Ever heard of a short story called The Next Voice You Hear...? I don't remember who the author of this piece of literature was but one can find it in the Reader's Digest Collection of Great Short Stories. There was also a movie based upon this work. The plot basically explores the question "What would God do to change the world as it is today?" In the story, God suddenly invades all radio stations across the world and starts communicating directly to humans.
Weird and freaky. But at the same time thought-provoking. There was one line in the tale that really got me "Everything you see around you is a miracle...but you have lived amongst these miracles for so long that you no longer recognise them as such" It is a brilliant statement and I can actually believe that God would say that if he ever got in touch with us.
For instance, consider food. You know, the stuff that goes into your mouth everyday? Yeah, yeah, that stuff. Ever thought about exactly what you shovel into your stomach day after day for your entire life? No, I'm not trying to be a healthcare evangelist over here. What I am actually talking about is the variety of food there is in this world.
If you look at most animals in the wild, they usually have a fixed diet. The deer eat plants and the tigers eat deer. Big fish eats small fish and grizzly bear eats big fish. But humans are different. Humans, quite literally, are capable of eating practically anything and everything in the world. Think about it...which other living creature in this planet eats things so completely different as smoked salmon and masala dosa? If you are a little adventurous, you'd probably be eating smoked salmon with masala dosa. There's a small miracle for you.
And cooking! I have to declare that the greatest human invention is neither the wheel nor the bloody nuclear bomb. Humanity's greatest invention is the art of throwing something into fire, adding some other materials and extracting something completely different from what you'd originally chucked in - the art of cooking. Just think about it - how in the name of god did someone figure out that if you grind rice with water, let the paste ferment and then spread it over a flat pan on a flame, you'd end up with a delicious food item called the dosa? How many mistakes did the inventor of bhelpuri make before he or she came up with something that would be sold to millions of people in the future? Human ingenuity is so amazing.
The natural world is full of miracles too. An oft-quoted example is how light emitted by a firefly is about fifty times as efficient as the best man-made light. Richard Feynman, the physicist, once noted that "The concept of humanity suspended on a tiny sphere hurtling through vaccum with eight other spheres around a ball of light is is much more incredible than the concept of a flat world suspended on the back of a turtle" Absolutely. Who can dispute that? Nature has an imagination greater than anybody else's.
Okay, now consider the amount of water that you use everyday for a shower. Now multiply that amount of water by the number of members in your family (let's say there are four people in your house). But don't forget that water is used not only for bathing but also for drinking, washing plates, cars, floors, dogs, cycles, machines and god knows what else. Add all these up to get the total amount of water used in your house everyday. Now assume that every household with a good house in your city has around four or five members and that each member will have a bath everyday. Multiply the amount of water that is used by your household by the total number of households in the city. Huge amount, huh? But that's not all. Industries, shops and other commercial establishments often use much more water than any single household. Take the amount of water used by these establishments into consideration. Now that's a massive figure. But let's go a little further. Multiply this result with every major city in the world. And before you stop, let me quickly ask you to account for the water that's used for every town, village and community based upon these figures.
Now you've got an approximate figure for all the water that is used by humans everywhere. I've never bothered to get the exact figure myself but I don't need a calculator to tell me that it is one mind-boggling result. When I first thought about it myself I was blown away by the immensity of it all. It was colossal. But here's the real punch - all that water which is used by humans across the globe is around ONE PERCENT of the total amount of water there is on this planet. Of the remaining 99%, about seven percent is trapped in ice around the polar regions and the rest are in the salty oceans, unfit for human use. And yet everyday, we hear complaints about water shortages - human needs are even more monstrous than the quantity of resources that is supplied by nature.
But the real humbling experience comes with this simple fact - so far earth is the only known planet in the universe that contains liquid water on its surface. A miracle so great that people ought be falling flat with wonder. And yet, not many do.
Monday, 18 June 2007
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Progress and Morality
I came upon this during my timepass hours yesterday. Stuff like that always makes me think. What really do we mean by moral values? How do we define morality? What level of morality should a society expect from its citizens and what level should the citizens expect from society?
As a rule of thumb, the more prosperous an economy, the less traditional or "socially moral" it will be. It does not really matter if economic development is skewed or not, moral values seem to decline. This is not really surprising because an economically forward society is usually money-oriented and in a quest for material wealth and a high standard of living, people tend to disregard the details of living a moralistic lifestyle. There are different degrees of this, of course (Japan for example, still seems to preserve a vast reservoir of value-based culture in spite of being economically developed). But nevertheless, this trend is visible in almost every First World country today.
Is this trend desirable? Thomas Friedman put it perfectly when he coined the phrase "The Lexus and the Olive Tree". "The Lexus" supporters would say yes. Does it really matter if family bonds are broken if in the end the estranged members end up leading independent lives, free to pursue their own goals and ideals? After all, a society is made up of individuals. What is the point of having a society if its citizens aren't able to pursue their goals? Shouldn't a woman be free to divorce her husband if the end result is her becoming an independent woman, fully capable of managing her own life? Shouldn't a son or daughter break away (if only a little) from his or her parents in order to stand on his or her own two feet in a growing economy, full of opportunities that the parents are unable to see?
Then there is the other side of the spectrum. The people of the Olive Tree. These people are the ones who still have faith in the old system of values and tradition. A deep love for their culture and a firm belief in the laws of their ancestors prompt them to attack the trend of declining moral values. The love of money is the root of all evil, isn't it? What is the point of seizing the family business and all its profits if it results in you being estranged from your family, the people who brought you up? What purpose would it serve in going out on your own and making your own pile if you are never able to reconcile with your father and mother again? How will you ever understand or enjoy the delights of love and committment if you marry someone for a few years and then divorce her as if she was a use-and-throw toothbrush?
What do I feel? I feel that both sides give good arguments. I love the feeling of being independent and leading life the way I want to but at the same time, I do not want to involve myself in family quarrels or broken relationships. Basically I am one of those people who drive the Lexus and eat olives at the same time. I think, ultimately, it comes down to a matter of choice. People who want to break free from what they feel are shackles bogging them down should be allowed to do so. At the same time, people who need the feeling of comfort that comes with traditional values should be free to do so.
In the end, other members of society have no say in what an individual wants to do with his or her life. That is why I am against right-wing moral policemen who attack couples on Valentine's Day because they have no right to decide how people should exhibit affection. But more importantly, that is why I am also against the more subtle discrimination that occurs in schools and colleges (where someone is labelled as a dork for wearing vibhuti on the forehead or for performing sandhyavandana in the mornings) because others have absolutely no right to mock someone for being traditionalistic.
When such events stop, society will truly be developed.
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
They force you a lot
One of my friends recently told me about some programmes that have been started by these IIT-JEE coaching centres. One of them, I remember was a programme for Class 9 students. Holy smoke, a JEE training programme at Class 9? What the blazes? It was then that I remembered that a phenomenon like this is nothing new. Even when I tried to enter a JEE training programme in Class 11 (which I lost interest in, since I had shifted to commerce), I remember seeing the prospectus (yes, they had a prospectus) which boldly proclaimed a "Foundation Course for young IIT aspirants of Class 9 and 10".
What is this world coming to? A JEE training course for people who'll not attend an IIT lecture for at least half a decade. We have nursery schools conducting interviews for admission. I remember reading articles about how in the US, they have special kindergarten programmes that "ensures" a child gets into Harvard. And closer home, the number of students committing suicide because they couldn't get into an IIT are steadily rising. I remember when a girl committed suicide a couple of years back even though she got 91% because her parents were expecting her to get above 95.
I really don't know how to express myself over this matter. Have people today gone mad? What in the name of heaven is wrong with 91%? What sort of pressure was put on that girl to force her to such an extreme step inspite of getting such good marks?
Many parents today expect too much of their children and that's a fact. I've met parents who enroll their children in about twenty dozen personality development camps when they're barely six or seven years old so that the children, in their own words "don't miss out on anything". I'm no child psychologist but I can tell you that within one year, they would have forgotten most of what they learned in these camps. When I remember my own lazy childhood (not more than one major activity per vacation and lots of sleeping and pottering around), I thank god that I have a family that understands. In fact, my mother today grumbles about how I was idiotic enough to miss out on the real pleasures of childhood like playing cricket on the streets, stealing fruit from the neighbour's garden and loafing around on rooftops. I wonder how many career-focussed parents today would agree with her.
And schools are no better. I'm absolutely disgusted with the way schools advertise themselves these days (99% pass rate! 99% pass rate! 15 state toppers! 15 state toppers! Pick me! Pick me!). And in order to make sure they don't disappoint parents, they pile immense loads of work upon their students. They cut out sports and extra-curricular activities since parents think they're expendable. Learning is no longer about understanding and appreciating the subject. It's about how exactly you should frame your answers in exams. They then hold hour-long sessions where they programme their machines to write answers to exam questions in a 'proper' manner instead of trying to make sure if the student actually gets what is being taught. History is not about the mad story of humanity, it's a list of dates to be mugged up. Physics is no longer about the fascinating world we live in but a bunch of formulae to be memorized. Schools are not centres of learning, they're factories of success.
Oh I know, people are going to say that the scene today is very different from what it used to be during my childhood (I'm an aging, senile 18 year old) and demands much more. Children have to be prepared for that. That is why, they claim, that by putting pressure on children at an early age, we toughen them up (like leather) to face adversity later. I agree that the scenario today is much more pressurizing but that is precisely why I feel you must leave children alone. By ensuring that their childhood is free from pressures and turmoil of adolescence and adulthood, you allow them to retain that one small bit of sanity that'll prevent them from turning into mere success-generating machines and live a little. What's more important than money and fame? A bit of life.
Bruce Lee Mani, one of the members of the band Thermal and a Quarter once commented in an interview that children today have lost that sense of wonder that he used to have as a kid. I couldn't agree more. Why else do you think more and more people today care less about the world they live in? It's because they are never taught to notice how smooth a riverside pebble is, how magnificently a lotus opens it's petals and how cool a monsoon breeze can be. And that, my friends, is how you appreciate life.
What is this world coming to? A JEE training course for people who'll not attend an IIT lecture for at least half a decade. We have nursery schools conducting interviews for admission. I remember reading articles about how in the US, they have special kindergarten programmes that "ensures" a child gets into Harvard. And closer home, the number of students committing suicide because they couldn't get into an IIT are steadily rising. I remember when a girl committed suicide a couple of years back even though she got 91% because her parents were expecting her to get above 95.
I really don't know how to express myself over this matter. Have people today gone mad? What in the name of heaven is wrong with 91%? What sort of pressure was put on that girl to force her to such an extreme step inspite of getting such good marks?
Many parents today expect too much of their children and that's a fact. I've met parents who enroll their children in about twenty dozen personality development camps when they're barely six or seven years old so that the children, in their own words "don't miss out on anything". I'm no child psychologist but I can tell you that within one year, they would have forgotten most of what they learned in these camps. When I remember my own lazy childhood (not more than one major activity per vacation and lots of sleeping and pottering around), I thank god that I have a family that understands. In fact, my mother today grumbles about how I was idiotic enough to miss out on the real pleasures of childhood like playing cricket on the streets, stealing fruit from the neighbour's garden and loafing around on rooftops. I wonder how many career-focussed parents today would agree with her.
And schools are no better. I'm absolutely disgusted with the way schools advertise themselves these days (99% pass rate! 99% pass rate! 15 state toppers! 15 state toppers! Pick me! Pick me!). And in order to make sure they don't disappoint parents, they pile immense loads of work upon their students. They cut out sports and extra-curricular activities since parents think they're expendable. Learning is no longer about understanding and appreciating the subject. It's about how exactly you should frame your answers in exams. They then hold hour-long sessions where they programme their machines to write answers to exam questions in a 'proper' manner instead of trying to make sure if the student actually gets what is being taught. History is not about the mad story of humanity, it's a list of dates to be mugged up. Physics is no longer about the fascinating world we live in but a bunch of formulae to be memorized. Schools are not centres of learning, they're factories of success.
Oh I know, people are going to say that the scene today is very different from what it used to be during my childhood (I'm an aging, senile 18 year old) and demands much more. Children have to be prepared for that. That is why, they claim, that by putting pressure on children at an early age, we toughen them up (like leather) to face adversity later. I agree that the scenario today is much more pressurizing but that is precisely why I feel you must leave children alone. By ensuring that their childhood is free from pressures and turmoil of adolescence and adulthood, you allow them to retain that one small bit of sanity that'll prevent them from turning into mere success-generating machines and live a little. What's more important than money and fame? A bit of life.
Bruce Lee Mani, one of the members of the band Thermal and a Quarter once commented in an interview that children today have lost that sense of wonder that he used to have as a kid. I couldn't agree more. Why else do you think more and more people today care less about the world they live in? It's because they are never taught to notice how smooth a riverside pebble is, how magnificently a lotus opens it's petals and how cool a monsoon breeze can be. And that, my friends, is how you appreciate life.
Sunday, 3 June 2007
The World of Truth
Nursing a painful neck after the Aerosmith concert here in Bangalore, I spent a rather interesting, contemplative morning just pondering about life. One interesting topic that came to my mind today was the concept of the World of Truth. Tim Hardford mentions this concept in his book The Undercover Economist (which, along with Stephen Levitt's Freakanomics, has sparked quite an interest in economics among the general public).
Just imagine if we were actually living in such a world...a world where everybody speaks the truth. It'll be outstandingly amazing. Here are some scenarios that happen in the world of truth:
1. Hari: Hello, may I be speaking to Mr. Sunil Madhora please?
Sunil: Malhotra?
Hari (pausing): Is that Mr.Madhora?
Sunil: There is no Madhora here. Only a Sunil Malhotra
Hari: Okay, Mr. Malhotra, anyway I would like to speak to you. I'm calling on behalf of Blah Blah Bank and would like to inform you that we are offering loans at 4% interest rate...
Hari: Why exactly are you calling me up? Tell me the truth!
(The word TRUTH echoes...Truth...truth...truth...truth...)
Hari: Umm...sir, the truth is that Blah Blah has formulated this loan in such a way that that
the actual interest payable goes upto 10% so that they can make more money. We called you up because we have your profile over here and you seem to be exactly the kind of sucker who'll fall for this crap. That is why...
2. Devesh: Hello, is that the Yak-yak Internet Customer Service?
Kumar: No, it's your millionaire godfather's house! What else did you expect it to be?
Devesh: Look here, all I want to know is why my broadband connection keeps crashing every evening at 5 pm and not coming back until the next morning...
Kumar: Why? Do you want it to crash at 2pm and not come back until next morning? That can be easily arranged...
Devesh: No, I want it to be repaired, you goddamn fool!
Kumar: Not possible!
Devesh: Why not?
Kumar: Because I say so that's why!
Devesh: Tell me the truth!
(Truth...truth...truth...truth)
Kumar: Well, isn't the truth obvious to you, moron? It's a trick. We discovered it by accident, I admit, but the truth is that we want everybody to adopt Broadband Plan A (the most expensive one obviously). So we make sure that all customers who use Plans B,C and D use equipment with slight technical defects. Then once they get tired of constant failures, we offer them Plan A and they'll be willing to pay more...and what's more, a lot of people are reluctant to switch from one service to another because it will changing e-mail ids and transferring all information stored in their accounts...big hassle...so this is...
3. Reporter:...and Mr. Superstar, one last question...your resurgence as an icon after a lapse of 7 years has been quite phenomenal...and you're always known as a people's man...do you try and live upto that title?
Superstar: Of course...where will I be without my fans? I owe everything to them...I always am a servant to the wishes of the public...
Reporter: Do you really mean that? Is that the truth?
(Truth...truth...truth...truth)
Just imagine if we were actually living in such a world...a world where everybody speaks the truth. It'll be outstandingly amazing. Here are some scenarios that happen in the world of truth:
1. Hari: Hello, may I be speaking to Mr. Sunil Madhora please?
Sunil: Malhotra?
Hari (pausing): Is that Mr.Madhora?
Sunil: There is no Madhora here. Only a Sunil Malhotra
Hari: Okay, Mr. Malhotra, anyway I would like to speak to you. I'm calling on behalf of Blah Blah Bank and would like to inform you that we are offering loans at 4% interest rate...
Hari: Why exactly are you calling me up? Tell me the truth!
(The word TRUTH echoes...Truth...truth...truth...truth...)
Hari: Umm...sir, the truth is that Blah Blah has formulated this loan in such a way that that
the actual interest payable goes upto 10% so that they can make more money. We called you up because we have your profile over here and you seem to be exactly the kind of sucker who'll fall for this crap. That is why...
2. Devesh: Hello, is that the Yak-yak Internet Customer Service?
Kumar: No, it's your millionaire godfather's house! What else did you expect it to be?
Devesh: Look here, all I want to know is why my broadband connection keeps crashing every evening at 5 pm and not coming back until the next morning...
Kumar: Why? Do you want it to crash at 2pm and not come back until next morning? That can be easily arranged...
Devesh: No, I want it to be repaired, you goddamn fool!
Kumar: Not possible!
Devesh: Why not?
Kumar: Because I say so that's why!
Devesh: Tell me the truth!
(Truth...truth...truth...truth)
Kumar: Well, isn't the truth obvious to you, moron? It's a trick. We discovered it by accident, I admit, but the truth is that we want everybody to adopt Broadband Plan A (the most expensive one obviously). So we make sure that all customers who use Plans B,C and D use equipment with slight technical defects. Then once they get tired of constant failures, we offer them Plan A and they'll be willing to pay more...and what's more, a lot of people are reluctant to switch from one service to another because it will changing e-mail ids and transferring all information stored in their accounts...big hassle...so this is...
3. Reporter:...and Mr. Superstar, one last question...your resurgence as an icon after a lapse of 7 years has been quite phenomenal...and you're always known as a people's man...do you try and live upto that title?
Superstar: Of course...where will I be without my fans? I owe everything to them...I always am a servant to the wishes of the public...
Reporter: Do you really mean that? Is that the truth?
(Truth...truth...truth...truth)
Superstar: Of course not, you dim-witted fool. Do you think I really care about my fans? I'm only concerned about my welfare...mine, do you hear, MINE! All these gimmicks that I do...maintain a grave dignified image, donate to temples and be seen at charity events...they're just PR! And those poor people...they swallow anything I do and consider me god...they literally worship me! Grateful? Maybe I was in the beginning, but now...worshipping me should be made compulsory! I am the superstar! Do you get it? THE SUPERSTAR!
4. Neta (to reporter): How can one allow this? Obscene dancing? Bah! It's against Indian culture! How can you even think of allowing them? They should be banned! Our youth must be saved from corruption of the minds...
Reporter: Do you really believe in that? Is that the truth?
(Truth...truth...truth...truth)
Neta: Nah! I would be the first one to ogle at all those women dancing! Isn't it obvious that I'm doing this for votes? I want to create the impression that I'm very concerned about society that's all!
5. Reporter: And there you go...some shocking truths for you...brought to you by the News Channel for the People...we present stories that matter because we care for you...the public!
Bystander: Do you really care for the public? Tell me the truth!
(Truth...truth...truth..truth)
Reporter: No way! Anything to earn TRPs that's all!
Yep, the pleasant world of truth...
4. Neta (to reporter): How can one allow this? Obscene dancing? Bah! It's against Indian culture! How can you even think of allowing them? They should be banned! Our youth must be saved from corruption of the minds...
Reporter: Do you really believe in that? Is that the truth?
(Truth...truth...truth...truth)
Neta: Nah! I would be the first one to ogle at all those women dancing! Isn't it obvious that I'm doing this for votes? I want to create the impression that I'm very concerned about society that's all!
5. Reporter: And there you go...some shocking truths for you...brought to you by the News Channel for the People...we present stories that matter because we care for you...the public!
Bystander: Do you really care for the public? Tell me the truth!
(Truth...truth...truth..truth)
Reporter: No way! Anything to earn TRPs that's all!
Yep, the pleasant world of truth...
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