Redefining the value chain...

No, I am not talking about a project that is to kick off soon, neither am I talking about any aspect of a supply chain. I am talking about the chain of values that follow each other in a 'politically correct' and a 'morally correct' society. Yes, since the Shree Ram Sene has become synonymous to the word 'moral', I am also going to talk about that.

I happened to come across Amit Verma's latest blog, on the comments of Pramod Muthalik reported by the Hindu. He compares these comments to those made by the "Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" in Saudi Arabia. I do agree with him to an extent, but then I just want to explore a few more thoughts before I jump to any conclusion. Let me make it clear though at this point, I am not pro-beating-up-women-for-going-to-the-pub, and am not a follower of any moral policing, in fact I was as disgusted by those acts as much as most other Indians.

We as a society, by and large are prone to bigotry especially when it comes to morals. When it happens to society, we hold idealistic views, whereas when it happens to us its something 'personal'. It comes so naturally to us (this bigotry), that it is a given that everyone would behave that way. Not bothering to check your children's habits, you may talk about how a random neighbour's son was seen smoking, holding hands with a girl or just hanging about on a random day loitering around doing nothing. Not really worried if your own daughter listens to you, you would talk to a random person about how some other random persons daughter is a rebel and does not listen to a word of her parents. But we do it with an air of condescension and pseudo-sympathy which we think justifies the hypocrisy. One of my very good friends, who I always consider rational and practical, told me that if her friend plans to marry someone out of her community and thinks its right, then she would support her, but if it was her sister, she would not allow that to happen at all! (This was the same bigotry but reversed, but bigotry nevertheless) It was an eye-opener. If I could not understand the rationale, at least it was practical.

What about politics? I have always believed that we are big hypocrites even when it comes to politicians. We have never tried to find out real facts, about India's foreign policy, trade policies, or even the Nuclear policies, though we have mastered the art of criticising them (unless of course we are directly involved in a business that is affected). You may say, that an average Indian is still well-informed about most of the policies, but how many of us actually bother to understand what is happening? I agree politicians may be corrupt, and that to enter Mantralaya your clout needs to start with the clerks. I also agree that our governing methods are as transparent as air. You know there is something in theory, but do not know what its actually made of right now. All this said, even good moves by politicians and any progress made by them is looked at skeptically. I know that its not unwarranted considering the murky pasts and blatantly immoral (again... refer the para upstairs) present. But do we use the rationale we are supposed to use, to evaluate every act and proposition by the value it delivers, or do we just consider anything done by politicians suspicious?

This takes me to the point I wanted to make. Considering the moral values our society holds, the older generation (meaning our parents, uncles & aunts) are not so convinced about the way of life in the modern society. Going to pubs or bars are frowned upon even at homes. A girls dressing style is also a matter of debate in most households. If the same thoughts were to be echoed by some political group (sans the beating up women part, which I reiterate is the lowest form of moral governance), would we be ready to challenge them with same respect and sensibility as we would do at home? I agree that the ideology of Muthalik is quite distorted. But what he stated in that Hindu article, would be agreeable to any parent, uncle, aunt, grandad or grandma. Do we send a Pink-Chaddi ONLY to Muthalik because we think we can get away with it?

These comments Muthalik made perhaps we could look at with some revolt thanks to his history. But in general, are we ready to hear about 'morals' (moral bigotry: Para 1) from 'politicians' (political hypocrisy: Para 2) or do we assume it has to do something with the sadistic ways of politics, and ignore the essence of what could be echoed even at home!

Randomisation in process...

Since the latest fad, thanks to facebook, is to write down 25 random things about your life, I started thinking about what I would write down. Randomness cannot be tabulated, counted or even pointed at. It ceases to be random in that case. Anything written down is not random. 

Perhaps the irony of being random lies mainly in the fact that we try to label everything. If you go to see every decision we make is based on 'random' incidents beyond our discernable or distinguishable intellect. So every step we take (not every move we make!) and every moment we live is random in its own way! Not getting too philosphical, I shall now list some absolutely random things about myself.

Every time I step into a room, hall, stage or any enclosed space, I step in with my left foot first! (dont ask me why). I secretively follow numerology. I sometimes have no clue about what I am going to write, but try to make sense of it later. Syd Barret is my favourite musician, whatever other people may think about his music. I have a soft-corner for women with beautiful voices. My favourite random number to choose in any number game is 15 or 23. I would not mind being a house-husband as a full-time occupation. I am prejudiced against Britney Spears, Jagjit Singh and R & B. I am biased towards Ram Gopal Verma, AR Rahman and Pink Floyd. I get spaced out very often between conversations. I day dream 12 hrs a day. I dream 8 hrs in the night. I am eating for the rest of the time :). I have lost count of how many things I have post poned in life. I started playing the bass guitar because there was no one else to play it. My schooldays were my favourite days. I love to write poetry about nature especially if I can link it to very basic needs of humans. I started writing poetry by chance. I truly live for the moment, because I havent a clue what I am going to do next. I irritate people by being overtly patient. I follow rules, as long as there is some leverage to 'customise' them! I dont hate anyone, I only have a list for 'like' and 'dont care'. I miss my dog. I have lost count of the number of things I have written here. Go watch Dev D.

So thats how random I can get. It could have been worse, but once written as I said, it would not be that random anymore.

Anyway!

luv & luck

The Quarter-life Life...

After much debate of calling it a euphoria, I would call the mid-twenties a life lived in quarter of the time. Not that the 'quarter-life crisis' is a false notion. But it is just incomplete.

Everything seems weird atop here. All that we have valued at the beginning of the second decade of our lives are questioned every minute - for the better. Peer pressure seems to be more in terms of meaningful things rather than stupid things. Exercise, jobs and a steady partner become the major fads. Some of the youthfulness takes over us once in a while and we become younger than we would have imagined, with the maturity and attitude of much elder person.

Suddenly what your mother told you when you were 18 makes sense. Your father seems to have done at least some things right in his life - both in terms of his living as well as bringing you up. You try to live up to the expectations of younger ones to lead a path of being free, but automatically tune yourself to be responsible enough to show them the flip-side of everything. In fact the flip-side takes priority in every reasoning.

Fashion is very important, but sensibility is the ruler. Like pain and anguish try to thrive in every aspect of your ethical dilemma, genuine happiness is something which has started showing up during every moment of times you do something to be happy. Parties with more than 5 people may seem crowded and flippant conversations are enjoyable for only an hour. Mostly every conversation must have a reference to your job, life, society and love. This might have been things you spoke about earlier, but now you are just too adamant about what is right even if it is against every thought in that room. Acceptability is preferential and more righteous.

You want to be at the top pf the world, but at the same time don't want to miss out on the very few moments left of complete independence from responsibility. Pay checks are as important as spending valuable time with family and developments in your career are as significant as the new found relations with your peers, family and friends.

Its dynamic, youthful, sensible yet confusing while transitioning in all aspects of life, during this life led at quarter-life!

And we're back...

Its been long since I posted something here. Really long. A good friend of mine forwarded a very well written, thought-provoking and introspective write-up about being in the mid-twenties. It was very true for most of its part. But somehow I just felt that I had learnt some more things which would be a great addition to what was written. Something I felt will actually make you feel good about it too! 

So that all this rambling doesn't spoil of undisturbed reading, I've posted it on the next one.

So by the way... Hello again!