Church, Religion & Caste should stay away from Politics

I don’t think that the Church has anything got to do with Politics whatever be the circumstances. The same goes for Religious, Caste groups and such other ‘pressure groups’. If anybody wants to change the course of political discourse or influence mainstream politics, he/she should inevitably join politics; the constitution of the country is very clear on that. I am feeling really disappointed with the level of discussions coming out of the young bishops and priests. Indian Orthodox Church is one that has seen the legends like H.G Paulose Mar Gregorios and H.G Geevarghrese Mar Osthathios to name a few in the recent past. The level of intellectual debates and discussions of these blessed souls have indeed set a precedent and it is surprisingly disturbing to note that their successors are stooping to such low level. Today’s election results esp. in the state of Kerala is an answer to these bishops, priests, self-proclaimed stalwarts of different castes and religions who live in the utopian world where they think that they can manipulate the thought process of a common man.

The Great Indian Servant

    Over the past few days a lot has been analyzed, re-anlyzed, over-analyzed on the Indian diplomat being arrested and on the concerns over diplomatic immunity. The so called timely act; the deliberate transfer of the diplomat to the UN consular services is an attempt to win a no-win situation by re-writing the rules.The vociferous response by the otherwise lackadaisical ministers has an eye on the coming 2014 elections. The purposive manifestation of the subject as an incident against the prestige of an Indian daughter is to woo the common man who is arguably the flavour of the season. 
     No body is concerned about the real aam aadmi- Sangitha Richards or such other workers who face intolerable tortures and overpowering distress during their stint abroad or  the poor people being killed or captured when in international waters; the whole plot underlines the old Indian obsession for elitism and the entire entourage of servants and maids that come with it. A clear case of authorities letting the wish to be the father of the thought. 

** Excerpts of the article has appeared in The Hindu newspaper.

Dussehra for a Cycle Rickshaw wala

To get involved in or getting motivated by someone is a normal thing for any human being. But, in imbibing that level of comprehension, the thinking animal- the Homo sapiens, always use their cognitive faculty more than their affective or emotional ones. Exceptions are rare but not unavailable. Such an exception happened during the high day of Dussehra while I was travelling in a cycle rickshaw. The cycle rickshaw wala is the man who pulls the weight of the entire world, but, hardly gets an ear to his ‘knowledgeable’ verbal discourse. Many a time we ignore the fact that he is talking to us, while at times we lend just half an ear to satisfy his ego and our super-ego.

Honestly, the listening started in the latter form. But, very soon I was startled by the enormous amount of information he is throwing out both from his knowledge and experience. He was taking me through the congested streets of a residential area where we noted that on every junction a Ravan effigy was being mounted by the young residents (mainly) of the particular area, making it difficult for the cycle rickshaw wala to take his normal route to reach my destination (which was more of his, than mine now). At each point where Ravan was being mounted, he was shooed way; a very common scene of road rage against the suppressed lot of such rickshaw pullers. He tried to ignore the use of words on him by the residents each time and tried to engage me with his extra-ordinary knowledge in Ramayan. He explained that these effigies will be burnt in the evening, symbolizing the killing of Asur Raja Ravan by Lord Ram during the sunset time. The moment he understood that he got a patient listener behind him, he started narrating the entire Ramayan. At each junction, we were met with youngsters mounting the Ravan effigy, who were unnecessarily harassing the man and forcing him to change the direction. I could see the frustration and helplessness of a poor downtrodden man, who belongs to the bottom of the socio-economic strata of the Indian class-conscious society.

He kept on continuing the dictation of Ramayan, while he was busy changing the routes to avoid the Ravan effigies. And, then as if, it had to happen, the situation reached a dead end whereby in a junction all the three sides were blocked by mighty Lanka Raja Ravan. I had no other option than to get out of rickshaw. I handed him the full route money he had told me initially, though he refused accepting it at the first go, owing to the moral itch it has caused him in not making me reach my destination. While I was getting down and paying him, he told me that what they (read the rich brats who were mounting the effigies) were doing was one of the greatest sin. Lord Ram was rendered less effective after the killing of Ravan, since it was after all a Brahmhatya. Neither did I accept, nor did I reject his proposition. But, for time-being I nodded my head in accordance with him. He advised me to read Ramayan for a better understanding. Finally, parting ways, he gave the lesson of the lifetime. The self-centered, arrogant, supercilious behavior which these brats show on the people, who are perceived to be of no use, is the real Ravan which should actually be burnt away. Many a time, we are, what we are not. Moving away from him, I shouted, “What is your name?”. The reply came Ram Kumar! 

COMMUNALISM : A VENOMOUS IDEOLOGY

"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be"

       

              Justice Markandey Katju recently pointed out 1857 as a watershed year in the history of communal relations in India. The seeds of communal divide sown during the period, gave its deadly fruits around the independence period, when the country was divided into two. Communal ideology consists of three basic elements or stages. First, it is the belief that people who follow the same religion have common secular interests. The second element of communal ideology rests on the notion that in a multi-religious society like India, the secular interests, that is the social , cultural, economic and political interests of the followers of one religion are dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the followers of another religion. The third and the most critical stage of communalism is reached when the interests of the followers of different religions or communities are seen to be mutually incompatible, antagonistic and hostile. The sudden and uncontrolled swift from second to third stage results in riots, pogroms; Babri-Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi, Gujarat carnage etc. to name a few. Thus, communal violence is a conjunctural consequence of communal ideolgy.

          Psychologically, insecurity precedes communal ideology  The thought of 'lesser in numbers' will inevitably lead the minority communities to stick together and to form distinct union.The dedicated classes carried out on religious tenets are a correlational consequence of the same. These are conducted to keep the mass base intact and to showcase the unified strength. Greater the insecurity, greater the communal thinking. Hence, Communalism always has has been the expression of the interests and aspirations of the ever insecure middle classes in a social situation in which opportunities for them were grossly inadequate. The main appeal of communalism and its main social base also lay among the middle class. The evergreen intent of outweighing others through words and deeds, if controlled can easily put a full-stop to this communal poison. Lal Bahadur Shastri kept some lines of Guru Nanak on his desk. When translated into English they read: " O Nanak! Be tiny like the grass, for other plants will wither away but grass will remain evergreen." In this time frame of competing communal forces seeking to influence the nation, the country will do well if, like Shastri, it heeds Guru Nanaks wisdom.

The Eye Behind the Stumps: MARK BOUCHER

          It is indeed really sad to hear the retirement of the most successful Test wicket keeper in such an abrupt way. At a time when cricketers especially, the wicket keepers struggle to carry on for even couple of consecutive series, Mark Boucher stands apart as the most consistent Proteas warrior for the last 14years, falling just short of his 150th test appearance. Any cricket enthusiast who has been following the game for the last two decades, will definitely term Boucher as the sole wicket keeper of South Africa when other teams had seen regular replacements of their respective wicket keepers. 999 international dismissals by Boucher across all formats will definitely stay as a record for a longer period of time. 

          The accident, once again shows the importance and calls for the need of protective guards(helmets) to be worn while keeping the wickets. With the change in bowling strategies,especially, greater variations in terms of turn and pace, the job to keep the stumps has become more demanding and risky. Hope, the bail has not done any long term damage to Boucher and he recovers very soon. Prayers and wishes, to the most successful Test wicket keeper on his road of uncertain recovery.

Presidential Election: The Next Fanfare

          Raisina Hill is being used as a dumping ground. The delayed understanding of candidates on Presidential run on the matter is really surprising. The way candidates are slinging mud 'in public' on their rivals is totally condemnable. The constitution makers never seeked to take the battle to the streets. Neither them, nor the state aspired for it. The constitution of India explicitly states that the President of India is elected by indirect election, that is, by an electoral college; which consists of a) The elected members of both Houses of Parliament; b) the elected members of Legislative Assemblies of the states; and c) the elected members of  the Legislative Assemblies of Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry [Art.54]. 

          This constitutional segment is clearly violated when proposed candidates take the fight to the street in the name of campaigning which is severely undermining the office of President of India.The struggle to make it to the top of the warrant of precedence and to set a legacy should not come at a cost of violating the basic tenets of the Indian constitution. At least, the election to the topmost office in the country demands certain decency and genuinity from the opponents as per the rule of the law.

SOCIAL ENTROPY

          Travelling just happens to me. In the last journey; I noticed a girl in the next seat. Her phone was ringing constantly. She picks up her charger and keeps it for charging. Nevertheless, the ringing continues every now and then, disturbing the sleep of everybody in the coach. Finally, making an end to the ring, she picks up the phone and just screams against her dad on the other side. She was having a 'waiting' ticket. Hence, her father was worried about her getting a berth. That anxiety must have inspired the man in calling her daughter again and again. Nobody, in the compartment liked her tone and tenor of talking to her father. The case didn't last long, she got a berth as soon the ticket examiner came. After an hour or two, around  1 o'clock midnight, everybody gets up again due to the ring of the mobile again. but, interestingly, this time she talks in calm, composed, sweet manner. And, again, its a male voice this time. The call lasted for more than 3hrs disturbing the sleep of everybody out there. No doubt, it can be anybody in the world, other than her father. Everyone who was awake there because of the ring of the bell, looks at each other surprised in seeing the change in the communication pattern.

          Entropy is the degree of randomness.This is one thing which is constantly increasing. Thanks to Newton, for lucidly stating this years ago. Let, us be more specific. The type of entropy which is increasing at an alarming rate and is an area of concern is the Social Entropy. A healthy system and practice is there in deciding the President of the country, still there is uncertainty in decision making and randomness in the vote-support of the allies. Interestingly, after all the so called deliberations, the ruling alliance decides to extricate the finance minister from the post and send him to Raisina hill. The randomness, the author sees is not in making the FM, the President; but doing it at a time when there is economic slowdown and policy paralysis. 

          Anything can happen in a country where one witnesses some random man changing into Pinky and grabbing the medals at international level. Two things can amuse us. One, How did he get into the squad, when even for the smallest government job we have all sorts of tests, including the physical ones.Two, still after this disguise, he comes up with no medal in some of the athletic meets. We have an inherent instinct in always picking the right man for the wrong job. Many lawyers in managerial positions, engineers in banks and financial institutions, etc.. The case of Pinky, being an extension of the same. The sudden burst in the tennis world before the championship is yet another case of increasing social entropy.

          The print media reports Kerala as a state which tops in criminal activities. This is randomness; which breaks all the conventional ideas that education, literacy, greater human development, better socio-economic status precedes the formation of a peaceful and non-criminal state. This randomness does not restrict itself to any single state. It has a feature of its own, its an epidemic, highly contagious in nature. Examples don't stop here, they are in plenty. Everywhere we see the peaking of social entropy.

          An ancient Palestinian story goes like this. A traveller, after his days travel, heavily tired, reaches a house around the late-midnight. He knocks the door. At once, the landlord opens the door. Seeing the person very tired, he goes to the kitchen only to understand that there is not even a single piece of bread left in the home. He  tells the traveller to get inside and take rest and tells him that he will be back with some food very soon. He rushes to the neighbour, knocks the door. Palestinians during those days sleep around the fire in a single room. Hence, if any single person gets up, it accounts to waking up of everybody in that room, disturbing the sleep- the only recreation of the poor working class. The man keeps on knocking the door,only to see that no one cares to open the door. Lets pause here, and scan the mind of that individual who is knocking the door for somebody else's' food. This man builds the social chain, he stitches the social fabric. Everyone of us is supposed to play such a role. We forget the role, we forget the script, we increase the randomness, the social entropy. Was she correct in talking harshly towards her parents? Is the government doing right in stabilizing the economy? What is the spirit in getting a medal in disguise? Why isn't education positively correlated to peaceful conditions in a state? Let us introspect.