Two articles in this week Sunday Times caught my attention:
The first reports on Richard Dawkins's attempt to set up an atheist camp in UK for young children.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6591231.ece
This one has a decent joke as well which brought out a smirk:
How many atheists does it take to change a light bulb? Two. One to change the bulb and the other to film the work being done so the fundamentalists won’t claim that God did it.
The second article is a brilliant one. It tries to see how a cross section of the British society view the gap between the haves and have nots in these times of recession. Some telling lines,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6591250.ece
Rowntree’s research, among more than 1,000 adults of all income groups, shows that more than two thirds of them admire the rich, and assume that their high salaries are a proper reward for ability, effort and performance. On the other hand, they are largely contemptuous of the poor, especially those who live on benefits. Those people are routinely described as scroungers.
And though most people described themselves as very concerned about inequality, it wasn’t the gap between rich and poor they cared about. It was the gap between the top and themselves that they wanted to see narrowed.
We’re told we live in a meritocracy, so despite the evidence around us, we pretend it’s so. Anything else would be too painful to bear. We can tolerate the comfortable or luxurious lives that some people live only by telling ourselves that they are deserved. These people must work much harder than we are prepared to, or have skills we cannot dream of.
In the research sessions, participants projected all kinds of virtues – dedication, private study, willingness to tolerate stress – onto those with high salaries. Equally, we might find the grim poverty or simple limitations of others’ lives indefensible unless we told ourselves that these people had a choice, and it’s wilfulness or laziness that keeps them as they are. The idea that our life chances are radically unfair is more than we can admit.
Our need to believe in the worth of those above us might give us a different explanation for the anger over bankers’ salaries and MPs’ expenses. It isn’t the fact of their high incomes that enraged us. It was that their selfishness and incompetence destroyed our illusions about their worth. Our faith required us to believe that they deserved what they got. Having their faults exposed has made us uncomfortable.
This mass delusion doesn’t mean that attempts to make Britain more equal are doomed, but it does show that those who think it desirable have to take a different approach. Expecting most people to care about inequality as an abstract concept is pointless: they don’t. They think that quite a lot of it is fair. But the Rowntree research does show a way forward.
The research group were asked which of three societies they would rather live in – a traditional free-market one, with few protections; an egalitarian one that cut the gap between rich and poor; or one that gave priority to improving everyone’s quality of life.
Almost nobody, not even the rightwingers, opted for a society that made economic growth and standards of living a priority, especially if these were accompanied by greater insecurity. Yet this is pretty much what Labour has offered in the past dozen years – increased wealth but much more precarious lives. If that bargain ever was appealing, it isn’t any more.
Only a small number opted for the egalitarian choice. The overwhelming majority chose the third.
Under the banner of quality of life, people were happy to work and consume less, and pay more tax, if it meant they had less pressure in their lives and better public services. They agreed that they wanted to “reduce social dysfunction and move away from market values”, live in a less divided society, experience less crime, and invest in preventive help for children and young people in need. In other words, the kind of society most people thought would make them happier also happened to be a rather more equal one. But that was a byproduct, not its central appeal.
The political party that can recognise this mood and respond to it will be facing an open goal. People can see the point of a fairer society if it’s principally something that will improve their lives too. Tragically, new Labour never had the imagination to seize this ground; it was too busy counting targets and letting markets rip. Is it even remotely possible that the Tories can make enlightened self-interest a powerful cause?
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Indian English
Having worked in UK for a reasonably long period of time, i have a fair measure of the differences between UK English and Indian English. As brought out wonderfully by this Wikipedia article, the divergent evolution of Indian English has enriched English with its unique grammar quirks and local language influences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_English
Unfortunately, we Indians feel small when these so-called "mistakes" are pointed out by people, including few fellow Indians, who profess to speak "Standard English". On the contrary, we should be feeling proud for continuing the tradition of this language which has been enriched from cohabitations and liberal borrowings.
By the way, I personally have caused a laugh or two for using phrases such as "Solid lunch", "Gone for a Toss", "Kindly do the needful" :-) These three are mentioned in the article referenced above as usages unique to Indians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_English
Unfortunately, we Indians feel small when these so-called "mistakes" are pointed out by people, including few fellow Indians, who profess to speak "Standard English". On the contrary, we should be feeling proud for continuing the tradition of this language which has been enriched from cohabitations and liberal borrowings.
By the way, I personally have caused a laugh or two for using phrases such as "Solid lunch", "Gone for a Toss", "Kindly do the needful" :-) These three are mentioned in the article referenced above as usages unique to Indians.
Nasaadiya Suktham
Few days back i accidentally read few quotes in the Times of India from Nasaadiya Suktham.
Then i started searching the net to get different interpretations and commentaries on it.
It turned out that the Nasaadiya Suktham (after the incipit ná ásat "not the non-existent") is the 129th hymn of the 10th Mandala of the Rigveda. It is concerned with cosmology/creation and talks about the origin of the universe. The key point is ‘Not ever’. Nothing here is ‘ever’. Everything changes. Everything changes fast. That is the nature of this universe. There is nothing ‘ever’ including the primordial purusha.
What interested me most was the questioning and contemplative spirit of Vedic Rishi who wrote this Suktham. The Rishi who wrote this Suktham comes out as one with childlike curiosity and is probably awestruck with grandeur of creation. The standout line is "He surely knows, or may be He does not!”
I mean what a refreshing change from the dogma pursued by later day religions, and it is immensely appealing to the modern, scientific mindas he allows spirituality to coexist with science.
What's most likeable about the Rishi who wrote this Suktham is that he doesn't sound like the final authority on this subject, a subject which is still being debated after 3500 years he wrote this Suktham.
BTW, this Suktham is supposed to explain the conditions before the Big-Bang.
Given below is the translation of the Suktham (Partly taken from Radhakrishnan& Moore's Indian Philosophy and partly taken from the translation by Raimundo Panicker)
nAsadAsIn no sadAsIt tadAnIM nAsId rajo no vyomAparo yat
kimAvarIvaH kuha kasya sharmannambhaH kimAsId gahanaM gabhIram
At first was neither Being nor Non-Being.
There was not air nor yet sky beyond
What was it wrapping? Where in? In whose protection?
Was water there, unfathomable and deep?
na mRtyurAsIdamRtaM na tarhi na rAtryA ahna AsItpraketaH
AnIdavAtaM svadhayA tadekaM tasmAddhAnyan na paraH kiM canAsa
Neither death nor immortaility controls it;
And it does not have the appearance of one who dwells in darkness.
That one fetched all the fires/heat till the end to conciliate (make peace) with itself.
Hence there was nothing outside of this rich being whatsoever.
tama AsIt tamasA gULamagre.apraketaM salilaM sarvamAidam
tuchyenAbhvapihitaM yadAsIt tapasastanmahinAjAyataikam
Darkness was there, all wrapped around the darkness,
Without distinctive marks, this all was water.
Then that which was hidden by Void,
that One, emerging, stirring,
through power of Ardor (Tapas), came to be.
kAmastadagre samavartatAdhi manaso retaH prathamaM yadAsIt
sato bandhumasati niravindan hRdi pratISyAkavayo manISA
Desire entered the one in the beginning:
It was the earliest seed, of thought the product.
The sages searching in their hearts with wisdom.
Found out the bond of being in non-being.
tirashcIno vitato rashmireSAmadhaH svidAsI.a.a.at
retodhAAsan mahimAna Asan svadhA avastAt prayatiH parastAt
A crosswise line cut Being from Nonbeing,
But was the one above or was it under?
Creative force was there, and fertile power:
Below was energy, above was impulse:
ko addhA veda ka iha pra vocat kuta AjAtA kuta iyaMvisRSTiH
arvAg devA asya visarjanenAthA ko veda yataAbabhUva
Who knows for certain? Who shall here declare it?
Whence was it born, and whence came this creation?
Even the Gods came after its emergence.
Then who can tell from whence it came to be?
iyaM visRSTiryata AbabhUva yadi vA dadhe yadi vA na
yo asyAdhyakSaH parame vyoman so aN^ga veda yadi vA naveda
None knoweth whence creation has arisen:
And whether he has or has not produced it:
He who surveys it in the highest heaven,
He surely knows or may be He does not!
Then i started searching the net to get different interpretations and commentaries on it.
It turned out that the Nasaadiya Suktham (after the incipit ná ásat "not the non-existent") is the 129th hymn of the 10th Mandala of the Rigveda. It is concerned with cosmology/creation and talks about the origin of the universe. The key point is ‘Not ever’. Nothing here is ‘ever’. Everything changes. Everything changes fast. That is the nature of this universe. There is nothing ‘ever’ including the primordial purusha.
What interested me most was the questioning and contemplative spirit of Vedic Rishi who wrote this Suktham. The Rishi who wrote this Suktham comes out as one with childlike curiosity and is probably awestruck with grandeur of creation. The standout line is "He surely knows, or may be He does not!”
I mean what a refreshing change from the dogma pursued by later day religions, and it is immensely appealing to the modern, scientific mindas he allows spirituality to coexist with science.
What's most likeable about the Rishi who wrote this Suktham is that he doesn't sound like the final authority on this subject, a subject which is still being debated after 3500 years he wrote this Suktham.
BTW, this Suktham is supposed to explain the conditions before the Big-Bang.
Given below is the translation of the Suktham (Partly taken from Radhakrishnan& Moore's Indian Philosophy and partly taken from the translation by Raimundo Panicker)
nAsadAsIn no sadAsIt tadAnIM nAsId rajo no vyomAparo yat
kimAvarIvaH kuha kasya sharmannambhaH kimAsId gahanaM gabhIram
At first was neither Being nor Non-Being.
There was not air nor yet sky beyond
What was it wrapping? Where in? In whose protection?
Was water there, unfathomable and deep?
na mRtyurAsIdamRtaM na tarhi na rAtryA ahna AsItpraketaH
AnIdavAtaM svadhayA tadekaM tasmAddhAnyan na paraH kiM canAsa
Neither death nor immortaility controls it;
And it does not have the appearance of one who dwells in darkness.
That one fetched all the fires/heat till the end to conciliate (make peace) with itself.
Hence there was nothing outside of this rich being whatsoever.
tama AsIt tamasA gULamagre.apraketaM salilaM sarvamAidam
tuchyenAbhvapihitaM yadAsIt tapasastanmahinAjAyataikam
Darkness was there, all wrapped around the darkness,
Without distinctive marks, this all was water.
Then that which was hidden by Void,
that One, emerging, stirring,
through power of Ardor (Tapas), came to be.
kAmastadagre samavartatAdhi manaso retaH prathamaM yadAsIt
sato bandhumasati niravindan hRdi pratISyAkavayo manISA
Desire entered the one in the beginning:
It was the earliest seed, of thought the product.
The sages searching in their hearts with wisdom.
Found out the bond of being in non-being.
tirashcIno vitato rashmireSAmadhaH svidAsI.a.a.at
retodhAAsan mahimAna Asan svadhA avastAt prayatiH parastAt
A crosswise line cut Being from Nonbeing,
But was the one above or was it under?
Creative force was there, and fertile power:
Below was energy, above was impulse:
ko addhA veda ka iha pra vocat kuta AjAtA kuta iyaMvisRSTiH
arvAg devA asya visarjanenAthA ko veda yataAbabhUva
Who knows for certain? Who shall here declare it?
Whence was it born, and whence came this creation?
Even the Gods came after its emergence.
Then who can tell from whence it came to be?
iyaM visRSTiryata AbabhUva yadi vA dadhe yadi vA na
yo asyAdhyakSaH parame vyoman so aN^ga veda yadi vA naveda
None knoweth whence creation has arisen:
And whether he has or has not produced it:
He who surveys it in the highest heaven,
He surely knows or may be He does not!
Monday, 25 May 2009
Benefits of performing Sandhyavanthanam
I accidently listened to Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshithar's discourse on the importance of Sandhyavandhanam. I'm not going to lecture on the importance of it, for i'm fairly ambivalent on these things.
Why i'm forwarding this is to bring to you the bygone pristine sarcasm of Tamil Brahmins.
Listen to him between 6:44 till 7:00 in the second part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAZJlhIrgBE&feature=related
Rip roaring....He goes 'kAla nittindundu thoongarAn, KoopttA kOpchikkarAn, KApinnA vAya pOlakarAn. Krishna oila vittudanamnaen vAyila appO" :-)
And between 7:10 to 7:30 in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLBlJZT0ak&feature=channel
EnnA Aabadh kAlathula kUda pathu Gayathrikku kuraya kUdAdhunnA
Romba AabathA irundhadhu..Aathula yArAvadhu kezhavAlukku izhuthundu irundhadhu
Appo pathu aavarthi pannu porumnnA
Adhukkaaga nithyam 10 aavarthi pannA nithyam yaarukkO izhuthundu irukkunnu artham
I was rolling over. Few joys of a bank holiday weekend:-)
I remembered Appa buying Anantharama Diksithar's cassettes in Namakkal and us listening to it in our old Philips tape recorder. Brought memories back....
The entire series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oy1rYn4PsQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAZJlhIrgBE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLBlJZT0ak&feature=channel
Why i'm forwarding this is to bring to you the bygone pristine sarcasm of Tamil Brahmins.
Listen to him between 6:44 till 7:00 in the second part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAZJlhIrgBE&feature=related
Rip roaring....He goes 'kAla nittindundu thoongarAn, KoopttA kOpchikkarAn, KApinnA vAya pOlakarAn. Krishna oila vittudanamnaen vAyila appO" :-)
And between 7:10 to 7:30 in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLBlJZT0ak&feature=channel
EnnA Aabadh kAlathula kUda pathu Gayathrikku kuraya kUdAdhunnA
Romba AabathA irundhadhu..Aathula yArAvadhu kezhavAlukku izhuthundu irundhadhu
Appo pathu aavarthi pannu porumnnA
Adhukkaaga nithyam 10 aavarthi pannA nithyam yaarukkO izhuthundu irukkunnu artham
I was rolling over. Few joys of a bank holiday weekend:-)
I remembered Appa buying Anantharama Diksithar's cassettes in Namakkal and us listening to it in our old Philips tape recorder. Brought memories back....
The entire series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oy1rYn4PsQ&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAZJlhIrgBE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLBlJZT0ak&feature=channel
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Hopelessly Paralysed
Another weekend going down the drain right in front of my eyes.....Grrr...For a change, didn't feel sleepy or heavy...After a long time, working or trying to work late into the night. The To-Do lists scare me....Time's running out....
Of all the songs i heard today, "Rehna Tu Jaise Tu" and "Masakali" from Delhi 6 stand out. Watching Sonam kapur in "Masakali", courtesy youtube, reminded me of everything that chirpy, next door 'n effervescent Indian girliness that i have grown to despise over the years.
It's that message from them that "We are aware of everthing that's bad about this rotten world but we will continue to sell innocent dreams to you guys and if you are to take it seriously and go bonkers, well tough luck". I can hear you shouting "Who the hell you think you are, you piece of ....". Well, every dog is allowed to have its opinion, isn't it?
Moving on....What bothers me most, apart from the things i hesitate to declare in an open forum such as this (hardly)....lack of exercise, lack of energy, being a poor cook, not being able to finish so many books, an impending MBA, car driving, not reaching office on time, not finishing anything on time, not having seen places...So, as you can see there are lots of crib about...
But...i felt very light again while walking towards the bus stop at around 4 in the evening. The early spring warm sun...Ah...What a feeling...
India won...Dravid scored...What a relief!!! Old friend called up...
Bought Prada perfume...it lingers on for a long time....
Of all the songs i heard today, "Rehna Tu Jaise Tu" and "Masakali" from Delhi 6 stand out. Watching Sonam kapur in "Masakali", courtesy youtube, reminded me of everything that chirpy, next door 'n effervescent Indian girliness that i have grown to despise over the years.
It's that message from them that "We are aware of everthing that's bad about this rotten world but we will continue to sell innocent dreams to you guys and if you are to take it seriously and go bonkers, well tough luck". I can hear you shouting "Who the hell you think you are, you piece of ....". Well, every dog is allowed to have its opinion, isn't it?
Moving on....What bothers me most, apart from the things i hesitate to declare in an open forum such as this (hardly)....lack of exercise, lack of energy, being a poor cook, not being able to finish so many books, an impending MBA, car driving, not reaching office on time, not finishing anything on time, not having seen places...So, as you can see there are lots of crib about...
But...i felt very light again while walking towards the bus stop at around 4 in the evening. The early spring warm sun...Ah...What a feeling...
India won...Dravid scored...What a relief!!! Old friend called up...
Bought Prada perfume...it lingers on for a long time....
Friday, 5 December 2008
Back in India
Back in India. Feeling worn out. The daunting task of finishing the design documents before next weekend stares and makes me feel helpless.
Listening to MS Subbulakshmi again. There are so many songs which became famous because of her. I'm just eternally grateful for having been able to listen to her. Different renditions by her take me by storm at different periods. Today it's "Paalinchu Kaamaakshi" set to Madhyamaavathi. I mean, what a song!! Brings tear to my eyes just listening to it.
On a different note, i had written down the following lines while i was in UK. I have this habit of writing down lines that impress me while watching movies or TV:
You can write about reality with a rubber better than with a pencil.
I can agree with none of my statements. I cannot even agree with this one.
You can always tell the winners and you can always tell the losers.
I'm alone not lonely.
I say never be complete. Let's evolve
You are just dust and ashes to me now.
Enjoy your hole. Have fun rotting by yourself.
Women need to be feel loved to have sex and Men to have sex to feel loved.
Now i'm done believing you
Listening to MS Subbulakshmi again. There are so many songs which became famous because of her. I'm just eternally grateful for having been able to listen to her. Different renditions by her take me by storm at different periods. Today it's "Paalinchu Kaamaakshi" set to Madhyamaavathi. I mean, what a song!! Brings tear to my eyes just listening to it.
On a different note, i had written down the following lines while i was in UK. I have this habit of writing down lines that impress me while watching movies or TV:
You can write about reality with a rubber better than with a pencil.
I can agree with none of my statements. I cannot even agree with this one.
You can always tell the winners and you can always tell the losers.
I'm alone not lonely.
I say never be complete. Let's evolve
You are just dust and ashes to me now.
Enjoy your hole. Have fun rotting by yourself.
Women need to be feel loved to have sex and Men to have sex to feel loved.
Now i'm done believing you
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Disturbed
An argument which happened last week has left me disturbed. It happens with me whenever i end up saying or doing things on which i don't have full conviction. Also, I’m on a major guilt ride because I didn’t end up communicating what i truly feel about the given topic/subject and because emotions got better of me.
It's true that people don't have time. You are perceived based on your actions and words. It's very difficult to fully communicate what you truly feel about a subject.
The challenge has always been in communicating my true belief in what Gandhi famously said on this subject "I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides, and my windows to be closed. Instead, I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."
Any allegiance is difficult to stand by and that even applies to not having any sort of allegiance.
Painting one negatively is so very easy. We all want to box others. We want to typecast them in moulds we are comfortable with. That's an easy option. To do that a person's denominations help us - Language, race, religion, caste, nation, state, place. So, it becomes all the more important that communication is precise, unambiguous and clear.
It is important to me rather very important to me that i view myself as a liberal. More than what others perceive it is important to me that i'm a free spirit and an explorer. Because heart of hearts i'm convinced that's what i'm. I don't have sense of belonging with anything. I’ve seen for myself how fluid my belief system has been over the years.
Having said that, i can't deny the fact that my language, my race, my religion, my country, my caste, my place in no particular order have had a bearing on what i'm today. How much ever i end up embracing other things my heart does still leap in joy whenever i come across things which remind me of my upbringing.
Am i a cultural bigot? My tastes, my interests, my friends/acquaintances don't seem indicate that i'm one.
All said, seeing it from the context of the argument which has triggered this post, I think I still stand by my argument that any form of imposition is wrong. Freewill within legitimate boundaries should reign supreme. Accommodation of differences is the essence of a matured and forward looking society.
If you are wondering what the fuss is all about – the context is I had an argument with a friend of mine in which I said vernacular languages must be respected, allowed to prosper and imposition of any kind should be resisted. The crux of my argument is that the cornerstone of this nation is its diversity and that the moment we give into the urge to homogenize it will fall apart. Heady respect for local cultures would mean different groups will feel wanted and that would bind this nation even further.
Case rested.
It's true that people don't have time. You are perceived based on your actions and words. It's very difficult to fully communicate what you truly feel about a subject.
The challenge has always been in communicating my true belief in what Gandhi famously said on this subject "I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides, and my windows to be closed. Instead, I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."
Any allegiance is difficult to stand by and that even applies to not having any sort of allegiance.
Painting one negatively is so very easy. We all want to box others. We want to typecast them in moulds we are comfortable with. That's an easy option. To do that a person's denominations help us - Language, race, religion, caste, nation, state, place. So, it becomes all the more important that communication is precise, unambiguous and clear.
It is important to me rather very important to me that i view myself as a liberal. More than what others perceive it is important to me that i'm a free spirit and an explorer. Because heart of hearts i'm convinced that's what i'm. I don't have sense of belonging with anything. I’ve seen for myself how fluid my belief system has been over the years.
Having said that, i can't deny the fact that my language, my race, my religion, my country, my caste, my place in no particular order have had a bearing on what i'm today. How much ever i end up embracing other things my heart does still leap in joy whenever i come across things which remind me of my upbringing.
Am i a cultural bigot? My tastes, my interests, my friends/acquaintances don't seem indicate that i'm one.
All said, seeing it from the context of the argument which has triggered this post, I think I still stand by my argument that any form of imposition is wrong. Freewill within legitimate boundaries should reign supreme. Accommodation of differences is the essence of a matured and forward looking society.
If you are wondering what the fuss is all about – the context is I had an argument with a friend of mine in which I said vernacular languages must be respected, allowed to prosper and imposition of any kind should be resisted. The crux of my argument is that the cornerstone of this nation is its diversity and that the moment we give into the urge to homogenize it will fall apart. Heady respect for local cultures would mean different groups will feel wanted and that would bind this nation even further.
Case rested.
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