A new meaning peae

Global power has global paradox. President Obama with wife Michele leaves for Oslo to receive his noble prize for peace. He will also attend the ongoing summit on climate change in Copenhagen. Obama is on way to Oslo to receive his peace prize but he is going to talk about war. After announcing that 30,000 more troops will be deployed in Afghan he will be honored as most peaceful man on earth. And while visiting one day to Denmark to lay out his goal of cutting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 17 % by 2020, his one day trip will generate more than 3,820 tons of carbon dioxide.

White house has cleared that in his acceptance speech at Oslo president Obama will talk about sending 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan. Spokesperson of White House Gibbs said that Obama has understanding of this noble peace prize and he doesn’t compare himself to Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela.

Obama’s peace prize will now define the meaning of peace itself. The failed American diplomacy in Middle East has raised serious question. Much hyped Cairo speech of President Obama brought no change in the condition and it can only be regarded as eloquent rhetoric.

His policy toward Palestine and deprived Gaza is just continuation of Bush policy towards Middle East. Obama’s South Asia’ policy is also not working in right direction. Perhaps the greatest intellectual alive found the right reason of choosing Obama for peace prize. Reacting on his selection Noam Chomsky said “The hopes and prospects for peace aren't well aligned -- not even close. The task is to bring them nearer. Presumably that was the intent of the Nobel Peace Prize committee in choosing President Barack Obama.”

THE ANATOMY OF CYBER-GENERATION

we come out of history in order to enter into simulation – jean baudrillard

The moment history enters the period of post-modernism search for the truth and its discovery is rendered as fruitless and futile act. In the language of Lyotard post-modernism is only about looking at Meta-narratives with suspicion. But in reality, this suspicion is not limited only to meta-narratives; rather every narrative, subject and truth comes inside its boundaries. To understand the difference between truth and “truth-like” is the most cumbersome thing of this era. Truth and falsehood, or truth and truth-like are not clear and lucid like day and night. Where does the truth begin, when does it turn into truth-like, and when does truth-like transforms into the real falsehood? This separation is a difficult task.

The real manifestation of post-modernism takes place through technology, art, media and culture; and through these only do the post-modern viewpoint and attitudes come into existence. The best examples are films, internet and virtual world in which a human experiences truth, truth-like and falsehood concurrently.

Cyber culture – an introduction:

Several years earlier (1990), renowned anthropologist Arjun Apadrai classified the cultural economy into five different types (which he calls Scapes):

• Ethnoscapes
• Technoscapes
• Finanscapes
• Mediascapes
• Deoscapes

Therefore, for such type of economy the need of a new way of thinking and analyzing is felt. These five types require a special kind of network. The debate of cyber culture has deep and strong relationship with the existence and workings of this network. That’s why Castells (the renowned researcher of cyber culture) has based his argument of cyber culture on network.

Nothing can be said for certain about the history of cyber culture’s terminology. However, after the definitions of Gibson this became a subject of discussion and debate in the world of cyber culture study. Thus, American critique Mark Dewey is known for his assessments of the definitions in the beginning period. Dewey, while specifying the term of cyber culture, says:

A far-flung, loosely knit complex of sub legitimate, alternative, and oppositional sub-cultures whose common project is the subversive use of technocommodities often framed by radical body politics… cyber culture is divisible into several major territories: visionary technology, fringe science ,avant-gardeart ,and pop culture

Other researchers believe that cyber culture is a name for our cyber attitude like how we live in a cyber world, make relations with others; and few others believe that complete definition of the term cyber culture is not possible. Bell says:

..Cyberculture is certainly a contested and evolving discourse

But by analyzing the existing trends of cyberculture we can understand its content and direction.

Cyber space and a new society

From the end of the 20^th century till today (in 21^st century), the awestruck position at which the internet has brought the world – this phenomenon is not just a topic of research and study anymore. The information flood can no longer be contained. This is an irreversible act and any replacement to it is only its progress. Computerization of society is a truth of the day, and everyone seems to adopt this truth. Probably this is the reason why Lyotard wrote this:

It is hard to see what other direction contemporary technology could take us an alternative to the computerization of society. (The postmodern condition)

Cyber space has brought a new world into existence: a complete society where relationships are made, transactions take place, and activities of rewarding and punishing are also there. A complete world of social relationships and opportunities are available on your screen. The creator of cyber space terminology is William Gibbson, who in 1984 through his famous novel Neuromancer gave the idea of cyber space. Gibbson says:

Cyberspace A consensual hallucination experienced daily by millions of legitimate operators. A graphic representation of data abstracted from the banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkable complexity. Lines of light ranged in the nonspace of the mind, clusters and constellations of data. Like city lights, receding.

The above definition and Neuromancer made this idea so much popular that a few experts even started using Gibsonian Cyber Space as a term.

Michal Heim gives his opinion about the cyber space in the following words:

Cybersapce is more than a breakthrough in electronic media or in computer interface design with its virtual environments and simulated worlds. Cyber space is a .. Tool for examining our every sense of reality. (The erotic ontology of cyber space)

There was a period when a society in the cyber world seemed only an illusion, but it no longer remained so. On the contrary, its status is now that of a vibrant and dynamic society. We cannot deny the inter-relationship between technology and society. This form of technology has a deep connection with society, and incidents that occur in the virtual world will have their effects on our physical world. Zizek says:

The way computerization affects our lives does not depend directly on technology, it results from the way the impact of new technology is refracted by the social relations which, in their turn, co –determine the very direction of technological development.

Paul Virilio expresses this reality by saying that technological progress affects our social relations completely.

There are many dynamics of the cyber space which are noteworthy and demand attention. It need urgent assiduity. A fresh discourse is essential to think about the evolution and content of this society (virtual)

Here, we will discuss some of the problems of this “society”.

(to be continued.. )

In the garden of Aenesidemus

Acatalepsy is the defining feature of our time. It is not just because the discovery of truth is painful, but infact the need of truth and discovery it self has lost its meaning. So, comprehending with any kind of truth is just a matter of our political ‘self’. Manufacturing events, news, enemies, chaos, consent is a primary need of a “state”, else the survival of a state become dubious.

For this, the state is ready to force all kinds of violence. The only way to achieve “objective” is violence (means can be different). Weber was right in claiming the “natural” behavior of State. He argues:

“the state is a relation of men dominating men, a relation supported by means of legitimate (i.e. considered to be legitimate) violence.” This “consideration” is also state’s will.

Nandigram, lalgarh, salwa judum, rape, POTA, fake encounter etc are the metaphors, and the phenomena, which is a wacky face of development. Obviously these are also development[s]. And the rate of development in this domain is much higher than our GDP. It is omnipresent. The manifestation is represented on different stage. They are camouflaged but they are not meaningless like our feelings. Sometime Manipur, sometime sophian, sometime salwa judum (rape episode) and sometime “unsolved” mystery of arrest and fake encounter attract us on this developmental model as well.

It's five years now. Some young souls departed as a result of state sponsored stage killing. A cold blooded murder. The warmness of being youth becomes a freezing experience. Ishrat jahan a girl from Mumbai along with Javed Gulam Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjad Ali and Jisan Abdul Gani were gunned down by Gujarat Police outside Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004, and now a magistrial inquiry report found that the encounter was fake.

Ishrat jahan and others are just an addition in the list of victims into state's notebook of “legitimized terror”. An early view on the state’s role forces us to conclude that state is pathetic. Why doesn't it understand that imperial tones of policy will go against it? Why doesn't it understand that such displacement and repression will develop anxiety, which in turn will lead to “terror”? And one can conclude that state is poor and lacks farsightedness. But what if state is doing it because of farsightedness, and what if it’s an intended programme and a determined policy?

Historical injustice is fatal for a nation and to surmount that, we speak for reservation and delivery of justice to that class. But what if history of injustice is written in front of us? Then how much abnegation can “we” avail? Country is becoming fragile and weak (from inside). Its real strength – the people of India, are becoming hopeless about justice and skeptical about “developmental” policy. We have failed to learn or in fact we have not learned how to resolve issues through dialogue, how to settle things with argument and tolerance. Let it be lalgarh or Darjeeling or Manipur. There is worth noting distress and anxiety within the intellectual class [too] from this developmental model. But “food for thought” is still not worth to be translated into a movement – a movement for change.

In the mood of deep dejection I entered into thegarden of Aenesidemus*. He was busy in planting some new tree. He read the pain of my face and said, "distress??" I said, "yes!" Then he shook his head and said, "Skepticism?" I said yes! And he expressed his emotion as, "ha ha ha." He quickly claimed, "skepticism is a way of life; you can only achieve peace of mind by suspending justice. Go boy, be skeptic and be happy." I returned from his garden in a more thoughtful mood, and I realized that subsidiary of his garden is everywhere, and our skepticism is producing happiness without any sense of irony.

………………………………………………………………………………...

* He was skeptical philosopher of 1^{st century BC. He saw skepticism as way of life}

THE BURDEN OF LANGUAGE

The relation between language and civilization is quite significant. The language of civilization, which explores knowledge, becomes the language of modernity and development. This pushes the ‘speakers’ of other civilization in “asylum”. The only way out is to imitate “The Civilization” and speak the language of “modernity”

English as a language triumphed as language of civilization. It speaks for rationality, modernity and development. The only way out for civilizational growth is to “Be English”. Language not only contains set of grammar and rules, it contains complete package of culture and value system. So if a language is ‘publicized’ its cultures ‘publicizes’ too. If languages get imported, culture gets imported too.

In the post colonial world the administration was handed to ‘natives’ but culture always remained colonial. In fact in colonial age the culture was native but in post-colonial era it became “foreign”. From education system to administration, from art to culture we are moving towards “foreign”.

In a schizophrenic assumption of ‘national self’ we are living in the world of dream and abnegation. Our value system, education, system, judiciary, economics all want to attain the eternal position of “development” which lies in being “civilizationlly foreign”.

The latest remark of Supreme Court is just an expression of common psyche. That knowledge and development, modernity and values rest in learning “The knowledge” in English. The bench of three judges exclaim there notion as :

"People who study in mother tongues are not able to compete in medical and engineering exams. It is very easy to say that children should be taught in mother tongues, but the question is how to survive in this world. The best way out of this controversy would be to make all choices available but let the parents decide. Today private schools are charging Rs 30000-40000 but still parents are crazy to get their children admitted to English schools." — Chief Justice of India, K G Balakrishnan

So survival of the Gen-next and nation is dependent on learning English and technology. The “only” branch of knowledge. Sometime suffocated by voices of technology, I feel that if technology is the only knowledge or “The knowledge”. What if one fails to learn English, what if one fails to pass engineering, what if he fails to imitate “The Culture”?? Is he aberrant, is he irrational or is he Anti-national?? Quaffed by voices of development and growth, we remain slave, our consciousness dying, and our culture in crisis of identity and “we” gawk from the burden of language.

LIVING IN ABNEGATION

                                               

                                                   

Sometime living in denial is a satisfying experience. As the abominable development around us is abstruse. The health of globe is abysmal but our self denial put us on the height of glory. What is going in Ghaza is not a new experience but the silence of every citizen of world is deeply depressing.

 

Oppression by the oppressed is a historical fact. The exhibition of barbarism is inevitable when someone has absolute power and freedom. Israel a terror state has put everything to display the act of power. The destruction, casualty, pain and suffering are unimaginable. It’s beyond nightmare. The unstoppable power of Israel and act of aggression shows the helplessness of the rest of the world.

 

But the aberrant behavior of media is more and more depressing. Instead of showing and discussing the worst humanitarian crisis, they are more concerned about ghajini and amir khan, Amitabh bachan and his family.

Media as an institution has just transformed into a corporate entertainment agency feeding the news hunger of elite and upper middle class. With no serious business at stake, they are just busy in increasing their TRP by selling anything. Anything which elite and middle class can buy. Any news and headline which can excite them.

 

Media in this country is playing a very negative role. Pushing the common people into denial mode. Creating a matrix for them and abetting them to get rid of reality. Media an important tool in any democratic society has failed to create an ambience of truth and trust. Failed to initiate any discourse on serious issues.

 

Now it’s the duty of every aware citizen of this nation to unmask the media and held them accountable in front of society. Let’s not live in abnegation. Let’s seek the truth.

                       

                                                                           

 

SPREADING TERROR . . . WEAKENING TRUST

In the time of economic regression, increasing arm race and triumph of neo-imperialist in many part of the globe. There are many undercurrents affecting our country as well. There is serious disruption, disturbance and chaos along length and breadth of this country. Exploding bombs in public places like diwali crackers, India becoming more as Police state and transformation of us into majoritarianism from liberal democracy.

 

Once a nation and land of many cultures and languages are turning to be hostile to each other. “Marathi” attacking Bihari. “Hindu” raping Nuns. “Muslims” planting bombs and Bodo killing assameese Muslims. What would be the future of the great nation in amidst of this? The nation which stands for integrity, proud of its democracy triumphed as a land of different cultures and languages. In fact, the only country and only nation in the history of civilization which assimilated many cultures and traditions and spread multi colours in the atmosphere.

 

Serious questions have aired in this country after series of events. Terrorist planting bombs, police killing people and masses loosing trust.

In the series of all events the later one is the most dangerous. Police is the instrument of state to maintain law and order. But what if it become self –governed. Police has to protect civilians and infuse sense of security in them but what if they start injecting fear.

 

Society and human – human interaction is based on what? Obviously Trust. And what if the society lost trust, resultantly the civil society will be more like jungle. Trust is the backbone of any civil society. And if any individual in society looses its trust in judiciary, administration and state then certainly we will plunge into land of distress and distrust. The equation of these can only produce chaos. This chaos cannot be managed nor controlled. The equation of hopelessness, injustice and state – sponsored terrorism can breed more terror.

 

The only ray of hope is to keep the trust alive. To build a strong civil society on the basis of trust. An environment of trust within individual is the key to fight any terror whether inside or outside. The advantages of high trust are:

          a. lower administration costs, higher institutional         reliability;

          b. large and efficient organizations;

c. a better environment

•          disadvantages of low trust:

          a. corruption and trade with influences;

          b. small and inefficient organizations;

          c. more chaos

A common man can kindle the light of trust through love, awareness and resilience. Let’s rise to fight all sort of terrorism through the power of trust.

By - Syed Musab Iqbal

 

THE CALCULUS OF AN INTRICATED MATRIX

“An optimist is the human personification of spring – Susan J Bissonette”

Are you alive? Hold your nerves. Stay calm and ask yourself that are you dreaming or the shattered dream made you enigmatic. The dream that always came true or the truth itself is dream. Exploring the science beyond the sky is what you call a dream. The world where we are living, enjoying and dancing in glee is the byproduct of selfishness and individualism often offered with glamour and materialism, making us realizes that our dream came true.

This question is as old as human’s development of sciences that is this world real? What is reality, if it is something then it remains same with ages or not, then who define and regulate it. Are you talking something of god? No, then who differentiate and integrate reality. Is it the job of the powerful or the powerless, what they often try to explore in day dreams? There are some equations which became more complicated with time and the multiplied matrix of these entities is often mind-boggling. The reality of truth, life and happiness. The algebra of these three I often tried to solve but failed. Failed with a sense of dejection and irony. The dejection which never evaporated nor absorbed and irony which exist beneath and beyond myself.

Humankind of all ages has some privilege of their time. What is the freedom of our time?

Freedom of speech, expression, expansion or development? No, but the freedom of living in a dream world which has no regular expression, no symmetry, no caveat, no boundary, just a world of white darkness and joyful delusion. The question we can ask that is everyone a part of it, and then one can say that some got liberated, some are not engulfed by it, some are thrown from it and some are hopelessly dependent on it. Humans of this age are either fooled by randomness or backstabbed by their own choices. Most of them are either deprived or despised and rest of them is busy in building what they call development on the pillar of disparity, deprivation and despise.

Someone eloquently expressed his notion that Love is not the greatest glue between two people. Sex is. Sex is not only the effective glue but also most efficient market commodity. A wonderful tool of advertisement and propaganda. It seems that we are revolving or forced to revolve around two things – money & sex. Someone can ask that what the problem in it is. I can only say that the question is not of problem rather it lies in our attitude of solving the equation of truth, life and happiness. Sex with all its attribute and facets are part of every individual. There is no escape from that; either you are watching news, cricket match or just a kids cartoon. It is apparently present everywhere to excite us, entertain us, deviate us and keep us away from the truth. That truth which is not deep in the jungle or deep in the sea but which lies inside us – in the depth of ourselves in the form of soul. The soul which is either dying or crying.

There are two forces which have made us captive. The global power which has a hegemonic agenda of global dominance and corporate imperialism. Directly or indirectly we are part of them. We are so inert and so hopeless that we can not analyze the catastrophic condition nor we can fight them. The reality is gulped by the noises of growth and development and we have been blinded by the glitter and the pace of development.

Some of the great powers are always dependent on there enemies. One of the great leader of the last century profoundly spoke that we cannot live without enemy, if we don’t have one better create it. What is the purpose of creation of enemy? To implement the colonial agenda or to frame the truth. There is enormous tale of fabrication. Fabrication of history and fabrication of truth. The evil power fighting the evil world created a great misery of our time. The triumph of NeoCon became the triumph of brutality and invasion as well.

One can just gasp in awe while entering a tempting and sparkling building of any corporate office. Working in a corporate company is like a dream coming true. But is the dream coming true or we are forced to live in dreamland it self. Corporate slavery is the phenomenon of our time. It has strengthened the individualism with much stronger sense of greed and selfishness. There is endless desire; there is no turning back and no end of greed. One package after another. One company after another. People are running in madness that they can’t even understand that this road is endless and there is no end where you will catch happiness. Money can’t bring happiness but it can bring more money.

Lewis Carroll has created a wonderland only for Alice but powerful of our time has created a wonderland for everyone. We need a savior, a liberator, a fighter. But this liberator does exist? Yes, it exists as a part of our consciousness. To build this consciousness we need to integrate three entities in our differential calculus.They are

• keep reading by increasing your spectrum and bandwidth
• keep thinking with global eyes, and
• keep exploring the world by traveling and by sharing the experiences of the people across the globe
  

This is the only liberator, only savior. Every individual should find his consciousness, to get rid of this dreamland. Dreamland full of phantasm, chaos, intrusion, deprivation, conspiracy, invasion and disparity. Justice, peace and harmony is dream but we have to make this dream a truth we need to wake up and try to realize that we are alive. I am alive. Yes, we all are alive.

Once in the dream of a night I stood
Lone in the light of a magical wood,
Soul-deep in visions that poppy-like sprang;
And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang,
And spirits of Love were the stars that glowed,
And spirits of Peace were the streams that flowed
In that magical wood in the land of sleep.