Golden Nuggets #4

Life in the Here and Now

According to current knowledge, humans like us have been on this planet for at least a million years. In this framework, a human lifespan of 100 is miniscule. From this perspective, consider how we live. We foolishly behave as if we are going to be around forever, forgetting that our entire life is just a blink in the eye in eternity.

From another perspective, life is lived in individual moments. String them all together - and you have defined your entire life. Therefore, for you and me, each day and each moment is precious. We all live in the *here and now*. NOW dominates our thoughts. How does one determine this NOW moment in time? A famous person wrote:

"... in politics the dominant time frame is a term of office, in fashion and culture it’s a season, for corporations it's a quarter, on the internet it's minutes, and on the financial markets mere milliseconds."

Forty years ago, the sociologist Elise Boulding said: “If one is mentally out of breath all the time from dealing with the present, there is no energy left for imagining the future”. This was long before the relentless media bombardment began - tweets, texts and images that hit us round the clock. Are we able to handle this information clamouring for attention - and yet find time to dwell on the long term? None of us reading this will be alive in the year 2100. Who has the mindset to think of the future of our descendants inhabiting the earth then?

Human beings have the innate ability to do mental time travel. That is, based on known facts, to imagine what life was like a 1000 years ago, or to analyse the consequences of our actions at a future date. But we do not always have the will or the motivation to escape the strong pull of the here and now. This pervasive human weakness - called present bias - favours short-term payoffs over long-term rewards. Scientists, technologists, artists and philosophers express this same idea in different ways. In simple terms, it is the old adage "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" that influences our decision-making and the choices we make. Is it surprising that short-termism may be the greatest threat our species is facing today?

Golden Nuggets #3

" Most of us accept the myth that we are rational creatures and masters of our own destiny. Till, out of the blue, something awful happens to us."

Sudden death. Severe disability. Betrayal. End of a relationship. Failure. Any of these can hit you in the stomach. Calling it trauma or tragedy does not take away the feelings of pain and helplessness. No matter how well other things in your life are going, your rational self seems to vanish. Your predominant reaction is anger towards anyone who counsels acceptance and bitterness towards cruel destiny.

There are many ways of coping with personal loss. As someone said " The highway of life has some pretty rough patches of asphalt on it." By simply accepting it, gritting your teeth and moving on, you will get through. 

This post is just to remind ourselves that we are only human ... not always rational and certainly not always masters of our destiny.

Keenan-Reuben Murders in Bombay

Today's newspaper carries a news report on the Keenan-Reuben murder case.

Keenan and Reuben 

It happened in 2011 in a suburb of Bombay. Keenan and Reuben, had protested and tried to defend their companions from eve-teasing ruffians. The miscreants went away, only to return with a bigger group who brutally thrashed and murdered the two young men in full public view. Bombay was considered a safe place for women. Having lived and moved around in the city for 30 years, I thought so too. And felt impelled to blog.. Read more about it here.

More than four years have past. The verdict of the special court is expected any time. Watch this space for updates.

Golden Nuggets #2

A genius is someone who discovers that the stone that falls and the moon that doesn't fall represent one and the same phenomenon"

When the Argentine physicist and writer Ernesto Sábato wrote this tribute to Isaac Newton, he was not exaggerating. For Newton's theory of gravity - unlike several others in the world of science - remains unchallenged and unmodified centuries after he announced it.

Newton's greatness is not only as a scientist. Very few brilliant minds have had the humility  to admit: "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.".

Golden Nuggets #1

"The game of identity politics appeals to shared roots in blood, soil, descent and religion. The trappings of flags, ceremonies, anthems, parades and kinship are powerful tools employed by the controlling elite. They attract committed followers who are prepared to make enormous sacrifices- foregoing security, wealth, family and life itself - with unwavering loyalty to the common sacred cause."

This golden nugget is about identity politics, triggered by the state of current affairs in many parts of the world, including my own country.

Whoever wrote it, decries jingoism, regimentation  and misplaced patriotism deliberately fuelled by scheming leaders for their own ends. One needs to think hard about Bertrand Russel's famous quote, which resonates to the same theme: "Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons." and remember what Johannes Rau said at his acceptance speech when he was elected Federal President of Germany: "A patriot is someone who loves his fatherland, a nationalist is someone who despises the fatherlands of the others."

Am I a patriot or a nationalist?

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[ Now and then, I come across a brilliant saying which cries out to be shared. I've been placing these quotes at the top of this blog since April 2014. The first quote that I posted was Arthur C Clarke's gem: 

"I don't believe in astrology. I am a Sagittarius and we're very skeptical".

From now on, whenever I display a new quote, I'm also posting a short comment under the title Golden Nuggets.]

Great Entertainment

If you are above 60, you'll surely recognise these two brilliant performers. If you are not, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Listen to this fun-filled rendition of When the Saints Go Marching In. Great Entertainment by Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong from the 1959 film The Five Pennies.

The Sting of Death

I woke up to a cold morning.With a light shawl over my shoulders, I went to the kitchen. As I pushed back my sleeves to pick up a hot cup of coffee, I happened to glance down and caught sight of the slight wrinkles on my forearms. Instantly I was a child of ten years, holding my grandmother's hand as we walked together in the yard. She had identical wrinkles. A warm and nostalgic moment of fond remembrance. Then all of a sudden it hit me - OMG ... I'm her age today! In the Biblical age group of threescore and ten.

Our annual Mass for the Departed yesterday had already put me in a reflective mood. More than 30 names were on the list of members who had departed in the past twelve months - each one different, each one mourned. Then I consoled myself with the usual platitudes: We begin to age the minute we are born. Every day is a step closer to death, the inevitable end to life. That is the way the spirit flies to the Great Unknown, to be reunited with those who have died before us.

Death after a long life, well lived, is *normal* and much easier to accept than yesterday's horrifying news from Paris -  cold-blooded random shootings that cut down so many without warning. Having emptied their Kalashnikovs, the young men also blew themselves up. More death and destruction!

In this short video Antoine Leiris, who lost his wife in the Bataclan killings in Paris, speaks with courage, fortitude and Love.

Autrickshaws in Bangalore

When I moved from Bombay to Bangalore a few years ago, I found the the auto rickshaw scene appalling. Now it is worse. As a frequent user of auto rickshaws in Bangalore, I have had my share of bad experiences. Yesterday was an exception, when I flagged down one at the busy junction of Queen's Road and Cunningham Road.

The vehicle looked tidier than the average. The middle-aged driver was unusually polite. In addition to the ubiquitous picture of his favourite deity up front, there was a green board on the side, prominently displaying the words "Peace Auto" both in English and Kannada. I asked the driver what it was. He proudly said that he was a member of Peace Auto. I was intrigued. He was as eager to explain as I was to listen.

It is an organisation that promotes good relations between auto drivers and passengers, through peaceful means and high quality of service.

In 2013, Anil Shetty, a young man decided to do something more than complain about the problems that beset auto rickshaw services in Bangalore. The Peace Auto initiative was launched, in association with B.PAC and - rather grandiosely named - the World Peacekeepers Movement. Today  400 auto rickshaws in the city carry the green boards which announce their affiliation with this initiative. The organisation has clear goals that will benefit both passengers and drivers: such as law-abiding, courteous service to passengers and support for drivers' welfare.

If you happen to travel in one of the Peace Autos, don't fail to give your feedback on their website. I did.

French in Bangalore

Today I attended a concert of French chamber music at the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore. This institute regularly conducts French language courses and organises cultural events in its premises.

Due to flight problems in Paris Gauthier Hermann, the head of the group, landed late in Bangalore. The packed auditorium waited patiently. He was driven from the airport and directly walked on to the stage to begin the concert a little behind schedule. It was a fine performance by the musicians on the piano, violin and Hermann on the cello. The Brahms opus 8 was a treat that had the audience spellbound. The ensemble included a mezzo-soprano who rendered Spanish, American and Scottish songs - but surprisingly,  not a single French one!

On the way out, my attention was caught by  two young Frenchmen selling toasted sandwiches from a van parked in the compound. Named  "Le French food-truck", they have recently started operations in the city. Parking in a different locality every day, they sell freshly made Casse Croutes with a choice of fillings. I ordered one with bacon, mustard and bechamel. It was handed over in a neat take-away carton  with a smile and a cheery "Bon appetit". I carried it home for a delicious hot dinner.

Social Media

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For those who do not really comprehend why Facebook exists….   

This spoof cuts so close to the bone that I had to share it - LOL!

 "Presently, I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying  the same principles.
 
 Every day, I go down the street and tell passersby what I have eaten, how I feel, what I have done the night before, what I will be doing and plan to do.

 I freely spout my political and religious thoughts without regard to theirs. 

 I give them pictures of my family, my friends, my dog, my vacations, my gardening and spending time in my favourite spots.

 I also listen to their conversations -  and I keep saying I like them.

 And it works.

 I already have 3 persons following me: 2 police officers and a psychiatrist."

  

Life is Short

I came across this recently, at a time when I needed to be reminded that life is short. 

When you are a baby, time crawls
When you are a child, time walks
When you are grown up, time runs
When you are on the wrong side of 60, time flies.

There comes a time in your life, when you need to walk away from all the drama and people who create it. Forget the bad and focus on the good.  Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Keep away from the grouches.  Life is too short to be anything but happy.  Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.

Nirbhaya - India's Daughter?

The documentary India's Daughter was aired by BBC this month and quickly withdrawn in response to the objections raised by the government of india. I think many more saw it because of the media publicity and the big hue and cry. The brutal rape of a girl renamed Nirbhaya (fearless) a year ago in New Delhi, the capital of our country, had seared public memory. The documentary has brought it back to public consciousness, created headlines and raised many more issues.

Should the documentary have been banned? Is it in bad taste? Does it distort facts? Is it intended to belittle India? In my view, the answer is NO.

Every single person - young or old -  whom I have spoken to, found the documentary rivetting and a big jolt to our collective conscience. At a Women's Day gathering of young men and women that I addressed, all had seen the documentary and with one voice agreed that it should be universally aired.

Typical of those supporting the ban is this article  by an Indian journalist. In response, I wrote the following:

Apparently, the main objective of this article is to criticise the BBC for airing this documentary and to justify the ban. Mahapatra says that the documentary raises several questions of irresponsibility, but mentions only two. Neither of his stated reasons hold water. Let's take them one by one.

The first one is at 16 minutes is an interview with the convicted bus driver. Voyeuristic? No way. Nothing could have been more effective in conveying the horror of the crime than this man's remorseless demeanour and blunt words. Why is it irresponsible journalism?

The second objection is at 53 minutes, when the same convict expresses deplorable views to justify why his judicial sentence should not be carried out. Nobody is likely to be shocked or influenced to commit similar crimes! Many who saw the documentary before BBC blocked it, believe that this interview as also the lawyers' statements, convey a hard-hitting message. Let's not blame the messenger, but face the bitter truth.

Violence is unacceptable; violence against women is doubly so. The wagging heads and pointing fingers rub salt in the wounds and seek to perpetuate patriarchal social norms without any attempt to change attitudes. The sad truth is that this is not a problem in India alone. For example, see  this article  about the murder of a schoolgirl in Australia, a *modern* and *developed* country. We're in the 21st century, but nowhere near to being a truly egalitarian society.

Khushi

Today is my son's birthday. His birth made me a mother for the very first time. I have no words to describe that joy, those feelings...

What followed in my life is a series of khushis big and small. Interspersed and woven in a tapestry of many hues both dark and light. That's life - a journey through light and shade, as we rush about, caught  in a maze of activities.

The story (in Hindi) in this clip puts it well, in less than 4 minutes. (The visuals are peripheral.)

Nicotine is Poison

• Fact: Smoking is injurious to health.
• Fact: Cancer and smoking are highly correlated.
• Fact: Cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxins, 69 of them proven carcinogens.

This blogpost  tells you more about the dangers of tobacco. It is an established fact that smoking causes damage to every organ in the body. In spite of the overwhelming evidence, most smokers find it extremely difficult to quit. This is the reality.

E-Cigarettes, a Risky Alternative

For those who cannot kick the habit, electronic cigarettes are being promoted as an alternative to smoking. Don't fall for the hype. It could be a case of the remedy being worse than the disease.

What is an e-cigarette, anyway?  They look like metallic cigarettes, but are  actually battery-operated vaporizers. Its mechanism heats up a liquid; the liquid turns into vapor, which is then inhaled, or "vaped". The liquid is typically a combination of nicotine, flavorings, a solvent and other additives.

E-cigs are tobacco-free and smoke-free, but are filled with liquid nicotine - a dangerous substance; not only when you inhale, but also by ingestion or contact with your skin. Apparently, tobacco kills slowly, whereas liqud nicotine can be lethal even in small doses: less than one tablespoon is enough to kill an adult; as little as a teaspoon could kill a child. Equally worrying is the fact that among all of the alternative tobacco products, e-cigarettes are the least regulated. You can never be sure what vapours you are inhaling.

Click here for an eye-opener published in the Guardian. Be warned - nicotine is poison, no matter how it is packaged or delivered. Still in doubt? Click here to know 10 important facts about e-cigarettes.

Nightmare in Nigeria

Last week, hundreds were killed by Boko Haram militants in the town of Baga in the north-eastern state of Borno in Nigeria. Some reports say that it is one of this terror group’s worst massacres to date and that local authorities have given up counting the bodies left lying on the streets. The Nigerian government is supposedly downplaying the attack and the number of casualties. For a recent report in the Guardian, Click Here.

This was happening in Nigeria at the same time as the terrorist attacks in Paris. Yet, the lack of media coverage and the world's reaction to the Nigerian nightmare has been quite muted. Some are questioning why 12 killings in Paris are more condemnable than 1200 Africans killed in Nigeria. What makes one massacre more newsworthy than another?

The placard says: 

I AM CHARLIE. 

Let's not forget the victims of Boko Haram"

Click Here for a report from The Guardian and Here for the BBC report of the recent slaughter in Nigeria, as Boko Haram continues its attacks with impunity.

Charlie Hebdo

Immediately after the murders at the humor magazine Charlie Hebdo's offices in Paris, The Patheos carried James Ford's  Small Rant Against Religious Fundamentalism. Click Here to read it and Click Here for some heartbreaking cartoons from around the world.

This cover of the New Yorker is priceless.

Within days, two more related violent episodes- Hostages and Police Raids - have occurred in Paris. Meanwhile, the media coverage and discussions continue. Tens of thousands are tweeting their solidarity under the tag #JeSuisCharlie in many languages. Another tag #JesuisAhmed has emerged, to honor the French Muslim cop who was shot dead by the terrorists escaping after the massacre inside the Hebdo office.

On Sunday, there was a nationwide outpouring of grief, solidarity and defiance as people of all ages, religions and nationalities marched along a three-kilometer route en masse to show their respect for the victims and support for the values of the French Republic: “liberté, égalité, fraternité”. It was the first time since the liberation of Paris in August 1944 that so many people - an estimated 3.7 million - took to the streets of the city. Heads of state of several countries were on the front line, right behind the families of the victims. Leaders of all the religions marched behind a banner bearing the slogan “We are Charlie”.



Violence in the name of religion is as old as organised religion itself. What will be the repercussions of this week's attacks? When something terrible happens, first we run for shelter. Next we re-emerge and seek each other for support.Then comes the urge to go out there to reclaim and protect  what belongs to you. Will The Western countries seriously re-consider their national policies regarding radical Islam and immigration laws?

France has the largest Muslim population - about 5 million - in Europe. No doubt the vast majority of them strongly condemn the massacre; but many find it difficult to identify with Charlie Hebdo who *ridiculed* the Prophet of Islam. There is already a reaction: "Je ne suis pas Charlie" (I am not Charlie). Which direction will their process of assimilation and integration take? Issues of allegiance and loyalty are both visceral and controversial.

The first issue of Charlie Hebdo after last week's terrorist killings in their office is out. It sends out a call to forgive the murderers and at the same time, carries a controversial cover. One European head of goernment commented on the latter: "You may not agree with what they have done, you may be offended by what they have done, but you should defend their right to publish it.” Pope Francis, when asked for his view, said that freedom of speech was a fundamental human right but it came with an obligation. “every religion has its dignity. One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith.”.

New Year 2015

It is 2015. Day 4 already. May all the remaining 360 days go well for you and me.

The New Year lies before you, like a spotless tract of snow

Be careful how you tread on it, for every mark will show.

In spite of the mess made by humans, it is still a wonderful world.
Take four minutes to listen to this:

Happenings Old and New

Not a single post for 4 months, when I was on the move. I guess I needed to be on my home turf to resume blogging! A lot has been happening since June - in my life, in the world. However, yesterday's sensational news are often forgotten today. Yet, most of us want to know what's going on  - as I do via the WORLD NEWS  section displayed at the bottom of this page.

The media - talking heads on TV, streaming news on the internet and the good old newspaper delivered daily at one's doorstep - goes on and on about politics, business and entertainment. Today's  top 5 headlines are a fair representation of daily news coverage.

• Philae comet lander back in contact  ... space exploration
• Leaders meet in Brisbane for G20  ... politics
• Boko Haram militants 'seize Chibok' ... terrorism
• 'Major milestone' in polio battle  ... health
• Fifa judge 'surprised' at criticism  ... sports

How does one decide what is important or significant enough to really matter? Or merit more than a few minutes of our attention?

Today the headline about Philae caught my eye. A space robot transmits information from the surface of  a comet! Will this news grip the world's imagination as did the first landing on the moon? What insights about the comet will Philae and Rosetta reveal to the excited scientists back on earth? Click here for an update from Emily Lakdawalla of the Planetary Society.

Raising Kids

Raising kids has never been easy. Of all species, humans take the longest time to turn into self-sufficient adults. For this discussion, let us leave out those who never seem to grow up at all!

Although my child-rearing days are over, I still like to read the words of the wise on this important topic. After all, each new generation impacts the future of the human race. It is common enough to hear parents and other oldies deploring the so-called irresponsible and unfathomable ways of the modern youth, as they mutter: Where did we go wrong? 

The quote above is a pointer. And let us not forget the American saying: " Monkey see, monkey do" - succinct, telling and so true!

To end, a line for Father's Day: "Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad."

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World No Tobacco Day

The ultimate goal of  World No Tobacco Day  (May 31) is to  protect present and future generations from the devastating health consequences due to tobacco.  The social, environmental and economic scourges of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke are so terrible that every day ought to be No Tobacco Day.

Each year, the global tobacco epidemic kills 6 million people. At least 600 000 of these are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke. Unless we act, the epidemic will kill more than 8 million people every year by 2030. More than 80% of deaths will be among people living in low-and middle-income countries like India. Tragically, these are preventable deaths - which means that with adequate preventive measures -such as awareness, ban on ads, sales, higher taxes and smoking in public places - these people need not suffer and die.

To know more about the  deadly effects of tobacco, check out  Cancer Sticks and WHO Facts.

The Obstacles

There are two extremely powerful forces which stand in the way of eliminating the use of tobacco.The first is money - tobacco is a multi-billion dollar industry. Historically, the tobacco industry has employed a multitude of tactics to shape and influence tobacco control policy.

They use their huge economic power, lobbying and marketing machinery, and manipulation of the media to discredit scientific research and influence governments in order to propagate the sale and distribution of their deadly products. The second obstacle is the addictive nature of tobacco and you - once you're hooked, you're hooked!

Win-Win Strategy

For World No Tobacco Day 2014, WHO and partners call on countries to raise taxes on tobacco. Increasing excise taxes on tobacco is considered to be the most cost-effective tobacco control measure. This week, the Government of India have announced that  fresh excise tax measures will  be  implemented (Currently, India's annual excise revenue from tobacco products is Rs120 billion). Because it will also raise government tax revenues which can be allocated to more public health care, it is a win-win strategy all the way.

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