About the 'I'

Problem with ‘I’

The first sentence took quite some time and quite many backspace hits to finally take form. The doubt was with the ‘I’. Whether to ‘I’ or not to ‘I’. That poses a fundamental problem in writing I feel. For the writer is aware of the connotations that the letter will have with the content of the written piece. It again goes back to that fundamental question that bogs many of us for most part of our lives ‘What will someone think about me’. Lot of effort is spent in molding ourselves, in acting, in pretending so that one will receive that very important ‘acceptance’. Perhaps that is what a social animal in a society is. But then no society gave its animals the wings to soar high.

Problem with ‘I’ again

Most conflicts happen because one takes oneself too seriously. It is imperative that one must conduct oneself in a certain manner so that she is taken seriously, else people will make a doormat of you, you will be a walkover and ultimately you will be in pain for it. This is precisely the thought one grows up with. Nothing wrong with that. But there is a lacunae there, of being taught or acquired the fact that one cannot always be serious especially about herself, all the time. To brush matters not worthy of your attention and concentration needs to be inculcated. When in doubt just remember what magnitude of a spec you are in the entire universe.

Again, a problem with ‘I’

I, me, mine, is all fine. There is a problem with what after ‘I’ is. Not ‘J’. A great part of our lives, a great deal of what we do, is for posterity. We are very fond of the ‘L’ word. Legacy. Everyone wants to leave behind a big one, one that will stand the test of time, one that will be there when the Himalayas become sea again, when humans will finally be able to time travel. Legacy is thus built brick by brick. Again no harm with that, but a fundamental question remains. After one has died, why does one want oneself to be remembered? How is that going to satisfy the dead? Or maybe, these are for afterlife believers. Either way, it’s an extension of ego that refuses to die with the body, it wishes to be an everlasting fragrance.

Lastly, the missing ‘I’

Individuals are rising, individuals are demolished. While a strange independence stemming out of lack of human interactions, keeping faith, trusting is on a rise, in a parallel world individuals are getting masked behind groups and thereby losing themselves. Single occupancy hostel rooms are requested for and preferred, faceless twitter trolls bully and puncture many self-esteems. Both are unhealthy. Younger kids are uncomfortable to make conversations, face to face chats abruptly ends. The refuge for another set is behind the screen, where identities can be forged, a second life can be lived. The ‘I’ is missing in an individual. It either has hypertrophied or has become too miniature for sustenance.

Book Review - 7 Secrets of the Goddess

 

Book Review – 7 Secrets of the Goddess

7 Secrets of the Goddess is the fourth book in the 7 Secrets series by medical doctor-turned-mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik. In this book he tells seven tales, of Hindu goddesses, discussing narratives of feminism, gender relationship, symbolism, influences and others. As in his previous work Dr Pattanaik brings mythology to the common reader in his lucid language. He delves into discussions of traditional interpretations and questions them too. From Kali to Durga to Saraswati their origin, various stories of divergent versions, transitions in imagery and contemporary views are described. Apart than the text, the book scores a major vantage point for the relevant pictures with description which constitutes half of the book, literally.

The first chapter is on Gaia, the point of origin, the source of life and the author by virtue of his meticulous research gives us different versions of the origin. Gaia in greek, Sedna in Arctic, Adya in Tantrik traditions, Atum in Egypt are all the source of life who belonged to a female dominated culture. The chapter on Kali is exhaustive perhaps because of her finding mention in the beginning of the four thousand year old Hindu culture and the transitions that image of Kali has undertaken beginning from Tantrik traditions to neo-colonial era, from being linked to death to worshipped as Radha or affectionate mother to being associated with feminist movement.

Gauri, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Vitthai are the other chapters in the book. One does find a flow in the chapters as mentioned above and which is a welcome change in style when one compares few of the authors other books which have more number of short stories loosely bound together. In these chapters apart than describing the stories associated with the goddess in focus, Dr Pattanaik raises more relevant issues like advent of Sati tradition, bhakti phase of Hinduism, symbolic readings of mythology, Indian philosophy, relationship with wealth and numerous other narratives.

A lot of space is allotted to description of Goddess vis-à-vis Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Numerous stories of how Brahma’s control-seeking and incestuous behavior makes him outcast and has no temples dedicated to him, Vishnu who is intimately associated with Goddesses and Shiva who both withdraws from her and is domesticated by her are present throughout the seven chapters. Though the repeated mentions across chapters may confuse a reader, on careful reading it could be seen as an underlying theme common to all origins of deities. Also a recurring theme has been that of grama-devis, an important institution when it comes to the large swathes of villages, and which perhaps not many mythologists have given due importance.

7 Secrets of the Goddess becomes an important reading in contemporary gender debates. The shift from Vedic to Puranic culture, the role of emergence of Buddhism and its effect on Hinduism, the invasion of Islam and then the influence of another monotheistic religion Christianity had a bearing on how Goddess was perceived in those times. It could safely be said that domestication of Goddess and thereby females increased over the time. Could it then be termed unwarranted or evil or only a natural progression; 7 Secrets of the Goddess will help you raise these questions and seek their answers.

Book review: Not Just An Accountant - conscience keeper’s account

 

It can be safely said that most Indians will take CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) synonymous with Vinod Rai. A question seeking former and current CAG names might meet with silence of ignorance. And this is only natural. For the man brought to the fore skeletons from the Indian cupboard of corruption like no other. And those skeletons that shocked a nation beyond belief, shook existing political systems and perhaps proved instrumental in humiliating fall of a regime. Not Just An Accountant (Rupa) is his testimony.

The life of a bureaucrat is interesting and Vinod Rai’s career begins in a tumultuous manner with delay in his cadre assignment. He narrates the tale wonderfully which hooks interest of the reader who gets a firsthand account of how government works. His long stint in Kerala, the various tribulations, the successes have been narrated in a simple and engaging manner.

But the crux of the book lies after that. The reader of this book certainly is looking for Vinod Rai’s version of the scams CAG unearthed, reported and stuck to their reports despite tremendous opposition from the powers that be. 2G, Commonwealth, Coal, Civil Aviation, Natural Gas, the scams that caught public imagination have been described at great length.

Vinod Rai has described these monumental corruption incidences beginning with basics, then going to the technical aspects followed by probing the reader. Though one might have read at great lengths about these scams, Mr Rai’s version is an education. He provides that essential CAG angle and makes it a point in every chapter to validate and laud the effort of this constitutional body which has been questioned. This questioning has been agonizing.

The various incidences that Vinod Rai mentions elicit various responses in the reader. Be it the audacity with which A Raja stuck to following a no auction policy, the creation of a body without any governmental control to seat Suresh Kalmadi, flouting norms to give Reliance more than 7 thousand square kilometers of area for excavation, buying aircrafts and selling them for a 5 times lesser rate, will shock the reader learning about these in detail for the first time.

During the release of the book the mention of role of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s in these scams was a talking point. Vinod Rai has made his observations of the PM’s role very clear. In the 2G scam, he writes how on two occasions, in response to A Raja’s letter, the PM replied with the text “I have received your letter of (date) regarding recent developments in the telecom sector”. A similar stoic silence in the Coal block allotment scam is mentioned. Overall the impression is sent of a PM who has acted like Dhritarashtra of Mahabharat.

The book is interesting for one interested in policy issues. A bureaucrat with 40 years of experience explains concepts of Principal-Agent problem, policy of past, shift in policy and obfuscation of policy. The book is an essential read for those who wish to get a comprehensive view of role of CAG, the technical aspects of scams from 2G scam to Reliance’s role in KG basin excavation, and aspects of an honest bureaucrat’s life.