Anything Goes

Looking for definitions.

2011-10-31T07:58:00.000+05:30

Looking for definition of consciousness lands us in a myriad of conflicting ideas. From the simple 'awareness' to arguably very complex ‘a creature is conscious if there is something it is like to be' definitions galore. Some persons have equated consciousness with god, others with the soul and yet others with the self, at times using the terms interchangeably.

When I read that one word - sentience, used by Sam Harris, it immediately struck my senses that this definition had substance. After all consciousness was a sensory experience. We can't have consciousness if it was not for our senses to perceive something. Every sensory input is processed by the brain and channelised into further use and the same holds good for consciousness as well. No matter how much exalted your consciousness is, it can’t foretell anything about the behavior of a conscious creature. It is highly subjective or phenomenal and we come to know of it only after some involuntary action had already happened.

There are a number of processes going on in various organs inside our body. Are we conscious of them? Human brain is processing lots of data at any given time and trillions of neurons are in action which we are not conscious of. A wound is healing but the individual is not conscious of the healing process. And when a malignant mutation is taking place somewhere inside the body, a medical scanner is required to detect it, not consciousness. What does consciousness do then? The closest analogy we can make is with ‘free will’ since consciousness is said by some to be directing functions of the brain. However, scientific studies on ‘free will’ have revealed that consciousness has always lagged behind involunteer acts of brain. In a sense consciousness is a thing of past as far as conscious observations / experiences are concerned.

Is consciousness some extra ability in addition to the ones we have like perceiving and feeling (sensory)? If yes, it means we evolved without it and it somehow got embedded into functioning of the brain. Where did it come from and with what functionality?

If on the other hand this is something intrinsic to our brains then do we have a need to make the issue complex by pursuing it? Why not then apply Ockham’s razor to consciousness and leave it aside for all practical purposes?

In my earlier blog post I raised this question; what would have happened if consciousness, as it is known, was removed from the human brain? Here is another similar dilemma which I'd like to portray in a hypothetical scenario like this:

Assume a human being without knowing any language or manners of expression (linguistic or sign). How would that individual then convey to others his conscious feelings? And in a society of such individuals (it is not an animal state) it would be impossible to consciously communicate unless human brain adapted to the new reality and devised some ways of doing so. Releasing of hormones or scents and / or developing special organs like compound eyes or heat and vibration seeking forked tongues, helps animals get over the problem. That was all possible through evolution. Since I have portrayed this problem for a human state, it appears consciousness would be helpless unless the brain worked a way out.

Understanding a phenomenon from its ‘opposite’

2011-10-27T19:50:00.000+05:30

Understanding a phenomenon from its ‘opposite’ is a perfectly valid method. Science is working on models that take the course of tracking events backwards. The Big Bang model is being tested the similar way.

In reply to a comment on my original post “Of consciousness and confusion” I asked, what will happen if we hypothetically removed consciousness from human beings. Will they cease to exist as human beings in absence of consciousness? Of course, all my doubts and reservations on the subject remain while this ‘removal of consciousness’ cropped up as a vague idea.

My friend Herbert Peters seems to have independently given this idea a serious thought and come up with a caption as above. However, I’d stick to word ‘opposites’ leaving out ‘antonyms’ that sounds too literal.

Herbert has cited ‘Fainting’ and ‘Death’ as two examples of the processes involving temporary and permanent loss of consciousness. I’d like to take on the permanent part as it somehow appears to be approximately in consonance with my vague idea of removal of consciousness.

Death is more than a mere permanent loss of consciousness, I think. To understand death we take the help of its ‘opposite’ – life. Life starts with Germ-plasm (that abiogenetic jelly like globule of protoplasm called cell of life) but as we go up the evolutionary ladder from simple to complex, life starts developing somatic cells which carry the element of death in them. Somatic cells die but the germ (plasma) cells don’t. Death, therefore, is a failure of one or more of the organs having somatic genesis. Then a brain dead person is technically alive and so is the one in terminally deep coma. However, consciousness in both the cases is absent implying that permanent loss of consciousness is possible even without being dead.

Attention is another grey area in this matter. Herbert’s statement – it looks like that during unconsciousness, attention is disabled – appears to be true but its opposite is also true. Consider children quarrelling in your back room while you are busy with something else. Unless you are told about their fighting you may not even notice them shouting and crying. This implies that attention could be disabled even you are fully conscious. The ticking of the table clock by my bed side is noticed only during night when no other sound draws my attention. I’ll struggle to explain what I had for breakfast and that too only when you asked me about that, else that thing doesn’t appear to be in my consciousness.

Does this mean; a) something is not happening if I am not aware of that (children quarrelling). Where is my consciousness then in the first place which pops up suddenly when I am made aware of an event happening within my audible range? And, b) Am I doing many things automatically without being conscious of them (ref: Libet’s free will experimentation) like going through routines like having breakfast?

My idea is not semantics. What I am interested to know is how consciousness came into being and whether it directs human brain to do things in a particular way or this is purely a function of brain like cognition, perception, attention etc are.

To continue…..

Of Consciousness and confusion

2011-09-16T13:39:00.000+05:30

The common viewpoint and generally accepted definition of consciousness is “awareness of the self or I”. This concept of “I” makes most of the confusion related to consciousness. Honestly, I haven’t so far been able to understand, accept or deny, or define this phenomenon which even science has just started studying and philosophers have always found difficult to handle.

Is consciousness something which has not been already defined? Is it different from human behavioural traits like perception, value judgement, sociability, emotions, and morality etc.? In short does consciousness at all exist as a separate and unique phenomenon?

If yes, then where does it come from? Is it something innate to our brain or it comes from outside of our physical self? If intrinsically related to our brain as a physically caused phenomenon then consciousness really doesn’t deserve any privileged position vis a vis other behavioural traits.

If it is something external to brain (not necessarily supernatural) where is it from and what is its purpose? We know every organ in our body, including brain, is meant for some function. Can consciousness manifest without being physically caused and then overwhelm and become causal of brain’s functioning? If yes, how and where does it fit in the evolutionary process if at all?

One viewpoint is about epiphenomenalism of consciousness. That is it has no causal powers. If that be the case, why bother about it? Could it better be left aside as non-existent or decidedly given another name, say, perception – which we already know a lot about scientifically?

Man with Indomitable spirit

2011-09-04T18:05:00.000+05:30

This man, Kannan Kunhi Raman from Cannanore district of Kerala, despite having a physical infirmity as both his legs are rendered useless by polio, has a nerve of steel I must say. When I arrived at the conference venue of the Kerala Rationalists Association at Kollam, the man was already there and greeted me reminding that we had earlier met at Trichy in January of this year. Yes, I recognised him. He knows only Malayalam, the local dialect and I could understand only two words he spoke; Bhashana (speech) and Trichy (the venue city). He was referring to my speech at Trichy. Language or no language, but his face exudes a radiance of determinism and confidence. My friend Mr Raghunath, a Keralite now settled in Latur, was kind enough to translate for me his words and also tell me more about him. Raman's family has some land with Rubber plantation on it. He has gone as far as to Delhi in connection with a protest march held by some rationalist organisation.

As if his handicap wasn't a malady enough he suffered a serious injury to his hip when he fell down while boarding a bus. He had to be hospitalised for over a month. But all this infirmity and the accident couldn't dampen Kannan's spirit. A rationalist and an atheist with a commitment, Kannan has plans to go to any place in India if he came to know about a rationalist gathering.

Honestly, I feel envious of this man's indomitable spirit and determination.

Hats off to you Kannan.

In this picture (L – R) Mr K Raghunath, Yours truly and Kannan K R

On 'Why We Believe in God(s)' a book by J Anderson Thomson

2011-08-30T18:40:00.000+05:30

Why We Believe in God(s) by J Anderson Thomson

A Review.

At the first glimpse one wonders why this 140 something page small format book was brought out in a book form when all this could well have been published online as an essay. However, the author explains that he wanted to write a small book which the reader can go through in a couple of hours. Point taken, but you certainly need more than that; a couple of days actually.

Anderson tries to explain scientifically how faith evolved in human mind whereas it has been proved that no “god centre” existed in the brain. Darwin’s Natural Selection is based on the concept of adaptation to the environment. How religion enters our mind is not through the evolutionary adaptation but as a by-product of adaptations that occurred for other reasons. What are these adaptations? Well, the psychological mechanisms like ‘social bonding’, ‘attachment system’, ’pleasure’, ‘craving’, ‘seeking protection’ and ‘desire’ are some of the adaptations our brain has through the evolutionary process.

The human brain has developed a region called the Medial Frontal Cortex for the purpose of perceiving the non-physical. Anderson calls this ‘hard wired’ for the things non-physical. God was created as a protective figure and the attachment system (an adaptation) is keeping it alive in human psyche.

The abilities of the human mind like ‘decoupled cognition’, ‘theory-of-mind mechanism’, ‘transference’, ‘hyperactive agency detection’ etc. are directly responsible for perception and interpretation of religious phenomenon, in the guise of the non-physical. The author pertinently provides a link with the primitive religion and the mechanisms through which it affected human brain.

The earliest and the most primitive form of religion that our ancestors practiced was that of rituals based on song, dance and trance. When in a trance brain chemicals get a boost and the neurotransmitters that regulate various social functions of our brain caused specific behavioural patterns depending upon the intensity of their stimulation. The state of trance was caused by excessive physical exercise, sleep deprivation for longer periods of time and also some potions or concoctions etc. In trance people spoke to their dead ancestors (later gods), heard extraordinary voices etc. The author also reveals that the feeling of “oneness with the universe” – as claimed by the godly and the religious people, is in fact a disorder of a specific area of the human brain. Similarly, epilepsy of the Frontal Lobe of the brain leads one to behave with extreme religiosity. Some godmen claiming having experienced contacts with god were in fact epileptic and suffered from hallucinations and that sort of mental disorders caused by electro-chemical disturbances in the brain.

What reinforce religion in our brain are the factors like ‘deference to authority’, ‘kin psychology’ and ‘morality’. Morality is easily identified with religion which is not at all true because our primitive ancestors living in social groups and in absence of religion would not have survived without the sense of right or wrong. Therefore, putting morality in realm of religion is not only conceptually wrong but also scientifically untrue.

Anderson believes that once religion’s psychological roots are exposed – something this book does, it will wither away. Moreover, his research is helpful in revealing that religion was man made and not sent from any heavens.

All in all, a nice little ‘mind-opening’ book.

- R K Sudan

Quickly through Kerala

2011-08-27T12:23:00.000+05:30

"God's own country", well, I certainly don't agree with this adage. However, Kerala seems surely gifted by Nature. A land that has water, trees, greenery, topographical variety and mild climes naturally appears favoured. Crossing over into Kerala at Palghat brings a feel of the state. Lush green countryside and a range of NilgiriHillspresent a beautiful landscape. The only problem is the condition of the roads and to cite an example, the state highway up toTrichur which is very bad. The traffic is too heavy for this two lane highway. Moreover the drainage system is poor and there are stretches that could have better been in embankment. This highway needs due attention of the engineers of the PWD. You are comfortable only when your vehicle touched the 4-lane NH-47.

Entering any city brings traffic woes to the fore and Ernakulam / Kochi is no exception. It took the KSRTC bus about an hour and a half to find its last stop and my hotel besides the Ernakulam Bus Stand. The road is again bad, full of ruts and deep troughs where enough water had accumulated so as to squirt and bathe a passer-by in dirty water if a driver with the typical Indian mindset happened to be pulling a vehicle along.

Kerala has a landscape that has all type of topography like seaside, plains, hills and backwaters. Here are historical ports / harbours like Calicut (Kozhikode), Cochin (Kochi), Alleppey (Alappuzha) and Quilon (Kollam) to name some. Vasco da Gama had landed in 1498 at a beach called Kappad that is near to Calicut. Of course, the long coastline has beautiful pristine beaches as well. Bekal, Kollam, Verkala and Kovalam are famous beaches of Kerala.

Then there are hill stations like Wynad and Munnar, so very rich in wildlife and exquisite flora and fauna. Periyar wild life sanctuary has the reputation of having some rare species of animals and birds in the Nilgiries.Wynad is famous for coffee and tea plantations besides the famous Kerala spices. Cochin, the twin city (along with Ernakulam) has many historical places like the Fort Cochin, Mattancherry (famous for its Jewish synagogue and the palace) Bolghatty Island and Willingdon Island. Chinese fishing nets are unique to Cochin. Rubber plantations are found in Kottayam, Wynad and Cannanore districts.

For the religious minded there are temples and shrines like Sabrimala, Guruvayur and now the richest one in Asia; the Padmanabhaswamy temple at Trivandrum.Culturally, Kerala is very rich. Museums, art galleries etc are located in big cities. It has Kathakali and Mohinattam forms of Indian classical dance as well as the Kalaripayattu martial art of ancient standing. Onam (Aug – Sept) is a famous festival and so are the boat races conducted through the back waters. The Nehru trophy boat race at Alleppey is very famous. This year it was on 13^th August, the second Saturday, and I happened to be there.Kerala Back waters are world famous and a cruise through them is a lifetime experience and a dream of every tourist.

Kerala is home to many rationalist movements and people are amenable to reason and rationalism. People from different faiths are turning to atheism and materialism and feel no discrimination either from the society or the establishment.

Kerala rightly boasts of its 100% literacy rate. Mathribhumi, the Malayali daily sells about 2 million copies. Availability of reading material is in abundance. Prof Ravichandaran of English department at the Trivandrum University whom I happened to meet twice this year has to his credit translation into Malayalam of many books including Richard Dawkins’ best seller - The God Delusion. People are not only literate but they actually read a lot.

Unfortunately, Kerala has a higher suicide rate in the country. What makes rich and well off people of Kerala to go into depression and end their lives? One Keralite told me that it was the signs of a possible recession and the likely ensuing economic hardships that was causing distress in minds of some people. They feared that they might not be able to cope with such situations and that thinking caused in them deep anxieties and suicidal tendencies. I may not entirely agree but the gentleman certainly has a valid point there.

Kerala women are beautiful and they look more so in SalwarKameez, the usual north Indian attire that is making a remarkable appearance in Kerala and other South Indian states. Here they call it theChuridar. I think more and more young women are abandoning the traditional sareeand dressing up in the churidars. Perhaps this Churidar doesn't have that grace and flair of the salwar-kameez, yet it is making a definite mark on the dress culture of these women. We were having coffee together when Sandeep Krishna, my friend from Cochin, raised this topic of beauty of Kerala women. They are beautiful indeed but drawing a comparison I expressed that women from Coorg (Karnataka) were more beautiful. Sandeep exclaimed, 'Oh, Pahadiladki' (dame from the hills). Yes, I said that the women from the hills were stunningly beautiful and men, well, suavely handsome.

Transport, despite bad roads, is cheap in Kerala. The Kerala State Road Transport service is cheap and efficient. I was told that auto rickshaws in Kerala were as good or bad as anywhere else in the country. However, in Trivandrum city, I was told,they were all good i. e., they didn’t overcharge. Untrue. From Trivandrum city to the airport the auto man asked for Rs 150 but eventually settled for Rs 80. I think Bhubaneswr (Orissa) has the best autorickshaws followed by Gwalior (M P).

A trip to Munnar and Waynad alongwith a backwaters cruise remains hence the desire to come back.

Ridiculously Rich Temple

2011-08-22T18:40:00.000+05:30

This Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum is ridiculously rich. Remember the recent gold haul valued at crores of rupees found in the cellars of the temple. Every temple or religious place is full of irrationality and corruption. However this temple is ridiculously irrational. They want all men to remove their clothes and clad themselves in a dhoti (loin cloth) and a plain upper cloth (angavastram) before entering the temple premises. Women too have to clad themselves in a dhoti though they are allowed to have their upper attire intact. I asked why one be not allowed inside barefooted but in a dress of one’s choice. Someone tried to convince me that cladding in a dhoti was traditionally and culturally maintained on the principle that all were equal before god. I wondered if that was a symbol of equality or discrimination. A forceful implementation of a religious diktat is discriminatory as it implies recognition of only one viewpoint. This means exclusiveness. Then what right the god or his priests have to impose a uniform dress code? It surprises me why the god didn’t decree people come to his temple in their birthday suit.

Belur and Halebid

2011-08-22T18:34:00.000+05:30

Belur and Halebid

These two towns in Hassan district of Karnataka are 16 kilometres apart, yet both these names are invariably mentioned together when it comes to tourism in that state. Belur and Halebid (Halebidu, mostly) present such wonders of temple architecture in India that is a unique example of the grandeur of a vibrant culture of the Hoysala dynasty. Two famous ancient temples, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, are situated there.

The Chennakeshava Temple, Belur

Chennakeshava means ‘beautiful Keshava’. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Construction of the temple was commissioned (to commemorate some victories in battlefields) in 1117 CE and it took 103 years to complete. They say the temple had a tower (Vimana) which was dismantled sometime in 1879 keeping in view safety of the structure. There is an example of part destruction of the famous Black Pagoda (The Sun Temple) at Konark in Orissa which got severely damaged owing to an unstable highrise top. Now the Chennakeshava temple is flat roofed.

There are approximately ten thousand sculptures and figures adorning every inch of the temple walls. Most of the sculpted figures are three dimensional and done completely without any patch of roughness anywhere on them. Tales from Hindu mythology are beautifully carved. There are various gods and goddesses of the Hindu Pantheon as are scenes of wars, dancing, hunting and daily chores of life. Then there are celestial dancers, courtesans, musicians and monkeys and other animals decorating the exteriors of the temple. This one is a live temple, worshiping is still in practice inside the temple.

What remarkably stands out is the filigree work done on granite. One wonders at the skill of the artisans and sculptors who so patiently carved out very minute details with so much of intricacy and finery. It must have taken at least three generations of artisans and sculptors to complete the mammoth task of carving out the stone figures. Wonder how over so many years they could have synchronised it so well and smoothly conducted the construction work according to the lay out plan.

It is a star shaped foundation plan with raised platform. A frieze panel, up to approximately four feet height, with figures of elephants, tigers, boars and other weird animals and creatures runs all along the base.

The Devadasi tradition had been constantly followed in India wherein the temple women practised customary singing and dancing in most of the prominent temples. Here too. This temple continued with practice of dancing girls till recent past. However, presently the practice stands abandoned.

The Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebid

Halebid / Halebidu means old capital. The Hoysalas abandoned their capital in favour of Belur after it was twice ransacked in 1311 and 1327 by the Sultans of Delhi. There is a history of vandalism by Muslim rulers and examples galore. Whether the destruction they carried out was a result of religious fundamentalism or jealousy and hatred arising out of incompetence can’t be said conclusively but the fact remains that Muslim rulers invaded rival kingdoms and razed to the ground monuments, temples and other structures of grandeur. Hampi (the erstwhile Vijayanagra, not far from here) is the one blatant evidence of such a savagery.

This temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is in fact two shrines done on the one platform. The guide was telling me that there were twenty thousand figures in those twin structures. This temple also took 100 years to complete. The sculpted work is at par with that of Belur. In fact, life size statues of the Dwarpalas (door keepers) are awesome and surpass those at Belur.Particularly the life size figures of the Dwarpalas in black granite present the exquisite artisanship of those times. The filigree work is as exquisite as at Belur. The ornaments and dresses done to very fine details present a mesmerising three dimensional visual delight. The same masterpieces of the frieze panels adorn this temple too. However, there are no bracket figures in this temple and this is not a functional temple. There are two halls (mandapas) each with a huge statue of Nandi – the bull Shiva rode.

Getting there

Make Hassan your base and keep one full day at your disposal. There are very good hotels and transportation available. The hotel can arrange you a car (Rs 1000) for a trip to both these destinations. However, the best mode of transportation is the Karnataka State Road Transport buses that ply in plenty. Catch a bus to Belur (40 Km, Rs 30) and enjoy the lush green countryside for about 45 – 50 minutes before disembarking at the bus stand barely 250 metres from the Chennakeshava temple. The guide would charge you Rs 200 for about 40 – 45 minutes of parroting. Photography is not prohibited and you can make liberal use of your equipment.

Stay there till 12 or 1 pm and post lunch catch a bus to Halebid (17 km, Rs 15, 25 minutes). The temple is just opposite the bus stand. Here also the guide will charge you Rs 200. Photograph extensively. There is a museum in the lawns of the temple. Entry fee is Rs 5 only but you can’t take photographs even in the open ground where about 30 sculpted figures are on display. They have a good collection of artwork in stone.

Catch a bus to Hassan (32 Km, Rs 25) and you are left with enough time to take rest and plan for your time ahead.

Best Time to Go

Winter, commonly, is the best season (Oct – Feb) to visit any place in the southern part of India. However, I went there in August 2011 and at that time weather was just excellent for travelling.

Free Will

2011-07-22T19:37:00.001+05:30

Recently I came across this interesting research article by Benjamin Libet in Journal of Consciousness Studies (http://www.imprint-academic.com/jcs) captioned "Do we have a Free Will?” Libet, with the help of experiments, shows that our intention to act starts some time before we actually become aware of it. That points towards the fact that humans may not have a free will to act on a stimulus in a particular way.

However, further in the article he infers that after the initial unconscious act (readiness potential, RP) consciousness takes over to decide the next part of the action. He cites 'veto action' which human consciousness might resort to in order to make brain react to a stimulus thereby showing no action at all. In other words something suppressed at will. This, he says, shows that after the intention became aware, consciousness took control of the matter.

In the section 'Determinism and Free will' towards the end of the article Libet, almost conclusively goes in favour of Free Will theory stating that both the deterministic and the non-deterministic theories were flawed, therefore, it was safe to assume that free will existed.

I have the following observations to make:

1) Does Libet's non-determinism mean the same as quantum mechanics indeterminism? To me it appears not. Could it then be possible to apply quantum theories in matters of brain which otherwise appear rather deterministic.

2) If consciousness were to take control after an initial unconscious act (as during RP), does it supersede brain's bio-chemical actions or it acts subservient to its processes. Could the conscious ‘veto action’ have an unconscious origin as suggested by someone else as cited in the article but not acceptable to Libet?

This Resilience

2011-07-15T18:43:00.000+05:30

As a dumb Indian I have been hearing over decades now, these words and phrases spoken by Indian leaders of substance and some powerful individuals who matter, during the times of crisis;

Resilience, cultural and religious harmony, perpetrators will be brought to justice, dastardly acts, terror has no religion, and many more.

With each bomb blast or an act of terror in India, I pulled out my dictionary and thesaurus to check out if meanings of these words had changed over the time.
Alas, nothing seems to have changed or be changing.

Resilience still means cowardice, a dastardly act still remains dastardly, the perpetrators are still at large, secularism yet to be properly defined, and religions, purportedly, are still full of peace and harmony.

May be one day, I too will be ripped apart by one such blast and my children will find solace in these big words spoken by some big people and then they will rush to find the meanings the same way as I do today.

I am not sure if the meanings would change for them but the colour of those pages would certainly have turned red. Yes, blood red.

I wonder how many pages have to turn blood red to change the meaning of these dreaded words.

A case for building sturdier nuclear power plants.

2011-03-20T13:16:00.000+05:30

A case for building sturdier nuclear power plants.

The 8.9 Richter earthquake of 11 march 2011 afternoon and subsequent tsunami which devastated most of Japan has raised before the world a moral and scientific poser on the issue of safety of nuclear plants. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant has since become a cause for concern because of fears of a nuclear meltdown and leakage of radiations from the reactor owing to a failure of the designed cooling system. The fission reactor (Mark 1 type) has a design which has been debated upon on account of safety for over 40 years now. This type of reactor, despite the design concerns, is widely used in the production of electricity all over the world including the US and India.

A debate seems to be raging against the production of energy using nuclear methods. Let us consider the other options we have before us to generate power. One, there are coal based thermal power plants which burn hydrocarbon fuel to generate electricity. This leads to the greenhouse effect – the main reason behind global warming and other environmental issues, for instance, the deterioration of ecology of a particular area. Two, there are hydro electric plants that generate electricity not by transforming water into steam but by making use of raw water power to run turbines. However, this method of power generation requires massive investments followed by long gestation periods and abundant supply of water in rivers / streams. Topography of the region also matters. The mountainous regions have a better chance of harnessing the potential of free flowing water contrary to the plains where only small scale plants could be set up. Three, solar and wind power, which are widely referred to as renewable sources of energy, are considered the cheapest, the most reliable and the cleanest way of producing electric power. But the technology and the infrastructure required for this is still in nascent stages of development and to expect such ventures to cater to the exponential increase in the demands for energy, particularly in larger and populous countries, would tantamount to wishful thinking, at least for the present. Again, like water streams in mountainous regions, wind energy can only be harnessed in the coastal areas. Solar Energy production also faces a drawback as the Sun may not be shining uniformly in all weathers so as to recharge and keep the photo-voltaic cells running.

Nuclear energy holds the promise and capability of fulfilling our energy needs in all weathers, at all locations and under all conditions. Unfortunately, there have been instances of serious accidents and disasters at the nuclear facilities the world over including the US, the erstwhile USSR and now the technologically very advanced, Japan. What to do then? Does that mean we abandon the nuclear plants and put a cap on setting up of the ones for the future? Certainly not. On the contrary, by learning from the failures we ought to be thinking in terms of designing sturdier and safer plants. As a measure of safety every nuclear plant built anywhere in the world should have a close as well as a stand by alternative that could be activated in the wake of an emergency so as to bury and plug the critical portion of the plant where radiations could emit in case of an accident or a malfunction.

Running away from a problem or avoiding risks is no solution particularly when it is related to energy and environmental matters. Weighing everything in dollars or business terms is not going to solve the energy issues. Yes, the environment is a big concern and so is the security and safety of mankind but in order to curb that we need scientific advancements and innovations, not abandonment.

Atheism: A Belief System or Knowledge of Nature

2011-03-06T12:50:00.001+05:30

Atheists don't have any particular belief system or an ideology of sorts. Recently discussing this with a friend I faced queries like why then was this suffix 'ism' in atheism, or what atheists believed in if there was no belief system in atheism? “That means you don’t believe in anything” was his reaction and then said in a lighter vein, “Nihilist perhaps”.

Atheism to me doesn't mean a strict and codified doctrine of some faith or a divine revelation. It should also not mean to imply an anti-god decree or ‘ism’ - a reactionary phrase in other words. Atheism means non-theism or absence of theism. Theism in itself is not any particular religion but very much part of every organized religion. Theism is a belief in god / gods while atheism means absence of that. The same way atheism can be a part of an ideology or philosophy. For example, Indian philosophy has atheism as an integral part of it.

Similarly, it is not a belief system following any tenets laid down by some god or his prophet. It is not like believing that god finished off creation in six tiresome days and took a well deserved rest on the seventh. Or like this one, contrary to all sensibility, that a virgin gave birth to some god's son. Or that all those non-believers would be put in the fire of hell once their prophet returned to this earth a second time.

Atheism is not an ideology (no holy book, no commandments, no prophet or god, no prayer, no sword, no Kalashnikov). My atheism is a knowledge system based on science and scientific methods of inquiry, experimentation and understanding. I don’t just believe it, but in fact I am a material product of this nature evolved during the continuous process of evolution. I don’t have a, what people call, soul or any other feature within me which isn’t physical or physically caused.

My morality and behavior emerge from a value system which I have developed genetically/biologically and/or imbibed from the environment and natural surroundings that as a human being or social animal I have to adapt to. Similarly, I have no free will to cause any action of my own and all my actions are a result of interaction with the environment around me. This absence of free will doesn’t mean presence of something predestined.

Atheism is a synergy between me and nature based on my behavior and actions in consonance with nature’s unpredictable laws and ever changing environs. The more I synchronize with nature the better I understand atheism.

In short atheism is nature; nothing more nothing less

The Big Temple, Thanjavur

2011-02-21T19:46:00.000+05:30

Before venturing out to see the 1000 year old Brihadeeswara temple (also called Rajarajeswaram temple) at Thanjavur in central part of Tamilnadu state in India, I had read that its vimana - the tower over the sanctum sanctorum was visible from a distance. Out of curiosity and as the bus was nearing the town I was looking all-around eagle eyed to spot the monument but in vain. Disembarking the bus I asked someone about the temple. "Oh, the Big temple is in old Thanjavur some 4 km away from this place", he said guiding me to the local bus going there.

Finally, after about another 15 minutes or so the 65 metre tower was visible to me when the bus stopped at its gate. Obviously today the high rise structures and multi-story buildings are obscuring ancient monuments and heritage structures almost everywhere in India.

Temple architecture in India falls under a variety of styles depending upon the part of the country, the era, and taste of the rulers.

This marvel at Thanjavur (completed and commissioned in 1010 CE by a Chola king and now a UNESCO world heritage site) stands among the most magnificent and tallest done in the South Indian style.

The premises are spread over an area of 2.88 ha and the 13 tiered vimana

stands 64.82 m tall (including 5m cupola over the 59.82 m tower). Granite stone is used without any binding material. Stones are just interlocked. This being a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, a huge granite bull - Nandi, the mascot of Shiva, is placed in front just after the second entrance gate.

Life-size figures of Shiva among many other statues adorn the outer walls of the temple. One most talked about and prominent is the statue of one dwarpala (door keeper) holding a massive mace which is encircled by a python which in turn is swallowing an elephant. That clearly sends one’s imagination towards a massive dimension about the things associated with those times of kings and their valour. Inside, they say the sanctum sanctorum is hollow inside right up to the top. Since that one is a living temple and I don’t enter places of worship, I can’t describe the inside finery of the structure.

As a remarkable example of architectural stability of a high-rise structure, this temple has withstood many unrecorded and at least six recoded earthquakes till date. They say not even a minor crack or damage to any part of the massive structure has been observed over one millennium year history of the temple.

The main hall is said to have been used by the dancers and musicians performing in service of Shiva. There are some musical pillars producing different sounds when tapped. Someone told me that the one pillar with a sharp ringing sound was hollow from inside. I questioned him on this stating the wonderful and almost mystical musical pillars of Hampi where sounds of different types of instruments came out of pillars but they are not hollow, he was answerless.

Reaching Thanjavur

60 Km from Tiruchirapalli, it has plenty of buses plying round the clock. They charge only Rs 20 and take an hour and a half. In Tamilnadu the bus service is very efficient and cheap.

There are many trains from Egmore, Chennai.

(I visited in January 2011)

Promoting Atheism: the Entrepreneurial way

2011-02-13T18:46:00.000+05:30

In today's market driven environment anything that has takers, sells. For any business endeavour or collective public initiative to succeed you either have to have ready takers or need to create them. Theists can sell concepts easily because of an existing universe of takers of their products but for atheists there exist none. And to find takers you need to go searching for the needy. Then find contributors who will support your efforts. Once that is done watch out for the competition lurking around. Atheists have always faced a formidable and persistent competition from the theists.

A Group Charity

Finding the needy can be accomplished by initiating a charity for, say, education and healthcare purposes. If a group of atheists can start off with a couple of hundred thousands as seeding capital and offer to help those really in need, I think a beginning would have been made. Charity can help sustain a mission in a small way, however. For a longer sustenance we need donors and committed contributors in cash and kind. For that some wealthy atheists have to be roped in. Such a collective charity effort should never be made on the premise of minority or majority status of people as that would tantamount to exploitationary tactics of a different kind never in harmony with the idea of equity and justice in atheism.

On Individual level

It will not be far fetched if with time one finds displays like, 'Atheist Public School' or 'Atheist Charitable Hospital' or on a smaller scale, name boards like 'Atheist Public Library / Reading room' etc.

Similarly, an atheist businessman can add 'Atheist' or a similar prefix to the name of his business concern. The prospects are endless with no dearth of ideas in the matter.

Volunteers

No non-profit mission can be accomplished without committed volunteers. Volunteers, who can spread awareness through publicity as well as work on ground. However, finding volunteers with strong motivation is not that easy but service to humanity can act as a motivation. Once you find a cause and establish a mission, finding volunteers would not be difficult.

Atheism and morality

It is a very strong connection and volunteers can find a sustainable motivation in morals and ethics. An atheist will cherish and possess strong moral values as he wouldn't look for any scapegoats or take resort in a non-existent god for his actions gone wrong. I own up what I do because I can't lay my wrongs at the door of some god or resort to proverbial fate accompli. Any person subscribing to this philosophy would be ready to become a volunteer with a strong reason to spread atheism as a culture.

I put forth this idea of adding the word 'ATHEIST' with the name of business entities or non-profit ventures at the 8th World Atheist Conference 2011 held in January at Trichy in Tamil Nadu, India.

I believe proper media coverage and visibility of an endeavour based on strong moral ideals can attract volunteers as well as audiences and consumers.

The renowned atheist Prof Narendra Nayak in his writings stresses the need to practice atheism under all circumstances. Let me add that atheism ought to be visible as well. Visible -the entrepreneurial way.

Dr Binayak Sen

2011-02-11T15:23:00.000+05:30

Dr Binayak Sen

First, he is handed down life imprisonment under some 125 year old and obsolete sedition law and now his bail pleas stands rejected by the Chattisgarh High Court. That is the funny case of Dr Binayak Sen's.

The prosecution alleges that the searchers couldn't find a stethoscope from his place and he professes to be a medical doctor! How funny?

If a case is built on such findings then Mr Ramjethmalini's assertion that it was “a case of no evidence” hold solid ground.

Compare this with what is happening in Kashmir - the terrorist infested state of the Indian union where terrorists belonging to one religion want to break away from India in order to establish a theocracy. Instances have been reported, years back, of arms and explosives having been transported from Srinagar to Jammu in flag cars belonging to the state government. Hard core militants have been captured but none convicted so far during the past 22 years of active militancy in J&K. Leave aside those who have been let off under various 'healing touch' schemes and packages. Then there are those who deliver hate speeches and raise anti-India slogans right in the capital of India.

Both the Kashmir terrorists (local as well as foreign) and the Maoists have raised an armed rebellion against the country. Both don't take part in the electoral process. However, the Maoists don't have an organised religion backing their cause that can wield a clout with or create a sense of fear in the politicians mind.

Karmapa, from whom billions in foreign money including ‘crisp’ Chinese currency have been seized, continues to be a free and an honoured guest of India. Does possessing heaps of foreign money not qualify as an act against the State of India? Then there is this highly connected Indian citizen (among many others whom the government would not name), whose billions have disappeared from foreign banks after the government of India got information about the stash.

Are these people not working against the interests of Indian State? Is that not sedition? Does Binayak Sen's alleged crime weigh heavier than that of these honourable men?

The 13th House

2011-01-26T10:11:00.000+05:30

The Thirteenth House

Had some eighteen and a half centuries back Claudius Ptolemy while writing his volumes on astronomy and astrology not excluded the constellation of Ophiuchus by ignoring it from the epicyclical path of the Sun, today our astrologers would not be facing this dilemma of what to do with the 13th house.

The astronomers and physicists seem unanimously firm in the observation that the Sun's celestial path falls along the constellation of Ophiuchus which can no longer be ignored owing to measurable clouds of helium coming from that side.

As the serpent holder snatches away full 18 days from the Scorpio, it will surely upset the astrology applecart. Astrologers - the practitioners of dogma of foretelling future by casting star charts have so far been assigning equal segments of 30 degrees each to the12 signs of zodiac. The fact, however, is altogether different. The Sun doesn't take the same time in traversing all the constellations (or a sign as the astrologer calls it). Its duration varies from a minimum of 8 days in Scorpio to the maximum 44 days in Virgo.

Now the issue is what will happen to those to be born between December 1 and 18. The Western system of astrology based on the Sun will have to make adjustments accordingly and assign new dates to various signs including this new entrant. The followers of the so called Vedic system will continue with their business undeterred as theirs is the Moon based system.

However, one wonders how the practicing astrologers will fit the 13th house in a square chart. This mythical serpent holder of the Greeks, by claiming a place in the zodiac circle, is not only embarrassing the 12 so called Olympian gods already sitting there but also putting the charlatans and practitioners of the dogma in a bind by turning the pseudo-science of astrology upside down.

The 8th World Atheist Conference

2011-01-20T15:07:00.000+05:30

Success or otherwise of any event comes not only from the numbers associated with it but also the experience of the participants contributing to it, coupled with grace and flair with which it was conducted. On these parameters the 8th World Atheist Conference (WAC), held at Trichy could be termed a remarkable success.

The organizers, The Dravidar Kazhagam and the Atheist Centre did a wonderful job under the able leadership of Dr Veeramani and Dr Vijayam, both of whom were seen overseeing even the minutest details like arrangement of books and science models at the exhibition stalls and greeting the delegates in person. The smooth flow of activities at the event was ensured by untiring efforts of hundreds of volunteers, mostly students and teachers from the chain of Periyar educational institutions. From guiding you to various venues / halls or serving tea and snacks during various sessions and then delicious food in the dining hall, these volunteers excelled everywhere with their humility and discipline. The young teacher who ferried me to and from the hotel where I was putting up is a committed atheist and so is the young girl student who explained to me various models at the science exhibition. Then there was this young woman with whom I interacted on stage making comments on her presentation. All these youngsters had one thing in common, not only atheism but sheer self confidence. And with self confidence you simply can't go wrong.

The sprawling 160 acre spread of the Maniammai University at Thanjavur has many projects related to ecology and environment. Paper recycling, energy from biogas plants, preparing vermi compost, using alternate building materials and above all, planting trees and ensuring water conservation by using improvised drip irrigation system for watering plants and fields, all are done in a planned, meticulous and economic manner. This is the most important statement on atheism which is symbolic of coming back to nature and adapting the natural way of living.

The delegates were served tea and snacks in the shade of bamboo shrubs and then taken to the venue in a traditional musical procession through the live bamboo arches along the walkway about one kilometre or so in length before starting the proceedings scheduled for the day. Earlier upon arrival at the university complex each delegate was given a chance to plant at least one tree. I also planted one called 'Kal Thekku' in Tamil (botanical name: Tectona Grandis).

I was told by the person in charge of their alternate building materials section that they were saving Rs 600 per cubic metre of masonry in comparison with brick masonry done with conventional sand cement mortar by using hollow concrete blocks and pointing the joints with just 6% cement mixed with flyash and sand mortar. A remarkable saving considering the enormous construction activity going on in the complex.

These activities conducted in complete harmony with nature was a practical demonstration of the theme of the WAC - Atheism; an alternative culture.

In front of my house I have four big shrubs of bamboo which I have been thinking of felling for quite sometime but could not as many birds take shelter in them in frosty winter nights. Now, back home from the WAC, I have resolved not to even think of cutting any of them. They say each one releases 850 grams of oxygen into the atmosphere.

Junagarh

2010-06-07T17:56:00.000+05:30

Historically Junagarh is well known in India. When plans of partition of India based on religion were drawn the then ruler of Junagarh - the Nawab, had opted for joining Pakistan. However, the majority of the people of the state of Junagarh voiced against the line of thinking of their Nawab who finally went on to join Pakistan, of course, without his state or its subjects. That is the historical significance of Junagarh. The tourism department of 'incredible India' fame, however, does not accord that prominence to Junagarh, the tourist spot. That is evident from the state of neglect which the tourist attractions in Junagarh are in. The star attraction there - The Mahabat's mausoleum (or Bahauddin's is it?) is as photogenic a structure as the Taj Mahal in Agra but it doesn't seem to have drawn even a fraction of attraction and care of the Indian tourism department. It is a magnificent structure and deserves a lot more protection.

The old fort atop a small hillock called Uparkot (meaning the upper fort) is spread over a large area with a high boundary wall still intact. In olden times the habitations were set up inside forts protected by huge boundary walls. This fort has two step wells (Gujarat has many and none is less than a jewel in its crown. The Rani ki Vav (The Queen's Step-well) at Pattan and the Adalaj vav and Dada Hari vav in Ahmedabad are some of the famous tourist attractions). The Adi-Chadi vav and the Navghan Kuvo are deep rock-cut water sources (step-wells) built in the 11th century AD. The legend has it, as the guide was telling me, that once upon a time there was a severe shortage of water and despite cutting deep into the rocks people couldn't find a trace of water. Then an astrologer is said to have made a prediction that water would appear only if two virgins were sacrificed. That done, water sprang up and the Adi - Chadi vav, named after those two sisters Adi and Chadi beheaded at the altar, never went dry despite many severe droughts in the area. I wonder if man has completely left those barbarian beliefs behind.

Then there is the palace inside the fort which the erstwhile Hindu kings have built and later on where the Muslim conqueror reigned from.

There are also two canons on display overlooking the present day township. The larger of the two was acquired from Turkey by the Nawab and the other, smaller one, brought from the adjoining island of Diu. The latter is said to be Portuguese made.

The Girnar mountain faces the fort and the view from the there is attractive. This Girnar range extends more than 100 km southwards and the famous Gir forests, the only habitat of Asiatic Lion, is part of this range. It is a string of peaks, the highest being 600 metres, revered by the devout as a pilgrimage spot. Jain and Hindu temples dot the hill and as many as 14 Rock Edicts of King Asoka (250 BCE) are inscribed in Pali language on huge stones and rock faces along the way to the summit. You will have to visit Junagarh in December - January if you'd like to venture a trek to the top of the mountain. They say it takes a minimum of three hours to negotiate the 10,000 steps to the top. And in Gujarat summer starts fairly early and the heat becomes unbearable in February itself. I visited Junagarh in the last week of March when day time temperature was touching 42 Celsius. Certainly not a desirable time of year for scaling mountains.

As you come down from the Uparkot on the road to Girnar, you can see one of the Asokan Rock Edicts well preserved by the tourism department.

My Visit

Since I thought of doing Junagarh after I had drawn up the detailed itinerary of my seven day Gujarat tour, it had to be squeezed in with only one day stipulated to do the destination. I didn't feel any shortage of time covering all the important places including the museum. At 9 in the morning I got into an express train at Somnath (80km) and by 10:30 I had hired a three-wheeler at Junagarh. I took my time and did all the places at leisure before catching a bus at 5 p.m back to Veraval from where my onward journey was scheduled.

I strongly suggest Junagarh to be a part of any tourist's itinerary that plans visiting Gujarat.

LOTHAL

2010-04-23T17:55:00.000+05:30

LOTHAL

Literally 'place for dead bodies' or call it 'land of the dead'

Lothal is a small village in Gujarat situated 82 kilometres south-west of Ahmedabad. This is the second most important archeological excavation in

India

(after Dholavira - the other excavated place in Gujarat) where spread of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation has been prominently traced. It is believed the Harrapan culture survived long after its disappearance from Mohenjodaro (now in

Pakistan

A visit to Lothal takes us 4400 years back into history. The Harrapan people are believed to have migrated from Mohenjodaro and settled in these plains of Gujarat along the Cambay gulf. Need for fertile land and new trade routes might have prompted migration. Another possible explanation could be the disastrous floods in the Indus Valley that would have inundated and destroyed the area compelling the survivors to look for sustenance elsewhere.

Ironically, Lothal is also believed to have been annihilated by massive floods. Whatever the reasons of its demise, all the excavated evidence points towards a vibrant society thriving for at least seven centuries on artisanship and trade. Lothal excelled in pottery and making beads and precious crystalline ornaments which found their way in overseas markets of Mesopotamia and the Middle East (Egypt in particular). Besides precious stones, trade was also done in tools & implements, ornaments and other items like ware of copper and bronze. The Harrapan civilisation is famous for its mastery over architecture, civil engineering and town planning; and all that is abundantly visible at Lothal. The sewerage and drainage system is meticulously planned so as to take care of the runoff as well as water in storage for daily use. The location was aesthetically planned with all the amenities available to the inhabitants.

What to see

First of all, a visit to the archeological museum, of course, is a must. Spending at least one hour there will prepare you to understand what you'll be seeing in the field. They have on display all that was excavated including toys, seals, pottery pieces, tools and the weights and measures. The skeletal remains of two humans (a male and a female) jointly buried at Lothal are also on display in a casket.

The Dockyard

Enter the boundary gate and the first thing before your eyes is an outline of the huge water body. This large tank type structure is believed to have stood as a port. Mr. Jadav, the officer in charge (curator or caretaker) of the Archeological museum told me that according to an Indian Navy officer a 10 tonne vessel could dock in a port of that size.

The Warehouse

Turn left on to a higher level and see the storage platforms now restored in cement and brickwork. The goods for export were stored at a place higher than the dock level and well laid out on platforms with proper ventilation passages. The warehouse is situated near the Acropolis.

The Acropolis

The dwelling place of the ruling elite and the affluent situated just across the warehouse on the same raised level, higher than rest of the township. A clear glimpse of all the amenities like paved baths, water storage, large kitchens and underground drainage system, places of worship / altar etc is available at the acropolis.

The Lower town

Well laid out buildings and streets can be seen where the artisan and the commoner lived. Bricks were well standardised and used in all construction including making drop pits and sewers which were made water-tight and leak-proof.

The Bead making furnace / kiln

This little structure is well preserved by the Archeological department. They have properly encased it by placing steel-mesh cover over it. Mr. Jadav says that regulation of temperature was necessary to obtain desired products and the furnace chambers were designed accordingly.

The museum has for sale books which cover everything including history, geography, culture and statistics about Lothal and the Indus Valley civilisation.

There is no guide available and sadly they haven't put proper informatory boards on the ground. For example, the bead furnace otherwise so painstakingly preserved and protected has no label / name or sign board by its side. That can be easily mistaken for the burial site because one of the boards put in the area so points in that direction. It is better to buy a small book or pick up some literature at the museum reception for on the spot recognition.

Mr. Jadav understands this problem and told me that very soon he would be taking remedial measures. His dedication shows he will.

How to reach

You have three options to do this destination.

1. Take a taxi from Ahmedabad and club three major destinations together. Leave early at 6 and make the Adalaj Vav (15 km) your first stop. Then move on to the Sun temple at Modhera (90 km) followed by the Rani ki Vav at Pattan (35 km). Assuming you spend one and a half hour each seeing the two main attractions this leg can be easily completed by noon. Latest by 1 p m your taxi should leave for Lothal (180 km or 3hr.) via Viramgam and Bagodra. On your way back to Ahmedabad make it a point to see the Sarkhez mausoleum about 20 km on the outskirts of the city.

2. Gujarat state tourism organises a day long site seeing tour to the Site. This also includes a visit to the Nalsarovar bird reserve where some migratory species could be spotted during winters. My information is that going to the reserve was of no use. Bird watching (given birds are there) can't be rushed through or wrapped up in a couple of hours. In my view packaged visits are not much rewarding. Take this option if you have nothing else to do or don't know how to plan an itinerary.

3. If you are backpacker then catch a Bhavnagar bound bus and get down one kilometre after the railway crossing some 20 km next to Bagodra. Lothal is 7 km from that spot and there are good chances of finding some local transport. Your guide map / book will come handy here.

This is the best and cheapest option.

Special mention

Parents with school going children in Gujarat should make it a point to have a day's excursion at the spot. The children will learn a lot.

Compulsion to talk

2010-02-23T09:54:00.000+05:30

Finally, India and Pakistan are talking again. Since India's sudden U-turn a few days back on its stand of 'no talks till Pak dismantled terror network directed against us from its soil', a debate is raging in India whether we should be talking at all to a neighbour who has cared the least about our proof of its direct involvement in terrorism. We again feel punched in our nose with the Pune terror strike a few days back. Well, many in India feel the German Bakery blast in Pune was a disruptive effort by the elements opposed to the Indo-Pak talks. But it can also mean Pakistan punching us once again to bring home the message 'that is how we initiate talks with weaklings'.

But talk we have to. Reasons are obvious - the Americans want us to talk to our rogue neighbour because they want that rogue to be kept in good humour for reasons internationally well known. President Obama soon after assuming office made his intentions clear that he wanted US out of Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible and he is desperately exploring all possible means to achieve that goal (even if that means supping with the devil). Ironically, today India needs US more than the US needs it. Pakistan is hell bent upon linking Kashmir to peace in Afghanistan. India knows it very well that the Americans can damage us gravely just by uttering a single word; Kashmir. Another area of concern is that there are legitimate aspirations India has on a permanent UNSC seat and entering the elite nuclear club for which the US help is very vital.

The just concluded London conference on Afghanistan has almost tacitly approved President Hamid Karzai's plan of striking a deal with the Taliban. Pakistan which has already decided to eliminate the Pakistani Taliban (the Afghan Taliban are not disturbed as Pakistan feels they might soon be ruling Afghanistan once again) is feeling much elated with the outcome of the London conference while India is already nervously feeling left out in the cold. With China upping its ante every now and then India rightly feels that the atmosphere around it is not entirely in its favour and in future things are going to take a turn for the worse. It is certainly not the time to annoy the United States by displeasing it on Indo-Pak matters. The US has to be obeyed even if that means eating a humble pie.

Good Americans and some very good Christians

2010-02-06T07:32:00.000+05:30

The Caribbean island of Haiti suffered the worst earthquake in recent times and many countries rushed in to help the victims of the calamity. Obviously, the Americans have a large presence amid those who are on the humanitarian mission. Right from pulling out of debris both living and dead, providing food and shelter to the needy to drawing reconstruction plans, the US have been on the forefront. Good Americans indeed.

But some very good Christians have emerged from among these good Americans. They perhaps came to the devastated country with a different mission - child lifting. Initially what appeared to be a case of extreme passion towards orphan children who were being helped in all possible way by the volunteers from a church group based in Idaho (USA) is actually turning out to be an act of kidnapping by committed and practicing Christians. As on 04 February 2010, a judge in Port au Prince established criminal charges against the group of 10 church members, it came to light that the claimed orphaned children indeed had their parents alive. The parents were told that their children would come back to them when grown up. One woman who allowed her 10 year old daughter to be taken away on such a promise has been extensively quoted by international media. While everyone else remains busy helping the needy these devout Christians shamelessly tried to accomplish a horrible mission of human trafficking.

Whether the judicial system of a small and battered nation will be able to bring the facts in this case out for everyone to know is debatable especially when the criminals belong to the most powerful country on the earth. However, some inferences can possibly be drawn about the motive of the gang.

The 33 children might have ended up as slaves in homes of some wealthy persons or sold to childless couples. Or they might have gone to Pedophiles lurking in garb of religion or, the worst might have awaited them if the gang was in the racket of trafficking in human organs.

That much for the humanitarian efforts of the missionaries.

The Kumbh congregation and Pollution of the Ganges

2010-01-24T17:25:00.000+05:30

India is a land with mystical aura. There are sacred places belonging to different religions spread all over the country where flow of the pilgrims and believers in their spiritual pursuit continues throughout the year and on the top of it there are periodic gatherings taking place at one place or the other and The Kumbh congregation at Haridwar being one such event happening once in 12 years. The Hindus believe that during this auspicious time, bathing in the river Ganges would ensure salvation for them, which means getting rid of repeated cycles of birth and death.

History

It dates back probably to more than a millennium when Hinduism was facing a threat from within. People were ditching the religion and flocking towards Buddhism when the Vedic thinker Shankracharya devised ways of social interaction among the followers of Hinduism by creating places of holy and divine significance in different parts of India. People had to be motivated to stay within the Vedic fold by either philosophic persuasion or, if need be, by force. Some hardcore followers organised themselves in schools of ascetics (akhadas of sadhus) under various names and banners in order to forcibly defend their faith by confronting those who were allegedly proselytising the followers of their faith. The Upanisads were stressed upon as the canons of the Vedic philosophy.

It is open to debate whether the strategy helped stem exodus from Hinduism or not but it is clear that this approach achieved little in terms of integrating the caste ridden Hindu society or unshackling it from the clutches of the priestly class subscribing to the Puranic version of Hinduism which even today continues to keep the Hindus in superstitions and fear and wrath of the unknown.

Issues

Today the concept of social integration by such gatherings does no longer stand. It has long been overtaken by individualism and blind faith in the idea of the so called salvation. If not, how would one justify the belief of the devotees that by drinking the water in which the sadhus have bathed one is sure to attain salvation? Or that the waters of the Ganges turn into manna (the elixir of life) during the auspicious period which every Hindu must drink?

Whatever be the underlying purpose or superstition of the congregation some issues crop up before the humankind. These issues may be political, religious and economic. However, the single largest issue is pollution and degradation of the Ganges. Millions gathering and staying at one place for so many days cause and face many a health hazard in and around a river which is already carrying pathogens and deadly disease causing agents to an alarming extent. Moreover, the after effects of the pollution thus caused are more severe and dangerous for the society in comparison with salvation of few narrow minded. Do we need another Shankracharya to give us a wake up call on that?

A lucrative business

2009-08-20T19:28:00.000+05:30

Materialsm vs Spiritualism debate: A lucrative business

The debate 'Materialism vs Spiritualism' has been going on for centuries owing to the presence of spiritualists and materialists irrespective of the shades of religions. Historically and philosophically, both in Oriental (including Indian) thought as well as the Semitic religions, materialism has existed at the same time as spiritualism. However, there appears to be a basic and one-sided change in the way the spiritualist today conducts his spiritualism. Is it the sub-conscious yearning for fame and wealth of the human mind which compels the spiritualist to change tracks or a deliberate effort by some cunning individuals to get not only rich but super-rich in the garb of spiritualism is a matter of debate and analysis. In India one can find spiritual gurus in abundance. From petty charlatans whose area of influence could be as small as a village to the crooks and swindlers of international notoriety we have them all. Now, however, they have adopted sophisticated ways of enticing big fish into their nets. Big corporate houses, event managers and educational institutions of repute patronise the so called spiritual gurus and their PR departments are adept at managing the media, electronic in particular. Let us then see what is really happening.

Meaning

Materialism means that the whole universe is material, made up of matter endowed with physical properties defined within / open to interpretation by the natural laws of science. Spiritualism while accepting all what is natural, physical and material also believes in something that is supernatural and immortal thus beyond the realm of nature. The closest one comes to defining that supernatural is by naming it 'spirit' or 'soul'. That also implies dualism of mind and a supernatural kind of entity called god. That so far has been an-accepted-by-all premise on which the whole gamut of material versus spiritual argument rested.

Distortion

Today, however, for a common person the meaning of materialism has completely changed. It has been associated with sheer consumerism and seeking material comforts. One who owns a house, vehicle and other articles of necessity is dubbed materialist. Clearly, materialism has come to mean something completely different. Possession of wealth, property and other goods of luxury has been made to mean materialism. And this is a result of the propaganda the spiritualist has unleashed with a certain motive. He has to get wealthy by exploiting a situation.

According to the spiritualist all the modern day social ills and mental / physical troubles are direct consequence of ‘materialistic’ life style. Yes, it is true hat we are getting ill more often by pursuing a laid-back life style. If I'll make use of a vehicle in order bring my routine bag of fruit and vegetables from the market less than 300 hundred metres away from my home I can't blame anyone else for a higher Hg reading of my BP or an abnormal lipid profile. To know this I need no sermon from a spiritual guru.

Sham spiritualism

While giving a bad name to materialism the so called spiritualists are recklessly indulging in the same. Let us look at the life style of a typical modern day spiritual guru. He flies in his personal / chartered chopper or light aircraft. He travels only AC class and an AC podium is put in place wherever he goes to deliver a sermon. Then the question arises why he is doing all this. Obviously, for enjoying wealth - the same material wealth which he would like us, the lesser mortals, shun. This shameless distortion of a potent philosophy of life (materialism) in the name of spiritualism is deplorable and atheist community ought to take up the cudgels against such opportunism and sheer exploitation.

Promoting Atheism

2009-08-02T17:48:00.000+05:30

In order to promote atheism and thinking based on rationalism some people selflessly dedicate themselves to the cause. I, per chance, stumbled upon one such individual’s blog entitled Deep Thoughts which besides providing matter on atheism also maintains a roll of other blogs that promote atheism.

Now Anything Goes has been added to the Atheist Blogroll of Mojoey. Mr Mojoey is making efforts towards building a society based on atheism. Any blog which has an element of atheism in it would be happily considered by him for inclusion in his blogroll. Why not visit Deep Thoughts then?

Of spiritual Hindus and their benevolent gods.

2009-06-13T19:52:00.000+05:30

For last few days media is agog with the news about an offering made at the Tirupati temple of a crown studded with jewels and diamonds by two politicians to propitiate the presiding deity / god of the temple ostensibly to gain some material favours. The cost of the crown is said to be 42 crores of rupees (equivalent of about 8.4 million US dollars). This involves many issues of propriety in public and social life besides raising questions about basis of the Hindu religion, if there is any.

Followers and practitioners of Hinduism claim it to be a way of life based on spiritualism. They say Hinduism is all about the spiritual journey of the soul (whatever that means) on this planet where your actions based on your perceived sense of duty will grant you the fruits of the journey. Philosophically, the followers of Hinduism, also known as the Vedic religion, are required to follow a spiritual path by shunning material greed and excessive comforts in order to attain Moksha or salvation (freedom from the cycle of birth and death). However, what happens in practice is a shameless involvement and exhibition of material (money and wealth including land, precious metals and stones as in the case under reference).

Propitiation of numerous gods and their consorts by way of making offerings and sacrifices is the sacred most duty of a Hindu which starts at the birth of an individual and continuous for many years after his or her death. By offering material to gods and goddesses the practicing Hindus seek benefits of various types and worse, the so called scriptures endorse and fully support this action of give and take.

The exalted status granted in Hinduism to material wealth and power is amply visible in the myths and rituals so vividly vouched by the so called scriptures. Most of the incarnations are said to have taken place in royalty and wealthy as well as mighty kingdoms. No surprises then that the Hindus have always feared the powerful and sung their praises begging for mercy. The countless incantations and hymns are nothing but praises repeatedly recited in order to keep the gods from getting angry.

That much for this sham spiritualism of the Hindu faith.

Manmohan Vs Advani: A dilemma

2009-04-01T19:35:00.000+05:30

An irony with people of India is they do not differentiate between a leader and a politician. They term all politicians (including petty and the casteist) as leaders. Ideally a leader ought to be a person with strong core values and integrity. It should be his endeavour to lead his people in a way that ensures their prosperity and makes them stronger with time. He has to lead by example and never exploit the situation as a politician would do. Resorting to populism or playing to the gallery is not the hallmark of a leader while every politician would swear by these tactics.

Recently, L K Advani reportedly urged / challenged Manmohan Singh to a one to one debate. The offer probably stands turned down by the PM. Some said that there was no such precedent in the Indian system while some others plainly laughed it off. If precedents were not there what is wrong with setting up one? Leadership is all about exploring new ways and means. Why then shirk an opportunity to inject something fresh and lively into our democracy?

The reason probably lies with Manmohan Singh’s strengths. He is neither a leader nor a politician but only an economist who was hand-picked as the CEO to manage the affairs of India Inc. – a job he has performed very well over the past five years or so given the system and circumstances. Advani on the other hand is a crusader and has in him the material that makes a leader.

For me it has to be either of the two. Both have impeccable integrity and unwavering commitment to the country. However, in order to make my choice I find two major areas of concern today:

1) the economy in recession, and
2) threats to security of the country. Both need priority attention and quick treatment.

Manmohan Singh can certainly steer Indian economy out of the woods but on the security front I doubt his capabilities. Advani undoubtedly would ensure security of the nation but he may not be that adept at the tight rope walk on the economy front line. I, therefore, continue to ponder.

NB
Not that I haven’t considered the third and the fourth fronts but I think India can’t afford to have so many Prime Ministers and short listing them on the above two parameters would not be easy.

Issues in Elections: An Overview

2009-03-31T08:43:00.000+05:30

As election dates to the 15th Lok Sabha draw closer and campaigning picks up pace, media on its part has also started a campaign of sorts; campaign for clean elections and educating the electorate to make their vote count.

Some major issues before the electorate are criminalisation of politics, religious / communal hatred and corruption. Then, lack of development, rural poverty, failure of law and order and threats to the nation’s security are the products of corruption at high places and criminalisation of politics. The policeman who got the job by bribing a minister will not come forward to protect your life and property against anti-social elements enjoying political patronage. An MP’s Local Area Development funds or an MLA’s Constituency Development funds would invariably be operated by their henchmen through officials handpicked or made compliant one way or the other. One can imagine the degree of development achieved by such initiatives. And, when law gets ambiguous on serious issues like corruption (remember the JMM bribery case and the Supreme Court judgment on that) what it means to the common man is anybody’s guess?

This rot of corruption has gone deep into the roots and every institution of democracy has started sounding hollow. The system needs a change, perhaps a complete overhaul. Some suggest a presidential form; others propose proportional representation and many more. Who has to decide, if at all, on such vital issues? Obviously, the parliamentarians we will elect.

The communal hatred prevailing in the country today is a direct fall out of our flawed concept of secularism. When citizen of the country are not equal before the law of the land how can communal harmony be ensured? Today everyone is gunning for Varun Gandhi for spreading hatred. I have no doubt in my mind that he has uttered the words we all heard on television. It was foolish of him to say so that much openly. He perhaps got swayed by emotions. Childish! He ought to have done it like almost all other Indian politician do best; secretly and through workers in door to door canvassing.

In a system which at best encourages mediocrity at the cost of excellence in all walks of life, what are the options before me in these elections? The system is the same. I am afraid I'll once again have to vote for the 'lesser evil' because the ballot machine is not going to offer me the choice of opting for 'none of the above'.

Hyderabad; a Visitor's Perspective

2008-12-28T05:53:00.000+05:30

Though the Indian tourism department lists the city of Hyderabad as a part of its South India itinerary, yet the city located south of central India is not distinctly South Indian. It is, in fact, a meeting point of three Indian cultures; North, South and typically Hyderabadi. Everyone would feel comfortably at home in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad no matter which language they speak or religion they profess.

The capital city of Andhra Pradesh having roots deep into history and tradition is also a modern tech city in the making. However, like any other big Indian city Hyderabad also has its woes like heavy and unruly traffic and high pollution levels (indicated by a hazy horizon).

Must see
In my opinion the must visit places, apart from the famous and historic Charminar, Golconda and Qutub Shahi Tombs are the Salarjung museum, Lepakshi (the State Government Handicrafts showroom) and the Birla Planetarium. View the historic grandeur and have a wide glimpse of Indian cultural heritage at the museum. Photography is prohibited inside the museum so you have to deposit your camera in the locker near the ticket booth. Since mobiles are allowed inside I spotted some people taking pictures with their phone-cams. I found Lepakshi the best place to pick up souvenirs or items for our showcases. You may also select from among others; Bidriware, Dokra art (metalware) and Rosewood items which are very attractive indeed.

A visit to the Birla Planetarium is a must for children as well as adults who want them to develop interest in science. After viewing the planetarium show so vividly exhibited by laser beams, one can spot at least two real life planets; Venus and Jupiter, up in the sky just above the south-western horizon after the sunset. However, star gazing in any city is difficult with the haze obscuring most of the sky line.

Bad roads
Hyderabad is a fast emerging Hi-tech city next only to Bangalore and the need for infrastructure development is very high. Some flyovers are under construction but the road network seems poor. As far as quality of the roads is concerned even prime and posh localities in the city have roads with bad riding surface. Numerous ruts and pot-holes are visible and the repair / patchwork is so shabbily done that it makes driving unsafe. Roads as well as the sign boards need considerable improvement.

Hyderabadi Pearls
Driver of almost every three-wheeler we engaged for making it from one point in the city to the other, offered us to take to what he called 'government pearl shop' for the best quality 'natural' Hyderabadi pearls. Upon entering one such shop you don't know whether you'd get your money's worth or not since there is a wide disparity between the prices of similar looking pearl products. I wonder if standardisation of the pearl business on the lines of gold hallmarking could ever be possible. However, one shop owner tried his best to boost buyers’ confidence by performing 'burn' and 'scratch' tests which according to him was the true measure of the natural quality of the pearls they offered.

Auto rickshaw Drivers
As is wont in most of the cities in India one has got to strike a bargain while hiring a cab and Hyderabad is no exception. In this process of haggling the loser invariably will be the tourist. However, after a day or two in the city you can get a clear picture of the fare structure and then strike it even with them. It is worth mentioning here that in three days we chanced upon three auto drivers who voluntarily switched on their meters without any argument.

The Historical
Though all the forts in India are magnificent and marvellous yet each one has one distinct feature or the other. The Golconda fort is impressive in its own right. Three things which, in my opinion, stand out are; the water distribution system, the audio alarm system and the 240 kilograms iron weight lying in the soldiers’ barracks. There are huge water tanks at different levels. The water used to be lifted from one level to the next manually by rope and pulley arrangement and then it flowed under gravity through earthen conduits to the Royal quarters.

They say if there was any sense of alarm at the entry gate the sentry would simply clap and the sound would reach some 200 feet up at the top (the tourist guide gets this clapping exercise done for you). Then there is reverberation of clapping under the main entrance, the arched roof of which is done in deep diamond shapes. Interestingly the reverberations aren't felt outside the seven feet radius. Also there is this big iron weight, 240 Kg according to the guide, which was used to weigh the ration issued from the supplies depot. Another view is that lifting of the weight was compulsory for recruitment into the army which had in its armoury things like heavy swords, spears, lances and guns.

Out of the 146 spiralling stair steps of the Charminar visitors aren't allowed beyond the first 53 which take them to the first floor from where one can see some important spots of Hyderabad. However, the scene is not as panoramic as from the citadel at the Golconda fort, some 11 km away. City haze once again plays a spoilsport. Nearby there is the famous Mecca Mosque and adjoining are among others the Laad Bazaar where one can shop for pearls, bangles and the traditional perfume (itr) and relish the trademark culinary called Hyderabadi Biryani.

The Buddha statue in the Hussainsagar is prominently noticeable and presents an attractive view particularly after the sunset when it is fully bathed in lights. For photography enthusiasts it is a good point to capture sunset with the Birla temple hill in the backdrop. For steady shots do carry a tripod, something I forgot to do. The walkways along the Tank Bund road and the necklace road around the Hussainsagar are walkers / joggers delight. However, the Tank Bund road teeming with traffic urgently needs at least two underground / overhead pedestrian crossings.

(I visited Hyderabad in the first week of December 2008)

How many 'Leagues' now?

2008-08-18T19:20:00.001+05:30

How many Leagues now?

Immediately after partitioning in 1947 of India an era of playing blame games started which is continuing till date. While today Hindus hold all the Muslims responsible for partition and vice versa, that time the blame game was played out between three main parties; The British, the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.

Some people are of the opinion that not everyone in the British ruling class believed in the idea of partition. Even Lord Wavell till as late as 1946, didn't favour creation of Pakistan, an idea which in his opinion was an unviable and unattractive proposition. However, it finally happened.

The British laid responsibility at the door step of the Congress party which they felt could not bring the Muslim community into the mainstream. The blame for failure of the all party interim government was also put on the party. The League had, of course, held Nehru responsible for keeping the domain of Pakistan smaller by a few provinces that would otherwise have been there with them but for the influence exerted over Mountbatten through Edwina.

The position taken by the Indian National Congress was mainly centred on the Jinnah factor. The party accepted partition only as the last resort because it found working along with the Muslim League extremely difficult. According to the Congress leaders the League was interested in only enhancing its religious agenda and India as a country didn't matter in its scheme of things. The League therefore was a stumbling block in the path of India's development and progress. The Congress party was reportedly also of the view that a united India even if smaller was better than a disorganised and weak big India.

Today, looking back, after 61 years of partition, one finds little or no significance of the views expressed by both the British and the League. However, the arguments extended at that time by the Indian National Congress are of considerable importance because the party has ruled India for more than five decades since then and the cited reasons for accepting the partition could be termed as fundamental assertions towards shaping the future of the country.

We lost a big chunk of our land with a view to having a united India by getting rid of a troublesome adversary - Muslim League. But has the goal of a united India been achieved? Look at the hundreds of 'Leagues' that since the independence emerged in this united country. India not only remains under constant threat from some international Islamic terror outfits but also continues to terribly bleed by terrorist activities of organisations mushrooming inside the country. Repeated cases of bombings in cities, trains, places of worship and even hospitals are open examples and ample proof of the activities of indigenous terror formations. Our National Security Advisor has just been reported as saying that there were about 800 sleeper terror cells aided from outside the country active inside India. We have on various occasions including the Independence and Republic day celebrations have witnessed antinational elements hoisting a Pakistani flag in the Kashmir valley - the so called integral part of India. And on this 62nd Independence Day the Indian Tricolour was torched in full public view by those whom we consider citizens of India. Worse, we, the people of India watch all this helplessly. Our politicians are busy blaming each other for this sorry state of affairs and law seems to have become a toothless and a rusted tool in the hands of an inept executive. All this is happening despite numerous concessions and relaxations extended to the Muslims in all walks of life and enactment of special status and extraordinary advantages like the Muslim personal law holding supremacy over law of the land besides the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights and freedom to all the citizens.

Where have we failed then? Is this a systemic failure wherein we could not develop strong institutions of democracy? Does Islam not stand compatible with the type of democracy we in India Have?

And lastly, does this dire situation point towards dangerous portents of yet another partition of India?

Uprising in Jammu - 3

2008-08-13T13:14:00.000+05:30

Uprising in Jammu - 3

How the public representatives behaved.

When the PDP withdrew from the ruling coalition, fall of the state government was imminent. Some efforts were apparently made by the Congress party to rope in the National Conference but it cold shouldered the proposal albeit keeping the future options open. Both the Kashmir based parties have a constituency to address and this was the time to oppose not support. They clearly and decisively acted in the interest of their people back in the Valley.

Look at what the politicians from Jammu were up to. Print media quoting senior Congress leaders reported that money from Pakistan had bank rolled into the Valley resulting in cancellation of the land allotment order. Congressmen also reportedly accused their erstwhile coalition partner PDP of being anti-national by saying children of some of these leaders were allegedly carrying out subversive activities from abroad. Ironically, it was the 'anti-national' PDP which broke ranks with the 'nationalist' Congress, not the other way round. It took the two elected members of parliament from Jammu region some thirty days after protests had started in Jammu to meet the Prime Minister in connection with the agitation. They demanded removal of the Governor - a meek and insignificant way of showing solidarity with their constituents. They never sat in protest along side the people. Who then these so called leaders from Jammu were hoodwinking? Obviously, the people of Jammu region.

That is the difference between the respective leadership from the two regions. The Valley has its leaders while Jammu has only subservient politicians.

Aren't the leaders failing Jammu once again as they have been doing over six decades? Why then blame Omars and Mehboobas alone? Why demand the Governor's head who was barely a few days into his tenure when the order was rescinded. Did any of the ministers from Jammu region or any MLA for that matter, resign from the cabinet or the legislature on the land row?

Has the Sangharsh Simiti erred in boycotting the leaders from Kashmir?

I think yes, it has. No matter what they have done or were doing; the important point is when New Delhi is banking on the Kashmir leadership Jammu can't ignore them. Whereas protests and boycotts are perfectly justified in a democratic set up, dialogue too is an integral part of the same system. Mahatma Gandhi on number of issues and occasions boycotted the British but he never undermined the validity of a negotiation process. Moreover, New Delhi has a bigger hand in neglect of the Jammu region. Even the NDA government in which the Jammu sympathetic BJP was at the helm did nothing to initiate steps towards restoration of Jammu region's respect. Kashmiri leaders only took advantage of this apathy.

So far things have gone right for the people of Jammu. They have the Kashmiri leaders clearly on the back foot who appear relenting from their hitherto hard stand on the land issue. The main leaders from Kashmir have been standing their ground against the hardliners but now it appears slipping from under their feet as well. And surely, they would not like to fall flat. When things slip away from the mainstream they drift to extremes. And the fringe elements in any polity who are ever ready to seize the initiative have always behaved irresponsibly. High time the people spearheading the agitation in Jammu realised this. With this uprising the people of Jammu have made their point forcefully and effectively. Let them now negotiate the issues which by all means they would be doing from a position of strength.

Uprising in Jammu - 2

2008-08-12T14:29:00.000+05:30

Uprising in Jammu - Part 2

Jammu at disadvantage:

The one and only disadvantage with the people of Jammu is lack of independent leadership. While people of the Valley always kept pace with the changing times and their political leadership continued to emerge, the people in Jammu region had to stay content with their politicians playing a subservient role since independence. Jammu couldn't produce a Sheikh Abdullah or a Mirwaiz or even a Mufti who would take bold decisions in the wake of adversities. If Jammu were to politically match Kashmir there has to emerge a leader who does not have to salute some masters in New Delhi or Srinagar. It is an irony that a national party like Congress has to hand pick its leader from the Valley though the contingent of its MLAs comes from the Jammu region. Slave mentality or what?

This resulted in Jammu being meted out a second grade treatment in all walks of life. Since it was the Valley which got all of New Delhi's attention, Jammu region was neglected disdainfully. For example, it took just four days of agitation in Kashmir valley for the government to rescind the land allotment order while the Jammu region had to shut down for over a month for the Union government to take notice of it. What could be more humiliating to the people of Jammu?

What can be done?

New Delhi should act immediately and give Jammu its due place in the scheme of things it has for the state of J & K. The Central government's efforts and decisions ought to be equity based. Jammu has been discriminated against since long but New Delhi should see an opportunity in the present turmoil and unequivocally bring at par politically, economically and strategically all three regions of the state.

At the same time people of Jammu now appear to have become aware of the fact that they don't have to always look towards New Delhi or Srinagar for their rights. They have to fight for it. However, they have a leadership handicap which can only be overcome by grooming leaders independent of New Delhi and Kashmir.

Secondly, such leadership ought to have secular credentials so as to be acceptable to whole of the region.

A conglomerate of business associations and social bodies with diverse interest, like the one spearheading the current agitation can at best exert with a single issue but for fighting regional imbalances it has to be a broad based political movement. That is the long term vision but for the moment coming to the negotiation table in order to break this impasse would be in the interest of everyone in the state including the people of Jammu region who despite an environment of suffering and apathy have proved their mettle with this uprising.

Uprising in Jammu - 1

2008-08-12T14:13:00.000+05:30

Uprising in Jammu - Part 1

The mass movement of the people of Jammu province against the state government's failure to stick to its own decision is gaining strength with each passing day. It is already over a month and a half since it started as a minor protest against withdrawal of a government order allotting some land to a religious body of Hindus ostensibly under pressure from the separatist elements in the Valley.

How this all started:

It came about, in fact, as a result of the one-upmanship game between two coalition partners; the Congress and the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP). Congress party as per the coalition arrangement was heading the government in the latter half of its tenure and PDP was feeling much uncomfortable. With elections in the offing, Congress tried to score some brownie points. About one hundred acres of land was allotted to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). It was a cabinet decision but when PDP bosses woke up the next morning they assumed that the Congress party had already pocketed the Hindu votes with this single stroke. Worse, two of their own party men who were the concerned ministers, had signed the final clearance which paved the way for the decision. Desperate and with nothing to hold onto, the PDP bosses resorted to the usual and time tested tactics of 'danger to the special status by changing the demographic character of J&K' - a laughable proposition for the sane but not for the hot-headed intolerants. It worked. The valley rose in protest against land allotment to a Hindu body. The PDP withdrew from the ruling coalition and the government fell. But before its fall the government losing its nerve had already withdrawn the allotment order.

It would be appropriate to state here that the said land transfer order was about leasing out the land for two months for erecting temporary shelters and did not involve any transfer of ownership.

Naturally, as a sentimental reaction, people of Jammu too came out to protest. That is the story.

The Grave Situation:

As is wont in India, we have political pundits, journalists, sociologists and many more who jumped into analyzing the situation, coming up with stereotyped rhetoric that it was a ploy of communal forces to seize momentum in the wake of forthcoming elections to the state legislature. This argument appears far removed from reality. Jammu was never communal. How many today remember that more than two decades back when under the separatist threats and acts of ethnic cleansing by the Islamic terrorists, there was mass exodus of people from the Valley, the people of Jammu had opened their arms to welcome them? And the migrants were not only Hindus, there were Muslims too. There is enough evidence to vouch for that. Talking of communalism in Jammu is just rubbish.

In the mean time the situation is turning nastier with every passing hour. The Central government didn't consider it appropriate to take notice, leave alone interfere, till about the 35th day of protests and loss of some precious lives. It was known to all in Kashmir as well as New Delhi that Jammuites have never had the stamina to hold on that longer. New Delhi always feared unrests in Kashmir valley. They had no inkling of it that this time it was a different and resurgent Jammu.

However, the situation has already turned into 'do or die' for the two regions of the state. It has become an identity issue. If not handled quickly it could further aggravate into a full blown religious war between people of Jammu and Kashmir regions.

Taslima ouster - one more feather in the cap of 'secular' India!

2008-03-24T12:28:00.000+05:30

Taslima ouster - one more feather in the cap of 'secular' India!

Taslima Nasreen, the hounded Bangladeshi writer, has finally left India - a country which boasts of, among others, long traditions of tolerance, equality and secularism. She was harassed and humiliated at the hands of the Indian State which covertly acted in collusion with fundamentalists who finally carried the day. In August 2007 she escaped a murderous attack by a mob of fundamentalist muslims led by some people's elected representatives in the Andhra Pradesh state legislature. Strangely, nobody in government of India condemned the attack. Instead, she was advised by Congress party big-wigs to apologise to the muslim community.

Earlier she was expelled from Calcutta under the false pretext of security concerns by 'secular' comrades who dub every hindu adoring 'mother India' communal. New Delhi regime also cited security reasons for keeping her incommunicado for some eight months now and that was a reason strong enough for her to finally decide on moving out of the country. The ‘secular’ government in India must be feeling relieved at this turn of events especially when the Parliamentary elections are round the corner. The ruling combine and its leftist allies can hope of bringing to their fold a large number of muslim voters who considered Taslima an anathema.

Such myopic acts of vote catching do not serve the nations interests in any manner. The fundamentalists would feel encouraged to resort to more and blatant irrational tactics to undermine the authority of the State which is already under tremendous pressure. Once fundamentalists belonging to one religion get headway the others would not like to lag far behind. The Indian State is thus encouraging fundamentalism among different religions while singing paeans to secularism.

Visiting Puri & Konark

2008-02-16T14:47:00.000+05:30

Visiting Puri and Konark

Those who are planning a visit to Orissa may have two different but equally strong and valid reasons to go to Puri and Konark; religion and heritage. For religious Hindus, Puri is the living abode on earth of the Lord of the universe, Jagannath. The massive temple graciously holds high the devotees' belief and hope of attaining salvation (getting rid of repeated cycles of birth and death) by paying obeisance at the temple.

The Sun temple at Konark, 35 Km away, is not known for sustaining any such devotional beliefs but presents a glimpse of India's rich cultural heritage which appears very much alive even after eight centuries.

PURI: THE DIVINE ABODE

As the train enters Puri station you are greeted at the platform by some stranger who appears to know you very well. As we alighted a graying man moved forward to hold our suitcase as if he was expecting us. "From Kashmir, Sir". "No, from Punjab", I said evasively. He then started naming districts, sub-districts and even some smaller towns of Punjab like a local revenue official would do. There are many like him in Puri town, called ‘Pandas’, they offer their services, of course for a fee, in order to make it convenient for you to pay obeisance at the shrine. They are sort of agents or jobbers for other bigger priests operating from inside the temple complex. They would invariably spot you no matter what you were doing; strolling, shopping or just sipping a drink out there. They even come to hotel lounges. The man who spotted us at the railway station offered us free taxi ride to our hotel if we agreed to go to temple with him. There were a couple of others too with similar offers but we obliged none and went our own way.

Hotels are aplenty over there catering to all budgets. The one we had booked at had spacious sea facing rooms. Roads in Puri are wide and well maintained and cleanliness is very much evident. One sore point, however, is a filthy drain at the ‘swargadwara’ (gate to heaven) which stinks as you’ll find while walking on an otherwise unspoilt Puri beach. Though you have to negotiate fare or daily rates for auto rickshaw ride, drivers don’t seem to be overcharging and they won’t try to outsmart you. Fear of the traffic cop is for real. Speaking out of experience, the Oriya people are very gentle and despite being in struggle to sustain themselves they appear to have found some satisfaction levels ad would not resort to dodgy tactics like some others in neigbouring states would do.

Entry to the temple is well regulated and for obvious reasons you have to deposit things like mobile, camera or any other electronic items at the counters outside. We were told that a minimum of ten thousand devotees (counted on any lean day) would daily enter the temple and there are five thousand registered priests working inside the complex. Immediately upon entry a priest with a ledger in hand will appear to take down your biodata and family details. Unlike some other religious places in India, tourists / devotees here are not fleeced by the priestly class. Apart from the 'prasada' (offering to the Lord) basket which is available at affordable prices you need not pay any more money to anyone or anywhere else. At the same time you can avail a priest's services for a paltry rupees fifty. While you are making that obligatory round of the sanctum sanctorum housing the three sacred wooden statues hold yourself firm against the pushes and shoves inside the dark tunnel like chamber. Holding your companion or the priest-guide by the arm would be advisable for the elderly, infirm or children.

Photography

These days photography is inseparable from a tourist activity. With proliferation of imaging technology even casual visitors carry a digital or conventional camera. Though there is huge wide space in front of the Jagannatha temple yet the shear height of the main tower warrants a vantage point in front from where to shoot photographs. One such spot is the library building facing the temple. One can go to roof top there by making a small donation towards the library maintenance fund. The effort is worth it.

On the Beach

The long beach is pristine, clean and moderately crowded and besides a healthy stroll you can have a beautiful view of golden sunset. Also for a breathtaking view of sunrise, get up early and dash towards the beach (if you have a room facing the sea in right orientation, just open the window) with your camera ready. Chances are that, fog permitting, you might capture the sunrise in the shape of a ball rising out of the sea. A beach festival is held at Puri beach every year in the month of November.

Shopping

None for me as I am not a shopping freak. Moreover, tourists should not add to their baggage and local markets should always be preferred shopping points. However, souvenirs can be picked up anywhere and there are many to choose from.

KONARK: WHERE LANGUAGE OF STONE SURPASSES THAT OF MAN

This small but beautiful palm fringed village has well preserved ruins of a magnificent temple dedicated to Sun god built in the Orissan style of temple architecture. They say this complex spread over 12 acres of land took skills and efforts of 1200 men to build in 12 years. The whole complex completed in 1234 AD housed besides the main temple, a dance hall, hall of audience and two temples dedicated to the two wives of the Sun god. The main tower of the temple which stood at glorious 227 feet started collapsing once the massive 53 ton magnet placed atop the tower was taken off as it had been interfering with navigation system of merchant ships. Those days the ocean is said to have been touching the Sun temple base those days though today it has receded by two kilometres. The Sun temple also known as 'Black Pagoda' has many a myth related to it.

Built in sand stone (except for the statues of Sun god) obtained from Khandagiri and Udayagiri hills the masonry joints were secured by iron strips. Large iron beams of 15 to 18 feet length (now piled up on ground) were used to span the openings. Besides stonework use of iron was widespread and the magnet placed at the top of the tower (gopuram) kept the structure in balance.

In order save the structure from completely collapsing Lord Curzon in 1903 ordered boulder filling of the main temple hall after removal of the idol. Of the three entrances to main temple the Ashwadwara (Horse gate) is damaged while the Gajadwara (Elephant gate) is permanently closed. The Singhadwara (Lion gate) is kept open. Colossal stone figures of war horses and elephants seen trampling enemy soldiers adorn the flanks of the temple.

The temple is in the shape of a chariot (being drawn by horses) having 24 large wheels at its base. Each wheel is 9'-8" in diametre with 8 inch thick rim. The axle protruding by 11" casts shadow from which local (Konark) time can be computed correct upto 3 minutes. There are 16 spokes to help in knowing time during the day. This arrangement is unlike the sundials of observatories found elsewhere in India.

Base of the temple is full of sculpted panels depicting gods, humans, animals, celestial damsels, myths and lore. Life size figures of humans and gods are judiciously carved out and nothing comes to mind that has not been represented in the stonework. From routine chores like harvesting, hunting and playing music etc to military, social and religious activities all aspects life are shown therein.

The dance hall is an ornate open theatre type structure outer walls of which show whole of the Odissi dance pattern carved in stonework. Entrance to the hall carries a thematic representation in stone showing how relation between intelligence, wealth and power works in our lives. There shown is a lion sitting on an elephant which in turn has a man under it. That is how, when rationality is missing from our thoughts and actions, our intelligence (man) loses out to greed of wealth (elephant) and finally power (lion) subjugates both. An important lesson to learn at the door step itself.

There is one carved panel depicting a wife waiting for her husband at the courtyard in a manner which is said to have prompted poet Rabindranath Tagore to comment that the language of stones had surpassed the language of man.

Another interesting panel shows a giraffe. Outlandish it may appear but they say that a giraffe in fact was presented by an African ruler to King Narasimhadeva.

It is very convenient to make a one day trip to Konark from Puri.

Registering marriages in secular India

2007-10-29T12:35:00.000+05:30

The Supreme Court of India recently ordered enactment of legislation towards making registration of all marriages, no matter under which religion they were solemnised, mandatory. A State truly turns secular when all its subjects come under one law. India, though constitutionally secular, has never really been able to cast itself in such a mould as the political leadership in the country failed to arrive at a definition of uniform civil code. For the sake of political convenience the definition of secularism was turned upside down and poor Indians left to fight things out in the streets sporting headbands of different religions. Now, a ray of hope looks likely and this order passed by the SC appears to be a small step towards bringing in some uniformity to these vast and troubled societal norms based on religion alone. Appreciably the SC has decided not to put any curbs on the way marriages are conducted according to different customs prevalent in the country. Its directive is do-it-as-you-like-but-register-it. The intended social benefits of registering marriages are many including removal of gender bias and equitable treatment of women. Evils like abandonment of hapless women, polygamy and child marriage can be completely stopped. Besides, the ‘one night’ sham marriages solemnised between wealthy Arabs and poor Indian girls in some places in India would also get checked if not completely eliminated.

However, opposition has already started emerging from some expected quarters - the Muslim clergy. Worse, politicians are mum and their silence is dangerous. Politicians who start beating drums of secularism at drop of a feather are there in large numbers in all political parties. In fact, there are more secular parties in the ruling combine than anywhere else. And there is no dearth of blunders committed by Indian politicians, both in the government as well as outside o it, in the name of secularism. Once in the past a Supreme Court judgment (remember the Shah Bano case) was usurped by a 'secular' government in India. Fears are that every effort would be made by the political class with a vested interest in the status quo to sabotage this effort by the SC. However, at present people of India are more informed and decisive than they were about three decades back. Let us hope this time sanity prevails.

Taslima Nasreen and secularism in India

2007-08-14T11:46:00.000+05:30

Last week Taslima Nasreen, the Bangladeshi writer and free thinker, was assaulted by lunatics of a right wing political outfit at a function in Hyderabad city. Taslima's main concern, among other issues of religious oppression, has been the miserable plight of women in Islam and she has time and again tried to highlight this issue through her writings and speeches. She is hated by fundamentalist Muslims and has been hounded out of her country where she faces death threats from self styled guardians of religion and zealots who are ready to kill anyone not agreeing with their definition of faith. She is living in India on a temporary visa that is extended on expiry. Though she has applied for permanently living in India the government has yet to decide on such a status for her.

It is alarming that this murderous attack on Taslima happened in India where we constantly beat the drums of our secular traditions and religious tolerance. Worse still, the attackers included some legislators who are under oath to protect the constitution of the country and practice what is right in the eyes of law. Giving further fillip to these tendencies of lawlessness, another similar outfit has blamed the attackers for letting her escape alive. Taslima reportedly locked herself inside a room while the criminals vandalised the premises of the press club where she was attending a book release function.

There has been a widespread condemnation by saner minds, cutting across political and religious lines, of this shameless attack on an individual's right to dissent and freedom of expression. However, we have yet to see a seemingly judicious move by the authorities. Let us see what the authorities are saying and doing in this matter.

Firstly, the police department. The police, as is their wont, claim they had no information about the event at the press club. Had they been told in advance they would have certainly taken preventive measures, they said. Very true, the police in India have always to be goaded into action. Then came the most comic part of the police action. They booked Taslima for inciting religious hatred and disturbing communal harmony on the complaint of the same legislator who took leading part in the murderous attack on her and then threatened that she would be beheaded the next time she entered the city.

And now, what the government said. One minister visited the press club and proudly announced that the restoration work would be done by the government out of public funds. That means using taxpayer's money to compensate for a criminal act of a political ally. In other words that is tantamount to granting license for vandalism. Why not ask the religious-political outfit whose cadres were involved to pay up for the damage done to the property? Simply, because that would be politically inconvenient. So much for the keepers of liberal values and individual freedom in India. This is perhaps another glaring example of how to make the law subservient to political expediency. Will this type of mindset help India tackle various societal problems that mainly arise out of a flawed definition of secularism and practices of blatant religious opportunism?

Peoples President

2007-07-25T11:33:00.000+05:30

Evening of July 23, 2007, India's parliamentarians await arrival, perhaps for the last time, in the central hall of parliament of the outgoing President of the Republic Mr. A P J Abdul Kalam. They have gathered to give him a warm and affectionate send off. The show is telecast live and the commentator lauds multifaceted personality of Mr. Kalam. Upon his arrival Mr. Somnath Chatterjee, the Speaker of the lower house of parliament begins the proceedings by enumerating various achievements of illustrious Mr. Kalam and the praising continues throughout the ceremony. We all sit glued to our TV sets watching with serious attention and, in between, also thinking as to how the politicians hide their real intentions behind the strings of words they so cunningly craft for the occasion.

His actions and achievements first as an aeronautical engineer, a teacher and a rocket scientist and then as the constitutional head are indeed laudable and make us proud as a nation of achievers. A mere presence of Mr. Kalam as the first citizen of India filled many youngsters with hope and confidence. Common man felt great seeing him as President. His dream of seeing India a world power by 2020 is the most significant motivating factor for the dreaming Indian youngsters as well as the intelligentsia.

How come, then, the politicians in this country didn't find it appropriate to keep such a capable and accomplished man there for another term. Does he fall short of qualifications by not earning any new doctorate (we see lots of politicians earning degrees from a beeline of obliging universities) during his term? If displeasure shown by him in a couple of instances of constitutional impropriety committed by the union government, albeit under compulsions of coalition management, was the reason for Mr. Kalam not getting a second term then the portents are not good for the health of democracy in India. Seemingly the elected representatives and other politicians of the country relegated public interest to backstage viz a viz political convenience.

It is beyond doubt that of the two contestants for the top job neither could match Mr. Kalam in eminence and integrity. We have seen enough dirt fly, during campaigning, in the faces of both; winner and loser. By ignoring an accomplished and perfectly qualified person the peoples' representatives, in spirit, have acted in a manner inimical to the larger interest of democracy while in letter they might have done nothing wrong by sticking to the ideals of open competition and rules ‘of first past the post’.

Whatever the argument or reasoning, the fact is that something is missing somewhere in the present Indian democratic setup. Why can't we have the best people at the best places? And if at all compromises are to be made that ought to be always in the best interest of common man. But where does the common man stand today in India? Is the adage of ‘by the people, for the people’ changing to ‘by some, for the convenience of some’?

PS. July 25, 2007
He is demitting office Today. I salute him.

Happy moments

2007-07-15T10:19:00.000+05:30

At times moments of happiness spring up to us face-to-face when least expected. This fawn, instead of running away along with some others, stood still perhaps sure of invisibility amongst the green foliage. It gave me ample opportunity to take a couple of shots from a reasonable distance so as to capture some fine details. My Canon S3IS measured up to occasion and I got these two pretty shots.

Malefic Saturn in your zodiac sign

2007-07-10T11:02:00.000+05:30

Of malefic Saturn and the costs involved.

On June 30 / July 01 Venus and Saturn presented a rare celestial phenomenon in the western skies when both the planets appeared less than one degree apart. It was visual treat of a rare type. This event happened just thirteen days after another spectacular one had taken place involving Moon and Venus with the latter momentarily and partly hiding behind the former. In scientific parlance this is termed occultation. People watched the occultation either out of curiosity and fun or for the sake of gaining some knowledge about orbits and movements of heavenly bodies. These as well as other such events are part of completely natural phenomena which could be precisely calculated and predicted. Nothing abnormal or supernatural about it.

However, in India some people have entirely different versions of the events. Majority of the population would like to perceive and interpret such events religiously. They view such happenings in astrological terms wherein anything occurring in the sky has a bearing on us in the shape of our fate and future.

That day a popular TV channel while reporting on the event had one astrologer stationed in the studios. The man was predicting effects (both good and bad) on the lives of individuals falling under different signs of zodiac. He even predicted political disturbance and economic downturn for the country. In case of one particular zodiac sign he was predicting rather a longer period of suffering. He said that this meeting of Saturn and Venus signaled a terrible start of the seven and half years period of malefic effects on all those people who had a particular configuration in their birth charts. Then he went on to dividing this seven and a half years period into further three sub periods of two and a half years each. Each sub period would have different intensity of suffering for the native.

As is common with astrologers they don't stop at merely making predictions for, that would only half serve their purpose. They need to complete their job by spelling out in detail the solutions to the problems created by malefic effects of such planetary positions. Yes, you can ward off the ill effects by making a trade off with the gods and goddesses. Offer them money, eatables, clothes and precious metals or rare stones so as buy peace. Such propitiatory rites coupled with visits to holy places, shrines and rivers complete the ritual of getting rid of the ill effects of a 'dark' Saturn.

While watching the TV show I made some quick back of the envelope calculations so as to estimate in monetary terms the yearly outgo from the pockets of the believers who must appease the Saturn god. While people of all religious beliefs in India consult astrologers (and why shouldn't they when one strong candidate for the President claims, if media reports are to be believed, to have spoken with the soul of her guru) astrology is mainly in the domain of Hinduism, though not exclusively. Assuming about 75 million of Hindus, one twelfth of the country's Hindu population, falling under one zodiac sign which would suffer the severest wrath of the malefic Saturn and further assuming that only 50% (a very conservative estimate) will seek resolution we arrive roughly at a figure of around 40 million individuals seriously seeking remedial measures.

There is no limit to spending on appeasement of the gods. Assuming that the average expenditure incurred by an individual in one year is pegged at paltry rupees one thousand i.e., about USD 25 – a pittance in the wake of huge digesting capabilities of bulging bellies of the priests in India, we arrive at a figure of 40 billion Indian rupees or USD one billion. Over a period of seven years this money would multiply accordingly. Moreover it is an ongoing cycle for, Saturn will not be satiated and would rush towards another zodiac sign and capture fate of many more. Imagine this immense flow of money going down the rituals drain.

And all this in a country where reflections of poverty in the shape of mothers selling their children to buy rice, slavery, child labor and starvation deaths periodically emerge. Any takers, among believers, for this argument or stance?

Why must Taj Mahal be included in New 7 Wonders of the World?

2007-07-04T10:26:00.000+05:30

Why must Taj Mahal be included in the New 7 Seven Wonders of the World?

The Taj, literally the crown, occupies the crowning glory in Indian tourism. For anyone visiting India this wonderful monument is a must-see. India otherwise possesses some of the world's best known historical and cultural sites offering knowledge as well as visual treats to a variety of interests. However, the Taj is such a unique wonder that defies all the logical reasoning one might come up with for visiting a particular destination.

Now that the world's new seven wonders are going to be picked up shortly I have my own reasons for voting for this monument. It is not on the basis of some emotional value attached to it (some people call it a 'monument of love' considering the view that it was built by an emperor in memory of his beloved wife. But that may not be entirely true as preserving history in Indian conditions have never been sacrosanct and ruling out distortions would not be that easy) but due to its sheer mesmerizing power as a magnificent structure. The visual treat is so overwhelming that one forgets all historical, cultural, architectural and any other related aspect at the first glance of it from outside of the boundary wall itself. As one draws closer, the mesmerizing effects of the monument become complete thereby showering upon the viewer a sense of happiness and fulfillment. It doesn't prod your senses to desire for more, it soothes them. What else a wonder ought to possess then?

Of Books and New-Year resolution

2007-04-10T12:37:00.000+05:30

How many books?

How many books can one read, say, in one year? I asked my friend. The person is not exactly in the field of literature but has nurtured reading as hobby. Well, most of us are like that but he is an avid reader. His take is one book a month and that makes it twelve in a year. Yes, he said, "take twelve to fifteen if you intend a mix of fiction and non-fiction". Further adding, “Fiction alone would take less of your time than non-fiction, hence the range”.

Well, most of us take to reading as a hobby but in this age of multimedia and all the spicy infotainment how do we stick to the bland habit of reading books. Perhaps only by addiction. The editorial pages and literary supplements in print media often carry the lament that the reading habits all over the world were surely on the wane. However, we find new books being published, reprints also coming out at regular intervals yet shortage was persisting in the market. A reputed online store failed to get me the book I had ordered. After a long wait I got a regret mail instead of receiving the courier. Then there is this trend of e-publishing fast coming up. And cash rich publishers as usual continue to run after scoops and tell-me-first types.

The publishing industry is flourishing as more and more book exhibitions and fairs are organised around the globe. Larger crowds throng such fairs. Sales are on the rise despite the fact that book piracy is rampant and footpaths everywhere are literally littered with pirated versions of bestsellers. All this makes it hard to believe that the hobby of book-reading was dying out. Clearly, there is some unflinching commitment to the printed matter from the likes of my friend who never kicks old habits.

While I prefer mostly ordering my books online another friend always buys them from the shop. When asked why, her reply was that first of all she wanted to feel the book. The size, the binding, the weight and even the smell of a book were the reasons bOfehind her compulsive visits to the bookshops. I find merit in the statement.

Honestly, each year and for years now, I have been accumulating more books than I could possibly read. This New Year eve I made a resolution not to buy any books in 2007. However, by the first week of April itself, nine are already piling up on my desk while my book mark is running through only the second this year. The first one was finished in February. And now for me in addition to flowing in books there is another problem; how to keep a resolution?

A Review

2007-01-30T15:52:00.000+05:30

The Argumentative Indian by Amartya Sen

The idea behind the book is to highlight the fact that dialogue was a strong point of Indian cultural ethos. Indians since ages have relied on process of dialogue and discussions as means of settling their differences as well as propagating different viewpoints. The tradition remains alive even today. This is the argument the author has tried to develop his thought upon.

The chapter 'China and India' presents the case of two ancient civilizations influencing one another on that count. Then 'Tagore and his India' is another chapter effectively making the point. It is an outstanding comparison of distinct ideas and philosophies of two eminent personalities, Tagore and Gandhi. In fact, such accounts are rare to come by.

'India Large and Small' is a chapter partly gone astray thereby losing the focus of the intended basic theme. Suddenly it appears that Mr. Sen's vision got blurred by his political perceptions. True, Hindutva is a recent phenomenon but a deliberation on the causes of its emergence ought to have been more suited to the subject than making judgments. Could it be due to our concept of secularism that is showing signs of strain if not an outright failure? Here it would be relevant to ask whether Hindutva was the cause of the inadequacies of Indian secularism or the effect. Singling out one political outfit and ridiculing the same is perhaps a deliberate attempt at either suppressing one thing or projecting another. Secondly, getting judgmental defeats the very purpose of the commentary on the argumentative Indian.

'Reason' and 'secularism' are two very significant and deeply interrelated topics and one would have expected to have effective and meaningful deliberation on these subjects. The essay 'Reach of Reason' ought to have provided some space to the references to reason as stated and debated in the texts of various schools of Indian philosophy. That was necessary to answer the Western liberal's misunderstanding of clubbing the Indian thought with other 'disciplinarian doctrines' of thought from Asia.

In the commentary 'Secularism and its discontents' the author very reasonably outlined the six lines of discontent. However, when it came to answering those critiques he appears dithering with no convincing arguments coming forth. He chooses to go entirely by the flawed version of secularism in vogue in India without giving any plausible reasons for doing so.

And finally, how far his 'inclusionary view of Indian identity' could be defended when 'the winter of discontent' no matter how wintry, remains.

To what extent Mr. Sen has been able to make his point? Well, conclusions are not easy to make. It is up to the individual reader's interpretation. All said, I must admit that the book kept me thoroughly engrossed. Though I'd not put it in the genre of Octavio Paz's 'In Light of India' yet I feel it is a readable book.

2007-01-04T15:46:00.000+05:30

Spectacular Khajuraho

Known the world over for its erotic and sensuous sculpture Khajuraho is extensively filmed and photographed by professionals and amateurs alike. However, here are some shots that would hardly find many takers amid the rush to shoot the most obvious.
The hillock in the background of the Jawari temple looks like human teeth. People call it ‘Dantela Parbat’ which means ‘mountain with teeth’

This small temple looking almost un-Khajurahoic is dedicated to Lord Brahma, the Creator. However, it is permanently closed after some theft was reported.

The ruins of what would have been a massive structure, outside Khajuraho. Part of the base that is intact appears spectacular indeed.

The oldest of the lot in Khajuraho, the Chausath Yogini is a series of small cells on a raised platform. Seen here in the background are the giants like Kandariya Mahadeo and Laxmana temples.

2007-01-04T15:11:00.000+05:30

A Stopover at Khajuraho

Presenting some useful information on the tourist destination

A journey through India would be considered incomplete without making a stopover at Khajuraho. The temples here compare with the best in world in size and architecture but the thematic expressions presented in stonework make these marvels unique. The sculpted stones on the exteriors make Khajuraho a jewel in the crown of incredible India.

This small town located in serene and peaceful environs of central India preserves the grandeur of India's culture heritage. Built between 950 and 1050 AD when the Chandela rule was at its zenith, the temples continued with religious chores until the 14th century. Rediscovered by the British in 1838 today only 22 remain of the original 85. The damage and destruction could be attributed to natural causes like earthquakes. Historically, there is no evidence of any vandalism. Perhaps by falling into a state of incognito close to four centuries these masterpieces escaped plundering by Muslim invaders.

Approach

Ask the people manning the India Tourism office at 88 Janpath, New Delhi and you'd be told to catch the Bhopal Shatabdi Express leaving New Delhi railway station daily at 6 a m, as the convenient means of going there (apart from flying into Khajuraho, of course). Some four hours later when you get down at Jhansi, there is an M P tourism bus available to take you straight to Khajuraho, 175 km away. However, in our case the Shatabadi arrived late and by that time the bus had already left. Imagine, the most attractive tourist destination being provided with only one bus service to a very important railhead. Then you have other means of negotiating the 175 km route like using a taxi or sharing some minibus service with other passengers. The avoidable UP State transport bus service from the general bus stand at Jhansi would take you there in 6 to 7 hours. Once in Khajuraho, don't expect to find much information from the MPSTDC Information counter at the bus stand. You might find it closed upon your arrival. The next day too you won’t find it of any use as there might not be any spare leaflet for you. Consider Hampi, a similar heritage site in the state of Karanataka, a smaller village in comparison and you'll find a vibrant and fully functional tourist info centre where you can get literature not just on that particular destination but also on tourist attractions all over Karanataka. Despite its massive ad-campaigns the M P tourism does neither impress nor inspire by matching words with deeds.

Stay

A number of facilities suited to all budgets are available. Select any as per your choice but stay away from the tourism department's very own property Payal. They will ask for cash upfront and the check out settlement too has to be made in cash. Your plastic will not work as their EDC machine remains out of order. If you plan staying there carry enough cash else be prepared going through some tense moments with a thinner wallet not enough to sail you through should some emergency arise. They say they have two more hotels like Payal.

Best time of visit

October to March, certainly. April will get too hot to bear. However, just after conclusion of the Khajuraho Dance Festival may well be the right time to squeeze in. Culmination of the festival marks the onset of what many term as off season when tourist inflow becomes a trickle. However, tourists keep coming all the year around. It is high time the destination is marketed as a year long attraction rather than merely labeling it a winter-months-affair.

Though the length of the time spent at any destination depends upon the taste and personal disposition of a tourist yet for the sake of making a general recommendation it would suffice if one could spare at least two days to do this destination. This is minimum you require to have some meaningful interaction with the stones of Khajuraho irrespective of the mode of your travel. Local transport is best hired after negotiating the rates. During the off season an auto rickshaw could be hired for Rs 150 or so down to half of what the driver would initially ask for.

What to see

Prominently 17 temples spread over an area of about 20 sqkm, divided into three distinct groups;

-The Western group with 8 magnificent structures is located right into the centre of the town. A museum is also located over there.

-The Eastern group has 7 temples out of which 3 are Jain temples.

- The Southern group has only 2.

Except for the Matangeshwara temple (western group) where worship of Lord Shiva is a routine no other Khajuraho temple of yore remains a living place of worship.

A sound and light show conducted daily at the lawns of the Western group is a must for everyone visiting Khajuraho.

The Chausath Yogini temple about half a kilometre outside the Western group is the oldest complex built sometime in 900 AD. The Chausath Yogini originally consisted of 64 small cell type structures on a raised platform of which around half remain today.

Then there are ruins of a temple recently found at nearby village Jatkara. What remains here is the richly carved base of what would at one time have been a magnificent structure.

The exteriors of all the temples are rich in sculpture and carved panels depicting complete chores of daily life. Be it man or god, all find place among the lively stones of Khajuraho temple walls. Size and proportion of the statues is the hallmark of artisanship which required sticking to precise measurements to accomplish the feat. The striking similarity of images including that of the Chandela mascot (a dragon seen with two warriors fighting it) is a treat to watch. This mascot appears in varying sizes at all the temples. No corner or niche is without this mascot. The temples appear wrapped in Kamasutra. The majestic Kandariya Mahadeo temple alone is said to have 875 or so sculpted images. Why this erotic description on temple walls? Baffling, isn't it? Well, opinions differ. One viewpoint has it that human beings were supposed to have a full glimpse of what life stood for before entering the temple in order to seek salvation. Another view goes that it was to test the strength of a devotee's beliefs. Philosophically, we humans have to look inwards in order to find the meanings of life and existence. A mind that wavered outside was not oriented towards the ultimate, they felt. A third explanation stresses upon the lavish and high lifestyle of the rulers who had an open attitude towards realities of life and wanted a society based on this realism.

Whatever be the reasons thereof, we truly have a treasure amid us to preserve.

Moving on

- Satna (120 km) is a convenient rail head for moving on towards eastern India or to Bombay. While Jhansi is another important railway junction linking north and south. A railway reservation counter has been set up at the bus stand at Khajuraho and it is fully functional.
- Flying out is yet another convenient option.

2006-12-18T15:04:00.000+05:30

The heritage sites always present the enthusiast with many photo opportunities. Here are some:

The corridor of graves, Fatehpur Sikri, India

Graves inside the Taj

The Agra Fort

The Taj, Agra, India

Jodhabai's Palace, Fatehpur Sikri, India

2006-12-18T14:11:00.000+05:30

The Buland Darwaza(Towering gate), Fatehpur Sikri, India

Tansen's Platform where the great musician played chords

Sheikh Chishti's tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, India

The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The Buland Darwaza as seen from inside the Sikri complex

Panchmahal, the five storied airy construction in the Sikri complex

2006-12-18T13:36:00.000+05:30

A Weekend Visit

For a spontaneous weekend break there is no dearth of locations around Delhi. However, if you are serious with making it to some historical place there is nothing more interesting than visiting Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. And, for those with a religious bend of mind, including Mathura in the itinerary is like icing on the cake. Doing all this within two days makes it wonderfully memorable.

Agra

This place needs no introduction as the greatest of tourist attractions in India - The Tajmahal stands here. Apart from the Taj there is historic Agra fort (another heritage site) conceived and started by Akbar but its final shape came up during the reign of his grandson Shahjehan who unfortunately also happened to spend his last years as a prisoner in one of its corners facing the Taj.

For visiting the Taj be prepared to stand in a long queue at one of the entry points for up to thirty minutes on week days and up to one hour on weekends. Every tourist has to undergo security checks. This is in the wake of the raised threats from terrorists to the security of the monument. However, the security people manning these entry gates are very polite and friendly and are adept at doing the frisking job efficiently. Mobiles, eatables and cigarettes are not allowed. One can safely deposit all such items free of charge at the counters along side the entry points. There is no restriction on cameras, however.

A word of caution though. There are unauthorised persons posing as guides who promise a quick entry through some secret gate, of course, for a price. They lure away many people standing in long queues. I wonder if any such secret alleys existed but the sheer numbers these unscrupulous elements take along them must be more than those standing in the queue. I can't say whether the gullible got an easy entry since I didn't bite the bait.

Fatehpur - Sikri

One name but two places in contiguity. One is built exclusively for religious purpose while the other was the seat of royal power. Enter the Buland Darwaza (the towering gate, at 54 metres the highest in Asia as the guide would tell you) and you are facing the mausoleum of Sheikh Chishti - the Sufi saint who blessed the Emperor with a son, erected in white marble (all else at Fatehpur-Sikri is constructed in local red sand-stone) with some beautiful marble screens. By the side is a smaller grave of the grand-daughter of the Sheikh. Here facing the Royal entrance is the mosque where Akbar the Great came to pray. Rest of the complex housed a Madarssa (religious school). Graves of nobles and those associated with the Sheikh could be seen filling alleys in the complex. Entry to this part is free.

At the Buland Darwaza there are a number of horse shoes fixed to the wooden shutter. The people fixed them after their horses had recovered from mysterious diseases by the grace of the saint. Even Lord Clive is said to have fixed two oversize horse shoes ostensibly going along with the popular belief.

Come out through the Badshahi Darwaza (the royal gate), buy entry tickets and you are off to know the capital city of Akbar which he hardly enjoyed. Besides the usual signs and structures of royal splendour some unique attractions are; Akbar's elevated bed, kid Saleem's bathing tub, Tansen's singing platform (the musician is said to have put the water pond on fire by the strength of his chords alone and where Baiju Bawra, the singer, sitting in contest with him is said to have doused the fire by bringing about rain by singing his ragas). A tower standing in the memory of the 'killer elephant' also adds to the unique attractions. The services of the killer elephant were used in carrying out the death penalty. There is a rock protruding in the lawns of the Hall of Public audience (Diwan-e-khas) where head of the person on death row used to be placed for the killer elephant to crush. The Emperor used to play the game of Chausar (a variant of chess) with 16 girls attired in colourful robes as pawns. Also in the corridors of his treasury he used to play hide and seek blindfolded with Sultana and other girls from his harem. In Diwan-e-khas (the hall of private audience) the emperor sat in the middle and his nine ministers seated in circle around him. The central pillar of the hall which held the emperor’s seat is intricately carved.

All the three royal consorts- Jodha Bai, Miriyam and Rukkaiyah Sultana had their palaces built in different architectural styles. In comparison with Jodha's residential unit those of the other two are very small in size. However, Sultana's quarters bear the evidence of a palace which was richly done. The pyramid shaped five storied airy construction exclusively built on pillars is another imposing structure in the royal complex. The guide would also point towards a storied building standing far away in the inhabited area where the queen is said to have given birth to the Moghul heir – Saleem.

They say Akbar hardly stayed in the city during the 13 year active life span of this capital city. He remained busy expanding his reign by conquering lands far stretched towards east as well as west. Finally, the capital city had to be abandoned due to severe shortage of water over there probably amid a long drawn drought.

Today this world heritage site is well preserved. Tourists have free access except for going down the cellars or upstairs on to the tops. Hiring a tourist guide is a must.

2006-11-07T12:36:00.000+05:30

Saddam verdict: Was the trial fair?

In March 2003 the world community meekly watched United States and United Kingdom invade Iraq under all false pretexts. A spineless body called United Nations was bullied into obeying the US diktats. Reams of paper were shamelessly fabricated and placed as evidence in ‘proof’ of Saddam Hussein's covert efforts at producing weapons of mass destruction. Liberating Iraq from tyranny of a dictator and establishing democracy in that country were the goals purportedly pursued by the coalition forces. They succeeded in toppling Saddam but miserably failed in all other endeavours including unearthing the WMD and establishing a democratic order, the two most cherished goals of Bush-Blair duo. Today more than three and half years into the Iraq war and things have deteriorated to the worst possible extent. Iraq's integrity as one country is at stake not to mention of the hundreds getting killed each day one way or the other. The so called champions of democracy are responsible for the relentless massacre of the same people who they came in to save from a dictator. Saddam Hussein without doubt was a dictator but he managed his country well. No matter what the US says, he was a secular leader who despised terrorism and never encouraged subversive elements. When he fought it was like a solider, not a guerrilla or a bandit.

And today on the eve of mid-term Congressional elections in United States, which the Republicans are widely reported to be losing, we heard that Saddam has been sentenced to death for massacring some 148 of his countrymen; the funniest charge a former head of state is asked to answer and the flimsiest to send him to gallows.

The other day an Iraqi government official ridiculed the idea that the verdict and its timing were decided at the behest of the US. He told reporters that the Iraqi justice system was independent of the parliament and the government. In fact, it ought to be so but before saner minds get convinced of such a system's independence it has to prove its existence and verifiably sustain itself. Since there is no political system in place in Iraq how can one believe that the same parliament and the judiciary would still be there when the Americans have gone back home. Doesn't the whole set up need the American presence to keep itself up? What if after executing Saddam the justice system itself perishes under some circumstances? Where is the credibility of the whole system then?

I am in no way advocating that Saddam should not be made to face the law. If someone commits a crime he has to answer the charges. But the world community should ensure this time that the justice system which pronounces judgment should first prove itself before such judgments are carried out. Else the saner world will have one more one more count of failure against its name.

2006-09-27T11:36:00.000+05:30

Two CometsComet Hyakutake

Comet Hale-Bopp

2006-09-27T11:18:00.000+05:30

Shiva-Parvati and an Apsara, Khajuraho

The Birla Temple at jaipur

2006-05-10T09:43:00.000+05:30

Dance of Stones

History bears testimony to the fact that when wars were fought not only the warriors but also the culture and arts got vanquished. And this happened to Vijayanagara too. When the end came in 1565 at the battle of Talikota, the well planned and laid out city of trade, culture and administration was literally razed to the ground. Many of the magnificent structures were completely demolished with their remnants today visible only up to plinth levels while others stood pillaged at different levels. Today Hampi treasures the ruins of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire and a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site is nothing less than a walk through those historic times. The marvelous stonework in an area of around 27 square kilometers can help gauge the might of the old empire. With stones everywhere; from huge boulders strewn all around Hampi to massive architectural stonework, in places sacred as well as of royal splendour, it is, in fact, a dance of stones.

Some remarkable monolith stone figures are Kadalekalu Ganesha (4.5m), Sasuvekalu Ganesha (2.4 m), Ugra Narasimha (6.7 m) and Badavi Sivalinga (3.0 m). A large water storage tank with a manhole, an inlet and outlet bores, all done in a single stone lies in front of the Krishna temple. Large stone beams and joists have been exclusively and artistically used as roofing component in various structures. In the Krishna temple alone, the beams of size approximately 1.5 feet by 2.0 feet across, span openings measuring about 16 feet or more. The curved stone slabs used as projections over palace and temple walls are unique structural marvels.

Visitors can stay at Hospet (365 km from Bangalore) where excellent lodging facilities are available to suit every budget. Guesthouse accommodation is also available at Hampi, which is 13 km or 30 minutes by bus from Hospet. The Karanataka State Transport Department runs a very efficient bus service every hour to the heritage site. Daily tours are arranged by the Tourism Department. There is a small but fully functional Karnataka Tourism office in Hampi where an official helps you with detailed information, relevant tourist literature and engagement of guides. Autorickshaws, cycles and motorcycles are available for hire. Rates are negotiable. I'd suggest a mixture of transportation modes including exploring some places, particularly the northern part, entirely on foot. How much time you need for covering Hampi is an irrelevant question. It differs with taste and attitude of the visitor. Our guide said five to seven days of leisure were the bare minimum to absorb this wonder. However, for those with hectic schedules to follow, a two-day period was absolutely necessary to have a fleeting but fulfilling glimpse. The single day conducted tour managed by the Karanataka State Tourism is, in my opinion, inadequate; except for school children. So make up your mind and move as under.

Day One
Start at the Virupaksha temple right in the heart of village Hampi. The temple stands in reverence to Pampapati - the reining deity of the Empire. At the rear end of the Virupaksha complex there is a dark chamber where one can see the inverted figure of the front gopuram as a pinhole camera effect. Also there is a temple dedicated to the sage Vidyaranya who is said to be the moving spirit behind the founding of Vijayanagara. Move up towards Hemakuta hilltop to see Jain temples, massive Ganesha idols and the Krishna temple before moving on to the Laxminarasimha and Badavi Linga temples. This Badavi Linga temple was taken up for construction by a poor woman who could not complete it. It remains roofless till date with the installed 'sivalingam' standing in water. The Ugranarasimha idol has a very imposing presence. Then follows a two-kilometer long stretch of well-maintained road (towards Kamalapura) through coconut fields before you reach the Royal enclosures. There you can visit the underground temple and then the southern part of the royal courts. Everything here is in ruins except for the three structures that survived plundering of the city. These are the Lotus Palace, the Queens Bath and the Elephant stables (home of the nine royal elephants). One viewpoint is that these three magnificent structures escaped destruction because of the element of the Islamic architecture in them.
Mahanavmi Dibba, (the 8-tiered platform where state functions and festivities were held) bears testimony to the destruction carried out by the invaders. A recent find in the palace grounds is an underground water reservoir Pushkarni. The elevated channel meant for feeding water to the tank is made of stone pieces 8 to 10 feet each held in place by vertical props, also of stone. The Hazararama temple is another attraction in this part of Hampi. It has a full depiction of the epic Ramayana besides numerous other figures carved out on its walls.
With this part of Hampi done by the evening, you must return to Hemakuta hillock to have a view of sunset and twilight over the village.

Day Two
You can spend day two exploring the city entirely on foot. About 2 kilometers from Hampi bus stand is the famous Vithala temple complex, the last destination in the northern part. Reach there using a pedestrian track along the Tungabhadra river. On the way you are bound to hear the amusing tale of 'Sita harna' (abduction of Sita, Lord Rama's consort) by the demon king Ravana. You would be shown a cave like structure from where she was supposedly enticed by a sage (Ravana in disguise) and flown out to a distant Lanka. The rest is now history, rather mythology. The main attraction of the temple complex besides the sculpted structures is the hall of musical pillars where 56 stone columns, on tapping, produce sounds of different musical instruments. The dents on each one of them tell us how extensively these pillars were used for producing musical notes. They say, when the King came in for musical entertainment, the musicians would start tapping the pillars making the hall come alive with melodious tunes. The musical pillars are solid stone structures with no hollow inside. To prove this, one pillar was later sawn down and found all solid. Then there is the Chariot right in front of the hall. Once upon a time the stone wheels could be rotated but not now. They have been cemented. Other main places of interest in the northern part are the King's Balance, the Achutharaya temple, the Courtesans' street and the Purandara mandap right on the Tungabhadra. There is the Anjali Parbat in the backdrop that gives Hampi a mythological touch.
The top of Matanga Hill gives a breathtaking view of the scenic beauty around Hampi. Sage Matanga is said to have meditated on top of this hill, hence the name. For a panoramic view, you must trek to the top. A track with stone steps has been laid out from near the Achutaraya temple. My friend and guide Mr. Prabhakar Rao, an officer with NMDC Ltd. inspired and literally pushed me up to the top. This 15-minute steep rise leaves you gasping but it is well worth the effort. It was the first week of January 2005 and the mercury was already above 30 degrees. You can have a fantastic view of the surroundings from the top but not a drop of water to drink. So don't forget to carry some.

Lastly, a visit to the Kamlapur museum is a must to conclude the visit.

Getting There
Hospet can be reached by an overnight train from Bangalore (The Hampi Express). For visitors from Delhi and Bombay, Guntakal junction (3 hr. from Hospet) is a convenient disembarking location. Hubli is another reachable point on the Bombay – Bangalore / Mysore line.

Best Time to go
Any time after the monsoons. December to February would be the ideal time to visit Hampi.

2006-05-09T13:58:00.000+05:30

Atheism in Ancient Indian Thought

One wouldn’t find many takers of the argument that atheism could be an integral part of any religion. However, in case of Hinduism it is very much true. Atheism has been an established constituent of ancient Hindu thought. Unlike some other revealed religions Hinduism as we see today has evolved over the ages. During this continuous process of evolvement different schools of philosophy came to be associated with the Hindu thought which eventually developed as the Indian thought due to its diversity. Religions like Buddhism and Jainism are the byproducts of this Indian thought. Whereas in Christian and Islamic beliefs God is paramount and any idea questioning its existence is inconceivable and considered blasphemous, Hinduism gives full liberty to its followers to question and debate the existence of God. God therefore is not a logical premise for a debate on Hinduism.

The ancient Indian thought started with the Vedas. The oldest treatise, the Rigveda initially had nine main gods (some scholars of Hinduism put this figure at 33) and down the ages the number of the Hindu gods grew up to a whopping 330 million. One very much doubts if this number could be a reality since there appears to be no cataloguing in the Hindu pantheon of such a vast army of the gods and goddesses. However, polytheism of the Vedas is a known truth as the believers worshipped many gods or deities in order to seek favors, mainly material. While there are only four books under the collective name Vedas, the number of books, commentaries and collections that followed the Vedas is countless. In fact ancient Hindu philosophy can be stated to be what came up only after the age of the Vedas. Whereas the religion of the Vedas is considered elementary or very primitive, what followed was an attempt at giving philosophical meaning to the whole Vedic thought.

Schools of Thought and their Categorisation

Initially, the Vedic people indulged in worshipping their numerous gods by way of making offerings and singing praises to their glory. Since they considered the gods to be all powerful and capable of granting wishes, singing hymns and prayers was the only religious activity of the Vedic race of those times. Infact, the word deva, which later became devata, was used for the gods or the deities (deva, means one who can give). Incantations were chanted in order to get magical powers as also to ward off omens and diseases that inflicted them. All these incantations and prayers were simply words of praise repeated many times over for that particular god which the priest wanted pleased. Beyond chanting of mantras or singing paeans to obtain material benefits no other worthwhile philosophical or intellectual activity was said to have been carried out by the then Vedic people.

Opening up of the Vedic thought to debate and critical analysis led to a variety of interpretations and convictions, which ultimately consolidated into philosophical hypotheses of different kinds. Two types came to the fore; those accepting the Vedas as the ultimate authority (orthodox or the astikas) and those completely opposing the Vedic view (heterodox or the nastikas). The heterodox order included Jainism, Buddhism and the Lokayatas. The Lokayatas conforming to the Charvaka school of thought are said to be the first materialists in Hindu philosophy. Jainism and Buddhism ultimately went on to become independent religions. Both these religions not only denied veracity of the Vedic thought but also existence of god. The philosophy advanced by Charvaka is truly materialistic. According to the Charvaka school of thought the universe was made up of four elements; air, water, earth and fire and what we could perceive via our senses was in fact the reality. There was no soul, rebirth or existence of any other world and also, there was no repeated cycle of destruction and creation organised by some supernatural entity.

Apart from the heterodox there were the believers in the Vedas called orthodox. Among the orthodox there are said to be six schools of thought. They are:

- The Purva-Mimamsa
- The Vedanta or the Upanishads
- The Samkhya
- The Yoga
- The Nayaya
- The Vaisheshika

It is pertinent to mention that affiliation to a recognised school of thought was mandatory to initiate a debate on the Vedic philosophy. Therefore some scholars who associated themselves with the orthodox order had theories which were radical or completely out of sync with the established order. While the heterodox order very clearly and unequivocally rejected the idea of any intelligence behind the creation of the universe, the orthodox did so without going so much overtly against the Vedic authority. They recorded their dissent either by not mentioning the word ‘God’ in their theories or by hypothesizing other causes for beginning of the universe.

There is no denying the fact that all of the six aforementioned philosophies differ from one another in substance. The Upanishads or Vedanta are said to be the mainstay of Hinduism as we have it today. For, they brought monotheism to the Vedic thought. But the Upanishads, though completely theistic, too are said to have some atheistic content in them. One example is the all-important Shvetashvatara Upanishad. The scholars who place it in both the categories have differently interpreted the Shvetashvatara Upanishad. The same is the case with the Nayaya and the Vaisheshika philosophies.

The Yoga is mainly based on meditation cum physical discipline. Those who propounded the Yogic theory believed that human body has a source of abundant energy in the form of a serpentine coil called Kundalini, situated somewhere at the bottom end of our backbone. And that by concentration and controlled physical exercise that serpentine thing could be awakened and raised to a point in our brain and thus the energy is used to transform an ordinary mortal into a supernatural being. No god was there to assist you with miracles in this endeavor. You have to do it yourself.

Both the Purva-Mimamsa and The Samkhya philosophies are outspokenly atheist. The Mimamsa philosophers did not entertain any idea of God. To them this universe was a constant process of happening without any external cause. They denied the existence of god on the grounds that one who was non-material and completely devoid of any form or character couldn’t bring anything into being like this universe which was absolutely material in nature. They didn’t attach any significance to heaven or hell nor did they believe in the concept of moksha or liberation of the soul from the repeated cycle of births and deaths. Obviously soul was not an entity to the Mimamsa philosophers. They derided the Vedic deities as mere individuals or just names who were worshipped out of awe as they wielded considerable power within the society. God Indra is said to be a ruthless tribal chieftain with all the qualities of mortal humans. This god is said to be adept at stealing others’ wives and also possessing more vices than virtues.

The Samkhya thought is considered to be the ardent material philosophy amongst the orthodox. Though only a minuscule component of the original literature is available, yet it is convincing enough to make one believe very strongly that ancient Hindu thinking was more atheistic. The Samkhya view is that the universe originated from primeval matter and it has all the material attributes. Instead of the doctrine of god, Samkhya believes in the doctrine of nature. Every element has some basic characteristics reflected in the product which is a result of a transformation of the original element. While fire by nature produced heat, it was unnatural to theorise that it would directly produce something opposite of that (heat). That the product was only a changed form of the producer was a strong point on which Samkhya philosophy is based. And it is all material. For, nonmaterial can’t bring material into existence. If god is himself born then the basic premise of the theist that god is beyond birth and death cycle gets negated. The Samkhya answer to the theist who argued that the god created the universe to play his lila or the game, was that a being having no desires (another attribute of god) would need no games to play since that act itself denoted a desire.

The system of debating in Indian societal set up was an open one. Infact, the rulers or the elite of the era usually organised philosophical debates and the winners not only walked away with more followers but also got royal patronage. Their point of view gained official recognition as well as resources for its propagation. Spread of Buddhism is one such proven case in point.

Atheism of Gita

The Bhagavad-Gita (the song of the Lord) or simply Gita is considered the most sacred of the texts on Hinduism in the modern times. In comparison to the Vedas and the latter philosophical treatises the Gita is said to have a very late origin. This motivational discourse to a demoralised warrior in a battlefield encompasses the essence of all the philosophies Hinduism had till then. Antiquity of the Vedic thought, monotheism of the Upanishads, atheism of Samkhya and Yoga all find their due places in Gita. According to the scholars of Hinduism, Gita has clubbed the gist of all the philosophies into what is known as the law of the Karma.
It is essentially this stress on Karma that reflects a strong atheistic character of Gita. The Karma theory has the basic premise that every action (cause) carries a definitive result (effect) which is inevitable as well as indispensable and that no external agent can influence the outcome in any manner whatsoever. Further, the Gita does not differentiate the Karma into good or bad categories and urges the individuals to decide upon good or bad action as per wisdom of their intentions. Gita strongly despises relying on non-action in order to escape undesired results associated with a particular action. To a rational mind this statement of cause and effect presents strong evidence towards denial of the existence of a god.

Mythology: the bane of a rational mindset

Like any other religion Hinduism too has in abundance the three components of philosophy, rituals and myths. Rituals have continued since the Vedic times whereas the philosophical dispositions prevailed during the Vedanta period. Mythology got deeper roots in the Indian mind in the Puranic (post Vedanta) era and continues till date. By sustaining these myths and perpetuating the fear of the unknown the priestly class, in its own vested interest, has managed an overwhelming sway over the believers in Hinduism. The control is so complete that the mythology combined with the rituals has become synonymous with the Hindu religion. Ironically, the philosophy in which atheism had a clear edge today stands dumped and the followers mired in the morass of myths and dogma.

2006-04-30T21:07:00.000+05:30

Pinhole camera effect

This inverted image of the gopuram (front tower) of the Virupaksa temple at Hampi - the UNESCO world heritage site is infact the shadow falling on the back wall of a dark chamber in a pinhole camera effect.

Feeding Time

This monkey was spotted leisurely feeding its young one. By the time I pulled out my Canon reaching within proper shooting distance, the mother had already clasped the baby and was about to flee. The result of that quick fire in 'auto' mode is this frame.

2006-04-30T08:50:00.000+05:30

Peace Pagoda at Dhauli, Bhubaneshwar, India

Sunset at Puri beach (Orissa, India)

2006-04-30T08:39:00.000+05:30

The world famous Wheel at the Sun temple, Konarak.

The Rock cut Elephant at Dhauli dates back to the 3rd century BC era.