Monday, December 21, 2009

expansionists versus restrictionists

Most people would be aware of the Copenhagen Summit which concluded last week and the hype that surrounded it. So why is it difficult for world's leaders to come to an effective agreement to face this critical issue staring at us. Leaving apart a minority who feel that "climate change" is a no-issue, most of the countries accept and understand that there is a task at hand which needs to be dealt with and also that we are running out of time to bring in the cuts required to smother the effect.

As I write this blog, it is almost certain that the summit will end in leaders re-iterating the known facts about global warming rather than agreeing upon a concrete plan and timetable.The problem begins with the differences over the binding cuts that needs to be taken by the developed and the developing countries and the issue of technology and fund transfer required over a phased out period to help the developing countries in adapting to the change. Historical responsibility is the stance taken by the BASIC countries and much of the developing world while the developed world refuses to commit to binding cuts.

If the issue is well known and acknowledged, what prevents the Leaders from chalking out a plan?. Firstly every country's vested interest in a highly biased and tilted world creates a situation where you can't have winners all around the table. There will have to be some who have to give more than what they can get, ultimately the problem is universal and not limited to a single country. Secondly when Leaders like Obama and Kevin Rudd face immense pressure back home and a lack of acknowldgment in their homelands leave alone transfer of tech and funds, it becomes virtually impossible to chalk out an agreement. These leaders promise a lot but fail to deliver due to the reasons cited. Adding to the mix is the bunch of people who have their faith in the fundamentals of growth suggesting that growth irons out all problems and disparities and climate change/global warming is nothing more than a hoax.

Though I understand the practical problems each country faces today in making a deal it is also important to realize that we are running out of time. In an effort to optimize the losses of today we appear to be taking a big gamble on tomorrow and the United Nations has once again been pushed to a mere spectator.


Sunday, November 08, 2009

Shopping experience

In an age of breathtaking speed where we are pushed to our limits every single day, we have adopted every possible method of convenience to alleviate pressure. Super markets are one such example, gone are the days where we step in - step out of each shop looking for a particular substance or brand. It has made our lives easier (albeit expensive) by providing plenty of options and making our shopping experience more exciting. But in the process it has also taken away a basic cognitive ability of spotting a good item and a bad one, because the mind has been conditioned in such a manner where it expects only to see items of good quality if not exceptional quality.

I have become a victim of the supermarket shopping habit and I had not realised it for a long long time. Recently I had been to a street vendor selling veggies and fruits on a push cart to buy a couple of things. Little did I expect that my mind would be challenged to pick the better ones of the lot from what was available, my mind froze for a moment!!!!!! It was a shocking revelation that I had forgotten the art of picking a good one from a bunch of available fruits & veggies. It was a painful exercise and when I was done, I was cursing myself for becoming so inept at such a simple task.

Its something we would not normally be worried about but when I think about the conveniences being extended today because of modern technology and service providers, I am worried that we are slowly losing touch with realities of life. How we have started taking things for granted over a period of time and how we fail to appreciate the effort that goes behind each of these tasks is a serious issue to be pondered upon.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Obama's Nobel

The announcement of Barack Obama winning the Nobel Prize last week was, undoubtedly one of the most controversial events in recent memory, received with enthusiasm and disbelief in equal measure. The critics on one side claiming too early, too undeserving, too hyped etc etc and they do certainly have a point.

All these years the Nobel Prize committee in Sweden has given an impression which makes one think that its an award for men/women who have already reached the point and in a critical way past their prime, in essence a lifetime award for accomplishing phenomenal things. The Nobel Prize is known as the top prize in the world for service in the areas of Science, Arts, Society and there have been many occasions where a deserving winner has missed out (Gandhi being one prime example). I would like to make a point here, such prizes should be given to people at the peak of their careers and professions, the reason being it acts as an incentive and encouragement during active practice of a particular skill.

If you buy this point one can safely say the man who has the platform and will to bring together an ever widening world, spheres of influence would be a certain Barack Obama. It is definitely early but a worthwhile gamble which could make Mr. Obama realise the expectations of the globe and nudge him into being assertive, confident in dealing with a lot of issues.

I agree guys, this prize is not one of merit but of pure hope and a well invested hope I must emphasize.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Lessons from Bapu!!!!

Last week marked the 140th Birth Anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi : The father of our nation. In light of the Mahatmas birthday I would like to add a couple of thoughts which came across in my mind over the past several years.

He had practiced and preached a lot of virtuous principles which remain a dream to a lot of us who continue to hold the Mahatma on a pedestal beyond our reach. I have noticed and continue to notice that, Whenever the example of Gandhi is given for a good practice, the answer comes back immediately "ah, its possible only for Gandhiji and not for mere mortals" immediately alleviating and relieving oneself from the potential responsibility.

The point in hand that I would like to make is Gandhi is Gandhiji today not because he was God or because he was superhuman. He was a normal man like anyone one of us, the ideals he held was possible and is possible for all of us, alas the age of Gandhi has still not dawned upon us. He is what he is today because of the tremendous self discipline and simplicity. He was not a man of great oratorical skills but could stir millions into action with his voice because people connected to him, they could relate to him, they realised here was a man who was doing something not out of self interest but for public unity. All this popularity and reverence did not happen in a day, even Gandhi was not elevated in a day, it took years of patient and rigorous practicing of all the virtues. Today's youngsters caught in a vortex of instant gratification want it in a flash, even the great accomplishments are expected to be completed in the shortest possible time and effort required. This has led to a severe lack of confidence and pride which is required in today's demanding world.

I plead and request all my fellow human folk to believe in themselves that things are possible provided they want to do it. One needs determination and great amounts of self will, the greater the task at hand the greater the effort thats required. There are great tasks which are at hand and which needs to be done at the earliest. This is not a period of self doubt and self-pity.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Progressiveness of society -2

After the first post on the same topic I received some feedback stating that I didn't drive home the point clearly and was roving about aimlessly. So I take my second chance writing about the same header but in a different context or rather a follow up to the first one.


Resistance to change is one of the most debatable points in mainstream society. Recently I saw a tamil program on Tv "Neeya Naana" (You or Me) a debate/talk show which pits one side of the society and the other side against each other on a variety of topics. The topic under discussion was Modernity vs tradionality and a lot of interesting comments were exchanged between both sides. Though not all points were reasonable and mature it gave a clear sense of how fragmented and divisive the society we live under is. The producers of the show did a smart job of picking a diverse group of people cutting across class and gender and also falling on either side of modernity or tradionality. The crux of the episode was that a group albeit small was consistently attempting to break the boundaries/stereotypes drawn by the society while another group firmly believed in sticking to the experiences passed on to them. The host completed the show by stating that changes caused due to peer pressure are better avoided but at the same time one must keep an eye on the growing changes in the world and accept them if required.

Recently I had an opportunity to see a documentary called "Story of India" presented by Michael Woods (We need a westerner to present even our history to be accepted as unbiased, LOL) which did a very good job of taking the viewer along a journey from the early beginnings of Indian Civilization and the progression it has made over centuries to reach the current state.
One theme that was painted very beautifully was that India faces an interesting challenge considering its status as an ancient civilization which is still alive and has started to make the first steps towards a dramatic economic progression filled with pace and steadfastness. How does it grapple with the pride that it holds for the practices and the modernity it strives to enter, the balancing act is going to be one of the most crucial points in determining whether India goes on to become a genuine super power.

The connection between the Talk Show and the documentary is that the underlying message that one section of the country's progress is rapidly leaving the rest of the country high and dry. The massive gap in living standards is stark and is about to get bigger. What we are observing is a clear divide along the monetary lines, the economically progressive start to shed its inhibitions and controls bit by bit while the average depreived Indian watches on solemnly trying hard to associate himself with something to get his life going. Religion,tradition and culture offer the easisest ways for the human mind to obtain that social defence and its nothing new. The traces of which are slowly emerging on the horizon creating bigger differences than ever before.


Friday, May 15, 2009

Kunguma poovum konjum puravum - a melancholy well carved

Movies are of three types, the first where a movie is created for the sake of artistic proportions of different dimensions, the second being where a movie is utilized as a media to transmit a message of social importance and the third being pure no-brainer entertainers. 

When the first and second styles combine to form a gripping tale which can catch the pulse of the mass, the odds are that it cannot be ignored as mere triviality or entertainment. In the recent past we have come across such movies and to name a few Anbe Sivam, Anjathey, Subramaniyapuram, Azhagi. 

Kunguma poovum konjum puravum is a movie that falls under this category, a movie which has a gripping narration and elements of social importance tightly sewn together. At the first viewing it moves the viewer and also asks a series of questions which rock the foundations of our social setup. Its a stark reminder of our times where we have changed a lot on the surface while deep down we hold on to a series of archaic thought processes.

Its a tale of a vibrant and intelligent gal who gets the wrong end of fate time and again challenging her to move on in life. It reminds one of movies  like Chinatown where "hope" never materializes into reality for the protagonist. 

Kudos to the moviemakers for coming up with a gripping narration at a time when commercial movies rake in the moolah. 

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Progressiveness of a society - 1

Off late there have been observations from a lot of agencies stating dramatic shifts in our cultural patterns which seemed impossible even 5 yrs ago. But what kind of shifts are they really talking about, are these mere cosmetic drifts in the face of a modern era or emerging fault lines in our culture.  

To be fair we have had one of the richest, ancient and deep rooted cultures that has ever existed on the planet. A civilization which was far ahead of its time in comparision with modern Europe or the Americas and lead the world's progress in the fields of arts, science, mathematics for more than a millenia. It also progressively spawned a tightly knit culture and tradition which still stands tall despite several attempts by foreign invasions and conquests. But as every empire or corporation have their peak and then decline, the Indian civilization also declined steadily over the medival period. Interestingly the practices of the Hindu society had hardly changed course despite the decline ( barring the intelligent retort to Buddhism) and the oppression(invasions) it witnessed until great men like Rajaram Mohan Roy arrived on the scene.  Though some changes occured the system at large continued to function the way it had. The reason why I put across this point is the system that we see today is hardly a reflection of the true(rather original) form of Hinduism that existed during its hey days. Did the elders of the religion reactively knit the religion together with inefficiencies and practices in order to give it an identity in the face of the muslim conquerors and later western invaders.  Frankly the Indian society is a rare polity which has remained truly integral while other societies and civilizations have been washed away with guns, germs and steel (Inca, Mayan,Egyptian just to name a few). 

As few people today realise culture and tradition is never static and always undergoes metamorphosis with time. The sour evidences can be seen on our prime time news coverages and blogs giving a strong cry for sticking to the past in the name of religion and purity. At the same time I dont mean to say every single bit must change (probably it must) but we need to move on with time and needs of today's fast paced world. I find it hard to digest the logic of saving our culture by sticking to archaic practices when the whole premise of a particular practice no longer holds good. Take the recent case of women getting manhandled in a pub in mangalore , lets not get into the argument of whether what the women did were right or not. The growing exposure to western culture has made us assimilate it bit by bit without even being aware of it which is good in a particular way. It needs no Keynes to tell what growth rate India had acheived during the Pre-Berlin wall era and at what rate its growing today after de-regulation, privatisation and globalization. Now its a very hard analogy and comparision to say will de-regulation of a society like ours will result in progressiveness, but logically a culture and society which accepts and welcomes new ideas and accomodates the same will move forward. The key point is whether society sees that engaging itself in meaningful debates can have an impact on its people and through out our history we have had many a men doing that. Using a shroud around its face in the name of culture puts the brakes on progressiveness more than anything else. 

I believe society also behaves in perfect equilibrium where the players of the game should be allowed the freedom to choose the role they want to pick, after a lot of movement the players themselves would find their appropriate places only to be unsettled, unnerved by a new flattener. 




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