Slum cake mindset

 When Schindler’s List -an iconic Hollywood movie that dealt with holocaust, was released in early 1990s there was a news (indeed a minor mention in the sidelines of mid pages here in India, now this was much before internet and ‘cable’ tv was limited) that few youngsters were found giggling while watching those horrific scenes. I found this news intriguing; indeed, I too had limited knowledge on these events ((Life during those days was trained to be ‘within the syllabus’, munching and regurgitating, and praying to work the fate -the meaninglessness of degraded form of education that the collective intelligence of society could conceive and value, it took me lots of effort and constant vigilance to remove this infection from my system. Sadly, the employees at ISRO represent the same failure of education and assertion of beggar’s mindset -of working favor/fate by pleasing and being pleased. The hierarchy of humbleness and well-defined deals to appease. What a pathetic life that even possibilities of education are negated. Since I had spent some time at Space Centre -my impressionable mind was impressed, I kept an eye on the happenings here. But these people have constantly shocked me with their regressive ways (in mid 1990s I recall quite distinctly some even participated in rituals facilitated by squatters to appease god for boon of boy child! Imagine the mindset at work here. Meanwhile charlatan squatter has repertoire of deal with god for sake of people) lack of context or application of mind)). So, people were stupefied by the ignorance of these youngsters and lack of empathy while watching these scenes. Some of the students countered that these were nervous giggle or that they found the scenes awkward. Nevertheless, they were removed from theater, later attempts were made by authorities to make them visit concentration camps and read about holocaust. Now, in 2023 Indian moviemakers went to Auschwitz and created cringe entertainment of self-obsessed ways that define these people, even untold horrors of holocaust becomes a prop for their fancy and minor learning about their own ego. These are special people.  

So, more than a decade back an elderly fellow -posing as artist even got himself into parliament as representing art, ordered a cake fashioned as slum for his equally pretentious wife -now this crude woman has positioned herself as some kind of activist -attuned to market needs. She, it seems, is concerned about slums and visits them! What is clear is that she gained a lot from this positioning, and this ‘slum cake’ was designed by the muck sodden fellow in appreciation of it. Hedonist orgy of love! It had models of congested modest dwellings surrounded by mounds of garbage replicating unfortunate living people packed as sardines -not far from where they live, meanwhile he did not forget to depict overflowing drainage that characterize these hell on earth, and yes -what seems to be funny depiction for some- of cloths haphazardly hung to dry detail. The impoverished congested spaces in big cities are unhygienic and reek with disease hence chance of infection are high people therefore do everything to keep clean. You will see more washing in slum areas than anywhere else heartbreakingly in dirty water and filthy surrounding while children defecate in open. This obsessive washing is a desperate attempt to keep disease away, to stay alive, and yes cloths are hung to dry in polluted air. What else can they do? There is nothing funny about it. This becomes funny when you have a deviant sense of what is funny.  

Few months back I spent some time to go through this fellow, actually few indicators are enough to estimate these despicable people. Believe me it is absolute waste of time, and it is unlike me. The intention though is to broaden to understand the ecosystem that nurtured these people, and how much society had to pay for these. So, few decades back one of the costliest Indian movie was released, and when they put more money you can be rest assured they will dig the depth of mediocrity and crass as entertainment. I didn’t watch it -for godsake, but scanned it randomly to understand the fellow who has scripted this (unlike other movies which were coscripted). Atrocious movie to even scan through, how can people even write these kind of crap? Now there is a pivotal scene wherein a pigeon is shown carefully picking up number from cards to identify vehicle number or so it has witnessed of some crime committed, I think. I used to find some Indian movies interesting for the ridiculous since it had something I could never even conceive, ofcourse within the cringe frame of sexism, patriarchy and other crap that this society is incapable to be sensitive, crude as entertainment. The ridiculous can be funny in the fantastic turn of unexpected even in the lowest form of aesthetics, the slapstick. When fun is also sought by some by taking people for stupid -lacking intelligence, is where the problem is. It is a reflection of contempt for common people that one can even think of writing such a script. This same contempt for common people and lack of aesthetics is what prompts one to create cake depicting slum. And that the fellow is claiming to be an artist is what makes it worst. The depravity is astounding. This is slum cake mindset. It is uniquely Indian.

If poverty is a crime, who commits the crime? The poor are to therefore seek the offense before they are punished. The fate is the offense that finds itself hence is open to ridicule and contempt. They will have to now beg to recognize their guilt. They have been acknowledged. There is celebration. They will however not understand how this is funny. A sick joke is a joke if you are outside the joke. Inside a sick joke it is horror. The horror of trapped in everyday living and dying. There is no Shakespearean grandeur in this tragedy. There is not even consolation to be alive except to be laughed at. So, while they sink in their horrible lives atleast they made us laugh and are lucky to be chosen reason for a cake for us to celebrate. Such is the blessing.

The cake, I am told, tasted delightful and I am not sure whether they had group orgy on it and kink fulfilment but yes muck filled drainage was the pièce de résistance. The squelchy texture was finger licking real for which the tacky fellow got an extra helping. 

 

Post script: Slum cake mindset is something I wanted to write about for some time now. There are problems when you write about attention seekers, they enjoy it as also use their PR for possibilities of branding or at the least play victim (that is the nearest they can come to be victim -indeed there is a stampede to play victim and position for gain as also fertile ground to represent common people). Now, I came to know about slum cake only few months back -more than a decade later. If I knew this before I wouldn’t have wasted my time travelling all the way, I became extremely vulnerable almost a decade back, nothing much, and I cringe even the thought of having visited these people. It was difficult to forgive myself. These are the worst kind of people, and to be noted, nurtured by castetva forces as brand- they in turn emulate the depravities of sycophants and manipulate narration that fancy the moment. These are the people whom I tried to get in touch but ticked them out within no time, having confirmed what kind of depraved people are these. Ofcourse for me writing was prime factor -and writing atleast 500words per day was what I targeted to be writer of some reckoning, hence I let it work meanwhile tried to improve my writing skills as also delve on issues of concern, and moved out to blog as soon as I got the opportunity.  

These people have positioned as artists, and gain credibility through state awards and largesse. What I have noted is that there was a stampede for state awards, positions, RS seat and UN ambassadorship so on, and you could see them going in heat. Earlier it confused me when they unexpectedly ransacked TV studios showing concern for common people and dire warning with controversial statements, when they had no movie to release -they go into heat before movie release -the juvenile market logic being if you attract attention during these few days herd will be impressed enough to part with money. The level of grandeur and self-obsession -among, arguably one of the least talented people, is astounding if not psychopathic. Many even ghost write their autobiographies as if world had not got enough of them. Even our fellow (any resemblance to real, as they say, is purely coincidental!) has written one. It is also an indication for bigger intent, as a summation for those within their little world to take note and envy. It’s not manipulation of the moment but consolidation of constructed past as branded gift for humanity, a blessing for us. The onus is now on humanity to receive this blessing as a favor for our existence, a gratitude for something we are incapable to understand.

                    

Kite and the sky

There was delight in the way

The kite met the sea

Gliding the steady breeze

He swirled, looped into narrowing spirals

About to catch the glint of waves

Skimming an instant turn

Flapped for a while

And soared into the sky.

The shore burns and reach for him

Lit the sea in hues of flame

Fill the sky with soot and pain.   

Education as a ritual

 

Education is meant to understand. To bring in full estimation of you as an individual placed in time and context, and the implication of it. It is to equip you to wrench your indelible impression from billions of lives, linking vibrant minds of past with evolving present, and to weigh in on ideas to weave a vibrant world. Education extends the link of humanity towards possibilities. Education is the vibrant sense of presence. It is an awareness on what is to be a human, the precious individuality and freedom. A good education grants freedom.

Good education though is rare, and is impossible in the ecosystem of market driven needs and when valued with certainties of religion. Education therefore becomes a ritual, and is stuck in the basics of literacy without any potential or hope. Learning becomes a ritual. The ritual of feeding and regurgitating, which then is evaluated for merit and use. Literacy is a ritual of learning the rules, prevailing facts and empirical evidences. Literacy equips us to be educated. When literacy fails to assimilate education is reduced to ritual. In the process the human is reduced and becomes scheme to work on the ritual for the systems that benefits. It is weaponized to meet the aspirations of middle-class insecurities. It creates thriving beggar’s mindset.

Middle class here is not entirely an economic classification based on income so on. It is a mindset. A mindset that has overwhelming presence in society hence majoritarian thus deciding tenor of given society. Lacking deeper understanding or thinking, carried by exigencies of situation, they are mired in insecurities and battered by tribulations of life. They desperately seek security and stability. Hence, they amass (many billionaires and millionaires are beggar minded rich people. They just worked the system to amass money or power or luxuries but their mind is still middle class, trapped in insatiable middle class needs). They strive as pallbearers of dying inconsequential traditions and degrading culture of sentiments attached to inherited -atavistic residue that they carry to deal with ever changing world. They shape the world in this conservative restricted ways lacking sensibilities to value progress or capacity for nuance. Lacking reflective thinking or self awareness they are incapable to evaluate meanings or egalitarian options. Ill-equipped for long-term awareness they look for quick fixes and easy solutions. So, when abstract or existential presents itself it scares them into the lap of sureties offered by juvenile faiths and nostalgic warmth of inane. Instead of education equipped steps towards egalitarian self-awareness they seek simplistic versions to satisfy their primal needs. The human is reduced in the ritual to maximize for the system. Middle class needs are easily dealt within the matrix of the self-consuming system. Art, literature and commerce attunes to satisfy and gain from them. Middle class hence becomes the standard bearers. Thus, the overwhelming mediocrity in every field that strives on middle class aspirations, from entertainment to literature to technology. The space for excellence shrinks as middle class expands. They create their own heroes in their own image, aspirations, and celebrate. Entertainment creates narration that eulogizes their staid ways as virtue, religion adds morals to this morass of prefabricated world.

They create myths of stability immune to chaos of life. They thrive in hierarchal systems and ritualistic repetition hence seek surety of authority, if not an all dictating god -and their agents, then atleast a leader exhibiting sure footed tendencies. The pleased and pleasing are in a loop. Middle class therefore degrade democracy and egalitarian ideals by encouraging authoritarian tendencies. The reason why J.Krishnamurthi -philosopher educationist, worked education to remove all forms of authority. He was concerned about Indian tradition that allowed for ritual, belief and unquestioning devotion. His idea of education was ‘critical looking’ -much immediate than critical thinking, and a step towards ‘choiceless awareness’ that harbingers inquisitive ways. He valued holistic education as essential for an “inner renewal that can effect social transformation and indeed lead to societal change”. Before I continue on this let me add when I was in my late 20s I took out some time to try to understand the whole idea of education and search innovative means of pedagogy (I was into bit of teaching so thought of exploring it in depth). I read few thinkers as also visited few places across the country which explored these ideas. I did read Montessori, and found influence in Indian thinkers like Aurobindo (did take few classes at Mirambika in Delhi), Tagore (visited Shantiniketan in Bengal few times, he was quite influenced by Renaissance and the Age of Reason as also best of Indian thoughts), Krishnamurthi (spent few days at Rishivally, Andhra) as also Vivekananda, Osho, Russell (Education and Good Life) and Rousseau. Rousseau’s Emile is quite influential and foundational in many ways. His concern of education was not to create “magistrate, nor soldier, nor priest” but “primarily, a man’, or shall we say a human. Tagore too concerned education with humanism “freedom and creativity are linked in Tagore’s thought, one conditioning the other. The more people go beyond the limitations of their animal nature, the closer they come to humanism, freedom and unity and are then able to develop their creativity”. He valued education as “clear stream of reason” that “has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habits”. It is quite clear that insecurities of middle class have lost the potential of education and inherent values of humanity into “dreary desert sand of dead habits”. Valued books are being banned in spaces that once gave hope. Vibrant ideas censored by religion and market. Human being are loosing connection with their reality and are dehumanized into systems.  

The only redeeming factor in a self-obsessed middle class world reeking in righteousness is that they provide stability and relative peace in society though in an overwhelming regressive framework. Depending on nature of society these therefore provide space for individuals to strive out of beggar’s mindset and middle-class self-defeating ways. Quality of education and ecosystem that sustains intellectual vibrancy matters. Some societies have more space for these hence have made greater contribution to humanity by valuing ecosystem of unbridled inquisitiveness and nurturing precious individuality that brings meaningful collectivism. But in many societies, and it has become much pernicious in recent times, staid sure ways and mediocrities of middle class, their insecurities, have acted as potent vehicle for religious revivalism and a grander retrofitted history. We are living in a strange world where potential of education is being persistently diminished and critical thinking faculties blunted while humanity is being depleted from humans. Tiny ants offer some lessons. Ants are intelligent social insects but sometimes things go wrong. They get into death spiral wherein ants follow each other in endless circle. This happens when they loop back to their own pheromone scent trail while leading those behind them. They eventually die of exhaustion. Human beings are in a death spiral of make believe unless education asserts its potential we are doomed.  

Credible performance

 Indian men's 4x100m relay at World Athletics Championship was a credible performance. Considering tremendous odds against them as also mediocre nature of society that appropriates sports into some staid game initiated by lazy colonials as timepass that besotted scyophantic nincompoops trying to impress colonial masters while they facilitated exploitation. Over the decades feudals nurtured this game of wastrels through state control onto herd, later market took it into spectacle of absurdities that one wonders: can we not train monkeys instead for wholesome entertainment?! These market players earn more from ads than anything else -herd is squeezed at every available opportunity as they are pavlovian triggered to be happy to be happy! Most of these "iconic" players could not run a straight 100m even at the peak of their career (as a co-passenger long time back mentioned; it's a game of halwai -halwaiyon ka khel hai). Kerala has tradition for high caliber sports ecosystem and talented players, unfortunately in the recent times cricket is cannibalizing these into waste. 

More than game it is also fertile construction of raconteur (ace word defecators) -just as market prescribed ie more about the person than the skills (indeed the game is like Indian movies that needs minimum skills and maximum branding). This society will go to the depth of depravities to cover up lack of any discerning talent. Vibrant social media and new tech gadgets are severely undermining narration control by few, and have least value for posers as fourth estate -clinging desperately for control. Technology has become an effective instrument in democratization of society, and has potential for far reaching social change. It has potential to bring reality closer to reckoning and push out posers and manipulators. Athletics is about reality of sports. There is nothing to manipulate. There is no space for trash talk. You just run faster. It's about skill, talent, and essence of possibility of human body.             

Colonising Space and Tragedy of Commons

 When Apollo 11 landed on moon in 1969 Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to disembark, he said these memorable line "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". That truly was a giant step for humankind, so is the recent installation of Webb telescope or CERN experiments -though some disappointment for particle/experimental physics. Sputnik in 1957 and Vostok with Yuri Gagarin in 1961 though clouded under cold war animosity these too were giant step for humankind. These achievements are common heritage for humanity. Things have changed in recent times. Most recent attentions towards space are not benign nor for the benefit of humanity -although the euphemism is compelling. Market capitalism has churned out regrettable billionaires with severely limited intellect or responsible ways while they vandalized earth. The spectacle is choregraphed for the spectacular effect. Branding itself is a justification for higher intent. Market has projected these as smart solutions with obvious reference for billionaires as saviors. In this ecosystem of self-obsessive valuation of world everything is tagged and resourced to be exploited. Meanwhile severe climate breakdown and catastrophic effect on people and biodiversity is channelized as viral videos or mother nature’s wrath so on without any context or horrendous reality that humanity is being exposed. Market capitalism, religions and politicians have deep investment to keep the herd distracted as long as they can. Severity of climate breakdown though is causing consternation among increasing populace, they are jostled out of market goodies filled dreamworld choices into flash flood, heat waves, forest fire, very soon spiraling food prices. They see temples, mosques, churches, so on wash away, faith in material not holding, cozy negotiated sureties disappear, while politicians stutter. They are scampering for new narration to contain the herd. Incapable to factor reality herd will seek redemption in myth and fantasies, this momentary distractive respite is the peace that faith mongers offer.  

In 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty (OST) was signed, under this all countries have right to access space for peaceful scientific purpose while prohibiting sovereign appropriation of outer space. After depleting resources on earth there is a stampede by rich towards space, all packed in spectacular spectacle of distraction. In 2015 US enacted a new law (commercial space launch competitiveness law, whatever) that circumvents good intentions of OST and allows US companies the right to own and sell all that is resourced from space. A clear violation of international agreement to appease US billionaires. Terrestrial mining is the new threat that is facing us (as also deep sea floor mining). There is need to channelize terrestrial resources and not left to be plundered by anybody who can access. We are already witnessing tragedy of commons in accumulating space debris. There is an urgent need for new effective international legislation to protect space as our heritage. Moon as human heritage.

Two hundred years back naval and navigation technology became more sophisticated. Some countries were able to reach far off places and use advanced armaments to capture land and people to exploit for resources. Sophistication of technology did not advance humanity. It led to slavery and wanton exploitation. It led to colonization. Technological sophistication is not same as scientific achievement. Scientific achievements necessarily advance humanity. Science by its very framework is humanist. Technology meanwhile is a tool. It is limited by the humans that use it.   

Exciting night at World Athletics Championship

 It was quite an exciting night at World Athletics Championship at Budapest Hungary on the banks of river Danube (yes they do play Strauss' Blue Danube and it reminds me of iconic scene from Kubrick's Space Odyssey 2001. Recently I also happen to watch a rare Hitchcock black and white comedy on Strauss II and how he created this music -not sure whether it's historically accurate depiction nevertheless it was really not the kind of movie in Hitchcock genre). So, the longest men's event 10,000m and shortest, or shall we say fastest, event 100m were at display. Running is sports at its best. 

 

Entering dangerous unchartered El Nino weather

 

Climate change is sharply spiking temperature across the globe in the last few years -despite cooling La Nina, the situation is spiraling at an alarming rate with El Nino consolidation. With ocean absorbing additional heat from global warming El Nino is becoming intense. As you can see suddenly monsoon rains have vanished, and if ever erratic, intense, lasting for short period, and then the sky is clear as ever. Rain these days carry ominous threat of deluge. Rain no longer is languorous drizzle that invites for a long walk among the rain soaked trees, cycling along brimming rain carpeted oceans, boating in the backwater…rain these days are dreadful possibilities of floods and landslides. Rain is harbinger of tragedies. Summer is heat wave.    

There is El Nino consolidation happening which is never good for Indian monsoon system (despite much complicated and complex play of Indian Ocean Dipole IOD and Madden-Julian Oscillation MJO). With climate change already heating the planet at unprecedented levels we are really entering scary unchartered weather. Monsoon is expected to weaken over much of Indian subcontinent which is going to have a serious impact on food security as also water table. Summer, i.e. months of March to June 2024, is expected to have significant heat waves (note even without El Nino impact this February was hottest -imagine what is in store). Already Indian government have stopped rice export –this is cascading rice price in international market; China is stockpiling rice while Russians have collapsed grain basket Ukraine. So, El Nino will bring drought condition to much of Indian subcontinent, some region will also see heavy rains -and as you can observe from the map herein -the south tip of India specifically western ghats, Kerala, from October to December. During last El Nino period (2015) Chennai witnessed deluge of the century. I am sure Union as well as the State governments are aware of the unprecedented weather changes in the coming months as also socio-economic impact. Scientists and activist youngsters (and those connected to cradle of life) are warning us for some time now. Religion and Market have kept us distracted in fantastical illusions and spurious entertainment, very soon they will turn fatalist to keep herd riveted, while market will carry on with grand narration to anesthetize common people meanwhile barricade moneybags. 

There is something sinister looming in the horizon. The wicked side of mother nature is waking up after hundreds and thousands of years of peaceful nurture. Whatever that ever mattered is at stake. There are no second chances. There is no Planet B. Ocean is warming. Biodiversity is collapsing. Species are vanishing. This is an existential emergency. WAKE UP.               

Religiophilia is a threat to humanity

 

There is a character in The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (by Milan Kundera) Mirek who remarks that “The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting”. One of the pernicious attempts of herd controlling systems is to make people forget. Controlling and manipulating memory is an assault on being a human. Species evolve to survive by awareness of surroundings, lack of awareness and incapacity to sense evolving habitat will make them vulnerable hence extinct. Memory is significant aspect of consciousness and helps to evolve new thoughts and ideas hence limited awareness and flawed sensing leads to controlled. Lacking discerning skills sycophancy acquires survival template. Individuals many times try to forget injustice to seek solace. Forced to forget -by herd controlling totalitarian forces -whether State, Religion or Market, through control of state institutions or deep entrenched systems, redacted history, supplanted myths of glory, narrative will to power and entitled worldview, redundant degrading choices, is to deceive basic sensibilities that define being a human and is to deny diversity of human experience.

As the world gets connected and individuals get atomized through technologies, ideas and aspirations as also social conditions, we find that humans are also inexperienced in this emerging, seemingly alienating, context of life they find themselves in. This moment is what we got. This human condition is explored by prescient minds, and will have to be experienced to value life, its meaning and meaninglessness, possibilities and impossibilities. We will have to shed primal practices and medieval securities that have lulled us to uncertainties of life and omnipresent chaos in the horizon. Ensuing arrogance and entitled place in the life scheme is challenged and falls short of every scrutiny reality presents. Irony -of existence, is what is experienced, and very soon we realize that this is the defining human condition. The improbable irony of being alive.

Irony irritates certainties -that define herd controlling systems. So instead of creating awareness, exploring ideas and frameworks of aesthetics to explore and evolve with amazing opportunity presented, what we get is insidious attempts to manipulate and control by nurturing herd valuing systems. Instead of aesthetics of diversity and myriad expressions that coalesce into collective synergy what we get is grotesque fantasies to ensnare and dehumanize -to impose systems on others and silence them into submission. It is an attempt to provide easy solutions to existential uncertainties of contemporary world and eternal absurdity. It is an attempt at pandering egos of herd controllers and the worst of humanity at the expense of common people. It is a vulgar imposition of herd will on common people.

Some extremely devious people are working to normalize herd controlling systems specifically religion -which works in tandem with power (State) and money (Market). Also, communism (referred to as Left) has the habit of identifying with herd (in the garb of minority) -in an enlightened society religion cannot be defining factor at all since it rarely evaluate human being as human. Minority voices are undermined when religion usurp this space. In the dialectical materialistic version of history humans are just pawn. In this scheme eventual emancipation is that of humanity lacking humans but comrades. This reductive obscene version of human is not unsimilar to what religion or market proposes. These are fake binaries to control for power. It also needs to be pointed out that not all religions are same. This semantic generalization is flawed. It doesn’t really factor in important aspects of journey and contexts of each religion and their impact on the individual and the world. You cannot codify each religion into same scale. Ofcourse this isn’t about showcasing superiority and exceptionalism but to bring out critical aspect of understanding. What need to be made clear though is that whatever the context of each religion in the evidence of contemporary world it has more nuisance value than anything else and is a persistent threat to humanity. This anachronistic pestilence has been segregating, dehumanizing and degrading, and over the centuries and decades some religions were challenged and hence evolved, or interpreted to update, with the need of the time. While some have stuck in space time warp to ensnare common people into ever widening medieval mindset immune to contemporary reality hence present a constant threat. The progress we have made has much to do with ecosystem that some religions have provided or tolerated or help ignore. Christianity, has seen criticism, reformations and debate -working on rationalism and reason, hence relatively tolerant space, as also protest and assertion of common people to support the best among them against the onslaught of juvenile premise that they started to ridicule. Sacred was also profane. These ecosystems have elemental impact on the way people pursue their thoughts, deliberated and decided. Likes of Francis Bacon was impossible in any other ecosystem hence rapid progress of human civilization. Judaism too provided an ecosystem that nurtured best of humans as is evident from contribution to humanity. Let’s be clear these scientists or philosophers were not practicing religion, nor did gave a damn about religion, but they benefited from the ecosystem which quite clearly many religions were incapable to provide. Buddhism invested in humans to provide subtle expressions and peaceful meaningful life for centuries. Zen is pinnacle of possibilities of human mind. This is not about Christianity or Judaism or indeed Buddhism -to take few examples, what is clear from the contemporary evaluation of religions is that they are firmly rivetted in juvenile premise -that surely is dehumanizing and degrading, and capitalize on insecurities of people. Buddhism is as violent and viciously herd churning as any other including Hinduism -brutalities against which it was proposed (if temples were destroyed by Muslim invaders -nothing wrong in the context of the time indeed welcomed, then study must be conducted regarding Buddhist temples destroyed and appropriated by Hindus). In the contemporary evaluation, by the very definition and premise, all religions without exceptions are dehumanizing and prey on human insecurities and uncertainties of life. They have no value for human being, and seek to control and propagate. They hold nothing for humanity to face the challenges of future nor add any value to progressive thoughts. Faith as it exists in religion -anchored in miracles and instructive ideas of many centuries back, is not compatible with critical thinking gained from contemporary understanding. Modern mind and social relations cannot be trapped in juvenile conceptions and regressive value systems that it perpetuates. Herds live in glory of past and have fantastical fatalist view of future, an outcome of lack of application of mind. They are provided all the answers. This surety adds to the danger. They are no longer human but herd waiting to be instructed, and at the most they can contribute is by innovating within status quo needs, some incremental money savers or staid creative expression to be good herd members and reaffirm herd values. Sometimes we do come across surprisingly subtle and elevated creative expressions attributed to religion (in the contemporary world, not what happened few centuries back which is entirely different context) that one doubts can really emerge from juvenile controlling narrow premise of religion. These elevated experiences are spiritual that precedes religion. These yearnings are part of human consciousness hence cannot be appropriated by religion as religious experience. What is not confined cannot be part of narrow systems and its simple elaborations and prescriptions written when people lived in caves. Religion is too small a space for immensity of life.

Religiophilia, particularly Islamophilia, of the West has become serious threat, and has potential to undermine all the amazing progresses made by humanity over the centuries. Appropriating progressive semantics to nurture religion is a new low. They have used UN to institutionalize degrading values (UN has become sideshow for redemption while they exaggerate cold war relic NATO). Burning specific book may not be an aesthetic expression of protest nevertheless it is an indelible part of freedom and what it is to be a human. OIC inciting violence is a serious breach and characteristic pattern that should be worrying, and they should have been warned -it fulfills definition of inciting terrorism. A book or any fantastical myth or ritual or cow cannot be under any circumstance valued over human life. These primitive brutal ways have no place in civilized settings. It is a blatant use of religion to bludgeon and blackmail. It can be said with much certainty that contemporary Islam, specifically sunni version, has created an ecosystem that pose as a threat with least of contribution to humanity. Not that other religions are not a threat. Religious nutcases in every religion and region have created barren pockets of depravities across the world. They demand exceptionalism and consider themselves as superior as if god is on direct call with them. While some carry gun in the name of god to kill people others carry caste to eviscerate soul. It’s a severe mental crisis that instead of being pointed out as absurd is being validated as freedom. Attack on Iraq -leading to killing and maiming of millions of innocent people, complicity of media in ‘sexing up’, greed for fossil fuel, inability to prosecute Blair, has made monarchist Christian feudal compromised Britain particularly vulnerable. Pretentious western elite are using common people across the world as fodder. West is seeking redemption through islamophilia. It’s a serious breach. Spread, reach, money, as also lack of meaningful revolt or protest within the religion -trapped in brutal medieval setting, makes Islam -specifically the sunni version, a serious threat to idea of progressive world. It has emboldened regressive violent forces in other religions, cults, as well as the state. You cannot hide behind Islamophobia -it can only be dealt case by case basis; no religion can be given carte blanche against criticism or scrutiny. We are not fodder for religious supremacist nutcases nor are we ready to sacrifice democracy and liberty -hard earned values that defines each human on this planet, and all the possibilities of future, for regressive values posing as diversity. No religion is sacrosanct nor sacred. What impacts humanity is open for questioning. All the technologies that empower me, and common people around the world, right from internet to each and every part of laptop or mobile phone I use- the electrons to satellite, the ideas and thoughts behind it, has not come from Saudi -despite the fact that it’s one of the richest societies (its contribution to humanity woefully lacking nor do we expect anything much in future, and there is a reason. It’s quite likely they are investing hugely in western media to work the narration), it has come from open societies that nurtured inquisitive values and potential in human beings through critical thinking, reasoning, debate and differences. All the ideas and systems that nurture me, and common people across the world, like democracy, liberty, valuing contrary ideas and egalitarian thoughts, asking every possible question that arise in mind, reading wide range of books -and not to follow any one book or scripture or idea but to understand, seeking answers and accepting with scrutiny, respecting human irrespective of gender or region or race, being empathetic and be aware of human frailties and contemporary realities, has not come from any Mosque (or Temple or Church or any herd churning pit and its pedantic sickening morals). That doesn’t mean everything about religion is crap some mentions are poetic, amusing, and interesting insights. Nothing more can be granted to it. Period. Religion by its very premise is a threat to humanity. Be very wary of herd controllers who use benign ideas and progressive semantics to degrade the world. There is money, control and power riding on posturing. A society that protects most vulnerable thoughts, contrarian ideas, and nurture weakest person to his/her fullest potential, is deemed advanced and progressive, is richer to contemporary realities and equipped to face future complexities. Most importantly we must not forget, they will make every attempt to make us forget -that is first step towards being controlled. We must read, objectively verify, critically scrutinize, and understand. We are mere mortal to seek truth we can only try to understand and value as much this miracle of life.

Superconductivity at room temperature ambient pressure. Reaaaaaly!

 

This is just wow, if it's true (considering that there were some false claims in recent past) and there are reasons to be optimistic. Indications are pointing to a major breakthrough by Korean scientists. Superconductivity is childhood dream come true scene. When I first saw superconductivity explained on TV with that floating resistant free thing moving around I was wonderstruck. During those days -mid 80s, it was hot topic in school (nuclear fusion was another source of intrigue). Then I forgot about it, some occasional mention here and there, nothing much. Just now I came to know about Korean scientists claims (that is being peer reviewed and we will come to know about its veracity in few days), that reputed quantum researchers are involved gives hope (as also credible youtube channel has gone through the paper in detail and asserts that this could be it). The implication of this achievement is paradigm shifting (yes this the appropriate context to use this term!). This is exciting time. How I sincerely hope they have achieved it. Again. Wow and Wow!         

Appreciable initiative by Indian Railways

 

Indian railways has recently taken the decision to provide meals for general coach i.e. unreserved (UR) compartment for 20R (poori-dry aloo with pickle). This is commendable and long awaited. General compartments are where the poorest travel which essentially means majority of Indians, and is almost always many times original capacity. So, wherein normal compartment provides about ninety berths for ninety people, general compartment is occupied by five to six times the capacity therefore about 500 odd people. I have travelled in UR quite often when I was young as I used to travel to nearby small towns of Delhi at short notice. I have also observed how people travel long distance in these hellholes. It’s so packed that once you are in it is quite difficult to move around let alone go out to buy during stoppages, also it’s disconnected so even pantry food don’t reach, so they rely on small time vendors. It is heartbreaking scene, and little care is what matters. Everyday millions of people travel in appalling conditions and it seems nobody was really bothered. So, after so many decades policy makers have taken such decision shows the new ecosystem at work. That someone with compassion proposed this, and instead of silencing him or her and carrying on as if nothing can be done or that it is fated, decision makers decided to work on it is what makes this refreshing. Significantly the choice of the food and pricing also shows that care was taken and the issue deliberated. Poori is what common people generally carry for long distance travel. It is easy and quick to make in large quantity, doesn’t take much space nor gets easily spoiled and lasts long. Ofcourse, aloo/potato spoils hence they generally prefer pickle, and yes sliced onion and green chilies. This is something I have seen many times all across the north and central part of the country. Instead of aloo, pickle will do and therefore more pooris can be added or price reduced -this can be of much help for long distance travelers with limited capacity to spend, also big chunks of onion and chilies could be included. The question of  how it will be delivered remains. Hopefully stalls are placed where the UR compartments stops or these are loaded onto the compartment (arduous task since there is never really any space). Chance of creating artificial shortage hence stampede is quite high. There are people in primitive society who would like to keep fate/blessed binary in tight leash, this is what policy making was all about (lick those above you, kick those below. It’s a squatter authenticated value system). So, instead of genuinely involved and participate with progressive intent, create diversions, delegate misery, find scapegoat and move on (recall mediocre corrupt likes of CR immortalized "paklaam" in the corridor of power as a code for camaraderie. Instead of working out responsive values they even degraded colonial ways with chalta hai). All the parameters impacting practical application must be studied before these steps are taken. Issues related to hygiene and waste disposal are equally important. To understand those entrenched in power matrix don’t assume best of intention, nor use your benign mindset, these are nurtured in worst frameworks and depraved value systems. To know their motivations you have to watch wildlife channels or read about hunter gatherers (to understand likes of Zk I had to work on the umwelt combining sea slug, glow worm and rabid street dog…even then they shock me with their depravities thus giving insight on people whom they pleased -for instance, to nurture a mediocre crude disgust into some kind of state respected artist brand). Hopefully compassion driven policy making is sustained at action level too. This will give millions of extremely poor people travelling in worst of condition some respite. Also, if roofs of compartments have reflectors (or solar panels) this would reduce the temperature significantly.  

Reclaim

 

Pounded for power,

Reshaped for fancies,

Arranged for profit,

Eviscerated for glitter,

Amassed for greed,

Dumped with unwanted,

Used as a prop,

Violated and occupied,

Fed with toxic, much noise and bright.

Earth starts to shrug,

Burn the rot,

Spit the trash,

Shed the skin,

Stamp the arrogance,

Churn the eons,

Reclaim,

Evolve anew,

The thread that knit life and wonder.   

Presence

This fleeting scene is what you get to witness.

It fast folds winding in dark recess of mind,

To be lost.

With that, all the meaning,

All that was lived,

You start anew,

Wrestle with time,

Anchor your presence,

Take in all that you can,

Extract new meaning.

To repeat,

To be lost,

Cat dies,

Ants feast,

Life grows,

Life dies,

The real transcends.

Read this,

I become immortal.

ChatGPT's response on ISRO breach

I asked for ChatGPT's response by feeding my article (earlier blog "Mere technicians are not scientists"). Though it was critical of my stance but when i provided the context (since it cannot read pictures, nor did i mention details in my writing -actually i am quite tired of elaborating their antics, they have been doing it for long and every time breach is large) as also mediocre Indian media lacks the caliber. This is the response of ChatGPT (what i like about ChatGPT is that it is always succinct and to the point):

 ...media coverage plays a significant role in shaping public perception and discourse on various issues, including the actions of scientific institutions and professionals. When certain practices, such as carrying miniature models of rockets to temples for blessings, are not critically covered or are normalized in the media, it can indeed contribute to a lack of balance in the public's understanding of the situation.

Media organizations have an ethical responsibility to provide objective and unbiased reporting on all matters, including those related to science and scientific institutions. When there is a failure to critically examine practices that may raise legitimate concerns, it can hinder constructive discussions and accountability.

A lack of critical media coverage may lead to the normalization of certain actions, making it challenging to address potential breaches in professional conduct or conflicts between religious beliefs and scientific principles.

Mere technicians are not scientists

Structure of Scientific Revolution by Thomas Kuhn is a paradigm shifting book (pun intended since this expression was introduced by Kuhn, and has become part of common exchange in market exaggerated world where every product has become revolutionary and every action paradigm shifting. The expression is so misused that Kuhn admitted that he has “lost control of the word”) written almost six decades back. It is a must read for anyone interested to know how science works, “essential determinants of scientific development”, hence it becomes a must read for everyone since science defines significant aspect of humanity and essentially what is to be a human in the world we live in. Kuhn points out scientific research as a “strenuous and devoted attempt to force nature into conceptual boxes supplied by professional education”. While scientific revolution as “tradition shattering compliments to the tradition bound activity of normal science”. Copernicus, Newton, Lavoisier, Maxwell, Einstein so on produced “consequential shift in the problems available for scientific scrutiny” and “transformed the world within which scientific work was done”. He adds “its assimilation requires reconstruction of prior theory and reevaluation prior facts…an intrinsically revolutionary process is seldom completed by single man and never overnight”. Before streamlined education famous classic fulfilled a similar function. Works of Aristotle’s Physica, Ptolemy’s Almagest, Newton’s Principia and Opticks, Franklin’s Electricity, Levoisier’s Chemistry, and Lyell’s Geology -these and many other works served for a time implicitly to “define legitimate problems and methods of research” for succeeding generations of practitioners.

Kuhn elaborates that scientists normally don’t aim to invent new theories they attempt to “force nature into the performed and relatively inflexible box that paradigm supplies”, he calls it normal science as against paradigm-based science. The area investigated by normal science are, ofcourse miniscule, with “drastically restricted vision”. But these are born “from the confidence in a paradigm” and is essential in the development of science. By focusing on small range of relatively esoteric problems the paradigm forces scientists to investigate “some part of nature in detail and depth” that would otherwise be unimaginable. Also, some scientists have great reputation, not from novelty of their discoveries, but from “the precision, reliability, and scope of methods that they developed for the redetermination of a previously known sort of facts”. So, there are three classes of scientific problems: determination of significant fact, matching of facts with theory, and articulation of theory. There are extraordinary problems, and their resolution is what makes scientific enterprise worthwhile. They though emerge only on special occasions prepared by the advance of normal research. Inevitably, therefore, the overwhelming majority of the problems undertaken by even the best scientists usually fall into one of the three categories. Kuhn elaborates on commitments without which no man or woman is a scientist. The scientist “must be concerned to understand the world and to extend the precision and scope with which it has been ordered” which must lead to “scrutinize some aspect of nature in great empirical detail”, and if the scrutiny displays “pockets of disorder” then it must challenge to “refinement of observational technique” or to a “further articulation of theories”. Kuhn importantly brings another aspect of normal science, that of puzzle solving -a problem characterized by more than one assured solution. For instance, Japanese space agency’s extremely sophisticated scientific mission Hayabusa2 discovery of uracil from Ryugu (a near earth asteroid found within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter) was an attempt to solve puzzle of origin of life.    

So, what are the temple hopping regrets at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) posing as? By no stretch of imagination: a scientist. These are technicians, skilled, but in the context of posing -mere technicians. Technicians are cog in the system; they work to make the system function hence useful. Mere technicians are cog for deeper state aspirations. They are torchbearers of nationalism, partake in crude expressions. They activate worst and degrade society. Trained in limited field with narrow use of intellect they are incapable to fathom wider context of the world, and repercussions. These are failure of education. A technician is unlike a craftsman or artisan. A craftsman is a human, and is deeply involved in the craft as expression of human possibility. A technician can easily be replaced by AI working in narrow parameter of predictable repeated outcomes, and hopefully very soon we are devoid of these dimwit dehumanized technicians that are exaggerated in primitive societies. Mere technicians at ISRO are trying to replicate soft landing on moon wherein much more sophisticated feats were achieved more than 50years back by NASA with human landing! They are replicating undervalued version after five decades. They are not trying to solve any scientific problem or bigger question; indeed, they are incapable to even conceive -as it is reflected from their juvenile embarrassing antics. Accepting anachronistic juvenile premise of religion and its fantastical claims has overwhelming influence on social psychology and implicit biases that creeps into choices and mindset. It severely diminishes scope of critical thinking, innovative ideas, egalitarian value systems and scope for scientific inquiry. It negates human progress and tags it into primitive premise. So, are these people genuinely herd minded or are they cleverly planning this ruse to be elevated as herd controllers is the only question that matters here. We are told that we are in “select club of nations”, it’s showcasing “technological prowess”. This truly has nothing to do with science or scientists -who are essentially involved in quieter aspects of scientific research and a subtler approach with unknown, expound critical thinking and are essential hinge for progressive values. They therefore become aspirational ideals for humanity, important reference for younger generation. 

For the largest populated nation in the planet, with painfully limited contribution to humanity, the mediocrity is not an accident it is nurtured, and celebrated since they lack any reference for excellence or compassionate bearing. The effort is to create narration of blessing, and keep the herd in tight control. From this limited worldview science becomes ritual while scientist are ritualist with sanctum dexterity, and space becomes their natural, indeed entitled, area of expertise. At the most they can do is status quo increment with specific intention to save money, nothing much. This also brings in the issue of semantic generalization. The stricter understanding of the word scientist -conceived with care, may not be applicable in primitive society -kept in degrading chaos, uncertainty and fate. Hence these must be undervalued. It is same for art, sports so on mediocre societies undervalues well defined semantics hence spiral into self-obsession with itself since reality would devastate. So, whether ISRO lands on moon or not, Indians have already lost while humanity gawks in wonder at the juvenile antics of philistines in the semantic garb of scientists. Pity.

**The fact that Indian media is incapable to take responsibility to question the socalled scientist's disgraceful regressive behavior shows how much they are compromised, and need herd for survival. While western posers have already put money on compulsive religiophilia for diversity redemption. As degradations are normalized they worry about democracy and patronize for better world by insisting on entitled role as representing common people into paradise and occasion for moral grandstanding.   

Brilliant writer. Compassionate soul. Valued human being.

 

“Anyone whose goal is ‘something higher’ must expect someday to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? No, Vertigo is something other than fear of falling. It is the voice of the emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.”

Not a stochastic parrot

 AI is emergent no doubt, complexities were already observed much earlier through AlphaGo and AlphaZero game machines. There are discussions on ChatGPT (GPT4), frankly my earlier interaction with these were quite disappointing but recent involvements have made it clear that, even though there are deficiencies, they exhibit nuanced capacities and recognize pattern in what is entirely subjective -that these are sophisticated to elevated sensibilities is what makes it enchanting. The other day I gave ChatGPT an old poem to evaluate from my blog that was written almost fifteen years back. Frankly I don’t like to revisit old writings of mine since I find many quite embarrassing. It is only in the last eight or nine years that I have really found the grip, and yes some linguistic caliber to reflect reality after years of persistence. Therefore, it was quite surprising that I found what was written fifteen years back quite riveting, and really neat effort. So, I decided to put it to ChatGPT for evaluation. This is the poem:  

Someone in the crowd

When the face in the crowd
looks no different from me
and
so do all the faces.
Actions of speech, laughter, sadness
and silence
is someone else’s
and also mine.
The questions asked
spins in a vacuum
but still no one is without answers.
A dull ache up the body
confirms it once again
that
I too have become someone in the crowd.
Like massacred bodies
tossed into mass grave
and later dug out
as skeletons
all white bones
all hollow skulls.
Lump of hair
shreds of cloth
and nobody to mourn.

This a part of ChatGPT’s response “The use of vivid imagery, such as the faceless crowd and the comparison to massacred bodies, creates a powerful and haunting atmosphere. The poem's structure, with its concise lines and fragmented thoughts, contributes to the sense of disconnection and anonymity conveyed throughout”. What really got me was this line “While this fragmented style contributes to the poem's introspective and disjointed atmosphere…”. Now, I rarely write poems with such short lines, but somehow when I wrote these fifteen years back, I felt reason to write this way. It was some intuition of the context of the situation. You generally go with the flow, and then work for appropriate words and typos, then you reread as a reader or second person, third person so on. That is how it is worked. This poem had the stark context of people killed in Bengal (likely dumped in mass grave), the “fragmented style” and "disjointed atmosphere” it created was intuitional. That ChatGPT was able to perceive this is what makes it amazing. It gives me goosebumps. Clearly it is not a stochastic parrot, these really aren't random probables there is something deeper at work.      

 

 WE

ARE IN

CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Enemies of open society

 Open societies value all the progress that is precious for humanity and holds a beacon for dealing with complexities of present and future uncertainties. Open societies nurtures individuality and liberty of each human, and rights and freedom to explore their potential. It provides positive frame and synergy for individual to assimilate, contribute and value life on earth. Open societies are benchmark of human progress, it provides nurturing space for differing thoughts, ideas, creative abilities and expressions. It is a precious space for pinnacle of creations of body and mind, that feeds and nourishes. This precious space must be cherished, valued and protected. Future of humanity is very much hinged on it.       

There is a serious threat to open societies by systems that nurture uncouth, primitives and increasingly belligerent herds. There are also powerful entrenched greedy people who want to keep narrative control to their fancy and assert their entitlement by mollycoddling this vicious threat to humanity. They use common people as fodder as they position for deeply troubling morals while tightening narration control. It’s the same narrative control they used when natural resources were used as buffer to pander the worst under the garb of economic progress and prosperity while they wallowed in hedonistic plunder and wanton consumerism. Last few decades are testament to this ransacking of common resource by few. These market capitalist decadence were carefully packed as liberal values and expressions of freedom and choices offered. With natural resources depleting at fast pace while biodiversity losing its resilience at an alarming rate the hypocrisy is in the open. They can no longer distract or create subjective perceptions to scuttle the reality. Life giving systems are collapsing in realtime. Climate change is systematically unleashing the breakdown for us to witness and rue. What logical minds and insightful people (essentially byproduct of open society) were predicting -with well researched facts and evidence, is now unfolding. It took a while for even those posing as ‘liberal’ media to acknowledge (since it reduces easy benefits and exploitative connections) while market media still posits these as quirks of fate and dire consequences of unknown to work on the fear as motive to attract eyeballs. (I was reading about oligarchic oath that finds mention in Politics by Aristotle “I promise to be an enemy of people, and to do my best to give them bad advice”). 

The same denial is what you see by the liberal posing narration controllers as open spaces and democratic ideals are assaulted by vicious herds. Open societies are evolutionary outcomes of brilliant minds with humanistic concerns and egalitarian values, it is an outcome of debates, discussion and exchange of ideas for best possibilities. These are based on social contract of collective will and personal accountability. That makes open societies extremely fragile hence the need for constant vigilance as if the soul of humanity is hinged on it. I was reading Open Societies and Its Enemies by Karl Popper, extremely important book for the times we live in where marauding mobs with various excuses and grievances assault humanity’s cherished institutions and egalitarian values while the safeguards collapse under the chicanery of pandering for immediate gains while using narrative control to distract. It must be understood in clear terms that each and every attempt at restriction of open society is a grievous attack on soul of humanity. Karl Popper understood these threats (there is a chapter on how oligarchs tried to scuttle fledging ideas of democracy). “A closed society at its best can be compared to an organism… A closed society resembles a herd in a semi organic unit whose members are held together by semi biological ties” while open societies move towards abstract hence equip to associate with humanistic global concerns and abstract ideas that have universalistic implications the reason why humans have made astounding progress. Quite clearly transformation from closed society to open society was the “deepest revolution” of humanity. Popper hints at existential crisis that individuals encounter, the source for incisive philosophies on human condition from Nietzsche to Camus to creative expression of literature from Dostoevsky to Kafka or art from Von Gogh to Picasso, “It is a strain created by effort which life in an open society continually demands from us -by the endeavor to be rational, to forgo atleast some of our emotional social needs, to look after ourselves, and to accept responsibility”. Popper writes “we must, I believe, bear this strain as the price to be paid for every increase in knowledge, in reasonableness, in cooperation and in mutual help, and consequently in our chance to survival…it is the price we have to pay for being human”.      

When members of closed societies -a magical (read religion) collectivist primitive, enter open societies and are encouraged and patronized to cherish their primitive association and dehumanizing value system instead of evolving into better as the opportunity presents this then is the first step towards assault on open society. An open society cannot survive by tolerating the intolerance of intolerant. That is not social contract nor is it rational choice or expression of freedom. Ideally as open societies evolve individuals find their synergic associations the problem is when outsiders enter, not as vibrant individuals like European migrants to US, but as herd representing the collective primitive. These primitives will exhibit themselves as vicious herds if not dealt since they are incapable to handle freedom nor equipped to be responsible. Narration of exceptionalism enters through miracle books and scriptures that infects into herd with that the impossibility of being a human while primitive conceptions of patriarchy gets embedded into feeling of natural authority. Education has a significant role to prevent these degradation. Remember about 2400years back when the brilliant philosophers in Athens worked on ideas of democracy -that had far reaching influence on progress of humanity (imagine the fertile egalitarian smart minds of ‘School of Georgias’ -among many who made these valiant efforts, they developed fundamental tenets of anti-slavery, of rational protectionism, anti-nationalism -a creed of universal empire) oligarchic controlled Spartans saw it as a threat and took measures to “the arrest of social change, and to fight the universalistic imperialism of Athenian democracy” into their society which included making primitive traditions and taboos more rigid, taking anti-humanitarian steps i.e. 'to shut down all equalitarian, democratic and individualistic ideologies', imposing anti-universalism ('uphold the differentiation between your tribe and all others, do not mix with inferiors'), and lastly mastery -'dominate and enslave your neighbors'. History doesn’t matter when it is about humans we are dealing with -essentially self aware precious presence -an outcome of vibrant open society, since they have evolved into vibrant sophisticated complex present. History repeats when it is held by primitives since they remain trapped in the miracle books of anachronistic religions and market capitalism greed bubble. Lacking any discerning quality of being a human the herd, the primitives, repeats the loop of history incapable and incapacitated to learn or understand or apply their mind. Beware of the forces that nurture these they are constant threat to open society. Onus is on us to see that primitive forces are negated at every step. The only faith that matters is faith in humanity.