The Inertia of Apathy

In a recent conversation over a few beers, some friends and I were pondering over the ongoing general elections, and what it means. One thing led to another, and our conversation took some pretty strange turns, but some points of discussion stuck.

Politics in India is a messy affair. It's not as clear cut as the Congress, BJP and the Left. Mysteriously somehow, this organized mess works. Karan Johar recently made an advert for the Lead India campaign, where he roped in all the hottest bollywood stars to persuade the masses to vote. The message was that nothing can happen to this country unless we take a stand and vote. But how many of us know who we are voting for, and what it means not just to us, but the rest of the country as well?

Our country has an average voter turnout of about 60%. Out of which a majority are illiterate, or have just passed the Indian standard of literacy, which is being able to write your own name in one's mother tongue. Sure, they might still be smart enough to understand who can best address their concerns, but they are also that much easier to fool. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, over 20% of the parliamentary candidates have criminal records. I guess crime does pay.

But politicians are only half the story. Citizens have a large role to play in the problems that plague our country. The number of tax defaulters in India probably outnumbers the number who actually pay tax. Many would say that literacy is the answer to most of our problems. Sample this for illiterate literacy - close to 70% of credit card holders in India default on their bills. Many of these people are city-dwelling engineers with newly acquired purchasing power. Landing that software job that will make all your middle class woes disappear seems to be the promised land for the 1,200,000 students that write exams such as the IITJEE, AIEEE etc. But even after being through these premier educational institutions, basic common sense seems to be lacking. At the end, its sixpence none the richer. It makes me wonder, how can we complain about politicians siphoning money, when we are no better.

The situtation is not all bleak. Despite the shams, there are definitely changes happening. India is progressing, albiet not at the optimum rate. There is talk of making concrete changes such as easing FDI caps etc. Life still goes on, as it can only in India. I would continue on a rant about how there needs to be more accountability in the system, to find a solution to the aforementioned problems. But I simply don't know enough about my country's political and economic environment to make an educated point. Until recently I had never pondered over these issues.

Maybe it's high time we at least spare a thought.

What's In A Name?

Shakespeare evidently never experienced the irritation of being called Sheikh Speer or such. I am intrigued by this particular folly of his. Seldom have people got my name right. It took an effort back home to explain how my name is pronounced. Here in Singapore, I've given up. Say name cannot lah! I've heard anik, ban, gupta, datta, aniba and even honey bun for crying out loud! I guess I am destined to have an unpronounceable name. But it's fine. Really. I quite enjoy being called Bun, Bread and the occasional non bakery item such as Bongo. But what I dont enjoy is seeing my beloved city undergo a name change due to a politically fueled movement for freedom from "cultural enslavement".

As the world sadly knows by now, Bangalore is no more. It has rebranded itself, taking the local name for “city of cooked beans”. Now many might have a problem with the recognition issue, and say 'How can you change the name of the I.T. Capital of India?' But that's not what the main problem is. Yeah sure Bangalore, oh sorry, Bengalooru Mahanagara Palike will have to end up spending about 50 crores due to the name change, but the government sees this as an "investment". I'm not angry because no one will come to Bengalooru. In the end the name probably will catch on. I have good friends here from Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata too. The printing industry is having a field day because of the new business. Good for them. Knock yourselves out. What I am disappointed about though is the motive behind the change.

For crying out loud, Bangalore has enough authenticity by itself. We have some of the country's greatest writers such as Girish Karnad and U.R. Ananthamurthy who write in Kannada as well as English. We have a thriving culture with Kannadiga organisations always conducting cultural programs and what not. We have more signboards in Kannada than in English. We feel it natural to converse with the local auto rickshaw guy in Kannada. We hardly talk to the shopkeepers in English or even Hindi for that matter. For any true Bangalorean, its culture is a part of our being. To even have to stoop as low as to create a need for culture, is appalling. We know all this, and yet the government claims a victory for authenticity and culture.

I'm not trying to dish out anti-establishment rubbish, but the actions speak for themselves. Over the past few years, radio stations, discotheques and even restaurants have been banned due to activist sensationalism and 'cultural freedom'. Sin thy name is English! The government recently went a step further when Basavaraj Horatti, the education minister threatened to ban more than 2,000 private schools that taught in English, not Kannada. Hell, call the city 'Ban' Galore if at all you want to change it's name!

So what is the fight about anyways? British Imperialism? I sense a wave of Kannadiga Imperialism coming on if you ask me! The British did not change our culture by changing the "authentic" name of our city. Are we really going to blame them for a mispronunciation? I think it was a completely uncalled for change, which does no good, but creates unnecessary friction and possible damage as well. I left Bangalore in July and will be going back to Bengalooru in December. That's not even amusing.

You don't change anything by calling anirban honey bun. I'm still the same person with the same virtues and defects. I love my city just the way it is. Sure we have buildings and road names reminiscent of British rule, but for every Richmond Road, we have a Sampige Road. And for every Daly Memorial Hall, We have a Ravindra Kalakshetra. Thats why I ask the government - Yaake neevu sumne hesaru change madtaidare? To me the city will always be Bangalore. Oh sorry Mr. Cultural whistle blower, I meant Namma Bengalooru.

School's Out!

All hail the BJP!! Just announced that there's no school due to the bandh *performs a little jig*

So now, how do I efficiently waste this blessing of a day? I think I might spend it preparing for the TCS IT Quiz. Really wanna win that. Been a dream for a while now. So yeah, back to pouring over IT Sites and Newsletters for me!! Hope all of you will while away this day with panache!