On Book weight

 

There was a time I used to collect bookmark, and I did have a collection of some wonderful bookmarks. Over the years it fizzled out. I have also seen fancy Paper weights in shops and movies but never took liking for them since these are too heavy. I prefer ‘book weights’, that hold pages open unlike bookmark. So, the book is kept open on the table so that you can peek into it while go about doing your chores. I realized, the content stays in mind for long since you repeat and leave it half way. This pic of ‘book weight’, these are lightweight artifacts mostly tribal in origin. I really don’t recall where I bought these from, it's been many years now. One is a bee in metal and another a crocodile in stone. The books are Tales from Ant World by Edward Wilson -the good thing about this book is that chapters are unrelated and so you can start from anywhere. The second book is The Invention of Nature (The adventure of Alexander Humboldt -The lost Hero of Science) by Andrea Wulf. I really cannot stop this without discussing Alexander Humboldt whom poet Emerson referred to as “one of those wonders of world”.  

I really don’t prefer biographies or autobiographies, read it quite young as utilitarian reading -what in primitive understanding called ‘motivational’ so on, pushed by mainstream onto younger generation, meant to consolidate ideas of success through ego ride of popular as the society deems. Autobiographies and biographies were prescribed reading. During those days reading was meant to be for purpose, and reading indeed was about studying. Otherwise, why would you read?! It is a simple question that hides amazingly deviant nature of society, and how herds are initiated. Most of the times I instinctively sought exactly the opposite of what was told, and being part of crass evaluation of education it worked for me in the long run. It didn’t get me any ‘marks’ or suggestions of ‘intelligence’ but I was quite satisfied with myself. The reason why I was keen on reading without any purpose, and as randomly and widely as possible. This I enjoyed thoroughly, particularly encyclopedias, is where the seeds of useless reading and purposeless learning got consolidated. In a degraded society autobiographies can acquire sinister meaning. The context is always about power, money, nepotic connections, and even in case of scientific achievement it is voyeurism of personal that degraded society craves to locate some lessons which suits its grand narrations and acceptance among herd.

Human beings are quite complex and cannot be really worked into two-dimensional narrow description for simple comprehension and sale. Located in primitive society I had to be very careful as to how I invest my time; since there is always pull by overwhelming mediocrity and active herd trapping systems. It is not surprise at all that sometime back Hitler’s Mein Kampf was quite popular among youngsters. I even interviewed few -mostly in corporate management, and the reasoning they gave still shocks me. They aren’t too much bothered about ethics when the learning is ‘organizational’ (imagine to value a person for his organizational skill for systematically exterminating millions of people) and the potent ‘leadership’ qualities that this world presents. These were articulate youngsters from extremely comfortable background located in posh colonies of Delhi, capitalizing on best of education, and yes, striving to take up leadership positions and surely must have.

    Humboldt: Our wonder of the world         

I rarely read biographies unless ofcourse it deals with something significant and not too much personal details of the person –a kind of voyeurism that market thrives on. This book is quite well written and is really about importance of Humboldt. I have read about Alexander Humboldt many years back, and few months back his writings on Gutenberg archives. He was arguably one the most fertile mind you can think of. A brilliant man in every conceivable sense. Humanity owes much to very few people (ofcourse some we don’t even know -those who strived for better world and vanished without leaving a trace of themselves nevertheless a better world -atleast an attempt) and Humboldt is there right at the top. His was a pathbreaking personality and influenced our understanding in more than many ways. Humboldt was a unique exciting figure in the annals of human history, and his ideas still shape our thinking. Aptly his name is associated with ocean current, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, counties, town, mountains, bay, glacier, parks…spread across Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Columbia, China, south Africa, Germany, France, USA…infact Nevada was almost named Humboldt. 300 plants and 100 animals are named after him including squid, penguin so on. Interestingly Humboldtia lauriflora -a specie of plant, was one of the earliest to be named after him based on his early publication, much before he even undertook any voyage, and he was quite excited about it. This plant is found only in Kerala and Srilanka! Several minerals carry his name, there is a place in moon named after him. The man truly was one of his kind, a gift to humanity that an indebted world accepted with open arms.  

Humboldt is celebrated for his scientific thinking and immense knowledge but he was not the conventional cerebral scholar, he ventured into rainforests of Venezuela, crawled narrow ledges of Andes Mountain, and travelled into the remotest corners of Russia. Ecologists, environmentalists, nature writers, poets, across the world carry his vision. He influenced important figures like poet Goethe (indeed Faust was very much influenced by Humboldt), Bolivar (his writing had revolutionary impact), US President Thomas Jefferson (his maps were of immense help, USA would be much smaller country without him, and he used his immense understanding of nature as standpoint against racism and slavery “nature is domain of liberty”), Thoreau (Walden wouldn’t happen without Humboldt), Darwin (was inspired by expeditions of Humboldt hence undertook his own journey that gave him insights into nature of evolution, and carried Humboldt’s writings wherever he travelled), poet Emerson who referred to Humboldt as “one of those wonders of world”) so on.

Alexander Humboldt is someone each person in this world must be aware of. A visionary, who with his scientific mind meticulously studied -measured and analyzed, nature, created weather maps, understood climatic zones across continents, and with his poetic soul and sensibilities sensed the web of life. As the world is increasingly enveloped in climate disaster concerns it was Humboldt who first elaborated on human induced climate change and warned of unforeseeable impact for future generation.          

Immediate need for cooling centers

 

All indications point to a devastating summer approaching Indian subcontinent. Heat, floods and Putin have already ruined vast track of farm land and food growing regions. The agroclimatic system across the world is severely stressed. A malnourished society lacking egalitarian context is looking at death and misery. We are staring at climate disaster. Hopefully state has taken enough measures for storage and alternative ways of food production. 

Many countries around the world are taking initiatives to adapt to temperature rise. There are heat officers being appointed. Heat island affect in poorer congested sections of big cities are being addressed with climate compliant buildings, climate proofing and retrofitting to reduce temperature. India too initiated Ahmedabad plan for cool roof. These will be not enough. Earlier this year Kerala took steps to work out permanent cooling centers in high public activity zones like market so on. Last many years heat was dealt with temporary tents/shades that provided cold water, buttermilk so on. With temperature set to keep increasing, also dangers of high humidity, permanent airconditioned cooling centers are being built. How will it deal with stress on electricity supply as also increase of ambient temperature due to ac exhaust?

Hopefully heat vulnerable districts are identified across the country and concrete measures taken. Cooling centers that use sustainable innovative strategies of natural air-conditioning, climate adapted buildings suiting to local needs are built. As mentioned earlier, in context to sponge cities, big stadium like structures along the low-lying areas that stores water during flooding can be converted to cooling centers during summer. We are staring at an unprecedented climate disaster. If hindutva is intending to impress herd with big temples and tall statues… well it may have worked in normal times. We are living in a time when earth is “well outside the operating space for humanity”. India is extremely climate vulnerable. Policy makers cannot afford to play around this.

Election Commission must postpone the elections, or have it early next year, so that state can focus on emerging crisis. Diverting state machinery for elections is the last thing needed. It is very likely that the general elections are postponed. An early election though will be good for the ruling party since with delayed election they will have to take the blame for climate disaster and outrage. Unless they are fully prepared for unprecedented heat waves, drought, forest fires, food shortages…or else they will take castetva path of entitlements (unchallenged castetva normalized objectionable reference of Nehru as ‘pandit’ and sacred chenkol ‘touched’ by him was ominous and indicate hindutva attempt at capitalizing on castetva degradation), of blessing and fate, deviousness, and manipulate narration away from misery and package it for herd while thousands die.               

  

Hereafter 

Years of rain fell in months 

Months of rain fell in days

Days of rain fell in hours

Now. Hereafter.

I have become snarling spirit

Every day

Every night

For more blood

More blood. 

To be young is a profound responsibility

 

When you have systems and values that create charlatan Trump as most powerful man on planet and dimwit Musk as richest man on the planet, and these are replicated across the world with thumping ferocity as ‘success’ then you know how much the rot has set in. The system has become so toxic that these people are just momentary embodiments of bubbling muck that acquire human form. They rise suck it up and vanish for next to rise. This amazing level of irresponsibility has reached a point of no return. To be young has therefore become a profound responsibility (to paraphrase Emily Dickinson). We are witnessing a generational experience that was never experienced in the 200000 years of Homo sapien history. We have reached a critical point where the young have become the very voice of life. They now embody all that life cares for and fragile world that sustains it. They had to. They have no choice.       

Nature is asking intensely probing questions for some time now. The viability of humans on the planet is being urgently sought. The irresponsible actions of humans are having debilitating consequences on other species. Life sustaining systems are collapsing. The young have ignited these questions, and now pursue it by searing the streets. What is seen as inconvenience is existential for them. They seek immediacy because they are aware that they will have to live the answers very soon. These answers by nature is going to be their everyday struggle to survive. The young will therefore drill each and every word of the question to wherever they can hit. This really cannot go on. They are asking to pause. They are asking you to come out of greed shell and dreadful systems of securities that has lulled senses into false retreats. They are asking you to open your eyes, to see and exhibit intellect and reasoning skills that has brought humans to such spectacular awareness. Above all, they are asking for simplest and most basic of human response: to care.

Words and colors

 

I am rarely impressed by what I write, it is always the eternal feeling of 'this could be expressed better'. Then you spent more time reading discerning writers, thinkers so on. You create framework of excellence and keep evolving, without losing your footing though -your presence is indelible. Sometimes when you write some incredible stuffs do come out, and you enjoy and move on. This poem though stands out. I wrote it few years back and really forgot about it. Recently I was flipping through and happen to read. I am totally impressed. This is really there. And I love to read it again and again. So fortunate that I wrote this.

Stillness of the forest

In between the rustling of leaves

At the end of long intonation of cicadas calls

Just before the hornbill wings break the afternoon

If you still yourself

A sincere self 

Emerge from long forgotten recess

Beckons a strange spectacle

Colors break free and whirl in the air

A vital force surge through the space

To settle the colors lightly in precise proportions

You will be astonished where you arrived

(visit for original post  https://depalan.blogspot.com/2020/08/blog-post.html?spref=tw) 

As I read, I find the word ‘beckon’ a bit jarring, and spent few hours replacing the word, ‘signal’ ‘wave’ are too broad expressions that it loses the impact, ‘entice’ is cheap, ‘gesticulate’ crude. ‘Summon’ is the word that I am playing with. Though summon goes with the flow it has to be beckon. Beckon is an expression without words. This feels jarring maybe because ‘beckon’ is not commonly used.

Words are like colors. You have to find the right shade. It has to creatively knit the texture of surrounding and appropriately express firmament of thought. If you look at nature colors are rarely jarring. They melt into each other in an evolutionary sense of subtle and remarkable arrangements that satisfies soul. Crude -bright and tawdry, is out of place and mostly a sign of warning. There are so much of colors we cannot even see that is everyday deal for little insects. When I first started to write I was quite troubled by lack of correct word. Then I came across this wonderful dictionary of synonyms. I got it photostated from a library after much request and pleading -they really wouldn’t, it was not available in the market and I even conspired to tear one page a day and smuggle it out if they didn’t arrange the copy. I emulated sad faces from the movies into the mirror to overwhelm the librarian, it eventually worked -not because of my histrionics, I guess she got tired of me -wearing out people always work and I surely have no problem repeating infinitum! This wonderful dictionary I got photostated into smaller version so as to fit easily and reduce weight while I travelled. It helped me to work out words that are suited to the context and express appropriate nuance gained from much reading. Now ofcourse we have everything on fingertip with grammar and spell check, and recently AI -to comment (interesting) and even suggesting a reworked poem! I must add they need to put in more effort. Not impressed!           

       

Flitting butterflies, and naming

 

So, I was at a fruit shop there were all kind of fruits- avocado, rambutan, longan, persimmon, pears, Iranian apples, Californian grapes…so on, all these fruits were never heard of in this part of the world few decades back but now they are quite common. Humble oranges, variety of local bananas, pineapple, pomegranate, custard apple so on also find space. It’s common to see fruits from all seasons so that you get confused. The shop was quite crowded and noisy, and there on the rotting ooty plum sat a butterfly, quaint as a dream, indifferent to all commotion, and at a slightest inconvenience she did a delicate flap and floated about supremely confident. I was fully taken in by the scene. She had brownish smudge of a wing with white style patches and some oval scribbles as if done by an enthusiastic child. Overall, an enchanting sight among bleak haggling noisy humans. It was when I tried to apply mind and recall name that I cringed.

Richard Feynman was a charming man and an exceptional scientist (in the recent Oppenheimer movie there is miss-if-you-blink presence of Feynman as a banjo playing maverick – I am sure most of us have watched videos of ‘orange juice’!) who once said, and I paraphrase, ‘quite early in my life I came to know about the difference between knowing things and knowing names of things’, I have quoted this few hundred times while trekking since people get lost in names -exhibiting knowledge, without enjoying the scene. It truly irritates. Ofcourse names are important for classification and taxonomy so on, it has a significant context. I have done treks with few 'lepidos' (lepidopterist), quite interesting. Names that carry regressive references -that were introduced and mainstreamed through narration control, is where the problem is. In recent times people are becoming sensitive to these matters thanks to social media that has wrenched narration from feudal controllers. Racist attack on birdwatching black man in US was a trigger point. Then there are sensitive youngsters initiating movements against racist occupation -like statues, in public spaces. The elegant butterfly that I was watching is commonly known as ‘common baron’. The reference of ‘common’ in itself is quite upsetting, many of these butterflies and birds referred to as common are not common at all, indeed increasingly getting rare. What is common are humans. Homo commonus. Many of these dainty butterflies have regressive names: Baron, Baronet, Nawab, Admiral, Commodore, Sergeant (there is one Sergeant Major too!), Begum, Prince, Rajah, Caliph, Queen, Kaiser, Lascar (Army servant), Duke, Archduke, Duchess, Count, Viscount, Earl, Marquis, Knight…so on. It seems we are in theatre of absurd orchestrated by medieval feudals. That these are names given to butterflies is cringeworthy and really is extremely upsetting. There are other degrading names too like Painted courtesan (painted prostitute), duffer so on.  

So, as we try to understand these beautiful creatures and get closer to biodiversity and species around us, we are introduced to feudal ways and attempts at normalizing degrading references. When these colorful species are introduced to children with these common names it is child abuse. Naming of species were very much influenced by colonial racist expressions of gratitude to power. There is an immediate need to wrench this out of regressive frame and restore to glory of nature. Like these amazing butterfly names; Travancore evening brown, Bamboo treebrown, Lilacfork, Spotted mystic, Southern birdwing, Chocolate pansy…so on. The word for butterfly in Greek is psyche, soul of the dead. Let’s bring back the soul into the names.  

*correction made: white smudge on the wing is a female and not male as earlier mentioned.               

                            

Eunice Foote: Climate science pioneer

 

I have read about Eunice Newton Foote sometime back (today morning happen read it again at https://www.themarginalian.org/2023/09/12/eunice-newton-foote/ -this is an interesting site run by Maria Popova that has random articles posted everyday, refreshingly insightful on people who matter -their ideas, thoughts and awareness). She was the first scientist to demonstrate the ability of atmospheric water vapor and carbon dioxide to affect solar heating, and predicted that increased atmospheric CO₂ would make Earth hotter, “an atmosphere of that gas would give to our earth a high temperature” -a fact now accepted as the main cause of climate change. Her paper was presented at the meeting of American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1856, by a male scientist. Few years later John Tyndall (who was very likely aware of Ms. Foote's work) conducted experiment with similar result on the role of CO2 in atmospheric temperature. He didn’t find it necessary to acknowledge Ms. Foote as is the norm indeed ethical prerequisite for any research paper or else it is plagiarism. Tyndall’s experiment though was sophisticated in that it measured infrared absorption by C02. Also to be noted was Tyndall's strong opposition to women’s suffrage. It’s not difficult to connect the dots. Eunice lived during a period when women were meant to have limited role in society. She did experiments when women were not expected to. She was in the forefront of women’s suffrage movement in US. What is shocking though is to downplay gender bias against Foote or toxic patriarchy by some of the contemporary narration controllers. There is no need to sanitize history and retrofit with festoons of choice.

West need not redact history. Ofcourse there were serious systemic violations but what need to be acknowledged is that brilliant women like Eunice would not have seen light of the day in most part of the world, and still cannot. Eunice was based in US while Tyndall was Irish. Some societies were able to nurture their best and indeed made effort to acquire better ideas and thought from across the world. Western world was significant in its ability to consolidate science into systematic understanding of great value that was shared across the world and became precursor to amazing technological developments as also significant social changes that it initiated. Science consolidates humanistic values and evolves mind into better possibilities. Ancient Greek played a pivotal role in the advancement of humanity that put foundation of western civilization and abiding framework for best minds to explore. There is no need for self-flagellation, atrocities were committed against race and gender, but what needs vigilance is whether such systemic prejudices and biases still exists. Are systems closely scrutinized? Are we by our lazy patronizing and culture ‘relativism’ excuse lacking critical scrutiny and empathetic involvement, mystifying the exotic for safe dealing, tainted as we are from the past -that is invoked to suit the narration?

 

Shocking

It is shocking that a british news media channel had the audacity to use caste cannibalized word. Sufficient warnings were given even then they refuse to mend their ways shows the level of arrogance and proprietary confidence that louts who migrated from Indian subcontinent has entitled them as representing. Racist colonial monarchist used primitive Indians with minimum of efforts, by playing the egos of nincompoops -even throwing them occasional bones through number of gun salutes juvenilities to keep these parasites satisfied in their own muck. Squatter authenticated nincompoops have since worked on redacted history to retrofit history of valor, some even achieving mythical status to awe the herd. Bunch of shopkeepers were able to capture a subcontinent within a matter of few decades and rule for few centuries shows the caliber -essentially lack of basic involvement with realities or equipped to deal. They did what they were bred for by siding with the powerful hence became conduit for exploitation. In the meantime, the main concern was to keep the herd in control. British understood this very well and played along and nurtured the worst who then extended the well-suited act of freedom struggle while exploiting the society and nature. In this process deviant lexicon were exchanged and normalized. What was being normalized was caste cannibalized world as exotic. With racist monarchist feudals caste cannibals weaved an idea of India. Words like 'Pariah' and 'Pundit' are putrefied pus that has oozed into English. Ideas of blessing and fate.

Caste cannibalized words have no space in civilized society and must be expunged at the earliest. That mediocre Indians posing as intellectuals, artists, civil society and even writer -who deal with nuance of language and should be aware of the import, were incapable to point out this severe transgression shows the culpability and overwhelming influence of regressive society. This from a society which seems to have positioned as moral torchbearer -that seems to be in danger through hindutva! I recall many years back when a trash mouth politician referred to another politician (who was CM of TN) as ‘pariah’. She was furious, not because this violation is normalized in English but because she is called as one. Cunning trash mouth excused by saying that this is just English language while squatter ensconced English media dutifully reported without any ethical ambiguity. Meanwhile note that some people in this region are classified as such, as 'pariah community', and are forced to carry this reference by squatter infected world and further pushed through state. Imagine the grievous violation of human life. Imagine the lack of concern. Imagine the children. Sniffing mami and sons may sniff matrimonial di*k/c*unt arrangement possibilities while word defecating vermin with call center accent may wallow in rotten thali, cud chewing cadavers (read gandhians) incapable to see human will hug harijans…this society is too primitive to worth consideration. Audacity of ritual vegetarian as civilized and entitled place in universe. 

AND what is much shocking is that these words are used with such normalcy at international level as if this is English, and that there is nothing more to it except fixed meanings authenticated by dictionaries. Lack of outrage shows deeper malaise, Indians don’t really measure up. And yes, any Indian ‘chosen’ by west to represent India will be critically scrutinized, and damned. Beware. Nothing is normal no more.  

Post Script: 

This i saw the other day at zoo visit. Quite tired of explaining but yes white feathered/hence pure/good omen is 'brahminy kite' (in local language it has reference of god) and dark one -essentially seen in garbage mound hence dirty/impure, is named 'pariah kite'. This is a uniquely uncivilized society. With colonial racist britisher they even infected naming of birds. They must remove these appalling names at the earliest. Wherever caste cannibals have left their influence/infection must be expunged/sanitized.                         

‘Cow Slaughter, Catastrophes and Earthquakes-An Interrelationship’

 

Clever castetva media and narration controllers are trying to create a perception that things suddenly has changed for bad in the last few years -that is after hindutva has come to control the narration and ofcourse institutions. This is a devious attempt to rewrite. This society was always quite primitive, didn't pass basic scrutiny, while worst kind of people were nurtured. The sample size is infected with low caliber worst, indeed deviant, people who were at the helm. The difference now is that they are too open as also social media has added to the exposure. Let me repeat this: hindutva is a natural extension of castetva, and is much closer to reality of this nation. Whether it will tap the egalitarian values of hinduism (ofcourse within the limited frame of anachronistic juvenile frame of religion and its fantastical regressive claims) needs to be seen. Indication are that castetva has already overwhelmed and degraded the society for decades hence hindutva will very likely evolve into worst possibilities (meanwhile legacy of gandhi is fertile ground of turf war for narration controllers). Resistance can only consolidate by realizing this reality. Castetva has no role whatsoever. There is no going back. It will be a civilizational loss. 

Meanwhile read this. I copied it from Outlook magazine while reading about our gem at IIM Mandi (well even gandhi had unique take on reason for earthquake!). Check the words used by con artists to awe the herd. This nonsense with high sounding words is the defining characteristic, indeed, a hallowed tradition. Now, if you are part of this society it takes years of persistent effort to remove this infection from the your psyche. I am sure readers can understand the effort needed and constant vigilance against intrusion.           

Its syllabus included a chapter titled ‘Cow Slaughter, Catastrophes and Earthquakes-An Interrelationship’, which equated the laws of gravity and that of ‘every action has an equal and opposite reaction’ with the ‘laws of Karma’ of the Vedas. 

The chapter claimed that “physicists have proposed the theory that animal slaughter and natural calamities like earthquakes have an interrelationship.” It hypothesis “large-scale abattoir activity as the causative agent for major earthquakes.” 

"Their theory makes an interesting reading because science still does not have proper answers as to why earthquakes happen and how they can be predicted with reasonable accuracy. This theory is being hailed for filling the gaps in the science of seismology, still a nascent science", claimed the chapter in the syllabus. 

If this was not outlandish enough, the syllabus added that the theory “critically examines” the “origin of earthquakes due to the interaction of nociception waves (the waves generated by the animals on the verge of being butchered) with gravity waves.” 

This ‘nociception’ wave supposedly impacts the splitting of ‘shear wave’, which in turn is ‘linked to ‘seismic anisotropy’. “This splitting is associated with the cracks in the crust aligned by stress,” it said. This creative mix of fantasy with seismological terms may stun scientists, unable to decide whether to mourn, agitate, be amused, or break out in laughter. 

Night of sea angels

I was in a funeral at the beach 

Apocalyptic fire burn the night

Palm trees ignite and briefly acquire shapes of humans writhing in pain

Flaming pyre line the shore

Insects dance with floating embers not knowing what else to do

Sea wails and thrash like a madman in the moonlight

The earth is warm, sea warmer, and the sky burns

Dead fishes etch language of dying that anyone can read

Lone turtle gasp too tired to leave the body

He is carried away by the waves

To the sea angels     

Condolences

 

I am a keen follower of cartoons. Ajit Ninan was right there. In those bleak years in Delhi Ajit Ninan's cartoons was fun respite and the reason why I bought newspaper. Each line was a masterstroke -absolutely charming, that you could spent hours looking at. A good cartoonist has nuanced sensibility and heightened awareness of present. Many a times I tried to copy his cartoons into my notepad and kept cutting of things I found interesting. 

*In recent times I too have start to post few "cartoons" -not good at all, these are exigencies where words fall short so one has to use some other means to express.    

The Coming Wave

This is arguably one of the significant non fiction book on AI to come out in recent times. Mustafa Suleyman is an AI insider (cofounder of DeepMind). Two things disappoint me. Firstly, why is it available only in hardcover and not paperback? Why do these people have to do these cheap market tricks to make few more money when they already have enough? Hardcover is not only unwieldy but unnecessary spending as also high carbon footprint. Within few months paperback will be available so what is the need for this? Why are they forcing people? Secondly, even at this age why is the waiting period one month?! Ofcourse kindle version is available but most may not be comfortable staring at screen.             

 (please click to enlarge)

India that is Bharat: Castetva proposes Hindutva disposes

 

India is set to face national general elections next year and the cantankerous nonsense is back. This blogger, like most common people in this country, strongly support the call for unified election. We shouldn’t have state elections every now and then. All states must have election simultaneously -ideally midway between each general election. Too many elections are adding to nothing except more nuisance and trash talk. Being an overwhelmingly primitive society elections instigates rabid voices and regressive assertions. Herd controlling politicians, media, religions, caste cannibals, viciously snarl at each other undermining existential issues and immediate needs of collective good. They take narration away from common people, sideline critical policy matters and crucial emerging issues. Democracy is important but cannot be perpetually be stuck in the process itself that it becomes a cruel joke on people -they are divided, dissected, eviscerated and left for next election ‘mela’. Democracy starts within the family and society, and a society reeked in patriarchy, regressive values nurtured by caste, deviant degrading rituals, superstitions and servile devotions, if left with the process will degrade it further. More time is needed for egalitarian value system to nurture -for democracy to percolate. It also is significantly hinged on policy makers, government, so on apart from education. Lacking intellectuals or tradition of discourse (except through redacted retrofitted history and squatter belch) this society uniquely lacks framework or nuances to capitalize on freedom that democracy offers. If not careful and corrective actions taken then with literacy and higher HDI this country will see its limit in Kerala. Beggar minded middle class appropriating possibilities of education and HDI into all spectrum of society and through lowest denominators of religions associate for their crass consumerism. So, whether materially rich or poor they are mostly beggar minded class with smaller and bigger houses eating the same food, watching the same nonsense and aspiring for the same crass as they dig deeper pits of security. The so-called scientist and shopkeeper are only occupations of chance hence the demonstrations of fervent gratitude and servility. They could very well be carcasses performing rituals. Education holds no potential. Literacy and HDI provided stability to find bearing and equip to grow into better versions and enchanting world. This society peaked and since lacked collective intelligence or civilized ways nor could nurture intellectual probity or class hence slipped into itself, and now cannibalizes while constructing narration of grand and seeking minor acknowledgment from anywhere in the world as collective victory. Mimicking excellence and appropriating words out of context to create its own narration of success and template for herd the pathetic don’t pass basic scrutiny on any parameter. And yes, I have spent quite less time here and really don’t prefer except as a tourist or left in verdant nature -indeed such beautiful scenes. A self-obsessed self-consuming bunch that holds no hope for humanity. In 1970s to 90s there were some vibrant people and fledgling of intellectual consolidations and grassroot movements but these are now appropriated by herd -the middle class eternally optimistic consumers spreading positive energy through nonstop entertainment while family values and righteousness drip from every orifice. How much rotten can it get? I am told this is happening all across the world with market spreading through technology and weaponizing religions but other societies have hinges of sanity, presence of strong intellectual traditions and space for excellence that nurtures and spreads subtler aspects of life, newer and nuanced expressions of art, science and thinking, these though varies in its size and strength across societies. In here it is absent and in its place we have doppelgangers of mediocrities, obsession for record keeping/breaking as parameter of evaluation and merit -necessarily a byproduct of hierarchical mindset, and a nation celebrating headlines like “becoming second nation to hop on the moon”. Outsiders find this misery churning chaotic mediocrities exotic.                         

Castetva forces degraded the society for last many decades and the ecosystem they nurtured, it seems, is overwhelming hindutva too hence reducing the possibilities of egalitarian ways of hinduism (ofcourse within the juvenile anachronistic framework of religion). This harebrained idea of changing India to Bharat will backfire. It was always used interchangeably but this assertion of Bharat is foolhardy to say the least. Just because castetva worked out acronym doesn’t mean hindutva should start hitting its head. We live in global world and being a predominantly youth nation most youngsters are connected globally. India, and being an Indian, has acquired strong value in the recent few years and most youngsters prefer it that way. As it is hindutva is doing well on perception and should win the next general election mainly due to lack of effective opposition -and its ranting leaders. Bharat can be used but don’t insist particularly with semi-literate muckraking fringe leaders. They may think that with UCC and Ram mandir as trump card they can mesmerize the herd – and surely they will, but the climate breakdown impact is looming and will be a major factor, all else is sideshow.

We are moving into a climate state where unprecedented is becoming normal. Weather records are being broken on daily basis, biodiversity vanishing without we even being aware of them and our vocabulary too is failing to grasp the fasting changing reality. India, that is Bharat, as is pointed by many studies is extremely climate vulnerable and with more that billion people is in serious bother. Add to lack of egalitarian value system with even basic understanding of terms like community. In this country hundreds and thousands of people die everyday for no fault of theirs, these are mostly ignored or manipulated as minor law and order issue that languishes in tardy squatter seized judicial system forever. Climate breakdown is going to kill millions of most vulnerable. We have seen how state collapsed during peak of covid. We are no longer having rain or monsoon but cloud burst and intense episodes of rain this will vanish into drought in few months. Himalayan glaciers too are drying up. Have they made arrangements to collect rainwater being fully aware what the situation is going to be few months from now -and let me add, in the election year if nothing else is motivating them? Sponge cities are one such initiatives that could be emulated -just to give an example. Create underground storage stadiums like structures in big cities to collect rainwater runoff as also act as recreational space during low water. Already erratic monsoons and flooding has destroyed crop. There is an agro-climatic crisis in the horizon that cannot be only handled with stored foodgrains since what we are looking at is collapse. Very soon prices of many food items are going to shoot up and vanish from shelves. Drought will accentuate heat wave. All indicators point to an unprecedented temperature rise, and this will also lead to forest fires. As things stand even evergreen western ghats are no longer safe.

Is India, that is Bharat, prepared? Or is hindutva going to fall for well laid traps of castetva and waste time? One of the pernicious castetva snare is feeling of grand -an entitled place in the universe, the arrogance that see people as expendable meanwhile cunningly espousing high morals as distraction. If hindutva is working this template then they are digging their own grave or, to be hindutva appropriate, lighting their own pyre. Nature has already sent warning signs. Ignore it at your own peril.

                         

Climate catastrophe needs new vocabulary

 

The other day someone was mentioning “heat wave”, but when something is becoming too normal -it is no longer episodic, will you still refer to it as “wave”. This brings in the issue of want of appropriate words to define fast changing scenario presented by climate breakdown. Climate catastrophe needs new vocabulary to exact and express. Our words are stuck in the meanings derived from the era of nurturing and predictable climate. We can learn from indigenous people who are much closer to nature and are able to work the nuance of nature as it presents. For instance, Inuit people who live in arctic where snow and ice play a significant role have many ways to define ice. Siku a general term for ice in Inuktitut. It can refer to sea ice, freshwater ice, or any form of ice. Pukak is used to describe thin ice or the thin crust that forms on the surface of water. Nilak refers to sea ice that is safe to walk on. It is solid and thick enough to support a person's weight. Aput refers to snow and ice together, encompassing the frozen landscape as a whole. Taqulik is used for the ice that forms around the edges of water, such as the shoreline of a lake or the sea ice near the coast. Tuttu is used to describe large, heavy ice floes, especially those found in the open ocean. Hopi tribe for instance have a specific word for very hot day -Tavaqkwv. Like in English rain is aptly communicated with words like drizzle, deluge so on. But when we have more than what is so far experienced as deluge -like cloud burst or more intense downpour, then we need new words to communicate. Words have evolved with time hence were able to specifically communicate the needs of slow changing world. When the world is changing fast it needs new vocabulary to define the unprecedented that is becoming normal.

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.