Rashomon & Kashmir

I had heard of the term 'Rashomon effect' and the movie 'Rashomon' several times in the past, but it was only yesterday that after a student suggested that I watch this, did I try to search for it online.
It wasn't there on any of the popular on-demand-video platforms (e.g. Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Airtel Xstream), but I was able to find it on YouTube.

After watching the movie last night, I was able to understand why a 70 years old Japanese movie is so highly rated even today. The term 'Rashomon effect'  refers to a situation in which the 'eye witnesses' give different, and often conflicting descriptions or interpretations of the same event. For an onlooker, there is no single 'truth' but different 'truths' that come out of those descriptions.

Witnessing the events unfolding in Jammu & Kashmir after 5th August 2019, I find uncanny similarities with Rashomon effect and the movie Rashomon. Inspired by the movie Rashomon, the idea behind this blog is to draw similarities between Rashomon effect and the recent events. The point of this blog is not to share my thoughts on which description or interpretation do I agree with or which I do consider true/correct. 

Sitting here in Jamshedpur, I have tried to devour as much news as possible from diverse news sources: print newspapers, websites of newspapers, TV channels, blogs, and user generated forums like YouTube, Twitter. In doing so, I have tried to diversify the geographic base of those news sources and have therefore accessed
not just India based news sources (Zee News, NDTV, CNN-IBN, Economic Times, The Hindu, The Telegraph, Hindustan Times, Prabhat Khabar, The Wire, The Print),
but also Pakistan based news sources (Geo News, Ary News, Dunya News, Dawn, 24 News HD, Samaa TV, Hassan Nisar, Najam Sethi),
and foreign based news sources (The Guardian, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, BBC).
I have also gone through some official Acts and documents such as the Instrument of Accession, Government of India Act 1935, Indian Independence Act 1947, and J&K Constitution Act 1934.

Doing so has helped me learn about many historical incidents which I was unaware of, and enhance my understanding of the past and what is unfolding currently. However what has been the most valuable learning for me is the understanding of the different narratives, how different (and mostly competing and contradictory) narratives have been framed in the past and how those competing narratives are being framed even today.
If one were to largely limit their news consumption to India based news sources, one would get an impression that though there are numerous restriction to civil liberties in Jammu & Kashmir, the state has been largely incident free and peaceful. Further, many will perceive this to be a step that has bamboozled Pakistan and left it with limited options. Some news outlets report about the "excessives of the Indian state/government" and how the Indian state/government is not allowing information to flow from the state.
If, on the other hand, one were to largely limit their news consumption to Pakistan based news sources, one would get an impression that "curfew" has been imposed in J&K and that "fascist Indian state is committing or planning to commit a genocide in the state". One will also read about "rapes and murders being committed by the Indian Army and the Indian state".
When it comes to the foreign based news sources, though there is relatively more diversity in terms of tone and depiction, the general narrative has been that by restricting civil liberties, "Indian state is committing human rights abuse" and that it is a "humanitarian crisis of great magnitude". One will also read about how the "Hindu nationalist government of PM Modi is committing abuses in India's only Muslim majority state of J&K".

One media refers to a person as a terrorist, the other refers to it as an innocent civilian, and the third refers to it as militant. Same person, different descriptions.
One sees J&K as an Indian state, the other sees it as "Makbuza" (occupied) Kashmir, and the third sees it as "Indian's only Muslim majority state". Same region, different descriptions.
One sees the Indian government as Indian government, the other sees it as "Fascist Hindu government", and the third sees it as "Hindu majoritarian government". Same government, different descriptions.

Words evoke emotions and emotions shape our thoughts. The word terrorist evoke completely different emotions from an innocent civilian and militant. It is therefore no surprise that people consuming their news from these broadly three news sources will infer different meanings and their thoughts will be different, and very often contrast to each other.
While which news source do we access is influenced by various factors (e.g. available time, news access, cost of access etc.), quite often it is our existing beliefs and thoughts about the situation and/or the government/Prime Ministers etc that define which news source do we end up consuming the news from.
We see what we want to see.

There is one truth for those watching Indian based news sources, there is another truth for those limiting to Pakistan based news sources, and then there are different truths for those consuming foreign based news sources.
After all, isn't it what the Rashomon Effect is?

What's odd about the odd-even debate?

Vehicular pollution, these days, is the subject of intense debate globally (Climate Summit in Paris) as well nationally (debate on ‘odd-even’ policy in Delhi). Terms like air quality and pollution have moved beyond realms of scientific and research conversations to common day talk. But something is odd about the debate as some key points are missing from the discourse. Three such points are considered next.

The first point for us to recognize is that the persistent smog and poor air quality in Delhi is not a result of vehicular pollution only. It is but a result of multiple factors, including emissions from industries and power plants, pollutants due to local construction activities, open burning of biomass (for cooking) and agricultural residues in and around Delhi, and prevailing weather conditions. When the objective is to improve the air quality of Delhi, addressing vehicular pollution is necessary, but not sufficient. Therefore any action focusing on only one cause is likely to yield less-than desired result. There is no instant cause and there will be no instant solution either.

Secondly, we also need to realize that when it comes to vehicles being the culprit, it is not quantity of vehicles alone (remember Delhi does not have the maximum cars in the world) but also because of the quality of vehicles. Quality includes age of vehicle, emission norms of engine, state of engine etc. For example, a diesel car compliant with Bharat Stage (BS) IV emission norms is likely to emit up to 22% less CO, and 50% less hydrocarbon (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) compared to that compliant with BS III norms. Quality of vehicles is crucial to be monitored, and some of the steps could include phasing out vehicles not deemed fit with desired emission norms, by making pollution testing stringent and strictly enforcing it, by introducing stringent BS norms more frequently (compared to equivalent Euro norms, BS norms are delayed by more than 5 years), and by introducing zero emission vehicles (electric vehicles).

The third and most important point we need to ask ourselves is which path do we want to take as a society, as a nation? A path where with growing income and family, everyone owns or wants to own a car? How many cars can our roads accommodate? How many can our environment tolerate? Or a path where rising income and prosperity does not translate to rising desire to own a car? What is being debated for Delhi today will be debated for Lucknow or Patna or any other city tomorrow. It is the duty of governments to provides us with comfortable, accessible, and economical modes of public transportation (e.g. metro, diesel and electric buses) supported by feeder vehicles (e.g. rickshaws). But the question of which path to choose is for us as society to answer. In our focus on war with vehicles, we must not forget the larger battle for a clean and green environment.

PS: This post was written in the first week of December, since when there have been some developments (e.g. temporary ban on diesel cars in Delhi, advancing BS VI to 2020) which have been suggested above.  

Increase in Intolerance? Or Increase in Voice?

 Occupy Wall Street movement began in New York City in September 2011 and spread to more than 1500 cities globally. Arab Spring began in Tunisia in December 2010 and spread across a dozen nations in the Middle East. Anti-corruption movement in India began in 2011 and spread throughout India.

Three different movements held across three different continents

One common theme: social media.

Add to the above list the popularity of Why This Kolaveri Di, and the brouhaha caused by comments of some ‘khaas-aadmi’ and many ‘aam-aadmi’ in recent times in India, and the common theme remains the same: social media. Recent debate around tolerance-intolerance and comments of Aamir Khan are the latest addition to the list of events/controversies in which social media has played a critical role.

Social media provides a unique platform where even an aam aadmi, and not just a khaas-aadmi, can create, exchange, and share content with people they might or might not know. And it is essentially this ability to create and share content which makes social media so powerful. Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Blogger, and Google+ are few examples of social media platforms.

What sets social media apart from other communication platforms such as radio, newspapers, and TVs is that unlike these platforms, communication happens in both direction, often in multiple directions in social media. What makes impact of social media even more powerful is that all this can be done without any significant time lag. An individual can not only be a recipient of information but also a generator of information. This ability to create information on his own extremely crucial, because what it does is that it lends ‘voice’ to all, including aam aadmi, who earlier did not have an equally powerful platform to air their thoughts and had to rely on opinions or information from khaas-aadmi.

It is these three distinct features of social media: i) ability to create information: ‘voice’ ii) ability to share information, and iii) ability to do so without any time lag, which makes social media so powerful.

Social media makes democracy stronger by giving voice to one and all, rich and poor, urban India or rural Indian, of any religion, and of any gender. Social media is helping our institutions become more democratic and providing a feedback mechanism for the institutions and for the elected representatives, whether they are at panchayat level, district level, state level, or national level.

Social media is not only limited to protests and demonstrations (case of the song 'Why this Kolaveri Di' illustrates that well). Information and opinion about new product launches, new electronic gadgets, and sporting events can and is increasingly being shared with all at once, redefining existing customs. Social media, is and will increasingly provide voice to consumers and also shape their demand patterns. 

Exponential increase in number of mobile phone users in India (up from 6.7 million in 2002 to about 900 million today), advent of smart phones, and rapid growth in internet users in India have fueled the increase in voice. This voice does not have any rural or urban segregation as on social media, users in rural India have as much access to any news or content as users in urban India, and have equal chance of getting their voices heard. This ‘voice’ can be created anywhere and anytime, and can be heard anywhere and anytime. What earlier used to be discussed and talked about in closed doors or chowks is now being talked about and debated on social media. 

And in recent months, it is this voice that has increased (In mathematical terms, ∆ voice = non-zero).

India was, and continues to remain tolerant (In mathematical terms, ∆ tolerance = zero).

PS: A version of this post appeared earlier on this page

Bored of Cricket Control in India (BCCI)

Question of the week: What does the term BCCI mean?

a) Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry?

b) Botswana Cement & Clinkers Industry?

c) Board of Control for Cricket in India? or

d) Bored of Cricket Control in India?

Clue: It is the body which said in a court some time back that the Indian cricket team represent BCCI and not India !
Another clue: It is the same body which does not know itself why actually it is opposed to DRS (Decision Review System) !


Well, the answer can be found at the bottom of the post, but let's start with what one Mr N Srinivasan had to say.
Question to Mr. N Srinivasan: What is your reaction after Indian cricket team's defeat in Australia?


Mr N Srinivasan: Nothing unusual. Nothing to worry about. They were playing in home condition, so they were expected to win. When they come to India, we will beat them and then we will be happy. IPL will start in April and then we will forget it.

Keeping it Simple

We love Simple things.

Don't we?

Simple answers.

Simple reasons.

Simple explanations.

Simple exams.

Simple life.

Simple food.

Simple life-partners (seedhi-saadi/seedha-saada)

Simplicity.

etc. etc....

No matter how 'complex' world we may find ourselves in, we tend to crave for simple things.

There is one catch however.

We confuse 'being simple' with 'being truth/correct', and here in lies the fallacy.

We tend to forget that what is simple might not always be correct.

Often we accept simple explanations, if it is what we 'want' to believe, or if it is what we 'feel' is correct.

It often limits our ability to question the explanation/reason/answer/etc.etc.

It limits our ability to question the assumptions beneath the Question.

India...Bhaरत... हिन्दुस्तान...

Strange title?

Isn't it?

Strange indeed.

To hear about the existence of three nations within a country is strange.

To observe it through your own eyes is stranger indeed !

I had read and heard about the existence of two extremities within our country, but never really 'experienced' it....
But on the basis of what I have observed and experienced in the past two months, I have now started believing that there are three, and not two, nations within this country.

India...

Bhaरत...and

हिन्दुस्तान...

What next?

 

What next?

India's GDP grows by 8.75 % !

Manufacturing sector witnesses impressive growth !

Future is very bright for India !

The moment of India has arrived !

We have been reading and hearing such comments for quite some now. Comments ranging from pure facts to pure fiction have been dished out for us across newspapers, televisions, internet, office places, and practically every place we go to.

So, now what?

Bag-pack Oh-mama !

Its happened all over once again. 

Now before you ask what has happened all over again, lets do an "if-then" analysis and then perhaps the thing will become clear.

If : A foreigner celebrity ( read Presidents and Prime Ministers of other nations) visits our country, or decides to visit our country.

Then : What happens?

Then : The India media (and to some extent some Indian people too) goes gaga about the trip. Melodramatic, over excited, out of the mind, exaggerating- all of these and many other words are just indicative of the reactions of Indian media. We seem to be too much obsessed about everything foreign ( read American) and this tendency is at its best when someone says something about India, or someone comes to India.

Pictures can speak too

Pictures from my blogs.
Some of these speak more than the blog itself !!

Race against Race

When will the race against race get over?

The recently concluded Commonwealth Games would be remembered for various reasons and the reasons could be very different for different set of people.

There would be Indians who initially would have felt let down by the "leaders" and the "games" officials who were busy playing games with the Indian people and the image of the nation. These same bunch of Indians would be breathing a sigh of relief now that the games have concluded without any issues( barring a couple of glitches). The opening and the closing ceremony would definitely have given each Indian a moment to feel that extra pride of being an Indian.

But there would also be a bunch of people( those primarily from the West) for whom it is not over yet. These are the people who were the most vocal critics of games going to a "third world country" like India. What is more disturbing is the fact that this had little to do with the mishandling before the games. The major reason for it was the latent "superiority feeling", or the "racial prejudice" which many of them seem to harbour even in this supposedly "free from race" era.

A-Yodhha for Ayodhya

Verdict is out on one of the longest running cases in the Indian courts.

This is one verdict, the build up for which in the fast few weeks witnessed the best of behaviour from the Indian politicians ( which unfortunately is very rare). And it was not only the politicians who behaved responsibly and rationally, the people and the media also behaved in a commendable manner.

Now that the verdict is out, it is time to act even more rationally and more responsibly.

Its time to reflect on the greater repercussions of this decision.

The "Pawar" factor

The world continues to amaze us all or rather I should say the administrators continue to amaze us all. Year after year we keep coming across events which catch everybody's attention due to all the wrong reasons The recent rejection of candidature of John Howard for the post of the president of the international cricket council was one such event.