Ideas are Immortal

VV: Hey raghu
me: Hi Mr.V V 🙂
VV:had dinner?
me:yeah..jus now.u?
VV:good. me having now,typing with my left hand, preparing for a 1 hr lecture this friday
me: cool…ur left hand speed matches with my double-handed attempt!,
oh,nice. abt?
VV: 😛 
Cultural studies-students’ knowledge and ownership in cyber space
me: interestin topic 🙂 very relevant too
VV: So huge amount of matter to be prepared and delivered, non-tech
me: yeah,will be nice 🙂
VV: I was reading Engles’ “Origin of family, pvt property and  the state”,Very apt
me: yeah,I’m readin M N Roy’s articles
VV: any highlights?
me: I’m half way thru his works, I can relate more to his works for obvious reasons
VV: main points? how ?
me: Revolution of a huge magnitude can start even from the most unprobable places if the right forces reach ppl,keepin the then India and World war and our freedom struggle in perspective.
Also about the failure of the British capitalist reign in all aspects,
VV: This depends on both the objective conditions and subjective preparation. The masses cannot rise by themselves,they/we are trapped in the existing setup, we have seen that most leaders of the masses are normally from the working/middle classes. Normally the consciousness of the masses is below required 
me: Yes,he also emphasises on the role of intellectuals and student force mainly to instigate the masses
VV: Without raising that consciousness by popular struggles that is not possible
me: I agree… I think his voice of a socialist society was drowned in the echoes of freedom
VV: Marx himself pointed out that his works are not rules. They have to be applied keeping in mind the existing ground reality. The “Maoists” try to apply mao’s interpretation of Marx to Indian conditions without suitable modification ,which is one of the reasons why they are not successful..
me: I am not fully aware of the maoists,so this cud be one reason
VV: That was an example. While reading you need to be critical you have to see the objective conditions at the time the theory was conceived and if they matched 
me: Yes,very correct
VV: what is true one minute need not be true the next
me: I tend to easily waver my opinions while reading
VV: people think this is dual standards but it is not
me: I’m workin on it
VV: it is the application of science hence the term social science
me: 🙂
VV: Not arts 🙂
me: right 🙂
will always have it in mind
VV: I have that argument with some of my friends from the “arts” streams
me: A valid point there.. That is what I guess keeps it evolving with the society-The Science involved
VV: scientific methods are used to analyse the development of society. Science evolves with the increase in the productive capacity of society ,because scientific methods are needed to improve production 
me: There are a lot of things in general I,like many, ignore while reading,And with a more critical approach it’ll benefit more
VV: The book by engles that I mentioned explains this very clearly
me: OK…
VV: You can try Navakarnataka book house on cresent road for some of these books
me: sure… will visit it
VV: my copy costed around rs.35
me: oh…thats nicer 😉
VV: this was in 2005 😉
me: he he. 
Its alright ,even with inflation and recession it will be around 100 i guess 🙂
VV: 🙂
Will discuss later.. my laptop battery is going to get drained
g’night
me: cool..
thx for the chat
VV: np
me: 🙂
g’night


PS: Mr. VV is a fellow activist in the Free Software Movement-Karnataka,and my mentor 🙂

Yesterday,after obliging to a friend’s invitation I attended an Introductory Seminar to a Curriculum for Life programme. They are an organisation who actually happen to teach the Way to Powerful Life filled with joy and love.

I appreciate their methodology and the principles behind this training. It would definitely be of immense help to a lot of people. But, not for everyone. It will be of benefit to people who haven’t been living their lives themselves,but of some other fictitious person as portrayed by the people around them. People who have succumbed to circumstantial impacts on their lives,and who have temporarily forgotten their identity.

But,for the rest of us,who are nothing but-Pure Self,it’ll be of little help.As most of it would be like hearing someone repeat you!

In a world of increasing hypocrisy, facade,lies,dishonesty-it is apt that such a programme is gaining momentum,and people are wanting to live their lives(Good for the World :))

If you want to live your life to the fullest knowing what is that you really want,then,let all your actions emanate from this one line Philosophy,by Ayn Rand.

I swear by my life and the love of it,that I will never live for the sake of another man,nor ask another to live for mine- John Galt in Atlas Shrugged.

The songs in Indian movies most of the times are like- unnecessary pitstops. But, some great music and wonderful lyrics have emanated from this system.

Here,I jot down my favourite couple of lines from Tamil cinema songs.There are numerous marvelously written songs,but,here I am qouting the ones which immediately stand out in my head. And 4 out of the 5 are composed by A R Rahman,so, that’s my distinction there:)
These extraordinary lines are witty,meticulous and are peaks of imagination. I shall try to give you a gist of these lines,because translating them is virtually(?actually) impossible!I tried really hard to translate,but it seems to get awful!Hats off to all these lyricists.
[format:Song(Movie)-Lyricist]

1.Puthu Vellai Mazhai(Roja)-Vairamuthu


உன் புடவை முந்தானை சாய்கயில் இந்த  பூமி  பூப்பூத்தது
இது கம்பன்பாடாத  சிந்தனை உன்தன் காதோடு யார் சொன்னது

Beautiful exaggeration of the company with the girl by the guy,
The girl compares this exaggeration to an unwritten line by a great Tamil poet-Kamban;

2.Netru Illatha Maatram(Puthiya Mugam)-Vairamuthu


கடவுள் இல்லையென்றேன்- தாயை காணும்வரை;
கனவு இல்லையென்றேன்- ஆசை தோன்றும் வரை;
காதல் போய்என்று சொன்னேன்- உன்னை காணும் வரை;
கவிதை வரியின் சுவை- அர்த்தம் புரியும் வரை;
கங்கை  நீரின் சுவை-கடலை சேரும் வரை;
காதல் சுவை ஒன்று தானே காற்று வீசும் வரை;

Amazing similes exemplifying the importance and pleasure of love in life.For example,You enjoy a line of poetry only until you comprehend it;But,It is love which you can enjoy to eternity.

3.Anbe Anbe(Jeans)-Vairamuthu

பெண்ணே  உனது மெல்லிடை பார்த்தேன்-அடடா பிரமன் கஞ்சனடி;
சற்றே நிமிர்ந்தேன் தலை சுற்றி போனேன்-ஆஹா அவனே வெள்ளனடி;

An intimate description of the feminine features of the girl.

4.Anarkali(Kangalal Kaithu Sei)-Pa.Vijay

உலகத்திலயே மிக பெரும் பூவும் நீயடி;
நதிகளிளியே சின்னஞ்சிறு நதியும் நீயடி;

Metaphors  at its best:You are the largest flower,and the smallest river in the world


5.Ayengaru veetu azhage(Anniyan)-Vairamuthu

வான் மழையில் நனைந்தால் பயிர்கள் உருவாகும்;
ஆண் மழையில் நனைந்தால் உயிர்கள் உருவாகும்;

Lines about the masculinity,written excellently:)

These amazing lines are actually indescribable in any other way except the way they are.The emotions these songs churn up are divine,linking them with many personal attachments.

Yeah,it was me at Pecos,BEL road!And,before you people could express your exclamation about this,I’ve done it before hand 😉

I have discovered a new social networking tool(as put by my friends),by sipping two and a half mugs of Draught,for the very first time 🙂

I didn’t do it because of peer pressure,or to emulate the ‘metro’ lifestyle. It was a personal inquisition which drove me to this adventure,encouraged by my today’s entourage,which I enjoyed. Talking about,if I went high or anything,I guess I felt mildly tipsy just for a minute or so,that’s all:)It was again a new lesson,wherein I learnt a lot many new terminlologies,and technologies behind the entire intrigue,which drives people crazy apart from me doing something for the first time 😉

I shall be limitedly available on this networking tool too;)Catch you all sometime then.

(Second post in my post series “The Question is Why!”,11 Nov,2009)

Dotage:Feebleness or imbecility of understanding or mind,particularly in old age;
Chauvinism:Blind and absurd devotion to a fallen leader or an obsolete cause; hence, absurdly vainglorious or exaggerated patriotism.

I guess,the above definitions pretty much clears the clog of the post title(If at all there was one!).

I wonder how people find so many absurd reasons to channelise their efforts and time,instead of concentrating on the quintessential issues.I shall be expressing my views about the futile ‘show of strength‘,and ridiculous opposition to logical scenarios by certain sects.

We have all been witnesses to the recent Linguistic upheaval a particular Chauvinistic group(instigated by a couple of their (mis)’leaders’) is creating in Maharashtra. This isn’t the only place in India where we can witness such atrocities. Linguistic Chauvinism is the very burning issue,which is a reason for a perennial under current between various neighboring states in India,as an example the infamous Karnataka-TamilNadu conflicts.

When issues such as Linguistic Chauvinism snowball,and grow demonically impeding the progress of the nation,or the betterment of the society,I wonder what goes on in the minds of the mislead mob-We,the people!

It is unfortunate to see regular manifestations of such insane instances,of which we are an equal part of. There are a million other issues,of hugely immense consequences to be dealt with rather than cribbing and quarreling over language or caste or creed,or any other trivial issue.

Encouraging a Language or culture will not happen by protesting and releasing provocative statements.A personal suggestion To promote a language-Endorse and help in the growth of Literature by Promoting writers,Subsidising books,inspiring students by Literary fests and not by polluting their minds by political meetings.

We still are a proud Developing country,and I guess we have grown comfortable with this excuse for leading a mediocre life in an average and imbalanced society. Let us concentrate our efforts and resources in breaking out of this secure but shameful carapace. We are all the culprits,and we should do our part in this already late atonement.

This was the flow of a casual chat with a colleague in office yesterday. He wanted to talk about my inclination towards Free Software,and we got into an engrossing discussion.

I briefed him about the motive,consequence and path of the Free Software Movement. Touching upon the Freedom aspect,social significance and the technical ramifications it has and will continue to bring about.

Then,his immediate point was about the business models run on Free Software.This led us into the Free Software industry models like the Service,Support and Customised Solution providing scenarios.

He was rigid about his ideas about IT Business models being analogous to Proprietary firms.So,I had to bring up the essential topic of the quality of Technology that is emanating from Free Software,using the Internet as example,which thrives on Free Software. Then,came in Cloud Computing,and his Proprietary contenders would be seen misplaced in near future when we will all embrace Cloud Computing.

Also,I used instances of my acquaintances who are successful entrepreneurs today based on Free Software to manifest its potential in the current recession struck(and slowly recovering) world. Free Software provides the best platform for all the binary babies to become self sufficient and independent.

Talking about successful implementations of Free Software in the society-I mentioned Venezuela,Brazil and our own Kerala,which are fully “Free”. Then,the question of Government supporting it,and that it would be convenient if it was Leftist.His immediate doubt was that if I was a Leftist,and I knew that I had crossed the line between Right and Left,moving towards Left.Although,I am not fully convinced yet,and am in the process of comprehending it myself.

Talking about Indian Democracy(of which both of us were unhappy about),I suggested a two-party system to make some sense out of this chaos(without mentioning what exactly I had in mind).But,he immediately put out my thoughts and said-For a system like India to fall into the right track,we need to be under an appropriate Dictatorship for atleast a decade(Exactly my ideas,I have spoken to a few of you about this).

Then,again came the Profit making vs not-so much profit making Free Softare industry,according to him. I then told if he was fancied by the Profits of a certain Proprietary Company,it was ultimately at the cost of exploiting the society.And it would be the ethics and morale of the individual to decide upon.

Personal conviction is the greatest strength,and the lack of it is man’s greatest weakness.

Two of the most adamant revolutionaries the world has known- Sigmund Freud and Che Guevara. This post will be the first of many I would be compelled to write about these two ‘men’,Nah!Two eternal minds.Although both were relevant to different fields-the inner core of their life was the same “Groundbreaking Ideas and a pathbreaking Journey”.

I have already been admiring Freud for long time,although haven’t read him entirely. I felt then that I required to groom myself a bit more mentally,to be able to comprehend and contemplate him. I had started with his most famous work-Interpretation of Dreams and paused the read after reading about 30% of it.

And about Che. I wasn’t aware of him,until a mentor of mine happened to mention him,and talked passionately about him. I have since then tried to collect information about him,and have been left astounded by his ideas and his revolutionary life.

But,now my mind is simultaneously craving for both the greats. When I am reading Freud,I want to get more of Che. And while being immersed in the ocean of ideas of Che,I feel like drowning into Freud. This contention is driving me to get more of both the Mavericks.

People like Freud and Che are definitely a rarity.We need to fulfill their purpose of life by reading them,and trying to play our role in fulfilling their ‘ideas’.

PS: We should not mourn for men of high ideals. Rather we should rejoice that we had the privilege of having had them with us, to inspire us by their radiant personalities.
~ Indira Gandhi ~

“Imagine a world without choice”….This is the first line of a personal favourite video-Choice by Redhat.

A more relevant adaptation of the above statement in the current post’s context would be-“Imagine a life without choice”.

The varied emotions we humans go through,the ups and downs of our lives,all would be shunted if there were no choice to make. Imagine a life with a defined set of paths to be tread on,without an option of making a choice.Life would be so stagnant and trivial that,we’d not realize even our own existence.

Existence is complimented by the struggle to exist.There would be no struggle,if there were no choices to make. People would take life as it is,and,do nothing beyond filling the formalities. The power of choice lies in the fact that,it,by functioning in the background gives value to our lives by altering the course of our lives,and also by incorporating the much needed suspense in our lives!

Recollecting a dialogue from Girish Karnad’s play would be apt to conclude this post:
If you have made a choice between the two paths you want to tread on;The other path will always remain a secret haunting you.

A single visit to my regular book store-Blossoms,takes me atleast 3 hours. Today,after missing it the last two times,I made it to the amazing Bangalore Book Festival.

390 stalls,with around 160 for English,80 for Kannada,and rest for regional languages. It was as expected-Overwhelming.I had decided before hand to purchase few good Kannada titles this time.As,getting Kannada titles during regular times is tough.The best stall was by LeftWord,with Karl Marx,Bhagat Singh,Einstien, Che Guvera,Fidel Castro,and other powerful Leftists. It was the peak of Red 🙂
Unfortunate though,by the time I reached this stall I was on reserve funds 😦

The books I bought this time are of varied genres. Nevertheless,will make a real good reading treat. I have sufficient books accumulated from my today’s and last month’s purchases to last an year!

These are the titles I bought today:
1.ಯಾವುದೂ* ಸಣ್ಣದಲ್ಲ – ಜಿ. ಎಸ್. ಎಸ್, ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಸುದೀರ್ಘ ಇತಿಹಾಸದ ಲೇಖನೆಗಳು
2. ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿವೇಕಾನಂದ – ಕುವೆಂಪು-ರವರ ದ್ರಿಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
3. ಬಸವಣ್ಣನವರ ವಚನ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ
4.Swami Vivekananda on Himself-Writings about himself,Something like an Autobiography
5. Valhalla Rising-Clive Cussler
6. Shock Wave-Clive Cussler;My favourite writer-character combination-Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt 🙂
7. Pride and Prejudice-Jane Austen;Have been missing out this one for long time,but will read it this season 🙂
8.The 3 mistakes of my Life-Chetan Bhagat,for my sis

My current read though is Hegemony or Survival by Noam Chomsky.

*yaavudoo-a font error