When I was growing up, a phrase I often heard - mostly from the mouths of working people - would translate thus: "What is money? After all, its dirt off your hands." Then, there is this memory of my grandfather; as soon as he sat up after a night's sleep - it was usually in the open, under the stars - no mosquitos then as now - he would bring his hands up palm towards him and mutter something in Sanskrit. Later, I learnt that this was a fairly wide practice.
One day, years later, I figured out what that short Sanskrit was about. In translation, it will go "On the front of the hand is Lakshmi, Mother of prosperity, In the root of hand is Saraswati, Mother of learning. In the middle is Govinda, (Krishna).Thus we respectfully see our hands in the Morning"... The Sanskrit word for hand is 'Kara' (from this you get Kartaa - kartaar - Creator) which is also the root word for Karma.... That prayer is now contracted into temple ritual and in some homes as routine. Not much feeling or undertanding go in it.
I have always maintained that the two hands and the head form the Triangle of Cognition.
All of the above bubbled up when I received a banner from a friend that I ended up using for this blog. As I did this I wondered how many would understand that I am using D. A. D. as a figure of speech. I do not 'make' a dollar a day. In fact, any money I 'make' is little and far in between. Its a situation that can be best summed up as "Total Employment at Zero income"
So, How do I make ends meet? how do I get 'food' on the table?
My answer: I am supported by the awesome philanthropy of people who do make about a dollar a day. They work with their hands. They are not greedily attached to money. Although they are not heard saying those old things I mentioned in the beginning, their actions indicate that they know their validity in their bones. In comparison the class of people above them is shameful in its stingy, calculating, hoarding attitude.
I find the philanthropy of dollar-a-day people just awesome. It is possible that the human race has a giving instinct, some kind of a gene. When people have nothing to give, they give themselves, and that is what is enoblingly awesome. They have little material wealth. Hardly any education. They are too busy to read newspapers or watch TV. And yet, in their working and in their amazing capacity to give themselves they sustain more than the people meeting at any G-8 conference.
- Vyom Akhil, an email dated 06/02/2007 9:06 PM
Dec 17, 2007
Aug 13, 2007
Throw your life away
Throw your life away
You'll lose it anyway
So find something -
a cause, a person, a group, a hope -
And give your life away.
It wasn't yours to begin with.
-- By Vyom, Recasted 7:20 AM 9/25/2006 after the Original 3:08 PM 8/31/2006
You'll lose it anyway
So find something -
a cause, a person, a group, a hope -
And give your life away.
It wasn't yours to begin with.
-- By Vyom, Recasted 7:20 AM 9/25/2006 after the Original 3:08 PM 8/31/2006
Aug 2, 2007
Reflecting on Muda (Japanese for waste, futility, purposelessness)
I was reading "Natural Capitalism, and I stopped on the word, "Muda", part of the title of Natural Capitalism, Chapter 7 ("Muda, Service and Flow") which also connects its meaning with the content of Chapter 3 ("Waste Not").
"Muda" was not the first word I pondered and mused. This book "Natural Capitalism" is so engagingly well-written that, paradoxically, I have difficulty through-putting it through my mind. There's hardly a sentence which doesn't ring bells of associatve resonances and I am diverted into listening and savoring those sounds. That is how successful the authors have been in writing this book.
So as I pondered and mused over the word, I wondered if it had been accurately rendered in the Roman script. Do the Japanese really pronounce it to rhyme with "coulda" as in the colloquial "I coulda dunnit"? Then it came to me--an "echo":
There's a word in Sanskrit (and several Indian languages) "Moodha." It connotes stupid, uninformed, irresponsible, slow, unintelligent, wilful, proud, deaf, lacking consciousness / conscience / sympathy, being unresponsive or insensitive etc. etc.
Ghamachchhanna drishti ghamachchhannamarkam,
yathaa nishprabham chaati moodha
For an Indian like me, every time I come across something said with considerable brilliance and apparent originality, my unfortunate focus is to first make a connection with something said in the past--to cock my ear up for a time-skip echo--and then to communicate it in a manner which, at best, is only tangentially relevant and at worst, is tiresome even to me. Still the addiction is so hardwired, few can kick the habit. I only hope some catalyzing good can come out of these imposition.
For instance, a shloka-shubhaashitam in Sanskrit could be of interest to the advocates of resource-productivity and the opponents of Muda / moodha-behaviour, or biomimicry. It goes :
Amantram aksharonaasti, naastimoolam anaushadham
Ayogyah purushonaasti, yojakastatra durlabha
"There's no sound / alphabetical letter which can't become a mantra,
there is no rooted plant which can't become a medicine
and there is no human who is incompetent.
All one needs is appropriate design and organization"
In my frequent moments of quiet frustration with the current situation here (which, in Bucky Fuller's words, "Teach us to assume, as closely as possible, the view point, the patience and competence of God"} I have commented elsewhere,
"Instead of inventing and producing what we need, we get into the habit of inventorying and debating what our ancients left behind them. Since our culture prides itself in being hoary, the inventorying never gets done. Someone, somewhere, appears to always leave something out and count goes back again and always to the Vedas."
-- From a letter Vyom Akhil sent to the authors of Natural Capitalism, Sunday April 9, 2000
"Muda" was not the first word I pondered and mused. This book "Natural Capitalism" is so engagingly well-written that, paradoxically, I have difficulty through-putting it through my mind. There's hardly a sentence which doesn't ring bells of associatve resonances and I am diverted into listening and savoring those sounds. That is how successful the authors have been in writing this book.
So as I pondered and mused over the word
There's a word in Sanskrit (and several Indian languages) "Moodha." It connotes stupid, uninformed, irresponsible, slow, unintelligent, wilful, proud, deaf, lacking consciousness / conscience / sympathy, being unresponsive or insensitive etc. etc.
Ghamachchhanna drishti ghamachchhannamarkam,
yathaa nishprabham chaati moodha
For an Indian like me, every time I come across something said with considerable brilliance and apparent originality, my unfortunate focus is to first make a connection with something said in the past--to cock my ear up for a time-skip echo--and then to communicate it in a manner which, at best, is only tangentially relevant and at worst, is tiresome even to me. Still the addiction is so hardwired, few can kick the habit. I only hope some catalyzing good can come out of these imposition.
For instance, a shloka-shubhaashitam in Sanskrit could be of interest to the advocates of resource-productivity and the opponents of Muda / moodha-behaviour, or biomimicry. It goes :
Amantram aksharonaasti, naastimoolam anaushadham
Ayogyah purushonaasti, yojakastatra durlabha
"There's no sound / alphabetical letter which can't become a mantra,
there is no rooted plant which can't become a medicine
and there is no human who is incompetent.
All one needs is appropriate design and organization"
In my frequent moments of quiet frustration with the current situation here (which, in Bucky Fuller's words, "Teach us to assume, as closely as possible, the view point, the patience and competence of God"} I have commented elsewhere,
"Instead of inventing and producing what we need, we get into the habit of inventorying and debating what our ancients left behind them. Since our culture prides itself in being hoary, the inventorying never gets done. Someone, somewhere, appears to always leave something out and count goes back again and always to the Vedas."
-- From a letter Vyom Akhil sent to the authors of Natural Capitalism, Sunday April 9, 2000
Aug 1, 2007
World History Primer: Governance, Prosperity and Service in the next millenium
Under the overlay of oligarchies, plutocracies, monarchies and anarchies which obsess historians, there was, at the level of the vast, sparsely populated countryside of the World's Old Cultures, Consensal Governance with its many diversities and variations. There was little paper-shuffling. No computer-assisted bureaucracies manned remote but powerful Control & Command Centers (CCCs). Consensal Governance was human scale. It focused on equilibriums, not equalities.
The change from local consensual governance to commanding and controlling CCCs first occurred in the geographical harshness of tribally attenuated, pagan Europe. To neutralize the marauding local looter-aggrressors, the tyrannical alliance of the Fiefs and the The Church scaled up Governance. The affairs of the populace began to be affected by Power siezed and vested in their remotes CCCs. It took a while for the fermenting upheavals to culminate in insurrections, beheadings, revolutions and, finally, the general acceptance of Majority Governance, aka, the "Lesser Evil."
After this, however, Colonial Greed + Industrial Enterprise + The Zeal To Protect The (so-called) Rights & Freedoms from those remote Fiefs-&-Church CCCs, over-individualized the people, tempting them away from the Responsibilities and Disciplines inherent to living under local Consensal Governance. Enterprise, Politics and Bureaucrythen helped give larger-than-human-scale Lesser Evils in Europe a spin which, in effect, progressively internationalized its Regional Plunder-&-Protection Rackets which cunningly legitimized themselves under Majority Governance Guises. Greek "roots' were "located' to support the notion that "to govern' meant "to control and steer" and fancy social contracts were constitutionalized to hoodwink the people in the interest of the club-&-boardroom manipulators.
Families, communities and academia, instead of producing socially-skilled, self-disciplined citizens, began churning out rainbow-chasing taxpayers, jobbers, entitlement-jockeys and "escape artists" adept at rights-agitation while winking at their social responsibilities. Meanwhile, nominal governors of these European Rackets which had, by then, spawned across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, and were cracked up to be "Representatives of The People" or otherwise, had only hero/martyr paradigms to establish their man-made Rule-of-Law at these large, inhuman scales. The audacious--and scientifically now shown as fallacious--presumptions were
(a) Nature was "Wild' It, therefore, needed to be conquored and tamed.
(b) Natural man was a "Savage' who must be schooled, civilized and "saved," and
(c) God & Creation were imnherently chaotic calling for Order & Organization.
Under a hallucinatory paranoia of Progress and Development, predaition and destruction were prosecuted world-wide with arrogant expedition. Strip mines wounded the Land; its forests were "cleared" into oblivion. Rivers damned by dams. Mountains, blown apart. The Oceans were emptied of their teeming life to become sloship waste-dumps. Even the Air was ceaselessly incinerated by constant injecting of toxic-pollutants. As a crowning example of DoubleSpeak, Anti-bio(tics} were heralded as Life-sustainers. All that the hoary heritage of humankind had held sacred and in reverance was trashed and trivialized under the motto:
If it moves, shoot it down. If it doesn't cut it down.
More fat to the fire, these Euro/US micro-macro "management" examples became models for the new "nations" of these World-Shepards.
Recent histories are packed with "leaders' who successfully committed hero/martyr follies--and by those who tried and failed in correcting those of their flamboyant predecessors. Majority Governance cannot be scaled up any further without scaling up its unacceptable and unsustainable evils, too, to create worldwide amity, stability and prosperity. Localized Consensal Governance, aided by zero-cost, on-tap and non-judgmental, globally inclusive, nondiscriminatory, cooperative and relevant communication, now appear to be a more realistic alternative. For this, notions of prosperity and value based on (a) gun-running (b) Purveying of Planet-inimical techno-fantasies and (c) mindless, expensive and inefficient patterns of consumption--these need to be urgently jettisoned.
Prosper(ity) isn't derived from a Shakespearean character, nor does "Government' have Greek roots. The Sanskrit "Paraspar" is approximated by "mutual' while "Guru + mantra" suggests an advisory function in Statecraft. For advice to catalytically and sustainably function in the desired direction of Wellbeing for All, carrot-&-stick games, latently threatening "messages" and exhibitions of techno-destructive prowess are counterproductive. One needs only, say the ancients, the moral force of true, patient and loving care which is transparently motivated by an equation which puts "Self" at the bottom of the heap where it really belongs. In fact, that is precisely what Sarva (Everyone) + Sva (Sel) or Sarvasva from which "Service" is derived means.
--Excerpt from a letter Vyom wrote to "educate a friend." This segment was entitled, "a one-page primer of world-history for relevance in Governance, Prosperity and Service in the 3rd millenium A.D."
The change from local consensual governance to commanding and controlling CCCs first occurred in the geographical harshness of tribally attenuated, pagan Europe. To neutralize the marauding local looter-aggrressors, the tyrannical alliance of the Fiefs and the The Church scaled up Governance. The affairs of the populace began to be affected by Power siezed and vested in their remotes CCCs. It took a while for the fermenting upheavals to culminate in insurrections, beheadings, revolutions and, finally, the general acceptance of Majority Governance, aka, the "Lesser Evil."
After this, however, Colonial Greed + Industrial Enterprise + The Zeal To Protect The (so-called) Rights & Freedoms from those remote Fiefs-&-Church CCCs, over-individualized the people, tempting them away from the Responsibilities and Disciplines inherent to living under local Consensal Governance. Enterprise, Politics and Bureaucrythen helped give larger-than-human-scale Lesser Evils in Europe a spin which, in effect, progressively internationalized its Regional Plunder-&-Protection Rackets which cunningly legitimized themselves under Majority Governance Guises. Greek "roots' were "located' to support the notion that "to govern' meant "to control and steer" and fancy social contracts were constitutionalized to hoodwink the people in the interest of the club-&-boardroom manipulators.
Families, communities and academia, instead of producing socially-skilled, self-disciplined citizens, began churning out rainbow-chasing taxpayers, jobbers, entitlement-jockeys and "escape artists" adept at rights-agitation while winking at their social responsibilities. Meanwhile, nominal governors of these European Rackets which had, by then, spawned across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, and were cracked up to be "Representatives of The People" or otherwise, had only hero/martyr paradigms to establish their man-made Rule-of-Law at these large, inhuman scales. The audacious--and scientifically now shown as fallacious--presumptions were
(a) Nature was "Wild' It, therefore, needed to be conquored and tamed.
(b) Natural man was a "Savage' who must be schooled, civilized and "saved," and
(c) God & Creation were imnherently chaotic calling for Order & Organization.
Under a hallucinatory paranoia of Progress and Development, predaition and destruction were prosecuted world-wide with arrogant expedition. Strip mines wounded the Land; its forests were "cleared" into oblivion. Rivers damned by dams. Mountains, blown apart. The Oceans were emptied of their teeming life to become sloship waste-dumps. Even the Air was ceaselessly incinerated by constant injecting of toxic-pollutants. As a crowning example of DoubleSpeak, Anti-bio(tics} were heralded as Life-sustainers. All that the hoary heritage of humankind had held sacred and in reverance was trashed and trivialized under the motto:
If it moves, shoot it down. If it doesn't cut it down.
More fat to the fire, these Euro/US micro-macro "management" examples became models for the new "nations" of these World-Shepards.
Recent histories are packed with "leaders' who successfully committed hero/martyr follies--and by those who tried and failed in correcting those of their flamboyant predecessors. Majority Governance cannot be scaled up any further without scaling up its unacceptable and unsustainable evils, too, to create worldwide amity, stability and prosperity. Localized Consensal Governance, aided by zero-cost, on-tap and non-judgmental, globally inclusive, nondiscriminatory, cooperative and relevant communication, now appear to be a more realistic alternative. For this, notions of prosperity and value based on (a) gun-running (b) Purveying of Planet-inimical techno-fantasies and (c) mindless, expensive and inefficient patterns of consumption--these need to be urgently jettisoned.
Prosper(ity) isn't derived from a Shakespearean character, nor does "Government' have Greek roots. The Sanskrit "Paraspar" is approximated by "mutual' while "Guru + mantra" suggests an advisory function in Statecraft. For advice to catalytically and sustainably function in the desired direction of Wellbeing for All, carrot-&-stick games, latently threatening "messages" and exhibitions of techno-destructive prowess are counterproductive. One needs only, say the ancients, the moral force of true, patient and loving care which is transparently motivated by an equation which puts "Self" at the bottom of the heap where it really belongs. In fact, that is precisely what Sarva (Everyone) + Sva (Sel) or Sarvasva from which "Service" is derived means.
--Excerpt from a letter Vyom wrote to "educate a friend." This segment was entitled, "a one-page primer of world-history for relevance in Governance, Prosperity and Service in the 3rd millenium A.D."
Jul 31, 2007
Biochem vs. Electromechanics
If you grew up, live in and/or are connected to places where flora and fauna thrive you will be more happy and tolerant than if you grew up playing videogames and, as adult, operated switches, knobs and buttons most of the time. Earth is mostly biochemical today with a dash of gravity and magnetism thrown in for "seasoning." Creatures take millions of years to evolve and adapt to it. Imposing electromechanical rhythms stresses them out. In turn, they become insecure, aggressive, intolerant and destructive.
As wheel-reinventing knowledge addicts, we might buy a Tolerance Software Package for our kids' computers--but they don't need it. Species far more ignorant and indolent than us thrive easily on Earth. Not ignorance but an imbalanced activism--which even our simian cousins cannot match--is our problem. Teaching the Facts of Life In A Changing World to those BORN alive and kicking is, if not fake and phony, foolish and false. It is true, the land, air and oceans of Earth, courtesy human hyperactivity, have been badly bruised, but its mass, axis, poles, spin and velocity are still, fortunately, intact and unhampered. We are "threatened' not so much by the multiplying poor--warmongering and market capitalism leave them little else to do besides twiddle their toes--but by the misdirected, predominantly Electro-mechanical hyperactivity of (essentially greedy} insecure, aggressive, intellectual, educated fools who, due mainly to self-generated stress, can seldom claim to keep even their own bowels and bladders clean.
To make tolerance a key word--and deed--in the 21s century, we must create and live, with our children in an environment which harmonizes and balances its biochemical and electromechanical constituents. If with our machines, we persist in our hostility to Earth, it may choose to makes us no longer welcome here. We would then either face slow or rapid obliteration or, in our delusional sense of Glory, will have to run out into the irradiated blackness of Space where, in loneliness, some of us might create a world of our own smart folly. That would be Adam and Eve falling from Paradise for a little while--all over again.
-- From an essay Vyom wrote in 1995 on Tolerance.
As wheel-reinventing knowledge addicts, we might buy a Tolerance Software Package for our kids' computers--but they don't need it. Species far more ignorant and indolent than us thrive easily on Earth. Not ignorance but an imbalanced activism--which even our simian cousins cannot match--is our problem. Teaching the Facts of Life In A Changing World to those BORN alive and kicking is, if not fake and phony, foolish and false. It is true, the land, air and oceans of Earth, courtesy human hyperactivity, have been badly bruised, but its mass, axis, poles, spin and velocity are still, fortunately, intact and unhampered. We are "threatened' not so much by the multiplying poor--warmongering and market capitalism leave them little else to do besides twiddle their toes--but by the misdirected, predominantly Electro-mechanical hyperactivity of (essentially greedy} insecure, aggressive, intellectual, educated fools who, due mainly to self-generated stress, can seldom claim to keep even their own bowels and bladders clean.
To make tolerance a key word--and deed--in the 21s century, we must create and live, with our children in an environment which harmonizes and balances its biochemical and electromechanical constituents. If with our machines, we persist in our hostility to Earth, it may choose to makes us no longer welcome here. We would then either face slow or rapid obliteration or, in our delusional sense of Glory, will have to run out into the irradiated blackness of Space where, in loneliness, some of us might create a world of our own smart folly. That would be Adam and Eve falling from Paradise for a little while--all over again.
-- From an essay Vyom wrote in 1995 on Tolerance.
Market Capitalism - Painful Fraud and Seduction
Indic etymology reveals Market Capitalism as
Market --> MAAR=hit / kill + KAAT=cut / sever (painful)
Capitalism --> KAPAT=fraud + TILISM=inveiglement (seduction).
Defenceless against the seductions of subverting eloquence, we forget that, in excess, goods do not necessarily add to the common good; that as a creed, greed promotes intolerance. Competing rights and contending equalities cannot begat harmony and peace; only equilibriums so fecundate. In the end we are intolerant only of our interiorized-and-therefore-mislocated, warring selves. Social entropy eventuates when lives, by fraudulent consent or otherwise, are externally governed. Resting upon the dangerous tautology of checks-and-balances, the Rule of Law loopholes corrupting mischief's to dislocate our freedoms and responsibilities. If allowed its own rhythms, the Music of Life can still restore the Role of Love. Those whose Beings are in communion with it will forever resist and resent communicational structures conceived and imposed by privately amoral, bereft men and frightened, indignant women made hysterical by their own histories.
In philosophical theorizing, says James Edwards, author of, our relationship to life is radically diseased. Curiosity replaces wonder, the world as miracle becomes the world as riddle. Nature's pathos degenerates into superstition. Action becomes technology. We are suckered into accepting the medium as the message; the packaging and the pitch for the product.
The 21st century will be intolerable if "Masters of The Universe' haven't first mastered--and stilled--their disquieted, avaricious selves.
-- From an essay Vyom wrote in 1995 on tolerance
Market --> MAAR=hit / kill + KAAT=cut / sever (painful)
Capitalism --> KAPAT=fraud + TILISM=inveiglement (seduction).
Defenceless against the seductions of subverting eloquence, we forget that, in excess, goods do not necessarily add to the common good; that as a creed, greed promotes intolerance. Competing rights and contending equalities cannot begat harmony and peace; only equilibriums so fecundate. In the end we are intolerant only of our interiorized-and-therefore-mislocated, warring selves. Social entropy eventuates when lives, by fraudulent consent or otherwise, are externally governed. Resting upon the dangerous tautology of checks-and-balances, the Rule of Law loopholes corrupting mischief's to dislocate our freedoms and responsibilities. If allowed its own rhythms, the Music of Life can still restore the Role of Love. Those whose Beings are in communion with it will forever resist and resent communicational structures conceived and imposed by privately amoral, bereft men and frightened, indignant women made hysterical by their own histories.
In philosophical theorizing, says James Edwards, author of
The 21st century will be intolerable if "Masters of The Universe' haven't first mastered--and stilled--their disquieted, avaricious selves.
-- From an essay Vyom wrote in 1995 on tolerance
RA-CAN Proposed: the Rotary Alumni Cyber Ambassadors' Network
Staring at the corpus of knowledge & Wealth we now have, is our collective inability to reach this know-Wealth to all. Internationally bureaucratized and economically multinationalized systems are stymied by a macabre synergy of problems which has made Earth more anti-biotic, human-life upon it more robotic, marginalizing food, health and education away from 3/4ths of our kind.
The Brookings Institute says that the Global Disparity Ratio for 1998 is at an unsustainable 135:1. One way to rev-up our skills and capabilities is to rehearse them against a larger snarl of problems first; to simply change achieved goals into milestones on a longer journey. In the Rotary Club, humanity breathes in hope and breathes out purpose. When so many of us are getting sicker, poorer , mis-educated, we look to Rotarians to raise the voice which will be heard and heeded world wide. Shake out of your Complacent Fatiguapathitis, please!.
A commodified education which unrealistically fires up individual ambition, a learning which nurtures the homocentric hedonist, an attitude which looks out only for options, opportunities, entitlements, rights and freedoms, but disregards responsibility, relevance, service, duty and sacrifice cannot be supported. Rotarians are right to tourniquet such resource-exporting eduCommiments. In hyped up acadeMedia, postures masquerade as concepts, but ideas still upset ideologies. Confounding experience, the Reality of a thorn takes out the hurting one; and by sticking to the tree, the bitter fruit escapes into sweetness. For less than a world-around airline ticket, without leaving home & hearth or Mom's cooking for a single day, a deserving past/potential Rotary alumnus can today transform into Rotary's Conflict-Resolution-Supporting lifetime cyber-ambassador. My 1996-97 Walter Mitty had mused thus: "If I were re-doing my scholarship today, instead of my ticket to L.A., I'd ask Rotary to enable me with a multi-media, multi-lingual computer-station with all the Internet bells and whistles so that, if need be, I could drive the Mars Rover from Dehripaali, Sambalpur." RA-CAN, the Rotary Alumni Cyber Ambassadors' Network I've envisioned here, can become the synergizing link between the clubs, the Foundation, and the anywhere-on-Earth Community Programs of Health, Education, Hygiene, Nutrition, Sanitation, Conservation, Employment and Farming. For instance, by accessing and disseminating the knoWealth of specific processing, storage and marketing, RA-CAN, in India, alone, can help prevent the annual USD 7 billion "already-grown" food-loss.
It has taken Jeremy Rifkin to point out that markets, governments businesses--in flux & dissaray today--are creatures, not creators, of communities; that revitalizing them is what globalization if really about, something Rotary pioneered long before it became buzzword. Rotarians know we do not create order, but Order, divine and benign, created us.
HERO/MARTYR OPPORTUNISTS SEEK/CREATE CRISES.
Zillions of upstart NGOs are doing tons of humanitarian work in Dubiousdom, displaying their vested interest in keeping us dehumanized on their doles, subsidies, handouts, soupkitchens--and their good intentions which, one may've heard, pave the road to Hell. RA-CAN can become Rotary's Instrument of Relevence in the millenium now almost upon us."
- From Vyom's 1998 speech to Rotarians
The Brookings Institute says that the Global Disparity Ratio for 1998 is at an unsustainable 135:1. One way to rev-up our skills and capabilities is to rehearse them against a larger snarl of problems first; to simply change achieved goals into milestones on a longer journey. In the Rotary Club, humanity breathes in hope and breathes out purpose. When so many of us are getting sicker, poorer , mis-educated, we look to Rotarians to raise the voice which will be heard and heeded world wide. Shake out of your Complacent Fatiguapathitis, please!.
A commodified education which unrealistically fires up individual ambition, a learning which nurtures the homocentric hedonist, an attitude which looks out only for options, opportunities, entitlements, rights and freedoms, but disregards responsibility, relevance, service, duty and sacrifice cannot be supported. Rotarians are right to tourniquet such resource-exporting eduCommiments. In hyped up acadeMedia, postures masquerade as concepts, but ideas still upset ideologies. Confounding experience, the Reality of a thorn takes out the hurting one; and by sticking to the tree, the bitter fruit escapes into sweetness. For less than a world-around airline ticket, without leaving home & hearth or Mom's cooking for a single day, a deserving past/potential Rotary alumnus can today transform into Rotary's Conflict-Resolution-Supporting lifetime cyber-ambassador. My 1996-97 Walter Mitty had mused thus: "If I were re-doing my scholarship today, instead of my ticket to L.A., I'd ask Rotary to enable me with a multi-media, multi-lingual computer-station with all the Internet bells and whistles so that, if need be, I could drive the Mars Rover from Dehripaali, Sambalpur." RA-CAN, the Rotary Alumni Cyber Ambassadors' Network I've envisioned here, can become the synergizing link between the clubs, the Foundation, and the anywhere-on-Earth Community Programs of Health, Education, Hygiene, Nutrition, Sanitation, Conservation, Employment and Farming. For instance, by accessing and disseminating the knoWealth of specific processing, storage and marketing, RA-CAN, in India, alone, can help prevent the annual USD 7 billion "already-grown" food-loss.
It has taken Jeremy Rifkin to point out that markets, governments businesses--in flux & dissaray today--are creatures, not creators, of communities; that revitalizing them is what globalization if really about, something Rotary pioneered long before it became buzzword. Rotarians know we do not create order, but Order, divine and benign, created us.
HERO/MARTYR OPPORTUNISTS SEEK/CREATE CRISES.
Zillions of upstart NGOs are doing tons of humanitarian work in Dubiousdom, displaying their vested interest in keeping us dehumanized on their doles, subsidies, handouts, soupkitchens--and their good intentions which, one may've heard, pave the road to Hell. RA-CAN can become Rotary's Instrument of Relevence in the millenium now almost upon us."
- From Vyom's 1998 speech to Rotarians
Jul 30, 2007
Humankind has an IOU: information and a debt to pay
The Bible says, "Love Thy neighbor as thyself," but does not say why. An old book I read decades ago has an Englishman explain that the answer lies in Hindu thought, which says, "Tat tvam asi," (Thou art that). Love thy neighbor because, i.e., you are that neighbor--i.e., in Latin id est, THAT IS.
I.E. I use these letters as an acronym for "Internal Efficiency" as opposed to "External Efficiency (EE)",
Evolutionarily most large forms of Life Systems--and human Organizations crudely modeled on them--learn and develop several techniques that require them to manifest as externally efficient. They become efficient at gathering food from the external environment. They become adept at recognizing external friend and foe. And they develop good defense mechanisms to defend themselves against external systems.
However, few have been given the opportunity to thrive in an environment in which they can develop internal efficiencies--of the spirit and their metabolism. (Those that did were poor at defending themselves externally and were annihilated, parasiticed, colonized etc.) Fewer still, could create equilibrium of evolution for themselves in which their internal as well external-interfacing systems could be developed efficiently. The resource-productivity emphasizing "Next Industrial Revolution" is, essentially, for the global industrial metabolism to create internal efficiencies. To really commence these a triquilibrium needs to be aimed at. The English name chosen for this triquilibrium can be summarized in the acronym IOU. The letters stand for: INformation, OUTformation, USEformation.
Besides Inside-Outside-Unity, it is good that the letters IOU also remind and resonate within the minds of the native speakers in such a way that they feel a sense of indebtedness, as in
The Hindus discovered that the best time to enter relevant information into the mind was when you are young and the memory is sharp and behavior can be modified through practice. Therefore, in the traditional, oral ways of instruction, the Hindu teacher would spend less time explaining than in helping create useful group-songs containing relevant information which the children would memorize and never, ever, forget. The attitude was, "Let them carry it inside them. At the appropriate time, they will ruminate, digest, understand and act accordingly." The teaching method was not 3Rs but LRU: Listen, remember and understand.
The Hindu also raise their children so that they go through life feeling indebtedness--to be given the human form, to have been granted intelligence, to live upon the work of their elders such as gods, saints, and ancestors. Amongst the Rites of Passage--both for boys and girls--was the conferment of the sacred, three-stranded Thread of (this) Indebtedness, which was worn diagonally across the torso, from the right shoulder. This helped the Hindu acquire an attitude of reverence, humility and non-violence and to regard the planet earth as Mother. Devout Hindus still beg Mother Earth's forgiveness every morning before getting out of bed and stepping upon her. In the same way, the woodsman humbly prays and begs forgiveness before cutting the tree with his axe.
So this IOU triquilibrium thing keeps coming back to bug me: InformationOutformationUseformation. It's my way of saying what Bucky Fuller said, humankind knows so much, but does so little.
- adapted from an email to rmi.org, 18 July, 2000
I.E. I use these letters as an acronym for "Internal Efficiency" as opposed to "External Efficiency (EE)",
IE: INTERNAL efficiency
EE: EXTERNAL efficiency
Evolutionarily most large forms of Life Systems--and human Organizations crudely modeled on them--learn and develop several techniques that require them to manifest as externally efficient. They become efficient at gathering food from the external environment. They become adept at recognizing external friend and foe. And they develop good defense mechanisms to defend themselves against external systems.
However, few have been given the opportunity to thrive in an environment in which they can develop internal efficiencies--of the spirit and their metabolism. (Those that did were poor at defending themselves externally and were annihilated, parasiticed, colonized etc.) Fewer still, could create equilibrium of evolution for themselves in which their internal as well external-interfacing systems could be developed efficiently. The resource-productivity emphasizing "Next Industrial Revolution" is, essentially, for the global industrial metabolism to create internal efficiencies. To really commence these a triquilibrium needs to be aimed at. The English name chosen for this triquilibrium can be summarized in the acronym IOU. The letters stand for: INformation, OUTformation, USEformation.
IOU:
IN-formation
OUT-formation
USE-formation
Besides Inside-Outside-Unity, it is good that the letters IOU also remind and resonate within the minds of the native speakers in such a way that they feel a sense of indebtedness, as in
IOU: I OWE YOU
The Hindus discovered that the best time to enter relevant information into the mind was when you are young and the memory is sharp and behavior can be modified through practice. Therefore, in the traditional, oral ways of instruction, the Hindu teacher would spend less time explaining than in helping create useful group-songs containing relevant information which the children would memorize and never, ever, forget. The attitude was, "Let them carry it inside them. At the appropriate time, they will ruminate, digest, understand and act accordingly." The teaching method was not 3Rs but LRU: Listen, remember and understand.
The Hindu also raise their children so that they go through life feeling indebtedness--to be given the human form, to have been granted intelligence, to live upon the work of their elders such as gods, saints, and ancestors. Amongst the Rites of Passage--both for boys and girls--was the conferment of the sacred, three-stranded Thread of (this) Indebtedness, which was worn diagonally across the torso, from the right shoulder. This helped the Hindu acquire an attitude of reverence, humility and non-violence and to regard the planet earth as Mother. Devout Hindus still beg Mother Earth's forgiveness every morning before getting out of bed and stepping upon her. In the same way, the woodsman humbly prays and begs forgiveness before cutting the tree with his axe.
So this IOU triquilibrium thing keeps coming back to bug me: InformationOutformationUseformation. It's my way of saying what Bucky Fuller said, humankind knows so much, but does so little.
- adapted from an email to rmi.org, 18 July, 2000
The Future Sits in India's Lap
He whose lap seats the child global,
Eyeballs the singularity beyond the zenith.
Eyeballs the singularity beyond the zenith.
My colleague of Kozhikode, Kerala, India, and I were attending an international seminar hosted by the Architectural Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal. As a send off, the gracious people at the IIT organized a luncheon-inclusive half-day session at a picturesque archeological site some 30 kilometers out of Kharagpur. A few of the faculty joined us with their families. The child sitting on my lap eating an apple is a Professor's son.
My colleague saw us sitting, sensed a photo and soon after sent a copy to me (January 2001). The serendipitous theme, which makes the subjects in the photo coincidental, occurred to me almost immediately, as did the idea of sharing it. I add these words:
Bhavishya Bhaarat Ki Gode Mein.
Thuumak baithaa ho jiski gode mein, svayam vishwa bhavishya
Vyom paar uuse terey vah, jo huumak banaa Param Eesh
Feel free to share this photo with anyone you wish, just include the photo-credit ("Photo by Bipin M. C."). Acknowledging feedback would be most welcome. Thank you.
- Vyom Akhil and boy, November 5, 2000, at the IIT Kharagpur Internation Seminar, hosted by the Architectural Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal.
- Photo by Bipin M.C.
Echoes of Natural Capitalism in Hindu Philosophy
I have recently been attempting to "echo," or report on the "echoes" of Amory Lovins' in ancient Hindu thinking.
I wish I were more competent than I am, in explaining the echo in English. Perhaps, like most people in the "west" you were not given an adequate opportunity to learn a culturally different language as I had. In my more frustrating moments I have called this the 'traumatizing monolingualism of the Anglo-Saxon'; this has two unfortunate and obvious consequences:
(a) Having to learn first a language-system which is explained ad nauseum as wholly illogical, reflexively repulses a person to learn any other language{In the experience-based belief that all languages will make you go through the same horrid routine - a non -phonetic script. A grammar which has more exceptions than rules, a given -etymology which is more often suspect than not, etc. Amy Uyematsu, a third generation Californian poet, once said, "English is a language whose words have no memory." and (b) the expectation then is that Universe must render itself in that language in a comprehensible manner; otherwise it would be presumed to be wild / weird / chaotic / savage / pagan / barbaric / frightening / untrustworthy. etc.
To me, English is one of the several languages I speak - I'm fairly fluent in at least half a dozen, all others from this subcontinent. In comparison, I find English good for a few things, unsatisfactory for many more. I am quite sure I shall be dissatisfied by my own efforts at rendering the 'echo' to you. Why then am I expending time and energy on this? I like you and I like the work all of you are doing there. If it's allowed, call it a labor of love, if you will.
Literally translated in Sanskrit / Hindi / Oriya / Bengali / Gujarati / Maraathi, etc., Natural Capitalism will be "Praakritik Poonjivaad." But the word used for a financial system in 'Artha-Tantra' (I have never liked the idea of tagging 'tantra' to most bureaucratese translation; Democracy is, for instance, Loka-tantra, A Republc is Ganatrantra and so on. Even Mahatma Gandhi did not like this official stupidity which is a mouthful anyway but could not, in this matter, prevail).
In previous writings I hinted that the English word for this planet sounds no different from the Sanskrit word for money. However, that word, usually spelt in English as, is also a tad more popularly used for conveying the meaning of the English word . Unlike the English word for this planet, the Sanskrit word takes on the prefix to become . It then gets used to convey what we try to convey when we use the English words such as . Thus one can say, for instance, "Hitler's brand of Aryanism did a lot of anartha." Artha has many derivatives like arthavaan, aarthik, artha-neeti and the two latter words relate to the sense of English words Arthaabhaav conveys lack of money or low-cash -flow. Samartha means 'capable' while asamartha' means 'helpless'. So in the new light of the associatively resonating 'echo' Arthavaad can convey not only Natural Capitalism but an 'ism' which is pro-Earth. In fact, some wise Sanskrit heads (who will allow that in the past when the word Artha might also have stood for this planet, might have traveled abroad with its meaning which was later attenuated and restricted back home) would approve of Natural Capitalism, provided that it was indeed pro-Mother(earth).
I shall offer two extra words that fascinate me. The words for business and industry used here are vyaapaar and udyog without realization that vyaap inherently means expansion and encompassment. (Those who do call themselves businessmen or vyaapaari do not focus on this essential requirement of their activities and are confined to what in the U.S. used to be called hole-in-the-wall Mom & Pop stores.)
I suspect 'industry' still carries the memory of its origin (did the industrial activity really take off on the banks of the Indus river in the so-called Iron age? The 'tri' used in the word is quite profound in Sanskrit and I may come to it some other time.) The second word, though seldom understood via the meaning of its obvious components, 'Ud + yog' is actually quite a terrific word for 'ud' means and 'yog' is the same word commonly spelt in English as . Udyog thus can be shown to stand for 'enhanced connectivity' which is what the information-age is all about, right? So, in a way, can help bring back to the people here the meanings of the words they use without understanding (antar+sthaan!) what profound and, if understood, behavior changing, meanings they carry.
Oliver Sparrow, of Chatham House, London, says all of the world production in 1898 is now done in two months; by 2005 he trends it at one week; all of the business conducted in 1949, he says, is now conducted in a day; all of the Science in 1960, in a day today, all of the 1990 e-mail in a day and, in 2020, in an hour. That, if not subverted by all manner of vested interests who are little more than false-security seeking fear-mongers, is, indeed 'Udyog' .That RMI and your book are able to persuade mutlinationals that there's profit (another word probably derived from the Sanskrit 'Praapti' which also begot 'property' in English and 'paripati'-meaning routine in Hindi} in interconnecting human activity with the real capital wealth (W=I+2E) of this planet is 'udyog' in the true sense of the word.
Raymond W. Baker & Jennifer Nordin corrected, at the Brooking Institute in 1998, the Global Disparity Ratio from 74:l to l35:l. A major correction, what? (Meanwhile last year's UNDP Report carries the earlier calculation.) They say such disparity is unsustainable. One can agree that as methods improve and are fine-tuned wealth-creation will cease to be a major problem (At 10,000,000,000 metric tons per person at 6.5 billion pop. the planet has enough not only for Man but for all life if we stop being destructive, spending as we currently do, a trillion USD a year on our weaponry capers whereas commitment only of a fourth of this, per the World Games Institute for about 10-30 years will take care of most major problems.) Where the advocates of can start focusing is, in showing multi-nationals that there is even greater profit in rapidly and comprehensively distributing the wealth. (Didn't someone say "Money is like manure. If you stack it up it stinks. If you spread it around it'll help things grow.")
Currently the elite structures of the advanced nations where most of the multinationals still feel psychologically rooted, are slow in retiring their own bureaucracies, which, in turn, have spawned even more macabre Gorgon-heads in the developing nations; we still have votaries of the 'trickle-down' and to the multiplying poor, it trickles down more like a leaky faucet, slow maddening drop, then a long, maybe five-year pause, then another maddening drop. Such developmental approaches simply magnify disparity. I sometimes say popular aspirations are growing even faster than population and the disparity - at 135:1 - guarantees violence, terrorism crime and all the rest which comes around to where the gun-runners are rubbing their hands. This vicious circle has to be broken by a quantum change in the methods of distribution.
There is Sanskrit-sutra which translates: Gather with a hundred hands. Distribute with a thousand One. Thare's natural capitalism for you - a grain of rice, when appropriately broadcast (distributed!) produces ten more. Instead of a pile of skulls, we need to see a pile to which all the begging bowls have been consigned. Orissa State is economically perceived as divided as east and west. People in western part of Orissa feel they have been exploited and parasited upon by the coastal/eastern people; today's paper says area of land under irrigation in W. Orissa in 1947 was 21% of total; fifty years later they find 26%. The question asked is, where did all the agricultural development money go? And if that is all one has to show for it, why was the money spent in the first place? People below the poverty-line constitute 48.6% of the population. A lot of land is barren and there is some afoot to encourage people to plant bamboo. (There was plenty of bamboo here in the past; then a paper mill came in, made its packet and now is shut and there are several thousands unemployed in that area.) About 90% of the population here is rural.
John Scully (Pepsi to Reagan to Apple} said somewhere in his book "Odyssey" apropos the US economy during the 60s, that the planning was OK and thorough; it was the perspective which was defective. And I think it still is true. This 1998 newspaper item I have says "Looking ahead to the year 2000, the World Bank expects poverty in Asia - people on one USD or less to double." (Note the word 'expect'. I thought they used 'fear' in such cases.) I belong to that "dollar a day" tribe - one breakfast and one dinner a day, that's about 25 cents total - one pair of clothes, a 35 year old bicycle which was stolen last year, no known or unknown sustainable source of sustenance - who by some quirk of randomness is able to communicate with you. (Anger. I find bad-luck isn't a big deal in these parts when I look at what is around me. It is nothing if not Nature's miraculous Will which allows me contact with you via a medium and a language convenient to you.)
I had once the need to create a one-page primer of modern world history. At the end of the hundred-hour sweat I was able to point out "Prosper(ity) wasn't derived from a Shakespearean character's name and neither does 'Government' have Greek etymological roots. In Sanskrit, 'Paraspar' means 'mutual' and 'Guru + mantra' suggests an advisory and not a regulatory function. For advice to act sustainably in the desired direction, demonstrations of technological prowess etc. are unnecessary; all one needs is the moral force of the equation which keeps the so-called self at the bottom of the heap; after all that is what the Sanskrit word Sarva (all) + Sva (self) = Sarvasva, from which the English word 'Service' is derived means.
- Excerpt from an email from Vyom Akhil to Amory Lovins, author of Natural Capitalism. Jan 20, 2000.
I wish I were more competent than I am, in explaining the echo in English. Perhaps, like most people in the "west" you were not given an adequate opportunity to learn a culturally different language as I had. In my more frustrating moments I have called this the 'traumatizing monolingualism of the Anglo-Saxon'; this has two unfortunate and obvious consequences:
(a) Having to learn first a language-system which is explained ad nauseum as wholly illogical, reflexively repulses a person to learn any other language{In the experience-based belief that all languages will make you go through the same horrid routine - a non -phonetic script. A grammar which has more exceptions than rules, a given -etymology which is more often suspect than not, etc. Amy Uyematsu, a third generation Californian poet, once said, "English is a language whose words have no memory." and (b) the expectation then is that Universe must render itself in that language in a comprehensible manner; otherwise it would be presumed to be wild / weird / chaotic / savage / pagan / barbaric / frightening / untrustworthy. etc.
To me, English is one of the several languages I speak - I'm fairly fluent in at least half a dozen, all others from this subcontinent. In comparison, I find English good for a few things, unsatisfactory for many more. I am quite sure I shall be dissatisfied by my own efforts at rendering the 'echo' to you. Why then am I expending time and energy on this? I like you and I like the work all of you are doing there. If it's allowed, call it a labor of love, if you will.
Literally translated in Sanskrit / Hindi / Oriya / Bengali / Gujarati / Maraathi, etc., Natural Capitalism will be "Praakritik Poonjivaad." But the word used for a financial system in 'Artha-Tantra' (I have never liked the idea of tagging 'tantra' to most bureaucratese translation; Democracy is, for instance, Loka-tantra, A Republc is Ganatrantra and so on. Even Mahatma Gandhi did not like this official stupidity which is a mouthful anyway but could not, in this matter, prevail).
In previous writings I hinted that the English word for this planet sounds no different from the Sanskrit word for money. However, that word, usually spelt in English as
I shall offer two extra words that fascinate me. The words for business and industry used here are vyaapaar and udyog without realization that vyaap inherently means expansion and encompassment. (Those who do call themselves businessmen or vyaapaari do not focus on this essential requirement of their activities and are confined to what in the U.S. used to be called hole-in-the-wall Mom & Pop stores.)
I suspect 'industry' still carries the memory of its origin (did the industrial activity really take off on the banks of the Indus river in the so-called Iron age? The 'tri' used in the word is quite profound in Sanskrit and I may come to it some other time.) The second word, though seldom understood via the meaning of its obvious components, 'Ud + yog' is actually quite a terrific word for 'ud' means
Oliver Sparrow, of Chatham House, London, says all of the world production in 1898 is now done in two months; by 2005 he trends it at one week; all of the business conducted in 1949, he says, is now conducted in a day; all of the Science in 1960, in a day today, all of the 1990 e-mail in a day and, in 2020, in an hour. That, if not subverted by all manner of vested interests who are little more than false-security seeking fear-mongers, is, indeed 'Udyog' .That RMI and your book are able to persuade mutlinationals that there's profit (another word probably derived from the Sanskrit 'Praapti' which also begot 'property' in English and 'paripati'-meaning routine in Hindi} in interconnecting human activity with the real capital wealth (W=I+2E) of this planet is 'udyog' in the true sense of the word.
Raymond W. Baker & Jennifer Nordin corrected, at the Brooking Institute in 1998, the Global Disparity Ratio from 74:l to l35:l. A major correction, what? (Meanwhile last year's UNDP Report carries the earlier calculation.) They say such disparity is unsustainable. One can agree that as methods improve and are fine-tuned wealth-creation will cease to be a major problem (At 10,000,000,000 metric tons per person at 6.5 billion pop. the planet has enough not only for Man but for all life if we stop being destructive, spending as we currently do, a trillion USD a year on our weaponry capers whereas commitment only of a fourth of this, per the World Games Institute for about 10-30 years will take care of most major problems.) Where the advocates of
Currently the elite structures of the advanced nations where most of the multinationals still feel psychologically rooted, are slow in retiring their own bureaucracies, which, in turn, have spawned even more macabre Gorgon-heads in the developing nations; we still have votaries of the 'trickle-down' and to the multiplying poor, it trickles down more like a leaky faucet, slow maddening drop, then a long, maybe five-year pause, then another maddening drop. Such developmental approaches simply magnify disparity. I sometimes say popular aspirations are growing even faster than population and the disparity - at 135:1 - guarantees violence, terrorism crime and all the rest which comes around to where the gun-runners are rubbing their hands. This vicious circle has to be broken by a quantum change in the methods of distribution.
There is Sanskrit-sutra which translates: Gather with a hundred hands. Distribute with a thousand One. Thare's natural capitalism for you - a grain of rice, when appropriately broadcast (distributed!) produces ten more. Instead of a pile of skulls, we need to see a pile to which all the begging bowls have been consigned. Orissa State is economically perceived as divided as east and west. People in western part of Orissa feel they have been exploited and parasited upon by the coastal/eastern people; today's paper says area of land under irrigation in W. Orissa in 1947 was 21% of total; fifty years later they find 26%. The question asked is, where did all the agricultural development money go? And if that is all one has to show for it, why was the money spent in the first place? People below the poverty-line constitute 48.6% of the population. A lot of land is barren and there is some afoot to encourage people to plant bamboo. (There was plenty of bamboo here in the past; then a paper mill came in, made its packet and now is shut and there are several thousands unemployed in that area.) About 90% of the population here is rural.
John Scully (Pepsi to Reagan to Apple} said somewhere in his book "Odyssey" apropos the US economy during the 60s, that the planning was OK and thorough; it was the perspective which was defective. And I think it still is true. This 1998 newspaper item I have says "Looking ahead to the year 2000, the World Bank expects poverty in Asia - people on one USD or less to double." (Note the word 'expect'. I thought they used 'fear' in such cases.) I belong to that "dollar a day" tribe - one breakfast and one dinner a day, that's about 25 cents total - one pair of clothes, a 35 year old bicycle which was stolen last year, no known or unknown sustainable source of sustenance - who by some quirk of randomness is able to communicate with you. (Anger. I find bad-luck isn't a big deal in these parts when I look at what is around me. It is nothing if not Nature's miraculous Will which allows me contact with you via a medium and a language convenient to you.)
I had once the need to create a one-page primer of modern world history. At the end of the hundred-hour sweat I was able to point out "Prosper(ity) wasn't derived from a Shakespearean character's name and neither does 'Government' have Greek etymological roots. In Sanskrit, 'Paraspar' means 'mutual' and 'Guru + mantra' suggests an advisory and not a regulatory function. For advice to act sustainably in the desired direction, demonstrations of technological prowess etc. are unnecessary; all one needs is the moral force of the equation which keeps the so-called self at the bottom of the heap; after all that is what the Sanskrit word Sarva (all) + Sva (self) = Sarvasva, from which the English word 'Service' is derived means.
- Excerpt from an email from Vyom Akhil to Amory Lovins, author of Natural Capitalism. Jan 20, 2000.
On International Understanding
Speech delivered by Vyôm Akhil, Guest Speaker, Rotary Club Sambalpur (Main), February 28, 2003
Thank you for having me as your chief guest today. I am to talk to you on International Understanding.
Friends, International Understandings are badly needed today. I wish you would not construe this cliché as a set-piece sentence. We have a major crisis staring at us. Its specifics have inter-related components. India’s Finance Minister who is busy presenting his budget right now, says, we have a sluggish GDP growth rate. Oil prices, if they should rise, will upset the apple cart further. And that depends on THE DESIRE OF THE UNITED STATES TO LAUNCH A WAR AGAINST IRAQ.
This morning I heard three news items:
(1) Saddam Hussein has agreed to dismantle the long-range missiles per the suggestions of the U.N. Chief Inspector Hans Blix.
(2) U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfledt says Saddam should not be believed.
(3) Hans Blix is under further pressure to present a report that will facilitate a war.
Since it would be counterproductive to line up the good guys on the one side and the baddies on the other, what are the key elements of understanding from these items? Furthermore, must one not have an alternate format from what the media usually dish out?
Asking and answering a set of questions can aid this: For instance,
Thank you for having me as your chief guest today. I am to talk to you on International Understanding.
Friends, International Understandings are badly needed today. I wish you would not construe this cliché as a set-piece sentence. We have a major crisis staring at us. Its specifics have inter-related components. India’s Finance Minister who is busy presenting his budget right now, says, we have a sluggish GDP growth rate. Oil prices, if they should rise, will upset the apple cart further. And that depends on THE DESIRE OF THE UNITED STATES TO LAUNCH A WAR AGAINST IRAQ.
This morning I heard three news items:
(1) Saddam Hussein has agreed to dismantle the long-range missiles per the suggestions of the U.N. Chief Inspector Hans Blix.
(2) U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfledt says Saddam should not be believed.
(3) Hans Blix is under further pressure to present a report that will facilitate a war.
Since it would be counterproductive to line up the good guys on the one side and the baddies on the other, what are the key elements of understanding from these items? Furthermore, must one not have an alternate format from what the media usually dish out?
Asking and answering a set of questions can aid this: For instance,
- For how long have Saddam and George Walker Bush been presidents of their respective countries?
- Who was elected and how? For how long will they be in office?
- How much propaganda from either side should be given credibility and how much of it discounted?
- What are the real, personal, domestic compulsions driving their behavior?
I am sure all of you remember that the evidence for going to war - touted to have been gathered by spy satellites, presented with fanfare in the British Parliament, and later used by Secretary Colin Powell in the United Nations Security Council - was quickly found to have been plagiarized from an old research paper submitted at the Oxford University and, actually published in Jane’s Defense Weekly. Not even a comma or a full stop was altered.
If you remember, the last time a U.S. president attacked a country in Asia without any immediate provocation, he had a domestic scandal on his hands. I allude to President Clinton’s decision to rocket positions in Afghanistan. And it is possible 9/11 was Al Quaida-Taliban’s angry retaliation.
But that is just one reason why the U.S. naval taskforce gets ordered into international waters. The so-called ‘gunboat diplomacy’ is an old one and is named after a so-called doctrine is named after U.S. President James Monroe. In fact, it would be plainer if we called the doctrine or policy by its ancient name: “Have muscle. Shall bully.” A couple of years ago, BBC’s Christopher Gunness interviewed the U.S. intellectual, Gore Vidal, a cousin to the then U.S. vice president Al Gore. At one point during the interview, Mr. Vidal quoted former U.S. president Richard Nixon, who, having had the insider’s experience after having been vice-president for eight years, had this amazing thing to say, and I paraphrase: The United States does not really need a president because it runs by itself. Mr. Vidal, then explained, that the U.S. president has chiefly a foreign policy role, where he has to safeguard U.S. national interest.
One can ask, which part of the U.S. economy has a major interest abroad? So that U.S. multinationals can operate in foreign countries, U.S. Government’s foreign policy must have pliant governments in those lands. This is usually achieved by diplomacy, and aid and advice of dubious value because it is based on the most superficial and cursory understanding of those lands, its people and their problems. But the aid money is “easy money” and it attracts and seduces the dominant elite in those countries to be amenable and agreeable and compliant.
When diplomacy and aid fail, then comes war. And months before it is actually executed, details are prepared as to who will benefit from them and how. For instance, after being World War II’s hero and serving the United States for eight years as president, Dwight Eisenhower, warned the people of his country against the threat to them from “The Military Industrial Complex” of their own country.
As someone who has first hand experience of all this, thanks to my decade-long stay in Los Angeles, after having completed and returned back to India my Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship for International Goodwill, I can vouch for this. The day the Soviet Union broke up, people working for defense contractors – they, not Hollywood, are the major employer in the State of California - were thrown out their jobs. But soon, there was Desert Storm and the rehiring began.
And about Desert Storm – George Bush senior, had advisors who helped him circumvent Congressional approval. I remember that period very well. At 9:30 that morning, on D-Day, he had gone on record saying there would be no attack on Iraq. But at approximately 6 pm, after a 4:30 meeting with Margaret Thatcher, then Prime Minister of U.K., he had changed his mind and launched a 32-day long carpet-bombing campaign against Iraq.
The next day I called into a talk show and brought this up but was politely hushed up. From then on, whenever, my North American wife, who used to teach at the UCLA, and I had an argument that entailed calling each other names, we would say, “You are George Bush, You are George Bush.”
Part II
Friends, as my topic is International Understanding, I have to cut short my thoughts on the current crisis and share with you what I think the nature of Understanding is.
This part of my speech will force me to become somewhat theoretical and speculative and I hope you will bear with me. I beg for your sustained attention because I believe my comments and thoughts could be of assistance to you both in your fields of classification as well as your duties and functions as Rotarians of this premier Club in this region.
Given that over a millennia-spanning period, our species has consistently demonstrated that it will unerringly choose to be silly, stupid, selfish, dangerous, vindictive, arrogant, jealous - the list is as long as you wish to stretch it - one may ask why do we need to understand anything at all? The insects and animals - not to mention all that is inanimate - do very well in the surviving-&-thriving game without, apparently, understanding a thing. In fact a saint had gone so far as to say ‘happy and content are those who are not bothered by the conditions and problems of the world’.
During a previous visit to your Club, I had spoken of the stage-related origins of the word "understanding". Someone had to stand under the stage and hand up the props, such as a bouquet, to a Romeo who would use it then as a love-vehicle and give it to the actress playing Juliet.
The word originally meant, "to be supportive". That is not the same as “being wise and full of insights."
Understanding is a first but not the final step towards an accommodative, mutually beneficial sustainable co-existence. Without this goal at the end, an ocean full of understanding cannot, with any reliable degree of certainty, prevent aggression and attack, cruelty, violence, destruction and tragedy.
Resolving existing conflicts is laudable and that is what negotiators skilled in the use of facts and their effective communication try to do. But this heroic act is akin to performing a life-saving surgery on an old and malignant tumor that has brought the body to the verge of death. To this extent conflict-resolution is the next thankless step in the vocabulary of crisis management. Frequently, the high-pressured process of resolving conflicts, reasonable dialogue has to be set aside because there are deadlines to meet and innocent lives might be lost. Often negotiators have to go into what I call the deal-making mode.
Friends, it is obvious that understanding is multidimensional. From an individual wrestling with the essential nature of Being and Becoming, to a group that may be as small as a nuclear, or, even a single-parent family of two, or a tribe, a community, a village, a region, a nation, all the way up to the global level of international understanding, there are events and on-going processes that first need an understanding and then a comfortable accommodation. Beyond the international, we need understandings and accommodation with nature and our physical space - with those creatures, whether plant, insect or animal. And this needs to occur both at the local as well as global level. But as we explore outwards from this planet, there are understandings that challenge our notions of time and space, of the meaning of life and intelligence. Called by the National Geographic Society in 1976 to look at the future, the late R. Buckminster Fuller observed that after having traveled 39 times around the world and actually feeling it to be a tiny planet of a tiny star, he was convinced no one out there in the Universe was dying to know who would be the next president of the United States. We can also appreciate the fact that partial understandings in one domain affect the processes in the other. That, at every level, there has to be a good fit to build upon. In some respects the nature of understanding is like those in fractals. For instance, there is the oft-quoted Sanskrit aphorism, “Yathä-piñdé tathä-brahmäñdé”. One can looslely translate this to say, ‘as the point, so the Universe.’ Today, understanding is when you say, "I see!" or "I got it!" or even more colloquially "Bingo!" or, Jackpot!"
Clearly, this is more than being supportive. It means to be able to figure out something, to know its nuts and bolts, its P's and Q's. And It's time, therefore, we revert to the intent of the original Sanskrit word, "Antarsthäna". For what is really occurring when you understand something today is a mental process.
But how does the human - perhaps all mammalian - mind process information, most of which comes to it through the sense of sound?
Even the horizon, be it noted, is limited to line of sight vision. It is for this reason that our sound-sensory apparatus switches on during gestation, long before we are born to this earth.
One can say that our ears have a head start.
What exactly happens when we receive sounds from the outside? Brain scans now confirm that our visual cortex is stimulated and our minds use the sound to create an internal image of the event.
It is this image that predominates the one we receive from our eyes. We even say of a prejudiced person as one, whose vision is colored, thereby implying that the internal image he has, overpowers the evidence of his own physical eyes.
At this point, to limit my exposition, I shall revert to Sanskrit words, "Chitta" or the active part of the mind, "Chétanä" or the state of consciousness, and "Chitra" or an image, usually internally formed in the active part of our mind; for the one visible on the retina Sanskrit has the "Drishya".
I have a confirmation of sorts. Don't people who understand something say, "I see" without really meaning that they are sighted and not blind?
I am, therefore, suggesting to you something that may not have been submitted to anyone anywhere:
Understanding means creating accommodative images.
I use the word "accommodative" with reason. Quarrels occur when our images are not in agreement. We have the famous and well-known story of the six blind men who were using their sense of touch to figure out what an elephant was. And each had an image that did not agree with those of the others. Friends, I now have to use two phrases to explain my next point. We have this 'Image-based understanding" and we, the educated and the influenced, find we also try, unsuccessfully, to often substitute it with what I would call 'A word-based understanding'.
Here, when I say 'word-based', I mean those words that, for one reason or another - like the abuse, or overuse of available of visual technologies - do not create a "Chitra", or, a sharp internal image/vision.
Most words - especially long speeches are so boring, listeners fall asleep. Even India's Vice President recently found his foot had gone to sleep as he was reading out the Hindi text of the President's address to the Parliament! I hope Rotarians - and those who come to speak to them - are free from this affliction.
Opposed to a word-based understanding, I bring to you an example of an image-based understanding in the shape of a small visual - a chart - that I like to call "Humankind's Price of Fear" and what can be done if we reduced it just by 25%...." Each square on the chart represents one billion U.S. dollars. There are one thousand squares. That equals one trillion U.S. dollars that was the approximate sum total of the annual military budgets of all the countries on this world in 1993.
Super-imposed on these one thousand squares is a small area – approx 25% in size. This area is made up of thirteen approximate rectangles of varying sizes, each representing the amount of money and time to solve a problem that humankind faces. Once you see problems in this perspective you immediately understand that the money that the few billions of dollars that are being asked for are negligible in comparison to what we spend for our collective fear, which, paradoxically increases the more we spend in search of a security we have you to clearly define and understand. The text that came with this chart, not included in this presentation says, “If asked by a child, how would you explain our failure to act on this information?” Friends. I have to save the rest of theoretical part with this example and save it for another opportunity, another day.
Rotarians, when I was here more recently your able and dedicated President informed you about the Foundation’s new program of Scholarship for Conflict Resolution.
A couple or so years ago at the First Alumni Multi District Conference in India held in Goa, I was lucky to be selected as a panelist and I must gratefully add that your Club had contributed to defraying part of the expenses of that trip. At the Goa Conference I had suggested that Rotary set up RA-CAN, the Rotary Alumni Cyber-Ambassadors’ Network,” because, “For less than the price of a world-around airline ticket…a deserving past/potential alumnus can today transform into a Conflicts-Resolution-Supporting, life-time cyber-Ambassador. (Such) a Network can become the synergistic link between the Clubs and the anywhere-on-earth Community Programs of Health, Education, Hygiene, Nutrition, Sanitation, Conservation, Employment and Farming…”
I conclude by quoting to you lines from the excellent editorial in the February 20, Times of India, entitled “People Superpower”, which, in turns, quotes Patrick E. Tyler writing in the New York Times. Mr. Tyler has described the current Iraqi situation as a standoff between two Super Powers: the United States and world public opinion. The paper suggests Mr. Bush take a lesson from Mrs. Indirä Gändhi who imposed an Emergency on India in the name of National Interest. And the people here overwhelming voted her out at the first chance.
I am hopeful, International Understanding will somehow prevail. We, in India won’t have to face a price rise and a sluggish economy because of Oil prices and the misadventure in the Middle East will be prevented in the nick of the time.
Thank you.
Speech delivered by Vyôm Akhil, Guest Speaker, Rotary Club Sambalpur (Main), February 28, 2003
Jul 20, 2007
Chants of Deliverance
This is a New Year's Story to be read to children. First take in the strange bouquet of this timeless story as if it were vintage wine. To sip and roll it around your mental tongue - to savor Joyce's agenbite of inwit - a slower, second read is advised. My passionately alliterative note here might help its glow illuminate your perception forever. And then, perhaps, you might revisit it every time you see a baby.
PROLOGUE
Embellished with star-inlaid galaxies, pulsar-tasseled and radiation-bands pleated, the wavy Space-Time curtain rises to the transudatory act of Creation. Death and Birth, juxtaposed in a joust, spin and circle each other in hyperbolic orbits.
When the Spirit whispers, Mortal Domains - tiny sweat beads, or stray dust particles - drop and twinkle out in a trice. Their epics and sagas are but a few syllables of the Eternal Song. Each femto-second, ancient memory transposes and jostles nascent imagination in a game of musical chairs. And the music? Everywhere, it plays - always.
Ends must, therefore, begin again sometime; maybe somewhere else; possibly fractellated; perhaps, reconstituted. Pawn or king, all chessmen are carved from the same wood. Whether Y'shua[1] or Gandhi[2], the divine, too, must perish - to reincarnate again.
Is no one immortal? Those sciences whelped by that woman who counts her periods [3] exclude, eliminate; terminate with prejudice. In the Empire of Reality, where abstractions casually crystallize and fantasies freely roam, the Forbidden Fruit grows only on the Impossible Tree. A handful of immortals, the Ancients say, live amongst and beyond us. When trust, initiative, and integrity trihedralize a soul, Death is water off a duck's back! The story of Maarkandeya's immortality discloses this can-do power of idealistic youth.
STORY
Shiva Mahaadev's [4] gift - karmatically allowed for 10 years to a pair of pathetic Laments - Maarkandeya is born, beauteous and bright! Doubling by day - night, quadrupling - this divine luminance, wrapped in playful light, blooms with insights, breathing confidence and excellence! Joy and delight dance in his eyes! His voice rings as a honeyed bell. A wondrous peace pulsates his heart, synchronal to Shiva's drum.
But with him, grow his parents' worries. With Time, flies their happiness! Doleful depression, tense anxieties, and nervous confusion break them down. They tell him of the 'augurated Ominousness' [5] clawing up towards him through Time. . "But, it's simple!" Maarkandeya says to his parents, "Shiva Mahaadev must protect his gift! Permit me to go remind Him."
Under a leafy, sun-suffused canopy in the nearby forest, seated in front of a Linga [6] he has made, Maarkandeya broadcasts Shiva's call sign, the Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya!" In pellucid meditation, oblivious to the flow of Time - and engulfment by Space - young Maarkandeya's Being transforms into a selfless Spirit, indistinguishable from his plaintive chanting. On his tenth birthday, when Yamaraaj [7] comes to take him, so does Shiva Mahaadev, to shoo the Lord of Death away. His parents rejoice. For Maarkandeya it's a piece of cake!
"You are now immortal, Maarkandeya!" Shiva asks, "What are your plans?"
"Why, to thank you, pray some more! Then figure out what all this is really about!"
Shiva smiles, "So you shall!" -
-000-
Aeons later, Shiva and Cosmic-Mother, Uma, visit to check on him. To them
Maarkandeya says,
One day, clouds blacken the sky. Lightning staples them to its dome. Chorusing winds push surf-lines beyond the beaches. Refilled by rains, the Festive Cauldron [8] spills. Quakes rip the Earth. Mountains submerge. Volcanoes counterpoint stellar explosions. End of Time. Deluge!
Inundated, lost, tossed about; but unfazed, Maarkandeya recalls he is Shiva's gift. In his ken glows the Banyan Tree that had shaded his Chants of Deliverance aeons ago. The leaves of an above-water branch are stuck to form an exquisite cradle. The glowing Radiance emanates from within it. Attracted to swim closer, he is blessed to envision the Cosmic Spirit incarnated as Baalamuukuunda, the Divine as a Baby.
Baalamuukuunda glows, gleams, shines, shimmers, and scintillates at each pore. The tiny, iridescent fingers of his splendorous, little hands grip his right foot! Holding it up to his lotus-like mouth, Baalamuukuunda sucks away at his big toe! Blissful, absorbed - his innocent insouciance at the chaotic Deluge outside hypnotizes Maarkandeya! He extends his hand to touch the Spirit Incarnate! A whisper of this Baby's breath transforms and reduces Maarkandeya into an air-molecule! Baalamuukuunda inhales him!
Within transudes, Creation afresh! Fluid Time circulates inside as blood! Bones and tissues are curving layers of Space! Encrusting them like Cosmic Coral, nebulae and galaxies, embedded with stars and planets! And within these are corralled and intersticed, minute, mortal niches!
When Baalamuukuunda exhales, the sweet breath loops Maarkandeya's 'Fantastic Voyage' [9] back to cradle-side! To exclaim at his ecstasy at the vision, Maarkaneya opens his mouth and------ZAP! ----The whole event of the Deluge vanishes!
Epilogue It is dawn again. Uma and Shiva Mahaadev appear. Eyes closed in absolute meditation, Maarkandeya is imperturbably still, Shiva has to infuse Himself into him to open his eyes from within! Through the eyes of Maarkandeya, Mahaadev sees his own creative aspect - Mother of Cosmos in all her Glory, Warmth, Beauty, Truth, Love, and splendor! Uma is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! [10]
End Notes
1 Jesus Christ.
2 Mohandaas Gaandhi, the Mahaatmaa.
3 Mathematics.
4 A Hindu name for the Supreme Being.
5 Death.
6 A phallus-like icon of Shiva.
7 The God of Death.
8 The oceans.
9 A reference to a sci-fi movie authored by Isaac Asimov.
10 A word coined for the movie ‘Sounds of Music.’ Means ‘just beyond words.’
12 A Latin saying: `Revere the child first’
(--Vyom Akhil, Oct 2001)
PROLOGUE
Embellished with star-inlaid galaxies, pulsar-tasseled and radiation-bands pleated, the wavy Space-Time curtain rises to the transudatory act of Creation. Death and Birth, juxtaposed in a joust, spin and circle each other in hyperbolic orbits.
When the Spirit whispers, Mortal Domains - tiny sweat beads, or stray dust particles - drop and twinkle out in a trice. Their epics and sagas are but a few syllables of the Eternal Song. Each femto-second, ancient memory transposes and jostles nascent imagination in a game of musical chairs. And the music? Everywhere, it plays - always.
Ends must, therefore, begin again sometime; maybe somewhere else; possibly fractellated; perhaps, reconstituted. Pawn or king, all chessmen are carved from the same wood. Whether Y'shua[1] or Gandhi[2], the divine, too, must perish - to reincarnate again.
Is no one immortal? Those sciences whelped by that woman who counts her periods [3] exclude, eliminate; terminate with prejudice. In the Empire of Reality, where abstractions casually crystallize and fantasies freely roam, the Forbidden Fruit grows only on the Impossible Tree. A handful of immortals, the Ancients say, live amongst and beyond us. When trust, initiative, and integrity trihedralize a soul, Death is water off a duck's back! The story of Maarkandeya's immortality discloses this can-do power of idealistic youth.
-000-
STORY
Shiva Mahaadev's [4] gift - karmatically allowed for 10 years to a pair of pathetic Laments - Maarkandeya is born, beauteous and bright! Doubling by day - night, quadrupling - this divine luminance, wrapped in playful light, blooms with insights, breathing confidence and excellence! Joy and delight dance in his eyes! His voice rings as a honeyed bell. A wondrous peace pulsates his heart, synchronal to Shiva's drum.
But with him, grow his parents' worries. With Time, flies their happiness! Doleful depression, tense anxieties, and nervous confusion break them down. They tell him of the 'augurated Ominousness' [5] clawing up towards him through Time. . "But, it's simple!" Maarkandeya says to his parents, "Shiva Mahaadev must protect his gift! Permit me to go remind Him."
Under a leafy, sun-suffused canopy in the nearby forest, seated in front of a Linga [6] he has made, Maarkandeya broadcasts Shiva's call sign, the Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya!" In pellucid meditation, oblivious to the flow of Time - and engulfment by Space - young Maarkandeya's Being transforms into a selfless Spirit, indistinguishable from his plaintive chanting. On his tenth birthday, when Yamaraaj [7] comes to take him, so does Shiva Mahaadev, to shoo the Lord of Death away. His parents rejoice. For Maarkandeya it's a piece of cake!
"You are now immortal, Maarkandeya!" Shiva asks, "What are your plans?"
"Why, to thank you, pray some more! Then figure out what all this is really about!"
Shiva smiles, "So you shall!" -
-000-
Aeons later, Shiva and Cosmic-Mother, Uma, visit to check on him. To them
Maarkandeya says,
I am doing fine, brimming with Sunshine. Sensorial fun seems very thin
Is all that's without, all within? Do please, bless me to know
Where all that comes, really go? How, in Time, do all things end
Begin then, all over again?
Uma smiles, begins to hum
Shiva lifts up then his magic drum.
"Maarkaneya, it's no problem," he says
"In the next few days, Your contemplative flight
Shall speed up faster than the Light! You, dear One, shall soon be
Privy to the awesome mystery!" Then they're gone
And the Sage-he awaits the revelatory dawn.
-000-
One day, clouds blacken the sky. Lightning staples them to its dome. Chorusing winds push surf-lines beyond the beaches. Refilled by rains, the Festive Cauldron [8] spills. Quakes rip the Earth. Mountains submerge. Volcanoes counterpoint stellar explosions. End of Time. Deluge!
Inundated, lost, tossed about; but unfazed, Maarkandeya recalls he is Shiva's gift. In his ken glows the Banyan Tree that had shaded his Chants of Deliverance aeons ago. The leaves of an above-water branch are stuck to form an exquisite cradle. The glowing Radiance emanates from within it. Attracted to swim closer, he is blessed to envision the Cosmic Spirit incarnated as Baalamuukuunda, the Divine as a Baby.
Baalamuukuunda glows, gleams, shines, shimmers, and scintillates at each pore. The tiny, iridescent fingers of his splendorous, little hands grip his right foot! Holding it up to his lotus-like mouth, Baalamuukuunda sucks away at his big toe! Blissful, absorbed - his innocent insouciance at the chaotic Deluge outside hypnotizes Maarkandeya! He extends his hand to touch the Spirit Incarnate! A whisper of this Baby's breath transforms and reduces Maarkandeya into an air-molecule! Baalamuukuunda inhales him!
Within transudes, Creation afresh! Fluid Time circulates inside as blood! Bones and tissues are curving layers of Space! Encrusting them like Cosmic Coral, nebulae and galaxies, embedded with stars and planets! And within these are corralled and intersticed, minute, mortal niches!
When Baalamuukuunda exhales, the sweet breath loops Maarkandeya's 'Fantastic Voyage' [9] back to cradle-side! To exclaim at his ecstasy at the vision, Maarkaneya opens his mouth and------ZAP! ----The whole event of the Deluge vanishes!
Epilogue It is dawn again. Uma and Shiva Mahaadev appear. Eyes closed in absolute meditation, Maarkandeya is imperturbably still, Shiva has to infuse Himself into him to open his eyes from within! Through the eyes of Maarkandeya, Mahaadev sees his own creative aspect - Mother of Cosmos in all her Glory, Warmth, Beauty, Truth, Love, and splendor! Uma is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! [10]
-000- -000- -000-
End Notes
1 Jesus Christ.
2 Mohandaas Gaandhi, the Mahaatmaa.
3 Mathematics.
4 A Hindu name for the Supreme Being.
5 Death.
6 A phallus-like icon of Shiva.
7 The God of Death.
8 The oceans.
9 A reference to a sci-fi movie authored by Isaac Asimov.
10 A word coined for the movie ‘Sounds of Music.’ Means ‘just beyond words.’
12 A Latin saying: `Revere the child first’
-000-
(--Vyom Akhil, Oct 2001)
Maxima Debetur Puero Reverentia: revere the child first
Children reset priorities, rework personalities, rekindle our patient love. With them, we revisit-rediscover-reorganize ourselves; remake-repeat-retrace-review-reorient-redirect our journey. They reinstate Life, readjust the moment, reappraise our world-view. In an instant, they make the rich/strong/pretty/famous feel like ogres. And with a look that's a pageant, they crown the ugliest/dirtiest/oldest Momma, Miss Universe.
Their cries are their Bill of Rights. And their smiles set us free. With playful make-believe, they make Believers out of us all. To giggle and laugh at - and with - Life is to live and celebrate it, they say.
Yes, our children 'Again lead us forward,' indeed, reproduce us - IF we'll only let them so do. And if we don't - there's always a 10-Point Misery Program Hot Line somewhere for us to call. When kids rebel, do drugs, or, violently take-off, it's WYDYWIG - what you do is what you get.
When they were around, were you? Or, dazed, tired, angry, afraid, confused, tense, depressed, too busy paying rent/bills/taxes, you put on a phony cheerfulness even as you stole from their cookie jar/piggy-bank, which, to the late astronomer Carl Sagan, looked from a distance like a Pale Blue Dot?
The real Doing Question is one of attitude. Nothing less than an attitude of active reverence will pass muster. Active, so you'll roll up your sleeves to attend, anticipate, advantage, alleviate, and activate the condition of these Divine Diviners.
Love the trees and the animals, yes. But revere the lives of your Reproducers, your children.
MAXIMA DEBETUR PUERO REVERENTIA. A Latin saying, meaning, 'Revere the child first.'
Sent by Vyom Oct 2001 as a note to the New Year's Story, "Chants of Deliverance." This is my second post to Vyom's blog since he, in his words, "changed phase" five days ago.
Their cries are their Bill of Rights. And their smiles set us free. With playful make-believe, they make Believers out of us all. To giggle and laugh at - and with - Life is to live and celebrate it, they say.
Yes, our children 'Again lead us forward,' indeed, reproduce us - IF we'll only let them so do. And if we don't - there's always a 10-Point Misery Program Hot Line somewhere for us to call. When kids rebel, do drugs, or, violently take-off, it's WYDYWIG - what you do is what you get.
When they were around, were you? Or, dazed, tired, angry, afraid, confused, tense, depressed, too busy paying rent/bills/taxes, you put on a phony cheerfulness even as you stole from their cookie jar/piggy-bank, which, to the late astronomer Carl Sagan, looked from a distance like a Pale Blue Dot?
The real Doing Question is one of attitude. Nothing less than an attitude of active reverence will pass muster. Active, so you'll roll up your sleeves to attend, anticipate, advantage, alleviate, and activate the condition of these Divine Diviners.
Love the trees and the animals, yes. But revere the lives of your Reproducers, your children.
MAXIMA DEBETUR PUERO REVERENTIA. A Latin saying, meaning, 'Revere the child first.'
Sent by Vyom Oct 2001 as a note to the New Year's Story, "Chants of Deliverance." This is my second post to Vyom's blog since he, in his words, "changed phase" five days ago.
Jul 19, 2007
The Hedonist vs. The Terrorist
The Hedonist vs. The Terrorist
Five hundred years of alleged human history on this planet that preceded the second Millennium, has thrown up in the Third one, a combative state between The Hedonist vs. The Terrorist.
The Hedonist: Usually of European descent, more likely a native speaker of the English language. Like a successful virus, he has colonized Australia and the North American continent; furthermore he uses his cunning to dominate human lives on Asia, Africa and South America. In these lands, thanks to his imperial rule, he has a vast army of local lackeys and flunkeys, who, for the price of hand-me-downs, usually act as compliant local elite.
The Hedonist is insecure. His desires spiral ever wider. His ego seldom dwells either in his body, or in his brain, but obsessively swells or shrinks to the orchestrations of an oppressive self-created system of bafflegab - that is communicated to him by a power structure that believes that responding to given compulsions of the day - the need to find heroes/martyrs, bullies/victims, violators/abiders and so on - are power. The social, family, and community systems of the Hedonist are shot. From a citizen he is reduced to a manipulated consumer of goods and services of which he has seldom any real need of.
The Terrorist: Usually a person of Middle-Eastern origin, he is often an unwitting - and unwilling - accomplice of the Hedonist, cast in the role of defending his honor, his wealth and his dignity, he interprets his faith in a manner that will justify the only thing he CAN do, viz. burn with vengeance and hatred. The Terrorist today is a Frankenstein created by The Hedonist.
It is important to bear in mind that while the two may be important to each other, together they do not constitute - or significantly affect the lives of - no more than ten per cent of human kind. Although they do everything possible to make others believe that what they think and do have civilizational significance. For instance a media source, located in Hedonland that bills itself as a "World Service" can pause to talk about a war between them only to tell the world what the New Castle or the Manchester United teams may have done.
Someone like me usually thinks that of these two protagonists on the world stage today, one is Sänpnäth while the other is Nägnäth - a baleful pair of Tweedledum and Twiddledee.
One speaks of human rights but doesn't even know the roots of those words. He speaks of democracy when what he means is thuggery and hoodwinking. Every twenty four hours he has to change his tune, find right words while seldom having a right thought. Every few months he has to create a new demon to show his valor against.
The other, while saying Allah-O-Akbar acts as if it is Mullah-O-Akbar.
The Hedonist says something terrible happened to him - and therefore to the 'Free and civilized world' - on a certain day in September a couple of years ago. And it was The Terrorist that did it. The Terrorist says, this is the first remittance of a big and overdue retaliatory payment.
As counter-retaliation The Hedonist went to Afghanistan and now he has gone to Iraq.
He did this despite World opinion against it. There is now a mess in the middle east that is obviously worse than the one that existed before.
I have seldom wasted my anger on either The Hedonist and The Terrorist. They fate themselves to suffer. But I am concerned that the people of the world were not strong enough to prevent them from being so dangerous to themselves and to others.
I suggest the U N General Assembly pass a resolution that will ask the governments of the United States and Great Britain to come to the United Nations with (a) unconditional apology for acting unilaterally and (b) Give an undertaking that, in the future, they will back their positions in the Security Council by War-declaring resolutions from their 'democratically' elected internal bodies, viz., the U.S. Congress and the British Parliament.
This will convince the world that the people of those countries are, in fact, represented in the United Nations by these governments who are now giving the impression that they represent oil interests, gun-runners and development-as-business NGOs.
-- Vyom Akhil sent this to the BBC a few years ago. I post this on his behalf, since he (in his words) phase-changed last Sunday 15 July near his home in Sambalapur, Orissa, India.
Five hundred years of alleged human history on this planet that preceded the second Millennium, has thrown up in the Third one, a combative state between The Hedonist vs. The Terrorist.
The Hedonist: Usually of European descent, more likely a native speaker of the English language. Like a successful virus, he has colonized Australia and the North American continent; furthermore he uses his cunning to dominate human lives on Asia, Africa and South America. In these lands, thanks to his imperial rule, he has a vast army of local lackeys and flunkeys, who, for the price of hand-me-downs, usually act as compliant local elite.
The Hedonist is insecure. His desires spiral ever wider. His ego seldom dwells either in his body, or in his brain, but obsessively swells or shrinks to the orchestrations of an oppressive self-created system of bafflegab - that is communicated to him by a power structure that believes that responding to given compulsions of the day - the need to find heroes/martyrs, bullies/victims, violators/abiders and so on - are power. The social, family, and community systems of the Hedonist are shot. From a citizen he is reduced to a manipulated consumer of goods and services of which he has seldom any real need of.
The Terrorist: Usually a person of Middle-Eastern origin, he is often an unwitting - and unwilling - accomplice of the Hedonist, cast in the role of defending his honor, his wealth and his dignity, he interprets his faith in a manner that will justify the only thing he CAN do, viz. burn with vengeance and hatred. The Terrorist today is a Frankenstein created by The Hedonist.
It is important to bear in mind that while the two may be important to each other, together they do not constitute - or significantly affect the lives of - no more than ten per cent of human kind. Although they do everything possible to make others believe that what they think and do have civilizational significance. For instance a media source, located in Hedonland that bills itself as a "World Service" can pause to talk about a war between them only to tell the world what the New Castle or the Manchester United teams may have done.
Someone like me usually thinks that of these two protagonists on the world stage today, one is Sänpnäth while the other is Nägnäth - a baleful pair of Tweedledum and Twiddledee.
One speaks of human rights but doesn't even know the roots of those words. He speaks of democracy when what he means is thuggery and hoodwinking. Every twenty four hours he has to change his tune, find right words while seldom having a right thought. Every few months he has to create a new demon to show his valor against.
The other, while saying Allah-O-Akbar acts as if it is Mullah-O-Akbar.
The Hedonist says something terrible happened to him - and therefore to the 'Free and civilized world' - on a certain day in September a couple of years ago. And it was The Terrorist that did it. The Terrorist says, this is the first remittance of a big and overdue retaliatory payment.
As counter-retaliation The Hedonist went to Afghanistan and now he has gone to Iraq.
He did this despite World opinion against it. There is now a mess in the middle east that is obviously worse than the one that existed before.
I have seldom wasted my anger on either The Hedonist and The Terrorist. They fate themselves to suffer. But I am concerned that the people of the world were not strong enough to prevent them from being so dangerous to themselves and to others.
I suggest the U N General Assembly pass a resolution that will ask the governments of the United States and Great Britain to come to the United Nations with (a) unconditional apology for acting unilaterally and (b) Give an undertaking that, in the future, they will back their positions in the Security Council by War-declaring resolutions from their 'democratically' elected internal bodies, viz., the U.S. Congress and the British Parliament.
This will convince the world that the people of those countries are, in fact, represented in the United Nations by these governments who are now giving the impression that they represent oil interests, gun-runners and development-as-business NGOs.
-- Vyom Akhil sent this to the BBC a few years ago. I post this on his behalf, since he (in his words) phase-changed last Sunday 15 July near his home in Sambalapur, Orissa, India.
Jul 10, 2007
Global CogniMaps aka Links-shower 07jul03-09
I was looking forward to continue my last LinkShower rant against the ERQ but, as the famous Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz has said - not in English, of course, in which it is hard, in these days of sound-bites, to come by such things - in an immortalizing line -
"In these times, my love, there are more sorrows than (those induced by) Love"
One such, of course, is a country whose map seems to have been drawn up in a corproate board-room:
"In these times, my love, there are more sorrows than (those induced by) Love"
One such, of course, is a country whose map seems to have been drawn up in a corproate board-room:
This square, here gentlemen, is "Dakota", that one is, as you know, "Oregon".
This rectangle here is "Tennesse". And the one over there is "Minnesota".
Shall we now so resolve, so that the chairman can hit the gavel and we can all bivoac into the hospitality hour?...
This rectangle here is "Tennesse". And the one over there is "Minnesota".
Shall we now so resolve, so that the chairman can hit the gavel and we can all bivoac into the hospitality hour?...
Any hands against? None. Okay, so resolved.
The Next item on the agenda is...
I interpret what a prominent fund manager recently said to the Global Economics Correspondent for International Herald Tribune, Daniel Altman, to mean that democracy -as practiced in the U S. of A. - is an ineffective fiction, a bit of window-dressing that was meant to fool every one.
I was, however, not surprised by that fund-manager's observation.
Years ago, Gore Vidal had quoted Richard Nixon, no less, to say more or less the same thing to listeners of a BBC Agenda program; and I quote from the transcript:
[GORE VIDAL - Richard M. Nixon - a wise as well as wicked man - said: 'The United States doesn't need a President domestically, because things run themselves. It needs one for foreign affairs'. Well, everybody misunderstood him. They thought he didn't like people, and so on - didn't want to do anything for them. He was being realistic. What he was saying was: corporate America owns the United States and it runs it, and the President is irrelevant. He's needed for foreign affairs, so he can bomb aspirin factories in the Sudan.]
And years before the Vidal interview - in one of his weekly Letter From America - the late Alistair Cooke told me that, during the weeks and weeks of deliberations that led to the final draft of the U S constitution, the word 'democracy was used but once. In pejoration.
So, now. You have the people of the U S. of A. captive to the government of the U S. of A., which, in turn, is captive to the Most Nefarious Conspiracies, aka multi-national corporations.
In our D.A.D. jargon, these MNCs are called Grunch - Google up the word if you must.
Grunch is an acronym coined by the late R Buckminster Fuller for his last book, Grunch of Giants. It is a collective noun, as in a 'pod of whales', or a 'pride of lions'.
It expands as "Gross Universal Cash Heist".
Today, you can think of it as an acronym for
Global Runaway Unconcern Neglecting Climate Harm.
Everytime the United States prepares for a Presidential election, I begin to shiver and quake.
"Which country(ies) will pay the price in blood so this guy/gal can have a good time for a few years?", a voice asks.
There was once a time when citizens of that country could stand in front of the White House and ask, "Hey, hey LBJ! How many babies did you kill today?"
It did prevent that Viet Nam 'stetson hat' from Texas from seeking a second term.
Now, when you tote up the Dad+Son Bush tenures, these other 'non-stetson' Texans have had three and a half terms.
No one stood up outside the White House to ask them about their collateral infanticide in distant lands.
And the people in the U. S. of A. claim they are an 'advanced' nation!
Advanced in what? In brutality?
Overtly, their government appears to me like that boy who uses his penknife to tear up the coccoon so the butterfly of democracy and free market will come out of Bosnia, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, N. Korea, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela - wherever - ready to fly in gratitude.... It doesn't matter if the Saudi and Pakistani non-democratic coccons are left untouched. They supposedly serve a higher purpose. - one of having double standards?
Covertly, the chicanery of Baker, Cheney and his ilk is best left to yellow journalism.
Compare the time when Lynden Baynes Johnson couldn't come out of the White house - because of the protest - with the present occupier who blithely uses "Executive privilege" to Not tell what the people's reprsentatives - the U S of A's Congress - want to know.
If the executive has such privileges that make it unaccountable, what kind of a democracy is that?
In our D.A.D. jargon, these MNCs are called Grunch - Google up the word if you must.
Grunch is an acronym coined by the late R Buckminster Fuller for his last book, Grunch of Giants. It is a collective noun, as in a 'pod of whales', or a 'pride of lions'.
It expands as "Gross Universal Cash Heist".
Today, you can think of it as an acronym for
Global Runaway Unconcern Neglecting Climate Harm.
Everytime the United States prepares for a Presidential election, I begin to shiver and quake.
"Which country(ies) will pay the price in blood so this guy/gal can have a good time for a few years?", a voice asks.
There was once a time when citizens of that country could stand in front of the White House and ask, "Hey, hey LBJ! How many babies did you kill today?"
It did prevent that Viet Nam 'stetson hat' from Texas from seeking a second term.
Now, when you tote up the Dad+Son Bush tenures, these other 'non-stetson' Texans have had three and a half terms.
No one stood up outside the White House to ask them about their collateral infanticide in distant lands.
And the people in the U. S. of A. claim they are an 'advanced' nation!
Advanced in what? In brutality?
Overtly, their government appears to me like that boy who uses his penknife to tear up the coccoon so the butterfly of democracy and free market will come out of Bosnia, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, N. Korea, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela - wherever - ready to fly in gratitude.... It doesn't matter if the Saudi and Pakistani non-democratic coccons are left untouched. They supposedly serve a higher purpose. - one of having double standards?
Covertly, the chicanery of Baker, Cheney and his ilk is best left to yellow journalism.
Compare the time when Lynden Baynes Johnson couldn't come out of the White house - because of the protest - with the present occupier who blithely uses "Executive privilege" to Not tell what the people's reprsentatives - the U S of A's Congress - want to know.
If the executive has such privileges that make it unaccountable, what kind of a democracy is that?
And the people? They are apparently still heady from celebrating their Independence Day to notice what their General in Iraq is saying.
To find out, click on a certain tell-tale link in the CogniMap below. He says that the coalition forces will have to stay in Iraq for several decades. This is longer at least be three times, than U S forces 'tour of napalming duty' in Agent Oranged Viet Nam.
Of course, there's no shame in that. They never really left Korea and Japan and its fifty+ years and counting.
There's also a link to a satire, with a click-enlargeable image, to get the world-view of the present White House junta.
The message from my Cerebral Information Aggregation is that war against terrorism is a smoke-screen for the global War on Democracy .
After years of producing documentaries, the Australian journalist John Pilger has a movie by that name to show US imperialism in action in Latin America Review1. Read Review1 and Review 2 on the
'The war on democracy' starring George W Bush, Hugo Chavez
Now, if you think I don't know about the good work the corporations are doing you would be wrong.
By design or accident, some remarkable work is being done by those who can free themselves for a while from the web of the bankers, financiers, brokers, accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers, and stupid analysts.
Via my short-wave, I get to track it, too.
But all this makes me sigh - and look at the tree.
The late R Buckmister Fuller pointed out that the tree was well organized to be a perennial revolutionary. Every year, it sheds its old leaves in the trust that new 'green' photo-synthesizing 'solar panels' will grow on its branches.
If you take time to notice - or listen to those who do - you can see that lots of creative destruction goes on and in around the tree at any given time.
Sit under it and you'll learn the real Chaos Theory. And the embedded Order in (apparent) Randomness.
The tree can effectively teach you Syntegrity - the Science of Orgainzations.
If humans incorporate and organize themselves like a tree, they'll need fewer high-paid MBA's. Get their real story Russell Ackoff who taught many of them at the Wharton School of Business here.
I think the coporations have to organize themselves more like those real trees, not the ones their managers and planners draw to show the 'Chain of Command' and the 'sequenced heirarchies'.
If I were hiring a manager, I'd say, "Forget the corporate ladders you've climed so far. Tell me, how many real trees have you climbed?"
II
To find out, click on a certain tell-tale link in the CogniMap below. He says that the coalition forces will have to stay in Iraq for several decades. This is longer at least be three times, than U S forces 'tour of napalming duty' in Agent Oranged Viet Nam.
Of course, there's no shame in that. They never really left Korea and Japan and its fifty+ years and counting.
There's also a link to a satire, with a click-enlargeable image, to get the world-view of the present White House junta.
The message from my Cerebral Information Aggregation is that war against terrorism is a smoke-screen for the global War on Democracy .
After years of producing documentaries, the Australian journalist John Pilger has a movie by that name to show US imperialism in action in Latin America Review1. Read Review1 and Review 2 on the
'The war on democracy' starring George W Bush, Hugo Chavez
Now, if you think I don't know about the good work the corporations are doing you would be wrong.
By design or accident, some remarkable work is being done by those who can free themselves for a while from the web of the bankers, financiers, brokers, accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers, and stupid analysts.
Via my short-wave, I get to track it, too.
But all this makes me sigh - and look at the tree.
The late R Buckmister Fuller pointed out that the tree was well organized to be a perennial revolutionary. Every year, it sheds its old leaves in the trust that new 'green' photo-synthesizing 'solar panels' will grow on its branches.
If you take time to notice - or listen to those who do - you can see that lots of creative destruction goes on and in around the tree at any given time.
Sit under it and you'll learn the real Chaos Theory. And the embedded Order in (apparent) Randomness.
The tree can effectively teach you Syntegrity - the Science of Orgainzations.
If humans incorporate and organize themselves like a tree, they'll need fewer high-paid MBA's. Get their real story Russell Ackoff who taught many of them at the Wharton School of Business here.
I think the coporations have to organize themselves more like those real trees, not the ones their managers and planners draw to show the 'Chain of Command' and the 'sequenced heirarchies'.
If I were hiring a manager, I'd say, "Forget the corporate ladders you've climed so far. Tell me, how many real trees have you climbed?"
II
I still have some energy left, after all, to do an abridged version of my anti- ERQ rant , Mark II.
On an on-line slide-show titled India -Truth Alone Triumphs *
the fourth click will get you to a 16-bulleted facts-summary along-side a "Map of India"*
On an on-line slide-show titled India -Truth Alone Triumphs *
the fourth click will get you to a 16-bulleted facts-summary along-side a "Map of India"*
- 14 says "Largest English-speaking nation in the world. but
- 2 & 3 respectively say "325 languages spoken - 1,652 dialects" and "18 official languages"
# 6 also caught my eye because, while it statisticates (I like this on-the-spur coin) print media in "21 languages" there is no mention of Net-eyeballs and SMS-thumbsters.
Aside from boggling the mind, a second look at the numbers in those bulleted facts might explain that
(a) Though India may have the largest English language users, their numbers still constitutes a low, single-digit demographic per centage; three, not in ten, but more likely, three in a hundred. You can cheat by adding 1 bit.
Aside from boggling the mind, a second look at the numbers in those bulleted facts might explain that
(a) Though India may have the largest English language users, their numbers still constitutes a low, single-digit demographic per centage; three, not in ten, but more likely, three in a hundred. You can cheat by adding 1 bit.
(b) Most of India is happily voluble and vociferous in its "325 spoken languages and 1,652 dialects". The thought of this should make the Tower of Babel look like one of those diminutive yellow cones the police use to divert traffic; and
(c) Why - even as kids having a connection to India but were born/raised abroad, say in countries where English is the first language, do well in them - we, over here, don't have spelling-bee contests in our languages.
Q. Why don't you have spelling-bee contests?
A. For a simple reason. Learning our languages does not involve spellings. Kids can write words they have never 'seen' before. Accurate listening is all that is needed.
I shall end this introduction by an example:
Feature is a Hindi newspaper link. Phonetically it is फीचर
(c) Why - even as kids having a connection to India but were born/raised abroad, say in countries where English is the first language, do well in them - we, over here, don't have spelling-bee contests in our languages.
Q. Why don't you have spelling-bee contests?
A. For a simple reason. Learning our languages does not involve spellings. Kids can write words they have never 'seen' before. Accurate listening is all that is needed.
I shall end this introduction by an example:
Feature is a Hindi newspaper link. Phonetically it is फीचर
In the first case, a child has to memorize - and always correctly reproduce - f-e-a-t-u-r-e.
In the second case, the child has no problem even if he has never 'seen' the word in print. For him, it is simply a matter of writing 'fu'+ee+chu'+ru'. (To check whether it's phonetic just say those syllables rapidly)
This is further simplified for him/her because all the letters of the alphabet, save, of course, the vowels, have an inbuilt 'u' sound.
When they need any of the other 11 vowels, a 'tag' will do. In the example aboue, there is no need to write the vowel that goes "ee". Just tagging its mark to 'fu' does it.
Once the child has learned the consonants, the 12 vowels and their tags, script-learning is over. Period. No upper and lower cases. No four ways of writing 'A'. And no 'e after c' rules for him.
Ask any child to write 'chlorotriaminoplatinouschloride' in an Indian language script and he/she'll say 'No Sweat!'
His mind is uncluttered by messages that are parallely and simultaneously 'telling' him how 'feature' should 'look' when scripted - otherwise it will be a mistake!
This child is ready to hone up his listening skills. You won't hear him quacking 'What!' as you do when you interact with a Roman scripter.
While learning to spell in the Roman script, I can almost hear the child's mind saying to itself: "Remember its f-e-a-t' as in feat and not feet . If you write f-e-e-t they'll think you are stupid."
So, we go about the 'mandated' task of stupefying and frightening the next generation; and then we expect it, collectively, to correct the mistakes we made (the Climate crisis comes to mind), to live in peace, care for the environment, make sensible choices; and without being fooled by smooth talking snake-oils salemen, vote intelligently. By imposing a non-phonetic script on their minds, we have, as far as I am concerned, programed them to fail miserably in all of the above.
A phonetic script, to me, is like a Ferrari while the nonphonetic script that requires a child to learn spellings is like one of those gas-guzzling clunkers that the great U. S. auto industry still insists on making to save the 'Free World'.
Teaching phonetic scripts would really give the kids a head start. Is it on anyone's priority list?
UNICEF, where are you? And where are you all who campaign for The Rights of The Child?.....
As you seive through the Link-shower, ponder what Tûlsidäs, a much revered and loved Hindoo saint said,
"God has become your calming Window.
Sit at it and observe the world/cosmos."
* You can download an older version from ananthapuri's blog where the fact summary appears as Slide 2.
*(I have added the quote marks because I shall have - in another blog later - something to say about these maps and how "India" is generally "viewed" here and abroad.. The late R Buckminster Fuller once described it as an "arrowhead")
* Clicking on ERQ will get you to the blog where it is expanded and explained.
In the second case, the child has no problem even if he has never 'seen' the word in print. For him, it is simply a matter of writing 'fu'+ee+chu'+ru'. (To check whether it's phonetic just say those syllables rapidly)
This is further simplified for him/her because all the letters of the alphabet, save, of course, the vowels, have an inbuilt 'u' sound.
When they need any of the other 11 vowels, a 'tag' will do. In the example aboue, there is no need to write the vowel that goes "ee". Just tagging its mark to 'fu' does it.
Once the child has learned the consonants, the 12 vowels and their tags, script-learning is over. Period. No upper and lower cases. No four ways of writing 'A'. And no 'e after c' rules for him.
Ask any child to write 'chlorotriaminoplatinouschloride' in an Indian language script and he/she'll say 'No Sweat!'
His mind is uncluttered by messages that are parallely and simultaneously 'telling' him how 'feature' should 'look' when scripted - otherwise it will be a mistake!
This child is ready to hone up his listening skills. You won't hear him quacking 'What!' as you do when you interact with a Roman scripter.
While learning to spell in the Roman script, I can almost hear the child's mind saying to itself: "Remember its f-e-a-t' as in feat and not feet . If you write f-e-e-t they'll think you are stupid."
So, we go about the 'mandated' task of stupefying and frightening the next generation; and then we expect it, collectively, to correct the mistakes we made (the Climate crisis comes to mind), to live in peace, care for the environment, make sensible choices; and without being fooled by smooth talking snake-oils salemen, vote intelligently. By imposing a non-phonetic script on their minds, we have, as far as I am concerned, programed them to fail miserably in all of the above.
A phonetic script, to me, is like a Ferrari while the nonphonetic script that requires a child to learn spellings is like one of those gas-guzzling clunkers that the great U. S. auto industry still insists on making to save the 'Free World'.
Teaching phonetic scripts would really give the kids a head start. Is it on anyone's priority list?
UNICEF, where are you? And where are you all who campaign for The Rights of The Child?.....
As you seive through the Link-shower, ponder what Tûlsidäs, a much revered and loved Hindoo saint said,
"God has become your calming Window.
Sit at it and observe the world/cosmos."
* You can download an older version from ananthapuri's blog where the fact summary appears as Slide 2.
*(I have added the quote marks because I shall have - in another blog later - something to say about these maps and how "India" is generally "viewed" here and abroad.. The late R Buckminster Fuller once described it as an "arrowhead")
* Clicking on ERQ will get you to the blog where it is expanded and explained.
TECHNOLOGY & Engineering
Game world gets ready for E3 show
Sony cuts Playstation price in US
Online auction for security bugs
FBI tries to fight zombie hordes
Bug hunters get big cash rewards
Game world gets ready for E3 show
Sony cuts Playstation price in US
Online auction for security bugs
FBI tries to fight zombie hordes
Bug hunters get big cash rewards
O2 'to get iPhone contract in UK'
Universal 'to revise iTunes deal'
Universal 'to revise iTunes deal'
Towards a peta era AP Do it yourself with Koala scripts
The BlackBerry is taking over! DH-CS07jul04
IT BYTES CYBER STOP PRODUCTS
Dopod's U1000 – 3.5G mini notebook at Rs 69,555
The BlackBerry is taking over! DH-CS07jul04
IT BYTES CYBER STOP PRODUCTS
Dopod's U1000 – 3.5G mini notebook at Rs 69,555
SMART Board™ 9.7 - more digital resources for teachers
BlackBerry Curve at Rs 24,999 through Airtel and Hutch
ProbTroubleshoots:Dualboot-ClipArt-TempFiles-FloppyDrive
e utilities has info on the following app downloads
DL 13.9 MB Active Virus Shield - autoUpdates every hour
DL Firefox's Universal Uploader - 1 Alternate - 2
Dl 1.6 MB ZuluPad nicknamed 'desktop wiki'
DL 355 KB Extension Changer 0.5 "1,57,642 downloads"
DL Audacity - Cross-Platform Sound Editor version 1.2.6
Chinese troops to wear "digital camouflage" uniforms
Vibrations harnessing generator
New-gen cars can automatically slow down over a pothole
Serbians clean up toxic river
Green ways to charge up your mobile phone - until Tues
Crisp's "Grooming protection" for kids Tues
Sun-wind power Namibia's mobilephone base Tues
Solar Aid's solution can help charge your cell phone Tues
Kitchen wok improves TV studio-transmitter linkage Tues
Links: Crisp Crisp software Namibia solar trial Solar Aid
Costly failures: Xbox troubles Microsoft
Nano Tech "vibes" generator harnesses vibrations
Expand image manually
BlackBerry Curve at Rs 24,999 through Airtel and Hutch
ProbTroubleshoots:Dualboot-ClipArt-TempFiles-FloppyDrive
e utilities has info on the following app downloads
DL 13.9 MB Active Virus Shield - autoUpdates every hour
DL Firefox's Universal Uploader - 1 Alternate - 2
Dl 1.6 MB ZuluPad nicknamed 'desktop wiki'
DL 355 KB Extension Changer 0.5 "1,57,642 downloads"
DL Audacity - Cross-Platform Sound Editor version 1.2.6
Chinese troops to wear "digital camouflage" uniforms
Vibrations harnessing generator
New-gen cars can automatically slow down over a pothole
Serbians clean up toxic riverGreen ways to charge up your mobile phone - until TuesCrisp's "Grooming protection" for kids TuesSun-wind power Namibia's mobilephone base TuesSolar Aid's solution can help charge your cell phone TuesKitchen wok improves TV studio-transmitter linkage TuesLinks: Crisp Crisp software Namibia solar trial Solar Aid
Costly failures: Xbox troubles Microsoft Nano Tech "vibes" generator harnesses vibrations Expand image manually
SCIENCE/NATURE
Solar Cycle Prediction(NASA)
Delay for Nasa asteroid mission
Boeing unveils Dreamliner plane
DNA reveals Greenland's lush past
Strong earthquake strikes Mexico
Ancient American bird was glider
Wind farm 'is threat to eagles'
A smart way to save energy?
UK presses private Galileo role
UK microscope probes atomic domains
Atomic microscope nears into full operation
Homeland of the domestic cat identified
'Men are the silent gender' theory disproved
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
Modern Vikings record their epic North Sea voyage
Not Sunita alone, many women shape space research
UK presses private Galileo role
UK microscope probes atomic domains
Atomic microscope nears into full operation
Homeland of the domestic cat identified
'Men are the silent gender' theory disproved
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
Modern Vikings record their epic North Sea voyage
Not Sunita alone, many women shape space research
Microbes mutate to end up as entire ecosystems
Bangalore buses GPS-GIS-SMS location to passangers
U S farmers find selling carbon credits profitable
Bangalore buses GPS-GIS-SMS location to passangers
U S farmers find selling carbon credits profitable
CEDT Expo highlights 'academia-industry' collaberation
70% of India's 92 b litres milk could be contaminated
70% of India's 92 b litres milk could be contaminated
Black holes are hot Good vibes power tiny generator
The America's Cup
HEALTH
Timeline: 25 years of HIV/Aids
Many 'still ignorant about HIV'
Many 'still ignorant about HIV'
Girl could give birth to sibling
Australian condom-maker is on the look out for testers
What life was like for one young girl who self-harmed
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Artificial Pancreas could be a solution to diabetes
'Men are the silent gender' theory disproved
Cataract surgery for the elderly helps African orphans
This first-person medical report is a must-read
'Surgeons In India More Able Than Those In The West'
'Healthcare in US is $8,000 pp-pa vs India's less than $20'
Stem Cell: The Body As Clinic Look Who Is Playing God
A Bit Of Me, Frozen For Years
No ethical questions when cloning a human organ
PET links brain enzyme to violence
Eat Smart: Wonders of whole grains
Wheezing in children - a doctor advises
Positive response to registering clinical trials seen
Project to treat cardiovascular patients
Retardatory syndrome (FXS) symptoms reversed
Australian condom-maker is on the look out for testers
What life was like for one young girl who self-harmed
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Artificial Pancreas could be a solution to diabetes
'Men are the silent gender' theory disproved
Cataract surgery for the elderly helps African orphans
This first-person medical report is a must-read
'Surgeons In India More Able Than Those In The West'
'Healthcare in US is $8,000 pp-pa vs India's less than $20'
Stem Cell: The Body As Clinic Look Who Is Playing God
A Bit Of Me, Frozen For Years
No ethical questions when cloning a human organ
PET links brain enzyme to violence
Eat Smart: Wonders of whole grains
Wheezing in children - a doctor advises
Positive response to registering clinical trials seen
Project to treat cardiovascular patients
Retardatory syndrome (FXS) symptoms reversed
He wanted to see how garlic lowered bad cholesterol and..
Killers in cigerette packets Why is flame usually orange?
Killers in cigerette packets Why is flame usually orange?
Lab Report Bacteria-eat-mosquito system Petal power
Video footage of a foetus smiling in the womb-1 2
W.H.O. Baby Growth Charts were in error
Girl may give birth to sibling
Video footage of a foetus smiling in the womb-1 2
W.H.O. Baby Growth Charts were in errorGirl may give birth to sibling Climate-Environment-Development
Balochistan flood despair
Fury over Pakistan flood relief
Pakistan's dam of sorrow?
Chinese hardwood demand threatens tropical trees
Australia farmers' drought strain
Live Earth gigs send eco-warning
Global vote picks Seven Wonders
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
Little respite from a dozen + wildfires in the USA
Boeing unveils Dreamliner plane
Live Earth gigs send eco-warning
Where have all the bees gone?
'Scepticism' over climate claims
A smart way to save energy?
Finding the right chemistry
Heavier cars are cancelling out efforts to cut emissions
Shanghai's plan to build a green city on Yangtze Delta
Balochistan flood despair
Fury over Pakistan flood relief
Pakistan's dam of sorrow?
Chinese hardwood demand threatens tropical trees
Australia farmers' drought strain
Live Earth gigs send eco-warning
Global vote picks Seven Wonders
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
Little respite from a dozen + wildfires in the USA
Boeing unveils Dreamliner plane
Live Earth gigs send eco-warning
Where have all the bees gone?
'Scepticism' over climate claims
A smart way to save energy?
Finding the right chemistry
Heavier cars are cancelling out efforts to cut emissions
Shanghai's plan to build a green city on Yangtze Delta
Wind farm 'is threat to eagles'
Warming 'made lake vanish'
Future of Bolivia's national park worrisome
6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Mexico
California inspires America in climate change rethink
Warming 'made lake vanish'
Future of Bolivia's national park worrisome
6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Mexico
California inspires America in climate change rethink
Has climate change become a reality for you?
Climate change impact underestimated - Monbiot
'Sea levels could rise by as much as 59cm this century'
Plastic? No problem! Indian rain toll crosses 600
After the rains rescue operations continue in Gujarat
In S India rains wreak havoc, dams overflow
Rains savaged Mumbai reliving its Venice nightmare - pix
Gender friendly pedal pump for rainfed cultivation
Control of mango inflorescence hopper
How to increase fruit yield in old pomegranate tree
How to prevent tree roots from cracking walls
Answer to a question on "Absorbing Water"
Pursuing the polluters
Uganda's Mabira forest on BBC One Planet until Thurs
Climate change impact underestimated - Monbiot
'Sea levels could rise by as much as 59cm this century'
Plastic? No problem! Indian rain toll crosses 600
After the rains rescue operations continue in Gujarat
In S India rains wreak havoc, dams overflow
Rains savaged Mumbai reliving its Venice nightmare - pix
Gender friendly pedal pump for rainfed cultivation
Control of mango inflorescence hopper
How to increase fruit yield in old pomegranate tree
How to prevent tree roots from cracking walls
Answer to a question on "Absorbing Water"
Pursuing the pollutersUganda's Mabira forest on BBC One Planet until ThursBUSINESS
Paying in pig tusks in Vanuatu
Tobacco firms eye up China
Japan firm makes bid for Barneys
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
Boeing unveils Dreamliner plane
Lawlessness plagues oil rich Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Outsourcing impact 'exaggerated'
Indian stocks jump to record high
Industry grows unexpectedly fast
From Oct 28 TigerAirways to Chennai 4/wk & Kochi 3/wk
Wipro's Azim Premji one of Business Week's top 30
Paying in pig tusks in Vanuatu
Tobacco firms eye up China
Japan firm makes bid for Barneys
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
Boeing unveils Dreamliner plane
Lawlessness plagues oil rich Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Outsourcing impact 'exaggerated'
Indian stocks jump to record high
Industry grows unexpectedly fast
Zoellick backs World Bank's role
Nigeria fears push oil over $76
Boeing prepares for 787 premiere
Boeing plane deliveries take off
Airbus order revives rivalry
Nigeria fears push oil over $76
Boeing prepares for 787 premiere
Boeing plane deliveries take off
Airbus order revives rivalry
Hawkshead calls in administrators
S Africa unions call off strike
Japan firm makes bid for Barneys
Gulf banks discussing merger
S Korea shares hit record highs
Akzo Nobel gets ICI bid deadline
UK interest rates raised to 5.75%
Leeds 'may not start next season'
Blackstone buys Hilton for $26bn
Saga and AA enjoy zero tax bill
Equity firm targets Virgin Media
Russians love Putin's economics; it scares the West
Australian condom-maker is on the look out for testers
Ciao Cinquecento 500 to spearhead Fiats' revival
US media wants mafia trial to Conrad Black's fraud case
Anger over U S regulators' business 'terror list'
Post Potsdam blues UBS ousts chief executive Wuffli
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Boeing to unveil 'green' Dreamliner passenger jet
French carmakers post weak sales
Heavier cars are cancelling out efforts to cut emissions
UK interest rates raised to 5.75%
Leeds 'may not start next season'
Blackstone buys Hilton for $26bn
Saga and AA enjoy zero tax bill
Equity firm targets Virgin Media
Russians love Putin's economics; it scares the West
Australian condom-maker is on the look out for testers
Ciao Cinquecento 500 to spearhead Fiats' revival
US media wants mafia trial to Conrad Black's fraud case
Anger over U S regulators' business 'terror list'
Post Potsdam blues UBS ousts chief executive Wuffli
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Boeing to unveil 'green' Dreamliner passenger jet
French carmakers post weak sales
Heavier cars are cancelling out efforts to cut emissions
Blackstone to buy Hilton Hotels Cubiks partners Quadrangle
Bharti, Nokia ink $900 m deal India's GDP growth sags
Aviva Life's child policy has S Tendulkar as brand ambassador
Culture of an organisation decides its success
Fibres & Fabrics Intrntnl fights Dutch Clean Cloth CampaignBharti, Nokia ink $900 m deal India's GDP growth sags
Aviva Life's child policy has S Tendulkar as brand ambassador
Culture of an organisation decides its success
From Oct 28 TigerAirways to Chennai 4/wk & Kochi 3/wk
Wipro's Azim Premji one of Business Week's top 30
Japan commits $10 b for Delhi-Mumbai corridor
Marriott plans new star hotel in Blore
Time of 'submission' is over, Brazil tells WTO giants
Marriott plans new star hotel in Blore
Time of 'submission' is over, Brazil tells WTO giants
PricewaterhouseCoopers' exMD joins Deloitte
Notice issued to Wakf Board chairperson re Muesh Ambani
New mining policy may be tabled in winter session
RPG group signs MoU with Vietnam National Chemical
Inflation measure, WPI, doesn't reflect retail realities
Kingfisher & Jet make all out bid to rule the Indian skies
The dying factories of Kano
Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner roll out in pictures
Notice issued to Wakf Board chairperson re Muesh Ambani
New mining policy may be tabled in winter session
RPG group signs MoU with Vietnam National Chemical
Inflation measure, WPI, doesn't reflect retail realities
Kingfisher & Jet make all out bid to rule the Indian skies
The dying factories of Kano
Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner roll out in pictures
Lifestyle-Features-Cultre-Arts-Literature
Danish Roskilde festival replicates Glastonbury tradition
Catholic school in Australia 'rejects' boy named 'Hell'
Vietnamese granny, 75, fights back against corruption
Chinaese village countryside - in pictures
'Neighbours effect' tried on Japan
Berlin zoo ends bear-keeper romps
Pope ends Latin Mass restriction
Thai child sex industry victim becames trafficker
Live Earth gigs send eco-warning
Cycling: McEwen wins thriller
Polish spirit Secrets and spokespersons
Millions vote Wonders of the World - pictures
In pictures: Running of the Bulls
Ancient Roman world secrets at risk in Albania
'Racist' Lima restaurant closed
Triple-seven fever grips the US
Zimbabweans on shopping spree
In removing cataract elderly help Afrca's orphans
What life was like for one young girl who self-harmed
The Humanity Encircling MySpace vs Utterly Stupid
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Rakhi Sawant's mouth disproportionate to her ears - pix
"British thought & society, yet uncleansed of imperial filth"
"TheRetreatOfDemocracy: Globalisation-Democracy-&-India"
Kaushik Basu's book, above, linked as "Top-Down Whims"
"India 60: Towards A New Paradigm" by Ira Pande
Millions vote Wonders of the World - pictures
In pictures: Running of the Bulls
Ancient Roman world secrets at risk in Albania
'Racist' Lima restaurant closed
Triple-seven fever grips the US
Zimbabweans on shopping spree
In removing cataract elderly help Afrca's orphans
What life was like for one young girl who self-harmed
The Humanity Encircling MySpace vs Utterly Stupid
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Rakhi Sawant's mouth disproportionate to her ears - pix
"British thought & society, yet uncleansed of imperial filth"
"TheRetreatOfDemocracy: Globalisation-Democracy-&-India"
Kaushik Basu's book, above, linked as "Top-Down Whims"
"India 60: Towards A New Paradigm" by Ira Pande
The Greedy Bhikshus cut a branch and the heritage bleeds
Hinduism in American academia and its politics
Kolkata's sqalor hangs unashamedly on history's coattails
Hinduism in American academia and its politics
Kolkata's sqalor hangs unashamedly on history's coattails
"Oliver Stone part of the 'Great Satan' cultural establishment"
"The Queen" Namrata Joshi raves over its cinematic art
BBC World main anchor Nik Gowing answers 10 questions
"The Queen" Namrata Joshi raves over its cinematic art
BBC World main anchor Nik Gowing answers 10 questions
Mother of all action heroines - Medesty Blaise
Crime writers change names to write other fiction
'Master art to become precisely articulate' - David Mitchell
Franz Kafka - "The Trial" - "I Am a Memory Come Alive"
The greatest newshound in the Building
Jerome K. Jerome's fiction Chicken tikka lit
Alexandria - The library that vanished Morocco's toilet family
21 stories by South Asian women under 40 - review
"Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name" - review
"Different crossovers" - a novel on gender & rural politics
"Star-Crossed" brings the world of movies alive
Poetry: "Suckling Eve" "Across the Divide"
Translations: "I, Ramaseshan" "Krishna Krishna"
"Samyukta" is researcher's delight £18m for Raphael Painting
"Sounds of silence" - Pack it for Himalayan trekking
"Real women, real stories" about voluble Bengali women
Deconstructing myths about ageing A cowherd hero
Set in 1857, Julian Rathbone's novel is a gripping read
Wimbledon - hard-nosed capitalism mixed with romance
Portuguese contrution to India's gastronomical fare
Missionary-scholar Robert Caldwell's Kodaikanal
Mussoorie ca reveal an untouristy face, too
Dhanraj Pillay's unauthorised biographer speaks
For 'Second Life' - make sure you have the cash
Kangaroo Island, Australia, a great 'Watch'
Istanbul's challenges similar to those in Indian metros
Migrant labourers in Karnataka realizing their rights
"The Gentle Knight of Music" a confluence of genius
Bill Kirkman explores UK's "Change at the helm"
Kalpana Sharma is "Moving beyond symbols" this time
The Hindu 'India Beats' column on "The means to excel"
Mike Marqsee says its(?) "Much more than just cricket"
Tanushree' postcard from "Hot & happening Hong Kong"
Sightings: AamirKhan AnupamKher Arindam Chaudhuri
Rushdie-Padma Lakshmi honeymoon officially over
Pristine west coast veneer hides religious mobilisation gorge
Jonathan Harel's Lyrics Collection by Artist By popularity
China's Central Asian influence threatens Uighurs
Photography unites kids the Middle East conflict
Frances Harrison says farewell to a changed Iran
Cult star steers Indian film
Greenpeace ship sinks in NZ harbour - July 10 1985
An Atheist's prayer book - Author tells you about it
Miss Buttolph's Menu Collection ' BBC On CloseUp' until Fri
Listen to Culture Shock for a report on Live Earth plus
Crime writers change names to write other fiction
'Master art to become precisely articulate' - David Mitchell
Franz Kafka - "The Trial" - "I Am a Memory Come Alive"
The greatest newshound in the Building
Jerome K. Jerome's fiction Chicken tikka lit
Alexandria - The library that vanished Morocco's toilet family
21 stories by South Asian women under 40 - review
"Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name" - review
"Different crossovers" - a novel on gender & rural politics
"Star-Crossed" brings the world of movies alive
Poetry: "Suckling Eve" "Across the Divide"
Translations: "I, Ramaseshan" "Krishna Krishna"
"Samyukta" is researcher's delight £18m for Raphael Painting
"Sounds of silence" - Pack it for Himalayan trekking
"Real women, real stories" about voluble Bengali women
Deconstructing myths about ageing A cowherd hero
Set in 1857, Julian Rathbone's novel is a gripping read
Wimbledon - hard-nosed capitalism mixed with romance
Portuguese contrution to India's gastronomical fare
Missionary-scholar Robert Caldwell's Kodaikanal
Mussoorie ca reveal an untouristy face, too
Dhanraj Pillay's unauthorised biographer speaks
For 'Second Life' - make sure you have the cash
Kangaroo Island, Australia, a great 'Watch'
Istanbul's challenges similar to those in Indian metros
Migrant labourers in Karnataka realizing their rights
"The Gentle Knight of Music" a confluence of genius
Bill Kirkman explores UK's "Change at the helm"
Kalpana Sharma is "Moving beyond symbols" this time
The Hindu 'India Beats' column on "The means to excel"
Mike Marqsee says its(?) "Much more than just cricket"
Tanushree' postcard from "Hot & happening Hong Kong"
Sightings: AamirKhan AnupamKher Arindam Chaudhuri
Rushdie-Padma Lakshmi honeymoon officially over
Pristine west coast veneer hides religious mobilisation gorge
Jonathan Harel's Lyrics Collection by Artist By popularity
China's Central Asian influence threatens Uighurs
Photography unites kids the Middle East conflict
Frances Harrison says farewell to a changed Iran
Cult star steers Indian film
Greenpeace ship sinks in NZ harbour - July 10 1985
Analysis of how the World Service performed in 2006-7
"My prayerbook for atheists" - a siddur by Tzemah Yoreh
"My prayerbook for atheists" - a siddur by Tzemah Yoreh
An Atheist's prayer book - Author tells you about it Miss Buttolph's Menu Collection ' BBC On CloseUp' until FriListen to Culture Shock for a report on Live Earth plusSmorkers' Pods & Japanese skin-eating fish beauty-treatment
Listen to Charlie Gillett's World of Music until Sat
Listen to Charlie Gillett's World of Music until Sat For clips by Shweta Jhaveri of India/USA & other countries
World News
Pakistan's dam of sorrow?
Pakistani soldiers storm mosque
In pictures: Red Mosque assault
Sadr attacks Iraq PM in Shia rift
Global vote picks Seven Wonders
Press mulls Blair Quartet role
Israeli paratroopers rescue rare eagles from pet shop
Kidnapped lioness reunited with brother in Gaza Zoo
Jordan still divided a year after Israel-Hezbollah war
UK PM Brown reminds EU of 'red lines'
Stolen watch haul found in France
African migrants' influx creates tensions for Malta
Catholic school in Australia 'rejects' boy named 'Hell'
Vietnamese granny, 75, fights back against corruption
Chinese village countryside - in pictures
'Neighbours effect' tried on Japan
Japan airline's ban on bulldogs
Press mulls Blair Quartet role
Israeli paratroopers rescue rare eagles from pet shop
Kidnapped lioness reunited with brother in Gaza Zoo
Jordan still divided a year after Israel-Hezbollah war
UK PM Brown reminds EU of 'red lines'
Stolen watch haul found in France
African migrants' influx creates tensions for Malta
Catholic school in Australia 'rejects' boy named 'Hell'
Vietnamese granny, 75, fights back against corruption
Chinese village countryside - in pictures
'Neighbours effect' tried on Japan
Japan airline's ban on bulldogs
Fijian died in Iraq accident
Japan's Abe's sinking popularity
Aussie PM Howard's resolve on Iraq
Blair aides 'had Iraq war doubts'
Chinese hardwood demand threatens tropical trees
Thai child sex industry victim becames trafficker
UN denies firing 'whistleblower'
Iraqi 'insurgency' could take decades - Lt Gen D Petraeus
Baghdad killings 'rise sharply'
Monitoring US troops' surge in Iraq
Japan's Abe's sinking popularity
Aussie PM Howard's resolve on Iraq
Blair aides 'had Iraq war doubts'
Chinese hardwood demand threatens tropical trees
Thai child sex industry victim becames trafficker
UN denies firing 'whistleblower'
Iraqi 'insurgency' could take decades - Lt Gen D Petraeus
Baghdad killings 'rise sharply'
Monitoring US troops' surge in Iraq
Boy-killer lions 'to die' in S-Africa
No timetable for uniting Africa
Rwandan jailed for UN murders
UK nurses die in Mozambique
Mauritania slavery bill is 'weak'
Poorly-kept lawn lands U S woman in jail
No timetable for uniting Africa
Rwandan jailed for UN murders
UK nurses die in Mozambique
Mauritania slavery bill is 'weak'
Poorly-kept lawn lands U S woman in jail
Refugees die in Somali accident
Call for Biafra to leave Nigeria
French Congo fraud probe 'racist'
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
BBC Top Gear programme 'damaged Botswana salt pans'
How are expats being protected from kidnappings abroad?
Donations help Moroccan family escape toilet home
Zimbabwe torturer describes horror he inflicted
Battling global drug smugglers in a country without a prison
Call for Biafra to leave Nigeria
French Congo fraud probe 'racist'
Greenbacks rain on California's green energy industry
BBC Top Gear programme 'damaged Botswana salt pans'
How are expats being protected from kidnappings abroad?
Donations help Moroccan family escape toilet home
Zimbabwe torturer describes horror he inflicted
Battling global drug smugglers in a country without a prison
Pakistan mosque siege intensifies
Mosque siege aids Musharraf's political survival
FBI tries to fight zombie hordes
African orphans helped as elderly have cataract surgery
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Relations Break Down Between U.S. And Them - a satire
Is Tony Blair "A Male Paris Hilton?" - Uri Avnery
Journalists to follow Blair, generate noise.. take pictures
The UN Middle East Quartet is a U S front organization
How China Forced Musharraf To Move
Pak clerics' 'Sword Of Islam' to strike Britain? - R Puri
The Jundullah In UK? Doctors' Jihad Medicos Behind Blasts?
Caught In A Jehadi Vicious Circle Back In The Spotlight
Condoleezza says "NAM irrelevant" Indian MEA disagrees
Japan defense minister quits over atom bomb gaffe
Mosque siege aids Musharraf's political survival
FBI tries to fight zombie hordes
African orphans helped as elderly have cataract surgery
Malawi's coffin makers struggle - fewer Aids victms now
Relations Break Down Between U.S. And Them - a satire
Is Tony Blair "A Male Paris Hilton?" - Uri Avnery
Journalists to follow Blair, generate noise.. take pictures
The UN Middle East Quartet is a U S front organization
How China Forced Musharraf To Move
Pak clerics' 'Sword Of Islam' to strike Britain? - R Puri
The Jundullah In UK? Doctors' Jihad Medicos Behind Blasts?
Caught In A Jehadi Vicious Circle Back In The Spotlight
Condoleezza says "NAM irrelevant" Indian MEA disagrees
Japan defense minister quits over atom bomb gaffe
Hillary Clinton brings in 'big gun' Bill
Chinese troops to wear "digital camouflage" uniforms
France, Spain top tourist destinations: UN
The politics of Tibet: a 2007 reality check
Vietnam PM identifies sectors for co-operation with India
USS Nimitz visit to Chennai has security implications
U S Prez Polls: "Brown Stroke On Vibgyor" Color vs Charisma
A barb at Hillary stings Indians, Obama regrets the 'screw-up'
Monster Bangla Bhai's reign of terror in Bangladesh
Dhaka still unwilling to admit it allows Indian outfits
Kabul limos prove hit with locals
Plassey rekindles anti-imperialism
Balochistan flood despair
Belgian guest finds freezer bodies
Blast targets Iraq wedding party
Kabul limos prove hit with locals
Secular demands in Turkey
BBC's new Page
(What could be up in) The week ahead
INDIA
British Raj judgement on Hindus-only hot spring still holds
Plassey rekindles anti-imperialism
Cult star steers Indian film Ex-Indian PM cremated
BBC S Asia Guest columnists' opinions link
Outsourcing impact 'exaggerated'
Woman strips in dowry row
Indian stocks jump to record high
Chinese troops to wear "digital camouflage" uniforms
France, Spain top tourist destinations: UN
The politics of Tibet: a 2007 reality check
Vietnam PM identifies sectors for co-operation with India
USS Nimitz visit to Chennai has security implications
U S Prez Polls: "Brown Stroke On Vibgyor" Color vs Charisma
A barb at Hillary stings Indians, Obama regrets the 'screw-up'
Monster Bangla Bhai's reign of terror in Bangladesh
Dhaka still unwilling to admit it allows Indian outfits
Kabul limos prove hit with locals
Plassey rekindles anti-imperialism
Balochistan flood despair
Belgian guest finds freezer bodies
Blast targets Iraq wedding party
Kabul limos prove hit with locals
S Asia neighbours resume links
Afghan village mirrors ordinary citizens' dilemma
British Raj judgement on Hindus-only hot spring still holds
BBC S Asia Guest columnists' opinions link
U.S. vs Them - a satire
Afghan village mirrors ordinary citizens' dilemma
British Raj judgement on Hindus-only hot spring still holds
BBC S Asia Guest columnists' opinions link
U.S. vs Them - a satire
Enlarge Image 
Rumsfeld
Secular demands in TurkeyBBC's new Page
(What could be up in) The week ahead
INDIA
British Raj judgement on Hindus-only hot spring still holds
Plassey rekindles anti-imperialism
Cult star steers Indian film Ex-Indian PM cremated
BBC S Asia Guest columnists' opinions link
Outsourcing impact 'exaggerated'
Woman strips in dowry row
Indian stocks jump to record high
'Sharp drop' in India Aids levels
Fighting India's Aids apathy
French dealers loot Le Corbusier's legacy in Chandigarh..
USS Nimitz visit to Chennai has security implications
Infiltration into Jammu & Kashmir on the upswing
Condoleezza says "NAM irrelevant" Indian MEA disagrees
In S India rains wreak havoc, dams overflow
After the rains rescue operations continue in Gujarat
Rains savaged Mumbai reliving its Venice nightmare - pix
Indian rain toll crosses 600 Fresh fears in Kashmir
Unused Rs 16-lakh machine rusting in Palike garret
Baboos give a Job for an astonishing 642 days a year!
"Severe water shortage in the next few decades" - PM
Manmohan Singh calls for water conservation
New mining policy may be tabled in winter session
Vietnam PM identifies sectors for co-operation with India
Security for our perceived VVIPs is now a big drain
Prez-elect mudlinging makes the highest office stands small
The prez campaign: Why women wear veils - R Puri
Dawood's deported men walk free in Mumbai
BBC's new Page
For breaking news-stories Desktop alerts
Download fonts for the following jagran.com stories in Hindi
RealEstate Co DLF's IPO oversubscribed 36 times issue price
India-Vietnam do an FTA WB to give USD2.5 AIDS Control
Indians can now get visa-on-arrival in Ethiopia
Mobile business slated to increase 65%
AN essay on the unsympathetic Indian Administrative Service
Demand to expand export list to China via Nathula Pass
For eradicating tuberculosis Rs 109 Crore committed
Plane crashes into cars - 9 die in the accident
Moslem Advisor-custodian for Boudh Temple
French dealers loot Le Corbusier's legacy in Chandigarh..
USS Nimitz visit to Chennai has security implications
Infiltration into Jammu & Kashmir on the upswing
Condoleezza says "NAM irrelevant" Indian MEA disagrees
In S India rains wreak havoc, dams overflow
After the rains rescue operations continue in Gujarat
Rains savaged Mumbai reliving its Venice nightmare - pix
Indian rain toll crosses 600 Fresh fears in Kashmir
Unused Rs 16-lakh machine rusting in Palike garret
Baboos give a Job for an astonishing 642 days a year!
"Severe water shortage in the next few decades" - PM
Manmohan Singh calls for water conservation
New mining policy may be tabled in winter session
Vietnam PM identifies sectors for co-operation with India
Security for our perceived VVIPs is now a big drain
Prez-elect mudlinging makes the highest office stands small
The prez campaign: Why women wear veils - R Puri
Dawood's deported men walk free in Mumbai
BBC's new Page
For breaking news-stories Desktop alerts
Download fonts for the following jagran.com stories in Hindi
RealEstate Co DLF's IPO oversubscribed 36 times issue price
India-Vietnam do an FTA WB to give USD2.5 AIDS Control
Indians can now get visa-on-arrival in Ethiopia
Mobile business slated to increase 65%
AN essay on the unsympathetic Indian Administrative Service
Demand to expand export list to China via Nathula Pass
For eradicating tuberculosis Rs 109 Crore committed
Plane crashes into cars - 9 die in the accident
Moslem Advisor-custodian for Boudh Temple
Religious Books and Hindoo Society
Dam opens 15 flood gates Dam opens 5 more flood gates
Village headman dies of snakebite
Labor Inspector nabbed while taking bribe
Captive factory officers released after salary promise
Absconding policeman arrested
Road-Drain agitation takes a stone-pelting turn
The Jagran Page for Non Resident Indians
Is Marriage an obstacle to a Glamorous Life?
How to make lemon Jelly & other recipes
How to become a "Company Secretary" & other career tips
These dogs also pray at the temple Man who eats live snakes
No crime in this village Chocolates & Kisses reduce BP
This gear makes soldiers invisible
Dainik Jagran News from 21º28' N, 83º58' E
मुख्य पृष्ठ समाचार पंचांग 2007 धर्म मार्ग जूनियर जागरण 7272
जरा हट के जागरण ग्रीटिंग्स साहित्य जागरण रेडियो ई-पेपर मेट्रीमॉनी
जागरण सखी आपकी बात जागरण यात्रा जागरण क्रिकेट सिने मज़ा
मेरा जागरण वर्गीकृत जागरण जोश राशिफल गुदगुदी खाना खजाना
जागरण शॉपिंग जागरण विशेष जागरण इमेज मंडियां रिजल्ट
Solar Cycle Prediction(NASA)
Dam opens 15 flood gates Dam opens 5 more flood gates
Village headman dies of snakebite
Labor Inspector nabbed while taking bribe
Captive factory officers released after salary promise
Absconding policeman arrested
Road-Drain agitation takes a stone-pelting turn
The Jagran Page for Non Resident Indians
Is Marriage an obstacle to a Glamorous Life?
How to make lemon Jelly & other recipes
How to become a "Company Secretary" & other career tips
These dogs also pray at the temple Man who eats live snakes
No crime in this village Chocolates & Kisses reduce BP
This gear makes soldiers invisible
Dainik Jagran News from 21º28' N, 83º58' E
 | अंतरराष्ट्रीय | | खेल | | वाणिज्य | | सम्पादकीय | | दृष्टिकोण | | फीचर |
जरा हट के जागरण ग्रीटिंग्स साहित्य जागरण रेडियो ई-पेपर मेट्रीमॉनी
जागरण सखी आपकी बात जागरण यात्रा जागरण क्रिकेट सिने मज़ा
मेरा जागरण वर्गीकृत जागरण जोश राशिफल गुदगुदी खाना खजाना
जागरण शॉपिंग जागरण विशेष जागरण इमेज मंडियां रिजल्ट
Solar Cycle Prediction(NASA)
 |
| Click on image to see graph imposed on Sun. |
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