Horrible nature of poetry, and degraded creativeness

I have nothing against Mythli Sharan Gupt, a rather well known Hindi poet whose poetry we were taught in school, indeed some of the lines are quite endearing that I recall putting in this blog.  So here I was in Delhi on a sunny hot afternoon with nothing much on the schedule, a cursory shuffle through the net pointed to a talk on Mythli Sharan Gupt at IIC. Now before I go further into this let me point to those who may not know much about IIC, it is a pretentious place were Delhi’s retired and retiring  powerful people with big egos hobnob on lighter aspects of life and generally catch up on each other. There is general bonhomie and hilarity in the atmosphere as they negotiate crucial issues plaguing the nation with characteristic ease over multiflavoured cakes and pastries. You could glimpse the patron saints of media and vicious gatekeepers of cultures tied in ethereal conversation, the pause and the nuance, the drinks and the tarts. The chelas, the punds and gudhi punds in hierarchical patronising selves of propriety and conventions, fiercely defending their turf. Peace be upon him, them and everyone. 

IHC across the road is another of such holes, but it places itself in chic. Though I must add when you are in your 20s these places do open up the mind and does create inquisitiveness into areas I was not even aware of. Quite coincidentally IHC came into being about the time I landed up in Delhi. These places became my favourite haunt, and dropped in quite often, as I returned from work from CP to south Delhi and so on, a rather delicious free coffee sealed the matter. So here I was at IIC to listen to Gupt’s Yashodhara, expecting something interesting. I must add, one must not attend poetry readings or anything related to it, it is amazingly trivial affair unless it is about some new poet on the block.  Talks about a poem or a particular book could be interesting. Poetry is something that is dealt in privacy, that involves rereading and long pauses or maybe some sleeping over!!  The worst is literary meets. A writer must be read not met. I would rather prefer to meet a magician, some of these sleight of hand tricks are terrific.

One of the speaker mentioned Mythli Sharan Gupt being favourite of Gandhi, my antennas were up (one can easily conjecture that Gandhi had no poetic sense). The speaker who was introduced as veteran poet (a father like figure to some, I am not referring his name here since he doesn’t measure up) revealed something that had me straighten up and glimpse the degraded nature of Indian creativity, tethered as it is to the primitive framework. Gupt chose Yashodhara (wife of Buddha) as his protagonist of poem to bring out feminine angst. He couldn’t choose Sita since he was a devotee of Ram. This was revelation into the depraved nature of these people. Hence, Buddha was a fair game, putting that into social realities you realise the intent. As angst of Yashodhara was carefully hyperboled and interpretation herein further sought to contemporise the neglect (there was one woman speaker who tried to work out Yashodhara with gandhian disobendience!!, and woman’s emancipation so on…that she too was very much part of the primitive world was quite clear. These elite women therefore try to associate with international feminist angst and position for lick. That they are perpetrators of horrendous reality is conveniently hidden or presented with gandhian ease as ‘unity in diversity’). The old man even ventured further to point out that Yashodhara never converted to Buddhism “mujhe tumhare sharnam gachami se kuch nehi lena dena”. Our man’s fertile imagination conjured these lines to bring out his sarcasm, the impact of these to the contemporary reality is rather telling. He further ventured to assert that Buddhism did not contribute anything much to Indian society!

The Gandhi hugging old man (also moonwalking as revered poet, with ‘books of poems’…no wonder Indians rarely measure up to world standards or anywhere near subtleties of truth) is right in a way. Buddhism is too subtle and nuanced thought, the reason why it didn’t fit into the scheme of things. Buddha was never bothered about god, but squatter’s sought to create god out of him, an attempt was made to appropriate him as incarnation of "Lord Vishnu"!! As Kasturi&Sons will vouch a man has to be god to be able to interact with common people. "Lord Krishna" is an incarnation since he lived with common people and understood philosophies of life and so on. It needs a miracle. And since likes of Kasturi&Sons are not incarnations but representatives of higher scheme they needn’t mingle with common people. That needs a miracle. One fellow even tried experimenting with truth, he is henceforth mahatma!! Such depravity. It is not surprising that the best thoughts were evicted out by the devious squatters.  Best of thoughts (Buddhism) left Indian society, meanwhile percolated in the thoughts of great souls that continue to have space in lives of common people. The highly nuanced and enlightened framework of societies of east asia have definitive influence of Buddhism. The wonderful world’s haikus, zen and simplicity of being. The other day I was watching NHK channel (probably one of the best, and I really don’t expect Indian media to follow this. The cultural gaps are too wide!), a Buddhist monk of the temple told the lady over tea ceremony ‘to live like a single flower’. I found that amazing. This the squatter in the Indian (Hinduism, if you may) temple probably will never even be able decipher let alone utter. They will ofcourse have prescription on how to bring peace to the universe. This you will also see spilling out from the gudhi punds in the media. The all-encompassing universe and one’s grander illusions of ordained self.

Post script: the other day I was taking interviews for Civil service aspirants. A senior retired bureaucrat was the co panellist. He was also the board member at UPSC many times. He quite vehemently suggested everyone to read ‘Hindu’ newspaper and so on.  He asked this question to a candidate “What is Sanskritisation and who gave this theory?”. Having got the appropriate answer he was looking for, about ‘great MN Srinivas’, he ventured further to ask “What is de-sanskritisation?”. Not getting an answer he explained “When higher class people start behaving like lower class”, he guffawed and looked around for appreciation. I maintained a grievous face. Few decades back his ‘jokes’ would have resonated across the room. A general mirth would have instigated talks on ideas of India. Ditto, we are told is in danger now.        

Individual must come before religion

An enlightened state, that is based on values of liberty, hence democratic, should provide primacy to individuals. Whatever maybe the claim of society over individuals it really cannot have right over it. Individual, the human, his/her rights, the human right is paramount. It also means children, the most fragile member of the society, also have rights and it is duty of the State to protect these. It is being taken for granted that children are the property of parents or guardians, therefore have the right to indoctrinate with whatever they think is appropriate.  It maybe argued that parents have best interest therefore would be inculcating the best possible values. The realities in most cases is far from ideal, indeed families by extension societies are hotbeds of prejudices, biases and deviant norms established as traditions and argued as culture, sometimes these even percolate to wider society as benign nostalgia that needs protection. While the rightwing persuasions point to greatness of past, the liberal brethren too point to past as the ideal. The difference being the matter of timescale, for rightwing past is ancient, bordering mythical, wherein India’s greatness was legendary. It doesn’t really stand any scrutiny, although one may agree there were pockets of brilliance which is common in any society. Further, the idea of peninsula as cumulative society is absurd, even now societies within the region called India have wide and varied understandings that in many ways contradicts what is pushed as mainstream narration. Most significantly the society at large was entrapped within heinous squatter’s framework, as most people were marginalised and brutalised, it cannot by in any stretch of imagination signs of any great society, far from it this region was quite a primitive place to be in. The liberal brethren masquerading ideas of India seems to be hinged on recent past, I am not sure of the demarcation but there seems to be an attempt on idea of India. It is being claimed that this being violated. I am not sure what is being claimed and what is violated, it is made complicated -though it is quite clearly hinged to realities and trivialities of pretentious elite, hence if their fragile world is touched they cry foul. Hence the ideas of India we are told are crumbling. The reality being the so-called independence from colonial rule was nothing more than power transfer, the social systems and its intent remains primitive. Framework of apathy, manipulative brutal ways have seeped into every democratic institution. Insidious nature and camaraderie has helped elite section consolidate their gains, insisting garb of merit and competition. The trickle down, if ever, comes devalued and inopportune. This construction of reality of taking past as standpoint for goodness, whether its rightwing or miserable liberal, is questioned and is clear doesn’t stand the scrutiny. Egalitarian values generally emanates from awareness of contexts of common people -as they seek faith in whatever that could imagine as god and help ameliorate, hence secularism. Saints and seers gave values to compassion. These were constantly threatened by squatters as they seek to codify, subjugate and exploit. The present elite is the direct beneficiaries of these miseries, hence their claims of protecting values smacks of habitual hypocrisy. These status quoist beneficiaries of feudal realities have consistently scuttled land reforms or efforts to reforms inherited transactions. Their patronising attitude towards egalitarian efforts makes mockery of it. What makes it grievous is the attempt to represent and usurp compassion that is innate in society.            

It is therefore duty of the State to see that children are exposed to all kind of philosophies and religious thoughts. These should be mandatory, particularly in socalled religious minority schools. Children cannot be born into a religion, sect, ideology or section, they must be given choice to explore and choose whatever they desire. They are humans. That is the meaning of human rights, and that is what egalitarian State must strive and stand for. Religious rights are seen as absolute and sacrosanct these days, the pretentious elite encourages these to show themselves as agent of goodness, most significantly it also prevents primitive home truths. A child cannot be and should not be allowed to be indoctrinated. These narrow worldviews create prejudices, biases and violence. It gives space to obscurantism and dogmatic outlook, in the long run these cause much destruction. An education system can be religious or community based but it should have mandatory study on all religions and atheist worldviews. Religion cannot have right over children, hence create foot soldiers of misery.  State must intervene and prevent these human right violations. Individual must come before religions. There is something more fundamental than religion.  

Post script: depraved Kasturi&Sons aside, I am shocked that a man with views as primitive as Jayakanthan should even be considered for Jnanpith awards. It is also telling that of all his contributions Kasturi& Sons chose to highlight amazing nonsense, severely denting the writer’s credibility. They also sought to play mischief on iconic Periyar. Periyar deserves more than Bharat Ratna, wonder why Dravidian parties never insisted on this. What is more shocking is that these 'prestigious' literary awards don’t seem to be properly scrutinized or else only a particular section seems to be favored. It reflects their attitude and intent. What prevented Muhammad Basheer, one of the best known writer (indeed my all-time favorite) and great humanist, ever considered for these awards. It shows how trivial these people are.    

Incorrigible depravity, Indian media go back

   

This blogger seems to have bumped into the holy grail of amazing depravity entrenched into social framework and attitude herein something I had always suspected but couldn’t put the pulse on. It is too layered, and imagine if it is so hidden with complicated nuances that needs deliberate, sometimes intense, focus as also awareness of social realities, to decipher these crude world, then how are outsiders, particularly West, ever going to come anywhere near. The reason why Indian elites are having it so easy, pirouetting nonviolent concerns, hawking peace, piggyback riding Gandhi (man of the century, we are told) with charming, sometimes hilarious, ease. Positioning as representatives of society that exalts its wondrous ‘unity in diversity’ as entitlement. They are adept in their ways, the camaraderie is telling. 

   Where as the rightist elements in the elite are adept in taking high moral grounds their brethren show their visceral dislike by taking higher liberal grounds, tethered as they both are to squatter’s depravity and hypocrite home truth. This is an arduous task as they have firm control over narration as also seeped into popular idioms and equally entitlement driven progenies controlling the scene. The mediocrity of this society is astounding, India’s demographic dividend will very likely spread this nonviolent pus and gangrene the world, if preventive actions are not taken. I am now quite clear that wily exaggerated concerns for minorities, very narrowly defined to religion, with crude mullahs and elitist Christians, is to elicit compassion as valuable trait as also garner benefits herein. They prey on divisiveness and keep it alive. Casteism, and the incredibly primitive world it creates, therefore is valuable form of divisiveness that also seeks to define their entitlements. Amazingly this depravity is also sold as secular liberal values. For this very reason India is very well an Incredible India! It is a society of amazing primitiveness that has been packaged with compelling pointers as humanity’s saviour. An incredible hogwash.

I have everything against Kasthuri&Sons (there is no disclaimer), and they are only the tip of iceberg of pretentious mediocre elite who have been orchestrating nonsense in the garb of high concerns meanwhile quite viciously degrading society. Their appalling ways have been source of untold misery to common people, astoundingly they were able to work it out into liberal values and impress. Kasturi&Sons can easily be generalised, others to a large extend are too crass, the reason why I point to them. The high priest of Indian media, you may take that literally (surely that’s what they act and proudly stake claim), the entitlement driven fourth estate. As I write these the common people in Nepal, facing the worst of tragedies, have found time to ask Indian media to get out. That probably is the luxury we in India don’t have, we have to tolerate this disgraceful media, hooligans as conscious keepers. They milk the tragedy with amazing crassness, the one I witnessed in Haridwar (mentioned in the earlier blog) is the template that replicates. Clearly they work well in market environment and transactions. Meanwhile Mr. Ramdev, was caught pedaling ‘Putrajeevak’, literal translation means ‘producer of male child’. Obviously it is appalling, to make the matter worse he is the brand ambassador of a State (Haryana) that has the worst sex ratio, as also the region known for entrenched male chauvinism. Ramdev, instead of apologizing, went on the offensive.  It seems it is a Sanskrit word, hence god ordained sanction. Yoga is good for body but is not known to increase intelligence that needs an entirely different process, logic and understanding being critical. Reading scriptures (in Sanskrit) is not known to make one knowledgeable on worldly/relevant/contemporary matters. What is clear is Putra means male child, Putri means female child. So these products only consolidate heinous worldview and crude gender insensitiveness. Crap talk of justification doesn’t help, I am not giving too much social sensitivity to Mr. Ramdev, he seems too naïve and very much entrenched to traditional ways that is tutored. Also, we cannot ask for some product to be withdrawn and some people to mend while ‘liberal’ exuding market can have its primitiveness intact as choice. Kasturi&Sons don’t seem to have problem either. Don’t focus on semantics is their refrain, they don’t see the irony of the name. They cleverly understand that too much probing will very well lead the path to home truths. Nevertheless they seem concern of the effectiveness. Extending the logic I am concerned about effectiveness of all products that is peddled. I am very concerned about exploitative and racist products that degrade environment and society. Pointing to Mr.Ramdev is beginning of liberal classism. Nowhere in the world smoking could be studied from caste-religion divisions, Kasturi&Sons keenness on these divisions is legendary. Papa Kasturi must be contented man in his miserable grave. 

To probe further, last Sunday Kasturi&Sons were in true colours. A mediocre Tamil novelist Jayakanthan was the man in question. He is being sought to be compared with legendary revolutionary Periyar, every attempt is made to degrade Periyar this being latest. It is also an attempt to refurbish squatter’s view and camaraderie herewith.  The squatter columnist was in free flow. Incidentally some people defecate around railway tracks for lack of toilets, they are none too happy and show discomfort. But some happily defecate English words, sometimes long sentences (signs of too much garbage in the system), they call it columns, therefore columnists, these are sometimes also referred to as senior journalists. They look extremely satisfied with their daily defecation, they also get paid.  Then there are novelists whose defecations are legendary just that they quite skillfully skirt Indian realities. The depraved columnist at Kasthuri&Sons claims “An incident in a literary conference over half a century ago is etched in Tamil cultural memory. It’s a meeting in which two personalities laid bare the cultural fault lines in Tamil society.” Really Tamil cultural memory!! Tamil fault lines!! Or is it between the civilised and uncivilised. And goes on with his defection meant to salvage pride of squatters in best tradition of humbleness and Machiavellianism, meanwhile trivializing the struggles of common people from the horrendous reality for which likes of him and his masters (i.e. Kasturi&Sons) are very much responsible. “Periyar E.V. Ramasamy would have been the most unlikely candidate to inaugurate such a conference. But there he was! With over a half-century of selfless political work in the cause of political and social emancipation behind him, he still continued his relentless rationalist campaign despite being shy of 82. His subversive views on god and religion notwithstanding, Periyar’s challenge to the existing Brahmin-dominated order had won him much support even among the believers.” Even among believers?! It is assumed that squatters worldview is that of believers hence any challenge to this primitiveness is posited as challenge to faith. Clever, no wonder Kasturi&Sons saw some talent in this recruit.

“Periyar commenced his speech disavowing any literary credentials. He was no ezhuthalan (writer; the one who wields the pen), he insisted, but a karuthalan, one who dealt with ideas — a pregnant neologism coined for the moment. Delivered in the spoken register, shorn of rhetoric, it was a characteristic performance. His critique of caste, religion, Brahmins, god, and their baneful influence on Tamil language and writing was replete with proverbs and spiced with an earthy humour. Without burning the Puranas and epics, he asked, how was Tamil literature to flourish? Was it not the duty of writers to debunk such fanciful writing and lead the people on the path of reason?” Note even god doesn’t have capital letter! Amazing glimpse of worldly humbleness. Periyar’s disavowing of any literary credentials was deliberate snub at so called writers and artists who tend to take high ground on the basis of creative freedom, and in Indian reality as also in its mediocrity puts it in frame of shockingly absurd if not irresponsible.

“When he rose to speak, Jayakanthan clarified that he had no wish to contest Periyar. But considering that Periyar advocated reason as the touchstone of all thinking and action, and wanted to decimate the ancient wisdom of the Hindus, Jayakanthan declared that he too would employ reason to refute him. Invoking the great Siddha poet Sivavakkiyar, he argued that rationalism could follow not only the atheistic route but take recourse to belief as well. Drawing on pop anthropology, he provided a defence of Hindu Puranas. Rather than blame Brahmins for the ills of Tamil society, Jayakanthan defended the pristine and ancient varnashrama ordering of society, and argued that it was because Brahmins had failed in their duty that India had fallen to its present state! Finally, he declared that, as a writer, he would brook no instruction on what he should or should not write”. Note the emphasized words are that of the writer, ofcourse there is futile bid to elevate the mediocre novelist (clearly a man with such derogatory views shouldn't be even be considered for Jnanapith awards, it is unfortunate but then the list of highest awards is about high end camaraderie of mediocrity the reason why it is nowhere near any international standards) like Jayakanthan as some kind of titan. Obviously a much aware and civilized publication wouldn’t allow these kinds of primitiveness. These are little traditional ways Kasturi&Sons work out their little world, and yes this is 21^st century, and yes they also see themselves as guardians of worldly peace, and have strong views on how France should deal with crisis. The depravity of it all. Nepali people don’t know that Indian media is only a small fraction of Indian reality we face on daily basis that has been cannibalising common people for too long. In the meanwhile it’s time to be high on liberalism and preen in some classism.   

The scoundrels called Kasthuri&Sons

I gather Indian intellectuals have manipulated some gravitas for opinions and suggestions on matters related to national and international concern in the last many decades. They are being looked upon as benevolent guardians of humanity.  The Indian philosophy seems to be posited as solutions to problems besetting modern world, it is claimed Indians have upper hand on matters of high morals. And many have snooting their views as the repository of worldly order, the keys to these mystical world only they are ordained, haughtiness withstanding. On matters of minorities (ofcourse confined to religion) they behave as aggressive local guardians, clearly crossing the lines of civilised. That those claiming the minorities themselves are seriously flawed, regressive, is pushed under as freedom. That Indians themselves cannot claim to be much civilised and that diversity is a primitive alliance -pus is mistaken for peace. 

There are hundreds of newspapers in different languages but English had it easy, and in this The Hindu (run by patriarchs Kasturi&Sons) in particular claims to be high on concerns. It may be true as other bunches are too crass in their stampede to please the market and earn their daily meal. Most journalists are joke, indeed most people can do what they are doing in the name of journalism. The high sounding ‘fourth estate’ ‘pillar of democracy’ does attempt to give some credibility. And they do take some matters seriously, that is if it doesn’t rock their boat. It is a known fact that they play second fiddle to big corporates. The HSBC revelation points to serious nexus of revenue officials and big money, clearly they have severely degraded institutions. Army officials become arms dealers, bureaucrats become investment facilitators. We have amazingly successful lawyer luminaries in the tardiest of legal system that has given untold misery to common people. The sycophants in political parties (specifically Congress) don’t have any mass base therefore they cultivate these to consolidate themselves as they degrade the system for manipulative space. The moles, the marketeers, manipulators, fixers…have severely undermined democratic principles (take the con couple ZK and Crude woman on a two day custody and they will spill the beans on the modus operandi, this template of manipulation is played at higher level by exploitative corporate). Capitalism in whatever nuanced intent can only be crony in India, that is the nature of the society, while communism can be but pretentious posturing.  

The high intent of journalists, that of The Hindu too is limited, as they play within the exploitative framework. They may take high moral grounds but are tethered to primitive framework. Like almost all businesses in India they too are beneficiaries of feudal-made-worst by caste cannibalised framework is clear. And that they judiciously accrued these benefits and multiplied too is clear. The outsider they finally allowed as editor left in disgust. Recently as machiavellian politicians tried to usurp the legacy of Ambedkar, Kasthuri&Sons weren’t far behind. They posited themselves as saviours for the sake of under trodden, their heart constantly bleed for them is the claim. But let us be clear these people are in for the big ticket concerns that could be showcased to international audience, and benefits herein. Even in these their concerns are superficial.

The Hindu has a column dedicated to religion (meanwhile they also pose as left leaning!), even by the standard of primitive form of squatter’s world they carry amazingly crude views. It is appalling but Kasthuri &Sons find nothing amiss, maybe they carry it as redemption for the 'sins' they commit. Take these despicable lines in today’s newspaper. “…Are His avataras real, or are they the result of some magic on His part? Arjuna is born in a royal family, because he must have done some good deeds in his previous births to merit this position…Krishna gives Arjuna answers to all his questions. The Lord’s avataras are real and are not the result of magic. His avataras are taken because He wants to descend to the Earth. He does not come because of His past deeds…” blah blah and further crap of imaginatively clever mind to control herd. Clearly it seems to be primitive interpretation of Gita -not that everything about this book (one among many hindu holy texts) is enlightening. So Kasturi&Sons maybe showcasing their liberal angle by protesting against suggestion of Gita as national book, but underneath these scoundrels have no qualms spreading primitiveness.     

   

 Analyse the sentence that is packaged as part of god’s (clearly His) views “Arjuna is born in a royal family, because he must have done some good deeds in his previous births to merit this position”. Which means Ambedkar must have done bad deeds to demerit, therefore the sections who brutalised have reasons, meanwhile perpetrators have no hand, not even our London returned Kasturi&sons. These scoundrels are only humble (emphasis that) witness to cosmic play of brutalities. This crudeness is called caste cannibalism, worse than racism, a twisted understanding that enlightened seers have rejected outright. Kasthuri&Sons and their primitive forefathers are very much responsible for caste violence that kill and brutalise common people that one see on daily basis -but is cleverly manipulated as law&order issue, that has severely handicapped people. These are the people who deviously provide credibility to worst meanwhile humbly stand on the sidelines and parrot peace (Gandhian if you will), they are also prone to take high moral grandstanding. Hereditary legacy therefore is part of cosmic play. These, therefore are the people, who actively scuttled land reforms and inheritance tax, and encouraged nepotism and crony capitalism, made law&order machinery tardy and judiciary lax. They actively kept govt. schools/hospitals inefficient and people in trance of fate. They degraded the society and brutalised people. Meanwhile very much attuned to royal happenings across the world, as some kind of barometer of their own humble legacy. You will see their keenness on matters related to royalties as they negotiate liberal values and barbaric peace.

Kasthuri&Sons shouldn’t be allowed to get away, they have been playing for too long. They should be taken to task (for my part I write these, as also return the newspaper to the vendor). It is much worse than a white American liberal hiding Klu klux klan outfit in his closet or a Nazi wear that he wears on special occasion without ever feeling out of place. It is worse because it cloaked in religious/moral flavour morning sermons that seeks to further entrap common people and feed on their miseries. Kasthuri &Sons and their ilk have been feeding for many centuries now, even choice of modern enlightened thoughts don’t deter shows their deep entrenched hypocrisy and brutal ways. They shouldn’t be allowed in civilised circle.   

You must watch this movie

 Indian movies are either too commercial charting the dominant prejudices or too pretentious mediocre art fair. Between these you do come across some brilliant stuff. I as an audience at one point was into film festivals, and can claim to have sensibilities to recognise good movie. ‘Court’ is such a movie, it is a brilliant effort. This multilingual movie is one of the best movies I have seen for a long time (‘Peepli live’ ‘Wednesday’…too were good movies). It quite succinctly brings out the tardy system and unconcerned individuals, as the marginalised pay the price of mediocrity.      

Visiting the religious pit

I have visited Haridwar many times, as it is near to Delhi I used to drop in quite often. Rishikesh is a better option, hanging around with foreign tourists was a preferred option. Haridwar is a Hindu pilgrim centre for thousands of years, and that makes it an interesting study. Very soon you realise the primitive template that defines Indian society, the psyche, its origin and crudeness. Indeed it is quite true to all Hindu pilgrim centres, temples and pits. It is excruciating to watch hapless people trapped in rituals that bring them here, believes related to death of near one and solace they seek make them vulnerable. Any social system, in particular the religion –that positions itself as moral bearer,  would have evolved empathy and wellbeing of grieving individuals on these matters. But that is not what you witness in Haridwar. It is an amazingly brutal world. Scoundrels masquerading brahmins have spread their tentacles to squeeze the hapless people. It is heart breaking to see them pounce and cheat people in their most vulnerable of situations in life. Very soon you realise that these scoundrels have spread across all walks of life and are responsible for general degradation of society, for serious lack of ethics and exploitation of weak.

I was sitting at the bank of Ganges, the sacred and most polluted river –this irony in itself explains the nature of things, and observing a ritual being conducted by relatives of deceased on quieter part of the river. It was clear that the family was economically not very well off, the reason they choose these less crowded part of the river was to seek reduction on cost of rituals. They were clearly distressed by the loss of dear one, and most likely wanted the best of other world for the departed soul. As I was watching the absurdity of the ritual made comical by lackadaisical disinterested ‘brahmin’ (it is amazing that some take it as matter of birthright, and taken these primitiveness as identity), in the meanwhile as an observer I felt for the family and identified with the tribulation they underwent. A street photographer, who couldn’t get any customer, too was riveted by the spectacle. The wily ‘brahmin’ was adept, he slowly and deliberately made his moves like a predator hunting the prey. The victims not very assured on these matters generally gave in, not to incur any wrath or bad omen. Sample few of the tactics he adopted to fleece the money. “basm ka kriya alagh or brahmin ka kriya alagh” meaning the ritual associated with ash (of the dead) is different while that of ‘brahmin’ is different, meaning (these scoundrels are adept in layers of niceties) the cost associated with rituals related to dead is different while the cost associated with ‘brahmin’ is different. Meaning, dead will have the cost to negotiate into heaven but as an ordained agent he has a price. Meaning, he will have all the money. The man was relentless and played cruelly on the vulnerabilities; it could even easily anguish anyone witnessing these cruelties. Other words thrown in were “puniya ka qatha” (“deposit of good deeds”. Some people are high on these and quantify it by distributing greasy food in cities), “Brahaman ka bhoj ke liye dhaan” (donation for feast for ‘brahmin’). Fleecing over dead is a tradition here. Disgust. Finally he managed to squeeze 50R more, and made a tidy sum of 150R from the poor people for an effort lasting 15odd minutes.

I told the photographer instead of investing on costly equipment and haggling for customers why doesn’t he put on a thread, do the same as the miserable ‘brahmin’ and earn easy money. The photographer’s response was telling, he said that will be cheating, amazingly he didn’t see the irony of what transpired in front of us. In his tutored worldview we have a role assigned and within that roleplay you could cheat! Indeed he would do the same in what he was doing, it is a replicated behaviour pattern. As I was interacting with him he told me that these punds i.e. the ‘brahmin’ scoundrels adept in squeezing people off their money, are small time punds, they are chelas. Indeed under the tree relaxed two more, apparently they had the share of the money, a kind of rent seeking that gets magnified in big cities. It was a racket and each area divided for the spoil. The photographer pointed to the crowded side of the river “the punds there are gudhi ke pund (loosely, high seated/cushioned ‘brahmins’), wo tho loot ke nanga kar thenge (they could easily loot you into your underwear). They easily earned in thousands on daily basis. The petty photographer had other aspect of his character. He mentioned about having eaten food with ‘valmiks’. He was quite repulsed but maintained that they too are human and should be treated as such. I glimpsed little Gandhi peeking out of him. An amazing unity in diversity. Herein you get another template that Indians flourish in and that is you supplicate to the force above you in the meanwhile brutalise the people below you. All these done in a peaceful manner that the protagonists come out agreeable souls, indeed in some case astoundingly liberal. This exploitative mindset is something that comes as a second nature to Indians. This insidious nature you will also see in state machinery. It also means if people are vulnerable they could be brutalised. Insensitivity to the plight becomes a negotiable factor, karma and other sophistry will provide explanation that take the perpetrators out of the picture and place it into some cosmic laws. This also provides explanations for easy money for elite, as is the case of the fleecer at Haridwar. Hence corruption is a good given opportunity, it’s a divine favour to augment one’s position. The debauchery of richest temples (includes the putrid pit at Tirupathi) is an exemplary testimonial, it is not at all ironical that Indian elites vouch for miracles happening within the precincts of these temples, therefore are seen stampeding these sights. A template that is viciously emulated by wanabees down the ladder, who are now double certain of these miracles. To take a minor example Bellary brothers saw an opportunity to cut the mountains and sell the minerals, this opportunity was definite divine message (market calls it opportunity, hence these are quite effortlessly market tuned for bigger causes).   The hindrances were removed with god grace, that needed wily squatter’s rituals specified for these purposes, if you can bribe the god then ordinary mortals are easy game, the politicians and officials (who themselves considered these as another of god will for fast money, they only conduit in this fairness). In these worldly miracles mountains vanish without trace and became land of millionaires. As lives of people move to one more misery. The divinely graced Bellary brothers now return the favour by donating gold throne. The squatters are happy, gods have expressed their wish. Unfortunately these are regular happening as law can be manipulated (another divine grace) or too tardy with loopholes, a British legacy graciously carried on with clear manipulative intent

Later that day I was interacting with a rickshaw puller, who had migrated from nearby Bijnour. His rickshaw is taken on rent for 40R daily. He generally earns 20R for back breaking effort of one way trip. Battery operated rickshaw, he blamed, take chunk of passenger as they operate at much cheaper rate. Next day I was lone passenger in the battery rickshaw, the young man had taken it for rent for 200R on a daily basis. He says he comfortably earns about 300R after paying the rent. Yes he would like to own one of these and had even approached the bank but he has neither hereditary possessions nor any guarantee, as he belongs to landless farm labours community. Lack of land reforms has seen to it that some people have huge holdings that are transacted hereditarily. Landed farmers are like organised workers, therefore these concerns of plight of farmers needs to be seen in that light. There is a vast section that are landless and marginalised, exploited as farm labours and unorganised sector. The areas that doesn’t reach the sight of policy makers or political parties.

So here it is, some cheat in the name of god and make easy money without as much as a drop of sweat while others are drained off their blood to make even fraction of it. This is happening for centuries, and therefore the easy money brethren invaded the prime spots in cities and multiplied their ill-gotten money while some moved abroad and came back as liberal saviours. In the meanwhile the vicious ways are intact, the reason for mediocrity and general apathy. In this travesty their concerns are fixated on conduct of others and ego issues herein.

The picture is that of shop that has casteist family tree as its banner, it’s a camaraderie time for sharmas of the world!! I make it a point to not visit any shop that has casteist references, indeed please avoid ‘prachin’ eateries; they invariably are tasteless greasy fair like the iconic American products very judiciously promoted through TV channels for liberal reasons. In Haridwar people queue to Mohanji ka puri wherein the nearby shops serving the same greasy crap is deserted.    

Please don’t vandalise, demolish: little scribbles on the walls of Hindu temples in West is understandably a major concern for Indian media. If the temples are following the same casteist primitive framework of entitled world, and they very likely are since the elites are quite Machiavellian mediocre bunch adept in sucking on feudal status quo, then this blogger will request the people who are indulging in vandalism to please demolish the temples. No civilized society should give space to uncivilised practices and norms. Hindu temples are the pits that have nothing to do with Hinduism nor its ways, these are places of power struggle, influence cult, primitive norms and swindling money, which most hindus find regrettable but are powerless to act tied as they are to vulnerabilities. If India is declared as a racist country these will be scrutinised closely and actions taken. Freedom of practice of religion need to follow civilised norms otherwise these sensitivities should be thrown into nearest dustbin. 

Ageism, classism and why government must fight against market censor

It’s shocking how in the competitive zeal to take high moral ground some people tend to habitually cross the line of propriety, indeed they are so immune to their own deceitful ways that they don’t realise their offence. Sharma woman, a prominent slave at Kasthuri & Sons, seems to have so much faith in her god ordained credentials that she holds her infallibility up her sleeves. It is quite a natural extension of squatter’s entitled world. She has the temerity to dictate what is appropriate behaviour, what is suitable age difference for sexual interest or other prurient matters. RK Pachauri or anyone has all the right to pursue whatever is their interest or non interest, sexual or non sexual, whether it is harassment or not is for the people concerned to decide, or the law to intervene. Sharma woman of the world cannot draw lines on ‘age appropriate behaviour’ or for anything that they fancy as the world should be. Clearly harassment laws are being misused, what is genuine concern becomes farce in power struggle and crude leveraging for gain. Women entrenched in squatter’s framework are equally heinous and shouldn’t be allowed to misuse laws. Mr Pachauri shouldn’t have resigned, that is violation of his freedom to pursue livelihood. Investigation should take its own course and if the person is found guilty then punished accordingly. These high profile cases, particularly metro city based, should be dealt in different framework, as these are part of some vicious power struggle, harassment cases in most cases are alibi for manipulations. There are some depraved women ready to play abla nari (‘scared/afraid’ is commonly used to consolidate this narration) for gain. These demean and degrade genuine violations, a common occurrence towards lower sections. I hope the judiciary takes these matters into context. Also a time frame of a month or so should be allowed in such cases or else case dismissed, further if the case is found spurious then the ‘victim’ arrested. Meanwhile what happened to Tejpal case? Since there is no prosecution it is clear the man was crucified, the so called victim should be arrested. Same is the case of SC judge who was sought to be trapped and exploited by a law student. Its clear egalitarian laws are being used to settle scores by some depraved people.

Recently one Union Minister in a private conversation made a statement on ‘Sonia Gandhi and fair skin’, now that let loose sycophants in Congress, habitual chatterattis and small time hooligans on a ranting match. Of course the statements were in bad taste but then it should be put in context to private conservations of all concerned. Most importantly should private conversation be given such prominence? If that is the case then everyone concerned will come out as amazingly hypocrite. Clearly the rant hid the fault lines of classism, the one that divides the hindi speaking hinterland types and the city bred supposedly liberal types. They belong to the same stock is clear from the fact that what the minister uttered is a common truth. This blogger also holds the view that if she was from ‘Africa’ her acceptability would have been significantly affected. What the minister mouthed rustically is packaged as choice in English speaking liberal sucking circle. Racist products are promoted as matter of serving the need, hence part of sacred GDP service. The squatter shifting to liberalism therefore ensconce with characteristic ease to gods of capitalism. Scoundrels like Shah Rukh Khan also moonwalk as sickularism icons (because of muslim name), as they suck up profit from whatever way possible. How are these market icons different from rustic minister? This is called classism, and hypocrite indian elite showcase it in their rant and attitude. They can very well carry on with their nonsense but the elected representatives has a duty to see these products that promote racist attitude and primitive stereotypes should be banned, these are choices that shouldn’t exist in civilised society. And yes devotee of capitalism gods and sickularism mathas needs to understand there are things that can be banned. Racism is banned in civilised world. Ban is a solution. If peace loving Indian barbarians had their way then ‘Africans’ everywhere shouldn’t be protesting and asking on ban on racism but use more and more whitening cream. It’s a win win situation. Too much peace too much profit. That is what makes Indians so very special.

Small mishaps in USA or London could be breaking news while more than hundred students shot dead in Kenya (Garissa massacre of Christian students by Al Shabaab Islamist militants) is only a passing reference, the kind of consternation found on matters of Europe by Indian elite is absent. Market censors create perceptions that accentuate primitive worldview. It is in extension of these that this blogger welcomes the step taken by Maharashtra government to promote Marathi cinemas. Market censor has seen to that regional cinemas are shunted out from multiplexes in metros cities. Hopefully big cities like Bangalore that are being affected by market influx in the name of development has the right to protect its culture . Languages around the world are severely threatened, and these delicate matters shouldn’t be left with market forces. Languages, as also other culture heritage pointers, need immediate and sustained protection from the state. They shouldn’t be intimidated by market foot soldiers.  

Conspiracy against Indian state

Though this blogger isn’t terribly concerned about state as an entity but does realise when there is something amiss as also being located I have stakes. I was reading one of the reputed international British newspapers online sometime back, media frenzy over rape of an elderly nun in West Bengal (however shocking this is one wonders what makes it a ‘national’ news in a country where women and children of marginalized sections are systematically abused and heinous crime perpetrated on them on a daily basis). It was also around the same time that there was an attack on church in Pakistan killing dozens of people. Intriguingly the news from India was prioritized over horrendous happening in Pakistan in this British newspaper. This glaring lack of proportion got me thinking (to add to it the communal angle to rape was quite flimsy and a mischievous attempt on sensationalisation). There seem to be concerted effort being made in recent times to malign Indian state -in effect against Modi government. Clearly some well-orchestrated attempts are being made to degrade the government in international forums. They are working on ‘minorities in siege’ narration. This is undoubtedly the work of people who were fed over last many decades, they are showing their international clout to discredit the government. Having lost power, and not quite used to this lose, they have shifted to international forums. There is an intense power struggle going on as some stare into oblivion. It is amazing the absurd level people can stoop to. Hopefully the Indian government is keeping a tag and taking appropriate actions within the ambit of democracy.

Ironically there are some serious issues that need international attention, and quite understandably these will be ignored since it will show the hypocrisy of elite sections, and this is where international community needs to toughen against India. At the end of the day the warring elite (fighting for common people sake is a honored tradition, it also carries otherworldly brownie points and entitlements) belong to the same framework, this is a fratricidal war where common people have no significance. Two specific case needs immediate international attention: First is the issue of climate change as also exploitation of natural resources. Second, attempts to equate caste with race. In both case you will see warring elite sections closing ranks as they are completely entrenched and have cunningly manipulated these in their favour. They have been quite viciously sucking on common people. Serious issue of climate change rarely get discussed as farmers are paying a heavy price negotiating the vagaries of nature, rising price hits the poorest. In the international forum Indian government (i.e. the cunning bureaucrats ably goaded by exploitative corporates masquerading agents of development) have played on low per capita carbon emission. A society with so many disparities you can be very sure that elite sections carbon emissions could be one of the highest in the world. They have Americans as role models, indeed they have made all attempts to push American wasteful ways through daily tv, as exploitative corporates march in for easy picking. Some even locate liberal values herein, and feel assured of their superiority over common people. Recently TATAs even arranged truck race. The depravity of it. The true meaning of vasudevakutumbakam would be if the world is taken as one entity in determining carbon emission. We cannot carry the burden of the wasteful elite, their gargantuan consumption and hedonistic ways. Organisations like Greenpeace will have to activate more vigorously at international forums against the exploitations of natural resources in poorer corrupt societies like India. They will face the heat in India as sponsors of election funds ask for quid pro quo. Exploitation of natural resources and the benefits herein, also rent seeking feudal benefits, is how Indian elite make a living. English skills, service industry and emulating others bring up the competence angle.

The issue of caste and the devious attempts to compare with race has been elaborated quite extensively by this blogger. It needs international intervention, as powerful entrenched forces are ready to scuttle. Barbarian nonviolence will have to stop. PM Modi’s assertion of India as land of peace is a well-intentioned bad joke. This blogger again call upon international community to declare caste as against humanity. India’s claim to UN permanent seat is untenable. A country with primitive conceptions cannot and should not be allowed to take its position at international high table. Though countries like China too have serious human rights issues but India’s case is damning as primitive mindset is part of squatter’s tradition that is inflicted on common people, while mediocre elite gain sustenance from it. Indians will have to be scrutinized quite strictly, apparently they are falling quite short of civilized ways. 

Communal Judge should be kicked out: Recently in an attempt to exaggerate ‘minority in siege’ narration a Judge of SC showed his communal manipulation. It is clear that he has been goaded into it. It is ironical that this fellow thought of wanting a holiday as point of protest considering how common people are suffering because of tardy judiciary. Further, he needs to understand that every Sunday is weekly holiday for Christian reasons. He must look at neighboring countries to know the significance. Also, since our man is from Kerala he needs to understand that most important festivals like Onam is not a holiday in north India. People learn to adjust and work accordingly. It is this pernicious nature of asserting right that becomes problem (arrogant Britain is learning) and there are some who manipulate these as minority rights, in a limited understanding of religion as only identity. Christians are richest section in Kerala and I don’t think this fellow has ever faced any discrimination or deprivation that most Indians face on daily basis. The audacious nature of his protest was fueled by cunning squatters masquerading liberal, who see these as definitive reference for showcasing their pretentious self. Clearly this self-obsessed judge (not at all uncommon in judiciary) doesn’t understand the syncretic nature of society he lives in nor has any empathy hence is not suited to be a judge at the highest court of the land. 

If Christians truly holds egalitarian values, then they should stop hobnobbing with deceitful Indian elite, they need to follow the tradition of seeking the marginalized. For the same reason they must take steps to restrict entry for progenies with caste references into the educational institutions. They must take a stand on this. Knowing the history of church in European context as also recent stand by churches in kerala over Gadgil it becomes clear where Christian elite stand. This makes the task of Machiavellian liberal masquerading squatters easy.

Ghar wapsi of mediocre millionaires …still counting

 Thank god the disgust is over…more than this boring game, its mediocre but high on style players (it’s called branding, records make it groovy), all kind of smalltimers and Machiavellian organizers the ex cricketers are the worst nuisance. These vermin invade all possible space with god knows what expertise. Our challenge as ordinary people who don’t give a damn about this stupid game is to keep these pests out.

Despite these mediocrities they will never stop making easy money market has cash riding on them. ‘Indian team’ was never good, they never were. They make records, are awarded over other genuine sportspeople, hyped by market while London returned media create the halo. These have severely degraded institutions and propriety. Now they want their followers to be sensible.

This is a picture from one of the city. We know about statues in main squares but one on coca cola really beats it. They have constructed a tribute for soft drink brand in public property right in the middle of the city!! With big money exploitative corporate in poor and corrupt societies have always had it easy, all packed as democracy, freedom and choice. It’s amazing that they pulled this one. I am sure next it will find space next to bigben in London.