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The hypocrisy behind the tweet spat between cricketers

Ajay Sudame
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The hypocrisy behind the tweet spat between cricketers

Recently, twitter witnessed a small routine of Love-Hate between three retired cricketers. One Pakistani, two Indians. 

1) On 31st March Yuvjraj Singh tweeted in support of Shahid Afridi’s fund collection effort for Covid-19 patient. He also tagged Harbhajan Singh in the tweet. This garnered more than fifteen thousand likes. Reflecting wide support.

2) This also was lambasted by thousands. Immediately invoking Liberal support and sympathy. Well supported by Pakistani sleeper cells in the Indian Media.

3) On 18th May, Shahid Afridi heaped abuse on PM Narendra Modi through this tweet. 

4) Yuvraj and Harbhajan Singh conveyed their repentance through this tweet. 

Matter over. Liberal Media hurriedly will throw water on the burning issue. Yuvraj and Harbhajan will be forgiven immediately.

This is happening for the best part of the last 100 years. Since independence, intermittent terrorist attacks from across the border are going on killing thousands. Yet India wants to be friends with Pakistan. In the name of track 2 diplomacy we went out of the way for it. Remember the skullduggery called Aman-ki-Asha? The nonsense started in 2010 under the aegis of UPA 2. This was basically a program through which we sent delegations led by Left-Liberal journalists to listen to ‘Mushayara’ and eat ‘Shami Kabab’! Once back in Delhi they used to write glowing op-eds on Pakistani music, the culture, warm and friendly people. Hand in glove with the regime then, an opinion against a strong action used to be created. This was the mechanism that prevented a much bigger country, a much stronger army and a superior economy like India from taking action against a rogue nation like Pakistan. 

Such was the vice-like grip of this narrative, that even after the dastardly 26/11  attack by Pakistani terrorists we didn’t raise a finger. Ṭhis evil cycle was broken, when BJP, led by Narendra Modi took over in May 2014. The Track 2 diplomacy was shelved as we knew it when Modi decided to punish Pakistan for the Pulwama terror attack by bombing Balakot. 

Ṇow what Afridi, Yuvraj and Harbhajan performed, was the online version of Aman-ki-Asha. Afridi wanted to collect money in the name of charity. His ‘Friends’ on the Indian side, ever-ready to ‘Help’, obliged him. I am sure Afridi must have been handsomely rewarded for his effort. Eventually, we will find out how handsome were the returns. 

And what did his Indian friends get? They will get reciprocal support from Afridi or some other Pakistani cricketer in their business venture. They will also gain cheap popularity in Pakistan. And of course in India back home. For being large-hearted Humans. For supporting a fellow Punjabi! Which may help them politically in the near future. Sounds like an exaggeration? 

Take a look. 

During his visit to Pakistan on Imran Khan’s swearing-in, Siddhu proudly proclaimed General Bajwa and he is from the same extended family (Biradari)! Sardar Navjyot Singh Siddhu and General Qamar Bajwa belong to the same family? Which family is this? General Bajwa’ s ancestors, in the name of religion attacked Navjyot Singh Siddhu’s forefather’s homeland – Punjab. They forcefully converted and slaughtered generations after generations of Punjabis. In fact today’s Punjab in Pakistan was a Punjab where Siddhu’s forefathers once lived. After killing hundreds and thousands of Sikhs and Hindus, it was taken away by General Bajwa’s forefathers in 1947. Siddhu, in the video, understandably was overwhelmed mentioning Guru Nanak, first Sikh Guru. Does he know how Bajwa’s forefathers killed Guru Tegbahadur (9th Sikh Guru) and his sons? And for what? And why go that long back. The ghastly Pulwama attack, which killed 40 Indian soldiers happened when Siddhu’s Hum-Biradar (हम बिरादर – Relative) General Bajwa was Army Chief!

The low-level drama which Siddhu enacted in August 2018, was performed a few days back by Yuvraj and Harbhajan. And this when they knew this is not the first time Afridi has crossed his limits. He has been a habitual offender. Here is the list of some of his transgressions.

Afridi on 4th April 2018, appealed to the UN to intervene in ‘Indian Occupied Kashmir’. 

Nov 16th 2018, he said Kashmir should be an independent country. 

On 6th Aug 2019, one day after Article 370 was abrogated, Afridi appealed again to the UN along with Trump to Intervene in Kashmir.

So the duo was well aware of Afridi’s ideology, his political position on Kashmir and various issues that matter to India. Yet Yuvraj and Harbhajan decided to support him. When he abused PM Modi and their positions became untenable they retracted.

Now the question is why likes of Siddhu, Yuvraj and Harbhajan are doing it? Don’t forget, there are politicians (especially from Congress) who hate BJP for its Hindu Cultural Nationalism and seek Pakistani support for its vote bank politics. Siddhu represents that lobby overtly and Captain Amrinder Singh covertly. Harbhajan and Yuvraj are somewhere in between. And of course, there is a small voter base that resists Indian Cultural Nationalism and has a feeling for Khalistan. They still haven’t got over Bhindranwale killing. These three ex-players are playing to that gallery.

You will be surprised to know that Afridi who regularly abuses PM Modi, Indian Army and Indian Nationhood, has only praise for his Friends in Indian Cricket Team. What kind of friendship is this? He or any Pakistani celebrity always takes care that only a certain type of politicians are abused. Siddhu for example is never criticized.

This is a set-up to regenerate brotherhood for Pakistanis in Punjab. And stop Indian Cultural Nationalism from surging. Tomorrow some other celebrities in two countries will connive for petty benefits, by using some other narrow regional symbol. Language may be, or food or Siddhu may come up with new norms of Punjabiyat. You never know. Some other celebrity will pick-up some other cause. People will clap and retweet and like the posts. Crores will be collected. When things go out of control, apologies will be tendered and promptly accepted. The circus will continue. it’s going on for the best part of the 100 years. It will happen again.

Are young Indians reading the right history?

Manisha Sarade
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Are young Indians reading the right history?

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a Russian historian and political prisoner, wrote in the The Gulag Archipelago, “Ideology – that is what gives the evildoing its long-sought justification and gives the evildoer the necessary steadfastness and determination.”

This is, in nutshell, the crux of Marxism. To discover how universal has been the influence of Marxism in history writing, one can take a look at the works of noted Indian historians: the common reads that we come across daily, in our book shelves, our Kindles, the ones we applaud, the ones we suggest as great reads to others, and the ones we trust for History references. How reliable are they, really? The Soviet books, brochures and numerous journals and newspapers kept on arriving in India for decades. It is important to note that their theoretical and applied value used to be always very critical and conclusive for our Marxists writers. Hence, the Indian Marxists have certainly gained ample teachings from them. 

The Indian Marxist historians have time and again fed millions of Indian students and readers with false facts for the solitary purpose of fulfilling the contemporary desires of communist politics in this country. Most of them represent the same enchanted tale of the incredible development of the Soviet Union due to the Communist Revolution, its remarkable achievements and the USSR as the “best democracy” in the world (See ‘Vishva Itihas ki Bhumika’ by Prof R.S. Sharma). On one hand our historians praised the Soviet accomplishments beyond belief; and on the other hand, they totally sidestepped all the horrid and dark facts of the Soviet history, just to ensure that a decent impression should be left in the minds of Indian readers about the communist theory and leadership.

To give another illustration, in Bipin Chandra, Amalesh Tripathy, and Barun De’s book, ‘Freedom Struggle’, there is not even a slight reference to key events like the two-nation theory of the Muslim League, its resolution demanding a partition of India, the backing given to it by the Communist Party of India and the record violence by the Muslim League against Hindus. In fact, the partition of India has been mentioned in this book in an indirect manner imputing it on some “communal forces”. What is baffling, is the fact that even primary school textbooks are not free from attempts of underplaying religious bigotry and tyranny of Islamists. What about the long-lasting impression young Indians will get from such a book? And of course, the least said about the chronology of historical events of NCERT Textbooks, the better.

Such history writing raises a question on its academic value, and hints towards an appalling influence on the mind of young readers, who consider these popular books as the primary source of their history learning. Many are a part of the curriculum, created and published by the State: textbooks which are precisely prescribed, explained by teachers & professors in classes and used by students to prepare for examinations. Given its dominant role in education and in legitimizing selected knowledge, those who control, regulate and determine textbook content are in positions of massive power (and responsibility). However, if such construction of history continues to exist, learning, especially the informing of ideas and building belief systems through textbooks, will reduce to a matter of political interest.

Certainly, it remains an intended fabrication of history, guided by vested interests, which continues to influence education in institutes of higher learning in India, where violent behaviour in the form of protests and such tendencies are gradually becoming a part of the common campus lifestyle.

AMU की पाक ज़मीं से उपजा भारत के Secularism का रखवाला निर्देशक

pulkitnpc
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AMU की पाक ज़मीं से उपजा भारत के Secularism का रखवाला निर्देशक

कितना अजीब है ना कि एक रात आप सोते हैं वही घिसी पिटी rom-com की कहानी का फर्स्ट ड्राफ्ट दिमाग में सोचते हुए और अगली सुबह उठते हैं और आपको याद आता है कि अचानक से देश में आपातकाल जैसी स्थिति बन गई है। अल्पसंख्यकों पर अत्याचार हो रहा है, दलितों पर अत्याचार होने लगा है, औरतों पर अत्याचार शुरू हो गया है, कलाकारों की बोलने और अपनी विचारधारा व्यक्त करने की आजा़दी पर अंकुश लग गया है और तभी आप एक निर्णय लेते हैं कि आज से आपके अंदर का सच्चा कलाकार जाग जाएगा और आप अपने सिनेमा और लेखन के द्वारा देश में अलग किस्म की क्रांति लाएंगे। (वैसे देखा जाए तो यह अपने आप में ही एक बहुत अच्छी फिक्शनल फिल्म की स्क्रिप्ट बन सकती है)

तो ऐसा ही कुछ हुआ है बॉलीवुड के जाने-माने निर्देशक श्री अनुभव सिन्हा जी के साथ, जी हां यह वही अनुभव सिन्हा हैं जो 2014 से पहले ‘दस’ और ‘कैश’ जैसी सूपरहिट एक्शन थ्रिलर और RAONE जैसी सुपर-डुपर हिट उच्च कोटि की साइंस फिक्शन बनाने के लिए मशहूर हुए। ऊपर rom-com की बात भी लिखी गई है क्योंकि इस महान कलाकार व्यक्ति ने तुम बिन-2 जैसी फिल्मों का भी निर्देशन किया लेकिन बॉलीवुड के उस क्रिंज कोने की तरफ रुख ना ही किया जाए तो अच्छा है। लेकिन जैसा कि हम जानते हैं कि 2014 के बाद अचानक बॉलीवुड और अन्य कला क्षेत्रों में भी कई लोगों के अंदर की कला एवं उनके भाव लेनिन के ब्रेन हैमरेज की तरह फूटकर बाहर निकले हैं(या यूं कहें कि उसी तरह निकाले गए हैं), तो इस महान निर्देशक ने भी बहती गंगा में हाथ धोने का सोचा और अचानक से  इनके अंदर का भारतीय समाज और Secularism का रक्षक और नारीवादी उभर कर बाहर आ गया। 

2018 में सर की फिल्म आती है मुल्क जिसमें befitting reply वाली ताप्सी पन्नू ने मुख्य किरदार निभाया है, इस बात में कोई शक नहीं है कि मुल्क फिल्म में अच्छी लिखाई एवं अदाकारी हुई, अगर फिल्म मेकिंग के नज़रिए से देखा जाए तो मुल्क एक अच्छी कहानी, स्क्रिप्ट एवं अदाकारी का प्रदर्शन करती है, लेकिन वर्णनात्मक तौर पर मुल्क फिल्म एक प्रोपेगेंडा से भरी स्क्रिप्ट से ज्यादा और कुछ नहीं। फिल्म में एक अच्छा संदेश एवं शिक्षा दी गई है कि देश का हर मुसलमान आतंकवादी नहीं है और ना ही उसे इस नज़रिए से देखा जाना चाहिए, लेकिन फिल्म अपने सेकंड हाफ में कब इस संदेश से कहीं दूर उस प्रोपेगेंडा की तरफ निकल जाती है जहां एक देशभक्त मुसलमान पुलिसवाले को इस बात पर कोर्ट में दोषी प्रतीत करा दिया जाता है कि जैसे उसने एक आतंकवादी को मारकर उस आतंकवादी से भी बड़ा गुनाह कर दिया है यह दर्शकों को पता भी नहीं चलता। जबकि फिल्म में यह साफ समझ आता है कि इंस्पेक्टर बने रजत कपूर ने आतंकवादी पर गोली कुछ सिद्ध करने के लिए नहीं बल्किअपनी और अपनी टीम की जान बचाने के लिए चलाई थी।अब क्या है कि देश के इन एलीट क्लास लेखक एवं निर्देशकों को यह समझाना बहुत मुश्किल है किसी हथियारों से लैस आतंकवादी को befitting reply देकर तो नहीं रोका जा सकता, वहां तो गोली ही चलानी  पड़ती है। 

अलीगढ़ मुस्लिम यूनिवर्सिटी (एमयू) से पढ़े अनुभव सिन्हा 2019 में अचानक से दलित समुदाय के स्वघोषित नेता बन जाते हैं जब वे अपनी दूसरी फिल्म आर्टिकल 15 बनाते हैं जिसे तथाकथित सत्य घटनाओं पर आधारित कहकर प्रदर्शित किया गया जो कि काफी हद तक सही भी था अगर सिन्हा साहब के वामपंथी एजेंडा को उसमें से थोड़ा सा घटा दिया जाता। फिल्म मूलतः 2014 बदायूं उत्तर प्रदेश रेप केस पर आधारित थी जिसमें 3 युवकों ने एक दलित महिला का रेप करने के बाद उसकी हत्या की थी। फिल्म को सत्य घटनाओं पर आधारित कहकर बेचा जाता है और उसमें आरोपित युवाओं को उच्च जाति (ब्राह्मण) का बताया जाता है और उन्हें ‘महंत जी’ का आदमी कह कर संबोधित किया जाता है (जो कि तथ्यात्मक तौर पर एकदम गलत था)। अब यह बात तो मूर्ख से मूर्ख व्यक्ति समझ सकता है कि ‘महंत जी’ कहकर किसको संबोधित करने की कोशिश की गई है एवं यह प्रोपेगेंडा किस समुदाय या जाति या पार्टी को मस्तिष्क में रखकर गढ़ा गया है। इस बात में कोई दो राय नहीं है कि रेप जैसा जघन्य एवं अमानवीय अपराध कोई जाति, समुदाय या धर्म नहीं बल्कि एक सोच करती है, लेकिन आर्टिकल 15 जैसी फिल्म में इस जघन्य अपराध को जाति के एंगल से जोड़कर निर्देशक अनुभव सिन्हा ने बेशक ही एक घिनौना कृत्य किया है।

इससे यह साफ होता है कि उनकी मंशा समाज के एक अमानवीय अपराध पर फिल्म बनाने की नहीं बल्कि कुछ समुदायों को आपस में लड़वाने की रही थी। अगर ऐसा न होता तो वे आरोपितों को किसी एक समुदाय का न दिखाकर किसी भी अलग-अलग समुदायों का दिखा सकते थे और एक घिनौनी सोच से ग्रसित दिखा सकते थे, लेकिन उन्होंने ऐसा नहीं किया क्योंकि वामपंथ का हमेशा से नारा रहा है कि अजेंडा ऊंचा रहे हमारा। वामपंथियों का यह इतिहास रहा है कि अपने एजेंडा को ऊपर रखने के लिए यह किसी भी  कृत्य में  मनघड़ंत नाम एवं किरदार जोड़ देते हैं और आपस में एक दूसरे की पीठ थपथपा कर और शाबाशी देकर स्वयं को स्वघोषित कलाकार एवं लेखक सिद्ध कर देते हैं। इसका एक जीता जागता उदाहरण अनुराग कश्यप की वेब सीरीज सैक्रेड गेम्स भी है जिसमें एक ऐसी ही मनघड़ंत  रचना की गई एवं हिंदू नाम के पात्र दिखाकर अपना अजेंडा चलाने और हिंदूफोबिया फैलाने की अपार कोशिश की गई, यह बात अलग है कि इस वेब सीरीज़ के दूसरे संस्करण को दर्शकों ने उसी प्रकार नकारा जिस प्रकार अनुराग कश्यप की बाकी सुपरहिट फिल्में जैसे कि बॉम्बे वेलवेट एवं मनमर्जियां को। लेकिन यह समझना कि इन तथाकथित बुद्धिजीवी निर्देशकों को इन कृत्यों से जरा सी भी अक्ल आएगी वैसा ही है जैसा कि भैंस के आगे बीन बजाना।

लेकिन अगर ऐसा नहीं है और अनुभव सिन्हा एक एजेंडा से भरे निर्देशक नहीं बल्कि सचमुच दलितों के पक्ष कार एवं भला चाहने वाले व्यक्ति हैं तो उनसे यह सवाल तो बनता ही है कि क्या वे अपनी यूनिवर्सिटी जिसके वह alumni रहे हैं यानी कि अलीगढ़ मुस्लिम यूनिवर्सिटी (एएमयू) में दलित आरक्षण के मुद्दे को उठाएंगे..? या इस मुद्दे को उठाने वालों का साथ देंगे..? क्या देश के अन्य विश्वविद्यालयों की तरह एएमयू जैसे विश्वविद्यालय में भी दलितों को आरक्षण का अधिकार नहीं..?

अगर आप भी यह लेख पढ़ रहे हैं तो आपसे अनुरोध है कि कृपा करके महान निर्देशक श्री अनुभव सिन्हा से ट्वीट या मैसेज करके यह सवाल अवश्य करें, क्योंकि उनके प्रशंसक एवं सारा देश इन सवालों के जवाब या कम से कम सिन्हा साहब की इस मुद्दे पर राय जानने का अधिकार तो रखता ही है।

Unprecedented Covid-19 health crisis: The trial and tribulations of the Global Economy

Sahajveer baweja
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Unprecedented Covid-19 health crisis: The trial and tribulations of the Global Economy

Once upon a time, a happy world who slept in a sky full of stars didn’t know that the next morning it would have to fight the war against the deadliest unprecedented crisis. Presently, almost every country across the globe is battling with Covid-19. The aftermath of the health pandemic has resulted in a situation where the international borders have been sealed, all modes of travel are banned, international global supplies are choked, and the kind humans are fumed into ashes. With no vaccines[i] and proper cure to control the contagious Covid-19, stringent lockdowns and compulsory social distancing are the only weapons in the hands of the government. Worldwide, 2.97 million cases have been reported of Coronavirus and more than 200 thousand humans have already been put into coffins. However, the figures are anticipated to increase manifold as the impact of Covid-19 is still a substantial uncertainty.[ii]

As per the report of IMF, it is expected that the cumulative growth shall fall to -3 percent with a total downgrade of 6.3 percentage points. Further, a cumulative GDP loss in 2020-21 is expected to be 9 trillion dollars. However, a sigh of relief has also been cited when the IMF mentions that the global economy may rebound at 5.8 percent in 2021. Nonetheless, such relief package comes with the assumption of taking a baseline scenario where it is assumed that the pandemic will fade away before the 2nd half of the financial year 2020 and there will be a gradual lifting of containment measures and restoration of consumer and investor confidence. Unfortunately, if the crisis becomes volatile and enters into the 2nd half of this year, another 3 percent GDP loss is anticipated. Moreover, if one assumes the worst-case scenario where the Covid-19 hits the year 2021, 8 percent GDP contraction below the baseline can be witnessed.[iii]

The impact of Covid-19 has its effect not only on the developing countries or less developed countries but even on advanced countries as well. Ironically, the advanced countries have to face a higher degree of growth contraction. As anticipated, advanced countries may observe negative growth of 6.1 percent while the emerging and developing economies shall be affected by -1 percent growth. The severity of the problem can be substantiated by the fact that countries are facing low fiscal space to support their dead economies. The stage of rapid economic revival after the global economic shock is a panglossian thought. However, a slow rate of recovery can be expected once the gravity of the crisis is lowered down.

The global impact of Covid-19 can be categorized into two parts, that is one where the effect would be severe and the recovery would take a long time whereas the other part where the effect is of the lower gravity and where the recovery can be quick and swift. The tourism industry which makes up to 10 percent share of the global GDP can be one of the examples of the former category where the impact of Covid-19 may be regarded as extremely severe.  With the national borders fortified, tourism flows have come to a screeching halt. A warning has been issued by the WTTC that the Covid-19 pandemic can take away 50 million jobs worldwide in this sector including the 30 million job loss in Asia only. The revival of the industry shall take more than 10 months after the end of the outbreak.[iv] Even if the travel bans are relaxed, the fear that has attacked the mind, soul, and body of the humans would not let them pursue the crossing of international borders unless extremely urgent. [v]

Another sector that can be classified into the first category is the Oil sector. With a rapid decrease in transportation and less public usage of vehicles, the global demand for oil has been significantly dropped. Recently, the WTI oil prices have gone in negative which means that the sellers are paying the buyers to purchase their oil as the cost of shutting down the mines is costlier than selling oil at loss.[vi] Such a decline in demand is expected to be continued throughout the year 2020 as the situation remains fluid. Not only the oil market is affected but the whole energy sector also is crashed because of the barriers imparted at the international borders even for the supply of goods.[vii] This scenario shall result in the tumbling of prices and decline in production thus, halting the economy in the energy sector making swift recovery the extra mile.

Certainly, there are hopes for some of the sectors to outperform the others even after correspondingly hitting the wave of Coronavirus. Sectors that fall under the second category where the recovery can be smooth and quick can be agriculture, wholesale trade, healthcare sector, IT sector, and the transportation sector.  These sectors although affected directly or indirectly still have the potential to quickly come into action once the outbreak is controlled. They will rapidly grow because the global demand will inflate in these areas. Also, these sectors despite the crisis have shown resilience to the falling market. Even the government has aided such regions so that the demand and supply of essential goods are not obstructed. Proper policy framework and debt reliefs can help these sectors to hold the lost ground expeditiously.

However, one distressing scenario that can be anticipated which may adversely impact the global market is where the nation-states adopt the idea of autarky i.e. self-sufficiency.[viii] The individual states are presently divided on the opinion of either choosing protectionism or internationalism as a path for the betterment of their economy. Such economic and political discourse has garnered much attention of policymakers from all over the world. Nonetheless, if one has to analyse the current trends, it is easy to assume that there is a steep and silent rise of nationalism transcending globalization. The scars of the crisis on the bodies of citizens and their government have made them realized the fact that in cases of emergency, only the nation-state acts as the guardian giving them financial and emotional strengths.

The protectionist philosophy has been given a boost in the current period as the citizens all over the world have realized the fact that in cases of emergency, only the nation-state acts as a guardian giving them financial and emotional strengths. Stoppage of cross-border medical supplies and other essential goods can ascertain the point of driving the world towards the era of uncontrolled nationalism.[ix] The anti-globalizers supported by the political winds have figured this health crisis as the correct time to disrupt international supply chains making their nations resilient and independent while pushing weaker nations into a state of extreme poverty. Though, the global solidarity is the need of the hour to battle this extraordinary crisis, yet, the sheer fall of globalization is unstoppable. Nevertheless, international cooperation can be a strong tool to reduce the corona-impact on the global economy and the strong market forces should work in consonance rather than creating another trouble for the world.

Undeniably, the economic impact all around the globe cannot be deferred. However, the severity of its effect can be modulated by working sincerely on two factors. The first factor determines the duration of restrictions on the movement of individuals and impediments on reopening of economic activities whereas the second factor elaborates the efficacy of fiscal responses to the crisis. This crisis is the rostrum for the policymakers to come out with the survival packages for the life and livelihood of the citizens.

The policymakers have to play a significant part in relaxing the restrictions in such a manner that at the one end, steepness of crisis is brought to baseline while on the other end; economic functions are alleviated with proper credit security by the government. Also, this catastrophe calls for amalgamating different bilateral creditors and international financial institutions to lend concessional monetary grants to ensure sound policy for debt relief rather than debt burdening. In closing, one can hope and pray for the outbreak to take a speedy U-turn so that the rebound of the global economy may proceed with a plan of its ‘V-shaped recovery’. 

[i]James Gallagher, Coronavirus vaccine: When will have one?, BBC News (Apr, 2020) https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51665497.

[ii]Covid-19: Confronting uncertainty through & beyond the crisis, Deloitte  https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/covid-19/covid-19–confronting-uncertainty-through—beyond-the-crisis-.html.

[iii] World Economic Outlook, April 2020 — Chapter 1: The Great Lockdown, International Monetary Fund (Apr, 2020) https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2020/04/14/weo-april-2020.

[iv]Joan Faus, This is how coronavirus could affect the travel and tourism industry, World Economic Forum (Mar, 2020) https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/world-travel-coronavirus-covid19-jobs-pandemic-tourism-aviation.

[v] The future of Tourism post Covid-19, United Nations ESCAP (Apr, 2020) https://www.unescap.org/blog/future-tourism-post-covid-19.

[vi]Mose Buchele, Oil Prices have gone negative. How does that even happen?, Kut.org (Apr, 2020) https://www.kut.org/post/oil-prices-have-gone-negative-how-does-even-happen.

[vii] Global oil demand to decline in 2020 as coronavirus weighs heavily on markets, IEA (Mar,2020) https://www.iea.org/news/global-oil-demand-to-decline-in-2020-as-coronavirus-weighs-heavily-on-markets.

[viii] Pallavi Nahata, Amid Global Lockdowns, India Finds itself facing autarky-like conditions, Bloomberg (Apr, 2020) https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/amid-global-lockdowns-india-finds-itself-facing-autarky-like-conditions.

[ix] China blocks US medical equipment to fight Covid-19, Asia times (Apr, 2020) https://asiatimes.com/2020/04/china-blocks-us-medical-equipment-to-fight-covid-19/.

COVID effect: Brakes on the culture of condom-solutions

Rakesh Kumar Pandey
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COVID effect: Brakes on the culture of condom-solutions

Condom for me, apart from its obvious use, also epitomizes a culture of finding remedies wherein instead of offering it as an apologetic solution, it was promoted as a symbol of an unrestricted freedom. The idea of abstinence was ridiculed as being conservative and the solution offered by condoms were described as a progressive idea for the human kind with little negative consequences. It was promoted through small and big time NGOs sometimes in the name of precautionary measures to avoid AIDS and other communicable sex-related diseases and more often to carry out an aggressive campaign to demean the very idea of abstinence and self restraint. And all this happened by keeping a blind eye on the environmental hazard that condoms could cause in the absence of their strict disposal mechanism.

I am citing this only as an example that represents the modern culture of mis/using technology and medicinal cures beyond limits. The case of antibiotics is yet another story that proves the same point. In case of antibiotics, apparently nobody had any hint of their long-term irreversible effects when these were promoted aggressively as a solution with a claim of having no side-effects. The basic difference between the approach of modern medicines and our traditional cures also comes from the difference in the strategic cultures. Not only the modern medicines overlook any necessity of making you feel sorry about your wrong lifestyles, it encourages you to ridicule any advice to have a relook at the necessity of making your last move. New technologies have enforced changes in our lifestyles and to handle problems arising out of that it looks for another technological solution instead of exploring any possibility to backtrack.

I have cautiously decided not to use the word ‘science’ in place of ‘technology/medicine’ as ‘science’ merely represents a mechanism of study to satisfy our inner quests whereas mis/use of the same is done by technology and medicine. And this mis/use of the technological products of ‘science’ is guided, governed and regulated completely by the market forces working in the area of business and politics. And business and politics, as we all know, never cares for those who do not help in increasing their profits or growth.

Modern ways and lifestyles look for technology and medicinal cures that can instantly address the visible problematic symptoms and pay less attention to the very reason for the occurrence of the disease itself. Tell me your problem and I will try to give you a new technology as its solution. This approach has opened up a vicious cycle of finding newer and newer ways to address fresh and fresher concerns that the process itself have kept on generating. In this blind race, technology keeps on influencing the lifestyle in the quest for improving it continuously but has invariably propped up unfamiliar problems and unheard concerns in the process.

Technological advancements are hopelessly a one-way traffic. While we all know that the human life existed without trains and planes, it becomes difficult to imagine that today. We have become so dependent on the internet connections that we almost feel like our fundamental rights are being snatched if we are denied that. The mobile phones and other related technologies have become almost synonyms to human life on earth. Comfort offered initially to human beings in some way gets absorbed in the new lifestyle making the same facility as absolutely essential commodity to sustain life at a later stage.

Due to this when a new problem springs up due to a new technology, instead of redefining the lifestyle to become lesser dependent on the technology and thinking of backtracking, the modern technology looks for another innovative way to deal and solve that problem that was arisen due to the very implementation of the last technological advancement. This modern approach often forces us to look for another condom like solution, invariably ignoring the need to check and regulate the uncontrolled mis/use of technology. Easy dependence on technology has led to a multifold increase in the number of caesarean deliveries of babies, stent fitting operations for heart patients, overuse of vehicles and electronic gadgets in our daily lives.

The modern technological advancements work as an untiringly continuous process of finding innovative solutions that are invariably also associated with creating fresh set of problems sometimes unknowingly and many a times ignoring or underestimating them. The present crisis of Coronavirus pandemic is also being understood as an attempt to misuse scientific studies to help achieve a narrow political aim. Restlessness of China to somehow claim the status of number one economy of the world was allegedly the root cause of the recent pandemic situation in the world. They misused a modern technological development to achieve their goal probably by spreading a virus for the world to fight out with and hand over the reign of economy to them.

On a different note, I often wonder how our ancient texts store a vast knowledge and spectrum of knowledge and wisdom as if they were documentaries of conclusions arrived at after a series of methodical scientific studies done to understand the function and purpose of life and the universe. Several faiths however, that coexisted in the ancient era probably attempted to utilize different aspects of these basic knowledge and wisdom in the benefit of their followers. Probably as it happens now, the mis/use of the knowledge by different faiths intentionally or unintentionally resulted in developing superstition and other evil traditions in the society. But just as it happens with scientific studies, even Indian spiritual evolution has kept on searching new ways to address our concerns and correct the evil traditions prevailing in that era.

Ancient Hindu way of life in this sense was perfectly scientific. In comparison however, it had an advantage over the way the modern science evolves. The ancient quests were primarily to study the inside of human being and therefore had a natural advantage over the new science. While the side effects of the present technological advancement corrupt the outside world almost irreversibly, any attempt to corrupt ourselves from within was enough to invoke the natural reflex mechanism to start working to correct ourselves. While the scientists of those days known as Rishis, Mahrshis, Brahmins and other saint-reformers used to throw newer understanding of life with noble intentions, the technology counterpart of that being the religion must have sometimes been driven by other intentions. However, the saving area was that it was working on the pattern of modern scientific studies and therefore always had a scope of correcting itself in contrast with the way the recent religions assert themselves as not open to any changes.

The current pandemic and the forced lockdown have shown us the benefits of restraints, self control, limitations, balancing and backtracking. Benefits of the forced lockdown came surprisingly as rejuvenation of earth and our environment. Air, water and rivers have got automatically cleaned, ozone layer has got repaired on its own and the world has suddenly become liveable and enjoyable even without luxury – something happened that was almost unimaginable in our lifetime. It has actually thrown up an unexplored option to the modern scientific and technological advancements. I feel that India is placed at a great advantage to lead the world and show them the real path to move towards achieving a happy and satisfied world instead of creating several pockets of competitive and dissatisfied societies.

After all, peace and prosperity existed in this part of the world for a very long time and we were a happy and prosperous with so much of wealth but limited luxury till the arrival of barbaric medieval period. It was followed by modern industrial revolution that is now known to be the main reason for skewed and pocketed development and creating huge financial disparity in the society.

What is caste in Sanatan Dharma?

msadavarte
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What is caste in Sanatan Dharma?

A lot of people are asked the question, if they convert to Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma what caste they would be given? Now in most cases this question is actually a rhetoric question to make a point that Hinduism divides people on caste lines. The truth is all religions, especially abrahamic religions are deeply divided based on various schools of thought. And most do not get along with each other unless they are taking on a common enemy, non-believers or Kafirs.

I will refrain from getting in to details of how they are divided and what sort of various divisions they have but will try to put some light on how Hindu Dharma has 4 divisions arranged to keep life on earth and earth itself healthy.

As per Gita chapter 4, verse 13,

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।
तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ।।

As-is translation: According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. And although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the nondoer, being unchangeable.

Simplified explanation: According to the three qualities (goodness, passion & ignorance) of physical nature of body and the activities associated with those qualities, the four differentiation of human society is arranged.

Brahman, teacher with absolute knowledge and skills.
Kshatriya, passionate believer with skills and intelligence.
Vaisya, skilled, passionate but ignorant towards larger purpose of being a Human. Shudras, ignorant towards emotional evolution.

This division in 4 classes or caste is based on the activities needed to nurture life on earth.
Brahman, to give right knowledge to the worthy and live life for liberation at death.
Kshatriya, protect the righteous behaviour, guided by a Brahman.
Vaishyas, to trade and grow food.
Shudras, assist the actions required to accomplish activities of growing food, trading, and protection of knowledgeable people.

These classifications are a natural evolution from the nature of the principle energy from where our universe has evolved and the principle rule with which it has evolved. Since the beginning of the creation of the universe the three words Om Tat Sat were used to indicate that Om (indication of the supreme, sound that came from the black hole at the time of big bang) is the eternal principle of the absolute truth.

These three symbolic representations were used by Bahmanas, those who learned the truth and lived life practicing it to be able to liberate soul, to invoke the true self (soul) while chanting the hymns of the vedas and while behaving, so as to keep the true self (soul) satisfied and free of primal emotions of greed and fear.

At the time of birth every material body is born shudra (Ignorant), as it evolves trading unconditional love, respect with parents & teachers for food, clothes, shelter and knowledge (education) it evolves to being a Vaisya.

As an adult, to administer own life and family with passion and knowledge one evolves to a class of Kshatriya. And eventually after acquiring the knowledge and skills during the retired age one enters into being a Brahman, ready to impart the knowledge & wealth to the worthy and die with a purpose to not return on earth in any form.

The above sequence is true in case of an ideal world. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world today. We are in what is called a Kal Yug. Where truth is based on convenience and motivations than purpose of evolution of life to become a Human on earth.

So if someone accepts Hindu Dharma what caste that person would belong to?

IMO, the person would belong to the caste based on his/her behaviour and nature. If a person doing menial labor accepts Sanatan Dharma he will start with being a Shudra. However as he evolves to mastering skills and accepting his position in the society, the person will start evolving emotionally too. Eventually as he achieves mastery in the skills and gets complete control over his emotional state, the person in this life itself becomes a Brahman. As a Brahman if he is able to transfer his skills and knowledge to the worthy and not just to his biological children, they can and will be Brahmans too.

Being a Brahmin requires one to not just live life with knowledge but also to live life in the belief of exiting from the cycle of life and death.

In order to live life to exit from the cycle of life and death, one has to live without regrets. One can live life without regrets only when every action is based on complete consciousness free of Greed and Fear.

What is action in complete consciousness?

A person, who’s actions are perfectly controlled and conditioned by the senses and the mind, who understands actions with rationality and reasons behind those actions, gives up all sense of ownership over his wealth (physical and knowledge) and behaves for the bare necessities of life (behaves without gluttony or greed for more or fear of less).

Thus even though engaged in all sort of activities, such a person doesn’t get influenced by emotions. A person who is satisfied with the gains that come by itself while performing tasks, who is free from hypocrisy and dual nature, is not jealous, who is equipoised in success and failure, is never stuck in the confused state (state where true self/soul is in a physical body without being realised), even though going through all activities of life.

Actions of such a person who is free from the three qualities (goodness, passion and ignorance) of material nature (physical body) and who is completely living a life in absolute knowledge (knowledge of his true identity/soul) upon death achieves liberation.

To sum it up caste in Hindu Dharma is more to do with ones nature and his motivations in this life than a badge of honour or competition with belief of anyone else. Caste is not based on rituals one performs but reasons behind those rituals. Caste is not the family name one gets from his ancestors but the nature and nurture one gets from his ancestors or his teacher.

Lastly Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism is not purely a closed rules based ideology but a purpose based ideology. Which means as long as you are living life to protect and nurture life on earth without being a barrier to natural evolution you are a Dharmic. Hinduism does not see evolution only from a physical state of survival and reproduction but from a complete state of physical and emotional evolution.

Welcome to Sanatan. Welcome to Hinduism. Welcome to Hindutva.

Appeal to the Head of States of OIC – Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for Reforms

amitpriyadarshi
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Appeal to the Head of States of OIC – Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for Reforms

Dear Esteemed Head of all States from Islamic Nations and members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Please accept my heartiest greeting on the holy month of Ramadan!

Dear Statesmen, you are presented with an opportunity to guide the world towards everlasting peace. I am presenting a case for global renaissance, spearheaded by the Islamic nations. World peace is threatened by extremism in the name of Islam and in equal measure by the appalling backlash against Muslims. Very often the Islamic nations are disproportionately the worst victims of the fanatical religious violence. My dear statesmen, you hold the keys to breaking this vicious cycle of violence and counter violence.

One principal fear that many in other countries (outside OIC) seek to stoke is that the same rules of equality, demanded by Muslims, are not guaranteed to people of other faith in all Islamic countries. It is time to prove to the world that Muslim majority countries can be as just and fair to all religions as any other nation states can possibly claim to be. This would be a giant step to mend the strained relation of hitherto theocratic states with other nations. Additionally, it would also dispel the myth held by few people that the ideas and ideals of Islam are nonconforming with modern values, centered around equality and liberty.

I would urge you all to direct your countries to embrace secular ethos, separate the religion and the policy-making and embrace all religions equally. The path to full secularism might be a long one but the ideals we seek to establish are worth the effort. OIC can begin this long journey by passing a non-binding resolution in this direction to guide the member states in their long-term vision. This would be one giant step towards a world peace and rapprochement and the future generations will remember the legacy of peace you would leave behind. 

It would also send a strong message to the violent religious fringe group that continue bloodshed unabated, that they do not represent the real Islam. Hitherto, the radical elements across the world are emboldened with stricter version and interpretations of religious laws in theocratic states. This message would be the most appropriate and unequivocal disapproval of their brutal tactics. Finally, it would help the otherwise majority moderate Muslims come out of fear and find their suppressed voice and hold their head high with dignity.

Inherently Islam is one of the most plural and diverse religion. I believe Islam is capable of showing the tolerance, which other nations states would seek to emulate. The onus is on you to dispel the myth that Islamic majority countries cannot have a non-theocratic political future. Asymmetrical rules for different community’s breeds suspicion. In this holy month of Ramadan, we have an opportune time to end all this in one stroke of legislation. I would urge you to foster among all your subjects, the ideas of equality, fraternity and dignity of individuals. These ideals should be the center of legislative, executive and judicial reforms.

We urge you to listen to that clarion call of humankind and elevate Islam’s ideals and bring forth a state that seeks reconciliation with people of all faith. May Allah bless your efforts in ushering in this global renaissance.

Every peace-loving citizen of the world.

Fight or flight: Should India join the big 3 in their repeated efforts to call out and penalize China?

Jash Chhabria
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Fight or flight: Should India join the big 3 in their repeated efforts to call out and penalize China?

As India battles to arrange as many PPE testing kits as they can, the US, Australia, and Japan are in desperate search of answers to how an advanced nation like China could not contain such a perilous disease even with numerous warnings by Chinese health officials. 

The ignorant actions of the Chinese government had a devastating impact on the global spread of the coronavirus. China notably lacked transparency and silenced those who raised their voices and wanted to warn the others about the impending coronavirus pandemic. Especially since China has supply chains extending to the entire world, there must be at least some form of transparency in their processes. Given these reasons, any country should raise legitimate questions and issues towards China.

As the US cases just crossed the one million mark, they have the most coronavirus cases in the globe. Their efforts to hold China accountable have begun for a long time, but the white house has not been bright on China’s penalties. Alongside China, the US is also accusing the WHO of having certain unique relations with China. Australia is also following suit while calling out China for its inaction. Unlike the US and Australia, Japan swiftly allocated $2.2 billion and initiated its plan to move its manufacturers from China back to Japan. Although Japan only had around 10,000 cases at the time, their response towards China was swift and fearless.

Meanwhile, India has over 100,000 cases, and the growth is not slowing down anytime soon. India and the USA have exchanged many acts of generosity with each other during the pandemic. A few weeks earlier, India effectively lifted its ban on the drug and shipped 35.82 Lakh tablets of Hydroxychloroquine to the USA. America has shipped 200 ventilators to India according to government sources as a gesture towards India’s generosity with the drug. 

As the cases in India crosses 100,000, China is starting to feel the heat, but Modi has not taken any substantial action towards China. It can be assumed that China remains crucially dominant in Asia and Africa after the coronavirus pandemic. With this in mind, India is the most influential country in the region to stand up to China. This is because India has an accessible location in Asia, a bright young workforce, and an enormous economy. And due to the previously stated relations between India and the USA, Trump could be the liberator of India. According to the former foreign secretary, Kanwal Sibal, “China needs to be targeted as the source of the virus. It cannot disown its responsibility by seeking to change the narrative under our very eyes about its origin. China has to be called to account.” 

Recently, China has been expanding its arms to small and weaker countries in south Asia to assist them. The possible intention of these acts could be to control these nations in the future to China’s advantage. India should counter these activities of China by placing strict penalties on China. As of the end of May, Prime Minister Modi has merely changed the foreign direct investment rules back in April. The amendments stated that India’s bordering country must get India’s approval to invest in India. Due to this act, China was offended and called the new rules prejudiced.

India has numerous great opportunities to break free from its dependence on China. Since the USA is India’s largest foreign direct investors, the economic stimulus package that India recently released makes India attractive to America. Plenty of companies from the USA have been investing in Indian companies for April and May. While Japan is incentivizing firms to leave China, they might see India as a potential hub for their companies. If India secures a stable flow of foreign direct investments, India can break free from its reliance on China. The progression of these international economic events presents no better time for Prime Minister Modi to play the trump card and gain the advantage of the situation. Around a hundred countries have signed a resolution that is seeking to have an investigation to learn the origin of the coronavirus. If countries like India stand up against China, it could make China’s economic rule over Asia a sign of the times and let India be the new superpower of Asia.

राष्ट्रवाद ही भारत को एक सूत्र में बांध सकता है

imran
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राष्ट्रवाद ही भारत को एक सूत्र में बांध सकता है

हिन्दू संस्कृति वह मीठा पानी है जो दुनिया के हर धर्म की कड़वाहट को कम करता है। साथ – साथ उसकी तासिर को ठंडा रखता है।

भारत में हमेशा से ही राजनीतिक पार्टियों और नागरिकों के बीच ठनती रही है, की इस देश को संगठित होकर कैसे चलाया जा सकता है। जिसमें हर राजनीतिक पार्टी ने अपने-अपने मत रखें, जैसे कि कॉन्ग्रेस पार्टी ने हमेशा इस देश के नागरिकों को संस्कृति, जातिवाद में उलझा कर रखा और निरंतर इस देश को बांटते गए। कॉन्ग्रेस और वामपंथियों ने धर्मनिरपेक्षता के नाम पर अल्पसंख्यक की राजनीति की, अल्पसंख्यक को इन राजनीतिक पार्टियों ने संविधान से ऊपर रखा जिसका नतीजा यह हुआ कि धार्मिक प्रतिक्रिया वाद निरंतर बढ़ता रहा।

कॉन्ग्रेस और वामपंथियों ने गरीब तबके के भारतीयों की राजनीति को अपने एजेंडे में रखा। क्योंकि देश के हर धर्म, जाति और बोली के लोग इस श्रेणी में आते हैं, तो क्या इस से पूरे देश को संगठित रखा जा सकता है, नहीं। क्योंकि यह देश धर्म, जाति और बोली या जन – जाती के नाम पर नहीं बल्कि, क्लास के नाम पर भी बटा हुआ है। ग़रीबी के नाम पर किसी धर्म या जाति को आरक्षण देने से कॉन्ग्रेस ने टकराव की स्थिति को बढ़ाया या घटाया, यह पूरा देश जानता है की इस का जबाव क्या है। कॉन्ग्रेस पार्टी निरंतर आरएसएस -बीजेपी पर हमला करती रही है, की यह संस्थाएं भारत की मूल भावना(धर्मनिरपेक्षता) का विनाश करना चाहती हैं।

थोड़ी नजर आरएसएस – बीजेपी पर डालते हैं, हिन्दू महासभा 1915 में बनी जिसने लगभग 1920 में बतौर राजनीतिक पार्टी की तरह काम करना शुरू किया। हिन्दू महासभा का गढ़न मुस्लिम लीग के समकक्ष हुआ था. जिस तरह मुस्लिम लीग देश को आजादी से पहले ही बाटने की राजनीति कर रही थी उसके प्रतिरूप हिन्दू महासभा का जन्म हुआ था।

1925 में राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ का जन्म हुआ 1924 खिलाफत आंदोलन के बाद जहां खिलाफत आंदोलन के नेता ब्रिटिश सरकार से भारत को मांग रहे थे क्योंकि उन्हें लगता था कि ब्रिटिश हुकूमत ने यह देश मुसलमानों से लिया है, रही बीजेपी तो हिन्दू महासभा और जन संघ ने 1980 में बीजेपी को जन्म दिया।

क्या सच में आरएसएस – बीजेपी इस देश को बाट रहें हैं

इस देश में पहचान (identity) की राजनीति इस क़दर होती है मानो यह देश कभी एक था ही नहीं कोई यहां पर मुस्लिम, सिख, ईसाई है, तो कोई ब्राह्मण, राजपूत, यादव, जाट, गुज्जर तो कोई दलित है। जिस देश में 1618 भाषा, 6400 जातियां और 6 धर्म हो उस देश को एक धागे में केवल राष्ट्रवाद ही बांध के रख सकता है। जब तक यह देश जेम्स की चॉकलेट बना रहेगा तब तक यह देश कमजोर रहेगा।

सेक्युलरिज्म की बात करने वाले वामपंथ का भारतीय सिनेमा में एक छत्र राज रहा है। वामपंथियों ने पहचान (identity) की राजनीति को एक अलग ही स्थर पर ले गए, भारतीय मुसलमानों को वामपंथ ने ज्यादातर केवल कुर्ता-पजामा, सिर पर टोपी, कंधे पर अरबी कपड़ा और आंखो में सूर्मे तक ही सीमित रखा उन्हें लगभग ना के बराबर इंजिनियर, डॉक्टर, वकील की भूमिका में रखा। वह किरदार समाज की हर बुरी चीज़ करेगा, जैसे कत्ल, गैंगस्टर, वैश्या के साथ सोना, चोरी पर नमाज एक बार की नहीं छोड़ेगा। जिससे आज यह मुस्लिम भीड़ पहचान बना चुकी है।

इस संविधान ने बतौर नागरिक अपने धर्म को मानने की आज़ादी दी थी, परंतु भारतीय मुसलमान इससे अपनी आज़ादी मान कर, भीड़ की तरह अपने धर्म को सार्वजनिक क्षेत्रों में लोगो को परेशान करके अपनी धार्मिक प्रतिक्रिया को अंजाम देते आए हैं जैसे सड़को को बंद करके बीच में नमाज पढ़ना, लाउड-स्पीकर से दिन में पांच वक़्त अजान देना। आज तक मुस्लिम भीड़ के नेताओ ने इन्हे सेकुलरिज्म का अर्थ नहीं बतलाया| एक वक़्त तो यह मुस्लिम भीड़ सविंधान का हवाला देते हुए कहती की सविंधान ने हमे अपने धर्म को मानने की आज़ादी देता है , तो उसी वक़्त उसी सविंधान को ताक पर रखते हुए कहते हैं मुस्लिम अपनी किताब से चलेगा।

हिन्दू संस्कृति के अलावा इस देश को कश्मीर से कन्याकुमारी, कच्छ से इटानगर तक कोई एक नहीं रख सकता है, कारण हर जाति, जन – जाति और धर्म के मूल में हिन्दू संस्कृति की झलक दिखती है।

कॉन्ग्रेस और वामपंथ हमेशा ये राग अलापते रहे हैं कि आरएसएस -बीजेपी भारत को हिन्दू राष्ट बनाना चाहती है। हिन्दू संस्कृति का अर्ध धर्म है, हिन्दू संस्कृति वह मीठा पानी है जो दुनिया के हर धर्म की कड़वाहट को कम करता है। साथ – साथ उसकी तासिर को ठंडा रखता है।

Colloquial use of mental health terms and why it needs to be stopped

sjain
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Colloquial use of mental health terms and why it needs to be stopped

Every time my cousin would start a story, she would go off on another tangent and start talking about something else. When someone would point it out, she would say “Oops, sorry, my ADHD is acting up”.  And just the other day, one of my friends remarked, “I hate it when people make a mess around themselves. It hurts my OCD to look at them”. 

I once overheard a classmate say. “I hate presentations. Talking in front of the class gives me Anxiety”. 

There’s a BIG PROBLEM in talking like this. Not only are the statements grammatically incorrect, they are also extremely disturbing for people who actually have these mental illnesses. ADHD, OCD and Anxiety are real mental health disorders.  These are not fictional stories made up by someone’s imagination. Casual references like this to medical diagnoses undermine the severity of certain disorders and contribute to the greater shame around obtaining a mental health diagnosis.  Dr. Lauren, a UK based clinical psychologist, says that this is linked to a phenomenon known as “semantic satiation”; where there is constant repetition of a word until all meaning is lost. This loss of meaning aids in the persistence,  spread of stigma and misinformation about such conditions. “The actual meaning of the term gets diluted and gets associated with simpler and more fleeting experiences. It normalises illness”, says Dr. Zsofia Demjen, a linguist who studies the intersections of language, mind and health. 

This situation is extremely distressing for someone who actually suffers from the illness. When they hear these terms being used to describe fleeting feelings, they are unable to use them to describe the much more complex feelings of their disorder- something that can be extremely debilitating. And when people actually show the symptoms, they are deemed to be “overreacting” and are told to “snap out of it”- their symptoms are not taken as seriously as they should be. 

Another problem with using these terms so loosely is that we end up unintentionally prioritizing one section of society over another. Using these terms makes it sound as though only some people’s minds are healthy, valuable and desirable. 

You may ask how big a problem this really is? Or how many people really use mental health terms so unconsciously? The results are shocking. A study conducted in 2007 by Rose, Thornicroft, Pinfold and Kassam in England aimed to investigate the extent of stigma in relation to how they refer to people with mental illness. The study was conducted on 14-year-old school students. The results showed that 400 of the 472 participating students (85%) provided 250 words and terms to describe a person with mental illness. Five themes were identified from this data. Popular derogatory terms’ (116 items) accounted for nearly half of the words examined. The second theme occurred less often and was described as ‘negative emotional state’ (61 items). The third theme demonstrated the confusion of young people between physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health problems (38 items). The use of psychiatric diagnoses (15 items) and terms related to violence (9 items) were unexpectedly uncommon. This is referred to as negative evaluation. 

When terms such as “OCD” or “Bipolar” are used casually, they are being used to refer to negative behaviour and not a clinical diagnosis. These words acquire a negative connotation and then when someone is diagnosed with these disorders, they have a negative instead of a neutral approach to their illness. 

Most of us are guilty of using these terms loosely, especially Anxiety, OCD and Depression. 

Anxiety and Panic Attacks are very different from feeling nervous. Anxiety is a generalized feeling of fear and uneasiness; it is usually vague and not directed at anything in particular. Nervousness on the other hand, is a feeling of uneasiness or fear specifically directed at a particular object or activity. Panic attacks are the overwhelming feeling of anxiety, where one loses the ability to cope with their surroundings to such an extent that they feel like they may die. It is usually accompanied by the feeling of suffocation and extreme helplessness. Panic Attacks are commonly interpreted as heart attacks by those suffering from it. They are definitely not a fright that lasts for a few seconds. 

OCD is not just a predisposition of liking things to be kept neatly, nor is it just being “particular” about certain things. And it surely is not as pop culture has often deemed it -Obsessive Christmas/ Coffee /Cricket /Corgi Disorder. It is a very real and debilitating mental disorder, characterised by repetitive, unwanted thoughts and compulsive actions that interfere with daily life.  It is a type of anxiety disorder because the obsessions can cause severe anxiety and feelings of self-doubt. 

Depression is known as the “common cold” of mental disorders. However, it is also one of the most common disorders to be trivialised. Being depressed does not mean having a bad day, being tired or saddened for a passing moment (or even just a day). It is a very serious mental illness in which patients show symptoms daily for at least two weeks to such an extent that it affects their work, social life and interpersonal relationships. It causes people to lose interest in things they previously enjoyed doing. It is an absolute lack of hope, energy and self-esteem. Sleep becomes extremely difficult and some people may lose their appetite while others may overeat as a coping mechanism.

The reason why mental health terms are often used so lightly is because unlike physical illness, there are not as many outward signs of a mental illness. It is easy to say that someone is “being” OCD, because you cannot see it. But just like you would not say someone who was breathless has a heart disease, you cannot label someone who is sad as being depressed. Our words have power and we must use that power responsibly- by not trivialising illnesses and reinforcing ableism.  

This article was first published by Margika, on its medium blog page 

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