harikumar1964's blog

So Barack Obama has become the 44^th president of US of A. Well the country had to wait for more than 200 years to get a coloured president. And they are  still to get a female head of state. Where as US is considered  the most vibrant democracy, there are definite areas where other nations are ahead of them. Obama has assumed office at the time of economic turmoil. So it will be difficult times ahead for him. Also no sane man will ever want to emulate Bush  Jr. ( given second chance, even Bush will not). So Change is something he is promising to undo or restrict whatever damage Bush Jr has done. But it remains to be seen  as long as US is governed by the business and industrial lobby, how much liberty will be allowed to  the president of the nation which boasts of being the symbol and statue of liberty.  We Indians seems to beoverexcited by the victory  of Obama- I don’t know why. Is it because he is black ( but then we are not) or is it because of the rumour that he carries a Hanuman statue in his pocket as a lucky charm? . Otherwise if his statements on policies are heard rightly, there is hardly any reason for Indians to cheer.

Whites in general are always accused of racism. Whites may be racist, but then who is not- in our case casteism is another form of racism- which is essentially discriminating a section on the basis of their birth- not on the basis of their merit- our society is still to reconcile to the fact like occupying high offices by  low caste born - we expect them to toil under the sun serving us in most servile ways. We expect them never to rise to any level of dignity. So probably it is sheer hypocracy on behalf of we Indians to comment of racism. Also we still acknowledge a white foreigner with respect and a black with some disdain. I still see many of my colleagues searching the personal documents to find out who all belong to which category and alludes it at every possible opportunity.

Last week I saw the live coverage of Makar shankranti of Shabarimala temple of kerala. I always acknowledge shabarimala as a model shrine where there is no discrimination against any religion or caste and every one on way to the shrine is a Swamy. I visited the temple twice – even though that was more than 20 years ago.  But the foulplay of the govt and the governing body of the shrine is something always annoyed me. Income is mostly generated from the devotees from Andhra and Tamilnadu . And they are lured into the temple by the so called divine makaravillakku- the holy lights which appears from the hills opposite the hills on which the shrine is presently located. it is rumoured that that location is the  real abode of Ayyappa  and gods descend on that day and light up divine light (makarajyoti)  after the evening pooja(sermon). Even though we live in 21 st century,  there is no dearth of believers for this story. The real drama being unfolded behind this show has been exposed several times and one chief minister even confessed the foulplay  that this camphor lighting is done not by any heavenly gods but by the administrators of the shrine with the help of Kerala police.    The so called atheist CPM govt and its ministers are also cashing in on this superstition spread by interest groups just for the sake of a few rupees more.  Had there been no such stories, I am sure, people out of the state would not be knowing such a shrine. Rather than eradicating superstition we are promoting and cashing on  it. Even today the TV commentators (including the CPM channel hail this as holy light.)

Slumdog millionaire had got 10 Oscar nominations a week after winning at Golden globe. There was certain criticism about the movie which is being released today in India. Even Amithabh expressed his anguish over the way India is portrayed in the western films. It seems the only thing Indian that is saleable in the west is poverty. But on second thought, is this not a state of poor and destitute?  5% of the superrich doesnot have time to think of anything except for making more money and enjoying their life kingsize. May be around 25% middle class to which we belong  generally interact only among ourselves and thinks that the whole India is like this- of possessing new gadgets and holidays , bigger homes and payhikes. We conveniently ignore the major chunk of Indians who still live in the fringes.  Whether we like, ignore, reject, or disregard, poverty is a fact and will remain a major problem for millions of Indians.  Our cities are some of the worst in respect of hygiene in the world – just think of the condition of our slums and dwellers! Once I met an American during a programme at Kolkata and he had a terrible shock seeing the state of affairs on his way from Kolkata airport to Hotel. That was his first visit to Asia. I just asked him what is his programme after that day. He replied he had another session at Jhamshedpur next day and will be going there by train. I told him to hold on for he is in for a greater shock  at Howrah station and its suburbs. If our film makers can cash in on any bomb blast and ignominious event of the country, why can’t the westerners make a few dollars showing our poverty! Ironical isn’t it?

A large ice sheet by the name Wilkins Ice Shelf which is about 15000 sq km in the western Antarctic ( Does arctic and Antarctic has any east or west side?)  is now hanging by a thread(!) and is about to break away.  And they believe this rapid separation of ice sheets can only result in all probability from anthropogenic green house effect.  The rapidly shrinking Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets can have major consequences to the rest of the world in the coming 50 years. Last year an entire passage was formed in the arctic region. But we greedy humans is trying to fish in troubled waters- we are trying to claim areas in arctic and planning to exploit untapped oil reserves in the region in the event of thinning of ice sheet.  Sentient  creature need not be sane!

While writing this blog, I was thinking of a title and finally the title “The world this week” struck me. This was a successful TV show of the 80s hosted by Pronnoy Roy during the Doordarshan days which we youngsters eagerly awaited and avidly watched. I am borrowing that title for this blog.

  share this

Post a Comment