Comments on: Responding to Violence

By: almostinfamous

almostinfamous — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:57:44 +0000

i dont know why i didnt see this before. i agree almost completely. the problem is that there has been a separation, like that when milk curdles, of those that are most affected by the actions of politicians and those that are able to affect the actions of those politicians. this is mostly caused by increasing inequality and separation of the traditional class structure, caused by the shock of rapid GDP growth which is mostly restricted to the urban and exurban areas (and, i might add, a simultaneous explosion of people who read Ayn Rand and consider it a sound philosophy worth adoptic, a notion more offensive and dangerous than calling her work literature).

By: Sydhwaney

Sydhwaney — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:39:57 +0000

Yadiyadiyada why repeat everything we already know ?

I don’t know what yadiyada means, and as for the post I was just thinking aloud. There are lots of things many people already know but still feel the need to talk about them and maybe do something about them. You will not find the originality you were looking for here

By: dipali

dipali — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:27:08 +0000

All that you say is so true. But there are some wonderful people who are doing their bit to make a difference, and they are a beacon of hope in a dismal scenario.
Yes, we seem to have lost focus and a holistic vision. And we probably have the leaders we deserve.

By: Gee

Gee — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:32:47 +0000

So true…there is so much to be done, that it makes one weary to even think about it !
Though our country has been making a lot of economic progress, there is a huge lacuna in the social aspect, which is very depressing.
Since security happens to be of foremost concern for any nation, such extreme reactions came forth to the terror attacks. The other things like lack of education and basic healthcare, like you rightly mentioned, we get used to over time…
What is the solution..some would say, vote for the right candidate ! But what if nobody seems fit for the role ? I don’t have much faith in either of the two major political parties..
Having said all this, I still have a lot of hope that things will change for the better in india !

Yeah, I live in hope too.

By: Nino's Mum

Nino's Mum — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:46:17 +0000

May I please send this to other expat friends who have so far only returned to mouth divisive ideologies while they live far away safe in the comfort of distance?
Because it is true – all that you said – we’ve accepted those mundane violences as a part of living in India, as a part of the experience. It’s only when it gets too close to comfort that we feel the heat. And yet at the same time, how is cohesive unlearning possible on such a massive scale? How do we teach generations of Indians to unlearn that bribing is not the norm? For every arugument on Hindu-Muslim riots, there’s a precedent to be quoted. How far back does the history of quid-pro-quo stretch – thousands of years back to temples we’ve never seen, and kings we’ve only read about. It starts by education – sterile and athesit and factual – the kind you recently wrote about. And lots of Foam, rinse, wash, repeat for the current generation.

I assume that was a rhetorical question? But if not, yes feel free to send it to anyone. Education needn’t be sterile as in boring, but it certainly needs cleaning and boiling, like a baby’s bottle!