Sinister narration of “Dalit literature”

 

A brief background is necessary to get the context. I wasn’t much into reading until well past 25, next few years I really did understood the importance of reading best of fiction from across the world. This too came in rather murky way. Not aware of writers I started with Indian fiction alphabetically from the first top rack at SahityaAkademi library in Delhi! Very soon was disinterested by lack, I thought it was my shortcoming, being a slow and rather messy reader. Very soon was choosing books and authors randomly, some were quite interesting and stood out, like for instance, Rohinton Mistry, Anita Desai, Amitav Ghosh, Mahashweta Devi, RK Narayan, Nirmal Verma…so on, most others were insipid, some plain embarrassing (these were not even the kind of mainstream popular trash that we see around nowadays but acclaimed writers, some even winning local awards). I almost gave up reading fiction, the quality was so low that I even briefly fancied taking up fiction writing (if these mediocre can write then maybe I too have a fair chance!...wrote some mushy crap). By this time I knew few people who were into quality reading and aware of best of writers. It was when I was introduced to international writers that something significantly shifted. I was really blown away by powerful words, images they conjure and depth of ideas they explored. From Chekov to Kafka to Beckett to recently Han Kang this was one heck of a ride. I understood the power of writing and value of well placed words to express ideas and human condition (access to JNU library and general talks/debates opened up to western philosophers and contemporary thinkers –Foucault, Chomksy so on were liberally quoted). Slowly but deliberately I too started to explore writing in much earnest, renting rooms in offseason beaches and hill stations and try to scribble something.

Gist of the story here is: Indian writing in its core and pretence very mediocre and pretentious, so out of touch with reality that they can compel a writer in a fellow who never really got even a sentence right in his life! Very soon I understood that there is a framework they adhere to, feeding this narration assures gravy. It’s a meeting of low calibre and opportunism –something that can be observed as a common factor in every persuasion and deal in this part of the world. Writing is also considered to be an extension of wisdom, hence in Indian context an entitlement that some are expected to naturally possess by virtue of blessing. So all kind of nonsense become literature, dimwits as creative, minimum effort is pinnacle of achievement, and then the manipulation and camaraderie of mutual acclaim through pursuit of money/power/status –indeed the competition and stampede is intense. They do conduct seminars and talks, and I dropped into these quite regularly -wide eyed trying to get a grip, mostly disappointed, sometimes shocked by complacency and angered by their self assured ways and astounding lack (indeed some tried to cover this by cleverly creating a binary of protest with ‘western writing’ and claims of Indian “mystical spiritual” ways not easy for western minds to decipher!...it took me some time to decipher and promptly threw out the whole lot into nearest dustbin). I mostly have low opinion on Indian writing and art (mainstream is so appallingly trivial that it nauseates), therefore double check, reconfirm, before committing my time. In this sceptic sarcastic milieu I came across writings of Bama. Last week I was reading “the itchi tree monkey” (collection of short story by Bama, translated from Tamil to English by Ravi Shanker –well translated). It is rare to be totally enamoured by Indian writing. Written in deceptively simple language it carries complexities of Indian reality in vibrant detail with so much sincerity, heightened sensibility and empathy. I was transported into vivid world and everyday reality of common people that is so rare and deliberately absented in Indian fiction. They managed to represent India to the world in their own fanciful conception carefully working on the expected western narration, hardly ever representing even a miniscule of vast multitude of Indian reality. Decades back I was under the impression that the lack is in me for not enthused by Indian writing, indeed appalled by low standards. Writers like Bama presents stark contrast and fill the amazing lack with brilliant writing, in the process highlight the sham that goes under Indian writing –controlled by great wisdom of blessed seeking to humbly help common people to negotiate life in a world constructed to showcase -that has nothing to do with any reality, indeed a cheap fantasy version presented as fiction. They hold seminars and talks to dissect these fantasies for erudite perspective on Indian life in ever complicating jargons of complex theories and turn of sentences that mystifies and please western audience.

To negate this threat, and to place it within their frame, so as to not lose the control, the depraved narration controllers have classified “Dalit writing”, and yes writers like Bama have fallen into this trap as it promises reach, platform, as also easy access that favour pliable. Gandhians attempted to patronize by using horrible reference of harijan, that was outright rejected as an assault. The irony is that if there is “dalit writing” then there should be “squatter writing” (wherein much of Indian mediocre writing can be traced to squatter value systems, carrying so much haughty self-assuredness that it has to be humble blessing, so embarrassingly trivial that the irony is lost in preening) but rarely one comes across mention of it as if much of Indian writing is normalized to reflect Indian life and that this is the reality! (it is the same frame that see humanist progressive Ambedkar as caste icon while regressive compromised Gandhi as humanist apostle of non violence, it is not reality that matters but how you control the reality and present it to west for further consolidation). Indian writing therefore is extension of narration control, the reason why most Indian writers are pathetic caricatures of writers they presume themselves to be in all sincerity, and are dutifully hoisted by ecosystem and market for mutual acclaim.

Dalit is not an identity; it is a state of fiction that is an extension of depraved conception called caste system. Hence Dalit can only be used when it is within the framework of exploitation and discrimination. Words like Dalit is being normalized as identity by sinister forces since it not only normalize their own primitive presence but also put themselves in patronizing position. “Dalit literature” is an extension of this sinister force that seeks to bracket and slot under, superior in its intention and supremacist in its attitude, such pettiness. From horrendous discriminations to lack of basic amenities, lack of nutrition, low quality education system, conceiving humiliating circumstances to degrade and demean, is how life pans out for most. Bama’s stories wrenches out stark reality with deft creative skills, sophisticated sensibilities and uncommon empathy. It is startling and shocking for mainstream publishers saturated in everyday mediocre, incapacitated to sense nuanced artform. They see these as threat against established narration and entrenched attitudes that are mutually agreed as respectful, arbitrated to consolidate culture and tradition meant to be pandered and milked for profit. It is a win-win strategy. Writers like Bama don’t really get published, indeed are discouraged if not crushed, it is a miracle that she crossed impossible hurdles to establish herself with flair. “Dalit literature” is a conciliation slot readied to keep the control within the frame so as to not relegate mediocre mainstream writers into irrelevance. In these circles irrelevance is a curse, it is antithesis to blessing, a horror. Seminars and talks are valiant attempts (you could see their desperation) to churn in relevance through intellectualizing and eventual hinging into “writing traditions” copying western semantics for gravity. Indian mediocrity sometimes presents itself in clean sheets of cud chewing purity in breathtaking leap as post-modern! “Dalit literature” is a ruse to hinge crude cringe patronizing as benign acceptance, a reluctant acknowledgment, sought in largesse of cosmic soul!          

 In case of Bama these regressive slotting is truly offensive since her brilliance surpass those who seek to “introduce” her and patronize. No amount of clever narrative tricks can elevate these Indian writers and unsolicited representors to the needed skills to be writer of any calibre. They will remain caricatures celebrated in putrid pit but shunned in critical scrutiny of wider world. Each one of the story in this collection is candid yet profound, creatively weaved and uncommonly nuanced presentation of everyday reality of common people facing horrors of unjust world. Lively protagonists negotiate absurd face-on through their everyday ridicule that saves humanity in minor acts of concerns and brave defiance against horrible circumstance. There is no rumination when faced with wrong it is dealt with ferociously uncomplicated right and accompanying humour for sanity. It is deeply moving display of writing skills. The blurb (which ofcourse is meant to acquiesce the dominant narration and factor in sensibilities and angst into normalized deviant values for marketing) use narrative permission of The Hindu (presiding deities of neoliberal left and monopolized claims to represent) to value this book as “turning the socio-cultural geography upside down”, another gatekeeper of Indian writing excitedly proclaims this is “subversive, rebellious”, while another is shocked “you’ll feel that you are sitting amongst the dalits”…imagine these people! The book isn’t rebellious at all, nor subversive, or turning socio-cultural geography upside down. It is just reflecting lives of common people in common place…what is subversive is that Indian writing had no talent to observe nor express these with such skill and without any pretentions. The upside socio-cultural geography is now straightened for clear view. For some primitives there is a paradigm shift happening and feels like “sitting amongst dalit” (the audacity). What is happening is long awaited aesthetic correction from petty and amazing depth of mediocrity and lack of basic sensibilities and sincerity in Indian writing. Pompous self acclaimed embarrassment called Indian writer is shown clear picture of their own reality that they are incapacitated to see, fathom or express. Read RK Narayan (one of the very few Indian writers worthy of mention and comparison) and read Bama, the gap in the reality is an unbridgeable vacuum. You will doubt whether Narayan is speaking about the same society or is he “amongst charming aliens”? (Malgudi could very well be a fictitious village in Mars!). Bama is able to present Indian reality in confident flourish of her writing speaks of shift from controlled narration that pretentious Indian writing manipulated to present exotic India to western eloi. 

Each story in this book is a compelling vignette into everyday life in any village across India in its brutal presence that is skilfully narrated with care, absolutely no patronizing nor pontificating under the garb of fiction. Rarely have I come across Indian writing that conveys so much complexity in few sentences as it presents charming humans weaving threads of cruel world into tapestry of heartful emotions and nonchalance (rarely bravado), to proclaim with their humanity that which seeks to control is too insignificant in estimation of their rich world and daily concerns. Despite the overwhelming presence of discrimination and exploitation they seem to be busy to innately assert a better world by the very human presence thus unravelling the forces orchestrating brutal reality in their sheer disregard. “Stereotype” is one story that truly stands out, and can easily be one of the best in contemporary world literature (and the audacity to bracket this by mediocres into “dalit literature” under Indian writing, and jostling to “introduce”, hence represent), in thousand odd words it accomplishes something remarkable. Simmering silence is what makes these stories unique, there are thousands and thousands of unsaid words that fills the vacant space. It asks readers to evaluate honesty of their experience in the brutal world we live in.                

Stop invoking history

 

The thing about dominating forces is their concern for history –in the process cleverly detaching from present, as also their confidence in complete control to dictate the present narration into future. Posing as righteous they value history as sole witness of their actions. Present is too insignificant, too incapable, for evaluating their actions -which ofcourse is mystified as it is blessed. Present is devalued, thrashed and made to fit in for the lens of history meanwhile exacting nefarious plans. History is a concern for narcissist who deem themselves as specially entitlement to decide the course for humanity and that their actions are beyond the conceptions of others -least the common populace. Thinking of present from the prism of distant future is a luxury, an indulgence, of megalomaniacal minds. It conveniently and purposely negates complexity of present into a single strand of possibility that history is expected to authenticate, hence the clairvoyant sagacity of perpetrators. Pity these people. They also have arrogant concerns for their legacy and their actions are calibrated as a pose for posterity at a great cost.

Yes some actions do change course of mainstream history but it is mostly exaggerated. History is too narrow an evaluation for complexity of humanity, the everchanging world. Much of humanity live hidden from the radar of mainstream history, isolated from its carefully calibrated concerns. This living ‘history’ –living with complexities of present, contributes to consolidation of vibrant unique culture and value systems. Historians exaggerate, indeed eulogize (particularly when the present of the society is too primitive and insecure), kings, wars and dynasties as defining passage of time. This is a sham concocted by sinister forces and does immense damage on younger generations as it capsulate humanity’s past into few megalomaniacs and nurture whims of feudal structures as defining. It poses these medieval brutal forces as presenting meaning for contemporary wherein these miserable were coping with brutal realities of their condition with limited wherewithal. Hinging contemporary discourse into claims of history is spurious, it is a sinister distraction. History will be stridently vehemently desiccated, eviscerated, and shredded in the light of the present and evaluated with and measured in value of life.

World has never witnessed such destructive capacity in the hands of few, as we see now, that could completely obliterate life on planet. Meanwhile climate catastrophes severely undermine future. Future with any semblance of present seems a luxury. If such is the complexity of present that future looks bleak for much of humanity it puts in frame the audacity of megalomaniac’s self assured claim of posterity lighting a beacon of grace for their irresponsible actions that severely peril the present. What could go wrong?

We have a cry baby!

 

No king protest

 Sometimes there is glitch in matrix and presents delectable coincidences that hold significant lessons for humanity. Charles and Trump shared birthday on the same day! They arranged military parade (feudal reference that generally are displayed in poorer countries to keep plebs occupied and connect to national pride in its basic reference of potential for violence and sense of security under paternalist state), ofcourse if there is cultural display that showcases rich diversity of the country and occasion for general bonhomie then it is welcomed and tolerable. Both these were cringe inducing senseless display of theatrics of grand that contributed to much greenhouse gas. Trump is a wannabe authoritarian who was carefully nurtured by neoliberal capitalism that (like religion) uses democracy for its nefarious control. Trump is a simplistic semiliterate marketeer who understands value of transaction, he is an embodiment of neoliberal transactional value system. There is no complexity, no knowledge, no understanding, no ethics, just the immediate goal -which necessarily is greed/control/power. He is a danger that system has birthed, and now grown beyond the system as unhinged loose cannon -which is ofcourse a good thing as along as it is cannibalising and destroys the system that is necessarily an elite consensus destroying planet.

 Now let us focus our attention to these lip-smacking pictures that british eloi so graciously enacts for the world. Let me make one thing clear I have nothing personally against Mr. Charles, or any other individual connected to feudal structure, they may be nice people or not I don’t know (I am just one in 7billion people located in some remote part of the world looking at the world in increasing amusement!) my concern is feudal structure and its implication on the world –particularly when these are powerful prominent presence. These anachronistic feudal structures are doing much harm to the world as they negate egalitarian values and stand as direct opposition and strident negation of democratic institutions and individual liberty –ascriptive values are constant threat to just world and shouldn’t have any place in 21^st century. They undermine humanity in every possible way. In this picture British PM –an elected representative (as also a emulative reference for former colonies on ideals of democracy as they have embryonic connections), is seen cringe supplicating before a man who is half her age and essentially there for the reason of birth (a reference for exceptionalism -supremacist values, and ascriptive entitlements that are fertile ground for feudal exploitation in poorer societies) –again as a person he may be nice or not is not the concern here. The second picture is benign, though Trump has funny ideas of himself as king –a lifelong president/ruler, a dictator. Starmer comes from hallowed tradition of supplicating to feudal authority but in here he is not emulating medieval theatrics to a wannabe. He is being decent, also considering Trump is an elderly fellow (it is also conceivable that Trump has dropped it purposely to create this very scene to show himself as ‘dominant’, hence conception of leader for the herd –anything is possible when dealing with reptilian hunter gatherer mind). It is also ironical hypocrisy that british neoliberal left media celebrates US egalitarian 'no king' protest. Authoritarian leaders generally take reference from past brutalities for control. Feudal structures are nurturers of these ideas of exceptionalism. 

Earth is such a beautiful place 

 

Where are we going?

 

Few minutes back President of USA posted this. I, like billions of common people across the world, don't know what to make of this troubling fast unfolding situation. 

WHAT IS GOING ON?

Alarm calls are getting louder

For last few days I am reading this amazing book that I ordered online (this is the amazing thing about buying online you can get rare and brilliant writers from anywhere in the world within few days –you are no longer in deep pit of Indian mediocre writing. Even a decade back you had to struggle to get a book and eventually give up after making rounds of bookstalls…I recall getting a desperately wanted rare book from South America from a person I randomly met and went out few times!). So here I am into a book that is absolutely besotted to Peregrine Falcon/tiercel (The Peregrine; JA Baker), his obsession to this bird is a unique form of writing –indeed brilliant, that I am yet to encounter (I have read many brilliant Indian writers on birds like Salim Ali, Ranjit Lal, M. Krishnan…so on). This book has since become a classic. Simultaneously I watch the world has become much dangerous as violence escalates to wars. Instability that question entrenched status quo is welcomed, dismantling pan global elite consensus on neoliberal capitalism that is founded on regressive values and nurtured on feudal exploitative structure, the chaos is much needed. Hopefully they churn out something that is reflection of reality and not fiction of unlimited growth. What is alarming is weakening of democratic institutions within nations, as also significantly, the breakdown of diplomatic consensus and restraint among nations. It is a remarkable failure of international community and lack of vision by leaders.

So as I read exquisite details that open up wonders of peregrine hawk I also see distressing videos of escalating war and mayhem while climate catastrophe creates other horror scenes of flooding and heat waves. “For warning…they (peregrine) rely on their remarkably keen hearing and on the alarm calls of other birds”, so the awareness of danger is from two sources, their own acute senses as also connection with reality of the world they live in. There are clear indication that world around us is collapsing, resilience of life giving ecosystem is diminishing, biomass diversity is reducing and species are vanishing. You can observe it by not seeing many species (like insects, birds so on) that you used to see and hear before. You can understand it by using critical faculties and reading extensively on these matters from people who have spent years researching and scientists who studied these minutely and reached a peer reviewed consensus, as also passionate people who have used innovative skills and ways to communicate the urgency of the matter. If you lack this basic sense then you are incapacitated to hear the warning. You also have to investigate the systems that incapacitate humans to hear and see the warning. How have their senses become so blunt, that they are so dehumanized, to use basic faculties? In nature there are two types of species which help humans understand condition of immediate environment. Indicator species like lichens tell us about quality of ecosystem. How people are reacting, responding and compromising with overwhelming systems that controls, tells us about condition of society and how much democratic humanistic concerns are valued. Clearly something is amiss. Sentinel species are the one that tells about dangerous environment, they detect toxic presence like canary in cave. There are prescient people with heightened sensibilities that connect to complexities of reality who keep warning us of the dangers. In an attention seeking economy and overwhelming crass these too are submerged by mediocre who caricature them for gain. Fortunately for humanity these wonderful people are nurtured and valued in evolved societies. They are making all efforts through their presence to warn us. I read them in their writing, hear them in their talks, watch them in their expressions, sense them in their art…the alarm calls are getting louder. If humans have senses even minutely as acute as peregrine falcon they will be alert. If they have any responsibility they will actively demystify and dismantle systems that blunt human sensibilities and negate humanity. Violence is a symptom of deep flaw and natural outlet of deviant systems. 

“I saw his colours clearly in the brilliant light: back and secondaries rich burnt sienna; primaries black; underparts ochreous yellow, streaked with arrowheads of tawny brown. Down the pale cheeks the long dark triangles of the moustachial lobes depended from the polished sun-reflecting eyes. Through the smoke, through the spray, he glided over the wall in a smooth outpouring, like water gliding over stone. The wader shimmered to earth, and slept. The hawk’s plumage stained through shadows of smoke, gleamed like mail in glittering spray. He flew out in the grip of the gale, flicking low across the rising tide. He slashed at a floating gull, and would have plucked it from water if it had not flown up at once. He flickered out into the light, a small dark blemish diminishing along the great sword of sun-dazzle that lay across the estuary from south”.  Phew, now that is some evocative writing!                               

 

Uncertain times, entropy, chaos…

 

As the systems are shaken there is a general view that we have entered uncertain times! To make it clear world was always uncertain. Life lives by negotiating edges of ever present chaos. That is how species evolve by being under constant loop with ever changing reality. Indeed most human being live with amazing insecurities, negotiating life as it presents. It is very few who are controlling and negotiating the systems that find themselves suddenly thrown into chaos. With Trump blasting neoliberal ecosystem of understanding of Left and Right with his carefully nurtured transactional world view, add to the uncertainties of climate breakdown, AI, as also herd getting weaponised through social media thus giving new vigor to atavistic concerns and juvenile preoccupations of religion. Delicately balanced political correctness (the consequences of which were delegated to common people) is now collapsed under woke debris. This stable world that was orchestrated as “progress” was very much confined to few, ofcourse much of the world is relatively better off thanks to comforts and conveniences provided by innovative technologies, socialist concerns of state across most of the world, and egalitarian value system in some societies that create resilience and social safety net. What is more this growth was hinged on unlimited supply. This unlimited supply for unlimited neoliberal growth was to be provided by exploiting earth and people. Clearly life giving ecosystems are collapsing as also income disparities have increased. Neoliberal capitalism was kept isolated from reality through wanton exploitations -that created spurts of material benefits, while morphing these through sophisticated economic jargons of development and management language of efficiency, and creating incentive to join the system to be successful –for which religion provided compelling validation. 

Systems need to be in constant feedback loop with ever changing reality and is dynamic to factor in fast changing complexities. If it is meant to provide security for few and creating illusion for most then it will collapse the moment reality strikes. The myth/fiction will not sustain. There is an urgent need for capitalism to factor in socialist concerns that create inclusive society as also values collective actions and emerging concerns while maintaining individual ingenuity and liberty. Dee Hock was an amazing guy, he proposed chaordic manager (chaordic organization) –to engage chaos and working out order herein or let’s say meaningful pattern. This is qualitative shift from sedate corporate manager who is expected to work in stable extractive world to balance control and order. Chaordic is a significant understanding; maybe what we need is a chaordic capitalism as the world shifts closer to chaotic reality. Accept chaos –entropy is a reality, create systems to factor in chaos and try to find meaningful patterns to work out a sustainable strategy.              

Redefining framework of discourse

 

There is a renewed vigorous attempt by devious forces to play savior by controlling vestigial narration into contemporary. Invoking words with loaded meaning from past that has no connection with the realities of present other than keeping their own significance as also estimating and trapping common people as unthinking herd. Words like antisemitism cannot be allowed to be used as if nothing has changed in the world in last many decades. The context of the world we live in 21^st century cannot be allowed to be pulled into horrors of past to create narration that has no semblance to people’s reality. These words undermine and dilute the complexities of the world we live in. Religion is not sacred nor is Judaism nor jews (nor criticism of Israel be automatically deemed as criticism of jews). References to Nazi or Hitler shouldn’t be allowed to be reduced as mere antisemitism hence frozen into specific context of history. These are threat to humanity (it is a threat to each and every human), and must be dealt in within the ambit of rule of law. There nothing more to it. This attempt to haul in decomposed baggage of history through sophisticated semantics –these intellectual jargons are meant to obfuscate reality into convenient frame, to establish sterling historicity defining presence. Every attempt to alter reality to fit in concerns of past must be resisted. That doesn’t mean history is not important, its importance is only in understanding and not keeping it alive by extending meanings of words from past. This completely bypasses human understanding and changed realities of present. It is a sinister attempt to undermine human progress and control people as puppets. What has happened in history must be understood and kept away from present; it’s a closed chapter and shouldn’t be allowed to claim anything. Present must be dealt with egalitarian values and stringent rule of law using latest technology. An incapacitated society and a vacant ruing civilization keeps invoking the grandeur or grievance of past. It is meant to keep the herd occupied. 

Serious concerns like discrimination must be dealt with tools that sync in with the realities of present. There is an industry functioning that evaluate everything in the light of dead past to replicate and perpetuate horrors of the past. It is a failure of present if history has to be invoked. History only becomes significant, and repeats, when people are reduced to herds, when people are not vigilant and complacent and fall for easy narration of pattern from past. Atrophying religions have strange claims of their myths through history, and are nurtured by left to centralize history to constantly diminish the present. Definition of antisemitism cannot be allowed to frozen in the past and treated as some sort of fragile concept, it will have to face the rigor of the present, and redefined upgraded to meaningful definition of the contemporary or else it is a sinister attempt to replicate past by converting people into herd. Nazi were antisemitic and responsible for genocide of Jews. It is one of the horrifying chapters of human history. The attempt here is not to deny horror of holocaust but to dissociate from dangerous repetitions of past. It is an attempt to reframe framework of discourse so as to not negate the contemporary. Therefore in the contemporary world Nazi salute cannot be seen as antisemitic. It must be seen as a caricature of past that shouldn’t be given the import it craves. It is definitely an assault on humanity as it reminiscence horror of past and an attempt to recreate therefore highly objectionable and must be stringently dealt. The shift from framework of specificity of history, from context and concerns of past, to secular universal relevance and humanist concerns of present is a significant step that must be acknowledged. Invoking the history of genocide against jews as only relevant to jews undermines contemporary humanity and attempts to replicate failure of past. It acts to segregate humans into unthinking compassionless people dictated by fate of history, herds controlled by devious narration controllers. In the contemporary understanding prejudice is directed against a human, and cannot be against religion since religion has factors working which can be fertile source of prejudice which the concerned religion will have to deal and investigate the source of prejudice. Prejudice against a human is against his or her being like gender, skin color so on hence against humanity. A person from any religion is human first, and that concern frames the response.  

Religion cannot claim to be discriminated; it is the people who are discriminated not the system. Also beware of the clever attempt to create binary narration for Islamophobia; it has very less to do with realities and context of antisemitism nor can these two religions be equated –it is false equivalence to hide dangers of Islamism. Discrimination must be addressed and dealt with care without normalizing systems of control. As humanity evolves contemporary world should be equipped to explore tribulations of human condition, rather than easy anachronistic fixes and complacent replication of primitive past. We must use our intelligence and be alert against nefarious forces particularly the narcist ones in the cloak of saviors. Meanwhile religion and supremacist values must be constantly reminded of its limitations within rule of law and doesn’t have any special claim whatsoever that undermines human rights and individual freedom and liberty. A thriving humanity will have healthy religiophobia and will resist feudal systems of control. It will have humanist rule of law and empathy driven aesthetic expressions. Critical cases will have to be dealt on case by case basis rather than swept in flourish of narration and attached to broader pattern to create superstructure of concerns. Contemporary world is too complex and connected to have sweeping patterns.

Systems that nurture history to define contemporary must be deconstructed and resisted with full force of humanity as it thrives on dehumanizing contexts. History provides rather minor understanding of present (it is not a guiding force), more of unique context of past, and a significant realization of threat that it carries if replicated. Humanity will have to make all attempts to dissociate from pull of the past –replication can only happen if complexities of present are negated. Present is the best possibility of human history. It has to be understood, cherished, and valued to deal with increasing complexities of future.                             

Rabid frothing of neoliberal muck

 

The most “powerful man” in the world (as defined and nurtured by neoliberal value system) and the most “richest man” in the world (as defined and nurtured by neoliberal value system) are going for each other’s jugular. The ramification is exponential to what is happening on regular basis across the world. These are worst people sorted by the system to ace itself as a self justification, they reflect the crass system. Juxtapose this with degrading of atmosphere and polluting of river, land, air, water, silence and darkness, ensuing breakdown of climate and biodiversity loss, also lack of trust in insular media, the astounding lack of responsibility. These are very much the byproduct of transactional value system, a general lack of self awareness and existential humility. The crass is reaching a critical point, the rabid frothing of neoliberal muck is hitting the roof. As climate breakdown accelerates crude ego maniacal humans are in muck fight, the system has made them ineffective to have even basic sense. Self preservation of the system is at the expense of life on planet.   

For last many decades every transaction is valued on profit (or power accrued which pave way to greed), success in these anchored meanings of deal, fantastical views of religion synced to create world of debauchery, a compelling exceptionalism and supremacist presence. These encroach institutions as extraction including education (classified as human resource) and nature (classified as natural resource) attuned to greed, acquisition and ease of consumption. Words like progress and development were redefined on the parameter of neoliberal capitalism and its egomaniacal assuredness. They undermined democratic institutions, transgressed ethics, nurtured feudal regressive values and enthused hunter gatherer juvenile mindsets.         

Swaying hands, swaying branches

“If you analyse a molecule of chlorophyll, what you get is one hundred thirty six atoms of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen arranged in an exact and complex relationship around a central ring. At the ring’s centre is a single atom of magnesium. Now: if you remove the atom of magnesium and in its exact place put an atom of iron, you get a molecule of haemoglobin. The iron atom combines with all the other atoms to make red blood…” (Annie Dillard Pilgrim in Tinder Creek –what a wonderful book!)  

Maybe, maybe by mistake

A fortunate quirk of nature

An unseen hand

Slice magnesium atom and swap with iron atom

Slice iron atom and swap with magnesium atom

Chlorophyll fills my veins

Blood fill chloroplast

The tree becomes me

I become the tree

While hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, dance unaware

Swaying hands, swaying branches      

 

Nimbostratus shifting to cumulonimbus

 Monsoon is getting erratic, just when the peninsula was preparing for heat waves, there is rush of rains –intense, short with high winds. What used to be stretched out nimbostratus affair – steady moderate redolent dreamy rain, rarely any thunderstorm or high winds -that was mostly confined to NW monsoon, is now overtaken by cumulonimbus intermittent intense dreadful show. It is ofcourse respite from heat for millions of people but along the Western Ghats rains are getting erratic and sinister. Warming Arabian ocean –sea surface temperature, increases moisture in the atmosphere enhancing convective updraft for cumulonimbus and with warm air holding more moisture (7% more with 1degree centigrade warming) hence the intensity of short lived rainfall. Convective storms are brief and swift as it releases energy rapidly through burst of rain and downdrafts as heavy winds -normally wind hovered around 40-50km/hr but now it is mostly 60km/hr and more. Hills of Western Ghats also create localized intense orographic rains –sometimes cloud bursts, in the fragile landslide prone region.

This time around monsoon not only landed on Kerala coast much early but advanced rapidly, accelerating monsoon onset and northern progression. Other global factors like Mascarene high intensification, Somali jet strengthening, favorable MJ oscillation, absence of El Niño, reduced snow cover, so on increase moisture for changing pattern of south west monsoon rains.        

 

 

The word

Words can change world. Words do change world. Atleast it does to me. I felt two fingers probing pockets of my trouser. Two fingers like head of cornered snake rushing for exit, bumping into wall, sneaking, rushing, desperate. The disappointed fingers had moved to the next passenger in the crowded bus. The bus reeked of all kinds of known and unknown smell, it wafted and mixed to create shocking cocktail. So as I was saying words do change world. You may not realize but we shift from one world to another through words. We anchor our world through words. That is nonsense, said the co-passenger, it is our thought that anchor the world. Words are poor effort. Words are too porous to contain a thought. By the time it reaches you much of it is consumed by the noise. So what, shouted the driver, no words have ever helped me. He stopped the crowded bus in the middle of crowded street. People inside the bus and in the street spoke about words, they explained their relation with words, their elations and disappointments. It seemed the world had halted all its business to speak about words. Shopkeepers spoke about words to their customers while in restaurants people stopped eating and spoke about words. New words were floating in the air. These new words brought new meanings that couldn’t fit in the old discourse so it started shedding. It was as if a giant hole was created in the space from where words entered the world and left as if humans were conduit to words. It flitted from person to person emoting their feelings, sometimes anger, sometimes delight. Words ruled the mind. Except. Except the pickpocket whose fingers sneaked, writhed, searched the depths of pockets, handbags and every crevices for hidden, forgotten, saved, valued fiction. Words roll in the grime of reality, evolve, learn to sneak into deeper crevices of thoughts and walled ideas.                              

International Biodiversity Day

 

With biodiversity degrading at an alarming rate due to various factors, very much anthropogenic -increasing human population and consumption economics are major contributors. There is dwindling genetic diversity, vanishing species and ecosystem degradation whether land, freshwater to ocean. With loss of biodiversity the resilience of life is diminished. We are in the midst of 6^th extinction event.  

With heavy pre-monsoon showers little garden snails are out in the open, this one I saw today morning perched on resplendent peacock flower plant (also known as pride of Barbados).   

A walk along the river

I sense my reflection, and a split

Swimming in primordial ocean

A prokaryote, learning to trap sun

A trilobite, assembling my backbone

A tetrapod, adapting the land

A primate, grasping tool

A human

What is that I know?

What fictions I create?

Worlds collapse into one

Random patterns awaken soul

The trees feel in their wood

As much as I in my bone

That magpie robin has sweetest of calls

Indian media is a disgrace

 

I don’t watch TV, so no Indian news channels or any other news channels, stopped it long time back, and so streamline news through various sources from net, and try to verify it (and yes the last post of “designate terrorist” I went by official source. I hope it is verified, not removing it since it doesn’t significantly alter the narration. Pakistan army is very much in cohort with Islamists and undermines civilian authority). They are trying to ensnare people into narration through opinions rather than news as facts –even these prioritized or negated to suit narration. Indian media lack basic professional ethics and behave like street hooligans and hecklers (they now call it godi media as if it is a new phenomenon, previously these were dongi media run by different kind of sycophants -their nautanki change according to demands of power). These do have serious ramification on streets and the way discourse is dealt. If these were sideshow then it is fine –all societies have rogue elements, but what is unfortunate for this nation is that these are mainstream. The core is rotten. They have no care or concern. These people only see opportunism, and neoliberal values have evaluated them as successful on to beleaguered populace. Also beware of neoliberal left sources too. They create binary of concern and use semantics of compassion and sophisticated expressions to enamour audience as some historicity affirming presence, an intellectual opportunism to control narration. They are not crude as neoliberal right but ridiculous and equally sinister in their intent. Indeed, neoliberal left “The Hindu” was source of devious disinformation (while islamophilia afflicted british eloi "The Guardian" is working its sinister empire building narration).           

Verifying facts, basic decency in discourse, and trying to understand the issue without fear or favor for people to judge, as also show empathy and concern, is how news must be dealt. Neoliberal right Indian media lack any of these. They are a disgrace. In this instance they brought disgrace to the nation. If they have any decency they must apologize.

*A personalized news- AI news agent, is what I need that keeps me updated to what is significant to the world (decided by the impact) as also to me (for instance I prefer news related to climate, technology, science, nature so on, strictly no nonsense like cricket, movies as news, nor interested in views of some politicians –official statement maybe) –international, national, local news, consolidated into gist with verified facts. I will seek opinion and views from people whom I prefer and if needed indepth from various credible sources.              

Pakistan is seeking to escalate

 

As Indian defence forces use precision target to eliminate terror groups, while showing extreme caution and restraint, Pakistan instead of taking responsibility and behave maturely is seeking to escalate the situation. International community must intervene to bring some sense to Pakistani elite and their foolhardy ways. Also note the characteristic belligerent audacity here that is for the world to see. This picture is enough to understand the threat humanity is facing (and faced for decades); eliminated terrorists are given state funeral that too conducted by designated terrorist while Army officials are in attendance. This is how they claim to be victim of terrorism. Pakistan needs to do some serious soul search and initiate systemic changes to refine itself and allow people's voices to be asserted through democratic institutions. Pakistan's feudal elite need to take responsibility of their people and their aspirations to live a peaceful life instead of playing games -nobody is interested in their nonsense. By escalating the situation, that is in the interest of jihadi generals, innocent civilians will die -who themselves are victim of failed militarised feudal state. Since Pakistan's elite is incapable to take responsibility international community must intervene before this escalate further. Common people are trapped in wrong place and shouldn't continue to become victim of vicious forces and their nefarious agenda.

   

 

Strategic action to remove cross border terror threat

Indian authorities were faced with diminishing options. Indian defence forces targeted terror infrastructure, selected and executed with maximum restraint and clinical precision, carefully avoiding military installations and minimizing civilian causalities, and gave a stern warning to the neighbouring country who persistently failed to control terror groups. Pakistan’s feudal elite cannot play victim of terrorism while also the nurturers, and collect benefits. That game is over. Period. There is zero tolerance to terrorism. It is also failure of Pakistan as a state that help nurture such violent barbarians. Pakistan society is as much a victim of the failed state. Voice of people is negated by feudal state and religion. It is essentially a military state that is not at all under the control of civilian authority nor democratic institutions vibrant enough to assert. It cannot however delegate its problem to others and play double game. India will no longer tolerate any incursions by ‘non state actors’ terrorists -these are essentially poverty ridden common people indoctrinated and dehumanized into rabid dogs. Indian soldiers have taken decisive and strategic action to safeguard its citizens. India has serious systemic problems but it is quite a vibrant democracy despite its large size, huge population and myriad demands, and essentially provides stability to the region.  

Now it is for the international community to restrain Pakistan (essentially its out of control Army under jihadi general) and remind them their responsibility and to prevent further escalation. Let us also not forget that it is the shoddy work of racist british colonizers that left many parts of the world with festering wounds and immense misery. 

Spit shining western lens

 

West has evolved framework and spaces that contributed to immense development of humanity. No amount of relativism can deny this. Nor can it be denied that much of the world is in varying degree of barbarism, including spaces in west, instead of pointing this out and understanding, critically evaluating and showing empathy to people trapped in exploitative ways, devious people chose to institutionalize these as diversity thus severely degrading the world and diminishing egalitarian possibilities. This disconnect from reality happens when many wallowing in luxury seek control through complacent and easy narrations that is tailored to the need, meanwhile much of world is disconnected from reality and piggyback riding human progress without any self reflection. Compromised West has severe existential angst for diversity that clever primitives have evolved to tap to morph as civilized. They have worked out semantics of high moral deal to checkmate west in its ethical hypocrisy. Gandhian nonviolent brutality shined in British violent fairness. Caste cannibalized primitives met colonial brutal sophisticates; each understood the game of blessing that could keep the herd enamored while they shared expertise exacted through centuries of brutal systems of exploitation. While colonizers understood inbred mediocre’s deep seated crave for acknowledgement from whites (aligning with power to awe the herd is an old game) hence valorized the same who never had the temerity to question the brutal colonial exploitation and instead became complicit for efficient. Many migrated to west, especially to Britain, to take over as natural guardians of highest morals and are periodically summoned to assuage british angst.          

They exchanged words to fill in the ethical moral gaps and to create flawless semantics of compassion. With inbred semantic skills and characteristic deviousness caste cannibals actively helped monarchy feudals to shed any self doubt and glaring hypocrisy to work ethical moral framework for the world with colonialism facilitated reach of the language and cherished turn of sentence (which was sold to post colonial exploited spaces as bearings of great merit and intelligence, unleashing amazing of mediocrity that has become defining marker of south asians) meanwhile clinically dealing with any transgression to set narration. High ethical moral occupation made it necessary to show concern for poor people. Caste cannibals therefore added pathological regressive to oligarchical control of neoliberal left narration. Ridiculous moral grounds is the initiation of woke. It is neoliberal left that tarnished globalization into free for all migration. It is neoliberal left that placed monster mullah and his barbaric values/ways as lynchpin of tolerance that common people were expected to pass to be elevated as liberal or worthy of acceptance into their hallowed circle. And with their influence and reach they degraded societies all across the world, and now common people face the backlash of aggressive neoliberal right and unhinged right. The shift towards neoliberal right across the world is telling, even left is now centre right within neoliberal (whether in recent elections in Germany, also monarchist colonial feudal structure affirming white dominated Canada and Australia, meanwhile a little Jamaican girl held a poster which read “Kings, queens, princes and princess belong to fairytale NOT in JAMAICA!” This girl represents humanity). Such is the shift. There is nothing for neoliberal left to celebrate. They significantly diminished possibilities for compassionate world that nurture socialist values and collective response. It is also to be noted that with their presence caste cannibals made left (or socialist or even social movements) in India ineffectual as common people understood the deviousness. In west they easily worked into neoliberal left to degrade it further. They provided semantic ammunition for complacent hedonism afflicted west to carry the whiteman’s burden into deepest pits of diversity.  

Words like ‘pariah’ entered into English to give meaning to most depraved possibilities. These were authenticated and nurtured by caste cannibals the reason why colonial minded monarchist Britain has the audacity to carry on. Indeed a humanistic minded Tamilian woman wrote to Merriam Webster challenging words perpetuating caste values and raised awareness about hidden meaning. Egalitarian intents of Tamilnadu is now reduced to caste driven violent putrefied pit, not least through persistent work of gandhian nonviolent state machinery, now feasted by politicians and money churning entertainment. It is quite clear that caste cannibalized words have serious ramification. White man’s burden controlled Webster had the audacity to be dismissive. In their haughty estimation the word has moved away from original meaning! Neither did the word originate in west nor the meaning acquired in west so as to document change. Indeed, the self assured complacence and lack of responsibility is deeply racist –and this audacity can easily be traced to caste cannibal’s proprietary control and regressive presence, as it simultaneously seeks to appropriate and dissociate from original context. The word is very much alive in all its depravity, intent, and in original meaning in its degrading reality of oozing pus spread across South India. The word clearly defines the worst of human degradation that is only conceivable in caste cannibalized world, hence is able to uniquely define degradation anywhere in the world. It is a gift to the world from most brutal people. But then ‘britishery’ also defines something unique “devious control of narration through colonial defined values and reach”. This can easily help define monarchy’s role or feudal control in civilized world as a case of britishery. So why is this word not found in Webster nor in daily use. Obviously power is at work here. Certain words are chosen for appropriation from carefully preferred context, it doesn’t matter how much degrading and problematic it is as long as you can assert control through usage. This is oligarchical control of neoliberal left -as they actively pursue intellectual control of narration while they gorge in hedonist opulence. Words like ‘nigger’ was used with same intent but they were forced to drop as the people refused to be degraded and appropriated in white people’s world of lazy deeply offensive references. The same didn’t happen with ‘pariah’ shows absolute depravity of Indians, specifically those posing as moralists in west to take british eloi for bull ride and usurp colonial loot and benefits. It severely questions lack of basic ethics and characteristic mediocrity and indifference that makes Indian english speakers and writers incapable to connect meaning of word with the reality they are placed in as they grovel for acknowledgment from west. Meanwhile with all semantic dexterity and rare sincerity they assiduously spit shine western lens on humanity to evaluate the world in its assigned place.

Taking the most vulnerable exploited discriminated and cannibalized souls on earth and stripping dehumanizing slur of an identity into their linguistic flourish to define worst of human possibility while identifying with the perpetrators and nurturers of the derogatory system as arbitrators and proprietary controllers is how insipid british eloi playing grand empire wannabe in 21^st century. They have the nerve to evaluate Indians and point out how we are not matching up while they themselves are severely compromised and incapacitated by their imperialistic nostalgia -bullying and canceling anyone who goes against their feudal ways and sacred monarchy. How is british media rated so high in press freedom when it is quite clear they are part of degraded world? India has serious problems with media (and a significant contributor is editor controlled cannibalized narrative as also market censored content; hindutva is only extending castetva frame…grassroot media is quite vibrant and has become more democratic and representative with social media) but to be rated so low in press freedom speaks of devious control that seeks to create spurious narration.

*we must use exact words which legacy media are incapable, like caste cannibals, monster mullahs so on, these are not only objective estimation of reality but also assimilate collective emotional evaluation.            

 

Dwindling urban biodiversity

 

There is an unprecedented realtime vanishing of urban biodiversity happening in our lifetime. As the urban areas expands and rural get urbanized this pattern is replicated, and in the last three decades the rate of biodiversity degradation is really quite shocking. Urbanization essentially means more people less space, lesser space for other species, noise and air pollution, and so the other species die, move out or just vanish. Those who grew up before 1990s recall amazing biodiversity that could be witnessed, and vividly recall flock of little house sparrows going about their business in and around the house, the butterflies, dragonflies and all kinds of insects in the night that gathered under the lamp. Going out for a walk was always exciting, there were so much of wild open spaces, bushes and trees. Though urban planners are trying to improve diversity –as also to ameliorate heat island affect as temperature increases, the impact is minimal as the same few type of species increase. Even in non-metros and small towns (where I am located), going out for a walk doesn’t hold the promise of finding something new or interesting, it is a rather uninspiring routine walk, so lapse into thinking on something new. There are more people, more vehicles and more big houses with plants and trees, and more walls and walls –it is as if each inch of land is now cordoned off. Thankfully interiors of small towns are much quieter with green spaces but diversity is quite limited. I see same species of birds Common Mynas, Common and Jungle Crows, Black Drongo, Rufous Treepie, Magpie Robins, Common Flameback Woodpeckers, Yellow-billed Babblers, Southern Coucals, Asian Koels, Green Bee-eaters, Purple-rumped Sunbirds, White-cheeked Barbet so on. These are the species I regularly see or hear, very occasionally you could see a Black hooded Oriole or a Common Tailorbird. It is saddening. Two decades back Indian Roller was quite common, and during my childhood I used to get quite excited watching Hoopoe -these are no nonsense birds always busy, to see the ants busily moving around and follow them to find out what the deal about! Or even following a grim looking dog trotting as if to attend something very serious, keen to know what he is up to, disappointed to find him settling for a comfortable place to sleep! As a kid I imagined that other species are always conspiring and had an entirely new world that we cannot see. So as biomass gets reduced, species numbers collapse, we not only lose resilience of ecosystem and biodiversity services that sustain life we also lose imagination and memories of the place.

*whenever I see a new species of bird I go back and draw a rough sketch in my notebook, I lose it frequently. The last one lasted a decade and had good collection of spotting -few hundred birds. I lost it few months back while traveling. It is devastating. So I am back to square one and started again. The rule is to draw only those birds that I saw, though I have included birds that one can confuse with, also in recent times I am finding scientific names, its origin, quite interesting. Though I have spotted only few dozen birds and since I don’t travel much as i used to so I guess this will take few years to reach credible collection.                                

Home Minister must resign

 

They can decide on what action to take against terror groups, meanwhile what is clear is that there was serious security lapse that led to innocent Indian tourists being massacred. J&K police force is under HM of India Mr. Amit Shah. He must take responsibility for this security lapse and resign. His position is untenable. He must apologise to people of India. Why is mainstream media not questioning this crucial lapse? 

*caste census is a serious transgression on idea of India (or indeed any civilized society). It is a deviously constructed rot meant to distract from reality of problems common people face while unleashing the caste force barbarians and their putrefied gangrene into society. Nepotistic corrupt INC scoundrels have been playing with it for decades as they fed regressive forces and cannibalised the society. It is they who nurtured Ayodhya issue for incremental benefit, it is they who kept kashmir segregated to showcase their high bearing, it is they who nurtured system and characteristic negligence that saw India at the bottom of HDI. Primary education was neglected while higher education lacked excellence or concern. The weak incumbent opposition leader lacking any charisma -promoted by caste family degraded construct, could push BJP into regressive path is shocking. This is beginning of the end for NDA. Something better was expected from them. Just another set of cheapskate politicians working for deal. It is also clear that after last election - as the party weakened, deep state squatter network is consolidating. What a shame.            

Even progressive measures like reservation for vulnerable and marginalised, meant only for limited time while focusing on education and aggressive anti-caste measures, was extended forever (even meagre benefits rarely reaching the most vulnerable while backlash led to caste system consolidation). Putrid pits of caste morphed as communities for civilized world is orchestrated by corrupt selfish politicians through insipid legacy media for easy control of herd. There is a reason why the best of historical references happened under Buddhism and for centuries invaders and marauders, colonisers had free run. There is a reason for systemic neglect, overwhelming mediocrity, lack of civic sense or basic empathy. Imagine primitiveness of a society that lacks even understanding of community and had the gandhian audacity to play highest morals! Any force that authenticates or nurture caste will have to be crushed with all force of humanity. 

            

Neoliberal left oligarchy controlled narration

 

There are facts then there are narrations build around it. Facts are many a time problematic since we need to scrutinize the process of acquiring facts, verified by competent unbiased authority as also whether it is complete –facts are rarely comprehensive estimation of reality. If critically scrutinized and verified facts are more or less approximation of the context. Nevertheless, having got a high probable estimation we have to now understand it. This is where narration comes in. And this is where matrix of power and control works. The narration manipulates facts for mainstream consolidation of feudal control. Though we have idealistic expectation of media as fourth pillar, the reality is these are display of dynamics of power guided by greed, nepotistic connections, cronyism and opportunism. This is how plutocracy takes over democracy (plutocracy is a system ruled by wealth and economic power). It is the rich and powerful who controls the narration. And since religion authenticates itself to the herd through material comfort and power as evidence of god’s blessing, they align with plutocracy. Hence the neoliberal right plutocracy. All across the world fantastical framework nurtured by religion (as a spiritual ruse) make people vulnerable to plutocracy. It is but natural that rich and powerful are blessed or else how are they given all the luxury –one that defines heaven, it is the easiest logical narration for the herd. Rich and powerful in turn confirm these by consolidating the narration and donating for religion. Religion authenticated plutocratic systems by associating with feudal structure, with the rise of neoliberal capitalism it connected to money and spread to political institutions.

There is a binary that is created that found opportunity in care and concern in the aftermath of neoliberal plutocratic vandalism led wanton consumption, exploitation and inequalities –this unsustainable expansion was packaged as development. Beleaguered left found new pasture as neoliberal left -particularly in richer regions with feudal values intact. This satisfied their hedonist craving while appearing to oppose the neoliberal right for the sake of people. They assumed as representatives of common people and moved with alacrity wherever they sniffed an opportunity to pose as benign soul concerned about common people (now that it cannot be pushed under carpet as also providing new opportunities, the environment). They activated the feudal control to be the voice of common people and stampeded into most opportunist comforts, crisscrossing the world to work the narration against exploitation and inequalities. Meanwhile very much part of the system, as neoliberal left, while they bargain for bigger positions posing as moral ethical guide for the world. It was meant as a vent to keep people busy in their mounting misery. There is a reason why inequalities and exploitation continued unabated because it was a con work to control narration at intellectual level and to benefit from the system. Oligarchy means control by small elite group who derive influence from various sources of power. Neoliberal left elite source is not money –though they are beneficiaries by their positioning they underplay this source since it will be an embarrassing hypocrisy that could undermine their branding, there source of power is ofcourse (apart from feudal structure that places them into these opportune connections) use of intellect and clever semantic jugglery of jargon that is so coded that acts as urine marker of their boundary and alert from intruders. Words they use have layered meaning that firm their narration into deeper anchors, as also signal their hierarchy as also other cryptic nuances that only their group is privy to. More than discussion or any attempt to understand the issue these are meant to showcase their semantic dexterity and flair in the narration and not very subtle ways to climb the power structure. It also firmly delineate them from common people whom they ardently seek to protect and ferociously represent in debating circles and get together for increasingly esoteric topics that really has nothing in common with daily drudgeries of people. Their representations and concerns become disconnected, increasingly fanciful, and so isolated from reality that it becomes ridiculous (‘woke’) and indeed adds to the problem. They associate with regressive barbaric other through relativism, easily normalized as diversity, like oil slick they seep through these horrendous ways with intellectual flair and come out unaffected nor moved by horrible systemic traps that sear vulnerable. More primitive, degrading and antisocial, the other, better is their chance for higher return of investment, more is the possibility of exhibiting finesse as champion of oppressed, these therefore acquire status of humanistic concern. Their standardized responses to neoliberal right vandalism only embolden the system. It also makes common people cynical and gradually lose faith in democracy (Note, Occupy Wall Street was a classic left wing movement with socialist intent that was effectively neutralized by neoliberal centre left as they sided with big corporate).             

Anything that doesn’t go with their carefully crafted narration, any transgression, is severely dealt and every attempt made to push out (‘cancel’) opposing views and dissent, they effectively use binary to polarize so as to chart out their domain. They therefore have complete control over intellectual discourse as they spread across higher echelons of educations specifically dealing with humanities (while the neoliberal right works its way through increasing insular technology field while questioning basic foundation of science…the clear cut answers, easy connections of reason that lacks complexities of subjective make technologists easy prey, while business and commerce are already subservient to the system). This is neoliberal left oligarchy. They seek socio-political influence through intellectual control of narration. They tag on to vicissitudes of neoliberal capitalism's progress as they valiantly ride the crest to deal with neoliberal right in all urgency to create a better world in the distraction.              

 

 

Social media is going rabid

 

Not that one expects nuanced discussion in social media but the way things are dealt is getting appalling. A civilized society shouldn’t really be concerned about sensitivities and cannot censor thoughts for ‘hurt feelings’ but if it is blatant call for violence then it must be dealt. Ordinary people are trapped in their situation by forces beyond their control. The system of control is where the attention needs to be. Every attempt must be made to demystify these systems. Have empathy for ordinary people and understand their context meanwhile ridicule the herd and be stringent on powerful people who control and nurture the system. 

  After the massacre there were some islamist posts in social media that celebrated these inhuman actions. What kinds of people do these things? Hopefully law and order machinery deals with it. Meanwhile hindu jingoism is running amok. There are inflammatory and demeaning things written and said about ordinary muslims –who really have nothing to do with what is happening, not denying that there some miscreants but they must be dealt under rule of law. One kind of nonsense cannot be replaced with other, and surely cannot be mopped under the ruse of nationalism. Hindutva hooligans are at the fore and must be dealt, anger is understandable not visceral hate. If you criticize and ridicule others then you must also be open for criticism and ridicule. It is not power display but basic decency if not democratic right. Probing questions and genuine concerns are being classified as anti-national and hounded. Things are not black and white, complexities must be understood, nationalism cannot be used to straight jacket discussions. For instance it is a valid, indeed important question, to ask about security lapse and intelligence failure. J&K is a UT that means its police force is controlled by MHA under Home Minister. They were aware that during holiday season there will be tourist rush, so why extra precautions not taken? This doesn’t take away the gravity of dealing with Islamic terror groups that is waiting for weakness. It also has to be understood that last few years it is the actions of government that brought in normalcy for tourism to thrive and majority of local population to actively participate in syncretic value systems and freely partake in democratic process. Hence you cannot be too critical too. There are problems ofcourse as much as common people face across the country.

Restrained and targeted

 

After horrifying Islamic terror attack against innocent tourists –who came from different part of the country hence the magnitude of people’s anger, Indian government is left with no other option but to target terror camp across the loc that nurture terrorism and brainwash vulnerable youth. Monster mullahs –rabid dogs, are always threat to humanity and Pakistan state has failed to rein them in –indeed are used as strategic tool by Sunni state. What must be however kept in mind is that most people are decent self aware souls caught up in wrong place and are equally concerned and against these violence. Hence utmost care must be taken to restrict civilian casualty. Pakistan has foundational issues, a country, a society, based on religion creates herd and are incapable to see humanity. Its army is too radicalized and not entirely controlled by civilian authority complicating the matter. Discussion has become futile as there is no controlling authority and terror groups are nurtured as non-state players as was made amply clear in the aftermath of audacious 2008 Mumbai terror attack as Indian govt failed miserably to respond and take stringent action while Pakistan authorities feign innocence despite clear evidence.  

In the aftermath of attack in kashmir –what was essentially a massacre of hindu tourists, social media became free for all. Barbarism of Islam, and appalling mentions in ‘holy’ text, were openly dissected and ridiculed. Religion must be ridiculed, and Islam surely has problems aligning with civilized norms. But to confine this to only Islam is problematic. As the occasion presents same enthusiasm must be shown in future to bring out barbarian values of Hinduism, and its deep disconnect with humanity must be eviscerated. Meanwhile beware of western narrators –specifically british eloi's religiophilia (compulsive islamophilia of sunni variety, and normalizing caste cannibals who now position as diversity- beleaguered, while cleverly replacing blacks), these are worst kind of people who use common people to fill their moral ethical gaps. These lazy narration controllers have exaggerated presence due to colonialism facilitated reach and feudal consolidation. Also note the reason for such heartbreaking situation in kashmir is also due to irresponsible self centred divisive politicians who ruled for last 70years, and used colonial template to keep the place ghettoized to showcase their moral high grounds at the expense of common people.   

War is the last tool and indicates breakdown of humanity, hopefully this doesn’t spiral into full fledged war and is contained to target terror groups. Hindutva nationalism belligerence must be restrained. India has support of international community as Pakistan has failed to control terror outfits. The onus is also on Pakistan to be responsible. Peace cannot be at the expense of lives of common people. Those days of manipulating narration of common people as collateral for bigger cause is over.  

The other day I was reading a short story by Luigi Pirandello titled War –a story written in early 20^th century (I recently got a book that has best of short stories from this period, all these years I was keen on short stories from 1960 onwards except maybe few masters. This is the case for movies too). War is a two page story that is executed with skilful dexterity and so much empathy that leaves you stunned. Unlike stories I prefer, with deep underlying loops and unstated patterns that wrench into reality, this one is plainly worked so that it is deceptive while deeply moving when you least expect. I also favor less of interactions and more of silence created complex ambience to work the rest. This story has interactions of simple people caught up in extraordinary situation, not of their making, as they cling to one they love very much aware that this going to end badly. Set during WW1 it is about Italian families in a train to see off their son/sons/relatives to the war front. Grim discussion ensues as to what is great suffering –those with one child or those with multiple children at risk? While some share stories of horror at the front. A man who lost his son argues that children belong to the nation and not to their parents and that young men willingly die for their country. This stoic patriotism of the man who lost his son stuns a middle aged woman who is grief stricken for her only son and who hadn’t spoken so far. She starts to question her own sorrow as selfishness. “Then suddenly, just as if she had heard nothing of what had been said and almost as if waking up from a dream, she turned to the old man, asking him: 'Then …is your son really dead?'. Everybody stared at her. The old man, too, turned to look at her, fixing his great, bulging, horribly watery gray eyes, deep in her face. For some time he tried to answer, but words failed him. He looked and looked at her, almost as if only then –at that silly, incongruous question –he had suddenly realized at least that his son was really dead –gone for ever –for ever. His face contracted, became horrible distorted, then he snatched in haste a handkerchief from his pocket and, to the amazement of everyone, broke into harrowing, heart rending, uncontrollable sobs.” What a wonderful writer.        

It is a story stripped of traditional-cultural-religious compulsions (what I strongly detest, and indeed demean the human experience, with low skilled compromised writers these are fertile sinkholes incapacitated to redeem humanity but to cleverly use as an opportunity to gather attention –they write for audience) or maybe all these quantified in metaphor of state, and speaks to predicaments of being a human in bleakest of times as death looms. The surprising level of empathy it brings out and an ability to connect to the suffering soul left me deeply distressed and aware. Brought up in cheap sentimental entertainments and tawdry crude sensibilities of Indian mainstream, it took me lot of time and effort to shrug these from my being and create evolved framework of aesthetics and nuanced outlook –it is a work in progress and I do sometimes fall into base. So even though this writer uses emotions it doesn’t slip into sentimental cringe, it carries the dignity of life, not defiance but realization of fragility. It is high art at display with deft use of words, not only a profound understanding of human condition but a deep felt empathy and anguish for humanity that is rare. 

An exceedingly nice man

 

Withering wonder

(where did hoopoe go?)

Be still

Look

Listen

Look carefully

Listen very carefully

All that you hear, see

Eavesdropped conversations, frozen actions

Pattern that spins life

Symmetry that awakens soul

Close your eyes

Soak it in your memory

Cradle it in your being

Feel it pulse out into the darkness

Say a quivering prayer

For the fading calls

Disappearing sights

Departing lives

Flickering light you hold onto