#JNU violence

Violence in educational institution must be condemned, not because it is located in Delhi therefore camaraderie with high end manipulators hence by default prestigious. It also need to be noted that AMU is known for its regressive ways that is influenced by primitive religion, till recently girl students were not even allowed in library. For this very reason this so called educational institution should have been closed down. The idea of education institutions classified on the basis of religion in itself is questioned. Education has nothing to do with religion, it degrades humanistic values and classifies youngsters while introducing them to anachronistic juvenilities in the garb of faith that closes down their mind and mess with it. A primitive society like India is exceedingly vulnerable. Ofcourse castetva forces have severely degraded the society as they posture benign arbitrators while hindutva is working on revivalist mode to herd the zombies.

Violence in JNU must be condemned but you cannot take side to fit in the narration. It was reported by media that leftist started the fight while right wing responded. Having studied in Kerala in 1990s I am quite aware of vicious nature of leftist student’s organisation (SFI) as also congress (KSU) and right wing (ABVP). SFI is powerful presence, and they are prone to gundaism with political clout. While KSU brings in feudal norms and high end manipulations, ABVP works in with religious acts to create provocation so as to play victim. Campus in kerala during 1980s-90s was quite a violent place, with SFI very much actively involved. So to say that suddenly the world is coming to end with “fascism” is rather ridiculous. Furthermore, having spent some time in JNU and acquainted with strong left wing student politics here I quite well know how it is working. One incident will help elucidate it. So I was having attendance shortage (SIS –international studies, wasn’t much of interest to me except maybe some thinkers) so mostly used to roam around, and spent lots of time in the library and hanged around with few select people while attending talks, seminars and debates. This SFI leader came to know about my predicament. The rules says give reason and repeat (I vaguely remember Prof Chinoy mentioning this to me, well it’s been more than two decades!!) or you are rusticated. But our student leader had other plans, I guess he saw me as potential recruit, not to forget a malayalee comrade. How wonderful. He said like a well-oiled tout in chaste malayalam “we will get it done”, and attempted to hug me which I fiercely resisted. Probably he was working on his easy going nature with north Indian cultural context (Keralites don’t hug, and I absolutely abhor it). So I could be in next semester without any worry or attendance contravening every rule. I dropped the idea since money was a concern and was quite keen on hostel which doesn’t seem to be happening. Balancing money making with academic pursuit wasn't working. JNU is undoubtedly a wonderful place to be in with verdant huge campus right in the core area of Delhi and an excellent library, and if i had got the hostel facility my life would have taken an entirely different turn.     

SFI has a strong presence in JNU which castetva forces see as something of international exotic that has immense potential in presenting oneself as compassionate. Some louts even posed as gandhian leftist and surveyed the scene like a feudal lord immensely happy with the subject and unique blessing that has entitled him these. Those were the good old days, and fattened fluffs in west were much besotted with this high end display of unworldly unity in diversity. Now as hindutva works its way –essentially it is balancing of things into its narration, its student’s wing is quite active. Hence the violence in JNU is a power struggle with outside force quite active as always. Right wing is not ready to back down as it has clout now while left wing is working to maintain its supremacy through increasingly angst narration and uncharacteristic whining. Congress ofcourse is the posturer here seeking opportunity to capitalize and work its narration as castetva saviors –the beholder of unknowable traditions. You cannot take sides without awareness of fact of the matter. If you do then you are being political. Meanwhile violence must be condemned and culprit punished.

Post script: The talk on JNU will not be complete with one hilarious incident. There was this Keralaite student -a thin lanky fellow with long beard, who posed as leftist ideologue, itching for debate all the time. He was always ready with "down with the imperialist" (read USA) line of thought which was interesting sometimes but mostly rant against "liberalization and globalization" (favorite punching bags in mid-1990s if you recall). Now I had forgotten about him then one day few years later I was at American consulate library (at Barakhamba Rd) browsing through some books, and there emerged a familiar face. Clean shaven and tucked in shirt, and it took me a while to place him. He was working at American consulate. And I rubbed it in with much pleasure "What a fall comrade!!" He winked and said he gets paid in dollar! He sponsored the lunch and we parted. Never met him after that.       

Righteous balderdash makes the gangrene septic

As the market works its way up to spoil the references of facts and decency a new form of virulent manipulators have entered the scene with much confidence. These were till recently working in the background as enablers of deceit. They now easily work their way by blurring the lines through market consolidated value system of exaggeration and manipulations. Trump epitomizes this steady rise. And so to resist these there is an attempt by pretentious bunch to pose as benign righteous arbitrators and showcase as saviors. These are the same who have been feeding through the exploitative systems for long and are very much responsible for the impasse that common people find themselves in. Incapable to work out egalitarian values or reference of compassion as also exigencies of time we live in they look for easy atavistic association as a reference to connect. So, as they pose as benign arbitrators blessed with all the necessary attributes to the binary of “bad guys” for people's sake, they work to consolidate worst references as identity that needs protection and this is indeed showcased as basis of human rights.

Religion is quite clearly a gangrene on humanity that is increasingly turning fatal. It is eating into the soul of human and conscience of society. Almost all the problems we face can be directly or indirectly pointed to be arising from context of religions. It is surely making matter worse. It brings in fantastical fiction as an escapism from reality and surroundings. So instead of facing the reality, working on introspection, and using faculties of mind to understand and factor in new ideas and logically established and verified concepts that seeks truth, strive to evolve with all the exciting opportunities, they tend to isolate into some medieval rug sacks and become fatalist or all-knowing confident herds with twisted personal worldviews mediated by religion. They even claim that their religion is more scientific hence better than that of others! Exceptionalism and entitlements over others takes root. This anachronistic juvenile frame is being elevated as choice, and indeed is being recognized as identity and stamped on to hapless people particularly vulnerable children. Nothing is more painful than seeing a religious child. You can see the dying of a civilization in these expressions. It is a tragedy on humanity of colossal scale. Indeed it is sight of death of hope and possibilities. Two hundred thousand years of sapiens evolution is coming to this dead end is truly tragic.  

There is also a sinister attempt to equate these balderdash as race. This incursion must be resisted at every cost. It is becoming increasingly clear that religions are incompatible to modern values and tends to undermine individual liberty and sense of being and therefore suppresses the humanity in each individual. There is a persistent effort by vested interests and sinister bunch with feudal mindsets to keep people segregated in these self-consuming pits. This helps in firm grip and control over fate of common people. While the majority religion in any given region is working with opportunist populism and market pointers to position as savior the minority religion is being sought by those posturing liberal-secular while hinting at egalitarian values and harbinger of human rights. This is being played in most part of the world. And, let’s be clear, at the expense of serious issues and concerns that affects common people. We are at catastrophic crossroads of climate emergency, mass extinction, cataclysmic pollution affecting air, water, soil, and even light. Biodiversity is being degraded, habitats destroyed. There are extreme climatic events that has already arrived. We are losing soil, forests, species…at an alarming rate. And here we are worried about identities based on anachronistic juvenilities. This is quite shocking and hara-kiri moment. Only market greed and deviant religions can create these horrible irresponsible and arrogant humans.  

Sane people who have wide reading habits, are introspective and inquisitive, rigorously work on logical ways and emerging contexts, understand the challenges of contemporary realities and have persistently strengthened critical thinking and argumentative faculties, and are keenly aware of socio-historical and spiritual context of human life, tend to easily see through the balderdash of sinister frames. These are generally referred to as liberal enlightened humans who closely associate with egalitarian and compassionate value systems. Progress of humanity has been very much hinged to them, majority of human beings are just freeloaders working on opportunities and trivialities of the era they live in.  The liberals in the contemporary contexts are not really enlightened souls but opportunistic posturers filling gaps to capture opportunity hence can flip on any side with much ease as and when they see the chance.  The matter is made worse with decreasing attention spans of general populace hooked to social media and easy gratifications, and are easily outraged hinged on visceral reactions. Lack of context or deeper understanding is therefore reflected on people posturing as benign leaders to counter the onslaught of nationalism that is working with regressive revivalism of religion. The reason why Corbyn was defeated falls into these parameters that can be extended to much of West (and also poorer societies too). People are ready to put faith on a person like Boris Johnson, as also are keen to move out of EU has a context (youngster’s concern are job opportunities that EU offers than any politicians so they voted for against brexit -and not Corbyn). The rise of xenophobia has a definite context, and it surely has to do with rising insecurities.

Liberalism and egalitarian values clearly associates with humanism. Human rights as also rights of other species, concern for environment and nature are paramount. 'Liberal left' is another of posturing that needs to be dropped. There are no liberal left, far left or centralist or conservatives…these are categorizing people and issues into preconceived brackets that serves no purpose except dividing and polarizing people, furthering misery while the market media ‘balance’ the debate as the sinister gain. There are issues and challenges that needs to be addressed, and the situation demands how it need to be tackled. Sane people must stop these classifications and dissuade these discussion. Emerging challenges need a new paradigm. Religions are woefully lacking, and indeed are dead weight that humanity really cannot carry.  

It need to be understood very clearly that religion is not an identity and cannot be. It is an affront on being human. The attempt to equate this subjective juvenility to race is not only sinister but denigrates the fight against racism. It was indeed Nazis who connected religion to race and worked on despicable ideas of eugenics. It is amply clear that religions stands against humanistic concerns as they segregate and categorize people while the world gets more and more connected and becomes immediate. The concern for religious minorities (anti-semitism is condemned but that doesn’t exonerate Judaism hence judaophobia is not a problem, these distinctions must be insisted) by those posturing liberal is bringing in regressive primitive frames and value system that is unacceptable and is indeed an affront to humanity. There is a majoritarian reaction which in turn consolidates its own regressive primal connections. What has been gained from the struggle and sacrifices of hundreds of years cannot be allowed to wither away to protect religion that is bringing in misery and surely not solution to any problems.

   

Ideas need to add synergy and openness into society, it must help humans to be aware of themselves and their connection with reality and surrounding that has profound implications. Fragile nature of life and the value system that emerge from this awareness is being persistently undermined by religion –that look for miracles and narrow visions that seek devotees with grander plans and illusions. This cannot work. Communitarian consolidation need only be issue based within the context and challenges that human face, it really cannot be on the basis of juvenile fictions or birth based categorization or associations. This increasingly sickening concern for religion as an identity as also exaggerations herein must stop. Please treat humans as humans, and define society and community on human concern. Common people cannot be held hostage to narrations that hedonist market or sinister religions deem suitable. Religions are threat to humanity and there is no majority or minority about it.  

A song to the ebbing life

There is a quieter place that the faint eyes seek

And let the favorite scenes float

Latch onto one of them

To be taken to a safer synapse above the dying sky  

A world of colors and everyday wonders

Catch the whiff of fading cirrus etchings

Sing with the lyrics of the passing skein

Religions are gangrene on humanity

This beleaguered society has been in the stranglehold of mythmakers, and when they are scrotum scratchers arising from the depth of immoralities of sanctum then you need to shudder. These are the most vicious forms of humans adept in depravities that will put humanity to shame but in their cunning ways manage to even morph these into high morals. If need be they can even convince cannibalism as benign expression of human right so that a vegan too will look forward to consume his neighbor. They make a casteist racist obnoxious patriarch a mahatma, sufficiently impress fattened fluffs in west with their repository of seduction techniques, including the unfailing large pupil lip quivering act that beady eyed fattened fluffs in west are particularly susceptible to. Thus casteist racist is an apostle of peace while a primitive society epitomizes diversity in unity meanwhile caste degradation –that is strictly controlled and worked through segregatory patriarchy, becomes foundation for community. The mythmakers have patched up a shitpot and presented to the world as a wonder. Meanwhile with the control of state machinery went about normalizing these at the expense of common people. Caste atrocities and all kind of crimes that pupate out of these depraved value system were factored in as law and order issue, which ofcourse was kept tardy while judiciary moped the rest.

With castetva losing the power suddenly India seems to be spiraling into violence has the context. This society was never nonviolent, indeed the so called apostle himself was depraved manipulator, it’s a brutal society and the protagonists posturing saviors, trustees and liberal secular are very much the perpetrators. Fattened fluffs in west vulnerable in their colonial angst have already lowered even the lowest denominator of expectation hence casteist easily breeze in as human right crusaders, angst ridden souls and benign colleagues. Now, another aspect of the narration here is to vitiate the environment to take the attention from you –the primitive hometruth, so that you remain in benign frame. This also helps in hiding the mediocrities, you can always hide lack of competence by working up angst or else degrade others. Casteist therefore work quite well in degraded ecosystem. They are therefore in the forefront to make the monster mullah comfortable since they can only dehumanize people. Dehumanizing, segregating and misery creating frames are their specific concern hence religion is undoubtedly an identity that needs to protected at whatever cost, indeed they look for worst reference within these anachronistic juvenilities too. They show characteristic lack of concern for common people meanwhile adept in camaraderie and nepotistic associations.

Not surprisingly the casteist Indians found racist colonials as their natural allies, there was so much in common that they were enamored, hence worked as lawyer negotiators while posing as freedom fighters. Lacking any empathy or concern they agreed on division of societies into countries on the basis of religion. Castetva now blames Hindutva, but the fact is it was Castetva who got the power and ruled for 70years, not Hindutva. As always projecting themselves as reluctantly primitive, reluctantly accepting power for the sake of people, is part of the con act. Always reluctant benign overseer, very humbly accepting the blessing. What can poor souls do but to accept the fate of blessed to rule the miserable? And the zombie populace is mesmerized. Now ofcourse Castetva is beaten in its own game. Thus the final trump card: the muslims, not the common muslims but the worst type who are kept fed with all primitiveness intact, indeed celebrated. Monster mullah as always take the attention from casteist cannibals –who pose as humanitarian facilitators for highest values that humanity could conceive. Monster mullah have always been hunted, trapped and fed by caste cannibals, it is called secular game of high stakes and it was always at the expense of common people who were pushed into further despair. Meanwhile to showcase modernity hedonist feudal muslims were also cultivated who authenticated castetva’s depravities with much charm. Hedonist muslims posturing as public intellectuals were worst as they authenticated caste, indeed in many cases viscously so, charming the castetva to no end as they share gourmet food in high end eateries in Europe with fattened fluffs joining in for multicultural amusement lessons.

Without having any understanding of egalitarian values, nor any connection with empathetic context nor any caliber Castetva conceived modern references as rituals. Secularism therefore was the new deity that demanded hierarchy of rituals. The goddess need to be appeased and kept hidden from the scrutiny of common people. Mystification was key to power and was always a control mechanism. People have to be kept segregated and trapped in their own misery, this was a constant reference that was affirmed on every occasion. This then was the modernizing contexts into which Indians were being negotiated. It is not surprising that these depravities have infected every possible dealings in this society, creating a fractious suspicion driven fatalistic society that constantly drivels to worst possibilities. High sense of entitlement also assumed proprietary right over common people and gave unique capacity to assume as patronizing arbitrators who have been assigned to take care of muslims. Secularism god needs sacrifice and common people were always in good supply –who were sufficiently drummed in to see all the unfolding of their miserable life as fate. Ofcourse hindutva has no such niceties, being rooted to indian reality than castetva (which is more of image building exercise for west, as also to position themselves) they know their strengths, and it is an obvious outcome of castetva’s devious ways. Cunning gandhi saw himself as blessing on common people, very much orchestrated by conniving castetva and wily colonizers, hence sought to represent them. Castetva was positioning to represent –with a resolute aim to control and capture power, those whom they did not even considered humans while clinging to inhuman framework! Gandhi even had the audacity to refer some humans as ‘children of god’. This entitled positioning and depraved value system was detrimental to the foundation of egalitarian society. There is a reason why gandhi is an essential lynchpin between castetva and hindutva, that makes the shift so easy. This also the reason why hindutva will very likely move towards worst reference of hinduism.

Guhas day out: there is palpable excitement among castetva forces, who having lost power were scheming too long without much success. So recent deterioration of situation, had them excitedly sniffing. More deaths will help pose their angst branding. It must be added here that use of provocative language by hindutva (essentially by Home Minister) vitiated the issue that could have been handled better. The same things, and worst, were achieved by castetva with semantics, compelling turn of sentences and blessed humbleness. Hindutva urgently needs lessons on semantics cleverness. Also, they need to cultivate and understand the leverage points of international media (that castetva have effectively and nepotistically cultivated in the last many decades). It need be noted that prominent international media reported the violence in Assam as protest against “anti-muslim act” –which surely it wasn’t, setting the tone for present situation. The footprint of castetva manipulation is very much obvious.        

Pretentious Guha, the poster boy of castetva’s gandhian hedonism thriving branch, was very much in attendance. He is an ace mythmaker who while working on gandhi as a superman –who visited earth on special request, also creates legends out of amazingly ordinary in dumb game called cricket. Lacking any skills the mediocre protagonists in this stupid game were elevated as stunning sportsmen through his raconteur skills. Anecdotes replaced any sporting skills to make these pathetic endearing. Camaraderie always sought mediocrities of cricket to bind, and guha was right up there. When I first saw I was mesmerized by TV and the whole idea of watching something live (for my teen mind this surely was terrific), and they used cricket to trap common people. Though Indian cricketers were all always legends what surprised me was that they were lowly compared to even small collection of islands westindies, and were themselves genuinely surprised to win ‘world cup’ –which still is a reference for followers of this dumb game. Guha’s version of history closely mimes what castetva forces worked for Indians, and this they viciously want to protect. Hindutva version of history seek to demolish this carefully constructed version. It’s going to be another addition to the saga for common people.

There is no reason to trust pretentious guha, who claims to be atheist while carrying a casteist reference meanwhile keeping keen eye and marveling on temple structures while driving his car. It is a set up that is optimally attuned for sucking. They know which keys to press to maximize, and are keenly aware of inside of the game and positioning herein. What took me years to understand for them these are part of family legacy and shared as camaraderie pointers. Valson Thumpu, an insider, has unique insight into the posturers. One human right posturer even wrote recently that all refugees from everywhere must be invited to India, it is our culture our tradition of vaasudeva kutubukam, he proposes without any irony. These people who haven’t been able to come out of their putrid caste pit, these very people who will not allow even an acquaintent to enter their home (forget strangers) nor share their vehicle in heavy crowd or offer lift or stop for stranded stranger in rain are taking highest moral grounds as branding exercise as benign trustees of great civilization that world has not understood yet, indeed may not have blessing to understand. For the record, I was kind of shocked that when I, a complete stranger, an absolute nobody, visited Valson Thumpu some twenty years back and was asked to share breakfast with them. This will never happen with castetva posturers nor the “beleaguered minority” –the hedonists feudal muslims specially fed to authenticate castetva. Indeed they will make every effort to degrade you, in the process work to showcase themselves as benign. Indeed it is very likely that for the likes of guha this is probably one of the few occasions in their life that they have come in touch with common people on the streets (and you can take that literally and metaphorically). This stampede to high moral grounds is all about branding. 

  

The recent incidents happening around the country has clear hand of castetva, and is being orchestrated. Ofcourse hindutva will do its work to consolidate its own base. It’s very unlikely that they will be reaching for egalitarian references. Atleast they could work on the semantics, be less provocative and remove the controversial references. Just a mention of "prosecuted minorities from neighboring countries" was appropriate rather than stating religion but then politicians are incorrigible they will seek any opportunity to capitalize. Sickening.         

      

A for Ayodhya, T for Temple

 Let this be clarified at the outset that I strongly hold the view that religions are anachronistic nonsenses that are quite effortlessly being used by charlatans to control herd populace (who are trapped in their own differing scales of misery and misfortune). In recent times the exciting and unprecedented possibilities of technological as also socio-political developments have been substantially and seriously undermined by muck arising from religious contexts. Religions have become source of dehumanization as it is disconnecting people from reality. Even though a century or two back religions had some relevance to grapple the increasingly unknown reality but this very source is now attempting to deny the reality that we have understood, instead of enlightening people of the possibilities it is fictionalizing what is apparent, and this, in the process, is weakening the critical faculties of human. This is where the fake news, rumors, prejudices etc. start to have a free run and society, already cynical with market manipulations and exaggerations, finds itself dealing with unsurmountable problems. There is denial, there is escapism and then there are manipulations by charlatans. The structure of religions have ossified and are reduced to source of segregation and exploitation. They seem woefully incapable to factor in new understandings and realities. Individuals have need to find spiritual solace but they have to be intelligent enough to understand where they are being manipulated, where their individuality is being trampled and uniqueness destroyed. They need to protect their inquisitive questioning selves and should resist any attempt to reduce their reality. They must examine their life at every step and shouldn’t leave it to others. They may have direct connection to their faith but need to use their critical faculties on matter where there is a medium that is seeking to work as guide, that is occupied by manipulators who seek devotees as numbers to work their clout. They may find solace in religious texts but need to be constantly aware of the contexts and work on benign interpretations. They must understand change is for good and that it doesn’t in any way a threat to faith and infact is an exciting addition, and that the reality we are understanding through inquiry is part of revelation of unknown forces. One can indeed posit it as god. One need to creatively deal with the reality. For this to happen there must be independence of thinking. So in the contemporary world of possibilities when we you see overzealous religious youths it is always tragic for the society. It is a limitation for a human and a restriction on humanity.

Religious structures too have become bigger and vicious in its competition and posturing. The more unenlightened and primitive the society the worse it becomes. It rarely has the aesthetic connections that traces to its spiritual beginnings and benign intents. They are another extension of acquisitive culture and predatory mindset. The world doesn’t really need any more religious structures. It needs more space for silence, a place to commune with oneself and nature. The world needs more open spaces and gardens, and increasing connection and awareness of biodiversity. It’s about time that in the name of faith, hard earned and immensely valued, democratic systems are not allowed to be ransacked. Lots of damage has been done in recent times. Exciting technologies are only fueling the baser selves.

The tragedy of Ayodhya is part of this nonsense that is being served on tribulations of common people. 'Lord Ram' is significant presence for people in north India (it has pan India impact and is part of daily life in north India). When you meet someone in village the common salutation is ‘ram ram bhaiya’ when they take dead body for cremation they pray ‘ram naam satya hai’ all through the journey. These are essential part of life in north India and reference of Ram is indelible part of popular culture and tradition. 'Lord Ram' is a significant part of their faith and reality of life in this region, so is the stories related to him as avatar that is known to every Hindu which adds to the aura. What is also known to every Hindu is that Ram was born in Ayodhya, and this is an ancient 'knowledge'. These may not pass any factual scrutiny but what is true to most is that Ram was born in Ayodhya as an ancient belief. Therefore it can easily be logically be conjectured that there must have been a big temple in Ayodhya dedicated to lord ram. And it very likely that these were destroyed by Muslim invaders. And that there was nothing wrong in these acts of destruction since these were norms of the time (as also Hindus too have destroyed many Buddhist sites, so too one sect against another, it’s always byproduct of power) as also there was always intention to loot as temples were known to be endowed with riches hence easy target. Most importantly these were squatter occupied caste nurturing sites that spread the worst forms of infection into society and were centers emanating degrading value system. So the destruction temples were not entirely unwelcomed by common people.

But Ayodhya need to be seen in a different perspective since it is connected to the daily life of millions of common people and lack of temple in what is considered as the most sacred site was a glaring absence. This is an unbelievably significant emotive issue. The manipulative cunning politicians realize it. If Castetva forces had any empathetic context they would have rectified it at the onset when India got independence, it was easiest thing to do without causing any harm. But they used this emotive issue as a festering opportunity to showcase their benign self to the world (specifically West, from where they desperately seek nourishment to pose as liberals). They exhibited their unique entitlement of proprietorship over misery ridden common hindus while they patronized beleaguered muslims with fanfare called secularism they acquired to hide their primitive selves. In the meanwhile to get the enmity thriving they acted to keep the emotive issue burning and incrementally allowed it to deteriorate, to fuel the situation into crisis and went about milking it. These are the most dangerous people, they pose as benign "trustees" but cannibalize. The arrogance and special place in universe assured them that they could control it while playing liberal secular to the world. What they did not factor was Hindutva snatching the control. Indeed Castetva worked to help Hindutva to easily snowball it and gain credibility. Hindutva is the reality while Castetva is fake and devious. Whether Hindutva is able to work on the egalitarian aspects of Hinduism is the challenge. It is an uphill task since Castetva have seriously degraded the society, as also they will seek to vitiate to gain control (a study of sabarimala issue will help to understand this critical matter). So instead of finding the egalitarian references things will get reactive as Castetva will mimic soft Hindutva in an existential fight to not get sucked by it. Castetva is a subset of Hindutva, desperately posturing liberal secular will not help stop the breach. The fake will have to find their true self. Power and greed will make it easy homecoming. Castetva holds no solution, and are indeed part of the problem. It’s better for sane people to shift their attention to Hindutva and help it work to steer towards egalitarian value systems. Difficult since at the end of the day religion too is problematic.     

It was therefore but natural for temple to be at Ayodhya, it was already an emotive issue connected to millions of common hindus of this region much vitiated by cunning politicians. Anything else would have had serious ramifications. It’s not really about majoritarianism or unleashing of fascism (it's interesting castetva taking up fascism!) as is being posited by cunning posing as liberal secular. SC has dealt the matter competently and was much nuanced in its dealings. Ideally a garden would have been much better option but in the context of the heightened emotions, also understanding how much deeply it is connected to narration of faith for common Hindus in the region, it is surely sacrilegious. Mosque issue here is not connected to common Muslims and is being exaggerated by cunning section posing high morals at the expense of common people. They really want common muslims to become extreme, and yes some leaders will seek to gain but this will be against the interest of common people –whom they don’t much care when the gravy is somewhere else. These are fuelled by dangerous forces who conveniently ignore the ground reality and cataclysmic undercurrents for personal gain. Religious structures have lived their life but a temple in Ayodhya for Ram brings an end to centuries long contentious matter. It’s time to move forward.

A freewheeling response

I was travelling the other day and got hold of Sunday edition of a popular newspaper. Abhijit Banerjee was right there “making india proud”, and fortunately for me I also manage to get a seat in the crowded train to settle into getting the nuances of “making india proud” mission. We are so fortunate that he went to US to study poverty (and ofcourse economics), just like the gandhi fellow who went all the way to S.Africa (as a lawyer, interesting choice of career in the circumstance) to know about discrimination and exploitation, and the racist casteist fellow did come back to india with his mindset intact despite his experiences. I don’t understand what a freewheeling interview is.  The dictionary says it’s “not limited by rules or accepted ways of doing things” but the interview had nothing to suggest this definition, so I guess they were just using these as market compulsion to cater to the brand. Intellectually insincere Amartya Sen was a colossal waste of time, so I am not too excited about this fellow, and there are compelling reasons to be extremely wary of cunning Indians where even lawyers pose as economists. And to start with the fellow carries caste reference, and hence by simple logic the putrid pit location is least qualified to give insight, least on poverty. But since I don’t know much about him so got into the freewheeling, and indeed I had ample time through the two hour journey despite the jostling crowd (fertility is another of Senbabu’s insightful interventions which we are so indebted, and this one goes beyond scholastic. When castetva meets hindutva on weekend they call it karmayogi!). Very soon he sets the tone for the interview “We try very hard to be not oracular”. Sure, the blessed in this part of the world are humble about these skills.  They do work very hard to stay humble. Being humble is biggest achievement, and indeed there is well established hierarchy for these nuances.  

It is amazing that when he elaborates on poverty he very conveniently misses the main evidence that surely defines this cannibalistic society and which he is very much complicit. And anyone studying at the grassroot level will be quite aware of this menacing presence that defines all dealings that degrades and dehumanizes. Senbabu too, characteristically and quite cunningly, misses these in his high end famine study (the mainstream posers conveniently blame it on colonists while those with specific agenda on Churchill), it is this skill while exaggerating sanitized indian thoughts that had him besotted by castetva. The “evidence” that is being purposely sidelined while these are normalized for the consumption of West is astounding. It’s like ignoring the knife on the chest in the murder scene and concluding, ofcourse “trying hard not to be oracular”, that it is a case of drowning!! And when it comes to Indians, inbred in cunning ways, semantics is the reality. Everything else we are told is illusion. Hence the arbitrators defines the reality for common people. The ritual of word play is carefully orchestrated. On being asked about pro-poor policies, the fellow elaborates “I think China has done one critical thing which we have fail to do, and that is going for labour-intensive manufacturing. We did create jobs in real estate, services but not in manufacturing. And that's one sector that can absorb millions of people. We missed that bus, and Bangladesh picked it up”. China as a model for labor intensive manufacturing is quite telling. These thoughts emerge from a framework that is still stuck in 1930s, that doesn’t value human. So are humans just cogs to be served for labour intensive meaningless jobs? Is this how we value humans? Or is it meant to control humans so that they don’t become a threat to the system that perpetuates meaninglessness? Its amazingly feudal idea, and coming from a fellow entrenched in caste frame this is quite sinister.

Egalitarian context talks of automation and removing humans from degradation. Policy makers really have to think a world devoid of labor intensive occupations. Where humans are valued for their unique ability. Humans are sentient life forms that need to be respected. We have reached a stage wherein meaningless repetitive jobs can be easily be automated. When asked “Is caste an external constraint that prevents labour mobility in India?” Our man quite cunningly avoids the pitfall and comes out with gem of an answer which negates the question itself and indeed the whole concept of caste and discrimination herein! “When you look at the data, it doesn't look like people are waiting for that Brahminical job to fall into their lap”. He is adeptly playing to the narration that castetva seeks to nurture, unfortunately for him they are not in power and hindutva is very unlikely to entertain him. They will ofcourse entertain labor-intensive gandhian thoughts. Since blessing has to be proportionate to fate. Hard labour is where blessing comes from, if not in this life atleast in the next where there is a possibility of upgradation, is how it is drilled in. This society has always valued dehumanizing contexts. So UBI will not be entertained. It is also not shocking that Banerjeeji doesn’t associate UBI with isolating from dehumanizing jobs but as some exotic political decision, and indeed it is. It is hard to expect castetva to see humans as humans. UBI was a feudal strategy to patronize, positioning “jeneu dhari” as “dhanveer” savior of dark skinned malnourished people with cringe worthy bollywoodian mediocre tag line.

Then a question was asked to Esther Duflo (wife and co-recipient) part of her answer had this “…and it made me realise that everything I ever thought about how the poor work and live is completely wrong. These people had a level of sophistication and smarts that was quite impressive”. Mine, full marks on sincerity there but it showcase deep seated prejudices. To start with, and since you are based in US you are expected to be much sensitive, “these people” is the worst description. And yes poor are humans too, and not to be categorized as some sort of alien. People respond to circumstances and contexts they face with ingenuity and creativity they possess to survive. That is natural. There is nothing unique about being poor. And tomorrow if you don't have money and social network you could be "these people". This patronizing coming from a European white woman on slum dwellers in Kolkata is distressing and indeed deeply flawed in its historicity. It is also telling that she didn’t elaborate on her learning on dehumanizing value system that contributes to misery and poverty, how does caste works into hellhole kolkota slums should be obvious.

Do they really study poverty?                

Very strongly protest

Awards does matter and doesn’t matter, its Schrodinger’s paradox. Significantly, those who are awarded can tell. Nowadays people get awarded and praised all the time, it has become a racket that is attempting to make ostentation meaningful indeed deserving. In a mediocrity thriving society every self-justifying morsel matter. Nobel Prize are different matter. Mostly for middle class these are part of general awareness another burden in unending fill in as knowledge to judge merit to clear entrance exams to get job security –hence blessing, while for high end manipulators these are “making india proud” moment. Never matter most of these gave up indian citizenship at the very first available occasion. I tried to understand economics but really couldn’t, and now realize that even economists too don’t know much. It seems to be an assortment of good intention with increasingly fallacious premise ending into consumption driven capitalism. It therefore works out on semantics and positioning while the animal spirit coquettish every loitering money bag. As a concerned person one is on lookout for intervention in this definition of development that has well passed its expiry date. Most people, as also nature, have started to suffer. This rant of elevating people from poverty is based on wrong premise of consumption. The Nobel Prize website has the gumption to celebrate Milton Freidman with the line “There is no such thing as free lunch” while the amazing concepts like the mid-day meal scheme is based on free meal. There is also much discussion on UBI among influential section who are keenly aware of unfolding scene. Indeed egalitarian concepts of religions focus on alms which was taken to highest humanitarian context by Sikhism, to share free food in communitarian gathering. Where free food becomes assertion of humanity like free air, free water, access to free sky...This then was also meant to break the casteist cannibalistic frame, the sickness that had purity of food as defining characteristic of its putrid pit where humans were conceived as defiling. Such a crude society has the temerity to position as lynchpin of peace while rogues are elevated as mahatma. It’s a racket that is being busted. Try saving yourself, the hometruth is in the open. A violent uncouth society shouldn’t be allowed to position as apostling for peace. It’s squashing on the bodies and souls of common people. 

Meanwhile Friedman authenticated neoliberal economic system is the significant reason for exploitation of humans and disastrous outcome for environment. Alfred Nobel’s will clearly asserts “greatest benefit to humankind”, not only is this economist grossly mistaken in perpetuating a system but the audacity of official website is particularly galling. This 'market thinking' has spread untold misery for common people while degrading idealistic intentions of democratic institutions. Infact it made democracy meaningless simultaneously eviscerating the environment. It was therefore crucial that likes of brilliant Greta Thunberg was extended the support. There is no time to waste. The earlier these movements, that are authenticating “greatest benefit to humankind”, are enthusiastically welcomed better it is for everything that is worthy to be valued. The priorities are clear and well laid. It’s amazing that youngsters are being so inspiringly responsible and have seized the initiative, much in desperation of the wayward ways of older generation. It is absolutely amazing and deeply disturbing that Nobel committee had to be told.     

It is in the same context that economist with casteist reference was deemed suitable. While desperate Indians appropriate a US citizen as authentication of their connection with higher truth, the castetva is meanwhile humbly working on building the background noise that trolls pick up. He is therefore a proud indian, a proud Bengali, we have to now dig deeper into the unity in diversity pit…meanwhile what the theories on poverty will not delve, nor acknowledge, is the crude system as significant factor (indeed in most case the only factor) that is systemic and deeply dehumanizing that gives insight into poverty in this part of the world that has almost 1/5^th of world population with 1/4^th living under abject desparation. That is not the “evidence” they are interested in. The sanitized views presented to West is how castetva normalize caste and in effect themselves as benign arbitrators. From this foundation they have the capacity to theorize to the highest level even characteristically encompassing cosmos. More than two decade back Amartya Sen was in the spot, and I being an earnest naïve was excited about prominent ideas, and not being aware of any reference, or having any background, had deducted that Nobel was definitive beginning. I consumed Amartya’s work with much enthusiasm, all the while reaction lurking in and building its space. There seem to be gap between theory and reality which was blissfully neglected while the protagonists were indeed the proponents. What really broke it was his book on justice (no time to recall the title) wherein he went about elevating ancient India into stratospheric levels in what was essentially a primitive cannibalistic society skimming on plagiarized and appropriated value system into high end sanskrit. When the deep state put money on you then you are but a zombie. He didn’t, indeed from the higher levels tutored subtlety, condescend, to look into the obvious that bursts all the myths of justice (it’s a joke to even suggest) or even any hint of civilized. And not at all out of place the book doesn’t really find much mention of serious contemporary issue of environmental justice. It’s where the economist and communist meet and see nothing but economic value of nature. The ecosystem of pride in mythical ancient India, and its ever greatest achievement (that humanity is yet to understand), is where the castetva has worked to build up the narration for hindutva. And since castetva are sham and pretentious, faking liberal by mimicking West, it’s easy for hindutva to appropriate and build its own brand of exaggeration to reach the mass. Disservice done by intellectual insincerity of likes of Amartya sen is immense. And now we have another one imposed on us. He expertise in theories on poverty without giving any hint on, as much as, the nature of society he emerged from. This neglect is always strategic, it’s a nod to deep state that nurtured him. Now the prodigal son returns not at all diminished as non-Indian citizen.  It is no surprise that castetva are excited and he is, for brief moment in time, in an exponentially declining fortunes of castetva an opportune tool against hindutva and indeed affirmation of high values that creates such merit that they are so much privy to.

There is a crime against humanity happening...

...and this scoundrel is responsible (ofcourse facilitated by uncouth fellow -arguably one of the worst human being, sitting in White house, who should have been kicked out quite sometime back. Market has been churning out these kind of psychopaths in every street corner in garb of professionalism and entertainment). International community must strongly condemn. This is akin to brutalities met to Yazidis. He must be tried for crime against humanity. People in Europe (particularly Britian) must come together to give asylum to these unfortunate people. They are also important presence against spread of Islamists, and certainly a contribution towards positive diversity and vibrant humanity. Protect them before these unique humans are lost.    

Misuse of public money

Should a constitutional functionary, that too at the highest level, be misusing public money for personal visit or aggrandizements? And even if he or she does shouldn’t these private visit on private matters be kept away from publicity? Significantly, why not visit government schools or public health centers or wildlife sanctuaries? As it is the anachronistic faiths have become last refuge for devious people for control over zombie populace, in recent times these have become urgent. You can see these expressed from Trump to Erdogan to Imrankhan, India too has been victim to these manipulations in the garb of faith for a long time. It becomes much distressing when the person concerned is from marginalized section that is very much orchestrated by value system originating from these very framework that he is authenticating as highest constitutional functionary of the land. I don’t blame him he is only following the framework that has been concretized by castetva forces, and hence emulating these is connecting to the deep state, therefore beneficial. Then complementing porcine feudals as egalitarian rulers is another mischief. Without any capacity to rule or moral strength nor ethical value system these nincompoops always favored symbolic status. The main attention being to exploit as also authenticate the sanctum vacuum value system as culture. Indeed the elite working as deep state is appreciative. So the nincompoops pimped for colonizers by exploiting people and natural resources, meanwhile with falling crumbs created wealth for themselves and coterie. These thick skinned arbitrators constructed luxury for colonizers, and assumed the role of benign host to morph the humiliation of being ruled –the main target being zombie populace through sanctum hold. Annual Dasara is another staid celebration when these are showcased and asserted with fancy dress and regressive practices. Lacking any skills or competence they wallow in symbolic presence, they worked it out by paying huge ransom to colonisers and then as the country gained independence set about blackmailing the elected democratic system, ofcourse the cunning sanctum always an ally to control and authenticate. These has now morphed as representing indian culture! Ofcourse they extended their largesse by helping the nascent country some needed infrastructure, and the spinoff from this is what they are authenticating themselves on, as benign rulers and defenders of 'hindu culture'. As is the wont dominating and exploiting weak is now replicated through elephants and sanctum hold over herd. The vicious reaction on attempts to celebrate Mahishasura is indication of these unease at slipping hold over narration. This blogger sincerely hope that these are asserted with bigger involvement. The attempt to stamp out subaltern –that essentially represents the egalitarian value system, need to be resisted. Control over state machinery and cunning semantics authenticated through ethically bereft sanctum tactics shouldn’t be allowed. President has degraded his position. There is a reason why common people admired Abdul Kalam. 

  

***

There is an art gallery at Mysore that is now upgraded to showcase achievements of these feudal nincompoops. “maharajah of mysore” –essentially a middle man passing on the exploitation to colonisers, was declared as ‘star of india’ by colonizers we are informed with much pride. Then there is constant attempts to civilize themselves as connoisseurs of art -which ofcourse the mediocre society thrives in rarely touching the nuance. The height of cringe (in this art gallery) was when Ravi verma (I am quite convinced that though he held common people captive through painting of gods he was quite limited, he just was incapable to take it to next level of subtlety or abstract expression that touched the deeper recess of conscience. Ofcourse nostalgia of childhood spent on praying ravi verma painted Saraswati will always be there) painting was elaborated through recorded english, the morons in their wisdom pointed the “dark skinned beggar boy and fair skinned brahmin woman” in case you had missed the skin colour or god forbid there is a confusion! This is precisely where caste cannibals  match racism so effortlessly, as also the context of licking the british and exploiting common people. Gandhi took it next level (indeed gandhi’s litter had come all the way to inaugurate that 'art gallery', he really couldn’t protest on these matter). And if you scrutinize further you will realize that the reason why Parsis have done well has much to do with this than any discernible competence. Further, they viciously emulated the west as also kept themselves segregated (so much so that we are told pernicious royalty in Britain too expressed concern for dwindling population) which impressed the caste cannibals sensitive to these posturing.                      

Semantics is everything

You may say data is the new oil, or if you are gold afflicted sick mind (or have disease of heart –you may recall https://depalan.blogspot.com/2017/05/disease-of-heart-and-mind.html) then you see it as the new gold, that maybe true for manipulators but what really works the system is how it is narrated to the people, and to the posterity. Semantics is the oil that lubricates cunning arbitrators and negotiators to bypass facts and workout fiction that suits their worldview as also control the populace. Religions have worked on this rather remarkably indeed managing to turn even fiction into miracles. The hold is such that these anachronistic hurting deviances have made them immune to contradictory critically analyzed evidences presented to them. What is classified as faith is being reduced into mockery of indulgence that is eating away into humanity, and into this fertile grounds market search its consumers while clever leaders nurture their voters. The impasse that we are in wherein majority are reduced to chest thumping zombies –lacking any critical thinking faculties, are adeptly manipulated. Those who care know that the situation is dire. Its always fun to have the story with the tiger but not when it is mauling you. 

   

    Clever semantics is how it is played, and as expected in Indian context squatters and caste ensconced camaraderie have occupied this hallowed space to spin words to fit in grandiose. This illness of grandiose is entitled and very much churned in sanctum vacuum where all the skills fine-tuned. An uncouth primitive cannibalistic society is presented as model of unity in diversity. Semantics is worked to literally and metaphorically purify and sanctify narration. Those cunning enough to get the nuance are nurtured and showered with blessing. Castetva forces used democratic institutions for this purpose degrading even institutions that were essentially conceived by colonizers to control while crony capitalism morphed further into nepotism and corruption. Such was the degradation. But the narration was always controlled and presented to awe strike the world. It did work on fattened fluffs in west (specifically Britain) seeking redemption by lazily working on lowest denominator to patronize.

Few columnist I was reading will help to work this further (again, note these are not read by common people, it works on echo chamber but essential since these are powerful arbitrators who have capacity to sway opinion among the powerful). Indeed the real deal is working in this small space while zombie populace are just side show indeed collateral damage –they suffer, they die– and if they do it with much glee then it is success for arbitrators. From the putrid pit they defecate words fine tuning into highest aspiration that is almost mythical. Books get thicker while semantics smoother. They meet at the highest moral grounds to celebrate the success of the venture. Meanwhile the reality pokes in as mask slips. Social media has opened Pandora’s Box. What was white washed and sanitized is now open, the purifying defiled fantasy of sanctum is being ransacked and forced with real world. The western acquired civilized nuances of clever castetva slips into the belligerent hindutva and finds easy acceptance. The futile attempt to save gandhi by “jeneudhari shiv bhakt” and his casteist corrupt sycophants will easily work in favour of hindutva. Since castetva is very much subtext of hindutva. The struggle and sincere attempt here is to remove castetva out of hindutva and to create an egalitarian narration of Hinduism. Its arduous task since the cunning castetva have severely degraded the society and have put minefields that is ready to scuttle. This attempt to create a narration in Kashmir is part of it. Ghettoization and segregation, while feeding radical and selfish few in the garb of secularism is the main cause for the impasse and continuous misery for common people. The present situation is result of complete lack of empathy and competence on the part of policymakers in the last many decades –who took people for granted for their nefarious ways. They patronize the select few and showcased these with fanfare as indication of benign arbitrators (who essentially are aware of much bigger truth that most of us are incapable to comprehend) while exhibited proprietorship over common people and exploited them. This then was the template these uncouth knew and gained sanction from moral depravities of sanctum.

Pankaj Mishra –the “sprightly” fellow carries casteist reference unabashedly, has been desperately seeking high moral grounds in West after migrating from India at the first available occasion, and now is in blessed role of telling us how to behave from faraway sanitized world like the multi-limbed gods showering petals from clouds or admonishing with lightening as the occasion demands. He also is in a unique position to “credibly accuse” others. Judiciously nurtured (paid a ransom for a staid book –Romantics, that he surely owes a moneyback to the readers) he writes –in a desperate attempt to resurrect gandhi, as also the subtext of attempting to cleave our pliable clever gandhi fellow from hindutva attempts to appropriate, “Looking ahead to our own era, Gandhi predicted that even ‘the states that are today nominally democratic’ are likely to ‘become frankly totalitarian’ since a regime in which ‘the weakest go to the wall’ and a “few capitalist owners” thrive “cannot be sustained except by violence, veiled if not open”.  Now this high thoughts from a fellow who authenticated devious and much sinister scheme called casteism. Clever Guha attempts to negotiate these by cunningly posing Schrodinger’s Gandhi –the mickey who squeaks and doesn’t at the same time. Neat. Without getting into the merit of this statement (which ofcourse is a dubious attempt to resurrect casteist racist patriarch, there is existential reason for mishras and guhas at work here. Their whole moral ground and the uncharted world above is dependent on this obfuscation, this “intellectual impairment”) we need to focus on the critical matter here “looking ahead…gandhi predicted”. Predictive power is big deal among primitive Indians and this clever working of mahatma adds to the charm, and mishras are blessed to authenticate on these matter. Go to any goddamn sinkhole village in UP or Bihar (which ofcourse devious gandhi saw as model even hundred years ago –such was the predictive power) ask about mishras of the world the zombies will all authenticate in unison. The attempt to include Ambedkar (no mahatma sobriquet for him, doesn’t measure up I guess) is a calculated concession for the sensitivities of the times that couldn’t be avoided, its always better to appropriate and work into hierarchy for the west. It will be tragedy for the cleverly constructed world of castetva if they found out that its the anti-caste fighter for egalitarian value system and humanitarian context who is the actual mahatma and not the casteist racist nurtured by castetva forces with much help from colonial Britain (who also included some colorful casteist words into english language as an assertion to further bind the sinister ties). Mishra feels characteristically entitled to admonish west “Having laboured to exclude a smelly past of ethnocide, slavery and racism – and the ongoing stink of corporate venality – from their perfumed notion of Anglo-American superiority”. Quite clearly, having placed himself in west, Mishra is now a victim (and ofcourse fattened fluffs encourage every reason for so, indeed brown skin in London is automatically a victim, including that monster mullah), he conveniently forgets stink of casteism which cannot be even be dismissed as past since he himself carries the reference of it (which is well understood in this part of the world, this cannibalistic system not only nurtured him but he is a direct beneficiary). Mishra is relentless “For decades, India itself greatly benefited from a cold war-era conception of “democracy”, which reduced it to a morally glamorous label for the way rulers are elected, rather than about the kinds of power they hold, or the ways they exercise it. As a non-communist country that held routine elections, India possessed a matchless international prestige despite consistently failing – worse than many Asian, African, and Latin American countries – in providing its citizens with even the basic components of a dignified existence”. Now see that Mishra has put the onus on top down problem “how the power is exercised” or “inability to provide it citizens...” he quite conveniently fails to point that it is a reflection of much of primitive value system prevalent in the society that has degraded the institutions while elected politicians are only furthering these mindsets to capitalize. The problem is much deeper. There is persistent effort to see that common people are kept trapped in their putrid pit while all the basic amenities are kept tardy and inefficient. That way it is easy for uncouth moron like Aiyer to pose as liberal secular while guha is a gandhian, mishra is international columnist and yes gandhi easily imposed as mahatma. 

Last 70years nobody ever bothered about as basic as amenity called toilet (open defecation apart from being a source of diseases is degrading and demeaning for a human), while primary education is persistently undermined, the whole education system is a joke meant to create dubious understanding of merit, higher education is a charlatan's route for higher blessing. What kind of fucking society is this? And I have only got started on education system, then there is judiciary, health…and you can easily trace these to dubious values emanating from sinister sanctum that percolated into this primitive society, in which mishra is not only an indelible part but shares a strong camaraderie. His angst positioning may excite fattened fluffs in west (he being classified as victim context immensely helps, enlarged pupil take it to another level of anguish) but hometruth is much compromising. Castetva nurtured hindutva, which is indeed a natural progression. That hindutva seems seriously compromised and is not able to tap into egalitarian context of Hinduism is very much due the degradation that castetva institutionalized.

Mishra’s rant on hindu “supremacism” is a carefully chosen semantic to match white supremacism, and therefore position himself in the same league with black movement and sensibilities herein. It is a clever ploy that was also tried to authenticate gandhi and match him with Martin Luther king (it’s sacrilegious, only Ambedkar can be equated here. Truth will catch up). The idea of hindu supremacism is very much tied to caste supremacism, and caste supremacism is quite strongly connected to the whole idea of caste. The attempts by casteist feudal posturing as liberal secular to showcase caste as benign identity is ridiculous and is nothing much but an existential strategy to cling to the high moral ground gravy and is meant to showcase west (since most Indians know what it’s all about) to continue feeding. Like mishra there are many casteist who emerged from this cannibalistic society to migrate to west to multiply blessing and have exhibited incorrigible entitled characteristic itch to occupy high moral ground and pose as benign arbitrator (as sant tharoor – the unhinged patron saint of accented english speakers, elaborating on “glorious hinduism” elucidates “we have taken tolerance to higher level of acceptance”. Its obvious that as a scheming politician he has moved from cattle class to cattle mind!). As the semantic power is woefully unable to control the narration and as social media has breached the sanctified putrid pit the truth that casteism is worse than racism begins to strike. Segregating and classifying people based on birth that too within a society, a community (if the primitives understand the true meaning of community), is the worst form of human right abuse that can be inflicted, it gets much depraved with scrotum scratching sanctum squatter’s immoral fantasy. It is therefore but natural for mishras and guhas to cling to dubious gandhi and soulfully snarl against appropriation. Unbecoming for conniving gandhians hindutva have obviously an easy hand here.

Then ofcourse there is Shiv Visvanathan, recruited by Kasturi&Sons, who use semantics with mesmerizing dexterity in riveting turn of sentences. “All the prosthetics on the world does not quite achieve a sense of the body, its iconicity, its sense of the sacred, evoking desire and sublimity, inviting in turn the erotic, the ascetic and the sacramental”. I read these lines and I was like, holy shit no way! Where did it come and where did it go! Quite sure fattened fluffs will get double kick on that one. Groovy stuff churning there. He quickly proposes without any irony that gandhi was carrier of “spirituality of ethics”. This persistence of raising caste icon into higher plain of spirituality is a constant endeavor, indeed it’s an ardent effort to justify ‘mahatma’ and connect it to great pantheon of spiritual leaders (essentially egalitarian anti-caste humanist) hence cleverly usurp the legacy. Such attempts are always appreciated by deep state, and many have made successful career out of this. Now ofcourse the challenge is streamlining from castetva to hindutva needs (some have started to get clear glimpse of gandhi as carrying legacy of Ram avatar!). Shiv, working on liberal secular, is firmly on castetva pitch. The angst is telling since he too is aware that it so easy for hindutva to appropriate gandhi. He therefore quietly takes the safest role of anticipating what gandhi would do if he were to face contemporary challenges. This opens up whole new possibilities of placing gandhi wherever one fancy. This could be taken beyond mahatma with sufficient semantic dexterity (which ofcourse Shiv is blessed with abundantly, if only there was some sincerity –deep state that has put money on gandhi would have chucked him out! He will have to play his role). The fellow who couldn’t even come out of his putrid pit was “a new iconic power, encompassing neighbourhood and cosmos, microcosm and macrocosm”. Its the jagadh guru syndrome at work. Shiv neatly proposes that luddite gandhi -who had unique insight into human frailty as cause of earthquake, would be writing "cyborg manifesto"! He attempts to encompass highly valued world thinkers like Hannah Arendt –who studied subtleties of violence in breath taking candor, into minor role in gandhian conception. Indeed I am so upset with semantics here that wouldn’t allow this to pass. Eichmann was a cog whom Arendt saw as representing banality of evil. It doesn’t require much thought to suggest that Gandhi too was just a cog in caste framework. He was banality of proposed goodness. He didn’t have moral compass nor the ethical strength to dismiss, an inability to think, at the most a banality of cleverness. Shiv ends his column suggesting that with return of gandhi “citizenship becomes not only an invention of the self but a discovery of the other”. Sure, and one must read Ambedkar on gandhi to understand how our man ventured to discover the other. In a society that is adept in creating others this was nothing short of bravery of experimenting with truth. What a sham. 

                

PS: I really wanted to write this about a week back. I had misplaced my laptop, and cybercafé are crowded, noisy and unpleasantly cavernous. To think that first few years of my blogging was done through cybercafé! Incidentally this blog was started exactly 14years back (and this is my 868^th post!). To put it in perspective brilliant Greta Thunberg was two years old!!