We need SEZ…

It is very important that we focus on creating more and more SEZs. Future investment is very much in SEZs. Aha but the difference is SEZ here stands for Special Environment Zone. In an environment increasingly being polluted as also depletion of diversity of plant species, places of green belts like garden, Biodiversity Park is needed particularly in cities. Everyday new buildings are coming up, which offcourse is needed (we don’t have much options do we??) but unplanned development can leave the place horrendous. It is becoming the case of most Indian cities. Two immediate steps need be taken:

1) Government need to necessarily allocate some space for parks with more trees and wildlife zones in places marked for ‘development’ or construction activities. This should be made a rule.
2) Corporate need to be given tax incentives for maintaining gardens and parks.

This are the steps which can be taken where there is already some space existing but what about cities wherein there are no space left??. The pollution level is increasing at an alarming rate in most metros and space for ecosystem is dwindling all around the world. I have seen certain programs in TV wherein they encourage people to maintain gardens, and in high rises terrace garden is encouraged. That doesn’t solve the problem though. Steps need to be taken to stop misuse of land particularly in cities. Some time back I heard that a politician in Mumbai suggesting that Mahalaxmi Race Course be handed over to developers. An appalling thing in all right sense but there is something in what he said that made me think. Race courses whether in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata or Bangalore are located in ‘prime property’ that is these are located right in the middle of the city. They are kept as flat surface with few decorative plants or shrubs in acres of land. So also is the case of Golf courses. This is criminal. Steps should be taken to relocate Golf course and Race course to outskirts of cities. The land be then converted to bio diversity park (on the model one finds in Ooty). Maintaining acres of land in cities with few shrubs and grass is an insult on people. It is a kind of colonial affliction for indulgence of few. This has to stop.

It is not to say that I don’t enjoy horse derby. I am quite an enthusiast. Even in school days I have been to horse race not for betting but to see the race. I too was an avid horse rider. For betting one doesn’t need a race course a betting centre is enough. One wonders why horse racing not deemed as proper sport?!!. It is rarely in the mainstream news whereas dumbest game like golf makes it. Also what I don’t get is why betting is not allowed in cricket?. The police are being misused for adherence to club rules. This is ridiculous. If Marketers can cash in on the game why not common people what is the difference? Sometimes people tend to take high moral grounds on cricket. Chill it folks after all it is just a game where people want to just hit the ball.

Britain’s gangrene

The problem with Britain is clumsy handling of a very sensitive issue and in the process giving legitimacy to some really nasty people. The mistake is the attempt on classifying certain set of people as ‘Muslim community’. It is a reflection of not ignorance but complete lack of involvement as to who consist Muslims. One wonders if it is lack of understanding or is it complacency. It is a general happening in the elite sections when they patronize what they consider ‘less fortunate’ people. It is an affliction of those wallowing in laziness, lacking any understanding on reality.

‘Muslim community’ for ever- ready- to- patronize dubious elite in Britain means to encourage a set of people who are actually the original degradation of the Muslim world (if ever we can classify the world that way). The Wahabi Sunnis seems to have fashioned themselves as championing for ‘Muslims’ in general. They have usurped this position with utmost ease. Any attempts to curtail their regressive practices seem to be seen as attempt against ‘Muslims’. The ‘beleaguered Muslim community’ image after the 9/11 adds to the advantage. One might say Taliban or even Osama is not a Wahabi or Deobandi but that is not the point. Wahabi I am using as loose description of those who want a stricter and more intolerant version of Islam to be imposed. It is this breed of Islam who has and is destroying gentler cultures around the world among some very beautiful followers of Islam. Whether in Indonesia or Kashmir or in Kabul (through Taliban) or some quaint community with rich cultural heritage, the wahabis have always attempted to destroy it and introduce regressive and demeaning practices. Many Muslim communities and sane people are fighting these degrading influence around the world. Defining Wahabian worldview and practice as matter of choice is grievous mistake. One, there is no democracy within the practice it is imposition infact these people are using democracy to their advantage for narrow reason and agenda. They are mostly byproduct of feudal mindset, religion and tradition is just an alibi. Second, is the idea of choice- someone happily want to do anything, need not be accepted as valid argument there are many things which an individual or group want to do happily but may not be acceptable to civilized society. So women happily exercising ‘their’ choice are an old ploy we have seen throughout the history. Woman stitch vagina happily as a matter of choice in North Africa, woman walked on toes happily as matter of choice in china, woman burned daughter in law as matter of choice in north India, and so now woman cover their face happily as matter of choice in London. It is shocking since it is happening (more appropriately allowed) in places like Britain since the beautiful idea of democracy, liberty and other values were codified and exalted in west (it may not have originated here). It provided immense possibility for reason, logic….the harbinger for all scientific and technological development. It also provided space for civilized interactions and freedom of expression. Thus people experimented with themselves and the surrounding, able to tap their potential unlike anywhere in the world. Creating wide range of creative divergence and variance contributing to the beauty of human experience. The Wahabis stand for all that is against this. Most of the cultural contributions of Islamic communities around the world are despite these people. Cultural contributions like folk music, dance or theatre and other forms of expressions have been brutally suppressed. To take an example, in the Indian subcontinent the wonderful tradition of Sufis was brutally dealt few centuries back. Even Ustad Bismillah Khan was asked to not use Shehnai by some Mullah just think how many more talented people could never make it because of these nasty people and their world view. What we now know as beautiful poems, songs (quawwalis) and so on were to large extend contribution of some beautiful people despite these prosecutions and threat for centuries. For fundamentalist grouping under Wahabis this was blasphemy. I read sometime back about a young Pakistani writer (not able to recall name) who was so traumatized by his childhood memory of his uncle who destroyed his toys and delicate paper works he created calling it blasphemy. This the kind of psyche they can inflict on children. Now one might say that such occurrings are common in other cultures or religion. Maybe but in other cultures and religion there is always a possibility to question, protest and change but when it comes to Wahabis and their brethrens this is the finality. They want to freeze everything into history. They now want civilized people to tolerate it as ‘choice’ and be more 'understanding'!!. Basically it is ploy to gain power and control. And post 9/11 is apt occasion to sneak in the stink.

In the name of Islam these people have done heinous crimes over many centuries. Now it is petro dollar which is playing havoc over the lives of ordinary Muslim people. It is this brand of Islam which is the threat to Islam around the world. It is this dangerous people we need to beware of. The veil (that is covering the whole face) is the extension of this regressive world view. They have been very aggressively spreading this onto very unsuspecting and ordinary Muslims around the world in the name of religion. Even in the places like Kabul these fundamentalists whose world view are so narrow, are considered ‘nuisance and uncultured’. I happen to see a program in National Geography Channel sometime back wherein the man on the street who used to make living through music and photography made this comment about Taliban. If this is the case in ‘conservative’ places like Kabul one can very well imagine what the situation is around the world. There is struggle in most Islamic societies against this Wahabis brand of Islam by the natives of the region. The culture of settlers is being threatened whether in London or in Dacca. If these scoundrels had their way we will not have any freedom or forms of creative expressions. Think of the millions of lives made miserable by these people particularly women, in some places they even carry stick to check any transgression. Where these people are not any majority they use democracy to spread their stink, this they do by ghettoizing people and creating vote bank. The reason why they are very upbeat about any tradition or belief which can alienate.

The veil represents this threat. Apart from objectifying women it curtails woman’s activity in public space. It strives to make women dependent on male therefore severely restricting their potential except may be to produce children and look after them. There is no music, no dance, no sports…it represents that world. Even in comparatively open societies like Pakistan women have no chance in sports while the male sportsperson are considered national prestige. The stance is mostly patronizing which is what makes it most disgusting. Even in India Muslim women’s contributions (in middle class) are quite limited and if ever despite heavy odds, contrasts this with other communities particularly Protestants. Infact the Muslim communities are one the poorest in India but instead of providing opportunities of modern education and health benefits the mullahs are working on huge money building bigger and bigger(and in some cases very ugly) mosques and madrasas, as also nuances on ‘religious life’. This is the case all the around the world. And then they say we are alienated!!. I am told that no community feels so alienated as Muslims around the world. Well when it is always the case then it is time to look inside than blaming others. The mullahs are taking the ‘Muslim community’ for big ball ride. For that first they need to construct a concept of ‘muslim community’ to usurp the angst, in patronising Britain they have been immensely successful. They are beacons of democracy here and exotic pets of multicultural masters. Infact Britain is a case study on Mullah’s success story.

When elite in Britain say this is freedom of expression and should be tolerated what they forget is that veil is a symbol against expression. Sensuality is integral part of humanness and any attempt to curtail that comes under violation of basic rights of any human. Veil represents that heinous form of human right violation. Tolerating human right violation is not the way to define democracy this is a grievous mistake. You encourage these barbarians you are sowing seeds of violence. Remember peace is not absence of crime. Violence is the state of mind which gives space to tolerate violation of another human being. When we allow such practices it is not about tolerance it is about we loosing our space for not tolerating injustice. The society looses that space and then these injustices we tolerate breeds its own new world which can be nothing but violent. A byproduct of careless and indulgent society living in suspicion with itself.

The bikini angle which is being brought into this issue is a way to divert the attention. How far sensuality be expressed in public space that it crosses the line of decency or vulgarism is a different issue. It is about our right to express. Further when woman are seen as object of sex and male potential rapist and so be protected under veil, this represent a crude form of understanding of human sensibilities. This is the psyche that mutilates human relations. This can only create negative feeling around and so mistrust, Britain need to understand this. Also the child brought in such environment is a potential victim of such world view and will definitely find difficulty adjusting to egalitarian and equitable world view. Eventually will find himself alienated and so a potential recruit for hate. It is no surprise that the contribution of this breed of people to humanity have hardly been positive. How many art forms or scientific or folk lore or other form beauty is contributed from this part of the world?. When I say ‘this part of the world’ it means the space occupied by women in veil all around the world. Where as all around the world in Muslim and non Muslim communities’ women have contributed in all sphere, women under veil remain a dark spot, a shame on humanity. Wahabi Sunni’s contribution to the world is that they made the life of many ordinary people around the world miserable in the name of Islam. They are the crudest people. Future generation will not forgive west for their thoughtless and careless act which amounts to encouraging these people. In many countries around the world whether Turkey or Uzbekistan the ordinary Muslims are threatened by these regressive forces. Britain’s capitulation will weaken their stand and will lead to more insecure and intolerant world, a severe setback. It will give space to accepting injustice and legitimatize tyranny in the name of religion.

Postscript: the reference to defecation was in context to my surrounding, and a gag on Blair (he is the one who should be in jail). Since it is being taken out of context, as also i believe it was not needed here  i am removing it. Apologies for the mixup.   

Removing child labour

Removing children from labor in shops and giving them opportunities for normal growth and education is significant. The recent step by Government o0f India is welcomed. But one wonders why this move is limited to business establishments and households only. Entertainment is an Industry and on what basis a child working in movies or TV serials or ads. different from a child labouring in a dhaba???. This is not to undermine the heinous form a child labour/abuse that exists in many small hotels. But when children are used for profit how this is not child labor??. Children are used in appalling and regressive TV serials, ‘game’ shows-where they are counting gold coins of a particular brand!! (This is different from fun filled programs for children by children of some foreign channels. They make learning entertaining). Many ads use children (even babies) blatantly.

In entertainment industry if ever it is about creativeness then children shouldn’t be compensated with money. That is a business transaction and should be deemed as child labor. Bottom line is you cannot use children for profit and this should start from advertisements, greed programs and so called entertainment.
Patronizing poor is a nice occupation but first keep your drawing room clean. Stink could be in the posh neighborhood as in Dhabas.

Sitaram’s Akhand Bharat Jugaad

Some people have a dime for media suaveness. They excel in the art creating issues out from nowhere. The latest of the candidate is Comrade Yechury. Comrade has recently confessed to an idea of India-Pakistan-Bangladesh combine team against England (not Britain!!) to ‘celebrate’ the ‘first war of independence’ in 1857. This is the kind of an idea that should make any far Right immensely proud. Finally some credibility to Akhand Bharat. The media will toy it in all permutation and combination after all any utterance on Cricket (and ‘bollywood’) is matter of national security. They will now have debate forum. It’s a win-win for media and BCCI (a club that has come to represent India for huge profit. Vande Matram!!). I gather that even if the players come to the field and sit down and chat, the club would make few million profit!!!. That is money from merit and competence. No it is not about Indian population and that strange connection to patriotism. In the meantime my suggestion to Comrade Yechury as a humble citizen (offcourse!!) is that he need worry about the unrepresentative and unconnected ‘leaders’ in Left, mostly feudal leftovers. Geez what am I saying. Comrade Yechury could consider setting up Jane Austin Socialist club of India for Garibi Hatao. Communist Party (Jane Austin) Marxist. CP(JA)M. I guess to pacify Budhadeb babu (who I am told has terrible temper when it comes to matters of cricket) we may make it Communist Party (Jane Austin Ganguly Socialist Marxist Leninist party of India). Or I guess innovative Comrade Yechury will suggest Communist Party (Jane Austin Ganguly Socialist Marxist Leninist party of India Pakistan Bangladesh). CP (JAGSMLIPB). Amen to that.

On the birth anniversary of Gandhi: Understand Gandhi but beware of Gandhians

Non violence was Mahatma Buddha’s (as also Mahavira) contribution to the world which Gandhi used as a political strategy. Thoreau gave protest a meaning through Civil Disobedience. This was brilliantly used by Gandhi to do deal with Britishers. What is significant about Gandhi was his pursuit on truth –satyagraha. This was a brilliant idea since Satyagraha was considered personal but he made it societal, a mass movement. What sages for ages pursued in secluded mountains and later disseminated to people through teachings he made it an action -a new take on karma. An attempt on society that stands for fairness and justice. His contribution is in this ability to organize people on these lines, providing a foundation on building a just society.

What is however unmaking of Gandhi is his ‘followers’. Gandhians have done more damage than probably organized mafia particularly who masquerade Gandhism in public places. The policy makers had lots of opportunities in 50s and 60s but they turned Gandhi as a mascot to hide their incompetence (bias) so what was a brilliant idea got reduced into strategy in inaction and vacillation. Gandhi then and now is used to score brownie points than for actual action, it bred corruption and apathy. It created a class of people who made a career out Gandhism and fattened themselves at the expense of millions of poor people. Elite lapped to Gandhism since it was a safe bet, no land reforms, no laws on social mobility just keeping talking about non violence and ‘changing minds’. Wonder what ‘changing minds’ meant? People express ‘change of mind’ through elections is it not? Further laws are consolidation of these ‘changes of mind’ is it not? Gandhism has nothing to do with ‘changing the mind’ of corrupt or criminals; it has to be dealt firmly with law otherwise don't have laws! They maybe taught compassion once inside jail. Law machinery need to be strengthened. Gandhi's methodolgy is significant when the laws are unjust.

Understand Gandhi, understand his teachings, and understand the context in which he worked and the eternal value of his views. Understand the significance of non violence and the brilliance of Satyagraha. Understand his acumen for mass mobilisation and use of symbols. Understand the beauty of his effort, understand the simplicity which was so endearing, understand the greatness of the man. But be very beware of Gandhians. The kind of stagnation of society has to do with manipulations in the name of Gandhism in the earlier part of national development wherein the need was not of 'change of mind’ of elites but revolutionary laws to keep with aspiration of majority. The need was to take over the lands of ‘trustees of nation’ and redistribute it as democracy demanded. Now on the contrary they are taking away land for SEZs in most case meaning land mafia. So much for Father of the Nation. If some zeal was shown in lawmaking then maybe we could have had more equitable society. This nation has lost that chance.

Elite now have assumed that they can never be wrong, infact the McMedia is playing on the game that nobody can be wrong. It is about different opinion, different views. Off course they are right when it is about individuals but when it affects us it is no longer that simplistic there is line of right and wrong. The socio-economical decisions have the context of society. As Gandhiji said “whether it helps the poorest of poor” the “Daridranarayan” or shall we say the marginalized as also the Nature. This is where the line needs to be drawn. It is about defining ‘Development’. It is about understanding ‘sustainability’ (the need not greed). The policies of the Government, Corporate and Media need work on these lines. How about RTI in Corporate on issues which effect our environment, natural resources and labour? Gandhi’s relevance has only increased in recent times. He was one rarest of rarest human to have lived in recent times.

On a lighter note: For Gandhians to ‘experiment’ they need followers and they did ‘experiment’ happily for years after independence but in last two decades or so the people from lower strata of society have mobilized themselves (except the tribals who have turned to Naxalism) and have left most Gandhians stranded……not bad at all.

Condoling the last of Travancore Sisters

The passing away of Padmini brings to an end the last of what was popularly referred to as ‘Travancore sisters’. They were colossal figures in 50s and 60s, particularly the pair of Padmini-Ragini. I recollect in my childhood when the pair was ever mentioned it created lots of excitement around. Padmini was top actress in all the four major south Indian language as also in Hindi (at one point), enviable achievement not matched yet. Further she was a polyglot and could speak most langauge!!. Her Hindi movies were also watched with lots of interest by elders when it used to come in TV. More than an actor wherein she was stupendously popular she was known for her dancing skills in classical forms (she was an accomplished Bharthanatyam dancer). It wouldn’t be farfetched to say that Padmini apart from Yjenthimala (not able to get the spellings!!) was largely responsible for introducing classical dance form into Hindi movies, and with that to north Indian mainstream entertainment. I particularly enjoyed watching ‘Kalpana’, an extravagant experimental dance-movie by Uday Shankar troupe, few years back (with Pt. Ravi Shankar...in audience, offcourse!!). What a grand way to start a career!!. Just brilliant. Incidentally her cousin Sukumari (in malayalam) and niece Shobana are also very popular.

Since she was active much before my generation so my favourite performance of her is from later part, as an old lady in Malayalam movie ‘Noka Dhoorathu’. Infact it is one of my favourite movie particularly the songs.

Understanding Darfur Crisis

The African continent is the poignant story of centuries of outside forces playing havoc with natives. It’s about the loot and control. Of slave traders and conversion to organized faith and subsequent annihilation of local cultural diversity. All the civil strife in the last century to now can be traced to this violent nature of history. This offcourse not to deny that local tribal differences were mostly active like for instance hutus or tutsis in central Africa. But the problems were accentuated by outside manipulations. Africa despite some extremely talented people and rich natural resources remains poorest place on earth for these very reasons. This was the case of most of Africa till recently. Things are changing many countries are now experimenting with democratic. The situation though remains very fragile with corruption and lack of institutionalized response to many crises. Unlike southern part of Africa which has colossal and sobering figures like Nelson Mandela rest of Africa is very much in open and vulnerable.

Sudan’s case is not so different. The country is divided socio-cultural and linguistic line into North and South. It has predominantly followers of Islam religion but mostly concentrated in the North. Further the division is on the line of Arab and non Arab ethnic African population (But as one article points out they are similar in appearance despite these differences). Sudan is largest country in Africa and is the line where the Arab world merges into Africa. The origin of the problem is in this divide, offcourse accentuated by colonial past of segregation. The non Arab African population concentrated mostly in south has always accused cultural domination and attempt to political marginalization by the government at Khartoum, ruled by Arabic Sudanese. They also say that the government in the North is oppressing black Africans in favor of Arabs. There have been many uprisings and warlords so on, but crushed by the government. The radicalization of the North and imposing of sharia laws only worsened the matter.

Darfur is a province in Sudan of the size of France wherein the uprisings against the north most vehement with groups like SPLA and JEM organizing tribal force against the government during 2003. After string of military victories, government responded to rebellion by arming Arab "Janjaweed (which translates as either "a man with a horse and a gun" or the more sinister "devil on horseback")militia to clear civilian population bases of African tribes thought to be supporting rebellion. The government, it is alleged, to have recruited, paid, and armed more than 20,000 Arab militiamen gave support and impunity to the Janjaweed who have wrecked Darfur. Over 200,000 have died in Darfur since 2004 and over 2 million people have been displaced (The battlefield now extends into eastern Chad, Chad and Sudan accuse one another of supporting each other's rebel groups. The escalating proxy war between Sudan and Chad threatens to produce a new humanitarian catastrophe on both sides of the border). The problem aggravated by famine and drought, the ideas that uncaring Arabs in Khartoum had let the famine happen and then Darfuri Arabs had attacked African farmers began to gain credence. Although the UN has not accepted it (except reffering to’genocide is frighteningly real in Darfur’) but the killing has reached the proportion of genocide. The scale of the Janjaweed campaign led to comparisons with the Rwandan Genocide, a parallel hotly denied by the Sudanese government. Independent observers noted that the tactics, which include dismemberment and killing of noncombatants and even young children and babies and mass rape, are more akin to the ethnic cleansing.

In the mean time African countries responded by setting up African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to deal with Darfur crisis. It consisted of an inadequate force of 7000 troops with limited finance; predictably the killing in Darfur didn’t stop. The period of troop deployment comes to an end this month. The government of Sudan though continues to resist strong international diplomatic pressure for the UN to take control of the peacekeeping mission. With Sudanese President Bashir consistently expressing opinion against any UN force in the country despite the Security Council resolution.

In this context it is important to note that in 2005 United Nations summit adopted novel concept of a collective ‘Responsibility to Protect’ the worlds citizens even against their own government. After Rwanda, Kosovo and a host of other atrocities, and with the mass killings of Darfur staring them in the face, the leaders agreed at the U.N. Millenium Plus 5 Summit that state sovereignty could not be used to justify atrocities or to bar collective international action to protect those citizens. ‘Responsibility to Protect’ provides that diplomatic and other peaceful tools are tried first to bring the violations to an end, but where national authorities manifestly fail to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity the U.N. Security Council could put military force for use. And with this and the adoption of the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court to hold individual leaders responsible, the future is not very bleak. The happening in Darfur needs awareness around the world- the intention of carrying this in the blog. However it need be added here that Darfur crisis is much more complicated than what is mentioned here particularly with rebel forces dividing.

Also the need of the hour is to strengthen UN. This is the only platform for interaction and discussion of issues concerning humanity. A strong UN will definitely provide legitimacy among nation and its people. UN might have been sidelined in recent times, in Baghdad and so on or have failed in its attempts like in East Timor but a beleaguered UN is more damaging.

incredible Steve

a cartoon by Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune, Utah

It is shocking to know that Steve Irwin died in a “freak accident”. Since I was traveling and not into much news I didn’t know about this tragic event. Came to know three days back from Auto driver!!!. (Well I like interacting with auto wallahs while traveling in their autos -certain places where I don’t know the language it can be frustrating). We were passing through a fish market somewhere in kerala. When he started talking about therandi fish (ray fish), actually he was bit surprise that it could kill a human being. Probably it has to do with dangerous evolution of species in and around Australia. Coming back, Steve was my favorite anchor in wild life related program (another Steve is Steve Austin who too is incredible). His enthusiasm was infectious, it mostly had this bewilderment which was riveting. He was absolutely into it whether with deadly snakes, vipers (once he realized one is behind his leg!) or in Sri lanka where he almost slip into a cobra!!. His most action was with Crocodiles, the one I didn’t watch much- no liking for crocs. With monster lizard or sea lions…..or inane happenings in Australian zoo was reported in very passionate manner. Amazing guy he was. Also I liked the Australian accent, I found it very funny. I am still not able to believe that he is dead….it is rather baffling. Very significant lose.

There are few more people who have died recently whom I admired. Offcourse the greatness of Ustad Bismillah khan needn’t be reiterated we all know it. Why am I writing this is to pay a personal tribute. I decided years back that I will make it a point to see all the great masters in action, live. And so had esteem pleasure of listening to Bismillah khan. My regret being missing MS, although I was in Madras for almost a year. She didn’t have any concert, I was a regular at madras music academy (nearby Stella Maris main attraction though, at that time. My early job was with a TV channel!!!...more on that sometime later). Another person whom I missed was Kelucharan Mahapatra. Just few months before he died he had a performance in Kamani (in Delhi) but it was too crowded and I was not in my best of health, so dropped the idea. Although I did watch ten minutes of his performance, I recall it was during the time when he was given Padma Vibushan.

Ayyapan Panicker was a well known figure in Kerala (it is amazing that you will find even the commonest people will have some idea about writers and poets). Common people’s access to great works like Dostovesky or Chekov is through translations. And most well known international writers have been translated to Malayalam (even the latest popular genre - DaVince Code!!). Ayyapan Panicker apart from being an established poet and writer was also known for his translation, particularly of Shakespeare and also Eliot’s Wasteland. I had the fortune to listen to him a year back at Trivandrum where he was a guest for Vallathol Sammanam to MT.

I have absolutely no knowledge of Hrishikesh Mukherjee except that some of his movies were great like Anand, Golmaal, Namak Haram (these too I came to know after he expired….my knowledge of hindi film industry is actually very poor) and not to forget some incredible songs in these movies.

Bushing the way to Armageddon

Rationality is integral part of Humanism. Humanism devoid of Rationality is expediency. It reduces to clever ploy for deceit. Religion may not be rational to atheists (who seem to have usurped rationality) but it is really not irrational, atleast, in its core intent. Religion caters to emotions and tribulations. A positive involvement leads to spiritualism that as a functionalist understanding: gives clarity on choices which is ethics. Irrationality is given to human exigencies and instability. Moral codes are an attempt to control, it’s a byproduct of power. Therefore moral framework necessarily changes with time and context unlike ethics. Morality is an agreement within the society on correctness. It is possible that it will militate with individuality. At an extreme, moral fiber within the religion may eulogize to kill or even martyr a follower, in horrendous perversity even an infant. Wherein the soul of religion, human- ethics is violated, proscribed. An example not distinct from religion is the construct of Nationhood and patriotism. People are ready to kill even innocent wherein it is ethically untenable. Rationality therefore needs to be seen as enlightened choices- ethics.

It is in this context and backdrop that we need to understand the issue of Evolution Vs Intelligent Design. Evolution is a scientifically documented fact, necessarily rational. Unless a contrary theory or examples is convincingly presented within the framework of rationality till then Darwinism remains the sole truth on these matters. Darwin was understanding enough to refer this as “provisional truth”. As of now it is a convincing theory on evolution of life, very highly probable. More than truth it is about attitude- a mindset defined by inquisitiveness, inquiry, search, learning, knowing…..if this space is not encouraged then it gives way to prejudices, biases, superstitions and narrow mindedness (with vote bank obsessed politicians and people as consumers we have a catastrophe waiting to happen or is it happening?). Intelligent Design advocates represent this regression. Some in US even suggest this as alternate theory. The ‘alternate’ of rationality is always irrationality. Teaching children that it is normal being irrational is where the problems start (the same danger in children being taught in exclusive religious institutions). Media mischief in this context is through ‘balanced’ reporting, ignoring ethical perspective.

Bush voted against Stem Cell Enhancement Act since “The bill” according to him “would support the taking of innocent life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others. It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect”. This is the same ‘decent society’ which has no qualm in taking lives of thousands of innocent people in Baghdad or Beirut, to quote recent examples. Bush’s ‘moral boundary’ seems to confined to US neo cons. This is the same fellow who couldn’t protect (wasn’t bothered would be better way to describe it) his own marginalized people during hurricanes despite clear early warnings and all the equipments at disposal. It’s baffling how people in US elected him as the President not once but twice!!!. Irrationality seems to be institutionalized here- so naturally prejudices.

Writes,KarenArmstrong(inGuardianNewspaper..http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1833794,00.html) “…..the first chapter of Genesis was never intended as a liberal account of origin of life, it is a myth, a timeless story about the sanctity of world and everything in it…”. This is very much true and may be applied in case of Ayodhya issue or the way Islam is being misused by fundamentalists. He writes further “…the prophets did preach a stern message of social justice, however, and like all the major world faiths, Christianity sees charity and loving-kindness as the cardinal virtues. Fundamentalism nearly always distorts the tradition it is trying to defend”.

The photo of models of Evolution of Homo sapiens from primates was taken at Thirunelveli, District Science Centre (Tamil Nadu). Every districts like mandatory District Magistrate, District Health Centre…and so on need to also have District Information Centre (includes library, internet….also functioning as facilitating agency for RTI). It is also very important to have District Science Centre in each district, acting as nodal point for all schools in science related activities like projects, seminars, exhibition of innovations in the district as also dissemination on latest science inventions happening around the world. When I was visiting the Science Centre it was teeming with school children. A kind of sight one loves to see. It is not to say that science will give all answers. Scientific temper creates a mindset that encourages rational. Rationality is what makes us human.

Thande ka thadka for comrades in Bengal...

Before we get into comrades in Bengal let us understand the comrades in Kerala and their predicament. That will give a better perspective on happenings in Bengal.

Kerala as we know is an incredible success story in social development. Despite the low per capita income and other serious problems, there has been sustained emphasis on health and education. There are many historical culture reasons prominent among them is the contributions of communists. How much of that commitment is shared by contemporary communists in Kerala is questionable. The historical vibrancy of kerala society is now stagnant in the fleapits of mass media, moving from mediocre to crass. Despite all this Kerala was able to capitalize on early Movements towards equitable society (the education bill by Left government regarding private colleges particularly controlled by religion-for-profit is welcomed. It is a brave step. Ordinary people fully support the move). Social mobility in this society has been quite high due to increased capabilities (and choices) of people from different strata of society. The erstwhile rulers and elites have been shown their place, the education helped people to create opportunities particularly in gulf (now Europe). The life expectancy, health facilities and other social indices are comparable to any advanced country. Although Malabar when joined Kerala was a backward place, because of enlighten policies have caught up with the rest of kerala.

Like other mainstream media anywhere people here too are overwhelmed by nonsense (like the obnoxious ‘serials’) despite these the problems faced by common people is given due significance. Each event is analyzed with equitable understanding and participation, wherein the man in the street is found articulating his views in an effective manner (here I am not referring to trash programs like nammal thammil). Unlike some “national” channel there is no bias towards the Marketeers or gloss. The best thing is, like what we see in BBC, most of the discussions are not really hurried. The discussions are not meant for high decibel acts between ads but intend to understand the issue in its entirety, including people who really matter. Not some small time celebrity- marketeers get together. Each channel do have slot for discussing important books, analyzing newspapers, meet the people who make difference and so on. Some of the programs are of very high caliber. It has more to do with the appreciative audience

The Coca Cola –Pepsi issue in Plachimada in this context is path breaking. It is the people in their entirety are involved. The reason why the real issue cannot be sidelined. There is no place for glamour statements. You cannot escape facts here. And since people are aware of the problems, the money sniffing celebrities have to fall in place. No popular kerala actor will dare to come in Coca Cola Pepsi ads. Most ‘celebrities’ in here are quite sane and susceptible to logic and empathy unlike from cow belt where the gap is too big and so the loot has all the impunity. Knowledge, esteem, empathy…. has a making of deadly cocktail which mere literacy, aping the west and so on cannot fathom. Media manufacturing and event managing of issues will not have space here, if ever on the periphery as amusement. Not mainstream occupations.

The banning of Coca Cola- Pepsi and the systematic sidelining of the problems of the people, which they so vociferously supported before the elections is not gone unnoticed by majority of people in here. This is in sync with the new image the comrades are trying to create. The image of Market friendly. Neek pok Vijayan!!. But unlike other part of the country they cannot escape the needs for sustainability and livelihood threat. People in here are very active and can articulate their views quite well, mind you even the poorest of poor. Further the material and intellectual gap between strata’s of society is not very big, majority of people have same socio-cultural context (you could know about Kafka from a bus conductor, carry an intelligent conversation with commonest of people, atleast a decade back….don’t know how much people have become professional in recent times!!)

It is in this milieu that we need to understand the constraints, predicaments and hypocrisies of comrades in Bengal. The comrades find it difficult to question the Coca Cola –Pepsi onslaught, they have got their own goverment which goes against CocaCola-Pepsi. Surely investment. It need to be reminded that there are many cases when indian products have been rejected by Americans asit didn't conform to their standards. There are cases i am aware where the businessmen have suicided because of losses. Offcourse we arent really bothered about standards or no standards in case of Coca Cola Pepsi. We are very concerned about ground water exploitation and livelihood threat by exploitative products for indulgent few. The cola factories I am told has 2 or so bottling plants running spic and span. No problemo!!!!.

Understanding comrades in Bengal…..

The comrades in Bengal have been ruling for almost three decades. Many countries where comrades have ruled for longer period have known to have higher social indices, despite sluggish economical development or lack of sufficient freedom, like erstwhile east Europe or Soviet Union. But Bengal is different, there has been complete lack of social mobility and it seems that they are stuck in some time warp. Whereas neighboring states like Bihar- poor and feudal, have seen cataclysmic changes in last few decades at least in social mobility sense, the lower strata asserting themselves through elections, the comrades are in some quaint world. The world of English poems and cricket. This society is still being dominated by a section which has been traditional elite. I have done some study in last few days and found that it is very much a feudal society much worse than most States in India. The ‘leaders’ mostly belong to a particularly section. Like for instance if you take the example of Lok Sabha members it is dominated by Chatterjees, Banerjees, Mukherjees…..the threaded types. Infact of the 41 members (Malda seat is vacant it seems) elected in the last Lok Sabha there were 6 Chatterjees+Banerjees+Mukherjees+Chakrabortys, 4 chowdharys+ basus or boses. Others who are from elite section include Acharya, Pradhan, Munshi and so on…they could easily be more than 15. I gather from surname…I really don’t know much about caste structure here nor am I concerned. The surnames I gathered from figures in History, who were necessarily from elite section. You see they had the burden of ‘freeing’ us!!. The intention is to find out the elite section, socio-historically elite, the feudal class comrades- representing have-nots!!. The reason why am I pointing to these is to bring out the entrenched bias in representation. The inequity in social development in a State that is being ruled by Communists for almost three decades. They have become quite an embarrassment (read further at http://depalan.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_depalan_archive.html). It is conceivable that the reason why far Right (mostly elites in Hindus) find it difficult to dent Communist fort in Bengal is to do with the fact that most of the elite are having a great time as comrades. Also the porous border from Bangladesh is about their masquerading as secular, the increase in vote bank. This doesn’t extend to Taslima Nasreen, who is being hounded by Mullahs back home. Comrades surely see red!!!.

One can say with much surety that 60-70% of the Lok sabha seats are represented by elite section of the society. This must be true for state assembly or other spheres of the society too. The Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is a threaded type anglicized comrade, so was the previous one who held a record of sort as the longest (ok second longest) chief minister in the country!. So rule the comrades for us people only. Even the ‘opposition leader’ in the State is a Bannerjee. The Union minister from Congress is a Mukherjee. The Lok Sabha speaker is our very own comrade Chatterjee. All threaded types- the traditionally licking class. Not that i am into checking surnames of people but this overlap of class-caste is no coincidence. This could be true of any State(or in Centre) during 50s to 80s but this is 2006 and Comrades ruling the State for three decades!!. The ambivalence of comrades regarding exploitative products is not at all surprising. Unlike comrades in Kerala they have the luxury of going for blatant denial. Not shocking. I have traveled in Bengal many a times and the abject poverty is heartbreaking. Mostly people associate poverty in Bengal with slums in Kolkata (City of Joy!!). But it is countryside where things have gone seriously wrong. Few statistics and some ground reality will reveal some truth. The sham of Communists and their image building posturing at Centre.

India ranks a dismal 127 in HDI ranking and among the States in India the position of West Bengal is ‘less than satisfactory’. West Bengal ranked 22^nd HDI in 1981 and equally dismal 20^th in 1991. West Bengal in the year 1999-2000 had below poverty line 27.02 per cent of its population; higher than the national figure of 26.10 per cent. Whereas the NSS puts the figure at whooping 55%, and 60% belong to SC/STs- the National figure for the same was 19% and 55% (NSS 50^th rounds of data on household consumer expenditure). At the national level the very poor in SC population were concentrated in three states UP, Bihar and West Bengal- they together accounted for 63% of very poor SCs in 1999-2000. Also the percentage of chronically poor is above national average in rural areas of West Bengal. Further, it may be noted that these three categories, namely SC, ST and Minorities, together account for more than half the population, and these are also the three poorest groups in rural Bengal. 84 per cent of the absolutely poor population of West Bengal lived in rural areas, compared to 74 per cent in India as a whole. West Bengal has attracted the highest capital; next only to Gujrat, ahead of Maharashtra, UP and Andhra Pradesh. But reveals badly 2.52 per cent jobs against 3.75 in Andhra, 3.92 in UP, 4.05 in Gujrat and 5.60 in Maharashtra respectively. When they are opening for the ultimate investment it need to be kept in mind that in West Bengal only 36.7 per 100 household have electricity connection which is much below the National average of 60.1 (1998-99 figure). Per capita food grain consumption declined from 476 grams per day in 1990 to only 418 grams per day in 2001. The National Sample Survey data also suggest that even aggregate calorific consumption per capita declined from just over 2200 calories per day in 1987-88 to around 2150 in 1999-2000. Meanwhile, declining capital expenditure by the government has been associated with more infrastructural bottlenecks and worsening provision of basic public services.

Data for the year 2000-1 show that 49.6% of children under 5 are under nourished while 56.8% under 5 children are malnourished in this State, much lower than low income States. The U5M (Under 5 Mortality rate) is as high as 67.6 (Kerala has a low of 18.8), 73.4 of which is in rural areas- about 72 per cent of the people live in rural areas. MMR has dropped significantly in last decade but it still remains on the higher side (50% of PHCs surveyed didn’t have labour room equipments). Whereas studies reveal that 57% children belonging to poor household in rural India were stunted (that is chronic under nutrition), in West Bengal the figure was as high as 63% (kerala had a lowest of 32%). The IMR is at a high of 60 in rural Bengal. The difference in life expectancy in rural and urban Bengal is a high of 7 years, a statement on inequitable development. The state has lower ratios of health care centres per population as well as higher ratios of population per hospital bed, than the All-India average. Nutrition indicators are rather poor, with higher incidence of anaemia and iron deficiency especially among women and young children, than for India as a whole. Although the life expectancy marginally above the national rate, there are some district where it is much lower. Districts like Malda have a low life expectancy of as low as 54 years!!!.

Also Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) among adult population is above 50% in this state. The aggregate literacy rate (at 69 per cent in 2001) was only marginally above the national average of 65 per cent. Only 63 per cent of children in West Bengal in the age group 7-14 years were literate in 1991, compared to the All-India proportion of 64 per cent. In the chart of per capita expenditure on health (after correcting the lower base) by the states, West Bengal stands at a dismal 12 in the list of 14 states. The per capita expenditure in social service and rural development by West Bengal government is so low that they stand at 11^th place among 15 States, wherein states like Tamil Nadu which has a history of successful struggle for equitable society spend much higher than the comrades. The ‘imminent revolution’ for three decades is waiting. Sure kidding. The UNDP had proposed emphasis on four ratios- the public expenditure ratio, the social allocation ratio, the social priority ratio, the human expenditure ratio. Clearly the priorities of comrades in Bengal are nowhere on these lines. The search for ‘mass opium’ is on!!!. A case for dialectical materialism. Talk of social underdevelopment Marx suckers. Piyo sar utha ke comrades….

A very happy Independence Day

India despite all its shortcomings and problems remains an endearing and enchanting place to be in. There is always more to know about this place and its people. I guess this could be said about any country by its people or any place where a person is born or spends his life. I guess it’s about Earth. Its about Universe…

Sabse bada rupaiya.....The inside story of Corruption

Before we get into the issue of corruption lets invoke the praise for Rokda, the Rupaiya. The one and only one which makes the world go round and round. Sabse bada rupaiya....bole tho ekdam jakkas.

The inside story of Coke Cola Pepsi issue:
a) Government doesn’t give damn about people
b) Corporate like Coca Cola Pepsi don’t give a damn about Consumers.

If the government of India was concerned about its citizen then they should have by now created rules for standards to be followed in Food products and strictly implemented it, like they do in developed countries. It’s been more than a decade since they opened up the economy. Creating favorable environment for investment is the mantra all the Governments in the centre and state have been following, whether Congress or BJP or cricket loving Commies. They never gave thought on safety of its citizen, on measures to safeguard people from harm. It’s only after a scam or a scandal that they think on prevention. Thousands of people lost their money in Stock Exchange Scam a decade back before they thought on how to plug, to quote an example. Other issues like exploitation of natural resources of the nation particularly the scarce groundwater don’t have proper guidelines. Why is that an NGO (admittedly ill-equipped) has to tell us about Coca Cola Pepsi’s pesticide content. The Government should have conducted these in its own labs. It seems they don’t even have a policy framework on such issues. They don’t give a damn about health and safety of billion people. The move by many state governments to ban Coca Cola Pepsi is a charade to hide their incompetence. These governments owe an explanation to people. They should be ashamed of themselves.

So why is that the subsequent government failed to raise the concerns of its people and strictly insure safeguards?.

The answer is simple: it’s about money. It’s about corruption. The leaders whether in power or opposition are nincompoops. They will wag their tail in front of money bag. And Coca Cola- Pepsi has the capacity to buy them many times over. Just think if they give 3 to 4 crores (yes crores!!!) to actors to say a line like thande ka thadka or Piyo sar uthake imagine the amount they can give to our salivating politicians. So a Union Minster will parrot that even the mother’s milk is contaminated, on Master’s command. Actually it is nothing really unexpected in this country; the system leaves them no option. Political parties and politicians need money. How will you expect them to fight elections otherwise??

This seems a very valid reason for corruption. These serious charges against the Political parties are nothing new, the question which should interest us is : how will the Political Party fund money to fight elections??. There is no provision in the constitution for state sponsoring the election expenses of political parties. They have to make money, this to my knowledge needs to be identified as the main reason for widespread corruption and kickback scams. There seems to be desperation among the political parties to find resources for funding their election expense. Also a politician who has more money can easily influence the party decisions. There are many “leaders” who have become prominent and influential because of the money power- many have not even won a single election. Money power has got many into Rajya Sabha. The reason why money bags like ex zamindars (that is land holding class), lawyers and so on in politics in more numbers is not a mystery. One example comes to mind is Arun Jaitly fellow who is now a main “leader”. He is a new breed of “suave”- meaning ‘good in front of camera’; politician who has earned enough money by representing Coke-Pepsi in court. It is quite obvious he will serve his Masters interest in the cabinet. How much damage he did as Commerce Minister we will never know since nobody in any government would want the golden goose to vanish. He also has his hands in cricket pie, so more money. How can Sharad Pawar an Agriculture Minister also be BCCI president???. Most importantly what is the interest of politicians and small time businessmen like Dalmiya in cricket, obviously it’s not about cricket.

Why and how are more corporate people getting into Rajya Sabha?. It is very likely that economic policies are dictated by the interest of Corporate. Taking a very small example: Somebody enlighten my on what basis or criteria the prices of Coca Cola –Pepsi was reduced in the last budget. What is the rationale of such decisions??. Since we are discussing Coke –Pepsi, the reason why I am taking this example. I suspect that any Government in the Centre or State would be looking for earning some money or influence through their policies and other actions by helping Money bags. And it is very likely that they will go to any extend. So the people’s protests and their basic livelihood needs are minor irritant. The same government which is elected by these very people by standing in long queues are ignored as any Government of the day, Congress, BJP or Commies will be into the business of making as much money, as long as they are in power. Off course there are exceptions but they too have to work under the compulsions of collecting money for Party Fund. In this understanding of the way the system functions it is difficult to blame a Bangaru Laxman or others accepting money as corrupt. They are just doing what most politicians are supposed to do for their Party but were unfortunate or shall we say clumsy to be caught on camera. Everyone may not be as talented as Jaitly boy in the art of legally licking. What should they do??. As long as election expenses are to be met by the political parties and politicians will have no options but use devious methods to meet the demand.

This system has already damaged Indian democracy significantly. I as a common man and a concerned citizen feel that it is high time something is done. Otherwise these politicians will even sell this country, if they haven’t done it yet. And there will be enough scoundrels who will have no qualm comparing mother’s milk with Coca Cola or Pepsi and wag his tail to his grateful Masters. The shame or irony of a Union Minister of huge country will not even register. Can we trust these people??.

It is quite clear that Elections expenses are quite high there is a need for some mechanism of funding. This will make corrupt politicians more accountable and less incentive for shady deals unless for greed, which is where the laws need to be stricter. How many politicians have been punished in independent India??. Also it will give honest politicians some badly needed sense of security and instead of hobnobbing with money bags and other means of earning, he/she can focus on the needs of the people. They will not have to worry about election funding and so be more transparent and responsible. There is an immediate need for solving this problem. And people in this country have nobody but the Judiciary to help them. Anyone listening…….

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The most heinous massacre ever in human history was committed on this day 64 years back. The world came to know how destructive nuclear bombs are but still they manufacture it. They stock it. They sign agreements. Such absoluteness of infallibility, such insecurity, such ignorance. As a part of ‘manufactured consent’ the American establishment have, with much degree of success, spread this canard that killing millions of innocent people, was meant for peace- more precisely victory of peace. The American view of History is surely not the world history. Truman should have gone down the history with likes of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin…..what scoundrels, what savages. Yasuka Mikami a survivor had this to say of the fateful day
"..We tried to open the eyes of the injured and we found out they were still alive. We tried to carry them by their arms and legs and to place them onto the fire truck. But this was difficult because their skin was peeled off as we tried to move them. They were all heavily burned..."
The full account of children can read at http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/children.html.

Akira Kurosawa is a Director I am always very fascinated with, I happen to see the movie Rhapsody in August sometime back. It is a poignant statement on the massacre. The memories of people, who survived, permanently scared. The eye keeps staring, the eye of the flash. The eye of death juxtaposing with beautiful moon. An evocative poem from the movie.

And the boy a rose did see
a rose standing in the field
blossoming in innocence
awed by the color it did yield
a never ending fascination
for the crimson color
of the rose standing in the field.

The elderly lady who survived the holocaust says in a scene (in the movie Rhapsody in August):

“They did drop the atom bomb, and they resent being reminded of it?. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to remember it. But I can’t have them pretending ignorance. They claim they dropped the flash (meaning bomb) to stop war. It’s already been 45 years now. But the flash has not stopped the war they are still killing people.
But you know…war is to blame. People can do anything …just to win a war. Sooner or later it will be the ruin of all of us” .

Although the elderly woman says in the movie as 45 years, it is so true even now. And will be true as long as we have irresponsible, insensitive and insecure people at the helm of affairs. President Bush has done more damage to the world than anyone for a long time. Americans are responsible for this. And they are also as guilty of killing innocent people in Lebanon as the Israeli Army is. In the UN meanwhile USA and France are fighting over the draft, France insists on using ‘cessation’ while dudes from USA want it to be ‘suspension’. Surely not sense of humour. Most Americans may find this shocking but the fact is: value of life is same everywhere. American life is as precious as the life of a boy in Beirut, a Sunni or a Shia or whatever. As the elderly woman says “I can’t have them pretending ignorance”. Ever heard of Boomerang?......it comes back if not now, it will someday. On that day when you give long speeches please don’t blame the world. Spare us.

'Muslim' celebrities and 'modernity'

Modernity is defined in the dictionary as “relating to the history or period that you live in” “often showing approval”. In the contemporary world the understanding of modernity among the masses is dictated by mainstream media- by definition mediocre, by compulsion gross. In the Indian context because of colonial history and lack of egalitarianism- state policy on land reforms and education as also a tradition of filial oriented tradition, it is seen that the elite particularly from North India carry feudal mindset. A byproduct of the system based on exploitation they crave for space that pushes them further away from this tragic reality. This is where definition of modernity crystallizes. Something that makes them superior to others is necessarily where the scheme of things goes. Superior here is associated with western or American. Their lifestyle-what they speak (and how), what they do, is what epitomizes modernity in these circles. Aping these is what Modernity. In the globalised world with a population of more than a billion India is identified as a huge market. There is a stampede going on- if for genuine development one would have appreciated, but in most cases (with very rare exception like in IT) the rush is for open loot. But the loot is more sophisticated this time; they take the route of investments (the favorite word of Coke-Pepsi thugs). To sell their product is why they create lifestyle demands. And modernity gets reiterated by associating with lifestyle of western. Anyway Indian elite have been quite susceptible to western as a part of sycophancy, historically, as is well documented -what is referred to ‘westernisation’. Associating ‘westernisation’ to rational- logical approach that is scientific, to problems analysis is what is admirable. But that hardly in the mind of people when they refer ‘western’. And acute need for upper mobility in an inequitable society ensures that this is pursued in all its viciousness.

In contemporary mainstream media the ‘hang out’ and ‘chill out’ zone is where fledglings of modernity take it shape. Chaddi dancers are icons and anything spoken by movie actors (and ofcourse actress) the moment of truth. They will enlighten us on all burning issues like Mumbai blasts, Kashmir, charity, food, cricket, books….which they generally do if they have a movie to be released !!. The ‘modernity’ of media management- a very serious occupation (It doesn’t mean I am against popular figures for charity. In case of popular and successful actors this comes out as very genuine and has amazing effect like for instance polio campaign and the contribution of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan….In the international level I can think of very genuine people like Bono, Richard gere…..These international figures need to be careful when dealing with poorer nations particularly India where many are squatting for big money international aid lick….spurious NGOs are there in every street corner).
Coming back, the so defined ‘Modernity’ in recent times is also the definitive feature of most movies- with characters more into defining ‘modernity’, eating out Piza or guzzling coke-pepsi, also help in these product placement and association with ‘modernity’. Till recently this space of modernity in movies was reserved for cigarettes. Few decades back a woman smoking cigarettes was defined as ‘ultra modern’ 'liberated' something we ‘backward’ people need to follow. Cancer and Modernity was quite a mismatch, they soon realized. So now it is Colas, Pizas, and all junk. The ads very often project product along these lines of modernity. The magazine and newspaper run by the very same people, and also in the ever acute reason of revenue, will propagate this image of ‘modernity’. Coca Cola –Pepsi drinking (even the way you carry it) becomes symbol of modernity so is eating fastfood, sipping Barista-only coffee, ….and god knows what. The ads necessarily need a society which is not knowledge run. After all why would anyone with right mind buy a product just because an actor or sportsmen or anyone says it so?. It needs people to be specifically demented or unintelligent. The construct of ‘modernity’ is a shrewd tactic to catch on the emotion. To feel ‘broadminded’ having associated with the product. Rest of the work is done by the peer pressure of the group.

So where does the ‘Muslim’ celebrities come in the issue of modernity?

In the recent times we have been facing serious identity crisis with profusion of so many things-ideas, culture,… as never before. The Muslims around the world have been troubled by the terrorism in the name of religion. Muslims around the world are being called to prove their alliance. There is also in recent time rise of fundamentalism in religion. More people are now identifying with medieval practices, chauvinism as tradition or culture. The religious fundamentalism is increasingly taking away the space for sane discourse. People are trapped in these vortexes. Against the religious chauvinism and feudal practice the market has constructed an understanding of ‘modernity’. More than anyone else it is easy for the Market to lure ‘Muslim’ celebrities into these, as they are desperate to show their ‘modernity’, so in the process want to move away from bigots. This also somewhere helps them to show their alliance to sane, interestingly or shall we say ironically, as Western. Not associating with these products of ‘modernity’ makes them susceptible to being non ‘modern’ which in turn may position them as fundamentalists or values we associate with bigots- a serious trap, in this increasingly polarized world -a hint of which can get into serious problems.

Coca Cola Pepsi (and other fast food chains) have somehow successfully managed to project themselves as intrinsic to Modernity. With a pliable media most of whom run by people who have done their education\training in West, have no qualm in propagating these balderdash. Since these products are also money bag-ads, there is a compulsion also. In this elaborate net of Modernity are trapped ‘Muslim’ celebrities (mostly willingly since there is huge money too with Modernity). Mirza kid after being chased by mullah sought rescue in this wonder world of modernity. Her performance on the field is nothing to write home about (with few exceptional games) though she is laughing into the bank with least of all effort….a feat you will never see in any other country. I guess making India proud is a huge job! Bas pyas bujaye or pesticide bhi dhe yaar.

Same story in Islamic Pakistan: General Musharaff is the most eager candidate for Modernity. It is a win-win situation for him. It is no surprising that his enthusiasm is shared by the sponsors of Pakistan Cricket team. Pepsi sponsoring Pakistan team does make the country look modern! I suggest Gen. Musharaff to remove his military stars from his shoulders and replace it with logo of Coca Cola-Pepsi or Piza Hut (modernity within half an hour. Mehtaji will vouch for it) that will surely make Bush bhai and others in West ecstatic.
I would definitely like to visit the sites in Pakistan where Coca Cola Pepsi suck and vandalize natural resources. Being under dictator and mostly feudal society….people protest in these places should be unheard of. Well people in Pakistan should pay the cost of Modernity, I guess. And every time Pakistani cricket team takes a wicket –as you see in the picture, it is a victory of Modernity.

Sensationalizing a minor issue….the CSE style

The issue of pesticide and other carcinogen in Coca Cola- Pepsi is important finding, but the way it is being sensationalized at the expense of the real issue of depletion of natural resource for the indulgent few is what makes it ridiculous. The need of paradigm shift in dealing with such exploitative products and livelihood needs of impoverished people is what the real issue here is. Sensationalisation of these minor (minor compared to the real and immediate problem) is where the NGO breed elite squatting next to power centers, position themselves. For her previous effort the CSE head found herself taking on the responsibility of Tiger project!!!. Again and again just confining to and avoiding the real issue mainstream media and NGOs like CSE is colluding to divert the problem. At one level this can be seen as a mischief. A cheap publicity stunt- cheap since the media, the government and God damn NGOs based in metros have studiously avoided the reality of the problem threatening millions of people and their livelihood means. Cheap since they themselves are suggesting to use these products that is if the pesticide is within BSI limit. Within BSI limit Coca Cola –Pepsi will be acceptable it seems. Next agenda probably is to convince the dudes at plachimada and other places about how safe Coca Cola-Pepsi is!!!!.Wow. In the mainstream media such sensationalising works. However it makes joke of the effort of people who are fighting for the livelihood. It is like eating pure muck to cure diarrhea. And then they say the muck aint pure!!. Contaminant within BSI limit in Coca Cola Pepsi doesn’t mean anything for the people who are protesting and whose basic needs are being threatened. CSE probably has some tricks on high decibel media managing act which goes very well with script the Mcmedia is given- the concerns are within the prescribed limit. How 'people like us' are threatened by Coca Cola Pepsi or for that matter anything else resonates well in the mainstream media. CSE is adept in the game.

Offcourse to be fair these finding do throw light on how crass and crude Coca cola –Pepsi are with health and life of consumers, a fact people at grass root level are very well aware. In the stampede for making more profit they cannot even purify the water. Cheap and easy money must have made them lazy!!. The show is about packaging and marketing- some glossy ads and deal is done. And what NGOs (very dubious people have got into the business of running NGOs. It seems to be the place for maximum lick in metros) like CSE is telling them is steal it but properly !!!. It’s about not rocking the applecart- meaning bad PR. Licking has become an art…with NGOs it has become a high ROI deal.

Followings the trails of pani chors….

Sometime back I was in Tamil Nadu on the trail of water thieves- pani chors as they known in North India. The visit to Kaladera, Rajasthan and Plachimada, Kerala (in here they are referred to as kolayali cola) few years back was send across to Crude Woman who dutifully communicated it to others- small pat for her. The copy of which is posted in Link: My blog ( www.sdepalan.blogspot.com). On my recent tour to Tamil Nadu I visited two sites of crime:

At Padathur in Shivganga District, Tamil Nadu :
Padathur is small village around 10Kms from the Shivganga district HQs, it is also an hour and half’s drive in Bus from the famous temple town Madurai. Padathur is a quiet little hamlet with some very poor people; there are bricked as well as thatched houses. The place is known for a sugar factory- Sakthi Sugar Mills. The village has a small temple at its entrance with a penchant for bells….it is possible that Gods here favor the offerings of bells or is it that people have decided among themselves that Gods are pleased with offering of bells?. There sure must be an interesting story here. As it was mid noon, quite hot and sultry I didn’t really find any one around (except one who was sleeping under the tree, there were also some shops near by) to ask these, further I had got this infection -conjunctivitis and my eyes were burning so I didn’t want to spend too much time here. Puduthur is a very unlikely place for any action. Sakthi Sugar Mill is 3kms interior and decided to walk the distance- as public transport are once in an hour, every few minute sugarcane laden truck headed towards the Mill. Later I happen to interact with a farmer who had come to sell his truck load of sugarcane- he treated me to a tea and dry peas ‘because I was the guest he the host’ he said. He refused to be photographed. He mentioned that sugar was sold to mill at the rate of 1050Rs per ton. That’s like one Rupee a Kg!!. Which I thought was less. But he was quite satisfied with the price “a good quality cane will weigh a Kg…one rupee is not much but ok” he clarified. I also congratulated myself for managing a conversation in Tamil, a language I was speaking after quite a long time. The road to the mill was well tarred for an impoverished village, clearly it was meant for the mill. The main occupation of the people seems to be collecting water -the activity people engaged in, even in the hot sun. People had to walk a distance to collect water as you can see from the snaps. Although the land is basically arid and dry, one spot on the way was green and cultivating sugarcane- a crop one knows is a water intensive. This was peculiar and I saw hose supplying enough water and some villagers crowding to collect water. This inequity is not surprising since Tamil Nadu despite its Dravidian upheaval, Justice movements in early last century has remained quite a feudal society and sometimes violently casteist. Tamilians as I see are one of the most hardworking people but mostly exploited. These are the kinds of place where Cocacola-Pepsi can easily tighten their strangle. In recent times there has been attempt by Cocacola-Pepsi to not be seen as exploiter the reason why they outsourced the sucking of ground water to Sakthi mills. There was a huge offer to Sakthi mills. I spend sometime interacting with the lady who runs a tea shop opposite the mill. She has been running it for last 19 years (or was it 29 years?) from the time the mill had started. The property around her has been bought by the mill, they offered her some money to vacate but she refused. One of her conditions was that her son should be given permanent job at the mill. She earns around 1000Rs per month from the shop which she is better than what casual labours are paid in the mill -around 65Rs for men and 55Rs for women, for a day of backbreaking work.
The Cocacola-Pepsi outsourced water sucking for a month or so (as a trial run) at the rate of 75,000litres a day, but by then people became aware of the mischief. The villagers went on dharna and peace marches, most of the people of village participated, in particular the school children. Unlike at Plachimada in Kerala where the simmering resentment among the local people manifested itself as an angry protest only three years after the bottling plant began operations, the agitation here was a in a way pre-emptive one. It was alleged that the unit had plans to dig borewells up to a depth of 3,000 feet (900 metres) on the Vaigai riverbed, besides using the unutilised part of the quantum of water permitted (49 lakh litres a day) specifically for industrial use by the sugar mill. The plans would have affected the water supply to Sivaganga, Manamadurai and Thiruppuvanam towns and about 80 villages covered by the Comprehensive Drinking Water Supply Scheme, the requirements of which are now met by water from the Vaigai riverbed. The scheme covers more than 3.5 lakh people. Exposed to acute drought conditions for several years, the people of the district, particularly in the villages, have had little access to water. Finally the Cocacola-Pepsi had to pack their bag and run. A case of successful campaign by the villagers.

At Gangaikondan in Thirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu:
Thirunelveli is a district located in south of Tamil Nadu state not far from western ghat mountain range. Tamiraparani is the river which flows through the region. Gangaikondan is around half an hour from Thirunelveli District HQ. As I got down from the bus at Gangaikondan the first thing which struck me was the place had a very plane surface with shrubs- very few trees or plants, found only in patches. This is Mars!!. I was told that Coca cola plant was located 4km inside. It is interesting since the Cocacola-Pepsi had made sure that their name is nowhere in the scene and have outsourced the sucking business to very tame sounding South India Bottling Company Ltd (SIBCL, almost a Public sector !! So cute). This funny statement of J. Ramamoorthy, SIBCL's executive director, I came across "We're not Coca-Cola. We're a franchisee. It is totally South Indian owned, and we're bringing in the money. Coca-Cola will merely provide the technology,". Wow. But the people when I asked about where this Company-SIBCL, was located showed ignorance only when I referred coca cola did they recognize!!. Since Cocacola-Pepsi was located in uninhabited surrounding (see in the photos the white spot as you approach that is Coke Pepsi factory!!!) I decided to take an Auto. As you approach the plant you cannot but think it as some alien spaceship!!. I read in a website about how people in this region stumble upon Coke factory, it is quite funny. "I literally stumbled upon the construction when I went looking for my cows," says S. Elosius, a resident of Thuraiyoor. "Here's a company set a kilometer off the road. Even when it's fully constructed, people can't see it," he says. "How can it be that it is the area's largest investment, and I come to know of it only by accident two months after construction has begun?". Local residents and public interest organizations say there is undue secrecy surrounding the project. Dr. R. Murugesan, a professor and district vice president of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, has strong words about government agencies. "It is not possible to find out anything relevant about the project beyond what little information the company has made available. The Pollution Control Board and the District Collector are against public interest. The Collector claims he knows nothing. But we hear that heavyweights in the ruling party are backing the project," he says (statements taken from the Net). The little information I could gather was that the unit covers an area of around 32 acres inside the SIPCOT complex, spread over an area of 2,500 acres in Gangaikondan. The lease period for companies coming up in the complex is 99 years. SIPCOT can draw upto 45 lakh litres per day . The coke unit alone willget 5 lakh litres everyday (there is however confusion regarding this with contradictory claims). The water will be drawn from theTamiraparani river in Seevalaperi, some 14 km from the site. There is something more to it, as I was going through the web sites a pattern I was quite familiar with emerged. The plant is in a depression in an area fed by the Semboothu springs. Groundwater quality in the area is excellent. Parameters such as chloride and hardness are well within permissible levels. If groundwater is used for bottling, purification costs would be very low. Further there only two other industries located on this industrial estate all 2,000 acres of it are empty otherwise!!!.

The reason why the industrial estate is empty is in the socio-historical nature of the place. These information I found in the Net: Residents of the Manur Panchayat Union, within which Gangaikondan village falls, are predominantly Pallars, a Dalit (former untouchable) caste. The Dalit uprising of the 1990s saw scores settled for centuries-old oppression - primarily with the upper caste Thevars. P. Kirupairaj, a member of Puthiya Thamizhagam - a Dalit political party led by Dr. K. Krishnaswamy - explains the dilemma that Pallar residents face. "The reason why some people support the project is probably because it's been 15 years since SIPCOT started and there have been no takers. Some people feel that this area is being neglected because we're Pallars, and that it is unwise to oppose the first company that comes here. People feel that resistance is futile; that all this is fated and that we don't really have a choice." Kirupairaj however is quick to point out the fallacy in the belief that locals really don't have a choice. "We have won significant victories in our struggle against discrimination. It is known that when we (Pallars) set our minds on something, we persist till we win. We have to make our people aware of the potential benefits and the dangers. Even now, we're not opposing all projects. Only projects like Coca-Cola that pose a threat to our water resources," he says. Quite remarkable these statements considering the socio-economical conditions in which they live.
Lets now look at the events folded since the Cocacola-Pepsi landed here. When Coke first approached Gangaikondan Panchayat President Kamsan for approval, he granted it (don’t be shocked by the name, anti-brahmanical names are very popular in Tamil nadu). He said he had granted permission as the company had all the necessary government approvals. He had not seen the allotted plot or read any of the material that the South India Bottling Company Limited had given him. When the local resistance to the company gathered momentum, Kamsan cancelled the permission given to the South India Bottling Company Limited and also passed a resolution in the panchayat to that effect. Later that day, he passed another resolution giving the South India Bottling Company Limited permission again!!!!. When local reporters grilled him, he alleged thathad powerful people had threatened him over the telephone. Within few days of this incidence Kamsan died in suspicious circumstances. Most of the people whom I interacted are very clear on who killed Kamsan: ‘’it’s the people at the Coca cola’’. Offcourse this will never be proved, they have enough money and clout.
On Republic Day this year, gram sabha meetings -- which all villagers attend, as opposed to panchayat meetings, in which just the ward members and the panchayat president are present -- were held all over Tamil Nadu. At the Gangaikondan Gram Sabha meeting, a resolution was passed to cancel the license given to the South India Bottling Company Limited plant. The Manur Block Union -- which includes the Gangaikondan Panchayat -- was convened under heavy police cover. It approved the license given to the plant. Thus, the gram sabha verdict stood nullified. So although majority of people were against coke the Block Union which involves fewer people passed the resolution, quite democratically one must add. The apprehensions of the people did find echo in here too. "We don't know the full details of the project. This is the first big investment in our region. We can't reject the first investment that comes our way. We need the jobs," says A. Rajesh Babu, an elected councilor in Manur Panchayat union (from the Net). A section of local residents, particularly elected members of local governments have extended their support to the company. They argue that the company will bring much-needed jobs and boost the local economy. Company spokespersons go one step further to say that if the company runs into trouble here, other investors will refuse to set up in Gangaikondan. Ironically, the veiled threat of economic "untouchability" or a flight of capitalists comes less than a decade after Gangaikondan and nearby villages witnessed a three-year spate of bloody caste violence in the mid-1990s to end the practice of untouchability. Gangaikondan's fear of becoming "economically untouchable" seems to be one of several issues clouding what may be genuine concerns about the impact of a project that extensively uses local water resources (from the Net).
However in last year or so protests by locals have gathered momentum. Many local residents, political parties and environmentalists have raised concerns that the water-intensive plant will deplete and contaminate groundwater, and draw from Tamiraparani river that cannot fully meet even drinking water and agricultural needs of local communities. Local farmers are angry at even that amount of water being taken away from them. Various political parties as well as a broad range of groups, such as the South Tamilnadu Merchants Association and the Tamilnadu Government Employees Association participated in a rally, indicative of the growing discontent over Coca-Cola's operations in India. Interestingly a delegation from Gangaikondan visited Plachimada in early August 2005.
The argument of those opposing the project, like other places I visited, has to do with the fact that drinking water and agricultural requirements are not currently being met by the water allocations from Tamiraparani River. "Charity begins at home," says S. Sunderaraja Perumal, president of the District Congress Committee Tirunelveli (Urban). "Within the Tirunelveli corporation limit, there are four to five places where people take to the streets because they get no water or insufficient water. They are all Scheduled Caste (Dalit) people, some of whom live within 30 meters of the river. How can you take water for Coca-Cola when you haven't even provided drinking water to your population?" the Congress leader questions (taken from the Net). Perumal says he is not opposed to drawing Tamiraparani water for drinking purposes. "They're taking water for drinking water needs in Kovilpatti, Sankaran Koil. We're not opposed to that. But water cannot be put on sale to a company that uses water as the raw material and sells water as a product. 500,000 liters of water can comfortably take care of the water needs of 5000 people within Tirunelveli town," he says. R. Krishnan, a member of the Communist Party (Marxist) and former member of the state legislature, echoes Perumal's sentiment: "The difference is that this company is treating water as a raw material and selling it. That is wrong. SIPCOT's 4.5 million liter requirement is for the basic needs of industries that will come up in the industrial estate. Earmarking 10 percent of the total water intake for one company that occupies just 31 acres of a 2000-acre industrial estate is ridiculous." (taken from the Net).
While returning I had a cup of tea at a shop opposite the industrial estate. He was busy as a group of people had just ordered tea. What he manage to say was “people are against Coca Cola”. On the bus an elderly man smiled from the crowd. He was around 55 to 60 years and not wearing much cloth, a torn blue banyan, chek mundu and a plastic bag. He had a sturdy short body and a great smile. “ oongalle standill patha chu……(translate) I saw you at the auto rickshaw stand. You wanted to go to coca cola?.....did you go?” he asked. I nodded.
“I used to work at coca cola….”.
“Why you left the job” I asked.
“They gave only 70Rs per day now I work at a place where I get 100Rs and much less work” was his reply.
This is surely a statement on claims of employment generation by Cocacola-Pepsi (we know how bogus it is…meant to divide people). Further what is the cost of natural resources they steal??. While getting down the man informed with an endearing smile that his name was Kasumuthu (money boy literally!!) and I could call him for any job I needed him for. I wanted to take his photograph but it was too crowded and secondly I rarely take photos of the people on their face. I am very uncomfortable about it….it feels like objectifying people. While they speak I surreptitiously take out camera and click, almost an apology!!. They see it and laugh. I guess mobile phone cams are least intrusive, I am thinking of saving some money and buying one!!. Coming back to Kasumuthu he reminded me of Nanook of North!! (the legendary Robert Flaherty’s classic silent movie of 1922). The only difference being that he lives in surroundings where technological benefits are available unlike Nanook . But his life is still as tough as Nanook of North. Kasumuthu is Nanook of South!! At 60 odd age that is a real wrenching life. Thande ka thadka.