Bharath Ratna for Rajkumar

If anybody deserves the Bharath Ratna then it is none other than Late Rajkumar. Conceding that the politicians and Media do overemphasis the role of movie actors as it provides them with saleable faces and glossy bytes but Rajkumar was above all these. He avoided the media and carried no pretensions of grandeur. A man so humble and impeccable in his bearing that all sections of society in Karnataka admire him. The outsiders particularly the anglicized elites squatting in power centers may have a cynical view on this but the fact is common people in Karnataka consider him God. There is nothing wrong in that since he epitomized what they considered admirable (in reel and real life, as also a hugely successful actor) and he on his part never misused that trust. He did attempt to channelise these into positive action but never for personal gain, indications on how much he respected people. He was truly great. He was to Karnataka (and to many south Indians) what Dilip Kumar (taking another example from film industry and a great human) is to north India. The nation needs to recognize him with the highest award.

Post Script: It is bit late though and one wonders what he would have made out of this demand!!!. I guess some people are so great that it increases the worth of awards.

In recent times though these admirable symbols are being hijacked by parochial forces, this is very sad. It is also very unfortunate that Tamilians are targeted and many cinema halls don’t show Tamil movies. This blogger rarely goes for movies but Rajnikanth movies are something I don’t like to miss (I like his style. Njan oru thavana solutha pathu thavana solamadiri… jagarudhe. Beat that one!!!!. He is the most stylish actor i have come across). So one wonders what happens to his latest movie in Karnataka. If it is not released in Karnataka it will be nothing short of tragedy.

How I learn to stop worry and love the Gun

So we have another shooting in US of A. Kids killing each other and themselves is a pattern we have started to associate with this country. But still people can buy guns and ammunition at free will from the friendly corner shop. Most civilized society will cringe even at the thought of people owning guns, being sold like this is unimaginable. But then US of A is a different place here people are proud of their ‘fundamental right’. Right to carry gun it seems is most fundamental of all rights. It seems people have right to protect themselves….very true then what state machinery is for? If US of A cannot even provide protection to its own citizen then what kind of law and order machinery they have. And if they cannot even enforce order within their own country, that each citizen has to own a gun, then what gives them the authority to play policeman to the world?......just hold it there. There seems to one group who seems to be in win-win situation and that is the gun lobby.

Gun lobby in US of A is very strong and vocal, it has very influential people, politicians in the payroll. Before even full scale tragedy of VT massacre were out, politicians (even a Presidential candidate) were found allaying doubts from the minds of Gun lobby. This is the level of crassness they can go. Nexus of Gun Lobby, politicians and big business, and the fear psychosis nearing paranoia they create among hapless citizen fed on information overdrive, is well documented in Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine (the gun culture does have its history in slavery, the fear in whites....as shown in the Documentary, now they create imaginary enemy. Osama helped thier cause). This insightful documentary although searing tragic in its portrayal of how people can be herded into self destruction, for an outsiders like me I couldn’t help laughing at these stupid people and their predicament. That is what makes it such a tragic-comic. The killings of innocent and fundamental rights of maniac. The agony, pain of victims and righteous, pride of gun peddlers.

It is kind of surreal since in real world people would see reason, compassion. But US of A works on different game plan. It definitely brings in the question of how much ammunition lobby influences US policy making, particularly when it comes to military actions abroad (latest is they are trying to align with Al Quaeda to harm Iranians!!!). Isn’t the world being held by coterie who just wants to make profit at the expense of people’s life, democracy a compliable conduit in their macabre scheme? Maybe the reason they talk democracy at home and the need to spread it abroad, sometimes with such viciousness. Also if people can decide whether they can carry gun, countries can decide whether to keep nuclear bombs. “Gun doesn’t kill people, people kill people” argues Gun lobby. Well…“nuclear bombs doesn’t kill people, people kill people” ditto!!!. “Knife in the cockpit doesn’t kill people, people kill people” ditto!!. So are we talking about deterrence or threat?. If it is fundamental right of the people to own gun then it is also unalienable for countries to own nuclear bombs. US of A is not the only country that has to safe guard the rights and lives of its people, Iran has to, and yes even Cuba has to. What gives US of A moral authority on the world when its policies are dictated by vested interests??.

The latest in the media regarding VT massacre is to try understand the mind of the killer (a South Korean with some serious problems that he couldn’t handle and very unfortunately killed many innocent people including two Indians. Very upsetting indeed), they are trying to look at his brain, it is about frontal lobe I am told, a kind of instinctive fellow. So much for ideas on sense of humor!!. Well what about the minds behind ‘gun lobby’?? What about the brain which calculates to maximize without much empathy or even sympathy on thousands of lives lost and maimed??. The corporatisation of politicians doesn’t leave us with any distinctions. President Bush in his address at VT says the victims “were at wrong place at wrong time” and that is all about the tragedy. It should be that ‘they were in wrong place at wrong time but in front of the right gun we help him buy (thumbs up dude). This is about democracy and rights. We also have some very unfortunate people at very wrong place in front of very right smart guns in Iraq, earlier in Vietnam….”. Amen to that. Dude I love my Gun. The Korean kid had a problem, millions youngster around the world have problems. But millions of kids around the world don’t have gun lobby to help. Countries have their government influenced by vested interest, but most countries don’t have arm suppliers or are not nuclear power. This makes US of A very dangerous country.

The attempt now in US media seems to be to identify kids with problem, the potential killers. Meaning now the attempt will be on compliance. This suits the State and the Market. So anyone protesting or even taking a solitary position could be targeted. As for macabre writings …well in that case Raj Kamal Jha should be in high security prison, seriously!!. So should many other writers and so would many of the greatest thinkers, inventors (dude most were loners!!. They were not “normal” people who came in chat show!!). So are we talking about creative writing or mind mapping?. This blogger poohs poohs the attempt at classifying the kid on his writing, maybe he was poor writer with astounding imagination that may not fit with the conventional behavior, considering that he was into English major, wherein he was suppose to present creative paper unlike say a pre teenager who expresses anguish through pictures or scribbles. What is seen as macabre makes him extraordinary….not necessarily a killer, he was bit old to be studied through writing. It is quite a coincidence that he killed. What is not a coincidence is that he like many other killers in US of A could easily access the weapon that could cause maximum damage. How about spending some time to know the people behind Gun lobby?. This is were the focus should be: the cold blooded profit mongers who make money through blood and misery of people. In the meantime why not telecast Moore’s Bowling for Columbine, it will be more insightful than dissecting the unfortunate kid and creating imaginary monsters. The kid had some serious problem but what is the problem with people who support Gun Lobby??

No to Asian games in delhi

A big No to Asian Games in delhi in 2014. Why delhi why not any other city??. It seems they want all the development to happen in delhi only.
How about Pune, Chennai???

Very unfortunate: with deep regret i have to inform that i have misplaced the password of my other blog www.sdepalan.blogspot.com or maybe i forgot to close it and so...I feel very sad about it. I spend hours retrieving it, i seemed to have forgotten the email i gave. It really is very tragic.
From now on my other blog will be www.depalanhere.blogspot.com.

Bet on everything!

There was a funny incident of attempt to ban betting in Bangalore Turf, dare you!!. I guess first they should close down the stock exchange. More people have lost money speculating on Shares. Stock exchange somehow has gained the status of sacred institution, quite an achievement. You close turf betting, you close stock exchange. Ideally these discussions are time pass!!. This blogger would like to see cricket being open for betting. Government has absolutely no business to tell people where to put money. Further if over paid monkeys are adorned with Arjuna awards why are jockeys not considered, this is discrimination. This blogger would like to see outstanding jockeys like Narredu be awarded. Horse racing need to be given the respect which is due. Riding a horse (and winning the race) needs extreme skills. Picture this: would you like to see bunch of underperformers rubbing the ball on the crotch (god why???. I guess if pitch can behave, crotch can help!!) or would you go for incredible sight of amazing set of horses ridden by colorful jockeys, running together???

Recently it was reported that one of the ‘Indian cricketer’ had signed an endorsement with a condition that he would spend as much as time on the pitch intent to give exposure to the product. This is shocking. The media however refused to name the person as if it is some state secret. We would like to know who this player is. He has not only brought disrepute to the game but has hindered the chance of Indian team. He has fooled millions of followers of this game. He has indulged in unethical practice which is as grievous as match fixing. So hiding his name is equally criminal. The BCCI has to reveal the name…..or in case media is aware of it they should bring this scoundrel out. People would like to know, they are being fooled.

Please join in the appeal to release Alan Johnston the BBC reporter kidnapped more than a month back.
This blogger had always a very healthy view of BBC. I love watching BBC as much I listened the radio as a kid, the Hindi version too. They should be cautious when dealing with India (unavoidable because of population), since lots of pretentious people are stampeding for attention. Foreign channel if serious can know more about the nation and its issues by directly involving the common people and not elite (particularly those pretentious types who have positioned to save common people aka Crude Woman) British and American attention would make the day of any these scum, it is their reference point, pinnacle of achievement, origin of ‘making India proud’. Channels like BBC will only degrade itself associating with superficial people.

On exclusive interviews

This blogger questions the people holding government (public) positions giving interviews to private channels. A minister, a member of judiciary and bureaucrats are not paid to give exclusive interviews to private TV channels. This should be taken as a breach of conduct. Once a politician assumes office he has no business to associate with TV channel or Press, this is a form of corruption- media suaveness at the of expense competence in the job, it is dereliction of duty and misuse of position for personal gains. Press release and statements given at common platform- conferences, are the way to communicate to public. Any other involvement of members of Executive, Judiciary or Legislature is serious threat to democratic functioning. The official time and money shouldn’t be used to work on PR.

One had lots of expectation when a member of marginalized section of society took over as Chief Justice of India but unfortunately our man spent more time in giving interview to media. Where does he get the time to indulge in these?. This is also true of Cabinet ministers. The Finance Minister gave ‘exclusive interviews’ to many channels after the budget, one must admire his energy hopping from one TV studio to another, repeating the same thing.

Let us look what this exclusive involvement in TV studios mean: Out of one billion people let us negate the people who do not have access to TV- there are millions, lets say at an optimistic level around 80% people have access to TV. Of this how many have access to cable connection?. From the percentage of people who have access to cable how many watch English channel (which in a ridiculous dement have assumed themselves as ‘National’), a favorite channel for lickers since they exist because of PR in English as also their proximity to power center. Take the example of any politician (or minister) who rushes to TV studios and you will see a licker owe his (or her) existence to the sycophancy and positioning in TV studios. Coming back, so we do have very miniscule percentage of people who watch English Channels. Now those who do watch English TV channels there are lot many channels to choose from. So what is the chance that someone has switched on the particular channel at the specified time to watch that ‘exclusive interview’? How many watched the interview of let’s say Finance minister or the Chief Justice. Few thousands at the most and this from one billion!!!. This brings in the question: who the Minister is responsible to?. Obviously to the cabinet and the legislature…..meaning to the people. So what is he doing in the TV studio giving ‘exclusive interviews’ wherein he is representing more than a billion people???. Why is a Minister who is representing one billion people choosing medium to address few thousands? Why is he investing his precious public time on these platforms??

A politician can use media when he is not in the office, before elections and so on, like you see the actors coming out before release of movies. It is a win-win situation for both; it is about how well who uses whom. That’s ‘fourth estate’ for you!!. It is quite a sight to watch a slave interviewing a popular figure, particularly from the film industry. The intensity is as much as you see a dog in front of butcher shop (next time try observing and compare with media snooping on “Abhi-Aish” wedding!!). The salivating slave will try to extract whatever from the celebrity, it is a kind of tussle and the slave’s future is very much dependent on it (do we laws protecting the slaves??). Once you get the ‘bite’ it’s for the spin doctor’s to take over. So we have out of context quotes and if luck favors “Breaking News”. And then we have self appointed guardian- the newsreader, fresh from beauty parlor, you feel will almost break into ‘everything we do, we do it for you’. The reason why they don’t have this song running while they read the news is a mystery; probably they guessed it right that it’s beyond Homo sapiens to comprehend too many noises. Well we can blame god. Not very Market savvy I say.

One wonders whether we do have copyright laws??. Since the input is on TRP, the news is about entertainment. Thus we have more of movie and song sequences in TV channels. Infact they try to create news so as to include movie bites and songs (another favorite area is cricket). Nothing wrong it is ok to be desperate about profit- it is an internationally accepted understanding!!. The question is do they pay for it particularly to producers, script writers of the movie and songwriters, lyricist of the song, if not it is exploitation and cheap way to make money. Have they bought the rights of the movie or the scene which they are broadcasting?? (offcourse scenes from new movies are part of promotion and that is an important revenue source). Also many of the channels have song competitions; the creators of these songs should get the cut (recently songs are being used to peddle products. Easy job!!). Movies and songs are not public property nor are TV channels doing any public service. It is important that there is freedom of expression but it also very important that there should be protection of creativity. The unscrupulous shouldn’t be given free run to undermine everything to make profit. There is an immediate need to create laws to end this exploitation. Meaning less shubh laab …….rrrreppppeeeeattt (from Rajnikant movie song!!)

Forget Osama where is Anderson dude??. Shouldn’t we ‘shock and awe’ the US??

It was on a pleasant afternoon that I reached the sight where the Union Carbide Plant was located (I had been here more than a decade back). The Plant had large barren land surrounding, not cordon off, no guards, children played cricket and cattle grazed the field. This was shocking since hundreds of tons of toxic waste is still left untouched- an environmental disaster site. Studies indicate that tons of toxic material dumped at the old plant has now seeped into the groundwater. Well water and groundwater tests conducted in the surrounding areas in 1999 showed mercury levels to be at “20,000 and 6 million times” higher than expected levels; heavy metals and organochlorines were present in the soil. Environmental groups who had collected samples from the soil (groundwater, fruits, and vegetables) have found high levels of heavy metals such as nickel, chromium, mercury, and lead, along with other toxic materials in the area and surrounding. Shocking also because this is the sight, which caused the worst industrial tragedy in the world.
Opposing the Plant, across the road, was like any other poorer location of the city- densely populated, congested houses with narrow by lanes, most of them had one or more family member victim of this disaster. Dow chemicals (which now own Union Carbide) refuse to clean up the place and has put thousand of people’s lives in constant life threatening ailments for last 23 years. A Union Carbide spokesman says that the company and its sole shareholder, the Dow Chemical Company, cannot be held liable for any waste cleanup at the plant or any contamination of the ground water. "There is no legal foundation for application of liability". Comrades in Bengal have now opened the door for Dow Chemicals. Comrade scoundrels. People of Haldia should know what they are getting into. Dow Chemicals was also fined by US finance regulatory recently for unfair trade practices in India. They bribed Indian officials around 8.8 million Rs. Any cases in India???. Off course not, it’s about sacred Investment, rising GDP and off course Comrades Party Fund, after all they have to save the world!!. Experts warn that Indian regulations on industry remain lax, and that a future Bhopal-style tragedy referred to as ‘Hiroshima of the Chemical Industry’ is still very possible.

The worst commercial industrial disasters in history, mass murder is the word used (quite appropriately), occurred on the night of 3rd December 1984. I recall this clearly since I was awake as I had to finish school homework and the TV was on- not sure if it was the fateful night or the night after but the image of people running helter skelter is etched clearly. Another connection is that few years later we had a classmate in school who escaped the tragedy unscathed despite being in Bhopal (years later I came to know he got severely burned in an accident) he used to give vivid details of the event.

Of the 800,000 people living in Bhopal at the time, 3000 died immediately around 500,000 people were exposed to the leaking chemicals. Approximately 20,000, to this date, are believed to have died as a result; on average, roughly one person dies every day from the effects. Over 120,000 continue to suffer from the effects of the disaster, such as breathing difficulties, cancer, serious birth-defects, blindness, gynaecological complications and other related problems. According to a report it is believed that 50,000 people are unable to work because of their debilitating ailments. This chilling paragragh from a senior railway official who was witness to the tragedy when train arrived carrying victims from Bhopal to Itarsi:

The sight at Itarsi was something straight out of Dante’s ‘Inferno.’ Dozens of men, women and children were writhing in agony and we watched them in horrified helplessness. Death was a welcome relief to the victims, their eyeballs swollen red and bursting, every breath bringing agony to their burning lungs. The screams of the tortured bodies were in different languages

Beginning in 1991, the local authorities from Bhopal charged Warren Anderson (who headed Union Carbide and retired in 1986), with manslaughter, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Anderson has so far avoided an international arrest warrant and a US court summons. He was declared a fugitive from justice by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bhopal on Feb 1 1992 for failing to appear at the court hearings in a culpable homicide case in which he was named the chief defendant. Orders were passed to the Government of India to press for an extradition from the United States, with whom India had an extradition treaty in place. He went missing for several years, until he was discovered by Greenpeace “living a life of luxury in the Hamptons”. The Bhopal Medical Appeal believe that “neither the American nor the Indian government seem interested in disturbing him with an extradition”. Some allege that the Indian government has hesitated to put forth a strong case of extradition to the United States, fearing backlash from foreign investors who have become more important players in the Indian economy following liberlisation. A plea by India's Central Bureau of Investigation to dilute the charges from culpable homicide to criminal negligence has since been dismissed by the Indian courts. (para copied from the Net). Around the wall the views (frustration is better word) of people could be read.

The contamination from grazing cattle stock getting into food chain and consequences on children playing in the field, facing constant exposure is anybody’s guess. In an investigation broadcast on BBC on Nov 14, 2004, it was reported that the site is still contaminated with 'thousands' of metric tons of toxic chemicals, including benzene hexachloride and mercury, held in open containers or loose on the ground. Some areas are reportedly so polluted that anyone entering the area for more than ten minutes is likely to lose consciousness. Rainfall causes run-off, polluting local wells and boreholes, and the results of tests undertaken on behalf of the BBC by accredited water analysis laboratories in the United Kingdom reveal pollution levels in borehole water 500 times the legal maximum in that country. This blogger didn’t risk venturing into the site. There was a small park adjoining the Union Carbide plant, where children were playing. The park had old rusted slide that seem to be centre of amusement for the kids. I had no intention to speak to people, 23 years is frustratingly long period, its important not to fleece their tragedy. I considered asking questions on tragedy an insult on people in here. But children’s experiences are different, so got into the mode of getting to know them, asking about the school they study and so on. Children were not too keen on interaction as they were too immersed in their game, only when I took out the camera they were interested and congregated around me shouting “photo lo hamari” in the mean time I asked them in passing whether they were aware what happened out there, pointing to the factory. For a moment there was a silence then the youngest of them got into the act, and screamed “‘gas nikili thee” and slid down as if exhilarated by the knowledge!!. The eldest of them who could be 7 or 8 mentioned his father has eye related ailments since the gas leak, meanwhile younger one pulled his hair and ran, and he chased him cursing. I left them in their own world, somewhat guilty of the intrusion.

Remembrance and tribute

Apparitions

Today, the noise of traffic
reminded a screech, a crash
a death.

A life so valued
gets a chance to be recalled
in the cacophony of mindless vehicles and abusive drivers.

I curse myself
for the precious lapse
and attempt to sacred the thought.


(remembering Dearest Dinesh, a relative, a close friend who “liked to bike around Cochin 12 o clock in the night” and I on the pillion!!)

Tribute to Lauri Baker
Lauri Baker came to India from England during the World War 2, and later moved to Kerala. He became immensely popular with low cost houses he designed. ‘Baker houses” were at one point quite popular among elite in kerala, many clones doing the round. I also knew few friends whose parent’s were senior bureaucrats’ preferred ‘Baker house’. It was a kind of a statement!!. I have seen Mr. Baker on many occasions’ decades back, quite a lively face.

Slimiest of them all

When we talk of Sports in India we cannot ignore the corruption and politicization. Cricket for instance has attracted all kinds of scoundrels. The slimiest of them is one who goes by the name Sharad Pawar. This fellow is the Union Agriculture Minister and also scraped in as BCCI head, now our man wants to see himself as ICC chief- with bit of politicization on racism he might even make it, already the greasy fellow has capitalized on the divide, most South Asian countries it seems are supporting his candidature. Infact the interest in matters of cricket has crossed party line (Jaitley boy is another patriotic savior), Pawar is therefore in an enviable position, something we should admire, the reason why monkeys use words like ‘astute’, even ‘senior’. In Indian context successful politician is the one who has clout. Clout comes from money, money buys vote bank. Clout and money also comes from the position one holds.

Agriculture Ministry is least of Pawar’s concern. Thousands of farmers have suicide and are suiciding as I write. When he visited Kerala sometime back he refused to meet farmers in Wayanad, lack of time was the reason given. What is consuming his time? A seasoned scoundrel meaning ‘senior politician’ he knows his priorities. Is he not holding the office of profit being a Union Minister? Is he not violating the code?. Even if he is not isn’t it clear that he should be concerned with grievous matters of his Ministry?.

What has this man to do with cricket; he is very obviously capitalizing the game to build up his clout and wants the limelight. Why any politician should be allowed space in sport bodies? Why is Indian sport not doing well has answer in these and Pawar is a glaring example. People like him should be kicked out if not shoved out like the Australian team recently did on the dais, poor little Pawar was doing what comes naturally to him- getting himself photographed. Rightly so, Australians didn’t want him in the frame. For a politicians this is the most tragic moment!!. Senior cricketers cried foul on Australian teams behavior. The reason has more to do with the clout this fellow has- its licking time folks, why are they not crying foul on the way the politicians have invaded the game? Why nobody asks ‘What is Pawar doing in cricket??”. One ‘senior member’ of Indian team (meaning ‘permanent member’ in Indian context) even invoked ‘culture of treating elders”. With statements like these he is sure to remain in the team for long time (not to forget Maharashtra lobby). Bloody wimps. They could learn a lesson or two how to treat scoundrels from Australians (ofcourse it was ill mannered but then what has mannerism to do with Pawar in Indian cricket board). When push comes to shove then shove should end up in a kick otherwise why shove?!

People like Pawar can be evicted by no other way. They are veterans in this game and know how to cling on. It is not about charisma, the clout has basis in money power which he has accumulated over the years. Surely the fellow found his wavelength in Enron (must have made millions through bribes. This fellow's name keep creeping-in in almost all corruption scandal). Corporate corruption is unheard of in India. Now Pawar is making money through ‘men in blue’. No wonder ‘men in blue’ have more endorsement obligations, an achievement even the best teams in the world cannot match. It is that ‘cricket is just a game’ is accidental. Pawar laughs off any other suggestions. Suicides by farmers is another game going on. The fact that Indian agriculture sector is in shambles is another game he need to shrug. The tragedy is he will carry on, as he has been for decades. And yes monkeys in Media will admire his cunningness after all it is just what they also aspire for, such dexterity. Lickers will converge and share some tips, this is where the stampede is. Cricket is just a game!!!.

On buying emotion (written before the WC debacle)

Sachin Tendulkar is a member of Indian cricket team. Many Indians know him and admire him for his batting skills. But many is not most since most Indians don’t watch cricket or may not have TV, there are many other issues, basic needs, to take care -also considering that millions live below poverty line. That is reality check for you which market gloss cannot hide. Nevertheless Sachin Tendulkar is an inspiring figure for millions of youngsters in metros and small town.

So far we understand that Mr. Tendulkar is a good batsman with an impeccable on-field behavior in short a good sportsperson. The problem starts when he packages himself to sell products. Here they focus on his personal attributes-which is constructed as the situation demands, more appropriately the market demands. It is also that the Market capitalizes (or packages) the image he- media, has created. Since media is extension for market it means the same thing. This is where they play with the emotions of people. People like-adore Sachin because he is a good sportsperson. Now the construct is Sachin likes-adores Coca Cola (or say a brand of bike) so since people adore Sachin they should also adore the product. Adoration here is now constructed as ‘buy it’. The last part is implied-this is where we get to acquaint subtlety in crass world of Market. The role of Sachin is to emote, to authenticate this liking. This is where the issue of cheating comes since he is emoting to capitalize the emotions of the people for his cricket playing skills into hard cash for the company. This blogger however fails to understand what kind of fool will be influenced by ads when making choices of such costly products. It is ridiculous but then Sachin is so admired by many they can be unreasonable. It is also a different matter whether Sachin has ever used that brand of bike or has done a comparative study with other brands. Most importantly who is he to tell people which brand to buy. He is only a cricket player not a bike expert. Clearly they are playing with emotions of the cricket lovers for shubh lab.

Sachin Tendulkar is just an example this true about all sportsperson around the world, but Indians make it big because of population rather than competence. Now the question is since they made millions out of people’s emotions what happens when they break people’s emotions or don’t fulfill the expectations-further hyped by market???. People will give it back in the same coin. They attack their property and abuse them……well this blogger has absolutely nothing against people’s emotional outbursts. Fans are expected to behave that way particularly when they are being cheated, or sold big dreams by mediocre. In Indian context it needs to be particularly vicious, since we are not living in decent world why always expect fans to be decent (offcourse most ridiculous fan reactions are media managed-no rocket science there). When selling product they target people’s emotions but when they fail in the game they tell people to be rational and blame the fans for irrationality. You invoke their emotions and make money and now tell them to control themselves when at receiving end, quite strange!!!. This blogger also feel that the fan’s reactions has been quite subdued, they need to go step further particularly in case of players who come in ads. They should make them live in fear. So that next time they take an ad assignment they need to understand what they are getting into. Licking into people’s feelings can be dangerous. Shubh lab comes with strings attached dude.

Post script: The above piece was written before the Indian cricketer’s disastrous performance at the “world cup” (sure there is world out there!!), I was ambivalent about publishing this in my blog. The suggestion of this blogger (who has no love for cricket but is very concerned about Marketers exploiting people’s emotions, also since every moron in the town has an a suggestion why not me!!!) to BCCI would be to make an obligatory clause in the contract with the players to avoid endorsement and ads. The argument that players are doing this in ‘free time’ is rather juvenile since they are exploiting people’s expectations and emotional association with the game and are therefore very much responsible for inactions on the field. This blogger suggest the players to go for a long walk during ‘free time’!!!. Also the contract should ask players not to indulge with Media (essentially bunch of monkeys desperate for big money) nor should the board members, the media need to be dealt with press releases- that is asking for too much when people are jostling for eyeball space.

Greed comes from insecurity. Insecurity is an illness of mind, they reflect this when they play the game and refuse to take risks as they don’t want to loose money from endorsements. They don’t mind working on their own image (creating records another passion around here at the teams expense -remember that fellow Ravi Shastri-who just wanna have Audi car babe-he does come in with his expert comments nowadays, he surely can coach team on matters commercial!!. The point was not whether India won the match but whether it was right for Tendulkar to miss double century!!). Image building therefore takes precedence over team or the game. Thus we have more ‘Stars’(Digaj kiladi) than players. The reality was shown by few teenagers from Bangladesh!!. Then they say that Bangladesh played well (no Indian ‘stars’ never play badly- they are part of cosmic reasons). What Bangladesh team was all about was shown by Sri Lanka. The reality is far from the hype the monkeys are creating. How about not keeping record of players score???. This will make matches immensely interesting.

In conclusion this blogger feels that only player worth mentioning would be Rahul Dravid. He has been impeccable. Quite an inspiring fellow, I feel sorry for him. I guess the Market hype did his team in (it can be quite disconcerting when millions of people are watching and have opinions). The ‘stars’ in his team forgot they are to play cricket and not represent Pepsi-Coca Cola (Champu Khan did his patriotic puppetry bit). The tragedy was already written on the wall if anybody had time to read.

“I will use my gun if needed….”

Well well well I don’t have a gun…..sorry to disappoint. This was a statement made by ‘senior politburo’ member of CPI (M) as a clarification since a loaded gun was detected in his bag at Chennai airport. It was answer to Media on whether he would use gun. Neek pokkan (comrade Pinrayi Vijayan) uttered what government at Bengal did not hesitate to practice. These are the ‘new leaders’ of Left- byproduct of ‘changing times’ in certain circles. This blogger had in recent past documented the complete lack of social development in Bengal. The ‘leaders’ are truly the feudalist in Marxist garb. They never had to practice democracy in their daily dealings since the society lacked mobility ….so elections became matter of ritual. It is true in any region where the comrades have ruled they tend to undermine democracy…..and thus are prone to dictatorial exigencies. Atleast in other communist regions they had (have) the history of giving utmost important to social indices, also leaders do spring up from lower strata- sometimes truly revolutionary whether Lech walesa or Castro, in Indian context particularly in Bengal the ‘bandralok’ have usurped the power and have passed on to their clan, with, one must admit here, remarkable efficiency that even the non political intellects of the country have been taken for ride for quite sometime. Some achievement this from the bunch that operate through goons at the grass root, but impeccably humble at social gatherings. The goose is very much out and as suspected the scene is far from rosy. The ugliness is for all of us to see. It is easy to play the opposition and garner votes and sympathies of people but when one is in power the equation changes. As the boogeyman told children in kindergarten ‘with power comes responsibility’.

It is not a coincidence that CPI (M) is known to bulldoze its allies in the Left, they surely are not used to democracy. This is not a startling fact, it was always there but now in open since they are in the decision maker’s seat in a crucial situation, expectedly they showed their true colours. It is also not a coincidence that it is the Left that has been vocal against democratic institution like the Election Commission or the Supreme Court (in Kerala the student’s wing came blatantly in open against the Court throwing out norms and conventions…with active support from the ‘leaders’). As a preempt they have also started making statement against Art. 356. This blogger is very much for article 356, infact my contention is since it is politicized and misused many a times, there need to be provision on PIL from citizen to impose Art 356 in case the Governor fails to act or centre considers political exigency. Suo moto could be taken by the court. There is a need to strengthen Art. 356 by including common people.

This blogger suspects the lack of transparency and corruption in election process in Bengal. When the RSS members in government service is cause of concern why not Comrades. Any form of politicization of government machinery is serious whether RSS or Comrades (or even mullahgiri). Post liberalization the political parties are hand in glove with Marketers, it is no wonder that despite changes in the government the policies are almost the same. Democracy surely has become a farce. And yes neek pok Vijayan can use his gun if he wants, so can the goons in Nandigram. Sometimes the dialectics of materialism has no dialects but only materialism, Comrade Budhadeb Bhattacharjee I am told knows better.

Thank u Mr. Minister

The railway minister’s budget is welcomed on the initiatives taken on unreserved compartments. Increasing the unreserved compartment and making them comfortable (cushioned) was long overdue, particularly the later. This move will definitely help millions of commuters. This blogger has traveled in unreserved compartments hundreds of times. The journey can be quite miserable. But then most Indians at lower strata are quite tolerant to discomforts and create their own ambience to overcome hiccups that it turns out to be pleasant experience, mostly. There is a common misconception that Indian trains don’t run on time my experience has been contrary, except few instances trains have mostly run on time in last 6-7 years, earlier though it was pathetic. Also there is an assumption that unreserved bogies are unsafe…..well it is true to some extend, offcourse one is responsible for oneself and has to take sufficient precautions. This bloggers experience has not been entirely negative. Sometimes the compartment is so full that one might have to stand many hours and even when someone do offer few inches of space (and they do…somewhere people do try to make others comfortable despite their own misery which can be overwhelming at times) the seats are wooden that it starts to sting after few hours, the reason why the cushioning the seats is such a marvelous move (no guesses why previous railway ministers never thought on these line).

There have been some problems during journeys on these compartments like for instance once a man slipped, fortunately the train was not moving fast but he did injure himself, skirmishes do happen but nothing major. Sometimes people also travel inside toilets!!!!. I for one drop out if it gets too bad and create a new plan for traveling…..well I don’t work under anyone!!!. Rishte meh hum thumhare baap lagthe hai, naam hai shehanshah!!!. However one problem remains and you really cannot blame the railways for it (it’s about too much population) that is once you are in you cannot move so food and toilet is no option.

This blogger had almost two years of free run and didn’t have to travel in unreserved. Since my travels are mostly short notice and whimsical I faced untold miseries during traveling in the earlier days then I had this brainwave and it worked spectacularly. Where I used to stay there were guys who worked in railway ministry and they mentioned about last minute release of seats (VIP quota or emergency quota and so on) I tried to get reservation from them but it was bit laborious and you have to pay some 100 rupees. I gathered if you know some top fellows things would be easier, and so I spend some time to know about the structure of railway ministry and presto I came to know about the magazine run by railways (I still am not sure why do they have a magazine!!). There was an Editor who was quite a senior fellow in the hierarchy, easy target!!. Things worked out and quite pleasantly (shocking would be right word) he found me very interesting. I spend many hours in his office, he really didn’t mind me sitting for no reason more appropriately he took lots of time to get talking since somebody or other will drop in or phone, most time I was eavesdropping, these guys have their own little world. …he also gave me coupons for food and so on. I gathered he thought I would make it big (the article I wrote for the magazine was quite mediocre and it was published after few years…things go at their own pace at government!!). He was a nice man but prone to hyperbole. He once even mentioned ‘where you are sitting once Salman Rushdie sat’ (meaning even great writers had come for his favor…sure I believed!!). I just had to book the seat and give the PNR number to his secretary a day before and voila I get reservation, I had two wonderful years of traveling. Absolutely great but then he retired (i did try work out with the next Editor but I was quite rudely shown the door). Nice man he was, he helped me more than many ways. So now the Railway Minister has taken these measures which will definitely make millions of commuter’s life bearable if not comfortable. This blogger congratulates the Railway Minister for the policy decision.

For the Finance Minister: Why not heavy tax on the inheritance of property???. Since we didn’t have much of land reforms this would be quite an appropriate move. Offcourse it requires bold initiatives from the politicians (oxymoron?).

*all photos taken from the NET

A cowardly act

Condolences for people killed in train blasts near Panipat. This probably only instance in Indian history when so many foreign nationals are killed. It’s a horrific act.

Lessons to Mr. Pronoy on Media propriety

There are things the media needs to learn sometimes the lesson can be from street, this banner I came across some years back at Pune (if I recall correctly) would help. It says:

IN OUR COUNTRY
DON’T ATTEMPT AT PREDICTING WEATHER CRICKET
AND ELECTIONS

On sensitive indexes and behaving pitches, and orders of Master

Fixing a competition is cheating, therefore illegal. Whether in cricket, football or any other game it is a punishable act. However what makes betting illegal is beyond this blogger. Punting is free will of an individual. If punting can be allowed in games like horse racing what makes cricket so special? Also what makes cricketers super patriots unlike say players of kabaddi or jockeys?. The issue of ‘fixing’ is precisely this. Surely the elite are following the instructions given by their erstwhile masters. So horse racing becomes “… a game of mere skill within the meaning of section 49 of the madras city police act and section of gambling act..(Supreme Court 1996)”. So one can bet in racing not in cricket. Therefore horse racing is about money making and cricket is about patriotism!!. Quite a strange logic. Britishers wanted it that way so the slaves followed it. And unlike Indians, Britishers also considered themselves as gentlemen (quite difficult to digest by common people but elite I am told have better idea than mortals), so the games they preferred also came to be ‘gentlemen’s game’ unlike kabaddi or other local games. Gentlemen surely, they spit, they curse, they abuse, they cheat, they fool (one even graduated as a poacher, now hiding under political clout). When exploiters were gentlemen then we know where the elite get their values from. One would be enlightened about Indian society if one goes on to find what makes a cricketers and which section of society predominates, also what makes Indian cricketers so very incompetent (except some rare exceptions). Many hang around in the team because of ‘reputation’ (typically Indian); ‘market value’ though will be a better term.

In recent times there has been an attempt to ‘represent India’ among elite circle, this an attempt to usurp the gains coming in India’s direction because of the huge consumer base. The foreigners are looking for identifiable figures to associate and also reward, as recognizing India. The stampede in elite circle is understandable. The reason why all kind of dubious people are now ‘representing India’. Some in elite also try to sell on the bogey of India’s tradition on ‘tolerance’ (the reality would be much revealing) and ‘secularism’. They try to classify people to justify their reasoning (most appropriately their own reason d’entre). Many in sports (like cricket) are seen as representing even religion this suit elite section perfectly to harp on how divergent our culture is to the Europeans and so try to consolidate their positions in these circles as ‘representing India’. What is common place for us becomes celebration for them.

There is a joke doing the round in commentators box during the cricket match that cricket is game of ‘uncertainties’. Pray which game is about certainties?!!. The way they create hype around the game (conceding that it is probably the only game where even the pitch ‘behaves’. Sensitive gentlemen and sensitive indexes). Ultimately this is a game which is played not by most countries (some 10 odd countries, with a huge population having nothing much to do and almost a similar set of elite and their devious ways). But in a nation of a billion even an average performance by the team is main news if not ‘breaking’. Mediocre media and its priorities, competition of TRP.

All games should be open for betting, it’s an individual’s choice. What is the logic that only market can gain from this game? Why cannot common people also make money from the game?. What is so ethical about sportsperson selling products??. What kind of system is this and who these credibility?? Why parameters change when it is about common people, people who want to bet on the game. Also even though a Sri Lankan player (say Jayasuriya or Murlidharan) or West Indian player (Lara and so on) are infinitely better than many ‘Indian players’ they can never dream of making as much money- the reason is very much because of population, surely not competence.

The ‘match betting’ in cricket and the media paranoia is where the absurd meets ridiculous. Funny though all the frenzy, for concerned people these circus can be disturbing. Media can carry on their petty money making manipulations, most people don’t have much expectations from these self appointed guardians. Our concern is misuse of state machinery. Police force of the State is not meant for enforcing club rules. I am sure the police forces in states have better things to do than checking ‘code of conduct’ compliance of club members. What a shame. They can only investigate in case of criminal complaint. The enthusiasm shown by DGP of Maharashtra is misplaced. I am sure our man has more significant law and order situations to handle (god forbid no bomb blasts happen but in case any such incidents occur in future this fellow should be held responsible for dereliction of duty). This blogger questions the Home Ministry of the Nation (and the states) as to how the government officials are allowed direct access to TV channels (collectively referred to as Media). Isn’t it violation of service clause? As a rule government officials shouldn’t be voicing their views to channels (they are not being paid by the government to feed sound bytes to mediocre media). The government officials or anyone representing government are supposed to give information through press conference or press release.

I do like to end this article on a positive note congratulating the government on the action taken to enforce private channels to share the direct telecast in Doordarshan. Marketers shouldn’t be allowed to fatten themselves in the name of the country and its people (7minute delay by private channel is audacious, if need be a parliament act can be passed on these matters). Like this blogger most Indians welcomes these moves by the government. People elect the government to be responsible to their needs and aspirations and not hobnobbing with profit mongers. Nothing wrong in shubh labh though, just that gotta follow the rules dude, meaning less profit!!.

Unfortunate One

This taken from a blog i came across the other day (the blogger: Bob in Washington). The poetry and the snap touched me in a way not experienced in recent times.

Oh, if I could speak,
If only I could speak!
How I would tell you,
How often I would tell you
I love the air,
I love air.
I love sunlight,
Oh, the sunlight!
Life! I love life!
Oh ... If only I could speak!

Language of conscience

It is in the soul of things
that disintegration
invades earlier than other
a twitch in the mind
an involuntary pull of hand
a pause in a thought
before acts of deception
and crime

An incident in development

Bengaluru (or Bangalore) is supposed to be an IT hub, a kind of success story mediocre media’s justifies India’s existence (which adds up to a concept ‘brand India’, makes morons immensely proud). The embarrassing mediocre media has its own reasons; the reality though is Bengaluru is much more than IT. The place is known for its very rich tradition as knowledge centre. Bengaluru should easily be the Science capital of India. IISC, HAL, ISRO…and many reputed institutions have existed in this city before this unwanted attention (minor skirmishes in some streets makes it as ‘Bangalore tense’, courtesy Mediocre media). IT’s contribution though is significant, mostly confined to south-eastern part of the city. Bengaluru is also a garden city with charming climate. Bengaluru has the distinction of one of the rare metropolitan cities that has a natural habitat for wildlife (sanctuary) half an hour drive away. The birds and butterfly population and variety, have dwindled sharply in recent times, the city has become extremely polluted with not much emphasis on environmental guidelines. The average ambient temperature of the city has increased in recent times. Many homes and institutions never had fans now have started using ac. This has more to do with ‘construction boom’. Many skyscrapers have mushroomed in recent past. This blogger would argue that it is absence of architectural nativity, the reason for degradation. Many go to west and copy what they see there. They thus are not only not able to capitalize, include the local factors in buildings but also these building become threat. Take this example of a skyscraper this blogger managed to snap sometime back-these are the kind of glass houses mushrooming all over the world in the name of development. This building will never be able to use the salubrious climate of the city, these glass houses need ac all the time. Such building should not be allowed to come up, they might be suitable in Dubai not Bengaluru. They cannot even construct proper buildings; copying from west….and calls it development. Now probably to keep up with the ‘energy demands’ we may have to attack some country and kill people. After all India is superpower in waiting!!!.

Talking of superpower there is this public toilet which was constructed sometime back near a slum almost two years back with tiles and appropriate ads enlightening people on need for cleanliness and so on(this could be anywhere delhi, Mumbai, bengaluru or Chennai). The toilet still remains locked children still defecate in open, around the locked toilet and the ad still enlighten us to be clean. The word is still. The word is also Development.

The shame on India

There is a rubbish program going on in a TV channel in Britain which has caught the fancy of mediocre media in here. It is now main news in ‘national’ media and equally enthusiastic tabloid (albeit there is no difference nowadays). Apparently an Indian actress (it took me some time to find out who this woman is. The last time she was gyrating for UP bihar lootne. This wannabe is into ‘big time’ now. She is now going to make-india-proud or has she already??) is facing ‘racial slur’. The program is in the genre of peeping into others life 24x7. Degradation is now officially entertaining!!. Nothing wrong. People have the right (yes right) to decide what shit they want cradle in. Human shit, dog shit, donkey shit…take your pick. Don’t miss the life time opportunity.

The insult is when Foreign Ministry ‘takes note’. It is an insult on Indian people that the government has no better things to focus its attention on. The government of India is not elected by people to react to media created trash. Infact this blogger demands an apology.

It is quite apparent that spin doctors of this obnoxious ‘entertainment’ have done their homework. Fools in Britain should have the brains to realize that it is TV program that have been christened as ‘reality show’. Clearly the ‘actors’ are following the instruction from the producers, obviously to pep up the rating (what else?!!). The reason why controversy is needed, infact demanded. Controversy is big time TRP, it also gives some life to wannabes. The cruder the better. If it is racial, why not ban it? Don’t stoke ‘support’ for and against and make it more ‘popular’, it is a lewd manipulation. I am very sure of the role played by producers of such programs to stoke up peoples emotions (more than half of the email should be send by their own people. Does it require brains to figure out?. Dont people have anything else to do than watch some wannabes talk crap?). Indian government should keep clear of this muck (the Finance Minister should learn to keep his mouth shut than play to the gallery, a humble suggestion from this blogger. I am sure he has more important things to do, like for instance preparing the Budget for more than a billion people. His interest on this nonsense is seen as an insult on people of India, probably he will have to answer bit more frankly after the budget). Mediocre media may please carry on. And yes the slave is within her/his right not to get too excited while reporting these trash, against the wishes of the Masters.

Someone in the crowd

Someone in the crowd

When the face in the crowd
looks no different from me
and
so do all the faces.
Actions of speech, laughter, sadness
and silence
is someone else’s
and also mine.
The questions asked
spins in a vacuum
but still no one is without answers.
A dull ache up the body
confirms it once again
that
I too have become someone in the crowd.
Like massacred bodies
tossed into mass grave
later dug out
as skeletons
all white bones
all hollow skulls.
Lump of hair
and shreds of cloth
and nobody to mourn.

(For children dead, and assumed dead. Also for victims of atrocities by Bengal government. There is a case for Art. 356 in Bengal. The incompetent CM of the state should quit)

Another big mistake

Executing Saddam Hussein is undoubtedly another big mistake in series of wrong. Not that this blogger has any liking for Saddam Hussein- a dictator who was responsible for many deaths and misery. He exacerbated the division between the shias and sunnis, the Kurds and Arabs. The mistake in executing Saddam Hussein being it was done under occupation army, by what is described as Kangaroo court. It also brings into context the efficacy of Death penalty, brutal and uncivilised way of punishment. This murder will definitely give incentive for extreme elements among muslims, although this may not have much to do with Islam or threat to that religion. This is where the role of mischievous media and communal politicians who will try to stoke hatred for personal gain, at national level and international level, need be questioned. Even in a by-election in small town in kerala recently they made Saddam a poll issue (??!!!!), the extent to which scoundrels can go. It is a different matter that people rejected this nonsense. Some very clever section will definitely try using this opportunity to instigate common people (muslims in this context) to ‘fight’, wherein they like most people have immediate problem of price rise or corruption, unemployment and so on. There is an attempt to ghettoize people and usurp their angst for gain in certain elite section. ‘Muslims’ are easy target in this context. It’s an old ploy.

The brutal events unfolding in Iraq for last few years is about American global interests and in this case it has to do with oil and other ‘strategic gain’ in this region- the reason why Saddam was targeted although there never was any dearth of dictators or ‘leaders’ who have committed mass murder in past or present. These unilateral actions by USA undermining all international laws and opinion in past and present are definitely leading to a more unstable world. It also needs to be reiterated that Americans particularly Bush is very much responsible for killing many innocent people, much more than Saddam. How is that going to be accounted?. Bush administration has to take the responsibility of these killings. Bush is a war criminal. There never was any doubt about this. He and his cronies attacked a country for their personal gain in the name of ‘war on terror’ and WMDs, it is very much documented. He cannot escape acting as a savior by executing a dictator. Bush is responsible for this mess. Americans for electing this foolish fellow to head them are also responsible. Marketers who have created a system and completely sedated this society to look for selfish reason- gain, profit, and celebrate morons and their attics in the name of freedom of expression and sidelining significant matters are very much responsible. This ‘american way of life’ is where the threat is, the hedonistic and blatant consumerism is root of all this. At certain level we can say Bush was just trying to satiate the ‘demands’ of a very greedy society.

How about protesting by boycotting coca cola-pepsi and also stop them exploiting our water resource?. If people want to protest this is very tangible American target and very much beneficial to society where the government are sold out. Any takers???. If ‘muslims’ want to protest they need to target these products which is very much based on misery of people. This will also be symbolic gesture against greed based ‘american way of life’. Something needs to be done about this they cannot go on like this.

Love for land.

Let me make one thing clear at the onset I am a huge admirer of JRD Tata. He was one great man and inspired millions of people. TATAs do have a great tradition and to a large extend played instrumental role in industrial development of the country. My contention is with the policy issues vis-à-vis land use. The problems in Singur start with the use of Agriculture land (discussed in www.sdepalan.blogspot.com) but that is not the discussion point in here. I am taking here the larger issue of land use, development and marginalization in context to forest land.

The forest cover of India is 63.73 M ha contributing 19.30 per cent of the total geographical area reducing at very fast rate, infact this figure may not be reliable due to encroachments,more than 25 million hectares of this forest land is degraded resulting in barely 10% of the land under forests. Per capita forest cover is only 0.06ha.Most forest covered region is inhabited by adivasis (or tribals)who are in most cases totally dependent on forests. The regions of Western Ghats as also north east have been classified as biodiversity hot spots. Thousands of acres of land in these areas were cleared a century back by the colonizers to grow tea and other cash crops. It also was converted into settlements, since the climate suited them. When they left during 1940s they gave the land to their faithful. If you travel around nilgiris (or Darjeeling) you will find vast land of tea and rubber plantations. In recent times they are converting these to holiday resorts which is a lucrative business-there is huge loot going on here. It is shocking that the land which is essentially part of biodiversity be so blatantly misused. Tea or rubber (spices and coffee plantations though do provide a certain diversity) are important cash crop but the question here is why the profit going to select few wherein the biological and ecological loss is substantial. Infact there is a law which was passed few years back it is referred to as: The Biological Diversity Act 2002, which provides for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, knowledge and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. I reckon plantations located in these zones come under Biodiversity act.

The recent enthusiasm in certain circles on Forest Rights Act giving more rights to tribal community at the expense of wildlife is misplaced. This Act not only patronizes the tribal people by assuming that they have no desire for modern way of living but it also is shortsighted in its intent on wildlife protection and conservation. The interesting issue here is that although the interests of wildlife habitations are compromised the interest of plantation owners are very much protected. The lands on which these people are making huge profit are part of biodiversity disaster zone. These lands belong to wildlife and endangered species. These lands also belonged to indigenous community. Instead of compromising wildlife land the indigenous people should be given share of profits from plantation. This is a very desirable alternative. Tigers may not have vote but they are significant part of our ecosystem and common heritage. I dare the politicians and intellectual who were very vocal in their support of Forest Act to initiate laws for distributing shares of profits to tribal communities from Plantations. If you can take the share of tigers and wildlife why not plantation owners??. Tribal communities need to compensated for "historic injustice" not by encroaching into wildlife but encroaching into comfortable world of 'people like us'. Dare anyone???.

A theory on Mediocrity

A society develops when every member is able to realize their potential. For each member to realize thier potential they should be able to have self esteem and sense of worthiness which is very much linked to rootedness of culture. It is only when this rootedness is seen as that which will bring him/her a secure and desired future that the link is strengthened, in the process paves the way for realization of self and hence once potential in the area-profession, one chooses. The key therefore is aspiration rooted in surrounding -culture (which is in a sense extension of egalitarian values over the ages, also necessarily means open to new ideas). This rootedness is broken when there is a mismatch between the aspiration context of elite section and the common people. This is accentuated in cases wherein the elite look outside, that is alien culture, for their progress or salvation also have degrading attitude for local. Since the common people have a tendency to search their reference point in elite this leads to sense of uprootedness with ‘progress’, hence they are not able to contribute to their potential, as extraneous factors gain significance, and hence mediocrity.

Language is a significant aspect of connecting with surrounding, culture and tradition. If we look around the world wherever there is common language between the elite of society and common people they have progressed faster, meaning, people were able to tap their potential and hence a dynamic society. The case of Japan, China, France, USA, Britain, Germany, Korea… to take few examples. Since the aspiration is not tagged on to superficialities of language, people focus more on the content and ideas (ofcourse this not to negate other lifestyle superficialities associated with elite in all societies!). Take also the example of societies where there is a divide between the language of elite and common people like the countries in South Asia, Africa or South America….there is a clear demarcation in these societies, and almost all outcome of colonialism or other invasions. To make the case clear let me give the examples of native people like Indians in American continent or aborigines in Australasia, although English speakers have achieved much in last few decades the common people of the region lag behind, studies show more people suicide or take drug among them. There clearly is a loss of rootedness and hence less valued. This is precisely the reason for overwhelming mediocrity in India in almost all fields most glaring being that of Media.  Thus majority of people spend more time to better themselves or aspire to be like the substandard elite- whose claims are very much hinged on the aspirations associated with language (that is English previously Sanskrit).

This is one of the major reasons for mediocrity of most societies around the world where such distinctions exists. India is a case study for the world but India’s case is worsened due to overpopulation, poverty and traditional systemic biases, add to this nepotism and corruption, so although we come across some incredible people in our daily life in commonest of places but they will never make it to the top since the system (necessarily a creation of insecure elite) prevents or appropriately asks for competence in superficialities. The superficialities in most case is lifestyle expectation of elite from common people which is also meant to degrade or demean their surrounding and connections, hence esteem or worth, so the core is lost thus we celebrate mediocrity. The mediocrity of India has to do with very substandard elite, a necessary outcome of the system which this blogger attempts to explain.

Post Script: This theory may not work with first generation immigrants to any country particularly developed countries, since their aspiration context is entirely different.

Off to hell you go

One of the worst dictators in South America is dead. He toppled the Allende government with the active cooperation of American establishment, and ruled the country for almost two decades. The fact that his cronies committed most heinous form of human rights violations is well documented but he was never put on trial and enjoyed quite a comfortable life with West very much indebted to him (Thatcher being one example). In this context it is pertinent to mention the intense amusement this blogger feels wherein Bush and his pets are after Saddam Hussein, there are many dictators- contemporary and erstwhile, who are (and were) treated as state guests!!. India too has few dudes in its neighborhood, the loudmouth feudal Mushraff ( A chief beneficiary of ‘global terrorism’- he even made money from his book. I am told the publishers had no need for Marketing!!. Crooked faced master’s accented Jaswant Singh- he is one fellow who sincerely makes me cringe, could get some tips for his next book. They I am told are leaders!!. Pathetic) and also in Myanmar.

Although every continent in the world had its own share of dictators (even Australia…well Fiji does come under this continent if I have got it right) it is Africa which has suffered the most, I guess. This blogger opines that there can still be a trial of Pinochet further the American complexities on this and every other like matters should be brought into mainstream knowledge. People around the world need to know more about American Army than the Hollywood candy stories of American saviors. This means everything from Hiroshima to Baghdad. When it comes to Army somewhere it has been implanted in the popular psyche that we have chance with goody goody Americans in contrast to uncouth Chinese, Japanese or recently Arabs (well no points for guessing I was one time buff of those pocket size war comics and very much on literature of war, later even war movies…well I had access to Army libraries in school. Good old charming world!!. Offcourse soon it switched me off as I realized what war means in reality, I thought 'Platoon' was an excellent movie). Gen MacArthur is considered a quintessential American hero and was even in line for the job of President. There is enough Hollywood floss on his ‘exploits’ and ‘leadership’ spread with zeal by American channels around the world. But the little known fact which is very reflective of his intentions and character were never revealed and that is he was nuclear hawk, very much into using nuclear bomb for ‘tactical advantage’. He nearly used it in china and rued that nuclear weapon is under civilian authority for whom he had only contempt (as is the wont of most army men around the world). There is a charming scene in a movie (Kubrick movie if I recollect rightly) where a look alike of MacArthur is shown as a maniac wanting to destroy the world with nuclear bombs. With military in possession of nuclear bomb Gen. Mushraff is one of the most dangerous man on Earth.

Gender reservation in Parliament

Parliament is the highest decision making body in the country, elected by more than a billion people (30-40% rarely participate though!!). When a step is taken to reserve a seat it means the people of the constituent are ‘forced’ to elect from this lot of candidates. So steps on reservations can be unconstitutional if not done with restrain. The move was hugely successful in case of SC and STs since the purpose was social inclusiveness of the community than individual representation. The class and caste handicap was overcome with institutional support. Being a communitarian step it also helps participation in mainstream development and so prevents alienation of the section.

This arguments on Reservations is however not entirely valid in case of Women. It is true that gender issues are beyond religion or caste to a substantial extend but there is no denying that it is very much hinged on Class. It is difficult to accept the argument that gender issues transcend class, atleast in Indian context these are different worlds. Economical and Social empowerment (through education) equips women from privileged class to handle bias, prejudices, harassments with certain certitude (Domestic violence act is needed support), further the privileges of this section also provides choices. This is not true for disempowered women of ‘lower classes’. Lack of economic means and societal discriminations only accentuate their problem (they have physical mobility in terms of going out but that is conditional and shouldn’t be mistaken for freedom). Here it is a case of dwindling choices. Providing gender reservation to this section, which constitute more than 70% of women population, will give unique opportunity in strengthening their voice.

It is not that such a provision doesn’t exist. The 73rd and 74th amendment of the constitution creating Panchayati Raj and Municipalities provides for reservation of women. It has been an unprecedented success in many places. A step which definitely need to be emulated at national level. Reservation of women in Panchayats and urban bodies has brought the unique problems encounter by gender vis-à-vis water, sanitation and other social ills at the local level into focus. The issues women in these areas are deeply entrenched and affected; also they are the ones to take care of these issues as part of traditional biases. Not coincidently these are now defining global problems. With Corporatisation the weaker section are increasingly getting sidelined and women are the first to get affected. With depleting Natural resources women of weaker section are the one who get the first knock. Small informal groups do get created but it is important that women from this section get representation at the highest body.

Women’s bill if ever becomes a law need to include this section of women only. If the bill allows privileged women (balkatti is just an expression but it does carry the apprehensions and insecurities of the weaker section) then it will be unconstitutional since there is no provision based on gender in the constitution. Further it is very much possible for a male to voice the issues of gender. The problems of socially and economically weaker women particularly in villages are unique. Though gender is defining factor their problems are very much enmeshed and determined by local socio-environmental factors too. Further due to socio-cultural reasons their voices are very much suppressed. In participative democracy these are the voices which need representation at the highest level.

The women’s reservation bill in present form is dangerously biased and unconstitutional. It needs modification to keep out the privileged section that is using gender as means to consolidate themselves. There are many who are squatting around the power centers in all the capital cities, some very media savvy are found in all photo ops and TV studios, looking for short cuts and women’s bill is just the antidote. There is nothing wrong in their behavior off course it is entertaining but they shouldn’t be allowed to use gender angst for lateral entry. Women of privilege section may not be aware of the problems faced by millions of women in socio-economically weaker sections in small towns and villages (offcourse there are exceptions but believe me these are not the kind who will use the benefits of women’s bill). The bill in the modified form will have stop women dalals from power consolidation; at the most they can play the role of pressure groups.

The suggestion by this Blogger on modification of Women’s bill: Yes women’s reservation in the parliament is a step whose time has come. The above mentioned apprehensions will be satisfied if the reservation of women into Lok Sabha is restricted to those who have proven their competence and credibility in local bodies that is, Panchayats and Municipalities for atleast a term. A period of five years at local body with a minimum attendance of seventy percent (as a safeguard) in their meetings should be the criteria for claim to lok sabha under women’s reservation. Here I give two examples of women who have excelled through local bodies. One is PK Sreemathy Teacher who was a panchayat president, now a minister and another is Mumtaz Begum the Bangalore Mayor. These are the kind of people who should benefit from Women Reservation bill and need be in the parliament.