The change we need...also "Coca cola does it in Australia"

It was but expected by Coca Cola to take people on ball ride in poorer and societies with extreme disparities like India. The focus on urban youth and their lifestyle demands positioning is understandable. The shift from exploitation of natural resources and threat to livelihood of millions to change (and targeting politicians) was an easy ploy. Easy because they have so much money and access (the pliable Market media). Add to it the concern (the groovy part) you have a recipe to be in TV channels. So it seems Indian urban youth is going to make our life better. It is the scariest thought I am having in recent times!!.

The so called agents of change as also our friendly guardian bend on saving us common people are having an outing. Never mind they are all from the same strata, same market friendly bunch with a big appetite for lick. The indulgent lot has found their calling. The elite are aware that world is watching so have position for big lick. Some innovative also play victim for sake of us. Its like if you are concerned about poor India, exploited Indians, biased Indians…whatever Indians the pit stop is here. Feed us we will pass on. With a billion and counting population this is huge, and they know very few can easily usurp this one. The stampede is on.

India incidentally is home to roughly one-third of all poor people in the world. It also has a higher proportion of its population living on less than $2 per day than even sub Saharan Africa. Also note 42% of the population living below the new international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The number of Indian poor also constitutes 33% of the global poor, which is pegged at 1.4 billion people.

Now the fat part, the Black money in Swiss banks -- Swiss Banking Association report, 2006 details bank deposits in the territory of Switzerland by nationals of following countries:

Top Five
India---- $1456 billion
Russia---$ 470 billion
UK-------$390 billion
Ukraine- $100 billion
China-----$ 96 billion

India with $1456 billion or $1.4 trillion has more money in Swiss banks than rest of the world combined. It is one of the biggest loots witnessed by mankind -- the loot of the Aam Aadmi (common man) since 1947.

Raymond Baker -- in his widely celebrated book titled 'Capitalism’s Achilles Heel: Dirty Money and How to Renew the Free Market System’ -- estimates that at least $5 trillion have been shifted out of poorer countries to the West since the mid-1970. It is further estimated by experts that one per cent of the world’s population holds more than 57 per cent of total global wealth, routing it invariably through these tax havens. How much of this is from India is anybody’s guess. The market based economy has made many of them quite bold. And the desultory ease with which they work is a study in itself.

But working in developed countries like Australia is different you really cannot get away with free media (unlike market driven media in Indian context, it is easy money in poorer societies). Coca cola was taken to task for misleading ads. “Coca-Cola Busted for Big Fat Rotten Lies" ran the blunt headline in the Sydney Morning Herald, a major news outlet in Australia. Coca-Cola had placed a groovy full-page print ads all across Australia featuring Kerry Armstrong, an Australian actress, with the heading "Kerry Armstrong on Motherhood & Myth-Busting". Well they cannot work on change in Australia!!. It is different strategy. Representing Ms. Armstrong as a responsible "mum" who is "often bombarded by conflicting messages on food and drinks", the ad goes on to establish the facts about Coca-Cola by busting myths about Coca-Cola.

The ad tries to bust the myths that Coca-Cola makes you fat, rots your teeth and is packed with caffeine, among others.

The fact though is different: a good number of scientific studies have confirmed strong linkages between the consumption of soft drinks and obesity and a host of other health problems. To add to this body of evidence, the New England Journal of Medicine has just published an article advocating a 'penny-per-ounce' tax on soft drinks because, "Sugar-sweetened beverages (soda sweetened with sugar, corn syrup, or other caloric sweeteners and other carbonated and uncarbonated drinks, such as sports and energy drinks) may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic."

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took swift action and on April 2, 2009, the commission issued court enforceable orders to Coca-Cola, including:

• Publish advertisements correcting the misleading claims made in the "Myth Busting" ad in every publication the original ad was published in and of equal prominence and size
• Barred Coca-Cola for three years from making the claims that Coca-Cola cannot contribute to weight gain and tooth decay, and that Diet Coca-Cola contains only half the caffeine as a cup of tea, unless these can be substantiated
• Provide a link to the corrected ad from its corporate social responsibility website

Clearly the elite stand to gain from these exploitative products. The reason why we don’t see any policy initiatives nor market media’s big concerns. It is about live and let live in the elite circle. Sab aram se chato, sab ke liye hai.

(Inputs from Net..Photo of children protesting against Coke-Pepsi also taken from Net)

Are elections important?.

My apologies for using nonsensical titles like these, maybe I am watching too much TV!!. Of course elections are important. What cautions me here is more than usual enthusiasm of certain sections of society. Let me put things in perspective. In the last few years the lower strata of society has become quite vocal. They have started to look for emancipation through political empowerment and instead of elite representing them in the Parliament. They have started to put people among themselves in the leadership positions, clearly many lack the kind of “sophistication” the urban crowd was used/aspire to. For most people in urban India fed in daily doses of western-as-modern crap these people from rural India are nothing short of some aliens. For them wannabees in TV channels are friendly neighbors, angst of US-Britain society (read international…such a small world here) very personal. This invasion of reality is scaring them, and has taken up the call for change.

Yes change is good and is needed. But what is this change we are hearing?. And who are the people who stand to gain?. We have to work on the premise that the society we live in is essentially selfish and are dealing with some very selfish and self preserving people. This has to be accepted, since this is what we are increasingly seeing around not only that it is celebrated through market. Selfishness here is carefully constructed as: I gain but in the process we all will gain. Since it is a construct on selfish premise the later part rarely happens, some innovative use term like trickle down. So the elite section has created some kind of alliance to be saviors for common people. It is a mutual agreement on sharing the spoils, they do conduct mock fights and heated arguments for the consumption of audience. But the spoil is always intact (note the lukewarm response to black money deposits…I am having a new found admiration for likes of Baba Ramdev).

The threat of people representing the majority of people in this country is what giving them sleepless nights. People “not like us”. This blogger is not under the assumption that rural leaders are not corrupt but then I don’t have any prejudices against anyone from rural who doesn’t speak English or who has an accent that could be fed to urban coach potatoes as forms of entertainment, that assurance that we are smart than them. People not like us are necessarily funny people. The market construct that accentuates prejudices.

It is in this very construct that urban India understanding of change falls. In US change had socio-historical context. In India it is essentially a clever market ploy. “Youth for change” has a feel of romantism to it. The idealism of young people has changed the course of history not only in India but many parts of the world. Think of young Gandhi, Nehru, Bose and those who died young with their idealist world view intact (and source of inspiration) like Bhagat singh or Azad. And many unsung people. Here one need add this understanding is not confined to politics but other field including dealing in personal lives of common people. India now has one of the largest populations of young people. So clearly it is a good target group, it makes lots of market sense. As India Today notes "Everyone’s eyeing the 180 million people under 35 who are going to vote this year, and the 43 million of them who will be first-time voters"

Largest population under-35 but how many between 18-35 is not very clear and how many who earn money, to decide their market choices?. Nevertheless it is a size that cannot be neglected. There is a campaign happening to awaken them. Excellent work but this blogger watches it with much trepidation.

Younger population is what market excited about. It is also not a coincidence this section is a major target consumer for market (youngisthan). It is clear from the selling pattern of billion dollar industries like coke/Pepsi or so called “international” fast food joints and many other products which most common people may not buy. It is also an audience that can be manipulated.

Idealism of most Indian urban youth pupates in Mcfood surrounding sipping Coca Cola, this may look out of place for most us but their elder generations have mastered it in their own youth, it’s a kind hypocrisy that is traditional. Since the exploitative nature of these products and lifestyle doesn’t sync with the realities of not only this society but the nature and environment (as I said earlier nature is not into “live and let live” when you don’t know how to live. Period) but has put societies in serious threat- to their livelihood and natural resources. This market media is not interested since it threatens their selfish interests/ self preservation. Therefore they try to blur these. Amir Khan will come and talk of future of small children but the future of children is not confined to political choices we make but indeed to a larger extend to choices we make to preserve natural resources and health of younger generation. Ground water exploitation by exploitative products conglomerates doesn’t fall into his concern, since if it does then it will affect his self interest. Although Amir Khan seems like a concerned man the difference here is many people don’t work on self interest. Further carrying the same logic of self interest if some one is giving money to vote for him why shouldn’t I take money (being a voter is my strength-USP, so why shouldn’t I exploit it?), also it is not necessary to vote for him/her just because he has given money, it is not a deal (smart ye)!!

Communalism is not the only concern, in fact sometimes I think it is overdone by some market driven section to mask or divert the concerns which they could be complicit, it also helps them to build image. I read on the Net sometime back “The Health Minister of India had asked film stars to not endorse Coke and Pepsi because of the hazards of sugar in soft drinks, implicated in the obesity and diabetes epidemic among children. Marion Nestle has called soft drinks a quintessential ‘junk food’, high in calories but low in nutrition. Stealing Health, Creating Disease”. The market media would call Health Minister unreasonable and try to scuttle the issue. The “youth for change” brigade will not find these market unfriendly issues worth pursuing that is bad positioning.

Idealism necessarily goes with understanding, and understanding is not talk shows where people (camera friendly small timers) express their feelings but rigorous process of knowledge gathering apart from what makes one professionally competent (I need to add this here since these IT guys are considered knowledgeable but most are woefully mono dimensional ditto technologists under Hitler). How can you have understanding without knowledge?. Take any example of “idealist youths” throughout history right from Gandhi to Luther King to Bagath Singh to many people whom we admire they were into rigorous knowledge. It is not an easy option and by the very nature of market these options are not smart. The construct of smartness for youth is basically on the parameters of consumerism. So what we have is bunch of young and younger people who are dumb and dumber. But high on attitude clearly attitude doesn’t compensate idealism. In fact market friendly attitude are created- it’s about being bold and stupid. If more exploitative products are selling because of ads nothing can be more telling. If the decisions are based on so fickle then god save. Fast forward and you have a society that elects a man not once but twice as their leader who created havoc on the world. A society that overspends, over consumes…that is not only responsible for all the financial muck but also the impending environmental catastrophe. It is the same culture they are trying to spread through market driven change. Urban youth is going to be the foot soldier, but first create a construct that he is smart and is agent of change but the reality is most of these fools (not all but yes most) cannot even tell north pole from south pole. Yes very high on brand conscious. God save us from change.

With understanding comes empathy. But then empathy doesn’t go with capitalism the reason they have philanthropy. In India apart from some big companies, its mostly absent, if ever it is black money (incredible India) !!. The packaging also involves downplaying or even degrading elderly generation. This I find amusing sometimes shocking. Young can take their own decision is a great thought. But if the decision is market choice then I have to be careful, elderly people can be good guidance in fact this culture is to be nurtured. The belligerent youth rebelling for one brand over the other is a statement on society, it is also time for society to introspect, since this is future. Frankly this blogger has come across many elderly people whom I found admirable and many “young urban” who are blatantly communal and aggressively consumerist and very careless in their attitude towards others. Communal/casteist recruited by fundamentalists (rural), consumerists for market (urban). The market has positioned itself as positive/saviors. It is about positioning, placement. Precisely what the market driven small time celebrities do all the time. A stage seem to have come where if you are not able to position yourself for market media your life is wasted!!.

Also note Youth for change not only helps market in its very immediacy but also a clever ploy for promoting the elite section’s family and friends. So by crying wolf to common people they have helped themselves. This you will see in all fields…the young faces we see are all progenies promoted from the same elite, same coterie. Obviously young from non elite background cannot be in such positions (or able to tap these opportunities which they have opened in the name of youth). Another point here is that all the opportunities here are in field were competence is subjective (afterall anybody who has tongue can talk!!). Objective competences are for common people, they prepare for entrance exams and other recruitment procedures and so on. While the elite section take a break. This blogger took break from conventional career, without any backing or fall back option…believe me it was very tough, it nearly consume me, the insecurity (it’s like floating in a rudderless dingy on a deep rough sea!!. In the beginning when the enormity of the situation strikes it is terrifying then don’t think about it and concentrate on the immediate threats, then a stage comes when you get so used to it that can detach and contemplate!!).A survey by India today(its there in the net) says "97 per cent of young India does not have access to the Internet and 41 per cent never watch television. What’s more, the urban young population, has benefited the most from liberalisation’s..."

So again we are back to 1960s and 1970s. It’s about keeping the exclusiveness of class. Even the guitar holding (rocker!) “idealist young urban” singing for change is not really about empathy but a statement of exclusiveness. It’s about how much gap is created from common people. The tragedy here is the angst of the youth for the world the common people are not even able to understand, wherein the musicians in west used these to connect. The guitar for instance is part of the west narration that goes back to church carol. Clearly the “young urban Indian” is trying to connect to western sensibilities (referred to as modern) therefore easier for consumerism, so the market media is interested. Crass is in and is looking for room to change…

A disclaimer: obviously this is not against business (I do admire some of these businessmen, I am not an ideologue), also trade and transaction is an important element of any society. This is for a caution on exploitative products and attempts made to deconstruct our social reality for consumption.

Post script: actually it very easy to go with the crowd and gain, as most people are doing. (few hours back I was watching TV and the amount of jewelry ads in Malayalam channels is staggering. I pity these actors, surely it is their profession and they too need money). The market mantra “live and let live” seems to be lets all lick!!.

Next blog should be about “Needed: professional audience”…

great win at Ipoh

The Indian hockey team under the captain Sandeep Singh has come back from abyss. They have lifted the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia defeating the host convincingly 3-1. Cheers to that !!!.

Vignettes of Pushkar…

This place is riot of colors, humans (Indian-urban-rural, foreigners-dudes!!), animals, gods, noise, silence, beauty, dirt, expected, unexpected…
I saw this elderly women (probably with her grandson selling hola-its grain sapling used for ritual burning before holi). She demanded money for taking her photo, i said i didn't take, she asked me to show the camera, i sneaked away!!
Dogs taking afternoon siesta on the bank of sacred pond.
More at photo blogs…

On communal politics in India…

Studies conducted over the years points to some revealing reasons (Horowitz) as to why riots happen, first and foremost, is when people get into mob psychology- a sense of reduced personal risk, maximize destruction while minimizing personal liabilities. When there is a reduced risk of punishment by government agencies or retaliation by the targeted group. Second, is a sense of personal justification Rioters not only saw their cause as righteous, but as an act of defense (even if preemptively) against a perceived imminent and grave threat. Also as an opportunity to correct a perceived social, economic, or political wrong against their own ethnic group or other deviant association to define community. Thereby communal riots provide an opportunity for the release of built-up group or communal tensions and anger. Third, Horowitz noted that research indicated that rioters in general shared hatred of the targeted religious/ethnic group. This usually was manifested by an obsessive type of hatred where the rioters believed that all members of the targeted group thought the same way on socio-economic and political issues and felt a sense of general repulsion of the religious/ethnic group overall.

It is also observed that after each riot communal/caste/divisive parties become stronger in that area. Pattern before the riots point to sentiments of hatred against the ‘other’ that act as a fertile soil in which events can be given a communal twist. So many an events can take place in the society but unless the inherent hatred for the other is there they cannot be translated into violent episodes (this is an important point). Add to this a vicious ingredient-the leaders, the politicians, who are on the look out for the chance to convert a human tragedy into a ladder for their political opportunity, into enhancement of communal/caste agenda, into converting it into a riot.

A skirmish reaches a proportion of riot when powerful people are competing for political or economic space. In most cases these factors coalesce, it is known fact that most riots have happened in industrial towns with multi religious background (whether Meerut, Baroda or Coimbatore). Communal politics have spread beyond economics towards garnering votes- through focus on religious/caste identities and perceived threats (Asghar Ali Engineer’s study in last many points to these). Parties that represent elites within ethnic groups use protests, demonstrations and physical attacks that precipitate riots in order to encourage members of their wider ethnic category to identify with their party rather than a party that is identified with economic redistribution or some ideological agenda. Riots or hate speech therefore makes its easier. It takes away the attention from issues that matter to common people.

However it need be noted that the number of communal riots have gone down in last decade or so and the main reason is the nature and compulsions of politics- the growing competitiveness for votes. In the last decade or so the regional parties, and parties mobilizing weaker sections, have become more assertive- forces that cannot be taken lightly. Elite section may talk negative about third or fourth fronts (probably because it scares them since they don’t know where to work on PR or contacts, two party system is an easy option for them. They love this A Vs B binary narration. The fact though is it doesn’t reflect the reality of this nation. The reality is complex, very much chaotic) but for common people it is a positive thing, since apart from other things-like making the system more representative.. Since “vote banks” is not assured for major/national political parties, competition for minority/caste votes increases the incentives for governments to prevent anti-minority/caste violence. Studies suggest that multiparty political system leads to lesser chances of communal riots, since polarizing parties understand the need for working relation, and minorities become an important swing vote. A riot breaks that possibility therefore they become cautious. A multiparty system creates a system wherein polarizing politicians either don’t succeed or eventually stop trying to divide communities by provoking and fomenting violence.

The gist here is that the party representing elite from a section that can potentially unite a majority of voters will have a greater incentive to foment polarizing events and riots in order to solidify its vote. Democratic governments led by any party will prevent riots when they depend for votes directly or indirectly upon various sections. Greater number of parties leads to fewer communal riots.

A word of caution: Large number of political parties does have impact on national politics in positive way but at the local-micro level this leads to polarization that could turn communal. Though politicians and elite have major role in communalising/casteing society for power as they have a control (it is interesting to note that "first communal riot" took place in Ahmedabad in 1713, next 1730 and so on…during the reign of fanatic Aurangzeb), but the riot doesn’t spread or endorsed if common people are not polarized. It is therefore important to understand the socio-cultural factors. Horowitz study points to a major cause for riots to spread, an innocuous incident gets communal color, when the “other” as object of hatred is constructed by prejudices or that the “targeted ethnic group thought the same way on socio-economic and political issues”, the perceived threat.

The reality of similar socio-economic condition (that is exploited by the elite) becomes evident when the societies are not polarized or live in siege. Studies have shown that neighborhood-level social structures can provide an important opportunity for everyday inter religious/ethnic interaction that is helpful in combating perceptions by individuals that all members of a certain religious/ethnic group think or felt the same way about controversial social, religious, economic, or political issues. Multi-religious associations, formal and informal relations between people have played a significant role in preventing riots in otherwise sensitive areas (Dharavi being an excellent example), thus preventing the sinister plans of elite. It need be noted here how women who were victims or sufferers from the divides were able to come together to prevent further deterioration. It is the people who suffer who have to understand and evolve without being dependent on outsiders- elite, who exploit the situation some by playing savior others by exasperating the situation. It is for the people concerned to find their unique ways. State though should see that rioter’s doesn’t get the feeling of “reduced risk of punishment”, the law enforcement and prosecution has to be stringent. Unfortunately there is a serious lacuna and perpetrators of heinous crimes get away, even political leaders who incite people go scot-free. 

It need be pointed that the popular culture in particular movies also play a very significant role in bringing people together, as also a source for entertainment from otherwise dreary life. Popular movies and other culture references of common people are significant in keeping the socio-cultural fabric intact. Elite section might smirk (that is the only thing these morons can do, their reference is west) but popular Hindi movies –also referred to as bollywood movies, and blockbuster regional movies have played a very significant role in shaping and consolidating secular attitude (the so called art movies with few exceptions are presumptuous and quite mediocre that rightfully nobody is interested, I guess these pretentious people could watch some Iranian movies to start with), though not necessarily liberal or sophisticated. Popular songs do soften people, may not make them contemplative but surely lightens their life thus chance of hatred for others/surroundings are minimized (any guess why Taliban is against music?!!). This blogger intends to end this piece by recalling a scene from a movie that apparently is nonsensical if you use your mind: An injured old woman is getting blood transfusion from three people at the same instance (!!) she is not aware that they are her children –Amar, Akbar, Anthony (Hindu, Muslim, Christian). This affects most Indian people in a way no intellectual crap on secularism can. Popular movies have had a significant impact on the narration of this nation (the recent shift towards mall movies therefore is a cause of concern, as their reference is western sensibilities-mistaken for modern. Its premise in most cases is defined by consumerism or market compulsions). The reason why India is relatively peaceful and accommodating needs to be understood from these popular references, myths.

Aha what a lovely sight this is !!

The condition of women in Rajasthan is considered to be pitiable; every statistic associated with the state doesn’t favor women. But the indices may hide some remarkable changes that are happening in this region, it is a silent revolution. Sometime back I was at a Bishnoi village and saw this girl riding her bike carrying her mother and younger brother, she stopped next to the shop and helped her mother do some purchase and rode away in style!!. The best part was nobody noticed her indicating that this was quite a common happening here. I asked a boy about this he said women drive cycles and bikes here. Not only that most shops were being run by women. The tea shop were I was waiting for bus (took one hour that one) had this girl who made tea. It so happened that two men asked for tea, she brought three cups, they said they wanted only two. She replied why don’t two of you have three cups today!!. Before the men could assess the situation and come with a rejoinder she had left!!. They ended up drinking three cups!!. I liked what I saw took her pics surreptitiously. Best part here is that they are not trying to prove a point but just carrying on with their life (unlike elite who rarely face any bias, and so high on symbolism, to play victims through provocative market driven western narration). This space for change is how society progresses. How about two wheeler rallies for girls in rural areas? The remarkable coincidence here is that these photos were taken on March 8^th –International day for women (I came to know about that only in the evening!!).

In contrast to Rajasthan, indices in Kerala might look like favoring women and it is true. But the reality is the State is stinking. The consumerism initiated changes are hollow and degrading (the serious consolidation of obsession for Gold in recent times by aggressive marketing is disgusting to say the least; it is a society that has started to putrefy). In contrast States like Rajasthan and TN this blogger see lots of potential. Many years back when I was looking for employment someone suggested Civil Services; I tried my luck and got a call for Main exam. They asked to write an essay on something about “literacy and education”. I did a comparative study on Kerala and Rajasthan, and tried to prove that Kerala might have more literacy but is poor on education vis-à-vis Rajasthan. I couldn’t help recalling these.

Pic here is of women waiting for bus. As I took this picture a man came and start talking to me he saw the pictures and asked how much educated I was. He said that is the difference between him and me he couldn’t go to school and now he is suffering, he is making sure that his children go to school. his gazing eyes did make me uncomfortable though.

Post script: I regret using some foul language in the earlier blog, got bit emotional (I am not very professional I guess!!). But when many victims are taking very few names of politicians (Tytler’s name being prominent. Also note he was indicted by Nanavati Commission) there must some truth in it. Further you know the machinery is politicized and they have kept it hanging it for decades and evidence easily destroyed or manipulated.

The bloody November of ‘84

Thousands of Sikhs were massacred, mutilated and women raped in streets of Delhi after Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31^st 1984 that was nearly 25 years ago. And a generation of victims has grown up denied justice. It is inconceivable that a pogrom of such magnitude was done without political involvement and this blogger like most other people in this country very much suspect Tytler as one of them (he is a conniving sleazy scoundrel). Again as written earlier this is a matter of conjecture so after so many years it is easy to change the reality. It is about diluting the event with time.

Mr. Chidambaram may not have anything to do with what happened in Delhi decades back but to suggest that CBI is neutral is a joke which we are sick of. Also telling an emotionally charged Sikh journalist “to have patience” is a travesty, I guess he is intelligent enough to gather that 25 years is too long by any standards “to have patience”. Instead of the journalist concerned Mr. Chidambaram should apologize for being insensitive. The CBI in recent times also seems to have gone market media friendly, revealing the details even before it was official, and secondly this official matter should be presented to court not to the media. This is grievous case of corruption on the part of CBI (and those who control them), to help politician fight election. Clearly Tylter has quite a clout. Also it is clear that the market fixers have sneaked into democratic machinery. Politicians need fixers but the tilt has started to harm, it is becoming apparent.

There has been lots of discussion in the blogs and other sites on this event. How should the journalist behave is focused by some. The "journalist" in recent times is nothing short of hilarious, frankly I like most Indians have started to sympathize with their compulsions, poor people trying to make some living. I guess by throwing shoe the journalist concerned has shown more responsibility than many of these so called journalists

The reaction of Sikh community seems to have gone mild in recent times, maybe like most of the common people in this country they have taken it as fate. Secondly the so called secularist get much concerned about issues of Muslims and some even go overboard (one politician even said he will run a roller over anyone who harms this community, it is ok to be a scoundrel when playing secular I guess). For small timers been seen as concerned-about-Muslim-only serves a lot to enhance their career, never mind if most Muslims are really not bothered or tired of this game.

The massacre of ’84 is quite vivid in my memory, we knew many Sikh communities in Delhi as I did part of my schooling there. A boy who was witness to the event of a Sikh man being burned told the horrific incident in detail, when I was in Pune. It was one of the most tragic events in modern Indian history. For next few years this community was blatantly targeted, and those who knew Sikh families at personal level it was a traumatic period. Most people were angry, I recall, but then the vested interests were successful in creating fissures and so the community was isolated, people started to suspect Sikhs. Punjab burned for years.

It is amazing that the prosecution rate of communal riots is almost negligible in this country. And what is shocking they will still carry on with archaic laws and systems that are completely politicized. It helps the elite to keep the pain alive as it keeps the people divided, it helps them garner vote. Clearly it is a win-win situation so then who should be bothered. Keep the injury open, if the injury is healed who needs the doctor.

When societies are kept divided, when insignificant events/prejudices are bloated out of proportion it helps lots of powerful people to position as saviors undermining existential realities of common people. It helps power mongers and greedy people to fit into narration that is easy to understand, therefore easy to exploit. It is in this context a communal riot is the most welcome event. It is such a simple narration. It is gripping than any reality show. Infact aren’t we waiting for one?!!

Post script: quite insignificant to write this one here but when I was in secondary school in Delhi we had many Sikh community kids in the class. One kid used to sit in front of my bench, so when it was 12 o clock we used to do pong pong on his juda “sardar ke bara baj gaye” he tolerated us few times (he was a studious boy) then he complained to the teacher, she gave us some whacking and told us “peeche ja ke murga bano” (English is a funny language the translation of this would be “go back and become a cock!!”). That’s about it!!

The story of a beautiful Prince who never became the King…

The other day I was reading Octavio Paz “In Light of India”, it is an easy read. Most things he wrote one is aware of but the outsider’s perspective is what makes it interesting, also the comparison of experience of India and Mexico. This blogger’s understanding of Mexico is limited to few books here and there, caricatures in movies and few interactions with tourists…well that is true about any country for most of us. But yes in recent times Net has opened up lots of avenues for understanding through chat rooms and blogs, sometime back I found myself chatting with a Mexican!! . It was while reading this book that I came across Dara Shikoh, Paz writes “Shikoh… translated Upanishads into Persian. A French traveler and Orientalist, Anquetil du Perron, made a Latin version of Dara’s translation. That version, published in two volumes in 1801 and 1802, was the one that Schopenhauer read. The philosophic influence of that translation has been enormous; on one side, Nietzsche; on the other, Emerson”. Don’t know why but I couldn’t continue reading, I had read so much about Dara Shikoh that my focus shifted.

If there is one figure from medieval history who’s brutal and untimely death pained me deeply it was this prince. If he had become the king the history of northern part of this subcontinent (indeed the whole Indian subcontinent) would be significantly different. As Paz writes “the religious politics of Aurangzeb was, however, a more serious violation; it did not affect merely the individuals of one family, but rather the majority of people he governed. The execution of Dara Shikoh for the crime of heresy was a sign of the fatal direction events would take. The religious question, a strictly spiritual matter since the inauguration of the Sultanate in the eighth century, turned into matter of life and death” (emphasis added by the blogger). The fatal direction set by fanatic Aurangzeb engulfed generations to follow, sowed the seeds of communalizing in the society and weakened the dynasty, eventually these were exploited by colonial Britain. Rest as they say is history. And some tend to live a lot in history and not “understanding history to move forward” (former philosopher President S.Radhakrishnan).

This blogger feels it to be very important to spend some time on this amazing prince who had such a tragic end. Dara Shikoh, whose name means “The possessor of Glory”, was born to Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal in 1615 at Sagartal near Ajmer (now of Rajasthan) It is said that his father, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, visited the tomb of the great Chishti saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti and had prayed there with folded hands and down knees. It is for no reason that Dargah is considered special, I too have felt the vibration of this place (decades back I spoke my first sentences in English after visiting Dargah at Ajmer-also Pushkar…these two places are quite special to me. I should write about this one of these days). Dara was a unique and marvelous personality. He had combined in himself the qualities of his two great ancestors Humayun and Akbar. The habit of passing more and more time in the Library to acquire knowledge was inherited by him from Humayun who had lost his life while descending from the stairs of the royal Library, while the interest in comparative religions, universal brotherhood, humanism and peace came from the great emperor Akbar. These influences played a notable role in shaping his mind. He had no likings for luxuries and sensual pleasures but had developed refined tastes in his life. The credit should also go to one tutor named Mulla Abdul Latif Saharanpuri who inculcated in him the habit of reading and unquenchable thirst for knowledge. The Sufi leanings of his tutor had great influence over young Dara. Besides this, the influence of contemporary Sufi saints had played a significant role in shaping young Dara’s mind.

In 1640 he was introduced to Lahore’s famous Qadri Sufi saint, Hazrat Mian Mir who had urged both Jehangir and Shah Jahan to be kind to all their subjects (this Sufi saint was so respected by the people that he was invited to put the foundation stone of Golden temple-the most sacred place of Sikhs), also Mulla Badakhashi and other saints. This was a remarkable phase of his life when he spent his major time in the royal Library busy in intensive studies in mysticism, the philosophy and the principles of the Qadiri order. This resulted in the publication of his major works on Sufism namely, the Safinat-ul-Auliya (1640 A.D.), the Sakinat-ul-Auliya ( 1643A.D.) the Risala’i Haq Numa (1647 A.D.), the Tariqat-ul-Haqiqat and the Hasanat-ul-Arifin (1653 A.D.). The first two books are biographical dictionaries of the Sufi saints and the last three contain his exposition of some of the Sufi fundamental doctrines. This was in fact a period of intellectual pursuits for Dara.

His interests took a steep turn when he met Baba Lal Bairagi, a Hindu agnostic, conversations with whom he recorded in a little book entitled Mukalama Baba Lal wa Dara Shikoh.. Majma-‘ul-Bahrain (The Mingling of the Two Oceans). Like his great-grandfather Akbar (the pic here), Dara tried to bridge the gap between Hinduism and Islam was also devoted to a revelation of the mystical and pluralistic affinities between Sufic and Vedantic speculation. This book came to light in 1656, just three years prior to his execution. In fact it was a pioneering attempt to find out the commonalities between Sufism and Hindu monotheism. He describes this book as ‘a collection of truth and wisdom of two truth-knowing groups’. Contemporary Hindu pundits too acknowledged him (one Jaganath Mishra even wrote a book named “Jagatsimha in praise of Dara”).

The Emperor Akbar had strongly believed that his Mughal nobles needed to understand their Hindu subjects and had set up a translation bureau to render the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata into Persian. Prince Dara Shikoh went much further his translation called the Sirr-e-Akbar (The Greatest Mystery) and in his Introduction he boldly states that the work referred to in the Holy Quran as the Kitab al-maknun or the “hidden book” is none other than the Upanishads. Dara Shikoh carried forward the enlightened tradition of Akbar to evolved understanding.

In the war of succession, Aurangzeb- his fanatic younger brother, defeated him. Despite the fact that Dara was favored as a successor by his father and his sister Jahanara Begum (Aurangzeb was also to place Shah Jahan too under arrest till he died a depressed man), Dara was brought to Delhi, placed on a filthy elephant and paraded through the streets of the capital in chains and murdered on the night of August 30, 1659. He was buried without ceremony, his headless body dumped in a hastily dug grave. And so died a beautiful prince. It is no surprise that after Aurangzeb the Mughal Empire collapsed.

The struggle between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb has a reflection in contemporary world, the struggle between the fundamentalists (religious and market, as also self serving power mongers) and the people who understand religion and its goodness for humankind. There is an amazing play The Trial of Dara Shikoh by Dr. Akbar Ahmed he says this story serves as a powerful metaphor that explains the current struggle of Muslims to establish a true identity in a culture (Dr. Ahmed was also Pakistani Ambassador to UK) that has labeled the Islamic faith violent and extreme. He writes "Dara was an enlightened Sufi intellectual and a lover of the arts, music, and dancing. Anticipating the challenge of ruling a religiously diverse empire, Dara sought to build friendships with members of different religious traditions. This approach to governing dovetailed with his own deep adherence to Islam’s mystical and universal message. Aurangzeb, on the other hand, practiced a more orthodox and fundamental interpretation of Islam. As emperor, he enforced a strict interpretation of Shari’a law for the entire empire, forbade dancing and music in his presence, and reinstituted a jaziya tax on all non-Muslims in the empire". Through this play Akbar Ahmed tries to draw a picture of a larger struggle within Islam today, a struggle for meaning, identity, and perception. The prevailing and dominant perception of Islam in recent centuries has been an interpretation of orthodox adherence to the religion’s laws and teachings, with the implication that Islam requires violent practices and terror. This interpretation is vividly embodied in Aurangzeb’s diatribes and cruelty towards Dara and his family. In exposing the story and character of Dara Shikoh, there is an attempt upon Muslims and non-Muslims alike to rediscover a richer and more diverse expression of the religion of Islam. "The tragedy of Dara Shikoh is not only the loss of an extraordinary scholar, not only that his death pushed a large part of the world in dangerous directions, but the fact that he appears to have been erased from history. Dara has become the forgotten man of history. As the twenty-first century confronts a world locked in religious and cultural conflict Dara’s story becomes urgently relevant. Salvation in the future could lie in the message of Dara Shikoh". The transcript of the play is available on the Net…

Dara Shikoh a beautiful prince who could have been a great king, a king who could have carried forward the tradition of Ashoka and Akbar to greater heights.

Countdown to Copenhagen...

The much awaited United Nations Climate Change Conference is to be held at Copenhagen (the capital of Denmark) from Dec7-Dec18. The official website is http://en.cop15.dk or you could go to the link in this blog. Hey guys are you following the events at G-20 meet at London?. Finally they have started to understand what Mahatma Gandhi said almost a century back "there is enough for everybody's need not greed". It is not poverty that pollutes but greed spinning policies of richer and irresponsible societies. Nature can nurture if the relation is symbiotic, and not exploitative as is happening for centuries now. Clearly there is a need for regulations, days of Laissez-faire capitalism is over...hip hip hurray to that!!

The legacy of UPA Government…

UPA Government came to power with lots of expectations. This blogger is not a political analyst nor has the competence to be an expert but yes I would say running a huge country like India in relative peace and progress is a great achievement. There was also a sincere attempt on NREGA. There were also positive steps taken in socio-economic front. But I would say the path breaking policy decision was on Right for Information, the RTI Act. There are many problems but this was a valiant effort towards democracy. Like 73^rd and 74^th Amendments that strengthened PRI, with unprecedented and farsighted provisions that helped in strengthening the grassroot democracy, RTI was a tremendous step towards transparency. Although one would have expected a more Ombudsman like power. RTI has awakened people to their rights. In rural and urban India the impact is quite significant. That was strong policy decision by Manmohan Singh government (the pic above is taken from a small village in north India).

This blogger is peeved by the fact that political leaders make allegations and counter allegation on events that has happened years back but has done nothing to create system for prosecution. That is what policy makers are expected to do, I guess. They could have easily taken steps on police reforms; atleast CBI could have been depoliticized. They did create Investigating agency after Mumbai attacks, but is it an independent agency and what is it power?. This blogger has become a cynic of executive orders, a strong agency has to be through legislative mandate. This blogger thinks this step is seriously overdue otherwise every crime gets politicized and therefore looses credibility. Thus becomes ambiguous and reduced to conjecturing, hence milked for gains by vested interests. Why are politicians involved in all the rioting and massive corruption around the country in last many decades not punished? Why does justice on these matters take years and years?. What has UPA government done on these matters that has serious implications on security and integrity of the nation?. Well if they haven’t done anything then it is a matter of shame. That surely is sign of weak union government whether UPA or NDA.

The case of Varun Gandhi is a classic example, the counter allegation here is CDs were doctored. Why is this not investigated and established beyond doubt within a day or two?. But then who places trust on the investigation. They will make the report also subjective saying this is politically motivated. There is nothing like fact it seems. So again this will go on, and everyone around will try to milk the issue (those who are communalizing and those who are positioning as non communalizing, both profitable venture but the latter looks sexier option!!). Varun Gandhi despite serious allegation of communalizing society comes out as a gainer-“smart move” (the boy is from London School of Economics is it not?. I am here assuming that tapes are true). It’s a win-win for both sides. The reason why they are not keen on reform of archaic law and order machinery, and depoliticizing the system. It’s a nudge and wink relation they share at the expense of lives of common people. The CM of Kerala puts it this way “the allegation against Madani cannot be denied or accepted”!!. Why?. What is the law and order machinery doing?. It is so politicized that they will keep it hanging for many years. In the meantime get some airtime making allegations and counter allegation, and try maximizing from the situation. Then not only the reality is lost but replaced. In the meantime lives and livelihood of common people are put at serious risk. The government that ruled the country for last five years will have to take the blame, the Parliament the highest law making body has failed the people. I don’t think it is business as usual. As far Madani is concerned this blogger feels Muslim League a powerful party could be very well working to bring Madani down, it is quite likely. There is a possibility of Madani being made scapegoat, now this too a matter of conjecture. But then what is law and order machinery doing?. They are politicised to have any credibility. What has UPA in last few years on these matters?.

Further there was also urgent need for huge policy rehaul on matter dealing with environment. I guess most people around the world are looking for international level actions, since national governments are too weak to make such strong policy decision as they face influential pressure group. I guess the non trade issues (read environment concerns here) should be an important element of WTO.

A day may not be too far when these leaders will have to take the responsibility, earlier the better. Like the discussions they had before adopting the Constitution in the Constituent assembly (this blogger had the opportunity to read most of it, it was an amazing experience). I am cynical about it though because those were the leaders who had sacrificed immensely for freedom, and understood values. What we have now is manipulators and backroom fixers. In the market driven world sacrifice doesn’t have any space (so why am I bothered about future, there is no profit) and values are increasingly made subjective -as they say “who am I too judge” or “live and let live”. But then there is something called right that may not be market friendly. Market spin can make it subjective (as they often say “I am not judging here”- that non committal talk. They did that during Bush administration to scuttle the climate issue), and confuse us but it doesn’t confuse earth/nature. If this system we live in is so very right then why is earth not into “live and let live”? That is because these are all posturing, manipulating, avoiding reality, self gain and short term benefits. Nature doesn’t understand these. Truth maybe uncomfortable but is rarely subjective. And yes earth has started to judge.

Few months from now UN climate meet will be held in Copenhagen, with the change in USA it is hoped there is progress. Also this blogger prays for an enlightened and open minded discussion. This blogger feels that better site for climate discussion would have been Maldives. People in here are facing the brunt of climate change; global attention would have made it urgent. Incidentally Maldives recently pledged to shift to carbon free country in ten years. This bold step has to be acknowledged by the world.

Post Script: this blogger has created a blog on birds few months back (plz go to link birds blog) dedicated to Salim Ali, amazing guy he was. I will be only including pics of birds I shoot (only those pics that has come out properly, you got to respect birds!!), and write as much on bird as is known. My intention in next few years is to take photographs and write about 100 different species of birds. Trying to hit a century!!

So who is stronger?

This blogger came to know that PM has called the opposition leader weak, and the opposition in turn called him weaker. They seem to have quoted incidents happened in past, the kind of incidents which are generally used for scoring brownie points. In the meantime police reforms have not been done, quoting these incidents helps to consolidate their vote bank. When they had the power to reform they didn’t do anything now they are posturing against each other. What a shame.

The market rule is you get more attention if you are in confrontation, it is an easier narration this A Vs B nonsense, the market media actively do the spadework to accentuate these fissures. This spares the subtleties of national issue. The so called leaders are playing for the gallery; probably they know they cannot face the real issues. Or maybe it’s a ploy to make the issues superficial, as they are caricaturizing through party ads (when will they realize these things don’t work- they may work to sell few thousands products more, national elections are about billion people. They are playing a joke on common people). India is not USA, media friendly leaders can be there but when it enters the mainstream the danger is evident. Media by its very nature is about sensationalisation and grave issues don’t last too long. Further issues are created and also manipulated and when elected leaders in responsible positions participate in these they give credibility to these nonsense (the recent Mangalore pub issue is just an example). With population in big metros getting more vocal the flip side is the reality of majority of people in this country which is already on the periphery will most likely be pushed out. This blogger prefers a casteist politician from rural (where it is the reality) than an urban based market media friendly politician, if these are the two choices I have (hypothetical situation both regrettable options though). In the end people prefer politicians who are able to make policies that have long term positive impact on the society. This blogger as one of the billion citizens of this country prefers politicians who are part of solution rather than creator of more problems for common people. These statements by senior leaders against each other are regrettable to say the least, basic courtesy and propriety is minimum one expects.

The statement that Mr. L.K Advani has done only negative things may not be acceptable to millions of people in this country, so is the statement that Manmohan Singh is a weaker PM (incidentally I really don’t know what this weak and strong means). This attempt to create wedges is what market does best, confrontation as competition. Some insight is necessary here. The dichotomous reality is a western civilization world view. The hell and heaven. God and Satan. The split between bad and good is quite entrenched in these societies for centuries (as Mr. Bush said you with us or with them). Capitalism through its “competitive” nature tends to replicate this illusion. It is but obvious that market media will accentuate fissures wherever exists. In last few years they have become too crude. The fourth estate in India mostly lacks credibility. India is a poor country and when few people have unrestrained power, they can easily undermine democracy.

The Indian understanding is oneness, heaven and hell can be in same person. No one can be a Satan forever, there is always a space for goodness to exist in bad too. The attempt to portray BJP (a major national party) as Satan- agent of destruction, is a dangerous understanding. First it undermines intelligence of millions of people who vote them, second every political party has extreme elements. If BJP is destructive then Election Commission should debar it. They should also have stricter laws to debar disruptive elements (like for instance Varun or Thackery), I am for laws and facts. The allegations are always subjective and easily manipulated by vested. You don’t know whom to trust. If Mr. Advani was involved in destruction of Babri masjid why is he not in jail?. What prevents him to be arrested? Clearly there is something wrong with the law and order machinery which no government had made any serious attempts to reform (certainly Manmohan Singh is as weak leader, what has he done to reform the system?. Indeed the parliament is the weakest). Or else cases against Mr. Advani are creation of vested interest. Allegations of these natures are meant for communal polarization of society, whenever they are needed by leaders to work on their vote bank as much as media for TRP, somewhere the reality is lost. Political leaders at the centre are supposed to be policy makers, and if they haven’t placed any systems to prevent destructive elements or parties from contesting elections then it their fault. You cannot say they haven’t broken any law or we don’t have any laws but these people are bad. This blogger doesn’t understand that logic. Creating these ambiguous situations and prolonging the events that happened years back helps lots of people aiming at garnering power. Tragically the reality of people is lost in these competitions.

Here take some reality: Did you know that in capital city of India that is Delhi where these leaders live every hour one child goes missing (statistics from HDI and incredible India’s position in the list is no secret. I am giving this example since this shocking fact brought out by a Hindi news channel a month back-they did an excellent job, few weeks back BBC took it up as its main news. Indian media ofcourse is as usual concerned about angst of “people like us”). Almost all of these children are from slums because if a single one from richer section go missing it would be breaking news and a national scandal (remember the CEO son going missing in NOIDA, it was during the same time many children from poorer section in the same vicinity were being brutally killed by “people like us” in the neighborhood. Some mediocre celebrity playing intellectual might get themselves photograph with slum children in Mumbai, some may make pretentious movies and work it out in Oscars. But the fact is “slumdogs” don’t end up making cucumber sandwich. There is not much ‘feel good’ in lives of millions of people. Worst part here is that they are not from a single community (otherwise there was a possibility on communalizing and be seen as saviors), they are poor people mostly migrants to big cities. Poor migrants are the most vulnerable section of society and millions of them move to cities every day to make a living.

This data of Delhi is official version reality must be worst. Think about what might be happening around the country. This is the national shame (NOT shifting of corporatised cricket, incidentally I do think they could have had the finals at home). In a more civilized society thousands of missing children would be scandal.

Small children going missing must be really tough on parents and people around, also to be aware that these children will be abused must be very painful. I cannot even imagine how they deal with these. As also that nobody cares, add to that already tough life in slums (they also become easy prey to attention seeking socialite activists). Children are kidnapped and abused from pedophile to organ traders. India is an easy market for these horrors. Western societies might find shocking that thousands of children can just go missing that too from capital of a country but in India it is normal, one wouldn’t be surprised if richer section thinks it as population control. What is abnormal is defined by how much money and clout you have. Jai ho !!

I am still confused about what or who is a stronger or weaker leader, really intriguing this one!!.