We are what we are !!

 It is said "there is a world of difference between precept and practice"- more so with our politicians and the gap widens when they speak about it more.!! It is generally thought that Political lies are always for exploiting the ignorance of the public. Mostly they are manipulative for winning the elections. But there are times like Obama lies about Health care inorder to push through some legislation to benefit the larger society( link ). However coming to India, Politicians throw promises at the people mainly to win elections and then they renege on the promises made. In the recent few weeks there are lot of accusations by the Opposition parties against the Central Govt that Question Hour in the ensuing Parliament has been abolished muzzling the freedom of MPs to ask Govt questions about peoples' problems to elicit answers from the Govt. But there are two stark statistics contradicting the so-called champions of freedom of expression in the Opposition. In the last few ...

 Karl Popper wrote in his book "Open society and its enemies"  that Paradox of Tolerance leads to more intolerance. He explained that in order to maintain a tolerant society,the society itself must be intolerant of the intolerant. He openly borrows his idea from Plato's concept of Benevolent despotism or benevolent dictatorship. Indians have understood this contradiction in governance and according to the best of statecrafts defined by them State Governance has four ways of taking action : Sama,Dhana , Bheda and Dhanda. When it should actively encourage dharmic ways of living, it should seek out and identify those who are bent upon disturbing this peaceful coexistence. It may be its own citizens or enemies from outside. For dealing with them it should employ the above four ways and it can move from one to another subtly, discreetly or sometimes directly. Dhanda is always the last resort and even for criminal acts and for offenders, punishment is a must. This is intoleranc...

 Minimalism is an old concept but is gaining ground these days when Covid 19 pandemic is trying to devour the entire world. Minimalism is all about living with less. This is not a fad but a way of life of renunciation and deep withdrawal from worldly pleasures, which has a profound effect on the psychology of humans. In India, many of our Saints and philosophers have talked about leading life of penance ,sacrifice and total detachment. Even wealthy persons of yester years led a life like that of a Trustees of their wealth. Gandhiji also said this in his seven sins of life: "Wealth without work; Pleasure without Conscience;Science without humanity;Knowledge without character; Politics without principle; Commerce without Morality; Worship without sacrifice" It is said that Gandhiji also laid lot of stress on wealthy businessmen and persons to remember that they are Trustees not owners of their wealth which provide them an opportunity to serve the people at large and for social ...

  "All animal are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," wrote George Orwell in his allegorical novel Animal Farm. the stody in short conveys the meaning that the absolute power corrupts absolutely. His novel 1984 which is a classic dystopian novel, also wrote about Thought Police to persecute individuality and independent thinking . This novel and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" rank as two of the best dystopian novels of twentieth century. Huxley's novel describes a world where people are born and raised  through engineered artificial wombs and childhood indoctrination into predetermined classes or castes based on intelligence and labour. In all these novels, a world covered by intelligence which gives it an order and discipline predetermined by its rulers, is a dire prediction. Coming to Covid 19 driven world of today, our ways and methods are directed by rulers assisted by doctors, epidemiologists and virologists , and we are not at liber...