Golden boy Bindra !!

So finally India has won a gold medal at Olympics. It feels great !!!. This blogger was quite coincidently following the event. It was very keenly competed event, although Bindra started fourth in the finals. He kept his grit with consist performance 10.5-10.6, he was in the second spot then he became first, next he scored 10.1 so got tied for first spot. Then came the clincher, probably his best shot of the day- a 10.8 near perfect. Following this event was tense for me wonder how that boy handled it!!. It is amazing strength of mind. Truly remarkable. We can learn lot from him. It is very true of most sportspersons irrespective of any country. It is great fun watching them.

Indians tend to do exceptionally well when it comes to games needing concentration. But not many people get the opportunity. After all how many of us have handled a gun or for that matter even seen an event like this!!!. This blogger has maintained that Indian sports should be brought under Indian Army. The sports ministry should be held by retd defense chiefs (retired senior Defence personnel need be involved in much more active role, they are exceptional people. Country needs their service and most are very ready take up this challenge). People who excel in international sports need be given honorary defence title. This gives respectability and boosts the morale. Army could start something on the line of military school- the sports school, so that talent is identified at the earliest and nurtured. Army has all the international facility and infrastructure. Sports needs disciplined and scientific approach, the diet requirement has to be taken serious care. Army personnel are exceptional in handling these, they also have a very challenging and competitive environment (this would also be inspiration for Army personnel and their children also). If one looks at the people who have done well in sports they mostly seems to have some connection with Defense (like Dhyan chand, Milkha Singh, Rathore, the boxers, rovers, hockey players and so on. Not only that most Coach do have Army background). That clearly means they had the opportunity but think of some millions of people who never could get that opportunity despite being talented. If they had the opportunity and given all the facility, probably the country might have had twenty Bindras now at Beijing. Think of PT Ushas who could not make it.

This blogger had seen some exceptional sport people in Kerala. In kerala even the school district sport meet is given such an importance that most Malayalam media give significance, it is main news (when was the last time the so called ‘national channel’ given any importance to these events). Kerala has a culture of sports unlike most other States. But since people are not very rich the facilities are primitive, further many young people take sports as means for gaining employment. It is about surviving and its quite tough out there. This blogger also suggests that earnings of cricketers/actors from ads be severely taxed-and given to other Sports, since they earn so much money in few seconds because of the population and nothing to do with talent. It is quite disproportionate.

Sports in Delhi like everything else is about big lick by uncouth manipulative people. It is a business of officials to promote themselves at the expense of sports and sportsperson. Kalmadi it seems will continue for ever!! Sports should be freed from the clutch of politicians and small timers who have absolutely nothing to do with the sports.

Trivia: This blogger is a keen follower of sport events, I recall during delhi Asian games we had bought TV and I fell ill for the entire period of the games. Didn’t go to school for three odd weeks watching all the games. People thought he was having some serious disease and all kinds of tests were conducted, nothing came out but the boy looked very ill. Then the games got over and presto he is normal and back to school!!!.

Taking on the Left

There is a brilliant painting of “bombing of Guernica” by Picasso .This blogger happened to visit Picasso exhibition at National Museum, Delhi but unfortunately this one was not there, later I came to know that French had problems with Picasso. Anyway it was great experience for me, I saw the ‘blue period’ and ‘pink period’ paintings as also that brilliant sculpt of the goat (I visited twice to have a good look, thankfully there was not much crowd, primitive Delhi has other preoccupations!!...like for instance squatting around the power centre to wait for crumbs to fall you never know when what is falling- also referred to as networking, the business of licking. Some have passed this talent on to next generation!!!. Apart from politics, business …the soft target is culture. So we have lots of pretentious mediocre people doing the round hawking secularism, freedom and so on to catch the attention. It is not about what you speak-that is absolutely easy when God has given tongue and face to mime, it is about what you gain by what you speak. The lick is big in the capital of a country with more than billion people).

I also recall buying Picasso painting cards that has since adorned my wall! Gen. Franco’s Nationalist forces heavily bombed and completely destroyed Guernica killing hundreds of people. In the meanwhile Soviets were asking money from the Republicans to fight the Nationalists! As is the case Communists generally mutate into manipulative clique that eventually loose touch with reality and soon turns onto its own people. The case of Bengal is just an example. The worst is to follow in Kerala, thugs at lower level who caused maximum damage to common people in the name of communism in 80s and 90s, they even had “noku coolie” which meant they have to be paid even to look at others doing work! I have seen these scoundrels in action at personal level when I was a kid, every time we came to kerala we experienced this. Further the ideological shift from Left to Right is as easy, this too I have seen with people around. The fellow who quoted Marx few years later is exaggerating religion, it sometimes make me laugh! Ideologies lack soul, the reason why the shift is immediate (photo taken from the Net).

The Left leaders in Bengal and Kerala represent two end of spectrum, wherein in Bengal they are still the brown sahibs of 50s quoting English poems and eulogizing bourgeoisie passions et al cricket, recently though with proletariats catching up on cricket the comrades sahibs in Bengal had early advantage! Bengal remains one of the most backward region with low human indices and poverty, and absolute lack of social mobility with squatter most conveniently ensconced themselves for proletarian cause. As expected when the time has come to give way to others the arrogance is not astounding. 

Tribute to Solzhenitsyn

Alexander Solzhenitsyn who died the other day was Russia’s most well known contemporary writer. He had to face the atrocities of Communist regime under Stalin even spending eight years in forced labor camp. The critic of barbarism of totalitarian Soviet Union formed the basis of most his writing. One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich (1962) brought the monstrous evil of Stalin’s labor camp to the world. Other writing includes Gulag Archipelago, Cancer ward and so on. Later in his life as he moved to west to escape tyranny he came to disdain soulless capitalism.

These lines from Gulag Archipelago "It was granted to me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience: how a human being becomes evil and how good. In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible, and I was therefore cruel. In the surfeit of power I was a murderer and an oppressor. In my most evil moments I was convinced that I was doing good, and I was well supplied with systematic arguments. It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human".

The shock and disillusionment towards policies followed by Soviet Union regime just before the world war two is well known. The case of happenings in Spain civil war is poignant wherein instead of supporting peasants and workers; Soviet supported Franco and his subsequent tyranny. This forms the backdrop for the story The Incident at the Krechetovka Station. Zotov- the protagonist, an enthusiastic upright young soldier realizing that all may not be well with his country (Solzhenitsyn also served in the Army briefly). He in his naïve eagerness demands to be send to Spain as a private soldier, least aware how the mechanism of the State is working to quell what he passionately feels for. “‘We must remember the general atmosphere at that time’ Zotov said heatedly. ‘The Spanish civil war, the fascist reaching the Madrid students settlement, the international brigade, Guadalajara, Teruel !. It was difficult to stay still. We clamored fro intensive course in Spanish, but they gave us German course instead. I got a Spanish teach yourself book and start studying it instead …I felt we were vitally involved in the Spanish situation and that our revolutionary conscience made it impossible for us remain in the sidelines. But I found nothing of sort in our newspaper, and wondered how I could get over there”…..“And then one day I read …from some French journalist who among other thing wrote ‘Germany and USSR look upon Spain as testing ground for warfare’”.

This line from his Nobel Prize acceptance speech is very pertinent “But for the whole of mankind, compressed into a single lump, such mutual incomprehension presents the threat of imminent and violent destruction. One world, one mankind cannot exist in the face of six, four or even two scales of values: we shall be torn apart by this disparity of rhythm, this disparity of vibrations. A man with two hearts is not for this world, neither shall we be able to live side by side on one Earth".

End of History??

Is this end of history (Fukuyama)?. The triumph of liberal democracy has happened?...Maybe no. The last men of history are here..its time to drag them back into history. ...now before you guys start screaming creeeep...its like this i got some time to read American history(?!)..well just timepass....but been a great experience to go through the history of triumph of the culture of the eye and ear ..of Faulkner (challenging the official American culture of triumph), Bellow, Langston Hughes (what happens to a dream deferred), Morrison (marginal experience), Salinger (spiritual life could be reconciled with an art of gaiety), Raymond carver (what we talk about when we talk about love), Twain as also Tennessee Williams (about lives in relentlessly commercial world).....so on

Reading the political history stumbled upon this incredible person a man who was instrumental not only in American Revolution but also the French revolution !!. A man whose influence was such that he is described as a ''turning point of the history of free thinking''. Unfortunately he was sidelined as leftist atheist (he had absolutely nothing to do with commies). A man who wrote to do good is my religion...humanised religion and its ultimate philosophical and ethical results have not yet been reached (Religion of humanity is a beautiful read). His obituary read he had lived long did some good and much harm. Thomas PAINE landed in America in his late 30s, decrepit after a life of obscurity and failure in England . He wrote the famous pamphlet ''Common sense'' which created the momentum for freedom struggle as also influencing the ''Declaration of independence''.

Common sense he said was nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments and common sense. It starts with the line “ These are the times that try men's soul... ..the cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind ". Common sense was an inspiring vision of independent America as an asylum of freedom This faith carried through Lincoln's determination to wipe out slavery as also Woodrow Wilson’s attempt to use conflict as a crusade for democracy. This is the faith which guided the settlers into great modern nation which unfortunately in recent times has slipped into all time low. Consider this arrogant stance of ''final umpire’’ (Sr Bush) on soviet crisis as also the most recent aggression of Iraq, in this context Paine's lines are so prophetic (common sense on king of England’s speech).

....that the man whose ignorance and obstinacy first involved and still continues the nation in the most hopeless and expensive of all wars, should now meanly flatter them with the name of free people and make a merit of his crime , under the disguise if their essential rights and permanent interests, is something which disgraces the character of perverseness ...these are the words which impress nothing but the ears and are calculated only for the sound.

This definitely cannot be the end of history, there are too many repressed forces...the killing of teenage ''aborigine'' in Australia and subsequent violence is only an indicator, Fukuyama's ''remarkable consensus'' is far from reached.

Post script: this piece was written in Feb 2004, those were the days when the world was experiencing the aggression of Iraq by Bush, vigored with his reelection. Iraq was a serious blunder; this blogger like majority of people around the world was shocked.

Lots of things have happened in the world since then. Apart form other things Bush on his way out, thankfully. But our man was quoted as saying that “he will sprint all the way to end”, don’t know what its mean but attacking Iran (that will be very serious mistake) or other violence helps Republicans. When 9/11 happened Condalisa Rice was quoted as saying “so how do we capitalize on this?”. Don’t know whether its true but yes they did maximum their opportunity (ditto how Market driven people work “seize the opportunity”. These cause maximum damage for self gain). Iraq is now a big shopping mall for merchants of death. McCain is a war hero, and hero’s are supposed to lead from front- whatever that means, but yes you cannot lead from front when there is no “front”! The reason why belligerence helps to capture power. Fear works to cower the voters to certain mindset. That disadvantage collective world. That is disadvantage humanity.

In the meantime in an unprecedented step Australia and Canada has apologized for its past treatment of aborigines.

People the world admire

There are some people whom the world reveres. Nelson Mandela definitely tops the list. He is like an avuncular figure to the world. Most people around the world would agree to this. Despite living in detention for 27 years (try imagining that one) and having faced acute forms of racism under apartheid he doesn’t carry any bitterness or anger. That is amazing.

Another living person who is an incredible source of inspiration is Stephen Hawking. A renowned physicist he is been completely paralyzed (he cannot even speak) but has an amazing determination and a brain to match. His book A Brief History of Science is one of the most popular book on Science around the world, a book you can find with any pavement book seller around the country!!. He is immensely popular, I recall few years back he had come to India and I stood for three hours in the queue but even then couldn’t make it (they though arranged a screen outside the auditorium). Thousands of people had turned up right from scientist, physicists….to children as young as ten!!. He is also known for his sense of humor.

There are others too like Gorbachev, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mohd Ali…many more.

Once upon a time there was a man named Woodrow Wilson…

Woodrow Wilson was the President of USA (from 1913 to 1921) during the crucial years of World War 1. He restrained his country from entering into the war for as long as two years before the German Empires submarine intrusion couldn’t be ignored. Even during the war he focused on diplomacy. After the war he came with “fourteen points” in which he presented an idea of peace making organization-multilateral international association of nations to enforce peace, this was instrumental in creating League of Nation that was precursor to United Nations.

However despite all his effort US didn’t enter League of Nation (the Republican under Cabot Lodge unfortunately were in majority in Congress) the point of disagreement was whether League would diminish Congress power to declare war. With League of Nation giving way to UN and despite the fact that US is a veto member this dispute has remained, with US Presidents (most times Republican) prone to take unilateral actions on sovereignity of other nations undermining all international laws, promoting isolationist foreign policies.

Woodrow Wilson was a visionary whose ideas set the tone for the world in the twentieth century. Democratic government, collective security, international laws…all these have became the guiding principles “the world must be made safe for democracy” (compare that with Bush’s narrow agenda of exporting/planting/bulldozing democracy “because it’s good for America”. The way things have gone past in recent times Woodrow Wilson looks like some mythical figure in a long lost story).

Woodrow Wilson’s influence was significant. He was probably one of the first few modern leaders who recognized the need for global community of nations. In the last few decades as the world gets global the response also will have to be global the reason why United Nation has become so significant and its effectiveness against common threats like global warming, terrorism, food crisis, nuclear proliferation, genocide, civil war…is substantial. Multilateral solutions and Agreements at the global level (like Kyoto) are the only way out. What threatens the world threatens the nations too as nations are part of the world, in the competing space this reality sometimes gets lost. As Woodrow Wilson said in his Nobel Prize acceptance letter “The cause of peace and the cause of truth are of one family”.

The Per Capita balderdash

So the Indian Government has finally come out with its Climate Action Plan. Many international media has given significance to it. CAP was released by none other than the PM. The pitch seems to be the old one: let’s suck in the name of millions of people. How?. Well it’s like this: Indians have been pulling the fast one on the international community with the nonsense of per capita emission. India’s per capita carbon emission stands at 1.02 metric tons wherein “developed” (sure developed!!) countries per capita emission is many times, USA per capita emission stands at whooping 20 metric tons !!. Therefore the US and European countries are worst polluters is the pitch. But the volume of carbon emission of India remains one of the highest in the world.

This blogger had written this earlier also that the worst culprits are the richer section. Poverty is not the polluter at the most it could make surrounding unhygienic which is not same as polluting (even this could be disputed as there are example wherein people with low capita income don’t necessarily lack hygiene or create unhygienic surroundings. On the contrary they are acutely aware of this reality- Kerala is a case study on this. Also I have seen more washing of cloths in slums of big cities than anywhere else). The per capita energy consumption as well as carbon emission of elite section (as also the increasingly aggressive upper middle class) in India is comparable to that of worst offenders in West. This section probably is less than 5 to10% of the population mostly based in big metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and so on. They are influential and can definitely pressurize the Governments to work in their favor. Also consider the Gini index -that measures inequality of income distribution, is increasing steadily in India varying in recent times between a high of 37%-42% (incidentally this index is more 'sensitive' than over rated and much celebrated BSE!!). Further, the inequality in access to clean drinking water, decent housing, good education, proper health care, etc.- is rising. The scene is same around the world the UN Human Development Report notes that incomes are distributed most unequally across the world’s people, with a Gini coefficient of 0.66 globally. The richest 5% in the world corner 114 times the income of the poorest 5%. The richest 1% have as much as the poorest 57%. The 2.5 crore richest Americans earn as much as 200 crore of the world’s poorest people. The poorest 20% in the world saw their share of the global income dip from 2.3% to 1.4% in the past 30 years. Meanwhile, the share of the richest 20% rose from 70% to 85%.

With the hogwash of per capita within national boundary most of these offenders are trying to hide behind millions of people whose energy consumption and carbon footprint is minimal. This is not acceptable. The international community should call this bluff. Just because people live within a geographical entity referred to as Nation is not the reason why they are similar in energy consumption or carbon emission. Green House Gases affects the whole planet, the boundaries of nations are insignificant. If the policy makers and concerned people are serious about reducing carbon emission then they need to see the world as one planet and not different nations.

Pratibha Patil’s position is unconstitutional!!

Pratibha Patil is the first woman President of India but there is no Constitutional provision for her to be the President!!. Shocking…well it is like this Article 53 of the Constitution states that “The executive power of the Union

shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officer subordinate to him in accordance with this constitution”. Article 56 states that “President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office….” And so on…

Pratibha Patil we understand is “her” but the constitutional provision is for “him”!!. The Judiciary or Legislature or Bureaucracy may have agreed among themselves that “him” can be “her”. The problem however is what is agreed on by the policy makers is not even valid at the street level. See it is like this I being “him” cannot go to “her” toilet, I would be thrashed!!. Clearly “him” is not “her”. Vice versa also true.

What is further shocking is that each word was carefully discussed, debated in the Constituent Assembly before placed in the Constitution. The Constitution of India that gives entity to India and its people as it exists now is blatantly gender insensitive document. It has no provision for women whether as MP, MLA or as Chairman. Recently Australian Parliament passed a communiqué making “him” as “him or her”. This might sound routine for many but it is a very significant step. A step that should have been taken few decades back. I recall when in school during Civics class (I guess it was in 6th Std) we used to make fun of the girls, by saying that ‘this not for you’!!. It was very difficult for them to defend, irony was girls were toppers. I don’t know whether I carried the guilt but years later when I was working in a Publishing Company I was told to write few chapters on Constitution as they were coming out with a Book (I guess it was on Public Administration), and I found it extremely difficult writing “him” so I wrote “him or her” but soon coded it as (s)he since I was tired of it, as I had to hand write 100 odd pages (don’t know what Editor thought about it as I had quit by then). It is time that Government of India made the Constitution gender sensitive and these be added into school texts as early as possible. Why this not been done in last 60years is amazing.

Post Script: I worked in the publishing company for three or four months, this probably the only job where I send a resignation letter (most others I told to get lost!!, was some hot headed dude) since I wanted to freelance for them. I did take interviews for the Magazine for six months or so most cases I spend more than I earned. It was quite tough those days but I carried on since I enjoyed it. Below is the interview of two lady Army officers I took, this one page interview looks innocuous but it took almost a year (plz click on it to enlarge). First I thought it was an easy thing just drop into their office and fix an interview but I was told to go to PRO – South Block and many phone calls later, probably after two months it was arranged. I had to record the interview and then convert into writing which actually is laborious. Unlike the interview published it was not this dry nor was it one page!!. I was really upset when I got my copy!. Also the interview was taken somewhere in February 1998 (the plan was to get it in Women’s day edition of March) but it came in December by the time I had forgotten about it. Anyway it was a good experience for me. Apart from such Interviews I also recall going to cover Acting school somewhere in Noida (run by one Kapoor…there are too many to remember!!. And yes this one also had acted in movies!!). He showed me around the building, even asked some of his students to demonstrate their acting skills for me. I recall giving appreciative nods!!

Tribute to a brilliant soldier

Field Marshal Manekshaw was a great soldier and a compassionate human being. I start hearing about him right from my early childhood in discussions around. Every one had great respect from him. He was the Chief of Army during Bangladesh liberation and considered main architect behind the Operation. He had to in the early days of Operation take on the politicians and armchair strategists as they hustled him for early Military action that would have been a blunder.

When I was in my teens there was a Documentary in DD Channel about Manekshaw, he had a small statue of soldier in his home that he saluted every day. That is when I started liking him. Army libraries has more than enough material on war and warfare, I read whatever I could about Manekshaw (those days I also used see Gen. Vaidya quite often). He was a great man and an inspiration, world’s oldest living Field Marshal till yesterday. Great soldiers don’t die they just go back home.

Post Script: Don’t know whether my trivialities should be included when writing tribute to a great man. It is embarrassing but then Bloggers have the right to do anything!!. So I continue with my inanities….. I have mixed feeling about Army, ideally the world shouldn’t have Armies but then world is not an ideal place!!. Some time back I had a dislike for Army recently though it has turned to nostalgia. When I was a teen i used to watch war movies at friends video later I got addicted to war comics particularly about fighter pilots. I recall this fellow in Chennai who used to sell second hand books next to LIC building at Anna Salai who regularly supplied me these comics, those days i was absolutely into Aircrafts so more than story i was trying to identify the type of aircrafts!!. Seeing those turbo props was immense.

I also recall when I was in my early teen we spend ten days or so at Wellington, the place had buzz about Manekshaw. Wellington is a place I really liked, I recall going for long walks, watching soldiers practicing shooting (also punished!!) and eating hot food at aesthetically done Officer’s Mess. It is a charming little town.

How to put value on human life ?!!!.

Few blogs back this blogger expressed shock over callousness of some people in Media. As an unfortunate man gasped for his last breathes the scoundrels were busy shooting his dying moments for their audience. What kind of awareness it has created among the channel surfing coach potatoes is not very clear but yes we have come one step closer to competence, I am told it did cause a blip in TRP. Kevin Carter was a man whose conscience he couldn’t shrug off but human species have become sturdier since, particularly the saviors in Indian Media.

This happening has kept me thinking for sometime, it has definitely shocked me, innate goodness of people is what one banks on. Death can happen anytime that means we all live on the fringe and someone like me lives a step closer. A wrong move and its over, even a broken bone or illness is severe setback- it puts significant pressure on day to day living and earning. One is always aware of this reality (also I have seen many people around me vanishing; it nearly consumed me at one point). Last 15 odd years I seemed to have had a terrific streak of luck, and did put myself in all kinds of situation (in earlier days quite reckless too), many a times escaped by a whisker or few scratches. It does allow a perspective on life that is very stark. As it gets into your system I guess it gives more clarity (it might surprise people but stress actually slows down situations one face!!). It also makes one understand how precious life is and sheer beauty of surrounding despite problems and squalor one sees. Emily Dickinson had these lines:
Death sets a thing significant
The eye has hurried by
She remains my most favorite poet, long back I used to carry her book of poems while traveling. These lines from another poem of her

Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality.

We slowly drove—He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility—

Amazing lines these.

With market gaining predominance in last few years everything seems to be having commercial-monetary value. So let’s assume if the man was saved by the people in Media, now that is a big assumption since cost-benefit analysis doesn’t really favor such a decision….it is a TRP busting breaking story with a terrific visual. So I guess we have to take another example: let us assume any one of you blogger’s life was saved by someone, how will you repay back??

How can you put value on your own life??. Or will you think in terms of person who saved you and decide the price keeping his socio-economic conditions in mind, that is an easier option since it takes the focus away from oneself!!. And suppose the person refuse to accept the rewards which is what happens in most cases in India, what will you do??. I recall many years back I was stuck in a cheap hotel and bandh was called, shutters were down and I was stranded with half a bottle of water. Not that I cannot go without food for a day or so, I have done that few times, people who were staying in the next room offered some food and my insistence on giving money was resisted. How will you deal with such situation?.

There is a Short Story by British writer E.M. Forster “The Rock” that I read few years back that deals with such a situation. The protagonist was saved from drowning by three people…. “…He kept saying ‘I don’t know what to do. I can’t think. I shall come to you again’. And they replied, ‘oh that’ll be all right sir.’ You can imagine the scene, and it was not till the evening that I realized his difficulty. How much will you give for your life?”. The next few days our man spends in thinking how much to give, later how much they want!!. Finally he comes with a decision “For a time he was merely interested. He was amused at the problem, and the sensations it aroused in him. But at last he only cared for the solution. He found it one evening in this little room, when the sunset more glorious than today’s was flaming under the wych-elm. He asked me, as I asked you, what such things are worth, and gave the answer: ‘Nothing; and nothing is the reward to the man who saved me.’…. ‘…for the gift of nothing shall be that I have in the world’. The story though takes a turn from this lofty thinking and our man sold everything he had and gives the money to his rescuers. Then he does the unexpected he “… went down to that village penniless and asked for charity from his rescuers”. What happened next is what bloggers will have to read and find out!!. It is an amazing Short Story.

Trivia: E.M. Forster’s famous work is Passage to India that was made into a movie (David Lean), Naipaul though don’t have nice words. The title Passage to India is taken from Walt Whitman’s poem on the occasion of opening up of Suez canal!!. Though Forster had written some brilliant work of fiction his focus in his later days were essays: "Most of life is so dull that there is nothing to be said about it and the books and talk that would describe it as interesting are obliged to exaggerate, in the hope of justifying their own existence. Inside its cocoon of work or social obligation, the human spirit slumbers for the most part, registering the distinction between pleasure and pain, but not nearly as alert as we pretend."

More we watch the ecstatic media more we tend to agree with the above thoughts of Forster. It is theater of absurd, 'not nearly as alert as they pretend'.

Mugabe kush hua !!…inside story on how to create a civil war (with corrections and some additions)

Robert Mugabe is the President of a small South African country since its independence from Britain. In 80s he was one of the respected leaders around, this blogger recalls him participating in NAM summit in Delhi (frankly one recalls only Mugabe, Castro and Arafat with Indira Gandhi!!). The problems faced by Zimbabwe are similar to India of 50s and 60s, the land is held by few (white) people so acute that even now 1% white people hold 70% arable land!!. Land distribution was high on agenda, majority of black people live in abject poverty so this is one step that should have been taken quite early. Mugabe though lost his chance in his narrow worldview, recently-since 2000 he has brought this issue up more as a political exigency, it is used to consolidate his power. The land has been distributed to his loyals. Further, forced evictions and vandalism led to acute refugee crisis since 2005. The chaotic and lawless distribution of lands saw fall in productivity, and severe impact on its economy. Zimbabwe is now facing a serious humanitarian and economic crisis (the inflation is around 5000% highest in the world). It has the lowest life expectancy in the world, 37 for males and 34 for females….now that is really low.

Robert Mugabe has in last few decades morphed into megalomaniac. In last few years senility has set in but still he cannot have a good sleep without clutching on to his power. He has stoop to an extend of common thug (such is infatuation of power dear!!). Wily politicians like him can delay his departure with lives and misery of common people. In the neighborhood Sani Abacha brutally silenced democratic voices for many years. It was not international community that put this repression to an end but fate. God said enough is enough and Sani boy had an heart attack, Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief. African subcontinent unfortunately had many debilitating problems, from colonialism-slavery to drought to AIDS epidemics the potential of some very spectacular people has been suppressed for quite long time by unfortunate circumstances and now corrupt -self serving leaders.

There was some glimmer of hope earlier this year in Zimbabwe when elections were held, Opposition party MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) headed by Morgan Tsvangirai got the majority, this was announced after much vacillation later it was manipulated as too close to call and so one more round proposed, in the meant time Mugabe and his thugs started a reign of terror and intimidation on hapless people. Few weeks back Mr. Tendai Biti (the Secretary general of MDC) was arrested and charged with sedition that carries death sentence. As Zimbabwe slips into misery and possible civil war, the people of the country call for help from international community. It is a very precarious situation. It seems that despite the fact that neighbors of Zimbabwe have called for Mugabe to quit (with exception of Mbeki…what a disgrace for Mandela’s South Africa…it really saddens me) it is quite unlikely to happen.

As things seems spinning out of hand people of Zimbabwe have no one to turn to except the international community specifically UN. Unfortunately UN has failed to deliver when it comes to concrete action on matters like these. We have seen that in tragedy of Burma (or Myanmar as junta calls it), recently the military dictators even had the audacity to conduct referendum as millions of people were dying from the effect of cyclone Nargis. Who will bring this scoundrels to book?.

This blogger as a common person who could be located any where in the world sees the events unfolding in Zimbabwe as a litmus test on how UN deals with crisis. If UN or any effort on part of African union fails then what is the solution other than unilateral actions like US on Afghanistan. Governments have responsibilities towards its citizens, if dictators and regime turn on its own people then international community-UN, has to respond. The mechanism asserting multilateralism need to be effective.

This blogger is keenly following the events in Harare, and expects UN to respond to this unfortunate country that is perilously close to civil war.

Post Script: the latest is MDC has decided to withdraw from elections due to widespread violence and intimidation, that means Mugabe will be elected unopposed. The Dictator was quoted as saying 'only God can remove him'...that is what megalomania means i guess!. The problem seems to be (as i gather from one of the TV program) lack of post colonial restructuring, now this is something that is true to a large extend in Indian subcontinent.

(apologies for mistaking Morgan Tsvangirai for Tendai Biti , who was arrested and charged with treason)

Matter of ethics and dignity for dying

Recently there was report of police firing on farmers protesting against non availability of fertilizers. One person was killed and his last moments were captured by camera and shown in TV channels. The unfortunate man gasped for breath for many precious minutes but the scoundrels posing as media didn’t find it necessary to save him they probably were busy to get the ‘story’, the ‘bite’. Not only th

at from the camera position it is clear that they were actually on top of him to get the best angle. This is gruesome. It is inhuman and unethical. This blogger doesn’t really see any difference in this ‘reporting’ and abetting death (don’t know how many bloggers will recall decades back when there was famine in Sudan a western photographer-Kevin Carter snapped a dying child-who eventually died, that went on to win international awards later the man suicided since he could not shrug off his guilt).

Conscience is part of humanness. Media cannot trample it in the name of freedom. A society increasingly loosing compassion while asserting its choice is eating into itself is cannibalistic. This blogger strongly reiterates nothing to be more sacrosanct than dignity of individual. The government is duty bound to protect its citizen’s privacy and dignity.

Further taking dying out of context by depicting and wallowing in the gruesome is a well thought out commercial strategy. Also it posits media to be the savior against thoughtless or much clichéd ‘corrupt government’. A study conducted by Doris Graber (1979 in Chicago- this blogger understand that American study may not be generalized

but the result does fall into our understanding, so taken) showed that although the crime rate in the city was 0.2%, the proportion of media crime report was 26%. Johan Galtung and Marie Holmboe Ruge (Journal of Peace research) examined “how an event becomes news” and found “the more negative the event in its consequences, the more likely it is to become a news item”. They give reasons like easiness of negative news, non ambiguity, corresponds to predominant world view, suddenness-unexpectedness compared to positive events…later Jurgen Wilke (in Berlin) adds that “negative news creates need for immediate action..” thus riveting, the media therefore becomes a conduit for action for people (which can be positive but then in the context of sensationalism and saleability it is economics, also helps hide its shortcomings). Clearly there is more to gain from negative events. Dying in front of camera is no doubt an event to be savored (ever wondered what goes with the family and friends?...the scene would of course be different if the victim was upper class in say Delhi or Mumbai). Also crime news is now main news if not breaking. There are thousands of murders committed around the country why something happening in Delhi or Mumbai are ‘high profile’ is beyond me. This blogger strongly protest Union Ministers or central agencies asking how the media or police

should behave or whether a Channel can make serial out of this ‘high profile’ murder. Firstly this is a UP State subject matter, secondly this is misuse of power, you cannot ask media/police to do what in this particular case, wherein there are millions of cases over the decades around the country where people’s privacy is grievously violated and exploited . Either you have a law that is applicable to all or just keep shut. Union Ministers and Central agencies represent the nation and not the neighborhood or ‘people like us’, lest they forget (quite possible since most of them have never really spent time outside Delhi!!). Media can have their drawing room discussions and other concerns, responsible people should know were to draw the line.

Not denying that some politicians are corrupt and incompetent. Pointing out them and their misdemeanor is an important function of media but that doesn’t make media competent or trustworthy. Most people in this country have pessimistic view, in many case cynical about media (media tho kuch be deeka sakti hai), some spectacular work of media and some committed media persons cannot be denied though. But then some is definitely not whole. A significant number of media person are goons with mob mindset, they round in on their prey like pack of hyenas and squeeze them till the last drop. There are not many laws or awareness protecting the victims or common people, more than that there is question of ethics that should be reflected in laws.

There have been drastic technological changes in the last decade or so. It is putting lots of stress on India’s social system and emulating West is no solution-socio cultural context is quite varied nor is west a ideal model, theoretical construct though is acceptable. In a country of disparities like India with millions of vulnerable people, the elected government and vigilant media ha

ve a very significant role to play. It is now increasingly clear that commercial reasons are dictating the decision making. Not denying that profit from a venture is important but if that is the dictating criterion then they cannot claim the rights that come with responsibility. Power given to media without responsibility is unacceptable, it is dangerous (not to forget corruption…India ranks quite high in that. Recall also how senior journalist and editor of Asian Age Mr. M.J.Akbar was removed. If media is a business then it should be treated as one they shouldn’t be taking high moral grounds and claim rights that most citizens don’t have. Having a mike and camera is no criteria to barge in to people’s privacy). Therefore it is important for the government to put in guidelines. It is about time to put media into serious scrutiny.

Also, the belligerence of ‘we can decide’ or self regulation is hogwash. They are too self centered and money minded to even sit together, mostly egoist (which is expected with untrammeled power for decades, in most cases passed hereditary). In Indian context this also need to be seen with traditional connotations. Having dominated for centuries under the guile of religion-ritual, later this section took to mostly sycophancy of colonizers (with this mindset came servility to English and unfortunate rise of English saw them claim instant competence!!), recently with government getting increasingly representative with political parties from lower strata getting vocal the power equation is changing. Realizing this shift the power is being accrued through connection in Media though they claim egalitarian and democracy as alibi the intention in most cases doesn’t seem to compliment democratic society but only a mean to increase their influence/clout/money with minimum of effort. The arrogance of keeping their power intact is now smartly packed as self regulation, as also the balderdash of egalitarian values. It is from the same traditional context that they get the audacity to proclaim their god given right to decide for themselves and create their own laws. The western model doesn’t work in Indian reality, these scoundrels are in for making some fast money-clout at the expense of common people. Why corruption and incompetence in government only the point of enquiry what about some equally corrupt people in media and corporate??. That will be looking into mirror!!. Recently during T20 a fellow was kicked out, the reason given by the corporate entity was ill health, the person denied flatly and was found to be correct…this is just a glimpse of professionalism as is practiced in India. Arbitrary removals, decisions taken on whim are all part of folklore…it seems they are born competent: thou shall always be comptento came the voice from the sky!!. Most Indian media is about this very accident. (Again let me stress there are some great people in media as well as corporate). They don’t seem to make any mistake even if they get things go wrong whether it is about polls, or other details, even if the ‘mediaperson’ lack any perceptiveness or understanding ( most importantly the focus of their news and what doesn’t make it as news in a country of more than billion people), the gross negligence ….despite all this they come out as competent and meritorious. The reference point for them is something that is referred to as TRP (it is now presiding deity in many TV channels). Then they have the audacity to teach us the importance of competence!!.

Indian government is well within its right, considering- the culture and traditional context, to ask for reservation of at least 25% media time on reporting on issues related to rural India as also development issues of Tribals and SC (that is not too much for more than 70% of the people, they are now in media as crime news titillations). If they don’t agree they can close down and start some kirana store already there are too many channels. The idea that governments are only facilitators for corporate to function is western, it suits their reality, in here it breeds inequality and puts millions of people in vulnerable position. It really cannot work in a nation of acute disparities. There is an immediate need to protect livelihood and basic needs of millions of people, the environment, and natural resources. The development that is sustainable can only be allowed. That is what democracy means and that is what development is.

(That is a long one doubtful whether bloggers have read each line of it!)

The ten headed Kamal Haasan is here!!

Dasavatharam is here finally. Watch out for Kamal Haasan he is one actor who innovates a lot, I don’t think I will miss this one (I haven’t really gone out for movies in theatres for a long time, the last few being Shivaji, Munnabhai, Al Gore’s The inconvenient truth…quite eclectic!!). Long back I watched Apoorva sahodarangal (I guess I was in college those days…the songs were quite popular. Even in our college film festival we chose Kamal Haasan movie, he was a big hit). Last 10-15 years I haven’t seen his movie, did catch up part of few movies in TV recently in Tamil channels. I liked ‘Indian’ movie as also fight scenes in Tamil movie where he acts as a old woman (avaai shanmugi), not to forget the silent movie Pushpak. Other movies I liked include spectacular Naayagan, Thenvar magan. He is an amazing actor and probably one of the very few trained classical dancer-actor (also a singer recently!!). You could see those in some of the old Tamil and Malayalam movies. He has also acted in Hindi movies the most popular being 1980s blockbuster Ek duje ke liye, with some equally popular songs.

One movie that I have seen recently in my Box that I absolutely loved was Khosle ka Ghosla, it is brilliant particularly the man who acts property dealer. If you have spend some time in underbelly of delhi you understand the nuances better, many of which will easily be missed by outsiders. I should know it. I have spent more than enough time with property dealers. It so happened that when I first landed up in delhi 95’ later 97’ I used to be very confused about the streets. Karol bagh had thousands of alleys, to get to know the place apart from other things I used to visit Property dealers posing as a person looking for room for rent apart from free chai biskut, next few hours was free ride to different localities in his scooter, it was one big fun. These guys are impeccable in first meetings chai piyoji(he), hanji(i), biskut-viskut vagara (he), hanji kyon nahi (i)…then after few crap about what you do…which I kept changing from student to bank meh kam karthe hai to what not depending on whether I am looking for room or flat (that means visiting richer houses!!). We went to different houses (giving crap answers to some equally crap questions from house owners…one can write few paragraphs on this!!) each I would find some fault, in the end I giving some vague expression….you need to see the gentlemanly fellow slowly bringing out his claw- it is a remarkable transformation from kyon ji aap to kya behenchodh- some of them got really frustrated, but I always tried depart with some promise of future dealing and so on. Next week would be another dealer and there are hundreds of them!!. The only transgression was probably when I tried to play the game, I gave the info about vacate room to a fellow staying nearby for some money, few days later I found the dealer with few goons knocking my door….pay back time!!.

One of the many uses of a tree !!

On this World Environment Day we need to pause, think and take mitigative actions not only on the deterioration of the Nature and Environment but also should realize the serious exploitation of Natural resources by some of the Corporates at the expense of sustainability and livelihood needs of local population. Since the Governments of many poorer countries are influenced by money (corruption is rampant) it is for the international communities to take action. Water, sand, trees, traditional knowledge ….don’t come free, it is the property of the society and the people of the region, their basic needs should get preference (or else compensated) over profit.

Is Mango the king of fruits ?!!!

India is the largest producer of Mangoes (Magnifera Indica) in the world, the name Mango originated from Tamil ‘Mangkay’. Some thousand varieties of Mangoes grow in this region, the fruit is considered king of all fruits. It is believed that from India Mangoes reached Europe through traders, much earlier Buddhist monks were responsible for its spread in Asia, later Arab traders took it to gulf and other places. Ancient Indians believed Mango tree can grant wishes, even now some parts of India during auspicious occasions like Deepavali and pongal (in Tamil Nadu) they hang Mango leaves at the entrance. Various dishes (like for instance manga pulliseri- the one I expertise in!!) and puddings are made from this fruit. Pickles, papdis, murabbas, chutney, amchur, panna… the list is long. (Unripe mangoes are used in fish curry in travancore region, it give that characteristic taste).

The famous breed of Mango is Alphonso (or hapoos)- they sell that in boxes even in malls nowadays, it has been gifted to head of other countries as diplomatic gesture. Apart from popular varieties like Kesar, Dashehari, Mulgoa, Chausa, Langra….there is Himsagar, Kishen Bhog, Mankurad, , Neelum, Suvarnarekha, Vanraj, Bangalora, Banganpalli, Bombai, Bombay Green, Fajli, Fernnadin, Zardalu. Hybrid Varieties are Amarapali, Mallika, Arka Aruna, Arka Puneet, Arka Anmol, Arka Neelkiran, Ratna, Sindhuri, Au Rumani, Manjeera, sugar baby. Other hybrid varieties released are Alfazali, Sundar Langra, Sabri, Jawahar, Neelphonso, Neeleshan, Neeleshwari and so on…..now those are some serious names!!. During mango season (April-May) mango exhibitions are held with varieties of mangoes in display (few weeks back I went for organic mango festival!!). I recall when kids we used to run when mango fell from tree, the one who reaches first gets it, unlike coconut mango fall with light thud (obviously!!).

So is it mango the king of all fruits?.

Well….hmm…well this blogger is not really impressed despite its credentials. My vote goes to Jackfruit (kathal in hindi, chakka in Malayalam) this fruit is really underrated. Dr.O.W. Barrett (an agriculturist credited with many books on these subjects) wrote in 1928: "The jaks . . . are such large and interesting fruits and the trees so well-behaved that it is difficult to explain the general lack of knowledge concerning them.". There is mention of jackfruit in Varamahira’s Samhita (6^th century). This blogger gives this humble fruit top marks not only for its taste but also smell -nobody can miss it even from few meters, it is sweet combination of pineapple and banana!!. It is one fruit I am crazy about, so much so one tends to overeat. Jackfruit is also purely Indian tracing its origin to Western Ghats (the name jackfruit traces its origin to Portuguese jaca which in turn derived from Malayalam chakka). The fruit is quite a recluse with spiny exterior and sticky interior, it is like the fruit is asking “you don’t want to mess with me do you?”. Truly cutting jackfruit is a messy affair. One has to smear oil in hands before venturing otherwise regret it for next few hours, the glue doesn’t go even with washing!!. There are two types of jackfruit as I know kooza and varika chakka, the later is favored as the fruit is of high quality. The Kooza are softer and fibrous and very messy. It is difficult to tell whether the Jackfruit is kooza or varika before cutting (the variation of these names are found in Thailand and Srilanka, even Jamaica). Like mango many varieties of jackfruit are now found the 'Singapore', or 'Ceylon' jack was introduced in India in 1940s. In 1961, the Horticultural Research Institute at Saharanpur, India, reported the acquisition of air-layered plants of the excellent varieties, 'Safeda', 'Khaja', 'Bhusila', 'Bhadaiyan' (gr8 name that one!!) and 'Handia' and others. The Fruit Experimental Station at Burliar, established a collection of 54 jackfruit clones from all producing countries, and ultimately selected 'T Nagar Jack' as the best in quality and yield (In Assam, nurserymen have given names such as 'Mammoth', 'Everbearer', and 'Rose-scented' to preferred types). This blogger has a liking for jackfruit as well as tapioca chips (hate potato chips). In South Karnataka coastal region I happen to taste Jackfruit idlis!!!(as also ela adas). I am big fan of Chakkakuru mezhkuperatti (jackfruit seeds).

Ludovico Di Varthema an Italian traveler who came to kerala in 1503 had this to say about Jackfruit “I found in Calicut a kind of fruit which is called Ciccar (jackfruit). Its stem is like that of a large pear tree…this fruit is gathered in the month of December, and when it is eaten it seems as if you are eating musk melons, and it appears to resemble a very ripe Persian quince. It appears also as though you are eating a preparation of honey, and it also has the taste of a sweet orange. Within the said fruit….there is another fruit which, if placed on the embers of a fire and then eaten, you would say that they are the most excellent chestnut. So that this appears to me the best and most excellent fruit I ever ate”. Our man had something to say about mangoes too “another fruit is also found here…this manga (mangoes) is made like one of our walnuts in the month of August, and has that form; and when it is ripe it is yellow and shining. This fruit has a stone within like a dry almond, and is much better than the Damascus plim…”

Long live Jackfruit !!!