Jain University arranged a guest lecture with Mr Anjaan, Programming Head of RadioOne,on the 27th of June,2011. The lecture was in regard with the systematic orientation program of the first year BA students and exposing them to the trends and experiences in the media.
He began by explaining various aspects of the Media and its Business Circle which has various components, information providers (Advertisers, Officials, and every other newsmakers), Media (news promulgators) and Target Group (News receivers). He also remarked that first year students have just transited from the T.G to the next classification of Media, wherein the thought process should shift from perceiving media and its information to analysing and understanding it.
The key message of his interactive session was to have a TIP in the life and career with Media. The tip being not to narrow down, but to be open to the huge platform called the Media Industry with its umpteen tentacles reaching down to the narrowest of the crevices hitherto unknown to those who have refrained from exploring.
He explained the journey by itself can not be complete unless one possesses the necessary utilities, which being, Passion, Idea and Time.
The session was an elaborate, yet interesting explanation of the way to aspire and try to achieve everything in life. To do it all, is his motto, says Anjaan.
And he went on to explain that to do it all, one needs to be open. To call themselves as a Media Professional, not just a particular specialist, like a Writer or an RJ.
First word of considerable consequence is Passion, which he says is the most essential vital organ of the organism called success. He observed that in his experience, Passion has many a times superseded Expertise, which he considers secondary in the ingredients for the recipe of accomplishment. When someone asked about whether Passion is inherent, he answered saying it never is so. Rather one acquires it through experience and by actually falling in love with the subject.
Next came Ideas, which are a mark of a competitive brain. He emphasised on the taste for ideas that Industry had,alluding to the example of the journalism faculty Mr.Sachin’s very own professional experience. He also emphasised the significance of not having any good or bad idea, but actually ideas are just fit or not for the particular business idea of the media management.
And when some student asked whether Idea is nothing but Imagination,he answered that idea need not just be imagined but many times it is also logical and scientific etc. And having ideas is what counts, and it need be honed through practice.
The third apex of the success pyramid,he said was time. Time which all have equally,but use unequally was the most important aspect,which he said defined whether the person will succeed or not.
The final frontier or integrating the three into a single harmonizing machine was quintessential for a successful and also fulfilling professional life in media.
The orientation was quite summarising and energetic way wherein Anjaan skilfully described not the path but the approach and attitude.
The energy remained within the event right ab initio till the curtains,where it ended with a bang, not with a whimper,with him posing for many photographs with the emerging journalists and their vibrant teachers.
- Karthik Adithya S
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The Boss, The Band and The Unthinking Herd - A Review on Media Control by Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky belongs to an era of journalistic scholars who have been the witness to much of the changes in the world order that was conceived by the USA ever since the inception of Federal Reserve and the Capitalistic control of the US economy, which has in turn resulted in the Political and Public control of the whole of the American system by a few concentrated hands. They over a period of time, with shrewd planning and vision, have become the power centres of the world’s most powerful nation.
In his book, Media Control : The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda, Chomsky describes the power that Media can have, and its pioneering application by the US administrators since the regime of Woodrow Wilson, till date, wherein they have systematically used Manipulative propaganda to achieve their ends.
In the world, where these days the way of life emphasizes only the goals or the ends, and the means are no longer relevant or anything to be bothered about as long as you meet your deadlines and accomplish your objectives, he shows how the Government of the United States has influenced the psyche of the public by various methods of propaganda.
His austere style, critical and incisive, yet lacking luster clearly seems to be born out of emphasis on the content rather than the style. One never gets a sense of reading a most accomplished writer in his work, but the bounty lies in the content.
Amongst many of the examples which can be considered, he talks of the Federal US Government as being the most lethal organization which has used many styles and trends of propaganda to its advantage in the past century. The example of Nicaragua and Vietnam as depicted by Chomsky serve as most effective references of how US has manipulated the truth to achieve their strategic gains.
The case-studies as provided in the book like the Creel Commission, suggest the authenticity of the name of the age that we live in, Information Age; but the irony here lies in the fact that, the Information is the weapon, and one who holds and controls it seems to be at the top of the Darwin Pyramid, and thus seems to be have succeeded in systematically rising to the most powerful and thereby most monstrous level of evolution.
We see the news like Osama’s planned assassination in the covert operation carried out by Special Forces, we see the speech given by Obama and rejoice with the whole CNN or ABC driven world. But it is quintessential for the media students to understand the finer aspects hidden away in the multitudes propagated through the media, and to achieve that analytical ability, reading Chomsky is but the first and a very vital step, as reading his book on how Media controls the dynamics of public psyche enables any student of journalism or history to get the idea of a perspective wherein, the fourth pillar of democracy might actually be being used as the first weapon of its class to subdue the public and make them the ‘unthinking herd’.
This case-study of the control of public through the control of media definitely gives food-for-thought for all those who grew up believing whatever they heard on CNN or ABC.
And for a media analyzer, this is a compulsory source to figure into the bibliography of their thesis. No media theorist or critique of the US foreign policy can fail to miss the weight this book bears in the world of US politics and the world driven and guided by the US media.
In his book, Media Control : The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda, Chomsky describes the power that Media can have, and its pioneering application by the US administrators since the regime of Woodrow Wilson, till date, wherein they have systematically used Manipulative propaganda to achieve their ends.
In the world, where these days the way of life emphasizes only the goals or the ends, and the means are no longer relevant or anything to be bothered about as long as you meet your deadlines and accomplish your objectives, he shows how the Government of the United States has influenced the psyche of the public by various methods of propaganda.
His austere style, critical and incisive, yet lacking luster clearly seems to be born out of emphasis on the content rather than the style. One never gets a sense of reading a most accomplished writer in his work, but the bounty lies in the content.
Amongst many of the examples which can be considered, he talks of the Federal US Government as being the most lethal organization which has used many styles and trends of propaganda to its advantage in the past century. The example of Nicaragua and Vietnam as depicted by Chomsky serve as most effective references of how US has manipulated the truth to achieve their strategic gains.
The case-studies as provided in the book like the Creel Commission, suggest the authenticity of the name of the age that we live in, Information Age; but the irony here lies in the fact that, the Information is the weapon, and one who holds and controls it seems to be at the top of the Darwin Pyramid, and thus seems to be have succeeded in systematically rising to the most powerful and thereby most monstrous level of evolution.
We see the news like Osama’s planned assassination in the covert operation carried out by Special Forces, we see the speech given by Obama and rejoice with the whole CNN or ABC driven world. But it is quintessential for the media students to understand the finer aspects hidden away in the multitudes propagated through the media, and to achieve that analytical ability, reading Chomsky is but the first and a very vital step, as reading his book on how Media controls the dynamics of public psyche enables any student of journalism or history to get the idea of a perspective wherein, the fourth pillar of democracy might actually be being used as the first weapon of its class to subdue the public and make them the ‘unthinking herd’.
This case-study of the control of public through the control of media definitely gives food-for-thought for all those who grew up believing whatever they heard on CNN or ABC.
And for a media analyzer, this is a compulsory source to figure into the bibliography of their thesis. No media theorist or critique of the US foreign policy can fail to miss the weight this book bears in the world of US politics and the world driven and guided by the US media.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Development... (A Note on showers of 11-12 April 2010 in Bangalore)
Its really a matter of sanity... Who would want to have a world,where there are greater roads,and better rails,but basic necessities to live,pure air,cool breeze and calm atmosphere is lost?? Who would want to watch those plastic trees kept in front of hotels n offices and inside the buildings and look at the artificial colours,when I am sure,NOONE loves them better than the real ones... I really wonder sometimes how they define development and is it really as positive and as pleasureable as it sounds!!!
I am sure noone posted happiness over having wider roads or better metro rails... but i am sure everyone posted,if not posted,at least felt happy over the welcome rains these past couple of days...
At least by this,we must realise,what is beauty?? at least,now we should be able to see where development truly holds a meaning...
I am sure noone posted happiness over having wider roads or better metro rails... but i am sure everyone posted,if not posted,at least felt happy over the welcome rains these past couple of days...
At least by this,we must realise,what is beauty?? at least,now we should be able to see where development truly holds a meaning...
A Few Observations...
Expressions are best formed in the most profoundly penetrating silences. Its a remarkable irony that the communication of one's thoughts,ideas and dreams come in most marvellously in solitude.
It greatly interests me,the judgements one comes across,even about himself as well as others. The way,a seemingly close-to-heart friend may even turn hostile the moment,the other person walks away.
Paradoxical nature,hypocrisy in thoughts and incongruency in actions. It is an amazingly incredible amalgam of contradictions that we come across in the midst of our wrongly accredited,or rather self-styled order of "civilization".
All humanly reactions and behavioural activities are perceived unnatural to such an extent,that people may even be blamed to suffer issues,but what one fails to notice is that,once placed in such situation,which may drive extremities in reactions,every nine and half individuals out of ten may react more or less,in a similar fashion,if not worse.
The very concept of empathising is lost in oblivion due to stark and non-uniform judgementalism that prevails over and more than often,over-rules human conscience.
Tolerance for a person's flaws is over-ruled by magnified dosage of negative sense of ego.
All things said and done,and existent;but still such an exemplary sense of self-worth prevails amongst the ignominiously deviant people,which though to an extent admirable,but beyond a certain limit,becomes an undesirable persistant drawback.
It is but alarming as well as intriguing that we humans are such a bundle of contradictions.
All that I could infer is that,we really have a long way to go before our superficiality is shed and we become a tolerant,mature and meaningful "civilization".
It greatly interests me,the judgements one comes across,even about himself as well as others. The way,a seemingly close-to-heart friend may even turn hostile the moment,the other person walks away.
Paradoxical nature,hypocrisy in thoughts and incongruency in actions. It is an amazingly incredible amalgam of contradictions that we come across in the midst of our wrongly accredited,or rather self-styled order of "civilization".
All humanly reactions and behavioural activities are perceived unnatural to such an extent,that people may even be blamed to suffer issues,but what one fails to notice is that,once placed in such situation,which may drive extremities in reactions,every nine and half individuals out of ten may react more or less,in a similar fashion,if not worse.
The very concept of empathising is lost in oblivion due to stark and non-uniform judgementalism that prevails over and more than often,over-rules human conscience.
Tolerance for a person's flaws is over-ruled by magnified dosage of negative sense of ego.
All things said and done,and existent;but still such an exemplary sense of self-worth prevails amongst the ignominiously deviant people,which though to an extent admirable,but beyond a certain limit,becomes an undesirable persistant drawback.
It is but alarming as well as intriguing that we humans are such a bundle of contradictions.
All that I could infer is that,we really have a long way to go before our superficiality is shed and we become a tolerant,mature and meaningful "civilization".
A Monologue on Poetry and Experience...
There is always certain small things which inspire a great deal of thought processes,and one such incident occured recently in our interactive classes of Literature when one of my friends posed an interesting stand on judging one of my recent poems... With all due respect and regard to my friend's intelligent observation I write this piece,as a reply to his question...The question that I was posed with was about the authenticity of one of my poems,when I had not experienced the content I had written about,here the theme being "war"..My friend argued that I had never been in a war,so how can I write about it in a first person perspective...
Before I venture into answering the questions posed by my friend,I shall first discuss what experience and poetry, or rather Art in general mean in my perspective...
What is Art and Poetry?
Art in its highest sense is something which forms a voice for the human soul,unshrouded,unmuffled..One of its most accomplished diaspora,the Poetry,is the voice of the soul... Sweet as it may sound,the depth and the nature of poetry goes way beneath the mere overt vanity of its structure and symbols and figures and rhythm...Poetry gives an individual the scope of delving into oneself,exploring those unearthed chapters of human thoughts,which lay hidden beneath the burdens of social and psychological idiosyncracies... Poetry has been more than those few lines,which we recite in groups when we are 10,read aloud when we are 15, read silently when we are 25, and quote when we are 50...Poetry in its essence carries the answers for everything in life... Because,the questions created in our life,have answers, more than often, in our hearts,and this art,is a key to unlock those answers...
Now,an interesting question arises,as to what are the elements that go into it?
By elements,I don't envisage the vocabulary and linguistics, as the answer; but by elements I look into much more humane concepts,which go into it,and come out bursting in colours flowing from our heart,to our mind,into our ink and onto our paper as a poetic piece...Elements unique to man... Elements like opinions,judgements,morals,emotions and most importantly,summing up all,ideas...Language is construction of Poetry,these elements are conception of Poetry...
What is Experience?
Seeing is believing... When you go through, is when you feel and empathise... And those two 'injustices' done upon you,altering your persona every second of your life are always grossly grouped under the tag of Experience....Experience,is what brings out expression... An authentic expression...Expression which can stir the hearts and touch the minds of those thinking few... Experience is what keeps the elements of our identity together,the thought,the word and the action... And it often creates memories,which last and guide us further... Experience has become synonymous with empathy in this world,where the latter has become a depleted and a rather endangered phenomenon,remaining in existence mostly only coupled with experience...Experience is the meaningful group all the words that are typed,backspaced,ad-libbed,emboldened,italicised,deleted,and constantly rewritten into a Text document on a white paper called your Identity...
The Answer
I opine of the perspective that experience is a tool,which we can utilise,when it is available... But depending solely on it for gaining our understanding and comprehension; for our judgements,for our perceptions, about the sea of knowledge and topics which cover them is plainly impossible and more importantly incomplete and is naive indeed... Experience in itself,is an excellent,and universally,acknowledged teacher,often acclaimed to be the finest in the profession; but waiting for this experience is what I find to be the most imprudent thing to do when it comes to creativity... For often in the wait,you lose the waited...Experience,can not always be available,and sometimes asking for it serves to negate the very purpose and cause you might be willing to address...As in the aforementioned case of war,for example,waiting for experience is one of the most foolish things to do,which as I said will negate the purpose...Experience,when it comes by circumstance and accident,is welcome... But it is not advised to go looking for it,when you deal with the themes like war...Well,I must allude to one more elemental ingredient of poetry,for answering his question... The element being sensitivity...If a soldier suffers,but can't or doesn't write about his suffering,and I can empathize with his feelings,and I can voice them for him,then I feel it to be my duty,my responsibility,to voice it... And sensitizing with the soldier may not have brought out the exact emotions of the soldier in my poetry,but,if not achieve such duplication,I would at least try to align my poem and its emotional appeal in congruency with his perception...I wrote the poem in a first person perspective,not because I was the soldier there,and not even because I was impersonating the soldier who opened his heart unto me,but rather because,I saw a movie,wherein through that movie,I thought I heard a soldier describing his horrors, most explicitly...One doesn't need to have a first hand experience,to describe others suffering,as long as one has the heart to listen to it,and the empathy to understand his brother's suffering...This again brings me back to the idea,I intend to emphasise through this piece...Someone who does, need not write,and likewise someone who writes, need not necessarily have done it...It is imperative that a reader know this...
Purpose of Literature
In literature of any form,it is always the expression of idea and the purpose it intends to meet with,that matters in the end,more than the form given to it or the character you as an writer adorn...The very purpose of writing about war is to bring out its horrors,heroics,deaths and destruction,by which,the writer intends to warn and impede the reader from asking for it...Literature can't rely solely upon experience,for when it does that,it becomes reduced to being merely an instrument for depiction and description; quite departing from its purpose in its highest forms,which is,expression...Expression goes beyond mere depiction...
Now,movies,songs and so many other forms of literature talk of war and war-related themes... And every person who might have been involved in those forms of story telling might not have been involved in the story itself,if and when it happened,but it is hoped and expected that the viewer,the listener,the reader,or in general,the appreciator,appreciate the theme,the story,the message... The message should serve the purpose,the purpose of acquainting the audience with the subject... Acquanting and gaining the sympathy,if not,empathy from the audience...
In a manner of conclusion all I can say is that Poetry,in its didactic essence is for senstizing to issues... And how you do it is immaterial. If it is that Chance provides you with experience,so be it... Or if you find yourself capable enough to sensitize,find your aggreeability,thus... As in the end,thoughts remain,voices are what make history,and let not your voices be constrained by an improbable wait for an accidental benefactor called experience...Give your thoughts,the voice they deserve...
Before I venture into answering the questions posed by my friend,I shall first discuss what experience and poetry, or rather Art in general mean in my perspective...
What is Art and Poetry?
Art in its highest sense is something which forms a voice for the human soul,unshrouded,unmuffled..One of its most accomplished diaspora,the Poetry,is the voice of the soul... Sweet as it may sound,the depth and the nature of poetry goes way beneath the mere overt vanity of its structure and symbols and figures and rhythm...Poetry gives an individual the scope of delving into oneself,exploring those unearthed chapters of human thoughts,which lay hidden beneath the burdens of social and psychological idiosyncracies... Poetry has been more than those few lines,which we recite in groups when we are 10,read aloud when we are 15, read silently when we are 25, and quote when we are 50...Poetry in its essence carries the answers for everything in life... Because,the questions created in our life,have answers, more than often, in our hearts,and this art,is a key to unlock those answers...
Now,an interesting question arises,as to what are the elements that go into it?
By elements,I don't envisage the vocabulary and linguistics, as the answer; but by elements I look into much more humane concepts,which go into it,and come out bursting in colours flowing from our heart,to our mind,into our ink and onto our paper as a poetic piece...Elements unique to man... Elements like opinions,judgements,morals,emotions and most importantly,summing up all,ideas...Language is construction of Poetry,these elements are conception of Poetry...
What is Experience?
Seeing is believing... When you go through, is when you feel and empathise... And those two 'injustices' done upon you,altering your persona every second of your life are always grossly grouped under the tag of Experience....Experience,is what brings out expression... An authentic expression...Expression which can stir the hearts and touch the minds of those thinking few... Experience is what keeps the elements of our identity together,the thought,the word and the action... And it often creates memories,which last and guide us further... Experience has become synonymous with empathy in this world,where the latter has become a depleted and a rather endangered phenomenon,remaining in existence mostly only coupled with experience...Experience is the meaningful group all the words that are typed,backspaced,ad-libbed,emboldened,italicised,deleted,and constantly rewritten into a Text document on a white paper called your Identity...
The Answer
I opine of the perspective that experience is a tool,which we can utilise,when it is available... But depending solely on it for gaining our understanding and comprehension; for our judgements,for our perceptions, about the sea of knowledge and topics which cover them is plainly impossible and more importantly incomplete and is naive indeed... Experience in itself,is an excellent,and universally,acknowledged teacher,often acclaimed to be the finest in the profession; but waiting for this experience is what I find to be the most imprudent thing to do when it comes to creativity... For often in the wait,you lose the waited...Experience,can not always be available,and sometimes asking for it serves to negate the very purpose and cause you might be willing to address...As in the aforementioned case of war,for example,waiting for experience is one of the most foolish things to do,which as I said will negate the purpose...Experience,when it comes by circumstance and accident,is welcome... But it is not advised to go looking for it,when you deal with the themes like war...Well,I must allude to one more elemental ingredient of poetry,for answering his question... The element being sensitivity...If a soldier suffers,but can't or doesn't write about his suffering,and I can empathize with his feelings,and I can voice them for him,then I feel it to be my duty,my responsibility,to voice it... And sensitizing with the soldier may not have brought out the exact emotions of the soldier in my poetry,but,if not achieve such duplication,I would at least try to align my poem and its emotional appeal in congruency with his perception...I wrote the poem in a first person perspective,not because I was the soldier there,and not even because I was impersonating the soldier who opened his heart unto me,but rather because,I saw a movie,wherein through that movie,I thought I heard a soldier describing his horrors, most explicitly...One doesn't need to have a first hand experience,to describe others suffering,as long as one has the heart to listen to it,and the empathy to understand his brother's suffering...This again brings me back to the idea,I intend to emphasise through this piece...Someone who does, need not write,and likewise someone who writes, need not necessarily have done it...It is imperative that a reader know this...
Purpose of Literature
In literature of any form,it is always the expression of idea and the purpose it intends to meet with,that matters in the end,more than the form given to it or the character you as an writer adorn...The very purpose of writing about war is to bring out its horrors,heroics,deaths and destruction,by which,the writer intends to warn and impede the reader from asking for it...Literature can't rely solely upon experience,for when it does that,it becomes reduced to being merely an instrument for depiction and description; quite departing from its purpose in its highest forms,which is,expression...Expression goes beyond mere depiction...
Now,movies,songs and so many other forms of literature talk of war and war-related themes... And every person who might have been involved in those forms of story telling might not have been involved in the story itself,if and when it happened,but it is hoped and expected that the viewer,the listener,the reader,or in general,the appreciator,appreciate the theme,the story,the message... The message should serve the purpose,the purpose of acquainting the audience with the subject... Acquanting and gaining the sympathy,if not,empathy from the audience...
In a manner of conclusion all I can say is that Poetry,in its didactic essence is for senstizing to issues... And how you do it is immaterial. If it is that Chance provides you with experience,so be it... Or if you find yourself capable enough to sensitize,find your aggreeability,thus... As in the end,thoughts remain,voices are what make history,and let not your voices be constrained by an improbable wait for an accidental benefactor called experience...Give your thoughts,the voice they deserve...
On Hope...
Its a part of life that one tends to ignore the difficult concept of acceptance of inevitability...The frail human soul tries its best to ignore due to sad unacceptability,the inevitable truths.It yearns to believe in that prospect,that Utopian euphoria that only hope can dare to explain...Sometimes,not so rarely,have I witnessed situations,circumstances where the weak human is faced with that deep feeling inside,which keeps nagging at the back of our head telling us the impossibility of what we hope,but still we,the dreamers keep ignoring that warning till it hits us across our face. And when it hits us,we say nothing,there is just a single tear across our pallor,which but says one thing,"see? I told you."Yes,that tear is the language of the truest and most sensible being that resides in the deepest realms of our heart,that tear is the hand of that being,which writes on the walls of our hearts,the warning,the message,the instruction,the inevitable truth,which we choose to ignore till the last.It may not be logical,as someone rightly suggests,to ignore the writing on the wall,but yes, still we do it...People say its our weakness,which makes us do it,people say it is the reason for our doom,the reason for all that went wrong in case of humanity.But I just feel happy,feel innately calm,peaceful,when I see that whatever happened,had a just reason.If it were not for our weakness,I perceive,where would we have found our strengths,where would we have learnt about our mistakes,where would that lesson have come in our textbooks. If it were not for our weaknesses,where would education exist;for what is education,but an analysis of our mistakes...It is best visible in our study of our fathers,which we call as History... I see the ultimate aim of history in its relevance to us,to you,to me,to your brothers,to your sisters,to every human... History is but a study of past glories,and the mistakes and lessons that lay embedded in that past glories of our fathers...What knowledge would one have of the pain of war,the worth of faith,the worth of sacrifice,the beauty inherent in love,what knowledge of joy,what knowledge of happiness would one possess,if he had never known the past...How could one understand the romantic beauty of happiness,joy,calm serenity,had he not known pain...Somewhere we try to avoid the pain,somewhere we like to run away from it...I see no harm in doing so,after all,it hurts...But it is also true that ultimately you have to face it,and it is also self-implied that it is for your own good...The hope that keeps us alive,the hope that keeps us moving on in our sycophantic life,the hope that guides us to do mistakes,the hope that guides us to accept them,and it is again hope that makes us learn from those mistakes and keep moving,I must say,as long as we have faith in that hope,it is again the hope itself that will give us strength to endure and experience,whatever life has to offer to us,beautiful or else,beautiful... Yes,the other aspect is also beautiful,for I perceive that pain has a beauty so inherent in its worth,that even everything happy may not possess,and a true student of humanity must see beauty so vibrantly emanating from even pain,as he/she sees in joy and happiness,and only then,can one learn the true worth of life...It is impossible indeed to imagine life without hope,for what meaning would life hold in the absence of hope,and the faith that hope generates to keep us rolling,while the wheels on the bus go round and round...:)
© Karthik Adithya Singaraju
08/05/2010
© Karthik Adithya Singaraju
08/05/2010
God's own Kamasutra...
(A STATUTORY NOTICE :- Apart from reading and commenting your opinion,please tell me if you notice any mistakes grammatical etc...:) )
(DISCLAIMER :- Characters are real,and have solely been used to disseminate my views and not with an intention to harm any person's feelings or self-image,and if I have unintentionally hurt anyone through this piece,I beg your pardon from the deepest of my heart,most sincerely at the very outset..)
One
Few more minutes,and I finally reach KBS. God!! Today I am going to get late...
Ahh,finally...
Ohkay,lets better get moving fast and grab the nearest bus to college...
He waits behind two guys,wearing kurta and carrying bags. They have the cap on and grown their beards. Both seem to be strong,lean and fit. Probably in their 20s...
It can be this moment,with whatever is inside those loose vests. It could happen to me this moment,and all thoughts, all plans would go with me,into the dust... Shit! Do not think like that... It is not right...
Now he remembers those classes where he studied "The telephone Conversation"...
What was it that Soyinka had termed it as... Forced Good Breeding...
He shuts out further thoughts feeling guilty to think in such a way at all...
It could be this moment... This could be the last,and I wouldn't even know... It would be so easy for someone here to do such a thing... Barely any security,and crowds in hundreds,if not thousands... SHIT! Shut the fuck up,you're not supposed to think like that!
But...
They get down,and he follows suit. Swiftly crossing through the multitudes of crowd and incoming buses,he makes his way through the platforms to the other end to catch his next bus. Completely forgetting the incident...
*A FEW DAYS EARLIER*
"A great many forms of prejudices exist, for one in America it might be of colour and there it wouldn't be much of consequence if you are a hindu or muslim, but it would be a big deal if you are coloured, or so has been the case," Mr.N tells the half interested crowd which stays inside the class for basically the want of attendance.
"This poem is about the poet,who is black,as is apparent and is seeking an apartment for rent from a white lady,and the course of their conversation is described in the poem. Poem contains ironical references to racism."
I think most of us here,either do not understand or might not appreciate fully what racism is... It might be only understandable once you know it,or experience it... But I can imagine...
"Mark the words,forced good breeding," says his friend, "interesting usage,isn't it?"
He nods and smiles... So many out there who still believe in stuff like KKK and Nazi wasn't a one man army either,was it...? Prejudices work on the strength of people who believe in them... But how can I blame them? Thats what they see and know... It is not like most of them are educated Ph.D holders... And policies invariably piss off one section or the other... And even most educated people love to pass the blame for their incompetence and shortcomings across the table...
------------------------------------------------
Two
Oh..!! Thank God! Direct bus to college,guess I will reach in time after all...
There is a really old lady,small and probably shrunken through her time,sitting right in front. She looks up,is it apprehension in her eyes...? as though this urban boy is going to snatch away her seat where she is resting her long toiled body. Her face might have as many creases as the months she has been here,with us...
*A Few minutes pass*
Great! A seat! This is a good start to the day...!
He sits across her,mildly interested,but takes out his earphones and plugs himself into the music. Then he notices,she keeps turning back...
Oh...the old guy is her husband,I suppose...
There is an old guy sitting a couple of rows behind the woman,he is at the edge of the seat,and amidst the sea of legs of the standing morning crowd,in the bus, he notices an earnest face,which keeps watching the woman anxiously... He seems to be pretty toughened,one can notice that from his face. Beard and hair on the slightly balding head have a ghostly whiteness to them,but he also looks as shrunken through the years as does his wife. Her saree,her face,her starved look,her anxious face, all telling a story of long, harassed and miserable life which no words can describe.
I better look away...
In sometime I'll meet people who think the world is as rosy as it can get...
The irony of it all...
I'm glad I come by bus...
There is a slightly obese middle-aged person who sits right next to this lady. With his saffron mark on the forehead to his gold-plated watch,dressed in a dull white checked shirt and a brown cotton pant with sandals. A thick moustache. A phone diary and a single jet pen in his breast pocket. Probably some notes and few papers added to the bulk in his breast pocket...
Another one of those dull working middle-class... How can one forever exist and bear the monotony of such dull existence? What purpose does he have? What happens when it is time for him to go? Will he regret what he is...? But then again,there are more people like him,too many than what I might like... Just well oiled outdated machines with as much elements of life as sheep...
"Hmmm"....
Well but then,he might have already done what he wants,wouldn't he have? A house, a family, few kids and a wife... Attend occasional family get-togethers on special occassions and just thus,get on with life...
*A couple of days before*
(In the Mother tongue)
"A few words in English,and people act as though they know the world. They don't realise,our basic necessity is to bring our family up. If we do that much,it is enough. If life gets settled and shows a positive improvement,that is enough. But youngsters these days think that we who have seen the whole life are fools,we don't know what life is. They think they,and their fancied examples are only right. They don't understand the reality. Immature lot,few years and everyone will come to their positions,trust me."
Seen life? Yeah right!
Practicality? Thinking one is a loser or should be a conformist for societal norms based on class divide is being practical?! Then practicality,my arse...
God! When am I getting out of here?!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Three
He has such an intellectual feel to his face. Pity he seems uneducated. Or are they covert operatives? It is not entirely impossible that such people can be amongst us,now can they? And am I observing well? Well,maybe, maybe not... *Dude! You're watching and reading too much of this shit...*
He looks out of the bus window and smiles.
They noticed me looking at them... They are talking now,what is it that they are talking? And the blind guy,is he really blind? Why does it feel that he is looking at me?
CREEPY!
His kurta is so dirty... A good observer can note all the details remember? Spots near the right waist area, a black protrusion midway on his staff,bag torn near base on the right side... Wonder whats inside?
This could be my last moment... Shit! Not again! Stop thinking that way!
Well,I guess this is all terrorism is about,lesser explosions but more fear of explosions... Am I really to blame myself for thinking this way?
Or is it how things are being conditioned from various channels of information?
And if I think this way,can I really blame a religiously prejudiced person of being prejudiced?
Shit,What exactly is right anyway?!
Should I give my seat to this person who apparently is blind and is quite old?
What the hell is stopping me from doing so?!
*A Few minutes later*
The person sitting beside him leaves,as his stop comes,and he helps the old fakir to sit down beside him and smiles.
Maybe a small size retribution for my initial unkind behaviour...
Now,they are smiling while looking at me. Thank God!
There is something wrong... Guess I am giving in to the stereotyping going around...
But I never feel this way with my other friends who belong to the same group of people...
Probably its got something to do with what they wear... But it is wrong,I know it...
I should stop getting worked up whenever I see such people...
But honestly,those two standing there,they look so intellectual,why aren't they educated? So many like them,I suppose,intellectual by birth,but deprived by circumstances. Pity,as things could've been so much more different...
--------------------------------------------------------------
Four
*An Year Earlier*
(In their most commonly used language)
"This Govt is a bunch of liars,they have stirpped us off our lands. They persecute from amongst us,and they don't allow us homes,don't allow us peace and don't allow us our tongue to sing praise for our Lord. They are all from that Saffron land,they only like people who believe in Saffron colour and worship what they worship. We are the deprived,we are hunted as though we are thieves and treated like vermin," and an old religious man goes on like this...
He is sitting beside the old man...
If an old common roadside fakir can say so much,which can be so instigating for the uneducated, what about those hardcore propoganda experts from amongst the ranks of extremists. God! Scary thought by itself!
Only people with narrow minds can think this way! I feel sorry!
*A Few Months Earlier*
Why are these people so much against what their own people are doing? It is not like Govt wants to be bad,but it is compelled...
Suddenly he is quite taken aback when he finds out that his own friends have opined against the Govt.
Is the nation-state concept on its death row...?
*Now*
Guess,now I should feel sorry for myself for thinking that way... But I can also see the point of those who are prejudist now... But the sorry part is,it only adds to the confusion... Who is wrong,who is right? What is wrong,what is right?
--------------------------------------------------------
Five
*An Hour passes in the bus journey*
The old man comes and sits beside his wife,in the bus which is by now completely empty...
She takes out an handkerchief from her bosom and starts unfolding it beside him,as soon as he comes and sits beside her...
He is looking at her act as is the other guy sitting in front,facing the old couple...
Well,guess he gave her some money just in case they get separated... Wonder how much she is carrying in that handkerchief...
She opens and takes some money in her hands, hundred rupees on the outside,wonder how much inside that note,stacked...?
Well....
She opens the Hundred Rupee note and gives it to him... He asks her to keep it,but she insists,almost frenzied looking at the note,as though it is a scary voodoo artifact...
What... Just 100 rupees...?
He carefully folds the note and keeps it inside his pocket safely and looks at the guy who is intently watching the whole scene.
They don't look like they are urban folks;she just had hundred with her?!
And I get it for what...two days...!
Some inexplicable guilt and despondence gets to him...
*A Day Ago*
"Hey dude,nice haircut,where did you get it done?," he asks,looking at one of his friends who had just got a new hair-cut done. "And nice colour too!"
The other friend smiles,"I got it done from L and well the haircut was just 300 bucks,but together with the colour,the whole set came around to 1500.."
"300?! Thats it?! Not bad dude,thats quite reasonable! Nice man!"
*Now*
What is reasonable? What is right and what is not?
God,things just don't seem fair!
--------------------------------------------------
Six (Epilogue)
This world is really a fucked up place...
But wonder why can't God (or life) fuck us all in one single way,rather than coming up with so much variety...?
Then again I am reminded of Kamasutra...
And wasn't God supposed to be REALLY creative...?
(And I guess best way to watch it is in the bus...)
---------------xxxxxxxxxxxx--------------
© Karthik Adithya Singaraju
(DISCLAIMER :- Characters are real,and have solely been used to disseminate my views and not with an intention to harm any person's feelings or self-image,and if I have unintentionally hurt anyone through this piece,I beg your pardon from the deepest of my heart,most sincerely at the very outset..)
One
Few more minutes,and I finally reach KBS. God!! Today I am going to get late...
Ahh,finally...
Ohkay,lets better get moving fast and grab the nearest bus to college...
He waits behind two guys,wearing kurta and carrying bags. They have the cap on and grown their beards. Both seem to be strong,lean and fit. Probably in their 20s...
It can be this moment,with whatever is inside those loose vests. It could happen to me this moment,and all thoughts, all plans would go with me,into the dust... Shit! Do not think like that... It is not right...
Now he remembers those classes where he studied "The telephone Conversation"...
What was it that Soyinka had termed it as... Forced Good Breeding...
He shuts out further thoughts feeling guilty to think in such a way at all...
It could be this moment... This could be the last,and I wouldn't even know... It would be so easy for someone here to do such a thing... Barely any security,and crowds in hundreds,if not thousands... SHIT! Shut the fuck up,you're not supposed to think like that!
But...
They get down,and he follows suit. Swiftly crossing through the multitudes of crowd and incoming buses,he makes his way through the platforms to the other end to catch his next bus. Completely forgetting the incident...
*A FEW DAYS EARLIER*
"A great many forms of prejudices exist, for one in America it might be of colour and there it wouldn't be much of consequence if you are a hindu or muslim, but it would be a big deal if you are coloured, or so has been the case," Mr.N tells the half interested crowd which stays inside the class for basically the want of attendance.
"This poem is about the poet,who is black,as is apparent and is seeking an apartment for rent from a white lady,and the course of their conversation is described in the poem. Poem contains ironical references to racism."
I think most of us here,either do not understand or might not appreciate fully what racism is... It might be only understandable once you know it,or experience it... But I can imagine...
"Mark the words,forced good breeding," says his friend, "interesting usage,isn't it?"
He nods and smiles... So many out there who still believe in stuff like KKK and Nazi wasn't a one man army either,was it...? Prejudices work on the strength of people who believe in them... But how can I blame them? Thats what they see and know... It is not like most of them are educated Ph.D holders... And policies invariably piss off one section or the other... And even most educated people love to pass the blame for their incompetence and shortcomings across the table...
------------------------------------------------
Two
Oh..!! Thank God! Direct bus to college,guess I will reach in time after all...
There is a really old lady,small and probably shrunken through her time,sitting right in front. She looks up,is it apprehension in her eyes...? as though this urban boy is going to snatch away her seat where she is resting her long toiled body. Her face might have as many creases as the months she has been here,with us...
*A Few minutes pass*
Great! A seat! This is a good start to the day...!
He sits across her,mildly interested,but takes out his earphones and plugs himself into the music. Then he notices,she keeps turning back...
Oh...the old guy is her husband,I suppose...
There is an old guy sitting a couple of rows behind the woman,he is at the edge of the seat,and amidst the sea of legs of the standing morning crowd,in the bus, he notices an earnest face,which keeps watching the woman anxiously... He seems to be pretty toughened,one can notice that from his face. Beard and hair on the slightly balding head have a ghostly whiteness to them,but he also looks as shrunken through the years as does his wife. Her saree,her face,her starved look,her anxious face, all telling a story of long, harassed and miserable life which no words can describe.
I better look away...
In sometime I'll meet people who think the world is as rosy as it can get...
The irony of it all...
I'm glad I come by bus...
There is a slightly obese middle-aged person who sits right next to this lady. With his saffron mark on the forehead to his gold-plated watch,dressed in a dull white checked shirt and a brown cotton pant with sandals. A thick moustache. A phone diary and a single jet pen in his breast pocket. Probably some notes and few papers added to the bulk in his breast pocket...
Another one of those dull working middle-class... How can one forever exist and bear the monotony of such dull existence? What purpose does he have? What happens when it is time for him to go? Will he regret what he is...? But then again,there are more people like him,too many than what I might like... Just well oiled outdated machines with as much elements of life as sheep...
"Hmmm"....
Well but then,he might have already done what he wants,wouldn't he have? A house, a family, few kids and a wife... Attend occasional family get-togethers on special occassions and just thus,get on with life...
*A couple of days before*
(In the Mother tongue)
"A few words in English,and people act as though they know the world. They don't realise,our basic necessity is to bring our family up. If we do that much,it is enough. If life gets settled and shows a positive improvement,that is enough. But youngsters these days think that we who have seen the whole life are fools,we don't know what life is. They think they,and their fancied examples are only right. They don't understand the reality. Immature lot,few years and everyone will come to their positions,trust me."
Seen life? Yeah right!
Practicality? Thinking one is a loser or should be a conformist for societal norms based on class divide is being practical?! Then practicality,my arse...
God! When am I getting out of here?!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Three
He has such an intellectual feel to his face. Pity he seems uneducated. Or are they covert operatives? It is not entirely impossible that such people can be amongst us,now can they? And am I observing well? Well,maybe, maybe not... *Dude! You're watching and reading too much of this shit...*
He looks out of the bus window and smiles.
They noticed me looking at them... They are talking now,what is it that they are talking? And the blind guy,is he really blind? Why does it feel that he is looking at me?
CREEPY!
His kurta is so dirty... A good observer can note all the details remember? Spots near the right waist area, a black protrusion midway on his staff,bag torn near base on the right side... Wonder whats inside?
This could be my last moment... Shit! Not again! Stop thinking that way!
Well,I guess this is all terrorism is about,lesser explosions but more fear of explosions... Am I really to blame myself for thinking this way?
Or is it how things are being conditioned from various channels of information?
And if I think this way,can I really blame a religiously prejudiced person of being prejudiced?
Shit,What exactly is right anyway?!
Should I give my seat to this person who apparently is blind and is quite old?
What the hell is stopping me from doing so?!
*A Few minutes later*
The person sitting beside him leaves,as his stop comes,and he helps the old fakir to sit down beside him and smiles.
Maybe a small size retribution for my initial unkind behaviour...
Now,they are smiling while looking at me. Thank God!
There is something wrong... Guess I am giving in to the stereotyping going around...
But I never feel this way with my other friends who belong to the same group of people...
Probably its got something to do with what they wear... But it is wrong,I know it...
I should stop getting worked up whenever I see such people...
But honestly,those two standing there,they look so intellectual,why aren't they educated? So many like them,I suppose,intellectual by birth,but deprived by circumstances. Pity,as things could've been so much more different...
--------------------------------------------------------------
Four
*An Year Earlier*
(In their most commonly used language)
"This Govt is a bunch of liars,they have stirpped us off our lands. They persecute from amongst us,and they don't allow us homes,don't allow us peace and don't allow us our tongue to sing praise for our Lord. They are all from that Saffron land,they only like people who believe in Saffron colour and worship what they worship. We are the deprived,we are hunted as though we are thieves and treated like vermin," and an old religious man goes on like this...
He is sitting beside the old man...
If an old common roadside fakir can say so much,which can be so instigating for the uneducated, what about those hardcore propoganda experts from amongst the ranks of extremists. God! Scary thought by itself!
Only people with narrow minds can think this way! I feel sorry!
*A Few Months Earlier*
Why are these people so much against what their own people are doing? It is not like Govt wants to be bad,but it is compelled...
Suddenly he is quite taken aback when he finds out that his own friends have opined against the Govt.
Is the nation-state concept on its death row...?
*Now*
Guess,now I should feel sorry for myself for thinking that way... But I can also see the point of those who are prejudist now... But the sorry part is,it only adds to the confusion... Who is wrong,who is right? What is wrong,what is right?
--------------------------------------------------------
Five
*An Hour passes in the bus journey*
The old man comes and sits beside his wife,in the bus which is by now completely empty...
She takes out an handkerchief from her bosom and starts unfolding it beside him,as soon as he comes and sits beside her...
He is looking at her act as is the other guy sitting in front,facing the old couple...
Well,guess he gave her some money just in case they get separated... Wonder how much she is carrying in that handkerchief...
She opens and takes some money in her hands, hundred rupees on the outside,wonder how much inside that note,stacked...?
Well....
She opens the Hundred Rupee note and gives it to him... He asks her to keep it,but she insists,almost frenzied looking at the note,as though it is a scary voodoo artifact...
What... Just 100 rupees...?
He carefully folds the note and keeps it inside his pocket safely and looks at the guy who is intently watching the whole scene.
They don't look like they are urban folks;she just had hundred with her?!
And I get it for what...two days...!
Some inexplicable guilt and despondence gets to him...
*A Day Ago*
"Hey dude,nice haircut,where did you get it done?," he asks,looking at one of his friends who had just got a new hair-cut done. "And nice colour too!"
The other friend smiles,"I got it done from L and well the haircut was just 300 bucks,but together with the colour,the whole set came around to 1500.."
"300?! Thats it?! Not bad dude,thats quite reasonable! Nice man!"
*Now*
What is reasonable? What is right and what is not?
God,things just don't seem fair!
--------------------------------------------------
Six (Epilogue)
This world is really a fucked up place...
But wonder why can't God (or life) fuck us all in one single way,rather than coming up with so much variety...?
Then again I am reminded of Kamasutra...
And wasn't God supposed to be REALLY creative...?
(And I guess best way to watch it is in the bus...)
---------------xxxxxxxxxxxx--------------
© Karthik Adithya Singaraju
Beyond the drawbacks of Democracy...
The Democratic form of political system has been portrayed as the Utopian form of Governance that any civilized society can achieve. Yes, it in its real essence states the novelty of an informed society progressive and in tune with the need and call of the common man. India had its first taste of democracy,even while it was under the Colonial rule of Imperial British Crown, when the young intellectuals elite of India started to visit and experience the society existent in the supposedly Enlightened and Renaissance driven West,from the early 19th century.
The Parliamentarian systems of Europe, though nominally under monarchy were found to be blissfully pro-public. The first leaders of India, right from the formation of Indian National Congress in 1885 were of an unanimous mindset, to bring about such a pro-people and of the people governance in India.
The tested effectiveness of democracy in European progressive states was a living proof for the Indian leaders to rely upon. Major contributors to the effectiveness of this argument were the examples of French and American Revolutions of late 1700s. The people were inspired by the willful public might portrayed in those epic sacrifices for Right to Liberty and Freedom.
The Congress leaders, especially the Extremist wing, time and again believed and reasserted the fact that such revolution must happen in our country. There amidst the risen Nationalism of our country, we witnessed the rise of a Great leader. A 5 and a half foot man with the vein of the nation within his grasp. Shortly after arrival from South Africa,he travelled across the various territories of India,just to get the pulse of the nation. Even while marching alongside the Congress leaders, he never politically campaigned. I must say,that the little men this country produces have by far been singularly significant and their strength lies in their character. Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi,. called Mahatma Gandhi out of reverence, campaigned for the betterment of people, but history tells us that, during the Quit India Movement, he was pressurized to ask for Complete Independence. Mahatma Gandhi writes himself,in his memoirs, that he believed that our country was NOT ready to be an Independent Republic yet.
The democracy loosely forged along the 3000 odd kilometer length and breadth of this nation has been more of a gargantuan failing machine,exactly walking on the path Gandhi predicted us to walk.
I must here discuss the reasons for such a dismal regressive degeneration of our democracy. Firstly, the ideals and the examples taken were of the smaller European nations and the United States of America. First let me discuss the case of European states, the democratic machinery worked in Europe because of the limited geo-political influence of each nation state. Simply put, when a man or a group of chosen men control and govern other men, it is more efficiently done when the size of the volume being controlled and governed is limited. Every European state satisfies this aspect. One may here ask,what of America which is geographically and population wise pretty large. The answer for this remains that the USA that we know of was initially comprised of 13 European Colonies, which until the Declaration of Independence and formation of The United States of America were run on the basis of Anarcho-Capitalism and Individualistic Anarchism. The American colonies,thus, developed and gradually matured in a span of a century,being assisted by economic and such prosperity into a state capable enough to handle Democracy. And thus,by the time, American War of Independence took place, American colonies were a responsible people,capable of making informed decisions.
Now the key aspect of the efficiency of a democracy lies with the ability of people to make informed decisions and choices, irrespective of any external or internal influences or biases. That if properly understood remains to be a concept yet to be realised, and it is imperative to achieve that to optimal levels before one counts themselves ready to take the task of being responsible society. This is exactly the point where Indian leaders went wrong,and Gandhiji made a fairly informed prediction,of India not being ready to handle the democratic "independence". The reason for this was just widespread illiteracy, lack of information,lack of sense of purpose. They knew they wanted independence from British yoke,but not many had clue what to do with the gained independence. Economy was in shambles, population was rising as well as the issues to deal with. And the extensive bureaucratic machinery largely comprising of the first independent generation was walking the path of extreme degeneration with rise in Herculean levels of corruption.
We tried to imbibe far too much from the West and their culture. Though the perfect form of society is one where individuals are allowed their Right to exercise freedom, the achievement of our democracy so far has been largely stagnant,if not regressive. What our leaders failed to comprehend is while imbibing the values of West which propagate the freedom of man, we should have also considered our preparedness, our identity, our nativity to actually understand and work out things. Democracy as it is existent in India,where every other person can start a political party, the extensive legislative structure, unlimited terms in power, lack of proper eligibility criteria for being chosen as leaders, reservations based on the divisions which plague our society,patriarchal structure of political system - all this and more has resulted in our Governance System to fail dismally.
To quote rightly the effect of democracy, taken from a delightful essay by Hans-Hermann Hoppe, democracy shall only produce "congressmen, presidents, and Supreme Court judges who do not and cannot acquire their positions accidentally, reach their position because of their proficiency as morally uninhibited demagogues. Moreover, even outside the orbit of government, within civil society, individuals will increasingly rise to the top of economic and financial success, not on account of their productive or entrepreneurial talents or even their superior defensive political talents, but rather because of their superior skills as unscrupulous political entrepreneurs and lobbyists. Thus, the Constitution virtually assures that exclusively dangerous men will rise to the pinnacle of government power and that moral behavior and ethical standards will tend to decline and deteriorate over all."
And the way things are run in democracy by our leaders is beautifully explained as follows :- "Legislators cannot impose their will on their hapless subjects without the cooperation of the president as the head of the executive branch of government, and the president* in turn will use his position and the resources at his disposal to influence legislators and legislation. And although the Supreme Court may disagree with particular acts of Congress or the president, Supreme Court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate and remain dependent on them for funding. As an integral part of the institution of government, they have no interest in limiting but every interest in expanding the government's, and hence their own, power."
And a statement is on the rounds these days, "blame the times,as these are bad times and well,if everyone does that,why not me?" And he further explains the reason why such a pitiful situation has arisen where being morally and ethically sound doesn't really help you. It is safe enough to blame the system, as system is flawed. In Hans-Hermann Hoppe's words,"in every society, more "have-nots" of everything worth having exist than "haves," and the politically talented who have little or no inhibition against taking property and lording it over others will have a clear advantage over those with such scruples. That is, open political competition favors aggressive, hence dangerous, rather than defensive, hence harmless, political talents and will thus lead to the cultivation and perfection of the peculiar skills of demagoguery, deception, lying, opportunism, corruption, and bribery. Therefore, entrance into and success within government will become increasingly impossible for anyone hampered by moral scruples against lying and stealing."
The academic article from which the excerpts have been borrowed speaks of the issues facing democracy and its proponents. And the quoted words of the article clearly reflect the present dismal shamble of our own country and its "Democratic" nature.
The question that is left behind here at the end of this piece is how are we going to go beyond the drawbacks of democracy and address the concerns raised?
© Karthik Adithya Singaraju
*The article by Hans-Hermann Hoppe was written in the American Context,and hence the reference to the President and the Senate. We must assume in Indian context,analogy can be extended to our Cabinet Ministers and the Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly.
The Parliamentarian systems of Europe, though nominally under monarchy were found to be blissfully pro-public. The first leaders of India, right from the formation of Indian National Congress in 1885 were of an unanimous mindset, to bring about such a pro-people and of the people governance in India.
The tested effectiveness of democracy in European progressive states was a living proof for the Indian leaders to rely upon. Major contributors to the effectiveness of this argument were the examples of French and American Revolutions of late 1700s. The people were inspired by the willful public might portrayed in those epic sacrifices for Right to Liberty and Freedom.
The Congress leaders, especially the Extremist wing, time and again believed and reasserted the fact that such revolution must happen in our country. There amidst the risen Nationalism of our country, we witnessed the rise of a Great leader. A 5 and a half foot man with the vein of the nation within his grasp. Shortly after arrival from South Africa,he travelled across the various territories of India,just to get the pulse of the nation. Even while marching alongside the Congress leaders, he never politically campaigned. I must say,that the little men this country produces have by far been singularly significant and their strength lies in their character. Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi,. called Mahatma Gandhi out of reverence, campaigned for the betterment of people, but history tells us that, during the Quit India Movement, he was pressurized to ask for Complete Independence. Mahatma Gandhi writes himself,in his memoirs, that he believed that our country was NOT ready to be an Independent Republic yet.
The democracy loosely forged along the 3000 odd kilometer length and breadth of this nation has been more of a gargantuan failing machine,exactly walking on the path Gandhi predicted us to walk.
I must here discuss the reasons for such a dismal regressive degeneration of our democracy. Firstly, the ideals and the examples taken were of the smaller European nations and the United States of America. First let me discuss the case of European states, the democratic machinery worked in Europe because of the limited geo-political influence of each nation state. Simply put, when a man or a group of chosen men control and govern other men, it is more efficiently done when the size of the volume being controlled and governed is limited. Every European state satisfies this aspect. One may here ask,what of America which is geographically and population wise pretty large. The answer for this remains that the USA that we know of was initially comprised of 13 European Colonies, which until the Declaration of Independence and formation of The United States of America were run on the basis of Anarcho-Capitalism and Individualistic Anarchism. The American colonies,thus, developed and gradually matured in a span of a century,being assisted by economic and such prosperity into a state capable enough to handle Democracy. And thus,by the time, American War of Independence took place, American colonies were a responsible people,capable of making informed decisions.
Now the key aspect of the efficiency of a democracy lies with the ability of people to make informed decisions and choices, irrespective of any external or internal influences or biases. That if properly understood remains to be a concept yet to be realised, and it is imperative to achieve that to optimal levels before one counts themselves ready to take the task of being responsible society. This is exactly the point where Indian leaders went wrong,and Gandhiji made a fairly informed prediction,of India not being ready to handle the democratic "independence". The reason for this was just widespread illiteracy, lack of information,lack of sense of purpose. They knew they wanted independence from British yoke,but not many had clue what to do with the gained independence. Economy was in shambles, population was rising as well as the issues to deal with. And the extensive bureaucratic machinery largely comprising of the first independent generation was walking the path of extreme degeneration with rise in Herculean levels of corruption.
We tried to imbibe far too much from the West and their culture. Though the perfect form of society is one where individuals are allowed their Right to exercise freedom, the achievement of our democracy so far has been largely stagnant,if not regressive. What our leaders failed to comprehend is while imbibing the values of West which propagate the freedom of man, we should have also considered our preparedness, our identity, our nativity to actually understand and work out things. Democracy as it is existent in India,where every other person can start a political party, the extensive legislative structure, unlimited terms in power, lack of proper eligibility criteria for being chosen as leaders, reservations based on the divisions which plague our society,patriarchal structure of political system - all this and more has resulted in our Governance System to fail dismally.
To quote rightly the effect of democracy, taken from a delightful essay by Hans-Hermann Hoppe, democracy shall only produce "congressmen, presidents, and Supreme Court judges who do not and cannot acquire their positions accidentally, reach their position because of their proficiency as morally uninhibited demagogues. Moreover, even outside the orbit of government, within civil society, individuals will increasingly rise to the top of economic and financial success, not on account of their productive or entrepreneurial talents or even their superior defensive political talents, but rather because of their superior skills as unscrupulous political entrepreneurs and lobbyists. Thus, the Constitution virtually assures that exclusively dangerous men will rise to the pinnacle of government power and that moral behavior and ethical standards will tend to decline and deteriorate over all."
And the way things are run in democracy by our leaders is beautifully explained as follows :- "Legislators cannot impose their will on their hapless subjects without the cooperation of the president as the head of the executive branch of government, and the president* in turn will use his position and the resources at his disposal to influence legislators and legislation. And although the Supreme Court may disagree with particular acts of Congress or the president, Supreme Court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate and remain dependent on them for funding. As an integral part of the institution of government, they have no interest in limiting but every interest in expanding the government's, and hence their own, power."
And a statement is on the rounds these days, "blame the times,as these are bad times and well,if everyone does that,why not me?" And he further explains the reason why such a pitiful situation has arisen where being morally and ethically sound doesn't really help you. It is safe enough to blame the system, as system is flawed. In Hans-Hermann Hoppe's words,"in every society, more "have-nots" of everything worth having exist than "haves," and the politically talented who have little or no inhibition against taking property and lording it over others will have a clear advantage over those with such scruples. That is, open political competition favors aggressive, hence dangerous, rather than defensive, hence harmless, political talents and will thus lead to the cultivation and perfection of the peculiar skills of demagoguery, deception, lying, opportunism, corruption, and bribery. Therefore, entrance into and success within government will become increasingly impossible for anyone hampered by moral scruples against lying and stealing."
The academic article from which the excerpts have been borrowed speaks of the issues facing democracy and its proponents. And the quoted words of the article clearly reflect the present dismal shamble of our own country and its "Democratic" nature.
The question that is left behind here at the end of this piece is how are we going to go beyond the drawbacks of democracy and address the concerns raised?
© Karthik Adithya Singaraju
*The article by Hans-Hermann Hoppe was written in the American Context,and hence the reference to the President and the Senate. We must assume in Indian context,analogy can be extended to our Cabinet Ministers and the Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly.
Khichdi of Indian System...
Indian democracy is majorly flawed due to its intermixing with socialist bureaucratic yoke... A multi-tiered bureaucracy in Socialist/Communist states were made with the precise intentions to make govt impervious and inaccessible to common man....
And when Indian Constitution Drafters drafted the constitution,they tried to mix everything and make a cocktail Governing body...
I believe that Ideal democracy is one in which citizen can easily reach out to the govt. Which is why,I believe, a democratic form of governance should have thinner bureaucratic strata... By developing such a heavy and complex network of bureaucracy, Indian Drafters made the democratic vision counter-productive... We have become stagnant because we are a potpourri of multiple systems,and do not really represent a single system as a whole,and each system seems to be working against another...
A simple example of this can be viewed by the fact that, a completely bankrupt economy was revived by removing the Socialist Protection Laws, and making India a freer market and economy...
Now I believe that is the same approach one must use to actually eradicate corruption too... The unnecessarily extensive bureaucracy must be clipped off its vestigial excesses and trimmed into a thin and far simpler system which just forms a single tier interface between government and the citizens...
As long as Indian system is ailed by this extensive bureaucracy, there is no way that one can hope to remove corruption...
Secondly, the next step would be to decentralize the authority as well as funds to deal with issues... State matters should be increased and Central matters minimised...
Decentralization helps in reducing the bureaucratic levels and hence the attenuation or melting of funds due to corruption at various levels... A completely federalised structure is very important to this context...
Here again, Indian drafters went wrong... They did not make India completely Federal, neither did they make it completely Centralised Govt.
It is just the same way the Panzer divisions were awarded by Hitler after D-Day... Half to Roemmel and half elsewhere... Neither could utilise them well, as neither had enough to use and hence the efficiency of beachhead defense and inland defence,both weakened...
Similarly, Center and State partially shared the power,making neither have a full executive control and hence effective decisions were not possible and instead the decision became a matter of mutual agreement (over self interest)...
Complete centralization can be dangerous so complete federal structure is what I think is better in this context,except for military control...
The Cabinet ministry is more or less again a mixture of any Communist Politburo and British styled Cabinet...
They must be removed and replaced with autonomous Departments which specialise in the particular field, and they should have a common Representative Committee with the more empowered President heading the Committee...
Total removal of Cabinet and replacement with American styled 'Secretaries',viz., Secretary of Treasury,Secretary of Defence etc, is a better option,according to me, as they will have technical know-how as well as be more informed and efficient... Though such 'Secretaries' exist even now, again a level of Cabinet Ministers seems a complete waste...
Biggest flaw of Indian Constitution is that while Bureaucracy, Judiciary and such positions require eligibility in terms of educational qualification, the executive has been stripped of its worth by allowing ANYONE irrespective of their track records to contest...
The third correction would be to make a procedural entrance system to enter into Ministerial service...
As a conclusion, all I would say is, the bane of Indian System is its complexity with its unnecessary twists and turns which make it convenient for the vile foxes to get the lambs to stray and in darkness pounce and prey upon them...
A democracy can only work in a more decentralized, federal structure which is fairly simpler in its built-up...
And when Indian Constitution Drafters drafted the constitution,they tried to mix everything and make a cocktail Governing body...
I believe that Ideal democracy is one in which citizen can easily reach out to the govt. Which is why,I believe, a democratic form of governance should have thinner bureaucratic strata... By developing such a heavy and complex network of bureaucracy, Indian Drafters made the democratic vision counter-productive... We have become stagnant because we are a potpourri of multiple systems,and do not really represent a single system as a whole,and each system seems to be working against another...
A simple example of this can be viewed by the fact that, a completely bankrupt economy was revived by removing the Socialist Protection Laws, and making India a freer market and economy...
Now I believe that is the same approach one must use to actually eradicate corruption too... The unnecessarily extensive bureaucracy must be clipped off its vestigial excesses and trimmed into a thin and far simpler system which just forms a single tier interface between government and the citizens...
As long as Indian system is ailed by this extensive bureaucracy, there is no way that one can hope to remove corruption...
Secondly, the next step would be to decentralize the authority as well as funds to deal with issues... State matters should be increased and Central matters minimised...
Decentralization helps in reducing the bureaucratic levels and hence the attenuation or melting of funds due to corruption at various levels... A completely federalised structure is very important to this context...
Here again, Indian drafters went wrong... They did not make India completely Federal, neither did they make it completely Centralised Govt.
It is just the same way the Panzer divisions were awarded by Hitler after D-Day... Half to Roemmel and half elsewhere... Neither could utilise them well, as neither had enough to use and hence the efficiency of beachhead defense and inland defence,both weakened...
Similarly, Center and State partially shared the power,making neither have a full executive control and hence effective decisions were not possible and instead the decision became a matter of mutual agreement (over self interest)...
Complete centralization can be dangerous so complete federal structure is what I think is better in this context,except for military control...
The Cabinet ministry is more or less again a mixture of any Communist Politburo and British styled Cabinet...
They must be removed and replaced with autonomous Departments which specialise in the particular field, and they should have a common Representative Committee with the more empowered President heading the Committee...
Total removal of Cabinet and replacement with American styled 'Secretaries',viz., Secretary of Treasury,Secretary of Defence etc, is a better option,according to me, as they will have technical know-how as well as be more informed and efficient... Though such 'Secretaries' exist even now, again a level of Cabinet Ministers seems a complete waste...
Biggest flaw of Indian Constitution is that while Bureaucracy, Judiciary and such positions require eligibility in terms of educational qualification, the executive has been stripped of its worth by allowing ANYONE irrespective of their track records to contest...
The third correction would be to make a procedural entrance system to enter into Ministerial service...
As a conclusion, all I would say is, the bane of Indian System is its complexity with its unnecessary twists and turns which make it convenient for the vile foxes to get the lambs to stray and in darkness pounce and prey upon them...
A democracy can only work in a more decentralized, federal structure which is fairly simpler in its built-up...
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