How it works

 Illustrative one

Original at http://xkcd.com/385/

Equality and Inequality

Throughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic Age, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle, and the Low. They have been subdivided in many ways, they have borne countless different names, and their relative numbers, as well as their attitude towards one another, have varied from age to age: but the essential structure of society has never altered. Even after enormous upheavals and seemingly irrevocable changes, the same pattern has always reasserted itself, just as a gyroscope will always return to equilibnum, however far it is pushed one way or the other. The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the Middle is to change places with the High. The aim of the Low, when they have an aim — for it is an abiding characteristic of the Low that they are too much crushed by drudgery to be more than intermittently conscious of anything outside their daily lives — is to abolish all distinctions and create a society in which all men shall be equal. Thus throughout history a struggle which is the same in its main outlines recurs over and over again. For long periods the High seem to be securely in power, but sooner or later there always comes a moment when they lose either their belief in themselves or their capacity to govern efficiently, or both. They are then overthrown by the Middle, who enlist the Low on their side by pretending to them that they are fighting for liberty and justice. As soon as they have reached their objective, the Middle thrust the Low back into their old position of servitude, and themselves become the High. Presently a new Middle group splits off from one of the other groups, or from both of them, and the struggle begins over again. Of the three groups, only the Low are never even temporarily successful in achieving their aims. It would be an exaggeration to say that throughout history there has been no progress of a material kind. Even today, in a period of decline, the average human being is physically better off than he was a few centuries ago. But no advance in wealth, no softening of manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimetre nearer. From the point of view of the Low, no historic change has ever meant much more than a change in the name of their masters.

(George Orwell – 1984)

On a related note -

• शोषित
• मैं शोषित हूँ
  

All Right! That’s some self-publicity

 

Best Books :)

The book fascinated him, or more exactly it reassured him. In a sense it told him nothing that was new, but that was part of the attraction. It said what he would have said, if it had been possible for him to set his scattered thoughts in order. It was the product of a mind similar to his own, but enormously more powerful, more systematic, less fear-ridden. The best books, he perceived, are those that tell you what you know already.

(George Orwell – 1984)

Friendship??

This is a piece I liked. It isn’t the kind I would say that I agree with it word-by-word or that I have nothing more to say, still it makes a point. To quote one line (For the rest see the post) -

There’s a world of difference between being a friend and being a fan.

Candor and falsehood

If society chooses to penalize candor, it has itself to thank if its attack is countered by falsehood.

 G. B. Shaw in the preface to the play Overruled.

A dose of feminism…

Found this on the net -

The Male Privilege Checklist

Of course, certain points will depend on the context, and some might be exaggerated. Still, overall a nice comparison. And there is a reply to the most common critiques too -

 

Since I first compiled it, the list has been posted several times on internet discussion groups. Very helpfully, many people have suggested additions to the checklist. More commonly, of course, critics (usually, but not always, male) have pointed out men have disadvantages too – being drafted into the army, being expected to suppress emotions, and so on. These are indeed bad things – but I never claimed that life for men is all ice cream sundaes. Pointing out that men are privileged in no way denies that sometimes bad things happen to men.

In the end, however, it is men and not women who make the most money; men and not women who dominate the government and the corporate boards; men and not women who dominate virtually all of the most powerful positions of society. And it is women and not men who suffer the most from intimate violence and rape; who are the most likely to be poor; who are, on the whole, given the short end of patriarchy’s stick. As Marilyn Frye has argued, while men are harmed by patriarchy, women are oppressed by it.

Some of my favourites –

• I can be confident that my co-workers won’t think I got my job because of my sex – even though that might be true.
• If I am never promoted, it’s not because of my sex.
• If I fail in my job or career, I can feel sure this won’t be seen as a black mark against my entire sex’s capabilities.
• If I have children and provide primary care for them, I’ll be praised for extraordinary parenting if I’m even marginally competent.
• If I have children and pursue a career, no one will think I’m selfish for not staying at home.
• If I’m careless with my financial affairs it won’t be attributed to my sex.
• If I’m careless with my driving it won’t be attributed to my sex.
• I can speak in public to a large group without putting my sex on trial.
• I can ask for legal protection from violence that happens mostly to men without being seen as a selfish special interest, since that kind of violence is called “crime” and is a general social concern. (Violence that happens mostly to women is usually called “domestic violence” or “acquaintance rape,” and is seen as a special interest issue.)
• The decision to hire me will never be based on assumptions about whether or not I might choose to have a family sometime soon.
• I have the privilege of being unaware of my male privilege.

More on 2nd October

2nd October haapens to be the birthday of not just Mahatma Gandhi, but also of Shri Lal Bahadur Shashtri. While, there are many songs/poetries dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, this particular song is unique in the sense that it is dedicate to both. Unfortunately I can not find the lyrics on the net and do not remember it myself either – So, just few lines I can recall –

आज है दो अक्तूबर का दिन आज का दिन है बड़ा महान्
आज के दिन दो फूल खिले जिनसे महका हिन्दुस्तान।
………………………………………
एक का नारा अमन एक का ‘जय जवान, जय किसान’।

Any help is completing at least the first four lines?

On 2nd October

From the The Hindi ITRANS Song Book v3.2

Times have changed, relevant philosophies have changed, even the way of looking at the past has changed. Still, legends are required for the human race, to encourage aspirations, to give people principles. This is a dedication to that legend.

Just Like That…

एक समय संतुष्ट बहुत था पा मैं थोड़ी सी हाला।भोला-सा था मेरा साक़ी छोटा-सा मेरा प्याला।        छोटे से इस जग की मेरे         स्वर्ग बलाएँ लेता था,विस्तृत जग में हाय खो गई मेरी नन्हीं मधुशाला।

( Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Madhushala)

(Complete Madhushala in Devnagri is available on my “Writings Page“. Check out the section “Hindi Poems by Others”)

Literal Translation (To the extent I could do it)

There was a time when I was pretty satisfied with a small amount of wine. I had an innocent wine-maid and a small wine-glass. Heaven used to envy this small world of mine. Alas! My small tavern is lost is this vast world.

Just Like That

एक बरस में एक बार ही
जगती होली की ज्वाला,
एक बार ही लगती बाज़ी,
जलती दीपों की माला;
        दुनियावालो, किन्तु, किसी दिन
        आ मदिरालय में देखो,
दिन को होली, रात दिवाली,
रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला!

Happy Holi to you all anyway