E.R. RAMACHANDRAN writes: How is it that our towns and villages are happily ravaged by floods every monsoon? Or rumour of a landslide can result in a stampede at a shrine?
How is it that bus drivers can race against a moving train at railway level crossings? Or a busload of school children can meet a watery grave? Or a whole classroom can be roasted alive?
Most of these ghastly incidents are avoidable. But looking at the sickening regularity with which they dot our newspapers and television screens, you have to wonder whether we learn any lessons at all.
I doubt it.
On the other hand, what is our reaction most times?
1. Chaltha hai: We are a developing country; these things happen because we are not disciplined and the administration is slovenly and has a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude.
2. Karma: You can’t avoid death. People pay for their past deeds in earlier birth and we can’t do anything except await our own turn.
3. Corruption: The fitness of vehicles; the validity of licenses; overloaded vehicles; coracles bursting with tourists run by kids who themselves can’t swim. There is no rule that can’t be bent for a price.
4. Rules are not for us: Be it the rich kid who gets drunk and nonchalantly mows down people with his Land Cruiser™, or students who go out on a weekend ignore the ‘Dangerous to swim here’ sign and go for a swim only to get drowned.
There could be many more reasons and explanations but life itself has become cheap with death lurking around the corner for school going kids in a bus, for a marriage party in a maxi cab or villagers, and for women and children crossing a swollen river without lifejackets with caution thrown to winds.
We are not even talking of terrorism or communalism in these deaths.
Are we mocking at fate at every given opportunity?
Most of the incidents cited have occurred over the last couple of months. They will happen again and again till something is done about them. How can we stop the countless loss of innocent lives that were out doing what you and I do daily—attending to their chores?
Also read: Does death not count if it ain’t due to terrorism?
Some of the facts mentioned are sad but true. Human beings by nature are not very disciplined or rule abiding. Even in more developed countries it is not as though everyone loves to follow the rules but the creation of a system and its enforcement makes sure that the vast majority follows it. In poorer countries, especially one like ours with a huge population with problems of all kinds a system is hard enough to put in place, enforcement of a system becomes even more challenging.
It has become fashion of a section of educated class to blame indigeneous cultural aspects (like “Karma” here). Neither author’s understanding is sound, nor its warranted.
FYI: Karma also involves this world’s cause-effect. Like if one does not take proper protection against cold, he/she will catch cold. Similarly, if one does not apply political rights properly, his/her development work is going to be affected. He/she will become victim of terrorism if he does not follow “Rastra Dharma” and elect those who are soft of “terrorism”.
Doing good Karma is dharma.
Karma is such a convenient explanation.
Every sucess, failure, event, non event is explained away in one word: Karma.
what is the meaning of karma?
It has become fashion of a section of educated class to blame indigeneous cultural aspects (like “Karma” here). Neither author’s understanding is sound, nor its warranted.
Very much true. It’s a fashion to say – See, how these very basic things work fine in the west, but not in India.
Every culture gives importance to certain things, ignore certain things. Discipline on road, following certain rules are ignored in India. Preserving human relationships is important in India. We don’t divorce, ignore our elders, kids. Such things are casual in the west.
While it’s better to follow good things from other cultures, it’s more important not to loose the good things that we already have.
Bharat…
You said Indians don’t divorce? which world are you living in? Today, the number of Indians divorcing are reaching the same proportions as in the west.
The single biggest reason of increasing divorces is economic independece of women in india. Now that women are earning, in many cases much more than the men, they are not willing to be doormats any more.
earlier, women in india did not divorce not because it was in indian culture not to divorce, it was simply because women were totally financially dependent on the men .
As far as the myth about Indian family bonding, perhaps you should be aware of high profile family break ups from Ambanis to Bajajs to Mahajans to Scindias to Gandhis (maneka and sonia) to 100s of industrial families…
also the maximum number of family disuptes (mostly property related) are in India…son filing case against father, brother against brotehr, sister against brother..uncle against nephew, grandparents against grandsons…
our saas bahu serials is full of family disuptes…one family member constantly scheming against another family member. and, boy, do we love watching them….the TRPs are a clear evidence to populatiry of such serials.
“We don’t divorce”
Rather we make our lives miserable by living in a dead relationship.
True, divorces are increasing, but that’s closely related to western influence. I’m not saying that our culture is good and west is bad here, but that cultures place emphasis on different things.
Economic independence is not so important, but the perception of society makes the difference. In the previous generation (who are in 50s/60s), lots of women work as professors, bank employees, doctors, etc, but the divorce rate is much less when compared to those in 20s who work in IT/BPOs. The difference is not money, but social values.
Family disputes, saas-bahu serials are a different story. We have close relationships. There is more jealousy, hatred, etc towards relatives, at the same time we help others. In the west, people typically don’t expect help from others.
Today, the number of Indians divorcing are reaching the same proportions as in the west.
That’s an exaggeration. We are still way behind west. Take any Software MNC in Bangalore. Look at what % of married have faced divorce. I will be surprised if it’s more than 5%. For the same MNC, do the survey with Americans. You will see the difference.
simple>>what is the meaning of karma?
Karma (like rebirth, social order based on Karma NOT on birth) is the common thread running between Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism. I believe in first hand knowledge. The Gita is the primary source. Some of the finest commentaries are by Sankaracharya, Ramanuja, Madhava, Tilak, Aurobindo. Go and figure it out.
Simple: Its true, family values have broken down in the West and now they understand it. Its much better in India. This has a huge social, economic, political cost.
Take simple example of demography. In Europe, because of breaking down of family values, some of the countries will see shrinking population thus affecting economy, social harmony. Europe is on the verge of becoming Eur(ope)a(ra)bia.
If you discuss this with a senior citizen, thinking person from the West, they will agree that things are not going in right direction.
We must not be blinded by our culture versus ‘Western’ one. We shd preserve the very core of ours. And SELECTIVELY internalize what is best from west to empower ourselves. After all, we did have some problem that enforced 1000 years of colonialism on us.
Tathagata Mukherji,
If you havent already – read this book called Brick Lane by Monica Ali.
There is a sad loser immigrant Bengali named Chanu who lives in London and talks about anything and everything.
Are you Chanu by any chance?
Anon Guy>>Are you Chanu by any chance
hehe..I am at least confident abt my name, identity unlike hiding under “Anonymous Guy” trying to confuse.
Monica Ali is a Bangladeshi and if my history, understanding were similar with her, there would have been no partition. Also, Bongs and Bangladeshis have little common in terms of their outlook, or accomplishments in their immigrant life or in South Asia.
Bharat
Women, in the previous generation used to earn peanuts compared to the obscene amounts women earn today.
with this kind of money, it brings massive economic independence.
also women are exposed to global influences thanks to 100s of new channels. Lifestyle two decades back is not the same as it is today. Money has brought with it, MASSIVE lifestyle changes…
hence, women don’t take any more bull shit from male chauvinists.
the root cause of all this change is the change in indian economy, which has also revolutionised teh way people live life. it has nothing to do with culture.
I find this east vs west culture very simplistic. all cultures have good and bad points. lets not point all our ills towards the west.
I said
True, divorces are increasing, but that’s closely related to western influence. I’m not saying that our culture is good and west is bad here, but that cultures place emphasis on different things.
You say
I find this east vs west culture very simplistic. all cultures have good and bad points. lets not point all our ills towards the west.
The ill mentioned here is keeping roads clean. I said divorces are due to western influence. What do you mean by “point all our ills”? Do you mean divorce is an ill?
You say
Women, in the previous generation used to earn peanuts compared to the obscene amounts women earn today.
A woman college professor easily earns 20K+. It’s a stable job. Salary guaranteed till 58 and pension guaranteed till death. More economic independence, but less divorce rate. This for women who work in PSUs, Colleges, etc.
A woman BPO employee earns almost the same. The job is not stable. The economic independence is not so strong, but still divorce rates are high. This is for women who work in industries that have more western cultural exposure.
hence, women don’t take any more bull shit from male chauvinists.
Not all divorces are due to bull shit from male chauvinists.
Not all stable marriages are due to taking bull shit from male chauvinists.
The point that you are missing is the complete lack of importance to human relationships in western culture and the effects on the society.
And, marriage is not just a male-female relationship, but an environment where the future citizens grow up.
Nobody prevents you from aping the west, but be prepared to face the consequences too :-)
Tathagatha aka moron Bengali,
Your are Chanu. Basically a useless Bengali.
And see you going differentiating between Bangladeshis and yourself. You are in no way different. You have more in common with them than anyone else – certainly more than other commentors on this blog.
You should stick to your muslim hate speeches. Comments about Karnataka, Kannada, Bangalore, Mysore etc. coming from a hate filled Bangla like you dont sit right.
Simple: Indian courts are not giving divorce easily. Did you read the news item few days back when they refused to grant divorce to a husband even after 17 years? They said, its God’s will!!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Live_with_a_dead_marriage_if_God_so_wills_says_SC/articleshow/3378807.cms
There was some statistics from UK last week where stats showed women now care for family more than it used to be decades back. So, “super moms” are also changing with time. Unfortunately, Indian polemicists those who copy from west learn late.
One of the problem of ‘western’ discourse whether its male/female, secularn non-secular is, its exclusivist. It works in binary- Zero or One unlike in eastern philosophy.
So, this male chavunism funda is not applicable in India. And also loosing much of its space in the West itself.
Anonymous Guy : Stop always living in the world of “muslims are abused”. There is NOT a single word against Muslims in my post. You are upset with me because I wrote against ‘abuse’ of “Karma”!
Yes, I wrote Eurabia ! Eurabia is not my creation- its very much in discourse of Europe, Western analysists, columnists, people. Demography is solidly changing in Europe and everybody is concerned- from the Pope to the President Prime Minister.
You have little in common with Muslims living in Europe- why always look thro’ religious outlook in search for Ummah? Its people will judge who is engaged in hate speech, or you.
adding to the previous comment with a bit of tangential thinking (since i’ve figured that kannadigas’ achilles heel is intellectual hubris – you guys love flambouyant ideas expressed reasonably)
i will never admit to being right wing but hearing right wing views expressed at least ensures no one dies of suffocation in a pc world. imho every indian has a right wing side to their thought process. it appears to me some of us back such views with action some are content merely with those feelings being vented via others’ speech. there are all shades in between these two prototypes.
i admit to being a nosy non-kannadiga who lands up every so often to see what churumuri and its commentators are up to these days…
i love to comment so pls do indulge me mysoreans.
Tathagatha,
I am not upset with you at all. I just think you are moron spammer bengali :)
If a muslim terrorist type was spamming these boards I would have written what I feel about him (or her too).
I dont really care about your ‘analysis’ – relax. Get a life.
Anon Guy: Your attitude was termed as “Andulous Syndrome” by Sudhir Kakkar in “Color of Violence”- a mindset that seens everything against Muslim as a community.
Iqbal once wrote: When the lightning strikes, it strikes a poor Muslim.
Its the same mindset that besieged Iqbal, and you are no exception.
You can keep on shouting “moron Bengali”, but the world now knows who suffers from from what.
You do care abt my analysis, otherwise it would not have triggered this syndrome in you.