Every society has a set of collective characteristics - mood, behavior, culture, law. Man's thinking brain is the origin of all his actions which in turn define his character. Likewise behind the actions and reactions of a society there is a complex "collective brain" that is at work. Despite wide contrasts in different sections of society there are things which can be generalized.
Individual thought (IT) and the collective thought are inseparably intertwined in a manner where each has an influence on the other. One interesting thing to note here is that when a person does not have enough of the former on a particular subject it is the latter which helps shape it. This assumes far more importance for the younger generations. As the time progresses the "collective brain" (CB) has much to do with whatever people as individuals do and society as a whole does. Knowledge and thinking capabilities of individuals vary and it is this CB that superimposes and fills in the blanks or has some sort of chemical reaction with the preexisting IT to various degrees.
One has to be foolish to expect or wish CB to be some kind of ideal stuff. Yet as the generations of thinking humans fuel scientific innovations, as nations become democratic, secular and champions of free thought it is apparent that CB is to become more rational and logical. Here hypocrisy creeps in as an item number in a masala movie. It has a beauty of painting a picture of "reason" to anything and everything making you notice only the rosy sections.
Now lets jump from this abstract sounding stuff to real time scenarios.
A few years ago when "Babujee" video was shown on TV, it was embarrassing to watch it when my father was around. Today I see a 10 year kid watching and enjoying a reality dance along with his family where another 10 year kid dances for an obscene item number. We merrily watch nothing less than "soft porn" in our movies. There is no serious revulsion on a mass scale. Don't mistake this to maturity and modernism. How many of us discussed Section 377 (which was in news recently) with our elders with the so called maturity. The point here is while still preaching voyeurism and perverse attitudes as unhealthy CB accepted its inherent traits into mainstream and makes it seem perfectly alright.
Since few days people are crying for justice for "Ruchika" and praising media for its campaign. While not undermining the gravity of the heinous crime lets also not forget there are hundreds of similar cases which go unnoticed by the same media in this very own country and all this frenzy has not made any serious impact to the root cause. Last few months have also marked 25th anniversaries of 1984 Anti Sikh pogrom and Bhopal Gas tragedy. Both of these incidents easily top the list of worst things that happened to civil society. When there could be a campaign against Rathore, why is it that we dont see media campaigns with same degree of intensity against Anderson and Union Carbide or Sajjan Kumar and Jagdeesh Tytler. Media would not want to pull the leg of people in power or annoy their US investors. Because of this and many more reasons we get to see and tend to discuss more of Aamir Khan's movie than all of these issues put together.
Why did YSR win despite his contradictory poll promises. Why is it totally fine for a political party to promise and distribute TV sets costing thousands of crores while the nation ranks 134th of 182 countries in Human Development Index. Why are farmers OK with loan waivers when the root cause of agrarian crisis and resulting debts never gets addressed. Why is word "monkey" more offensive than "maa-ki". Thinking capability of the society is diminishing and some day might cease to exist. A holistic glance will say CB is anything but rational.
వాగుడు
ఉన్నదొక్కటే ప్రపంచం
నా ప్రపంచం నీ ప్రపంచం ఒకటి కావు
జరిగిన వాస్తవం అద్వైతం
చరిత్ర పేరు తో ఎన్నో భాష్యాలు
పుట్టుక ఒకే విధం
చావు పరి పరి విధాలు
నేను మొత్తుకునేది ఒకటి
నువ్వు గ్రహించేదొకటి
నా ప్రపంచం నీ ప్రపంచం ఒకటి కావు
జరిగిన వాస్తవం అద్వైతం
చరిత్ర పేరు తో ఎన్నో భాష్యాలు
పుట్టుక ఒకే విధం
చావు పరి పరి విధాలు
నేను మొత్తుకునేది ఒకటి
నువ్వు గ్రహించేదొకటి
Between the lines
In the midst of the Telangana Samaikyandhra turmoil, very victim - common man from the village and small town is jettisoned out on whose name the battle is being fought by two sides.
It is termed "barbaric act" and gets media attention showing 1000 times a day shattered glass panes of a posh mall. The same section has remained wishfully oblivious to millions of broken lives and shattered households. We care more for a canceled show and broken glass at a cinema hall than people killing themselves in utter despair because they are into unfashionable profession of creating food.
Hyderabad losing its brand image is now causing concerns. Not a minuscule share of this concern has been noticed in all these years about the living conditions in the same city. Municipal drinking water had to be toxic enough to take lives to grab the eyeballs.
I see ferocious arguments on the news channel shows; on social networking sites, newspolls. Ironically one hardly hears the voice of the core majority who form the nucleus of all the discussion. We enjoy arguments, making statements, passing conclusions while steering away the topic of debate. The arguments and battles have become more important than issues for which the former were originally taken up.
It is termed "barbaric act" and gets media attention showing 1000 times a day shattered glass panes of a posh mall. The same section has remained wishfully oblivious to millions of broken lives and shattered households. We care more for a canceled show and broken glass at a cinema hall than people killing themselves in utter despair because they are into unfashionable profession of creating food.
Hyderabad losing its brand image is now causing concerns. Not a minuscule share of this concern has been noticed in all these years about the living conditions in the same city. Municipal drinking water had to be toxic enough to take lives to grab the eyeballs.
I see ferocious arguments on the news channel shows; on social networking sites, newspolls. Ironically one hardly hears the voice of the core majority who form the nucleus of all the discussion. We enjoy arguments, making statements, passing conclusions while steering away the topic of debate. The arguments and battles have become more important than issues for which the former were originally taken up.
Invincibles
Of late I have understood (though not completely yet) about an astonishing breed of people. Theirs is the only other path to invincibility apart from Howard Roark's. Even though the below traits are present in all of us in varying proportions, there is an increasing number championing these qualities to perfection.
> There shall be nothing that is objective. Never say a blank yes/no when there is a conflict. This is how one can always have power and responsibilities and never be convicted.
> Do everything and anything to impress the "boss".
> Uncanny ability to dilute an issue, attribute enormous importance to banal issues and fabricate stuff beyond recognition.
> Art of manipulating people. A fine balance between "using" others when required and discarding whenever not.
> Capability of sugar coated speech and sweet tone as well as threatening and intimidating tone and the knowledge of when to use what.
> Should be able to deliver the same content in different versions to different audience.
> Skillfully cover your ass when there is a question about wrongdoings.
> Flock with the same "kind".
I never fail because I never have a firm stand and am flexible, on any of my commissions and omissions.
Every one has their own definition for morals, ethics, standards aligned to ones own balance sheets; since we are humans invariably these differ.
Going by the pragmatic world's most commonly agreed definitions of success, the above listed are the indispensably its prerequisites. Look around, you will see them everywhere.. at work; in media, politics, corporates...in you and I.... its omnipresent trying to become omnipotent.
PS: I do not intend or wish that readers perceive this piece in the same way as I do. This is more of an introspection of a half-tainted in pursuit of "reason".
> There shall be nothing that is objective. Never say a blank yes/no when there is a conflict. This is how one can always have power and responsibilities and never be convicted.
> Do everything and anything to impress the "boss".
> Uncanny ability to dilute an issue, attribute enormous importance to banal issues and fabricate stuff beyond recognition.
> Art of manipulating people. A fine balance between "using" others when required and discarding whenever not.
> Capability of sugar coated speech and sweet tone as well as threatening and intimidating tone and the knowledge of when to use what.
> Should be able to deliver the same content in different versions to different audience.
> Skillfully cover your ass when there is a question about wrongdoings.
> Flock with the same "kind".
I never fail because I never have a firm stand and am flexible, on any of my commissions and omissions.
Every one has their own definition for morals, ethics, standards aligned to ones own balance sheets; since we are humans invariably these differ.
Going by the pragmatic world's most commonly agreed definitions of success, the above listed are the indispensably its prerequisites. Look around, you will see them everywhere.. at work; in media, politics, corporates...in you and I.... its omnipresent trying to become omnipotent.
PS: I do not intend or wish that readers perceive this piece in the same way as I do. This is more of an introspection of a half-tainted in pursuit of "reason".
ప్రతిబింబం
పొద్దున్నే చెవులకింపుగా కీబోర్డు టక టకలు
ప్లాస్టిక్ ముఖాల పై అతికించుకున్న చిరునవ్వులు
తినడానికి తీరికున్డదొక రోజు
చెయ్యడానికి పని ఉండదు ఇంకోరోజు
తిప్పలన్నీonsite కోసమే
మరి మార్కెట్లో బాగా "రేటు" పలాకలి కదా
మనకు మంచి రేటింగ్ వస్తే అలుపెరగకుండా కష్టపడ్డట్టు
పక్కనోడికి వస్తే మానేజర్ని కాకా పట్టినట్టు
సంవత్సరం తర్వాత దోస్త్ call చేస్తే
పది నిముషాల్లో పది సార్లు
"ఇంకేంట్రా ... చెప్పాలి మామా.."
తెల్లారితే అబ్బా మళ్ళీ వెళ్ళాలా అని ఈసడింపు
బయటకి గర్వంగా S/W జాబు అని డప్పు
చచ్చి సాధించింది ఏంటి ?
పిచ్చి తల్లీ !!
వైకల్యాన్ని ఎదురించడం సులువేమో
ఏలిన వారిని సంతృప్తి పరచడం కన్నా
నిలువునా దహించుకుపోవడం సులువా
ఒత్తిళ్లకు ఎదురీదడం కన్నా
ఎవరూ పట్టిన్చుకోలేదనుకోకు .......
వరద ప్రలయాన్నే వినోదం చేసిన మీడియా
నీ విషయంలో ఎలా ఉపేక్షిస్తుంది
పాలక ప్రతిపక్షాలకి
నిందారోపణల ఆటలో నువ్వో కొత్త బంతివి
జనాలకూ పాపం ఎవరూ చెప్పలేదు
కొన్ని ఆత్మ హత్యల వెనుక హంతకులు ఉంటారని
ఈ చావు వెనక చేతకానితనం ఎవరిది
నీదా మనందిరదా
Woman official commits suicide; names MLA, two other public representatives in dying declaration
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/19/stories/2009101950090100.htm
వైకల్యాన్ని ఎదురించడం సులువేమో
ఏలిన వారిని సంతృప్తి పరచడం కన్నా
నిలువునా దహించుకుపోవడం సులువా
ఒత్తిళ్లకు ఎదురీదడం కన్నా
ఎవరూ పట్టిన్చుకోలేదనుకోకు .......
వరద ప్రలయాన్నే వినోదం చేసిన మీడియా
నీ విషయంలో ఎలా ఉపేక్షిస్తుంది
పాలక ప్రతిపక్షాలకి
నిందారోపణల ఆటలో నువ్వో కొత్త బంతివి
జనాలకూ పాపం ఎవరూ చెప్పలేదు
కొన్ని ఆత్మ హత్యల వెనుక హంతకులు ఉంటారని
ఈ చావు వెనక చేతకానితనం ఎవరిది
నీదా మనందిరదా
Woman official commits suicide; names MLA, two other public representatives in dying declaration
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/19/stories/2009101950090100.htm
నేరము - శిక్ష (Crime and Punishment)
Man, a social animal formulated rules on the basis of ethics, law, religion which are to be adhered by an individual for the attainment of peaceful and progressive society. To err is human. Hence a method of punishment is devised in case of violation of the rules ie committing a crime. Here the words "crime" and "punishment" are used in wider context of any societal rule violation and the response against it respectively. The prime objective of such punishment is a) to abstain an individual from committing a crime in the first case and b) if committed once due to ignorance or arrogance, imposed punishment would make him not repeat it second time. Obvious inference is that this concept has been refined and improved over the centuries, since we are supposed to be thinking beings. On the contrary, a lot of contradictions glaringly point out deficiencies.
A couple of examples ... attempting to close the case of Bofors scam, after years of investigation, costing more than the alleged corruption payments and defreezing the accounts of the accused; no check on corruption in judiciary itself while letting allegedly tainted judges to sit in Supreme Court through an irrational and opaque selection procedure. We live in a complex society where such incidents have multiple perspectives and definitely do not have a majority acceptance aligning to one particular angle. Leave complexities, lets simplify. Here lets discuss a few real time examples which would help us look at the situation at an atomic level.
A school going kid, when fails to work on an assignment, fearing punishment bunks school for a day or two after which the assignment becomes a history. The punishment definitely induces fear but, the purpose gets deviated. On the other side it acts against the objective of student to attend school, and when seen holistically it moulds the mindset to evade punishment and commit a bigger mistake. I vividly remember such practice of bunking on the pretext of ill health during my schooldays and is prevalent even today. This appears to be a silly and unrelated argument but I particularly chose this one to emphasize how our attitude is getting shaped right from the formative age.
To ensure safety of two wheeler commuters, Govt has proscribed travel without wearing helmets. Punishment for violation - a fine of Rs 50 - 500 which is mostly received as bribe. If one can afford to pay 50 bucks everytime when he gets caught, can comfortably break the law. The law itself prompts to commit the same mistake any number of times and get away.
Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has recently legalized illegal constructions in the name of regularization. You construct a building without the following the prescribed MCH guidelines and you can still get an acknowledgement from the corporation by paying fine.
China is questioning Indian Prime Minister visiting a state, by claiming it to be a disputed territory, while the purpose of visit (election campaigning) is in itself a testimony that it is an integral part of India. Foreign entity questioning the soveriengty of India is a crime according to our broad definition above, and the reaction or punishment, is it atleast heading in a direction where in future no such ridiculous accusations will be made.
Almost an year after Mumbai attack(crime), are we sure that our approach ( ie punishment in our purview) guarantees no such attack in future.
The attitude towards "Crime and Punishment" is distorted in all spheres ranging from an individual to community behavior or society response to local governing body to the Govt of the nation. As stated above these are complicated and complex situations, leave the future outcomes. Question is about mindset, approach, attitude towards minimizing violations or crimes and devising response or punishment which would ensure no repetition of such crime.
A couple of examples ... attempting to close the case of Bofors scam, after years of investigation, costing more than the alleged corruption payments and defreezing the accounts of the accused; no check on corruption in judiciary itself while letting allegedly tainted judges to sit in Supreme Court through an irrational and opaque selection procedure. We live in a complex society where such incidents have multiple perspectives and definitely do not have a majority acceptance aligning to one particular angle. Leave complexities, lets simplify. Here lets discuss a few real time examples which would help us look at the situation at an atomic level.
A school going kid, when fails to work on an assignment, fearing punishment bunks school for a day or two after which the assignment becomes a history. The punishment definitely induces fear but, the purpose gets deviated. On the other side it acts against the objective of student to attend school, and when seen holistically it moulds the mindset to evade punishment and commit a bigger mistake. I vividly remember such practice of bunking on the pretext of ill health during my schooldays and is prevalent even today. This appears to be a silly and unrelated argument but I particularly chose this one to emphasize how our attitude is getting shaped right from the formative age.
To ensure safety of two wheeler commuters, Govt has proscribed travel without wearing helmets. Punishment for violation - a fine of Rs 50 - 500 which is mostly received as bribe. If one can afford to pay 50 bucks everytime when he gets caught, can comfortably break the law. The law itself prompts to commit the same mistake any number of times and get away.
Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has recently legalized illegal constructions in the name of regularization. You construct a building without the following the prescribed MCH guidelines and you can still get an acknowledgement from the corporation by paying fine.
China is questioning Indian Prime Minister visiting a state, by claiming it to be a disputed territory, while the purpose of visit (election campaigning) is in itself a testimony that it is an integral part of India. Foreign entity questioning the soveriengty of India is a crime according to our broad definition above, and the reaction or punishment, is it atleast heading in a direction where in future no such ridiculous accusations will be made.
Almost an year after Mumbai attack(crime), are we sure that our approach ( ie punishment in our purview) guarantees no such attack in future.
The attitude towards "Crime and Punishment" is distorted in all spheres ranging from an individual to community behavior or society response to local governing body to the Govt of the nation. As stated above these are complicated and complex situations, leave the future outcomes. Question is about mindset, approach, attitude towards minimizing violations or crimes and devising response or punishment which would ensure no repetition of such crime.
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