Desicritics Author: weedwanderer

Four Evergreen Careers for the New Century

weedwanderer — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:06:43 EDT

Every few years India witnesses a new Boom, from Dot com to Outsourcing which soon succumbs to the inevitable Bust. So here are my picks for a worry-free employment and sure shot success.

1. Go for God:
We love the idea and promise held by Godmen. People who claim to be blessed by Divine Providence or even more incredibly profess to be a reincarnation of a deity. Although HR analysts had claimed that this sector would be hit by layoffs in the progressively educated Kalyug, resurgence in their popularity has laid all doubts to rest.

The perks of this career include, unlimited funds provided for by gullible foreigners in search of Nirvana and misled Non Resident Indians. Also, freedom from any criticism even if you rape,murder or make medicines from extremely doubtful sources. Technical advancements have made even legal repercussions seem trivial, Premananda in Tamil Nadu holds his pravachhans from jail. This is a perpetually thriving industry and is unhindered by lack of credentials, educational or otherwise. Although knowledge of a few sleight of hand magic tricks might be an unavoidable prerequisite.

2. My Daddy Strongest:
Although most of us don't really have much of a say in the matter, try and be born in an Indian Celebrity household, preferably political or film related. Perks include James Bond's infamous License to Kill, aptly illustrated by the Jessica Lal case and of course Salman Khan's cluttering trophy case. Also, perks of the high life ensue, Unlimited slush funds, Swiss bank accounts and Use of drugs without accountability. The great Indian masses always sympathize with these "misguided youth", ie, Rahul Mahajan, Fardeen Khan, and the rest of the lawless posse. After ensuring successful placement of self in such a family environ, career opportunities abound, and there is always the possibility of Daddy Dearest passing away leaving you as the rightful heir, in the tradition of Indian Dynasties.

3. Talk it Out:
If you have ever been politely informed about your propensity to talk gibberish at length and without pause, a stint in the Talk show circuit might just be the thing for you. This sector is open to willing individuals of virtually any background. Fading Hindi Film Starlets, Sensationalist Journos of questionable standards and sexually ambiguous Film Directors have all successfully carved a niche for themselves in this field. As there is always an abundance of psuedo celebrities in India, you can churn out episodes forever, doing bios on everybody from Rani Mukherjee's dog to Civil servants who claim to be a reincarnation of the Goddess Radha. A dictionary of flowery adjectives is a must for any aspirant to this field, which must be used frequently, with repetition and without any specific meaning.

4. Dare to Bare:
This is primarily a field for female aspirants and requires greater effort and dedication than any of the above vocations. This career is recommended to those wannabe starlets who have failed in their efforts to be born in a Celebrity household as mentioned earlier. Requires an inclination to bare your body in the most adverse of circumstances, be it in a sub-artic Hindi film item number location or a choreographed Wardrobe Malfunction on the runway. Ideally candidate should possess quaint Indian moralities and the ability to mouth these cultural ideologies while encased in the most minimalist of apparel. Also to ensure continued employment and to beat the maddening competition, candidate must have the ability to houndishly smell a publicity opportunity a mile away. 'There is no such thing as bad publicity' must be made a motto in life or preferably tattooed suggestively on the lower back.

Opinion:Arjun Singh Starring In The Myth

weedwanderer — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:10:16 EDT

Arjun of mythological lore represented excellence of the highest order, his namesake is out to destroy the same.Here's a lil graphic tid bit I created in support of the anti reservation protesters.Hope it doesn't rub anybody the wrong way.Please send in your comments and suggestions as well.

Book Review:Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny (Issues of Our Time) by Amartya Sen

weedwanderer — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 05:57:19 EDT

Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's latest effort Identity and Violence is released in a time when the whole world is obsessed with what Samuel Huntington famously described as the "Clash of Civilizations". Sen tries to unravel the complexities of race, identity and conflict. His assertion is that the world conflicts of today are a result of singular identities being forced onto people. Division of the people of the world on basis of singular affiliation alone, such as religion, leads to violence. These reductionist tendencies are used by the religio-political groups of the world (such as our very own BJP) to enlist foot soldiers for their cause.This conclusion of Amartya Sen makes sense at a theoretical level. But when applied on the complex present day conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine crisis seems overtly simplistic.

Sen concludes that such singular categorization of people robs them of their choice of identity. "The same person can be, without any contradiction, an American citizen, of Caribbean origin, with African ancestry, a Christian, a liberal, a woman, a vegetarian, a long-distance runner, a historian, a schoolteacher, a novelist, a feminist, a heterosexual, a believer in gay and lesbian rights, a theater lover, an environmental activist, a tennis fan, a jazz musician,", i.e., every person has plural associations. According to Sen one of our basic rights is to make a choice as to prioritize which of these affiliations is more important to us. Although he acknowledges that these choices are made within certain constraints. Sen articulates in simple terms how the conflicts of race and religion can only be resolved by shifting our focus to recognize the plurality of identities. According to Sen's Person centric doctrine, the solution lies in not thinking that we are all the same but in fact that each and every one of us is diversely different.

Dr.Sen suffers from what Author Salman Rushdie terms as the optimism disease, providing broad sweeping solutions to problems that have been unsolvable for centuries. The book can be a tiring read with its slow and monotonous flow. Also, Sen's quest to undo Samuel Huntington's categorization of a Civilizational Clash is not so subtle. His attempts to prove that Islam is not a religion that breeds extremism, through oft repeated anecdotes of the Mughal Emperor Akbar seem a bit strained. Dr.Sen's attempt to shift the focus of modern day conflicts is heroic albeit misplaced. This Nobel Laureate should stick to his strengths, instead of gallivanting to solve problems outside his field of specialization.