Is hedonism liberalism?

“It seems to me that the word 'liberalism' is the most banal and vulgar word in the entire political vocabulary. It excuses any laissez-faire, economic as well as moral. It has become a device to blur the difference between concepts. Our foremost task is the rebuilding of the concept of moral authority and of the belief in values. A lack of values is mortally dangerous to a nation. But since our liberals so hate the notion of authority, our task will not be easy” (Zbigniew Herbert)

Frankly this blogger doesn’t know much about liberalism but realise it as part of American narration that hedonist elites in poorer societies have embraced with much gusto not seen in recent times. That it coincides with advent of free market and that this process is referred to as liberalisation is not a matter of coincidence. It is clear that market and liberalism goes hand in hand. Liberalism clearly follows the pattern of market, it is a kind of intellectualisation of market-a deification that the elite in developing countries encourage and thrive. It is loaded with terms like freedom and choices. In reality it is an alibi for richer section to splurge in their hedonistic lifestyle, a justification of greed and waste. In pseudo democracies of poor societies it masks feudalism as governance. In the surroundings of limited resources this criminal waste and irresponsible behaviour is celebrated as choices. That these accentuate class divisions and depletes limited resources isn’t anybody's concern. Tolerating these choices is eulogised as liberalism, and it is constructed as values on which democracy is hinged. What can be more vulgar and insulting?

Western societies in particular USA have had a polarising social reality; Believer – Nonbeliever became Church-State construct with State being replaced by Market-therefore force of secularism, Religion seen irrational. These acquired Market-Communal mask places Market/ wanton consumption as harbinger of good and religion/thrift as irrational evil force that need be ridiculed and chastised. Market is therefore a liberalising force; fountain of liberal thought is what emerges. Since Market is constructed around primal human nature also referred to as competition, so it needs adversary to survive and so more you celebrate vulgar more you could classified as liberal, more you ridicule faith more it seems you acquire hallo of secularism.

That innovation needs competition is fallacious and primitive thought. In very rare circumstances it creates positive space, it generally degrades into insidious and reactive behaviour, in lax surroundings manipulations. Therefore to succeed in market one clearly will have to enter primitive premise or perish. The reason why things get crass, and cruder people have more say in public space. Values and ideals get redefined from market utilitarian perspective.

Recently with rational and sane voices asserting itself from the grip of market in an ironical twist market is seeking refuge under Religion. This could be observed in America. But my concerns are the affect of these on poorer societies. Hedonism and feudalism are a heady mix, then you judiciously work it up with democracy it becomes liberalism. With disparities increasing protests by common people too increases but these angst fall short of rebellion. Class struggles have failed and so the new rather narrower forces consolidate, that is precisely what is happening in Islamic countries. This also the reason why fundamentalists are increasingly getting acceptance among common people in many societies, these are signs of desperations. Pakistan is good case study, the slained Punjab Governor (quite unfortunate that one but these will increase in polarising world, Competition driven value system, individuals pitted against each other, in such societies polarising forces pupate this reality has to be recognised. Pakistan also has the issue of volatile neighbour spilling over as also rather non egalitarian foundation that base on religion) is a clear example of hedonism met feudalism met democracy therefore liberalism. Since nothing could be expected from these self serving class people are gravitating towards communal forces, it is not at all ironical that most support for slain Governor came from expatriate ‘westerners’. The divide is all there to see. Another issue is that Islam in larger sense is in the same position as medieval period Christianity, it seemed to have skipped the phase of questioning and scrutiny that led to renaissance, the reason why narrow interpretations go unchallenged. Same is the case of Hindus too but since there is no rallying point or single reference threat is rather low (unless of course seculars and fundamentalists go in for aggressive tussle), the reason India has not gone the Pakistan way. After all what is the difference between India and Pakistan except the dominating religions?

The threat to Indian society, indeed societies world over, seems to be coming from the Market that is increasingly becoming the arbitrator of values. The values carefully constructed according to the needs of market which in turn justifies the hedonist lifestyle of elite, these when celebrated as choices and freedom becomes beacons of liberalism. I am told the assassin (a fundamentalist) pumped twenty seven bullets onto Salman Taseer. Twenty seven bullets. Not condoning killing but this much anger have to have an explanation.

It is in this context one has to see the happenings in the North African countries like Tunisia, Egypt and so on. This blogger sincerely hopes it spreads and despots like Mubarak goes the Ben Ali way. These rulers were supported by the west for their selfish ends and they too reciprocated with western hedonist indicators therefore liberal, the present danger therefore is that of these vacuums being occupied by Islamic forces, precisely what happened in Iran. Shah of Iran is a classic case of feudal-hedonism-liberal who was over thrown rather viciously by religious fundamentalism with overwhelming support from common people. This is what polarising forces can unleash, this is the danger that market driven competition can bring, it encourages reactionaries. Religious extremists have great use of reactionaries and public anger. The picture herein is from streets of Cairo

PS: you can read more about polish poet Zbigniew Herbert at www.iseeebirds.blogspot.com or go to birds blog link

condolences...

An Open Letter to our Leaders

We are a small group of like-minded citizens who are concerned with the general deterioration in the overall value system of the nation, but have abiding belief and commitment in India's potential and prospects as a successful democracy. We are a fraction of a very large number of Indians who, we believe, share our hopes and aspirations but have no means to channel their views and opinions in India's public domain.

In the last few months, the country has witnessed eruption of a number of egregious events, thanks to an active media eagerly tracking malfeasance. There are, at present, several loud and outraged voices, in the public domain, clamouring on these issues which have deeply hurt the nation. We do not wish to add to the confusion by joining that debate. What we are deeply worried about is not to allow India's huge growth potential and poverty alleviation challenges to be diluted or digressed from, and which would be a great loss, especially to the poor and the dispossessed.

Our aim is to try and rise above the present clamour and seek a more confident and purposeful national environment.

As concerned citizens, who have full confidence in the country's ability to reach its social and economic development potential, and who have a deep and abiding faith in India's prospects for a vibrant, pluralist and successful democracy, we have put down a few thoughts. This letter is the beginning of our aim to develop specific actions and recommendations which shall be placed in the public domain, from time to time.

1. We are alarmed at the widespread GOVERNANCE DEFICIT almost in every sphere of national activity covering government, business and institutions. Widespread discretionary decision making have been routinely subjected to extraneous influences. The topmost responsibility of those at the helm of the nation's affairs must be to urgently restore the self-confidence and self-belief of Indians in themselves and in the State as well as in Indian business and public institutions which touch the lives of every Indian. The judiciary is a source of some reassurance but creation of genuinely independent and constitutionally constituted regulatory bodies, manned by persons who are judicially trained in the concerned field, would be one of the first and important steps to restore public confidence.

2. Possibly, the biggest issue corroding the fabric of our nation is 'CORRUPTION'. This malaise needs to be tackled with a sense of urgency, determination and on a war footing. The institution of Lok Ayuktas, vested with adequate powers, would go a long way in effecting the needed correction, as is evident from the example of Karnataka. There is a need for every State to have effective and fully empowered Lok Ayuktas and indeed for early introduction of the Lok Pal Bill at the national level, for the purpose of highlighting, pursuing and dealing with corruption issues and corrupt individuals. Apart from speedily installing independent Lok Ayuktas, it is essential that their investigative agencies and law enforcing bodies should be made independent of the Executive. Amongst several urgent steps needed, this is possibly the most critical one that the nation can immediately initiate in order to reassure its citizens that corruption will be most severely dealt with, both at the branch and at the root level.

3. Time is overdue for India's elected representatives to DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DISSENT AND DISRUPTION, while in the era of coalitions, tolerance of compromise still remains a challenge. Elected legislators and leaders must acknowledge and demonstrate their collective role and responsibility in restoring a sense of purpose and confidence in national institutions.

4. It is widely acknowledged that the benefits of growth are not reaching the poor and marginalised sections adequately due to impediments to economic development. This is because of some critical issues like ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS and differences in perspectives between central and state governments.

5. It is imperative to establish ways and means, for every Indian, to feel that they have genuine equal opportunities, access to decision makers and a stake in India's progress. Dealing determinedly with GOVERNANCE and aggressively against CORRUPTION, while openly debating these issues by elected legislators is the only means left to reassure our citizens.

We believe that through urgent, concerted action in which we are ready to lend a hand, positive change can be achieved.

Sd/-
Mr N Vaghul Mr Deepak Parekh Dr Ashok Ganguly
Mr Jamshyd Godrej Justice Sam Variava Prof M Narasimham
Mr Yezdi Malegam Ms Anu Aga Dr A Vaidyanathan
Dr Bimal Jalan Mr keshub Mahindra Mr Azim Premji
Mr Nachiket Mor Justice B N Srikrishna

January 17, 2011

Swiss account leak… now we are talking!

This blogger extends his heartiest congratulations to Julian Assange for empowering conscientious whistleblowers (like Rudolf Elmer) across the world. This is amazing. Though I have a critical view on diplomatic ‘leaks’ that is about small talks with no much policy implication; that needn’t be basis of any value judgment it seem more of a nuisance (the market media might celebrate it as it works to their need of personalising issues and small talks, intruding privacy as freedom). There are some interesting details though, some quite devastating and the implication on recent happenings in Tunisia is no minor matter. It is also a grave matter that Assange has been implicated in some criminal case; there clearly is an attempt to malign him.

Corruption is scourge to societies around the world particularly the poorer. In a civilized world havens to park ill gotten money shouldn’t exist. This blogger has written earlier pointing to how these Swiss Banks (and other tax havens) are as much a threat as Al Qaeda if not more. Behind the veneer of sophistication they are greedy scoundrels. These revelations are fortuitous happenings and I hope the Indians who have parked illicit money anywhere in the world are accounted for. We want all the details. This blogger will be keenly following this one, in the meantime how about boycotting or some sanctions against rogue countries like Switzerland?

Serious breach

That a Union Cabinet minister casts aspersion on a Constitutional Body - a sort of watch dog-that has come out with damning allegations, instead of helping the investigation (advocating transparency and full cooperation), is a serious breach. That this Minister who is heading the ministry in question may interfere in the investigation is a grievous matter. On what basis Kapil Sibal makes these allegations should be made clear to the people, we are not interested in his theories. He needs to understand he is holding a Cabinet position of a country of billion people as also one of the corrupt country, this is not a debating club. As a lawyer he is good at juggling words, most likely the reason why he is handed the portfolio, talking is not going to help in this case and these arrogant people need to understand that it is going horribly wrong. Semantics cannot change the facts or the gravity of the issue. Lack of sincerity is quite evident; creating controversy to scuttle the matter is an old game that people are sick of. That they have recruited the Cabinet Minister to make the allegation is a serious matter and doesn’t augur well for the Indian democracy.

Attacking a constitutional authority and casting aspersion by a Cabinet minister is unheard of. There seems to be an attempt to tarnish CAG. Surely either CAG is wrong or the Minister, the case so far suggests that the minister is playing his little political game, its about fixers. Kapil Sibal’s position has become untenable. Instead of strengthening institutions and creating mechanisms for transparency the Government seems to be playing for immediate political gains. It may have worked for many decades and surely have filled up the Swiss account of many politicians (including opposition parties who ruled before, bureaucrats, media and so on) but not now. Union Cabinet, I read, is headed by the Prime Minister, so at the end of the day he is responsible. Manmohan Singh is turning out to be not only incompetent but grossly insensitive.

Transparency in Judicial appointments
It was suggested by Venkatachaliah Commission way back in 2002 that Judicial Appointment need be transparent and correspondence on these matters should be made public. It recommends setting up of National Judicial Commission that looks into appointment of senior judges (the removal procedure of judges and definition of contempt that is used are all matter of grievous implications). There need to be a system wherein procedures are in place and is able to select judges with impeccable credential to higher court. Why the subsequent Governments didn’t heed to the recommendations of this Commission all these years this blogger as a citizen of this country want to ask? It is sickening these lackadaisical approaches. There are serious allegations being made against none other than the former Chief Justice. It is amazing that a matter of such grievous nature doesn’t seem to be moving the power that be. It goes without saying that the credential of Judiciary particularly at the level of Supreme Court should be above even any hint of misdemeanor.

The Law Minister recently expressed concern over outbursts by former judges in the case of Binayak Sen, wherein there is a clear miscarriage of justice not only at the level of allegation but also the misuse of term ‘sedition’. Will there be any compensation for his suffering? Or for that matter all the detainees waiting for trial across the country? What measure will be taken to the incompetence of the judges at lower court, in case this is overturned by higher court (which is quite likely)? Will the judge be arrested for blatant misuse of power?

Welcoming International Year of Forests

Metamorphosis !!

Ye kya laga rakha hai JPC PAC?

This blogger thinks that the political parties are conspiring to delay the investigation on technicalities and trying to scuttle the issue. I think all these people are involved in some way or other. It is deeply disappointing that the Government is complicit in this hogwash. They quote ‘procedural delays’ in investigation without ever making any attempt on rectification. If you are policy makers then the onus is on you otherwise quit. There is an attempt to maintain status quo and veteran ‘leaders’ are adept in the matters of diversion. The problem here is we live in multimedia age and these attempts are falling short to hide the truth. The truth we understand and know is at sniffing distance. More than short term actions this blogger was expecting some major reformation in system. Unfortunately it is too entrenched and the present government under Manmohan Singh singularly lacks the will or courage. This also true to the opposition parties, they too looking for political mileage instead of asking for systemic changes. Wonder why we haven’t heard of Lok Pal or Electoral reforms or Administration reforms from opposition. Take the issue of Onion price rise, it was quite artificial-something that couldn’t have been not anticipated (if they can take swift action on cartelization by airlines), and some people did make some huge money and it’s never the farmers. In the meantime they snarl like dogs. There is also a sinister attempt to polarize issues, like in US, it helps major political parties as also the media. Cabinet ministers could be seen giving ‘exclusives’ with impunity, it is a shame.

very strange

...quite saddening, hopefully the Supreme Court overturns this miscarriage of justice at the earliest. The definition of 'sedition' is rather archaic and colonial, and has become an instrument of misuse by State

Tentative but noteworthy

The Climate agreement in Cancum is an important development, this blogger like all people around the world appreciate the effort and sees it as step forward. Narrow national interests of countries seems to be spoiler, the leaders are not really expected to confine their representation to human societies but the habitat-ecosystem- they represent, human societies don’t live in isolation indeed they are expected to rise above national interests. Economy will have to factor in environment loss.

This blogger strongly believes that individual freedom is most important aspect that defines any society. Democracy is not a western concept, as much as science is not. Any idea that emerges from any part of world and if it has truth in it no longer belongs to that region or even time, it belong to humanity and is eternal. There is no two understanding of freedom. The idea that certain society is not mature for democracy is rather primitive. And that idea of governance change with society is patronising. There are some who take this line trying to extend the idea of choice-the post modern hypocrites. They also play intellectual and nonsense media needs them ‘to hear the other side’ it seems!. Ask any human (or for that matter any living thing if they can communicate) anywhere in the world, they will prefer freedom and democracy as a form of government is the closest understanding that helps express freedom. Denying freedom to individuals- to value themselves, is violation of basic right. There aren’t any two definitions for this. Implicit in this is also responsible behaviour as also rules if there is a threat. I will have to add here it also means curtailing exploitative and feudal, even if it comes in the form of religion and tradition (so we have another example from cesspool. The guy had to do his ‘education’ in Britain to blast himself in Stockholm. Not surprising for multiunculturalist society!).

Though the idea of democracy is nearest to the idea of freedom that everyone cherishes but this blogger sees a serious lacuna that has come into focus rather significantly in last few years. Democracy works by people electing their representative for the purpose of lawmaking, the voice of people is reflected in policy making. Fair enough but society doesn’t consist only of human beings, as much as society is only a part of ecosystem. There is a need for the voice of Nature (plants and animals) be heard and represented. It is clear that these muffled voices speak for ecosystem, for Nature that sustains it. Human societies can only ignore it at its own peril. There are some concerned people across the world who do a commendable job in trying to bring the environmental concerns. But mostly these are ignored and considered hindrance to ‘growth’.

People are votes in democracy and a leader will go to any length to get votes, therefore take populist steps that serves immediate purpose of satiating people. Very few leaders will recognise that growing population is a major concern, the environmental degradation is significant. Increasing populations is a debilitating factor in climate change. Add to the understanding of Economic growth, the capitalism model works on consumption. More the people more the consumers therefore more will be selling and so profit, this i am told is the path to prosperous societies. Many leaders want the people to multiply fast (recently Russian President Medvedev even urged people), rise of India is significantly because of population than anything else. This is downward spiral the incentive on population growth. This is unsustainable, and we are starting to see the affect. There is a severe constrain on natural resources, wild habitats are depleting at much faster rate due to human expansion, species are vanishing.

Incentives on population growth must stop. Democracy will have to factor in this at the earliest. This blogger thinks that the population based demarcation of constituency for the purpose of election will have to go. Areas will have to be cut equally irrespective of population and need be maintained as a constant. Further, and this is controversial but something need be done, voting rights of individuals having more than two children should be curtailed as also further disincentives need be introduced (separate tax structure is not a bad idea). It really cannot go on the ways things are going. I guess Habitat Development Report or (Biodiversity Report) should be as important as Human Development Report. There is an immediate need to move from human centric democracy to Biodiversity centric democracy.

Rather than leaving it to individual states UN should initiate something on this line, and may i also suggest countries having richer biodiversity be given priority than maybe a certain country with ‘more than a billion voices’!. Any country’s prominence or stature in the world community shouldn’t be decided on population or economic clout but by biodiversity. India’s claim is its rich biodiversity, as much as Brazil and Indonesia. Having more human population shouldn’t be treated as an asset indeed in the contemporary context it is nothing short of crime.

Why Confucius matters

Confucius was a thinker whose concern was humanity, intensely human one may add. He was not propagating a religion, far from it he express no concern on matters of belief. He accepts them as existing as long it served the society and creates code of conduct. He wasn’t going to waste his time on something that one may not definitely know “while you don’t know about life, how can know about death?”. His concerns were practical and existential. For a just society harmony between people is important. Individuals have duty towards society and human beings purpose was to cooperate with others in performing these. He emphasised on rules that needn’t be enforced but followed as matter of etiquette. But the rules need to be specific; following these would show desire for harmony. Only when a person developed his capacity for harmony with his fellow human beings, then can he understand universal harmony.
He believed rulers ought to be teachers and be ‘Superior Man’. Anyone can be a Superior Man by cultivating Five Constant Virtues.
Right Attitude-attitude is revealed through conduct, being cooperating and accommodating, an inner law of self control.
Right Procedure-includes applying the code of conduct, emphasising on ceremonies as it institutionalised these conducts
Right Knowledge- education is important to respond in exact way. Social order depends on fundamental morality, the morality of words and action. He emphasised rulers to be an example of conduct.
Right Moral courage-necessary to remain loyal to himself and people around.
Right Persistence- this was needed to achieve constancy in the above. This makes man kind and helpful. He is in harmony with universe. Because he has harmony within himself, he is part of cosmic harmony.

Confucius has been a significant influence on Chinese society for centuries, he is referred to as great teacher. His teaching was an attempt in getting man in line with reality. How much this blogger wish he had spent some time in India. This has been the greatest tragedy the reduced contact between ancient India and China. The problems of Indian society can be traced to amazing incompetent and self serving elite section that can be traced to ancient times (this is not to deny that there have been some exceptional people and civilisation contribution has been significant), the Brahmin class has been quite self serving with almost absent concern for society, love for humanity is different from loving the person next to you. Indeed they created the most inhuman system to deny common people even the basic human rights. As Confucius so rightly says “while you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits”. Brahminical Hinduism has had a significant and vice like hold on Indian society for more than 5000 years so to expect for it to vanish in few decades is wishful. Look around you will see these presences. Lack of civic sense is contribution of elite which has percolated over centuries to Indian psyche (privileges over public property as birthright is what defines, a brahminical understanding that is root of all corruption). It is in the same line rules affecting all members of society are either not enforced or kept subjective. It is a warped sense of individualism and self importance. So there can be no dearth of people adept in the art of discussion but cunningness underlines their action and pursuit. It is Brahminical that you profess presence of god everywhere but charge exorbitant money to skip queue in temple (it is easy money for scoundrels...extend it to all aspect of society-the idea of easy money, the short cuts). While there is emphasis on cleanliness to obsessive level but surrounding is filthy. The list of hypocrisy replacing values, nepotism replacing humanness, fairness replacing acquisitive...is rather long. It is in this context this blogger feels free market is going to have some catastrophic influence on Indian society. Basis of free market is equal access and equal opportunity...that is an ideal. The scams and scandals dealing with huge money is reflection of symptoms that can be traced to values percolated from elite section over the centuries. It is in here what Confucius referred to as “rules” comes in, a system that strives for just society. Democracy in India seems to be at the election level, wherein poor queue up expecting something to happen, and then it is loot by few- whichever government comes to power. Few years back they referred to the then PM Atal Behari Vajpaye as mask (mukhota) for fundamentalism, one wonders what PM Manmohan Singh is mask for?. Both are arguably honest and sincere leaders but did it help the matter?. Confucius suggests ‘moral courage’.

Confucius was an amazing man and his ideas are just and egalitarian. Though he wasn’t bothered about religion his thoughts were religious. He strived for egalitarian society. But the danger of Confucianism cannot be undermined, these ideas could work even in robotic or insipid society. If not self consuming individuals it could lead to self consuming society. Modern China seems quite close to that. This blogger strongly feels a country as ancient as China and as significant in present times doesn’t deserve the kind of negative situation it presently is in.

Chinese rulers could go back to Confucius for more understanding in harmony. Confucius like Tao looked for meanings in Nature. The harmony that exists in nature is what he sought to replicate. Like in nature harmony in human society cannot be really be imposed these are paths shown. So an authoritative society in effect goes against harmony. Harmony in nature is about freedom of self expression

Unlike animals though humans are expected to have self awareness (spirit), this space is lacking in Confucianism. Without an awareness of self these could lead to blind following defeating its purpose. That really was the emphasis of Buddha. So the idea of freedom is understood in the context of awareness(right understanding), this draws the lines of limitations. It is not imposed. That is why societies that though are high on freedom and liberty (read USA) are blatantly consumerist, belligerence defines their approach to issues that plague humanity. The spirit is lacking. Indian PM might say strong American economy is good for the world but this blogger thinks contrary, it undermines humanity. Since human rights are not limited to individual freedom but how the freedom is used, indeed Americans consume many times what is for rest of the world. What at immediate level is lack of basic manners is celebrated as economy model. A strong America undermines Nature.

It is in this context the significance of Confucius increases. There is a need for harmony to solve the problems like Global warming. In the meantime Chinese authority should explain what has Liu Xiaobo done that can be construed as anti society. Indeed like Confucius he only sought for betterment of society. Chinese leaders should also explain why are they turning out such a negative force in world affairs right from Burma to North Korea to Africa, why world community looks at rising China with much trepidation?. Hopefully Chinese government realises it is difficult to keep people under authority when they truly aspire for Confucius harmony.

Insensitive and objectionable

This blogger happen to read on the Net that French President Nicholas Sarkozy and his wife visited the famous Chisti Dargah at Fatehpur Sikri, it was reported that Carla Bruni had asked for son in blessing. Articles quoted the religious head of the Dargah as saying this. It is shocking in a country that is fighting prejudices against girl child; feticide and infanticide are common. Plummeting sex ratio is a testimony to it, and there are lots of efforts being made to rectify these. Carla Bruni has all the right to ask for blessing but to reveal the gender is puzzling- may not be quite a deal in France, she could have been more circumspect. And it is a different matter that god is in the business of granting gender based request, maybe that is what they call faith!!. Shocking is the fact that the religious head found it necessary to mention it to media. Further appalling is the matter of media reporting it, they could have shown some sensibility while reporting and may have avoided the gender reference, keeping in mind the socio-cultural context. I think it is too much to expect from Indian media.

Don’t be surprised if there is an increase in demand for blessing for boy child in here. Some may think this is trivial, it is not and these are significant ways in which disparities gets consolidated. Indeed the governments are taking the help of religious leaders to convince the society against feticide. About 500,000 girl child are killed annually, this despite strict laws against sex based tests and abortion. It is an uphill task. Least we expect is that visiting dignitaries are sensitive to local issues that they could knowingly or unknowingly accentuate. …

Enter the Leaf

The much awaited Nissan Leaf is coming into the market on December 20, it though will take some time to enter Indian market (wonder why?). This car has been named the 2011 European Car of the Year becoming the first electric car to take the award.

Har naari ki yahi pukar baap ke naam pe train ya car!

Some say this account is truly fiction. It so happened once Crude woman and Rodent went to chabis January ka parade. Since both had high level upbringing they chose to sit in the first row of VIP enclosure. The parade started and true to nature of pride of any republic military might was showcased. Rolled in armed forces in tight discipline, followed by arms and armoury. Then came the missiles, the biggest of them all: The Brahmos. Crude woman looked at Rodent, Rodent looked backed at Crude woman they both nodded. Next day they were at Madam’s door.
“Kya hai?” asked Madam
“Madamji isko apne baap ke naam par missile chahiye” said Rodent shuffling his leg “badi missile se bada naam aur hamara yahan par kya kaam” he tried to rhyme.
The Bureaucrat who accompanied Madam spoke “The naming of missiles is a religious matter. As along as Buddha smiles nuclear bombs will explode and missiles will be named after gods. And mind you we have thirty two thousand crores of them. Hum kissi ke baap ke naam par missile nahi rakhte. We have no shortage of gods. Understand”
It was serious setback for Rodent and Crude woman they had expected a favourable response “dukaan tho apni hai” they had thought. Rodent changed his tactic “hum logon ka kya hai kahi par bhi jee lenge” and tried to sneak under the bed.
The Bureaucrat sought to stop him and there was few minutes of jostling, the moment Rodent felt it was enough to make him look like a victim he gave up the effort the very instant and stood there looking at the ceiling and whistling, gave the impression that nothing had happened though he was humiliated. It was kind of a situation that made the onlooker hug the victim in empathy. All this while Crude woman’s eyes were fixed at Madam and it was turning misty.
“Look we cannot name on missile. You can think of something else” said Madam
“Aeroplane. Baap ke naam par hawai jahaj. Oonchi upbringing ooncha naam” crawled Crude woman.
“No that will not be possible Air India and Indian Airlines cannot be tampered with, all other airlines are private you will have to talk to them. We cannot help you. Baap ke naam par airline mushkil hai” informed the Bureaucrat.
“Ulfath meh Kaifiyath, zamzamahat me Kaifiyath, Gufthaguf meh Kaifiyath, Kaifiyath he Kaifiyath, Ulfath meh Kaifiyath, Kaifiyath he Ulfath” sang Rodent
“Gante meh Kaifiyath!” interrupted the Bureaucrat who couldn’t take it anymore.
Crude woman behaved as if she didn’t hear anything, this was something she had handled with dexterity in past and today was no different.
“Chalo phir baap ke naam par train he de do secularism ke khatir” conceded Crude woman but kept her demand “par fully AC train chahiye. Hum logon ka upbringing ekdam AC class hai”
“Shatabdi and Rajadhani cannot be renamed” asserted the Bureaucrat.
Crude woman was now on the verge of breaking down, tears welled her eyes. Not getting an AC train was taken as an insult. “Log kya kahenge baap ke naam par general compartment wali train?” "Call back hone ke bawjud yehi kuch kar pai muee?"
Rodent belonged to a school of thought that believed in half glass is full theory and so decided to give a woman’s emancipation twist to the achievement “har naari ki yahi pukaar baap ke naam par train ya car”.
Now that is when Crude woman decided to hug the Rodent, they patted each other. While they walked out Rodent emphasised the victory “har naari ki yahi pukaar baap ke naam par train ya car” and added “theorya anek par bache char”
“Why so?” asked Crude woman
“Apne Sen babu ke liye. International connections!”

Post Script: Also visit http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=41964 to understand journalism. These people are like gang of pickpockets. They pick the wallet and pass it on, and then regroup. You won’t find them anywhere near money, it is about power, influence, nepotism and so on.

What a sight!!

There really cannot be anything more enchanting than flying, even the sight of it is mesmerising. For thousands of years many enterprising people tried find ways to fly but without success, it is quite unbelievable that art of flying was achieved only about a century back. Unbelievable, since the way the aviation industry has advanced in recent years it gives the impression that we knew it all along. This blogger had recurring dreams of flying or rather floating in air in childhood, many times found it difficult to distinguish real from dream. For sometime i carried this grand notion that i could indeed fly and thought it as secret worth keeping! When i was six or seven there was this boy in the neighbourhood who was about seven or eight years older to me who tried ways to fly things i used be always be around him. We used to take the incense cover (cylindrical shaped agarbathi cover) as the body of the aircraft and slit it partly for cardboard wings, and work out the whole structure-sometimes it took many days. Then drop it from terrace, we did innovation by creating rudders. After much effort it did work fantastically. Goes without saying that it was my job to run down and fetch it for another attempt. That boy was my hero for a long time, incredibly a decade or so back i met him on a train near Bhopal and instantly recognised him, he worked in a Bank.

Later i did take up Aerospace and was really excited about it, a book by Kermode was my favourite. With an aim of getting a break in Aviation industry i was in Chennai, and visited offices of airlines, i recall East West Airlines office in Kodambakam. The HR fellow there always said come next week, he did that to few other fellows. And we landed regularly every week, wondering why he behaves that way. He didn’t even take a test and kept us waiting for hours. Giving hope to people with an intention of never fulfilling i realised is the worst thing to do. It was hugely satisfying to know that the Airline collapsed few years later. At that time i used to read quite a lot about aircraft and so on. Also took up a part time assignment at a flying club. Sometimes even took a local train to Meenambakam airport just to see aircrafts fly, it really was quite an exhilarating sight. It still is. Few months back i almost had a major accident while driving on my two-wheeler as i was momentarily distracted by the sight of an aircraft. Such a magnificent sight that one. Don’t know whether travelling inside can be that exciting, once i travelled from Chennai to Port Blair and inside the aircraft was worst than a city bus. Quite a letdown that one. Chennai also had a club that met on Sundays wherein they flew remote controlled aircraft, there was this rich youngster whom i knew and went with him quite often, he never let anyone handle the gadget, nevertheless it was fun to watch. There are some excellent programs in Television channel that does show lots about aircraft, i liked the one on accidents, they traced the cause in meticulous detail and explain how the learning changed the aviation industry. One of the best programs i have come across.

on low expectations...

...hopeful of some understanding

The runner

You will not see so pure a thing as this:
Movement alone, with its own emphasis.

Those were lines from the poem “The Runner” by Australian poet Francis Webb (you can read the complete poem at www.iseeebirds.blogspot.com). This blogger is an ardent follower of athletic events happening anywhere around the world, a very special interest in running-track events. Keenly follow the world records created and so on. The above picture is that of Chinese athlete Liu Xiang the world record holder in 110m hurdles. It was wonderful to watch him fly over the hurdles at just concluded Asian Games in Guangzhuo China. Indians too have done well in athletics taking few gold medals (need to mention the girl from Udupi: Ashwini who won two Gold medals, a natural athlete she has lots of potential). It is also satisfying to see lots of Keralites in field events; athletics has a strong traditional presence in Kerala. This blog will not be complete without mention of Preeja Sreedharan- winning a Gold and a Silver, she has come a long way.

Must say that the Chinese have done stupendously well in sports.

Bihar does it

This blogger is an ardent admirer of Biharis, i knew many youngsters in Delhi. Most of them are quite smart and hardworking but they suffer from prejudices (Delhiites do have prejudices against most outsiders especially against Biharis, taken to extend of abuse). Undoubtedly future of India pass through Bihar, and if the election results are any indications then we are in for a very bright future. There is a saying in Chinese ‘may you live in interesting times’; Bihar is in for a very exciting time. It is a high time that Biharis realise where they belong and their proud place in history as the land of Buddha and seat of ancient learning. This blogger is also excited by the idea of distributing free cycles by Nitish Kumar Government to girl students in villages. This is a brilliant idea; cycle is not mere mode of transportation it has potential to revolutionise, it’s about freedom. In its intent it is as much Gandhiji’s take on breaking salt tax.

Congress tho ab apni dukaan hai!! (a quote from tapped telephonic conversation in connection to spectrum scam)

I was reading Hans Magnus Enzensberger, an amazing contemporary German poet, the other day and I came across these lines from the poem “the wolves defended against the lambs” which i thought was quite interesting and apt to the times we live in

You lambs, why crows would be
nuns stacked up against you:
all of you hoodwink each other.
fraternity’s the rule
among wolves:
they travel in packs

Whether the Government in Centre change or not some people always have a hold in the power circle, frankly this blogger didn’t think on these lines or was even aware of these but having observed some crude people over the years i can vouch for it. It’s not been an experience i cherish, since crude can only give nonsense, would call it a waste of time, never be influenced by these trash people. It is a tragedy of this society with so many disparities that democracy- that sometimes is the only mean of redress or sense of empowerment of millions people- is held at ransom. Few thousand people around the power centres have consistently interfered and scuttled democracy for immediate gains.

Even though allegations of corruption runs into billions of rupees, nobody ever gets prosecuted clearly “wolves travel in packs” they share the loot (i am here reminded of a fellow named Sukh Ram, just a small example that punctuates illustrious post independence India’s history). Sonia Gandhi says that integrity of PM shouldn’t be questioned. In the meantime the Attorney General representing the union government told the Supreme Court that integrity not a criteria when questioned on CVC appointment, of course with much sophistication. Why do you think there are too many Delhi based lawyers in ‘national’ politics?!

Where are the institutional mechanism to tackle the menace the society faces like say corruption?. May this blogger ask why the recommendation on creation of Ombudsman that is pending for decades not implemented? Who is afraid of prosecuting the corrupt at the high places? Millions of rupees are spend on Commissions whose recommendations languish the cupboards of Union Ministry. Some years back i went through the ARC reports (Administration Reform Commission Report), there are some brilliant suggestions. This blogger would like to ask what has been done to these (and others too), if nothing is done what is the reason?. If this PM was so keen on economic reforms in early 90s and could take revolutionary steps as FM what prevents him from taking revolutionary steps to strengthen Indian democracy and prevent it being misused by coterie of people. This government has failed quite miserably, they seemed to have succumbed to powerful entrenched interest groups.

Ironically most Indians are not manipulative nor are corrupt people, indeed quite decent and go out of the way to help. It is a minuscule percentage of people that spoil it and lack of stricter laws makes it ambiguous and inviting. It is small time ambitious people around the power centres who corrupt, they are in politics, in media, bureaucracy, business and so on. Then there are fixers who work as gel, with market taking over they move around with dexterity with bundles of cash influencing decision makers at the expense of common people. They can ‘manage your image’ by creating perception and manipulation in media (it is a different matter that these exaggerations don’t work in long run). They have spread across the spectrum (no pun intended) with so much ease that it is shocking. The sleaze encourages anti-social elements and undermines the authority of the state.

This is to be expected, that is how National Political parties function. It gets confined to few people in Delhi, and further few in media who voice them, then there are fixers and small timers waiting for falling crumbs. Like MPs representing different part of the country we have experts for everything right across the street, indeed they can do without India. Why do you think Union ministers feed few selected in media, wherein as Union Ministers they are representing whole country. Isn’t this favouritism? Is that not corruption?. They are expected to address the whole nation that can only be done through press conference and not exclusive interviews (American model doesn’t work in country as diverse as India). An ombudsman would have definitely pointed out these corrupt practises. Recently Union Minister Kapil Sibal was seen running from one channel to another expressing his exclusive opinion against corruption. Does he realise that this nation spends millions of rupees on him as union minister and his moving around and spending time like this is costing nation huge amount. Has he gone to, let’s say, Tripura and sat down with the state Education minister and found out how things are functioning there and visited schools at the interiors of the state and interacted with youngsters?. I think not, nor do i expect him to, sitting in Delhi and fixing with few journalists may give the illusion of India but the reality is much starker..

These powerful people feed few in the media for favour and in return make the few in media powerful, and so it seems this is where India’s problems and solutions are to be found. With market and fixers we have a self perpetuating system that feed and thrive on each other, throw in money and sleaze, we now know what’s happening in Delhi.

When National Political parties rules (like Congress, BJP, CPM) you will find most ministers are Delhi based. If regional parties are more powerful and have a strong say in the Centre things would be difficult for this small section of people who are really a threat to Indian democracy and aspirations of people, indeed they have reduced it to a joke. A diverse country like India should have coalition government; national political parties suffer from strong elitism and self serving entrenched groups. They are in clutch of coterie of Delhi based ‘leaders’ who in turn are in the directory of fixers, it’s a farce. Wonder how a millionaire Delhi based lawyer Arun Jaitly ended up as leader of opposition without even ever wining an election, he may be critical of ‘dynasty’ but there is no doubt that he is a product of media fixing, he is an outcome of corrupt system and money power. Are there no elected leaders in BJP?. The answer to this is in the nature of National Parties.

Sonia Gandhi recently said “graft and bribery is on the increase”. I had to look into the dictionary to find out the meaning of graft (the only ‘graft’ i am aware of was stem grafting in biology!). Incredibly the word has opposing meaning it means “hard work” as also “obtaining money by dishonest means or position of power”. I am quite sure Ms. Gandhi meant the latter. There is a misconception that monetary transaction is the only indicator of corruption. Nepotism and favouritism is also how corruption is defined, it denies the deserving. I don’t have much of access nor have the time to apply for RTI but i will give a simple example of how people with influence misuse their position for favour.

I didn’t see the closing ceremony of Commonwealth Games, but did watch the opening ceremony there was lots of pressure to excel and they did it quite well (the one on yoga was spectacular). After a relatively successful conducting of games the closing ceremony was more ‘relaxed’ and this is where you can expect incompetent scoundrels to sneak in. I found out that ‘bollywood songs’ was an important item. Not discussing the propriety of including only Hindi (and English) or ‘bollywood’ to represent Indian song (they could have included songs from different part of the country as they did so brilliantly with dances in the Opening). My concern is: how they arrived at these singers to represent the country at an international event?. What was the criteria and who decided?. Shockingly a choreographer not known for singing was given the opportunity. It clearly showed the influence of Rodents (and fixers), why do you think he got into Rajya Sabha (crude woman would say: kya lagtha hai dilli meh kanche kelne aye hai?. One of the first thing she did was to get baap ke naam par train!. Small achievements in her little life). They even got the fellow who won song competition from the TVchannel they were associated with to sing at this mega event. This is how they work on the clout ‘you associate with us we will get you more’. It doesn’t really matter to them whether it makes us cringe watching this substandard fair or whether it denied the showcasing of singing talent of people from different part of the country. A government representing more than billion people will be having lots of money and perks in context to art and culture, there is huge loot going on, some people are using this to work out their influence. Must say asking a choreographer to sing was quite blatant, maybe it was symbolism to show their reach and contacts (crude woman even mentioned few years back that ‘Soniaji does return her call’. Wonder why would anyone reveal such personal detail?...well it is about showing the clout). If we can get a choreographer to bray at an international event think what else we can do?. In small timers world this is how stature is judged. I think it also means grafting.

When there was stampede in the Delhi based media as to who will get what portfolio in Union Cabinet i was wondering how does that matter to us. Been quite naive must say i wasn’t aware of lobbying, it is shocking if it influences policy makers. Generally sycophants as Ministers are quite susceptible to lobbying, it helps fixers to work out. National Political Parties generally have ‘leaders’ who are product of networking, it makes it very dangerous and is even threat to security of this nation.

Post Script: does privacy meant for rich and powerful?. I am quite certain that these small timers for their immediate gains have intruded into my privacy (believe me given a chance i would definitely pursue it to its end, so i expect rodents to wipe their track clean), latest technology is being misused. For last few years I am finding it increasingly difficult to use my phone or Email. Any attempts to widen my employment opportunity seem to be thwarted, in many cases quite rudely. It has left me quite stressed. Juhu b*tch seem to have the impression that she has Kozhakatta for me (Kozhakatta puzhngi vechatondo?...its Malayalam.), frankly it did shock me to learn that she is another crap working out her miserable career. And instigation also make them play victim!!. Only brits could see a Gandhi in this one, fact is even common people don’t want her anywhere near, she though is prompt with her muslim-victim card. Disgusting these manipulators. I recall many years back i sent across photos with Kolatkars Jejuri....it takes lots of effort these things, any other person would have responded but for crude woman this was another occasion to work out her clout...she was firmly at Mrs Gandhi’s doorstep!!. At personal level I was quite devastated, decided to quit Delhi.

I don’t mind these trash people doing nonsense-surely entertaining- but intrusion of privacy is a different matter. It has put me in severe stress in last few years and ruined all my social relations. It is likely that crude people and fixers have not come across likes of me. Frankly i am not interested in these trash people i consider it a waste of time, i guess i know what they are all about and don’t want to be in their vicinity even for a million dollar!.
I also have to spend more time to post my blog every time it seems to be corrupted.

Classic

Did the readers of this blog heard that Japanese Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida stepped down yesterday? He admitted that "Being justice minister is easy because I only ever have to remember two phrases, which I can use whenever I am stuck for an answer to a question in parliament: 'I refrain from making comments on a specific issue' and 'We are dealing with the matter based on laws and evidence'. This blogger thinks that he shouldn't been asked to resign for being candid. Indian politicians and bureaucrats will never admit but do it all the time, there is a memorable scene in Peepli (live) regarding this.

Do not know whether it is a copyright violation but i had to post this clip from Dilbert, a site i visit regularly and want every reader of this blog to (http://www.dilbert.com/), it makes my day these little funny things. Scot Adams is an amazing guy to come out with these consistently brilliant stuff.

Freedom...

A picture can speak a million words!!

This a photo i took sometime back happens to be my favourite, there are others too i like but this one stands out. I took this at a temple (shani mandir) on an island about an hour on boat in Chilka Lake. It’s a child and her grandmother, they were travelling in the same boat as i was with thier family, i caught them in this rare moment of intimacy just before we were about to leave (it is likely they had recent bereavemant or something has gone wrong in thier life...they were profuse in their praying). I had to be quick and surreptitious, furthermore i was in pain from a recent fall (slipped flat on the mossy concrete, goodness me how i escaped from sure fracture or something serious, it really was quite a bad fall, my concern though was costly camera. Geez i hope i don’t run out of luck...i have stretched it for 15 years now, in all big cities, small cities and nooks and corners!!. One day god might say ok boy time up for you!!). What i like about this picture is not only the warmth (it’s so alive) but the fading colours of the wall, though i desperately wanted the bright green toy in the child’s hand to be visible. Colour of the basket, delicate patterns of white flower on the saree, pink hair band...o how i would have loved if the child was wearing a bright red or yellow frock, that could have made the picture brilliant. I am getting greedy now, next i might want the sky mauve maroon!!

Ye corruption kis chidiya ka naam hai bhai?

If you ask any person on the street what they think is the most serious issue that they face they will say Corruption, apart from of course the increasing food price. One can be cynical about inflation as a cribbing point of self obsessed middle class but corruption is all pervasive, it very seriously affects most section of society in particular the poor and middle class. For poor people it is severely debilitating (take this example: if truckers pay 5billion$ every year as bribe-Transparency International study 2005-does the protest on fuel price increase make any sense!) as also ramification on environment (take for instance illegal mining). It is a well known fact that India is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. You might think the policy makers will make every effort to tackle this menace but no dear you are expecting too much from the self serving elite. I was reading Gunnar Myrdal (i have quoted him in my early blog also, and this one too will not be the last) he expresses surprise, as early as in 1950s, that Corruption is not acknowledged by the elite. Read this...

“I recall how i once tried to interest a group of young sociologist in India in carrying out empirical research in order to pinpoint and analyse the type of difficulties a poor landless worker or sharecropper would encounter if he ventured to insist upon getting his due from the landlord or moneylender. My suggestion met with complete disinterest. ‘We know all about it without study’ one of them remarked, which is certainly a strange attitude for a scientist (Myrdal quotes “it is amazing how otherwise excellent studies on development problems in Asia and Africa avoid any serious reference to the fact of corruption. It is not that writers do not know of its existence but its relevance to the question of political stability and rapid economic development appears not to be fully appreciated”).

The disinterest among the great majority of economists in the facts of corruption stands in strange contrast to the very lively interest shown in South Asian countries among the average literate people. Few issues penetrate the minds of people so deeply among all ‘educated’ even among those otherwise as this one...few are debated with so much excitement. Where there is freedom of public expression, as in India, the newspapers devote much of their space to alleged cases of corruption...i have sometimes felt that corruption takes the same place there as sex and race in contemporary American civilisation.

...anti corruption campaign are waged; laws are passed, vigilance agencies set up, special police establishment assigned to investigate reports of misconduct; sometimes officials mostly of lower brackets are suspended or punished, and occasionally a minister has to resign. And committees are appointed to set forth a general strategy for counteracting corruption....the ostentatious efforts to prevent corruption and the assertion that the corrupt are being dealt with as they deserve only seem to spread cynicism, especially as to how far all this touches those higher ups”.

Gunnar Myrdal writes something very significant here “people’s beliefs about corruption and the emotions attached to those beliefs are themselves important facts. They have their causes and also their effects, and there is no excuse for not making them the object of intensive research”

Myrdal quotes Nehru as saying “merely shouting from the house top that everybody is corrupt creates an atmosphere of corruption. People feel they live in a climate of corruption and they get corrupted themselves. The man in the street says to himself: ‘well, if everybody seems corrupt, why shouldn’t i be corrupt’. That is the climate that sought to be created which must be discouraged”. Myrdal writes in response “this analysis of the immediate effects of the folklore of corruption is probably correct. But Nehru’s practical conclusion, that he should not use his tremendous personal authority and the angry popular outcry for taking radical measures against the spread of corruption in high places, probably belong to one of his serious mistakes, as many of his friends told him”

Nehru’s mistake is what other PMs seem to have endorsed all these years nothing explains rampant corruption in this society. It affects us all the time. This blogger was in Chennai last month and took a GC (general) ticket to Vizag, when i reached the train the unreserved compartment was so very full that i dropped the idea of travelling in that train-a decade back i would have hopped in-opposite the railway station there are people who can get you confirm ticket for money. And i got one for the evening train despite the fact enquiry showed ‘waiting list’. How did that happen?. Obviously money goes to the official, every day thousands of train and you know how much it’s worth. It’s not that they are not aware of this they choose to ignore (talking of trains this blogger would like to know on what basis is The Hindu distributed in Durontho trains?. I am surprised by the magnanimity of Mamata Bannerjee, that too for a newspaper that is prejudiced against her. Despite being distributed free most people didn’t take it...it is unknown in most part of the country. People should be given choice here. Ram seems to be having it easy: 1000copies per train is a good deal. The days of Tam Bram easy life is over, fixers in government must have been paid). Corruption is all pervasive and runs into billions and billions of rupees, in a country as poor as India this is not only criminal but violation of human rights. Don’t know if the present government in the centre realises this that the people are extremely angry and frustrated about these day to day scams that runs into millions of rupees (if middle class is vociferous then lack of protest from poor people doesn’t mean they aren’t affected indeed they take the major brunt). Corruption is the most serious issue the country faces. It strikes at the foundation of just society.

Manmohan Singh government is a spectacular failure for maintaining status quo and not making any effort for systemic changes, it’s time that Congress (if it want to survive) reconsider his viability (if Rahul Gandhi is responsible for election victories then what prevents him to be appointed as PM by the party is something i don’t understand). We were under the impression that Manmohan Singh’s lack of charisma or popularity could be compensated by his sincerity (he is a nice decent man)...well it is not working. He seems to be more of a cold economist. Myrdal writes “...economist are also eager to appear open to ideas from outside their own traditional and narrow field and to be broadminded. After having made the most generous reservations and qualifications, they tend, however, to go on as before, reasoning in purely economic terms”. Myrdal gets quite damning “to that pretended sophistication also usually belongs having very scanty knowledge of the history of ideas and of the philosophy andsociology of science. The raising of the problem of the role of biases in research therefore passes by without being understood”... “This lacuna in their understanding of social problems has in recent decades been fortified by the way in which economist are being trained...the result is that a student has been able to become professor of economics while having only the most fragmentary knowledge about the society he studying”

If Manmohan Singh can show agitation and put his job on line to get the ‘nuclear deal’ done, he could show a fraction of his “tremendous personal authority” (quoting Myrdal) to the issue of corruption that is eating the society from within. Removing few people doesn’t change anything we want radical systemic changes (ombudsman like Lokpal, depoliticising CBI, implementing Judicial reforms, Police reforms and so on). This Government seems to be singularly lacking the will or the intent to tackle the scrounge of corruption. Time for Mr Singh to go...he was quite competent as a Finance Minister but as a PM this blogger dare say he has become a liability to the expectations of the people of this nation.

I recall nearly two decades back the then PM made an amazing statement that even made it to quotable quotes section of international news magazines “not taking a decision is also a decision”. Many people thought it was funny, this blogger didn’t. If you cannot take decision then you should quit and give way to people who can.

The Emperor retires

One of the best sportsperson the world has ever seen in recent times has decided to retire, in a decision that has shocked many. Haile Gebrselassie in a career spanning 18 year created 27 world records in marathon races, what a stupendous achievement. These records are remarkable since marathon is a highly competitive sport (running is an exact sport all other sports are trying to be), unlike other sports there is no paraphernalia, no nothing, you just got to run. Anyone with two legs is a competitor, that means 6 billion people on the planet!. That is why it is incredible. Haile Gebrselassie hailed from a poor family in Ethiopia, as a child growing up on a farm he used to run to school every morning. This led to a distinctive running posture, with his left arm crooked as if still holding his schoolbooks. A well liked sportsperson he has been an inspirational figure for a generation of marathon runners.