- Simple way to understand people is to listen to their stories.
- A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.
- All views on any subject should carry reason and logic. Dissenting and Contrary views are the essence of democracy.
- Provoking ideas/Flights of Imagination/Appreciation of Life are the parts of a colorful canvas.
- Only Literature will encompass our senses by emerging new ideas.
1. You gave us Cricket We gave you curry Who got the better deal: Shashi Tharror and Peter Frankopan
Multiple narratives of colonial history are seen through the historians lens. Many of them are brushed under the carpet.
The British Empire have left behind a lot of things. Indians cannot disavow a lot of legacy left behind by the British Empire. Whatever left behind was never intended and meant to benefit the Indians. One can take Tea given by the British to India as a example. The British used to import tea from China. With increasing demand of tea in Britain it decided to start the Opium wars with China. In the course of Opium wars Britain sent spies to China to get a hold of tea bushes. They got few and started cultivating tea in India to meet their supplies. Economic recession hit England later and the demand for tea spiraled. There was more than enough produce of tea lying in Indian storage sites. In order to make use of the existing supplies Britain decided to give Tea to India.
Hence one can safely say
Empires imply their views as a way of life.
Empires loot, conquer, pillage and rule for themselves.
Empires crush the opposition and dont give them any space.
On the other hand Britain got Curry (Chicken Tikka Masala) from India is wrong. Interestingly Chicken Tikka Masala has got nothing to do with India. British Football Hooligans are behind the Discovery of Chicken Tikka Masala. Chicken Tikka is a dry dish that comes from India. Only when asked for the sauce that the chef decided to open up a can of Campbell Tomato Puree that led to the discovery of Chicken Tikka Masala. Since then there is no looking back and Curry is now the national dish of Britain.
Needless to say the Empire got the better deal with brains and talent. Idiots cannot make things work.
Indians showed the British brutalization in their own light by shaming them. Eventually they got rid of the Empire from striking back.
Whenever the whole plot sounds like a STAR WARS (Empire Strikes Back) movie the Empire always wins.
2. 1984 by George Orwell (Allan Sealy, Jeet Thayil, Margaret Drabble)
It deals with the scrutiny of human actions by ever watchful Big Brother. This dystopian Blade Runner novel was well ahead of its time. It talks about the fantasy of control and paranoid which paints a grey future. Interesting many of the books prediction have come true in this modern day world we live in. The book was actually intended to warn the public about Government Control. In todays world one can relate George Orwell to Edward Snowden.
History is changed, distorted and manipulated with Big Brother in all of our lives.
Truth is no longer valued. Real truth is substituted with alternative facts (Post Truth).
3. The Silk Route, Peter Frankopan
One needs to see the Big Picture in this interconnected worlds we live in. The common ground (Silk Route) is where connections have been and will be made. Silk Route is where global exchange of high value goods take place. Sense of the world has been made aware by the Silk Route. Even today a dent in one emerging market can be felt at other markets. One can get a receptive sense of the world with Silk Route in their lives.
Persia used to be the cradle of civilization in 300-400 that dominated the globe.
4. Fiction as a fact. Living in the post truth world (AC Grayling, Thomas Friedman and Uday Singh Mehta)
Post truth: An attempt to express ones opinion and persuade it to promote their own agenda.
One has to spot the difference between free speech and cheap speech to avoid getting entangled in modern day worlds Post Truth Crisis.
To avoid getting post truth one has too review multiple sources (how and by whom truth is established). One has to also check the Public perception of truth (majority). Only after following the bias protocol should one believe in facts presented by sources. In short one needs critical analysis to check verify and get the facts.
The world which we live in is made up of Alternative Facts. Cheap speech threatens free speech. People make money by making stuff up. Post truth has transformed political environment globally. Post truth is a conversation with no defined boundaries. With post truth we then decide what we want to believe.
Lie is a deliberate act to misdirect people.
Post Truth: Person believes in the lie himself.
Lie VS Post Truth (Spot the Odd Man out)
5. Debate: We Are Living In A Nanny State
For the motion: Makarand Paranjpe and Shashi Tharoor
Against the motion: Chandan Mitra and Sunil Alagh
Chair: Vir Sanghvi
The term Nanny State was coined by Ian Mcleod . Nanny state is a state that interferes with peoples personal choices and lives.
For the motion: Makarand Paranjpe and Shashi Tharoor
BJP and its allies won the right to form the largest majority government on 14 th May 2014.
The newly elected government won the general elections with the promise to transform India with Minimum Government and Maximum Governance.
The newly elected Government failed to deliver it promises with growing controversy day in and day out since coming in power.
Policies implemented by the newly elected Government:
1. Ban on Beef. Attempt by the Government to dictate peoples food habits.
2. Demonetization/GST
3. 3 taxes implemented
4. Censorship (Withdrawal of 2 films in IFFI)
5. Homophobic Laws (Existing)
6. Anti Romeo Squad
By implementing such archaic laws (ban on beef) one knows what is best for the country. We here are babies and the government our nannies by telling us what needs to be done.
Ones kitchen, bedroom and personal life is not the problem of the state.
The state should focus its attention on public policy, welfare measures and safe borders.
Against the motion: Chandan Mitra and Sunil Alagh
India is not a disciplinarian state. Indian Government can be called as a benevolent nanny. Benevolent nanny have a motherly side to her. It is not a government that rules with a iron fist unlike other middle eastern counties. Triple Talaq laws in India are changed.
The current government has come in power by nudging the society. They have nudged the society by pushing their home agenda. The current government believes in no policy without politics unlike the Congress government which nudges itself on the basis of policy without politics.
Policies implemented in other countries.
Singapore (Restricted to eat chewing gums)
China (1 child policy)
Middle Eastern Countries (No secular laws)
US (Harsh Nanny is out there)
Healthy conflicts should have a conversation which the current Government stands up to.
We dont have a Nanny state as long as we live in a Democracy.
Winner: For the motion: Makarand Paranjpe and Shashi Tharoor
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