ARVIND KEJRIWAL- THE NEW POLITICO-ECONOMIC ORDER

KEJRIWAL – THE NEW POLITICO-ECONOMIC ORDER

Last year when Arvind Kejriwal announced the Aam Aadmi Party, he also parted ways with his mentor Anna Hazare. At that moment many of us who had whole heartedly wished for the success of the Lokpal movement sided with Anna in his opinion that entering politics was a dirty game! Even after he formed his party,we did not give him much chance and pitied the path he had undertaken. When he made 'The Broom' as his election symbol we laughed at his self righteousness and lack of imagination. The first indicator of his acceptance by the people were the opinion polls, at that juncture he made us stood up to notice him, amusingly. I; though welcomed the indicator but never gave him more than 10 seats. However he has proved us wrong . He is now the chief minister of New Delhi.

His success has kindled new hope among the citizens who were trapped in the tyranny of the traditional political parties. Will he change the rules of the Game;seems so. There seems to be hope suddenly. All these years we were nurtured by the stagnant ideas of the mainstream politicians and parties, and had therefore looked for relief within that limited space . Arvind has opened a whole lot of new ways/paths for us. We had accepted corruption as a way of life, the VIP culture; culture which swallows so much of our money, security and manpower;with one stroke he has rubbished it! We were groomed to the diktat of the bureaucracy; their tantrums ;that too may change. We had considered it as our destiny that majority of the politicians will be from political families,very rich or criminals with clout; that too may alter. And many other things may too?

    Arvind Kejriwal has arrived on the ideology of 'Honesty' and 'clean Administration'. He has made deeply entrenched political ideologies and even the politics of the  Left parties questionable.  The issues raised by Kejriwal should have been raised by the Left parties but they failed to read the changing times and the mind of the masses. Sorry is their bookish tendency which has disillusioned many sympathizers, who now see hope in Kajriwal.

    All eyes are on the Parliament now, can he be successful there? Indeed he may. He may first contest all urban and semi-urban seats, pick up candidates with impeccable record from all walks of life( already his team has embarked on the task ;so we hear). He should not discount the rural areas, our perception that they vote on caste lines may be wrong. People have voted on secular and development agenda in the assembly elections in Bihar and other states. Organizational abilities and exploiting the 'e' system is his forte which can compensate for the lack of resources. There would be Bee line among aspirants and experienced to join his party and he has to be careful of the 'Trojan horse'.

   As Arvind in his new Avtaar will soon embark on National stage he will have to take stand on many tricky issues such as 'communalism' 'secularism', 'FDI', and other economic issues. He will have to spell out his stand on US! And foreign policy matters. He will have to dispel the existing notion that no political party can rule without the blessings of the Industrialists. He will have to device an economic policy of 'balance' between the corrupt and seemingly efficient Right and frugal and sluggish Left. His core competency is 'honesty' which propagates 'simplicity' and therefore reduction in 'consumerism' and 'consumption'. He;therefore will also have to control the ambitions of the middle class by propagating a balanced ideology on 'economics'.  

Is he our new Gandhi? I want him to be one! Though Gandhi was more involved in mass movement, Kejriwal will have to prove as an Administrator. Seeing the state of our polity I am sure Gandhi too would have jumped in the fray to redeem the Nation. Watching the reaction of the political parties who are quickly embarking on self cleansing mission it is evident that they have been shaken! We will wait for their dismantlement. Eradication of Dynasty! Eradication of communalism . Eradication of criminals ! Both financial and social.

BOOK REVIEW -- LOWLAND BY JHUMPA LAHIRI

BOOK – REVIEW

LOWLAND - BY JHUMPA LAHIRI

    Bengali literature is full of emotion, sentiments, rich ; very rich and therefore one expected Jhumpa Lahiri's book 'Lowland' to be reflection of the Bengaliness ; but it is different . It is cold, clinical, detached, aloof, distant, indifferent and yet arresting and interesting in its own way. Whatever sentiments, emotions, the characters feel is conveyed through their actions. They do not say much, as one expects them to. There are five principal characters in the story. Subhash and Udyan - the two brothers, Gauri- Udyan's wife, Bela- Gauri's daughter and Bijoli- mother of Subhash and Udyan.

      It is essentially a story of two brothers and their wife- Gauri ! The story is set in the fifties and traverses to the next century . The two brothers of middle class origin have a natural childhood bonding but at college stage embark on different paths as Udyan takes admission at the famous Presidency college and Subhash at the Jadavpur University. Soon Udyan is engulfed in the Naxalite movement and Subhash on the path to research and study in the  US . Whilst Subhash is in the  US Udyan falls in love with Gauri his friend's sister and a student of philosophy, he sends her photo  to Subhash and after a brief courtship marries Gauri. The parents accept the bride reluctantly, it is a cold and workable relationship at home. At the US Subhash  most of the time  is on his own immersed in his area of research.

   Suddenly there is shock ; Udyan is killed by the police in a fake encounter; his wife witnesses his killing from a distance; helpless. Subhash returns home, Gauri is pregnant with Udyan's child and from the attitude of his mother they are not very keen to keep Gauri with them after the child's birth. A sense of responsibility compels Subhash to marry Gauri and take her away to the US. Then a ‘churning’ takes place and affects all the players! All are put to test .

   Is it guilt? Is it responsibility? which directs the actions of the characters need to be explored and interpreted. The story returns to Kolkata when Subhash and Bela visit their parent and grandparent respectively. Gauri never forgives Kolkata it seems , but does visit the city at a very distant future, as it was there her husband was killed or she shares some responsibility of having participated tacitly in the Naxalite activities in support of Udyan? The tragic death of Udyan shatters the parents too who cannot come to terms with the tragedy ;never let the wounds heal too for they had seen their son being searched and then captured and then heard the gunshot. There was no police complaint registered, no accountability? They were probably subconsciously very hurt with the system and their son too! The main characters remain an enigma. So ‘monk’ like they have been created .There is this strong sense of 'sacrifice' and 'self-denial' for worldly pleasures and society in them. Is it out of idealism? Is it out of strong sensibilities? One wonders!  What ails these characters is not known. It can only be conjectured. In today's materialistic world people may wonder as to what is the fuss about?

   The Naxalite movement is not much debated in the story but looms large on the setting, characters, specially Udyan's ,Gauri's and Subhash's who are victims of it, also the parents .The daughter Bela born in America is an outdoor person like Udyan. In her commitment to the cause of farmers; is she reliving his dreams in another country; another setting. Idealistic and very independent she is! They do find, to the relief of the reader some solace in the dying chapters of the book. There is some satisfaction , but it is 'too late -too little'. As I have said earlier Subhash, Gauri, their daughter Bela, and their mother Bijoli are like ascetics/ renunciates caused by the death of Udyan. Subhash leads a studies and sedate life at Rhodes island with his daughter and then later largely alone. The stay in US it seems barely changes his outlook, he could have settled in any academic atmosphere . In the story the 'geography' of the characters is more associated with 'distance', 'farness', 'aloofness'. Gauri emerges as the most complex and seemingly ungrateful one. She abandons her physical identity soon on reaching the US by cutting her hair short and switching to slacks from sari! Her sudden action is very uncharacteristic! She pursues her studies in philosophy and acquires a PHD and later rises to be an imminent Professor.

    There is this dominant sadness in the story as after many years of emotional toil and detachment the principal characters find balance and peace. For they have stayed restless and withdrawn all their life. Sadness is on account of the time lapsed. The prime of their youth is lost in brooding and only when they are past their fertile and productive years they settle to some scale of satisfaction in their separated lives. Subhash evolves as someone so pure and unreal. Gauri; despite her defects and oddities is likeable for her self sacrifice. Bela is admirable for being committed to social cause, for her idealism and for being an unlike American. One cannot stop thinking of the writer; though she carries a Bengali surname ; how unbengali is Jhumpa Lahiri! She too seems to be part of the characters she portrays! Distant yet captivating. She seems to know Bengal/Kolkata as an astute observer and yet not mingles with it. There is hardly Bengali in her expression, her setting , her characters, her treatment. By the time one completes the novel one is convinced that the writer too is discovering herself with her characters. It seems very difficult to separate her from the plot or the book. She has created such unique and strange characters that the reader is struck by the approach and personality of the writer too..

There is much symbolism in the book. The 'lowland', 'the two ponds'. One brother seeking Presidency college for education while the other goes to Jadhavpur- indicating divergent paths! One brother taking ‘left’ ideology and the other ‘right’ to US for education and occupation. Silence , isolation, desolation is dominant in the atmosphere created – of all the places in US, Subhash takes admission in Rhodes island a secluded studying center! Some of the symbolism is evident- when Gauri is leaving for the Airport on her way to US suddenly the clouds appear indicating her anxiety, it slows down her journey but soon the clouds clear- she overcomes her fears! Also when she is being driven home from the airport in her maiden journey by Subhash she wants to turn to left, but Subhash steers to right! The death of Kanu Sanyal is also perhaps death of her left idealism and adopting US life or coming to terms with it late in life!

  This book is serious  reading , not  a routine  one, I had not read any of her work prior to this, had seen the movie ‘Namesake’ and had liked it. Such  a work arrives, occasionally . Strongly recommended.

SMALL CULTURE V/S BIG CULTURE

SMALL CULTURE V/S BIG CULTURE

    Each economy creates its own culture; be it feudal , semi- urban,urban, metropolitan or cosmopolitan. The culture which consists of Language, Phrases, Clothes,Mannerism, loveof Literature, Dance, Drama,Food habits,Restaurants, Homes, Street corners,Temples, Schools, Bus stops, Railway stations, Libraries, Shops and Malls,Cinema halls etc..

     However; it is a 'given' that the Big Culture/ Rich Culture, culture of the elite, the ruling class , the powerful class subdues the culture of the poor people. It may adopt some elements of it, but what is preserved is culture of the rich , the dominant,the Kings, the rulers even though in terms of 'aesthetics' the culture of the poor may be superior.

   In the case of Cinema the 'Single Theater' are being shut down and 'Multiplexes' are being erected – a rude representation of the gloss and the rich. In Mumbai, a few single Theaters are being preserved such as the Regal, Eros, New Empire and Liberty but the smaller halls which showed 'B' grade and regional films and also old films such as 'Edward' at Dhobi Talao ,'Palace' at the Byculla are in a state of decay . The Premium single theaters are being preserved as they are made in Art-Deco style and represent an era when some semblance of aesthetics was prevalent in Urban India. The 'capitol' cinema at VT has long shut down and a new 'Capitol' is expected, which may be catering to 'utility' than 'beauty'! The 'Strand' cinema in Colaba market has long shut down and a multiplex has been erected which is yet to open. Therefore if something is being preserved it is at places frequented and patronized by the affluent, the influential and not by the commoners, because it is the elite who determine the culture and heritage to be 'protected'.

The rich-poor, ruling-ruled, conflict in conservation of culture is visible in various aspects and manifests itself unabashedly . We may take the case of places of worship-- ancient remote temples of various communities depicting local architecture are lying in decay, Chapels, Mosques are equally affected , there is Afghan Church in Colaba which is of historical significance and an architectural marvel, but it is not getting the attention it deserves, similarly a Church in Ross island in Andaman group of islands is of immense historical and aesthetic relevance, however it is being protected in its decayed state . Whereas if one looks at the recently constructed ' Akshardham' in New Delhi one wonders that how the community which sponsored it and steered it managed so much of money as not only it is huge but at a very prime location near the Red Fort , it can be safely assumed that the community is very rich and influential and though the Temple belongs to a very small sect its political and economic clout is very Big!

Take the case of Heritage Hotels; many Palaces in Rajasthan and other states are being preserved by Private as well as Government agencies such as the 'Chahel Palace'in Himanchal Pradesh which is under HP Tourism Department which is good but what is sad is that small restaurants of historical significance are dying a slow death on account of neglect such as the many Irani Restaurants in Mumbai. They represent an era when Mumbai was Bombay

Another case is of 'Sophia Loren Beetle shop', which was an age old Paan ( beetle leaf) shop at civil lines Allahabad near the famous Elchico Restaurant but has been closed by the Municipal authorities. The shop was not only patronized by many but was known for its innovative name;incidentally 'Sophia' is also a name of a variety of paan such as – Kalkatta, Banarsi and Maghai etc..

The other day a lady staff in my office on her return from Dipawali leave brought a plate full of delicacies which are prepared during the festivals all over the country in varying styles and shapes. There was 'gujia'' laddu' 'chakri'etc whilst I was pleased to savor it, I wandered and wished for its longevity. Th ingress of packed and 'fast foods'have certainly diluted the shine of our 'small- culture'.

Is the Capitalism to be blamed for 'assembly- line' culture? Be it in case of food, clothes, appearance because that is what suits the 'bulk' production and 'sales'. The local 'halwais' are giving way to 'pre-mix' food and 'two minute noodles'. The small towns are losing their peculiarity, their character and personality and all look alike. Even the uncommon and heterogeneous landscape is becoming similar dotted by the concrete structures perishing the agricultural land.

Are we losing our personal touch ? The culture of serving self made, home made things to drink or to eat to the guests is on decline. During summers do we still serve 'sherbet' or 'shikanji' to our visitors?

And as we lose the personal touch we lose our emotions , and we lose our emotions we lose our human touch!

Therefore in order to preserve the 'humanity' the 'small' culture of the masses has to be protected and proliferated. Along with the large Heritage structures we have to protect that road side , make shift 'Barber shop' erected on a cotton canopy or canvas roof or an umbrella , with a mirror on the wall a chair to make sit the customer , because that is our heritage too!