Walk on the beach. Murky sea merges in the horizon to define itself from the overcast sky as the wary dog watch. Magical.  

Termite alates

Found this on the morning walk. Scores of shedded wings of termite alates in an overnight rain puddle.

  

Pandemic poem

On the dot in the galaxy

Dot on the earth

A dot in the mucous  

Simple logic that define different scales and leaves gasping breath

A consciousness that finds atoms to arrange a deeper thought

From the depth of the ocean like a humpback whale call

So it conjures all the stories again

By feeding on shifting silvery shapes 

So it goes on   

Neo-liberal strategy

Delhi is seriously afflicted with corona virus. Everyday there are hundreds of cases. The situation is grim. So when the CM says "We will have to be ready to live with corona virus. We will have to get used to it". What does it really mean? The congested part of the Delhi is inhabited by the poorest and lower middle class, and these are substantial in population. There really cannot be any concept of social distancing in such places, think of single brick multi-storied hellholes in Pahar ganj, karol bagh, madangiri, east of kailash so on. These sections of society doesn't really have access to better medical facility, hygiene conditions too are limiting, as the cases are mounting they will find themselves in dire situation. People are mostly careless and lack civic sense. Its a jungle out there that checks your fitness to survive at every instance. They live in congested places, they travel in congested places, they die in congested places...there really is no escaping. Its fate at every step.  

So when it is said "learn to live with it" what it really means is that substantial number of people are going to get infected and many are going to die, its inevitable (depends on your luck ie fate, and in certain places it runs too thin). There is very likelihood that Delhi CM's strategy will be copied by most CMs (CM of Andhra -who hinges his popularity firmly on slave morality, instead of sticking to facts did a Trump by saying "its just a flue"!). It is the easiest way out, significantly it keeps the powerful section that control the system happy as we go back to "normal" ways while herds are habituated to blame their fate. It can easily be understood by the way Trump is working. You will rarely see such carelessness in civilized sections in Europe or caring societies around the world, or even educated society will not tolerate such wanton transgression (I really don't think CM of Kerala can make such statements and get away with it. There will be serious consequences). There is no cure to this pandemic. Vaccine will take time. Many people are able to recover but many are not. What impact does it have on long term health of those who have recovered is also not yet known. Community immunity means lots of people's life is going to be compromised, and in a malnourished poor society this is going to be substantial and very definitely going to be from less blessed sections. This society suffers from serious systemic biases and ethical ambiguity so when push comes to shove things will be quite ugly. Arguably economics is a concern, there is serious breakdown happening and this could lead to social repercussions and strife. Policy makers are acutely aware of this. But that doesn't really mean that we have to learn to live with it. It leads to lackadaisical ways in a society famously known for its lackadaisical attitude. Hopefully stringent measures are vigorously pursued to contain the impact. Situation is closely monitored through health workers and local volunteers, and areas isolated on continuous basis. We have seen enough videos of Iran, Italy, USA and China of people dying on the streets, hospitals overcrowded (patients lying on the corridor unattended, bodies dumped in rooms, mass graves dug) and other horrifying scenes. Livelihood is important but that is not the reason to take neo-liberal strategies that puts humans at lower rug of the deal while the moneybags influence the policy makers. If it goes to community spread (which probably it has in Delhi, hence this defeatist attitude) then we are looking at a wave of untold misery compounding the economic crisis. People will then be living with possibility of death at every step. Hopefully policy makers are fully aware, and are equipped to take judicious decisions. Most importantly they know what they are talking about, and not jostling to posture as saviors. Squatter ensconced have such problems, they have incorrigible urge to showcase blessedness.     

Knowing

Knowing

It spirals and dizzy the mind

Tracing graph of expanding minutes into inevitable

Striding the days in escalating vortex that expands and expands

Into infinite  

Is it pulling in or is it pushing out you never know

It throbs and churns like a mobius snare in the subconscious 
no end, no beginning  

It settles on silent days to blooming hibiscus rushing in the breeze

Sneaks at purple-rumped sunbird’s rap on the window pane

It’s curved beak shaping the time at its leisure.

The thought splinters to search million nooks

A brilliant flash coalesce the space onto the edge of time

An instant awareness

Sets things in place

It was so obvious 
(shucks I knew it all the while!)  

If you know you can’t tell, if you tell you won’t know

If you choose, it disappears, if you ignore, it appears

Like fireflies it knows when to flicker to synchronize the dance.      

Life, paused

Blue carpet of flowers settle like a mist

A faint heave of breeze rise without a hint

Floats into the deep wood

Seeks a new home in dark recess

Listen to the muted sobs that trails the scene.

And yet, the final tug.

The final tug

Pleads to begin it all to the better times.

Sunrise

Tiny lanterns on paddy fronds

Light up the morning scene

Like awakened eyes

Splitting the air in rainbow swirls.

Butterfly chose some

Rest is all green

Fighting the "corona demon"

Since privilege is very strongly hinged to entitlement it seeks worst reference in every opportune moment. The country is in lockdown. Millions of marginalized exploited poverty stricken people are in serious crisis. The society lacks egalitarian context while the foundation of state was consolidated by dubious feudals hence common people face mounting miseries. Mediocre effete elite meanwhile are busy consolidating the narration of benign trustees while some are positioning as kindred souls normalizing worst references.

People are trapped in their congested homes with limited amenities and untold stress meanwhile children face bleak future since they lack modern gadgets to connect and learn as also their parents aren’t literate enough to guide them (not that people with all the modern amenities are faring better. Habituated to nonsense they teach garbage. They also sit together to watch gaudy religious serials desperately searching for any hint of morals in divine actions of ego driven gods appearing as humans in the violence driven appalling myths and cringeworthy stories. This then also becomes a reference for humans who have decided themselves to be god. The blessed. This template that is being drilled into people is the main source for degradation of this beleaguered society). Only essential services are being allowed one of them is media. The media is expected to synergize with the government and agencies to fight the virus. They are to find out the lacunas in public distribution of essential goods and services. They have to speak for the marginalized and desperate people while disseminating correct information and updating the latest. Media person are given this responsibility that is why they are allowed to move around while people are locked up at home as millions of daily wage earners face serious crisis. 

Mediocre as they are brought up in worst dehumanizing references these incorrigibles will showcase their limited attributes. Exaggerating and inflating minor matter to gain mileage as also creating narration of binary where they spread thin as saviors of different warring sections (these fictitious divisions are persistently nurtured as desperate humans are assumed to be herds) and then argue and counter argue till they start frothing. Then there are investigative types. As I was channel surfing one inanities after another, intercepted by crude actors desperately enticing to buy as they effortlessly amass money, I came across this fellow “reporter” who found a cave full of hundreds and thousands of bats, who probably were living there for ages, these were introduced to the viewers as corona demons “corona rakshas” occasionally even as “Chinese demon” highlighted through tone deaf loud ominous music with people in hazmat moving in slow motion to nowhere. Hapless semiliterate villagers were informed and interviewed about “corona demon” who, till recently were least concerned about these bats, said they are now afraid.  Even if they are literate and able to use internet they will very likely end up visiting conspiracy theories and worst self-consuming sites. It is as if these are programed to gyrate to the degradation. Ideally the license of this channel must be cancelled and the reporter shouldn’t be allowed to report but when standards are so low where do one start? While on another channel another "essential" program during lockdown was in progress wherein a fellow in fancy dress (attributed to squatters in sh*thole north indian villages) was predicting future of callers during “corona kaal” as also dispensing advice to viewers in general on all matters as humbly as he could quite aware of the heavy burden he carried as arbitrator of unknown indeed unknowable knowledge. How did this charlatan reach the studio? On what basis are these scoundrels allowed to move during lockdown? Why are these even part of news channels? While some religious nutcase need communitarian solutions others expertise in social distancing to degrade people.

Post script: Semantics are important. It has a significant use in controlling the narration. In a primitive society where control of narration is the only competence you need to be careful. These charlatans are devious and have inbred capacity to not only influence reality but change it altogether. The commonly used words today, in this pandemic time, is sanitizing, disinfecting. Now in Hindi (same root in Malayalam) the word being used is “shudhikaran” which in English means purifying. Purifying is not same as sanitizing or disinfecting. It is not surprising considering that the devious society that is obsessed with purity doesn’t even have words for disinfecting or sanitizing (and even if they don't have they could use these English words but being shudhta minded they prefer using pure language instead of being right. Typical). What to say when they don’t understand basic hygiene but are high on cleanliness. Whatever maybe the case the use of squatter ensconced disgusting words that has strong connection with putrid pit is problematic. You cannot assume too much intelligence to market driven media slaves, who are superficial people here to entertain without any context. It is important to raise objection. Sinister people are always on a look out to push their agenda even in worst of times. Use of semantics to control narration must be resisted.                       

It’s a violation of humanity

As the crisis unfolds it is noted that apart from cash rich Christian nutcases in USA Islam is finding itself wanting in theocratic states (like Iran, as also Pakistan while feudals strictly control Saudi hence pass writ undermining religion) and in poorer democracies like India where theocracy has a limited control over common people the impact is still felt. It has to do with communitarian nature of Islam (in that sense in comparison to viciously segregatory values of hinduism it fares better but again fails when it comes to women) however single source as revelation –which is strictly codified, as also lack of renaissance like reformation finds itself majorly primitive in dealing with contemporary crisis. This is not to say that reformation helps. We have well passed reforming religions as a solution. Challenges of 21^st century can be handled effectively by deconstructing religions and working on reality based community association which cares, and is secure, in synergizing with individual liberty and expressions. Fantastical fictions of religions are becoming a serious threat and wasting precious time and energy. Also, people with religious mindset are inherently unsuited to be part any solution least wherein path breaking innovations are needed. World has changed quite drastically in a century, particularly so in the last few decades. Reality therefore cannot be understood or defined from the point of view of impressions of last century. Hence these debates of science vs religion is quite obsolete. Rational values, logical thinking, inquisitive mind, empathy based value system, seeking spiritual connections is all expressions of evolving mind. Science is a necessary extension of these expressions. Therefore primitive systems that stratifies mind, segregates human and seek to assert codified insights of past as the only truth (indeed miracle) doesn’t really measure up to even common sense. It can be source of entertainment but cannot be taken seriously nor given any importance (even if lots of people are hallucinated), and surely the attempts to express these as defining identity of human being must be strongly resisted. It is a violation of not only human right but is an assault on humanity.  

Market media in India is hinging on divisions to work out a beneficial narration. It is also scheming and predating on the fear that has enveloped common people. A compelling story works when villains are identified. Predicaments of some muslims are in focus. These are undoubtedly responsible for spread of the disease. Data points to about 30%cases spread across the country (it is responsible for spread in Pakistan too where clerics have become a serious nuisance). This need to be taken seriously. But more than any conspiracy, which may be investigated –religious nutcases can go to any extend, it seems to be case of plain stupidity that only religion can inspire among its followers. Unlike hindus gathering such muslim gatherings in the capital attracts foreigners (this also true about buddhist gatherings I happen to notice in Gaya many years back) this therefore went out of hand, ofcourse buffoonish religion driven justification of omnipotence of god by the leader of the gathering helped the matter. The leader (mullah saad) was working on narration of religion that focuses of communitarian gathering (ofcourse women not allowed, and are to be kept packed in houses) as an expression of consolidating faith. Unfortunately (or rather stupidly) for the gathering the way this disease spreads went against them. While some went into quarantine there were many who still carried the omnipotence narration as also habituated by medieval mindset and hatred against non-muslims they created ruckus. Some sinisterly went hiding creating fear and revulsion among common people. They created much nuisance. The narration of blaming these muslims has some truth but the media went overboard. In the meanwhile attacks on medicos added to the narration as also videos of misguided youths nurtured in omnipotence of religion blurting out nonsense added to the problem. You cannot always blame fear of state as argument. One need to consider why some people are susceptible to rumors (anti-vaccines movement among materially comfortable literate christians in West, anti-polio attacks by poor semiliterate in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hindu nutcases are different category, it starts from the foundation itself unlike miracle books it’s the sanctum fictions…). In the meanwhile apart from regular dose of astrology (a “science” that only nutcases understand) they didn’t question the PM on goodness of lighting of lamp for 9 minutes (?) at 9oclock. He could have said “before going to sleep lets light lamp for them at 9oclock”. I too didn’t consider until when I started getting messages about the “significance”. Morons quoted from mysterious world of numerology (that blessed are handed as entitled knowledge which the world is yet to know) to planet alignment (even NASA has confirmed it…this acknowledgement from NASA even if spurious is high on the list of buffoons to consolidate “scientific intelligence of ancient civilization” narration). Recently I came across news on religious superstition driven handling of virus techniques – including conducting ‘havan’ in ayush ministry (taxpayers money misused obviously by squatter officials revealing community garb) for purifying the air. In this primitive conception of dimwits smoke is purifying hence improves immunity, indeed “scientific”. There may be some trace elements in the smoke that may have some properties but majorly smoke is CO and CO2 that is indeed quite bad for health particularly for those conducting it. Same is the case of repulsive nutcases take on cow urine). The primitive society based on religions will always finds it expression that will baffle. While virus need to be fought by coming together and sharing religious humans are getting divided by hallucinations of superiority over each other based on fantasies and uniting in its stupidities at the expense of life.  These pathetic squabbling during these serious crisis boils down to how much religions have degraded humanity and difficult situation it has created for common people who are trapped and exploited for their insecurities. It is quite clear that medieval frameworks are incapable to handle the realities we live in, infact it doesn’t even inform anything at all. It takes us away from reality into some hallucinatory response thus becoming threat to others.  

Enter people like Arundhati Roy who are very strongly ensconced in western narrations of fattened fluffs. Ofcourse there are benefits of aligning with these influential sections who control the dominant narration and pose as guardian angels. You get to travel, as you are now “representing”. Then there are strong interest groups that give and share awards. I wasn’t aware of these in the beginning but having observed some devious people I am quite certain that some people work on established narration to accrue benefits from the entrenched and therefore position themselves. Indeed these influential groups have a strong hold over narration and like to keep it as such so as to showcase themselves as benign guardians generally at the expense of common people wherever they are located. They may not follow religions but would strongly identify with religions and seek to perpetuate these under the garb of minority-majority narration. They position as savior while using common people as fodder. They insist on sticking on to the established narration without scrutinizing at the expense of people. They patronize segregatory and demeaning religions in the garb of human rights least bothered that religion itself is the source of human rights violations. They degrade humans by fixing their identity on religion. They undermine humanity by nurturing deviant values and traditions emerging from religions as culture. Finally they insult decency of common people by being superficial and showing least concern as they continue with clique agreed intellectual narrations. As they push humans into religions (which by its very definition is anachronistic patriarchal feudals vicious intrusion into reality) they also create competitions among other religions. They climb high moral grounds as savior and show themselves as evolved. Meanwhile the viciousness of the majority as a reactionary forces gains credibility among common people. In the process hard earned egalitarian value systems are undermined as jingoist revivalist take center stage. Urgent issues and existential matters are sidelined. Worst kind people, charlatans, capitalize the scene. The rise of xenophobia and worst kind of leaders across the world has this as a major factor. Systems that seeks to capitalize on herd look for easy outing hence corporate and market media will authenticate. 

     

To face the emerging challenges of 21^st century medieval value system based on religious fictions is going to be a major impediment. These are an affront on humanity and always seek to undermine individuals.  To start with you will have to deny religions and all the birth based value systems and identities (including hilarious thick skinned royals as also feudal patriarchy that is carefully nurtured under the garb of faith).You will have to deconstruct systems, closely scrutinize it, remove and reject them if it doesn’t pass the basic test of egalitarian values that is necessarily hinged on individual freedom and liberty. As Walt Whitman put it so succinctly "dismiss whatever insults your soul". Authoritarian values are consolidated when there is ignorance, when reality is denied, by submitting to authority and by the lack of intellectual capacity and fearlessness to ask pertinent uncomfortable questions and insist on answer. Therefore by its very nature religion works to authenticate authoritarianism and degrades basic foundations of democracy. Hence apart from denying immense possibilities as individuals religion also converts humans into unthinking entities (what can be worse than this violation) who could easily be manipulated.           

Fantasy is making it difficult

When your dealing with life is based on fantasy, exaggeration and omnipotence then it is going to be problematic to deal with the emerging reality. The kind of nonsense the world is facing from Asia to US to Brazil to Europe has undercurrent of religions that is working to undermine the threat humanity faces. Christianity is working very closely with capitalism to undermine humanity specifically in countries like US and Brazil. Anti-vaccination campaign is part of this balderdash, that is also making fighting with COVID difficult. Conspiracy theory easily find place in such people’s mindset when they are overwhelmed with fantastical narration of religion. Islam is working to help create and fuel narrations of conspiracy at the expense of common people who are being manipulated. Previously polio medical volunteers were attacked in Afghanistan and Pakistan, now medical staffs are attacked in India. There is also overplay of 'religion will protect us'. Hindus, quite used to ideas of social distancing (indeed the hindu priests in Kerala holds PhD in social distancing), are using this opportunity to showcase themselves as sane, and indeed scientifically minded (the irony of it). Meanwhile I am told there are astrologers who are able to predict future of corona, and the religious zombies lacking common sense and nurtured in nonsense eagerly await these. There are other religion too like Buddhism, Sikhism, Jews...i am not getting into these not because of any respect. Once it falls into framework of religion -that is working on specifically written knowledge and rituals/miracles of the past as guidance to create followers instead of possibilities of knowledge that is yet to be acquired, when it actively works against inquisitiveness, open minded pursuits, individual expressions of creations, then it is working against humanity, it is indeed working against life itself, therefore nothing much is expected. It's a dreary dangerous place that religions create.  

Religious herds are fighting with each other viciously in virtual world. The kind of views and counter views, abuse so on based on prejudices, fancy notions is shocking (I too participate sometime to provoke, and get into thought process. Making sure to target all religions and not any particular religion). Most of these people are youngsters. It’s a failure of education. It's outcome of primitive elders who haven’t been able to provide sane humanist value system. Religions are itself problematic so the solution cannot be found by placing oneself within it. Religions segregate and are based on fantasy hence finding egalitarian narrations from different religious contexts so as to connect with humanity doesn’t really work. Some people valiantly try these but these are futile. Accommodating religions is pushing humanity to lowest commonest denominator of dealing. It is so 20^th century solution. It’s foolhardy, and is wasting lots of precious time. All that is wrong with humanity can be traced to religions. Fantasy is helping to create fake narration and superficial humans who are reduced to herds that persistently works against individuality. These herds are valued by politicians as voters, market as consumers, entertainers as audience and fattened elitist savior fluffs as victims. These therefore will constantly work against humanity and individuals as they will keep feeding religions as special identity for nefarious reasons therefore undermining humans. The reason why religions are becoming emboldened in their nuisance value in recent times as the world comes closer is a serious issue that has grievous ramifications. The challenge of 21^st century cannot be faced by tolerating religions. Tolerating religions is tolerating nonsense. Religion has become an affront on humanity. It is a threat to all the things beautiful. It is a challenge to sanity. It is undermining humanity, the knowledge and wisdom we have acquired all these centuries.                    

Doctors are not needed

Not really sorry for the provocative heading, it may even sound ridiculous in the times of catastrophic health crisis. But when one is located in primitive society one can only be aghast by the way things are handled. It’s a hierarchy driven society hence will always find its crude references. It is being drilled in that doctors are in higher status compared to nurses. Naturally when someone is put at higher status it automatically makes others lower status. And lower status means inhuman dealing that characterizes this society. The rising cases of nurses getting infected with virus reflects this lackadaisical ways. Many Kerala nurses have related dangerous life threatening condition under which they are being forced to work, specifically, in places like Mumbai.  Most have complained that they are not getting even basic amenities and are being exploited. Many nurses (mostly from Kerala) in big cities are paid pittance as they stay together in small rooms in appalling conditions while they work in super specialty hospitals catering to richest people. Disgracefully some see them as nothing more than house helps. There are cases where nurses have threatened to suicide if their salary is not increased (i recall few years back when few of them climbed highrise to suicide). These crucial jobs are being taken for granted. Not at all surprising considering the nature of society. Now that we are in midst of crisis it should give insight as to what is to be valued. There are no menial jobs. There are crucial jobs and there are BS jobs. Its difficult to get these into the minds of primitives wherein success is epitomized through IIT-IIM-and then sniffing for big money in a well entrenched BS network of professionalism. That these wastrels are elevated as standards of intelligence and success is a study on this society.           

Most doctors have spent a ransom to achieve this status. And in a status driven society they seek to multiply these by working to extend these into lucrative career hence strive to specialize in latest fad so as to be in high paying super specialty hospitals. Hospitals are profitable business and many moneybags are salivating to multiple their investment. The way things are dealt in this society doctors are also seen as marker of intelligence. Ideally anyone who is interested to have a career in any field must be encouraged and the society is expected to provide facilities. To be a doctor is no big deal anyone who is literate and interested can become a doctor if he or she is ready to invest time and energy so as to pass the MBBS. Though India has acute shortage of doctors these career are restricted (this is nothing short of sadistic value system that defines the policy makers –not surprising considering most were casteist feudals with minimum intelligence but surfeit blessing). There are entrance exams wherein they are tested in fields like physics, chemistry so on within a set time to pursue a career as medical doctor! They are asked to solve questions in fields of science in shortest time that in itself is an affront on science and an insult on the whole idea of education. Short cut based utilitarian valuation of education is a reflection of sick society that is infected with memorization and recitation as standard of achievement. Those who qualify these inanities are seen as epitomizing intelligence thus tarnishing these youngsters (both who qualify and those who don’t qualify) for life. Another achievement of this primitive society which is not evolved to value humans.   

The job of doctor is to diagnose, as also show empathy and concern to patient. To expect empathy and concern is asking for bit too much when they are here to get back the investment. Patients are exploitable commodity in most hospitals. With rare exceptions most doctors are money sucking leeches who run a racket with hospitals and pharmaceutical conglomerates. While poor die for want of basic amenities. Public health centers lack staff. So primarily a doctor’s job is to diagnose based on the evidence. These can be easily be automated. Robots (like IBM Watson) are able to do much better and precise diagnoses as compared to doctors. It is able to compare millions of cases, and with deep learning able to even predict, to higher level of success and doesn’t show any emotional fatigue. It is not shocking that what was classified as “intelligent” people by this society don’t pass the scrutiny. The profile that really matters (not surprisingly undermined by this society) is that of a nurse. Not only do they have knowledge of medicines but are expected to carry qualities of caring since they spent more time with patients unlike doctors who diagnoses, prescribes and checks feedback. A good nurse should be necessarily be having qualities of empathy and compassion. Attributes that cannot be automated. Attributes that defines a human. Doctor’s job therefore should be redundant and routinized into some technical application.

So when I see these doctors pouting their opinions in market media it makes me sick. What exactly is their role here? They haven’t done any research on this virus (indeed most doctors cannot they are practitioners) so how do they know about it to give opinion? Further, the diagnosis, prescriptions and care are already streamlined in epidemics as also pandemic by high end research and protocol. Doctors therefore becomes an overpaid presence without much use. I dare say they maybe just crowding the place. Doctors therefore are more suited to run clinics in small town. The job of nurses therefore becomes much crucial in health crisis. What differentiate nurses and doctors is mostly class factors (in casteist society this is source of much degradation) that is sought to be consolidated as blessed intelligence hence competence. The reality is ofcourse different. Society is making wrong investments. Nurses are qualified and competent to make preliminary diagnoses before referring to a robot (at the moment occupied by doctor) who refers back patients to them for treatment and care after accurate diagnosis and necessary prescriptions. It needs to be noted that Scandinavian countries value nurses and they are paid in par with doctors. It’s about time that world realizes and recognizes the crucial role nurses play. They cannot and shouldn’t be subservient to anyone least the doctors (who are mostly going to be obsolete). Their job profile is to be valued by humanity. Their role should be augmented so that they can head health centers. This is crucial considering health crisis that are set to rise in future with climate change and increased possibilities of epidemics, also consider doctors don't like to work at grassroot level while health centers prescribes the need for doctors while these could be handled by trained nurses who are also connected to grassroot reality. Instead of wasteful colonial jobs like IAS that cater to feudal values system and sucks away too much resources we need Indian Health Services (with nursing as qualification) that is adapted to changing reality (apart from ofcourse Indian Education Service). Health service professionals must play a crucial active role in local administration unlike generalists colonial administrators who are ego driven dead weights. Casteist feudal policy makers who ruled this beleaguered nation for 70odd years were intellectually incapable and morally deficient to understand the needs of this society hence replicated what was handed over to them by colonial masters –with whom they have embryonic relations. The way hindutva is moving nothing much is expected as it is increasingly getting clear that they are trapped in castetva fold degradation. The castetva narration is too entrenched in zombie populace. That can only be exploited while feeding fictions of greatness.

The reason why Kerala was able to handle the pandemic (despite first case reported on Jan30, and substantial viral infected expatriate population returning from Dubai, Italy, China so on) is because of investment in primary health that created grassroot level infrastructure and trained health workers. As also investment in primary education that created threshold for qualified health professionals as also a population that is able to understand the gravity of the situation and take informed precautionary actions. Ofcourse literacy to education takes effort which is a big deal that Indians are incapable of. These reflected in amazingly trivial crude ways in which they entertain themselves, indeed in the last two decades, with influx of market, kerala is digging into its primitive self. So despite having health standards comparable to Scandinavian countries (quite an achievement considering low per capita income) it remains intellectually and morally challenged hence settles in cruder expressions. It doesn’t show any indications of coming out of its pit in near future, and considering the wasted potential of literacy this seems like impossible. 

Last but not the least the catholic christianity that values care and nurture of sick and lonely hence became an inspiration for youngsters (particularly girls in Kerala) must be appreciated. This has therefore helped other sections of society to seek these as career all across the world without any inhibitions. Kerala lady nurses are working all across the world. Considering how patriarchal and deviant the society is this is quite remarkable (there is also claim of matriarchy by casteist feudals, its laughable nonsense spread by mediocre sociologists without any context). Apart from nurses kerala also exports school teachers to different parts of the world. This ofcourse is not an endorsement for religions which I maintain is an anachronistic nonsense based on fantastical fiction that degrades reality. But we need to appreciate where it is due.                                          

Celestial snapshots

Celestial snapshots

Life is honored in the periphery

Where the light dims

Gust of air eddies into itself

Words halt in jagged fractals

You look at the streaming feathers of peregrine

Very much aware of the beetle dancing on the dung

Seeking guidance from the heaven    

Fiction cannot tackle reality

Meanwhile, i read, there are rising number of cases of stigmatizing and ostracizing taking place. Fear of the dreaded virus is legitimate but the methods adopted in reaction by people wielding societal influence smacks of deep rooted depraved value system. Many doctors, nurses (even air hostesses) are being asked to vacate by despicable house owners and rent seekers. Imagine that these are the people who are putting their life on line to serve. Instead of providing moral support (that the PM so admirably initiated) some are being called "dirty". That is how they treat crucial and essential occupations. Dirty. Don't think these are coincidences. These are legacies from sanctum very much nurtured by purity seeking squatters and the ecosystem that thrived through castetva forces severely degrading this society. Corona is only a precursor to some serious cataclysmic challenges that the society is set to face as climate breakdown related changes gain momentum. This society is not really conceived to deal with these challenges. It lacks basic humanistic foundation of compassion and decency. One respite is that their influence is relatively less in the world than monster mullah's degradation that is spreading at an alarming rate and gun trotting life denying horrendous white racist Christians of US who wield immense power over the world.

Its amply clear that fiction minded (read religious) are constant threat to reality. These regressive values work to deny most of the crucial problems humanity face. When it is god's wish how can you take responsibility?! These segregation thriving fantastical fictions are going to be serious threat to communitarian response and humanitarian concerns. Further, these fiction minded who stick to the frame that deny reality in the garb of faith cannot be part of path breaking solutions (at the most they can be minor accretional contributors with all humbleness that religion inspires and denies). Innovative mindset needs a searing contact with reality and an openness to question and logically construct. Religions actively deny it, and is indeed a virus of mind that seeks to destroy humanness. Religions are freeloading on humanity, and its quite clear that its a dead weight nurtured and authenticated by some extremely devious section at the expense of all that defines humanity.       

We must thank unfortunate Italians for warning

These are the worst of the times and best of the times (apologies to Dickens). The virus is making a relentless march. Cities after cities are in lockdown. It is sad but the silence is overwhelmingly satisfying. Considering that India is overpopulated and psychopathically noisy this is such a respite not only for people who value silence but for other species too. It is as if earth has started to breathe again and a pernicious virus in its system is checked. Irony.

Sometime back a very interesting book was on the rack: Bullshit Jobs: A theory (by anthropologist David Graeber), he argues that there are millions of people across the world — clerical workers, administrators, consultants, telemarketers, corporate lawyers, service personnel, and many others — who are toiling away in meaningless, unnecessary jobs, and they know it. Bullshit jobs are jobs which even the person doing the job can’t really justify the existence of, but they have to pretend that there’s some reason for it to exist. There is a difference between bullshit jobs and shit jobs they’re not the same thing. Graeber elaborates “Bad jobs are bad because they’re hard or they have terrible conditions or the pay sucks, but often these jobs are very useful. In fact, in our society, often the more useful the work is, the less they pay you. Whereas bullshit jobs are often highly respected and pay well but are completely pointless, and the people doing them know this”. This is another irony and in a primitive society like India bullshit has always been prioritize over essential. It begins from the deviance of the sanctum. The only parameter of blessing is money and power. So we have scenes of youngster leaving essential jobs to join administration –the one that is elevated as epitome of intelligence among the unthinking populace and carries the perks and power assimilating all the feudal trappings. Few weeks back I was with these retired administrators in some interview panel (probably one of the least sick jobs) and asking question to the candidate as to “opportunities for india in corona spread” words like “supply chain disruption” “advantage over china” were liberally used for intense satisfaction of retired bureaucrats posturing as intelligentsia (they do have body language and compelling semantics though, clearly being in BS jobs with lots of power have taught them tricks of con artists. I too keenly learn this!). And this was in delhi, and I carried my sanitizer and was quite sure that the virus was in the next turn. When you are aware of what is happening around the world and take news in its seriousness, and not as an entertainment, then you will be concerned. You may even panic considering amazing level of ignorance and nonchalance of people around. You cannot blame the people they don’t take warning seriously because they are not aware. They are not aware because this society values bullshit. Literacy rarely becomes education hence they are easy fodder for manipulators. News is about entertainment and touches lowest commonest denominator at every available opportunity. With no moral ethical context conscience is rarely an issue. They normalize third rate movies and stupid game of cricket as news, they nurture manipulative mediocre actors and cricketers as influencers. A microorganism is here to sieve the bull shit. Primitive societies are in for a soul searching moment of meaninglessness.  

Thankfully India has the lessons of unfortunate countries like Italy and Iran. If we didn't have these warnings marketers would have scuttled all efforts for profit and hundreds thousands of people would have died by now. It is the same motivation that influence the biggest con artist of all time: Donald Trump. He is a breathing slimy feed appropriating everything for market to nourish. He epitomizes its crassness to dangerous insulating bullshit grandeur. He represents the degradation of the world we live. He is a constant reminder of what will happen to humanity.

As India is in lockdown PM Modi has taken some rightful actions and shown to be a compelling motivator in these bleak times, and to the chagrin of castetva forces posturing liberal saviors who seek to band him with rightist nutcases across the world with the help of fattened western fluffs, he is a seasoned and matured astute politician who knows how to work the deal with much restrain. He has been consistent when it comes to focusing on emerging challenges such as renewable source of energy, climate change matters so on. It is however necessary that neoliberal context needs to rethink on basic income to the unorganized sector. 

A society that doesn’t have much sense to distinguish right from wrong nor any parameter to decide these in such instance righteous authoritarian interventions works well. Mr. Modi intervened at the right time to drill the seriousness of the situation. As a political leader he has been a great communicator. Most Indians are incapable to take decisions that has concern for society as a main context, being blessed they are incapacitated to conceptualize themselves as subservient to crucial social restrictions that is indeed matter of life and death. Many see these as affront to their special place in universe. In their grand world every occasion is an occasion presented specially to them to capitalize. It is a society in prisoner’s dilemma with no basic communitarian understanding. Hence it is important that rules are strictly enforced. Again we must thank unfortunate Italians, Spaniards and Iranians. We are incapable to be proactive nor can act with conscience. We need to be shown, and convinced, of the consequences with gory details with repeated requests. Since even this is difficult to get sense of the reality to zombies –who have been isolated from reality for too long, severe action must be initiated against the violators.  

In the midst of de-bullshitting

In the conception of might the state creates grander narrations

Hoarding weapons of mass destructions, accruing more   

There is always bigger threat to protect from

Nation’s security is citizen’s paramount duty.

Sacrifice.

Religions compete to gain its place as guardian angels

Building larger canopies of taller claims

To herd its devotees to safer shore.

Faith.

Market bring slicker side of happiness

That desires multiplications, additions and squaring of details

Consumer is to be fed.

Choices.

A sneeze.

A moment for microorganism

To make the sacrifice laughable

To make the faith absurd

To make the choices meaningless.

Clarity.

             

#WorldPoetryDay

Going viral

This is what going viral really means. When reality strikes all fiction and sensitivities have no use. The foundation of society and human understanding that has isolated itself in abstraction of ego, expressions of parochialism and immediate gains are now forced to face the crumbling conceptions. It’s a reality check that was long overdue as hype, exaggeration and omnipotence was becoming defining parameters. Market and religions contributed to this sense of wellbeing in deviant value system. Vicious type of opportunists evolved in this ecosystem who worked to define the framework of crassness and greed. Knowledge driven inquisitive logical outlook that cared for compassion and empathy was undermined for tapping the primal base of human character, role models were created within these while society coalesced and celebrated these degradations. Crude and opportunist value systems were actively nurtured and presented as success while ruffians controlling religions showered blessing.      

  

  Meanwhile as some humans advanced, the societies evolved, they got more complex and the complexities were sought to be synergized with the emerging realities and to reflect humanitarian concerns. These evolved societies strived to represent the humanity. Globalization was essentially humanitarian expression to bring humanity into one frame before it was hijacked by market opportunists to extend their exploitative and crude frame. Globalized world is now a reality thanks to technological innovation that has reduced distance and made differences redundant. In this evolved world the differences that is appreciated is the one that brings the synergy of uniqueness as human. Democracy was an attempt in this direction before it was scuttled by entrenched feudal forces and reduced to joke but still remains attuned to human reality provided individuals evolves and are able to tap the potential of education and opportunities to work a better self. European Union was such expression in limited scale, and considering the history of this region it was a tremendously appreciable effort. These intentions were also in tune with emerging challenges of globalized world that is essentially a byproduct of technological innovations.    

       

The globalized world presents challenges that needs collaboration at the global level. Climate change, extinction events, pandemics, terrorism so on needs a globalized response. Whatever frame that nurtures divisions, segregations and false narrations of identities will fall by the side when the reality strikes. Vested interests have been nurturing deviant dehumanizing values to control common people and extract opportunities from the misery. The rise of xenophobia has much to do with pushing these opportunistic market values in the garb of globalization thus alienating common people from their unique attributes, local connections and contexts. Dehumanized frustrated people are easy fodder for nationalistic narrations and primal connections. The rise of religious fundamentalism has much to do with nurturing the anachronism of religions as identity by high end manipulators under the garb of moral angst with absolutely no skin in the game. While the common people’s aspiration and insecurities were persistently undermined. These constructed exaggerations on which some clever people were settling their redemption has been jolted in recent times by climate related challenges and increasing desperation among people. These though were sought to be undermined by working on high end angst binary. Wherein people’s insecurities where posited as rising threat to minority (which ofcourse was identified and firmly hinged on vicious religions at the expense of genuine minorities including divergent ideas). Nationalism was sought to be fought with feudal references and norms while market incursions within the comfort of hedonist luxury. Everything was sought to be dealt with control over narration and connection to deep state. Carbon footprint were ignored and climate change sought to be sidelined before they no longer could as things had start to become obvious. Anachronistic nonsenses were packed as benign religions that constantly degraded humanity, giving confidence to dangerous zombies while persistently undermining emerging threats. Science was positioned as binary to religion in this clever conception rather than natural evolution of thinking mind. An inquisitive logical critical mind could easily see through the juvenilities of religion that is striving to gain the space of spiritual inquiry within its stultifying dehumanizing segregatory frame. It was but natural for reality to strike. It strikes through natural disasters. The intensity and frequency of which have increased in recent times. But these too were cunningly factored in and juxtaposed as grand wrath of god and were judiciously isolated from reality (of climate crisis) and placed under religious frame to seek atonement. Punishment and wrath are constant references in religions meant to keep the zombies under check. Ego driven religions have special use of huge natural disasters and calamities, the imagery of deluge and floods, devastating fires so on perversely satisfies the narration of wrath of god onto common people. Afterall only our god can create such grand disasters. Hence he has to be omnipotent, in a deft move followers too share this claim of omnipotence over others as also ego driven insular megalomaniacal insights that put them firmly over common people. That is why threat by microorganism is baffling to their little mind, and is such a humbling experience.  This cannot be really fit into the grand nature of things. It is such an embarrassment to megalomaniacal driven conceptions of religions.  

  

When reality strikes it grabs the balls to squeeze out the hallucination. Exaggerated self-worth and manipulation has no space. Nations are lines on the map while religions are nothing more than sinister virtual games that has no sense of reality. Its strips dictators to bare and force them to share the information. Corona virus wouldn’t have spread if China was democratic and valued human rights same is the case with theocratic megalomaniacs controlling Iran who were in denial mode. USA could have initiated much better response if it were not for market driven manipulation that seeks to obfuscate reality and connection of people to their surroundings.  Human beings are part of nature that is sustained by earth’s system that took millions of years to evolve. In geological terms humans are just blip. We live in wider connection with world in this fragile space. It is quite apt that it needed only a microorganism, a virus, to show us our place in grand scheme of things. It is the great de-bullshitting event of our times. It is humbling.             

stillness

Encountering stillness on an evening walk

The satyagraha bling

The benign narration is being furiously spread for last many decades by castetva forces severely compromising democratic institutions spreading misery while cunningly capitalizing from these. The framework of blessedness was pushed in to keep the herds in place while deceptive rituals –with even minute details of auspicious timing was notified as god’s favored to stampede for amassing blessing, was worked out to emulate to better the fate. Meanwhile benign posers concocted liberal pointers by closely miming the angst need of fattened western fluffs. The castetva deep state henceforth took firm hold of the narration viciously dealing with dissent or attempts at dilution. State machinery worked to nurture people and institutions to back these while western fluffs bleeding to redeem their ill-gotten luxury patronized lowest denominator as wonders of diversity. Casteist racist fellow was spruced up as bearer of morality of greatest known civilization in universe. In the castetva conception of world grandness is contained in grandness of putrid pit. The world has to enter the putrid pit for better understanding. Apart from compelling western liberal pointers the native liberalism of benign all-knowing humble selves conceived liberalsutra of humility wherein secular devi was seductress always in service of nearest monster mullah. Common people and the misery that these spread was least of concern, indeed they were to be kept trapped. They were only fodders, just numbers, to fill in whenever the need arises. They were to be cannibalized at suitable occasion. All the HDI index or any index that works on egalitarian context will exhibit these algorithm of cannibalism. 

          

The deep state is in the process of minor shift as narration control moves from castetva to hindutva. The bleating of castetva is on expected lines. The benign posturing to distinguish themselves from hindutva is rather trite but the attempts are getting so desperate that it display various stages of hypocritical hilarities of mediocres. The other day I was reading views of indian writer (like third rate movies that is churned from this part of the world to keep the herds in putrid pit entertained and assured grandness unmatched in the universe Indian writers too are amazing opportunist mediocres trying to align with deep state to get fed. With western world showing angst for diversity effete indian elite and their litter fervently hope the standard too is compromised so that they can barge in under the garb of diversity. If the rise of China is about authoritarianism and brutal control then the rise of India is about mediocrity and crassness of life). This fellow has started to defecate book at quite an early age and seem quite attuned to the needs of the castetva deep state while trying to demarcate hindutva. It is obvious that he has been acclimatized to liberal pointers hence is being nurtured. His book title even contain obnoxious “Italian brahmin” as if these are normal. This pus is being nurtured to be bigger pus to awe the world while attempting to wrench the narration from hindutva to grandness of benign blessings –the all giving all-knowing caretakers lurking in putrid pit. To showcase this chicanery there is a stampede to control history. One pretender after another is defecating books and columns. It’s a constant endeavor of deep state to present this crude society as sacred offering to humanity.  A society with horrendous past that carries the brutal remnants with care is sought to be presented as holder of humanity’s conscience with mahatmas readied and self-appointed on short notice to oversee the greater goodness of the world while they in all assuredness of charlatans conduct ritual for world peace. Is there anything more sinister than this? 

     

Now this pus posits “our ancestors were far more secure of their identity” to understand what identity is he talking about an obscure medieval play (of what is essentially an overwhelmingly mediocre society with rare sparks) written by some crude feudal is presented. The little pus elaborates “it features a brahmin wooing a dalit woman” (apart from these normalizing of obnoxious references which his limited mind is incapable to comprehend, how common is this premise? Further, considering this society is a caste cannibalized society that is rotten from the foundation. Forget morals these don’t even know to conceive basic definition of society. It’s clear that this fellow is aiming for the highest moral grounds…and there is a coterie working to shoulder him. Through angst connection these arrange international awards to gain credibility). The pus explains “the brahmin says (in the play ofcourse) I drink cow’s milk and worship the cow. You eat the cow so you must be purer than me” and proclaim his grand interpretation of what is essentially a third rate play of lout wanting to f*ck a poor horribly marginalized and exploited woman, he argues to write these “tells you about cultural confidence” (the audacity of the prick to even suggest these). “the ability to laugh at ourselves”…hence “our ancestors were far more secure in their identity”. I don’t know whose ancestors this little scoundrel is talking about.  

History of crude society is waste of time. There is always attempts to work narration to redeem oneself and grandness when the reality is bleak. In a mediocre society with majority intellectually challenged and constantly using education to double their blessing these add to the collective hallucination of special place in universe. This attempts at wrenching history by snarling castetva and hindutva within the narrow range of self-fulfilling narration doesn’t help the case. This was and is indeed a cannibalistic society with worst of references that would put humanity to shame. At the most history need to be about enlightening thoughts and ideas. Instead of grandness humbling references is the need. Take for instance Yuval Harari –well-read international writer, now he looks at history in the entirety of humanity and works to take this understanding to chance the possibilities and the challenges the humanity faces. That makes him a precious historian and his insights are worthy. If there were many writers/historians like him world would be such an exciting place with possibilities.  That also makes Indians a bunch of mediocres scheming in the putrid pit to stampede the highest moral ground and showcase as benign possibly the only meaning in their little lives.

PS:

Today the roads were blocked as this bunch was celebrating a medieval king with revivalist fervor. The noise, the grand bearing as if they themselves were foot soldiers, crude aesthetics and ridiculous dancing, selfies while blatantly stopping the traffic, causing inconvenience…it has everything that defines this society in many ways. Lacking any quaint value system I can only pity them. Seeing many youngsters only confirms the bleakness of this society, and the tragedy is they procreate. Children needs a better understanding of world based on compassion and common legacy of humanity. World has changed significantly in last many decades, it’s conceivable and can be easily conjectured that the best of people who lived few centuries back would have definitely reassessed their thoughts, value systems and action if they had as much awareness of the world as we have now. This reading the history within the contemporary context to create narration of grandness is dangerous. It nurtures value system that is rarely beneficial and can only create misery. It negates the potential of humans.

This picture was taken at festival celebrating gandhi (another protagonist of nuisance narration of grandness, in this case of simplicity. Lots of public money is wasted to work this narration). The dear fellow is shown taking care of leprosy patients, and managed to photographed himself too. And in case you were wondering how this casteist racist would survive the onslaught of squatter (or he himself considering the way he valued impoverished black African) it was clarified that the patient is a fellow with squatter reference. How many times have we come across the picture of Mother Theresa attending the heartrendingly sick where the name of suffering poor is mentioned with surname for posterity? This is gandhian miracle. There is a way the game is played. Charlatans try inbreeding to get the vulgarities going. This is how regrettable gandhi worked on his mahatma (which ofcourse was title granted by squatters to elevate him as equal...since a mere "bania" would diminish their grand valuations of dealing with the world. A "great soul" who could hang out with blessed squatter since is now being confirmed as shared). This then gave the fellow the squatter's itch to be "searcher of truth", the rituals which squatters expertised, clever gandhi sought to extend it by branding through carefully chosen sanskrit references. He was a intellectually challenged eager pawn (you will notice this small time ambitious lawyer had very limited reading habit references, little bit were exaggerated -Tolstoy/Thoreau, to work on civilizationally gifted intellectual calibre that sought universal validation) readied to work on grand narration to present to the world while back home was effectively worked to control the herd. Truth it seems was a weapon. Such is the exaggeration of charlatans who pose as humble souls self appointed as trustees and guardians entitled to negotiate higher forces (which only they have privy to). Satyagraha. The seeker of godforsaken truth. The purity seekers purity of truth in putrefying pit.   

We are not interested in any truth. We are interested in meaning. Meanings are precious.