on low expectations...

...hopeful of some understanding

The runner

You will not see so pure a thing as this:
Movement alone, with its own emphasis.

Those were lines from the poem “The Runner” by Australian poet Francis Webb (you can read the complete poem at www.iseeebirds.blogspot.com). This blogger is an ardent follower of athletic events happening anywhere around the world, a very special interest in running-track events. Keenly follow the world records created and so on. The above picture is that of Chinese athlete Liu Xiang the world record holder in 110m hurdles. It was wonderful to watch him fly over the hurdles at just concluded Asian Games in Guangzhuo China. Indians too have done well in athletics taking few gold medals (need to mention the girl from Udupi: Ashwini who won two Gold medals, a natural athlete she has lots of potential). It is also satisfying to see lots of Keralites in field events; athletics has a strong traditional presence in Kerala. This blog will not be complete without mention of Preeja Sreedharan- winning a Gold and a Silver, she has come a long way.

Must say that the Chinese have done stupendously well in sports.

Bihar does it

This blogger is an ardent admirer of Biharis, i knew many youngsters in Delhi. Most of them are quite smart and hardworking but they suffer from prejudices (Delhiites do have prejudices against most outsiders especially against Biharis, taken to extend of abuse). Undoubtedly future of India pass through Bihar, and if the election results are any indications then we are in for a very bright future. There is a saying in Chinese ‘may you live in interesting times’; Bihar is in for a very exciting time. It is a high time that Biharis realise where they belong and their proud place in history as the land of Buddha and seat of ancient learning. This blogger is also excited by the idea of distributing free cycles by Nitish Kumar Government to girl students in villages. This is a brilliant idea; cycle is not mere mode of transportation it has potential to revolutionise, it’s about freedom. In its intent it is as much Gandhiji’s take on breaking salt tax.

Congress tho ab apni dukaan hai!! (a quote from tapped telephonic conversation in connection to spectrum scam)

I was reading Hans Magnus Enzensberger, an amazing contemporary German poet, the other day and I came across these lines from the poem “the wolves defended against the lambs” which i thought was quite interesting and apt to the times we live in

You lambs, why crows would be
nuns stacked up against you:
all of you hoodwink each other.
fraternity’s the rule
among wolves:
they travel in packs

Whether the Government in Centre change or not some people always have a hold in the power circle, frankly this blogger didn’t think on these lines or was even aware of these but having observed some crude people over the years i can vouch for it. It’s not been an experience i cherish, since crude can only give nonsense, would call it a waste of time, never be influenced by these trash people. It is a tragedy of this society with so many disparities that democracy- that sometimes is the only mean of redress or sense of empowerment of millions people- is held at ransom. Few thousand people around the power centres have consistently interfered and scuttled democracy for immediate gains.

Even though allegations of corruption runs into billions of rupees, nobody ever gets prosecuted clearly “wolves travel in packs” they share the loot (i am here reminded of a fellow named Sukh Ram, just a small example that punctuates illustrious post independence India’s history). Sonia Gandhi says that integrity of PM shouldn’t be questioned. In the meantime the Attorney General representing the union government told the Supreme Court that integrity not a criteria when questioned on CVC appointment, of course with much sophistication. Why do you think there are too many Delhi based lawyers in ‘national’ politics?!

Where are the institutional mechanism to tackle the menace the society faces like say corruption?. May this blogger ask why the recommendation on creation of Ombudsman that is pending for decades not implemented? Who is afraid of prosecuting the corrupt at the high places? Millions of rupees are spend on Commissions whose recommendations languish the cupboards of Union Ministry. Some years back i went through the ARC reports (Administration Reform Commission Report), there are some brilliant suggestions. This blogger would like to ask what has been done to these (and others too), if nothing is done what is the reason?. If this PM was so keen on economic reforms in early 90s and could take revolutionary steps as FM what prevents him from taking revolutionary steps to strengthen Indian democracy and prevent it being misused by coterie of people. This government has failed quite miserably, they seemed to have succumbed to powerful entrenched interest groups.

Ironically most Indians are not manipulative nor are corrupt people, indeed quite decent and go out of the way to help. It is a minuscule percentage of people that spoil it and lack of stricter laws makes it ambiguous and inviting. It is small time ambitious people around the power centres who corrupt, they are in politics, in media, bureaucracy, business and so on. Then there are fixers who work as gel, with market taking over they move around with dexterity with bundles of cash influencing decision makers at the expense of common people. They can ‘manage your image’ by creating perception and manipulation in media (it is a different matter that these exaggerations don’t work in long run). They have spread across the spectrum (no pun intended) with so much ease that it is shocking. The sleaze encourages anti-social elements and undermines the authority of the state.

This is to be expected, that is how National Political parties function. It gets confined to few people in Delhi, and further few in media who voice them, then there are fixers and small timers waiting for falling crumbs. Like MPs representing different part of the country we have experts for everything right across the street, indeed they can do without India. Why do you think Union ministers feed few selected in media, wherein as Union Ministers they are representing whole country. Isn’t this favouritism? Is that not corruption?. They are expected to address the whole nation that can only be done through press conference and not exclusive interviews (American model doesn’t work in country as diverse as India). An ombudsman would have definitely pointed out these corrupt practises. Recently Union Minister Kapil Sibal was seen running from one channel to another expressing his exclusive opinion against corruption. Does he realise that this nation spends millions of rupees on him as union minister and his moving around and spending time like this is costing nation huge amount. Has he gone to, let’s say, Tripura and sat down with the state Education minister and found out how things are functioning there and visited schools at the interiors of the state and interacted with youngsters?. I think not, nor do i expect him to, sitting in Delhi and fixing with few journalists may give the illusion of India but the reality is much starker..

These powerful people feed few in the media for favour and in return make the few in media powerful, and so it seems this is where India’s problems and solutions are to be found. With market and fixers we have a self perpetuating system that feed and thrive on each other, throw in money and sleaze, we now know what’s happening in Delhi.

When National Political parties rules (like Congress, BJP, CPM) you will find most ministers are Delhi based. If regional parties are more powerful and have a strong say in the Centre things would be difficult for this small section of people who are really a threat to Indian democracy and aspirations of people, indeed they have reduced it to a joke. A diverse country like India should have coalition government; national political parties suffer from strong elitism and self serving entrenched groups. They are in clutch of coterie of Delhi based ‘leaders’ who in turn are in the directory of fixers, it’s a farce. Wonder how a millionaire Delhi based lawyer Arun Jaitly ended up as leader of opposition without even ever wining an election, he may be critical of ‘dynasty’ but there is no doubt that he is a product of media fixing, he is an outcome of corrupt system and money power. Are there no elected leaders in BJP?. The answer to this is in the nature of National Parties.

Sonia Gandhi recently said “graft and bribery is on the increase”. I had to look into the dictionary to find out the meaning of graft (the only ‘graft’ i am aware of was stem grafting in biology!). Incredibly the word has opposing meaning it means “hard work” as also “obtaining money by dishonest means or position of power”. I am quite sure Ms. Gandhi meant the latter. There is a misconception that monetary transaction is the only indicator of corruption. Nepotism and favouritism is also how corruption is defined, it denies the deserving. I don’t have much of access nor have the time to apply for RTI but i will give a simple example of how people with influence misuse their position for favour.

I didn’t see the closing ceremony of Commonwealth Games, but did watch the opening ceremony there was lots of pressure to excel and they did it quite well (the one on yoga was spectacular). After a relatively successful conducting of games the closing ceremony was more ‘relaxed’ and this is where you can expect incompetent scoundrels to sneak in. I found out that ‘bollywood songs’ was an important item. Not discussing the propriety of including only Hindi (and English) or ‘bollywood’ to represent Indian song (they could have included songs from different part of the country as they did so brilliantly with dances in the Opening). My concern is: how they arrived at these singers to represent the country at an international event?. What was the criteria and who decided?. Shockingly a choreographer not known for singing was given the opportunity. It clearly showed the influence of Rodents (and fixers), why do you think he got into Rajya Sabha (crude woman would say: kya lagtha hai dilli meh kanche kelne aye hai?. One of the first thing she did was to get baap ke naam par train!. Small achievements in her little life). They even got the fellow who won song competition from the TVchannel they were associated with to sing at this mega event. This is how they work on the clout ‘you associate with us we will get you more’. It doesn’t really matter to them whether it makes us cringe watching this substandard fair or whether it denied the showcasing of singing talent of people from different part of the country. A government representing more than billion people will be having lots of money and perks in context to art and culture, there is huge loot going on, some people are using this to work out their influence. Must say asking a choreographer to sing was quite blatant, maybe it was symbolism to show their reach and contacts (crude woman even mentioned few years back that ‘Soniaji does return her call’. Wonder why would anyone reveal such personal detail?...well it is about showing the clout). If we can get a choreographer to bray at an international event think what else we can do?. In small timers world this is how stature is judged. I think it also means grafting.

When there was stampede in the Delhi based media as to who will get what portfolio in Union Cabinet i was wondering how does that matter to us. Been quite naive must say i wasn’t aware of lobbying, it is shocking if it influences policy makers. Generally sycophants as Ministers are quite susceptible to lobbying, it helps fixers to work out. National Political Parties generally have ‘leaders’ who are product of networking, it makes it very dangerous and is even threat to security of this nation.

Post Script: does privacy meant for rich and powerful?. I am quite certain that these small timers for their immediate gains have intruded into my privacy (believe me given a chance i would definitely pursue it to its end, so i expect rodents to wipe their track clean), latest technology is being misused. For last few years I am finding it increasingly difficult to use my phone or Email. Any attempts to widen my employment opportunity seem to be thwarted, in many cases quite rudely. It has left me quite stressed. Juhu b*tch seem to have the impression that she has Kozhakatta for me (Kozhakatta puzhngi vechatondo?...its Malayalam.), frankly it did shock me to learn that she is another crap working out her miserable career. And instigation also make them play victim!!. Only brits could see a Gandhi in this one, fact is even common people don’t want her anywhere near, she though is prompt with her muslim-victim card. Disgusting these manipulators. I recall many years back i sent across photos with Kolatkars Jejuri....it takes lots of effort these things, any other person would have responded but for crude woman this was another occasion to work out her clout...she was firmly at Mrs Gandhi’s doorstep!!. At personal level I was quite devastated, decided to quit Delhi.

I don’t mind these trash people doing nonsense-surely entertaining- but intrusion of privacy is a different matter. It has put me in severe stress in last few years and ruined all my social relations. It is likely that crude people and fixers have not come across likes of me. Frankly i am not interested in these trash people i consider it a waste of time, i guess i know what they are all about and don’t want to be in their vicinity even for a million dollar!.
I also have to spend more time to post my blog every time it seems to be corrupted.

Classic

Did the readers of this blog heard that Japanese Justice Minister Minoru Yanagida stepped down yesterday? He admitted that "Being justice minister is easy because I only ever have to remember two phrases, which I can use whenever I am stuck for an answer to a question in parliament: 'I refrain from making comments on a specific issue' and 'We are dealing with the matter based on laws and evidence'. This blogger thinks that he shouldn't been asked to resign for being candid. Indian politicians and bureaucrats will never admit but do it all the time, there is a memorable scene in Peepli (live) regarding this.

Do not know whether it is a copyright violation but i had to post this clip from Dilbert, a site i visit regularly and want every reader of this blog to (http://www.dilbert.com/), it makes my day these little funny things. Scot Adams is an amazing guy to come out with these consistently brilliant stuff.

Freedom...

A picture can speak a million words!!

This a photo i took sometime back happens to be my favourite, there are others too i like but this one stands out. I took this at a temple (shani mandir) on an island about an hour on boat in Chilka Lake. It’s a child and her grandmother, they were travelling in the same boat as i was with thier family, i caught them in this rare moment of intimacy just before we were about to leave (it is likely they had recent bereavemant or something has gone wrong in thier life...they were profuse in their praying). I had to be quick and surreptitious, furthermore i was in pain from a recent fall (slipped flat on the mossy concrete, goodness me how i escaped from sure fracture or something serious, it really was quite a bad fall, my concern though was costly camera. Geez i hope i don’t run out of luck...i have stretched it for 15 years now, in all big cities, small cities and nooks and corners!!. One day god might say ok boy time up for you!!). What i like about this picture is not only the warmth (it’s so alive) but the fading colours of the wall, though i desperately wanted the bright green toy in the child’s hand to be visible. Colour of the basket, delicate patterns of white flower on the saree, pink hair band...o how i would have loved if the child was wearing a bright red or yellow frock, that could have made the picture brilliant. I am getting greedy now, next i might want the sky mauve maroon!!

Ye corruption kis chidiya ka naam hai bhai?

If you ask any person on the street what they think is the most serious issue that they face they will say Corruption, apart from of course the increasing food price. One can be cynical about inflation as a cribbing point of self obsessed middle class but corruption is all pervasive, it very seriously affects most section of society in particular the poor and middle class. For poor people it is severely debilitating (take this example: if truckers pay 5billion$ every year as bribe-Transparency International study 2005-does the protest on fuel price increase make any sense!) as also ramification on environment (take for instance illegal mining). It is a well known fact that India is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. You might think the policy makers will make every effort to tackle this menace but no dear you are expecting too much from the self serving elite. I was reading Gunnar Myrdal (i have quoted him in my early blog also, and this one too will not be the last) he expresses surprise, as early as in 1950s, that Corruption is not acknowledged by the elite. Read this...

“I recall how i once tried to interest a group of young sociologist in India in carrying out empirical research in order to pinpoint and analyse the type of difficulties a poor landless worker or sharecropper would encounter if he ventured to insist upon getting his due from the landlord or moneylender. My suggestion met with complete disinterest. ‘We know all about it without study’ one of them remarked, which is certainly a strange attitude for a scientist (Myrdal quotes “it is amazing how otherwise excellent studies on development problems in Asia and Africa avoid any serious reference to the fact of corruption. It is not that writers do not know of its existence but its relevance to the question of political stability and rapid economic development appears not to be fully appreciated”).

The disinterest among the great majority of economists in the facts of corruption stands in strange contrast to the very lively interest shown in South Asian countries among the average literate people. Few issues penetrate the minds of people so deeply among all ‘educated’ even among those otherwise as this one...few are debated with so much excitement. Where there is freedom of public expression, as in India, the newspapers devote much of their space to alleged cases of corruption...i have sometimes felt that corruption takes the same place there as sex and race in contemporary American civilisation.

...anti corruption campaign are waged; laws are passed, vigilance agencies set up, special police establishment assigned to investigate reports of misconduct; sometimes officials mostly of lower brackets are suspended or punished, and occasionally a minister has to resign. And committees are appointed to set forth a general strategy for counteracting corruption....the ostentatious efforts to prevent corruption and the assertion that the corrupt are being dealt with as they deserve only seem to spread cynicism, especially as to how far all this touches those higher ups”.

Gunnar Myrdal writes something very significant here “people’s beliefs about corruption and the emotions attached to those beliefs are themselves important facts. They have their causes and also their effects, and there is no excuse for not making them the object of intensive research”

Myrdal quotes Nehru as saying “merely shouting from the house top that everybody is corrupt creates an atmosphere of corruption. People feel they live in a climate of corruption and they get corrupted themselves. The man in the street says to himself: ‘well, if everybody seems corrupt, why shouldn’t i be corrupt’. That is the climate that sought to be created which must be discouraged”. Myrdal writes in response “this analysis of the immediate effects of the folklore of corruption is probably correct. But Nehru’s practical conclusion, that he should not use his tremendous personal authority and the angry popular outcry for taking radical measures against the spread of corruption in high places, probably belong to one of his serious mistakes, as many of his friends told him”

Nehru’s mistake is what other PMs seem to have endorsed all these years nothing explains rampant corruption in this society. It affects us all the time. This blogger was in Chennai last month and took a GC (general) ticket to Vizag, when i reached the train the unreserved compartment was so very full that i dropped the idea of travelling in that train-a decade back i would have hopped in-opposite the railway station there are people who can get you confirm ticket for money. And i got one for the evening train despite the fact enquiry showed ‘waiting list’. How did that happen?. Obviously money goes to the official, every day thousands of train and you know how much it’s worth. It’s not that they are not aware of this they choose to ignore (talking of trains this blogger would like to know on what basis is The Hindu distributed in Durontho trains?. I am surprised by the magnanimity of Mamata Bannerjee, that too for a newspaper that is prejudiced against her. Despite being distributed free most people didn’t take it...it is unknown in most part of the country. People should be given choice here. Ram seems to be having it easy: 1000copies per train is a good deal. The days of Tam Bram easy life is over, fixers in government must have been paid). Corruption is all pervasive and runs into billions and billions of rupees, in a country as poor as India this is not only criminal but violation of human rights. Don’t know if the present government in the centre realises this that the people are extremely angry and frustrated about these day to day scams that runs into millions of rupees (if middle class is vociferous then lack of protest from poor people doesn’t mean they aren’t affected indeed they take the major brunt). Corruption is the most serious issue the country faces. It strikes at the foundation of just society.

Manmohan Singh government is a spectacular failure for maintaining status quo and not making any effort for systemic changes, it’s time that Congress (if it want to survive) reconsider his viability (if Rahul Gandhi is responsible for election victories then what prevents him to be appointed as PM by the party is something i don’t understand). We were under the impression that Manmohan Singh’s lack of charisma or popularity could be compensated by his sincerity (he is a nice decent man)...well it is not working. He seems to be more of a cold economist. Myrdal writes “...economist are also eager to appear open to ideas from outside their own traditional and narrow field and to be broadminded. After having made the most generous reservations and qualifications, they tend, however, to go on as before, reasoning in purely economic terms”. Myrdal gets quite damning “to that pretended sophistication also usually belongs having very scanty knowledge of the history of ideas and of the philosophy andsociology of science. The raising of the problem of the role of biases in research therefore passes by without being understood”... “This lacuna in their understanding of social problems has in recent decades been fortified by the way in which economist are being trained...the result is that a student has been able to become professor of economics while having only the most fragmentary knowledge about the society he studying”

If Manmohan Singh can show agitation and put his job on line to get the ‘nuclear deal’ done, he could show a fraction of his “tremendous personal authority” (quoting Myrdal) to the issue of corruption that is eating the society from within. Removing few people doesn’t change anything we want radical systemic changes (ombudsman like Lokpal, depoliticising CBI, implementing Judicial reforms, Police reforms and so on). This Government seems to be singularly lacking the will or the intent to tackle the scrounge of corruption. Time for Mr Singh to go...he was quite competent as a Finance Minister but as a PM this blogger dare say he has become a liability to the expectations of the people of this nation.

I recall nearly two decades back the then PM made an amazing statement that even made it to quotable quotes section of international news magazines “not taking a decision is also a decision”. Many people thought it was funny, this blogger didn’t. If you cannot take decision then you should quit and give way to people who can.

The Emperor retires

One of the best sportsperson the world has ever seen in recent times has decided to retire, in a decision that has shocked many. Haile Gebrselassie in a career spanning 18 year created 27 world records in marathon races, what a stupendous achievement. These records are remarkable since marathon is a highly competitive sport (running is an exact sport all other sports are trying to be), unlike other sports there is no paraphernalia, no nothing, you just got to run. Anyone with two legs is a competitor, that means 6 billion people on the planet!. That is why it is incredible. Haile Gebrselassie hailed from a poor family in Ethiopia, as a child growing up on a farm he used to run to school every morning. This led to a distinctive running posture, with his left arm crooked as if still holding his schoolbooks. A well liked sportsperson he has been an inspirational figure for a generation of marathon runners.

Generals conduct open scam in Burma...

it is a shame on international community, in particular the Chinese who patronize these scoundrels in Burma for strategic interest (recently Indians too)

Cartoon Time

Obama came to India and saw...!!!

On appreciating good books...

There are so many things to read how do we know what is good or what is not worth the time? This is one question that rankled me in mid 90s when i had decided to spent more time on reading. It was the time when Internet hadn’t overwhelmed the scene so as to surf and get varied opinions, but whether Net or in person views of others can be biased, secondly you need to also be around some matured people with some good reading habits to give considered opinion, reading at home was confined at the most to Malayalam newspaper!. Ernakulam public library did have some decent collection but then the question remains what is a good book?

It was while travelling at some corner somewhere that i happen to come across this article written by Virginia Woolf: How should one read a Book. This excellent piece had a tremendous influence, I actually had forgotten about this rare article until the other day. I was at Shantiniketan (Bengal) loitering around the place and went to the same second hand book stall that i have visited every time i am here (some places really don’t change, but must add the quality of second hand books have deteriorated, clearly an indication that the famous seat of learning-Shantiniketan- is going weak on intellectual inquiry, its getting quite mediocre around here), flipping through things i came across this article (need to add was quite ecstatic to get the book for 30R...and yes of all the essays of Woolf available in the Net you not will find this). Ms Woolf writes “In the first place, i want to emphasise the note of interrogation at the end of my title. Even if i could answer the question for myself, the answer would apply to me not to you. The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions”. So there Ms Woolf seem to have washed off her hand!!. Well not really this brilliant article does provide some insight, first being the above ‘follow your instinct’.

She writes “...few people ask from books what books can give us. Most commonly we come to books with blurred and divided minds, asking of fiction that it should be true, of poetry that it shall be false, of biography that it shall be flattering, of history that it shall enforce our own prejudices. If we could banish all such preconceptions when we read, that would be an admirable beginning. Do not dictate to your author; try to become him. ...if you open your mind as widely as possible then signs and hints of almost imperceptible fineness, from the twist and turns of the first sentences, will bring you into presence of a human being unlike other. Steep yourself in this, acquaint yourself with this, and soon you will find that your author is giving you, or attempting to give you far more concrete.

These few lines have had a seminal influence on me, one significant factor that influenced me to dabble in writing “words are impalpable than bricks; reading is a longer and more complicated process than seeing. Perhaps the quickest way to understand the elements of what a novelist is doing is not to read, but to write; to make your own experiment with the dangers and difficulties of words ....but when you attempt to reconstruct it in words, you will find that it breaks into thousands of conflicting impressions. Some must be subdued; others emphasised; in the process you will lose, probably all grasp upon the emotion itself. Then turn from your blurred and littered pages to the opening pages of some great novelist. Now you will be able to appreciate their mastery”. How brilliant and how very true.

Having created a parameter Virginia Woolf does provide an insight on ‘judging’ a book “We have only to compare- with these words the cat is out of the bag, and the true complexity of reading is admitted. The first process, to receive impression with utmost understanding, is only half the process of reading; it must be completed, if we are to get the whole pleasure from a book, by another. We must pass judgement upon these multitudinous impressions; we must make of these fleeting shapes one that is hard and lasting. But not directly. Wait for the dust of reading to settle; for the conflict and questioning to die down; walk, talk, pull the dead petals from the rose, or fall asleep. Then suddenly without our willing it, for it is thus that Nature undertakes these transitions, the book will return but differently. It will float to the top of the mind as a whole. And the book as a whole is different from the book received currently in separate phrases. Details now fit themselves into their places. We see the shape from start to finish...now then we can compare book with book as we compare building with building. But this act of comparison means that our attitude has changed; we are no longer the friends of the writer, but his judges; and just as we cannot be too sympathetic as friends, so as judges we cannot be too severe”.It would be foolish, then, to pretend that the second part of reading, to judge, to compare, is as simple as the first-to open the mind wide to the fast flocking of innumerable impressions. To continue reading without the book before you, to hold one shadow-shape against another, to have read widely enough and with enough understanding to make such comparisons alive and illuminating- that is difficult”

“If this is so, if to read a book as it should be read calls for the rarest qualities of imagination, insight, and judgement, you may perhaps conclude that literature is very complex art and that it is unlikely that we shall be able, even after a lifetime of reading, to make any valuable to criticism”.

What a lovely paragraph this one, the best you can come across “Yet who reads to bring about an end, however desirable? Are there not some pursuits that we practice because they are good in themselves, and some pleasure that are final? And is not this among them? I have sometimes dreamt, at least, that when the Day of Judgement dawns and the great conquerors and lawyers and statesmen come to receive their rewards-their crowns, their laurels, their names carved indelibly upon imperishable marble-the almighty will turn to Peter and will say, not without a certain envy when He sees us coming with our books under our arms, “look, these need no rewards. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading"


Post Script: In an essay titled A Poet’s School Tagore gives indication on what lead to starting the school at Shantiniketan (Sriniketan to be precise). There are many brilliant ideas on matter of education, this blogger find Osho, Jiddu Krishnamurthy, Aurobindo among others to be exceptional, this one by Tagore is quite brilliant...i have taken the liberty to delete many paragraphs as also to emphasis what i thought was significant in matters of Education (...you can read the whole essay on the Net. Plz also visit www.iseeebirds.blogspot.com for more on Tagore’s view on education..I am quoting few interesting paragraphs from the essay A Poet's School)

"From question’s that have been put to me, I have come to feel that the public claims an apology from the poet for having founded a school, as I in my rashness have done. One must admit that the silkworm which spins and the butterfly that floats on the air represent two different stages of existence, contrary to each other. The silkworm seems to have a cash value credited in its favor somewhere in Nature's accounting department, according to the amount of work it performs. But the butterfly is irresponsible. The significance, which it may possess, has neither weight nor use and is lightly carried on in pair of dancing wings. Perhaps it pleases someone in the heart of the sunlight, the Lord Treasurer of colors, who has nothing to do with the account book and has a perfect mastery in the great art of wastefulness. The poet may he compared to that foolish butterfly. He also tries to translate all the festive colors of creation in the vibration of his verses. Then why should he imprison himself in an interminable coil of duty, bringing out some good tough and fairly respectable result? Why should he make himself accountable to those sane people who would judge the merit of his produce by the amount of profit it will bring? I suppose this individual poet's answer would be, that when he brought together a few boys, one sunny day in winter, among the warm shadows of the sal (shorea robusta) trees, strong, straight and tall, with branches of a dignified moderation, he started to write a poem in a medium not of words.

This brings to my mind the name of another poet of ancient India, Kalidasa....The poet in the royal court lived in banishment--banishment from the immediate presence of the eternal. He knew it was not merely his own banishment, but that of the whole age to which he was born, the age that had gathered in wealth and missed its well being, built its storehouse of things and lost its background of the great universe. What was the form in which his desire for perfection persistently appeared in his drama and poems? It was in that of the tapovana, the forest dwelling of the patriarchal community of ancient India. Those who are familiar with Sanskrit literature will know that this was not a colony of people with a primitive culture and mind. They were seekers of truth, for the sake of which they lived in an atmosphere of purity, but not of Puritanism; of the simple life, but not the life of selfmortification. They did not advocate celibacy and they had constant intercommunication with the other people who had to live the life of worldly interest. Their aim and endeavor have briefly been suggested in the Upanishad in these lines:

Te sarvgam sarvatah prapya dhira
Yuuktatmanah sarvamevavsanti
(Those men of serene mind enter into the All, having realized and bring
everywhere in union with the omnipresent Spirit).

It was never a philosophy of renunciation of a negative character, but of a realization completely comprehensive. It was not a deliberate copy, but a natural coincidence, that a poet of modern India also had a similar vision when he felt within him the misery of a spiritual banishment....Therefore, in order to be real it must find its reincarnation under modern conditions of life, and be the same in truth, not merely identical in fact. It was this, which made the modern poet's heart crave to compose his poem in a tangible language”

Let’s speak about vanishing species

Let’s speak about vanishing species

Speak not about humans
and their problems now
speak about vanishing species
and extinctions underway
the irreparable losses
happening every moment around us, that
cannot abdicate our irresponsibility, greed and arrogance.

Lets speak about the forlorn Rhino grazing at Kaziranga
who doesn’t understand the fault of its brethren
found mutilated and hacked, same with tigers and elephants.
Black bear at the zoo climbs and unclimbs a dead trunk
in a maniacal disorientation.
It’s the vulture that pays the heavy price for the milk we nourish.

Speak not about humans
and the gods they create to fight each other
The perfect little selfish worlds
they each snooze in
and choose to ignore the calamities that knock harder each day
Lets speak about Asiatic lions at Gir
hounded and cornered they live on time we borrowed
Dwelling flattened Malabar Civet’s too is at the door
saying the final goodbye, shouldn’t we atleast get up?
The angst of dolphin pair in the Ganges, sacred and filthier,
is for mercy
for the crime they aren’t even aware
while the perpetrators choose to count profit.

Lets speak about waterbirds that is lost
to roost, in wetlands encroached by builders,
vanishing mangroves and bleached corals, lets speak about these.
Speak not about the humans now
we have listened them and their reasons enough
lets listen to the world that is not speaking, that doesn’t have much reasons
except their fragile presence
vanishing traces of splendour
like the endangered wild orchid
sparkling in its radiance under the blue sky
feet away from being uprooted
and lost forever...

(Please find time to visit my birds blog at the link or visit www.iseeebirds.blogspot.com. The traffic to that blog seems to be less than this one, which is a tragedy since that is my main blog, not that i am terribly concerned, but i would prefer readers from as many countries as possible, in particular from Africa and middle east ... It is a triumph of internet, just amazing!)

A dear King who was Beloved to the God

Asoka was a rare king, a king who lived more than two thousand years ago, a king so very contemporary that he could be even be future. A king who was referred to as: Devanampiya Piyadassi-beloved of the god who looked on with affection. Asoka (304BC-232BC) belonged to Mauryan dynasty (Capital Magadh) who ruled most of the subcontinent from present day Afghanistan to southern part of India. He started his reign as a ruthless ruler but a war at Kalinga and the suffering that he saw changed him. He sought Buddhism (which at that point was another Hindu sect), followed the Dhamma. He aimed to be a model king, erecting rock edicts all across his kingdom to guide his subjects. Hundreds of years later it was John Princep (1837) who was able to decipher these. This blogger was at Dhauli (which comes under ancient time Kalinga), the Rock Edict recommends "practise of morality consisting of courtesy to slaves and servants, reverence to elders, gentleness to animals and liberality to ascetics". Another asks for “purity of mind and self control”....and so on.

Here i quote from other edicts found across the subcontinent and you will see why he was beloved (i have emphasised some of the edicts to underline its significance)...

“everywhere has Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, made provision for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals. Wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I have had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available I have had them imported and grown. Along roads I have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of humans and animals”

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, desires that all religions should reside everywhere, for all of them desire self-control and purity of heart. But people have various desires and various passions, and they may practice all of what they should or only a part of it. But one who receives great gifts yet is lacking in self-control, purity of heart, gratitude and firm devotion, such a person is mean”

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, honors both ascetics and the householders of all religions, and he honors them with gifts and honors of various kinds. But Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, does not value gifts and honors as much as he values this -- that there should be growth in the essentials of all religions. Growth in essentials can be done in different ways, but all of them have as their root restraint in speech, that is, not praising one's own religion, or condemning the religion of others without good cause. And if there is cause for criticism, it should be done in a mild way. But it is better to honor other religions for this reason. By so doing, one's own religion benefits, and so do other religions, while doing otherwise harms one's own religion and the religions of others. Whoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with the thought "Let me glorify my own religion," only harms his own religion. Therefore contact (between religions) is good. One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, desires that all should be well-learned in the good doctrines of other religions.

“In the past there were no Dhamma Mahamatras but such officers were appointed by me thirteen years after my coronation. Now they work among all religions for the establishment of Dhamma, for the promotion of Dhamma, and for the welfare and happiness of all who are devoted to Dhamma. They work among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Gandharas, the Rastrikas, the Pitinikas and other peoples on the western borders. They work among soldiers, chiefs, Brahmans, householders, the poor, the aged and those devoted to Dhamma -- for their welfare and happiness -- so that they may be free from harassment. They (Dhamma Mahamatras) work for the proper treatment of prisoners, towards their unfettering, and if the Mahamatras think, "This one has a family to support," "That one has been bewitched," "This one is old," then they work for the release of such prisoners. They work here, in outlying towns, in the women's quarters belonging to my brothers and sisters, and among my other relatives. They are occupied everywhere. These Dhamma Mahamatras are occupied in my domain among people devoted to Dhamma to determine who is devoted to Dhamma, who is established in Dhamma, and who is generous.
This Dhamma edict has been written on stone so that it might endure long and that my descendants might act in conformity with it”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, speaks thus: In the past, state business was not transacted nor were reports delivered to the king at all hours. But now I have given this order, that at any time, whether I am eating, in the women's quarters, the bed chamber, the chariot, the palanquin, in the park or wherever, reporters are to be posted with instructions to report to me the affairs of the people so that I might attend to these affairs wherever I am. And whatever I orally order in connection with donations or proclamations, or when urgent business presses itself on the Mahamatras, if disagreement or debate arises in the Council, then it must be reported to me immediately. This is what I have ordered. I am never content with exerting myself or with despatching business. Truly, I consider the welfare of all to be my duty, and the root of this is exertion and the prompt despatch of business. There is no better work than promoting the welfare of all the people and whatever efforts I am making is to repay the debt I owe to all beings to assure their happiness in this life, and attain heaven in the next.
Therefore this Dhamma edict has been written to last long and that my sons, grandsons and great-grandsons might act in conformity with it for the welfare of the world. However, this is difficult to do without great exertion”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, speaks thus: To do good is difficult. One who does good first does something hard to do. I have done many good deeds, and, if my sons, grandsons and their descendants up to the end of the world act in like manner, they too will do much good. But whoever amongst them neglects this, they will do evil. Truly, it is easy to do evil”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, does not consider glory and fame to be of great account unless they are achieved through having my subjects respect Dhamma and practice Dhamma, both now and in the future. For this alone does Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, desire glory and fame. And whatever efforts Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, is making, all of that is only for the welfare of the people in the next world, and that they will have little evil. And being without merit is evil. This is difficult for either a humble person or a great person to do except with great effort, and by giving up other interests. In fact, it may be even more difficult for a great person to do”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods speaks thus: Twelve years after my coronation I started to have Dhamma edicts written for the welfare and happiness of the people, and so that not transgressing them they might grow in the Dhamma. Thinking: "How can the welfare and happiness of the people be secured?" I give attention to my relatives, to those dwelling near and those dwelling far, so I can lead them to happiness and then I act accordingly. I do the same for all groups. I have honored all religions with various honors. But I consider it best to meet with people personally”.

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, speaks thus: Twenty-six years after my coronation various animals were declared to be protected -- parrots, mainas, //aruna//, ruddy geese, wild ducks, //nandimukhas, gelatas//, bats, queen ants, terrapins, boneless fish, //vedareyaka//, //gangapuputaka//, //sankiya// fish, tortoises, porcupines, squirrels, deer, bulls, //okapinda//, wild asses, wild pigeons, domestic pigeons and all four-footed creatures that are neither useful nor edible. Those nanny goats, ewes and sows which are with young or giving milk to their young are protected, and so are young ones less than six months old. Cocks are not to be caponized, husks hiding living beings are not to be burnt and forests are not to be burnt either without reason or to kill creatures.

The Dhamma regulations I have given are that various animals must be protected. And I have given many other Dhamma regulations also. But it is by persuasion that progress among the people through Dhamma has had a greater effect in respect of harmlessness to living beings and non-killing of living beings

Along roads I have had banyan trees planted so that they can give shade to animals and men, and I have had mango groves planted. At intervals of eight //krosas//, I have had wells dug, rest-houses built, and in various places, I have had watering-places made for the use of animals and men. But these are but minor achievements

On anguish of Kalinga

Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadassi, conquered the Kalingas eight years after his coronation.[25] One hundred and fifty thousand were deported, one hundred thousand were killed and many more died (from other causes). After the Kalingas had been conquered, Beloved-of-the-Gods came to feel a strong inclination towards the Dhamma, a love for the Dhamma and for instruction in Dhamma. Now Beloved-of-the-Gods feels deep remorse for having conquered the Kalingas.

Indeed, Beloved-of-the-Gods is deeply pained by the killing, dying and deportation that take place when an unconquered country is conquered. But Beloved-of-the-Gods is pained even more by this -- that Brahmans, ascetics, and householders of different religions who live in those countries, and who are respectful to superiors, to mother and father, to elders, and who behave properly and have strong loyalty towards friends, acquaintances, companions, relatives, servants and employees -- that they are injured, killed or separated from their loved ones. Even those who are not affected (by all this) suffer when they see friends, acquaintances, companions and relatives affected. These misfortunes befall all (as a result of war), and this pains Beloved-of-the-Gods.

There is no country, except among the Greeks, where these two groups, Brahmans and ascetics, are not found, and there is no country where people are not devoted to one or another religion. Therefore the killing, death or deportation of a hundredth, or even a thousandth part of those who died during the conquest of Kalinga now pains Beloved-of-the-Gods. Now Beloved-of-the-Gods thinks that even those who do wrong should be forgiven where forgiveness is possible.

Even the forest people, who live in Beloved-of-the-Gods' domain, are entreated and reasoned with to act properly. They are told that despite his remorse Beloved-of-the-Gods has the power to punish them if necessary, so that they should be ashamed of their wrong and not be killed. Truly, Beloved-of-the-Gods desires non-injury, restraint and impartiality to all beings, even where wrong has been done.

The people of the unconquered territories beyond the borders might think: "What is the king's intentions towards us?" My only intention is that they live without fear of me, that they may trust me and that I may give them happiness, not sorrow. Furthermore, they should understand that the king will forgive those who can be forgiven, and that he wishes to encourage them to practice Dhamma so that they may attain happiness in this world and the next. I am telling you this so that I may discharge the debts I owe, and that in instructing you, that you may know that my vow and my promise will not be broken. Therefore acting in this way, you should perform your duties and assure them (the people beyond the borders) that: "The king is like a father. He feels towards us as he feels towards himself. We are to him like his own children."

H.G Wells writes “In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves 'their highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted majesties' and so on. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Asoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day”.

This quote from historian Madhav Kondvilkar sums up Asoka the beautiful king "In some cases Asoka may be compared with Alexander the Great, Augustus Caesar, Genghis Khan, Timur, Peter I of Russia, Napoleon I. But Asoka was not extra ambitious like Alexander. Asoka was an ideal administrator like Augustus Caesar, but unlike Caesar, he didn't want to be known as a dictator. Asoka was a strong general but unlike Napoleon I Asoka never was unsatisfied. Asoka wanted to be loved by his subjects. He never terrorized his subjects like Genghis Khan, Timur and Peter I of Russia. Nobility of soul, purity of mind, honesty of nature, clarity of dignity and love for all let Asoka sit with Gautama Buddha and Jesus Christ".

Shocking is understatement

The way things are happening i don’t know whether words like ‘shocking’ have any meaning. The arbitrariness and desultory process adopted in removing books from reading list is amazing to say the least and that too a threat from a boy!!. Maharashtra government, in particular, the Chief Minister is a disgrace. And what is about the book that is deemed ‘offensive’ than activities of Shiv Sainiks over the last few decades?. It is incompetence of successive governments in the Centre (including the present one) that laws are not strict and these people blackmail society. Ideally Thackeray and gang should be languishing in jail. Lax, tardy and politicised investigative agencies have seen to that people who foment hatred and threaten common people are made powerful (it is a Bhindranwala syndrome), politicians take mileage from these subjectivities. I think it also helps some to play ‘secularism’- unless fundamentalist aren’t around secularist are jobless, so it makes lots of political sense to pander Thackeray &Co. This blogger also believe that ‘minority appeasements’ (particularly some medieval practices in the name of religion like say polygamy and so on...not many civilised countries allow these kind of nonsense) has led to lots of resentment which is capitalised by Hindu fundamentalists like Shiv Sena and has got some legitimacy among the middle class. Keeping alive fundamentalism helps lots of powerful people.
It’s about playing divisive and usurping benefits. People will be killed, maimed and looted but no one will be prosecuted and we will be asked to be ’secular’ and be against ‘communalist’ (and pray how do we know who is what, should media tell us or decide?). Successive Governments at the centre (for keeping the investigation under itself) and the Judiciary (for slow process and low conviction rate) are the biggest communalist. They have failed the people; they work for short term gains at the expense of society.

It is vulgar that much liked writers like Rohinton Mistry has become a pawn in this crude game, he is arguably one of the best writers around. This blogger takes pride in mentioning that i have read all the works of Mr. Mistry and eagerly waits for his next book. Such a Long Journey (though the movie was quite feeble) is one of the best books i have read, and i strongly recommend and everyone should read as much A Fine Balance.

A book if it is against what we believe or cherish should be encouraged as it adds to our understanding (not referring to writing as slander or personal diatribes-lets reserve that to crude woman and power hungry rodents!...it’s quite fun, giving some well directed punches sometimes to these pretentious people!!. I guess we now know what Vikram Akula is all about, play act saviours filling their coffers from poorest of people, some do it with slum children, some by kidnapping orphans in Leh) and gives us interesting perspectives. Denying these understandings is a loss, and i guess youngsters should be aware of these at the earliest the reason why anti-establishment material should be given space. I believe society should be matured to tolerate varied opinions. A society that puts any restrictions on ideas and thoughts is primitive.

Revisiting Gunnar Myrdal: I picked up Gunnar Myrdal’s The Challenge of World Poverty from College Street, Kolkata the other day, this a book i was keen on more than a decade back, i recall a boy in JNU talked quite passionately about it, I read few chapters in the library. I searched for it on the pavements of few cities couldn’t find and forgot about it, anyway i was too much into fiction those days (so not really a ‘revisit’). Quite lucky to get it for 50R after so many years!!.

Gunnar Myrdal’s analysis is quite potent and much relevant to this day (the book came out some 40 years back). I particularly liked the chapter on ‘Soft State’, these lines are so very striking “...the laxity and arbitrariness in a national community that can be characterised as a soft state can be, and are, exploited for personal gain by people who have economic, social, and political power”.

Read these insightful paragraphs that were written almost four decades back

“when policy measures have been instituted specifically aimed at ameliorating conditions of lower strata, they have either not been implemented and enforced or have been distorted so as to favour the not-so-poor and to discriminate against the masses. The foreseen difficulty or impossibility of enforcing a law aimed at aiding the poor rather than the better-offs may indeed make it easier to get such law passed in a legislature, as the representatives of those who should make a sacrifice can feel that nothing much will be changed. An Indian State assembly can thus show generosity to the landless and poorer peasants by passing laws on minimum agricultural wages or moneylenders interest charges without a risk that such laws will be enforced (this blogger would like to remind readers the Minimum wage controversy in NREGA as also the fact that they couldn’t anticipate exploitation of farmers by microcredit NGOs is rather shocking). In regard to its practical effects, the whole political, legal and administrative system is thus systematically and heavily weighed against the masses of poor people. This comes about through lack of enforcement of laws and the distortion of policy measures...

The laws and policy measures are motivated as measures to realise the egalitarian ideals and, more generally, the modernisation ideals which have commonly become accepted by the educated upper class whose intellectual and political elite had been harbinger of these ideals. When it comes to actually formulating the laws and the policy prescriptions and, still more, taking measures to implement them, however, they commonly follow narrow selfish interest.

When dealing with the lower strata, including the very poorest, the state also avoids laying down definite obligations, sanctioned by state power, and relies upon inducements and voluntary adjustments. This gives a sort of conscience-consolation for not giving effect to the laws and policies instituted in their interest. ...

Though for these and other reasons the matter is complicated, fundamentally the main explanation of the soft state is that all the power is in the hands of upper class who can afford egalitarian laws and policy measures but are in an unchallenged position to prevent their implementation”.