Aphorism: Wisdom

Growing up, whenever I read India Today, I started from front. Now if somehow I get hold of the magazine, I start from the back.

Aphorism: Man and Giant

We stand on the shoulders of giants, but the giants stand on the shoulder of mortals.

BSG: The grudge post.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

 

 

Now may be I am too much of Heinlein fanboi, but seriously I doubt that for a bunch of people running away from Cylons for their life, democracy is really a big priority, at best of the times democracy can be perplexing, if you are commanding a military mission to rescue humanity i.e., you are Admiral Adama, democracy becomes an unaffordable indulgence. This brings us to second grudge. What in heaven’s name were so many hacks doing on the fleet, now I am saving the Miniseries for the last, so it is quite possible that they might have been stranded survivors, but shouldn’t they be made to do something which directly contributes to the survival of species, like shoveling manure, for instance.  Last but not the least why did the writers insert reference to abortion debate. I particularly don’t care much for it, but if someone believes abortion, an issue, which has been prominent only for less than five decades, would be relevant after so many millennia, deserves a good kick on behind. That’s all.

Aphorism: Principles

Life abhors first principles.

Sadanand Dhume can be my wingman any time

All right, may be I am being over enthusiastic, if that be the case pardon me, because he is one of those rarest of rare public intellectual who knows and writes what is wrong with the Pakistan. Now you can read the article yourself, but it can be summarized as following.

Even among those who recognize that Pakistan is in general pain in nether regions, the blame of the unpleasant situation is placed squarely upon Zia-Ul-Haq. Now this is true to a certain extent, he was, without doubt, a fanatic. But to say that Pakistan began its long slide towards frenzy of fanaticism during his regime, is a wholly mistaken notion. Pakistan has proceeded on its journey irrespective of the religious zeal of its ruler. Indeed it was a socialist and moderate Muslim Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who declared Ahmadayya sect unIslamic , it was much before Zia that Pakistani leadership attempted to wrestle Kashmir by fanning flames of fanaticism (which ultimately almost succeeded two decades later as a fallout of rise of Mujahideens).

Nor this ended with Zia. Post Zia, terrorism has been state policy of Pakistan, irrespective of the leader at helm, this includes now departed Benazir Bhutto, moderate daughter of a moderate father.

Therefore problem is not Zia, it is Pakistan. The raison d'etre for Pakistan was the view of leadership, both political as well as religious, of Indian Muslims that Islam is fundamentally irreconcilable with Indic tradition.

The self destructive behavior that Pakistan has indulged in since its founding is nothing but an attempt to purge itself of impurity.

This is the summary of Dhume's article. However while he correctly diagnosis the pathology which plagues Pakistan, his prescription is incorrect. Dhume recommends replacing cultural DNA of Pakistan. However that is impossible because you can not change DNA without changing the beast. If Islam were to be replaced as Pakistan's foundation, there will be nothing to distinguish Pakistan from India, and in due course Pakistan will be re-assimilated within India. The Pakistani leadership realizes this and hence its constant attempt to destroy India.

Ok Now What ?

We are on our way to wrap up lost. The problem for us is we don't know what to watch next. Any ideas ?

Of Love Jihad And Demographics

I have been meaning to comment on what Frog ji wrote earlier. What are my views on “Love Jihad”? The usual caveats apply, I have no data regarding this, what follows is based on hunch and in presence of data this may not longer be true.

 

Even if we concede (and it is a big if because it is not that clear) that some Muslim men are marrying Hindu women in order to convert them, the numbers involved are going to be so minuscule as to be of no relevance. What this issue is about feelings. For many Hindu Fascist conversion of Hindu women evokes the same emotions as the specter of enemy tribes raiding and carrying off women of your tribe. I have to confess, I get bothered about this in my moments of funk. All said and done, however, it is not a matter of concern and in a way similar to worrying about minarets.

 

Having said that far more important is the issue of demographics. Now allow to me reclaim my Hindu Fascist cred here, I don’t wish to live in a Muslim majority nation, nor do, if I happen to have any descendants, wish for them to live in a Muslim majority nation, nor for India to return to fold of Ummah in future. Having said that I do find concern about demographics overwrought, and I say as someone who himself fretted over this. My personal experience suggests that Muslims both of middle class as well as of lower class have concerns similar to others, i.e. prosperity. Sure on average Muslims are more religious than Hindus, but demographics is not their major concern, having said that, the real problem is ghettoization of Muslims, physical as well as mental of both the classes, which isolate those inside from the wider social dynamics.

 

I think if people are serious about cultural nationalism, they should instead focus on breaking the chains which shackle the Hindu conscious.