Making a spectacle of tragedy

‘Nirbhaya’ was a gruesome tragedy, that it took place in Delhi is what changed things. The complacent policy makers were awakened by startled self-obsessed media. These things are unfortunately ‘normal’ happenings in most part of the country over ages. It is also reflection on mediocre Congress leaders, ruling for last six decades, who eked on sycophancy and manipulations, that these feudal lords were out of touch with people’s concern is exhibited from ineffective law&order machinery and archaic laws that were essentially cut and paste job of colonial rules without any context or relevance. Meanwhile we have to watch legal luminaries of all shades pirouetting the power centers with faintest of bearings and slickest touch to reality.

In this high profile case of ‘Nirbhaya’ (revealed by parents as Ms Jyothi Singh. Sardesaiji’s**t channel was playing on caste reference in the name with gusto, wherein the mother didn’t carry this demeaning reference. They have been milking this in every possible way, asking sickeningly personal question as the camera close focus the face of the victim's family, in gleeful anticipation of tears. Sadnezz Sellz. Sardesai with his appalling anglicized hindi, as if nobody else is suitable for this job, using his personal reference to try to get his branding going -an art you learn from self-obsessed mediocre protagonists of Bollywood and cricket -calling them artists/sportsperson is a stretch) the parents are easy low hanging fruits for manipulators. The family involved in the tragedy should be now be concerned on how they are being used. It is amazing reality of this uncouth society. 

Jyothi Singh’s family should be very careful, they are unfortunate novice in the murky world of power brokers and brand positioners who swarm like vultures on any hint of tragedy. Yesterday CrudeWoman was seen positioning herself for better camera angle next to victim’s mother. She has been languishing in the sidelines for sometime now, I guess now the itch is unbearable, with power and clout evaporating she is zeroing on this one. Victims are generally unaware of these higher stakes games, indeed you could almost see CrudeWoman salivating. Beware, very soon she will push the victims out to grab the center stage, then it is furious brand packaging to stratosphere of celebrity activism and gourmet spread. Her PR (fed lusciously for last decade of unbridled power and nepotism) is working overtime on this. CrudeWoman is fighting her own grim battle, as they snarl and claw in the stampede of staying relevant. All for our sake, saviours of people. Meanwhile fixers later meet to check the performance and plan further action as camera is readied. CrudeWoman&fixers have cleverly worked out their rojiroti except that for people around it's going to be just roti while wily CrudeWoman is already aiming for bhatoore.

Generally victims of any tragedy have best of intention that this misfortune (in Indian context it is never about tardy system or irresponsible policy makers but misfortune/fate of people. Guess which section has this tilted against? It is emulation of squatter template) doesn’t happen to anyone, and they genuinely expect changes, sometimes as redemption, as restoring dignity to departed souls in an amazingly crude society. The mother/father have best of intentions and we admire them for their courage that they use their immense personal tribulations to set the tardy system right. The system with amazing legal luminaries sidestepping to grab every type of gain possible as sycophantic politicians wait for signals from unknowable above. Meanwhile Ms. Jyothi Singh’s parents should be careful that they are not used by vested interests. To start with, no sharing of dais, keep an eye on creeping small time celebrities from the sidelines. These creeps will tomorrow emerge from some gala events with enhanced brand value.

It’s unfortunate that the parents have to undergo this nonsense, ideally the system should have been compassionate, if not, realized the mistake/lacuna and rectified on its own. A juvenile cannot be considered a juvenile if the crime is of adult nature as also carries the awareness of consequence. Is that difficult to comprehend?

PS: **Henceforth scoundrels with regressive casteist references will be encapsulated (choicest invective added) with their degraded identity and added "ji". That is Gandhian way of dealing things, i guess (Visit me at www.depalans.blogspot.com to get the context on this). It is amazing that Indian elite is so disgustingly depraved. I am understanding their existential angst and consternation as the rug is pulled, all nakedness and depravity out in the open. The liberal high moral ground has hole bigger than all clan can fill in. No verbal dexterity is going to be of much help here. Now only the monarchy references of the West can save their entitled souls, the parity in unethical ways is an opening for Indian elite.       

PSZ: ZK says ‘budiya ka brandingz ab Vibhushan levelz ka ho gaya hai. Bohuth aage nikal gayi hai ye. Koi nahi rok sakta isko”. When asked about climate change ZK scowls "Carbonz footprintz ki ma ki ankh"...more on these hedonist's conspicuous consumption as they try save us. Some other time, believe me the degradation is breath taking. 

The ‘savage Arab’ narration

Comics are not quite innocent as it seems to be. There are racist references seen in Tintin, Herge was even accused of being a Nazi sympathiser. Indian mythology is full of regressiveness that is illustrated without much care as comics, unlike endearing Jatakas, these are much sinister. Even exquisite mangas are accused of being too sexualised. In short comics are hotbed of ideologies. Now ofcourse illustrations have become much serious and tackle grievous issues. But comics are primarily targeting children hence these blatant ethical transgression needs to be dealt severely. This blogger was seriously into comics, and didn’t think much while reading, enjoying the story and remarkable illustrations so on. I recall when I was in Chennai, after my college, I was quite hooked to Commondo comics. I got into understanding with a street book seller, who earnestly pursued these for me and lend it. Many times I used to finish it in the nearby tea shop so on, meanwhile I was in some sales job and these were during what was supposed to be ‘office time’, the manager used to give wtf look!! Never was much bothered. Anyway the point here is since I wasn’t much into thinking, or maybe not much aware, I used to consume these without much thought, as most people do. Recently I was reading Commondo comics, and amazingly I was appalled.     

These are really quite racist, and this random one I was reading had ‘savage arab’ narration, ironically the brutal colonial soldiers from Europe where seen as civilising force, so much so that the British soldier even sided with Nazi soldier to teach arab brutes lessons on civility. White men as superior with ‘inbred’ qualities while Arabs uncouth is the underlining theme (note the picture of the illustration herein and underlined sentences, indeed there is a blatant reference to “forces of Islam”, “unholy triumph” so on, hence European soldiers are crusaders. Grievously this only an example of single page taken randomly!!). Shouldn’t these be dealt severely? Wonder how these racist (in this case communal/degrading clichés) materials exist? You will find similar theme in many Hollywood movies, of course much subtler, white men with bigger guns saving the world for us, these cultural hegemony though cannot hide the realities. American soldiers are literally foot soldiers of arms dealers and oil barons. As someone was mentioning they wouldn't have attacked Iraq if it was about asparagus!!

It is in this context that another of my areas of interest, the science fiction stories, is increasingly being occupied by far right groups. I find that disturbing. Science fictions are amazing speculative brilliance, and who can forget Arthur Clarke, Asimov (despite his stupid joke books), Wells or Vernes. The recent trend towards white supremacist in science fiction is too pre modern frame to be taken seriously I guess. It falls in the general trend of postmodern identity angst, hence the revivalism. The grand conception of self as extension of faith/group/race is constant anchor for insecure souls in tachyon speed altering nano space in quantum craziness!!           

Inability to see humans

This fictional reality of religion has really gone too far and is quite clearly assuming a debilitating context. It is bringing in muck that is claimed as human rights almost always undermining humanity. India is a society that is increasingly hinged on regressiveness, immune to egalitarian ways or thoughts. It is a coalition of degeneration, the worst of religious ways are tolerated and this primitiveness is elevated as tolerance, as some kind of wonders of multicultural society. The cringe worthy acceptance of deviant ways is cleverly orchestrated by feudal patriarchy, the power brokers who are amazingly insular and intolerant to compassionate ways meanwhile firm grip on narration. The liberal is assorted by wanton hedonistic culture that craves for western pointers. Amazing degradation is testament to the mediocrity of Indian elite.

Few minutes back I was reading about ‘Gandhi and cow slaughter’, and how it is seen as divergent from Hindu fundamentalists (our historian was ecstatic about this and provided the link in his twitter, an article in Economic Times). There is a divergence alright but it is not on egalitarian framework nor is it enlightened thoughts that are expected from a ‘mahatma’. It is hinged on religious power structure and patriarchy as basis, most significantly it doesn’t see human being as humans but followers of some religion hence a sacrosanct reference. That surely is gandhian path which egalitarian tradition of this society have always resisted and have problems with. Gandhi was politician, hence assumes himself to represent hindus as such the assumption that cows are sacred to hindus hence not eaten. Firstly, Gandhi’s, or for that matter any elitist hindu's, feudal and sinister caste hinged claim on common people was never accepted, this biased narration was spread by powerful interest, a fallacy that hinduism was monolithic. Secondly, journey of cows as domestic animal to its status as sacred is rather torturous. This is an imposition on Hindus by squatter inspired clever ways, that expectantly Gandhi acquiescence to, indeed the sorry state of affairs could be traced to these paradoxes. The article states that “while Gandhi denied vehemently that he was trying to trade Hindu support for the Muslim’s Khilafat movement with Muslim support for Hindu cow-protection, he did admit that this would be an ideal example of both communities respecting each other’s interests”. The reality however was Khilafat did not represent common people (read muslims, if it works for you) nor was cow an issue with common people (read hindus, if it works for you). This “both communities respecting each other’s interests” is a clever feudal patriarchy consolidation, the egotism and arrogance herein and within this elitist coterie led to worst massacre of common people, to the horrendous reality of partition. Incidentally they commemorate and celebrate British Indian soldier’s sacrifices in “world wars” but no such luck for million who were sacrificed in partition not even a day of commemoration nor any memorial (I went to a shoddy room in Amritsar at jallianwala bagh). The complicity of mediocre Indian elite is evident; it’s the high moral ground that really baffles me.   

“Just as Shariat could not be imposed on non-Muslims, Hindu law could not be imposed on non-Hindus” says Gandhi, quite practical and spoken like a politician. The egalitarian context that he missed is that no unjust law can be applied to any human being anywhere, that includes shariat or indeed hindu laws (I wonder from where did he get the ideas on hindu laws? It isn’t surprising from the pits of unethical traditions and colonial laws expert lawyers emerged as freedom fighters, and so they rule the roost even now. The society with amazingly tardy legal system and uncouth social framework has astounding legal luminaries. This is indeed an incredible society!). In civilized world these kind of medieval practices will be questioned. Everything is open for scrutiny and religion is not at all sacrosanct, nor anyone born into a religion. This kind of classification of human beings is the worst violation of individual freedom and liberty.

It is in this context that this blogger is seriously concerned on learning that separate food is provided for school children belonging to a religion in Germany or the choices herein (this was quite proudly claimed by one Indian Muslim located in Germany, in Ravish kumar show). This is shocking. Schools must deem everyone as equal, and shouldn’t encourage prejudices and segregating food habits. Human beings are not born into any religion hence an egalitarian conception must insist on secular ways, therefore children shouldn’t be exposed to any discriminating or segregating ways. They should learn to live with others and eat all kinds of food that other eat and learn to share. There are millions of people (includes children) who don’t have much to eat, malnourishment is rampant across the world. Religious sensitivity is a fictional reality that shouldn’t be imposed on children.  

Most significantly, in context to Germany, the openness should not be misused by immigrants. Least that is expected from immigrants is to be accommodating and not to impose their worldviews. Unfortunately these are leading to increasing xenophobia in Europe. And I am concerned about Europe, indeed Germany, since these are the society that are vibrant and open, critical thinking and scientific temper thrive in these places. They value human liberty and equality. They are the one who holds the key for technological breakthrough that can save us from increasingly inclement conditions. These cannot come from fictional realities, therefore the overwhelming presence and increasing concerns for these is alarming. 

Hopefully this time around they better work it out!!

When constructed reality takes precedence over objective reality

Climate change is an objective reality. It is happening and based on increasing and substantial scientific evidence, it is therefore a fact. This reality affects the planet directly hence to the species, biodiversity and ecosystem that sustains. It has debilitating effect on human being. It is acutely felt by the marginalised and vulnerable, hence they are the one who will feel the urgency. Ironically these deteriorations are mainly due to profligate lifestyle and irresponsible ways of the affluent section as is evident from the huge gaps in carbon footprint. India has low per capita carbon footprint but one can be quite sure that the affluent class has carbon footprint that could be one of the largest in the world considering that a large section of Indians live in abject conditions and lack access to even basic needs. On a personal note this blogger is using Rajdhani ac trains more than frequently and that has left me rather guilty, to travel in ac in October when the weather outside is comfortable, knowing that eighty percentage of power goes to maintain these. As also consuming food that comes in plastic sachets that too things like milk whitener that could easily be avoided as most Indians are not used to/prefer these (why not serve simple tea?).

Constructed reality is something that is developed by human beings as part of evolution as societies, that which help us develop sophistication and abstraction, hence benefit us in our dealings and has demarcated us as remarkable species. Ideas, concepts, theories, myths, faiths, constructs so on has evolved societies into intricate evolutionary achievements that is nothing short of incredible. The foundation and connection with objective reality is essential, sometimes in the labyrinth of complexity and dextrous ways humans tend to lose touch with the surroundings, that which sustains and nurtures is lost/discounted in the abstract nature of dealing. We therefore lose connection with the objective reality. Therefore climate change as anthropogenic reason finds difficulty meanwhile constructed realities, in particular religion, gain prominence and sensitivities related to this given predominance. Therefore again we have the irony of religious myths/fictions that fails the objective reality or logic that search the basis. It is not that religion lacks objective, indeed many aspects of faith has direct connection to the materiel surrounding/nature but it is when the system consolidates and power structure asserts that the primal connection loses and fiction sets in. Therefore becomes manipulative instrument in the hands of powerful, it is not at all surprising that in India the elite section is immune to these challenges of climate change that will have (and has) debilitating effect on millions of vulnerable Indians while they engross in freedom of fictional realities of religion and economy. It is also not surprise that fictional reality of Islamist sought to overshadow the objective reality of climate change in Paris. It is the success of humanity that fiction was pushed out and reality was brought in. The reality on which the future of humanity is hinged on. 

      

 When economy takes precedence over nature in clear objective reality terms it means money becomes priority over dwelling, meaning this home called earth that is fragile and very likely the only place in the whole universe. Objective reality is that the human beings are too small part in the scheme of things called universe but fictional reality places humans as grand. Houston we have a problem.

(very much influenced by the brilliant guy: Yuval Noah Harari)

                                 

   

Strongly condemn state machinery using regressive references

Nehru’s birth anniversary was celebrated by Union Culture Ministry with an advertisement that had ‘Pundit’ as a reference. This is shocking, and that this casteist reference is used with impunity and is accepted without anyone squirm is what makes it compelling about this deviant society and its ways. This is also something the regurgitators, self-appointed conscience keepers, sniffers of intolerance, who seems to be taking ever higher moral grounds, have missed. It is a common habit in a society that developed in ethical vacuum and doesn’t seem to have much civilised references. They constantly try to fill this vacuum by creating occasions that keeps their dubious values and unethical contexts herein out of the way meanwhile conjure narrations that showcases them as kindred souls. Enter Mullahs as harbinger for minority rights.  The stampede to be saviour is fought with all the viciousness. They scratch, they gnarl and create impressions of compassion driven souls fighting for righteous world. Indeed from this putrid pit some even see themselves as jagath guru, the masters of universe, compassionate guides to the beleaguered world that the world will have to bow down one day. It has to come out of the squatter’s pits, the conception of universal being is ordained by forces of nature, entitled, blessed and sent across through vaginal superways (especially helped by likes of Kasturi&Sons…they now have new conception for caste: social groups!!). In these competing world issues concerning common people are shuttled around.   

         

Jawaharlal Nehru, in the context of things, was quite a towering leader. He was ofcourse man of circumstances and who didn’t quite live upto the expectations of the people. He succumbed to the overwhelming mediocre uncouth ‘leaders’ who formed the ruling class, mostly (indeed almost all) blatant casteist patriarchs. These brutes assumed themselves to be masters of India’s destiny and assigned themselves greater roles. These shoddy leaders jostled as the primitive society was pushed into tryst with modern and egalitarian ways. “When the world sleeps India awakens” is a poetic line and quite appropriate way of describing the nation that celebrates its independence. Undoubtedly Nehru was an orator. But as the nation awakens the primitive society was and is in slumber, enmeshed in cruder ways. The glitter of modern technology and ways (Indian’s contributions to these are amazingly limited) cannot hide the putrid pits that this society exists in. Indian democracy is much of a joke, though celebrated as a miracle, it has only consolidated primitive ways and pushed the society into further crudeness while giving the semblance of freedom as market ransack with choices. It has become a systematic means of exploitation. The clever ways of feudal patriarchs are polished to the exigencies of the time as they come in the garb of saviours and leaders of pride filled  democracy.  Meanwhile feudal patriarchs of other faiths, most significantly the mullahs and his ways, are taken as the minority, hence feeding them is preened as presentation on secularism and a tenuous connection to egalitarian values is built. Squatter liberals find these quite exciting opening to present themselves to modern liberal ways. Meanwhile corruption, nepotism and all kind of crudeness is burdened on common people as competing forces save the world for us. Encouraging primitiveness of other religions/societies as culture and viciously seeking to protect these help cement the narration of amazingly tolerant humble souls. The vigilant bleeding hearts who cares and will fight for democratic rights of the oppressed (it is a different matter that feudal lords are rarely oppressed). Indeed they also position themselves as role model to west. See how peacefully we live. If Indians were to decide the course of human race we will be still in caves tolerating “social groups” and other primitive practises. It’s a mediocre society that is craving for its god ordained entitlements and as spokesperson of these deceits many pirouette across the world with claims of some exotic clairvoyance, squatter’s as liberal seculars, as spiritual humbugs. Reality is much humbling.     

      

Ever wondered why despite the kind of freedom enjoyed by the people (that ofcourse is because  of egalitarian humanistic traditions -constantly threatened and diminished by squatters), Indians never really rise to the expectations? They almost always fall short; the best is never good enough and good is stamped out in all earnestness. It is a self-defeating society that puts premium on entitlements and dispensing patronage, while individuals grope in fatalism and opportunism.  Rare exceptions are despite this vice like grip of this crude society. Ways of modernity are shoddy replications while democracy is a means to consolidate deviant values. It is a dead society that is putrefying, latest gadgets cannot change the ways, glitter cannot hide the stink. The world must bypass Indians they are not really worth it, nothing much can be expected from this burgeoning pit. Non-violently dangerous and sanctimoniously pedantic there is nothing exciting here. Even the promise of ‘demographic dividend’ (increasing population by grace of gods) are youths who come out of these pits all tagged and entitled for world to accept. The Indian family unit is a mediocrity sustaining selfish unit, that create individuals slavishly dependent on it, fed on pathologically deviant traditions and cultures. Hence we have success as money and population multipliers. With ego, status, constant urges that keeps them bonded, meanwhile enjoying amazingly mediocre fares as entertainment, sports included. There isn’t any standard or propriety, everything is made negotiable. Hence negotiators (pimps the right word here), emerging from the traditions of otherworldly arbitrations, equipped for the deal as the society spirals down. People suffer as values of equality and fraternity is reduced to legal jargons and lawyer luminaries.  The worst of the world have space in India while they ransack Indians with ideas of market choices, mediocre elite showcase these as vibrant ways. The society with rich tradition of art/music gawks on stupid American fares, a region with amazing biodiversity ogles at godforsaken crocodile catchers. It is as if this society is made completely incapable. It lacks talent, passion or calibre. Something quite natural, and expected in a society, that is on deviant foundation and labours forward with nepotism, corruption and sleight. Providence becomes the landmark, myth making explanations for inconvenient disruption. They now pupate in democratic institutions seeking redemptions. This maybe true for other societies too, but the difference here is in other societies (like US, Europe, Japan, Korea) have excellence thriving. There is sheer brilliance. Here the squatter initiated world has sinisterly ransacked everything and anything into amazing level of mediocrity and crudeness. Now they shed for ‘rising intolerance’. Get off. 

Lament of Gandhi’s grandson: Dadajis favourite is out to protect family legacy. It also helps that protecting family fortunes/legacies also takes oneself into rarefied space, that ofcourse is beyond the reach of common people. Forget common people even Netaji’s or Babasaheb’s grandchildren cannot match this rub, this moral authority that seem to be intact through generations (Kasturi&Sons even point to afterlife vaginal super highway route!! Vagina being marg for penis to move, genes to find ordained life, you may take it literally but Kasturi&Sons or for that matter Gandhi&Sons are known to position themselves in the realm of metaphors and otherworldly attributes as they negotiate liberal ways and mullah feeding realities to atone their moral gaps). So much so he doesn’t even refer the name Gandhi it seems Mahatma will suffice, indeed the trust on brand recall is amazing while Ambedkar and sundry don’t even deserve Mr. or Shri (later he ofcourse condescend to use Dr. for Ambedkar probably as an afterthought, no such luck for others. Common decency demands that if you use term of respect for one then it should be extended to others too or don’t use it). It’s an amazing lack but his bhakti to Gandhi –essentially clan arrogance, gets easily suffused in supposedly Gandhian ideals that he claims to represent. You can quite effortlessly place this arrogance in squatter’s frame, the narcissism of it, the ungraciousness of it, the crassness of it. It is the ethical blind spot of Indian elite that they constantly stare but are incapable to see, as they negotiate crude selves in the garb of humble ways  and semantic dexterity.    

    

Gopalkrishna Gandhi has a charmed life, the kind you will rarely see in the career of an IAS officer (that even questions his selection process to the civil service. Did his family name help the matter? Most likely. Afterall mahatmas are no small matter, though it maybe a small world), from high commissioner to governor to chairpersons of reputed institutions. God has been graceful, humbleness therefore is a natural attribute (as ZK says humblenezz tho hona hi tha!!). Our man has been positioning himself as wise man, and yes this blogger had taken him seriously few years back (even made effort to listen to his speech, I recall at IISC), now the situation has shifted drastically. With shrinking of Gandhi, his grandson’s grandness doesn’t really help the matter. 

If Ben Kingsley can have a space in front of British parliament then what prevents Mamootty? Oh how I forget, when it comes to statue building and naming roads gandhians always had an upperhand. Respect doesn’t come by imposing nor does wisdom by patronising. It is shocking to gandhians that no one wants to be referred to as harijans. This disconnect is symptomatic and is no doubt representation of high patronising intent of elite and response from the people. Without jans where is the hari, I say!! 

Our man has been writing, sometimes audacious open letters to nobody less than the prime minister. In his recent contribution he starts by including us too “We are nation of pantheons…we have, rather uniquely, pantheons of caste heroes…” Really ‘caste heroes’ is this fellow for real, celebrating this oxymoron obnoxiousness as ‘unique’ can only be conjured by someone who understands Gandhi, indeed I am told studied deeply. Like any cheapskate sociologist with limited intellect they only see the reality that serves their purpose, not to understand or to be aware of the context or ethical consideration. They sinisterly give authenticity to discrimination as some form of esoteric tradition, which is then humbly explained to West who in turn unthinkingly lap it on as some eastern mysticism. Since they had complete control of narration these nonsense are part of mainstream.  It is easy to infer that from the context of things Gandhi could well be only a ‘caste hero’.  Chota gandhis and mota gandhis should learn to live with it.

Again, Gandhi was a great man, and admirable in many ways, but this insistence of mahatma is unacceptable nor appropriation by family/clan is tolerated. This blogger has read enough, hence understands the import and significance of mahatma. Mahatmas come from traditions that stridently oppose squatter, and were compassionate souls with egalitarian intent. It is a tradition that traces itself to Buddhas and Nanaks. It is the machiavellian gandhians and conniving congressmen who have brought much disrepute.

I was reading VS Naipaul, Literary Occasions Essays, bought on discount rate at Rishikesh, it is an autographical writings and here it is a reference to Naipaul’s aunt i.e. his father’s sister, a lady on her death bed. It is a telling paragraph that I think needs to be quoted to put things in context. Her father was a pundit, she said. And he was fussy; he didn’t like having too much to do with the low. And here –since her face was too old to be moulded into any expression save one of great wariness–   the old lady used her shrivelled little hand to make gesture of disdain. The disdain was for low Hindus. My father’s sister had spent all her life in Trinidad; but in her caste vision no other community mattered or properly existed. She took the story back to her father’s mother. This was as far as her memory went. And for me it was far enough… She wanted me to know now, before the knowledge vanished with her, what she –and my father– had come from. She wanted me to know that the blood was good.                              

Being human is enough

Support France.

Progress of humans into civilised being is hinged on certain societies. France undoubtedly is one of them. There is history of atrocities through colonialism, machiavellian elitist leaders supporting despots so on but the best of France is the best of human civilisation. It truly defines human liberty, not bound by religion or any faith or any identity. Being human is enough, and a good starting point for better ways. Religion, whatever the counter claims, if seen as identity is divisive, if seeks to divide is dangerous. That precisely is happening in the garb of secularism. France has been quite clear in not allowing any expression of discriminatory/degrading religious identity in public space, they have clearly recognised religion as a private matter. Religion as an expression in public space is discriminatory on our identity as human being. It seeks to subjugate values of human identity, and initiates primitive ways of dealing in society. Most importantly the pernicious wahabi/salafi sect –that has been degrading societies across world, they use amazingly cruder ways to express themselves severely putting stress on others and surrounding. They create situations that provoke negative reactions. They can only spread misery, and are indeed threat to Islam itself and chief instigator of islamophobia. Local population cannot be held entirely at fault nor ‘it is not about religion’ going to solve the matter. If these are not addressed then silent sane majority will go against and innocent people will be harmed. Political correctness is a way to be accommodative but if it is increasingly seen as attempts at hiding the elephant in the room, pandering to insensitive section then the balance tips. What goes against humanity cannot be included as multiculture. Anti social ways, includes full cover dresses which apart from being brutally patriarchal is meant to discourage social exchange (even basic courtesy), creates dissonance. Wahabis are not known for subtle ways nor graciousness their strong point as they showcase themselves to be superior –specially blessed by a god that is greater than everything or any other god, this asserted in every aspect of dealing hence others are seen as wanting, compassion  mostly patronising. It is the beginning of domination, of violence. By giving them space society is degrading itself, and is taking leap backward in trying to accommodate these primitive ways. It is a poison that spreads, there is nothing good or compassionate in its presence. This conception will produce deviant individuals who will always find themselves discriminated, and worse in their grossly patriarchal chauvinist ways, that is veiled in the nonsense of modesty, finds difficulty in dealing with outside world, ill-equipped as they are they choose the easiest, indeed narrow religious sanctioned, path of violence and brutalities. They will always be victims.  

Attack on Paris is a dangerous phase of horror that was initiated by mischief of Bush-Blair (initiating action against them will assuage in small way it though will be a good belated beginning) but it will be a terrible mistake not to recognise pernicious nature of Islam, the wahabi/salafi cult, that seeks to subjugate every other ways. They have brutally destroyed quaint Islamic traditions, variant culture and faith across the world. Their contribution to humanity is nothing but misery. This is definitely about primitive ways that is being allowed to be spread in the name of religious rights. France is one of the very few sane places in the world. Attack on Paris is an attack on sanity. It is an attack on equality and liberty, human being as one fraternity.      

PM must ask Britain to be intolerant towards monarchy

British monarchy has created clones in India; it is used to cement privileges of the elite not only as a way of life but as entitlements by pushing them into the realm of democracy hence easily classified as civilised ways. President is carefully miming the trapping of the british monarchy, so does the Governors… the amount of money and resources spent on these nonsenses are astounding. I am told they are safeguarding some revered traditions. Really whose tradition, which tradition?  And as it seeps down into echelons of democracy you encounter minor monarchies all the way down. Everyone fawning to the powerful while subjugating the lower, no wonder democracy has seeped so well into Indian reality without being effectual or enlightening, it has only consolidated primitiveness. Meanwhile every sort of entitled barbarity is sought to be pushed into modernity as choices. Scoundrels with casteist references, and entitlements herein, roam around as liberal arbitrators, mullah feeding seem to give them sense of atonement as they subjugate and demean. This blogger calls upon people who are awarded by the President (who has casteist reference) to return awards as a protest against these primitive ways. Meanwhile Britain needs to answer why it is carrying the burden of monarchy? The ‘monarchy’ meanwhile needs to explain why it is carrying on with these kinds of entitlements, why cannot they abdicate gracefully and open to egalitarian ways? Monarchy anywhere is bad example to the world.   

Market initiated intolerance and irresponsible ways

Ban works when applied judiciously, unlike what ban happy insecure conservative elites and ban abstinence happy market liberal arbitrators may propose.  A car ad in Europe was banned for the following reason “We considered that the handling capability of the vehicle had not been communicated in a clear context of safety, which was a requirement of the code. Because the ad implicitly challenged the viewer to drive at speed… we considered that it had also encouraged irresponsible and potentially dangerous driving…It ruled that the ad must not appear in its current form again…to ensure that future ads must not demonstrate the handling characteristic of a vehicle except in a clear context of safety, and that reference to this must not suggest excitement, aggression or competitiveness.” It is inconceivable in primitive society increasingly attuned to market to even understand such nuanced ways, they will immediately cry foul and position for maximum lick. These are the habitual ways of clever that holds the society at its nefarious will. Changing the frame as it suits.       

    

It is becoming quite clear that market driven hedonism has unleashed amazing level of social (and environmental) degradation in last two decades, couched in pointers of modernity and choices, they sought to drivel in libertine angst through laissez-faire market. Hence market acquires the role of local guardians, as they set out to create manipulateable icons from trivialities of cricket and bollywood who cement these cravings as choices. It’s an amazing travesty as they further degrade with these demeaning benchmarks. These self-serving cheapskates and obnoxious icons are now hoisted as our ethical barometer, it helps that most of these are semiliterate with simplistic take on life. It also makes the job of market media easy as some workout their way as journalists.  It is no wonder that in these exigencies of greed, the manipulations and exaggerations pushes the society into ethical vacuum, it severely impinges on value frameworks of young, who already are enmeshed in primitive ways as tradition and now groomed on market created liberals. It is no surprise that, with rare exceptions, majority of youngsters come out us deviant beings with disgust as traditions and an urge to grab. The best of this society is seen in IIT-IIM stupidity!!. What a degraded society.  

The ridiculous nonsense of “intolerance” is another one hoisted by these machiavellian masquerading higher values and intent. They work with their hold on political power and from easy money through market manipulations hence create the base for their debauched ways. With political power gone they are now encashing their clout and entitlements, regurgitating  what they sucked in for over decades with unbridled political power, nepotism and corruption. They severely degraded institutions as they dispensed privileges and established clout.  It is no surprise that when it comes to environmental issues, in particular the issue of carbon footprint, these market deviants are major culprits.

In the meanwhile I was reading something amazing.  In Mexico Vicente Fox became the country’s first democratically elected president in 2000, he had earlier been president of Coca-Cola Mexico and then head of the company’s Latin American operations. Clearly coca cola pepsi is not confined to india in creating icons!! That Mexico is a poor corruption ridden country immensely help the matter. Not very coincidentally Mexico has by far the world’s highest death rate from chronic diseases caused by consumption of sugary drinks. National Survey of Health and Nutrition revealed that diabetes – the country’s leading cause of death – had doubled since 2000. Between 1999 and 2006, the average waist size among women of childbearing age increased by nearly 11cm. And during the same period, obesity among children aged five to 11 rose by 40%.The soda industry’s contention that activity can protect us from obesity and diabetes is not borne out by research, which has shown again and again that diet is a far more important factor in obesity than exercise. And over the last two decades, the Mexican diet has been transformed. Consumption of beans dropped by half. In the last 14 years, consumption of fruit and vegetables dropped by 30% – largely replaced by processed food and sugar-sweetened beverages. So the new President in 2013 decided to put soda tax. Will such initiatives ever happen in India which faces the same kind of exploitators? Not a chance as the amazingly compromised elite comes out with new nautanki every week to be in brand reckoning. These attempts at benevolent guardians are rather trite, we should be beware of these people.  

Post script: a study on Crude Woman & ZK will be worthwhile in these matters. This con couple cannot live without political clout and market traction, the latter being slinky slime very much dependent on former since they lack popularity hence compensated these with their political clout. They were the first one to change colour and play puppy as the government changed in the centre. They made valiant efforts to land some children oriented low profile space very much intending to drivel way up, but to their chagrin even these were denied. All the purring amounted to nothing. As the decades of assiduously feeding market was also slipping, the perception creation being a very significant part of their crude ways, they are now clawing high moral ground act and positioning as saviours. As Crude woman has gone on offense (very much gained from resurgent congress sickularism after 1984 and Shah Bano, ideally these awards should be taken back from this mediocre manipulative woman. These people have degraded these awards) ZK has detached to play wise. You never know where the lick is! 

Deal with him strongly

This blogger is ready to give everyone a chance and keeps an open mind about things, hence will not be prejudiced by narration and counter narration, being fully aware these are same kind of people in different outfits. Every person will have to be dealt on his or her merit and not on perception or views of obnoxious self-serving conscience keepers. Amit Shah has crossed the line, and he will have to be dealt severely. He is holding an extremely responsible position (as the head of largest political party as also heading the alliance that forms the government), and arguably he has tarnished these. The political party concerned, or its moral torchbearer RSS, should severely curtail these kind of utterings. This is not only blatantly communal but also brings shame to the nation for being compared to a country that cannot even be called a proper democracy with non-existent minority rights. In his depraved utterings he has also given credibility to sickular liberal elitist narration that seeks to see Pakistan as linchpin of its subtle ‘minority values’. This counter narration is a trap that seeks to polarise as also severely ridicules common people’s sensibilities and trivialises their aspirations. Amit Shah will have to be dealt severely by Election Commission, if they don’t show spine then SC will have to intervene. This cannot be the new normal.

     

Patwardhan kriya

It goes without saying that Anant Patwardhan is one of the most competent documentary maker around. Over the decades he has made some incisive and path breaking documentaries; in the overwhelming mediocrity that India is he clearly stands out as an exception. And I must admit he has been quite an influence in many ways. His recent attics though reeks of self-indulgence and righteousness that is quite beyond what is the need, it is very likely that he has surrounded himself in exaggerations hence being crudely alarmist the way of dealing. Most significantly if he is so concerned about the society then why has he even accepted these awards from a society that symbolises discrimination in its every acts and being? Why does he hobnobs with media that actively promotes primitive ways? (thankfully many international columnists have stopped contributing to these putrid pits. International community should severely scrutinise Indian conscience keepers and their clever ways). Last but not the least what will it take from him to spent 100R to get his casteist reference dropped and be civilised? Clearly he cannot be part of the primitive and claim high moral grounds. It is not allowed in civilised society. No dear not allowed.

This society seems to be built on myths and perceptions. Common people have been treated as juvenile who could go delinquent if not fed with bed time stories and kept under control, meanwhile the elite section claw for the spoils. With the technological innovations society is opening up and people are able to assert themselves (including this blogger, few decades back I would be easily stamped out and thrown into the nearest dustbin), things will have to be opened up. Mahatmas and pundits will be open to scrutiny, as also the degraded nature of this society that seems to be taken as way of life. Angst is natural, so is feeling of loss for the good old days when honey dropped from the sky. That the elite section is amazingly mediocre is given but their extent of imposition on the society is what is frightening. That they are able to dictate terms and manipulate narration makes it sinister. They have severely degraded the society and created misery by their incompetence. You can disagree without being disagreeable is a nice try. The pertinent question here is how are these primitive people at the helm of affair? It is indeed difficult not to be disagreeable with debauched ways, ideally this blogger will have nothing to do with these people and will steer clear of these disgraceful presences but when they are at the helm then they will have to be dealt. Returning awards is therefore not only opportune and an attempt at mischief but also trying to place thyself in higher conscience that really cannot go unscrutinised. This normal is unacceptable. 

Prosecute him

Attack on Iraq by Bush-Blair alliance in 2003 was a mischievous act that created lots of misery. It is a common knowledge that deterioration of the region started with this mischief. ISIS can be, to a large extend, traced to invasion of Iraq. Not denying that the dangerously deteriorating situation has also to do with patriarchal and patronising nature of religion/society manipulated by powerful, that seem to be not in consonance with democratic values nor humanitarian concerns hence the egalitarian intent of Arab spring, that was supported by common people, couldn’t spread its roots and institutionalised. It fettered away into something sinister in the vacuum. It is the cruder nature of the religion, that seeks to destroy quaint traditions and culture, has found expression in this brutal power struggle.  

This blogger recalls being appalled by the preparation to attack Iraq with their self-serving logic and spurious intentions. We (I don’t recall the people who helped) did collect voices of people within our reach against this madness (passing on to Kasturi&sons makes me cringe, unfortunately there were no blogs during those days. We are so grateful to the inventors of these platforms; there is no need for pretentious arbitrators and adipose layered arrogant middlemen).  It was quite clear that this will lead to dangerous outcome, wherein the target and focus should have been on Taliban Afghanistan. Saddam Hussein, though obnoxious, could have been a stable ally and later eased off with democratic alternative. Easier said than done but one thing is sure: invasion of Iraq messed up the situation and caused deaths and misery. Bush had an agenda and Blair provided the 'sexed up' alibi. There is definitely a case against Blair, International Court of Justice must show some spine and initiate action. It must exhibit the same enthusiasm that it shows against despots in Africa. 

On consumption…

These few lines I read the other day, something I always believed in…less buying, less wasting, less spending, less time on working to earn money, more time …(However now the problem is even the basic needs are becoming quite costly, right from staple food, house rent so on, some of the latest gadgets have become essential, but i guess it is a one time investment, the upgraded versions don't add much value, mostly superficial). 

The second you open your wallet to buy something, it costs you – and in more ways than you might think. Yes, of course there’s the price tag and the corresponding amount of time it took you to earn that amount of money, but possessions also cost you space in your home and time spent cleaning and maintaining them. And as the token environmentalist in the room, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you that when you buy something, you’re also taking on the task of disposing of it (responsibly or not) when you’re done with it. Our addiction to consumption is a vicious one, and it’s stressing us out.

This is why some normal adult human beings can live in houses just 426 square feet and others find that not even their 2,500-square-foot McMansion feels big enough. It’s almost never the amount of space that’s the problem, but the amount of stuff.

So if bigger homes aren’t the solution, what is? I suggest heading in the exact opposite direction: deliberately choose a life with less. Buy less and instantly you have less to store; you use less space. Eventually you can work less to pay for all of this stuff. Soon you will stress less too and, above all, your life will involve less waste.

(from an article titled Buying begets buying: how stuff has consumed the average American's life by Madeleine Somerville)

When Deshpandes and Vajpeyis conscience emit compassion like feelings…

In good old days this blogger always used to make the mistake of confusing conscience and conscious, and never could tell the difference nor did I ever got the spelling right. So the best way to deal with these was to avoid it altogether or look for spellable substitute. Very soon I realised that these are important words and really cannot be ignored, the substitute don’t really measure up. So here it is; Conscience refers to a “person's moral sense of right and wrong” while Conscious means “being aware of and responding to one's surroundings”. I also realise that these two words are quite interlinked since without conscience conscious is hollow, it’s a world of moral ambiguity and convenient ethical values. While without conscious conscience is meaningless, morality in the absence of awareness of surroundings is self-obsession, a crude reflection of oneself as also motivated. The latter is the context here: the sparkling conscience without conscious. The matter of conscious becomes quite blatant when Deshpandes and Vajpeyis descend to express their conscience.

It is a well-documented fact the way this society cannibalises on its weak. After the so called independence it was expected that the rule of law and institutions of democracy would create an egalitarian society, but that really hasn’t happened. There have been systematic atrocities committed on the weakest, specifically the dalits and the tribes, or whoever fills in the space of the vulnerable in the context. Squatter’s barbarism is replicated as desired ways of mobility, the reason why this society is amazingly brutal minded and discriminatory, all depravities are kept intact and celebrated in non-violent ethos, constantly searching the nuances in semantic jugglery to appear civilised. Hence there is tremendous enthusiasm in fawning to the powerful and exploiting the weak. As the squatter’s crude hold gets weaker (or as some move to sickular liberal pastures) the next in line strengthens the framework and establishes cruder attitude in all its viciousness. With the advent of divisive politics in the name of democracy and market greed in the name of development, the exploitative ethos gets channelized into next opportunity. The act of dehumanisation is random but the mechanism is same. This society is adept in classifying human beings and has a ravenous delight in exploiting the marginalised while constantly showering encomiums on itself.

 Vajpeyi writes “One of the most ancient in the world, this tradition belongs to a civilisational enterprise called India. It is perhaps the largest in the world, unique in its plurality of language, religion, custom, cuisine, costume, craft etc. Nothing in India has remained singular for long, everything sooner or later turns plural or becomes part of a large plural. Not god, nor language, not system of philosophy and reflection, nor faith and worship, not to speak of belief and value. There have always been forces amongst us who do not like this deeply enriching plurality and who would see it replaced by some kind of uniformity which they believe would be more manageable. Our tradition has not only been one of plurality but also of dialogue and accommodation, interrogation and dissent, of public debate, innovation and scrutiny. The shastraarth, one of the unique institution of public testing of ideas and insights used to take place in public between contesting view points. The Indians have never been afraid or intolerant of dissent or debate”.

Obviously it has some truth but I firmly hold that these ideas were not confined to India, to elevate it as “civilisational enterprise called India” –the Jagathguru syndrome, is an exaggeration the kind the Vajpeyis and Deshpandes are very prone to, and something we are tolerating for long time. The angst here being that this superior understanding of oneself are now being hijacked by right wing hooligans lock stock and barrel all intact, even Gandhi, with such desultory ease that this in itself should have raised eyebrows. But they lament for the past. The tolerant accommodative idea of India was always threatened by the very forces that Vajpeyis (bahuvachan is a celebration on camaraderie and casteist pits that he signifies) burdens as his identity, the shining beacon. Argumentative Indian and accommodative nature were necessarily vibrant presence outside squatter’s grip, and that is definitive ethos of this society without stressing it as something unique. Those ensconced in squatter were a constant threat to common people and their ways, these severely dwindled liberal spaces and attempted at replacing with crude world. This attempts at usurping the vibrant nature of society and placing within squatter is devious and will not be allowed to go unchallenged. It is also not ironic that even likes of Amartya Sen seem unaware of these myth building by liberal masquerading elites, he seem oblivious of casteist putrid pits from where these charades emanates.

The squatter ensconced elite have been having firm control over narration for time immemorial, and therefore this contemporary reconstruction (with amazing expertise on myth building) as egalitarian benevolent creature is an absurdity and mocking on the misery of the people. The depravity and the horrendous nature of the society is all there for the world to see. These are the facts, easily verifiable from the skewed nature of this society and its ways. They systemically degraded the people and attempted at destroying the soul of the society. It is thanks to some great souls/saints and their compassionate ways that this society was able to keep its ethical fibre and egalitarian ethos intact. Squatters were consistent threat to this intricate social fibre, and constantly ployed to dehumanise, degrade and divide people. Vajpeyis and Deshpandes therefore are the part of the system that was always threat to these egalitarian ways of this society and their self proclamation as “conscience-keepers of the country” is severely questioned. We surely don’t want them to ‘reclaim space’.

When Vajpeyis exalts Indians for the tradition of “dialogue and accommodation, interrogation and dissent, of public debate, innovation and scrutiny”…“Even gods have been questioned and some of them have been punished” he is again talking of two distinct, mutually exclusive, worlds. It is clear that this is about squatters and their camaraderie, this vaad samvaad parampara of the elite was very narrow and worked within select and limited frame, wherein the intruders were severely dealt. This sanctum sanctorum driven speculation of exaggerated selves and souls were of not of much interest, indeed absurd ideas and wasteful ways in most cases. The real nature of Indian society was working against these mediocrities and crude ways that constantly sought to engulf it. Romilla Thapar puts an interesting postulate in this context: if it was Buddha instead of Krishna how different Bhagvad Gita would be? Indeed that is the crux of the matter, this clever use of gods and rituals to trap people into squatter’s nefarious ways. Compassionate Mahabali (a king condemned by squatter’s clever ploy, hence myths and stories to cover up what is clearly a murder), Mahishasura (benevolent soul condemned as demon, therefore killed)…these are minor examples of the ways in which narrations were controlled to gain the primacy, meanwhile degrade society and severely infect collective conscience. Eviction of Buddha and negation of his amazing understanding was the beginning of the putrefaction as squatter tightened their grip, while societies that understood Buddhism gained immensely and progressed in this rational spiritual impetus that spread compassion and blossomed. Meanwhile, since common people had great respect for Buddha, he was conveniently converted to a god while his teachings were pushed aside with alacrity. It is the tradition that questioned the degrading ways of squatter, that very much precedes Buddha and can be traced to Upanishads, produced many saints and seers who have been the saviours. They helped to work on righteousness and moral fibre of this society, and kept the ethical ethos and its plural accommodative nature as the abiding ways and basic characteristics of the people. 

Deshpandes and Vajpeyis are not part of this egalitarian narration, they are masquerades who are working out their sickular liberal credential, trying to opportunistically distinguish from their brethren and sinisterly attempting to usurp the tolerant nature of society into squatter (i am acutely aware of some cultural lafangas who expertise in these and act as strict gatekeepers into hallowed circle). They are firmly tethered to the exploitative system that constantly tries to engulf Hinduism to putrid pits. That these people have firm control over narration and have amazing myth building expertise doesn’t really change the reality. Pleasing mullahs/elite muslims is part of this game, it gives them the credibility as liberal accommodating souls and claims to some great tradition that nobody seem much aware. It needs to be strongly reiterated that there is a huge gap between vulnerable muslims and elite muslims (that includes the regressive mullahs on one side and the liberal hedonists, known for their wanton ways, on the other). This is an elitist game hence the vulnerable people and their varying contexts are constantly pushed into these camps, therefore the elites play spokesperson. This camaraderie of elite acting as spokespersons –essentially feudal lords, is qualified as tolerance and celebrated among this clique. New entrants into political frame seem to have disturbed this cosy setup.

It is also not surprising that for the Vajpeyis of the world “the Emergency, Sikh Riots, demolition of Babri Masjid, Punjab terrorism, Nandigram violence and naxalite and state violence in tribal areas, Gujarat pogroms etc have all provoked writers and artists to protest against and condemn the damage done to social fabric, communal harmony and creative life” is the narration. This is the gist and a brave attempt on what troubles the sickular liberal elite. It is amazing and telling that nowhere there is a mention of caste related atrocities that severely degrades this society that is the root of most of the ills of the society. Apart from demeaning pits and traditions herein, there is blatant violence against the most vulnerable of Indian society, that encompasses all religions, indeed what is described as communal riots many times have seeds in this context. It is therefore much sinister and depraved than religious divisions. That this is conveniently ignored is what defines this nexus and shows the angst filled protagonists as fake. Statistically 27 acts of atrocity are perpetrated on dalits every day, 13 dalits murdered every week and 3dalit women raped every day…not to forget discriminations faced every living moment, as also biases from the so called democratic institutions, the lackadaisical law&order machinery, judiciary (Court movie quite effectively depicts this biases and clever nonviolent ways that is used to brutally subjugate voices, as also the entrenched discriminatory attitudes). All because some are born into something that is part of squatter’s cruel imagination, and that this is very much endorsed by Deshpandes and Vajpeyis is what makes the deceit compelling. Lakshmanpur Bathe massacre, Bathani tola massacre, Khairlanji massacre…the list is long, these brutal killings seemed to have awakened no one, probably not many are even aware. That is because angst on these matter will quite easily strip their mask, it is a big hole in the business of conscience keeping that the Indian elite are well aware of. 

On matters of customary rights

Thakur is a reference to feudal lords, this medieval reference are carried by some people as embellishment, an indication of superior self, an entitled achievement that has significant pointers in casteist pits. Bearing this crudeness, that detrimentally degrades social dealings, individual attitude towards others and a constant dread to egalitarian values is referred to as tolerance. It’s like the second amendment in US, the sacred rights to carry fire arms, an amazingly deviant society that has the history of slavery and brutal methods to control. Quite evidently this right is the extension of these brutal practises, and can be gauged by the people who support this as also heinous practise of trophy hunting. Indian elite have much in common with American far right, though they divide themselves neatly into liberal and traditional that they are tethered to squatter, and don’t mind revivalism on these matters, is what clinches the deal, it makes stray sacrifices worth it ounce. From these conservatives degrading pits they construct groovy liberal world. Hilariously some even masquerade as leftists, comrades in Bengal are known to be consuming moral renegades!

When Thakur dunked in the entitled reference makes his anachronistic presence into modernity this act is referred to as stellar representation of plurality, the crude nuances emanating from this is celebrated as tradition and culture, hence diversity. Now when Thakur works his way into judiciary, with amazing ease that comes to anyone who has heightened awareness of social norms and traditions, the adherence and benefits, concomitantly amazing lack of moral bearings or ethical contexts in this insistence of debauched framework, then we have Justice Thakur. Justice Thakur is heights of oxymoron if there is any, makes it compelling when he is the judge at Supreme Court. It’s like Saint Hitler beatified by Pope. Truly contemptuous, my lord. Now that we know our protagonist let’s get into the crux of the matter, it so happened that the executive officer of SriPadmanabhaSwamy Temple at Thiruvanthapuram (a conservative estimate of hidden treasure, that was recently found in this temple, puts it at a value close to 1.2 lakh crore Rupees or US$18 billion. If the antique and cultural value were taken into account these assets could be worth ten times the current market price. Now that is only one temple in small state called Kerala. Meanwhile India languishes at 135^th rank in UNDP HDI index. It is a miracle when you juxtapose these. Now the site has shifted to Business, Media, Politics and ofcourse Judiciary…essentially wherever there is money, power and yes ambiguous ethical standards and vague ideas on competence. IPL is a minor billion dollar enterprise in this context) was asked to “not be carried away ideologies, revolutionaries and politics” when dealing with Supreme Court. Clearly, judges (reigning lords) of SC, HC or even session’s court don’t have the right to ask what anybody should speak or not, significantly the insinuations are reflection of mindset and attitude of the judge concerned, this is strong arm tactics and a severe violation of individual’s right to express. What makes it shocking is that this violation is happening right in the space that is supposed to dispense justice. This arrogance is stark reminder of forces that seeks to quell voices of people. Indian judiciary is known for its gross incompetence, they have given lots of misery to the common people in the last many deacdes, it is also not unknown that they reflect their bias towards to the powerful and mighty. There are multitudes of cases where they are found to be amazingly incompetent, this after decades of lassitude procedures and lackadaisical ways of dealing, it is indeed the determination of the victims (and sacrifices they make) that the cases somehow reaches its logical conclusions. Recently after almost twenty years (that is like one generation later, in the meanwhile mylords have come and gone enjoyed the power and luxury, and ofcourse ‘settled’ their progenies –who sometimes champion higher causes depending on the lick so on) Uphaar case verdict grossly favoured the powerful, the absurdity is mind-blowing. Now this is high profile case as it is based in Delhi and exposed to constant media attention there are cases and cases that expose these amazingly arrogant but ignorantly assured mylords. They are so immune to people’s misery that it makes me wonder whether they are human beings, then I realise it is one of the stellar qualities that one assumes when placed in entitled surroundings very much assured by squatter’s depraved logic. This is what makes them so insularly cruel. Recently, the heinous massacre of Khairlanji was found to be wanting on perpetrators that this happened to the most vulnerable section of Indian society. That Thakurs of the world are congenitally incapable to see these “ideologies and politics” and inhuman “revolutionary” zeal herein is telling. Most importantly the judiciary should have by now evicted squatters from the temple precincts, this is a discriminatory occupation and gives legitimacy to exploitative framework, instead of taking steps to terminate these they ironically, in a shocking case of injustice and absolute lack of awareness of the social context and implications herein, gave all the rights to these perpetrators. This is what happened in Chidambaram temple. Incidentally, it is pertinent to note here that the meaning of the term ‘descent’ has been expanded to include ‘discrimination based on caste’ by the general recommendation number 29, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) 1969. Indian judiciary will do well to remember that it is a signatory to that convention along with more than 170 other countries.       

  

It is clear that the upper crust of Indian judicial system is conscripted from well-entrenched bourgeoisie evolved over hegemony of centuries. The elites are known to use nuanced language, that may imply that they are modern, while the brethren in the lower courts are known to be crudely feudal and primitively assured, savour this enlightened view “Hindu scriptures do not allow upper caste men to touch a low caste woman, the accused could not have raped the Dalit victim”, this is not a rare instance nor the attitude uncommon. Indian legal luminaries have this constant itch to express their deviant views wherein their mandate is to look at the facts, understand the context, show compassion, deal sensitively and dispense justice in all its fairness. But no, the characteristic arrogance and pupating egotism will have to express, the kind of uttering is sometimes so shocking that it numbs. This is our judicial system, and hilariously despite crude ways they are so much assured of their pontificating, as if it is their god given right and our fate. This is insidiously deviant, and that it thrives under democratic institution is a disgrace.

Coming back to the case at hand, Thakur’s rant was in reaction to the officer taking exception to ‘even’ half an hour slot given to the royal family every morning to exclusively enter the temple. The officer reminded Thakur that this practise was reminiscent of social evil of untouchability of past era.  This mylord saw as a threat hence necessary strictures. It is known that institution ridden with elitist and caste/class privileges frequently reverts to reactionary instances. Feudal and discriminatory institution are carried on with impunity under the garb of tradition, reminiscent of hoary past and severely denting democratic norms, many times making these values meaningless. Not a moment or instance of such demeaning practises should be allowed, indeed it is duty of the judiciary to enforce these if the legislature and executive fail. Clearly the institutions have failed as is reflected from degradations and apathy, and judiciary is reduced to defend puritan confines. Likes of Thakur are a blot on judiciary. Slant in reporting by media accentuates this, it is camaraderie in action, from this pits they look for legitimacy.  Yogi Berra, once said “The future ain’t what it used to be.” This blogger says the past ain’t what it used to be. They have constructed the past with a firm grip on narration and therefore use it for contemporary benefit as also show themselves benevolent. 

        

It is in this context that though, this blogger agrees with the protests by the writers against silencing of dissenting voices by thugs, has reservations. Nayantara Sahgal undoubtedly has a point and she ofcourse is a venerable legitimate voice but these deterioration she is pointing to and attributing to were always present. Ironically she might even be part of it, and significant reason for thrive. Not that I expect writers to be professional protesters (as they are accused for selective outbursts, this is a trick to silence writers) but yes strong dissent is in line. I haven’t really seen this in matters that have severely degraded the society. Indeed I feel as if I have stumbled into some virgin forest inhabited by long lost cannibalistic tribe assured of its superior place in the universe, strange rituals they perform while some act conscience objector as they partake the feast, contributing to the diversity and amiable tolerance.