Odyssey - a reflection

Rather came back with a sullen feeling after watching Nolan's latest Odyssey. I had often liked the sense of realism and believability in his movies like the Dark Knight Series sans those where science fiction was obvious - but even in those, like Inception and Interstellar, there was a feeling of director's execution with some sense of reality i.e. things looked real as it would happen in a technologically advanced setting. The original odyssey with its outlandish mythology made me feel that how would Nolan impose his sense of realism in an adaption which involved mythical creatures and situations. 

Hence after watching the movie, immediately felt the story was somewhat disjointed in its depiction of situations. The part in Ithaca with Penelope, Telemachus and the suitors was in a contemporary power set up (Contemporary to the movie storyline). Also, when Menelaus narrates to Telemachus in Crete the story of Trojan war is also very well made particularly the believable actions set piece of storming of Troy. One part which felt totally disjointed was when Odysseus narrates to Calypso his ordeal which includes fantasy elements about his encounter of Cyclops, Sirens, the dead and Cersi. 

But that was exactly the framing which Nolan also wanted. It can be noted that specially the part where Odysseus is narrating to Calypso, he is actually being induced into amnesia by the latter. The lotus plant is causing him to be drugged which may have used as ploy by the director to put all the fantasy elements in this particular framing and sequence where Odysseus is trying to remember what had happened. Though he seems very lucid when he is trying to remember his wife and son. And when it is revealed that he is hallucinating about Athena all this while, the entire thing finally makes sense. It's like a true master of craft not disappointing his ardent followers when actually the craft is being created in a new untouched dimension altogether which till date would have been tough to associate with Nolan. And there have been such breadcrumbs left in movies like Inception, Memento, Interstellar where the lead characters don't seem to have sense of reality while having a very defined sense about their loves ones or family.

And also, there are wider narratives of Greed, geopolitics, subjugation of society, the classic duplicity of putting a person in pretext of launching war for economic reasons (Helen being just an excuse to control trade routes going via Troy). This may have parallels in today's word where personalities (read Venezuela, Iran) are placed as reason to carry out armed operations. Also, this also lays out bare the controversy of a black actress playing Helen, where Nolan subtly conveys that a person's race, appearance, creed is insignificant when there are greater machinations in play to create and prolong conflict for vested reasons. There is also a self-reflection lesson to today's great powers, when Odysseues says that they have been the sea people, all this while threatening or invading innocent islanders, sowing fear and insecurity in their mind. 

Not sure if Nolan himself is aware of the subtilities or made this movie by "incepting" these disguised pointers, but definitely his movies don't dawn upon you till once has reflected it well which was quiet sure when one seems to think that why on the earth will a Director known for his modernistic-psychological-ponderous flavor to his movies, is suddenly going to veer into the ancient mythos.

On "Dabang" Brahmanism

 An interesting conversation between Sajan Kumar and Abjeet Bharti around caste reservation where the issue of Brahmanism also came. It has been observed that casteism or perceived casteism is a factor of caste assertiveness rather than assumed domination of a caste group. The brahmin population in South or say Konkan Maharashtra is relative a lesser significant number as compared to brahmin population in North. Historically the brahmin population in Tamil Nadu has been in single digits with current numbers around 3 % and yet they are seen as tormentors. In North brahmins are in significant number with more than 10 % in Uttar Pradesh. But the UP brahmins were always "Dabang" or assertive with their clout seen in politics, religious movements and even in crime.

The Tamil brahmins always had two types - one being barrister brahmins and other being farmer brahmins. Many say that the hypothetical arrogance of the former (read the Egmore, Mylapore clique) may have had some impression of the local society at large to make the TamBrams look viler than other. In fact, the so-called rich barrister brahmins painted a picture of apologist for all unverified caste oppression and veered towards the left whereas lot of poor and marginally weaker brahmin community suffered and migrated to the North for jobs post the Progressive movement took shape. It is also interesting to note that one of the key figures of the anti-brahmin movement in south, "Periyar" fomented his brahmin hate after his experience in Kashi, the bastion of the "dabang" north Indian brahmins.

So, in essence it was easy to make the meek, non-assertive, non-confrontational but presumably arrogant "Tamil brahmin" the fall guy for all caste related problems in south particularly Tamil Nadu while the so called "Dabang" Brahmins of North who some level of cohesion could still wield some clout while facing the wrath of anti-cattiest forces.

What did US miss on China

China emerged as the key trading partner for US post the Deng era. It prospered on cheap exports to US, building its economic prowess silently while US fervently hoped of an emergent middle class in China which would make China democratic and brings it in the ambit of the USA - the great purveyor of democracy in the world. Tiananmen happened and nothing changed.

90s did saw the Taiwan strait issue which ended with US apologies and its reiteration of One China and non-interference in recognizing Taiwan. But that was an opportunity for US to weigh further on China. It did discover that its biggest trading partner had fangs and can hiss towards its biggest trading partner. But then, the far east never became a priority for the US.

Though in 2001, the Hainan incident happened in which a surveillance aircraft of US made an unscheduled landing in Hainan due to midair collision with a Chinese military plane. This also led to the death of a pilot. Chinese suspecting US foul play in Taiwanese strait and seeing this as a deliberate interference in the Chinese regional sphere responded with an aggressive diplomatic posture and detained and interrogated the US personnel for 20 odd days.

Though the situation did get diffused again by US apology, it again failed to notice the rising Chinese assertion. Since this happened in April 2001 and then September 11 happened the same year, the US establishment did not have time to truly analyze and digest what China was really up to. For next 15 years US got caught up in Afghanistan while China grew in silence. The US economy continued to get entrenched in China more and more.

If US did realize these signals, would it have revamped its economic strategy? Was the war on terror a distraction and drain for US, while China became powerful? We may never know. But with benefit of hindsight, we can tell that 2001 was the point when US should have truly realized what monster China can become and should have made a major revamp of its defense, technology and trade strategy. The Bald eagle with the claw now has a full-grown fire spewing dragon to contend with.

Religion trigger

 Again, got triggered by a video post were someone was drawing parallels of worship at Kaaba (Kaaba stone) by the Muslims with Idol (stone) worship practiced by Hindus with both being seen as idolatry. The so-called Islam expert in the video profusely rejected it by saying that for Hindus idols is a window to the divine and rightly so whereas the Kaaba just points to a direction of worship which is revered by Muslims. As per him it provides a vital edifice where all Muslims can congregate and pray to Allah which seemed fair.

But this kept me wondering whether how much people or the likes of the interviewer know before posing such a question. Hinduism is a religion which multiple paths to seek the divine - via blind devotion to stone sculptures at home or doing regular poojas or by going to temple and meditating or by even just chanting mantras on your own. The seekers also tread the path by questioning why even one should worship gods, why not serve the poor instead. Even that is accepted in Hinduism. 

There may be a rational seeker who is fed initially through family on stories of gods and their wonders. Then the seeker is taken to temples where he sees the gods and goddesses enshrined in marvelous structures which fortifies his or her devotion. And as the seeker grows up, gets aquatinted with the realities of the society starts questioning if God is all pervading why people suffer (a la Buddha journey). And when the young seeker sees how violence happens in the name of religions, he feels cheated. Whas all those stories of gods all sham? Why they are even temples? I won't go to temples from now on and become an atheist or an agnostic. Maybe the seeker even starts having sympathy towards other religion who he misinterprets as being othered rather than understanding that they are very different (and much more) rigidity structures as well. Only when he toils in life has seen the society enough, introspected, sought to understand other religions, debate his own past thoughts with his current does the seeker graduate to the next path. That is the path to understand that his mind was endowed with rationality to form an initial opinion, strengthen it, then distrust, tread a different though process, then again correct it and circle back to his initial opinion but with a much more well-formed mind. 

This journey perfectly encapsulates what Hindusim is. It's a graduation path from school to self-employment, it's an evolutionary journey, some might evolve less and some may evolve to ultimate state. Their path to the divine differ - via idol worship or self-meditation but trust in the divine and the intent to attain the divine remains the same. 

Musings from todays

(observations from a video Dr. Federer)

Islam is the only religion which assumed 3 dimensions which are - Religious, Political and Military within the lifetime of its founder with the founder going through the transformative experience himself. The video also mentioned that how the early converts who were driven out of Mecca and found refuge in Medina which also had Jewish tribes. Eventually the Jews would be driven out and one of the tribes massacred. This was mentioned as a classic case of immigrate, start conversation and then eliminate the non-believers if they don't convert. And this is where the seeds of Islams imperialistic design were sown and it truly went as mass conversion brigade at the hands of the sword. So, whenever a Muslim prays today revering the Kaaba - he or she is also actually praying to its political and military tenets. And hence it becomes antithesis to the nation states where lot of Muslims maybe residing. For them the case becomes more of spreading the religion, implicitly by religious means, political participation or eventually military conquest. This thought needs lot of introspection by purveyors of democracy both in west and the east, and along with Moderate Muslims bring this to the fore that democracy or rule of constitutional law should hold topmost ground wherever the demography is in favor of Islam.

Freedom of Expression comparison with West

People in India often tend to compare with West about freedom of expression and freedom to question religion. One tends to forget that western countries not only have high literacy but also have developed scientific temperament at an aggregate social level. Even if unemployment is high, nobody spends time there in talking about religion and defending it. As the unemployed there has been through a cycle of observation where he or she has witnessed society doing marvels on sheer strength of scientific temperament and technology. The hinterland of Indian society is growing up to it but still carry the religious undertone as an answer of salvation when suffering eventually hits. 

Bizzare Leftist

I was left befuddled after seeing a recent discussion on right wing pressure groups in a News laundry video. The lady Manisha Pande was trying to state that the RW individuals like Ajeet Bharti , Anand Ranganathan and J Sai Deepak , who don't wink even once before criticizing BJPs policies and are ironically on the same side of ideological divide, don't represent the same pressure groups like that of IAC led by Kejriwal and Anna Hazare , who were the pressure group on Congress at that time.

The comparison itself is bizarre. First the RW names listed and Hazare/Kejriwal is not the right comparison. The RW names are more columnist, influencers, panelist who are using the medium of social media, tv debates and speeches to create an impact. They are not activist in the same milieu as Anna Hazare and Kejriwal (who was one before 2014).

Also, it is important to note that IAC which did apply pressure on the incumbent during 2011-2013 was a result rather a creation. The rampant corruption in UPA was already in the then social media discourse primarily Facebook which was then a go to medium for common folks. There were already small demonstrations and court cases which had started to light the spark. When Anna assumed leadership, it provided a vital fuel for the conflagration which Kejriwal also bandwagon to light his yet to be unraveled political ambitions. 

It's also important to note that there have been no major corruption scandals, if at all any in the current NDA disposition which matched the scale of CWG and 2G which wrecked UPAs ambitions for a 3rd term. The RW group do criticize BP, but mostly for policy failures. It's an interesting pattern to see in social media that BJP also gets critiqued by its own supporters or co-idealogues which is not the case in Congress or SP or TMC followers who fawn for the party unabashedly. 

It's pretty evident that the left ecosystem has a lost semblance of rationality which forces them to create bizarre hypothesis to disparage the ruling party and got to ridiculous limit to draw equivalence with irrelevant examples from the past. Left has no love lost for BJP but manufacturing avenues of hate and belittling is a path which won't help them either.