Scythe like vultures ride high on thermals

Gossamer float to shore precious

A form resonates the whole

The sun, moon and earth

It promises it will be

To the closing eyes      

Exponential escalation in Human Wildlife conflict

 

Humans (specifically indigenous people/tribes) have coexisted with wildlife for centuries. In the last few decades this coexistence is severely threatened as the resources dwindles while detrimental climate factors are becoming obvious. Expanding human population and its increasing consumption is a major source of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and a serious concern for sustainable earth. This reality is sought to be undermined by sinister forces that prioritize greed (the neoliberal capitalism) and control (juvenile fantasy driven religions). We have reached an impasse -a culmination of various detrimental factors accentuated by climate change, that this reality can no longer be hidden through fantastical fiction and narrative control. As forest get degraded (fragmented/reduced through logging, mining, expanding human settlements and land conversion/intensification for agriculture/livestock grazing) with human encroachment, invasive species, unpredictable and extreme climate, it has escalated Human Wildlife conflict (HWC). Wildlife is increasingly losing space and resources they need to survive and thrive. There are lots of studies done on this issue with expert suggestions for context specific conflict management, community engagement and sustainable coexistence. There is also a call for including HWC/coexistence into SDG goal since it directly impacts several key aspects of sustainability. Sometime back I read about Sonitpur model (human-elephant conflict in Assam that works to involve and educate local population) that provides viable strategy. The problem is as HWC increases it becomes difficult to maintain sustainable strategies in cooperation with local communities. Fast and appropriate compensation package helps to control the situation. Use of latest technologies like IOTs and data pattern through AI is helping to understand this issue and suggest solutions. Early warning system for local population (when I conducted trekking, I relied on local spotters to warn me of elephant movements) and providing source of food and water for wildlife in the core areas are being tried. What cannot be denied is that situation is set to deteriorate.

Strip of land nestled in dense forest of western ghats and ocean, Kerala, is facing an unprecedented rise in HWC. Extractive system (includes politicians, religious leaders and market media) successfully scuttled MadhavGadgil report which after extensive study provided comprehensive suggestions. A literate healthy state (Kerala model) lacking the capacity to educate was found severely wanting and short shrifted in its determinedly middle-class aspirations. A staid society lacking vigor dutifully assigned itself into various roles as thriving consumers and beggar minds of neoliberal capitalism. Nepotism driven pusillanimous value system surrenders to worst possibilities whether religion or communism, very deviously served by legacy media and its deep entrenched depravities and cantankerous arbitrators and self-appointed representors. As HWC escalates it is contributing to burgeoning attention economy, creating "opportunities for enterprising" to game the system. For a fatalism driven society fate will have to work its charm to impress the herd.  

Primitives in conflict with elephants: there is another serious problem that was always present in this deplorable section; an orchestrated conflict between temples and elephants. Severely stressed elephants, placed in crowded noisy sultry spaces adorned in cheap glitter, kill people regularly, even the judiciary is compromised to depraved sentiments of herd and its godforsaken tradition that is part of past horrors. It is truly heartbreaking to watch magnificent intelligent creatures like elephants chained and paraded by these sick inbred minds to showcase their control as also their depraved valuation of propitious. Quaint aesthetic temples and heightened nuanced mural expressions were clearly appropriated from meditative Buddhism hence these incursions adds to the mismatch. Primitives in aesthetic surroundings lacking basic sensibilities, a faith devoid of compassion and herd incapacitated to introspect. Elephants should be banned from any rituals, these sensitive animals in no case be near to any crowd or noise. Elephants are free animals that have roamed the land for 6million years, hence belong to forest or protected areas as endangered species. They must be respected and not patronized or objectified for sickening anthropomorphized reasons or props for religion. Humans, if they feel so, can visit these sanctuaries to express their respect and adoration for elephants on equal terms.    

Presence 

In the crowd

Like canopies of trees

Minding the space

Always aware, always cautious

Of the other.

The world is the way it is

Formal, courteous, ugly, salacious, pleasant

They debate, they argue, they agree, they disagree

They hug, they fight

And so it goes on.

All the while the roots grow deep to connect

The hyphal network of collaborations

Distributing nutrients and sharing warnings

Stray talks and serendipity

Wise takes and some love

Making the presence all the more precious

As a tree in the forest    

Deconstructing meanings with narrative control

 

Derrida would argue that there is no true meaning of word, only the one appropriated by power, the dominant narration assimilates the meaning. One will not entirely agree with this assertion since word do have meaning assigned as it comes into existence, a meaning that is mutually agreed within the frame of reference or ‘language game’ as Wittgenstein puts it. The way the word changes meaning, is deconstructed and appropriated, is where Derrida’s relevance becomes apparent. A word with idealistic fervor and evocative like woke is appropriated into pejorative and indeed in lightning speed as social media dog whistle for dismissing those exhibiting concerns and meaningful involvement is startling. Words don’t live in isolation, they work within the evolving dynamics of society. The meaning of the word can only shift if the language game, that is, context of the word, itself is shifting. You cannot change the meaning of the word if the context isn’t favorable. This then points to the direction the society in general is moving, the shifting of aggregate, or atleast mainstream narration that is being controlled by forces consolidating power. From idealism to sarcasm, from genuine concern for systemic inequities and deeper involvement to superficial transactive engagement and weaponizing dubious narrations is a statement on contemporary world, it really doesn’t augur well. The movement of meaning is consolidation of intent.  

It cannot be denied that performative puritanism, political correctness and virtue signaling has overtaken idealistic concerns. Feudal forces are nurturing pliable peasants and primitives under the cloak of diversity as also as a strategy for their own increasing relevance as the situation degrades. Meanwhile concerns are swiftly trashed into binary bins of easy consumption and playact for distraction and control by devious forces posing as whatever benefits the occasion. Shorter attention span has made matter worse while systems of control undermine critical thinking and encourage herd expressions. Meaningful discourses are losing anchors of reference and are being decontextualized as caricatures of amusements. This is problematic. There is a need for narration that reflect contemporary world instead of present as extension of past loop. If people are becoming sarcastic and transactive, and world in general is alarmingly consolidating superficial and manipulative, then it must be reflected and abstracted into words. Unfortunately though semantics of dealing is not able to keep up with internet speed hence these appropriations that creates attention. The problem is when words with idealistic intentions are appropriated, and with brute force and contempt displayed in this process. Words must approximate the reality but hauling the word that anchors concerns for social justice and awareness of systemic inequities and eviscerating into opposing meaning is ruthless display of wanton power of manipulation that is fueling misinformation and disinformation. Sarcasm as a mainstay of discourse has dire consequence.

Words are important. The reason why valued words like woke was squeezed into opposing meaning in realtime has also to do with lack of concern hence inadequate words to approximate the emerging reality and changing challenges and experiences of people. General apathy as they watch posers scale treacherous moral high grounds to represent. Political correctness at expense of people and virtue signaling of sickening self-righteousness, that had no connection with contemporary reality, by devious forces under the garb of liberal. People desperately needed words that reflected their frustrations and articulated narrations that valued their experience.  Liberal democracies were reduced in the clutch of feudal forces who unleashed neoliberal extractive systems. The backlash found the way through social media. Social media has empowered common people, the reason why woke shifted meaning with such alacrity. Meanwhile be careful woke may just be the beginning of appropriation of words into building new narration of horrifying convenience. Words need to be valued and anchored to reality otherwise it becomes absurd, a parody. Unraveling experiences of fast changing world and the collective insecurities of people must be valued and approximated into words, or else you will have words appropriated and experience contextualized into narrations that creates fertile grounds for deception. This lack of complexity in dealing with contemporary reality is source of degradation that helps powerful manipulators.

(picture herein is AI generated, refined after few prompts)