Tracking Pani chors Coca Cola Pepsi at Mehndiganj

It was on a very sunny bright morning that I decided to visit Mehndiganj, the site of protest by villagers against Coca Cola plant that has seriously depleted the groundwater of the region like anywhere else where these exploitative products have set up their shops --please go to My blog to know about miseries in Kaladera in Rajasthan, Plachimada in Kerala as also Gangaikondon & Shivganga in TN. It is shocking that common people have to pay more for water which is for basic needs and survival than these MNCs for luxury product not consumed by most people of the region (inset photo of Coca cola Pepsi man!!). It is equally shocking that there are no laws to prevent these exploitations. Till recently there was no much concern about land being taken from poor people for ‘development’, many had to sacrifice their life to make the government hear. Thousands of people have recently taken out a march to Delhi so as to force the complacent government to formulate laws. The ‘rising india’ with sensex touching 20000 doesn’t have a land policy (don’t even mention land reforms!! I really would like to know the ginni coefficient of India). And the PM I am told is ‘embarrassed’ over nuclear deal not being passed and the commies are ‘not very embarrassed’… all for the nation sake, the kinds of sacrifice these leaders do!!. There are no concrete laws regarding exploitation of natural resources for profit, it is a non issue when GDP and investments are bench marks of progress.

Pepsi- Coca cola have recently taken up the cause of water harvesting, teaching us mortals on these subtleties of conservation is joke gone too far. Many marketers who have gained from these and other exploitative and demeaning products/ads have also taken up ‘causes’ having fatten themselves, this is a new trend ‘the give back thing’, kind of PR work!!. People are not amused they want stricter laws not patronizing gestures by armchair intellectuals and the city based ‘activists’ with specific aim of stampeding studios and public space or some incentives from the government-its about building the clout. What shocks me is why is that people from these backwards region living in abject conditions have not become Naxalites and blown up these exploitative plants, Coca cola Pepsi have no business sucking public water. People in this part of the world have amazing tolerance, it is straining though (It is gladdening that Coca cola is kicked out of plachimada. Hurray for that). There is a need for policy on natural resources particularly water that forms the most basic need and therefore fundamental right. And the policy be very well the Law- transparent and understood by people.

Mehndiganj story is no different. Located at about 20 Kms from ancient city of Varanasi, it is a small fertile village few Kms inside the main road. There is no transportation to the village, I had to hitch hike a two wheeler already occupied by two people, the youngsters were quite glad since I had asked for Nandlal Master. Nandlal Master is a weaver who took up teaching children of the area and has since spearheaded the cause; he is a prominent and respected figure (also coordinator and founder of Lok Samithi. Email is napm_up@yahoo.com) and has also trained many youngsters for employment. After a bumpy ride I was dropped in front of a newly painted modest house. I had expected a elderly if not middle-aged man but Nandlal turned out to be a young man in his twenties, he had too many incidents to relate of how people expected him to be older!!.

Nandlal Master explained that the issue in Mehndiganj is multifold apart from exploitation of groundwater and pollution, there is a case of illegal occupation and evasion of taxes by Coca Cola. The Coca cola plant at Mehndiganj was bought from Parle in 1999, till then the extraction of water was ‘within limits’. After Coca Cola bought this plant it has been withdrawing 5Lakh liters of water per day using heavy duty borewells. According to a study the water table of the region has dropped by as much as 9feet, in a recent study the table has drooped further to 18feet (till 2006). The hand pumps with no or less water has increased from 7% to 43% in last few years. Also read Thanda- Hearted Matlab: Coca Cola in India by Shira Wolf (April 2005), Marching in the spirit of Gandhi –A case study into Gandhian elements of Lok Samithi movement in Mehndiganj (Dana Van Breukelen).

Second is the issue of pollution, the hazardous sludge from the factory has seriously affected the productivity of land in the region, frustrated by lack of accountability by the government agencies the villagers dumped the sludge at UP pollution control board office. Later the test conducted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has shown it to contain high level of lead (up to 538mg/kg), cadmium (up to 86mg/kg) and chromium (134mg/kg). Here in the photo Mr. Nandlal shows the sludge provided by Coca cola to Pollution board (which the protestors got hold of through RTI, after denied) and how it is different from the sludge they dumped. Coca Cola true to its character did try its best to scuttle the issue. Since then the Coca cola is dumping its waste in a nearby village (bikharipur- I bet this village is inhabited by SCs & other impoverished people, coca cola got its caste card right!!).

Third issue faced here is the illegal occupation of land by Coca Cola. Court has found it guilty and has issued notices to vacate. In 2005 the pradhan of Mehndiganj, Ram Jivan Patel was dismissed by DM of Varanasi for illegally handing over the land to Coca Cola, he was bribed to sign the documents by Coca Cola (lucky fella since in Gangoikondon they killed the panchayat president- of course will never be proved).

Later that day after tea and home made savories, Mahendra a young man who also volunteers for Lok Samithi took me to Coca cola premise on his bike. As I was taking photos the guards warned me of dire consequences. Mahendra kept the engine running so that I could get away. But I decided to confront the burly guard ‘if I have the freedom to take the photos of Rashtrapathi bhavan why can’t this damn factory? Is it holding national secret?”. The guard, poor man, requested not to create problem for him. And so we moved on and I was dropped to the bus stand. No boondh boondh kushi kushi here!!.

Post Script: it is interesting that some metro based NGO(dealing with education) tried to buy Nandlal and his NGO (of course they were shown the door). This is precisely how they function usurping the hard work of common people and their commitment, dedication…and package it for their gain and clout. It is a huge business in cities, adept in their game they work with remarkable dexterity. They sniff for saleable, media attuned, chic issues that also has an international audience. AIDs, even issues of women are elitist to elicit western response, Discriminations in west of 'people like us' ...are trendy issues. Then of course there are those poor people our heart beats for but no, no mudding hands, we drop in for photo op or we could discuss (surely an event- they are even ready to fly to different cities!) them in our sanitised backyard!!. So where is the menu chef?!!

The King of Chess

Anand is to chess what Pele is to football. He is an amazing champion of the game. I have followed Anand’s chess for sometime in late teens. I learned that e4 is the best first move from his games. I have strong liking for chess, it makes you think. I don’t recall when I learned this game since we had chess at home even before I was born. I was playing this game quite early. Those days I was not aware of castling as also that you have to say ‘check’ when attacking the King. King was attacked surreptitiously and the game was over!!. We also tried to distract the opponent when the King is on the line and presto the game is over!!. Since many of friends (in Primary school) didn’t know this game I mostly used to play this game alone on summer afternoons but we did had a round of chess after the dinner at home sometimes, and I did look forward to it.

In college when in hostel there was a chess playing group. We used to play almost every night the looser would sponsor the dinner. It was even money for me. I consider myself as an average and quite erratic when it comes to chess. For almost a decade I lost contact with chess, getting into the rut of finding a career and so on. Recently though I have started to play the game on Net, there really are some very smart players out there. I also have a software of chess in my comp. and by god it is quite tough!!. The guys who created these software are super genius.

Anand is too good a player, most importantly it is difficult to be consistent for so many years. I also have followed Kasporov’s game for sometime (he is now into Russian politics, very much a challenge to Putin!!. The way opposition is handled in Russia he could even be killed). I happen to see a documentary sometime back on how the Deep Blue Super computer may have had a human hand, it was quite controversial, Kasporov though did feel cheated. It seemed to be a marketing gimmick of colossal proportion.

Chess is an amazing invention and that it is contribution of Indians is quite heartening. Some of the chess moves are taken from real life, like the elephants that would run through the opponent with spears on it the reason why it has vertical and horizontal moves, I saw that in one of the channels.

A good game of chess can even refresh dullest of mind. So go ahead make the move!!

Not elementary Watson !!

Remember James Watson??. The guy who discovered the DNA structure (of Watson-Crick jodi)…well our dude has got a new occupation as spokesperson for White supremacist!!. Our man has finally stumbled upon some facts to confirm what folks at downtown hold not as matter of opinion. White man’s burden is getting heavier according to Watson. It is not denying that some do have the brain under the skin especially around the groin, few end up at shrink, many in TV studios as crusaders of freedom (honcho is counting the money there). It’s getting quite exciting outing in certain circles, I gather. Watson do like to see the world through his skin as some through cunt/dick (take your pick...i guess mentioning these makes me quite savvy!!...Er chooth monologue&salvation classic), sanity is causality. What sells is rightness if not righteousness (Y 4 Godsa!!)

Racism is touch word in this terrifically excitable world. Racism maybe a new term to people in this part of the world but in West it is taken as serious offence, more as an apology for atrocities of past that they do press the panic button at short notice. Racism or discrimination of any nature is undoubtedly unacceptable but it needn’t be confined to certain circles or societies. India I am told is against racism. Casteism is quite blatantly followed is just a coincidence. Cutaneous coloring could of course be taken care of with some expertly advised Fair & Lovely. India I am also told is a rising power (what’s that?!) and the celebration is on, the world has noticed and there is stampede in certain circles for maximum gain and acceptance, the positioning to Western sensibilities is on (secular fundamentalism is no coincidence). Gandhi has been branded and is a sell out. Some sections also believe that world is looking for India for solutions. 24x7 mirage works!!. Baird never conceived that one, why blame him the latest innovations (GMR-GiantMagnetoResistance, anyone?) will go mostly to monkeys to create more nuisance (also referred to as competence). The other day I had the humble experience of listening to a ring tone that carried the sound of fart!!. It is easy to stay smart these days, aint it dude!!. Mediocrity is matter of choice- the uses of democracy are many when needed or else we do have ‘self regulation’ exit route!!.

Since the world is looking for solutions for Racism we Indians need to respond with our great and ever growing ancient culture. Shall we recruit Champu Khan (with funny wig collection) as agent of change and spread the subtle message of Fair & Lovely?. Watson would surely agree on this the Africans could use some cream and get bit of IQ. Champu Khan may start his campaign with Nelson Mandela, present a carton of ‘Mardhon wali cream’. Any marketers dream come true photo op, social concern conveyed!!. Kab thak chup chup ke Mandelaji !!.

It is shocking that racism is practiced so blatantly in this part of the world, that it is part of psyche of majority of people particularly in the elite section. So much so racism issues encountered in West looks like a joke to most of us (Pawar included). Packing Gandhi to Western requirement does not make Indians civilized. When elected leaders also play the tune of marketers it seals the deal!. This blogger strongly demands Racist products be banned and any expressions of these not allowed in public space. If West has time to focus on Indian society they will see this region as the most racist of any group of people, non violently though!!. We don’t chase and bludgeon dark skinned people we present them Fair & Lovely, it is the Gandhian way!!. It is also our culture. We also live quite happily occasionally excited by leaf growing out of a child’s ear. The freak show is on, Honcho is counting, the world is invited!!.

Amazing win by Gobelin in Pune derby

Gobelin guided by Master Jockey Appu wins Pune Derby against all fancied horses in the field. It was an incredible race to watch, from being at dead last to win by almost three lengths in last 500ms (check video).

I have been to Pune Race course when I was school, also we used to watch races from the road behind the race course leading to AFMC where few of us classmates used to go for tuitions in our cycles…sometimes we got late because of it!!. My association with horses happened quite early, Pune is the place where I used to go for Horse riding early mornings, sometimes instead of regular ground we used to trot along the lanes, that was real fun (when Col. Rao was around he used to initiate these, he was cool fellow but very strict). Sometimes I used to carry jaggery in my pocket to feed the horse. My favourite horse used to be Anarkali, a mare. I used to so much like her that classmates got tired and some started to call me anarkali, that is how they stopped me!!. I used to spend lots of time reading about horses.

Jaipur also had a substantial presence of horses but I was bit too small, my neighbors boy was really into it (I suspect they have a horse now…Major BP Singh’s horses do run at Mumbai-Pune circuit). I went with him few times and watched from the sideline. I also got into riding in Transit camp Madras, but the ground was rough and dangerous.

Horses are amazing animals and its great fun to watch them galloping.

Tribute to pavement booksellers

I have always suggested that one should buy books from pavement vendors. They sell second hand books as also books that are photocopies of popular, bestsellers. It is always a good bargain. I hold the view that once the books are sold enough it can be photo stated, the authors have already got the money and the publishers shouldn’t be allowed to make too much money from what is not because of their talent. Some of these suckers have made more than enough money. Most market driven publishing firms (at least the one’s that have shops in India) don’t even have any literary sensibilities, so yes they should be allowed to make what is due but beyond that it needs to go to the guys at the pavement. In many cases these people on the streets have been selling books for decades and have much knowledge about literary merit of a book or author. This blogger has mostly bought books from the pavements or second hand shacks whether in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai Kolkota….you name it!!. Many of these sellers (particularly the old timers) have astounding knowledge of books. I recall distinctly the man at Nehru Place pavement in Delhi who also dabbled in portrait sketching to pass time. I used to take his suggestions seriously. Poor fellow many a times had to pack and vanish because of ‘municipality walleh’.

Buying new books nowadays is an investment, most costing not less than 300 odd rupees (they are now in dollars and pounds!!). So I have to be convinced before I venture. In last two years or so I have bought only two odds books from bookstalls one was very recent (The Islamist-500 odd Rs is quite costly!!) another was on Horse racing the one I just couldn’t get from pavement despite some frantic search. Next would be Naipaul as and when it is out, one may not agree with some of his views but he is brilliant, and makes me think (even in the areas one may not agree there is an element… some disturbing hints of truth), that is an incentive enough to buy.

Actually I am quite ambivalent when shelling out money for new books, for some precious moments I do entertain the idea of putting the money on horse!! (the reason probably I haven’t bought too many new books recently!!. Further reading on the Net is absolutely fantastic). Putting it on winner Colt or Filly is not a bad idea, though!

This blogger strongly suggests readers to buy books from pavements, it is cheap, you can bargain and yes you may end up stumbling upon something rare!. Long live second hand book sellers!!

****

Please visit http://burmamyanmargenocide.blogspot.com/and vote for "How can we remove tyrant government of Burma (Myanmar)?" from the options (almost 60% of people have voted for "Send in UN troops and hold elections").

Below is the Picture of Japanese Journalist being killed cold blooded by Brutal Junta of Burma, although the dictators deny but hundreds of people are being detained and killed in this country. Shame on Indian government for dealing with this regime (yah sure Gandhian!!). If China doesn't take action now Boycott Beijing Olympics.

To bring down ruthless dictators of Burma boycott …

People of Burma (Myanmar) are being ruthlessly oppressed for about two decade now. It is therefore not surprising that the recent popular and peaceful uprising against the junta has been brutally dealt. According to the reports emerging from this unfortunate country- clandestinely available on Net, thousands of people are illegally detained, killed or seriously assaulted. Dictators are also quoted saying yesterday that Aung Sang Suu Kyi ‘should not pursue confrontation’! The fact that she has been in house arrest for a decade, the fact that democracy has been cruelly suppressed is a coincidence!. Burma junta is a shame on humanity. The international community need to intervene and sought out this problem. If UN cannot do anything here then its credibility in handling such crisis is questioned. It is paving way for violent societies.

Propriety or rightness should predominate strategic interest, ideally. While India did some Gandhian talk in UN about non violence in the sidelines they were negotiating with Burma!!. Diplomacy almost always lack sensitivity to reality, propriety. It is a kind of custom meant for media, the smile, shaking hands, so on. This meeting was ‘strategic’ I am told. To help us people. Most of the ministers (and babus) who are desperately trying to help us Indians have spend almost all their life in few Kms of Delhi is also not a coincidence.

The concerns of Indians are not entirely unfounded since the border with Burma is a very sensitive and vulnerable region. Also China it seems is having a march over India in this region. The ‘balancing act’ by India has more to do with these realities. Of course that doesn’t take Indians out of blame.

The Dictators of Burma get their support from China is not rocket science. China has been sustaining these dictators for more than a decade or so for its ‘strategic interest’ is very clear (the kind of things ‘leaders’ do for people is astounding!!). China in recent months is trying to show its best behavior to international community since it is hosting Olympics. So it doesn’t want to be seen on wrong foot. It has rectified its stands in Darfur after coercion (not the least by Spielberg). Precisely that is how Junta in Burma could be brought down. If China doesn’t act now then the Olympics are in peril. Ideally sports should be kept away from politics but we are not living in ideal world. This suggestion might seem a bit hyperbolic but 18 years of brutality is too long a period. It is time to think in terms of boycotting Beijing Olympics.

Protest killings by Dictators in Burma

Killer Junta of Burma

Building Developments (a poem and some reality!!)

Building Developments

Munching pieces of sky
swallowing land from deep
it grows and grows
into symbols of development
of prosperity.

Evicting a fondness
scratching some memories,
exposed to alien sights, new sounds,
a cry muffles itself
desperately seeking solace
and cling
in my thought
in stray recollections
and stranger I get
stranger I get…

I would be the last person to be against development and prosperity. A prosperous society gives people more comfort. But I really am very confused about what really ‘development’ means. I always had dislike for big buildings but I guess lack of space will lead to vertical growth, multistoried buildings/flats are inevitable. However the mindset that dominates the designs of these buildings is appalling, if not unethical. The glasshouses will suck more electricity, heat the surroundings and eventually burdens society, wonder why the government has not come with any building guidelines (or is it part of ‘freedom of expression’ or keep the govt out (you know the groovy world of self regulation: the latest fad?!). These buildings are sickening sight. At a level it smacks of arrogance in rejecting traditional wisdom. Implanting designs from Las Vegas or Dubai is not my idea of smartness. The problem here is that the foolishness of these people has started to affect us common people, more significantly the very existence of our planet. So when they talk of ‘energy security’ they need to focus on consumption pattern also, rather than only production increase.

These buildings are also responsible for quarrying for sand, causing untold miseries to the vulnerable local population as also leading to environmental catastrophe in and around these areas of ‘development’. It is shocking they are able to innovate buildings to take care of all needs, comfort and luxury but the basic ingredients still remains sand, gravel….that are obtained by plundering surrounding. Why are there no technological substitution for these?. Isn’t it time some brilliant guys invent a substitute for sand and mass produce it? For the astounding constructions happening in metros, sand mining is done in outskirts, from ponds and river beds (even soil is used as substitute). There is an environmental catastrophe unfolding here. Some excerpts from Net:

Sand mining is a disaster happening on colossal scale. With Many rivers are vanishing because of sand mining. Ground water tables plummet, resulting in scarcity of drinking water. Water scarcity is more severe in rural areas as illegal mining creates ecological imbalance. Every year, thousands of cubic metres of sand is removed from the riverbeds. Due to endless sand mining, the depth of the rivers enhances and the mud walls on either side collapse posing a major threat to nearby houses and farms. Trees on the banks are also uprooted. The absence of sand on the riverbed affects the velocity of the water flow, making it violent during monsoons. Saline water also enters the river easily, especially in summer. Lowering of water table has accelerated the intrusion of saline seawater into the main river. Uncontrolled sand mining has damaged the river's ecosystem as well, destroying the habitats of organisms living on the riverbed. Fish breeding and migration - the fish move between marine and freshwater habitats during spawning - have been affected because of sand mining and the check dams constructed on the river. The river is also a source of food for many bird species such as egrets, storks, terns and sandpipers. Sand mining has put a question mark over their very survival. Worse still, species seen in the sea are moving up, and this indicates more saline water in the river. (Inputs from indiatogether.com)

Further, is opening of huge buildings housing jewellery shops or retail shops (bigger and uglier) really development as we see in many of small towns ??. Hopefully there will be concrete/sustainable development in terms of meaningful, gainful employment. So that youngsters don’t have to migrate to different cities and live in appalling and alienating surroundings.

At personal level I haven’t seen the kind of growth in multistoried (and demolishing of old building) building that has been happening for last 5-6years, it is astonishing. Change is inevitable but when certain places ensconce so many fond memories there is also certain wariness, a pain that cannot really be quantified. There is a sense of loss. Mind looks out for reference point/ familiarity, which is what memories provides this loss breaks that bond.

So where really is your home??

The sage says: Your home is where your mind is.
And what happens when the mind start to loose, the links…?
The answer:….(silence)
Aha !!!. Now I get it. Did you hear that snap of fingers?!!.

Alternative scene (practical): Game of chess (apologies to Ingmar Bergman!!. He was brilliant wasn’t he??)

Asks Death: what’s your next move
Human: (doesn’t answer, is wistful, not apprehensive)
Death: You know you can’t win this game.
Human: (finally he can smile)
Death (taken aback): That is unfair you know the end (screams and vanishes)

Human triumphs !!.

An attempt on Religion, Art and Abstraction

Secularism is an important understanding. This blogger is a great admirer of Indian understanding of secularism that is each religion is a way of understanding and reaching God. I am quite a skeptic of western secularism which tends to draw a line between faith and everything else, reducing religion to isolation or ridiculed into irrational or superstition. It is not at all surprising since in West religion has had history of atrocities on secular activities- the ‘dark ages’ wherein anything that contradicted the religion were prosecuted. Since religion in West did intrude/contradicted the secular, the rational, Renaissance (to some extend even Protestants) was a reaction, an outburst for individuality, an attempt to claim public space, assertion of freedom of expression. Secularism therefore was an attempt to keep religion away from public space. Further as a reaction it became acceptable to ridicule or lampoon religious symbols taken to extreme in the name of freedom of expression.

This idea or practice of secularism maybe acceptable in West since it follows their narration but to apply that to other societies is flawed. This alien understanding can be a cause of discontent. Of course there definitely are universal elements like on Truth as also criticizing inhuman practices, upholding sacredness of individual rights which can be trampled even by religion that has no reference point to west (followers of Hinduism did heinous crimes is on record but the religion as such was open to experimentation on ideas and thinking). The Western understanding of secularism does have some of the positives that need to be cherished.

Freedom of Expression defines civilized society. Every individual should have the right to explore life to his/her potential (here it needs to be pointed out that every individual is creative in their own way and that creativity is not confined to certain occupations, to get precedence). Any hindrance to this is curtailing of human rights. However since we live in society it has to work in context, there is a need to strike balance particularly when it is the question of faith. All faith (crystallized as Religion) works at two level: One is symbols that are holy scriptures, places of worships, images of god/holy figures and so on that are venerated. Second is the level that transcends these, spiritual- to put it in words, where one understands meanings beyond these symbols, have an enlightened encompassing faith and so world view. The intention of all religions and great saints is to take humans to this level of understanding. It is a path, it is a process that is very individual. Even in collective participation the change has to be from within.

However despite these egalitarian intentions of Religion most people find it difficult to take the path, it maybe due to various factors most prominent being getting into the rut of occupations to survive. Therefore except minuscule percentage of people most very strongly associate with symbols and therefore cause of strife if stifled with. Taking the specific instance of painters (artists who seems to have monopoly over creativity!!) since they have been in controversy in recent times it need be stressed that an evolved artist will have an empathic understanding of predicaments of people vis a vis faith. Therefore he/she will respect the images that are revered by common people. Further if the intention is to explore ideas, truth and so on then an evolved artist (necessarily an evolved individual) will be subtle. It will be more abstract involvement. Contrast this with arrogance of our time and the attempt to teach ‘freedom for expression’. The world has become very complicated and artists (as also common people who are artists in their own way!!) needs to understand the context in which they function, it is not limitation but challenge.

What we see now is crasser version with specific aim to be controversial and benefits from spin off. We live in morass of the time with market force influence as also media. Catching the public space by whatever means has become an in all (most artists-painters I know at personal level were scoundrels to say the least, so the egalitarians versions of people associated with art is definitely not true nor are they progenies of renaissance). The media for their own reasons will not explore this but most people are very antagonistic about the way market has encroached into their life. So when it comes to Gods they revere it can go out of hand. As a reaction people have become quite vicious in their response which is manipulated by political party and media. Whatever maybe the reason for difference to call for killing someone for transgression is heinous and cause of worry. Hooligans are nobody to decide and should have no space in civilized world.

Coming to Hindu Gods/Goddesses the pictures have a context and stories (some local some mainstream) which most Hindus are aware of. So it is not open for anyone to work on, you are treading on serious repercussion here. Private involvement with God need remain private, the different depiction they are quoting was not meant for market consumption. There is a stampede going on to make private public, and seen as some kind of achievement, maybe but Gods or religious symbols are not private; it is shared by millions of people at a very intimate level. You are taking things out of context for market which will not be tolerated by most people. Also understand we are living in a world of TRPs and political parties so sometimes minor issue can get exploded. Who gets benefits from these controversies need be studied, secular fundamentalists cannot be ruled out.

If people are worked up too much in their arrogance they can very well start their own religion!!. But the symbols revered by millions of people cannot be vandalized, Danish cartoons are unacceptable. Art is subtler form of life. Freedom for expression is not a license for playing with faith and belief of common people and whatever little they have left to revere (one need to understand their insecurities and predicaments in life). This blogger request the Government to have stricter laws in matter of religious symbols/ holy texts of all religion like the one associated with nation state- flag and so on. Western narrations cannot work in this part of the world nor their understanding of secularism that some have got tutored having spent most time in that part of the world and now want to teach us, the arrogance is astounding. It is not about morality but contemporary need. It is not about freezing life but exploring its intricacies and challenges. Evolving is about abstraction and not borrowing images revered by millions as part of faith, soul. Maybe when everyone is enlightened then significance of symbols/God will be understood. Also maybe then there will be realization that life is more abstract; there is less to explore in religious symbols. People have much serious problems that need to be addressed. Mischief is win-win for certain section but for common people it is another burden they can do without.
Post script: I came across these lines in The Kite Runner ‘When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness’. How could anyone ever miss a book that has such incredible lines?

Why we should read ‘The Islamist’, and some personal recollections

‘The Islamist’ is a path breaking book in many ways. It is one of those rare books that have become generic reference to Islamic fundamentalism: Islamist is now a reference to far right in Islam. ‘The Islamist’ is a candid insight into contemporary mindset that breeds fundamentalism, in specific reference to follies of Britain that unfortunately impacts the world- more to this subcontinent because of embryonic ties of the elite. It is an autobiographical journey of young man Ed Husain (Ed since he found in his journey to understand Islam- in Damascus, that Mohammad ‘was an honored name reserved to Prophet, and not to be used in vain’), he traveled right through slush of fundamentalism and radicalism into world of enlightenment and understanding. It is compelling story, a life worth knowing. Each word he writes exudes his experience, his search that I find so very riveting. To some extend it is a study on contemporary world, although richer societies but it rings in here too. Further it is beyond proof that Britain is a breeding ground radical elements, a launch pad. The humane concern of ‘The Islamist’ is what transcends boundaries.

There are many things he writes that I also identify with strongly (as most of you will). Although I had not much to do with far right but in college had brush with Communism (peripheral level at JNU) . There is no difference between ideology based organized groups whether Religion or Marxism initiated, that uproot from sorroundings. So I do identify the initial fervor Ed experienced as ‘brother’ (replace that with ‘comrade’ or sagav). To escape ragging in first year of college I started to hang around with ‘comrades’ whom nobody touched. The very first month I was locked up in toilet –in the lodge next to the college since most first years don’t get hostels, and asked to draw the top view, side view of the closet…which they found to be appropriate dimensions after few hours, this ‘mild’ form of ragging took serious abuse to some whom I knew so I immediately took refuge under comrades who had a very strong presence in the college, many stayed nearby. I started to drop into their meetings and listen to discussions; they discussed ‘imperialistic forces’ to policies of state government- grand thoughts, in Malayalam it sounded grander!! Unlike Ed I thankfully didn’t submerge into these groups. I had other circles wherein we went to kovalam and other beaches and did lots of crap still not clear whether good or bad but I had a yen for foreigners those days (‘hey saippu where you from?!!”). Comrades were quite serious and focused people. They did serious planning like thinking up the slogans, going to the college at night and pasting posters that I also took part few times. At one level I found them quite admirable beyond a point very boring!!. Those days college atmosphere had become quite tense due to fight between parties very much supported by outside elements the main being SFI (the student group of Left) and ABVP (the hindu wing). There were night attacks on hostels with knifes, reported quite prominently in news papers even the CM that time E.K. Nayanar visited our Hostel (I liked that man very much, he had great sense of humor) and asked for calm. We like minded students I recall went around the college with guitars and so on singing Lennon’s ‘all we are saying give peace a chance’!!!. Never heard that song before but took liking to it immediately (Lijo-I recall, who headed the band considered himself a ‘born again’. Most ‘born again’ compulsorily had guitars!!). My association with comrades came to an abrupt end when they broke and stamped the image of Goddess Saraswathi that ABVP had put for some function. Saraswathi is Goddess I favored and prayed since childhood (half an hour daily in the evening), albeit I rebelled out as a teenager and rarely went to temple except on some auspicious days but treating Goddess you have somewhere in mind with such appalling manner can hurt deeply. Hence forth I had nothing to do with comrades (Hanish Mohammad though was an exception, nice guy he was and I did vote for him for college chairperson, he now is a senior bureaucrat is heartening). I agree with Ed when he uses the word ‘secular fundamentalists’, these people can be very damaging, they live out of religion fundamentalism, they get their identity from these so in certain way keep radical elements alive by instigations and hyperbolic reactions. Market forces have emboldened them recently.

I also identify with Ed’s revelation through Sufi in particular Rumi. Rumi (Sufism) at one time I read everything about. He was amazing. There is an unfortunate incident that I would like to relate here. Iranian cultural centre had organized a talk on Rumi for which I went with lots of expectation and excitement. Everything went fine till one Indian muslim (fundamentalist to core) objected to the translation of a verse wherein ‘guru’ was used. He said that was Hindu word, the Iranian tried to explain that it is as good as English and we need to get to the essence of the word and verse but the Indian was adamant and stalled the event for sometime, I left very disheartened. Rumi is beyond all this crap.

Amartya Sen’s writing on ‘more to identity than religion’ Ed experiences in Syria. At one stage he is exasperated “….. such questions of ‘origin’ infuriated me. I would argue that the millions of Syrians from coastal regions crossing into Lebanon could not possibly claim to be ‘Arab’. They were a conquered people. If they could become Arab by virtue of speaking Arabic, rejecting their Phoenician heritage, and accepting islam, then I was British by virtue of birth, upbringing…..” . Later there is a reference to ‘Turkish occupation of Syria’ which Syria resents even today.

I always used to wonder on British giving asylum to known terrorists in 1980s and 1990s, my conclusion was ‘arrogance and chickens came home to roost’ but Ed enlightens through one Bernie “…allowing Omar to stay in Britain will give them a good start, a diplomatic advantage, when they have to deal with Islamic state. Having Omar serves them well in future. M15 know exactly what we are doing, what we are about, and they have given green signal to operate in Britain”. Now that is interesting!!. I never underestimated deviousness of British elite, it is about packaging as 'multiculture'/'freedom of expression'!!

‘The Islamist’ is an important book of the time in which we live. It is a strongly suggested book, this blogger hopes it will be translated in as many languages as possible. Ed’s life need to be read. Albeit I am not much of a British admirer nor I agree with lines like ‘Saddam Hussein effectively invited the US army to invade Iraq by playing cat-and-mouse games with UN arms inspectors”. Despite these small differences this book is a book of hope and sanity in an increasingly radicalizing world.

The Kite Runner of Khaled Hossieni is another book I read recently (The fact that both these books are from Islamic world is quite a coincidence and not an attempt on ‘secularism’!!. Don’t make me cringe!!). The Kite Runner is a quite a warm story written in first person on the events in Afghanistan. The demise of Afghan society is narrated in all its poignancy. I rather enjoyed reading about kites, kids running to catch fallen kites hence the name of the book ‘kite runner’. The story too ends with flying kites in USA and hopes for a new beginning. It is a good book, I don’t like nitpicking but how will a kid who has all his life lived in most depraved condition in Taliban Afghanistan know about usage of napkins in the first few instance!! “…some of it dripped from the corner of my lips. Sohrab handed me a napkin and watch me dab at my lips…”(page 280). I am pointing out since as a reader it was jarring out- western sensibilities, not a big deal though and I could be wrong!.

The Kite Runner is a great book I liked it very much, although the reason I bought was the cover -the kid and the title. It reminded me of my childhood (I even had that type of T shirt and white PT shoes, just about that age!!). In Jaipur kite flying was one big event. For three years I was really really into kite flying while schooling in Jaipur. Makker Sankranthi is the day to be in jaipur. They even had lamp kites for night!!. We used to call our principal in school ‘chand dhara’ which was name of a kite, the fellow was bald and nasty!!(name of kite varied according to design). Running for katti pathang was another major occupation. Many of language usage in here centered around kite flying like if somebody said something you don’t believe then we say ‘deel deel’ and make action of charkha in hand and so on. I was reminded of words that I had long past lost (some similar to afghani): dori, manja, kanni….and most importantly the excitement of woh katiya hai….the anthem, the unparalleled victory song!!. Three years in Jaipur was like a dream for any kid.

The Kite Runner I would strongly recommend. I bought it from the pavement for 50Rs and I suggest you too.

Gentlemen’s fate !!

There is a thing about fate the more you keep it precious intriguing it gets. Intriguing for people who have no say. Matter of opinion for people who decide. In case of gentlemen’s game it is about bad decisions. It is about batsman looking up at the sky and cursing his fate, commentators sharing his predicament albeit between shrieks. And then the world is back to normal.

Umpiring in cricket has been questioned, the technological innovations have shown many a time that umpires have erred but then fate has something else to say on these worldly matters. The excitement of succumbing to fate has its own charm in gentleman’s game. The predominance of right decision over umpire’s folly will give away the fun. It is also about great burden of tradition that some are meant to carry at whatever the cost.

People watch cricket to see the best side win, the best player perform, umpires are just the facilitators. They have absolutely no other role to play. The rightness of the decision is what matter and not the idiosyncrasies of the man who happens to arbitrate. If the technological innovation has helped in reaching right decision then that is what matters. It seems in gentlemen’s game an umpire epitomizes qualities of gentleman meaning the British understanding of rightness (which our very own Gandhi took some pride!). The umpires it seems are ordained to carry this British rightness till the redemption day, players live a cursed life in this world view, audience get better understanding on destiny while the commentators can add factors like ‘umpire’s decision’ to ‘pitch behavior’ in their dreary life.

Britishers, as usual were never really right. They created rightness in what was wrong like following rules while colonizing a country and exploiting people, like recently attacking a sovereign nation flaunting all known international rules and norms and still claiming right. The weight of carrying the right at the expense of wrong is the tradition the umpires in cricket field bear, what better setting than Lords!!. So Sachin Tendulkar can now pay obeisance at Tirupathi and appease God in his favor, after all it sure is bad luck to be at the receiving end of wrong decisions more than many occasion in recent past. The fault obviously is with God. God now have to match wits with umpires. The britishness of things!!. Recently though Coconuts have taken over to carry the burden. The rules for rules sake, the rules for us to have control.

Umpires are about power, the authority to decide, the finality of things. As carrier of British rightness they are symbol of supreme that cannot be questioned even if it is a blatant mistake, nothing can predominate their verdict, it goes to eternity, etched in time. God has but to accept!!. It is about ‘you may be good player or bowler but you cannot defeat the fate’. The charm of ‘make or break’ held by least of talented is what history is all about, and struggle against gives charm of a good story. Any takers!!

Is Nuclear Energy the Energy of the future?

Einstein’s equation E= mc2 changed the way we understand Energy. A small mass could produce immense energy since it is multiplied by square of speed of light (which is 3x10^8m/s square and that is whooping 9x10^12m/s!!). Now that is huge amount of energy, the destructive power of which was demonstrated in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Children are taught in school about controlled chain reaction, that is, channelising this fission energy for beneficial purpose. There is huge energy to tap. Many nuclear reactors are constructed around the world for this purpose.

When other source of energy are depleting, nuclear energy looks like a hope. The capacity of Non conventional energy or renewable source like the wind or solar or geothermal seems to be very limited at this stage although they remain the most environment friendly. The need for reducing green house gases has led to attempts in decarbonising energy source. It is clear that nuclear energy will not fulfill all the energy need of the future but it will significantly supplement. This blogger will advocate nuclear energy provided three conditions are fulfilled.

One is the key issue of safety and disposal of waste
This line I came across in the Net expresses the predicament regarding radioactive nuclear waste. ‘The stuff we are dealing with can’t go away until it decays. You can containerize it, solidify it, immobilize it and move it, but you can’t make it go away’ (James D. Werner, Scientific American, May 1996). Typically, a large nuclear power plant of generating capacity of 1000 MW electricity produces ‘around 27 tonnes of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), 310 tonnes of intermediate-level and 460 tonnes of low level radioactive waste. The amount of HLW worldwide is estimated to be currently increasing by about 12,000 metric tons every year. The level of radioactivity and half-lives of radioactive isotopes in low-level waste are relatively small. Storing the waste for a period of 10 to 50 years will allow most of the radioactive isotopes in low-level waste to decay, at which point the waste can be disposed of as normal refuse. Most of the radioactive isotopes in high-level waste emit large amounts of radiation and have extremely long half-lives (some longer than 100,000 years), creating long time-periods before the waste will settle to safe levels of radioactivity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is promoting acceptance of some basic tenets by all countries for radioactive waste management. These include: (i) securing acceptable level of protection of human health; (ii) provision of an acceptable level of protection of environment; (iii) while envisaging (i) and (ii), assurance of negligible effects beyond national boundaries; (iv) acceptable impact on future generations; and (v) no undue burden on future generations. There are other legal, control, generation, safety and management aspects also. The radioactive waste management approach is to consider the nature of radioactive elements involved in terms of their half-lives and then choose the appropriate method of handling.
1) If the concentrations of radioactive elements are largely short-lived, then one would resort to what is referred to as ‘delay and decay’ approach; that is, to hold on to such a waste for a sufficiently long time that the radioactivity will die in the meanwhile.
2) Second approach is to ‘dilute and disperse’ so that the hazard in the environment is minimized.
3) But when the radioactivity is long-lived, the only approach that is possible is to ‘concentrate and contain’ the activity. In order to carry out concentrating the waste (generally the sludge), chemical precipitation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis and natural or steam evaporation, centrifuging, etc. are resorted to. The resulting solids are highly concentrated in radioactivity.

Triet Nguyen, Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, has written in an article ‘High-level Nuclear Waste Disposal’, (1994) that “High-level nuclear waste from both commercial reactors and defence industry presents a difficult problem to the scientific community as well as the public. The solutions to this problem are still debatable, both technically and ethically ... . There are many proposals for disposing high-level nuclear wastes. However the most favoured solution for the disposal of these wastes is isolating radioactive waste from man and biosphere for a period of time such that any possible subsequent release of radionuclides from the waste repository will not result in undue radiation exposure”.

The gist here is although we are aware of the dangers of radioactive wastes but we still don’t have a very safe method of disposal of nuclear waste as also monitoring system for these. Also safety issue within the nuclear reactor is another major concern. Chernobyl was an eye opener and so are many of the places where nuclear reactors are located, it has adverse affect on human population (I saw a documentary on this long time back….by Anant Patwardhan?).

Second is the issue of sharing this source of energy. Why is that only some countries allowed the access to nuclear energy? What is so special about USA or India that it can use this energy while countries like Iran or Sri Lanka is denied? Scientists in particular Einstein did it for the sake of humanity, meaning it should not have any geographical limitations. It will be in the interest of international community if these installations are under control of international agencies like IAEA or UN.

Third is the most significant one and that is there should be a standard formulated to distinguish peaceful use of nuclear energy from military. Military use of nuclear technology that is Bomb making should be outlawed (cartoon taken from Net). Nuclear bombs are not only anti human it is against the very survival of life. Nobody can win a nuclear war. And so the nuclear arsenals in USA or Britain should be decommissioned and dismantled or transferred to UNSC for ‘minimum deterrence’ from any rogue nation. (Since USA dependents on world market to sell its product the countries could take measures to hurt US economy, the crux is that countries stockpiling nuclear weapons should be dealt at the societal and individual level internationally). If this is not done then every country in the world has sovereign right to defend itself, democratic Iran in specific. The Iran issue also has to do with religion. The reason why American administration is so vehemently protesting is because Iran is a Muslim country. The far Right in USA (that control the Bush & Co.) doesn’t want Iran to get the bomb for this very reason (I happen to watch Christiana Amanpour’s God’s Warrior in CNN recently. It is a must watch). A pastor even advocated attacking Iran to prevent it from making nuclear bombs!!. It is shocking how the product of Science and Technology (which they don’t believe in et al evolution) should be the reason for superiority claim. Also the paradox of claim of peace by the religion and WMDs in the backyard!!. The duplicity is astounding!!.

The nuclear deal of US with India if it contains provisions on Military use should be rejected. The political parties protest doesn’t seem to be on these lines. Sitaram Yechury (comrade who loves camera and studios) was quoted saying deal would take away ‘sovereign right to nuclear test’. Such an appalling statement.

Clearly society cannot solely depend on thermal or hydroelectric means for energy; the environmental ramification is significant, further it may not be able to provide for exponential energy demands. The need for ‘decarbonisation’ also put pressure on energy requirement. It is clear that nuclear energy will significantly contribute to needs in future, risks are however high unless the above mentioned factors are taken care. In the meantime countries need to focus on implementing the commitments made in the World Summit in September 2005 to take action to promote clean energy and energy efficiency and conservation, accelerate the development and dissemination of affordable and cleaner energy efficiency and energy conservation technologies, and promote and support greater efforts to develop renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal.

On train, meeting an old man from Hardoi

It may not always be possible to reserve your tickets since most travel is decided on short notice. Even if you do want to reserve the list is too long even in the waiting. This blogger as a policy don’t travel during holidays or festive season it is a logistic disaster, a nightmarish experience. I am really an off season guy!!. It is cheaper and quieter. But shockingly in last few years even off season has become crowded. It seems most people are into traveling anyway. When I least expect a crowd I try to find out the reason they are traveling. In most case it is a sudden decision because of some emergency or some unexpected reasons.

There are many people whom you meet, observe, interact while traveling some leave strong impression. Years back I was traveling from Lucknow to Allahabad a distance of around 6-7 hours, I checked the time table and dropped into the railway station. Surprisingly the platform was as crowded, since there are too many festivals celebrated in this part of the world I thought maybe I had missed some local celebration. Few queries clarified that this is usual, and no it is very much a working day. I couldn’t come in terms with the fact that so many people have some sort of emergency in their life or maybe like me they don’t believe in working!!. Anyway the lesson here was I need to restructure my theory on why people travel?!! To make the matter worse the train was announced to be delayed by half an hour and this they announced every half an hour!!.

The platform was very crowded there was no place to sit. In the mean time the train was further delayed and I started to consider other option like bus. By this time I had also got a place to sit so was reluctant to give up the comfort, very soon the train had arrived-4hours late, and so was the stampede to unreserved compartment, within seconds it was packed to the door. I found myself inside compressed to the side seat. After an hour or so my plight had started to reflect sharply on my face. A man looked up and said he was getting down at the next stop so I better stand next to his seat and so after another hour or so I managed to get few inches. Tired I drowsed, I was awakened by a sharp cry from my lap, I found a kid who was as startled as I was, on my lap, very soon he was dislodged and plucked by hands, it was another station and another swamp of people and noises. It was then I first noticed him, he was an ancient looking man (must be atleast 75, I guessed), wrinkled, lean, carrying a crumpled dirty cloth bag in his one hand, while the other clutching a seat. He did not respond to any of the commotions around and held onto his grip. A stoic grim struggle, it seemed the frail man was used to. Premchand had got his characters from these surrounding was it not??. I couldn’t help asking myself these (those days I dreamt of writing one great story, recently though it is waning, age catching up?. And so looked at people as characters!!, Arrogant me). Looking at him you could easily be transported to small dusty villages of north India that haven’t changed much in centuries. Soon I was in my own ethical struggle….well I should give him the seat (not exactly seat but few inches of space) shouldn’t I?? It was the struggle between mannerism and comfort, what is wrong and right. I was too tired but his haggard face and presence augmented the discomfort, for a moment in this ethical quandary I wished I could vanish or become invisible so as to escape his eyes which sometimes pierced me. Recently I was reading Iris Murdoch’s The Bell (picked up from a second hand book shop in Jabalpur few months back, I stumbled upon a gold mine of cheap spectacular old books, includes Gunter Grass, Iris Murdoch…ended up buying 20 odd books for 500-600Rs. The bookstall owner was ecstatic as I was but for entirely different reason, he never thought he would ever be able to sell these and some of the books were lying there for more than three decades, he informed. He should be right since the books I bought included Abu’s cartoon-1974 edition, 4Rs!!, also a very strange travelogue published in 1975, Sahib, your pony is ready- Diary of an unusual journey across India, by Johann Rudolf Hug, since I am really into travelogue-frankly I am into anything that fancy my interest, I bought this book, that looked quite rare, but found it to be bit too pretentious, at one level patronized the ‘poor but helpful people’. Jabalpur is strongly suggested for those looking for good old books or magazines). These lines from Murdoch’s book came alive and stared me

Dora stopped listening because a dreadful thought had struck her. She ought to give up her seat. She rejected the thought, but it came back. There was no doubt about it. The elderly lady who was standing looked very frail indeed, and it was only proper that Dora, who was young and healthy should give up her seat to the lady who could seat next to her friend. Dora felt the blood rushing her face. She sat still and considered the matter. There was no point in being hasty. It was possible of course that while clearly admitting that she ought to give up her seat she might nevertheless simply not do so out of pure selfishness. This would in some ways be a better situation than what would have been the case if it had simply not occurred to her at all that she ought to give up her seat. On the other side of the seated lady a man was sitting. He was reading his newspaper and did not seem to be thinking about his duty. Perhaps if Dora waited it would occur to the man to give up his seat to the other lady? Unlikely. Dora examined the other inhabitants of the carriage. None of them looked in the least uneasy. Their faces, if not already buried in books, reflected the selfish glee which had probably been on her own a moment since she watched the crowd in the corridor. There is another aspect to the matter. She had taken the trouble to arrive early, and surely ought to be rewarded for this. Though perhaps the two ladies had arrived as early as they could? There was no knowing. But in any case there was an elementary justice in the first comers having the seats. The old lady would be perfectly all right in the corridor. The corridor was full of old ladies anyway, and no one else seemed to be bothered by this, least of all old ladies themselves! Dora hated pointless sacrifices. She was tired after her recent emotions and deserved a rest. Besides, it would never do to arrive at her destination exhausted. She regarded her state of distress as completely neurotic. She decided not to give up her seat.
She got up and said to the standing lady ‘Do sit down here, please. I am not going very far, and I’d much rather stand anyway.’
‘How very kind of you!’ said the standing lady. ‘Now I can sit next to my friend. I have a seat of my own further down, you know. Perhaps we can exchange seats? Do let me help you to remove your luggage.’
Dora glowed with delight. What is sweeter than the unhoped-for reward for virtuous act?

Iris Murdoch is as perfect a writer can get, she is flawless. She is the kind of writer you should read with a hot cup of chocolate coffee lying next to huge aquarium, fancy that??!!. ..well if you don’t have all these comfort then her writing will transfer you to cozy little world of interesting characters. There culture milieu may be different, geographical setting alien but emotions, predicaments are universal. So there I was somewhere between Lucknow and Allahabad in a crowded train very much identifying with a book written (published in 1958) by someone who may have never been to this part of the world. Astounding!!. So even if you don’t want to give the seat and try to be ‘strong’, you do end up doing entirely opposite!!. Ethical predicaments!!

I though worked out a compromise, after half an hour so when my legs had started to sting against the wooden seat, I offered him the seat and stood next to him. He didn’t smile or show any gratitude. He ensconced into few inches of space as if it was designed for him, he fitted in perfectly, it was as if his body was elastic. After an hour or so I asked him to get up and he got up as immediately as he had sat, no question asked, no smile exchanged. It was as if we were working in the hands of fate, diminishing my act benevolence which I found very irritating. After a station or two the person next to me got up, the old man occupied the seat. We were three people sitting on the seat meant for one, next to the window. His bones jabbed into me, he was all bones with a sheet of skin over it. Finally bored with monotony of things around I ventured to talk, very much apprehensive, since he didn’t seem like a person who would enjoy talking

Aap kahan ja rahe ho chacha? (in here people refer to old men as chacha in public, there is a stress in second cha. I love the Hindi of this region. They are very civilized and respectful-sabyya, in the way they use the language. Hindi finds its best expressions here, particularly old timers of Banaras). And just like the character in Premchand he referred to me as babuji (…I found it amusing if not embarrassing. Here I was twenty-something too much into trash fellow, being referred to as ‘babuji’ by an elderly, poor but dignified man!!). There was resignation in the way he said things. He told that he was going to Banaras and had got in from a place before Lucknow, the name I recall after much thinking as Hardoi. He was traveling alone. What about luggage? He looked at the cloth bag, it had started to tear, he held his hands over it as if he was carrying something precious. It sure was precious; it was his wife’s ashes he was taking to immerse in Ganges (ganga mayyia, as he said). In that crowded train looking at that bag, precariously held by those frail hands a realization struck me: if a single life is so precious, how is that people are ready to kill so many people. Every time there is bomb blasts or riots this thought comes back hunting and the image of that old crumpled man who when I asked:
‘kahan ja rahe ho chacha?’

Said with an effort to smile ‘bahuth dhoor jha rahe hai babuji…..bahuth dhoor….’