Please don't lough !!!

All the Bengali around the world knows a peculiar animal (or being) called "Ramgarurer Chhana", literally translated as, kids of Ramgarur. Well now don't ask me who or what is this Ramgarur. Just remember not to lough when you see one. Because they are not gonna be really pleased to see your may be white teeth.

The poem by Sukumar Ray went somewhat like this -

রামগরুরের ছানা
হাসতে তাদের মানা |
হাসির কথা শুনলে বলে
হাসব না না না না |

(Ramgarur's kids

Are not allowed to lough

Crack a joke at them

No, still they wont lough)

Well Mr. Ray certainly described the nature of some complex people in a rather simple manner and excelled in it. Also I think the society by and large, allowed for humour for the sake of humour, at that time. That was a great thing even in the middle of so much socioeconomic troubles prevailing during his time. 

Since quite some time, the society is loosing its sense of wit and humour, may be due to the busy, fast paced living style. Or may be because they read less and watch more, killing their imaginations. Whatever be the cause the loss of humour of the society has come to the forefront in the recent cartoon rows in India, particularly West Bengal.

Although many will say that it is a select few who doesn't have it, but I believe that the select few reflects the society at large, since they were selected by the society to represent them. Otherwise I'll have to say that we have a major problem with our democracy. 

A rail budget and the face of politics in India - 2012

Dinesh Trivedi went ahead with a fearless move and presented a rail budget, that would create sustenance for the railways from within. But he had to bow down to the populist and unreasonable politicians of India and is probably moving out of the cabinet. What does this mean?

I don't want to analyze whether Congress is losing face or breaking alliance with Trinamool Congress. I don't want to shout here on how TMC may or may not get divided or the influence of Mamata Bannerjee over the UPA. Nor if BJP has anything to gain from the current situations. All I care about is where we are headed politically?

India has always been a country of populist leaders, who make great "Andolons" and dreamy promises to people to gather vote. The government's policies are mostly framed keeping in mind of the vote banks. Instead of doing any actual development work which would create a better political, social and economical stability and sustain development from within, the leaders are mostly going for superficial development works that yield benefits for 2-5 years, i.e. until the next election. And the irony is that people do elect such leaders and think the short term gains to be good to them.The resulting economic or social scenario drives them mad. But going forward they once again elect another superficial government.

I really don't blame the people very much. They don't have much option. Since the independence of our country the people of Indian subcontinent are living in a much the same story be it India, Pakistan or Bangladesh (in fact in those countries the situation is worse).

In India another burning factor is our politics is vastly regional at times. And the the central has to be strong enough to withstand regional pressures. The betterment of a nation as whole cannot be revoked by the demand of a populist regional leader. Once the weak central government is standing in shame for the chaos that is created. So shall we take it for granted that any leader who thinks long term development and not just votes is going to be cut short in a similar fashion? You cannot really blame the smaller politicians now, as this incident will be serving as a burning example for them for a few years now; urging them to stop thinking good of India.

There is another thing that I wonder often. Why some guy who can shout well at the podium and give some flattering statement are qualified to make laws for the country and run its government? Instead isn't it right that a well qualified person with deep knowledge in the subject be allowed as the minister for the concerned ministry? And some really wise people (wise people mostly shout the least) allowed to form the legislature? Is Democracy really serving its purpose? Or the definition of leadership needs to be changed?

Bound by money

About a year back I wrote about library.nu. A great repository of knowledge for those who seek it. It didn't ask for money but for more knowledge in return. In spite of all the obstacles that this commercial world might pose the library grew and helped millions of people across the world.

It has been shut down a few weeks ago. The publishers didn't like losing money and of-course the businessmen around the business of knowledge. So, now we know that knowledge is bound by money. So are many other things. In fact the whole world is bound by money. Even the great people (???) of this era are bound by money. It's money that we seek. It's money that we worship. It's money that we die for.

Where is true love? Where is true patriotism? Where is true wisdom? Where is true art?

It's so rare to find thee in this troubled times.The world will not end in 2012, but money will win over humanity. And another great civilization will fall. The so feared age of machines is not so far now. Since it's only the feeling that kept man apart from the animated for all these years. Every civilization saw her end just at the pinnacle of her advancement. Look at the wondrous architecture of the past. The mighty pyramids, the great walls, the magnificent castles, the powerful forts -  All fading away in time, and only the mortal man stands and sings the glory of immortal humanity to start a new world.

News in Facebook

A lot of us, say in fact all of us are member of face-book now a days. It's almost an addiction for some people. Even I do pip at my notification bar and wall at least once in a day. And every time you log in to facebook, you will find a hoard of postings waiting for your view, comment, like or share. And almost 50% of them are news of some kind with a picture attached. And out of all these news only around 10-20% are nearer the truth. Half of them are completely made up, others are distorted and/or exaggerated information.

Inspite of  this, they spread like fire. Most of us just hit the share button without even verifying them once. And even if someone verifies and adds a comment, the comment is lost and the message forwarded unhindered.

Now there is something very deep to ponder over. With almost all news, and media being bought by politicians and capitalists, we are hard pressed to find real news with complete truth and no lies in them. And for this in recent times we are very much depending on social media. (Specially the people who spend half their day infront of their system). The biggest thing about social media is it is not bought by someone. It is you who is the reporter and most of the time common people speak the truth. Or at least by judging a few tens of post you can make out what is the truth and what is distorted/exaggerated with little bit or  common sense. May be that's why the government is trying to filter social media.

But what if the people start spreading rumors and distorted news like wild fire? The result is devastating. In most cases it drives people nuts with confusing information. And people start to lose faith in this powerful media. It is damn good for the politicians and capitalists, but really bad for public.