It's not personal

It is somewhat of a mystery to me, why exactly are we (we as in we Indians) supposed to grieve for Benazir Bhutto because, not to sound insensitive or anything, that woman was complicit in killing thousands of Indians. Oh, I suppose it is natural to have a tinge of sympathy, but seriously my sympathy is limited and I will rather spend it on some one who is more deserving. For instance people with no prospect of job.
This is not to say of course that people should gloat, for the simple reason that gloating is just distracting. The problem that Pakistan poses goes beyond what Bhutto did or did not do.
Let's keep the focus folks !

PS. Arnab, Ashok Malik

Revisiting Modi - II

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The question of demagoguery is more tricky but also one which is more crucial to any future prospect of cultural nationalism than political alliances. To simplify things there are two defining characteristics of any movement.

First is the mass mobilization, second is the intellectual framework. Now the problem is masses respond to passion, not cold dissection. Intellectualism, on the other hand, demands the exact opposite. Again while success of revolution is dependent on masses, its endurance is dependent on the strength of intellectual framework. It is the presence of these inherently contradictory forces that makes success of revolution difficult and historically rare.

A revolution led by passionate masses would succeed in overthrowing the status quo, but if it is not guided and informed by the intellect, it ends up devouring its own children.*
On the other hand, insistence on existence of a intellectual framework, which is grounded in nothing except pure reason with no connection to social aspirations, as a pre-condition for revolution, would eventually result in endless intellectual self pleasure, or as Bengalis fondly call Addabaazi (or as kgpians fondly call it fornicating buckets), but no action on ground.

This would imply that for any group or faction which wishes a revolution followed by a stable (and desirable) condition, there is a need to couple rhetoric with logic, to temper passion with reason, and to reinforce reason with passion.

Which brings us to cultural nationalism as represented by Sangh Parivar. Speaking as someone who has nothing but distaste for the fraud that goes under the guise of secularism **, I have no doubt that Sangh Parivar can not be compared with secular charlatans. However when it comes to carry out a sustained movement towards cultural nationalism, its record has been abysmal.This is due to absence of intellectual to support the mass mobilization, this absence of course is just a specific instance of poverty of ideas from which India suffers.

In a way the reason behind emergence of Sangh Parivar as second pole after decades of existence as marginal player is disaffection of middle class (across India) with the secular, liberal establishment which has thrived by trapping middle class in a guilt zone. Now this constituency, hardly a majority, is the core of BJP, which is augmented by local coalitions based upon caste and other factors. However to make this arrangement enduring the core must be reinforced with a sound philosophy which guides and informs the politics. This sadly has not happened. Instead it is either crass populism (vox populi vox dei) or tired rhetoric from heydays of socialism which has come to represent the platform, to some extent there was a support of economic liberalization, however defeat in 2004*** killed that. Its authenticity on Hindutva was of course lost, perhaps forever, with attempts to gain respectability with secular, liberal establishment.

At risk of being dramatic I think Sangh Parivar is at crossroads. One way is to continue doing what it has been doing so far, in my opinion this leads to end of BJP as a political force which would spell doom for cultural nationalism and along with it end of India as a nation-state****.
Other is to work towards building an intellectual movement on an urgent basis which would counter the existing stranglehold of Hinduphobic dhimmis.
Now Narendra Modi is a demagogue, his expertise is in polemics. True he has come out in flying colors as far as administration is concerned (as opposed the embarrassment called Uma Bharathi), but ceding further ground to what is in effect raging passion of the mob would just further undermine the cause.

To build an intellectual base is not going to be an easy task. The path is enveloped with fog of pretend enlightenment, but this fog must be pierced if any progress is to be made. As John F Kennedy said in a different context, this is a twilight struggle.

* French revolution, Burke was right.

** No it's not pseudo-secularism, it is secularism, which is the culprit.

*** Of course it was to be blamed on hubris, that a comfort of being in power. Ironically Jan Sangh used to be pretty pro capitalism kind of party.

**** Those who believe in nothing, will fall for anything.

Move Over Sholay

Or loss of innocence

Moment of creativity

I was sore for a long time after the bastards stole my brilliant idea. However being generous type, I have two more ideas for bollywood

First is prequel to Sholay, where Gabbar Singh is a good guy from Army, who is sucked into a violent family feud involving property and honour, ending with his going over to the dark side. The opening sequence will be of a train robbery which is foiled by Gabbar Singh, sort of ironic counterpoint of the things to come. Oh, and Hrithik Roshan will play Gabbar Singh.The movie is tentatively titled as Angarey.

Second is using Ramayana. Now the problem is Ramayana is an epic and therefore not the best material for three hour movie format, unless one can tolerate Troy. However it is still possible to create a decent film by developing one of the several stories which are part of the highly complex and interwoven narrative. Perhaps they can start with Sangram between Devas and Asuras in which Dasaratha and Kaikeyi took part.
Of course the story will need to be polished with Kaikeyi as a warrior who defends an injured Dasaratha. The movie will begin with marriage of Kaikeyi and Dasaratha more to do with political alliance between two powerful kingdoms but as the movie proceeds they find love and affection on more personal terms. For layer of historicity the backdrop will be emergence of Kingdoms of plains as balancing power in conflict between Devas and Asuras the traditional powers of the classical era. Later on they can spin-off franchise with trilogy and even animation.

Now go ahead, plagiarize me. Please, Puhleez, Puleeeeeeeeeeez.

This season Coase is black *

*

Update 1: One of the best retort I have heard this year.

"Executing the murderer means giving you the safety. Executing the vermiscripter means giving you the cash. You'd rather have the cash than the safety. Ergo, executing the vermiscripter is better policy"

I would rather have lesser number of such coloumns than either safety or cash. Does it mean that executing the author is better policy?

Awesome !

Update 2: If you want to learn about property rights watch western. OK that is BS, but If I can expand into a 500 word essay, I have a shot at getting it published in livemint. Speaking of westerns, do you know any ? That is except the dollar series, Once upon a time in the west, Shane, High plains drifter, Unforgiven etc. I have seem 'em all.

Dhimmi defined

Anyone who was born a Hindu and still remain culturally Hindu, when he says "Hindu rate of growth", without any hesitation or discomfort, or even when he can listen to the phrase without so much as flinching, that my dear friends is a dhimmi, and make no mistake, they may call themselves liberal, libertarian or whatever is the abiding fashion, but they are cowards. Cowards not because they are physically intimidated, but because they will not own, forget defend what is theirs for fear of peer disapproval.

PS. Arun Shourie writes

RIP ...

Democracy.

Update 1: RIP moderate Islam ? I am sure they didn't mean it. Oh, and for what it is worth, please remember this lady supported terrorism in Kashmir. Of course this will not stop Indians from getting all sentimental and teary-eyed. After all we are a nation without a sense of what is a nation.

Update 2: The puppet speaks. It is same calamity that befell upon both of us. Wait! I have heard this before. In fact I am sure there is a movie ! Or may be even two !*

Update 3: It was a shotgun marriage.

Update 4: What now ? (courtesy Hot Air)

Update 5: Someone gets it, unfortunately he is not an Indian. Because India is mourning. For the record I am not mourning, but then I am a heartless bastard, anyway tears like compassion is a a scarce commodity.

Update 6: Hitchens.

Update 7: On popular demand (of one). Jagadguru being his usual nutty self.

* My hero was Raghavan

Update 8: Also, for the record, I don't believe that Americans have secured Pakistani nukes. Which means buying property in Delhi or Mumbai may not be such a good idea.

PS. This is probably not the best moment, but may I remind people that as far as India is concerned, perhaps democracy in land of pure is not such a good option. Also may be Pakistanis do not really like us Kaffirs.

PPS. At this moment my only prayer to God is that let Pakistan disintegrate with minimum of destruction, that, and American have secured the nukes.