Chronicling the present is an important task by cutting the clutter of the media cacophony and interested propaganda. Phrases like fake news, paid media, or godi media have ceased to shock and jumla is no longer considered as a zulm. The virtual nature of a TV debate or a movie make them seem as a seamless world making discourse look superfluous and subjective which in turn can be dismissed on several grounds such as uninformed, uncritical, or simply incoherent. Human speech, no doubt, suffers from these infirmities and many other ambiguities. Besides, sequence of sentences succumb to subsequent revision of thought in accordance with the response of the audience. Needless to mention that self-interest and self-preservation play their part continuously without, of course, being able to safeguard them adequately due to unpredictable circumstantial unloads.
Be that as it may, there are universal aspects which need to be kept aloft. There are established normatives which must not be allowed to wither away. But no one in the present circumstances feels any such obligation. Most people are prone to take a partisan stand and vulnerable to saying the opposite in public of what they feel in private. Headlines management is another tool to sway public opinion or eclipse genuine information. Overall, the common citizen is powerless before corporate giants and govt machinations. Privacy issues are swelling but judiciary remains a silent spectator before the overwhelming power of the big data and deep state nexus. All these are common knowledge and hence it's futile to labour on them.
What interests us, however, is not the events as they happen or who is behind them but what are the implications for the future evolution. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo used to comment on current affairs but very sparingly. They can be taken as a guide but only to an extent. This century has its own peculiarities and priorities. Technology has brought enormous possibilities virtually in all fields of human action. Culture and aesthetics have undergone massive transformation. Both local as well as scattered commonalities strive for creativity and innovation. All this in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic and war and strife. Thus, there are positive possibilities.
Leaving aside generalities, we may consider a couple of specific issues. I haven't kept abreast of the events in Afghanistan much, but what's the harm if local people rule their country without any foreign intervention? This may sound as naive but the States of India are also crying for Sovereignty to attain their full potential. Why no one is willing to support this well-reasoned demand is a riddle. Sri Aurobindo's third dream of World Union broadcast on August 14, 1947 should form the pivot of our foreign policy. All necessary steps should be initiated in that direction without clinging to the present Constitution born with British midwifery.
The second issue is about a proposed conference in America about which many are worked up in our country a bit disproportionately. A conference, as I have seen, is a talking shop and no new idea emerges if like-minded people assemble. So, there should be no objection to such a get-together within an echo-chamber. That it aggrandises their ecosystem is none of others' business. You have also started writing books and hopping from one store to another to append signature. So, better to work on that than crying foul. This view doesn't disrespect the right to protest and dissent which also carry the advantage of curry favour. Let's hope educated Indians muster courage to accept my independent voice.
By Tusar Nath Mohapatra @NathTusar Director, Savitri Era Learning Forum (SELF-2005). Also, Founder of Savitri Era Religion (2006) and Founder-President of Savitri Era Party (2007). SRA-102-C, Shipra Riviera, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad - 201014 (UP) India + 91-9650065636
email: tusarnmohapatra@gmail.com
Savitri Era: Online resources on The Mother & Sri Aurobindo
Savitri Era of those who adore,
Om Sri Aurobindo & The Mother.
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