Birding report from Adichunchanagiri Peacock sanctuary

Today being birth anniversary of Salim Ali, as usual birding was on the itinerary, indeed this day should be declared as a birding day. This time around rather than going for birding to the nearby lake I decided on Adichunchanagiri peacock sanctuary, something that was on the anvil for a long time. It’s on a rocky hillock, a scrubby terrain, that is occupied by a big temple with smaller ones scattered around like the one you have at Tirupati. There should be strict law regarding declaring a site as wildlife sanctuary, and anything near religious sites shouldn’t be considered as these are highly disturbed.  There seems to be a desire to declare these places as wildlife sanctuaries as an indication that the vicinity of religious sites are oasis of calmness with diversity of lives. To some extend taboos related to religions and superstitions tends to conserve the place but as things get commercialised they get seriously disturbed with large number of people, vehicles, constructions, and ofcourse human waste. There is also amazing level of noise pollution, not to forget the cringe worthy shrill drum beats. To be fair this site is sparse most days except on Sundays and Mondays.  As expected you find ‘R species’ avian (the opportune species that thrive along human habitat) like mynas, crows, rock pigeons towards the temple site. Though it is named Peacock sanctuary there aren’t many Peafowls around. But away from the temple you could have some wonderful sightings of ‘K species’ including the Vulnerable (IUCN) Yellow-throated Bulbul. Terrific.

Checklist of birdwatching

In and around Adichunchanagiri Peacock sanctuary

Date: 12 November

Time: 6am to 8.30am

Weather: partly cloudy sky

1.      Yellow-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus xantholaemus)*

2.      Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)

3.      Indian Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica)

4.      Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica)

5.      Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)

6.      Little Minivet (Pericrocotus lansbergei)

7.      White-naped Woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus) 

8.      Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)

9.      Black-headed Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

10.  Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura)

11.  Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)

12.  White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)

13.  Indian golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo)

14.  Indian robin (Saxicoloides fulicatus)

15.  White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus)

16.  Red-rumped Swallows (Cecropis daurica)

17.  Little swift (Apus affinis)

18.  Yellow-billed Babbler (Turdoides affinis)

19.  Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

20.  Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica)

21.  Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

22.  Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

23.  Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

24.  Green Bee eater (Merops orientalis)

25.  Pale-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos)

26.  Dusky crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor)

27.  Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) 

28.  Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)

29.  Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)

30.  White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis)

31.  Jungle bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica)

32.  Black kite  (Milvus migrans) 

33.  Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

34.  Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)

35.  Jungle Myna  (Acridotheres fuscus)

36.  Common Crow (Corvus splendens)

37.  Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 

*lifer   

Sentient earth

At the sunset

The fusion fire helium ball

acquires its quaint roundness.

Fibrous cumulus ice crystals

brushes itself into an art.

Waves of saline water

collide into blue melody.

Nature’s rhythm soothed

over billions of year’s trial.   

All arranged in

supremely aesthetic display

for the waves of photons

to strike the retina.

The rain  

All the silliness

The patter in the rain

Gather into puddle

Dissolves the muck

There are no waves to settle

Just a shadowy stillness

The infinite drift

The formless

Vague

Ungraspable

Then the rain

The rain

Fibonacci sequence

Add the last two numbers

And it spirals

To conspire with nature

Into its self-propagating infinite brilliance

One, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen…so it goes

To construct a compact blue print for delicate life

To catch enough of sun in its golden fraction

Peace lily is a one petal flower

And that is where the Fibonacci begins

Its dalliance with colours  

A balance that sparkle

In one petal, two petals, three petals, five petals…

And the whole world comes alive

From sunflowers, cyclones to galaxies

To rejoice in the numbers      

Sentient earth

The consent to reality is a pact   

That unfolds in the narrowing spiral of feeble consciousness

When the lines broaden for eternity

The horizon beams the serene golden path

Snags it when accomplished
The glorious life

Lament of hopelessness

In the clogged sickly green downstream

gill sucks in the air

to lighten the struggle,

a bubble plock the surface

startling the praying mantis intent on ladybird.

  

The storm surge like an insistent cuddle

wells up the dreary night.

Swaying trees crackle, explode in its own burden

cinders whirls in the stray bin

to conspire with the migrant wind.

White islands nods futile in the blue vastness

invain search for an anchor of life

in the quivering acceptance of the stranded

gaze the approaching stillness.  

Earth wobbles and shrivels to let go

its nasty tenant

grab vagrant carbons back into its fold

to be rearranged into nature’s interrupted prose.

Unsettled ibis on the coconut palm
beats its enormous wings

gives out a primal shriek
in the drowning deluge.

Hear.  

Encroachments  

The squirming star

finds itself reflected in the still stream

clogged in the hyacinths.

A keelback cleaves the darkness

of the humid night

brief commotion unsettles

the quaint shimmer.

Meanwhile an upheaval gathers

and doesn’t wait for its turn.

Air gnaws the water.

Water drowns the life.

A haze sets in

and so began the dance of death.

Birds flutter and crumble.

The melt swells the ocean

and the waves rolls and rolls.

Sky turns torrid

and the trees turn black.

The tremble knocks the life giving poise
off its pedestal.     

A breach of peace

As mentioned in the earlier blog tolerance is not a moral absolute but a peace contract, a treaty that extends to those willing to abide by its term “It is an agreement to live in peace, not an agreement to be peaceful no matter the conduct of others”. So it’s obvious that an adult can take decision as it suits his or her desires, and a woman is not a property of even her parents or specifically her father as patriarchal society tends to assume. So the SC decision is right in letter and spirit of protecting individual liberty over everything else. The woman concerned has the right to choose her partner as also convert her religion. However these are not isolated from social context and the peace contract that is expected from the individuals, this becomes quite critical in case of systems that functions as religion and seems to be having an overarching estimation of itself and its inviolable rights over individuals hence become a threat. Woman therefore is in subsidiary position in such narrations. So providing such egalitarian spaces becomes crucial in understanding liberty and democratic expressions. Hinduism despite its primitive contexts and barbaric traditions is able to provide these spaces is appreciable. We though don’t live in egalitarian society nor are these benign choices. And these nuanced understandings are rather difficult in case of regressive religions that sprout, and in this case social context of religion Islam is put into scrutiny. Woman’s sexuality is curtailed and monitored, and clearly seen as instrument of control. Regressive dressing, that is quite alien in this part of the world, is spreading furiously, again one may mistake it as individual choice but it isn’t, it is perpetuation of regressive values in the garb of religion (meanwhile fluffs in London fish in murky water to establish as kindred souls without any inkling of context or repercussions). It segregates people and isolate gender (apart from personal discomfort in what is essentially a warm humid region), and creates divisiveness through religious fictions and miracles that mess up the minds of young and make them incapable to deal with realities, devoid of critical thinking faculty they easily side with fictions over facts. You can see these across the world, in comfort filled god fearing brainless pits that Trump caters too.

So when one side curtails women’s sexuality and is unpardonably patriarchal there is a breach of peace. Meaning an ‘Islamic’ girl seeking to explore ‘hinduism’ and desirous to convert is in diminishing probability because of strict control. So is the case for 'hindu' men interacting with 'muslim' women. I am putting these in inverted commas, though I fully support conversion (as people are not born in pits, and as humans have choices), I find these ideas of religions ridiculous, representing as they are diversity in putrid ways and sickeningly anachronistic mindset that is becoming a threat to normal life. Therefore there is a breach of peace contract. And surely the patriarchal forces in Hinduism will react. You cannot be one sided patriarchal. This will lead to further dissension, and serious control over sexuality in public places. Increase in moral policing and vigilante actions will gain acceptance. Also when one side demands conversion for marriage then it is no longer about love, there is a sinister system at play, further when this is demanded from woman then there is serious breach of humanity. Putting it in conservative and foul social contexts this becomes an emotional blackmailing. There are many "muslim"/"hindu" male celebrities who have married "hindu"/"muslim" (trying to be celebrity) females, got them converted and are now pirouetting around as epitome of syncretic culture and elevated through secularism scale while in reality these are male chauvinistic pigs in the garb of religion as also consumerist louts.

Another issue is that the divisive minded primitive indian elite gave free rein to regressive mullahs as they lacked moral contexts or egalitarian understanding, as also as a compensation for guilt of partition which they ofcourse were the cause, mucky hometruths have given this incorrigible egoistic worldview wherein everyone is seen as subservient which self-respecting muslim leaders found difficulty in. So the worst forms of religious expressions that are not seen in any civilised world was encouraged with characteristic apathy towards plight of common people. So if polygamy is allowed in a system then it will have repercussions. Putting it crudely, as it deserves, these miracle revelations of one dick and many cunts can only be seen as a miracle if one cunt and many dicks are accepted in the same system. Patronising patriarchy has its place in deep pit and shouldn't be allowed to be showcased as secularism. Peace treaty is not a suicide pact for human values and all that is learned and understood over the centuries through sacrifices and hardships of smart people. We cannot be held at ransom by primitives. There is a breach of peace that is seriously undermining human values. Feudal casteist apathy driven effete elite have promoted these to keep patriarchy alive, to control as also rub the competing patriarchy and keep it alive hence posture as guardians of secular world. There is going to be conservative Hindu backlash with sinister patriarchy pushed in as unsolicited and regrettable bull work for revenge.

Ban what pollutes: It is in same context of them versus us (that wage slaves in market media pan out so well) that even sanity is now evaluated. In a civilised society celebration cannot be about giving misery to others, unless ofcourse there is no moral context to understand these. Primitiveness of religion, and tradition or rituals herein, cannot be an excuse. Producing noise through blaring speakers, bursting crackers and producing toxic fumes cannot be accepted as celebration. Clearly, religion has produced mindset that refuse to see reason despite that it is self-harming, what can be more telling about the plight of sapiens. It needs one to be uniquely stupid to follow these. 
There is also a need for blanket ban on use of loudspeakers in public space, with new technology getting more sophisticated these can only get pernicious in Indian context. And with obnoxious religious sites sprouting all around whether temples, mosques and whatever, these have become serious nuisance. It becomes really unbearable in congested places, it is a serious human rights violation –not to talk of miseries to other species that share these degraded polluted spaces. Loudspeakers should be used only in confined places like auditorium so on. This should also be applied to political gatherings. Politicians needs to reach people in a better manner rather than helidropping, blaring and moving on, if ever they need to arrange it in auditorium and use mass media to spread. Listening to politicians is not the only thing people have in mind. Please spare us. 

Celebration is much nuanced collective elevating experience that this society is uniquely incapacitated to understand. In most case celebration doesn’t need any occasion or divine prescription, even sunrise fulfils all the criteria of celebration but then who is bothered when it cannot be packaged and sold. The reason why these have become quite crude, intrusive and blatant pitch for consumerism in recent times.   

Tharoor muses, as he swiftly unfurls sickularism flag (this opportunism is ofcourse tutored from casteist feudals like Aiyerjis of the world), in response to ‘popular’ writer Bhagat that sacrifice "is integral to observance". Yes it is, but not animal sacrifice. Characteristically he is siding with the conservative version. Sacrifice has a broader context that crude may not fathom. Further, I am not at all against butchering of goats for food, it is a good source of protein and nothing is wasted. It only affects society when these are done in inhuman manner and in public display (like some heart rending pics from China). Laws should be enforced on these matters. Furthermore too much non vegetarian food also affects our carbon footprint. Hence must be consumed judiciously and in lesser quantity, and since there is a sinister form of vegetarianism that hover with purity seeking subterfuge these cannot be completely be avoided. As for self-flagellating moharram, who is bothered if adults decides to cut themselves or hit their head with bricks, indeed I am for suicide too (IPC 309 had amusing twists and turns). If child abuse happens then it should be strictly dealt, somehow the narration is twisted so as to seek children as property of parents. Society too has responsibility over vulnerable, the reason why schools must be strictly secular.  

            

The other day I happen to glimpse a talk wherein Shiv Vishwanathan desultorily dismissed breach by ‘scientist’ (hilarious and regrettable voodoo act by none other than ISRO head at gold filled sanctum of Tirupathi) with characteristic ease that only a public intellectual poser of primitive society can muster. He tried to compare it with Bohr who it seems kept horse shoe!! Does he even understand what he is proposing and condoning here? Ofcourse he does and that is why he is elevated and fed by casteist feudals and market media, it’s his existential need. So we leave him within his little world and predicaments (I am pointing him because he was standout in his article on the aftermath of Nekchand and idea of craft). ISRO head’s despicable acts cannot be compared with Bohr. Isro head is in his capacity as representing a premium scientific and technological institution, he is more than representing himself as a public person in public space. Secondly, it is not a personal quirk but he is acquiescing to a system, in this case a system with strong regressive pointers. Significantly Bohr was a pioneer not a replicator, and many pioneers have their quirks which is not same as accepting a regressive framework and acquiescing to casteist arbitrators with dubious link to morals. Also understand these were almost a century back, world has changed quite significantly since then, and the role of regressive religions is closely scrutinised in recent times as it is having a debilitating effect on societies.

Post script: this fellow Shiv V is vaguely familiar, I recall a fellow with beard who used to stay in Karol Bagh about two decades back. I recall him because I used to avoid him, look down, take a detour so on. Must have done something really embarrassing. I used to do so many stupid stuffs it is difficult to keep a tab, but yes not sure whether it’s him, but someone similar to him.   

On wasting precious milk

There is one aspect of the issue that slipped my mind, and occurred quite accidently while I saw this man the other morning who had a cow accompanying him through the streets. So if you want fresh milk they land up with the cow and milk it in front of you! This is not uncommon around here. In a way it’s quite charming reminder to daily life untouched by modern way. So the milk wasted is also that which is denied to the calf (and as a kid i have seen how the desperate calf is denied and finally left to suckle little that is left), and in industrialised dairy farming all kind of hormones are injected, as the poor cow is made to undergo untold suffering to produce milk. There is a pressure on native species that is increasingly getting threatened as their number dwindles with preference given to large quantity milk production. Next is the issue of packaging, the energy spent to accomplish this, the carbon emitted, all these are wasted with these irresponsible acts.

 Most critical is the issue of how these moral vacuums of sanctum trickles down and gets percolated among common people as desired behavior, as attitude, is also telling. General sense of apathy, to be insulated from other’s misery, while one is in a way responsible for it, is easily achieved without as much an afterthought. Many times these depraved acts are replicated in public space on figures one wants to treat like gods. People have even died as they slip trying to pour milk over huge cardboard cut outs of movie personalities and demigod politicians. Wasted carbon units waste as they accumulate and spread.     

Not really a Non Violent Day

Ideally Gandhi’s birth anniversary should be about spreading purity, cleanliness is close enough. Purity is something special in this part of the world, for some it is the only quantified purpose in life. Every occasion seems to be an occasion to search for purity, as if the whole world is dependent on it. For the last 70 odd years on Oct 2^nd it’s been a free run as they use the government machinery and state might to impose their ideas about world, and crucially how to live in it, on people. There seem to be some elevated plane where the blessed people dwell and patiently wait for such occasion to teach us, to guide us, to replicate the putrefying pit. Nowhere else in the world they will be imposing vegetarianism on people or ban liquor that too for some self-conceived moral reasons. But in here they do, and they do with such moral authority that democracy is reduced to be a mere conduit. On Oct 2^nd every year (the list of days is now set to grow) state’s true character as agents of sanctum scum is on display. On this day sale of meat, fish and liquor is banned, as if implying that there is something wrong in savouring these and that lowly people needs to purify themselves and should be compulsorily trained to show restraint in these ‘lowly acts’, atleast on the day ‘mahatma’ dropped in. Wtf.

Understand this vegetarianism is not about compassion in this part of the world, although they may mask it as such (like liberal masquerade), nor nonviolence from lack of violence by peaceful brutes. I was reading an interesting piece the other day that postulated tolerance is not a moral absolute, this in context to soul churning moments after the white supremacists, with Nazi symbols, moved around public space in US and drivelled it as freedom of choice and speech. Also, where the head of the state lacks ethical certitude; trained and prospered in market manipulations and victories of the moment nothing much is expected from him. “Tolerance is not a moral absolute; it is a peace treaty. Tolerance is a social norm because it allows different people to live side-by-side without being at each other’s throats. It means that we accept that people may be different from us, in their customs, in their behavior, in their dress, in their sex lives, and that if this doesn’t directly affect our lives, it is none of our business. But the model of a peace treaty differs from the model of a moral precept in one simple way: the protection of a peace treaty only extends to those willing to abide by its terms. It is an agreement to live in peace, not an agreement to be peaceful no matter the conduct of others. A peace treaty is not a suicide pact”. So if it doesn’t affect our life, it is none of our business. It is in the same context one must add that religions are detrimentally effecting the society and the expressions of these are becoming serious threat. Hence if it is advocating violence, segregations, discriminations, patriarchy so on and if ignores rational values and understanding -that are achieved after thousands of years of efforts, then it affects the social wellbeing therefore cannot be ignored.

So what do you do when things are imposed on you? What to eat? When to not eat? What to drink? Who are these scoundrels to decide even for a second what I should and should not eat? Also consider that this society suffers from severe malnutrition and poverty, over that now this nonsense. This control is a serious breach of human rights. Casteist forces, under the guile of liberal, could only go this far in their starch khadi, now hindutva forces will attempt to take it to the next level. They have been handed over the template with blessing. These attempts at spreading depraved sanctum purity in the name of gandhi on common people should be resisted. I was reading somewhere that Hope has two daughters Anger and Courage, and so if you want hope to survive in this bleak world be angry, be very angry. Any breach by unethical frames on common people’s life must be resisted. These violations are happening for too long with impunity.

On this ‘Purity Day’ strongly resist every attempt that is made to intrude your world by some of the worst kind of people. Eat fish masala or chicken curry on this day, and yes brandy in crackling soda should go down well. Being non vegetarian is an act of compassion in this society, as much as claims of non violence is a sick joke.

The picture speaks

Have a look at this picture, what is being poured on that dome shaped stone (whatever maybe the religious symbolism here is insignificant so is self-propitiating rituals and selfish crude conceptions) is not white coloured water. It is milk, that coloured water could not symbolise milk is amazing. In the degraded world symbolism has been assigned specific context! I am sure many of us feel distressed when we waste food, or see it being wasted. Not for the people posturing as guardians of this beleaguered society, and not ironically in a space that is supposed to provide moral-ethical context. It is an amazing degradation. Now place that in the context of a country with stupendous level of disparities and extreme poverty, where millions live in absolute misery, also note that this fellow here is in his capacity as President of the country, the first citizen (or senior politician, Union Minister, for last many decades. It needs to be noted that since the period he was Finance Minister disparities have only increased. This breast beating for India’s economy in the last few days is nauseating). What is he trying to showcase? What kind of behaviour is he seeking to spread? How can a person be so reprehensibly irresponsible, so bloody insensitive? Shouldn’t these crimes be coming under the ambit of anti-superstition law and dealt severely? Secularism can never be, and will not be allowed, to be the redemption for these serious breaches.    

India is home to largest number of hungry and malnourished people in the world. According to Global Hunger Index India ranks 67^th among the worst 80 countries in terms of malnutrition with 213 million people (FAO puts it at 230million) in “serious hunger” situation, their diet lacks quantity and quality, they go hungry and are severely malnourished. If that doesn’t help to get the context the situation is worse than countries like N.Korea and Sudan.  World Bank data indicates that India has one of the world’s highest demographic of children suffering from malnutrition, it is double than that of Sub-Saharan Africa. 44% of children under the age of 5 are underweight, 72% infants are anaemic.        

So this is the reality of this society, and now let’s understands what is being wasted with any care or concern. Milk contains up to 16 nutrients that are essential for health. A glass of milk (200ml) contains several important nutrients that include calcium, protein, iodine, potassium, phosphorous, vitamins D, B2, B12 so on. It obviously means that people are not able to afford these, milk is beyond their reach, it is precious. I too recall, during childhood, milk was strictly rationed and surely not something that can be wasted. And the state/region where this criminal waste is being committed is worst on the scale, meaning you can further downgrade the above mentioned data. Imagine passing through all these heart breaking miseries and deprivations into the sanctum to commit this. Are these humans?

Go back to the picture again, see those fellows around with grimy threads judiciously showcased out of their undergarments, as if as a sign of some kind of achievement. Think of sick mindset that works like this, that too inside the sanctum -supposedly holy. Something only likes of Mukherjeejis and depraved minds can fathom and acknowledge, we ordinary people don’t understand these nuances and camaraderie that sprout with it. Seriously, we don’t want to either. Quite aware that, despite best efforts to trap people, world is not this putrefying pit. Also note that there is a Air Force official in uniform watching the proceeding with amusement, possibly bewildered if he is ruminating over why he joined AirForce. Is this his duty? Is it right to use defence personnel, state officials and state machinery for personal purposes, that too something so very sickening and morally unbecoming? So much state money is invested on this fellow, by what is essentially an impoverished society, and look what he is upto. Last but not the least, what is cameraman (camerawoman can be ruled out, if ever there will be menstruation tests to tackle the lurking impurities in the pure and purifying world and the blessed purifiers at the helm!) doing there, in what is surely an enviable angle for shoot. Clearly these are all a set up, and wily Mukherjeeji is adept in his game. “Astute politician” is the word that is used as a euphemism for these embarrassments.  

When the world becomes literate, healthier and richer

            So what happens when societies (that is majority of people) becomes richer and healthier? It is an unprecedented stage in history and with amazing developments in technology has opened up myriad possibilities. This blogger mentioned about Andhra region and the kind of degradation that could be witnessed as people acquire more money, some through IT. As the latest skills and understanding encounters the trapped dead souls it sprouts as blessing, sanctum is seen as source of this opportunity. Maintaining status quo, in this muck of unthinking fatalist people who have bypassed possibilities of modern world, becomes easy. There is a traditional monopoly that gets consolidated through neo-liberal to make people work earnestly against their interest, and even will (like thriving sincere zombies), for future that is kept mystified but with necessary ruse of ‘within reach if you work hard’, and ofcourse with more blessing. It is unethical to make people work –in the name of employment, in dehumanising contexts that shrivel their humanity and slowly but surely their life. These are peddlers of false hope and dubious moral authority. When elite section of this beleaguered society has it so easy, without any shred of discernible competence (expect ofcourse manipulation), then it is conjectured that they will be least interested to change the horrendous reality, all indices points to this lackadaisical ways. There is a traditional lack of urgency or concern, this criminal apathy is sometimes factored in as Indian way for western gaze. They have no incentive to show concern for amazing level of desperation and inequality that thrive; moral vacuum makes it much difficult. Indeed the attempts at replacing primitive ways suffer from another problem, apart from ofcourse the entrenched powerful section that keeps licking, that it is quite impossible to have any radical alterative from this moral vacuum that can synchronise with modern values. And if it does, it will undoubtedly unsettle the applecart of elite’s locus standi in any matter, and the culture of truth by consensus that gnaws into the soul. Meanwhile there is competition of humility and modest manners that come with privileged ease of inheritance now cleverly suited to modernity and enhanced liberal ways. Not endowed with human decency or compassion, and always attuned to accumulate –whether wealth or blessing, there is no point to appeal for better nature where there is none.  

  

 In this fatalist morass market is introduced as arbitrator for all that is best in humans, an ideal market governed with perfect competition brings out the best in human behaviour is the postulate that we have to endure now. Hence education, that is meant to open up mind and critically look at the contemporary world, is now a strive for relevance as perfect buyer and seller in the happiness dispensing market. Any residual desire in this quagmire doesn’t even have nostalgic value. Art is reduced to movies and TV shows that further digs into degradation, the kind of stories and intents that they peddle is a disgrace. Feudalistic, trivial and abomination of all sorts, the worst ofcourse is the one to do with religion. With new technology it just gets worse and belligerent, it is difficult to find anything that is sensible as entertainment. Sticking to the nuances of the putrid pit, loud and noisy, insensitive, ego driven feudal, fatalism ensconced, it is always a nauseating experience. Look at the costliest venture Bahubali (I have quite low expectation from Indians when it comes to entertainment, a form of creative expression that is heavily dependent and decided by the system. But yes I like the ridiculous –the funny/hilarious, despite cringe worthy contexts these do have some talent), it was such a waste, and really couldn’t sit through the whole movie, the only thing worth mentioning is the song sequence wherein cloud turning into chariot, birds so on, otherwise it is a resonation and clear authentication of everything crude and trivial that entitled Indians accumulate and represent. Therefore it becomes dangerous entertainment as a conduit for expressing worst of human culture, traditions and conditions. It is the cheapest and the basest that is targeted. It’s like when BCCI have more money what will they do? Multiplying through further degradation, what else? Whereas in West they make Gravity, Avatar…that constantly stretches and attempts to exhaust the limits of possibilities with these wonderful expressions. While in here they keep repeating mostly trash (includes ‘hollywood’) on TV as a ruse to sell products, meanwhile the ‘artists’ mime emotions with minimal skills to trap humans to buy whatever and multiply their money to become the torchbearers of the society. Is this what it is reduced to, monetising emotions in every possible way to sell? It is rarely an elevating experience, mostly lacking nuances or enlightened brilliance. It is such a shoddy fare that even a half cultured person will find it embarrassing. Meanwhile market has become arbitrator of blessing that is channelizing easy money. They therefore now splurge on latest vehicles and brands, having established as blessed they now position to guide us. The cottage industry that thrives around entertainment, TV channels, movies so on are now the elite of this beleaguered society. These constantly intervene to set the parameter of possible as also infect other areas of human endeavours and play the part as carefully chosen agent to make life meaningless self-perpetuating pit that keeps accumulating pus to classify it as tradition. Emotion based narratives that are used to amuse the populace –who are already fed with healthy diet of myths, easily replace facts with fiction while meanings are distorted and suited for a specific narration of blessedness. Rational discourse becomes difficult in this shifting reality and manipulation. Things have become porous and degrading as entertainment and money power takes centre stage.  It may give the impression of freedom and expression but it is a serious encroachment on humanity of each individual. Each and every emotion is now sought to be tapped and packaged to sell product by these despicables, every few second they prop up with the nuisance. I am sure market has created such degradations in other societies, as sapiens nose dives, but in other societies there is level of competence as also many interesting fields that provide attractions. But in here it’s like the stupid game cricket that sucks and gorges up everything and regurgitates as entertainment, nationalism and ofcourse ‘sport’. It is victory for illusion creators as they fatten on the misery and sensibilities. 

In the last few decades as market gets emboldened the money and benefits of these are being usurped by a narrow section with limited competence as also manipulated self-serving worldviews. This seriously impacts other sections of the society too as mindset that thrives on easy money finds its way thus deeply flawing the aspirational contexts. This constant spewing of low grade fare all around is having a detrimental effect on the society. It is becoming a wasteland where dubious kinds of people thrive, and technology has unfortunately helped unleash these into living room to trap people.  Corporates are here not for common good, if ever it is only incidental, the main aim is to multiply money. Hence traditions that don’t care for common good tends to sync and exploit, unlike compassion and concern driven societies that will surely have ways to prevent these. The reason why, international corporates, when dealing in India tends to lower their standards, and don’t show much concern for common people’s tribulations or existential threats (this blogger had tracked water exploitation by MNCs and how powerful connive to help these at the expense of common people). Capitalism’s dead zones suits sanctum raised dead souls as they work out the share of exploitations. Religion therefore becomes foreseer for market exploitation in the same way as far right religious sections in US have appropriated and amalgamated religion into capitalism.  Hollow acts of democracy and liberty so on becomes irrelevant in the theatre of manipulation. Religion, with its miracles and delusions, bludgeon individuals into obeying supplicating creatures with suspect critical thinking faculties that is incapacitated to sane reactions to surroundings. Humanity, solidarity and empathy that never really had any chance in this society are further pushed away. Articulated alternatives that suit the occasion is pushed in through state might that mimes sanctum.

So what do people do when they have literacy and nutrition? When these basic needs are satisfied we are expected to have healthy and educated individuals who strive for better understanding of the surroundings, use his/her mind enhanced by awareness of ideas of great minds and thoughts to negotiate challenges posed by primitive traditions, as also as a springboard for egalitarian contexts and benign world. And with modern technologies that enhances senses and provides ample time from dehumanising occupations a society is therefore expected to progress and contribute to humanity. But do Indians have the potential for it, or better still, does this society have the traits to capture the beauty and nuances of progress? Kerala is a better example to scrutinize and understand these. A state that was projected as a standard for human development parameters, that match most advanced societies on these matters. Thanks mainly due to progressive movements very much initiated by education institutions through missionaries as also a strong impetus from communism. Kerala achieved these during 1970s, effectively this is the period when the society peaked and saturated, it’s been down the hill since then. Slowly but surely the hold of putrefied pit has factored in all the possibilities. Literacy could never really become education. Physical health couldn’t work out the mental possibilities and freedom that it represented. There is no future here in this churning pit that regurgitates and gnaws all the while, and if humanity is looking for any answers or solution to burgeoning problems this surely is not the place. Children are just clones churned out by flawed society and are seen as investment for security in what is essentially a threatening and cannibalising society. It is over millions of lives, their possibilities and hopes that Rajajis, Ayerjis, Mukherjeejis are bulldozed to the top to showcase blessings while degrading democratic institutions. Insulated from realities and devoid of any scrutinising skills, education is reduced to rituals with those adept in replication score and are then readied for dehumanising jobs with innate humbleness that seeks to acknowledge fate. There is demand for “productive well educated professional” Indians in West, and ironically these are now threatened by bots, AI! (case of slave meets robot! So who is better?!). So there, surely replicators and incremental addition don’t measure up to the challenge. There is a foundational issue. It seems the whole society is not only insane but sinisterly incapacitated to introspect. Humans trapped within these can only modify and transform according to this reality, as also when there is huge incentive to follow the lead (that likes of blessed Mukherjeejis so explicitly elaborate). The process of history and traditions spun becomes the deciding factor on potential, transcending these becomes suicidal. Hence, stunted fatalistic humans, who are easily controlled and manipulated, and a society that constantly drivels to the worst possible options and outcomes. Culture and tradition of society are collective manifestations of human nature and potential. And manifestations of this society (that is more than a billion) in every crucial areas of human endeavour and its limited contribution to humanity is testament to deeper rot. Ofcourse there are exceptions, but they surely cannot come from a framework that lacks sensitivity, that is not how humanity works (atleast that is how I know it).      

    

Kerala also is a case for different religions, and supposed harmony that seem to float in the air. To start with religion is not an identity (fluffs in West in their urgency for mullah feeding have taken it to the level of racism, don’t know about muslims feeling secure but yes fluffs have been able to position as kindred souls at the expense of common people. The backlash is severe and has potential to take societies many decades back), these are same type of people, with similar language, culture and outlook, who have been artificially divided along the lines of religions. Religion has its positives but unfortunately true to the nature of the society the best could never really thrive, and in the last few decades the worst of religions are posing serious threat. It is revisionism at its worst and each showing pride in its backwardness, and religions and its much further divisions down the line is living in truce. There is nothing positive here. It is the degraded form of human expression that has taken root in the name of religion and identities herein, and any sense of harmony so on is only cosmetic. Enter market with its greed and posturing as harmoniser, and you have new problems that further scrap the bottom of putrid pit. See the picture herein, its gold jewellery ads that showcase all the three religions (I had taken some pics of banners but somehow lost it), the surplus of gold and commodification herein can make any sane person puke but in here these are part of celebration and yes untold happiness that spreads with purity of gold. It’s a symptom of mental pathology that is accepted as tradition and is shared as harmony of depraved minds. A harmonious society that is about sickening pride, deviant prestige and zombie humans measured in scale. Kerala therefore is a compelling example for what happens when Indians get literacy and nutrition, and decide to live in harmony.