GDP and Bhelpuri

Wow what a pleasant surprise!

I found this scribble/poem “GDP and Bhelpuri” written some 25years back in the Sahitya Akademi journal (published in 1998, I must have scribbled it in 1996) that I mentioned in my last blog entry. I thought I had lost it like many of my early writings in rain flooding and carelessness, though mediocre and naïve attempts but loosing writings that one spent lots of time, effort and thoughts is rather painful. So, discussion on GDP did happen while we hanged out on beach for sunset but nobody was eating bhelpuri (I though prefer peanuts -salted roasted in hot sand, that is quite common in Kerala during evenings. Amazingly crispy warm peanuts that I haven't really come across anywhere else in India, in Karnataka you get boiled peanuts) nor throwing stones at stray dogs. I wanted to work a contrast to bring in the absurd and some fun. Anyway, these were shallow attempts and I was quite impressionable impulsive fellow without much reading habit to get reference for good writing unlike knowledgeable youngsters these days (I mean, look at youngsters like Greta Thunberg or Amanda Gorman and their insights, its mindboggling). Serious reading of literature happened few years later in libraries of Delhi. I mostly kept scribbles to myself. Then this random fellow pushed me to get it published (“Get it published man”, those days youngsters said man and not dude, now they say bro, recently I heard yo!). So here we are. Again, it’s quite mediocre and embarrassing attempt and travesty on idea of great art form called poetry but I still find it quite funny in a stupid way. Reminds me of the lost youngster trying to earnestly understand things to find his way through the careless world.       

GDP and Bhelpuri

This friend of mine

would discuss GDP only eating Bhelpuri.

Crushing the puri of the Bhel,

with saddened mockery,

loosening his executive tie,

he would discuss

crashing of shares at BSE;

gulping generously,

he would suggest,

The Finance Minister should show restraint in fiscal measures.

Flexing his fatty muscles,

he would suggest,

the rupee needs to be strengthened,

Ogling at the legs on the beach,

he said,

the economy needs to be in good shape.

Pushing the urchin away,

he would talk of

the need for liberal credit policy,

Stamping the sand castle,

he would say

Investor confidence needs to be built.

Whistling at the dames,

he would express concern,

at the falling value of the rupee.

He would flow his hand,

over the receding hairline,

and tell me about the horrors of recession.

Taking a stone

he would throw it

at the mongrel,

Straight and direct.

And say,

Foreign Direct Investment should increase.

As the mongrel howled

in protest

He would look disgustingly

and scream

It's the political set up

"Democracy, the bloody hell."

As we sat

watching the sun set,

into the stretched blue Arabian Sea

the sky filled with

beautiful pink, blue and red.

He would shrug

and say,

"you know what, Saju

it’s all a mess,

only God can save this country now."

Looking up,

he repeated,

only God can

as the birds flew motionlessly

into the sunset.

*Saju in the scribble is my first name, for those who only know depalan.       

Economists please stand up to be counted

 

It’s about time that economists are held responsible for the mess we are in. They are foot shoulders of flawed economic system. They are the enablers of flawed value systems. I am not into economics and have trust deficit but I do follow Nobel laureate economists like Krugman, Stiglitz, Thaler as also Piketty on twitter to get some insights, also watched Kahneman on youtube, so on but they rarely express concern for these serious flaws or any insights despite being erudite (I met Elinor Ostrom in Bangalore many years back, she had valuable understanding on “tragedy of commons”). Few hours back António Guterres the UN Secretary General tweeted that “The planet's resources still do not figure in countries’ calculations of wealth. The current system is weighted towards destruction, not preservation. The world must reconsider how GDP is calculated, reflecting nature's true value in all policies, plans and economic systems”. It is therefore important that economists take the responsibility. They need to have an international conference or an important addition to Glasgow to sort out how to define growth. The present GDP led development is going nowhere. They need to factor in nature, and help arrive at an economic system that nurtures life. There is no point having big theories if it is only fueling destruction and misery. From Schumacher (Small is beautiful) to Raworth (Doughnut economy) and many have provided insights and templates to work on.

Footnote: About two and half decades back while sitting on the beach in Kochi watching sunset I had a discussion about GDP with a friend. Later I scribbled a poem to express the absurdity I felt titled “GDP and bhelpuri” (lost the copy, it was published few times, quite a naïve attempt). The world hasn’t changed much in its understanding. The sunset is as beautiful, and the dear friend died in an accident. And after all these years I watch sunset with same awe but a creeping sense of anguish and despair.

UN Biodiversity conference begins

 An important conference on Biodiversity begins in Kunming China. This is precursor to significant Glasgow summit. Common people should have access to live participation, now that the digital platforms are quite advanced. I recall Biodiversity summit in Hyderabad many years back where only official delegates were allowed but there were some interesting stalls and discussions by NGOs and individuals on the sidelines that were open to all. All these international meet should have digital platform option for common people across the world to have free access. The world has changed in last few years, everyone should have easy free access to these important international meetings which has common people and planet as stakeholders. The Indian crab mindset (of not allowing people while making their life miserable meanwhile keeping them distracted, in fatalist loop or patronized entities hence show power/blessing through bureaucratic jugglery and wasteful ways to keep important issue at abeyance) must be shunned. It is not for reason that squatter tamil word "paklaam" became a byword for solving any problem anytime anywhere. The chalta hai value system that make the third rate Indian media to be least concerned about these issues (wherein India is a biodiversity hotspot as also extremely climate vulnerable) as they rake muck and sniff for immediate profit. I feel sick to be part of this degraded society. Thankfully internet is such a lifeline. 

Its a request to international community to not emulate primitive people, and make it easy for common people -who are equally concerned, to participate and understand the intricacies of discussions. There is a difference between participating live and going through final report highlighted through media.        

Sickening righteousness

 

Righteousness has its place in evolving values, to attribute morals for better dealings and anticipating the best from others. It’s a transaction for a better world. It’s about loving best in everything and striving to create a better world. The problem begins when you seek purity, that is, morality as the only aspect for dealing. You construct narration around morality, controlling structure of what is perceived as better, now this could be from oppressive systems like religions or through state power to control herds. There is an attempt at using ideas of morality to not only control but degrade others. Morality is therefore coated in sickening righteousness to dehumanize the other. Morality poses itself to be on a civilizing mission. This then also becomes pointers to define others, and divide and segregate common people. Indian society, like any other society that is deeply gripped by brutal banalities of religions, is sickening in its righteous claims. This is ofcourse land of mahatmas and pundits. Morality really cannot be allowed to undermine humanity. Values of human rights hinges on ethics, morality can only contribute. Giving primacy to morality would be giving fantastical fiction primacy over human life, and all that forms the beauty of life.  Decency is basic for dealing in civilized society, it’s a Kantian contract that is logical and deeply humanist.

Since time immemorial humans have been using hallucinants. Its but natural for human being to crave for world beyond their immediate. It’s also is a source of escape from harsh realities of life, ofcourse there are also other means to deal with oppressive reality but then each individual will have to live their own life and examine it in all possible way that life has to offer. And that is what makes life worth living. It’s also very common among younger crowds to experiment with life as they seek to understand and explore. It’s a new world, it’s a new experience, it’s an excitement that only youth can understand. It depends on ones understanding to put limitations where one sense danger or feel one is slipping from self-control. This changes from individual to individual, hence some fall into addiction. Ideally in a more civilized compassionate world all kinds of drugs should be freely available, and its individual who would make the choice as to how much to consume or not. If ever the restriction must be on how much is made available. Also, if the society is not matured to handle these kinds of freedom then please work to control the spread of drugs but do not victimize the consumers, particularly the young who are new to the ways of “proper” living. I have consumed drugs in my 20s, avoided getting addicted but had some deep insights, as also became aware of my limitations. Does that make me good or bad, or a criminal? Does consuming drugs anything to do with any ethics or moral lack? Humans are contradictions of emotions, and only understanding their own experiences in life give deeper insights that make them better. Denying experience is therefore criminal. Taking drugs is not harming others, its experimenting with oneself and with right understanding and circumstance has much greater possibility to come out as better person fully aware of one’s frailties. There is no need to be role model for others, not at 23 nor even at 83. It’s a sickening idea of acknowledgement seeking society that pursue personification of perfect qualities and construct purity to gawk. It’s a sham. Pity the society that needs role models (paraphrasing Sartre). Everyone is role model for oneself. Every day we strive to be better. Nobody can ever be perfect for others, nor try to be otherwise you will miss life. To be human being is to be gloriously imperfect while working to understand oneself and world better.   

 Consuming drugs should not be seen as a crime. It’s a society that lacks compassion that seeks morality in these. Some may consume to get a “high”, and maybe they would mature in life to realize that everything about life is “high”, starting from the sunrise to that insect struggling on the window sill. It’s an individual journey and nobody should have any right to pass judgement. If you cannot fathom the reality of other then you don’t have the capacity to be a human. Each human beings’ tribulation is a personal and deeply individual journey. We have the choice, the only choice, of being compassionate and pray for a better world. 

PS: I wrote this since an hour back someone sent a whatssap of collage of role models at 23 while the unfortunate youngster is shown wanting. It was deeply disturbing, and was sickened by the moral posturing of it. 

      

Extraction as enterprise

Extraction, from the earth, from the surroundings, from people, from whatever is the next opportunity is how enterprise is being defined. This predatory mindset is what frames entrepreneurship in most part of the world while possibilities of education is reduced as conduit. There is no care or concern as long as extraction is multiplied into money, and showcased as blessing. In primitive exploitation driven societies these are revered channel for personal aggrandizements and social mobility. As humans shifted from hunter gatherer -which ofcourse had its benefits, the extraction mindset took over. The extraction of land was how agricultural societies took root; humans were graded, animals were reared for extraction while exploitative systems took hold. When the immediate becomes abstract commodity relations are transactional. There is an inability to connect to individual or reality since extraction works through dehumanizing, abstraction as voters/followers/consumers. There is inability to connect through emotions of vulnerabilities but grander conceptions of reality. So, you see trees to cut not forest to sustain. There is an incapacity to be part of nature or thriving moment in ecosystem. Extraction is always exclusionary. It assumes a special place in universe while carrying predatory beggar’s mindset.       

 

On inequality

During pandemic one of the significant factors for rising inequity as elaborated by Thomas Piketty was in display for keen observers. As people suffered untold misery, hundreds and thousands of lives were being lost millions of livelihoods became untenable, the richest were getting richer. There is obviously flaw in the system (apart from ofcourse other major flaws that is pushing us to catastrophe) that seems to be favoring money over wellbeing. Even in India (rampant institutional inequity, rent seeking society) there was 35% increase in net worth of billionaires during pandemic while the economic growth was in negative! Piketty -French economist, has been explaining inequality for many years now and is indeed quite popular among wide range of audience across the world. Inequality is sharply rising and Piketty warns that it will become unsustainable when return of investment on capital is higher than rate of economic growth. Meaning a section is well placed while majority are in misery, and more the misery better for this richest section. And this not because of any divine providence or blessing just that the system is flawed or skewed to the richest. Piketty’s insights were proved correct during pandemic. This is akin to solar eclipse moment (worked by Arthur Eddington) for Einstein in 1919. Pandemic has been an eye opener in more than many ways, and with climate crisis looming it will be foolhardy to carry on with flawed systems. How IPCC meet at Glasgow -arguably the most significant meet ever for human race as also for the sake of other species, is going to point these out will be keenly observed.     

 

Update curriculum

 Climate change must be by now an important curriculum for study in schools and colleges. Its urgent that each subject taught at specialized level must have climate change as a framework for action. For instance, if you are teaching/studying civil engineering or architecture then there should be a core topic: Civil engineering and Climate Change or dealing Climate Change through Civil engineering. Similarly, for Commerce students: bringing Commerce to Climate Change, as absurd it may sound but every avenue must be explored to reduce the impact. The History of Climate Change and anthropogenic impact. Climate Management. The Science (Chemistry -acidification/bleaching/warming, Biology-biodiversity/species extinct/data, vulnerabilities so on) of climate change and how to deal with the crisis. The point being raised is that Climate Change crisis should be applied to every field of study. More than that there needs to be comprehensive approach that brings all the subjects together and removes these artificial barriers of studies to realities.

Shockingly school and college curriculums are not being updated, atleast the field of higher studies must be attuned and updated at the earliest. I have mentioned a decade back that when I cycled through coastal areas students were found to be lacking in basic knowledge of climate crisis. The other day I was interacting with students from premium technical educational institutes in the country about climate preparedness of their core competent areas and found them lacking. Their field of studies is not being updated for this existential crisis. It’s shocking the lackadaisical attitude of policy makers and educationists. They seemed to be immune to fast changing world wherein India with its vast population is distinctly vulnerable. There is a need for urgent attention in these areas of capacity building and expertise, and making younger generations equipped to the changing realities. Meanwhile this blogger in the last few months has added few YouTube channels in context to sustainable development through biomimicry with an attention on climate change as emerging threat. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rx9XaRsU5o   

Watch this masterpiece

...and see colors come alive

Morning walk at the beach

Every moment a wave thrash the beach and breaks into millions of bubbles, and as the wave retreat it creates interesting patterns before vanishing, and repeats. You can spent hours looking at these mesmerizing random pattern

When success becomes a failure

Kerala’s success in early controlling of spread of pandemic, in a cruel irony, is becoming a failure. Atleast that is what I am gathering from the experts in this field. The non-exposure to virus has left most population vulnerable. The fourth national sero survey by ICMR points to seroprevalence of Kerala at 44% while states like MP is 79%. While Kerala was able to not only control the pandemic but also death rates with efficient detection and isolation, despite having substantial aging population and high density, initially while the pandemic wave overwhelmed the weak health infrastructured regions around the country. People across the country died in hoards while the state literally collapsed. This strangely had the advantage of people being exposed to virus without really getting symptoms (not sure how it works). With seroprevalence of 44% and vaccination cover of 21% the infection is set to rise. Already the small state is contributing to more than 75% infection in the country, and we are told we have entered the third wave wherein children are expected to be vulnerable. Adding to the fact of politicians pandering to herd festivals that act as super spreaders – events like Eid and Onam. Death rate is still quite low at 0.5% compared to national average of 1.34% but there are allegations of covering up deaths into comorbidities in an attempt to salvage the image of the state – that has taken lots of beating in recent time. This blogger is not an admirer of much celebrated Kerala model – that surely peaked in 70s and 80s and is now a sham in the putrefying pit. Limited by the limitations of cannibalistic systems and competing herds. Literacy is incapable to become education. Health indicators produce opportunities but is limited by sick minds and regressive values. Grassroot involvements tends to work in the short run but gets entangled in devious political dealings and especially fragile egos primed in feudal values. Choices are taken in by consumerism and competition. Gender achievements are only statistics, rarely has any society experienced (maybe red necked Christian part of USA where women enthusiastically participate against abortion or monster mullahs barren land that spread with choices of under the tent modesty) that even women are enthusiastically entrenched in patriarchy. Herd women celebrating

degrading temple rituals spread through sanctum moral vacuum is extension of these regressive mindset thus diminishing humanity and any possibility of progress. These are defining attributes of primitive exploitative religions, despite opportunities of literacy and possibilities.  Meanwhile caste cannibals points to exploitative history of women with multiple partners trying to hold property as matriarchy – mediocre Indian sociologists worked the narration. There is rarely any appreciation of nature nor does education system create curiosity to verdant surrounding as the litters migrate to distant places as enthusiastic status quoist to multiply money or at the most incrementalists with greed as motivating factor -can do anything for money winner attitude, with compelling nostalgia for pit which becomes popular art.            

Forgetting the dance 

I am a fish in the poisoned river

I am an insect droning the street light

I am the bird knocked out by the window strike

I am a disoriented whale stranded

I am a turtle tangled lifeless in abandoned net

I am a giraffe skinned by trophy hunters

I am the rhino calf nudging my hacked mother

I am a shark without fin sinking into the depth of ocean

I am a tiger farmed for my body parts

I am a monkey tied up for research

I am a dog with ears and tail cropped

I am a chicken dying in my own weight

I am cow impregnated for milk

I am a pig farmed for meat

I am a snake deity defanged   

I am a cheetah cub groomed as a pet  

I am a caged parrot

I am an electrocuted elephant

I am the bull in the arena

I am an orangutan clinging to the last tree

I am an owl startled by celebration

I am the heron feeding on plastic

I am caterpillar killed by pesticide

I am a plant drooping in soot

I am butterfly searching for shade

I am a tree that has come in the way of development

I am a bee who has forgotten the dance

 

 

Update your priori

Well-adjusted prior judgments of 20^th century needs update. Last two decades have completely changed the world in the way homo sapiens have not reckoned in 200,000 years. Last few hundred years of understandings have culminated at breakneck speed in the last few decades. Internet made the world immediate, it also empowered ordinary people. Each individual’s interface with the world has seen cataclysmic change. Even poorest have access to device more powerful than what sent men to moon. In the last few years every human is given the possibility of change as also platform to join into action. With AI and quantum computing set to become everyday reality technology is becoming meaningfully pervasive but intrusive in an entirely unthinkable way that even science fictions are falling back! Biotech is another area that has seen breathtaking changes and possibilities, even giving humans tools to change an entire specie. Meanwhile diseases spread fast, microorganism upgrade and mutate. The visible signs of climate change add to the surreal feel to the contemporary reality. Cataclysmic changes are happening that each living specie on earth has not experienced in hundreds and thousands of years. Species are vanishing at a rate matched only by few instances in five hundred million years. Homo sapiens have clearly reached a cross road. From hereon either it's road to possible extinction, or very likely, some will work with technology to create a new space -doubtful whether this space will be inclusive and it's very likely that majority will face the incremental wrath of elements and perish in hundreds and thousands on regular basis. The stage is already set, and you can see rough outline emerging in the horizon, meanwhile majority are kept distracted with everyday excitement and entertainment inanities. Most people though have experienced precarious nature of life through pandemic, an uneasy sense of doom pervades deeply while forest fire's flare reaches sky, ferocious floods sweep fancy cars into guzzling underbelly of cities… With reality becoming increasingly immediate systems are getting exposed. There is no use of herd controlling when herd start to die or are distracted by overwhelming reality. The futility is hitting home. 

Rather than rationalizing anything and everything through crumbling systems it's the existential priority to face the reality. All lifeform on earth face realities of life all the time, and adapt or perish. Humans too started with the same template but lost their way into fantastical fictions -that though started with compassionate intent to assuage and understand, and mounting sense numbing luxuries and distractions. These egoistic holds and delinks are now becoming life threatening and perilous for humanity. The matrix of life’s data is firmly fine-tuned to reality. In this reality human beings are increasingly working out as liability. There is an essential need to invoke the long lost values of mutual trust and concern, a shared commitment to reason, and to act sensing the changing nature of surrounding. In short it's about time for human beings to assert their humanity.  

Any threat to democracy is a threat to humanity

 

Democracy hinges on individual rights and liberty that synergize into society to assert the potential to progress as human being. It safeguards human rights that extends to other species and ecosystems. Democracy is an evolved conception that assures civilized dealings and accommodates dissent. A free mind is an assurance of humanity. Therefore, to push a narration that some societies are not fit or ready for democracy (in effect some humans of some regions are incapable to be free) is not only spacious but reflection of high-end patronizing mindset that comes with laziness of wallowing in hedonism and assured capacities. Afghanistan is a case study of misery on humanity orchestrated by competing systems and clever cold manipulators. Brutal gun totting religious primitives, suave suit wearing carpet bombing democracy spreaders for profit and narration controlling keyboard warriors holed up in comforts of western cities with well placed angst are all equally complicit. They are eating the souls of people. They regurgitate fictions that suits their deal. It’s the Rashomon effect in the bleakest of possibilities. The stampede to control narration to present themselves as saviors.                

Every lifeform thrives in freedom fully understanding the limits that life puts, the conditions they sense to survive and evolve. Every human on this earth strives to be free. Only a free human can gain the capacity to understand responsibilities and value living in daily absurdities of life. Primitive religions -the anachronistic regret, should be humored and tolerated with pity but what we see is vicious arbitrators using these as opportunity to control and haggle for power. Spiritual earnings and mounting insecurities of hapless people are trapped into systems of barter. Humans are commodities in this conception. They are to be bartered for religion as unthinking faithfuls, for democracy spreaders they are comfortable means to exploit for profit as also pointer of benign grace of powerful, for politicians these are pawns in the game of strategic depths and for angst driven fluffs they represent untold bottomless opportunity for angst positioning. Afghan people running scared and cowering in homes from gun wielding monster mullahs emblemizes common people all across the world. They are metaphor of tragedy. Fodder to the systems of control.

West in its arrogance think that they can blatantly attack any region for profit and then cover it up by feeding chosen few and work them to control the narration. They represent flawed arrogance of democracy whether US – with absurd gun freedom, systemic racism and deviance of Christianity, or UK – that wallows in supreme assurance of colonial loots and tries to define democracy through monarchy patriotism. Under the garb of spreading democracy they are controlled by wanton greed and supreme omniscience as overseers. Meanwhile Afghanistan is a flawed society that gnaws its people. Beleaguered people never really got the chance to consolidate humanity as the competing forces massacred. People of the region are trapped in the vice grip of religion and poverty hence last twenty years of Western attempts were superficial. The collapse of Afghanistan is a testament to flawed intervention that couldn’t percolate. Empathy driven institutions and free connection of humans is what roots institutions to consolidate democracy. Further, when the sinister states like US (under Trump), China, Russia so on had started to negotiate with Taliban and authenticated monster mullahs for their devilish control over the region as also international geopolitical ruse what could common people do? They were given hope without any means to achieve. They were given choices that had life at stake.          

Afghanistan is a tragedy on humanity that will unfold into the depths of depravity. Religion can but only create nuisance and when these fantastical fictions are means of governance there is denial of centuries of human progress and understanding. Those western fattened fluffs who are helping nurture these dehumanizing systems as identity and attempting to equate with race are equally dangerous and complicit with spreading misery. Religion cannot be identity nor it can define or usurp ideas of protecting minority. Diversity cannot be degradation. Humanity is paying heavy price for these flawed values. Secularism must be replaced with humanism. It’s about time to stop nurturing dehumanizing ridiculous systems like religion that has become threat to humanity. As also wanton consumption promoting systems like capitalism that is defining development at the expense of life.     

When wanton consumption driven western nation attack or occupy resource rich regions to further the deep state controlled capitalism and its neoliberal values, they create nepotistic corrupt ecosystem of exploitation and opportunism in the region. They try to assuage these by using common people as fodder back home who take the brunt of backlash through terrorism, xenophobic hate, fundamentalism, while unleashing angst driven narrators who pose as moral bearing of society. They create binary. Us vs Them. It’s the easiest way to control. Thus, dividing humans into strifing herds.    

Code red for humanity

 IPCC report is what every human being in very place must be discussing today, tomorrow and days to come. But India that is extremely climate vulnerable with acute disparities, entrenched inhumanity and primitive value system seems least bothered. Herd controllers have not given much significance to these "news". Market and religion controlled herd oscillate between blessing and opportunity hamster loop while herd controllers showcase their blessing as a lesson on fate and how to upgrade it. As with pandemic when it pushes to crisis herd controllers will swiftly move to higher grounds with family and friends, and that too is fated. What to expect from such a deviant society? 

As I survey Indian "news" websites I find these significant report, or news related to climate change, are sidelined. These are supposed to be 'infotainment' that keeps herds happy while they are squeezed out of basic faculties of being a human. While I interacted with youngsters, not only as part of occupation but during cycling along the coastal region from chennai to goa, I find serious lack on basic facts on these crucial matters. And now as I survey the inbred litters quite active in social media -a culmination of flawed education and deviant home truths, they too are busily habituated in stampeding on inanities to prove their special place in universe. Beggar's mindset doesn't change with money, power or literacy it tends to express in newer ways. Expertised in sanctum these have entrenched in herds. Its not surprising at all that the richest man or socalled scientists at the helm extend beggar's mindset. Its a sycophantic mindset of want and is characterized by pleasing others for gains. Probably it will need few more generation for refinity to percolate and mindsets to change, and that too seems farfetched. A sense of connection with surrounding, compassion and striving to understand are steps that isn't difficult. A society that has nothing to look forward to in future will always try to manipulate history to feel better. It will seek to control narration to feel secure. Climate change is none of their concern. It is just a fate. When they look at teeming masses struggling for basic amenities in various stages of misery they cannot help feel how blessed they are despite being absolute rotten humans without any discernable skills nor making any attempts to examine themselves or their understanding with all the opportunities and resources that they easily access. Surely there must be some reason for these special favor, argues their deviant little minds, hence this lifelong pursuit to justify. For crude minds lacking contemplation every new innovations becomes a new source of manipulation instead of possibilities. Likes of Amartya sen are not accidents they are nurtured. Lacking intellectual integrity, immune to realities, they compensate by high sounding words and nuanced expressions (that serves dual purpose of showcasing to west while simultaneously controlling beleaguered Indians into submission as their blessed representatives to the world. It is the language game that Wittgenstein spoke about and helps to get insight into lazy patronizers) and showcase intellectual capacity by quoting books and working on sophisticating language to absurdity. Lacking contemplative skills or evolved thoughts and tethered to sanctum they replicate ecosystem of sinister sanskrit. And as a final act of special place in universe -as jagath gurus, they defecate books with ordained self assured intention to guide humanity. Never mind they are too incapacitated and challenged to even fathom the beginnings of being a human. As with everything else Indian writing with very few rare exceptions are absolute garbage that expectedly resonate in the echo chambers hence assumed as acclaimed. Indeed it was only meant to showcase blessing.  

So finally

 

Beleaguered nation of 1.4 billion has found redemption. Largest consumer -obsessed hoarder or deviant affliction are better words, of gold (while more than half of children under 4years remain malnourished, which has accentuated during pandemic) has finally found elusive gold through ever elusive caliber. Some blessed frogs in the well are already seeing signs of divine intervention that was already ordained. If only Japanese or Olympic committee knew about auspicious timing to tap positive energy from brahmaand or worked on vastu of  stadium then maybe blessing would have multiplied!! Even Indian scientists know these secrets. 

 The youngster Neeraj Chopra is ofcourse talented, and has all the quality to be a better human hence not in a minor sense a high-ranking army personnel (not that it is something to be cherished, it’s a dehumanizing occupation that may excite herd since nationalism as also subtleties of patriotism are strong herd controlling tool. Army/security must be automated with less of humans and more of algorithm. Humans are not meant to die defending fiction). There is no reason why he should not be promoted to the rank of captain with gallantry medal at the earliest. It is because of the Army that his talent was recognized and blossomed (ofcourse with foreign coach) otherwise he would have wasted out like millions of Indians while freeloaders showcased their limited skills competing with each other as entertainers. Sports is not an entertainment. It strives to achieve and extend the limits of human body and possibilities. Entertainment is a byproduct while the sportsperson enjoys his or her participation the audience too experience the exhilaration.  

Indian sport is parasited by cricket -game of wastrels to entertain herds, was passed on by lazy colonizers to sycophantic freeloading feudals (while actively working against freedom struggle) who then after independence worked it through state machinery to convert herds as also passed onto market to squeeze. It’s a high end con setup. Cricketers appreciating athletes is like donkeys inspiring race horse! (nothing against donkeys, they are cute animals and, I learn from youtube, can be great pets too). They have usurped all awards and positions in the name of sports. Herd controllers know the value of herd controlling mechanisms and they will not let it go. In the meanwhile it needs to be understood that this entertainment has severely degraded Indian sports. Also, it is unfortunate that golf is part of Olympics. It is being included because of money power and clout otherwise there is nothing in it to call it a sport, as much as car racing is not a sport. They must remove golf from Olympics at the earliest. It is a class driven game that occupies and vandalizes green space which should be converted into parks or biodiversity zones. Clearly mediocre entitled Indians will see themselves as golfers hence sportsperson which would be tragic. Tragedy of trumpian scale. 

Neeraj Chopra is a high caliber sportsperson. Hopefully he is promoted to Captain with gallantry medal at the earliest. It should have been done instantly. He has done country proud with his achievement which is equivalent to a soldier in any action. The state is seen wanting in appreciating. It is not only about money or land plot at 50% reduction (?!!). Now the stampede by manipulators is going to be on how to use him to multiply money as also control narration. It will show his character. Hopefully his training in Army saves him from these opportunistic undertakers.  Other sportspersons too have struggled (not much into boxing or wrestling, don’t really like it, quite violent/crude for my liking) from impoverished background and neglect. And when it comes to primitive societies like India you can be very sure that they did struggle in the worst possible ways, and will go back to their miserable lives if they fail (picture here of silver medalist Mirabai Chanu). It’s a life of desperation, and to hold body and mind intact to the arduous demands of sports in bleak surrounding is an achievement in itself. A mediocre society with freeloading garbage at the top has severely degraded the society. They created their own definitions of competence to elevate themselves hence inability to speak English or the right accent may be seen as wanting. I think its about time that these bullshit in the form of humans occupying prominent positions are kicked out as also their nurturers. Speaking nice liberal sounding words may impress lowest denominator diversity searching patronizing angstful western fattened fluffs but its hollow. Its not too long back that Aiyer crap (with all the gandhian ruse intact) was the sports minister while blessed officials went to international sports meet with sportspersons as helpers. Castetva degraded society is now in the hands of Hindutva. Let’s keep our fingers firmly crossed.    

Untangling 

Have you ever stumbled upon a scene

Where a feel you been before

It's not the same but you can see the outline

Filling in the details

Retrofitted from distant past

Or is it improvised future

You wipe the moist from the glasses

And the day is brighter

Street shinier 

Faint salty smell of sea crisscross the tables

Arrange the flowers in the vase

And settle on the easy chair

To introduce yourself

From the day you choose

 

 

 

 

Story of your life

 

Ted Chiang’s "Story of your life" is arguably one of the best short stories I have read. I read it sometime back and even saw the movie “Arrival” -adapted from this story. The movie though is interesting doesn’t really match the nuance of the writing, then of course there is limitation of medium. Good Hollywood movie is certainly a notch up, and this languorously developing movie is definitely at the top. The other day I read the story again. This is one story that stays with you for long time and influences your thinking.  Chiang has heightened sensibilities as also the awareness on wide range of field of inquiry from mathematics to linguistic to philosophy. Control over language and expression that exudes humanity and deep love while tries to understand the alien thoughts in the process creating a new way of thinking that further asserts humanity in an entirely refreshing way. Amor fati. Savor these lines that leaves you fascinated and rivetted 

“Humans had developed a sequential mode of awareness, while heptapods had developed a simultaneous mode of awareness. We experienced events in an order, and perceived their relationship as cause and effect. They experienced all events at once, and perceived a purpose underlying them all. A minimizing, maximizing purpose”.     

Human language is bound and limited by time and its sequential order. While the experience of wholeness of life in a moment transcends time. So the question here is: Is the language limiting the human experience or is it -accumulation of experience through time, enriching it by a new way of seeing the world? 

“For the heptapods, all language was performative. Instead of using language to inform, they used language to actualize. Sure, heptapods already knew what would be said in any conversation; but in order for their knowledge to be true, the conversation would have to take place” 

Ted Chiang’s "Story of your life" is strongly recommended. Read it, and then maybe you could watch the movie -it's a commendable attempt (short listed for Oscars). Stories like these needs long space of rumination and vast silence. It is a tremendous effort. Such a brilliant writer.   

 

 Indispensable grace

 Will life just let itself shrink into a dot

 And vanish?

Billions of years of misses and chances sophisticate atoms into life 

Wither away? 

 Will matter’s experiment with consciousness lost forever?

Or is the harmonious dance of fundamental forces gauging the discord?

Is the cosmos sensing the loss?

Will the healing begin?

For random atoms to align elements

To set the story of life

Peg the milestones

That led to human

And back

There is something preciously compelling about herds that only herd controllers can understand

Breakthrough research and vaccine

 

I have taken both my doses of vaccine, the first dose was fairly easy to get since those were pre-second wave period and people arrogantly assumed -suitably egged on by politicians, that blessing will save their uniquely entitled life, the health centre was sparse, while for the second dose I really had to struggle as the online registration was mostly non available and finally managed to get one opening after much effort about 20kms from home. It is amazing the speed by which they developed these lifesaving vaccines. I had read about vaccines but the other day I read it in much detail and truly stupefied by the effort and intelligence of people involved. The picture here is of Katalin Kariko -the Hungarian American, who realised the potential of m-RNA (messenger RNA) as early as in 1989. She was ridiculed, demoted (why would people do such a thing?) and defunded. She though persisted, and with another researcher Drew Weismann, made breakthrough finding through modified RNA (incidentally Moderna stands for modified RNA) but again they were ignored. It is only recently that their research on mRNA has been recognised as it sped up the vaccine research. Within few months of genetic sequencing of virus, the vaccine was ready. It is an unprecedented achievement.

It is therefore important to spend some time to understand the basics of their work that is indeed saving millions of lives as also has potential to save more. The conventional vaccine works by exposing human body to virus in a benign way. These could be by breaking viruses into pieces or by killing or inactivating the virus. Using mRNA is entirely new way of vaccine research. They introduce mRNA into the body and turn recipients own cells into drug manufacturing factory. So, the body becomes reservoir of protein that resist the virus. This is easier said that done. The DNA (that we studied in school) carries the code of life, the genetic makeup. There are 3billion letters that make up human genetic code which are segmented into genes. The DNA though are quite passive and are dependent on mRNA as intermediary to deliver genetic instruction (hence messenger RNA) to make protein that makes cellular actions possible. These proteins are what makes life possible. Vaccine uses these mRNA to produce protein (in case of covid19 spiked variety). But again, this is quite difficult to achieve. Any outside nucleic acid (mRNA used by vaccine) triggers body’s immune system activating antiviral pathways. If you recall from your school biology the DNA consist of four base ATCG that stands for Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine. The RNA has an extra base U that is Uracil. Uridine, that composes of uracil, is what they modified to make the outside mRNA acceptable. There are immense possibilities of this therapeutic use of mRNA ranging from cancer to fibrosis and so on. Like CRISPR Cas9 that is contributing to precision medicine (as also exciting possibility of reviving recent extinct species like Mammoth or passenger pigeon through breakthrough CRISPR gene drive) modified RNA present absolutely spectacular possibilities. We are indebted to these researchers and their amazing level of dedication and uncommon intelligence.  

Tottering at the edge of chaos

Tottering at the edge of chaos

It looks like a misshaped beetle

Or conceived as mandalas or probably a meditating mendicant

Mandelbrot set is a totem of pattern

Building from the wild on the edge of chaos

Pushing the limits of random into template of life

Trees reach out to clouds

The eyes, the leaves, tentacles, brain, milkyway, universe…

All connect in deep primordial unconscious of churning patterns.

Undulating color cycling in and out without any movement

Magnifies forever in more psychedelic detail

Ricochets at Planck’s length to infinite space and back

Knitting coordinates that is the beginning of matter and space 

Seed of self-reference describing physical world

Iterating between self and the whole

A system in a system, in a system

One string taut change the tune of creation.

Deterministic in intend not in practice

Body the container, mind the free will

Explore infinite in finite

God play dice or dice play the god

Simple instructions set the code in the yolk

Tether the caterpillar to unravel

Smudges of pale rust and purple on Malabar flash.

 

               

The prime number

Valiant warriors defending division

building block by block from the unknown

into a strand

as infinite as time itself

unpredictable, fiercely free

no rules or theories hold them to order

scattered like vultures in thermals

floating, appearing and disappearing

whenever wherever it fancy

sometimes as twin primes

like exclamations of absences 

on the transmission line

stretching into desert

sparse and harsh

as if a mirage    

After reading The Housekeeper And The Professor (some words taken from the book, not mine).

 (Yoko Ogawa’s English translation of Japanese book “The Housekeeper And The Professor” is highly recommended. Sensitive writing with brilliant translation by Stephen Snyder. Check these lines: "In my imagination, I saw the creator of the universe sitting in some distant corner of the sky, weaving pattern of delicate lace so fine that even the faintest light would shown through it. The lace stretches out infinitely in every direction, billowing gently in the cosmic breeze. You want disparately to touch it, hold it up to the light, rub it against your cheek. And all we ask is to be able to re-create the pattern, weave it again with numbers, somehow, in our own language; to make even the tiniest fragment our own, to bring it back to earth". Her concern in most of her writing is about fragilities of memories. “The Memory Police” is next one on my reading list)  

 

The kingfisher

Those who can see it

Will see it

Those who cannot

Will not.

The miracle in every place

The trees, birds, the bees

The sun, moon, the river.

All wait.

The moment the kingfisher

Catch the glint of sunlight

On fish’s fin.

False binaries and cost on humanity

 Israel Palestine conflict, or what is generally referred to as Middle East problem, flares up quite regularly with huge human casualties and misery particularly on Palestine side as also unintended victims like a nurse from Kerala (a small state in India where this blogger is based) who died in the crossfire yesterday. It’s again the gift of West on other part of the world. This conflict is so much discussed and analyzed threadbare that it is futile to go into it as also expect any solution when you are aware of valiant attempts by astute leaders over the decades have failed. It’s a viciously divided region and the crack spread all across the world because of its connection with controlling systems. It’s like staring into an abyss. The world is again in an impasse while many important issues like pandemic or climate catastrophes are pushed into background that the humanity can ill afford.  

This issue though has its beginning in early 20^th century is rooted in systems dating back to centuries. It’s an affront on enlightened souls and evolved thoughts that helped in progress of humanity to where we are now -and intend to progress further in the exciting possibilities of future, if the same staid tools and primitive mindsets are applied to approach this pernicious problem that is becoming gangrene on humanity. It clearly needs a fresh approach, a new perspective, which reflects evolution of human societies in 21^st century. If the societies don’t evolve with the minds that created these wonders of contemporary world then the technologies become dangerous and ideas become lethal weapons. Ofcourse there will be primitives but these must be relegated into the sidelines, that is, reduced to insignificant minorities, and cannot control the mainstream discourse. Humanity cannot evolve if it is stuck with primitive systems that control humans and degrade them into herds. The primacy of herd is the root cause of most problems across the world. It must be recognized that the system is the cause of the misery. Herds are just cogs paying the price. Religion the fantastical notion that was meant to sooth humans has become anachronistic nuisance with perilous consequences.

The region of Middle East is where the three prominent systems –religions, intersect. The events here have such cataclysmic impact across the world because of the number of herds associated with these influential systems and their respective orchestrated reactions. It’s the game of dominance of systems wherein herds are the pawns and humanity is the casualty. If ever any meaningful intervention is proposed then it must necessarily be to negate the system and extricate the humans. The moment humans are free they will realize the futility of fighting, meaninglessness of occupying piece of land and absurdity of defending structures of system –worship space. The problem is kept alive and accentuated by herd controllers whether its politicians or influencers of religions or media who don’t want to antagonize the herds as also seek to benefit. Jew have narration of being exterminated hence they defend to last blood while Islam works on as defender of its space. They pass narration to younger generations as the misery move from one generation to other producing generations of deeply flawed human beings. Meanwhile herds around the world choose the binary they want to associate with. The misery it spreads to human beings is least of their concern. They are seen as martyrs for the system. The narration has passed beyond absurdity and has become an embarrassment for the contemporary world we live in if it not for the deaths and mayhem. We must deconstruct the systems and walls of protection it has built at the expense of human beings. We must encourage anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and all phobias against all religions and systems that seek to degrade and dehumanize. We are not living in 1940s. Religions fighting with each other are false binaries. There are no sides to be taken when herds fight. You can only pity at the depth of depravity. 

The world has evolved. Our understanding of the world, the access and the capacity to influence makes 1940s distant memories –fatal flaws of the past need to be understood, analyzed and surely not re-lived. Individuals need to use their faculties and possibilities to understand the potential of the world they live in. They must understand their unique context and connect to the world. They must critically scrutinize and question that which prevents these understandings. Societies must evolve and nurture values, spaces and narrations that prevent systems that seek to dehumanize and segregate. Anachronistic nuisance like religions needs to be critically analyzed and ridiculed. You must tolerate being ridiculed for putting faith on fantastical fiction. You must be pitied for your lack of common sense and inability to use your sensibilities to scrutinize world. Private personal spiritual earnings that reassert being human and unique member of humanity is how narration can be build. From this space collective association will naturally attain its possibilities. The challenges facing humanity needs free humans, free thinking minds and empathy driven world. Dehumanizing systems are not only a threat to humanity but to the very world we live in.       

WTO NEEDS TO ACT IMMEDIATELY

Now that the powerful nation like US has taken the initiative to waive the patent on vaccines its incumbent on multilateral arbitrator like WTO to ratify at the earliest without wasting even a single day. People are dying every minute all across the world while the situation is dire in India. It will be criminal negligence that these are delayed further. Already so much time is wasted, and if you recall this blogger had republished a letter by concerned group calling on the WTO to waive the patent. That was 21days back (504 hours back) since then hundreds and thousands of people have died and many are in serious conditions. Also, as the virus spreads its mutation rate will increase and chance of dangerous variants too will increase which may make the vaccine ineffective. So time is of much importance. There is too much at stake. PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY

Yes millions of dollars and skilled time was spent on research for the vaccine. It is but natural that these must be compensated. Also considering that most nations did not even invest adequately on crucial health infrastructure and were generally lackadaisical and incompetent, and so to now ask for help for sake of humanity is rather hypocritical. But these are extraordinary times and precedence set by multilateral cooperation in vaccine manufacturing must be consolidated further to fight the virus. Distinction of geography should not matter when the threat is on humanity. This template needs to be nurtured as the future threats needs multilateral cooperation and sharing of information. It is unfortunate that UN is not really living up to its role at this crucial juncture. 

I am reminded of Jonas Salk who developed the much anticipated polio vaccine in 1955 after years of dedicated research and chose to not patent the vaccine or seek any profit from it in order to maximize its global distribution. When asked "Who owns this patent?” He replied, "Well, the people I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" Salk was an amazing human being and its about time to invoke his value system to fight the pandemic.   

Meanwhile people die

Meanwhile people die

They die

And they die

They die waiting

in the queue, 

at the gates of hospital, in the autos, in ambulances, 

On the cart, in the arms. 

Next they are stacked to be cremated 

It is difficult to tell from the smoke through the crematorium chimney 

Where the mother ends and brother begins 

Or whether it is the son or grandmother 

That is the problem with the smoke 

It doesn’t tell 

It keeps its secret 

But sometimes a swirl of breeze 

Conjure a shape 

Wisp a tug

Attempts a final farewell