For an adaptive infrastructure

As the intensity and frequency of natural disasters increase, and many places in India, like Kerala, becomes particularly vulnerable to the onslaughts of climate change related crisis accentuated by  market instigated wanton greed and increasing population pressure it’s about time to think about adaptive measures. The infrastructure has to factor in the new changing reality. With water logging predicted to become a common occurrence we could learn from traditional house construction in places like Assam, as also many regions in south east Asian countries, that faces constant inundation. Houses here are constructed on raised stilt like platforms. I fail to understand why these construction strategies are not followed in places like Kuttanad. Two important considerations must form the basis of infrastructure investment. One, the building must have high level of resilience. Second, immediate functional recoverability, particularly of the basic connectivity like roads and bridges, after the disaster must become an important factor in construction.       

Unprecedented deluge

The kind of rainfall Kerala is experiencing is unprecedented, made much critical by unique geographical feature of the region and high population density. Sandwiched between tropical evergreen mountains and Arabian ocean it is a fragile ecosystem that has millions of years of making. In the recent times these have been severely degraded with population pressure and wanton consumerism -what is termed as development, this despite the fact that Kerala has quite evolved HDI standards. Unfortunately the opportunities provided by high HDI has not converted into responsible evolved social context. Literacy has failed to show enlightened understanding of life. It’s dog eat dog world that nurtures depraved mindsets that is constantly in material need to display and feel fulfilled. The onslaught of market, sanctum moral vacuum and amazingly consumerism thriving organised religions have competed to create a unique blend of mindsets, insular attitudes and heightened insecurities, self preserving reactional contexts. It is such a heartrendingly adverse society that loses no occasion to exaggerate itself (even 'God’s own country') that one is left baffled so as to desperately seek to hinge on any reference for sanity. The empathetic egalitarian contexts that were firmly connected to unique biodiversity and sustainable ways of life has long been negated and now finds space as ayurvedic quick fix brands that promise miracle.

This background is needed to understand the havoc of nature, as gold salivating greed filled self-assured society finds itself scampering for cover while superstition driven self-defeating rituals are left with no space in flooded land (includes keenly segregating and degrading godforsaken sabrimala. Sorry humans -men and women, keep off for now). Even in this tragedy disgraceful market intervenes the TV news with more bizarre baits to buy that is strikingly isolated from unfolding tragic reality. Not to be left behind celebrated and successful little Trumps at Airlines have hiked the ticket fare, monetizing tragedy is a business model that surely adds to GDP. Business is now open to highest bidders, you can skip the queue and leave the stampede to less blessed.

Climate change is real. Fossil fuel adds to global warming, meaning vehicles/cars being hawked by infotainment channels as latest models to entrap people to fill enormous bellies are adding to the accentuating problems common people face. While hapless people suffer there is a thriving tradition of fattening on misery -a blessing. The disconnect is amazing, and now colliding into new realization that something is seriously amiss and that the humans are woefully inadept to face the force of nature. Meanwhile the only good thing that comes out of this is that the State government (with assistance from Union government) has handled the situation quite professionally and shown uncommon alacrity. We can thank them for that.           

When reality strikes

So, we are getting these feral videos (sickening viral videos) of lynching, while these are being watched and commented upon there are some who are habituated to assume as guardians of society (trustees, if you will) who are working on consolidating an angst driven narration. They intense it as ‘things going wrong’, ‘democratic institutions getting weakened’ so on, the headline and carefully worked subtext catering to what matters in the moment of stampede, the opportunity to showcase as kindred souls. Always branding as worrier of others, though, not ironically, others are nowhere in sight in the sanitised surrounding with purity as source of comfort. Muslim names and cow connection tends to trigger a rather orgasmic response among these species. One wonders if it is these heinous acts or possibilities that these incident present as opportunities that generate these righteous rants.

Lynching is of course despicable and must be dealt severely. Law and order machinery must show alacrity on these matters. But these are not uncommon at all. In India these are common sight, and it seems individuals are waiting to coalesce into mob at shortest possible notice. Having been raised in the segregatory mindsets, degrading traditions, opportunistic values and heuristic morality the individual is already entrapped in an unethical potent, the caste for semantic convenience is now community readied for rhetorical subterfuge for high moral grounds under the elaborate cloak of ‘unity in diversity’. This fiercely identified setting is now aggregation of valueless individuals with least denominator and bleakest references to hinge on, but yes always carry highest possible estimates and ever exaggerated self-worth. While the culture and mainstream narrations consolidates these into subconscious there is a back-thumping consensus that Indians hold the key for the world as spiritual masters. This cringe worthy claim from a society that conceived heinous forms of social framework that quite easily eases out cannibalistic societies in its depravity. At least cannibalism has utilitarian excuse.

So, the other is always a constant presence even among people who have been living as neighbours for ages, while the angst driven elite hop from one opportunity to another and manipulate at its wake. Its laughable that mediocre Indian historian (with no sense of history) created this narration that britishers followed the policy of ‘divide and rule’, yes a bunch of colonisers were successful in convincing millions of people! The other therefore is to be revered or exploited, this is the frame that Indians are intimately aware of. There is rarely any understanding of equality or mutual respect as humans, it always needs categorisation, a clear understanding of position in the hierarchy (the reason why cunning MNCs are so easily able to tap into the insecurities of Indians). As much as reverence can be overwhelming, and always moves with sycophancy as it is based on fancy parameters or least discernible skills, exploitation is brutal and takes to the depth of inhuman ways. Hence when the group coalescence into crowd they revere the worst of human endeavour (whether art/sports/politics -as can be judged from the output) lacking discernible skills nor ideas of excellence or competence, everything comes cloaked with blessing. Hence reverence comes with elation that one could also succeed with pursuit of blessing, and yes, some minimum skills. Meanwhile the object of reverence falls in the same mindset hence will make all effort to exploit the adulation. Some of the so-called celebrities that market have confirmed for Indians genuinely believe they are talented, hence have the right to exploit the situation that market have blessed them with.

It is when the other is confirmed as vulnerable, marginalised or ‘lower’ that the group moves towards cannibalistic mob, and these needs minimal provocation. For angst driven elite (essentially the nurturers of the depraved framework) muslim name of lynched may trigger soul searching redemption possibilities while caste lynching lack the gravy nor the nuance that they disparately want to hinge narration on. The fact remains lynching is quite common, and happens all the while, some people die but many have been beaten up badly, and if it is not physical then the unique gandhian ways of nonviolence (the high culture purity driven humble benevolence of sickening self-righteousness) social sanctions that is carefully orchestrated to lynch the souls. Caste lynching and atrocities were till recently morphed as law and order problem to give the impression of pristine pure society living in harmony of ‘unity in diversity’, it is only now that these have become opportune for elitist narration of ‘things going wrong’. The situation has accentuated with dramatic changes in the last few years with advent of technology at the individual level, these lynching are now being videoed and shared. While thousands of cases of mob violence happen all the time, most go unreported, it is when someone dies that lynching gains credence and among these only few qualify for elitist angst. Then there are discriminations, injuries and murders that is executed at much smaller scale of participation. The reality is much bleaker, and the bleating elites nudging for grab are not only complicit but are beneficiaries. The unsettling hypocrisy is when they seek tone of atonement. 

  

(picture herein is the ‘selfie’ taken by perpetrator just before lynching a poor tribal man to death for stealing in ‘100%literate’ Kerala)   

The bleak world of Pranab

It is while interacting (and eavesdropping into conversations) with retired senior bureaucrats, who spent later part of their career in the highest echelons of power in the treacherous Lutyen’s Delhi, that you become intimately aware of the amazingly degraded people at the helm of affair steering the fate of this beleaguered society in the last many decades. Most senior bureaucrats, with some rare exceptions, are full blown egos -assiduously emulating their masters, who seek compliant audience for monologue on their past exploits. Post retirement these occasions become rare: with no power comes no sycophants. It’s a basic dictum of cannibalistic scums salivating for next deity in Delhi, carefully copied to all power centres across India. Hence this constant stampede for power, while some ransack whatever outlets, like market media or virtue signalling occasions, to salvage whatever semblance of power to afloat, some even mime it, as they lose entry to gravy train meanwhile contacts are alarmingly incommunicado. It’s a grim battle. All for the sake of common people -who indeed keep slipping into worst of all parameters jostling with bleakest places on earth for survival.

    

I am calling him ‘Pranab’ because of a viral interview video with another of market media’s mediocre representative whom he chastised for “interrupting” and arrogantly reminding him that he is “interacting with former president” (jantha nahi meh kon hu? Or better still the one you encounter on the streets of VVIP delhi “jantha nahi hai mera baap kon hai?” or someone who cautioned me after doing wrong “Don’t mess with me man you don’t know the kind of contacts I have and what I can do to you”. In the mean streets of Delhi, lower end outsiders have to be extremely wary. It always has the potential to go horribly wrong and nobody will be bothered). Its amazingly petty to use such language (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfg6RUr6j8c) that too someone who has held almost all senior positions, and was assiduously nurtured by the forces that be, for last many decades. It surely speaks of the uncouth worldview at display. Their rent seeking entitled life seems to be revolving around immediate need to make people feel small in their presence and therefore feel blessed. Meanwhile the journalist concerned, who has latched on to big time virtue signalling secularism, exhibited amazing lack of vigour or journalistic ethics (most likely he had put all his eggs on camaraderie and least expected this turn of events, it’s a breach) and even apologised! When you ask them to shut up they crawl! Why did he apologise? It’s the job of journalist to question and counter question, and if the interviewee is not comfortable he could say so. Not by ego mania ‘you know who I am or I was’? The fact that the fellow agreed for interview means that he will be vigorously scrutinised, it’s a two-way process and nobody is lower or higher. As mentioned earlier this fellow is the beacon of Castetva force and as such is quite sensitive to hierarchy, and likes of him have spent their life time on weaving these matters at the expense of governance, and these have percolated into government machinery and institutions severely degrading democracy. 

So, by eavesdropping a discussion I gathered that post Sanjay Gandhi’s death Indira Gandhi had become quite vulnerable. And as is the case with this depraved society there is a thriving business of predictions, astrologers and divine speculators, all kind of charlatans circled in as advisors, and those surfeit in assured blessings were always in the forefront (The audacity is such that it is also being equated to as science evidently to buttress the claim of grand understanding of universe that others are yet to catch up with. Such is the audacious claim of bunch of intellectually challenged. Previously they crept in as divine advisors of kings and quite easily reduced them to stuttering incapable nincompoops, hanging between fate and fatalism, meanwhile severely degrading the society. History is evidence of Indians lack of calibre or organisational skills, with some rare exceptions here and there. Hence the leeway of peaceful and nonviolent narration that clever Gandhi became an alibi at the expense of common people who endure amazing form of violence inflicted in a way very few societies have been able to accomplish. Castetva narration is desperately hinged on purity of nonviolence with Gandhi as showcase). Indira Gandhi’s vulnerable state was even mentioned by Pupul Jaykar in her book. Already casteist forces had firmly established into the democratic institutions and had begun cannibalising it, the progress we see now has to do with few exceptional and committed people as also democratic nature of technology that helped empower common people but on most parameters India remains a dustbin case despite so much potential, promise and possibilities. The garbage at the top tentacles run deep as they parasite on common people.

It is in this milieu that Pranab effortlessly enters. I am trying to find out where his talent lie that he was cushioned into important positions. He is not communicator, undecipherable words in thick Bengali accent and a propensity to loose temper shows serious psychological lack, makes it horrible. Nor he has any oratory skills nor any charisma. These are serious indictment for someone moving around as politician (that too 'senior' leader) trying to represent hapless and oppressed people. So how did he not only survived but thrived? What stood for him was camaraderie that casteist forces had established around power centres, around the family in this case. It was when Mr. Rahul Gandhi blatantly claimed to be “jeneu dhari shivbhakt” (indeed caste revivalism that should be seen as slur if context is understood) and was being anointed (as it were) that things fell into place. It was the rise of ‘jeneu dhari shivbakts’ in early 1980s that ensnared the family and Pranab was right there in the thick of it without any discernible talent or skin in the game (like any sycophant, who are helidropped on unsuspecting people as leaders). There were so many possibilities to create egalitarian nature of society and unleash potential of people but likes of Pranab were not only woefully incapable but incapacitated by twisted feudal casteist mind trapped in his own muck Indeed after he took over as FM (for whatever reason, in mid 1980s) the disparities and inequity, in already beleaguered society, only increased. Pranab-Reliance-Tirupati is an aspirational template that the depraved across the country emulate to further nepotism and corruption in the cloak of purity. A transaction of blessing that very few are fortunate is being confirmed, hence the cue, the beginning of stampede by masses to please the powerful gods. It encompasses everything that plagues this society and the perils of Pranabs only added to the misery while cleverly manipulating the narrations. Habitually, they have well placed their litters too as caretakers (what “chatur bania” referred to as trustees, the self assured ones entitled to trickle down goodies). Egoistic insecure sycophants who measure others in the same scale so as to dispense patronage and largesse, this therefore percolates down over skills, merit or even rule of law. A careful study on plight of Indians can be traced to these nefarious designs by garbage at the top.

That likes of Pranab was confident to assert out of Congress (without any mass appeal or skills herein) has to do with his immense assurance in camaraderie skills authenticated over decades of temple hopping and dispensing state patronage to these despicable casteist feudal sites in the name of faith while severely undermining egalitarian traditions and compassion driven narrations. He has been a go between Castetva and Hindutva is because of the camaraderie that he assiduously built using state machinery as also trampling over the aspirations and hopes of common people. These he exploited to hilt and was immensely successful in the cannibalising ecosystem of lutyen’s delhi. While pliable market media connived to hail him as some kind of negotiator, the truth as usual is chillier. Castetva forces final homecoming is Hindutva, all else is side show meant to amuse. Secular pouting mullah feeding mediocre casteist feudals can masquerade as liberal and try their best to stampede into local and international narrations with their angst and virtue signalling. They will be exposed.    

At Vembanad Fish Survey

My ancestral home is adjacent to backwaters but my awareness of freshwater ecosystem is quite limited so is the knowledge of issues related to Vembanad lake, probably because I haven’t spent too much time here. But that is not an excuse whatsoever, and I also know some houseboat owners who lack awareness of fragile nature of ecosystem nor elicit any keenness to know. Indeed there is a space for Naturalist to work in high end tourist houseboats, there is so much to explore here from fresh water, estuarian to marine species as also amazing diversity of avian species. Unfortunately Indian tourists are one of the least responsible or educated, subtleties of life tend to miss most Indians, and the more money they have the crass they come. Shows what kind of people market capitalism in mix with primitive nature of this society is nurturing in the name of development.

 Vembanad is the largest wetland system in the country that is also a Ramsar site. It is unique in many ways. Over the years it has degraded, indeed it started in 1820s with reclamation for paddy cultivation. Kuttanad being the rice bowl, uniquely located below sea level. This grew much urgent in 1940s with Burma crisis. There was a constant and persistent move of common property resource towards private hands. 1960s brought in chemical fertilizer and pesticide intensive green revolution which contributed to further degradation of the ecosystem. Thannermukkam bund (salt water barrier), major construction on the lake in 1970s, cordoned off the fresh water from marine. Thus preventing migration of aquatic species as also increasing siltation as the bund was kept closed due to farmer lobby. Profusion of hyacinths and clogging of major portion of riverine part of the lake can be traced to these events while eutrophication played its part. Next came backwater tourism, the number of houseboats is mindboggling as there is a stampede to cash in, and so begins damage due to solid waste disposal, specifically plastics irresponsibly disposed by tourists and locals (plastic from devotees at Sabarimala also floats into this lake), and appalling sanitation conditions that has brought diseases like dengue, chikungunya and rat disease (leptospirosis). The oft repeated story of economic prosperity through environmental degradation has negative impact on fragile ecosystem as also livelihood of fishermen.

It was with this background that I decided to participate in Vembanad fish survey 2018 -proclaimed as ‘democratic fish monitoring’, a motley group of experts and volunteers while I snugged in as ‘local resident’ to embolden the ‘democracy’ claim. Ostensibly a survey but it also aims to protect Vembanad ecosystem by creating inventory of fish diversity as also spreading awareness. Over the years they have been able to motivate to create ‘Lake protection forum’ as also mini fish sanctuary -an initiative by fisherfolks without any help from external agency (that seeks to provide breeding grounds for fishes through bamboo barricades). We were divided into three groups and assigned three regions, in these three region five spots were identified for sample collection. Three types of nets were used 1)Gill nets 2)Cast nets 3)Scoop nets. Cast net were of two types 35mm and 50 mm that were laid overnight while cast nets and scoop nets were applied 5times each in each location. The samples were collected, identified, parameters like weight and length noted. Our team was headed by ichthyologist Mr Anwar from KUFOS (Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies) who was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his profession. He explained about each specie that was caught including scientific as well as local knowledge (including taste! The man surely knew his fishes), some went to the freezers while the rare to aldehyde for genetic sampling. He elaborated about whether the fish was herbivorous or carnivorous, sexual dimorphism (rare occasions when both male and female were caught) parental care fishes, parasites so on. Meanwhile some also studied the water samples. 

Catch per unit was calculated by measuring time. Mr. Anwar discussed about night diversity, and that one would find more catfish. Since it had rained most catch were fresh water fishes. He also narrated interesting anecdote related

to Green chromide aka pearl fish aka Karimeen, the state fish of Kerala, that the scientific name Etroplus suratensis has origin in Surat town in Gujarat where it is only an introduced specie, product of mistaken attribution by British ichthyologist. As also Green chromide has a unique symbiotic relation with Orange chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus aka Pallathi) wherein it allows the later to devour its babies (fry) in return for removing parasites as Orange chromide specialise as ‘cleaner fish’. That should be some benchmark for utilitarianism! Highlight, atleast for me, was witnessing the smallest fresh water endemic fish in India: Horadandia brittani. Perky little adorable fish that one.

From our trip, that started at 6am and finished at 2.30pm, we were able to document 30odd fin fish and three shell fish. Quite an interesting day for me. I must mention I kept an eye open for birds too, as we navigated around luscious fruit bearing ‘suicide trees’(Cerebra odollam that kills atleast one person a day across this region and east asia), and not very surprisingly Stork-billed Kingfishers are in abundance. Before I conclude this blog I need to add a scene wherein acres of land, that had coconut trees and vegetable gardens, was reclaimed by lake through flooding. On the one hand it was hoary sight with dead trees spreading the horizon in a dystopian nightmare while it provided space for nesting avian population. A local farmer when asked said “There is a truth between earth and sky, it will find its way”.

Andersons of our time

There are money bags scouting poorer societies as investors -extolled as divine exotic species by market media, as saviours, while greedy corrupt politicians fall over each other to supplicate the new deity ensconced in traditional cultural pointers, the astounding deceit spontaneously acquires banality, indeed we are expected to, it is ordained. The money bags are god's way of informing us of copious blessings granted that we ordinary mortals have no option but to supplicate, and who else to take the lead but the elected representatives keen on sharing the blessing, the arduous task of doing for the sake of people. Economists and feudal positioners -working as gravy train gate keepers, authenticate it as beginning of economic development, the harbingers of prosperity. The GDP. Meanwhile it's beginning of misery for common people, first they will be threatened, offered some paltry incentives or else driven out. Money bags will land to exploit the ‘resources’ that took billions of years in making, rampaging the precious nature, fragile ecosystem and leave the environment polluted and degraded. As they grab and accrue their profits others are left to fend for themselves. In corrupt and nepotism driven crony capitalism there are no checks and balances, laws are subjective, human lives are cheap and environment not valued whatsoever. Mediocrity thriving Indian economic story is hinged on exploiting nature and fleecing huge population -desperate people in iniquitous society trapped and wallow in its own muck, and from these despicable frames arise the icons, greedy insipid constantly beckoning to snare.

Anil Aggrawal, Indian born but now typically NRI (I gather it is a lucrative move, you really don’t see Non-resident Britain in India do you?) is another of WarrenAndersons of our time that we have to endure, who are waiting for opportunity to blatantly exploit whatever can be monetised and wherever can be monetised while democratic institutions are severely compromised. Natural resources are common property and no one should be able to make such profit so as to become billionaires or even millionaires. It should be so taxed that major revenue must be go to the state and therefore to the welfare of the people. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen, and really cannot happen in a society that function in moral vacuum while protagonists scheme sickening self-righteousness as compensation. Lawyers and feudals stampede as economists and policy makers with keen sense of entitlements and how to trickle it down as requirements of fate. It is no wonder this society nurtures manipulators and scoundrels, and every town has its own success story doubling on misery to surrounding. Money therefore becomes sign of blessing, and the favour is returned by  much publicized and reverent action of filling up of hundi with gold and untold riches. The deity is favored as conniving policy makers and exploiters converge while squatters help keep a tag. This therefore percolates onto hapless people who crowd onto such sites as these are fed as sure signs of powerful god adept in dispensing blessing -so queue in, stampede and beg. Hence the irony of richest temples, poorest people and beggar minds playing catch up game in moral vacuum that percolates as attitudes and behaviors, hence as societal norms.

We don’t need charity of likes of Andersons or Aggrawals, what is needed is strict monitoring of exploitation of natural resources, equitable distribution of profits for the betterment of society and as a compensation for environment and ecosystem degradation. Natural resources cannot be private property of individuals to showcase their blessings and then patronize as charity. The audacity of Aggrawal to use state machinery to murder hapless people who were protesting against degradation of living space and immense hardship to their livelihood is a breaking point. Likes of him should be checked.                        

On a morning walk

On a morning walk

A primal world in the horizon

Is clasped, the keen sense

Cruising light years unlocks, in waiting moment.

A breeze is all that is felt on the canopy of acacia

The tiniest matter are brilliant henceforth

Ladybird on Caribbean blue-spike initiate meaning

Right back to the big bang, and nothing.

In the end, Nietzsche’s vivid mind

Beethoven’s keen ears

Borges’s insightful sight

Blue prints of memories etched in decaying neurons. 

Big data, free will and why Indians are in for serious bother

          

There are so much data available out there, and with expanding ‘Internet of Things’ this is bound to increase exponentially, that big data is now unfortunately seen as new oil. Huge unstructured information is being retrieved and channelized through cognitive immersive technology.  Data with augmented intelligence has now created possibilities of better reasoning, hypothesizing or seeking correlations for further study, and essentially better decisions and understanding. Unfortunately though, data is also limiting into a new feudal order. Feudalism was nurtured through land ownership while Capitalism thrived with proprietorship over machinery. And now control over data is creating a new order of Dataism. Societies where feudal norms are strong, where capitalism is the interplay of cronyism and nepotism, and where moral ethical frameworks are weak, there is a serious threat that has potential for cataclysmic impact on the lives of common people. Their world is expected to shrink further and life made more meaningless. Where humans are treated as slaves, expendable commodities, for entitled few, and where exploitations of weak and sycophancy for powerful is a norm then things are going to get much tougher. The situation becomes much bleaker when you realize that the elite section is highly insecure –as they are effete and incompetent, that adds to the tyranny of control, the brutal control. There is a strong tradition –indeed a culture, of fixers and manipulators nurtured by sycophancy hinged power centers that keep shifting wherever there is gravy to lick. It has array of rituals to please and propitiate to whichever be the power.

Data has become intrusive, and is used to create psychological profile and attributes of individuals and classify people into different groups of consumers for targeted sales and marketing campaign. It is used to influence choices individual makes, even insecurities are used for manipulations, and now it is being taken to next level with cognitive data. Social media is all about building the user base. How do I drive lots of engagement? Building engagement is important in this money metric game, and they don’t care about the nature of engagement, this engagement-based business model that incentivizes the most mindless things that harm the fabric of society. It’s consistently trying to trigger fear and anger to get the outrage cycle going, because outrage is what makes you be more deeply engaged. You spend more time on the site and you share more stuff. Therefore, you’re going to be exposed to more ads, and that makes you more valuable. The social-media giants have become “attention merchants,” bent on hooking users no matter the consequences. “Engagement” is the euphemism for the metric, but in practice it evolved into an unprecedented machine for behavior modification with everyone under surveillance by their devices and receiving calculated stimulus to modify them. Digital networks are creating mass behavior-modification regimes, manipulating minds, trapped in feeder bubbles. Even original good intention winds up empowering its opposite.

As they say dataism is the singularity, an all knowing omnipresent processing system based on the universal faith in the power of algorithm. While the real emerging issue is that people are not able to assign moral agency to algorithms. For instance Trump’s narrow victory appears to have been fashioned, at least in part, by a covert appeal to the insecurity, religious fervor or racism of voters willing to rely on social media for information about the world. “Those who financed and carried out this ugly propaganda campaign were careful to avoid having their names associated with such lies and distortions. They were also unwilling to openly argue and defend their ideas”. These kinds of intrusions have been happening all the time through advertisements where human emotions are relentlessly targeted and society measured at stunted adolescent cravings. Societies where myths and truths are persistently kept blurred, perceptions are constantly pushed into authentic, so as to ease manipulation and domination is going to be particularly at risk.

It is therefore incumbent on us to insist on primacy of free will. You can have all my data but you cannot manipulate my will, therefore my decisions and choices. Humanity must be retrieved from these cannibalizing creatures. Societies like India where every innovative technology has much significance as manipulative technology to control choices of common people this must be insisted. Children must be taught on these matters, hence critical thinking must be insisted as part of inquisitiveness. Quite an arduous task for societies where elders are severely compromised to fatalism in the mounting hopeless burden of realities that works in moral vacuum and quick fixes. Where people are ready to fleece lives (even souls of dead), brutalize thoughts. In such a situation atleast the minimum hinge i.e. hard earned money must be safeguarded from these exploiters, and must be judiciously spent. To start with anything that is sold through advertisement must be avoided, they have nurtured mediocrities from film and cricket as recruit of art and sport –a hint of competence for common people, that is kept so low that it is tantalizingly reachable in the process has degraded the society to trap people. The society has been constantly bludgeoned into adolescent dealings –that market proposes, which has now become more intrusive with new technology. Perceptions and exaggerations have severely compromised the society, as it is readied for exploitation. A beginning can be made with younger generation.  

It is our reason that help us judge, to theorize our experiences. It is the reason that gives us sense of freedom in a brief but what is essentially determined frame of life followed by death. Reason also gives us the unique ability to understand reality, as it unfolds, and equips us to discern –through experimentation and thinking, to decipher as to which reality is absolute in nature and which is mutable. To submit willingly to what is discerned as immutable necessities of reality rather than bitterly, or in ignorant blissfulness of fatalism driven choices. This attitude that springs from comprehensive understanding of free will is what is precious. This unique human attribute is what helped us to not only negotiate, calculate but channelize with remarkable accuracy the laws of nature into wonderful discoveries and inventions. This free will nurtured see big data as no threat whatsoever.  

New religion, and other humanizing assertions

This blogger doesn’t have time for religions, an increasingly dangerous anachronism that I consider a waste of time. It is uniquely based on juvenile premise, a collective hallucination working on unthinking irresponsible people’s insecurities. Those who have bartered their conscience, and expect to be rewarded hence can be easily be manipulated. They are dehumanized and made ineffectual, nourishing on narrowing premise that keep them diminishing. A clever attempt at constructing pleasant consequences of truth, prescriptive trap of control on which institutions are built, authority is established –this then gets rigid over time, regressive perpetuating shells and loose link with truth if any. Enlightened thoughts get percolated as miracle driven chicanery. Miracle not of amazing life and profound, that sparkles everywhere, but exaggerated human conceived divine that exhibits its power by breaking the natural laws and orchestrates fanciful and ridiculous. This miracle is the beginning of alienation of soul from mind, and mind from connection with reality. It is an illness that spreads in the name of faith, and audaciously stakes higher claims in the hierarchy of grievance. There is no doubt that religion had its space and time, and yes some were more evolved and attempted at creating egalitarian context in what was an essentially brutal and unpredictable world, when forces of nature were not properly understood. The situation now is quite different, not that everything about mysteries of life has been understood, as Carl Sagan said “the universe will always be much richer than our ability to understand it”, but yes what has been understood cannot be undermined nor can values associated with rational logical evidence based verifiable universal thinking that forms an important hinge of humanity.

Religions as it stands now –considering mounting problems unique to the time we live in, are severely undermining the core of humanity, and are attempting to pull us back into primitive self-defeating ways. At social level they divide and segregate, and create an antagonistic reality that is in odd with humanity as also nature. Hence uniquely alienated individuals and strife filled society. Even attempts at truce, some even call it secularism, is working on regressive premise of respecting different versions of juvenile nonsense. It is not really an evolved society but a society in truce that is perilously spiraling down. People thrive on degradation as their faculties and senses are made immune to the immediate verifiable realities. There is no future here. Religion therefore is not part of solution, and is very clearly constructing a dangerous reality from its proclaimed virtuous virtual context. It’s akin to video game, with all its childish rules of gain and loss, good and bad, but differs in it debilitating impact on the reality. Indeed the violence found in video games –which is mostly confined to virtual space, is nothing compared to what religion has unleashed from its not entirely different virtual space into reality. Religion as a defining identity of individual –that is being pushed in by vested interests, is therefore seriously flawed, and must be reconsidered at the earliest. Identity of humans must begin with and end with humanity. Anything else is peripheral and must be evaluated in its context provided it doesn’t contradict with values of that upheld humanity. Understanding this one can assert that identities based on enlightened shared ideas, thoughts, practices can be source for identity. So is self that identifies through linguistic affiliation, profession, or even discriminatory context of gender and race that arise from flawed yet clear objective reality of birth (unlike caste, that is manipulated in by effete inhuman Indians). Nation based identities too are regressive but must be taken in for administrative reason. That leaves religion as lowest –indeed regrettable, point of reference. Spirituality is essentially an enlightened context, and really cannot be binary to reason. Indeed it complements and contributes to personal growth, to be a better human, a wondering human and free member of humanity.  Spiritual needs therefore must be seen as personal, and any overt expression in public must be confined to this need. Religions as an identity is asserted when spiritual need is seen through political frame of power hence identity. This assertion will have to be resisted, it emerges from a primitive worldview, hence nothing positive is expected out of it. You can see its vicious outcome at the cost of urgent matters. This sideshow cannot and will not be allowed to take the centrestage. It has created tremendous damage and agony. Meanwhile one should also note that the market driven alternatives that constantly presents as nothing short of adolescent nonsense posture as liberal, sometimes encompassing the most illiberal and regressive aspect of religion into its fold depending on mass appeal that is surely hinged on greed and opportunity. Some posture as atheist and try stretch liberalism to crass consumerism and amazing level of irresponsibility.

Religion’s booby-traps must be recognized. We must insist on individual values as every human is unique and hence has a commitment to herself to explore and experience that uniqueness without any boundaries and restrictions. Religion with its high moral tone, frozen from contexts of centuries back cannot be of any guidance, at the most a minor reference that can be rejected as and when the need be. Any other posturing by religion over people and also on society is unacceptable and impedes into basic expectations from democratic society and foundation of human values. In recent times despite remarkable advancements and possibilities that technology offers there is an onslaught of religion based balderdash that is making it difficult to focus unbiased on urgent matters logically sanely. Religious propaganda is overtaking critical reasoning faculties and this acquires serious dimensions with children being targeted. It is the duty of the egalitarian state to plug this incursion on humanity that has devastating impact on society. Children must be exposed to all kind of ideas, most critically that counters religions and refutes it claims. Thoughts and deep insights on myriad nature of life must be insisted as part of study that inspires inquisitiveness and understanding. Children must become humans with their humanity intact, and not religious zombies nor technology satiated frankenstein. Faith based schools therefore should be seen as a threat to humanity. Religion, like market capitalism, is being used to bypass the rational side of human, into the subconscious and sedate into complacency while the moral neutral technology –that is becoming too powerful and intrusive, is being used to extend the control. Democracy is dependent on critical thinking, so is humanity. Centuries of collective understanding contributed and sustained by efforts of some keen concerned minds cannot be allowed to be overtaken by primitiveness and juvenilities of religions nor the adolescent sensibilities of market. There is an immense loss when lies, deceptions and perceptions are considered normal, indeed necessary, process of any dealing.
        

India, being an overwhelmingly primitive society, the decision to give religious status to Lingayats section must be seen in its evolving context, and therefore must be appreciated. Lingayats are product of anti-caste movement that was initiated by some amazingly compassionate great souls like Basava–the same narration carried by likes of Buddha, Nanak etc, that really forms the core of Hinduism but had to severe itself –as the core was too degraded which finally was usurped through control of power structure, and it has severely degraded the society with regressive consolidation since the so-called independence as Castetva force took power. The cleverness and sly crude ways always have an upper hand in manipulation and deceit, nourished in moral ethical vacuum, that is expected to bring the worst. Social movements led by these enlightened souls were an attempt to shed crude ways and to aspire for egalitarian values that religion was expected to fulfill. The one that was severely brutalized by squatters who consistently worked to create a moral vacuum that nourished on misery, arguably no religion has fallen into such low levels of depravity. Not surprisingly under the hegemony of Castetva forces the depraved framework is enthusiastically being presented as diversity. Hence the charade of unity in diversity, specifically designed to awe strike the western audience. Some of these patronizing western fluffs working on lowest denominators of expectation are easy target. It makes me puke everytime. Lingayats rejected the muck that had eaten into the core of Hinduism therefore worked to extricate humans from this putrid pit, but you will see all kinds of trickery being used by ‘garbage at the top’ to keep them in the casteist fold. Finally, though it is clearly a political move that plays on divisions, Castetva forces –that Congress caters too and nurtures judiciously, has formalized the division into a separate religion. This was long overdue. There is also a need for ‘dalits’ or any enlightened section that is being kept in degrading and demeaning framework to stake its claim as separate religion. Castetva forces masquerading as freedom fighters essentially ‘garbage at the top’ arbitrating for ego hurt due to lack of control over masses recruited casteist racist ‘chatur bania’ –who was cleverly used to usurp egalitarian traditions. He, being a clever fellow, understood the game hence massaged little egos and small minds of castetva forces with sanskritised references (imagine quest of casteist for truth! Recently there was an activist –whom I dealt on twitter, who cleverly tried to usurp protest against exploitation of groundwater by corporates into this depraved gandhian frame –as ‘jal satyagraha’. Since I was at Plachimada more than a decade back, as the severely marginalized sections fought for precious water, I could easily understand this attempt at gandhian sanskrit reference and its implication. I stamped that one out with all the ferocity that it demanded. They are on watch out to virtue signal and usurp into depraved gandhian to showcase to the world. You must be in constant vigil). Gandhi was used to quell the ‘dalit’ assertion by Castetva forces, the minutes of Poona pact and aftermath was such a disgraceful part of India’s ‘freedom struggle’. Dignified life of great man Ambedkar, despite grave provocations and humiliation –by some very small men (‘garbage at top’ is the defining feature of this beleaguered society, who are given much importance as freedom fighters by state sponsored narration of history), is a study in contrast. Meanwhile acquiescence of casteist racist to the horrendous reality of the primitive society was seen as beginning of greatness, grand scheme of construction of mahatmahood from barest of civilized reference as they made futile attempts to salvage (done with much fanfare even now, like asking his wife to clean toilet!!) hints of even decency, ethics are quite farfetched ideas in a morally vacuum society. There is no doubt that ‘Dalit’ have strong case for separate religion, and I sincerely hope this is achieved at the earliest and are given minority status.

For Congress leaders –with rare exceptions, were mostly casteist feudals playing liberal, the shift from moral vacuum of sanctum into feudal grip over masses was easily achieved. Being casteist they severely degraded the society by usurping egalitarian references and turning it into euphemism meant to cleverly tap for political gains. As they driveled into the society –hapless beleaguered people, their sinister design they spread misery, they also infected democratic institutions with sanctum moral vacuum references. Meanwhile as they divided people into primitive frame, they sucked in all the benefits as entitlements, posturing as leaders. Never can you come across a society that suffers from such deep disparities, that it languishes in the bottom of all conceivable parameters when compared to world community. Some countries suffer natural calamities, others wars and civil strife but not in case of India it seems there is some uniqueness in suffering here –a nonviolent infection that seems to surpass any known disaster and constantly eats into the soul while the perpetrators seeks high moral grounds. Never has any society witness so much mediocrity among its elite sections that infects the policy making as also significant positions in democratic as also social institutions (even in matters of faith its filled with pus that ooze to ensnare people). In the meanwhile, myths are constructed and narrations created with dexterity to offset the reality and feed in the entitled world of omniscience and omnipotence, of special place in the universe. Indeed every new understanding in realm of science, that takes years of effort, diligence and critical study –standing as it is on the shoulders of giants over centuries, creates special interest in here in the form of claims that it is justification of ancient wisdom that this amazingly mediocre bunch was always privy to, only that the world hasn’t noticed. Universe has already bestowed on us these truths, indeed when encountering blessed souls what choice Universe had but to bestow! The world it seems is just catching up to mysteries that we always knew. And this myth and stories conceived by wastrels is used as constant reference of greatness. Squatters had time to fancy and speculate on anything and everything, exaggerated self-worth disconnected from any reality or civilized bearing while fattening in darkness of sanctum with constant assurance of entitled high valuation has created a ridiculous situation of buffoons trapped between wonderland of fantasy and myth. There is always this constant urge to project oneself as supreme. Greater the fantasy of past more miserable is the reality of present. What kind of people are these?

Castetva forces have been playing liberal hinging essentially on two parameters, firstly by demarcating minorities through segregation of religion, constantly feeding the worst of species to keep the divisions alive, and secondly by unleashing crude market, and within this wanton consumption showcased as liberal choice. As we see in the first instance they thrive on keeping people divided and exaggerating religion as identity for sinister motive, meanwhile since castetva forces cannot survive in egalitarian context they need to constantly muddy the water to emerge as benevolent pure savior souls. They flourish in birth based identities specifically the one that is conceived through regressive feudal values. So whether it’s obnoxious culture or degenerate traditions, monarchy or hereditary based acquisition they are extremely enthusiastic indeed and see it as god given occasion to showcase their tolerance. These kind of vermins have been at the helm of affair for all these decades. It’s no wonder that, in what is essentially a horribly discriminatory society wherein all the social institutions are severely infected, they didn’t find the need to utilize the opportunity provided by democracy (and even faith put on them by people through elections, however flawed) to immediately work on removing the unjust brutal nature of society, to initiate measures to work at removing these from its roots. Ambedkar did what he could, but was increasingly isolated and had to finally quit facing horrendous nature of reality, while casteist racist was being elevated as great soul and imposed on street corners –the great task of occupying public space with sacredness of statues. Despite such horrible discriminations and abysmal social indices measures were rarely taken that threatened their hold. Almost all the exploitative nature of colonial institutions functioned as such, to increase the stranglehold of castetva forces. No attempts were made to initiate much needed reforms though committees were setup as eye wash. From land reforms to severely taxing the hereditary transactions…nothing seem to be of concern. Liberal posturing Delhi based lawyers with no skin in the game play musical chair. Minority got confined to religion while secularism got confined to Islam. And in here worst types were fed to go down the depth of regressive ways to get into the uniqueness of identity while castetva forces used this frame to further drivel down the caste line. This despicable was projected as diversity as also seen as helping the minority. What an opportune situation, and it is here all these ‘senior’ castetva politicians from Iyers to Pranab pupate (remember that feudal Natwar Singh? The original ‘senior’ who masqueraded as guardian of high art, hobnobbing with literary figures, projecting himself as suave player –ofcourse corruption caught up with him is a different matter…not many in castetva media will like to recall the circumstance of his daughter-in-law’s suicide -how grudgingly the feudal "royally inclined" accepted her).  Now that the Castetva forces find themselves in existential crisis, they have up the ante. They have gone public with their casteist reference, what was once among inner circle entitlement is now shouted in public. “Jeneu dhari” is the weapon they could muster against hindutva force! (if put in context these claims –thread, are not value neutral, indeed it is worse than nazi symbol. Its presence in the core of religion makes it morally depraved). It’s therefore apt occasion to formalize divisions, that which was kept to simmer when needed, that which distracted zombie population (trapped as they are in well set fatalism driven misery) from any important issues or urgent needs. This is seen as egalitarian move to save minority! What kind of depth of depravity this society has slipped into. Meanwhile to counter mullahs muslim ‘liberal’ (essentially market driven posturers or feudals with similar narrations of mythological grandeur handed down through vagina route) were also promoted, to add to the bonhomie of diversity in lutyen’s delhi. People with muslim name was an attraction among castetva force, like some circus animal, while for common people these were similar people who lived in neighborhood of course unless primitive segregation to claim higher was introduced –very much encouraged by castetva forces and now easily taken over by hindutva forces.

 It need be noted that these ‘minorities’ posturing liberal selected and nurtured by castetva forces played the game dexterously as was demanded and were quite keen to adhere to the pointers that fetch. Mostly they played their part and were fattened and readied to be showcased as wonders of diversity. Having lost the traction of mutual feeding ecosystem they are now being used to bulldoze in the narration of ‘minority under seize’ by castetva forces against hindutva forces. They also have strong hold in international media, built over many decades of purge, so any minor incident (concerning ‘minority’) in what is essentially a violent society surrounded by countries with weak rule of law and in much dire situation compared to India, is exaggerated. Indians are valued in higher pedestal as an extension to castetva claim of higher nonviolent purity that they possess. They manipulated casteist violence as minor law and order problem while unity in diversity awe struck the world. Unfortunately for them hindutva forces is using the same model to discredit any attack on muslims (again quite insignificant considering overall violent context of the society). It’s about using state machinery to spiral narration. Hence this is a great society where people live in harmony, violence is non-existent, if ever it is only law and order problem and no systemic or institutional problems as people live happily in astounding unity in diversity that stray foreigners land to pay homage. It is postured that we are the spiritual gurus of the world wherein the reality is quite disturbing. So as the control of narration shunts from Castetva forces to Hindutva forces bypassing the tribulation of common people there is heartburn among casteist posturing liberal hence these chest beating. Meanwhile it need to be pointed that liberal elite ‘minorities’ help in normalizing casteism, accepting the natural entitled position of casteist who feed them, there seem to be no irony, nor any hint of hypocrisy…as they climb higher and higher moral grounds. One Christian fellow, a ‘senior journalist’ at that (TJS George in ‘Divided people are easy target’) writes “…Linguistic antagonisms have since been overtaken by sharper, more dangerous communal enmities. Muslim extremists fight Hindu extremists and vice versa, Christian evangelists fight Christian establishmentarians…On the sidelines, Kadva and Leuva Patels fight Kachia and Anjana Patels, Kapus fight Naidus, Bhumihars fight Rajputs, Vanniyars fight Nadars, Jacobites fight Orthodox, and Jats fight everybody. The Roman and British empires were simple garden-variety exercises compared to today’s Indian Empire controlled by vicious religious hatreds…” There is a mischief being committed here by comparing divisions in Christianity to Hindus as some kind of normal thing that happens across the world, and since he has a christian name he seems to be carrying special insight by comparing “Jacobites fight Orthodox” to “Kadva and Leuva Patels fight Kachia and Anjana Patels, Kapus fight Naidus, Bhumihars fight Rajputs, Vanniyars fight Nadars” (quite clearly he seems to relish mentioning these, something you will observe among ‘minorities’ when they mention casteism as if a matter of joke, and not of concern. Ofcourse it helps in ‘secularism’ and yes there is always moral high ground waiting for tenants). Divisions in other religions are not based on degrading birth based primitive framework, that quite clearly works to put hierarchy in place –which forms the basis of brutal discriminations and infection driven tradition-cultural contexts that is nurtured and orchestrated by despicable garbage at the top. It need be mentioned that putrid caste contagion has spread to other religions too in Indian subcontinent but it’s not really the core nature of these religions. To be specific Jacobite and Orthodox skirmishes can be traced to the issue among a section of catholic christians based in Kerala as to whom to follow, between Pope of Rome and Patriarch of Antioch (Turkey). Another “senior journalist” with muslim name (JawedNaqvi in ‘Wretched of earth’), that I happen to read sometime back (in Deccan Chronicle –a group facing bank default case) always in an abnormal concern for ‘secularism’ mentions that this land is that of ‘diversity’, and if that is not sinister beginning to normalize casteism he moves swiftly to even include actor SunilDutt and Hussaini! He writes with flourish especially reserved for such crucial occasions “…The advantages of a generous spirit are countless. There is the legend of the Hindus who call themselves Hussaini brahmins. While I cannot vouch for the veracity of this narrative, we are told that a few Hindu men got the title after fighting for Imam Hussain in the battle of Karbala. Indian actor Sunil Dutt saw himself as a Hussaini brahmin. Was he one? What I do know about him makes for a quaint and fascinating story.” Aw the “advantage spirit” of casteist “are countless” and they infect into other religions (which are not known for these primitive conception, sikhism has borrowed many of the egalitarian references of islam). “Hussiani brahmin” is an oxymoron, and is, far from ‘quaint’ (that this depraved columnist tries to posit to get into Castetva forces liberal frame), an assault on egalitarian values and traditions. There are many like these with ‘minority’ names who were actively recruited, fed and fattened, to not only normalize primitiveness but to wrench it into liberal secular framework –in the process degrading the democratic institutions and spreading misery.

 There is amazing level of hypocrisy involved in classification of “minority” too by castetva forces, its crude and opportunistic. If hinduism is about caste groups, which is euphemistically being referred to as ‘community’ –a valiant effort by casteist posturing as compassionate liberals to gain traction in civilized setting, so when religion is also tagged as ‘community’ then it is quite clear that caste groups should get minority tag. Either you accept casteism, and accept being casteist, therefore brutes, or you redefine the term community (because this is not how community gets defined in civilized human setting, where people living as neighbors for centuries and following same faith don’t cannibalize each other hence kept segregated). Casteist hindus, indeed casteist Indians, will have to be dealt severely. International community needs to take serious note. This is worse than racism, the gravity of which has been systematically diluted by ‘garbage at the top’ with the hold over power structure and influence. This initiative of creation of new religion is therefore in right direction, of moving out of casteist fold that has ransacked hinduism –vigorously so since independence. It is formalizing what was informal as also an evolved step to move away from primitive frame. Though it is a politically opportune step but it is also culmination of circumstances and forces of history.  India’s power structure core was always aligned to the pointers of Hindutva force, thus easy control. Castetva force is only a subset. Castetva forces therefore were just a mask that mimicked liberal and blurred the ethical lines meanwhile very significantly contributed in nurturing Hindutva forces. If hindutva forces were in power for atleast five decades a credible liberal and compassionate opposition would have coalesced and risen that would have asserted and upheld the egalitarian narration of this country –which is severely mutilated by casteist forces over the decades. But since Hindutva forces had struggled to gain credibility over the decades, mostly as a reaction to minority appeasement as also blatant value degradation through nepotism and corruption, they attempt to include egalitarian narrations. PM Modi is still seen as an admirable leader by majority of people in this country, NDA is seen as a break from the past (though that claims seems getting increasingly precariously perched), and he is making efforts to remove casteist forces (atleast a beginning in symbolic sense, in what is essentially realpolitik). Eventually after a point he will have to face the casteist forces within the core of hindutva (NDA) but till then there is a reactionary space to neutralize castetva (UPA). So these are exciting time, a much awaited, social churning that was expected many decades back. As the Castetva forces seeks to exploit and accentuate caste divisions (and patronize as trustees) meanwhile assigning minority status to religion (read muslims) as also play liberal by siding with wanton market consumption, we are now having a binary option consolidated –that has taken the centrestage, the Hindutva forces that seeks to (apparently) remove casteism from political forum (being a primitive society with entrenched depravities, these can be only a minor beginning). The government must initiate measures to remove mention of caste (and religion) in all educational institutions, specifically in application forms that can only be used for internal reference that too in case of benefits for marginalized. This must be applied to government recruitment process. Castetva forces (saturated with wide spectrum of depravity from Aiyer to Pranab to Natwar that ruled the roost, and these are only minor references. The kind of people at the helm will make you cringe starting with scoundrels like CR, this casteist small timer was recruited to quell egalitarian anti caste Dravidian movement in TN) have infected their casteist divisive agenda into the bureaucracy and you will find amazing level of mediocre buffoons nurtured and promoted to the higher echelons. I am aware of many cases, for instance there is this casteist retired bureaucrat, whom I was interacting with, who was specifically recommended by Aiyer for Secretary position. As for secular masquerading Aiyer another retired Ambassador, who knew him personally, tells a joke from ‘depraved Aiyer collection’ of how he chortled on his own while mentioning ‘I pity Pakistan that now have an iyengar replacing iyer as an ambassador”, these asinine comments are considered as amazing sense of humor in lutyen's circle, no wonder feudal Pakistani leaders are besotted to him and feed him regularly. This kind of shockingly mediocre morons were at the helm, who constantly short sold Indians, while taking common people for granted as they executed their nefarious design while audaciously seeking high moral grounds. 

Mention of caste must be only for internal matters, for affirmative actions or in case where there is atrocities being committed, otherwise there is no reason to mention. This creation and insistence of primitive identity is the game plan of castetva forces so as to trap common people as it helps them to gain control, manipulation space and usurp benefits, least they shouldn’t be allowed to posture liberal and kicked out of the high sounding gandhian pedestal they constructed. NDA government should initiate immediate action to negate these nefarious plans of castetva forces that has severely degraded the society over the decades. Last but not the least Castetva forces have been masquerading wanton consumerism as growth, and hedonistic wasteful lifestyle was cleverly mixed with atheism to give impression of high liberal. The narration you will observe among manipulative market media too who form the ecosystem for castetva (as also hindutva when opportunity arises, it’s about profits and contacts) to thrive while giving the hint of modernity, constantly promoting amazing level of mediocrity and irresponsible means to trap people through wastrel’s game of cricket as sports and trash mainstream Indian movies as art. This then is used to syphon easy money while nepotism and crony capitalism does the deal. Atleast Hindutva insist on probity, and an insistence on patriotism (that ofcourse can bloat to nationalism and totalitarianism, but then that is the risk this self-exaggerated society always face) that forms the basis of preserving the nation hence conservation efforts has easy traction. Swach bharat abhiyan and other initiatives, though limited, can be seen in this context (as the previous govt. initiated RTI, not through self-obsessed tardy bureaucracy but by egalitarian pressure groups that were given space). PM Modi has taken initiatives that are creating benchmark for renewable energy, as also mitigation measures for climate change. India is becoming a leader on these matters. Meanwhile market media though masquerading as liberal still survives by getting fossil fuel sponsors, indeed their whole earning model –existence, is based on consumption. That is the irony that explains lots of things, as also priorities of posturers. What locus standi do these people have to arbitrate, or even claim to be a responsible institution, for democracy?