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.
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.
Mr. Alvares and the Art of Crookedness
Excuses galore on the Gadgil implementation.
“The Madhav Gadgil Committee report was not final. It has only suggestions, which could be implemented with the consent of the grama sabhas. In that case, it’s totally democratic. The grama sabhas have the absolute power to decide on the recommendation. While the Kasturirangan report does not give scope for suggestions. It recommends immediate notification,” Mr. Alvares, the editor of ‘Other India Press’, an alternative publication, said. "
This argument that Gram Sabhas are going to decide on the development is utterly bogus, for multiple reasons.
1) Infrastructural development projects are never under the purview of one Gramsabha. One Gramsabha cannot say that they don't want a railway line, while the other one can say that they want it. A broader policy and decision making is required for any large projects.
2) Projects that are allowed within one Gramsabha may negatively impact other Gramsabhas, so, the decision making on such projects will end up being taken by a different authority.
It is not that they do not know any of this. They just want to implement their ideological agenda without actually being prepared to take the blame. Otherwise, what excuse can they give for submitting such a report when Mr.Gadgil himself admitted recently that he hadn't visited districts like Idukki and Wayanad during the report preparation? If you can't visit Idukki or Wayanad on a report on Western Ghats, where would you visit?
Again, if Gadgil report was only SUGGESTIONS, why was everybody so eager to IMPLEMENT it? In a democracy, nobody implements suggestions. Only Decisions are implemented. The truth of the matter is that the environmentalist just want to push through their agenda, by hook or by crook, without a care in the world about the plight of other people affected by their suggestions.
“The Madhav Gadgil Committee report was not final. It has only suggestions, which could be implemented with the consent of the grama sabhas. In that case, it’s totally democratic. The grama sabhas have the absolute power to decide on the recommendation. While the Kasturirangan report does not give scope for suggestions. It recommends immediate notification,” Mr. Alvares, the editor of ‘Other India Press’, an alternative publication, said. "
This argument that Gram Sabhas are going to decide on the development is utterly bogus, for multiple reasons.
1) Infrastructural development projects are never under the purview of one Gramsabha. One Gramsabha cannot say that they don't want a railway line, while the other one can say that they want it. A broader policy and decision making is required for any large projects.
2) Projects that are allowed within one Gramsabha may negatively impact other Gramsabhas, so, the decision making on such projects will end up being taken by a different authority.
It is not that they do not know any of this. They just want to implement their ideological agenda without actually being prepared to take the blame. Otherwise, what excuse can they give for submitting such a report when Mr.Gadgil himself admitted recently that he hadn't visited districts like Idukki and Wayanad during the report preparation? If you can't visit Idukki or Wayanad on a report on Western Ghats, where would you visit?
Again, if Gadgil report was only SUGGESTIONS, why was everybody so eager to IMPLEMENT it? In a democracy, nobody implements suggestions. Only Decisions are implemented. The truth of the matter is that the environmentalist just want to push through their agenda, by hook or by crook, without a care in the world about the plight of other people affected by their suggestions.
The Seven & The Modern
I happened to read an article about the medieval concepts of Virtues, which led to remembering a movie "The Seven" which was crafted on the concept of Seven Sins. Also, quite accidentally, read another article around the progression of human nature as exemplified by the innovation around technology. It was an interesting to attempt to put these three pieces together.
The Modern man has indeed progressed a lot. Often, we are excited by how smart our next generation is. Even their toys are our wonders. The medieval man look more like an evolved ape in terms of technology when compared to the modern. The question was - can the Modern sustain this progress? If yes, what could drive it? The answer suggested was Technology. By continuous technological invention, we can sustain this progress. Moving from lesser efficient technology to more efficient technology, we can always meet the pressures that a progressing civilization demand, so the only thing that is absolutely required is the search for efficiency and innovation.
The Modern man has indeed progressed a lot. Often, we are excited by how smart our next generation is. Even their toys are our wonders. The medieval man look more like an evolved ape in terms of technology when compared to the modern. The question was - can the Modern sustain this progress? If yes, what could drive it? The answer suggested was Technology. By continuous technological invention, we can sustain this progress. Moving from lesser efficient technology to more efficient technology, we can always meet the pressures that a progressing civilization demand, so the only thing that is absolutely required is the search for efficiency and innovation.
Woman, Mother, Wife and Sister
A colleague of mine, Mr.U, said so in social media:
"It is women themselves who act to perpetuate the patriarchal values, by conforming to them, internalizing and passing on to the next generation. This is true at least with the women whom I saw around me (in the urban middle class professional space). I was and am deeply saddened by the apathy of the woman folk around me, who are well away from the Khap Panchayat like enironment and technically enjoy financial freedom. These women should first identify themselves as full individuals (not as some half of a male), then identify themselves as woman and place it before their identities of wife, GF, aspiring GF, sister, mother (all of which is essentially tied to that of a man's) and offer solidarity to their fellow women who fight to secure a dignified existence!!"
First things first: In spirit, Mr.U says is simple enough: the educated, financially independent urban middle class women professionals should fight to secure dignity for other ill-fortuned women. This is good statement to make. In fact, you could even extend this to apply to any socially responsible person, gender being not a consideration at all.
What raises my curiosity is, how the apparently noble idea is twisted to fit into an ideology to destroy the very foundation of civilization. Look at this: "The women should first identify themselves as full individuals, not as some half of a male and place it before their identities of Wife, GF, Sister, Mother etc, all of which is ESSENTIALLY tied to that of a man's".
"It is women themselves who act to perpetuate the patriarchal values, by conforming to them, internalizing and passing on to the next generation. This is true at least with the women whom I saw around me (in the urban middle class professional space). I was and am deeply saddened by the apathy of the woman folk around me, who are well away from the Khap Panchayat like enironment and technically enjoy financial freedom. These women should first identify themselves as full individuals (not as some half of a male), then identify themselves as woman and place it before their identities of wife, GF, aspiring GF, sister, mother (all of which is essentially tied to that of a man's) and offer solidarity to their fellow women who fight to secure a dignified existence!!"
First things first: In spirit, Mr.U says is simple enough: the educated, financially independent urban middle class women professionals should fight to secure dignity for other ill-fortuned women. This is good statement to make. In fact, you could even extend this to apply to any socially responsible person, gender being not a consideration at all.
What raises my curiosity is, how the apparently noble idea is twisted to fit into an ideology to destroy the very foundation of civilization. Look at this: "The women should first identify themselves as full individuals, not as some half of a male and place it before their identities of Wife, GF, Sister, Mother etc, all of which is ESSENTIALLY tied to that of a man's".
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