Nature thrives in collective
action. World is sustained by collective actions of different forces. Symbiosis
and mutualism are norm. Predation and competing, though for specific limited purpose, these too are synergic part of the system that sustains life. Humans cannot
survive on their own. They are dependent on biodiversity services of nature. Nor
individuals can survive without society. That really doesn’t mean humans are
social insects. Humans are sentient, and have free will, aspirations and
different conceptions of ambitions and ideas of life. The instinct of life is
byproduct of billions of years. Evolution is gradual consolidation of these
instincts. Nature optimizes and not maximize; it sets it limit through synergic
association with surrounding. Understanding nature’s instinct will therefore add
significantly to awareness. Inquisitive minds and wise people have sought to
understand these and consolidate into subjects of inquiry and knowledge. In
this critical juncture of existential threat instincts of collective actions
needs a way.
As mentioned earlier systems that
dehumanizes and isolates from humanity are constant threat. Significantly it
prevents collective actions. A thriving collective action needs aware
knowledgeable individuals otherwise collective becomes a danger of herd that
has potential to be misled into mob. It is from these dehumanizing frames another
regressive value system emerges that propose some as especially capable, some
blessed individuals uniquely endowed to solve humanity’s concerns. Popular
medium and entertainment has driveled these into mass psyche as hero
worshipping -god is only a carefully constructed expressions of these. These
seemingly proposing humbleness to bigger forces tend to undermine capacity of human. Individual
assertions are classified as arrogance while individuality is seen as a threat.
When someone escapes the tentacles of these regressive systems and is able to contain his/her unique human identity to contribute to humanity and if checks system's conception of success i.e. money, power,
fame so on, then they are sought to be appropriated as blessed, as specially
endowed, with divine grace as supernatural, as heroes, as avatars. Such is the degradation that money,
power, fame -the paraphernalia of greed, sick minds, are presented by market as defining attributes to emulate
to be successful. Since system rarely produce space for uniqueness hence we are
presented with cheaper versions of entertainers with much fanfare. Comic
versions are now serious mega buck heroes and influencers carrying the burden
of humanity for quick and easiest fixes consolidating the subconscious
narration of religion, of providence, of miracles. They create caricature of possibilities
into implausible that needs superheroes, divine presences and blessed saviors.
Life in itself is a providence.
Each and every expression of nature is a miracle. It is only when humans are
dehumanized that they fail to see these miracles. An evolved society will make
it natural for humans to be part of the miracle. With knowledge, awareness and
presence, they effortlessly connect and become perceptive to the vibrant universe surrounding
us. Depending on their attitude, passion, they gain skills to explore. Thus, whether
in art or science or both -since nature doesn’t work in silos nor mind, they sense
the essence for humanity. Thus increasing our awareness and understanding hence
evolving collective mind of humanity into a better world. It doesn’t need any specially
endowed human or specific blessings since every life is part of the miracle and
hence capable to replicate that miracle. In primitive societies such presences
are impossible so binaries are created to appropriate the exceptions as a
lesson for herd on implausible divine, impossible superheroes, so as to keep
them in leash while awestruck to the miracle of the system and otherworldly providences
that can be converted into goodies if they obey and follow. In evolved society or aware minds miracles are common place without loosing any
of its wonder.
What happened a century or
centuries back is no reference for events now. Contemporary world is quite a different
place and is significantly evolved with immense awareness hence has nothing really
in common with medieval times. The present cannot be judged from the prism of
past. Past can only be understood. The only context when primitive references of
history matters is when some present systems trace its values from history or
seeks legitimacy through history or primacy of traditions or tries to replicate it through
institutions that intends to suppress and discriminate group of people or individuals.
This is true for white supremacist (fascist, nazis etc.), exceptionalism of anachronistic religions (through caste cannibals, monster mullahs, white racists, herd fantasy, so on) or feudal institutions like monarchy that nurtures deviant values and norms that is anti-thesis and a persistent threat to democratic institutions and
egalitarian values. No country or society in the world valued equality, liberty
and primacy of law in its true sense even a century back. World was a nasty
place. The world as of now, despite its lacunas and serious flaws, is the best
of humanity’s possibilities. Democratic values in its true sense nurtures egalitarian
systems and humanistic concerns. It fosters each individual to their potential.
Serious concern is not reparation
or loot but the system that is being sustained. The feudal values that is
nurtured through monarchy, as also how much it associates with colonial ways
and racist mindsets. Most significantly, how much have these british medieval theatre
of absurd influenced and degraded nascent emerging democracies of Asia and
Africa in last many decades since independence? In many ways flawed society’s path towards democracy and egalitarian values, hence aspirations of common people, were actively undermined by elite sections who sought extra constitutional authority
by emulating monarchy. Feudal values negated democratic institutions into pomp
theatric ‘traditions’ while nurturing exceptionalism, nepotism and crony capitalism. Those who
value liberty, equality and ideals of democracy must fiercely resist feudal forces even
in its benign proposedly stabilizing form. It’s a dangerous and persistent threat
to humanity. Democratic values through individual right and rule of law assure
liberty and equality hence hope to common people. Hope brings stability.
The world is seeing worst of people churned in by complacent insecure people -lulled by consumption driven market and dehumanizing religions, into the helm of affair when existential threat to human life on earth is becoming increasingly apparent and imminent. As the climate crisis takes hold (as indicated by pandemic, food crisis, energy crisis etc.) nationalism is expected to rise as devious people controlling the systems will arbitrate to please the herd, and very soon as the situation deteriorates richer section will barricade and isolate.
Words extend the potential of the
world we live in and adds values to our aspirations. Words assist in asserting
liberty of each individual. Words are assertion of humanity’s will. Attacking the
writer is attacking the word. It is the basic of all assault. It is an attempt at
muzzling the voice of humanity. It is an attack on the soul. It is undermining sanctity
of life.
What makes a human being attempt
at another human being’s life for superiority of their words over others is the
most tragic reality of the times we live in. How is this ridiculous, indeed
pitiable and deeply disturbing, mindset sustained? What gives these individuals
surety of their action at the expense of sanctity of life? What kind of
sickness nurtures these appalling transgressions? Clearly, a human being -in a
way the pinnacle of nature’s experiment with life, a self-aware individual, a
soul conscious to existential realities of life will not commit such an
atrocity. It’s a self-recriminating idiocy. It is quite clear that anachronistic
nuisance -that was meant to provide solace in the ephemeral nature of life, is
throttling humanity in its primitive cannibalistic snare. A system that
consistently and persistently devalues human experience as it degrades humans
into herds has become an ever-growing toxic reality. It is unacceptable that UN
has declared a day ‘against Islamophobia’, it is a grievous mistake and capitulation
to sinister forces. Religiophobia must be celebrated. Celebrate Christianphobia, Hinduphobia, Buddhaphobia...Blasphemy must be valued.
Religion must have wherewithal to confront questioning and ridicule in a civilized
way. If it cannot then it has no place in civilized world. Religion must be stringently
scrutinized and ridiculed at every available opportunity. There is absolutely
no need to tolerate the intolerant. Hurt ‘sentiments’ is lack of evolving to
reality. It’s a juvenile ever growing need of self-worth of immature cloistered
insecure minds and must not be patronized nor pandered to -it’s a slippery slope
to hell. It is the incapacity to appreciate finer aspects of life reflected in
varying thoughts and expressions. It is an attempt at asserting insular worldview
over other. It is a crude attempt at controlling others. Anything and anyone
that gives credibility to such a system in the garb of faith is a threat to humanity.
Was it necessary now? The world is facing so many serious, indeed existential, crisis. What was the need of it now? Already the international community has failed Ukraine, and now this. There is a serious food crisis looming, climate is breaking...lord why now?
It is becoming amply clear that
consolidated intelligence of religions and that of market is of least help and
is indeed anti-thesis to crisis that humanity face. It is science that
confronts reality with human faculties and enlightened thoughts and reason. Then
there are rare humans like Edward Wilson who contribute their understanding to
add to the collective thinking. He argues “Despite all our pretenses and fantasies,
we always have been and will remain a biological species tied to this
biological world. Millions of years of evolution are indelibly encoded in our
genes…wildland is our birthplace”. He proposes “Only a major shift in moral reasoning,
with greater commitment given to rest of life, can meet this greatest challenge
of the century.”
“If humanity continues its suicidal ways to change the global climate, eliminate ecosystem, and exhaust Earth’s natural resources, our species will very soon find itself forced into making a choice, this time engaging the conscious part of our brain. It is as follows: Shall we be existential conservatives, keeping our genetically based human nature while tapering off the activities inimical to ourselves and the rest of the biosphere? Or shall we use our technology to accommodate the changes important solely to our own species, while letting the rest of life slip away? We have only short time to decide.” The book ends with these perceptive lines “We have come a very long way through the barbaric period in which we still live, and now I believe we’ve learned enough to adopt a transcendent moral percept concerning the rest of life. It is simple and easy to say : Do no further harm to the biosphere."
The problem seems to be the hope filled assumption that we have come a long way from barbaric period.
It will be wrong to put every religion
in the same context. Every religion has gone through tribulation within the
context of its functioning. They have all contributed to the growth of humanity
in their own way. Every religion had its obscurantist force as also empathy
driven enlightening presence. This has been the constant struggle throughout
the history. In the contemporary world despite the best efforts, it is really
impossible for religion to play positive role. The world has progressed too far
from the realities that these religions made sense. World has become a small
place with latest technologies and understandings hence religion becomes segregatory,
exclusionist, seeding ideas that are increasingly fanciful and dangerous. It therefore
becomes easy for charlatans to tap into these systems to further degrade discourse
and possibilities of better world. Religions therefore cannot be allowed carte blanche
as representing some innate truth or divine intervention. It cannot appropriate
sacred space. It will have to face the contemporary world and its challenges. These
fantastical fictions cannot be allowed to define identity hence sneak in as diversity.
It’s a degradation. This must be understood in clear terms. It is a threat to
hard won values of liberty and freedom. It is a persistent threat to all the
values that humanity cherish.
Religion is a human created aberration
on earth system. It is a virus that converts decent sentient humans into herds incapable
to value life or estimate the significance of reality. It must be resisted. As societies
evolved and people became aware they start to question the authority of religion.
They created space for banter as also derision on this ridiculous faith in fantastical fiction
that contradicted directly to easy evaluations and basic logic. This helped religion
to evolve too into spiritual spaces shedding its anachronistic narrations. Things
though have degraded at an alarming rate in recent times. Cunning conniving
herd controllers are competing with each other for control. The failure of education,
its immense possibilities confined to narrow ‘use’. Sense of insecurities
pervading despite the best of possibilities for humans that could ever be imagined.
Market media and capitalism hinged on wanton consumption too have contributed
to discontent and apathy. Transactional relations and loneliness added to the
disquiet. For unexamined minds the semantics of dealing was already trapped in
alphabets of superstition and faith. It was easy for the subconscious to associate
with centuries of well-entrenched traps of instincts of religion. It is heart
wrenching as humans get entrapped in cesspool that denies their core being.
Life is sacrosanct. There is nothing
more precious than life. So, when pernicious religion claims sanctity over
human life then sane forces must realize the danger it poses to humanity. A civilized
society must nurture space to ridicule religion, it must encourage blasphemy. It
must encourage inquisitive minds and free souls. Survival of humanity is hinged
on these. Shackles of religion holds everything that is detrimental to human
progress. Ridicule is not one way process. It is not a claim that my way is
better than yours. My way is very much open to ridicule, and correction. The only
thing that matters here is aesthetics. Aesthetics of life that connects to
nature.
The Defence force of the country
is not a charity initiative nor an employment guarantee scheme. Indeed, nor is
the government. Ideally the government is elected to frame policy and implement
for the betterment of the society. They are expected to provide the wherewithal
for education system to nurture young minds, health infrastructure to provide
basic health and nutrition and investment in all the avenues for citizens to
progress into better people. Which also means having an efficient and effective defence forces to protect the democratic nation. Agnipath scheme is well
thought out. It can be reviewed after few years as the need maybe. As of know
it is apt.
Employment is not for government
to create. Few centuries back people used to find their own job depending on their
need, aspirations and skills. That is how it should be. Progressive societies prospered
while primitive societies like India suffered hence couldn’t contribute much to
humanity despite its vast population. The idea of job is exaggerated by feudal
corporates and spread by market influenced education system that churn out
herds, ably supported by religion, rabidly panting for money, position and
power. Ideally education is expected to create self-aware individuals. Self-awareness
increases the connection with reality hence means and intent to respond to the arising
need/challenge that one would like to respond to. This then creates skills as it suits. Government
therefore must invest in all the avenues to nurture all sort of skills. Internet
has created a connected world for knowledge and skills to spread. The idea of
education has nothing to do with goals hence marks and examinations doesn’t really
make sense. Education is about creating awareness and exploring possibilities through inquisitive mind. Skills creates
searing eye to probe but presence is what that gives it value. There is no
presence when life is capsulated in goals. It is not about fish’s eye but
awareness of fish, the world. A self-aware human will never aim for fish’s
eye. Despite high skills his or her presence does not allow skill to be narrowed down to crass. That is aesthetic. Its an indelible mark of humanity.
Meanwhile there should be zero
tolerance to vandalism. Each and every one who vandalizes the public property
must be tracked, identified and face exemplary punishment. Also, it must be thoroughly
checked whether the vandalizers were instigated by controllers. Many a times
these vandalizing herd are only pawn in the sinister game.
With AI revealing, in its discreet
setting ofcourse (we are indeed quite far from AGI -Artificial General Intelligence),
a new dimension of reality and a new understanding of logic it is but incumbent
for policy makers dealing with national security to be not only be aware but
actively involved. Knowledge was expected to be bring humanity together but AI -functioning
within its discreet settings that is going to guide strategic decisions, is creating
national interest silos of intelligence controlled and dictated by AI. Defence establishments
across the world are expected to ‘blindly’ follow decisions since they are incapable
to scrutinize these. Secondly, because of the acute awareness that AI has access
to intelligence and pattern logic that humans are incapable to decipher nor anticipate,
and lastly, the matter of urgency and reluctance to take human responsibility
when facing higher intelligence and stakes of national security. For these very
reasons there is a call for international moratorium on AI. Then there are
other emerging technological challenges like quantum technology and biotechnology,
both these will have serious implication on national security. With quantum computer
supremacy classical binary computer encryptions face immediate threat which
means all strategic information -that has national security implications, is
being compromised. Present strategic data and interest are also threatened by
future decryptions -harvest now decrypt later is the clarion call of data pirates.
Post quantum cryptography is an immediate challenge to protect public key digital
infrastructure since classical computers will have a long run despite quantum computers.
Defence establishments must be professional enough to not only be fully aware
of these challenges but be equipped to face eventualities. CRISPR Cas9 has
completely revolutionized and scaringly democratized biotechnology. It has a
direct impact on national security. It is an important tool to face climate change
impacted food security and biodiversity conservation by removing chemical fertilizers
and pesticides. CRISPR gene drive can change species. Then there is issue of Neurotechnology,
Brain Computer Interface (BCI), that set to tap brain data, despite medical
benefits malicious intent is much severe with even UN creating framework for Neuro
rights as Human rights. Outer space missions is another area with strategic implications.
With climate change impacting
weather pattern climate vulnerable regions like India needs special attention. At
regional level climate crisis is also a serious national security matter. It has
potential to severely disrupt society through migration, lack of access to nutrition
and shortages of essential supplies. With intensity and frequency of climate
events set to increase National Disaster Management will have to eventually include
Defence forces or for effectiveness vice versa. Defence establishment needs to
be equipped with these new challenges. They will have to be reoriented and
train (or be trainer) for climate related unique prevention, rescue and salvage
missions through NCC and sainik schools, NDA so on. These will be much crucial in
climate vulnerable regions particularly on or near vast international borders. So,
clearly, they will need to chart down strategies and operation in consonance with
meteorological departments. Have they worked out channels and procedures? Are they
aware of immense challenges? Are these being included in the training manuals
of future soldiers?
Consolidated Strategic Corp need
to have an Active Research Wing that works on real time collecting and consolidating
data, looking for pattern, for strategic attention. Meanwhile human exposure to
dangerous terrain and risky actions must be minimized and automated. Human as data
collector and response unit -which is what a soldier essentially is, must be replaced
by deep learning robots. Primitive conceptions of army corps (as feudal patriarchy
domain) and references herein (caste/religion based racist colonial manipulations
consolidated by caste cannibals) must be replaced with thinking soldiers. Modernization
of Defence forces must strive for a thinking soldier who is an asset to society,
and not a representation of patriarchal primitive feudal ways (as is mostly
seen in India, or much grievous in Pakistan that is a serious threat to democracy,
nor psycho-social liabilities as in USA or a robot following order of mass murdering
maniac like Putin). It should not be reflection of conceptions of medieval
times. Defence establishment must synergically associate with challenges of our
times.
Consolidated Strategic Corp need
be center for keeping abreast with latest innovations in fast changing world, analyzing
patterns, unique aberrations, and its implications on national security. It must
therefore act on these inputs for preparedness and variable responses. External
threat is becoming quite fluid hence the response must too be context driven
with complete awareness using all the modern insights and repercussions. Human life
is precious, so is biodiversity and other species, and importantly ideals of democratic
society. Nation’s defence force must be prepared for emerging challenges.
US is an evolved democracy on many parameters but is also deeply flawed thus offers valuable lessons. Much of progressive thoughts, scientific insights, technological progress, individual brilliances and pinnacle of associations can be traced to US. It has attracted best of minds from all across the world over the decades. The flaw of US is the fragility of democracy, it will become fatal if citizens are not vigilant. It collapses when citizens can no longer associate as humans. Democracy is dependent of responsible citizens. Citizens make democracy. A better human makes a better citizen. Systems that dehumanize human being into unthinking entities, isolating them from their existential realities, capitalizing on their insecurities to offer a better world is a constant threat. Systems that insidiously hunt on spiritual yearnings of human beings by offering secure fraternal associations based on miracle books, regressive practices and values, segregation and exceptionalism adds to problems of democracy making it weak and vulnerable for charlatans to work on opportunities. Religion everywhere is a threat to humanity. Democratic societies therefore must rigorously scrutinize religion, providing no place for it to nurture. Systems like capitalism driven market have perniciously entered human minds through digital media. These dopamine based algorithms keep them excited as they increasingly loose their faculties to comprehend, analyze and think hence associate with lowest denominator of comfort. Market exaggerates and trap humans as consumers and data source. Democracy is reduced to shows that seeks to ensnare humans into voters, consumers and followers connecting the basest and crudest expressions. It is as if humanity has been stalled and wrenched to its primitive references. Charlatans with expertise to tap basest instincts use strategies of market to manipulate narrations of exceptionalism. They present grander world using the semantics and opportunistic concerns of religion -easily tapping into centuries of subconscious memories of control. Critical issues are turned into binaries of religion using ruse of market. Every human concern is reduced to show, scripted to excite and evaluated on scale of entertainment. US has become a TV show gone rogue. It's riveting but tragic. People are kept entertained until they get killed. All progressive values -achieved through centuries of struggle and consolidation, and evolved thoughts and means are reduced to sideshow.
Cocktail of capitalism driven market
and religion are creating havoc on earth. It is apparent through degradation of
democratic institutions and promotion of wanton consumerism -that is least concerned
about life sustaining nature and biodiversity. Self-perpetuating systems
controlled by few that care about itself than any human welfare or greater good.
This is quite apparent in US. Leaders are controlled by the systems. They are
incapacitated while people are executed wantonly with desultorily ease that even
question the idea of a nation state. These sacrificial rituals of fatal flaws should shudder
human conscience. Flaws that facilitate innocent children and ordinary people -especially
marginalized and racially discriminated, to be massacred. Most grievously it
has incapacitated sane people to respond to their innate humanity or even react
to their basic instinct and primal know. Flawed US that is spiraling into abyss is a
lesson for humanity. Its a pity, it had so much potential.
