The relevance debates- relevant or irrelevant?

Not so happy now, are we?

Now, today morning, I was chatting with an old friend on Facebook. Mid-chat, she tells me, "I don't like Gandhi, and don't believe in his teachings."

Some years ago, when I was in school, this was an evergreen topic in debate competitions. Back then, I never really thought about it- just gave a piece from a magazine and stuff I found on the net. But today, this statement set me thinking. After all, when you're at home for the vacations, with nothing to do all day long, you'll do just about anything to keep you from getting bored. So yeah, I just gave it some thought.

And then, I realized two things. First, its become rather "cool", to say you dislike Gandhi, and make fun of him. I don't say everyone who disagrees with him has this same reason, like this friend of mine who actually set me considering this, who I know doesn't give a damn about being "cool", and is rather passionate about her ideas and opinions. but the majority of young India's opinion of Gandhi can be seen in this meme I found on the net.

Seriously, the "Father of the Nation" title notwithstanding, those white politician caps you see Anna Hazare or the guys from the Aam Aadmi Party notwithstanding, those pictures on the currency notes notwithstanding, and the National Holiday on the 2nd of October notwithstanding, how many times in our life do we even spare a thought for what the man really wanted. Frankly speaking, that man's legacy is unbreakable and unforgettable. Love him or hate him, the man's personal history is too much to ignore for any historian. But does that mean what he said is still relevant today?

And it was then that i realized something else- Gandhi never said anything new or unique. And he never claimed to do so. He just gave us a simple formula- told us what he thought was right. And it was just simply what our Moral Science teachers taught us at school- don't fight, don't practice violence. Live and let live. Be truthful, be honest. And these are things that never go out of fashion. They never become irrelevant. They never become stale. There may seem a time when they seem pointless, but we all know, in the end, it is these little things which allow us a peaceful night's sleep.

So lets stop these silly debates. We cannot, ever, gauge Gandhi's work or his persona in our times, and criticize him on today's scales. But what he spoke of, what he taught us, is what everyone from Jesus Christ to Mandela to every self-styled guru has told us. Let us follow these things, and time alone will tell if he still remains relevant, or even these debates become irrelevant.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

Capital Punishment- a not so capital idea?

In the past few weeks, India has seen two high-profile executions taking place. Those of 26-11 convict Kasab and the mastermind of the attack on the Parliament- Afzal Guru. Also, with the increasing cases of rape in the nation, particularly in its northern parts, we've had an outcry demanding death sentence for those convicted in such cases. It seems as if modern India's motto is, "don't kill the crime, kill the criminals."

And yes, I understand. I understand how it feels to have a group of self-righteous idiots try to take your decisions. When they try to kill you, or those near you, for the sake of remote concepts that don't really matter to you. When you have to take time of your daily bread-and-butter because your daughter and sister don't feel safe walking on the road alone. It rankles, the injustice of it all. The fact that you are denied security at your very own home. You want to kill those responsible for it.



But is this right?

Is it the only way out?

Is it a solution?

The answer is a resounding "NO."

Now, it may seem like I am being the Devil's advocate by saying this, but I firmly believe that killing someone is not a solution for a crime, and even more importantly, not the State's domain of jurisdiction.

What is a country? What is it that exactly constitutes a nation? Whatever it is, nothing justifies the State 

depriving a man of life. Simply put, that which cannot give life cannot withdraw it. Whatever the counter-argument, whatever the objection, however extreme the provocation may be, you simply cannot deprive a man of his life. And as for the fact that it acts as a deterrent for crime, I still see crimes happening, in-spite of the death penalty. And our moral system must be extremely shallow if the death penalty is the only thing stopping everyone from becoming rapists, murderers and terrorists.

Let me post a question here. Does the correct way to honor the memory of those killed by someone involve more killing? That seems rather paradoxical to me. The death penalty is just making killers of us all. And whatever my faults, I do not wish to be known as a killer.

I understand that any nation wishes to portray a strong impression by giving strong punishments to wrongdoers. But it must do that within its limits. The death penalty is irreversible, and as we all know, miscarriages of justice are unfortunately too common in our country.


And finally, it all winds down to one simple question-what is the difference? What is the difference between the culprits and us if we too resort to medieval methods for our "revenge", as it is? What is the difference between us and animals if both of us believe in the law of the jungle? None. And so let us show all those who think that just because they can kill, does not mean they should. As Gandhi has said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." It may sound cliche, but let us show them that we are better humans than them.

And in the process, give humanity a chance.

The slow paths...and the slow minds

So...

Eh???

Huh!!!

And???

These and many such similar words/expressions/nonsensical garbage will irritate you almost daily in your life. And the people who use them, even more. You see, today I am writing about the people, the airplane of whose minds takes more than one runway to take-off (and if you didn't still get what i am talking about, you are one of them).

You must have had similar experiences in your life. You told your friends about the funniest show you just saw on the telly...and it wasn't the groin kicking humor of The Three stooges or the useless and inane jokes on Friends. I am talking of a much subtler thing. All of you laugh. Topic finished.

And then, half an hour later, on the way back home, one of you totally succumbs to the charms of hysterical laughter...and they begin to laugh their and your pants off. What's so funny? Oh, they only now understood what you said at the time. Its cute for the first time, funny for the next, and boring...destructively boring further on.

Generally people never, due to respect for civility, human rights, legal reasons, animal rights, fear of Scientology or of the fictional "Big Brother", or of CIA agents nearby (or whatever nonsense you feel comes in this category), tell a person to their face how irritating their slowness can be. I mean, you just hatched your brilliant plan to surprise your mother at her birthday with all your family, and the slow cousin potters of to her and tells her about it.

"I didn't realise it was to be a secret from her that we've planned a surprise party for her."

Darn!!!!!

I once remember my brother telling me about his slow boss. "He can't generally understand a word of what I am saying. It can be so frustrating to know something bad will happen in advance, but the Boss just can't understand it, and thus, work suffers."

So just a piece of request to you..use the gray matter a little bit. It wont so to keep your brains well preserved for future scientists to study about its undeveloped potentials. And it will be a big relief to many people. Who knows,then I may even get the Nobel Peace Prize for writing this......

(I realise I have been rather mean in this post. So this is for all those stooge followers out there..don't kick me in the groin to extract your revenge..it will be damn painful. Also, I have the fullest respect for all human, animal rights activists, am a law abiding citizen. And i am a firm believer in the freedom and power of science fiction, just in case the scientologists decide to come after me), and am not involved with any military, paramilitary, militant or terrorist group throughout the world, and so have nothing against Orwell, 1942, Big Brother or the CIA, Interpol or any such organization. Forgive me)

Time for new reforms

20 years ago, on the 24th of July, then Finance Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh flagged off a scheme of reforms that were intended to revolutionize the Indian economy. By far, they were the most extensive reform schemes India had ever witnessed.

Among developing countries, India’s growth experience during the past five

decades has been unique. Unlike many of its East and Southeast Asian neighbors, India

did not grow at the “miracle” rates that exceeded 6 percent and reached as high as 10

percent. At the same time, unlike Africa and Latin America, it did not suffer periods of

prolonged stagnation or decline. For three of the five decades (1950-80), India steadily

grew at the so-called “Hindu” rate of three and a half percent. During the remaining two

decades, it grew at rates between 5 and 6 percent.

"Twenty years ago tonight, three top Indian officials burned the midnight oil tearing up old import controls and preparing a package of economic reforms that would slowly lead to the booming India that is widely admired today, with growth of 8-9%, 300-350m people enjoying the benefits of a consumer economy, a strong rupee, and businessmen operating internationally."

John Elliot

But today, India lies seriously in need of economic reforms. Corruption seems to be creeping into the much venerated pvt. sector of India, and it seems that while India could cope with the recent meltdown, it is struggling with its after-effects, which is surprising, seeing that man at the helm of affairs today is a noted economist.

India's burgeoning middle class seems to have dropped into a stupor, and this once driving force behind India's growth seems to be bereft of ideas. We are all dropping into a cycle, where every man has only the government to blame. It seems as if we have reached a state of perpetual disenchantment with the 'system', and, if truth be told, the political establishment does not have any new face or idea to inspire confidence in us. The Nehru-Gandhi family seems to eclipse even the Prime minister's stature in India.

It is an irony that, though the past 20 years began and now end with Manmohan Singh, he was neither in charge at the beginning, nor is he at the end. That is not a criticism, but in the early 1990s he could only do what he did courtesy of Narasimha Rao, and now he cannot do what he doesn’t do courtesy of Sonia Gandhi and the UPA’s coalition partners. Something surely needs to change.