Thou shall erect more statues

There is a dearth of statues, particularly of one man you-know-who that is being bulldozed in public space with gusto. There could be more than few million statues of this man, considering how impoverished this society is it’s a cruel irony, a joke gone too far. It is a hallowed tradition in this part of the world to give importance to statues at the expense of people, indeed it is a framework of untold atrocities wherein statues were sort to be humanized while humans dehumanized. If studied carefully, these will put holocaust as a minor blimp in history, and all jihadis and crusaders as juvenile offenders who maybe be rectified with some hugs. The finesse in matters of exploitations, macabre intent in non violent garb also comes quite handy in the democratic values that negotiate modernity in its market driven horror, the reason why some people fit in so well. Brutal and absurd ideas were pushed in as part of god’s will, the heinous elite went in the act of codifying these horrors, for centuries these were references for absurdity, herein the Indians worked out equally bizarre philosophies. This squatter’s framework defined the worldview of elite, a kind of self justifying outlet that kept exaggerating their presence. It is not surprisingly that elite took to career in matters of law as fish in water. Almost all the ‘freedom fighters’ were lawyers, the hallowed tradition is passed on. It seems the lawyers are able to understand the nuances of trade to economics to art, in a way that common people aren’t.  A closer scrutiny makes it clear that it is not the content that is the focus but the framework. It is not the functioning nor the social impact but adherence without thought. There is a definitive reason why indian judicial system is one of the tardiest in the world. So as the squatters spread their tentacles they sucked away humanness from the equation, the callousness we face has a significant religio-tradition context.  

Before I go further on with this it is important to point out that it is in negating these absurdities that Indian thoughts found its moorings, a space for cultural and philosophical brilliance. And it must be reiterated that Indian nuanced thoughts have necessarily come from outside the squatter’s framework. Likes of Naipaul may give credence to the exploitative system as a space, necessary stillness for flourish (something on that line) but reality will point to putrid pits. In these pits some stray brilliance may show up and duly exaggerated, well Nazis too had some brilliant engineers. Like for instance the Chola art of Natraja is no doubt well made but I have seen much nuanced artforms that doesn’t come out of squatter’s precincts hence ignored/suppressed and didn’t find the clout, these artforms carry the indications of brilliance. Most significantly even the creators of temple artforms weren’t squatter’s thyself whose skills, if any, was limited to clever ways of exploitations. Common artisans were sucked into the system that was essentially cannibalizing their egalitarian world.  

  

All the great thoughts right from Vedanta to Buddha to Bhakti has its origin outside squatter. These are sages, munis and other enlightened souls who consolidated abstract thoughts and humanistic understandings. They typically congregated under tree, therefore connection with common people, nature, surrounding. It is much later that the power structure start to emerge as the squatters used their manipulative skills to control the system. As temples became centers of exploitation and dissemination of inegalitarian worldviews, language was used as a tool to hide and quell thoughts. Squatter’s acquired status was now entitled and consolidated with deviant philosophies and crude interpretations of egalitarian thoughts. With dominant status they negotiated with kings and other sundry rulers –who in turn needed them to gain credibility, as also in case of some megalomaniacs, divine status. Cleverness and manipulation became the mainstay, gods of common people were sought to be streamlined, suitable stories created to rein in ‘smaller gods’ into the squatter’s fold.  In the meanwhile arbitrations on these matters were firmly controlled to exploit common people. They also persistently degraded enlightened people and thoughts. It’s amazing how Buddhism was decimated from Indian subcontinent. Mullah’s breed’s atrocities are known but the squatter’s brutalities are underplayed. Indeed egalitarian nature of Islam provided a necessary succor and counterpoint in many ways as squatters unleashed their deviant world. It must be added that despite being hoarded into squatter, liberal essence never really diminished. Common people still have strong skepticism against squatters. As people learn for market oriented jobs and to sniff out profit they loose these nuanced take on life. 

For contemporary India there are two clear significant indicators here. Firstly, people who use exploitative (casteist therefore racist) surnames/references are entrenched in squatter’s framework, and must be treated with necessary disdain while international community must declare these as racist. Even Nazi symbol or Ku Klux Klan is mild comparisons. They are carrying the legacy of crude part of our civilization and therefore must be shunned from civilized discourse. They must not be allowed to appropriate egalitarian thoughts as Hindu philosophy. Herein I use Hinduism as that which is being claimed by squatters. The syncretic, accommodative and liberal aspects of Hinduism are not squatter’s contribution. Anyone carrying squatter’s references while claiming to be civilized is a crude joke. Secondly, since squatters have tradition of ensconcing with power, whether kings, feudal lords, colonial powers, market so on they have firm control over narrations. They are quite comfortable in the art of arbitrations, negotiations and other known chicanery. The degradation of society therefore can be traced to them. Their unethical presence only dents democratic values.   
               

The brilliance of Kabir is the essence that should have been at the forefront. One wonders what is about Gandhian study, that was promoted by sycophantic Congress, hence some compelling chest beating Gandhians. Wherein likes of Kabir are the quintessence of Indian way of life. He is just an example in the series of great souls who have constantly replenished the worldview of common people. The reason these have percolated among common people while Gandhi needed State machinery support to be hoisted. Gandhi is the sideshow of the elite. If Nobel committee praises Kailash Satyarthi as epitomizing Gandhian values, then they are gravely mistaken.  Satyarthi did something that Gandhi (or even the pretentious Gandhians) would ever factor. He changed his exploitative/ racist surname, he shifted to egalitarian framework of Hinduism and therefore rightly can claim the legacy. He decided to side with righteous as against power. This Gandhi cannot, and Gandhians will not. Though, I am getting feelers that Mr. Satyarthi is moving towards Gandhi hence towards power and ensuing manipulative cunningness. Nobel committee also erred referring Satyarthi as Hindu, indeed it’s amusing that they have not much understanding on these. They need to comprehend that religion has different meaning in egalitarian context of Hinduism. It is not an identity nor it is a reference used to identify others. They must drop Gandhi and pick up Kabir to have insight on Indian ways of things. And yes either you please speak less or stop patronizing. 

It is only when you put things in its proper context that you understand how depraved some people are. Undermining contexts, using jargons and habitual cleverness, particularly for western audience is what some people expertise in. Indeed taking things out of context some even come out as stellar mahatmas, a lightness of being even grandsons are known carry in their aura and gait. This genetic ability is something British elite are well versed with and it is this embryonic connection that they refurbish on special occasions. Gopalkrishna Gandhi should explain his surname as also his presence in the event, ofcourse when 'Lord Desaiji' thyself is hovering around one must surely be intimidated. What has Gopalkrishna Gandhi to do with Gandhi? Extending the same logic Godse’s grandson must be a murderer.     

Post script: Why Ben Kingsley?!!

Props in shadow fights

 It is a well-known fact that the institutions of democracy in India are very much compromised by power brokers and cliques that exaggerate clout and therefore usurp benefits. These have quite severely dented the benefits and the structure that egalitarian nature of democracy was supposed to provide. It’s an amazing travesty for a society that is quite primitive and didn’t have any egalitarian worldview to start with. Amazingly insular elite have created an illusion of democracy, and percolated benefits herein. What has changed in last few decades are the technological innovations that disseminated to common people, the spin off benefits herein is how democratic values seems to be getting consolidated and felt by common people. Clearly, sometimes grievance spill over as a response to lackadaisical and tardy insulated State machinery. Social media and mobile phones have helped the matter as people decide to take the matter in their own hand. One startling example that happened the other day is the public execution of alleged rapist (it may seem like one off example but people are getting restive as also these incidents do have wider support across the societies). Shocking though it maybe it doesn’t really point to brutal nature of people. Indeed in the context of things the lynch mob is quite a subtle presence compared to ‘nuanced and well mannered’ scoundrels who squat the higher echelons of judiciary. Why not lynch the members of judiciary for their amazing incompetence that has put untold misery on people? Why not for god sake lynch the CJ of SC?  Judges of SC and HC live like feudal lords, showing much alacrity to protect their turf as also supplicating for post-retirement benefits. Why are these people even paid? Standard of lawyers is best unsaid, the system quite understandingly attracting the worst of people, and not surprisingly many have crept into politics and have occupied plum positions as political leaders without having ever visited any village!  These are some of the most incompetent and inhuman people.

Political leaders, mostly product of feudal nature of society, even with mass appeal are at the end of the day just props. Once they are elected by people (by standing in queue with hope and expectations, sold out by speeches and promises), they occupy important positions. They then quite effortlessly switch to be cheerleaders of money bags. These money bags go by the name of businessmen, media barons and other influential exaggerated for clout/power section, they are also touts and perception arrangers. Democratic values and principles therefore dies a gruesome death in these corridors. The fight among the elite is therefore for manoeuvrability space. Issues (that ironically affect common people) are conduit for asserting one’s space, and dredging into suckabilty matters. To show how these people work as pack let’s take the example of media, in particular TV channels. Some of these have exaggerated presence, the market (fuelled by moneybags), as also by sycophant politicians who don’t have mass base therefore feed to manipulate to work out clout. It is nobody’s matter that these politicians degrade institutions by their crass actions. Since they have no mass base for the same reason people are not their concern they therefore spent time in TV studios, exaggerating TV channels therefore in effect exaggerate themselves. Grassroot issues as well as genuine leaders/people suffer, the mistake Congress made, the mistake BJP will most enthusiastically make (as mentioned they are from the same framework). With pliable almost slavish journalists they create reputations and also position themselves as spokesperson of the society. This creates perception on reputation of TV channels. Indeed moneybags (with market touts and pliable journalists) fuel issues and create perceptions as and when it suits them. Vedanta Aggrawal is a sponsor (indeed I am told he has adopted Pronoy. Sardesaiji is also very much on the chai pani list, it is a set up that gives extra lung power to sickularism that is source of existence for liberal masquerading squatters), with his kind of ill-gotten money the fellow will create perception as news and issues, this then is responded by the government. The pliable bureaucrats now take over the matter. This scam is not about money, it’s a quid pro quo world, that meets later to quantify the spoils (ZK & Crude woman have minor expertise on these).  This is a small example to illustrate how things work, as the moneybags stampede, economists come out with compelling jargons, the government quite effortlessly concede, there is celebration of liberal values and saviours of democracy emerge from unlikeliest of corners. 

In the search of Batalvi: Shiv Kumar Batalvi was an amazing Punjabi poet, he died quite young (at the age of 36). Immensely popular, even now his lyrics are used by movie makers. He is the youngest to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi award. So here I was at Amritsar on an exceptionally cold and foggy day. Batala is about 40km; my contact took me to Shiv Kumar Batalvi memorial hall. It is in dilapidated condition, and is being renovated. I was told that the library has some books, but someone assured me that since he is youngest to win the Sahitya Akademi, add to the fact that he is immensely popular, I will have no problem in getting his collection in Delhi. Assured I was at Sahitya Akademi in Delhi, a place not unknown to me. They seem to have spent a ransom in last decade on renovation, as also adding auditorium so on. Previously anybody could enter the library but now (this is true for everything around) entry is restricted. I was at their book counter, everything tastefully done. But problem started when you got into the reality of things. Shiv Kumar Batalvi is unknown here. I asked the fellow to search in his collection. Surprise. The fellow says the system doesn’t work that way, it doesn’t search by name of author, I will have to refer the title that he can search. I spent an hour or so searching through hundreds of books, seeing my persistence the fellow at the counter tried to help. Exhausted I left. The Sahitya Akademi has made a simple search into rocket science. This in itself will tell the story of degradation. How these institutions have been converted to personal fiefdom by people with clout. Even the once prestigious awards are reduced to doles of favour, and unfortunately lost it value, the sycophantic manipulative Congress leaders screwed up institutions under the garb of sickularism and liberal pretensions. Even DD and other government TV channels are degraded, they became means for spreading clout. In DD one fellow was seen praising ZK (the amazingly limited lyrist), they create a system wherein they use power and clout to hand out doles and favours, these therefore show their indebtedness by praising in whatever occasions. Hopefully these are eliminated and very likely replaced by, what they will start screaming about, the ‘saffron’ brigade.    

ZK was seen, the other day, ruing on general degradation of things around (clearly he is talking about himself and ofcourse Crude woman who seems lost these days). Thappar is part of what is ostensibly ‘ever vigilant against right wing incursions’, the moneybags losing out on Modi doles have put money here. How scoundrels like ZK got themselves elected to RS is pertinent question. Incidentally, not long time back ZK & Crude woman were seen attending the world’s richest wedding (Crude woman also did Turd-e-disco for billionaires, it comes to her naturally. She even has put the picture in the drawing room!!). Such wanton profligacy fits in quite well to liberal values, just that it was around the time when thousands of farmers were killing themselves as they faced untold misery, not to mention some serious existential problems people face all the time, as also patriarchy pressure of spending on marriages that has caused misery, accentuated gender bias so on.  It is clear that without moneybags blessings all these big talks go nowhere. Ask Sardesaiji, moneybags make saviour positioning much easier. Pliable NGOs fed generously act as a conscience front, while Greenpeace becomes a national threat.

And so what happened to Batalvi’s book?…well I spent a day going through bookstalls at Connaught place, through best sellers, celebrity memoirs so on (it has become quite a depressing place) as also at Darya Ganj. No luck. So finally got hold of one online and ordered it. The book costs more than 1000R, thin school book type American version ‘Punjabi poets’ with half page on Batalvi. Cheated. Royally cheated.

So long Mr. Spock thanks for the good time...

...Leonard Nimoy died few minutes back. He was the best. Unlike his stern image in Star trek Mr. Nimoy was a gentle soul in real life. Incidentally he was so tired of being identified with Spock he wrote a memoir "I Am Not Spock", ofcourse he did follow it up with 'I Am Spock' after massive protest!! For me he is Spock, the Vulcan, and wonderful part of my childhood.
Suffering for long time from the ill affects of smoking, his one of the last tweet reads "Don't smoke. I did. Wish I never had". He quite gamely ended all his tweets with LLAP, the abbreviation for the Vulcan adieu, “Live Long and Prosper.”

Will meet up in some other galaxy. Should be Fascinating!!

Mother Theresa was one great soul

Mohan Bhagwat is a busy man, after BJP came to power his statements are scrutinised with zeal as if it is government policy intent.  Mr. Bhagwat is not entirely wrong about Christian missionary, proselytising as one of the main resolve. But to reduce Mother Theresa as mere proselytiser is gross, and any right minded person should raise serious objection to it.     

 What is wrong with conversions? Proselytising is guaranteed under constitution, it is a fundamental right. If it provides one with better reasons and amenities to live then the person should convert.  Believe, faith, no faith, no believe etc. is a personal matter of individuals. As mentioned earlier from the context of egalitarian worldview and enlightened thoughts, the encompassing spiritual freedom, God is too abstract. Conversion to different gods doesn’t change anything much, it is a matter of convenience and comfort. Clearly, nobody is born into a religion, humans are born into humanity and they can choose what suits their fancy. Any denial on this right or any form of branding to the community or system because of being born into it is denial of this right (the unfortunate exception could be nationality). Children therefore must be exposed to different religious thoughts, as also philosophical deliberations that question these. People must be exposed to egalitarian views and thoughts, and equipped in matters of logic and abstract ideas. Unlike what the ever predominating market may think human beings are more than consumers, also that schools/colleges are not meant to be factories manufacturing market friendly corporate designed robots, who are meant to dedicate to GDP.  

  Unfortunately, in most societies they don’t have these freedoms, indeed a vicious form of religious freedom is imposed on them. The reason why insular and primitive thoughts get consolidated, it tends to form identity and many times the sole identity under the zealous eyes of perpetrators as well as violators of human rights. Human beings must convert and convert all the time. They must explore, they must know. Nobody is born into the morass of stifling tradition and therefore will have to work out the fate herein. These can be thoughts that emerge from the most primitive and crudest understandings. Converting from one religion to another religion is as natural that can be, moving from religion to no religion is also quite natural. The realisation that religion comes with structures and tradition that is patriarchal and feudal is also quite natural, but nevertheless the insights can be valuable as people negotiate life. 

It is in this context Hindu rightwing have all the rights to conduct ghar wapsi. Nevertheless it is a joke since they really don’t have an egalitarian framework, nor nuanced understanding of Hinduism. Their squatter brethren’s (masquerading liberal. Indeed they claw each other to chisel their identity but yes all of them very much entrenched in the squatter’s primitive home truths, the camaraderie is where the nuance skills emerge) concerns have to put in the manipulative tradition of elites appeasing Christians. It goes back to colonial period, and hence has been drivelled in as defining liberal moment. Indeed it was unfortunate that PM had to make a statement on “attacks” on Christians.  A minor law and order problem that should be dealt by local police in its urgency and severity needed. In a nation of more than a billion the society must unflinchingly question brutal and unmentionable atrocities committed on traditionally marginalised sections on regular basis. Indeed it is ingrained, and the system that perpetuates these are acquiesced by these chestbeating-for-broken-windows scoundrel elite. These are some really hardened pretenders here. Christian community, particularly based in major cities, have international reach and clout, as also some well-established educational institutes and infrastructures under their control. This is what makes the Indian liberal pretending elites salivate, there is a huge brownie point moment here, to brush up their credentials and look good. Putting on Crude woman hat, one can even speculate that this exaggerated concern for minor incidents can be milked to get access to educational institutions that are termed as prestigious. I am told already some are demanding for quid pro quo…St. Xaviers, St. Stephens will have some easy entrants this years. Well sky is the limit when it comes to manipulations by Indian elites. 

Mother Theresa was very much enmeshed in Christian thoughts and seeked salvation through it. It is the greatness of the lady, as also egalitarian benevolent nature of Christianity, that she was able to reach the pinnacle of compassion. She could reach the most wasted, diseased and ailing souls in grotesquest of reality that could terrify many. Undeniably it is the strength she sustained from her faith. It is that power of faith that gave her the compassion in a situation that will make most people shirk in disgust. Clearly if she wants to transfer this faith that sustained her and made her into this rare beautiful individual then if it is conversion so be it. In the context, it is the best human experience that is transacting, it is something that should be cherished.  Further, if I am the wasted diseased soul lying on the street and if someone extends, where nobody could, then I would like to convert to that persons worldview, it is more than indebtness it is glimpsing something rare that I would like to be part of, even in my dying moment. If that is conversion let it be.

Mother Theresa was a rare individual (of course everyone has blemishes) and an amazingly beautiful human being. She made people aware of the compassion that individuals are possible of. For that humanity is indebted to Christianity. And yes for that if you want to convert to Christianity please do.

A disclosure: this blogger was hugged and kissed by Mother Theresa while I was in kinder garden. Second disclosure is that I don’t have anything against religions but yes don’t give damn about it. It’s too demented and twisted, a waste of time, as much as atheism is.    

Unearned income should be taxed heavily

Taxes are how the State generates revenue, but many hidden tax tends to impact common people and take away their hard earned money. VAT (on non luxury/basic items) being the most sinister, it’s good to see that AAP is trying to make it easy for the common people. Everytime I have breakfast from nearby hotel, I end up paying more as tax. Even something as innocuous as taking your own money from ATM is being sucked on by Banks. Market media and its promoters will be extremely vociferous about merit and world hinged on competition, a sort of self-justification. Economists closely knit with money bags will chest beat against subsidies, and will make assured talks with compelling jargons which common people are not expected to understand but are meant to agree. We are told it is for our own good. Taxes are increased to augment revenue which is good for the society but clearly it is not targeted well. Nobody seems to be aware or concerned that there are lots of Indians particularly in the elite section wallowing in unearned comforts, and therefore arrogance and wasteful in their dealings. They are insulated from the hard realities of common people and tend to deal with situations in their patronising snobbery. What makes it worse is that many of them pontificate and position themselves as unsolicited guardians, clearly to further their own narrow ends. It is referred to as positive banding, the beginning of unearned income.

Income that doesn’t come from one’s calibre or competence or commiserating with hardwork one puts in becomes unearned and therefore should be taxed heavily. The biggest source of unearned income is from exploitation of natural resource. Any random fellow with minimal understanding on digging, use of basic technology (with more money more modern technology one can use) and material can plunder the mountains and dig up valley. It is not a rocket science. Ideally State should have access to judicious exploitation of natural resource on a no profit basis, that is, earning is spent on public good. But strangely market has taken over and money bag corporations have queued up. As mentioned the competence required on digging up land and related matters herein doesn’t require much knowledge, indeed they work on nepotism and corruption. Semi-literate Aggrawal (of Vedanta) or Bellary brothers have amply demonstrated that with basic literacy and minimal skills one can be a millioners or billioners. It’s about strategy to influence policy makers. The fact that most millioners and billioners in India (as also in poorer countries) are from sources that is to do with land and its exploitation clearly points to nepotism and corruption. Only a minimal profit should be allowed on these exploitations that is essentially public property, the rest should go to the government. How are private individuals (as corporates) allowed to earn such huge amount of money from public property? How did Aggrawal or Adani or Ambani become so rich, what is their source of income? Clearly they have exploited natural resources, that is, public property that took billions of years to form and is irreplaceable. These big moneys have influenced policy makers and made huge amount of money. This money they made is what we call unearned income. Indeed there needs to be an international law on these matters. Many moneybags arise from richer countries, even Indians have converted to NRIs, to exploit resources from poorer countries that has malleable system. These kinds of unearned income should be stopped or heavily taxed. Most of natural resources are sold as raw or semi raw materials to smarter countries like Germany/Japan/South Korea who converts these into valuable products. Poor countries have people who influence policy makers so that they can plunder natural resources. These unearned incomes by some colossally rich people should be checked, should be taxed.  

                  

Another important source of unearned income is from inheritance that truly reflects feudal nature of society, arising as it is from lack of land reforms or any measure to check these historical discrepancies that is built on traditional biases. It is undoubtedly a statement of intend of earlier leaders, indeed many of whom masqueraded as freedom fighters, some ensconced as pretentious Gandhian, the harbinger of barbarian nonviolent status quoist. It is a terribly inegalitarian society. A grotesque reality that has made lives of people miserable, a lop-sidedness that gets reflected in all social indices. Inheritance forms a major source of unearned income. Indeed the entrenched incompetence has seen to that these are not discussed; there is a bogey being raised by cunning manipulators, of destroying family business, therefore catastrophic for Indian economy. The zombie apocalypse moment is being perpetuated as Indian strength. How many times we are being fed the hogwash that family businesses and concerns is what is saving us, as Indians slip into morass of incompetence and inequality. Well when you have news media being controlled by big family corporates and lackeys, journalist will only parrot. Journalists are supposed to make buyer friendly world, and within that they can work out their freedom. 

Not only inheritance in big businesses need be taxed heavily but every inherited transaction happening should be taxed substantially. Nobody should have benefits of unearned earning. Every piece of land, every house, every shop, every capital…anything that is inherited should be taxed heavily. Now these are tangible inheritance, something easily quantifiable. There is another aspect of inheritance that mediocre Indian elites suck on and that is intangible inheritance. Intangible inheritance in primitive society like India is rather valued, the legacy of ordained fine-tuned to grab money. I have already discussed about racist surnames that leads to camaraderie and benefits accrued in the process. It is so entrenched in this godforsaken manipulative society (in the meanwhile considers itself as some kind of special people/culture!) that unless international community declare this nation as racist it will not have an impact, the manipulative elite will scuttle it. The legacy that the progeny accrue from the profession/name of his parents (mostly father)/family needs to be scrutinised. These are extension of feudal nature of society and definitely source of unearned income. In this primitive society you will observe that in whichever field there is big money, as also where benefits or competence can be manipulated, you will see progenies masquerading with legacy doing well. Like most politicians, artists (in particular film industry)…so on, they tend to create lucrative position for their progenies to squeeze in, it’s a legacy racket.  These are being projected as the talent of progenies; sometimes they give example of progenies who have failed to justify their claim. There are two issues here, firstly, nowadays the scope of manipulation with the help of modern technology is rather fool proof, with control over medium, necessary clout and money you can create any perception, therefore easy ride. You can be assured that innovative technology invented abroad today will be manipulative technology tomorrow with Indian elitizens. Secondly, even despite these those who fail must be amazingly mediocre or lacked necessary placement skills. This family name/clout/pride framework that exaggerates progenies talents is unearned income, they are in the position because of family, and this should be taxed. 

There is a huge unearned earning that is based on perceptions and exaggerations, what is being regarded as branding. The market has created these nonsenses that have eaten into the society. The sacred act of creating illusion of product to be sold is something that comes natural. They have ransacked the medium, crudely tapping on every emotion so as to trap people into buying. Is this what modernity all about? What a disgrace. Extremely good at gab and selling skills, clever Indians (that is nearest some can come to competence) have controlled the market media. They expertise in selling what other countries produce, yes also minor Indian creations like soaps, washing powder so on. The money here is huge, due to the population of this ever multiplying people. There is also amazing amount of black money doing the round. The market therefore degrades the institutions, they put price for everything, crony capitalism, nepotism and manipulation becomes the norm. Some of these amazingly limited intellects walk with ease as ‘image gurus’ among powerful politicians (incidentally powerful politician means highly responsible, meaning people have voted and put faith on them to genuine work and not manipulate). With the clout gained from the skills of selling products they park around the power centres and acts as touts, the one who creates and destroys perceptions. Obviously these are overpaid people, and the reason they are paid more is because they can manipulate more. It will be difficult to quantify their earning skills. Cleverness as earning skills thrives in mediocre societies, Indians therefore do well. Indeed rich coffers of temples, as people suffer, is a testimony to these. For certain section creating illusion for common people and exploiting is part of hallowed tradition. 

       In this game of perception that is used to sell products are set of extremely Cooperative For Money ‘popular’ people, the one with amazing moral dexterity. Market has chosen and exaggerated movie actors and cricketers. So emerges godforsaken icons. Both amazingly limited, failing in all close scrutiny (you sometimes really wonder trying to identify what exactly is the talent?) and earn few million times than their limited skills of acting or sport skills can ever earn. In Indian context barring some really rare exceptions one can safely say that acting in movie (or making movie) doesn’t really require much talent. A random guy can do it with few days of practice. Further in movie-entertainment, which is a hugely exaggerated art form, acting is only one minor aspect.  But manipulators have exaggerated the mediocre actors as much as they have done for the cricketers, it is a sinister act called branding, a concoction to suck in money for no reason. Both therefore become conduit for manipulating money out of common people. If Tendulkar earns millions as Coca Cola boy, the question here is where is his talent in this earning? If hugely exaggerated actors like Shah Rukh (whose movies becomes hit even before they are released, indeed ZK genes is quite good at this manipulation) can get millions of rupees of blurting one line in an ad then what kind of talent is he exhibiting or work is he performing that he is being gratified with such huge amount of money? Indeed the kind of money most people cannot make in many lifetime. You may keep wondering what special talent these people have that commensurate with the money offered. For blurting one line the mediocre fellow is getting money that would shock most. It’s an amazing racket of amassing unearned income. The fellow is earning because of his branding. The question here would be what is the basis of branding? Then you realise it is the perception, the one that is manipulated and exaggerated. Clearly this earning is based on perception as also hinged on large population as consumers. No one can and should be allowed to earn these inflated amounts that has nothing to do with skills or work. To understand the way these people work one needs to have closer look at the functioning of IPL (an Indian wonder that in a way defines this manipulative functioning, that degrades anything and everything, but fortunately has the potential to destroy cricket), huge amount of money from nowhere to whosoever. IPL is a definition of functioning and remarkable degradation of India that the market/sellers are constantly pursuing.

If an actor or cricketer gets paid for his/her professional skills, exaggerated as it maybe, it still sounds logical. But in mediocre India cricketers have moved on to entertainment. They spread their mediocrity as they move. While actors are everywhere sucking on whatever they could, branding is the rescue act. They sing, they also become judge after their expiry date to whatever the market media fancies, some take up causes, fighters of freedom of expression from the most degraded of surrounding. They even dance –indeed most so called award ceremonies are about these appalling indulgences, as they workout with rows of gyrating almost mechanical movements. This hilarity is passed on as artform/dance as ‘actor’/’celebrity’ is involved. People are ready to watch the trash, the actor’s branding therefore makes him a compelling presence as a dancer, the disgraceful skills are tolerated as indulgences that we are expected to feel good about. Recently actor Mohanlal had the audacity to sing at National Games ceremony, clearly people in Kerala know the limits which our arrogant self-assured fellow missed. An actor should act, a singer should sing, a writer should write, a scientist must do research, high jumper must jump high…these are simple rules on which competence work. One can try other things but shouldn’t exaggerate and try to supersede genuine talents. The problem here is just because a fellow is an actor or a cricketer, the market manipulators exaggerate for source of earning. Therefore he/she starts to sing, dance, bat, judge…and tries to manipulate through and suck in on easy money. As things are subjective, or made subjective, due to adoring indulgences they scrape through and so ready for huge money. In the process they sideline genuine talents. Now you must put these in context of a nation that has very poor social indices and most people have serious problems. Could you believe that these nonsenses are happening in a nation that has millions of people who go without food?

 Mohanlal was decent enough to apologise and return the money for the mediocre fair, the kind of unearned income that could easily feed children in a school for atleast a decade in this malnourished nation. But the Congress government was seen magnanimously insisting that he take the money, probably they are trying to rope in the aging actor. Maybe Mohanlal could take some lesson from ZK (a veteran in manipulation he degraded Commonwealth ceremony but came out unscathed because of his market media clout and sycophant leaders who looked the other way; those were the heydays of sickularism nautanki, and he sucked in big time. However manipulating national award for his gene had a tragic end. What a resounding slap that one, not one but two. Ouch it hurts!!). Will Tendulkar apologise for taking money from Coca cola for reason that has nothing to do with his record breaking batting skills, indeed there isn’t anything positive about Coca cola. The clever fellow knows his lick and the clout herein as much as all the mediocre ‘celebrities’. They can earn easy money and do whatever but these unearned incomes should be taxed heavily. 

Actors have also start to play cricket that attracts huge money, some in the entertainment industry have even downgraded cricket (a sport that is least athletic to start with) and goes by the name box cricket. They can carry on with the racket but unearned income should be severely taxed. These huge unearned earnings of actors and cricketers that has nothing to do with their talent (least as they maybe) but about perceptions and exaggerations, therefore should be heavily taxed. This kind of manipulation and easy money for some because of clever placement must be scrutinised. This is crony capitalism, unethical in any form.

Further, these kinds of unearned income create a system that thrives on irresponsible behaviour and crass spending.  When most in elite are moneyed for the reason that cannot be classified as competence or talents or work then they don’t particularly value things. They therefore create huge carbon footprint from their lifestyle. This degrades the environment as also create further livelihood challenges for the impoverished majority. It’s clear from the inane car and other luxury product ads that in the last few years some section are earning lots of money for no reason. They are so stupid that the car manufactures believes that they will decide to spend huge amount by looking at some dumb ads. It’s a statement on calibre of people earning huge amount of money, they themselves don’t know the reason. It probably is why ritual based religious indulgences and superstitions are coming back in all its vigour among the moneyed section. Education doesn’t seem to have any impact where providence and alignment of stars is what matters. What is there to read or learn when the fellow throwing the ball is earning in millions, if he was a good sportsperson then it can be partly be justified. Look at the money earned by ‘sportsman’ named Yuvraj Singh who has well past his prime, truly Babaji’s blessing. Indeed the followers of Babas themselves form a strong mutually supporting clique. At one time if you were a follower of charlatan at Puttaparthi you could easily be in contact with the highest echelons of power, bureaucrats, the politicians…almost all the elite. The redemption was achieved by donating part of their unearned income/fortune to the Baba. Indeed temples like Tirupathi are open 24x7 on this kind of donations. Unearned income could be shared with god, it makes it guilt free!! Squatters have unique ability to tap in. Srinivasan is an incredible case study.  

     
Some of the actors point to their genes as legacy (for their body ofcourse, Khan claims on his pathan origin!...indeed dear fellow we have all evolved from monkey). Yes with limited talent and huge unearned money coming their way they need to have reasons for this amazing irony, unfortunately they really don’t know where racism begins or where prejudices thrive and sensibilities end. It is shocking how much things are degraded.  Not a surprise since trivial people with unearned income will only trivialise things.  The buying friendly investment jubilant society cannot be expected to be different.