Psyche of World Bank and more…

Having gone through many sites about World Bank, there is definitely a benevolent side of WB, like for instance the impetus on saving tiger and so on. Also the idea is not entirely about siding exploitative corporate but actively justifying cruder nature of capitalism. And yes WB has consistently faulted on this and so benevolence looks cosmetic, worst a strategic to look good. After all who are the people who employ or exploit unskilled or semi skilled migrants?. These are what is referred to as unorganized labor who constitute 90% of labor force-they are exploited and live in inhuman conditions in big cities, but yes they play a very important role in “development” and eventually contribute towards GDP growth and other macro economic indicator. These give “healthy” condition of nation’s growth and make lots of armchair economists, ivory tower policy makers and also porcine species at stock exchange ecstatic. This I gather make unusually sensitive moneybags -referred to as foreign investors-particularly FII (not FDI) -enough courage to invest. They are the first one to scoot recall East Asian currency meltdown a decade back. So it seems we are here to give these nincompoops courage to invest!!. That seems to be the purpose of governments. And yes World Bank is very generous to guide us to this quaint world. Never mind majority go through harrowing time, the stress though is on eventual the “developments” is going to reach you, “trickle down” to you (like judgment day prophesy!). But UNDP report and other studies points to contrary and have pointed to a gap that is widening at an alarming rate not only at the societal level but also organizational level since 1990s. The ILO report last year titled Income inequalities in the age of financial globalization has this to say “As economies expanded, global employment rose by 30 per cent between the early 1990s and 2007 alongside a redistribution of income away from labor, with the share of wages in total national income (GDP) declining significantly”. The report noted that while some income inequality is useful in rewarding effort, talent and innovation, huge differences can be counter-productive and damaging for most economies, adding that “rising income inequality represents a danger to the social fabric”. The gap in income inequality is also widening between top executives and the average employee, with the chief executive officers of the 15 largest companies in the United States, for example, earning 520 times more than the average worker in 2007, up from 360 times more in 2003 noted the report. And the crude nature of capitalism has seen to it that these are celebrated as merit!!. In a poor country like India when these issues are taken up TRP driven orangutans are asked to go hysterical.

It is very clear that Capitalism as is being practiced is increasingly threatening equitable, inclusive progress as also environmental sustainability. Let’s understand absence of violence is not peace. Collective violence from impoverished sections happen when they seem to have lost all other options, it is much worst than basic necessities it is about dwindling means to survive. As is the case of climate issues the sufferers are not really the perpetrators but poorest and marginalized pay for indulgence of few. Same is the case of “development” few get richer and other pay heavy price. Even though the economic crisis was significantly influenced by porcine species at Wall Street but funnily they don’t pay for it, the poorest and vulnerable pay for what is the mistake of greedy moneybags. That is what this system done to us. It is no longer funny.

An instance on how World Bank concocts nonsense

Dubious nature of World Bank (WB) functioning is an open secret, many of their policy suggestion have played havoc on poorer and vulnerable societies. Allegations of WB working for corporate interests (specifically American) at the expense of local population around the world are not unfounded we have many examples of it. Infact it wouldn’t be wrong to say that they function to further these. The ridiculous nature of their suggestions can be understood from the following instance. The World Development Report 2009 brought out by WB has found National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) a “policy barrier hurting economic development and poverty alleviation”. Try beating that one!!. While most people in this country are celebrating these stupendous policies and millions have benefited- the opportunity to earn in dignified manner, nice people at WB have started to wag for the masters. WB says this policy creates “barriers to internal mobility” and quite amazingly comes out with the unbelievable concoction that “lifting people out of poverty requires shifting populations from villages to cities”. It’s common knowledge that poor people get further marginalized when they land up in big cities and easily fall prey to exploitations, poor migrants go through hell. Brilliant people at WB though think otherwise and have this advice “negative attitudes held by government and ignorance of the benefits of population mobility has caused migration to be overlooked as a force in economic development”. Incredible!!. Truly incredible. Actually what they are saying is “goddamn @&@**##@ how are we going to get cheap labor now, what will we do without the exploitable people?. Geez that is less @%@#@$profit”.

NREGA is targeted at poorest and mostly unskilled and semi skilled labors in rural India and has helped them avoid hunger and distress migration. The need of the hour is to strengthen schemes like NREGA and reduce corruption prevalent in the scheme (RTI has been a help). It is also the time to question the role of international institutions like World Bank. The above picture is that of presiding deity at World Bank.

Needed a paradigm shift in understanding Development

If Market is to define development, if GDP is to define progress then disparities will be the result, violence a plausible outcome. The gap between GDP and HDI is a harrowing tale of negligence. The difference between the two is the difference between progress that is seen and progress that is real. GDP is a cosmetic indicator and has short term benefits the reason why market economists and politicians get excited about it. If majority of Indians eke out their lives in pittance, and are vulnerable and malnourished then there is something seriously wrong with the system. Yes there has been lots of progress in last few decades but it seemed to have been mostly accrued by certain section. The lack of distributive justice has seen that progress has led to majority section getting increasingly vulnerable while a small section getting increasingly opulent. They call it merit, quite clearly merit as defined by market lacks competence. Merit here hinges on crude nature of competition and so what we get is justification of crasser world. Subjectivity of reality is insisted to get the vulgar in. In this quaint world TRP driven orangutans (read market media) are expected to be watch dogs. Some kind of joke this one. How do you expect people to be sensitive or empathetic in such a crude system, by its very nature these subtlelities lack any usefulness. The intricate nature of different societies and surroundings are sought to be bludgeoned by a system that lacks any element of egalitarianism. The goodness of profit as defining nature of human aspiration or relations is a limited understanding. Is it this that they are trying to globalize?. Is this globalization?.

If it is then people will react and so do nature. When nature degrades and cannot take it any more it becomes violent, the issues related to global warming are culmination of a process that started with lopsided understanding of progress. Similarly when people react then societies become violent. When disparities are acute they organize and retaliate, it is a sign that democracies have failed. This also is a culmination of lopsided nature of development that fails to reach majority (despite the best intentions. India incidentally is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. That includes corporate corruption).

This blogger doesn’t support violent means adopted by some sections of Naxals (or Maoists) and sincerely hopes perpetrators of heinous acts are brought to justice (and yes Mister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya should learn to keep his arrogant mouth shut. He cannot “teach lessons” to Naxals or Maoists, he can only deal with them. Our man is at it again he is only spoiling it further as he has done earlier). There is a need for space for civilized intercourse, clearly the disparities fueled by crudeness of market has reached a point of no return unless the system rectifies it. Also mineral rich land belongs to the people who occupy it and they should have the right to sell it or should be given the share of the companies that sort to exploit these (ever wonder why mineral rich regions are the poorest and exploited?. And not coincidentally all the naxal/maoist activities are in this region. Clearly things have gone seriously wrong). Better would be a corpus fund dedicated to their basic needs initiated development and not exploiters understanding of development (read market). And yes it should be in millions if not billions. Tribals and Dalits have been pushed around for too long, this time it not going to be easy. If the same understanding of development that is around for sometime is sort to be imposed then the reactions are going to be severe.

This blogger wonders how corporates get raw materials at relatively cheaper rates wherein the inhabitants loose their habitat, livelihood and everything that is precious. This is also posited as sacrifice for bigger cause. (Really so they know what sacrifice means!!. I thought it was taboo word). Anyway why is only one section asked to perform these, it’s been happening for ages here. Time to stop is now. This blogger has had a hand on experience not only at NBA (wide range of articles-particularly by Arundhati Roy and Gail Omvedt were helpful as also many discussions on Development during those walks was enlightening…on the lighter side we guys got bottle of Mahua and don’t recall much after that!!!) but also when I went all around the country tracking the exploitative products (Coca Cola and Pepsi). How is that they get these natural resources (and electricity in the name of investment) so cheap when people’s livelihood and surroundings are threatened?.

Soldiers share secrets

Soldiers share secrets

Soldiers in the abandoned graves
on the battlefield
didn’t say I killed you
you killed me.
We won, they lost.

It is their last tears, rotting bodies
discarded memories
and orphaned hopes
that spoke
in overgrown shrubs and its furious wildflowers.

(the above pic taken from the Net. This blogger doesn’t think wars or violence will end. It’s been there since life began. Civilized ways of problem solving is what makes humans unique, through non violence- discussions, fairness, containment etc. Despite this violence will always be a constant presence. This blogger finds it difficult to speak against Obama in Afghanistan. As said earlier people at highest decision making position face huge challenges and risks and the kind of options Obama has chosen is path breaking in its intent and historicity. There is a significant shift. It’s the mean and not the end, indeed end is a process. This blogger like millions of people in this world find Obama an admirable and inspirational figure. This poem is my dedications. War is always a last option, the people who die are ordinary people caught in wrong place)

Putting the prize on hope

We are living in very exciting times, the Nobel peace Prize to Obama is a testimony to it. It is recognition to history and intent. When people at highest decision (geez my problem today is that I took almost 5minutes to find the correct spelling of decision!. This one can be really be frustrating but thankfully Wordfile does provide alternatives. Frankly how can c sound like s?) making position have the right intent that itself is significant. Unlike common people, people in significant position can make serious impact. It is really not achievement but path shown. This is very much true of Gandhiji if you look at it Non Violence as a means was not very successful and Indian subcontinent did see the worst form of violence in his life time wherein he was very much part of the people who influenced these situations. But despite these his commitment towards Non Violence as means for conflict resolution was steadfast and does remain a potent alternative in volatile times we live in. Obama though will have to find a balance between being a leader of a powerful nation that impact the human beings and this planet and increasingly desperate domestic problems and yes average American can be amazingly insular and collectively selfish, I guess that is what market can do to societies.

I have started to realize that American society is very different, although the pointers may seem like elitist from Indian or poorer country context but that may not be always be true. American society is very much influenced by visual media so even the President may have to spend some time (I still am very skeptic), further it is a mono lingual society. In American context it is seen as trying to reach the common people but in Indian context this is travesty, in particularly when Union Ministers takes time to express ‘exclusively’ in TVchannels (It need be seen as wasteful expenditure, for a nation of billion people an union minister need value his/her time). During the Memorial of Michael Jackson which this blogger happen to watch, a basketball player (Johnson?!) talks about his association and even mentions how Jackson ignored his chef and shared KFC chicken. Now that was a kind of a revelation for this blogger, in most developing countries likes of KFC or McDonald is symbol of crass consumerism/market imperialism but in America fast food is for common people, it places itself as anti-elite. So much of contrast!!. Therefore when Obama goes out for a bite, in American context it is connecting with common people but in Indian context very much elitist. So when these are taken out of context to countries like India it is seen as triumph of consumerism. The reason why market media here tends to get excited about Obama…no not about NPT.

In here special occasion is generally celebrated at home with focus very much on making variety of dishes and being together. In America they go out and spend (this blogger also understands that West really don’t have much culinary variety-basically meat & bake based, or that in poorer society richer dishes are reserved for occasions). Obama may never know this but the cunning market media in poor societies (specifically a country placed at 138 on HDI but very much hyped on GDP, I sincerely hope the French come with new development index at the earliest) is using him to promote consumer culture and to validate their extravagant lifestyle. He may not know but in here he is already brand Obama!!.

This blogger wishes everyone an exciting festival season and also requests to spend less and yes simple sweets can be prepared at home or hygienic shops near you avoid corporatized celebrations. And yes if you are buying some product check its usefulness and do a survey, don't get carried away by small time actors, cricketers and others who shamelessly peddle product (incidentally they are paid millions for few lines, this in a country where 80% people earn around 20Rs a day. Now that is merit i guess). Brand building and connecting to consumer seems to be based on cheating, it is stinking. In this context this blogger would love to watch Micheal Moore's Capitalism: A love story. I am sure it will make lots of sense as his other documentaries have.

Excerpts of the speech by Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed at UN meet recently

"The threats posed to the Maldives from climate change are well-known. Every beach every house lost to storm surges, every reef lost to the increasingly warm waters, every job lost as fish stocks dwindle, and every life lost to more frequent extreme weather events will make it harder and harder to govern the country until a point is reached when we must consider abandoning our homeland. I therefore call on you, the leaders of the world, to protect the future of front-line countries like the Maldives by reaching an ambitious and effective agreement at December's UNFCCC conference in Copenhagen which seeks to limit average global temperature increases to less than 1.5 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels. To do otherwise would be to sign the death warrant for the 300,000 Maldivians.

But, the Maldives is determined to do what we can to survive. We are going to be the first country to go carbon-neutral in 10 years time, in order to do that, we are determined to formulate a survival-kit, a carbon-neutral manual that would enable others to replicate in order that all of us together might just about save ourselves from climate catastrophe. As part of our efforts to achieve a unified voice, I will be inviting some of the most vulnerable states affected by climate change to the Maldives. We hope that this November summit will reinforce our determination to leave no stone unturned to ensure our survival".

Another poem !!

Beginning

Under me the earth
explodes a million times
magma restrained in a primal rhythm
pulsates life
eons and eternal.

The flitting butterfly
a moment in time
ascents the sky
to catch the sun.

(the above poem is dedicated to Christopher Okigbo, one of the greatest African poet. Also visit my bird blog from the link for more on Okigbo)

Tragedies waiting to happen…

Many tourist places have lakes and when there is lake there is boating and when there is boating there is tragedies waiting to happen. This a scene from one of the tourist place, this boat is carrying 30odd children/adolescents with no adult supervision (except maybe the solitary rover) nor any life jackets. So why do they do it?. Well it is called maximizing profit!!

Hey it’s great to hear about Rio de Janeiro as the venue of 2016 Olympics. This blogger didn’t give any chance to Tokyo or Chicago (US already had an Olympics recently!). So the million dollar question is when will it happen in India?!!. I guess they could start building an Olympic city now itself. A town on the border of Andhra-Karnataka or Pune-Kolhapur region wouldn’t be a bad idea.

A poem (with changes) !!

When a VIP die

The news clip said

he was an important man

did lot for people.

The procession was witnessed by millions

they raised slogans of him being eternal.

He was cremated on sandalwood pyre.

When an anonymous man

was crushed by unruly vehicle

on the busy street.

There was no mass grief

There were no processions.

Funeral was at banks of muck water

next to the garbage bins

attended by hungry dogs.

Or maybe he was dumped into unmarked grave

like other unclaimed bodies

and left to decay.

Not many missed him.

But yes that night

the vagrant cat was puzzled not being fed.

It showed its displeasure

and wandered into the dark.

(thought of adding these lines but later decided against…

Maybe we should become VIP

O the joy of

burning on the sandalwood pyre.)

PS. the changes were thought few days back, but i was on tour-in silence is the better word, was not into Net nor any news. Just now came to know about boat tragedy in Thekkady. This blogger has been to the lake many times frankly the conditions are not that bad but rules are not followed nor are the tourists treated properly

When Macaulay’s bastards come home to roost

Shashi Tharoor is one of the better known English writers, he is now Union Minister. I have read many of his books (some of them well written one need say), most of his interviews and articles follow the pattern of selling India to the world: the thali analogy is repeated so often that it nauseates. His book “The great Indian novel” was probably my first few English contemporary fiction (it was those heady days when I had taken the decision of committing myself to reading, someone handed this book). I could understand the book since Mahabharata is one story I knew very well and Indian history I had studied, thus I could finish the book. I enjoyed it though, one guy whom I tried to tell about the book was appalled he thought it was insulting Hindus by twisting the story, he believed it was in a very bad taste. I somehow wasn’t convinced, years later as I understand these people there is a realization that maybe the guy was right. This section that thinks and interact in English live in a different world that I find difficult to understand, a world that seems cocooned in trappings of exploitative past. It is the world that is vacated by the colonial masters. The realization is startling. It may sound simplistic but is generally true. They have acquired the skill of commenting and judging about common people but living their life is a quite a different proposition. It is the world they like feeling good about but find difficulty in associating. Frankly they cannot really relate, the reason why keeping the distance is critical. The ego also makes others/nature look servile or existing for one’s comfort (He won the election because he contested on congress ticket, frankly anyone could have won, CPM infighting and kerala two party system).

In this cocooned world the lexicon used tends to demean majority of common people, their tribulations are part of the humor. It is no surprising that “cattle class” although funny for some is not at all humorous for millions of people eking out their living in horrible condition, when used by a union minister is shocking. Ever wondered why these words when used in English is not considered offensive but when translated becomes derogatory. The same reason why slumdogs, underdogs …works well in elite section (I never came across the word corporate dog. Am I surprised?!. The possibility of these words in English language is remote, it was a language of a country that was once referred to as land of shopkeepers. And even if these enter English language I don’t think it will be considered funny). Yes this blogger has travelled many times in “cattle class” no not in any aircrafts (how many do that?!!!) but in buses and trains, it is worst than cattles to be frank but to be made fun of by a Union Minister is appallingly insensitive. He can blame his English I guess. Our man need be careful he is a Union Minister and not TV chatterati or in some drawing room talk. Given a chance this blogger would love to travel in luxury but will find it difficult to make fun of millions of people’s existential predicaments.

English media (a very insignificant influence one need say) though is trying to make a martyr out of him. It is understandable, it is their bastard. It is their reality, they have to protect and yes try making it into common Indian reality. I absolutely don’t understand “holy cow”, if its an Indian joke then why is that such reference are not found in Indian languages!!. It is the legacy of colonial scoundrels. They try demeaning everything that was “native” (of course exception are there and yes they wont be using these insensitive references). Macaulay was guru on these matters. The exotic Indian stuff that these English minded section expertise in, also works wonders with western, equally pretentious crowd, who are exasperated trying to understand this complex country.

Years later the bastards have some home to roost. But presto now these demeaning references has secular context, so if you make fun of majority people’s faith and tribulations chances are you could be secularist. In a market driven world the elite find these justifying themselves, reasons its excesses. In this wonderful world the steps are easy: create controversy, try dividing people and be in the news, particularly when it seems the person concerned really doesn’t have much to do.

This blogger doesn’t find anything wrong in the way people spent money, it is their choice. If Shashi Tharoor is a millionaire then he can live in five star hotels rest of his life. The question however is of propriety as Union Minister of a country like India a little bit of sensitivity is no big deal to begin with we can also talk about his competence later. I found that his total asset is 15crore, he made his money is the argument. But if he staying in a hotel that charges 1 lakh per day (that makes it 100 lakh in hundred days, that is 1crore!!), one wonders how is he balancing it?. Or is the corporate or other influential people taking care of his expense. That is corruption as I know. I read somewhere that he having worked in UN is quite used to these luxuries. Is this how UN functions?????. I am shocked; incidentally how much this 5star organization been effective in recent times is a question worth asking.

Last but not the least the English media is also celebrating the fact he has about 1lakh followers in tweeter, for a union minister of more than one billion nation that is the joke (in case anyone is trying to locate where the joke is). Thankfully media decide nothing much, unlike America where even the war is fought for TV audience. I read somewhere white house is costliest TV studio!!.

PS. This piece written few weeks back, thought of putting once the issue is done with. These days I don’t find it necessary to take up issues as it happens unless of course it is serious. Tharoor is someone I admired few years back, unfortunately he turned out to be manipulative small timer with big ego. Or in all probability he has too many trash people around who are trying to exaggerate him (it mostly backfires) but whatever the metamorphosis is shocking. It must be the effect of misplaced euphoria, juvenile premise market creates, you got to play dumb to be noticed (and yes lower the dignity of the office to match), it’s about connecting with dimwits!!. And yes if he keeps up with it then you can expect him to come out with many more nonsense very soon, talk about people becoming liability. Are we tweeting?!!

Two amazing poems on spider !!

These are two wonderful poems on spider that are my all time favorite, one of course is Emily Dickenson titled The spider is an Artist and the other by another of my favorite poet (who quite coincidently happens to be an American) Walt Whitman titled A noiseless patient spider. The pic above is taken from a garden near I stay.

The Spider as an Artist

The Spider as an Artist
Has never been employed --
Though his surpassing Merit
Is freely certified

By every Broom and Bridget
Throughout a Christian Land --
Neglected Son of Genius
I take thee by the Hand –

A noiseless patient spider

A noiseless, patient spider,
I mark'd, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark'd how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them--ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,--seeking the spheres, to
connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form'd--till the ductile anchor
hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

What amazing poems!!

Austerity is a brave move…

This blogger congratulates the Government for initiating austerity measures, clearly these are symbolic but sends the right message to people. This blogger though would prefer concrete measures and laws (for instance SUVs should be taxed so heavy that it becomes impossible, better would be not to allow these vehicles….no it doesn’t threaten freedom of expression it does threaten my future!!). Market media is going overboard to scuttle these and dismiss it as theatrics as it goes against the norms of their sponsors. Capitalism survives on consumption and by definition austerity contradicts. In this context anything that justifies unmitigated profligacy or greed is desirable. The steps on austerity therefore need be seen in its intent and not impact, it is about connecting to majority of Indians.

This blogger understands propriety than austerity, these however are quite personal choices (but a public servant will have to follow rules on expenditure). As individuals evolve they realize value of things and therefore will opt for choices that are subtle. Understanding the context of life in its entirety takes time. One’s place in universe, nature and society I guess comes with empathy and deep sense of connection with life and living. The insignificance and significance of oneself thus falls into place. Then crudeness, ostentation, vulgar will not find space thus there will be no need for austerity even propriety is natural. That is how progress need be defined. This blogger strongly holds the view that the need for religion was to direct individuals to these ends in the barbaric world when these were conceptualized.

The world though is less barbaric place now. The society has evolved collectively (essentially with the effort of few wise people), with importance being given to democratic principles, propriety is codified into laws therefore imposed, you do wrong you will be arrested. So although there is a general understanding on dealing within the human society the barbaric past has found its vent particularly in things that doesn’t fall within the law. We have directed our barbarism to our surrounding, thus we exploited the nature with impunity as we have done to the weak and infirm in the past. Wisdom of communities co-existing with nature will assert respect, sustainable and subtle dealing- that is propriety that is experience. There is a need for stricter laws to codify these, the imbalance is leading to catastrophe. The need for holistic understanding of development is very much needed. The individual freedom defined by profligate lifestyle shouldn’t be at the cost of livelihood of majority.

It is in this context this blogger would like to question the human centric path of material prosperity. Western understanding seems to be based on how to control nature (possibly because of harsh and extreme climatic conditions they faced, as also the religion followed in these societies that gave primacy to humans) and this is adopted as model of development, quite successful in the initial phase but as the model is based on exploitation the balance has started to tip in recent times (we live in a system and not unending stretch). It is also not a coincidence that the impropriety of this understanding of development is also reflected in the impropriety of the behavior, arrogance of economists (and marketers of exploitative products, words like aggressive is not of context) is not misplaced. The word sacrifice seems to be a taboo word these days, I feel sorry for millions of people who sacrificed their life and living not only in India but across the word for a just society (to take an example from Indian context: Bhagat Singh sacrificing his life at such an young age was probably the dumbest person!. He should have used his brains and maybe become an arms dealer!!). In a profit driven society these are non productive activities. The reason why we see increasing crudeness around is because these are projected as part of premium behavior to succeed.

The juvenile premises market creates has further dumb down the world around us. In a world increasingly influenced by visual medium advertisements seems to be a major factor of market functioning (influencing consumers, brand building and so on), significant factor in the billion dollar consumer product sector. This sector has a definite impact on economy, millions of people watch these. Even otherwise matured people tend to behave appallingly and seem to get away with it, it is being accepted as normal. The other day I saw venerable singer Mr. Yesudas recommending a brand of gold to viewers!!. This blogger doesn’t understand how gold can be branded, infact all the consumer product from soap to cream to cola differ from each of its competitor brand maybe about 5% or less, the basic ingredients remains the same and then they hyperbole it to ridiculous level, the absurdity is incredible. Mr. Yesudas (like many other small timers) has used his popularity to make some easy money. That in civilized world is cheating but market has created a system wherein even cheating is smart move to capitalize. The impropriety amazes me. So what should we do with celebrities whom we admire but are unscrupulous?. I guess we need to ignore them.

There is also attempt to make things subjective and in market driven world these necessarily introduce crudeness, in society with huge disparities these are done to work out for richer section to gain themselves, subjective doesn’t need any competence since there is no parameter. Thus it helps elite section to justify themselves, so what we have is some bunch of mediocre people and vulgar display. In juvenile surroundings of market these are celebrated.

On senior leaders traveling like common people: well that is how a representative of people need be and in a country like India these signals send right message, but we don’t live in ideal world and matter of security is a serious concern. A senior Minister representing the country also needs to follow protocol and yes most people understand this and little expense on these matters is understandable. I came across a report on Rahul Gandhi traveling in train, the same report talks of him using these mode of transport quite frequently but then market media had to bury the austerity drive so gave coverage with all the cynicism it could muster (slaves in media are doing everything to please master). That reminds many years back I traveled from Trivandrum to ernakulam there was a Minister in the compartment (AK Anthony is an unassuming politician), with increasing say of money in election process people like him are dwindling, the reason why austerity by public servant has become symbolic.

There were also reports of stone throwing on the train on which Rahul Gandhi was traveling, clearly a mischief. But this also bring into focus a very important aspect of what common people have to go through (apart from many other things), since it was ac compartment not much damage was done. But stone throwing on train is not very uncommon. It happens in one in ten times, and I have seen that many times. The worst was many years ago when the stone hit the little girls finger and she howled for many hours. Few months back as I was coming from Jodhpur a fellow who slept all day along had to get down in Mumbai- it is a midnight stop, he opened the door to look out and a granite stone hit right on the lips of the unfortunate fellow, he lost part of his lips and teeth, his face was disfigured (incredibly the old woman co passenger said he was lucky otherwise he could have lost his eye!). In the morning I tried to report the matter to the station master in one of the stop, he told me to report the matter to railway police in the train, I tired couldn’t locate him, gave up. Wonder what railways can do about these things but yes this blogger does take precautions, standing at the door and open window is a big no at night particularly when the big city is in the vicinity, big city means slums and that means lots of frustrated people. Wonder what kind of people throw stones randomly at train, do they know how much pain it causes that too to a person who is not even remotely known to the perpetrator. It is heinous thing to do.

"Why Do Human Beings Create Literature?"

"Literature is a verbal endeavor made in order to recognize the meaning of one's being at one's very root, with an overall understanding of one's relation to society, the world, and the cosmos. Therefore, when a giant corporation, disrupting the natural cycle of life and death, exercises its large-scale violence over human beings - so large that it destroys the fundamental harmony between human beings and their society, the world, and the cosmos - literature, standing on human ground, will continue to protest against such violence”.

That was Kenzaburo Oe, arguably the best known Japanese writer in recent times. I came across his reference in Amartya Sen’s book Idea of Justice. Finally I got this book few weeks back, bargained for 100rs!. Some books will survive for many decades and more, this book is one of them. I have read many chapters, though scholarly it is written in a conversational tone makes it interesting. Sometimes you do feel need for more background knowledge and further reading to get some references. Frankly the guy is amazingly erudite. But then the distrust this blogger mentioned in the earlier blog just got consolidated. ‘Sustainable development and Environment’ is a sub chapter in the book, this blogger though was expecting much on this considering the impact understanding of justice vis-à-vis environment is having on the contemporary world and the realities of the lives of most people. This is an immediate and grievous matter. The idea of justice has to be reflected in any treaties on environment, it need reflect the overall context and entirety of impact, not necessarily justice as seen from elite point of view, there seem to be an attempt on collective ethical nihilism. But Amartya Sen seems to have no time for these, it’s a 4 page chapter in a 467 page book!! (incidentally the acknowledgment section is 8 long page). Even in these 4 pages his concerns seems to be human centric-utilitarian, very much in consonant with market-incentive compatible, and seem to have written in a hurry. Very disappointing. But again it is a great book to have and extremely well written, probably the best on any understanding of Justice.

Problem with theories and intellectual elites is that they are generally ensconced from realities and uncertainties of life that we common people face on daily basis. The reasons for these contradictions, so while Americans were high on democracy but till few decades back were viciously racist. Europe's (France and Britain specifically) pride for liberty and egalitarian values juxtaposed with colonialism and untold misery (you just have to read few chapters particularly about France in Africa, it is genocide if not extermination). In Indian context too while majority of sections were facing vicious forms of discrimination the elite was into philosophical discourses (likes of Amartya Sen are carrying that tradition of irresponsibility), not denying that many of philosophical understanding was amazing and thought provoking. It is therefore not a coincidence that the social protest was initiated from the lower strata of the society, Bhakti movement during the medieval era is just an example…from Kabir to Namdev their occupations and their concerns are not coincidence, the reason for their huge popularity. Freedom movement from British was basically about power struggle the reason why elite had bigger stake (if they had any concern about people the decade after independence would have seen some revolutionary actions in particular land reforms, the reason initial phase of communism was nothing short of spectacular. This is not undermine the fact that some amazing people sacrificed for the cause of freedom as also the fact that period after independence provided the foundation for stable nation). Don’t know why they call these subaltern studies, beyond me!!.

Kenzaburo Oe is someone I came across almost a decade back I need to thank Sahitya Academy Library (Delhi) for much of my good reading, since I wasn’t much aware of many writers I used to start alphabetically!! (There are many excellent libraries in Delhi. I loved the one at JNU, although I strongly feel the uncouth city doesn’t really deserve these. Bangalore though a great place to be in unfortunately lacks good library, it really is shocking). Kenzabura Oe is someone I had taken up to read but due to unforeseen circumstances couldn’t, then I forgot about him. Now I am searching him in the libraries (these days I am ambivalent about putting money on books when there is option on horse!!. Sure enough I won some money, now the basic rule of probability applied to turf club is that you don’t win always. So I decided to put money on Oe’s “A Personal matter”, alas despite the reputation as knowledge center Bangalore has no good libraries or bookstalls that keep these books. I am amazed). Last few days I have been going through the Net and downloading lots of stuff about Oe. I happen to read his Nobel Prize acceptance speech (the link to the website from this blog, frankly I am disappointed with the site. They don’t renew it and have the same main webpage week after week).

Here is an excerpt of what he said: Japan's 'ambiguity' in my lecture is a kind of chronic disease that has been prevalent throughout the modern age. Japan's economic prosperity is not free from it either, accompanied as it is by all kinds of potential dangers in the light of the structure of world economy and environmental conservation. The 'ambiguity' in this respect seems to be accelerating. It may be more obvious to the critical eyes of the world at large than to us within the country”.

Later he says “What kind of identity as a Japanese should I seek? W.H. Auden once defined the novelist as follows:..., among the dust
Be just, among the Filthy filthy too,
And in his own weak person, if he can,
Must suffer dully all the wrongs of Man.
('The Novelist', 11-14)

This is what has become my 'habit of life' (in Flannery O'Connor's words) through being a writer as my profession.

On another occasion he mentions “Literature must be written from the periphery toward the center, and we can criticize the center. Our credo, our theme, or our imagination is that of the peripheral human being. The man who is in the center does not have anything to write. From the periphery, we can write the story of the human being and this story can express the humanity of the center, so when I say the word periphery, this is a most important creed of mine”.

I have started to like Kenzabura Oe a lot as I read (best way to understand a writer or for that matter anyone is to identify oneself with them, it makes it easy and riveting). I haven’t read Adventure of Nils but my first seven or eight years of life I recall having only one story book (that was before increased comfort in life and pre teen comics), probably a gift from someone. The oversized book had big pictures and story line in few sentences. It was about a boy who was carried by geese to different lands and when he returns with the birds to home he finds his mother making cake!!. I loved that book a lot and must have read hundreds of time and can still recall most sentences of the book, not to mention recurring dreams of flying. Over the years I have understood coming home is about reaching and understanding oneself.

In one interview of Oe I found this incredible line when asked whether he was the first writer in your family?. Oe replies “This is a very delicate problem. My family continued to live [on that island] for two hundred years or more. There are plenty of journalists among my ancestors. So if they had wanted to publish, I think they could have been the first writers. But unfortunately, or fortunately, they didn't publish, so I am the first man who published what I wrote; but my mother was always saying that "You men of our family are always writing the same thing". I like that one!!

Kenzaburo Oe has been very actively involved with young people (his son who suffers from congenital brain damage has been his inspiration for decades, he mentions at one point how it led him to Hiroshima and deeper involvement in writing “Yet as a writer, I must acknowledge the fact that the central theme of my work throughout much of my career has been the way my family has managed to live with this handicapped child”. More about it in my bird’s blog). When asked how young people (students/writers) should prepare for future. He says “First, I hope young men are upright, independent. Secondly I hope they have imagination. The imagination is not to accept the other's image but to create our own image and more precisely to reform the imagination which was given to us. To be upright and to have an imagination: that is enough to be a very good young man”. Simple words lots of meaning.

I hope to read most of Kenzeburo Oe in near future.

UN tackles climate change effects

By Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Geneva

Officials from UN member states are gathering in Geneva for a five-day conference on climate change

The World Climate Conference will look at ways to help countries cope with the effects of climate change, such as an increase in floods and drought.

The conference aims to create a global framework to ensure early warnings for tsunamis and hurricanes reach everyone.

It also aims to ensure that farmers in remote African regions know about impending droughts and floods.

This conference will not discuss cutting fossil fuel consumption or greenhouse gas emissions - things environmentalists say are essential if we are to slow down global warming, but which governments have so far found very hard to do.

Instead it will look at how to help countries cope with more floods, droughts and landslides already being caused by climate change.

Many developing countries lack proper information about what to expect.

The more difficult negotiations on a new treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol on reducing greenhouse gases will have to wait for the Copenhagen summit this December.

But whatever the outcome of that summit, the coping mechanisms being planned in Geneva are essential, scientists say, because many effects of climate change are already happening.

(courtesy BBC)

The charming Sultan of Beypore

One of my favorite writers has to be Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. I have read most of his short stories, he was an amazing man. Why I thought about writing on Basheer was this story “enteuppapaakuoruannaindarunu” (my great grand dad had an elephant), this story was translated into English and titled as "Me Gran'dad 'ad an Elephant". There was difficulty in translation as it lost the punch. Let me explain. The hilarity of the story was confusion between Kuzhi anna (literal translation would be: hole elephant) antlion larvae -doodlebug, with real elephant. The story is a strong take on superstitious in Basheer style!. Basheer's charming stories i always liked (some stories faintly reminds me of Saadat Hasan Manto). When I was a kid there was an elderly man who liked taking children for fantasy ride. He would say when I had accidentally eaten seeds with fruit that it will grow in my stomach- very serious when he said these, and next few days I would think trees growing in my stomach, even occasionally checking by putting finger into the throat or opening my mouth wide into the mirror. Now this fellow once when he saw the track of kuzhi anna (antlion larvae) told me that these are miniature elephants that live underground. And i ask "really", he would say "absolutely!!". Obviously that was enough to trigger my imagination and next many hours I followed the track and kept digging to capture one, it remained elusive. When I read Basheer years later couldn’t help recalling that incident. Even now I sometime wonder there must be miniature elephant down under, it really was so very convincing. Basheer is a strongly suggested writer, more than a writer he was a great human. A charming man you would love to know.

Need to mention in context to Elephants that there is a very popular program in one of Malayalam TV channels titled E 4 Elephant.

Ganapathi bappa moriya agle baras thu jaldi aa!!

Lord Ganesha is quite a big deal in most part of the country but the charm is something else in Maharashtra. Ganesh chaturthi is a big festival in here, the fervor can be traced back to history got further impetus by Bal Gangadhar Tilak as means for religio-socio assertion against imperialism. Frankly this blogger believes, keeping in mind recent happenings, most people don’t have the luxury nor the time to delve into history. People who have greed for power and other benefits tend to rake up history quite often. Indeed history has become quite subjective, and being used by powerful for their own benefit. Most common people have no time for history present is quite challenging enough, of course if present is significantly impacted by history then yes (but frankly it rarely does, it is contemporary realities that affect the events much). Indian politicians have start to take the cue from international ‘leaders’, who more than any kind of leading are much adept in selling books!!. When in responsible position that affects our life they bungle up and then after retiring write memoirs explaining!. I am told Mister Bush is writing a big one. I sincerely hope people don’t buy these books.

Well…well I was talking about lord Ganesha!. I recall while in school at Pune most classes used to keep Ganesha for puja, some kids in each class organized and we roamed around the school going to each class finding out how they have arranged. It was quite a big event and terrifically exciting. In Pune city too the decoration of each pandal was stuff of legends, I distinctly recall dagdu halwai. And then there is excitement of Ganapathi Visarjan. Few years back kids in neighborhood dump it in the well in my compound, now they are confused as there is no water. Last year I found this bunch of kids who came with their mini Ganesha, surreptitiously climbing wall to the well, one asking “how come there is no water in the well despite rain?”. Good question.


I am sure most of us have heard about story of Lord Ganesha from elders, these stories were quite riveting and Amar Chitra Katha series were in demand, now of course there are animation movies and so on. Elephants are amazing animals, and those programs in National Geography and Animal Planet have helped me understand them better. Whenever we came to Kerala we first go to Guruvayur Temple, this place is probably the most visited of all places by the blogger, I love the ambiance of the place. So my tryst with elephants began here, the screaming protest as the gentle elephant extended its trunk to bless is etched in memory. Most temple festivals were about elephants and I was enamored, we kids always scamper around them till the 
papan (mahout) shooed us away. Guruvayur Keshavan was a legendary elephant and there are statues of him, movies made, tales of his valor and dedication to lord. Some homes even have picture of him they they use as deity. Of course animals should be in jungle but elephants have a special place, most are treated quite well. That however is not a reason for exploitation in name of faith. There are people who can tell names of elephants in different temples on their finger tips. Elephant is much part of life here, a century back having an elephant was considered status symbol!. With commercialization things are degraded rapidly and these magnificent animals are exploited. There are strict laws but are broken with impunity. The Railways are also accused of deaths of many elephants in particular around valayar (Kerala-TN border), despite these they haven’t really taken any steps to prevent. It is quite sad state of affair, I am very grieved seeing the bodies of elephants hit by train.

O what a magnificent animal elephant is, every time you watch them you are transfixed. This blogger has the hobby of collecting miniature elephant statues, wherever I travel I try to get one and I have atleast hundred of them: sandalwood elephant from Mysore to onyx from Pakistan (bought it from exhibition by Pakistani traders many years back), the paper mache from Kashmir and bamboo twined from Assam are my favorite (It started in Rishikesh where I bought this miniature elephant and took at as lucky charm, soon I started to like it and it grew). It is amazing to look at hundreds of miniature elephants of varying splendor; if possible I wouldn’t mind filling a room from different parts of the world. I have already spent a fortune on it.

Latest from Copenhagen: Danish embassies walk the green talk

Danish embassies walk the green talk
Danish embassies around the globe are walking the green talk by lowering their energy consumption.

(Marie Sauer-Johansen 17/08/2009 11:40)

That each of us needs to get smarter about how we use energy is one of the messages that Danish diplomats deliver to decision makers around the world in the lead up to COP15.

To underpin this message, 17 Danish missions have decided to implement energy savings measures on their missions.

“The motivation was to ‘walk the talk’,” says Jesper Fersløv Andersen, deputy head of mission at the Danish embassy in Athens.”You are much more convincing when you show a good example yourself, especially in a country like Greece where people are fed up with words without action from their politicians and the EU.”

The Athens embassy has committed to cut electricity use with 4.5 pct. over the next three years. The embassy is the first out of 12 missions to sign a so-called curve-breaker agreement with the Danish Electricity Savings Trust. The agreement obliges missions to reduce their energy consumption with around 1.5 pct. per year.

The reductions will be achieved mainly by focusing on IT equipment, air conditioning systems, copying machines and TV sets.

An energy efficient procurement policy will also be implemented as part of the Curve Breaker Agreement.

While the effort to make Danish embassies greener aims to support an agreement in Copenhagen, the commitment to energy savings will continue beyond 2009.

Most missions have already committed themselves to a three-year energy saving effort. Later this spring, a status report on the Green Mission project will be launched as part of a campaign to encourage more missions to walk the green talk.