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.
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