Followings the trails of pani chors….

Sometime back I was in Tamil Nadu on the trail of water thieves- pani chors as they known in North India. The visit to Kaladera, Rajasthan and Plachimada, Kerala (in here they are referred to as kolayali cola) few years back was send across to Crude Woman who dutifully communicated it to others- small pat for her. The copy of which is posted in Link: My blog ( www.sdepalan.blogspot.com). On my recent tour to Tamil Nadu I visited two sites of crime:

At Padathur in Shivganga District, Tamil Nadu :
Padathur is small village around 10Kms from the Shivganga district HQs, it is also an hour and half’s drive in Bus from the famous temple town Madurai. Padathur is a quiet little hamlet with some very poor people; there are bricked as well as thatched houses. The place is known for a sugar factory- Sakthi Sugar Mills. The village has a small temple at its entrance with a penchant for bells….it is possible that Gods here favor the offerings of bells or is it that people have decided among themselves that Gods are pleased with offering of bells?. There sure must be an interesting story here. As it was mid noon, quite hot and sultry I didn’t really find any one around (except one who was sleeping under the tree, there were also some shops near by) to ask these, further I had got this infection -conjunctivitis and my eyes were burning so I didn’t want to spend too much time here. Puduthur is a very unlikely place for any action. Sakthi Sugar Mill is 3kms interior and decided to walk the distance- as public transport are once in an hour, every few minute sugarcane laden truck headed towards the Mill. Later I happen to interact with a farmer who had come to sell his truck load of sugarcane- he treated me to a tea and dry peas ‘because I was the guest he the host’ he said. He refused to be photographed. He mentioned that sugar was sold to mill at the rate of 1050Rs per ton. That’s like one Rupee a Kg!!. Which I thought was less. But he was quite satisfied with the price “a good quality cane will weigh a Kg…one rupee is not much but ok” he clarified. I also congratulated myself for managing a conversation in Tamil, a language I was speaking after quite a long time. The road to the mill was well tarred for an impoverished village, clearly it was meant for the mill. The main occupation of the people seems to be collecting water -the activity people engaged in, even in the hot sun. People had to walk a distance to collect water as you can see from the snaps. Although the land is basically arid and dry, one spot on the way was green and cultivating sugarcane- a crop one knows is a water intensive. This was peculiar and I saw hose supplying enough water and some villagers crowding to collect water. This inequity is not surprising since Tamil Nadu despite its Dravidian upheaval, Justice movements in early last century has remained quite a feudal society and sometimes violently casteist. Tamilians as I see are one of the most hardworking people but mostly exploited. These are the kinds of place where Cocacola-Pepsi can easily tighten their strangle. In recent times there has been attempt by Cocacola-Pepsi to not be seen as exploiter the reason why they outsourced the sucking of ground water to Sakthi mills. There was a huge offer to Sakthi mills. I spend sometime interacting with the lady who runs a tea shop opposite the mill. She has been running it for last 19 years (or was it 29 years?) from the time the mill had started. The property around her has been bought by the mill, they offered her some money to vacate but she refused. One of her conditions was that her son should be given permanent job at the mill. She earns around 1000Rs per month from the shop which she is better than what casual labours are paid in the mill -around 65Rs for men and 55Rs for women, for a day of backbreaking work.
The Cocacola-Pepsi outsourced water sucking for a month or so (as a trial run) at the rate of 75,000litres a day, but by then people became aware of the mischief. The villagers went on dharna and peace marches, most of the people of village participated, in particular the school children. Unlike at Plachimada in Kerala where the simmering resentment among the local people manifested itself as an angry protest only three years after the bottling plant began operations, the agitation here was a in a way pre-emptive one. It was alleged that the unit had plans to dig borewells up to a depth of 3,000 feet (900 metres) on the Vaigai riverbed, besides using the unutilised part of the quantum of water permitted (49 lakh litres a day) specifically for industrial use by the sugar mill. The plans would have affected the water supply to Sivaganga, Manamadurai and Thiruppuvanam towns and about 80 villages covered by the Comprehensive Drinking Water Supply Scheme, the requirements of which are now met by water from the Vaigai riverbed. The scheme covers more than 3.5 lakh people. Exposed to acute drought conditions for several years, the people of the district, particularly in the villages, have had little access to water. Finally the Cocacola-Pepsi had to pack their bag and run. A case of successful campaign by the villagers.

At Gangaikondan in Thirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu:
Thirunelveli is a district located in south of Tamil Nadu state not far from western ghat mountain range. Tamiraparani is the river which flows through the region. Gangaikondan is around half an hour from Thirunelveli District HQ. As I got down from the bus at Gangaikondan the first thing which struck me was the place had a very plane surface with shrubs- very few trees or plants, found only in patches. This is Mars!!. I was told that Coca cola plant was located 4km inside. It is interesting since the Cocacola-Pepsi had made sure that their name is nowhere in the scene and have outsourced the sucking business to very tame sounding South India Bottling Company Ltd (SIBCL, almost a Public sector !! So cute). This funny statement of J. Ramamoorthy, SIBCL's executive director, I came across "We're not Coca-Cola. We're a franchisee. It is totally South Indian owned, and we're bringing in the money. Coca-Cola will merely provide the technology,". Wow. But the people when I asked about where this Company-SIBCL, was located showed ignorance only when I referred coca cola did they recognize!!. Since Cocacola-Pepsi was located in uninhabited surrounding (see in the photos the white spot as you approach that is Coke Pepsi factory!!!) I decided to take an Auto. As you approach the plant you cannot but think it as some alien spaceship!!. I read in a website about how people in this region stumble upon Coke factory, it is quite funny. "I literally stumbled upon the construction when I went looking for my cows," says S. Elosius, a resident of Thuraiyoor. "Here's a company set a kilometer off the road. Even when it's fully constructed, people can't see it," he says. "How can it be that it is the area's largest investment, and I come to know of it only by accident two months after construction has begun?". Local residents and public interest organizations say there is undue secrecy surrounding the project. Dr. R. Murugesan, a professor and district vice president of the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, has strong words about government agencies. "It is not possible to find out anything relevant about the project beyond what little information the company has made available. The Pollution Control Board and the District Collector are against public interest. The Collector claims he knows nothing. But we hear that heavyweights in the ruling party are backing the project," he says (statements taken from the Net). The little information I could gather was that the unit covers an area of around 32 acres inside the SIPCOT complex, spread over an area of 2,500 acres in Gangaikondan. The lease period for companies coming up in the complex is 99 years. SIPCOT can draw upto 45 lakh litres per day . The coke unit alone willget 5 lakh litres everyday (there is however confusion regarding this with contradictory claims). The water will be drawn from theTamiraparani river in Seevalaperi, some 14 km from the site. There is something more to it, as I was going through the web sites a pattern I was quite familiar with emerged. The plant is in a depression in an area fed by the Semboothu springs. Groundwater quality in the area is excellent. Parameters such as chloride and hardness are well within permissible levels. If groundwater is used for bottling, purification costs would be very low. Further there only two other industries located on this industrial estate all 2,000 acres of it are empty otherwise!!!.

The reason why the industrial estate is empty is in the socio-historical nature of the place. These information I found in the Net: Residents of the Manur Panchayat Union, within which Gangaikondan village falls, are predominantly Pallars, a Dalit (former untouchable) caste. The Dalit uprising of the 1990s saw scores settled for centuries-old oppression - primarily with the upper caste Thevars. P. Kirupairaj, a member of Puthiya Thamizhagam - a Dalit political party led by Dr. K. Krishnaswamy - explains the dilemma that Pallar residents face. "The reason why some people support the project is probably because it's been 15 years since SIPCOT started and there have been no takers. Some people feel that this area is being neglected because we're Pallars, and that it is unwise to oppose the first company that comes here. People feel that resistance is futile; that all this is fated and that we don't really have a choice." Kirupairaj however is quick to point out the fallacy in the belief that locals really don't have a choice. "We have won significant victories in our struggle against discrimination. It is known that when we (Pallars) set our minds on something, we persist till we win. We have to make our people aware of the potential benefits and the dangers. Even now, we're not opposing all projects. Only projects like Coca-Cola that pose a threat to our water resources," he says. Quite remarkable these statements considering the socio-economical conditions in which they live.
Lets now look at the events folded since the Cocacola-Pepsi landed here. When Coke first approached Gangaikondan Panchayat President Kamsan for approval, he granted it (don’t be shocked by the name, anti-brahmanical names are very popular in Tamil nadu). He said he had granted permission as the company had all the necessary government approvals. He had not seen the allotted plot or read any of the material that the South India Bottling Company Limited had given him. When the local resistance to the company gathered momentum, Kamsan cancelled the permission given to the South India Bottling Company Limited and also passed a resolution in the panchayat to that effect. Later that day, he passed another resolution giving the South India Bottling Company Limited permission again!!!!. When local reporters grilled him, he alleged thathad powerful people had threatened him over the telephone. Within few days of this incidence Kamsan died in suspicious circumstances. Most of the people whom I interacted are very clear on who killed Kamsan: ‘’it’s the people at the Coca cola’’. Offcourse this will never be proved, they have enough money and clout.
On Republic Day this year, gram sabha meetings -- which all villagers attend, as opposed to panchayat meetings, in which just the ward members and the panchayat president are present -- were held all over Tamil Nadu. At the Gangaikondan Gram Sabha meeting, a resolution was passed to cancel the license given to the South India Bottling Company Limited plant. The Manur Block Union -- which includes the Gangaikondan Panchayat -- was convened under heavy police cover. It approved the license given to the plant. Thus, the gram sabha verdict stood nullified. So although majority of people were against coke the Block Union which involves fewer people passed the resolution, quite democratically one must add. The apprehensions of the people did find echo in here too. "We don't know the full details of the project. This is the first big investment in our region. We can't reject the first investment that comes our way. We need the jobs," says A. Rajesh Babu, an elected councilor in Manur Panchayat union (from the Net). A section of local residents, particularly elected members of local governments have extended their support to the company. They argue that the company will bring much-needed jobs and boost the local economy. Company spokespersons go one step further to say that if the company runs into trouble here, other investors will refuse to set up in Gangaikondan. Ironically, the veiled threat of economic "untouchability" or a flight of capitalists comes less than a decade after Gangaikondan and nearby villages witnessed a three-year spate of bloody caste violence in the mid-1990s to end the practice of untouchability. Gangaikondan's fear of becoming "economically untouchable" seems to be one of several issues clouding what may be genuine concerns about the impact of a project that extensively uses local water resources (from the Net).
However in last year or so protests by locals have gathered momentum. Many local residents, political parties and environmentalists have raised concerns that the water-intensive plant will deplete and contaminate groundwater, and draw from Tamiraparani river that cannot fully meet even drinking water and agricultural needs of local communities. Local farmers are angry at even that amount of water being taken away from them. Various political parties as well as a broad range of groups, such as the South Tamilnadu Merchants Association and the Tamilnadu Government Employees Association participated in a rally, indicative of the growing discontent over Coca-Cola's operations in India. Interestingly a delegation from Gangaikondan visited Plachimada in early August 2005.
The argument of those opposing the project, like other places I visited, has to do with the fact that drinking water and agricultural requirements are not currently being met by the water allocations from Tamiraparani River. "Charity begins at home," says S. Sunderaraja Perumal, president of the District Congress Committee Tirunelveli (Urban). "Within the Tirunelveli corporation limit, there are four to five places where people take to the streets because they get no water or insufficient water. They are all Scheduled Caste (Dalit) people, some of whom live within 30 meters of the river. How can you take water for Coca-Cola when you haven't even provided drinking water to your population?" the Congress leader questions (taken from the Net). Perumal says he is not opposed to drawing Tamiraparani water for drinking purposes. "They're taking water for drinking water needs in Kovilpatti, Sankaran Koil. We're not opposed to that. But water cannot be put on sale to a company that uses water as the raw material and sells water as a product. 500,000 liters of water can comfortably take care of the water needs of 5000 people within Tirunelveli town," he says. R. Krishnan, a member of the Communist Party (Marxist) and former member of the state legislature, echoes Perumal's sentiment: "The difference is that this company is treating water as a raw material and selling it. That is wrong. SIPCOT's 4.5 million liter requirement is for the basic needs of industries that will come up in the industrial estate. Earmarking 10 percent of the total water intake for one company that occupies just 31 acres of a 2000-acre industrial estate is ridiculous." (taken from the Net).
While returning I had a cup of tea at a shop opposite the industrial estate. He was busy as a group of people had just ordered tea. What he manage to say was “people are against Coca Cola”. On the bus an elderly man smiled from the crowd. He was around 55 to 60 years and not wearing much cloth, a torn blue banyan, chek mundu and a plastic bag. He had a sturdy short body and a great smile. “ oongalle standill patha chu……(translate) I saw you at the auto rickshaw stand. You wanted to go to coca cola?.....did you go?” he asked. I nodded.
“I used to work at coca cola….”.
“Why you left the job” I asked.
“They gave only 70Rs per day now I work at a place where I get 100Rs and much less work” was his reply.
This is surely a statement on claims of employment generation by Cocacola-Pepsi (we know how bogus it is…meant to divide people). Further what is the cost of natural resources they steal??. While getting down the man informed with an endearing smile that his name was Kasumuthu (money boy literally!!) and I could call him for any job I needed him for. I wanted to take his photograph but it was too crowded and secondly I rarely take photos of the people on their face. I am very uncomfortable about it….it feels like objectifying people. While they speak I surreptitiously take out camera and click, almost an apology!!. They see it and laugh. I guess mobile phone cams are least intrusive, I am thinking of saving some money and buying one!!. Coming back to Kasumuthu he reminded me of Nanook of North!! (the legendary Robert Flaherty’s classic silent movie of 1922). The only difference being that he lives in surroundings where technological benefits are available unlike Nanook . But his life is still as tough as Nanook of North. Kasumuthu is Nanook of South!! At 60 odd age that is a real wrenching life. Thande ka thadka.

Remembering Stanley Kunitz on his birth anniversary….

I haven’t read Stanley Kunitz before, only few months back after he expired. And I have become huge admirer of his poems I happen to read from the Net and downloaded to my computer. I liked these lines he said in an interview:

"Poetry is ultimately mythology, the telling of stories of the soul. The old myths, the old gods, the old heroes have never died. They are only sleeping at the bottom of our minds, waiting for our call. We have need of them, for in their sum they epitomize the wisdom and experience of the race."

These lines from his poem “The Long Boat” as a remembrance….

Peace! Peace!
To be rocked by the Infinite!
As if it didn't matter
which way was home;
as if he didn't know
he loved the earth so much
he wanted to stay forever.

Sea is Watching....

Sea is watching

When the powerful of the world
for a penny more
do more harm than good.
When learned words concocts lies
and wrong of their few undone by fabrications
of their few.
The cacophony of development
swallow the last gasps of trees,
the rivers, and sky.
The wary sun sets in the west
with a sigh
not heard by many.

Till a day
when sun catches fire
and all countings done by the sea.


Post Script: Sea is watching is also the name of the Japanese movie, the last by Akira Kurosawa as a writer. The DVD of which is in my collection- also includes Godard, Bergman, Fellini, Kubrick, Makhmalbaf, Kieslowski, Bresson, Truffaut…….it is difficult to get these and have spend hours wading crowded and sweaty shops, it's worth it though. Either it should be these great Directors (these not part of Hollywood except Kubrick, who is rare. I do like Speilberg and Lucas movies) or I am very much into Animation. Other genre I prefer is Detective like Pierot (Monsieur!!) series, Bond (The name is Bond…James Bond!), also have almost all of Hitchcock- even his b&w TV series!. The great thing about having a DVD is you decide what to watch and when.

Mischievous media..

If there are no conclusive evidences on Mumbai blasts then people (meaning police and investigating government officials) should keep shut. We common people in this country are not here to listen to nonsense in the name of speculations and allegations. We want to see how much competent you are. Tell me why CCTV never installed in railway stations or for that matter in public places wherein people gather??. They recently inaugurated Metro trains in capital city Delhi with big fanfare, does security concern not part of the constructions, these cameras cost one millionth of the cost involved but since it is common people who die they are not bothered. Even though they had clear intelligence input on terrorist attack they didn’t take much precaution. In London blasts CCTV played a major role. I am sure the security agencies were aware of these but they found no reason to strengthen safety measure here. Very competent indeed. Mumbai local train and commuters were sitting duck. Now they are busy conducting raids…..no comments. But if they find nothing I will surely comment. Giving sleepless night to people for one’s own incompetence is not investigation nor delaying flights and trains as a reason for heightened security. One TV channel showed how easy it is to get into metro trains without any checks. Who is responsible for these lapses??. And now they are leaking through media about investigating phone calls to Pakistan made minutes before the blasts- it seems they have narrowed some 35 calls, one even made 30secs after the blasts. Wow. Then they say it is SIMI (where is the evidence?. If no evidence then it is a cheap act, a mischief). Then a politician with an eye on forthcoming election and his ‘Muslim vote bank’ comes out and says it is not true (how does he know it is not true??. The investigation is not complete yet!!). It has become a game for political elite. How great!!. Action need be taken on the officials who ‘leak’ such information. By revealing procedure used on investigation you cannot blame a set of people or a country. They are attempting to orient what they ‘feel’ is the truth or lets say what some people want to be true. Unfortunately ‘feeling’ have no significance here we need facts and evidences. That comes through meticulous investigations. One TV channel even has ‘exclusive revelations’ by ‘high government official’ on involvement of Pakistan!!. Such mischief. I think they have this mindset that people will take any nonsense….well some people may but the Courts don’t nor do international community. Come out say it in public with evidences if you dare.

Some fun from serious stuff (not undermining the tragedy though): Actually we should be grateful to these terrorists that they are not causing more devastation which they can easily do. When there was attack on USA in 9/11 the joke doing the round in India was that this can never happen in here since such meticulous planning doesn’t work as nothing runs on time here!!!. The terrorists will get so worked up waiting for the Train to come or flight to take off that they will suicide in frustration with appalling transportation system!!. But Mumbai locals are extremely efficient, the reason why such a dastardly act worked. I guess we can handle sometimes appalling transportation system (most trains do run on time these days) but what we cannot tolerate is incompetence, apathy of security agencies and their lackadaisical understanding of measures to be taken in crowded and vulnerable places. I am told Union Home Ministry is also into deciding who to be given Padma awards!!!. So dude who is to get Padma bhushan this year!!. There are too many people squatting around the power centers. How about our Joker??!!. It takes lots of courage running from one TV studio to another!!!!. Geeeeeez. Give us a break some one

Learn to keep your mouth shut Mister Kasuri

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan should learn when and where to open his mouth. He and his goddamn ‘core issue’ daal can be fried later. By making such statements the Pakistan Government it seems has condoned the despicable acts. As far as most people in the world are concerned the ‘core issue’ is: When will Democracy return in Pakistan?. The military captured the power in this country almost 5 years back. The people don’t even have the right to decide who should rule them. And this fellow has the audacity to speak about other people. I want to know who gave him the power to be the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Forget people in Kashmir he doesn’t even have the right to speak about (or represent) the people of Pakistan. The common people in Pakistan have not decided him to be their representative. Power thief Gen. Mushraff is still clinging to President’s office mainly because of the looming terrorist threat in western countries. And since Pakistan is a ‘frontier state’ West (in particular USA) needs him and so keep him in a good humour (quite difficult that one considering denizens in Army have very limited sense of humour!!). He is been seen as ‘modern’, I guess it has more to do with the western attire he wears making him less scary than any Mullah. Mushraff is the kind of guy West can deal, or so he has successfully projected himself. At the end of the day he is just a military dictator whatever cosmetic effort done. Offcourse one need add in case of free elections the chances of far right winning is a distinct possibility. So his is a ‘lesser devil’ card. The West (and even India) has indulged him for long for these reasons. It doesn’t mean they cross the line. These views of ‘Foreign Minister’ Kasuri are very provocative. How about someone responsible in India saying after, say a bomb blast in Lahore (god forbid) wherein hundreds die that this has to do with military dictator rule and since we in India are democratic we want them to be a democratic??. Off course such irresponsible things may not be expected from India due to effective checks and balances. There is an open media here; there are political parties to question and so on. Recent gagging and killing of media persons in Pakistan is not unknown to world. The ‘core issue’ at this point in front of the world is the early return of democracy in Pakistan. The ‘core issue’ is allowing dissident political leaders of Pakistan (like Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Shariff) back in the country without threat of prosecution or physical harm from the authority of the presiding Dictator. The ‘core issue’ is also insuring free and fair Media for the people of Pakistan.

The India Government’s foreign policies has been to a large extend dictated by North Indian centric people (they say at one point Indian foreign service suffered from MENONgites!!. But the fact is Delhi is in North India and is very much influenced by overwhelming Punjabi type crowd, many have seen partition ….and they have their counterpart in Pakistan….its quite a get together. Same culture, same food habits and so on). India however is too big a country. Pakistan is an important neighbor no doubt but just because Delhi is located in North (therefore the ‘national media’) is not the reason why Pakistan to be taken as most important. In South particularly Tamil Nadu and Kerala States are more concerned with happenings in Sri lanka and south- east Asia like Malaysia and Indonesia (as for keralites they are more concerned about even small events in gulf countries like Kuwait or Saudi or UAE). Uttar Pradesh and Bihar State are more concerned about happenings in Nepal. West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura States are very much concerned about happenings in Bangladesh. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are inclined towards happenings in China (if you read ‘Argumentative Indian’-Amartya Sen, there are chapters on India-China historical and cultural contacts). Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram States are into Myanmar. Such a huge country and because of some people in Delhi the whole country it seems to seeing only Pakistan. There is a need to bring back the perspective to match wholeness of this country and its varied people. Evidently the leaders of major political parties and the honchos in media are not equipped for such responsibilities.

.

Terrible acts..

It’s extremely painful to see bodies strewn around the tracks. It could be any one of us. We strongly condemn these acts of terrorism. Mumbaites are resilient people and one is sure they will come out of these wanton acts stronger. We salute them for their bravery. It is important not be carried away by jingoism or any other attempts on communalism. Terrorism has no religion or State (it need be pointed very strongly that common people in other countries, say Pakistan are as much insecure and susceptible to acts of terrorism as we are here). Also before pointing finger to any country it’s important to have full details. It is cowardice to blame others for our own security lapses. It is also equally an act of cowardice and crime against humanity for any other country to abet such acts. It need be also kept in mind that few people in a society creating problem shouldn’t be the reason for entire society, community or country to be blamed. That will be most tragic. The acts of terrorism shouldn’t be allowed to be deviated into vendetta against a community or country. We should all pledge not allow any devisive force to capitalise the tragedy and cause more mayhem. The situation is very fragile indeed.

One also has serious apprehension on security (investigative) agencies. One is reminded of the bomb blasts in Delhi at paharganj recently, wherein a foreigner expressed his surprise and shock that the area has not been cordoned off. There seem to be no crack group to handle such disasters. Also even after half an hour after the blast (as I write these) no ambulances nor any sort of medical help has arrived. It is common people who are again coming to help. The security force has not taken over the area and cordon it from people, despite the fact that TV have reached there within few minutes. This is precisely the problem, then they start allegations that cannot be sustained in the court of law or the international community. In many cases those who are arrested are let off by the court for want of evidence. Every such acts points not only to intelligence lapse but also to the failure of the disaster management group. As a common person on the street I strongly feel that modernization is needed. A crack team should reach the spot within few minutes; indeed like many other countries we need helicopter and other modern services. The way these situations are now dealt is very primitive to say the least.
My heart goes out to the people who lost their life in these senseless acts as also people who are injured. We are with them. This act is strongly condemned and we want guilty to be punished immediately. That is not asking for too much, considering the track record of investigating agencies maybe it is.

Gods very own country

A tradition or custom which degrades humans and undermines nature is not worth it and should be shunned. The recent controversy on Sabarimala is no different. The claim that women of certain age are impure and therefore not allowed definitely goes against the values of humanity as also anti-constitutional, against the law. The women who do go to these temples should be congratulated. Having gone to sabarimala you very well know it is quite impossible to reach the statue, it’s too far and too in. The kannada actress concerned is not bound to answer anyone. The kerala government should answer why public money is being wasted on setting up ‘enquiries’. The ‘enquiry’ needs to be set up to find who are the people who become priests and what gives them right to be one? Also why ‘non Hindus’ not allowed in Kerala temples? How do you define Hindus? How a ‘Hindu’ is different from ‘non Hindu’?….well Nazis atleast had reason like shape of the nose, length of cheek and other path breaking criteria. Where in Vedas, Upanishads or Bhagavad Gita it is mentioned ‘who is a Hindu and who is non Hindu’? I also want to know from these ‘wise men’ at what stage an ‘Atman a Hindu and non Hindu’?
In the contemporary world ‘Brahman’ means thugs and some slimy creatures who make living out of temples. But in the puranas it says when you know atman, your inner self you also know the heart of universe, that is Brahman, the ‘inner self’ of all creature. One of the scripture mentions it thus:

The spirit within me is smaller than a mustard seed.
The spirit within me is greater than this earth and
Sky and the heaven and all this united is Brahman.

The knowledge of these makes him or her a Brahmin. Not that when my grandfather used to fart or belch with his threaded potbelly, it used to heave and so I too a Brahmin and so I can lick inside the temple (plz don’t pardon me for the language used…it’s my pleasure!!). The ordinary temple going Hindus don’t give a damn about these ‘rules’ and many a times are pained by these rules of exclusion. Apart from famous examples of Yesudas, Indira Gandhi and so on there are many examples at personal level for most of us. Like some years back I was in north kerala-Malabar, and there was this fellow who had married a foreigner in USA and wanted to solemnize it through Hindu tradition in his favorite temple but was stopped at the entrance since she was ‘not Hindu’. Ofcourse her ‘non Hindu’ status was more to do with her colour of her skin. That in civilized societies is referred to as racism. Quite peculiarly in some temples in say Cochin they had no problem-long back I had gone with some foreigners and I told them to put chandana puttu (sandalwood paste)…that made them Hindu. I was apprehensive but it did work!!.( incidentally these foreigners ask too many questions on Hinduism they generally have an exotic view and yes I catered to that exceedingly well…its about free food-not asking but making them give, and generally having nice time talking to foreigners on beaches. For last few years I lost interest in such occupations). So the rules of temples are generally decided by these thugs on their fancy. I don’t think we need to tolerate their idiosyncrasies nor is there any need to indulge them. It is time up for these scoundrels. It is these Brahmanical thugs who have wriggled into temples, who create problems to common people for sake of maintaining their self importance. The reason of removing shirt in temples is not about being equal in front of God as is being circulated; it’s about seeing who is threaded. Why not remove that dirty grimy thread also from that potbelly body? Any takers? First they didn’t want "untouchables" to be in since they are impure, having lost they have extended it to other things. It’s a shame. These thugs who are running the temples should be kicked out. Further public need to know where their money-they give it as offering to god, is going. As people give money to the temple for spiritual-egalitarian reasons it need be spend as such like on orphanage, education of poor and so on. The money is not for ‘maintenance’ of thugs inside the temples….we are not responsible for them and they shouldn’t make a living on the faith of ordinary people. On the contrary these scoundrels owe apology to the society….what apology they should be arrested. Talking of Ayyappan temple in sabarimala and it’s need for godforsaken ‘purity’; what about many Ayyappan temple all over the country? Further the argument that there are also women’s only temples in kerala is quite out of context in this discussion on ‘how religious elite perceive gender’ since the reason why men are not allowed is not about men being impure, in some case it is about safeguarding the family.

Ah, vain are words, and weak all mortal thoughts!
Who is there truly knows, and who can say,
Whence this unfathomed world, and from what causes?
Nay, even the gods were not! Who, then, can know?

The source from which this universe hath sprung,
That source, and that alone, can bear it up-
None else: THAT, THAT alone, lord of the worlds,
In its own self contained, immaculate
As are the heaves, above, THAT alone knows
The truth of what itself hath made-none else!
(Hymn of creation: Rig Veda)

One thing I really like about Hinduism is respect accorded to trees and other living creature (the condition of cows and animals are appalling in many cities. People do feel bad about these. But they really are not in a position to do anything except maybe to feel pity). The cows in metros are like portable temple. In my neighborhood where I used to stay sometime back this cow used to come everyday morning to this house on its on and say mow mow and the lady inside would shout aayee and give her rotis and then pray….so no need to go to temple!!. But sadly cows are turning out to be portable automatic garbage disposal unit. I have also seen many elderly people during morning walk feeding ants! Many trees in crowded cities were saved because of the sacred value attached to it. And most temples all over India have trees, particularly true where snakes are worshipped; in places like kerala temples give space for a complete ecosystem to thrive. Temples here are few unobtrusive stony structures, where you can do your own small conversation with the god unhindered by rituals. This is religion at its best. Some intellectual morons do refer to these as ‘animistic’ traditions in a tone that is demeaning. Fools when read more books don’t become wise, clever maybe.

These snaps of trees taken from many part the country ranging from Shantiniketan to Trivandrum. Guess why they were saved from the axe of ‘development’?

So beautiful these lines from ‘Hymn of creation’ (Rig Veda)….its incredible that these were written more than 5000 years back (some would say 10,000 years). Just brilliant. It gives feel of milky way.

Existence was not, nor its opposite,
Nor earth, nor heaven’s blue vault, nor aught beyond.
Death was not yet, nor deathlessness; the day
Was night, night day, for neither day nor night
Had come to birth.
Then THAT, the primal fount
Of light—immobile--rest and action joined--
Brooded in silent bliss. Itself beside,
In the wide universe there nothing was.

So according to ancient holy scriptures GOD was not HE or SHE. GOD was THAT.

Wow what a game !!

Italy deservedly won against Germany. The last two goals were spectacular. Just when you thought this was going to end in another penalty shoot out….bang comes the surprise not one but two. Wow.
France also played well but Portugal was tough to beat. One is skeptical of the way the penalties are awarded. It spoils the game. Agreeing that ‘human element’ in umpiring is to be maintained but one feels that penalty foul could be brought under technology. It becomes unfair otherwise.

So it is going to be Italy Vs France …..when it comes to European teams I am neutral…choosing favorites as the game proceeds. I am a big fan of Latin American football. No goal could beat the Argentinean one. It was well planned and brilliantly executed.

Remember the truth

Recently LTTE asked Indian government to forget the past. Forgetting the past is the most dangerous malaise we face in the contemporary world. The memories of atrocities shouldn’t be allowed to be forgotten. That will be most tragic. Remembering the past is the most crucial thing for healthy development of society. When we forget History, it tends to repeat itself. And when it repeats it is more vicious. It takes revenge on our memories, mocking our future. Forgetting is crueler than cruelty itself. This is what these people want; to forget the past. Forgetting makes cruelty thrive. Memories are needed for constant reminder and vigilance. It is also important to pass on these memories to the next generation so as to make them understand the threats we face. Also understanding the past in present context is equally important.
There is always an attempt to obfuscate the truth by introducing an element of ambiguity. Like ‘how do we know what is true?’ or ‘we cannot be sure’. These questions make sense when directed as metaphysical queries but not otherwise (in science the truth is included as what Darwin referred as ‘providential truth’. This helps people to be grounded). It is a dangerous attempt to deny truth for narrow gains of elite. And many in print media columns and TV studios do bring these as alternative world view and hence the attempt for ‘balanced’ approach (and wriggling space for some Jokers). Future is very much dependent on fragility of the past. You miss it you will break it.

Remember the Truth

We remember them
colonizing people, dividing places, bartering faith.
Killing Jews, and Muslims, and Hindus
and Christians, and Buddhists, and children, and infirm.
Yes we remember.

We remember them
gassing people in Auschwitz,
vaporizing them in Hiroshima.
Chasing with machetes and sickle
in Kigali, in Darfur, in Ahmedabad
and in lanes of other places.
Yes we remember.

We remember them
cluster bombing people with F-16s and missiles
in Baghdad, in Kabul, in Bosnia
blasting them with RDX, with land mines
in Colombo, in Jerusalem, in Palestine
and in lanes of other places.
Yes we remember.

We remember them
imprisoning Suu ki and Mandela
shooting down Gandhi, and King
and leaders who threaten
the devil which poison peoples mind with hatred
and make merry their misery.
Yes we remember.
O yah we very well remember the Truth.

Post Script: negotiations are important. And if talks with LTTE can bring peace in Sri Lanka, so be it. But forgetting is dangerous.
I have been extremely pained by the killings in Srilanka. It is so much like Kerala that it feels as if happening here, very near by. And it is nearby; Srilanka is not far from kerala. It has close historical and cultural links with kerala. Infact in mid 1940s the diwan of kerala did toy with the idea of Travancore joining Srilanka!!. I have seen many srilankan movies; sinhala has some similarity (very very sketchy though but the people and their nuances are quite similar) with Malayalam. So the bomb blasts and killings do disturb. I was pushed into happenings in srilanka quite early as many Army men (posted in pune) whom I know had gone to srilanka as part of that disastrous and ill-conceived IPKF mission (under Gen. Kalkath, if I recall correctly. Many were killed. And their children got into good professional colleges under killed-in-action quota). And after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, kerala was on high alert. And everyone was asking “so where is shivrasan?”. Almost a decade back I was so much into srilanka that I read every literature available. Essays, Novels, short stories, poems….and even got to know few artists and journalists, who had come to India (they say I do look like a srilankan!!!. Wherever I go I do like to look like the inhabitants except in North east where I am bengali, here I sometimes also morph into malayalee Christian-quite easy that one). Off course I didn’t do these for any specific purpose; it is just that I was too upset by the happening in this beautiful island that I had to know everything concerning it. There is an immediate need for genuine effort for peace in here. This is being going on for long time. Time to stop. We need new and young negotiators with open minds on both the sides. The old people tend to be stuck in their ego trap and past experience.

Now that we are in the quarter finals of FIFA it’s gone real exciting. But I do strongly feel that some countries have got into quarters wherein they didn’t deserve like Italy. Italy’s performance with Australia was unsatisfactory. While we all know what happened in Portugal Vs Netherlands, hopefully such games are not repeated. When these kinds of fouls occur one feels sorry for the players, such desperations. A game need be played within the rule that is when it is fun to watch. Spain and Czech started their matches very well. They have themselves to blame for appalling performance particularly Spain in the later half with France (anyway Zidane was spectacular. But I tell you Spain has real potential). The teams which should have been in the last 8 according to me as an audience are Australia and Ghana. Ghana gave tough time to Brazil but unfortunately their Offside trap didn’t work for them. My favorite player so far has been Cafu. He is remarkable. The best thing is that he takes the game to enjoy. He even shook the hands of referee when shown a yellow card!!!. So who it is going to be Argentina???. Brazil???. Germany??.....or do we have a surprise??.

Keep your eyes and ears open. It’s a goooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!.

ZK and threshold frequency for maximum lick…..

We always associate Einstein with E=mc2 but the reason for which he was given the Nobel Prize is Photoelectric effect, defined with an equation E=hv (wherein ‘h’ is Planck’s constant and ‘v’ or neu is frequency). This equation beautifully brings out the concept of threshold frequency. That is a frequency beyond which electrons are emitted. No photoelectric electrons are emitted if the frequency of the light falls below this threshold frequency.

It seems that ZK has got his physics right. The visa denial and later twist has given our boy enough threshold frequency to be catapulted into RS- his ultimate dream. The strategy for this maximum lick is quite simple, albeit will not strike we common people. Let me enlighten the bloggers. Einstein proposed that “a certain amount of energy would be required to release the electrons from their bonds to the metal - this energy is called the work function”. Our boy got this by working in Hindi movie industry (Hindi is national here!!!. So more ‘work function’. Ofcourse not denying that his achievements have been stupendous). Having got enough threshold he is no longer ‘attached’ and so gives extremely stupid statements and be seen with any criminals (as part of civilization dialogue, we are told!!). He can say or do any trash but still can be seen as man to reckon since as Einstein explained “the emitted electrons are now free of bonds”.

ZK has been using every conceivable occasion to criticize Pakistan in front of camera (our boy’s life begins and end in front of camera…quite exciting life I am sure!!!). Now being a Muslim automatically makes him a confirmed secularist. So an easy entry into Congress or any secularists stampeding in UDF as also our very own cricket loving- Jane Austin admirer commies. But ZK has a problem: these parties have enough Muslims and so our boy will have to stand in a long queue. And so the threshold frequency is diverted for maximum lick to the other National party, considered ‘communal’ by ‘non communal’: the BJP. Our boy started his lick from the home turf that is Shiv Sena. For sometime our joker was making the ground clear for this eventuality, one must add, with clinical precision. The untimely death of Promod Mahajan was severe bolt to our boy (Crude woman was inconsolable I am told….ofcourse not for Mr. Mahajan…what ya thought!!!). In case BJP and allies come to power in future they need poster boys from Muslim communities to show that they are not anti Muslim (incidentally Congress and allies need them to show that they are secular !!!. Quite a game this one!. Truly democratic). Their concept of poster Muslim however has a clause that is they need to be pucca Indian Muslim. Pucca Indian Muslim is a tricky thing to define. President Kalam albeit a very competent man on his own right got the green signal since he is a veggie and “is more Hindu than Hindus so a better Indian Muslim”. Phew. And as we know Mr. Mahajan’s role was detrimental (again a sob from Crude woman). This is where ZK is trying to fit in. So he can easily break the queue and be in the front row with a glee. Ofcourse breaking the queue makes him truly Indian (a delhite would be more appropriate. Having spent more than a decade in Delhi I can vouch it being a very rude city, particularly the Buses and house owners. Mumbai is nothing compared to Delhi).

Mughal-e-Azam is a movie, which ZK has nothing to do with. Even then our boy manipulated to be part of the delegation to Pakistan fully aware that they will reject his visa, rightly so. I completely support the move of Pakistan Government to deny visa to our boy. For the cancellation of programs, Indian delegation is themselve responsible, they allowed to be manipulated. The common people in Pakistan shouldn’t be denied the opportunity to watch this movie because of some mischiefs. ZKZZZZ ZK''s buffoonery (he calls it freedom of expression…surely every joker need have their day. The more we know likes of these Jokers more vermin we see) needn’t be taken to the level of Indo-Pak relations, which he so desperately wants. This serves his purpose so very well. To be rejected by Pakistan automatically upgrades him as a wonderful Indian Muslim- a tag he craves. This wonderful Indianness will definitely take him to places even Thackerey boy could never conceive. I guess this is where Dilip Kumar “failed” (His misfortune was that he was too humanist). The success of our joker is very much hinged on this hope of being the wonderful poster boy. And for that he needs Marketeers and media on his side. Now a martyr by being rejected by Pakistan is how our Joker has got a life. I repeat E =hv is the reason why Einstein received Nobel Prize and not E =mc2 as believed by many. Meaning just F**k off.

coke pepsi threat on freedom of expression....

This a billboard in chennai two years back for which the Coke threatened the photographer and creator Mr Sharad Haksar of this sensitive portrayal of peoples misery. Such audicity. The other part of the joke is Coke wanted an unconditional apology!!. If i have some money believe me i will do my best to pack up Coca cola pepsi from face of the earth (more than what i have been doing and will do with limited resource). The exploitative and some racist products are on the their last gasp. Abhibi moka hai sudhar jao. Bora bisthra lapetto aur nikalthe bano. I again request the government to take needy action. Complacency on these matters will be detrimental. The people in power will have lots to explain in the coming years.

This a response by reader on an article by P.Sainath (visit http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/may/psa-thirst.htm) .........Recently I travelled to Pavagada and had to cross the border town Madakasira in Andhra Pradesh. Miles together there are stretches indicating desertification of the area. Whereever the bus halts, one can only see the brown streches of dry soil but at the same time bright red crates of Coke. You ask for water and you would be shown only dry handpumps and no drop of it anywhere but loads of crates of Coke. They have even got blocks of ice for serving it chilled and the ice is replenished every couple of hours by the distributor as there is no regular power supply in these villages. A day is not far that the poor villages may be rationed with a Coke a day as the public water supplies are plundered and failed due the stealing of public wealth by the "rent seeking public servants and the rent doling global corporations''.

Raja Ravi Verma it is !

I am very much an admirer of Ravi Verma paintings. It didn’t surprise me that the Gods we prayed and the beautiful pictures we saw on the calendars were drawn by Ravi Verma. I particularly remember the picture of Saraswati, who was my personal favorite Goddess. We had a separate prayer for Goddess Saraswati….well she was the goddess of knowledge! Ravi Verma was an international figure. Sometime back I also read the criticism that his paintings were responsible for brahmanisation of gods…..that is they were now properly clothed and so conservatism in depicting gods was initiated. Whatever maybe the criticism I find the gods in Ravi Verma paintings extremely appealing. Ravi Verma also depicted scenes from Purunas and his paintings were spectacular in its detail. I always have atleast one miniature copy of Ravi verma painting pasted on my room wall. 

Talking of my tryst with religion I rebelled out in my teens. Our home was also Bala Vihar for Geethapadam in Thiruvanathapuram on Sundays; I used to be missing on these occasions.

I find lots of difference between south Indian (particularly kerala) temples and north Indian temples not only in its structure (like absence of gopurams) but also in the way they pray. Kerala temples are very sober place and they have strict dress code. Sanctum sanatorium is out of bound. The pujari is very serious in his rituals. Whereas in north you can go inside the sanctum and even touch the god and have a small personal chat!!!. I recollect when I was 6 or 7 years old we used to stay in North India (Sagar in MP) and there was a small Hanuman temple (and a tree) in the centre of the housing colony. This used to be part of the playground for us. And in the afternoons we used to climb on the Hanuman and enact Ramayana or whatever occurred to us. By evening things changed and temple became a sacred place and a pujari used to recite hanuman chalisa and we children rang the bells (there used to be competition among us as to who made the maximum noise!!) and wait for the ultimate treat; Prashad!!.
It is only recently that Superman, Batman, Spiderman….has taken over the sky. In our times it was only and only Hanuman- the monkey god!. And I always liked playing monkey god by filling air in the mouth. It also suited me very well…as a kid I was very skinny and short (much shorter than my one year younger sis, it was quite embarrassing as people used to think she was older, later we accepted it that way).
I have been to Vaishano Devi temple many times and like the trek, they keep saying jai mata di, jhor ki bolo jai mata di, arre sunn nahi dhendha jai mata di…its real fun. It’s a wonder that nobody ever got stuck in ardh kuvari cave. They also serve excellent halwa.
 
In contrast I didn’t like the trek to Ayyappan temple (here they chant swami sharanam ayyappa sharanam. In contrast to the kind of stories told to me about those jungles, it was much sedated). I was around 14 when I went to shabarimala. The problem was the cops launched me up from the bottom of pathinattam padi (18 sacred steps) and my mundu slipped out and when I reached the top of the steps I was in my underwear….people were laughing and I said: this is it no more shabarimalas for me. Never been to that place after that.

the lady officers and army....

The debate after a suicide of lady officer in the Army seems to have snowballed. If the vice chief of Army has made the statement as reported in the media then it is very serious. The concern raised by Ms. Swaraj is pertinent but the possibility of Vice chief’s statement taken out of context can also be not ruled out. We cannot always trust the media, they work on sensationalism. But nevertheless this is a serious issue. This probably has to do with the fact that Army is quite a closed organization and it is true of Army anywhere in the world. This might lead to prejudices against the Army. Further the life in the Army is quite different from ‘civilian’ life. So it is possible that an ‘outsider’(ie joining after graduation) getting into the Army particularly a woman might find lots of problem in adjusting. It is also true that Army is very much biased towards combat unit. So woman officer who are in majority in subsidiary corps like ASC might find it not very challenging as they had expected (the same raised by lady officer who suicided). This is not true for lady officers in medical corps like AMC (or even ADC) in service. Further the lady officers are recruited for short service. This needs to be changed. There is a need for senior officers among women. It need to be noted that every six months, about 5,000 women graduates and postgraduates between the ages of 21 and 25 years apply to join the Army. Barely a fifth clear the written test and only a tenth of those who do are selected. The women officers commissioned are recruited for a period of five years, extendable up to 10. Once they complete their maximum of 10 years of service - while still in their early to mid-30s - the women are expected to retire with only their savings and provident fund accumulations. So there is always a looming insecurity. In their 10 years of service, the women officers can only hope to rise up to the level of a Major. The glass ceiling is very visible here. Postings are across the country and usually in the Engineers, Ordnance, Signals, Army Service, Education, Intelligence, Legal Branch or EME (Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) Corps. Says Captain Geeta Gawali, the first person in her family to join the Defence Services, "Most women who come here have a sports-oriented outlook or a National Cadet Corps background. A greater percentage of the men who join do so because they view the Army as a secure career option. Most women, on the other hand, come looking for adventure, to do something different." According to Gawali, discrimination is not an issue. "Even when we are posted at all-male stations, there is no difference. Only if we think and behave differently will we be treated differently. Otherwise, we are all the same." The above quotes (and photo) taken from an article by Lalitha Sridhar posted in sept 2002 in boloji.com She further writes…… Women officers take salutes, bark orders and pack a commanding punch into their slight frames. But the looming specter of discrimination is barely seen behind the veil of formal correctness. Says one woman officer who does not wish to be named, "It is the gentlemen cadets who feel discriminated against. We earn the same pay but do not train for as long or as hard. There is resentment, and it is inevitable. Gender cannot be forgotten. Three hundred-odd years of male attitudes cannot change so fast, but Army ethics include respect for women, which is a help.".

Army to my knowledge is extremely mannered to women, how much of that is cosmetic is debatable, but army still is better place for women. Harassment charges need to be taken in larger context of society we live in. Further lets not go into the way Generals (or senior officers) in the Army speak. They might sound arrogant but that needn’t be taken on face value. Its part of their training or shall we say culture of Army. They tend to speak with lots of surety (and a booming voice) so a ‘civilian’ in TV studios will rightly be appalled. Army works in a very strong hierarchy (strong is an understatement here!). They are not used to be spoken back. That is how they work. That is how any Army anywhere in the world work. The issue is quite complex.
Indian Army has been wonderfully subdued to civilian authority unlike many of our neighbors as also many countries in the world. That speaks of high level of discipline and responsible behaviour. Their contribution in case of national calamities is significant. It is also true that Army provides all the comfort and opportunity to grow to its members. However a closed system can also create scope for secrecy and intrigue; it can sometimes go real dirty; with absolute authority responsibility can be the casualty. Overall one can say despite all the problems it faces, Army is definitely a challenging place to be in. Like any system it has its problem. In a world sadly divided by borders and fiercely guarded, humans are always the causality.
Almost a decade back I had the opportunity to interview lady Army Officers for a magazine I was working for, at Sena bhavan in Delhi. It was after a long procedure. And the two officers I interviewed really liked to be part of the Army and considered it an honor. Says Major R S Gill (in boloji.com), who supervises the women's training: "Women stepping into a man's world are more motivated, dedicated and determined to prove a point. They are excellent assets, no matter where they are deployed." A tribute to the modern Army woman. Lt. Gen Pattabhiraman is in serious trouble of his own making. An unconditional apology is needed.
** ** **

Yesterday I had this misfortune to see an ‘interview’ in one the TV channels (I feel quite bad not having access to BBC). Devil’s Advocate is what the program titled. And sure enough they were screaming at each other. The industrialist who is in the news for getting into Rajya Sabha (poor ZK tch tch…no seat so far!!. We have not heard last on this….our man is sufficiently thickskinned) was quite a match to our boy. At one point they were screaming on each others throat wherein one was saying I studied in Oxford other was saying I in Harvard ‘which is better than oxford’. Ladies n gentlemen that is interview for you!!. This is when I switched off my TV. Well I have less money and no fame (god save) but I can safely say that I am much better off than any of these insecure nuisance. Springsteen said "57 Channels and Nothing On ". Wasteland all.

So Ghana did a Cameroon ……..it is a goooooooooooooooaaaaaal!!!!, Mr. Kofi Annan must have enjoyed. I happen to read his column on the eve of first match of Ghana. There are more members in FIFA than in UN. Beat that one!!!.

On Stars, Whitman and Turtles…..

Then you learn about Kepler, Copernicus, Newton, Einstien…..of Carl Sagan, Saturn rings, Armstrong, of Stephen Hawkings, of hubble, of black holes, Chandrashekar’s Limit, of probes in Titan, Ganymede, halle bop and halley’s comet, new solar system……and strings theory!!

and then in a quiet moment on a lazy afternoon Walt Whitman sneaks in with…..

When I heard the learn'd astronomer,

When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,

When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,

When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the

lecture-room,

How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,

Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,

In the mystical moist night-air,

and from time to time,

Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

And so the Universe shifts a bit !!!

This is not against Astronomer whom I find amazing. And make it a point to visit planetarium if in any city and queue up for watching anything latest happening in the universe. However it need be added, I find astrologers detesting. Astrology sections that come in media should be brought into the purview of laws against superstition and so dealt accordingly. I dare the TV “crime” channels who have started a “muheem” against “dongi sadhus”, ojhas and people into jad phook, to show the same vigor (they show in case of these poor people who trying to make out a living. Agreed that many are fraud but that is no reason for this vicious attack on all. Talking of fraud; do many of these ads. got anything to do with reality?!. Get this : Fraud has no class distinction or barrier. These 'crime channels' even take law in their hand and help mob lynch the ojhas) on mainstream media who come out with astrology and related crap (one need to switch on TV on the eve of new year to see all these scum crawl out with torret card and other predictions with one may add, excellent accent!!). Now their explanation could be that nobody is forcing it on you. Nor is an ojha forcing it on anyone. People go to them. Agreeing that medical attention should be the first option but these people generally deal with cases which are of psychological import. And impacts of ojhas and people into jad phook cannot be undermined if it helps the patient. It's a psychological placebo built on socio-culture context. The possibilities of treating mental illness through faith, cultural-traditional means cannot be negated. This is open to debate. That doesn’t mean one can support irrationality. My submission is that there is a space we need to keep open. A space to sort out things which maintain our sanity; a system to deal with unpredictable and ambiguous. Thankfully for majority of us in this country, we don’t have an organized system of religion and that makes things easy. Just think of what would happen if we were polarized on issues just because it’s mentioned in ‘revealed’ text, mostly interpreted to suit few. See how vicious the “debate” between Intelligent Design and Evolutionist is in west particularly in USA. There seems to be no meeting point. This is the sad level to which religion can be taken wherein it has so much of positive force and need be an assimilating space for larger good and open to new interpretations. Stephen Hawking tells the tale of an elderly lady who came to a talk on the origin of the Universe. Quivering with indignation, she insisted that it rested on the back of a giant turtle. “What” the speaker asked “does giant turtle stand on?” "Young man," she said, "you think you're very smart, but it's turtles all the way down!".

I am very saddened that BBC has ‘encrypted’ its service to south Asia from today. I liked BBC channel very much, particularly the high quality discussion program and interviews they show. Further it was mostly devoid of obnoxious ads. They might be having their own reasons to take this action. It is viewer’s loss though.

So the football matches are heating up. So far Spain, Czech…..have shown credible performances. Brazil was a big disappointment, albeit kaka’s goal was spectacular. Keep your eyes wide open. It’s a goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!. Lets do that Togo dance, I am going to miss them if they don’t make it to round 16.

Plz also keep visiting ‘My Blog’ on the Link – right side of this page, to visit www.sdepalan.blogspot.com for more fun.

Two hours in Hampi

I happen to visit Hampi early this May the erstwhile capital of Vijaynagara kingdom. Visiting hampi in summer is a big no. I was here as part of my job and could take out only two hours, very exciting two hours one may add. But the heat was killing particularly the route from Bellary to Hospet in State bus was nothing short of nightmare, people were pouring water on their head to cool. The temperature inside the bus could have been around 50C and the land outside was arid with not many trees or habitation, laterite red soil blanketed the area. Hampi though in rocky terrain is abundant with greenery thanks to Tungabhadra river. Vijayanagar kingdom in medieval India was highly evolved and aesthetic in art form. The figurines reminded one of Cholas. There is a statue of Krishnadeva Raya- the king and consorts which is exquisite, it is now in some museum. I have seen photo of the statues with Nehru and his comment some years back. A very refined and delicate work of art.

Many foreign travelers had visited Vijayanagara Kingdom at its peak like Nicolo Conti, Nuniz, Paes-a Portuguese who came in 1522 said of Vijayanagara as ‘large as Rome and very beautiful to sight’. I quote from Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India “…..of the ruler, Krishnadeva Raya, Paes writes ‘he is the most feared and perfect king that could possibly be, cheerful of disposition and very merry, he is one that seeks to honour foreigners, and receives them kindly, asking about all their affairs whatever their condition may be’”. It’s been tradition with many Indian kings to be open and inviting to foreigners, unfortunately many didn’t deserve it- the experience of Zamorins of Malabar is very apt. However Romila Thapar (in A History of India) writes that Vijayanagar’s friendly relation with Portuguese were purely for trade reasons. A poem by the King Krishna Deva in Telugu (Amuktamalyada) has these lines “…make the merchants of distant countries who import elephants and good horses be attached by yourself by providing them with daily audience and presents…..”. Agreeing to the need for foreign goods but its undeniable that prosecuted sects from different part of the world did find refuge in ancient and medieval India whether it’s Jews or Parsis.

It is very saddening that not much care is being taken of the temples and other (archeological) structures in Hampi. Nevertheless it brings out the irony of the place and people like us. It is poignant, nostalgic, funny and shocking all at the same time. These rush of varying emotions can be quite handful.
Enjoy these poems. On the occasion of Environment Day I dedicate these to all the people who are doing their bit to save Environment and wild life. In particular to TV channels like Animal Planet, National Geography and Discovery (few channels I have access to. I also have a liking for David Attenborough’s programs). They make us conscious of Earth so we learn to be careful and sensitive to the needs of environment and wild life. Incredible people. From crocodiles to snakes to birds to fishes to monkeys to dogs to ants to futuristic planet earth...they have done an amazing job, requiring immense patience, talent and ofcourse timing (wild animals don't pose for camera!!). The dying corals are the saddest thing to happen in recent times.

Come I will show another God

Come hurry. Come here.
He clutched my arm
led me to a cavernous room
blocked with cardboards and stickers.
He asked me to look through the perforate.
Dilating in dust filled darkness
I discern mirrors on crumbling walls.
Did you see? Did you see?
He was tapping my shoulder.
He pointed to the Gopuram of main temple
motioned his hand into the hole.

You see God nearer here, he said
and asked for money.

***

Monkeys take the offerings here.
Colonizing in extended families,
they devour coconut and milk
meant for Ganesha the elephant god
and Nandi the Bull
and siesta with Gods and consorts.

***

You want these pebbles
black and white pebbles
from the bed of Tungabhadra river
asked the girl in flaming midi
holding few stones in her fist.
In the hot sun of May she seemed on fire,
her dark skin as if charred.
One rupee for two pebbles, she said
evoked by my keen eyes.
She trailed for a while.
On being ignored she confronted me
and demanded one rupee
for all the stones in her little fist.
Take it all she said, unfurling her fingers.
No said I, all the while feeling sorry for her.
Sensing, she clung to me.
Exasperated I offered a deal:
Pose for me, one rupee is yours.
Thrilled she climbed on to the medieval dwelling
I will model a god, she said
And invoked one hand in blessing.
Ask a wish.
Ask a wish.

***

We come to pray from far
We bath, eat and rest
And also dry our clothes.

(A reply from a villager on being asked why cloths are being dried inside the medieval sanctum)

***

Looking at the map on the wall
inside the temple
an elderly woman among the tourists complained:
There isn’t any way to God.
The pack peeled into laughter.
The kid said grand ma is gone crazy.

***

You see the god in.
You see the beggar out.
Both stoic.
Both demanding.
God: your karma.
Beggar: your money.

***

Is that a god or a king?.
Is it submerged or emerging from water?
Children jump from rock into water
and emerge like a god or a king,
whatever occurs to you.

***

The Swamiji was in no mood to listen.
He had more people to bless.
They queued up to be favoured
and accidental boons, if it helps.
And before he warned: No photos.
I had already framed him.

***

of small wishes in a big world…..

The father prays: a good husband for my daughter
The girl prays: my father live longer
The father prays: less dowry
The girl prays: less dowry.
Nearby a legless boy crawls for money.
A laughter heard from marriage ceremony,
drowned in screams of fighting monkeys.

(based on interactions)

**

Geez how people get me wrong!!. There are lots of people who read my blog so you really don’t know what gets interpreted as what!!. The other day I had someone asking too many queries on what I write on my blog. As usual I smiled and tried to be courteous. But blogs are different ball game. Let me make one thing clear to the bloggers: I don’t explain what I write, so please caution on that. Take or leave it. I write on my blog to have space to assert myself on the issues which boggle us as also for trivia I find amusing or fancy. In short some fun some work.

I think you agree with me on the celebrity trash on Indian media particularly some “national” channel. Fortunately we have some excellent international channel as well as regional channel with no such space for pretence. They drop in to TV studios and say few lines to be some kind of activists!!. Two decades back Botox Turd went in for two days of fast for slum dwellers. Quite admirable thing to do. But the problem is that since then she been sucking on it. That is the problem when they get old: Just suckers. Some of them even come and say things about themselves in TV studios that may not be true, who will verify….anyway who is the bothered….. but in the process they do package themselves quite effectively. They know how to keep themselves ballooned, even a small thing they do is world saving!!. Its about event management and sales pitch!!. Presto saviors are here. For people like Crude woman seen with legends like Lekshmi Sehgal is enough, next she would be hanging upside down in profitmonger's backyard with utmost ease. Now thats diplomacy. Hey i need some personal space.....surely stinking!!!.

And in places like delhi there is a huge manipulation game going on to get the attention of whichever party is ruling in the centre. Apart from some small time politicians and others there is this huge grant and perks hanging in the name of culture, which is where the stampede is. Being in delhi these are few lick away. So presto suddenly we are national figures!!. Arpana Cour babe, whom I referred to in the earlier blog was just an example I have first hand information on. There is another example I have on this. An arti club that goes by the name of “Sanskriti Kendra” in delhi (on Gurgaon highway, a kind of outhouse but the name 'Sanskriti' does make it exotic!) run with a specific intention of major lick (I wouldn’t be surprised if there is any tax saving involved). There is an interesting incident I have to tell. In Delhi particularly the so called “national” elite circle (once you got the tag of national it is easy to fly over regional nests) they have this strange habit of asking the first question as : where do you stay?!!. They don’t even ask what is your name or what you do or atleast keep shut. In the beginning I was confused as to why where I stay is so important a question as to be asked without even knowing me. I thought it was probably they wanted to make me comfortable. A way to relax the scene or feel home. But when I saw this pattern repeated many times with me I became inquisitive. I had my own doubts. Things began to clear when I read this article in Lonely Planet book (or was it some other foreign book on India?) where they have devoted a complete column on this peculiar behavior of uncouth delhi elite. The article says that the people in delhi even sound the name of the place they stay as to feel foreign like Noida as Nevada!!!.

The reason they ask this question to an acquaintance is to asses his worth, from the location of house thus making it easy to classify and making the decision as to the need for any interaction!!. I visited Sanskriti Kendra since I knew some Australian artists who had come to India and were staying there ( I am not able to recall the name of couple whom I became friendly with, Michael? Paul??. But they were nice and mannered people, a refreshing change in delhi!!). I told them about this behavior of elite in here particularly of culture types. This artist from Australia, a gentleman to core couldn’t believe it. I took the Photostat of the column I read and send it across to him. He still didn’t believe…well decent people not aware of the tricks of dilli arti-culture circle will never get it. It is so sophisticated and subtle!!!. I told him I will prove it. So I went to a party at Sanskriti Kendra with this couple. The artist from Australia was standing next to me with an amused smile when Jain Boy (who runs the arti show) asked the first question on shaking my hand “where do you stay?”. I said “madangir”. And felt my hand dropped like huge stone and his eyes turned permanently away from me!!. I don’t blame him; Jainboy’s expectations were quite high since I was with an Australian!!.

So a seat in Rajya Sabha or a Padma Award or some government money (for event essentially to promote themselves as also PR) or some position of power is where the craving is. So heres is we fun always so is we- bad grammar again!!!.

PS. No seat for ZK in Rajya Sabha......Tch Tch...efforts gone waste. How will we justify living now??.

No against discussions…

It is not that I am against discussions happening in TV studios, clarifying somebody who was asking me the other day. My grouse is firstly on the types of topic they chose to discuss or report as “national’ and secondly the category of people involved in the discussion. Some channels make it a point to invite peddlers or market boys for any discussion (just to take an example), not at all amusing. We live in age of hyperbole, every movie is superhit, every song golden, every event mega, every line a quote. A nation of more than a billion will throw up “celebrities” by uttering profound lines like “thande ka thadka” or “ye pyaas hai badi”, they make huge money- so influence, through this nonsense. Imagine if we were a nation of a size of say Maldives or ivory coast do you think these people (read celebrities) will ever have a chance?. They earn millions of easy money because of us.

Sometime back I came across these lines by John M Alexander, reviewing Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen (its bit too costly and bulky book…nowadays they keep new books in sealed plastic cover in book stalls !!!. Thankfully the pirated versions are out. And I manage to bargain it for 100 Rs.!!. Mr. Sen has enough money to survive he shouldn’t mind and as for publishers??…well nothing much just: up yours!!)
…. looking at India’s past and present there are a number of reasons to be less enthusiastic and even skeptic about Sen’s proposal: Does argumentation not run the danger of being co-opted by the rich and powerful?. Do the well educated and those who can better articulate and persuade not have an edge over others to maneuver the course of public discussion?. For many years now, social inequalities based on caste, gender and community have been legitimized and perpetuated by different religions, anthropological and even theories biased in favor of elite. Owing to democratic politics and the rule of law, these inequalities can today be contested. Yet, making use of these democratic possibilities in order to create a less unequal society still remains a far distant dream, particularly because of prevailing economic and educational inequalities.

Argumentative Indian is a good book and very readable, I suggest bloggers to read it. Not like some P3 Elite masquerading as intellectual and be seen on “book release” or other readings. Or some in-hurry-to-catch-up intellectuals and read some reviews here and there and be informed. I know many in JNU who read only reviews of books!!. The other day I was listening to Nobel Prize acceptance speech by Isaac Bashevis Singer (literature 1978) at Nobel Prize Exhibition at Vishweshwaraya Museum in Bangalore (if you don’t watch this exhibit you really missed it….i suggest youngsters from all over south india need make this trip to Bangalore. It’s worth it. They have done it extremely well. I also liked the documentaries they showed particularly since they included the views of common people like courier service man- his views on scientists!!. It was a refreshing shed on intellectualism. Did you know that in Oxford they don’t allow you to walk on grass unless accompanied by a senior professor!!. They have parodied it rightly). Mr. Singer gives the reasons of why he writes for children…because he says children read books not reviews. So true.

I certainly don’t have anything against discussions if done to get to the truth of the matter as they do in some programs of BBC or even CNN. Nor do I have anything against likes of ZK or anyone per se. I don’t even know him nor do i intend to, God save (there are 6 billion more interesting people in this world !!). It is public posturing or packaging themselves for the media, for their narrow reason which is the concern (not that all famous people are like him take for instance Medha Patkar who is dedicated to the people in thought and action). Some people who are famous and influential (influence is very tacky word in here means access to media) get away with their hypocrisies with media manipulations. They are habituated to people supplicating before them. There is an audience to savor their nonsense and they start assuming themselves as some kind of demi-god!!. Media want wind bags like them because they are famous and therefore saleable while in return they use them for their own insecurities. It is a game where there are no losers except maybe the audience or more importantly issues affecting us which gets trivialized. Again I am not against discussions, exchange of ideas is what defines and help grow society, but the kind of people involved in the discussions are shocking. The other day I saw a chaddi dancer- who I am told gyrates in remix trash (which offcourse thrive since we don’t have proper copyright laws), articulating her views. Yes it’s a free country every body can say what they want but the point is there are more sensible people in this country with views reflecting the opinions shared by millions people in this vast nation and impoverished nation. The trend is on presentability than on quality, offcourse in fabricated world presentability is the defining factor. Next they will demand that victims of natural disasters or riots should cry properly (they might even have crying contest!!) or maybe not since the other extreme of presentabilty is gruesome. The more brutal, more the sensation. Many a times if more people have not died there is genuine sadness in the face of anchor!!. They even have such funny heading for report that you don’t know whether to laugh or cringe. Thadka I guess.


Indian trains can be the best or worst of place to be in depending on the approaching station. And nothing like traveling from Kanyakumari to Jammu through Chennai, it took four days. When one has such experience of meeting different types of people who are so very different it is shocking to see Media- which has access to millions of people, behaving stupid, idiotic is a better word. They need to realize that there is a world outside metros. Few people that too denizens of market world do NOT reflect the realities of this nation. Wardrobe malfunction is an absolute non issue. Sorry if I shocked you by this revelation!!. ( a presenter in TV justified this frenzy since it is now in Maharashtra assembly!!. Does she know that there are hundreds of other issues in assembly’s agenda??)
So decide whether News is entertainment or News is ….well News what else. A discussion on communalism, education ….which these channels conducts surely is not about entertainment. It may not be a serious issue in certain circles but for us millions of people it is sometimes the most deciding factor. Ofcourse one has to accept that rarely do any channel (there are definitely exceptions) take “non popular” issues. Indian TV channels have done some excellent job like say covering the human side of tragedies like earthquake in Kashmir or tsunami or through kufiya camera on corrupt. It is the discussion based program which is what I am really cynical about.

I am writing this to have a space for discussion with bloggers. Nothing else. We all need to create our own space to assert ourselves in this increasingly crass world. We thank the Technology for providing us this space and so giving equal opportunity to all. We don’t need any power brokers nor any charity from anyone particularly those constipated with ego. These space provided through Blogs is important for people like me. I also understand fully well the responsibilities and possibilities it presents. This is one place i intend to hold on to for next fifty years if possible.

Saying No to Bottled water may not be feasible……

The issue of multinational companies (CocaPepsi) using water resource, a public property, to make huge profit leading to depletion of groundwater has reached a serious proportion. The bottled water is something, which till recently I was ambiguous about. If the government fails in providing safe drinking to its citizens then what can common people do? We have to take our own precaution. Almost a decade back in delhi I suffered from serious bouts of stomach ailment which was traced to drinking contaminated water. Probably it had to do with adjusting to highly polluted and unhygienic surroundings. So I had to depend on bottled water or in most cases carry a bottle and fill it from some place which had purified water. Later with more disposable income I started creating a kitchen space and boiled water for drinking purpose, now this could be done only in winter since in summer it added to room temperature and took lots of time to cool. Further in summer one drinks more water so heating water was not at all feasible option. This is when one is forced to look for the option of bottled water, evaluating that it is much better option than spending money on doctors and medicines!!. And believe me there are hundreds of people in hospitals in places like delhi because of water related diseases. I must have spent a fortune on bottled drinking water. In the beginning I used to feel seriously guilty (not for depleting water table, at that point it was more about spending unnecessarily!!) like the first day you get into a cycle rickshaw having avoided it for months considering it inhuman then later we get so used to it that even forget that its being run by a human!!(But the one they have in Kolkata, the hand pulled cart, is definitely degrading).The first time I bought a “mineral water” bottle I was actually looking for minerals!!!. I am still not very clear as to why it is referred to as mineral water!!.
At the end of the day it is on the State to provide safe drinking water to people. Also the hygiene standards of the society are also a deciding factor. In places like Kerala (or even Bangalore) where hygiene standards are relatively high, one needn’t buy bottled water, even the smallest of shop is safe. But in many parts of India the hygiene standards is unfortunately appallingly low, it may have to do with the fact that I generally frequent the lower end eateries for monetary reasons. Also I travel a lot to odd and out of the world places where things can go seriously wrong if not careful. So again one is forced to buy bottled water. There are therefore lots of practical problems in refusing bottled water but surely the government can take action to protect water resources being vandalized by this profit making mafia before its too late. I read somewhere that the bottle they sell (“they” here is CocaPepsi plunderers) for 10 Rs a litre, the raw material cost is as low as 0.03 paise and it takes two or three litres of water to make one litre of bottled water. There is also the issue of environmental degradation from plastic bottle garbage. Earth Policy Institute (EPI) says global consumption of bottled water doubled between 1999 and 2004, reaching 41 billion gallons (154 billion liters) annually. The major amount is spent by these plunderers is on packaging and marketing. No wonder the ads. they make are so very funny. It is reduced to a joke. Wherein majority of people are struggling for water some are into open loot (the photos i took from places that never had water problem) . This I am told helps in investment which leads to increase in GDP and this makes some people in certain circle very happy. They also say that the nation is developing very fast in recent times. The competition now is between India and China.