CENTRIPETAL EAST CENTRIFUGAL WEST

Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Luddites are right !!- They are echoing Indian theory of Karma, without its real knowledge !!!!!

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-luddites-might-have-been-right/article6991180.ece

In the coming years, some jobs could disappear faster than others. India has to start wondering what to make of the coming technology world

Quite early in his 2012 book ‘Robots will steal your job, but that’s ok,’ author Federico Pistono presents an idea known to supporters of technology as ‘The Luddite Fallacy.’ A reference to angry English textile workers in the early 19th century who protested against imminent job losses by breaking knitting machines and other labour-saving innovations, the term is used to imply that Luddites (or those who fear technology) have got it all wrong. What it suggests, rather, is that new technology creates more jobs than it destroys. So, don’t fret.

For a long time, including a good part of the era of computers and the Internet, this argument seemed difficult to counter. Not anymore. It may have run its course, as Mr. Pistono acknowledges later in the book. And this could dramatically change the way the world functions.

Here’s some data. Technology research firm Gartner predicts software, robots and smart machines will take over one out of three jobs in another 10 years. Futurist Thomas Frey predicted a few years back that two billion jobs, half the total, will disappear by 2030.

Jobs are vulnerable

Shocking? A layman could well remember 1997, the year IBM’s Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov and gave the world a glimpse of what technology is capable of. If a computer was outwitting the best of grandmasters at chess, no activity involving the intellect was going to be beyond it. And sure enough, today, all human jobs seem vulnerable. Four years back, another of IBM’s inventions, Watson, beat two champions of the quiz show ‘Jeopardy,’ which the New York Timesreported about with the lines “In the end, the humans on “Jeopardy!” surrendered meekly.” Watson-like bots abound now. For instance, if you are right now reading an Associated Press report on an earnings performance of a U.S. company, there is a good chance that it has been put together not by a journalist in flesh and blood but by a bot. The 169-year-old wire news agency last year tied up with eight-year-old, North Carolina-based Automated Insights, whose patented platform automatically turns financial data into stories. Voila!

By no means is Automated Insights the only journalism-disrupting game around. One of its more famous rivals is Narrative Science, whose co-founder believes it won’t be long before a storytelling computer programme wins a Pulitzer Prize.

Then, there is the ‘robot scientist’ Eve which promises to make drug discovery faster and cheaper. To its credit, Eve has already spotted a compound that can be used to fight malaria.

We aren’t forgetting the so-called creative jobs here. And no, they aren’t immune to the tech onslaught, as a viral video by YouTube channel CGP Grey showed last year. The video, titled ‘Humans Need Not Apply,’ brought forth the man versus machine theme, revealing toward the end that its background score was done by a bot.

If software can do journalism, compose music, discover drugs, win a quiz, drive cars, and do many other things that earlier were impossible without a human, what does it say about the coming job market? Those who believe that’s a worrying question include venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and even an artificial intelligence expert such as Andrew Ng, chief scientist at Chinese Internet giant Baidu.

Columbia University’s Jeffrey Sachs, along with Boston University’s Seth Benzell, Laurence Kotlikoff and Guillermo LaGarda, have dealt with this issue in their February 2015 study ‘Robots are Us: Some Economics of Human Replacement.’ One of the fallouts of the coming in of smart machines, they note, is “a long-run decline in labour share of income.” And the report sounds a warning, indicating that in the absence of policy that redistributes from winners to losers, “smart machines can mean long-term misery for all.”

Other experts have visualised an emerging world of economic lopsidedness, where technological adoption and use could create a few big winners and many big losers. This is what could happen if someone successfully builds and markets an automated system, which while helping its maker reap handsome profits also puts many, many people out of jobs.

The Indian scenario

As always, it will be argued that India, not being a developed economy, can breathe easy. Yes, the pace of adoption of technology might be relatively slower here than in advanced economies. And yes, it is difficult to imagine driverless cars buzzing around here anytime soon. But it is important to appreciate how India Inc, the organised job-giver, has already taken well to automation.

Auto companies, for instance, have over the years increasingly used robotics, which they have found to be more cost-efficient and less problematic than labour in the long run. IT companies now are betting on automation to deal with a lot of routine stuff. Machine learning, by which software systems learn to make decisions based on data, will only make this significantly better.

In the coming years, some jobs could disappear faster than others. India, where income inequalities are already large, has to start wondering what to make of the coming technology world. For, the Luddites may be finally right.

sriram.srinivasan@thehindu.co.in

Keywords: Luddite Fallacy, software industry, job industry

Ishan Ishan

If machines give us all the labour, there will be no such thing as labour cost, and there won't be any inflation due to increase in labour costs. Prices of manufactured products will get much much lower. We may even get products for free, because all we would need is natural resources.

Points

9920

a day ago · (0) · (1) · reply (1) ·
- Suguna
  
  That is a ridiculous argument. There will be inflation because the natural resources are not free.
  a day ago ·   (0) ·   (0) ·  reply (1) ·
  
  Ishan Ishan
  
  There are a lot of reasons for inflation, labour-cost is just one of them, and the labour-cost factor will certainly be eliminated if all the labour comes from machines. Natural resources are free because they are found in nature for free, but they are not available to us for free since labour is required to make them available to us. Please note that we are discussing a hypothetical situation.
  a day ago ·   (0) ·   (0) ·  reply (0) ·
Ramesh

Don't become so panic ,man is creative creature ,without his creativity so much progress possible?Am optimist future will very bright future generation they become more smart then us .History tilling us that Luddites always grumble when new technology emerged in society.

Points

705

a day ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
PA

Humans are Change agents, can only transform from one State to another State, Humans cannot Create like the "The Creator", If they want to build a "Car", they need to do a lot of R&D, Testing, Optimizing, make a lot of Waste that Harms the Environment. Manufacturing produces Waste, it harms the Envirnoment, etc, Computers, & IT Industry destroys the envirnoment, making Computers, keeping them running needs Energy, you need Non clean energy to run them. The Javascript you are writing now, needs your Computers to be On, all is linked Environmental degradation. You were put on this Planet, God has the right to take you off the Planet. Its not just your Planet, It belongs to all Life. If you dont have the Wisdom to be part of Nature, respect Nature, its time you went extinct. Extinct you will go.

Points

435

a day ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
N.Chellappa

Automation replaces human labour with energy driven machines. With both the population of the globe and the rate of consumption of energy and materials rising unabatedly there is bound to be point at which the present day civilization would collapse like a house of cards. It is for energy that the wars in the gulf are dragging on. As days go there will be wars for many more rare materials on which the present day civilization of intolerable level of consumption rests.

Points

685

a day ago · (2) · (0) · reply (0) ·
Ind Yeah from Selden

We shouldnt stop advancing. Instead of fearing for jobs.. govt should start population control
2 days ago · (0) · (1) · reply (0) ·

Mitra from Ningbo

It is quite pathetic to have such an article published in a top national newspaper. The Luddites have been wrong for the last 250 years and will continue to be so.

Points

145

2 days ago · (2) · (0) · reply (0) ·
R S from Elur

If the IT industry loses a lot of jobs, engineering graduates may have to work in the area they studied in college. That might not be a bad thing for society.

Points

155

2 days ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
Gopinathan from Bangalore

The only solution appears to be creation of social security systems that ensures no one starves, or suffers for want of shelter or healthcare, or is denied the education that helps a person appreciate the finer things of life. "Redistribution from winners to losers" as the article mentions. Ignoring reality by invoking platitudes is not going to make it go away
2 days ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
Csha Nambiar from Bangalore

Are we beginning to fear our own capabilities for creation? Maybe its a good thing that soon people may not have to do anything at all and can spend time in meditation (that is if we do not create the technology to wipe out the human race because some nut job is sure to use it) :P

Points

175

2 days ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
Ravishankar from Bangalore

As per this article, , which talks about Polanyi's paradox related to the subject matter above. If you read the article carefully, there will be some impact on the jobs as we know today in the near future. Economies and workforce need to adjust and adapt in the future.
2 days ago · (2) · (0) · reply (0) ·
ANAND KUMAR from Delhi

Pace of tech development and it's adoption by society and larger world is only about timing. Ultimately all have Have to concede this that quality and cost of goods and services can not be left to crude labour In present competitive scenario. Scare of job loss is I'll founded as job are just redistributed and not lost altogether. India, like any other progressive nation have to embrace proven and emerging technologies otherwise we are bound to enter into an era of slavery of patented technologies of west.
2 days ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
Gopal from Boston

For the last 60 years the Luddites have been wrong but they have controlled the Indian agenda (remember the labor intensive vs capital intensive debates). So what the writer is saying is that we should continue down that same foolish path that has brought so much misery on India.

Points

2850

2 days ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
Kvrao from Annandale

The good thing is as the old jobs disappear new jobs gets created. Otherwise, both Robots and humans will be without jobs. No worries!

Points

745

2 days ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·

ECONOMICS SYLLABI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/making-a-push-for-fresh-economics-syllabi/article6967590.ece

Campaign for a more relevant economics syllabus initiated in many leading campuses worldwide

The financial crisis, economic inequality and climate change are topics that would appear to be par for the course, especially if the course is economics.

However, in departments of economics in leading international universities — including Britain — this is not the case. Economics classroom teaching at the undergraduate teaching is so divorced from real world economic issues — a fact brought glaringly to the fore during the global financial crisis — that a major campaign for a more relevant economics syllabus was initiated in many leading campuses worldwide post the crash.

In the U.K., students and teachers across the country came under the umbrella campaign group Rethinking Economics, which has been pressing for post-crash curriculum reform in universities. Recently an international collaboration of concerned economists released a new set of free and downloadable course material for first year economics students that aims to teach the subject “as if the last 30 years had happened.” ‘The Economy,’ an e-book produced by the CORE Project, was released on February 17.

The Rethinking Economics campaign for more relevant economics classroom teaching at the undergraduate level was only one of the many reasons propelling the CORE project, Professor Wendy Carlin from the University College, London, told The Hindu. The CORE team was also responding to the need to reflect the developments in the subject over the last 30 years in new syllabi.

“There is a lot of new economics related to both the dynamic side of capitalism -- relating to innovation and wealth creation – and on the pathology of capitalism – on inequality, instability and ecological unsustainability,” Professor Carlin told TheHindu.

The ebook and course is currently being piloted at University College London, Sciences Po in Paris and the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

It will be piloted later this year at partner universities in Australia, Italy and India, where the Azim Premji University in Bangalore will use it for its very first intake of economics degree students this year.

Economics teaching had got “ossified” over the last 30 year, Prof Carlin argues.

“The major problem was that economics came to be taught in a very abstract way. Students were taught tools but were not taught how to apply those tools to real world problems,” she said, a situation that became alarmingly apparent during the global financial crisis.

Students, though they did very well in their studies, were unable to explain why policies chosen by governments and central banks led to the crisis.

“They were being taught models that just were really inappropriate for understanding modern macroeconomic development. And because those standard models became the easy thing to teach everyone learnt them. Somehow, nobody quite asked why,” she said.

The beta version of The Economy is now available to anyone for free online at: http://core-econ.org/

Pranjal from San Francisco
the problem with economics is that currently it is mainly state-craft. It does not attempt to say meaningful things. It's based on pridiction, and with the use of econometric techniques it might come close. but it does not say anything about the deep structure of the economy. Rational agents, are of course a myth, but its worrisome how far this myth has been taken. This is why I think, economics failed the world during the financial crash. Since it is focused on pridiction alone, without really explaining anything: it becomes powerless during a crisis, when the complexity changes and the underlying relations transform. There are also many claims as to whether it is a science at all. Ordinal utility orderings are not falscifiable. The General Equilibrium results are STATIC only, but repeatedly economists keep refering to history as a moving equilibrium. In any case, the way that they ignore debates- like the Capital controversies, or the transitivity question raised by Kahnman...
9 days ago · (0) · (0) · reply (0) ·
Sudha Mahalingam from San Francisco
Better late than never. For decades we have been trying to prop up the discipline through theories like �nimal Spirits', Game Theory and now experimenting with neuroscience, but nothing is working because all these are barking up the wrong tree. Hopefully this will address the core weaknesses of the discipline.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

MONEY, BANKS, GOVT, WORK(Karma) & PEOPLE- DECEITFUL & DESTRUCTIVE

The Hindu newspaper during week-days publishes in its COMMENT section in page 11 a column categorized as World View. These are articles mainly from Western scholars and relating to politics, economics, sociology etc. These scholars appear to be columnists’ and regularly contribute to newspapers in the West like Guardian Newspapers etc. These same articles get repeated in The Hindu under the category World View.

These articles provides us understanding of the chronic problems faced by the West due to their own follies and which are compounded by their lack of depth and width in matters concerning religion and spirituality . And since their shallow religious philosophy do not exercise moral restraints on them, these problems mostly have their origins in their covetous behavior. The West always seek dominion over all that they set their eyes on in this world whether it be land, people, nature with its fauna and flora, and even over planets like Mars . They are the modern Hiranya-kashyapus', Vrithhasuras' and Duryodhanas'.

Today’s article is written by George Monbiot about the conditions the EU is considering to impose on Greece. Those involved are the Govts, Private Banks and the People. Inevitably in the tussle between the three, the people are at the receiving end and are getting crushed. The entire monetary and banking system oppressing them is barbaric and deceitful. And unfortunately we Indians are looking up to that system for guidance, development and growth.

Indians from ancient times, had clear vision about wealth and money and how it must be utilized and managed, benefitting all beings. In three places in the Mahabharatha, the necessity for the circulation of money is mentioned. In fact Monbiot’s article mentions the success of such a process engaged in by the people of the Austrian town of Worgi in 1932. This success threatened the Govts of Germay and Austria, and they stamped it out.

In the Mahabharatha, in Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 2 titled ‘The Pandava’s reflections’, the importance of wealth and its management is dealt with in detail. This is the conversation between Dharmaputra and a learned Brahmana named Shaunaka, who was learned in the philosophy of the soul and in the Sankhya and Yoga. Dharmaputra in his reply to the Brahmana started-off in the following manner;- “O Brahmana, this my desire for wealth is not for the purpose of enjoying it when obtained. I do not desire it through avarice. I desire it only for the support of the Brahmanas. (Sloka 51). Till sloka 63, he expresses to Shaunaka why he seeks wealth. A few more points I will mention here “All creatures are seen to divide their food among those that depend on them. So should a person leading a domestic life give a share of his food to Brahmacharis who have given up cooking. (Sloka 54). Bed to the tired, seat to one who is fatigued by standing, water to one who is thirsty and food to one who is hungry should be always given. (Part of Sloka 55) . None should cook his food for himself, none should kill any animal for nothing. None should eat that food which is not dedicated. (Slokas 57, 58). By scattering morning and evening food on the earth for dogs, Chandalas and birds , a person should perform the Vishvadeva sacrifice. (Sloka 59)(p.8, Vol.2, M.N.Dutt)

The second instance where the importance of wealth is highlighted is in the narration of Galava-charitha, appearing in Bhagavad-Yana Parva, Chapter 114.(p.312, vol3, M.N.Dutt). I will provide here the interpretations of a few slokas from there. This is again a conversation between Garuda and Galava , the disciple of Sage Viswamithra. Garuda says, “Created by Fire in the Earth and reared up by wind, wealth is called Hiranya for the earth itself named Hiranmaya.(Part of Sloka 1) (Recall the story Narasimha vs Hiranya-kashipu, the wicked king and hoarder of wealth) . Since it supports and maintains the (creatures of the) earth, therefore is it called wealth (Dhana); and the wealth is in the three worlds from time immemorial for meeting this purpose. (Sloka 2) . On a Friday when either of the two constellations is ascendant, Agni, creating wealth by dint of his will, confers it upon mankind for multiplying the possessions of the giver of riches (Kubera) (Sloka 3) .It is very difficult to get that wealth, guarded by Kubera and his guards. Such being the case do you ask some king born in the family of royal Rishi who can make us successful , without oppressing his subjects.(Sloka 5).

The third instance of the circulation of wealth , I came across is in the Bhagavat Gita. Chapter 3, Karmayogam , slokas 14, 15 and 16. Those who put spokes in the wheel , this cycling of wealth is a sinner and also living his life unfruitfully.

Finally quote from George Monbiot’s article “Banking’s great civilisational advance has been all but destroyed through deregulation, whose result is a new system of usury, speculation and exploitation.Private banks borrow cheap and lend dear, forcing us to work ever longer hours and to inflict ever more damage on the natural world to service our debts. Ms. Pettifor suggests that governments should reassert control over interest rates at every level of lending.” The entire article is illuminative of the workings of the Western ‘ intellect’.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/a-maverick-scheme-to-save-the-greek-economy/article6910492.ece

Monday, February 16, 2015

KNOWLEDGE & ACTION : EAST vis-a-vis WEST; INADEQUACY OF WESTERN MEANS

If EDUCATION is like diving into a pool or pond and bathing/drinking to get refreshed/purified leading to a feeling of being re-born ( born-again, (dwija)) , how the pool of knowledge must be.? How the water in that pool must be; how the water must be collected ? (Water in the pool is compared to the sum total of knowledge. (Baptism ?)) By which means ? Here lies the Major difference between the Indian Civilization and the rest of the world !!!!!

A conspicuous clue to this is there in the advice of Gandhari to her son Duryodhana. She points out that a sharp and appropriate intellect is a product obtained by the control of the senses. And such an intellect can only generate , beneficent knowledge impacting the well-being of all beings.

“One, who aspires to great things, must lead his senses to virtue and profit (dharma and artha); by having the senses under control, intelligence increases as fire when it has fuel added on to it.” (Udyog-Parva Main, Bhagavat-Yana Parva Sub, Chapter 129, Sloka 26, page 344, Vol.3, English Translation M N Dutt.) The above idea of intellect/intelligence is entirely different from the Western idea of intelligence which is entirely organ centric. ie Brain centric.

Gandhari, who came to present day India from the present day Afghanisthan expressed a fragment of ‘still’ / ‘eternal’ valid knowledge that was then current in ancient India whose soothing influence extended upto Saudi Arabia, Iran and Greece in the West. The same idea in DETAIL is clearly given in the Yogasutras of Patanjali. Chapter 1, Samadhi-padam gives the overview of Yoga. In it Sutras 48 & 49 deal with Pranja (Buddhi=intellect) . Raising the intellect to the highest level possible, the intellect at that stage is called “Ritham-bhara”. It then yields knowledge of everything that exists in the universe directly , not in the usual conventional way which is dependent on the senses.(therefore susceptible to wrong inference, interpretation resulting in wrong knowledge.) And Indian civilization is the product of knowledge resulting from “Ritham-bhara” buddhi/intellect of our seers. (Thus it becomes our paramount duty and responsibility to nurture our civilization.)

PRESENT SITUATION

Over a period of four to five generations, the crystal clear water of the Indian pool is being replaced by the bloodied and murky waters of the Western World. When the knowledge pool itself is corrupted/defiled/polluted, when the water(knowledge) itself has become unfit, how can one ever improve the quality of education. !!???

CONCERNS ABOUT EDUCATION EXPRESSED BY ‘EMINENT’ PERSONALITIES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS !!!!!

Quote:- “Quality of law education is a matter of concern throughout the country,” the Chief Justice observed. (Feb 14.2015)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/hc-critical-of-lawyers-behaviour/article6894032.ece

ABOUT KNOWLEDGE-LED SOCIETY – THIS CONCEPT IS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH IN THE MAHABHARATHA. – The Gandharva Chithraratha will challenge the Pandavas walking in the forest towards Panchala-kshithi, WITHOUT a Brahmin leading the way.(Chaithra-ratha-parva). They were on their way to attend the swayamvara of Draupadi/Krishna/Panchali. Pandavas were challenged because they were walking without being led by a Brahmin. (knowledge). Finally the Gandharva points out the learned and knowledgeable BRAHMIN Dhaumya, who will become the Purohita of the Pandavas.

In Modern Times………

Quote:- “Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, founder and chairman of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, spoke about Mahatma Gandhi's idea of change and education. Laying emphasis on activity based education, he said, “It is simple and educative, and does not curb a questioning mind.”

Mr. Sashi Kumar, lucidly summarised the views of Prof. Swaminathan and said, “We should have a knowledge-led society. It’s difficult to achieve, but that's what we need.”” (Feb.16.2015)

http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/school/agents-of-change/article6898592.ece

Quote:- Educators need to help children understand the importance of the pluralistic nature of the country, said N. Ram, chairman, Kasturi and Sons Limited.

Quote:- “Education cannot be insulated from society,” he said, speaking at the Educators for Change conference at Don Bosco School of Excellence on Saturday. (Feb.15.2015)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/educators-for-change-meet-in-chennai-tomorrow/article6885358.ece (Feb 12 2015)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/instill-value-of-pluralism-in-students/article6897488.ece

ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

Quote:- “He said such incidents threatened the ideals of the Constitution. “In particular, it threatens Article 14, which guarantees equality, Article 19, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, and Article 25 that guarantees the right to practise and profess any faith,” he said.

Speaking on economic unity, R. Vaidyanathan, professor of finance and control, Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, said the Indian aspect of saving money and entrepreneurial spirit would guarantee the growth of the country.

“There is disproportionate emphasis on FDI while savings from households have majorly contributed to the country’s economic growth. In reality, it is the housewives who have driven economic growth. The government must leave the entrepreneurs alone,” he jokingly remarked.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak up against the ‘virus’ of ‘Ghar Vapsi’ and express his disagreement with it clearly. “The deafening silence of religious majorities, who have nothing but the goodwill of minorities at heart, increases uncertainty and insecurity,” he said.

Economist S. Gurumurthy was the last speaker of the evening. He said a topic like religious unity cannot be broached without talking about ‘doctrinal tolerance’ of religions born in India and ‘doctrinal intolerance’ of other religions.

“Hinduism is a religion that accepts all other religions. Religious tolerance would mean acceptance of religious leaders, ideas and figures of other religions as well,” he said.

When asked what he thought about some Sangh Parivar leaders raking up the issue of making India a ‘Hindu Rashtra’, he called for a debate. “The doctrines call for acceptance of all religions. Can the same be said of other religions?” he said.” (Feb. 17, 2015)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/an-evening-of-ideas-on-fostering-unity/article6903729.ece

MODERN MURDERING THE PRE-MODERN

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/his-last-moments/article6842828.ece?ref=slideshow#im-image-0 (Feb 1, 2015) – Just AFTER the last living moments of Gandhiji. (Photos)

ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

Quote:- “The Constitution is merely a guideline for the state. Not for the people of the state. The notion of what seems right to the people of a country comes from the prevalent cultural and social norm, not the Constitution. We need to debate if adding a certain word or group of words in the Constitution has any material impact (positive or negative) on the lives of the people,” says Daithankar.

In order for such debates around secularism and socialism to be more nuanced, the country needs to focus on education, says Jain. “Our country needs a thorough overhauling of our education system. We need students to start thinking critically of their environment from an early age.” (Feb.15 2015)

http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/whats-all-the-fuss-about/article6890745.ece

BRAHMIN (knowledge) LEADING THE WAY IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA

Quote:- “The Sanskrit inscriptions indicate that local rulers in Southeast Asia employed South Indian Brahmins as advisors and counsellors. The Brahmins were the mechanisms through which the inscriptions and objects of Vedic ritual landed up in these improbable, remote places. There was clearly an Indian presence in Southeast Asia, not just of ideas and religion but of people as well.” (Feb 15 2015)

http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/a-detective-across-centuries/article6890908.ece

Covering letter for the above article :-

Dear Sir and other friends,

The last mail I had sent you concerned mainly with the Constitution of India. I had written it ahead of a Sunday Magazine article about the same in the Hindu, about which I did not have any prior information.

Quotes from that article and from other ones which will be of definite interest to ‘concerned’ and ‘sensitive’ individuals ,and which are presently exercising the minds of prominent personalities of our society, I am providing in the attached document with links. The quotes I feel are sufficient to know the crux of the problems faced by our modern society. But to know it fully in context, one may pursue the links.

One personality opined that our society must be knowledge-led. Sir, you are the founder of a NGO. And that NGO must be active. On what basis such an NGO is animated. On what knowledge foundation the NGO rests on and the basis of its actions.

I am presenting herewith a graph from the works of ‘modern’ scholars. One can find out the economic pre-eminence of India more than 2000 years ago from that graph. Other sources like travellers to India from China etc during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya also corroborates this graphical interpolation. (See Michael Wood’s BBC documentary, The Story of India Part 1, which is available now in Amazon.). Modern economy which is just 250 to 300 yrs old is not able to hold on its own. It is having chronic illness.

If EDUCATION is like diving into a pool/ pond and bathing/drinking to get refreshed/purified, leading to a feeling of being re-born ( born-again, (dwija)) , how the pool of knowledge must be.? How the water in that pool must be; how the water must be collected ? (Water in the pool is compared to the sum total of knowledge.) By which means ? Here lies the Major difference between the Indian Civilization and the rest of the world !!!!! (Western civilization has namesake baptism !!!?) – Read further in the attached document…

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Constitution of India : It is a limiting factor ,a drag on Indians !!??

Constitution of India vis-a vis Wisdom in the Mahabharatha.

Constitution : a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.

Based on the above definition, is our modern constitution really conveying to us established precedents. How limiting modern constitution is ? Does it provide us guidelines to, for eg. the desirable relationship between father and son, guru and shishya? Does it provide us guidelines about how the elders in a family should conduct themselves ? From our written constitution can such guidelines to relationships be derived ? Is our constitution leading us astray ?

Are elected representatives, ie. those elected by the people in a democracy, having sufficient qualifications to sit in an assembly,ie parliament, to oversee the governing of this country ? Is a written and celebrated constitution necessary ? Are laws passed, by members of parliament , required for the conduct of industry and businesses in conformity with ethics and morality ?(eg. Nuclear Liability Bill) Are they well conversant with ethics and morality ? Is modern education capable of instilling in their core such knowledge ? What is nobility ? How the members of the noble family must conduct themselves ? What must be their learning and knowledge ? (Learning then was not guided by any state sponsored syllabus !!)What are the duties and responsibilities of the elders in the family ? The relation between father and son, between guru and disciple, how it should be ? How a state must be governed by the royal family ?What must be the learning and qualifications of the members of an assembly ?(Who must be admitted in a assembly where decisions impacting multitudes are made ?) Based on that how one is likely to become a party, a participant in unjust actions ? How such actions will affect onself? - The following paragraphs will help one develop a proper perspective with regard to the above questions.

The Speech of Krishna

'In order that, O Bharata, peace may be established between the Kurus and the Pandavas without a slaughter of the heroes (veer), I (Krishna) have come hither. Besides this ,O king (addressing the elderly Dhritharashtra) , I have no other beneficial words to utter, O chastiser of foes, everything that should be learnt in this world is already known to thee. This thy race, O king, owing to its learning and behaviour, and owing also to its being adorned with every accomplishment, is most distinguished among all royal

dynasties. Joy in the happiness of others, grief at sight of other people's misery, desire to alleviate distress, abstention from injury, sincerity, forgiveness, and truth,-these, O Bharata, prevail amongst the Kurus. (Meaning of sloka 6.)

कृपानुकम्पा कारुण्यमानृशंस्यं च भारत । "kripanukampa karunyamaanrushamsyam cha bharatha”

तथा आर्जवं क्षमा सत्यं कुरुष्वेतद् विशिष्यते ।।6।। thadha aarjavam kshma

sathyam kurushvethadh vishishyathe."

Then thy race, therefore, O king, is so noble, it would be a pity if anything improper were done by any one belonging to it, and greater

pity still if it were done by thee. O chief of the Kurus, thou art the first of those that should restrain the Kurus if they behave deceitfully towards strangers or those numbering with themselves(ie to members of their own family), when the deceit is being done or when it is conceived. Know, O thou of Kuru's race, that those wicked sons of thine, headed by Duryodhana, abandoning both virtue and profit, (ie dharma and artha) , disregarding morality, and deprived of their senses by avarice(lobha), are now acting most

unrighteously towards, O bull of men, their foremost of kinsmen. That terrible danger (which threatens all) hath its origin in the conduct of the Kurus. If thou becomest indifferent to it, it will then produce a universal slaughter......” (Meaning of Slokas from 3 to 11,

Chapter 95, Udyog Parva Main, Bhagavad Yana Parva sub)

The following slokas from 45 to 51, given below at the end of this paragraph is about individuals being a party to unrighteousness by not opposing the same. It also is about heeding the advice of elders, especially the father. When one abandons or deviates from one's civilizational/cultural roots, it is like turning the back on wise counsel, not heeding fatherly advice. Maybe 'Pithru-tharpanam" (or Pithru-bali) was made a necessary ritual to embed into the consciousness of the multitudes ,of heeding fatherly advice, the culture acting as the medium carrying such advice spanning generations.

In modern times a relationship of particular interest between father and son gone sour is that of Gandhiji and his eldest son Harilal Gandhi. Finally Harilal breathed his last at a Bombay hospital almost a destitute. Harilal not only did not listen to his father, but tried to spite him and even acted against him publically.

“Krishna continues - Saluting and propitiating thee (ie Dhritharashtra), the Pandavas have said unto thee, 'At thy command we have, with our followers, suffered great misery. For these twelve years have we lived in the woods, and for the thirteenth year have we lived incognito in an uninhabited part of the world. We broke not our pledge, firmly believing that our father also would abide by his. That we violated not our word is well-known to the Brahmanas who were with us. And as we, O bull of the Bharata race, have

abided by our promise, also do thou abide by thine. Long have we suffered the greatest misery , but let us now have our share of the kingdom. Fully conversant as thou art with virtue and profit, it behoveth thee to rescue us. Knowing that our obedience is due to thee, we have quietly undergone much misery. Behave thou then unto us like a father or brother. A preceptor should behave as a preceptor towards his disciples, and as disciples we are willing to behave as such towards thee, our preceptor. Act thou, herefore,towards us as a preceptor should. If we go wrong, it is the duty of our father to set us right. Therefore, set us on the way and tread thou also the

excellent path of righteousness.(dharma).'

Those sons of thine, O bull of the Bharata race, have also said unto these kings assembled in the court these words, 'If the members of an assembly are conversant with morality (dharma), nothing improper should be permitted by them to happen. Where, in the presence of the virtuous members of an assembly, righteousness is sought to be overpowered by unrighteousnes, and truth by untruth, it is those members themselves that are vanquished and slain. When righteousness, pierced by unrighteousness, seekth the protection of an assembly, if the arrow is not extracted, it is the members themselves that are pierced by that arrow. Indeed, in that case, righteousness slayeth the members of that assembly, like a river eating away the roots of the trees on its bank.' Judge now, O bull of the Bharata race.” (pages 196 & 198 of Vol.2, Kisari Mohan Ganguli)

The assembly referred to above is applicable to any institution whether it be family, or class or college or university, army, govt , business enterprise, etc etc. If we do not protest or act against injustice happening before/around us wherever we are, as per Indian culture, we are also party to such injustice, which will definitely taint us in this life and those to come.

In another chapter 124, Krishna talks about how fatherly advice becomes helpful at the time of adversity - " Be obedient, O sire, to the commands of thy father. They that are good sons always regard that to be beneficial which their fathers command. Indeed, when overtaken by calamity , every one recollects the injunctions of his father." Sloka 20, English translation Ganguli, page 239, Vol2

स भवान् मातृपितृवदस्मासु प्रतिपद्यताम् ।

गुरोर्गरीयसी वृत्तिर्या च शिष्यस्य भारता ।। 45।। ।।४५।।

वर्तामहे त्वयि च तां त्वं च वर्तस्व नस्तथा ।

पित्रा स्थापयितव्या हि वयमुत्पथमास्थिताः ।।46।। ।।४६।।

संस्थापय पथिष्वस्मांस्तिष्ठ धर्मे सुवर्त्मनि ।

आहुश्चेमां परिषदं पुत्रास्ते भरतर्षभा ।।47।। ।।४७।।

धर्मज्ञेषु सभासत्सु नेह युक्तमसाम्प्रतम् ।

यत्र धर्मो ह्यधर्मेण सत्यं यत्रानृतेन च ।।48।। ।।४८।।

हन्यते प्रेक्षमाणानां हतास्तत्र सभासदः ।

विद्धो धर्मो ह्यधर्मेण सभां यत्र प्रपद्यते ।।49।। ।।४९।।

न चास्य शल्यं कृन्तन्ति विद्धास्तत्र सभासदः ।

धर्म एतानारुजति यथा नद्यनुकूलजान् ।।50।। ।।५०।।

ये धर्ममनुपश्यन्तस्तूष्णीं ध्यायन्त आसते ।

ते सत्यमाहुर्धर्म्यं च न्याय्यं च भरतर्षभ ।।51।। ।।५१।।

(from p.278, Vol.3, Udyogaparva, Chapter 95, (Bhagavad-yana Parva)-The speech of Krishna)

Further Links about Constitution of India

Quote:- "Mr. Modi said equal respect of all faiths was an integral part of the Constitution, but it had “roots in the ancient cultural traditions” of India. “This principle of equal respect and treatment for all faiths has been a part of India’s ethos for thousands of years. And that is how it became integral to the Constitution of India. Our Constitution did not evolve in a vacuum,” he said."

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/wont-tolerate-violence-against-any-religion-promises-modi/article6906716.ece

ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

“Hinduism is a religion that accepts all other religions. Religious tolerance would mean acceptance of religious leaders, ideas and figures of other religions as well,” he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/an-evening-of-ideas-on-fostering-unity/article6903729.ece

MODERN MURDERING THE PRE-MODERN

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/his-last-moments/article6842828.ece?ref=slideshow#im-image-0 (Feb 1, 2015) – Just AFTER the last living moments of Gandhiji. (Photos)

ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/whats-all-the-fuss-about/article6890745.ece

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 or Nuclear Liability Act is a highly debated and controversial Act which was passed by both houses of Indian parliament.

“What is the cost of nuclear reactors compared to the liability that the suppliers would have to carry? Based on recent contracts for nuclear plants abroad, the cost of the 10 Westinghouse reactors of 1,000 MW is likely to be in the range of $50 billion. This is not the full cost of the plant but only the cost of the reactor island.

Against these costs of $50 billion, the total liability that Westinghouse would have under the Act is less than $450 million; in other words less than 1% of its contract value! Westinghouse is not willing to take on even this small amount of liability, for what its CEO, Danny Roderick, calls “the safest reactors in the world”. In other words, they are not willing to put money where their mouth is.

The Modi government transferring the nuclear suppliers' liability to itself is essentially letting them completely off the hook for supply of any substandard or defective equipment. The lack of any liability is a perverse incentive to the suppliers to build substandard plants and risk the lives of Indian people. For a country that has seen the worst industrial disaster in the world, namely the Bhopal gas disaster in 1984, this smacks of either amnesia or a total lack of concern for the Indian people.”

http://newsclick.in/india/sabotaging-indias-nuclear-liability-act-help-us-suppliers

“The words of Professor Kiyoshi Kurokawa, who chaired the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission are eminently appropriate in the Indian context as well: “What must be admitted — very painfully — is that this was a disaster ‘Made in Japan.’ Its fundamental causes are to be found in the ingrained conventions of Japanese culture: our reflexive obedience; our reluctance to question authority; our devotion to ‘sticking with the program’; our groupism; and our insularity … nuclear power became an unstoppable force, immune to scrutiny by civil society. Its regulation was entrusted to the same government bureaucracy responsible for its promotion.”

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/lead-article-regulating-indias-nuclear-estate/article6360984.ece