There have been multiple suverys on this topic my major magazines.
Surveys on sexuality of the population are a perfect example of what Justice Markandey Kadju calls the misplaced priorities of the media. Popular magazines are competing on making these surveys racier. Are there no other real issues to cover than the libidos and eccentricities of a minority of urban India? This is what sociologist Jean Baudrillard called simulacra which is a creation of hyper-reality by proliferation of images and ideas which does not have a referent reality. Media is meticulously proving the critics of capitalism right.
Sent to outlook
December 27, 2011
FDI in retail
Just as Coffee days and Baristas could not wipe out the tea carts on
our streets, FDI should not throw kirana stores out of business. Not
everyday people go to coffedays but once in a while. Similarly, not
for everything will people go to walmart when setup in India. Going to
such a store will be a planned affair unlike going to a kirana store
to get a bag of sugar or spice, where one can just walk in pajamas
along with their pet dog.
our streets, FDI should not throw kirana stores out of business. Not
everyday people go to coffedays but once in a while. Similarly, not
for everything will people go to walmart when setup in India. Going to
such a store will be a planned affair unlike going to a kirana store
to get a bag of sugar or spice, where one can just walk in pajamas
along with their pet dog.
Bharat ratna to ghalib
There was an article recently by Justice Markandey Katju, advocation Bharat ratna for Ghalib in The Hindu and i had sent my below view to the paper which was printed but only a shortened version.
Ghalib contributed greatly to Hindustani culture. Though he is a great philosopher, popular perception did not give him enough credit, but focused more on his views on wine and religion. Ghalib’s views were at least a hundred years in advance of his times. He spoke for a united india rising above the regional differences of Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad etc. He condemned the division of languages as urdu for muslims and hindi for hindus. He exposed hypocrites in the name of religion. Though he believed in unifying spirituality which comes close to Sufism and Advaitavada, he looked down upon rituals. His following couplet gives an idea of his philosophy. ‘Hai parey idraak se apna masjood, qible ko ahl-e-nazar qiblanuma kehte hain’ – The entity I worship is beyond the reach of intellect, for, people with insight perceive of the qibla(mecca) as only a pointer to the worshipped. Speaking of Bharat Ratna, Ghalib never cared for appreciation; he said, ‘na sitaaish ki tamanna, na sile ki parwa; gar nahin hain mere ashar main mani na sahi’ - Neither I care for praise nor for reward, if there is no meaning in my couplets, then so be it. Ghalib said, he was a nightingale of a paradise which was not yet born and hoped that future generations would appreciate the depth of his thought. It’s time we gave the poet his due. Nevertheless, Ghalib would be no lesser a philosopher poet, with or without Bharat Ratna.
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article2732614.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/letters/article2735936.ece
Ghalib contributed greatly to Hindustani culture. Though he is a great philosopher, popular perception did not give him enough credit, but focused more on his views on wine and religion. Ghalib’s views were at least a hundred years in advance of his times. He spoke for a united india rising above the regional differences of Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad etc. He condemned the division of languages as urdu for muslims and hindi for hindus. He exposed hypocrites in the name of religion. Though he believed in unifying spirituality which comes close to Sufism and Advaitavada, he looked down upon rituals. His following couplet gives an idea of his philosophy. ‘Hai parey idraak se apna masjood, qible ko ahl-e-nazar qiblanuma kehte hain’ – The entity I worship is beyond the reach of intellect, for, people with insight perceive of the qibla(mecca) as only a pointer to the worshipped. Speaking of Bharat Ratna, Ghalib never cared for appreciation; he said, ‘na sitaaish ki tamanna, na sile ki parwa; gar nahin hain mere ashar main mani na sahi’ - Neither I care for praise nor for reward, if there is no meaning in my couplets, then so be it. Ghalib said, he was a nightingale of a paradise which was not yet born and hoped that future generations would appreciate the depth of his thought. It’s time we gave the poet his due. Nevertheless, Ghalib would be no lesser a philosopher poet, with or without Bharat Ratna.
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article2732614.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/letters/article2735936.ece
December 10, 2011
Freedom of speech under threat
Freedom of speech in facing challenges on multiple fronts. The parliament is being disrupted and forced to adjourn, which violates the freedom of speech of members who want a debate on burning issues like FDI in retail. Attempts to reign in social networking sites are being made, though with reasonable demands but not implementable. Harvard University is under criticism for targeting Subramanian Swamy for his opinions he unflinchingly expressed. Why is society becoming so intolerant of deviant views? Free expression of ones ideas will only lead to intellectual debates which can help in reducing biases. Issues should be allowed to be discussed, no matter how sensitive they are, so long as it is put in acceptable words and standards. Hushing up issues will only lead to misinformation, propaganda and ill-will among people. Its difficult not to quote Voltaire who said (I do not agree..). This attitude should be cultivated in every civilized society.
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December 04, 2011
In response to "They are not bad in-laws"
'They are not bad in-laws' printed in The Hindu on Dec 4th 2011
The author is right when he says modernity seems to have resulted in loss of humility. The career oriented girls who are to get married find it very difficult to adjust. The very word ‘adjust’ sounds to them as oppression and patriarchy. I know of a modern educated woman with feminist ideals, who wants to break social norms for the sake of being a rebel. She wants an arrangement in which she and her husband will stay fifteen days a month in their in-laws place, shuttling between the two homes. All this for respecting the principle of equality. The lady also hates the idea that she should integrate herself into the family she will be marrying into. I am not sure if this is a reasonable expectation from a educated, modern, independent girl. Can this be called a modern outlook towards marriage? I don’t know.
The author is right when he says modernity seems to have resulted in loss of humility. The career oriented girls who are to get married find it very difficult to adjust. The very word ‘adjust’ sounds to them as oppression and patriarchy. I know of a modern educated woman with feminist ideals, who wants to break social norms for the sake of being a rebel. She wants an arrangement in which she and her husband will stay fifteen days a month in their in-laws place, shuttling between the two homes. All this for respecting the principle of equality. The lady also hates the idea that she should integrate herself into the family she will be marrying into. I am not sure if this is a reasonable expectation from a educated, modern, independent girl. Can this be called a modern outlook towards marriage? I don’t know.
November 13, 2011
Uthapuram Dalits enter temple - The Hindu November 11, 2011
Its an irony that even after 75 years of temple entry proclamation of Travancore, dalits still face discrimination. But it was a reassuring to read about Uthapuram temple entry that change is possible. The preservers of Hindu religion should realize that such discrimination will eventually kill Hinduism in this land. Temples should be opened to not just dalits but to people of all faiths. Such a step will be realistically possible avoiding the extreme opinions of Gandhi who prefers to reason caste system and Ambedkar who encourages quitting hinduism. Ambedkar’s advice of inter-caste marriages should be encouraged to permanently bridge the divide. For the sake of its existence, hindu religion needs dalits more than dalits need hindu religion. Every dalit spurned from temple entry can be a hater of Hinduism.
January 10, 2011
SriKrishna report
After the six options, the situation is no better than it was a year ago. As predicted by some parties, the committee turned out to be only a way a buying time. The Centre should now decide over this f/pestering issue. It seems to be the Congress style not to solve any issue unless it assumes enormous proportions and a significant loss; both material and human is suffered. The problem of Bhindranwale, the issue of Mizoram are examples. The Centre is prepared to invite and talk to groups which took to violence and secessionism (read ULFA and Hurriyat) but it just can not solve the six decade old Telangana issue.
On the editorial in Times of India - Tread cautiously
The editorial sounds like an armchair analyst’s snobbish account of a misguided agitation by unruly mobs. The historic six decade struggle for separation is totally forgotten, the deaths of hundreds of agitators in 1969 and in 2009 are ignored and more than anything else, the unprecedented support of the people for separation is not considered. The editorial questions the basis for formation of Telangana. There is not one but multiple bases. Be it history, culture, language, development, self-rule; each one of them merits separation. Though Sri Krishna report does not say Telangana is the most backward region, the recent revelation in parliament on 9th Aug 2010, says that out of the 13 identified backward districts in AP, 9 districts are in Telangana. Also, linking the Telangana issue with other demands is just not logical. Each struggle has its own history, character and aspirations. Telangana is not a border state, it neither harbors secessionism nor the basis is religion. It is the most democratic demand of 4 crore people in the present time. The editor suggests for more devolution of powers and constitutional safeguards. One should only read the history of this struggle which is rooted in the failure of these very guarantees given in the past in the form of Gentlemen’s agreement, six-point formula etc. Accepting such guarantees again would not just be a mistake but a sin.
On the editorial in The Hindu - Sagacious prescription
The committee feels the separation of Telangana with Hyderabad as capital, amicably, is a tall order, but what makes the committee think that the people of Telangana can be persuaded to accept a set of guarantees again? This betrays the feeling that Andhras shall not yield and it is the Telangana people who should always compromise. The people of Telangana will not walk into this trap of regional boards, constitutional safeguards etc. People trusted such guarantees in the past, only to be taken for a ride. The Mulki rules were upheld as legal and valid by the Supreme Court. To this, the Jai Andhra movement arose to ensure that either the Mulki rules were scrapped or Andhra was separated. The Govt of India was forced to enact a legislation nullifying all the safeguards given to the people of Telangana. The struggle itself is rooted in the failure of these very guarantees given in the past in the form of Gentlemen’s agreement, six-point formula etc. People of Telangana are gullible but not so foolish to trust such promises again. Neither one should expect that such an option will solve the issue nor the people of Telangana shall buy it.
On the editorial in Times of India - Tread cautiously
The editorial sounds like an armchair analyst’s snobbish account of a misguided agitation by unruly mobs. The historic six decade struggle for separation is totally forgotten, the deaths of hundreds of agitators in 1969 and in 2009 are ignored and more than anything else, the unprecedented support of the people for separation is not considered. The editorial questions the basis for formation of Telangana. There is not one but multiple bases. Be it history, culture, language, development, self-rule; each one of them merits separation. Though Sri Krishna report does not say Telangana is the most backward region, the recent revelation in parliament on 9th Aug 2010, says that out of the 13 identified backward districts in AP, 9 districts are in Telangana. Also, linking the Telangana issue with other demands is just not logical. Each struggle has its own history, character and aspirations. Telangana is not a border state, it neither harbors secessionism nor the basis is religion. It is the most democratic demand of 4 crore people in the present time. The editor suggests for more devolution of powers and constitutional safeguards. One should only read the history of this struggle which is rooted in the failure of these very guarantees given in the past in the form of Gentlemen’s agreement, six-point formula etc. Accepting such guarantees again would not just be a mistake but a sin.
On the editorial in The Hindu - Sagacious prescription
The committee feels the separation of Telangana with Hyderabad as capital, amicably, is a tall order, but what makes the committee think that the people of Telangana can be persuaded to accept a set of guarantees again? This betrays the feeling that Andhras shall not yield and it is the Telangana people who should always compromise. The people of Telangana will not walk into this trap of regional boards, constitutional safeguards etc. People trusted such guarantees in the past, only to be taken for a ride. The Mulki rules were upheld as legal and valid by the Supreme Court. To this, the Jai Andhra movement arose to ensure that either the Mulki rules were scrapped or Andhra was separated. The Govt of India was forced to enact a legislation nullifying all the safeguards given to the people of Telangana. The struggle itself is rooted in the failure of these very guarantees given in the past in the form of Gentlemen’s agreement, six-point formula etc. People of Telangana are gullible but not so foolish to trust such promises again. Neither one should expect that such an option will solve the issue nor the people of Telangana shall buy it.
January 08, 2011
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