Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Cost of Victory

Cost of the victory
In this famous documentary series “century of self”, Bill Clinton’s second term victory, when it was mostly considered impossible was analyzed in detail. Sigmund Freud’s nephew Edward Bernays is said to be the brain behind that astonishing victory, the same Edward Bernays, the man who linked oppressed sexuality to car sales and supposedly given the car sales an American boost.
It says his solution for bill Clinton’s victory was simple – treat voters as customers, make consumerist promotional offers and turn their faith into a commodity. Strangely it worked successfully for Clinton. So was for Tony Blair and interestingly the same strategy was employed during Narendra Modi’s general election! It is a well-known fact that the image makeover agency for Modi is based in US and also one ad guru, disciple of Edward Bernays , of our country has strategized his entire election campaign . There were many studies after Modi’s election wherein it was established that many speeches of Mr. Modi and the press notes were verbatim lifts from old US election. (at many places it was told that people in helm of affairs forgotten to change USA to India and some events as well in those speeches and press notes smile emoticon ).
If one closely look at the “ ache din “ campaign, one will easily understand the process- like car Modi was the commodity, who would bring comfort to the consumer’s defective incomplete living. BJP sold the “Modi” dream to a targeted consumers by tinkling their oppressed desire for macho accomplishment. The consumer was reassured- if they replace the defective product – congress and Manmohan Singh with a magical product called Modi, their defective incomplete life will be complete. Remember the “ decisive leader”, “unmarried leader- a man who tamed his desire”, modi masks, ache din and “ woh aaraha hein” campaign offered as a solution for all national problems. Also one has to remember that BJP did not ask voters to vote for BJP and over and above recall Mr. Modi’s obsessive penchant for his makeups and dresses. Clinton won the election , so is Tony Blair and then Narendra Modi. All of them won election with astounding majority.
Unfortunately for Clinton and Tony Blair - the jubilation of victory did not last for long, so is for Mr. Modi now . They all missed the most important point or perhaps Edward Bernays did not tell them the truth – his method offered them only sales victory – the election, but onus of responsibility to deliver the promise remained with company or the product. Any defect in the delivery will fail the company and all of them failed very fast in their delivery as all of them in their eagerness to win the election promised a totally unrealistic Mars and Venus for people. The cruel joke of a fleecing sales consultant- Edward Bernays also treated these leaders as commodity – one point sale.
Tragically AAP also seems to be not different from this Edward Bernay’s idea of consumerism – oppressed class of people by the corrupt corporate and politicians who have clipped their aspirations to a severely defective living has one magic solution – Aravind Kejriwal( Modi replaced). If one compares the fairness cream advertisement, one will understand this phenomena better.
If it was Clinton in US, Tony Blair in UK, Modi in India and Kejriwal now for Delhi. Unfortunately for them, their consumers are the one who slam the computer when internet go slow, shout at supplier when food is delayed few minutes, wants biggest cars on smallest roads, wants limited population Scandinavian country living standards in fifteen million population cities and they change cell phones and gadgets not just for defect but also for fancy and above all they get angry that if the richest american and European can do things the way they do why can't we?.
Modi’s projection of economically strong India among economically cooling off Europe, troubled Middle East with dropping oil prices, recession bound china, and the US with money supply drying up is only a practical Edward Barnay’s joke. More over Black money issue, Anna Hazzare’s proposed beginning of hunger strike for Lokhpal in March, reignited opposition in parliament and rajyasabha and all those anti modi- anti amit shah BJP oldies who will get charged up by this Delhi defeat , Mr. Modi’s problems have only began. So will be Mr Kejriwal’s, because they have these large consumers waiting outside their houses who are told
Customer is the king
And
Leaders are their servants.- the Cost of an unethical methodology of sales – treating a nation as a consumer base who can be manipulated for profit- the power

Monday, February 9, 2015

The two myths of power

If the exit poll predictions are to be believed, finally AAP is making the Government in Delhi. On two account this victory will be of importance to Indian Democracy.
one: I do not know, whether AAP will continue to stand with poor or not but ever since they evolved, they spoke about marginalised poor of this country and their needs. Poll predictions if proven correct, it will establish without any doubt that assertive poor can still decide the future of Democracy in this country, especially at a time when they are visibly eliminated from entire news media and political discourse of this country. Let us not confuse poverty with money or profit. State of being poor or poverty is not about money or profit, it is all about human dignity and so is the democracy. This is a reminder for all political class including ruling BJP, not to ignore the majority poor in this country and their Dignity. No one can gloss over their hardship with the glitter of rich and their ridicule.
Two : The power of victim(martyr) . In this land of Gandhi, Buddha, Mahavir, Nanak, Kabir and Sufis, don't push anyone to wall. In the past Political marginalisation and onslaught made Indira Gandhi, the villain of worst emergency back to power within two years by almost deciminating janata party, the relentless onslaught by Congress and other over ten years made Modi to prime ministership. Strangely now with the same blunder BJP has made Kejriwal a David . In this country of religiously faithful, extreme positions will never have the space . One will always be worried about ethics of religious morality. For more than two thousand years, the middle path is known to us. When Gandhi says " hate the sin, not the sinner", he reminds us this pragmatic truth sustains this nation.
Although during the last election BJP has successfully employed and benefited from this victimhood, looks like they have forgotten this trick of the political trade very fast with arrogance of power. By leaving " roti, kapada, makan", the issues of the poor man's dignity to Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi and then make both the them victims of character assassination day in and day after, BJP is doing their own political harakiri. Further they are now making another victim in Bihar: Nitish Kumar. Since long time he has been championing the cause of poor and now with political manipulation if BJP makes him a victim,in the next election we will see the emergence of another phoenix in Bihar. All powerful Nitish Kumar.

disgraceful silence



Why does Mr. Modi spends crores on his brand that tries to sell a positive image and at the same time fails miserably to control nuisance of RSS and its boggy of social disruptive elements?
During his three terms in Gujarat, except for the Godhra incident and subsequent ahmedabad riots, none of these so called "fringe" (otherwise core RSS "deciduous" agencies) could do much social harm in Gujarat. I still remember during his second election, I was helping one of my tv journalist friend from Kerala to meet many politicians and places, went to VHP office for an interview- Strangely on the election day, their fortyfied headquarter was closed and the few people who were there almost threatened us by telling " jaakey thera "#&$"modi se pooch " why they had to shut the doors of their headquarter during the election days. Although evidences points towards systematic hampering of riot enquiry by administration, it is certainly well known fact in Gujarat that during his rule, he never had a good relationship with many of these fringe elements and in turn they rarely had the guts to be provocative. Even as he remained silent in Gujarat he could rein in on them with his absolute majority- not by the number of elected MLAs but with the number of voters. What changed between ahmedabad and delhi is this very interesting point- Present dispensation of BJP government at center, unlike in Gujarat has only 31% vote share of this country- one of the lowest in history.
He knows it too well, so are his RSS fringe. Mr. Modi has to be silent at the face of provocative onslaught by Sakshi maharaj kind of political shrieks, who till the other day was with Mulayam singh yadav's SP fighting with BJP, who are trying to grab his pound of flesh by enacting the hardliner image. We should not miss the point when RSS chief says "Modi is the Abhimanyu" (who got killed in the chakravyuh) and not the Arjuna who won the battle smile emoticon. Mr. Modi is now trying to build his base by anointing his disciples as state chief ministers and his so called "fringe" brothers wants to sabotage it. What we are witnessing today in India is nothing but this curious survival battle - Modi understands that before he could do anything against these fringe who are eroding his well crafted and cultivated public image of development man (whatever it means) among his disciples, he needs his strong political base and the "fringe" knows it too well that if they don't damage that image too fast, they will lose their opportunity to be relevant in his dictatorial political dispensation.
Kiran Bedi's selection as Delhi's CM candidate has to seen in this context- a non RSS, Modi disciple, among old RSS heavyweights of Delhi BJP. (Also to be seen is the curious case of Church attacks in Delhi and its expected international outcry sabotaging Modi's progressing image he wants to emulate internationally). If BJP captures Delhi, the decibel of this battle cry will go up- we will witness the mayhem these fringe might unleash all over the country as a panic response. If BJP loses, as it is expected in every quarters, again the mayhem will be unleashed to build the fringe domination over Modi men.
Tragedy is whatever be the outcome of Delhi, these fanatics at lose are going to cause severe damage to this nation's fabric. If Modi do not act now by reining on these nuisance elements, he is going to lose even that 31% vote share since he is handing over the rest of the 68% liberal votes shares for opposition by his dangerous silence and that too for his detractors in BJP and RSS.
If AAP wins Delhi, it will emancipate a JP movement of 2015, But unlike in 1976 it would not sprout jana sangh leaders, but will unleash a cascade of liberal young leaders across this country and Modi will remain a fundamentalist villain for ever and onus will remain only with Mr.Modi's disgraceful silence.

Delhi election possibilities

Delhi election opens up interesting possibilities
scenario 1 : AAP wins with majority, BJP second, Congress third
consequence :
-Mr. Modi will no longer be invincible - advani camp retaliates with the help of disgruntled old battalion.
-Opposition gets reignited, stalls the government ( the same game BJP played with UPA) with a tacit support of Modi adversaries in BJP. Government loses its face. Trade unions who are already preparing for the big strike, hits the bulls eye. Anna Hazare, lokpal bill, black money all roles out one after the other.
- Add to fire, AAP raises the issue of complete statehood for Delhi. Delhi becomes the potboiler again.
-Modi brand crashes and Amit shah emerges as black sheep. (he must have been already positioning himself, if one takes look at the recent membership enrollment poster of BJP it is clearly visible who is the leader and who is only a poster boy- a scenario RSS wants desperately where it becomes the kingsmile emoticon )
- RSS allows the scenario to become worse so as to become powerful last word.
- BJP crumbles.
Scenario 2: No one gets majority and congress becomes the king maker
consequence :
- with so many unreliable candidates this time around in AAP. MLAs are poached by BJP and forms Government.
-Congress acts reluctant allows the fight between AAP and BJP builds to high decibel
-Supports AAP to stop the government from functioning.
- With Anna Hazare lokpal strike AAP with its victim image flares up passion again on streets.
- Power struggle breaks out in BJP Delhi government.
- Frustrated Kiran bedi gets replaced much faster than the speed with which she became the cm candidate.
- With trade union strike, anna hazare, black money and other crisis, Center government loses its face. ----goes to the previous paragraph
scenario 3: BJP gets majority forms government.
-power politics starts in BJP to undermine Kiran bedi.
- AAP strikes back along with Anna hazare. Delhi chokes again. goes to second half of scenario 2
Last but not the least: Whatever be the result, BJP's honeymoon period is over and with performance is at stake, the government might take the worst route for face lift- the usual war cry with Pakistan frown emoticon

Niyam Girit forest

Under the fixed spectacle of Jayanthi natarajan's resignation, the highlight of the problem- stoppage of Niyamgiri destructive project of vedanta is shown as anti development. This is propaganda media management by present government and vested interest to confuse the issue of Niyamgiri and give the environment clearance to this destructive project. It should be resisted at all cost.
Reposting my early post...please support
Almost in resemblance with popular hollywood movie Avatar, this aboriginal people believe in niyamgiri hill and its ecology as their god and their life. But unfortunately Vedanta saw only bauxite in that hills. With a long struggle and with the clause in the land acquisition act that mandates social/environmental audit and forest inhabitants permission has successfully stopped that environment disaster. But with the new amendments in Land acquisition act by the current government who have done away with those clauses niyamgiri and its inhabitants are in danger again.
"This year ‘Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti’ is observing its annual Niyamgiri Puja (worshipping Niyamgiri) in February, 2015.
This three-days programe will be started on 20th February. On 21st February all of them will climb the hill and will be there on top of the Hill whole night. On 22nd February early morning they will finish the Puja and will go back to the village. Then they will do their Puja in their respective villages.
All of us know that these Dongaria adivasis have been fighting against the Vedanta Company for last few years. The coming days are not good for them. This Modi government may change Forest Rights Act, 2006 where there is the provision of seeking consent of gramsabhas for any big projects in the adivasi areas. " writes Ranjan Deb, activist.
Please be part of this pooja, may be not to reaffirm a practice but the faith of people for their land and their respect for environment taking place on 20th, 21st and 22nd of february.
For more information you can call;
Lingaraj Azad, advisor, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti
Cell : 9437702358/7750986804
Please watch this film by survival international
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4tuTFZ3wXQ

Obama visit

Years back I read an article by one of our famous diplomat where in he quoted a Chinese politician. He told our diplomat it seems " You know what is the funniest thing about you Indians...you believe in your own propaganda !! that is biggest blunder a country can do.."
While looking at the media over do of US president Obama visit, that Chinese politician's words brings smile on our face.
Its not our friend who came, it is only a President of USA, who has vested interest across the globe. Beyond hugs and chai, once he go back he has to take care of a country that survives on Global military and oil business.
Do we actually believe US will dump Pakistani military establishment who sustains secondary obsolete gun market through Taliban and other fringes?
Do we actually believe US will antagonise Chinese, where their billions of business investment is reaping benefit?
Do we actually believe US needs another strategic partner when more than 12 Military bases are there in Asia including Diego Garcia, Japan, south korea,UAE, Afghanistan Kuwait and more than willing many long time partners like Pakistan already exist?
Historically or otherwise diplomacy can never be on trust or friendship, it is all about pragmatic negotiation. US does not require us strategically or on business- May be at the most what they might need is our cheap skilled english speaking manpower. (The evidence is ample clear if one look at the completely skewed coverage of this visit in us newspapers.) The day Chinese learn English ( the day is not too far), even that might not be required. So why are we living in fools paradise? Who are we fooling ?
With over kill of this visit, we have unnecessarily made our immediate neighbour and powerful military power, who has been messing up with our north east for long- Chine angry. Nehru learned it very badly.Let us wait for the consequence this time frown emoticon

Vedic mathematics

A must read for the champions of the trick calculation called Vedic Mathematics, a term unknown in ancient India. Certainly there were lots of mathematicians in India but one should not forget that from the time of Mohenjo Daro/ harappa period India has always been part of trade routes that survive on navigation (mapping,astronomy and astrology) and numbers. It is for any common mind's basic understanding that in such scenario knowledge exchange would have certainly taken place and enriched human wisdom in India and abroad. This new found pseudo concoction of patriotic hallucination and chest thumping on exaggerated achievements is hilarious like the redundant Eurocentric world view.
Certainly Dr. Harshvardhan's claim on Pythagoras theorem has merits as umpteen number of evidences available in the works of Indian mathematicians to that effect, says the learned. Who discovered it first or later may be questionable but Indian Mathematicians had the knowledge of it.
Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Mahāvīra (mathematician), Bhaskara II, Madhava of Sangamagrama and Nilakantha Somayaji are few who had made immense contribution to lay foundation for infinite series, zero, trigonometry, calculus, negative numbers, arithmetic,geometry and spherical geometry etc. from 1200 bce. Mahavira to Nilaknatha but lived between 9 to 16th century AD. (fortunately I am lucky to have an hand written copy of Neelkantha somayji's text from my great grand father (my mother's grandfather), who was an astrologer and ayurvedic vaid with good collection of books on varied subjects)
Interestingly this parochial arguments of chest thumping makes it laughable once we learn about the fight among north Indians and South Indians to claim the legacy of Aryabhata's place of birth, even as many don't know what is Aryabhata's contribution to maths
MATH.TIFR.RES.IN

enough



Enough is enough my dear so called moderate muslim friends. wake up and call a spade a spade. Your silence in the name of moderation is becoming the deathknell for your children. It is time you reject and speak up against these gun wielding rowdies becoming your religious representatives. Many of us, born as hindu, resist and reject the attempts by all fundamentalist elements from my religion with tooth and nail, but I don't see that is happening from many of my muslim friends. These 130 and odd kids butchered today at peshawar, are they not Allah's children as well. If you keep silence any further your children will also end up at either side of the gun- A terrorist criminal or a victim....choice is yours.