HAPPY IN-NO-DEPENDENCE DAY

Each year we celebrate this day, with pomp and gaiety…and now with mobile phone service providers joining in, the hues of celebrations have added another dimension. As to what, we are at the mercy of our own discretion and interpretations…if we have that still with us, that is. We have already surrendered our expressions to the ‘forwarded messages’. What we express thus is not our expression…yet what we feel cannot be felt by others. Feelings have this unique, customized, designer-like quality. Then how can somebody else’s expressions express our feelings?

We celebrate Independence Day, when we are heavily dependent on others for expressing something which is our very own. This is the most elementary example of our life spent in dependence. Just a tip of the iceberg…

I would not get into the details of the various areas of life (there is none that is free from it) where we are spending our lives in dependence…they have already been enumerated in one of the first blogs that found its way out as an expression of my consciousness.

But this being another Independence Day, it is high time that we took note of the fact that “To depend is okay, but when it becomes dependence, it is not. In dependence we survive, but fail to live”. And if we are aware of this fact, which I feel we are, then we need to speak out. After all one thing that Independence has given us is, The Freedom of Speech. But to do so we need to free ourselves first from the fetters of the inhibition and prohibition imposed by our own conditioned thinking.

Utilizing that very Freedom of Speech I take this opportunity to wish all my fellow country mates, HAPPY ‘IN-NO-DEPENDENCE’ DAY…for ever…and ever…

Sushmita Mukherjee,

August 15, 2011.

The Change has to start at some point

Well change is not a change if it is not all-pervading and all encompassing...but it has to start with the realization that change is the need of the hour...has always been...and would continue to, to eternity. Because, consciously or unconsciously we change continuously, as per Nature's Law... though we call it by another name...EVOLUTION. And it is always better to opt for the conscious version...then we know why we are doing what we are doing, and not doing what we are not...

Sushmita Mukherjee,

August 8, 2011

Put the West in West Bengal in the Waste-bin of Non-existence

‎'Bengal' is 'Being All' that 'Bengal' stands for. While 'West' has been a real 'Waste'...when we integrate the time, effort, space covered on pages, ink consumed...and ignorance propagated...through these many years...and we would find the 'Wastage' to be immeasurable...and realize that we have projected our conscious and unconscious affiliations to anything that comes from the 'West'...even if it leads us to 'Waste'. The West from  West Bengal should be dumped in the Waste-bin of non-existence. That would not be a waste but a gain...a gain not material but deeper. The kind that is felt when you are being true and expressing the truth. 

Sushmita Mukherjee,

August 6, 2011

Philosophy of 'Rights'

The definition of right and wrong depends upon the perceptions of the perceiver. Why otherwise we would be faced with undesirable incidents that have a massive negative impact on the mass? This forces us to ponder if there is a mass defect in the thinking of the executors of these acts, as well as in that of the incubators of these executors. After all nobody commits oneself to an act without thinking it to be the right one, under the circumstance…the only difference being the fact that they look through the window of their circumstance. Hence they do what they think is right, irrespective of the wrongs it causes. If only they took the time to feel and not think what is right and hence should be their course of action, we would have a scenario which would be hailed as good by all…and not only by them.

The time is ripe when we started doing things because it felt right…and not simply because it is our right, the ‘rights’ that we have been accorded with, courtesy The Constitution of the country. Merely going by them have constituted what, is for everyone to see. 

Using our ‘right to vote’ we vote, and elect our representatives to the Parliament (and Legislative Assembly). But

(i) Do we vote for the ‘right’ person?

(ii) Do we have the option of ‘choosing’ the ‘right’ person?

(iii) Do we vote, simply because it is our ‘right’?

(iv) Do we vote because doing otherwise would label us irresponsible?

Well, I had written a blog on these lines: “Right of Right”,  and I had received flak from a few of the readers...and support too, from some. That is quite natural as each one of us has again, “freedom of speech, the right to expression”. So as I use mine freely, free are others too.

Criticisms are immaterial but not the importance of these questions, which lies in the very fact that it is these people—whom we elect—who act as the incubators of executors; either by ignoring their acts or by justifying their own inefficiency with excuses galore. And this sends out very wrong signals as far as their intentions and sincerity are concerned.

But then we too cannot sit back and keep leveling criticisms at those incubators. Are we not responsible as well, by choosing to use our ‘right to vote’, just because it falls in the purview of our ‘rights’ and thus ‘we need to vote’? Hence it was perplexing to note that few have gone ahead and claimed that failing to vote be labeled as an act of crime. What label they have for those acts of voting that elect criminals?

Well as far as needing to vote is concerned, we do not need to do anything other than be true to our own selves and act in accordance. When we are, we are so to all as well.

It is good to find that now the consciousness is dawning collectively on the mass to utilize this ‘right’, in the right manner. The suggestion forwarded through my blog gets corroboration in an article in The Sunday, Times of India, dated July 17, 2011, in their “Times Life” segment.

The suggestion was and is simple. And it would enable all to make use of the Rule 49-O of the Indian Constitution, whereby one votes, but registers a ‘no-vote’, a protest vote, when one is either deluded with the system or one does not have the option of choosing the ‘right’ person; in absence of such a candidate. A simple incorporation of a “NONE OF THE ABOVE” option in the EVM would serve the purpose. When so many names can be accommodated in the EVM, why cannot another one be?

This single incorporation would herald a fresh introduction to the ‘right to vote’. Simply executing the ‘Philosophy of Rights’ will not allow us to be in the ‘right’. ‘Rights’ turn out to be ‘right’ only when they create the right outcome. ‘Rights’ underused, misused and abused lead to the ‘Wrongs’.

Sushmita Mukherjee,

July 18, 2011

  

U 2 G!

“Face devoid of voice is a void”, this is what I strongly feel. But let us face the fact that with the advent of Facebook, face has truly acquired multi-dimension.

In the days past, face was referred to as “Face is the index of mind”, and rightly so, because more often than not, the face registers the emotions arising within. So in the context of the current rage and terminologies in vogue, we can safely redefine face as “Face is a book that indexes the emotions and feelings”.

The kids who normally avoid the face of a book, lap up the prospect of interacting through facebook: be it on their PC or lappy (as laptop is fondly referred to); their most trusted friend. Not only the kids, we adults too prefer to ‘book’ what we wish to state, inform or want to know. Thus almost everything that could be virtually shared is done really through it.  We connect and stay connected through sharing the happenings of our life—from plain mundane to grave. Thus it has become a SPECTRUM of CONNECTIONS, knowing no bounds.

As our nation has become a SPECTRUM connecting the PARTNERS engaged in innumerable frauds and scams, through a sharing of their common agenda—filling their coffers. Well serving one’s pocket is not wrong as our first duty is towards the self. But when that service becomes a disservice to the nation, pockets being filled with the money not meant for those pockets it becomes a selfish act. Not only that these people also fail to understand that by doing what they are, they are selling their own selves…and pocketing the proceeds, as a deed of this sale.

No wonder yet another scam, in an endless list, shows the face of this wide spectrum of dishonesty. Names being scalped, appear mockingly, with a U 2 G (“aap bhi” when translated in Hindi) reaction elicited from public and friends alike! The 2 G spectrum issue has become 2 Grave. The “grav-ity” of the situation, when looked at from the angle of the politicians, has the potential to turn into a grave for the political careers of the named persons involved in the scam. Though yes, we are quite accustomed to see U turns 2, when faced with such sensitive issues (read: the high-profile public figures). “Hush-hush” is the acceptance perforce, for “We, the People”, who select our representatives…and who have no other option indeed but to accept the (mis)deeds of their chosen ones.

And here I don’t wish to name names, as “What’s in a name?”, when we know that such acts are prevalent, with each day a new name, with a new face, replacing the other or joining the other, as a partner in crime. Furthermore, the face-behind-the-face remains hidden, there being no book to book their faces.

  

And it is not only these public-servants who are enchanted with such acts. We in general think that it is very easy to take others for a ride, and enjoy the receipts when effectively there hasn’t been any such ride. We love to manipulate others…and fictitious acts attract us.

But let us face it…whom are we manipulating, who are we ruining and most important, from whom are we running? Whose face are we saving? Ultimately the face has to face the face of its own self, in the hush of its inner calm. And then it realizes of having de-faced its own self.

I don’t know in entirety the Constitution of the Country, but I know this much for sure that it has been converted into a Constitution of Hypocrisy, from that of Democracy…and the country is progressing in spite of that. But when it comes to Constitution of the Self, hypocrisy persisted with leads to regression of the Self… forcing one to draw solace when one finds company, with a U 2 G!

While we the citizens of the country, exclaim with shame—as we have become shock-resistant—U 2 G!

Sushmita Mukherjee,

8^th July, 2011.

Elements of Nature

Elements of Nature make us realize our nature. And there is nothing unnatural with that…we being beings intimately entwined with it. Yet we fail to acknowledge this fact. Only when faced with some extreme expressions of Nature, we remember that we are not apart from it, but very much a part of it.  In such moments, however fleeting they might be, we are forced to recognize our own misdeeds towards Nature. How we have been ravaging it in the name of progress becomes very apparent –most importantly to us.

We have misgivings about the nature’s mood swings and Natural calamities, but hardly do we spare a thought for what we have been doing against Nature. It is also a fact that nature reacts only after having tolerated our protracted atrocities. And these reactions cause us to take note of what we should have noticed earlier.   

Hence with self-enforced responsibility, nature reminds us from time to time of the most common human folly: our failure to appreciate what we have, taking it for granted. We wait till they cease to be, or are endangered or we ourselves have a narrow escape. 

Why do we prefer for extreme conditions to realize the simplest things?

Maybe because we are super-intelligent species capable of tackling hard tasks, which makes for us easier to learn the hard way…and comes in the way of our ego if we learn through easier ways or it could be the process of evolution at work. Well, reasons aplenty can be forwarded, but not here.

Coming back to where I had started, the elements of Nature, it is one such expression of nature that has catalyzed this specific bout of writing. Though I had intended to devote attention to some very urgent and at the same time pending work, the force of nature and its nature, left me with no option but this. I could not be doing anything other than this.

With the city in the grip of torrential rains accompanied by gusty winds, even though I would have loved to stay indoors and enjoy a wonderful time with my pen and diary and a cup of tea sitting beside me, I like many others had to respond to the call of duty. And if the onward journey was an experience that would have been photographer’s paradise and poet’s incubator of creation, the journey back was, in one word, humbling. The major portion of the journey was covered by car, with the car splashing through the knee deep water like a surgeon’s scalpel…yet unfortunately drenching a passer-by…adding to the deluge from above.

But when I got down for the rest of the journey to my abode, I realized the significance of feeling the ground beneath the feet…the ground that has always been there for us as a solid foundation…the Mother Earth. Yet it has to either Quake or Crack or Hide itself under water to make us re-cognize that even standing atop our achievements we should not forget the ground…and remain earthy.

Though I was on a familiar terrain, yet submerged as it was it didn’t appear so. Wading through the water I was really grateful to feel the feel of the ground beneath. The ground which I hardly acknowledged earlier acknowledged me…and delivered me safely to my destination. Well then, it is we the humans who are vindictive and revengeful, courtesy our ego…which is absent outside of us.

The element of nature, with its overt expressions made me accept my ignorance. Ignorance begets the propensity to take the blessings for granted. Yet ignorance is something that cannot be ignored. The elements of Nature frees one from (the residual traces of) this very ailment…of ignorance.

This was reiterated to me by voice of Nature. Thus as I found the ground beneath my feet today, I felt how it feels to be grounded. Being grounded has an additional significance now. It is the element of Nature which communicated to me that wherever we go, the ROUTE shall remain the one that leads us to OUR ROOT.

Sushmita Mukherjee,

17^th June, 2011.

We, the Bet-ters

“We, the ‘Bet-ters’ of India, do hereby solemnly resolve to make ‘Bet-ting’ one of the biggest revenue earners for the country. And in this endeavour we would appreciate as many followers as possible…because with every addition, there would be an exponential increment in the output.”

This is the solemn pledge—though unscripted and unuttered audibly—taken by a large cross-section of the society…at times consciously and at other times circumstantially. And with globalisation of everything…from the weather changes to economy…this pledge too has found global acceptance. Yes, acceptance and if not acceptance at least not rejection also.

To take the best (ideally termed, the worst) example of the usage of this word is in the game of cricket. In fact cricket brought the term ‘bet-ting’ popularity and fame and in return became infamous. Well, everything is relative—it all depends from whose perception the issue is being considered.  Even earlier too betting used to operate, unabated, but in recent times it has shown a ‘remarkable’ growth! In fact it is one of the ‘better’ professions—as far as the income and job vacancies are concerned. Actually vacant posts are absolutely infinite in this profession…Thus ‘bet-ters’ can claim to be in a profession of a much ‘better’ yield…that has an added security of having an immunity from recession.

But staying with the ‘bet-ing’ in the cricket scenario, apart from the professional ‘bet-ters’--who get better everyday—are we not ourselves, abetting bet-ting?  Please think…

Do we find this menace of betting to have infiltrated others sports? And even if it has, the magnitude is well below the danger mark that normally attracts the attention of the media—print and electronic both—because given the hawk-eyed approach of media nothing can stay hidden for too long.

The popularity of the game in India transcends all other sports—thanks largely to the iconic players that we have been producing over the years and are of unimpeachable integrity. The accolades received by them are well deserved. So though cricket has made them what they are today—game being bigger than individual(s)—it is undeniably true that their feats and stature…not only as players but to some extent as human beings too… have gone a long way in ensuring the unbelievable popularity of the game. But this popularity gets extended to the extent of insanity due uncontrolled emotions of the people.

At the same time the players hadn’t ‘planned’ to make the game popular. It was their un-deterring dedication towards—complemented very well with commensurate talent, determination, devotion and discipline—fulfilling their duties when on the field and at the same time doing the job that is (was) closest to their heart, as also carrying themselves commendably off the field as well, that has had a cumulative effect. This in the long run has fetched India so many accolades…achievements of the individuals getting translated into a collective accomplishment for the team as well as the for the country.

This popularity for the game was never meant to bring the game so much shame.

But that has happened and hence I state that we have abetted betting—in fact caused its exponential growth. The logic lies in the ‘supply & demand’ theory of economics. The popularity of the game is directly related to the growth of betting. There could be no other reason…other sports being relegated to the secondary status…by people and almost non-existent by ‘bet-ters’. As other sports are neither popular to even a fractional extent as compared to cricket nor do they find any takers in bet-ters.

Bet-ters too would be drawn to where the general public is drawn…because to them, people are synonymous to money (currency) with the revenue generated being entirely dependent on the (fan) following for the game. And that is what has happened.

Under the circumstances, what could be done? Nothing it seems. Because the people who love the game would watch it, throng the stadiums, …allowing the sports channels to vie for the telecast rights as they know fully well that they would be able to regenerate the money that they invest. It is because of a select class of people, from amongst us, who indulge in such undesirable acts. And we cannot ask the fans not to watch or follow it…after all it is their money and their desire…dependent solely upon their discretion how it would be used and achieved. Science too is being used as a bane. But that doesn’t mean that science ceases to be a boon. It only depends on who is handling what.

With this IPL (Indian Paisa League) even the politicians are finding it difficult to stay away from their love of the game…after all the current of currency is in operation! So the circus of betting seems to get bigger with infinite potential.

There are many things…improbable though…that could be tried to check this menace…other than the legal actions. Legal actions alone cannot stop it…so long people are not morally uplifted. But what we could do is by at least behaving a bit responsibly. Excess of anything is bad. Maybe then there is a limit to an extent the sport is followed…instead of lapping up anything and everything that is served. I know I am suggesting something that would be highly unpopular. But then it is a probable option. Think it over. A collective consciousness on the issue is required. Whether you want to become popular by giving popular suggestion or an unpopular one? The excessive popularity has though taken away the tag of ‘gentleman’s game’ from cricket.

The decision to some extent rests with us. Because you bet, advertently or inadvertently, we and our money is abetting the bet-ters, which most certainly makes us, “We, the bet-ters”.

Copyright ©  Sushmita Mukherjee