A small thought

No posts this week due to other constraints. Yet, let me leave this link here.

Not that it matters. Contrary to what everybody has been saying and projecting, I do not think that the primary reason for a large majority of people voting for Modi is his clean image or development agenda. The water runs much deeper than that. So, a few crores of corruption is not going to make any difference to those people who supported him.

Dhoti-controversy is not just about Dhoti

When the water tastes different only from one faucet in your house, you are justified to check only that faucet. But when it tastes different everywhere, you better check in the overhead tank.

The Dhoti-controversy is not just about clubs. After all, TNCA was following a dress-code that they saw fit (In fact, the explanation to adopt the same is actually reasonable in a comical manner- you do not definitely want to see dhoti-less drunkards wandering around in a prestigious institution).  Jayalalitha and Co. may find themselves in a slippery slope if they start to interfere in the norms around the dress code that every private institution should adhere to. While her reaction in this case is properly justified, stretching it to form an all-encompassing law would be a transgression on the higher principle of freedom that our constitution envisions for private entities. We just need to wait and see how the law will actually be worded, but my opinion is that these kind of practices with shades of colonial hangover has a deeper root that needs to be unearthed and exposed.

Optimism of civilization

One of the fundamental assumptions of modernity that every one of us subconsciously follow is that civilization will only move forward. Some of the very concepts that underpin our way of life are considered to only become stronger. Freedom of thought, Equality in front of law are such things that we always take for granted. Perhaps, every successful civilization keeps this optimism to their heart. For the tree of confidence to thrive,  you need the root of optimism to run deep.

Photography, Modern Art & Beauty

Recently, I happened to see a breathtaking series of photographs published by a stranger, a regular Joe, in his blog, shared through social media. The beauty of the pictures was so captivating. I myself have many friends who click photographs with immense beauty - of nature, of animals, of people.

But, is that beauty celebrated in our culture? What is exactly being celebrated? To answer that question, you merely need to look at the most celebrated works of art of the 20th century. For example, art like this. Or this. Or this.  A visit to any art museum would tell you something - the zeitgeist of art is no more beauty. You would get to see pleasure-forming beauty in the paintings of 19th century or beyond in the past. But what you would see celebrated in the 20th century paintings is not definitely that. You may see an expression of philosophy. But then, that expression is not beautiful. That philosophy is expressed through its opposite - Ugliness.

You wouldn't find the beautiful picture of a bird, flying over a sea multi-colored by the sunset, in an Art gallery. That belongs to blogs, twitter & Facebook. But if you want to find an Artist's Shit , you just need to visit the art gallery next door.