People coming together for a cause

There is something amazing happening down in the southernmost state of India now. Though I may be an outsider to this culture myself ethnically, I am awestruck by their simplicity and sentimentality. Tamilians are sentimental to a fault. It is this very benign nature that had me riled up in the past as it made them gullible to exploitation to various powers that be. But for a change my heart is warmed to seemed the potential in it to bring people together for a cause even if they will never have any benefit themselves. Most of the protesters have never seen a jallikattu let alone participate as it used to be held in very few villages in southern and central Tamilnadu alone. Millions have been sitting day in and day out and even staying night out in various parks and beaches across various cities against a rule that they believe robs them of not only their sustainable agrarian practice but cultural identity. People (including neighbouring Malayalis from Kerala who came in large number to support farmer practices here) have gathered by the power of social media and have resisted any political party's influence yet. What was merely a farmer's protest then became a student movement and is now a people's movement. While opinion on Jallikattu itself may be disparate across the country it is the method of protest that is of great interest to me. It has emerged with no central authority of power, no leader. A truly people's upsurge. I heard about kids staying in the grounds till early morning going back to the home to refresh and coming g back to sit in the grounds. Such passion and commitment to any cause is inspiring especially when they know that they will come back and have to sit under the hot sun for the rest of the day just as the previous day.

Another remarkable person in Coimbatore, left his job in the police department, because he felt he was unable to uphold his oath of protecting the people in the initial lathi charge by the police division made on students on the first day of protest. He resigned and left his uniform and came and sat with the common people on the floor along with the countless multitude while he could be comfortably sitting behind power. How many of us have the courage to give up our bread and butter for our ideals. How.may of us will give up our positions of power if we felt our sales pitch/ prescription/ marketing/ administration is against the best interests of its intended beneficiaries/customers. Ethical business practices are what make a case for a sustainable business environment in the long run.

Thousands of people gathering around, including scores of young women, not one incidence of molestation unlike the incidences that rocked Bangalore nor an incidence of violence or arson unlike the Jat protests in Gurgaon. While trains were stopped in central Tamilnadu to show protest against an assault on their culture from foreign bodies and opinion holders who have no participation in any of the hardships these people face, the youngsters have gone from coach to coach meeting passengers giving them food and water and apologizing for the inconveniences caused for those four hours. Hardly the stuff one would expect from apparently "barbarians" as reported by a particular national media channel. When I travel, I immerse myself in the local culture and interact with the local people as much as people. I believe people of cultures or races act as one across continents to situations If left without any steering from politics or opinion makers.

In the last minute there is move by certain usual celebrities, politicos to steal the limelight, and take the cause up while forwarding their own popularity, but perhaps for the first time in Tamilnadu's recent history, they do not look for a leader, they do not seek authority or celebrity endorsement, instead the youth are actively desisting it. Making it a truly people's movement. Farmers, students, women's SHGs (self help groups), IT employees, drivers; the unions are numerous but for now it is one body. A people trying to desist outside invasion into their way of life as self governance is the true hallmark of democracy; echoing the ethos of 'for the people, by the people and of the people'.

Random thoughts 2

I was just going through a post on 'What successful people do to kick-start their day'.Visualizing the day's main tasks and problems seems to be a common thread- and as I do that there is only one thought in my head- commuting to work via Mumbai local trains😜. 
But then like an old lady mentioned to me, it's a great equalizer. Rich, poor, caste, religion, region and all other differences are forgotten, as the voice of the people echoes as one chorus- Andar jana, beech me jagah hai dekh (Get to the center, there's space). The eternal optimists that us Mumbaikars become! wink emoticon

Joy of buying books

Installment no 3. Probably the first time, I am going to agree that shopping does bring joy wink emoticon.
Kind of feels good to know that I am on track on my pledge for 25 this year.smile emoticon ‪#‎becomebettereveryday‬

On regressive affirmative action- Reservations on the basis of caste in India & a truly class less society.

And amidst all the good things that I come across, I see this. No where else in the world, would anyone celebrate to be considered downtrodden. And the wanton loot and destruction that we saw earlier will spread across other states now? If any reservation is needed for them, it is in the prisons of this country for the amount of destruction done. Reservations were initially proposed for a ten year period from independence to uplift the poor and weak and I wholeheartedly support that decision. Much pain was caused to those of scheduled castes in the past four hundred years due to wrong socio-political environment and affirmative action is needed to equalise that but unfortunately our legacy of wrong policies only continue and history is repeating itself in the opposite direction. Spineless politics has let the reservation system endure this long, while what is actually needed is to bring up the education level and infrastructure to such a level that all sections of the society have free access to the same standards. That is true equality.

Beyond education, there are so many other things that affect the upbringing of a child. A decent standard of living is of paramount importance too. We have seen great entrepreneurs from normal households with bare minimum education. But if a child is afflicted with social evils and unhealthy livig quarters as violence as he/she grows up, they will be forever be scarred. There is so much that can be done. But clearly reservation is not the only answer, as it has not reduced caste distinction in any manner. People from higher castes have also got to go through a lot of reeducation, just having been born by luck at a higher caste household does not entitle them to riducle others. They as one of my friend puts it are just a lucky sperm amongst millions.

Reserving seats in the name of caste will only let this monster live longer, reminding people of the distinction within themselves, while robbing the meritorious of opportunities. And since when did Jats become backwards. They are most populous caste in Haryana and regions of southern Punjab too making them a dominant sect. And the amount of unabashed aggressiveness they show, clearly indicates, that they were never downtrodden. Reservation is an evil, as much as caste system. It is an excuse for our lack of efforts in providing equal training and treatment to all and it is time to weed it out if we are to go forth as a progressive nation. Caste names should be abolished and all records of it erased including in names as has been done over a period of time in Tamilnadu(but the state still has ways to remind people of their caste every time a new form is flouted around, showing half willed implementation). Without identification, discrimination is nigh impossible. And the government and the people must come all out in truly uplifting the poor and the oppressed.

Random thoughts

Starting a new religion would be the coolest of startups :). Plus if the VC ever asks for proof of concept, you can always brand them as blasphemous ;)

On happiness and reckless expenditure

Sometimes, one stumbles across a work of art that shakes one to their very core. In the fast paced live in the consumeristic society that has been created by powers that be and our own conditioning, we are forced to compete with others and our past self, in terms of our monetary expenditure.

We compete in the cars that we purchase, attire that we wear, the flats that we live, the pricier schools that we send our children to. While all that can be attributed to trying to find/improve one's self worth, we forget that which really makes us human, compassion.

All the self help books that I have read in the past couple of months are about improving only ourselves too, but seeing life as is "from the eyes of the other is the truest way to become a complete human being. We waste a Rupee or two here there. After graduation a couple of hundreds/ thousands spent on every weekend for two, three hours worth of entertainment doesnt bother us, as we feel entitled to it & the society expects us to spend to maintain a sense of social standing. But I know this now, all that money spent has never really bought me happiness. Instead its the time we spend in the company of other people, trying to bring smiles on other faces that bring us real and lasting happiness when you sit to ponder on a solitary evening.

I feel ashamed at, all the happiness I had the potential to create for myself and others, having let go of many of those in my narrow mindedness and inborn laze to act. The mistakes I have made are countless, but the silver lining is that our mistakes are what make us realize that we can be better.

Cheers to all those who work selflessly for and create value on this earth others for they they know they are the happiest. There are many that I can look upto, including you! Everybody has greatness in them. 

Of gods and us

Vignesh Kannan

October 11, 2015 · 

Was just reading a few posts where people were fighting over religions quoting their sacred books and mocking weirdness in each others practices..---- Hahaha .If there was a god, he/she it would have created us just for the entertainment we provide........

Ya lets go ahead and quote random texts written by men as proof of how correct we are about our convictions... Millenia down the line mankind will venerate how a webswinger saved an entire city from green goblins and Dr. Octavious. " And I quote line:16 page 32 Spider man edition no. 134....."