There are times other than the ones we inhabit together meeting, speaking to each other. In another kind of time people can meet each other across centuries. Our lives are statements and these statements can encounter others, before and after. Jesus and George Bush were bound to meet and this conversation had to happen. While this chat could have been had any time during the Bush presidency, July 2004 is a special time. Jesus probably had doubts which only George could clarify.
J: I understand you have been a practising Christian and a champion of family values.
GB: Absolutely. I am delighted to have the honour of running into you. The world is suffering because of so much evil and my religion based on your teachings has helped me immensely in knowing what to do.
J: I am happy you feel this way. But I am puzzled – what do you think one should do if one is hit by another.
GB: One would be stupid to be caught with one’s pants down. Till the year 2000 people would say one must be alert and take defensive action. But I have taken that one step forward. I say be alert and take offensive action.
J: You mean hit the enemy before he can hit you.
GB: Yes.
J: But how would you know the enemy before he hits you?
GB: You need to be smart to spot your enemies.
J: Can we say, if we take a stroll through History, that Hitler, Genghis Khan, Alexander were conquerors and did not wait for an enemy to emerge. But you are quite different from them and would not fight for gain and plunder. But you would not let another attack you and therefore you would attack them.
GB: Absolutely! I have worked only the well being of the world and tried to protect it from despots and have a righteous rule. By the grace of the almighty US has been given a supremely powerful position and by the grace of the same God I have been elected President of this nation.
J: I understand you completely. There is a small niggling doubt in my mind. Are you a Christian?
GB: Yes of course, I am.
J: Do you subscribe my teachings or is it to something else?
GB: Of course I subscribe to your teachings!
J: I remember having said 2 things to my followers. In those days it was OK to be a follower. “If somebody strikes you on one cheek, turn the other cheek to them.” What do you say about this teaching?
GB: My life is consistent with your teachings O Lord. My doctrine of preemptive strike is a corollary to your teachings. You said, “If someone hits you, turn the other cheek.” My corollary is “Don’t wait stupidly for another to hit you, hit him first. Then he will have to turn the other cheek to prove he is a good Christian or be exposed as an imposter, an infidel!”
I have been stupid at some exceptional times. Take Afganistan. Osama slammed those planes into the WTC. And a set of event happened by which American troops invaded Afganistan. I wept for the poor citizens of Afganistan and agree that was not the best solution. But I have learnt my lessons from your teachings. Now look at Iraq! We got them before they could hit us! And we will go on living your teachings!
J: I think you have studied my teachings really well and gone to greater depths than any other soul has done on earth. But may I ask another question? I also said, “Treat thy neighbour as thyself.” What have you done to live this?
GB: That has been one of the most important cornerstones of my life. Neighbourhood is a place next to your home. I have gone beyond the concept to embrace other nations as well. I have tried hard to see that my neighbours have not had any complaints against me. I have sent them all the goods that America has produced, I have offered jobs in their country by ensuring that American companies set up factories in their country. I have made sure they had dollars by making sure they all traded oil in dollars.
America is a vast country and everyone who considered himself as my neighbour has been well treated.
There have been great moral dilemmas sometimes. I have found enemies waiting to harm America and they were neighbours. What was I to do? Shower them with dollars, jobs and goods from USA or hit them hard before they hit us? I have had to do both as a good Christian. That was not too difficult. If somebody resisted my friendly overtures and wanted to be too independent, I have, out of neighbourly feelings, changed governments, caused riots, assassinations etc. After all if people do not know what is good for them they need help! You will see it will all turn out well.
J: I can see your sincerity and well meaning moves. Tell me how do you know if your neighbour is an enemy or not. Does someone who does not want to buy oil in dollars become automatically an enemy?
GB: I did not know you were so well up on world affairs. It is quite amazing! This is a complex matter. Le t me explain – If Iraq or other countries start trading oil in Euros, they would weaken the American economy. Out of munificence we have been printing dollars and distributing them around the world. Countries as far away from us as Australia and Japan have been using these in large numbers to buy all their needs. If the oil trade shifted to euros, US would have a huge deficit. We would have a recession. Therefore a move such as this is a warlike action. Thus premptive strike was warranted. So I have learnt and created a corollary to your second teaching as well. “If another threatens to be unneigbourly, hit him before he can hit you.” It all boils down to the first teaching actually. Turn the other cheek…
J: I am completely overwhelmed by your depth. No one in history has so far figured out that these two teachings are the same. You will be remembered forever as the first person to have reasoned your way amazingly into this deep and pragmatic understanding. I have one last question. How would you know when someone means you harm? People have talked about phobias etc. Can a person ever really know what the other intends? You whole philosophy depends on this crucial question and I would like to be enlightened.
GB: Jesus, you are an amazing guy! This question has foxed many of my colleagues in the Pentagon. They have asked me often, “George, how do you know when to hit the button? We always are in two minds and have doubts. How come you are so certain and have no doubts on these crucial questions? Do you have some divine insight?”
J: I can see clearly that this must have haunted many people and tormented them enormously. But you seem to sleep well and are well rested – I can see from your face that you harbour no doubts.
GB: I know the time for action like a cowboy knows when to stoke a fire, and when to let out a whoopee. I stroll the lawns of the White house. I listen to my advisers and the picture becomes clear soon. Everyone has understood this. They can’t fool me. So they tell me the truth. And I have friends like Tony who give me the best advice about all that is happening around the world. If Tony said something and another person said something who would I trust! Of course Tony! Simple as that. And everyone will know later that it was Tony who gave me wrong information. There is another principle I live by, in addition to the two given by you. “Believe Tony and act, before others start saying different things and confuse matters.” This way Tony is to blame for well intentioned mistakes and I only need to rest on Christian principles
Take Iraq, Tony, with a touch of good neigbourliness, told me that Iraq could hit us in 45 minutes. Now that seems to have been some small wrong estimation. It appears Iraq could not have hit us even if they wanted to. I do not doubt Tony’s intentions. But he helped me act. Iraq was planning to trade oil to Euros. That would not have been neighbourly!.
J: Why Tony of all people? How do you pick a Tony?
GB: Who will know better than Tony how to be a munificent global presence? England has had so much experience. Africa, Asia, Middle East! One has only to choose an expert and you will get the best advice. I am lucky to have a friend like Tony. The others Dick and Colin and Rice are all important they need to sing the chorus. But Tony is the prize friend in need and indeed. I need him to sleep well and wake up fresh.
J: Well I will run along before I fall at your feet. I do not want to embarrass you with my compliments. That would not be good neigbourliness.
GB: Can we have a picture together?
J: I am camera shy. Can we skip it?
Muttering to himself….
Well I never…..That was close Jesus. That is the closest you have come to striking the cheek of another. You almost became a George Bush!
July 23, 2004
Dec 17, 2008
Sep 13, 2007
in the embrace of time....
rain falls
in drops and in sheets
over land and sea and
verdant forest
rain falls and flows
in rivulets, streams and rivers
to the sea
in colours of the land
khaki, red and grey
plants grow, grasses grow
to ripen and wither
to bear fruit and flowers
to grow to huge size
when the winds blow the dust rises
fine and not so fine
to settle too in nooks and on surfaces
invisible at first, soon scattered for all to see
whole civilizations have gone under dust
what is a monument here
or a piece of metal there
we know of burial rituals
returning dust to dust
what is dust ?
but the embrace of time
so difficult to accept when one can dust and sweep
so natural and right when the flapping ends..
are we nothing more than puppets
waiting to be swallowed in the embrace of time?
by the dusty veil that slowly obscures
all that has been from the eyes of the future..
soothing and inviting
and soil it becomes
all becomes soil
in the embrace of time
in drops and in sheets
over land and sea and
verdant forest
rain falls and flows
in rivulets, streams and rivers
to the sea
in colours of the land
khaki, red and grey
plants grow, grasses grow
to ripen and wither
to bear fruit and flowers
to grow to huge size
when the winds blow the dust rises
fine and not so fine
to settle too in nooks and on surfaces
invisible at first, soon scattered for all to see
whole civilizations have gone under dust
what is a monument here
or a piece of metal there
we know of burial rituals
returning dust to dust
what is dust ?
but the embrace of time
so difficult to accept when one can dust and sweep
so natural and right when the flapping ends..
are we nothing more than puppets
waiting to be swallowed in the embrace of time?
by the dusty veil that slowly obscures
all that has been from the eyes of the future..
soothing and inviting
and soil it becomes
all becomes soil
in the embrace of time
Jul 12, 2007
400 million Agricultural refugees...
Three days ago i read a piece. Prime Minister spoke one of my favourite lines ... an idea whose time has come. (In school we ask often, is it a good idea or an idea whose time has come?)
But he spoke about SEZs, the special economic zones being created all over the country to help large projects by pass the democratic machinery, the process of careful consideration. Also to help the process a new act has been put into operation.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the formation of a new rehabilitation policy for farmers displaced due to land acquisitions. This means the Govt, state and central can ask the farmer to leave, in the name of a large corporation.. ie. corporate interest is equal to national interest... Till now the Govt could only ask someone to vacate in national interest.. but.. now..
There have been large zamindars in India and when they wanted to acquire smaller lands, they asked the owner, cajoled him, threatened him etc. But now the state can actually just take the land as per law.
When a tea stall owner refused to move his small business, the owner of a huge business house in Calcutta, had him murdered.... if he had but waited 2 years, the Govt would have had the man evicted in the interest of the nation and its big projects...
This would be backward enough in a country where the pavements are shrinking just as we speak about globalization, if it were merely misguided enthusiasm. But it turns out that this ... idea whose time has come... has been carefully studied by people ....
"A former vice-president of the World Bank and a former chairman of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a body that governs the 16 international agricultural research centers, Dr Ismail Serageldin, had forewarned a number of years ago. At a conference organised by the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai a few years back, he quoted the World Bank to say that the number of people estimated to migrate from rural to urban India by the year 2015 is expected to be equal to twice the combined population of UK, France and Germany.
The combined population of UK, France and Germany is 200 million. The World Bank had therefore estimated that some 400 million people would be willingly or unwillingly moving from the rural to urban centres by 2015. Subsequent studies have shown that massive distress migration will result in the years to come. For instance, 70 per cent of Tamil Nadu, 65 per cent of Punjab, and nearly 55 per cent of Uttar Pradesh is expected to migrate to urban centres by the year 2020." 22nd June 07 - Devinder Sharma writes.
Is this not shocking? That we can stand by and accept this large scale pushing and pulling? Is it not a travesty of justice to say that the individual is second to the corporation? While it is being advocated that
One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork.
- Edward Abbey
"Over the years with the complexity introduced by processes of the industrial revolution the work of groups of individuals has undergone change. The change is so vast that the similarity between individual accountability and that of a group is almost non existent. Fueled by the economy of sale doctrine and the excitement of large scale manufacture of goods and the burgeoning of new specializations and new professions the world has change rapidly. Guilds have given place to corporations. Very large organizations have grown with the background of complex international laws and a global trade system. These are as similar to small business as a sparrow is to a dinosaur. In terms of accountability there are dangerous lacunae that have got established as the way life is, as the way business is to be carried out.
One of the important aspects of a corporation is that it is almost impossible to localize responsibility. Take for instance the concealment of information and misinformation by the cigarette companies; the companies have been fined close to 4 billion dollars by the US administration for their long term misdemeanours. Now who is responsible, or who are responsible seems a difficult question. Is it the head of the organization, or the legal department which decides what information to offer the Government? It is quickly apparent that it is almost impossible to pin responsibility for willful acts of unethical conduct, for acts which damage human health and keep in place unhealthy practice. Are the shareholders responsible? Or are they merely the distributed risk bearers? It is obvious that hey have little information about corporate niceties and the jostling, concealment and irresponsibility. Corporate functioning appears to have no need for any morality or ethics beyond profit making. History of industries is replete with examples. The auto manufacturers closed down railways in the US and concealed data regarding implications of large scale automobile use. Nuclear agencies have consistently underplayed the problems and have been fooling the public about the risks. Chemical companies that marshal vast resources own no responsibility for the havoc caused to the earth and living creatures. The Bhopal tragedy, visited on the landscape and people, is a stark example of the corporate irresponsibility. Oil companies, beyond cleaning up once in a while are certainly nor held responsible for the poisoning of the oceans. Smaller corporations, or companies dump waste knowingly or unknowingly into waste land or sea or rivers. In Chennai we had an episode of industrial waste containing cyanide dumped near a water body. All kinds of waste is dumped, off the coast of Africa, travelling large distances in hired ships. Pharmaceutical companies blatantly sell drugs banned in the First world to lesser mortals from the Third world."
Considering the history of groups, it appears significant to ask if there should to be critical checks in the law which provides for the distinctions between individuals and groups. Read Corporations. Jerry Mander suggests that all technology must be treated as guilty unless proven innocent. The onus of proof is on the purveyor of technology and not on the hapless recipients. It is worth considering if a group of any kind needs to be treated under law with such a gaze. In the global village the vested interests of mercenary groups of human beings needs to be understood with scepticism." (G 2000 Wake up India)
But we seem to be headed in the opposite direction.. far from protecting the individual, we are placing him at the mercy of the corporations. Further we seem to be placing corporations in a location. it is said in the SEZs the law will not operate for labour. If this is true, then the law, India law will stop outside the wall of the SEZ. Are we then creating mini nations? Ruled by the industry and corporations..
Are we to forget that the land and its resources belong to the people? And that we are a democracy? Or are we redefining democracy as SEZocracy.. ... sell the land in little bits to corporations.. after all the board room is another democracy. Repalce the parliament with boardrooms.. Coca Cola, Nestle, IBM, Infosys, Tata, Benz, Sony, .. etc can run their companies from their corporate boardroms and the nations shall be mere infrastructure...
is that the direction we are headed?.. Have we forgotten SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL? EF Schumacher. Or have we lost hope... and sold out to the World Bank???
But he spoke about SEZs, the special economic zones being created all over the country to help large projects by pass the democratic machinery, the process of careful consideration. Also to help the process a new act has been put into operation.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the formation of a new rehabilitation policy for farmers displaced due to land acquisitions. This means the Govt, state and central can ask the farmer to leave, in the name of a large corporation.. ie. corporate interest is equal to national interest... Till now the Govt could only ask someone to vacate in national interest.. but.. now..
There have been large zamindars in India and when they wanted to acquire smaller lands, they asked the owner, cajoled him, threatened him etc. But now the state can actually just take the land as per law.
When a tea stall owner refused to move his small business, the owner of a huge business house in Calcutta, had him murdered.... if he had but waited 2 years, the Govt would have had the man evicted in the interest of the nation and its big projects...
This would be backward enough in a country where the pavements are shrinking just as we speak about globalization, if it were merely misguided enthusiasm. But it turns out that this ... idea whose time has come... has been carefully studied by people ....
"A former vice-president of the World Bank and a former chairman of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a body that governs the 16 international agricultural research centers, Dr Ismail Serageldin, had forewarned a number of years ago. At a conference organised by the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai a few years back, he quoted the World Bank to say that the number of people estimated to migrate from rural to urban India by the year 2015 is expected to be equal to twice the combined population of UK, France and Germany.
The combined population of UK, France and Germany is 200 million. The World Bank had therefore estimated that some 400 million people would be willingly or unwillingly moving from the rural to urban centres by 2015. Subsequent studies have shown that massive distress migration will result in the years to come. For instance, 70 per cent of Tamil Nadu, 65 per cent of Punjab, and nearly 55 per cent of Uttar Pradesh is expected to migrate to urban centres by the year 2020." 22nd June 07 - Devinder Sharma writes.
Is this not shocking? That we can stand by and accept this large scale pushing and pulling? Is it not a travesty of justice to say that the individual is second to the corporation? While it is being advocated that
One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork.
- Edward Abbey
"Over the years with the complexity introduced by processes of the industrial revolution the work of groups of individuals has undergone change. The change is so vast that the similarity between individual accountability and that of a group is almost non existent. Fueled by the economy of sale doctrine and the excitement of large scale manufacture of goods and the burgeoning of new specializations and new professions the world has change rapidly. Guilds have given place to corporations. Very large organizations have grown with the background of complex international laws and a global trade system. These are as similar to small business as a sparrow is to a dinosaur. In terms of accountability there are dangerous lacunae that have got established as the way life is, as the way business is to be carried out.
One of the important aspects of a corporation is that it is almost impossible to localize responsibility. Take for instance the concealment of information and misinformation by the cigarette companies; the companies have been fined close to 4 billion dollars by the US administration for their long term misdemeanours. Now who is responsible, or who are responsible seems a difficult question. Is it the head of the organization, or the legal department which decides what information to offer the Government? It is quickly apparent that it is almost impossible to pin responsibility for willful acts of unethical conduct, for acts which damage human health and keep in place unhealthy practice. Are the shareholders responsible? Or are they merely the distributed risk bearers? It is obvious that hey have little information about corporate niceties and the jostling, concealment and irresponsibility. Corporate functioning appears to have no need for any morality or ethics beyond profit making. History of industries is replete with examples. The auto manufacturers closed down railways in the US and concealed data regarding implications of large scale automobile use. Nuclear agencies have consistently underplayed the problems and have been fooling the public about the risks. Chemical companies that marshal vast resources own no responsibility for the havoc caused to the earth and living creatures. The Bhopal tragedy, visited on the landscape and people, is a stark example of the corporate irresponsibility. Oil companies, beyond cleaning up once in a while are certainly nor held responsible for the poisoning of the oceans. Smaller corporations, or companies dump waste knowingly or unknowingly into waste land or sea or rivers. In Chennai we had an episode of industrial waste containing cyanide dumped near a water body. All kinds of waste is dumped, off the coast of Africa, travelling large distances in hired ships. Pharmaceutical companies blatantly sell drugs banned in the First world to lesser mortals from the Third world."
Considering the history of groups, it appears significant to ask if there should to be critical checks in the law which provides for the distinctions between individuals and groups. Read Corporations. Jerry Mander suggests that all technology must be treated as guilty unless proven innocent. The onus of proof is on the purveyor of technology and not on the hapless recipients. It is worth considering if a group of any kind needs to be treated under law with such a gaze. In the global village the vested interests of mercenary groups of human beings needs to be understood with scepticism." (G 2000 Wake up India)
But we seem to be headed in the opposite direction.. far from protecting the individual, we are placing him at the mercy of the corporations. Further we seem to be placing corporations in a location. it is said in the SEZs the law will not operate for labour. If this is true, then the law, India law will stop outside the wall of the SEZ. Are we then creating mini nations? Ruled by the industry and corporations..
Are we to forget that the land and its resources belong to the people? And that we are a democracy? Or are we redefining democracy as SEZocracy.. ... sell the land in little bits to corporations.. after all the board room is another democracy. Repalce the parliament with boardrooms.. Coca Cola, Nestle, IBM, Infosys, Tata, Benz, Sony, .. etc can run their companies from their corporate boardroms and the nations shall be mere infrastructure...
is that the direction we are headed?.. Have we forgotten SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL? EF Schumacher. Or have we lost hope... and sold out to the World Bank???
yesterday had a history lesson.. a most unlikely lesson and a most unexpected, unplanned style...
yesterday 11 jul at castle hill..
My host Tamas Matinovich and another Tamas Dede, (you say this as Tamash..) were sitting in the cafe, from 1829 on castle hill and filling me and radhaji on some hungarian history. it seems the Bishop of Austria, in the end of 16th century said he would make the Hungarians into German, into catholics and into beggars.. .
Such strong words... that they echo even now... the sting remains in every Hungarian, that someone should say this..
And the Hapsburg emperors when they came tilted the cross on the crown of Hungary. The crown is not just a crown but a person. And it had power, the power of the Hungarians.. The people have power of the past. And Austria tried to destroy the past of Hungary.
Tamas 1 and Tamas 2 spoke one sentence each, unplanned, and intoned the history of Hunagary, apologising for telling us why this was so important to them... it was so moving and sad.
Apr 19, 2007
tamil new years day 14 apr 07 - enclaves, IT sevices and slaughter of old trees
Today the paper did not arrive. The main paper did not... that did not stop the supplements.
There was a 4 page pullout announcing, on Tamil new years day, a new housing project - water, promenades, manicured gardens, multi storied apartments and a new concept - offices and apartments nearby, all neat and tidy, school thrown in for children's education, malls for all needs. No need to do more than walk. It could well be titled - "we know you love walking". And we offer you walking to work, to the gym, to the mall, from one air conditioned enclosure to another.
The second 4 page pullout was about a series of new shops selling mobile phones and accessories announcing inauguration on Tamil new years day and discounts. It could well be titled - "we know you love talking". And we offer you talking without walking.
As I went in search of reviving my wife's mobile connection, I saw the city skies, washed clean by the early morning rain. There was some traffic but not too much. So I could drive slowly and watch the roads and the people..
In the middle of the night the phone rang. Trees, 100 yr old trees were being felled. Concerned citizens, including my wife, had spent the afternoon in token protest, hugging the trees, chipko style. The same trees that the media had gathered around in the day were now under the axe in the dead of night. My wife and a few friends dashed off to the site of the unhappy happening. A senior advocate, a senior activist, few lay people discovered half felled trees. They spent ann hour speaking to the policemen, the commissioner, the contractor. The mid night dialogues apparently were very thorough and insightful and would have surely been entertaining had they not been in the presence of the doomed giant trees.
Bystander: Why have you come now? And not when the earlier trees were cut?
Policeman: You are preventing us from going to the relief of the needy. We have to attend here and there is nothing to do.
Activist: Are you saying by protesting we are being anti national?
Policeman: I am not saying you are aninational, but if you ask this question, i will say yes, you are being anti national.
Bystander: Why are you protesting now? You should have protested when all these flats came up. I am ready if you wish to plant bombs in those ugly big flats.
Contractor's supervisor: Look at these people they are blocking development. 6 lane highway will surely benefit the public. Yo are being antisocial.
Corporation official: (on the phone) This is the work of the highways department.
Activist: But this is the job of the corporation and not the highways dept.
This debate must have been frustrating to all concerned. Particularly since it was over a fait accompli.... trees that had been already sawed 50%.
As i drove all these points of view had been in the background. Suddenly on a narrow 3 ft wide pavement i spotted a neat row of young recently planted trees. I said to myself, "Ha, these are how trees should be so they are not axed."
But immediately 50 yards later I saw another neat row of young recently planted trees. These were just off the pavement and were intruding into the road by about 6 inches. "Ha", I said to myself. But this time out popped a question. "Are trees supposed to be this way or that?" I know no one would believe me if I said these things and would think I am making this up for effect. So I took out my poor quality VGA camera attached to the mobile phone and took a few pictures. You can see these pictures and think for yourself!
And as I continued further I saw lots of parked vehicles - 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers, trucks, vans - and saw wall beyond these vehicles. And tiny bits of space in between. The pavements looked ragged everywhere - in one place the garbage collecting bins were on the pavement, in another there were vehicles moved off the road to the pavement. In another the rubble of construction was heaped to 4 ft high, preventing passage. And in some places there was hardly any pavement. ^ inches to a 1 ft to 2 feet. And each pavement had the legal minimums - lam posts, electrical transformers or telephone switch boxes. And some non legal as well - little pavement shops, little encroachments by shops and houses.
It seems that we are in a bit of a trouble in Chennai. As a developing global IT hub, millions of sq ft of construction are being encased in glass for IT companies. To attract investments and such companies, since they will bring jobs and revenue to the city, the city is pulling out all stops in its attempt to be hospitable.
But ten million is a large number. Half of ten million is also a large number. I mention this because I hear all numbers between 5 to ten million as population of Chennai and am unable to stake my claim to 7,633,288 or 8,299,712.
With such large numbers the roads are bound to be full unless you live in places where you only walk ... And this has become a problem. In Singapore or in some other city, 6 lane highway access to work cuts travel costs by 15 mins - a big improvement over the 45 mins it used to take people. All gimmickry has been tried - raise the road and build the flyovers, try Mass rapid transport systems, synchronize signals and make one way roads. But all these have not made life "on par" with the systems abroad. So here we are, like the school boy trying for better grades - working hard, struggling, burring the midnight oil (even if it is to cut trees), going to tut ions to World bank certified and sponsored courses - Chennai is trying hard to get better grades from the IT companies and such other establishments. Chennai is trying to prove that quality of infrastructure is no worse than Bangalore or Hyderabad or Baltimore or Athens.
World class infrastructure is surely something that will do all proud - the nation, the state, the city and of course the residents. Th nation marches on to the colours of one party or the other. Sometimes it is very confusing. Who takes credit for the goings on? The centre or the state or the local government? All or none, or a little bit for all. Like Ali Baba, the taxes go to all the parties and all the governments. So all must have a hand, a hand in the common agenda.
And what does this mean - someone has to clear the project, someone has to agree to fund it. And someone else must develop the promised infrastructure. And lastly someone has to do the dirty job - of moving people , giving compensation, coaxing, cajoling people to move for the sake of the city, state country and humanity at large. And someone has to decide what should be kept under wraps and what opened when... what should be leaked to the press. Unfortunately the RTI has come and may prove a bit difficult and embarrassing at times. But such is the optimism riding through the fibre optic cables that we are 'confident' we will get to the promised land of OMR looking like Boston or Los Angeles.
But we must go further.... why must traffic move so fast? What will happen if there are a few slowdowns? And who will lose and who will gain. Why the unseemly hurry? And what is the price...?
World class infrastructure means fast roads, relaible power, fast fibre optic communication and also satellite communication, water of high quality, drainage, and high quality infrastructure will attract companies and this will attract well educated people. Thus there will be a trickle down effect and all will prosper. But the king is dead, long live the king. It is now out of the bag - trickle down effect does not work, it is a trick of human imagination and optimism. All that trickles down is the difficulties and all that rises up is the privileges....
Good roads mean less pavement, if any. The rights of the fast cars, with no voting rights override in high gear the rights of the voting public to walk, a right so basic that no one thinks of putting it on any list. Like the right to breathe. But these are things being assaulted by the infrastructure drive.
You may shop, you must! But you cannot walk to the shop. And You must shop. But cannot get across the road to your vehicle or bus. Jostle, jostle! With few other pathetic fragile humans but more with iron creations of the human mind.
You must walk, it is good for your health. But mind the trenches dug for the optical cables and the rubble, forgotten when the glass was fixed, gleaming and reflecting. Go around it, lest you twist an ankle.
This is a good residential area, but you need to get inside the gated enclaves. There the paths exist for your safe walking. But on the public road, sorry, sorry, we are sorry. You cannot walk unless you are a warrior with nerves of steel and reflexes of a cheetah.
You cannot cross the road, or walk on the pavement, without encountering garbage bins, electrical posts, telephone switch boxes, unauthorized vehicles parked (cars, autos, two wheelers, trucks, vans.. call taxis) .. and all of them have a right above yours. They are there and you have to go around. They dare you to move them. You have rights but what to do? Sorry, we are her headed for the future.. this is a small problem, work in progress. You will be happy when it is all done. We have not YET ironed out these problems.
Work in progress!! Yes, work is in progress, to take all that has been public and redistribute it into private. George Bush does it openly. We do it under cover of socialist slogans. That is all the difference.
Trees have been earmarked silently for being removed in T Nagar, Sardar patel Road and TTK Road. The decision is kept quiet and not released for public information, or discussion. One morning, residents find that some old trees have been cut. Enquiries bring forth vague answers. Next night some more trees go. Then the buck is passed around - corporation, police, highways department who is responsible. Vague again. In the 21st century, while spouting environmental lines our government and its arms expects all citizens to lose shade on the trees from old trees with no murmur, but congratulations!
There are vague rumours that contractors have been found through auction and the trees have been sold to the highest bidder. As a process this is not necessarily bad. But the rumour mill also connects contractors with political figures.
And we lose shade before the summer reaches its peak... here today and there tomorrow. A cat and mouse game begins with citizens who wish to argue and protest. After all our history books, printed by the same government laud kings who planted trees and built roads. Now wonder the secrecy of the night is needed! How can the rulers today say they are building roads and hacking old trees? This would be bad history. It has to be done in the dead of night. It has to be done against the wisdom of citizens, secretly. And it has to be done against the tide of history. A concealed hand, forbidding and threatening, intimidating any opposition seems to be operating, behind the scenes.
One last point... world class infrastructure surely needs to offer speedy transport facilities, but must include safe walking spaces and cycling spaces. These are very much part of the world class we aim for. And considering that we have large populations, we cannot alienate a large percentage, in the hope of trickle down effect, with enticing roads and no walkways or cycle tracks. I wish the IT companies that wield so much influence would insist on these as well in addition to the optical fibre lines, and roads. The fast lanes need the slow service lanes. The high speeds need the slow frequencies. The falcon and the snail have their needs and they must coexist. Much like the early settlers in America focussed on the headlong rush to the West, we are headed for IT corridors and enclaves. If this is not to lead to ghettoing of the nation, pedestrians and cyclists need to be given their due and more as citizens of a modern nation. Modernity cities not brook enclaves for long.... and we must not give up the ghost of equitable opportunity and dignity for all citizens, neither the sovereign opportunity to be heard and participate.
There was a 4 page pullout announcing, on Tamil new years day, a new housing project - water, promenades, manicured gardens, multi storied apartments and a new concept - offices and apartments nearby, all neat and tidy, school thrown in for children's education, malls for all needs. No need to do more than walk. It could well be titled - "we know you love walking". And we offer you walking to work, to the gym, to the mall, from one air conditioned enclosure to another.
The second 4 page pullout was about a series of new shops selling mobile phones and accessories announcing inauguration on Tamil new years day and discounts. It could well be titled - "we know you love talking". And we offer you talking without walking.
As I went in search of reviving my wife's mobile connection, I saw the city skies, washed clean by the early morning rain. There was some traffic but not too much. So I could drive slowly and watch the roads and the people..
In the middle of the night the phone rang. Trees, 100 yr old trees were being felled. Concerned citizens, including my wife, had spent the afternoon in token protest, hugging the trees, chipko style. The same trees that the media had gathered around in the day were now under the axe in the dead of night. My wife and a few friends dashed off to the site of the unhappy happening. A senior advocate, a senior activist, few lay people discovered half felled trees. They spent ann hour speaking to the policemen, the commissioner, the contractor. The mid night dialogues apparently were very thorough and insightful and would have surely been entertaining had they not been in the presence of the doomed giant trees.
Bystander: Why have you come now? And not when the earlier trees were cut?
Policeman: You are preventing us from going to the relief of the needy. We have to attend here and there is nothing to do.
Activist: Are you saying by protesting we are being anti national?
Policeman: I am not saying you are aninational, but if you ask this question, i will say yes, you are being anti national.
Bystander: Why are you protesting now? You should have protested when all these flats came up. I am ready if you wish to plant bombs in those ugly big flats.
Contractor's supervisor: Look at these people they are blocking development. 6 lane highway will surely benefit the public. Yo are being antisocial.
Corporation official: (on the phone) This is the work of the highways department.
Activist: But this is the job of the corporation and not the highways dept.
This debate must have been frustrating to all concerned. Particularly since it was over a fait accompli.... trees that had been already sawed 50%.
As i drove all these points of view had been in the background. Suddenly on a narrow 3 ft wide pavement i spotted a neat row of young recently planted trees. I said to myself, "Ha, these are how trees should be so they are not axed."
But immediately 50 yards later I saw another neat row of young recently planted trees. These were just off the pavement and were intruding into the road by about 6 inches. "Ha", I said to myself. But this time out popped a question. "Are trees supposed to be this way or that?" I know no one would believe me if I said these things and would think I am making this up for effect. So I took out my poor quality VGA camera attached to the mobile phone and took a few pictures. You can see these pictures and think for yourself!
And as I continued further I saw lots of parked vehicles - 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers, trucks, vans - and saw wall beyond these vehicles. And tiny bits of space in between. The pavements looked ragged everywhere - in one place the garbage collecting bins were on the pavement, in another there were vehicles moved off the road to the pavement. In another the rubble of construction was heaped to 4 ft high, preventing passage. And in some places there was hardly any pavement. ^ inches to a 1 ft to 2 feet. And each pavement had the legal minimums - lam posts, electrical transformers or telephone switch boxes. And some non legal as well - little pavement shops, little encroachments by shops and houses.
It seems that we are in a bit of a trouble in Chennai. As a developing global IT hub, millions of sq ft of construction are being encased in glass for IT companies. To attract investments and such companies, since they will bring jobs and revenue to the city, the city is pulling out all stops in its attempt to be hospitable.
But ten million is a large number. Half of ten million is also a large number. I mention this because I hear all numbers between 5 to ten million as population of Chennai and am unable to stake my claim to 7,633,288 or 8,299,712.
With such large numbers the roads are bound to be full unless you live in places where you only walk ... And this has become a problem. In Singapore or in some other city, 6 lane highway access to work cuts travel costs by 15 mins - a big improvement over the 45 mins it used to take people. All gimmickry has been tried - raise the road and build the flyovers, try Mass rapid transport systems, synchronize signals and make one way roads. But all these have not made life "on par" with the systems abroad. So here we are, like the school boy trying for better grades - working hard, struggling, burring the midnight oil (even if it is to cut trees), going to tut ions to World bank certified and sponsored courses - Chennai is trying hard to get better grades from the IT companies and such other establishments. Chennai is trying to prove that quality of infrastructure is no worse than Bangalore or Hyderabad or Baltimore or Athens.
World class infrastructure is surely something that will do all proud - the nation, the state, the city and of course the residents. Th nation marches on to the colours of one party or the other. Sometimes it is very confusing. Who takes credit for the goings on? The centre or the state or the local government? All or none, or a little bit for all. Like Ali Baba, the taxes go to all the parties and all the governments. So all must have a hand, a hand in the common agenda.
And what does this mean - someone has to clear the project, someone has to agree to fund it. And someone else must develop the promised infrastructure. And lastly someone has to do the dirty job - of moving people , giving compensation, coaxing, cajoling people to move for the sake of the city, state country and humanity at large. And someone has to decide what should be kept under wraps and what opened when... what should be leaked to the press. Unfortunately the RTI has come and may prove a bit difficult and embarrassing at times. But such is the optimism riding through the fibre optic cables that we are 'confident' we will get to the promised land of OMR looking like Boston or Los Angeles.
But we must go further.... why must traffic move so fast? What will happen if there are a few slowdowns? And who will lose and who will gain. Why the unseemly hurry? And what is the price...?
World class infrastructure means fast roads, relaible power, fast fibre optic communication and also satellite communication, water of high quality, drainage, and high quality infrastructure will attract companies and this will attract well educated people. Thus there will be a trickle down effect and all will prosper. But the king is dead, long live the king. It is now out of the bag - trickle down effect does not work, it is a trick of human imagination and optimism. All that trickles down is the difficulties and all that rises up is the privileges....
Good roads mean less pavement, if any. The rights of the fast cars, with no voting rights override in high gear the rights of the voting public to walk, a right so basic that no one thinks of putting it on any list. Like the right to breathe. But these are things being assaulted by the infrastructure drive.
You may shop, you must! But you cannot walk to the shop. And You must shop. But cannot get across the road to your vehicle or bus. Jostle, jostle! With few other pathetic fragile humans but more with iron creations of the human mind.
You must walk, it is good for your health. But mind the trenches dug for the optical cables and the rubble, forgotten when the glass was fixed, gleaming and reflecting. Go around it, lest you twist an ankle.
This is a good residential area, but you need to get inside the gated enclaves. There the paths exist for your safe walking. But on the public road, sorry, sorry, we are sorry. You cannot walk unless you are a warrior with nerves of steel and reflexes of a cheetah.
You cannot cross the road, or walk on the pavement, without encountering garbage bins, electrical posts, telephone switch boxes, unauthorized vehicles parked (cars, autos, two wheelers, trucks, vans.. call taxis) .. and all of them have a right above yours. They are there and you have to go around. They dare you to move them. You have rights but what to do? Sorry, we are her headed for the future.. this is a small problem, work in progress. You will be happy when it is all done. We have not YET ironed out these problems.
Work in progress!! Yes, work is in progress, to take all that has been public and redistribute it into private. George Bush does it openly. We do it under cover of socialist slogans. That is all the difference.
Trees have been earmarked silently for being removed in T Nagar, Sardar patel Road and TTK Road. The decision is kept quiet and not released for public information, or discussion. One morning, residents find that some old trees have been cut. Enquiries bring forth vague answers. Next night some more trees go. Then the buck is passed around - corporation, police, highways department who is responsible. Vague again. In the 21st century, while spouting environmental lines our government and its arms expects all citizens to lose shade on the trees from old trees with no murmur, but congratulations!
There are vague rumours that contractors have been found through auction and the trees have been sold to the highest bidder. As a process this is not necessarily bad. But the rumour mill also connects contractors with political figures.
And we lose shade before the summer reaches its peak... here today and there tomorrow. A cat and mouse game begins with citizens who wish to argue and protest. After all our history books, printed by the same government laud kings who planted trees and built roads. Now wonder the secrecy of the night is needed! How can the rulers today say they are building roads and hacking old trees? This would be bad history. It has to be done in the dead of night. It has to be done against the wisdom of citizens, secretly. And it has to be done against the tide of history. A concealed hand, forbidding and threatening, intimidating any opposition seems to be operating, behind the scenes.
One last point... world class infrastructure surely needs to offer speedy transport facilities, but must include safe walking spaces and cycling spaces. These are very much part of the world class we aim for. And considering that we have large populations, we cannot alienate a large percentage, in the hope of trickle down effect, with enticing roads and no walkways or cycle tracks. I wish the IT companies that wield so much influence would insist on these as well in addition to the optical fibre lines, and roads. The fast lanes need the slow service lanes. The high speeds need the slow frequencies. The falcon and the snail have their needs and they must coexist. Much like the early settlers in America focussed on the headlong rush to the West, we are headed for IT corridors and enclaves. If this is not to lead to ghettoing of the nation, pedestrians and cyclists need to be given their due and more as citizens of a modern nation. Modernity cities not brook enclaves for long.... and we must not give up the ghost of equitable opportunity and dignity for all citizens, neither the sovereign opportunity to be heard and participate.
Apr 13, 2007
the curse of ancient trees....
the curse of ancient trees....
‘We accept our fate, we surrender,
in fact we have no options.
You, the mighty rulers of the land,
The commissars have rights that few others have.
‘We have been around for many years
as the dusty path became a road
and later an important avenue..
flanked by dark woods where animals abound still
‘Unfortunately, we have been outside learning
institutions
where young people are taught
to respect life
and the environment
‘Unfortunately, you will not be able
to stand your ground
in the face of your actions
but hang your heads in shame
‘You build roads, and they are strong
to carry goods and vehicles...
fast, faster, and faster still
all moving, all so busy
‘What chance do we have?
standing for long years,
rooted, and growing
all we offer is shade and leaves..
‘Only death makes us useful to you
our wood will make paper or benches
or burn in the fires that rage
to cook meals in poor homes
‘You speak about the environment
and assault the very thing you should protect
you want fresh air
that none can give except us....
‘we are going, but mark our words
you err, this is a folly!
no road can make it right to take our lives
no development this
You want water, and fresh air
and soil to be held together
But you steal these from your children
and their children
‘And may be on the edge of your grave
or funeral pyre
you may have to answer your grandchild
when he or she asks you
what happened, how did this ravagement occur?
‘Your may not be able to close, knowing
that you had robbed
the rights of the children after you
and their children
‘You may wish then to change things
but the time for change will be past...
It is now not later.
Then will be a time for regrets...
Is it strength
to fell defenceless trees
in the dark night,
with lame excuses to bolster your morale?
Sounds like impotence to our ears
a bit like stories of despots
trampling, whipping, maiming and killing
women and children and old ones...
But may be such acts will win you rewards
or decoration from your rulers,
the elected reprsentatives
wishing to make a mark..
May be such acts will win you a trip to the US
to stand before the failed President
drinking a toasts
to victories large and small.! victories!
May be you will be feted and applauded
by businessmen in suits (in hot Chennai)
who see the fast lane to more profit
in protected enclaves..
But then, you are fated..
like all life and living things
to die one day,
sooner or later
You too will pass
and you would have denuded roads
and leave behind buildings and roads
as legacy for your children and their children
Do think again ...
what will you tell your children, or their children
how much you cared
for the trees and the environment....
All things are forgotten mostly
people and their actions...
but curses linger
and haunt
You have won
and we have lost our stand
but think a bit
have you not lost your standing?
Men and women,
today you wield power
the axe that can hurt
and cleave
Men and women,
take your stand, as you must!
but then, dont cringe
from the curse of ancient trees...
9 Apr 2007
Trees speak
Trees speak.............
We hear there is a new learning
being imparted in these institutes
that the earth is warming
and the environment needs care
and protection
We have watched
as traffic has increased
over our lifetime on this road
as fly overs have raised their heads
We have seen the city yield
to the pressure of engines
and push the cyclist
to a dangerous narrow corner
We have watched the speeding vehicles
when the roads are free
trying to get ahead
trying to move faster, faster
We have seen the traffic policeman
wearying under the sun
breathing the exhaust of vehicles
becoming obsolete, impotent
The lights have come
red green and orange
products of technology
developed in research institutions
Lights blinking unceasingly
blinking order into chaotic roads
We have seen them losing hold
often impatiently ignored...
The new learning is here
ordered by the highest court
"educate all about the environment
teach them to care"
"All school and colleges
You cant ignore this,
whatever else you teach
for life and livelihood"
But we have been around
80 years, 100 years
breathing in the CO2
and refreshing you breath
We have been here
before most of you were born
mute bystanders watching
the growing orgy of speed and hurry
We have been around
long before you recognized the
environment
offering shade and shelter
to all, man bird and animal
Is it not strange
that you push us away
kill us, slaughter us
today?
Is is not strange
that you make your perception
and your teaching
impotent?
What will your students learn
in your proud institutions
that is clearer than your
actions?
.......outside new institutes of learning..... IIT and CLRI, Chennai
We hear there is a new learning
being imparted in these institutes
that the earth is warming
and the environment needs care
and protection
We have watched
as traffic has increased
over our lifetime on this road
as fly overs have raised their heads
We have seen the city yield
to the pressure of engines
and push the cyclist
to a dangerous narrow corner
We have watched the speeding vehicles
when the roads are free
trying to get ahead
trying to move faster, faster
We have seen the traffic policeman
wearying under the sun
breathing the exhaust of vehicles
becoming obsolete, impotent
The lights have come
red green and orange
products of technology
developed in research institutions
Lights blinking unceasingly
blinking order into chaotic roads
We have seen them losing hold
often impatiently ignored...
The new learning is here
ordered by the highest court
"educate all about the environment
teach them to care"
"All school and colleges
You cant ignore this,
whatever else you teach
for life and livelihood"
But we have been around
80 years, 100 years
breathing in the CO2
and refreshing you breath
We have been here
before most of you were born
mute bystanders watching
the growing orgy of speed and hurry
We have been around
long before you recognized the
environment
offering shade and shelter
to all, man bird and animal
Is it not strange
that you push us away
kill us, slaughter us
today?
Is is not strange
that you make your perception
and your teaching
impotent?
What will your students learn
in your proud institutions
that is clearer than your
actions?
13 Apr 07
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