Jugaad' and Tolerance

The Indian ‘Jugaad’ is a much revered and reviled trait. While some consider it the root cause of all the evils plaguing our society, others call it the one redeeming factor that allows us to rise above our apparent lack of resources.

Jugaad is frugal innovation, to put it clinically.What I think it essentially is - having been a schooled in the various aspects of Air Power - is adaptability and flexibility. It is an ability to accept circumstances without bowing to the consequences. It is resilience that accompanies submission rather than create stubbornness. You see, we have always had what the westerners pray for, the will to change what we can, and the wisdom to accept what we can't. Jugaad, to use a cliche, tells you to make lemonade when life tosses you lemons.

For those wondering about the source of this attitude, it is the Karma theory. Believing in Karma doesn’t mean waiting for God or fate to show you the path always. Nor does it imply an unshakeable belief in creating your own destiny. It is the fluid tenacity of water. For water does not stop its flow in the face of mountains or cliffs. Nor does it try smashing them. It flows around them, using their slopes to facilitate its own path. And it gradually weathers them, erodes them, making them accept its path.

Why am I talking of Jugaad and spirituality when we are having a raging debate about our intolerance? Well, I am coming to the point, gradually, like the water we just spoke about. If you accept the Jugaad’ mindset and the spirituality that gave rise to this, you will realise that this society can not be anything but tolerant. For the karma mindset promotes acceptance and accommodation. Whatever be the religion, people living in this society are all bitten by the same karma bug.

This is the one reason why there were minimal imperialistic campaigns launched from this land. Even the invaders who reached here, paused their imperialistic designs and spent more time amalgamating with the locals than they had done anywhere enroute. Sure, there are war mongers, as there were noble warriors. But no other culture or civilisation can boast of a Guru Nanak, a Buddha, an ashoka and an akbar. The Geeta and the Guru Granth Sahab. These weren't people who taught us about acceptance and peace. But they were enlightened enough to observe what was around them and speak about it. No other land has had as many apostles of peace and ‘tolerance’ as the Indian subcontinent.

It can be argued that such a large land mass with a huge population is bound to have a larger number of people of any category. But then, I am not comparing India to say, Greece or Rome, or even Europe. I am comparing India to the whole of the rest of the world. If you look at the history of any of the other older civilisations, the towering figures in there have been warriors and conquerors. India too has had its fair share of warriors, but they all pale into insignificance in the light of the spiritual leaders who taught us acceptance.

Now, we have people accusing the people of this land of being intolerant. Accusing the Govt of being intolerant. And it is not just the vote seeking Indian Politicians doing this. Mr Barak Obama said so too. President of a country where buying guns to shoot school kids and civilians you don't like is as commonplace as a walk in the park, preaches India on tolerance. A country where blacks still find themselves at the wrong end of a policeman’s gun finds us intolerant. Poor guy, doesn't realise that electing one Black President doesn't make the US of A tolerant. The fact that he is the only black president inall these years, that he is seen as an aberration, makes his country intolerant. India has had women, dalits, muslims, Christians and Sikhs as heads of state, and it was never mentioned as something out of the ordinary.

And the  Europeans, ahh…..

But this isn't about comparisons. This is to remind everybody that the only thing India is intolerant to, is intolerance ( and discipline, and cleanliness, and queus, and………., but all that is for later) Discrimination, when practiced here, is either for personal gain, or as a pure animal instinct. That makes it no more intolerant than any other community, country or race. The Indian class system is kept in rein by acceptance, compassion, and of course, tolerance. 

Military History

History isn't just written by the victors. It is written by the more articulate, media savvy, english speaking sides.

We have all read about of the exploits of the allies in the world wars. Most of us have admired the brave american and british soldiers. Some of us would have marvelled at the efficiency of the German armed forces. But nary a thought is spared for the Russians. The largest losses were suffered by the Russians. The course of the war was reversed by the Russians. They retreated from their eastern front right back to Moscow, and advanced again, pushing back the German forces. It was the red army that liberated Poland and freed the inmates of Auschwitz.

Yet, it is only now that the Russian veterans of the great war are demanding their rightful place in history, in public consciousness. They feel they have been denied credit due them, but not in their own country. It's only in the english speaking and reading areas that the contributions of the red army have been ignored. Russia has always held its veterans in high esteem. More than in Russia, it is in Israel that the achievements of these strong silent men are venerated.

Israel declared 09 May, the day of the German defeat, as a national holiday in in 1996. Every Israeli city has a WW-II memorial. For getting their matriculation certificate, all students have to pass an exam in military history. To make sure the younger generations remember the contribution of the soldiers of the great war, grandchildren of these soldiers march with them in an annual parade. They share photographs and stories of their grandfathers and feel a part of the struggle against the Nazi regime.

Recently, Israel celebrated 70 years of Hitler’s defeat.The whole country was able to appreciate the significance of the event due their deep involvement with their veterans and understanding of their military history. The event was attended by the Israeli Prime Minister and President. Not only were all the Israeli war veterans invited as guests, but so were those from Russia and the other allies. Israel acknowledged the Russians and other allies soldiers as saviors of the Jewish people.

Will we ever see such an acknowledgement for the Indian army from Bangladesh? Or our own countrymen? India’s 1965 war celebrations were a much quieter affair, with only the armed forces setting up stalls at the venue.  The actual veterans, camping a few km away, were totally ignored. The tussle between the bureaucracy and the veterans is understandable, but what about the public? They have no idea of the wars fought or being fought. Military history is hardly a priority area, except for career soldiers. The Israeli response to external threat is often quoted on Indian TV debates, and the Entebbe rescue has inspired a few Bollywood flicks. But the Israeli attitude is fashioned through a sound national policy. Israel does not think of the military as an Insurance policy. For Insurance policies are meant to help recover from losses. Militaries are meant to avoid losses altogether.

After all, the Indian armed forces, though well versed in English, aren't any more media savvy than the Russians. And they never marched into a concentration camp to rescue starved, flogged, gassed Indians. One pregnant woman on the rooftop of a flooded house is hardly an Auschwitz now, is it?

Fighter Flying

With my fighter flying days behind me, I am not only able to look at this profession more objectively, but also talk about it with more candour. I would have said 'write dispassionately', but one just cant be dispassionate about any kind of flying, least of all fighter flying.

Fighter pilots have been called modern day gladiators, the last of the lone warriors. But the truth is a fighter pilot is anything but a warrior. He is just someone who gave into his inner child. He does what he does not to satiate a desire to vanquish, but to soar above such petty desires. The ferocity he brings to his job is not the cold fury of a warrior but his desire to excel. As he manoeuvres to get on his adversary's tail, he is only competing with himself.

Given a chance, a fighter pilot would spend an evening drinking with the guy he shot out of the skies in the morning. He would compliment the adversary on a flight well flown, quiz him on his aircraft and manouvres, and revel in his compliments. The aircraft swooping and gliding in a dogfight may seem like engaged in a duel, but are actually enacting a ballet. A ballet choreographed by years of training and executed by instinct.

Most fighter pilots are not bothered about a professional attitude towards flying, because they don't know of any other attitude. While the land (and sea) lubbers only see the glamour, aggression and danger in this line of work, the fighter pilot sees none of this. He does not even see a line of work. For the biggest punishment you can give a fighter pilot is to stop him from flying.

No reprimands, no pay cuts or loss of seniority. Just take away one flight from him. As you see him gazing longingly at the departing aircraft, you know there is no remorse greater than that of a grounded pilot. That is not the love of a workman for his trade, but that of a child for playtime. For every minute spent between raising and lowering the landing gear is worth a lifetime spent watching his peers soar away.

What you see as a violent, aggressive profession is actually filled with so much nobility that leaves but little space for petty feuds. Every flight lends itself to a cleansing of the soul and all grudges are washed away with the sweat stained coveralls.

Maybe I am being a tad melodramatic, but nostalgia does wear rose tinted glasses.

Protocol First?

I don't think the media or anybody shud be making an issue out of courtesies and manners, these two being a matter of personal choice and, more importantly, upbringing. Just as the son of a poor man cannot be blamed for a poor inheritance, the son of an idiot cannot be blamed for bad manners.

So, I would have desisited from commenting on the dignitaries that didn't salute the national flag or those who remained seated while recipients of awards were standing. But the condions on that day and the entire procedure dictate otherwise.
Let's ignore that these were gallantry awards for war heroes, or that grief torn war widows are the subject of this discussion. I have always said that the soldier on the field is only doing his duty, not a favor to anybody, and hence will not demand any special concessions for these fallen 'workmen'. (Though Mr Amitabh Bacchhan reciting his dad's Madhushala is also just doing what he is paid for, yet gets a standing ovation.)

But here we have a person called by the highest office in the nation to receive a token of appreciation, standing, shivering in a winter drizzle. A person who has lost everything that mattered to her. And a few feet from her we have these statesmen sitting in plush sofas with lackeys holding umbrellas over their well covered heads.
Would it be asking for too much if one more umbrella could be arranged to shelter the recipient? Even the lackey would not be required. I am sure no body from any of the three services would mind escorting these ppl holding an umbrella. In the forces, following an outdated code of chivalry, we as it is never allow a lady to walk up a stage unescorted, even if it is to receive a pkt of chocolates for winning a party game. This occasion certainly does rate slightly higher.

As for President Obama, I would love to see him trying such a stunt at home. Let him present such awards, and I dare him to sit down after handing over the award before the recipient has been seated. Another term or not, he would be condemned to ignominy for the remainder of american history.

If protocol demands the treatment meted out to the recipients and for it to be seen by the worldwide TV audience, I suggest leave these presentations to the armed forces. Let the Republic Day be reserved for those smiling brave children atop the bedecked elephants, and leave these insignificant, non voting, bereaved, maimed or killed workmen to their own organisation. An organisation that can maintain protocol without infringing upon chivalry, courtesies and basic human decency.

PK DekhKe KhisKe

Ok frds, the Peshawar incident had pushed me too far into a dark, sad corner to look at the other s*** going on around us, so I decided to create some of my own with my new DP. But now I have a new set of ppl to ridicule, and can stop making fun of myself. Thank God, that IS tiring, pretending to laugh with ppl when u know they r laughing at u, especially after u instigated it. Its like celebrating a self goal.

 

These saviors of mine are the concerned Hindus who are sooo disturbed by the latest movie on the block - PK. Love u guys, u take the limelight away from my Mungeri Lal, and you prove the theory 'When shit hits the fan, its distributed evenly, more or less'. Idiots are not restricted to any one region, religion or community. As a proud Hindu I was made to feel the absence of fanatical zealots to carry the Hindu flag. Well, we have them. Not in as much abundance as some of my more fortunate neighbours, but enough to be noticed.

 

PK makes fun of the Hindu religion, criticises its superstitions and customs, derides all Godmen. Now, what is new about that? Haven't we all called some of our parents' beliefs silly? I have, and a couple of decades later found myself imposing those very beliefs on my kids. Superstitions, by their very definition, are silly, customs not so much. Some customs have clearly understood logic, some have their logic hidden behind the veils of time, and some have lost their relevance with changing times. They, however, are a comforting link with our past. They are loke the frahrance of the daal maa cooked every day for dinner. The fragrance you hated at the time - "roz roz wahi daal" - and miss today - "maa, woh tere haath wali daal ab mahin milti." Perspectives change.

 

Coming to Hindu Godmen being derided, its for two reasons. One, not very many Godmen exist in other religions, not in India at least. Two, Hindus can take it. They didn't let the swords of the Mughals or the entreaties of the missionaries sway their faith, a couple of jokes in a dark movie hall are certainly not going to do the trick.

 

You have to remember what makes the Hindu religion one of the greatest without having taken recourse to crusades or Jihad, or having any Hindu imperialist. It is its resilience. It has its own inbuilt strengths that have allowed it to flourish long after so many other belief sets have vanished, or been pushed to the fringes of society. A hard-coded set of beliefs, if not modified with time, becomes irrelevant, like MS Windows. Hinduism, being open source like Linux and Android (they r the same, actually), shall withstand the test of time. But that is if u guys don't make it hard coded. And believe me, you can't.

 

So, isn't there anything wrong with our customs and beliefs? All sadhus and Godmen are real saints? Every case of an inter religion marriage a case of Love Jihad? There are so many Hindu organisations trying to cleanse our own system, why can't Amir Khan be used to say the same. So what if his religion is not perfect in your eyes? Just because I am bald with a funny moustache, don't expect me to refrain from commenting on your beetle stained crooked teeth and flatulence. You can then point at my shortcomings. If I am an idiot, I will wage war against you, if I am insecure about myself, I will slink away. But the grt guy that I am, I'll just laugh and say,"yeah, so?".

 

C'mon guys, these movie ppl are in the business of making money by entertaining you all. They show all politicians and policemen as stupid, all Punjabis as loud and stupid, all faujis as rigid, loud and stupid. You don't hear of politicians calling it a 'opposition ki chal', or the faujis calling it a move by bureaucracy to degrade them. TV shows all saas and bahus as conniving, yet all of them watch these shows religiously.

 

You can only ridicule those who are above all this. Even kids don't run over a rickety old bridge, they tread over it softly and slowly. Its only on the strong bridge that they jump and run. The moment it starts creaking, they declare it weak and move away.

 

So, you want to be the creaking bridge that nobody abuses, or be like me and say,"yeah, so?"

Darkness at Peshawar

Is it possible to have a black out on Facebook? Not technically enforced, but self imposed by all of us. Something in sync with the times we live in, with the blackness engulfing us. For the depths we have sunk to can have only darkness, inky, dark, black darkness.

 

Sometime back, while writing here about my feelings for my daughter (Post: Kyra), I had mentioned how nature has designed all humans to care for their progeny. This is actually true for all living beings. Nature has this design feature inbuilt in most species so that these species continue to flourish. Its only in the lowest of creatures that this instinct is lacking, and in those cases the young come into the world fully equipped to take on any threats.

 

In fact, so strong is this instinct that the feeling of love for the young and helpless is not just restricted within species. There have been widely reported stories of sows feeding puppies, bitches caring for kittens. Humans reach out for the young of so many animals. A stray dog may get kicked out of most localities, but a puppy will usually find someone to care for it.

 

Today, we as a species have risen beyond these design features enforced upon us by nature/bhagwan/Allah/God/rabb/the blue aliens, whatever it was designing us. Actually, let me rephrase that. Its not we, but some people. I refuse to club myself with such depraved creatures that have allowed the last vestiges of decency be plucked from whatever dark thing beats with in their chests. I just cannot imagine how such a large group could be programmed to be immune to the charms of those dimpled smiles, the horrors of those small bodies pumping blood on these monsters' feet. How could they ignore the pain that will plague the mothers till eternity?

Such mass behavior modification cannot just be the result of a religious ideology. Ideology, by definition, has to be restricted to thinking, even if irrational, human minds. It has to at least be branded onto hearts. There were no hearts or minds behind the hands that fired those bullets. Those were monsters on auto pilot.

 

Do they really expect houris waiting for them in jannat after this? Even the basest she-demons can not pardon this violation of young lives. Mr Zaidi may like to blame India, the Taliban may blame Pak army and the Pak army may blame the US drone attacks. No blame can be ascribed to the young child who was pulled out of a warm quilt by a loving mother and sent to school to improve his future. None can be ascribed to the young girl who reached school in a new frock and a bagful of toffees to celebrate her birthday.

 

Nothing can atone for the sins that have been committed on this day. There can be no mitigating circumstances, no justifications. There is no way these young victims can be called 'Collateral Damage'. This was not an attack, but a symptom of the depravity that is plaguing humanity today. It is the ugly tumor that indicates how rapidly the cancer is spreading.

Even if it serves as a wakeup call to the policy makers and the would be freedom fighters, it is too steep a price that has been paid. Nothing we do can ever take away from the enormity of this crime. And I fervently hope and pray that nothing is ever done to eclipse the magnitude of this crime.

 

Now, can we please try and have that black out I mentioned.

Uber's India Plans Raped

तुम ना wake up ho jao।

I don't care if police verifications take too long in India. I don't care if a central police database is not available. I don't care if police clearance certificates have been found to be forged. I don't care if mandatory police checks would seriously restrict your choice of partners/drivers.

I want to be treated at par with all your customers, anywhere in the world. If you follow a 3 step verification going back 7 years in the USA, you will bloody well do the same here. Or get the hell out of my country. हम साला छोटे नवाब के बेटे हैं जो sub standard service लें। ये हमें मुफ़्त में ride दे रहे हो? And this isn't some product or service that I'll have to discard for poor quality or support and suffer monetary loss. Your shortcuts have caused grievous harm to a person. YOU are guilty of this rape, guilty by omission. How would you guys feel if your kid's day care centre hired a paedophile, just because they didn't bother to check his references?

But is it just Uber that we should be blaming? All they did was get caught doing what every business is trying to do - cut costs, increase revenue. As shareholders we all want a business house to do exactly what we hate as customers, i.e. bleed us dry. The real fault lies with our administration, law makers and those executing them. It is because of poor administration that any body and everybody feels he is above the laws here. How come these Uber people have been accused of flouting so many norms after a person has..... suffered, to put it mildly. If these norms were not met, they shouldn't have been allowed to set up shop.

Or at least all Uber cabs should have been forced to carry a warning message, like cigarette packet, or a mutual fund document. 'Enter at your own risk. The Indian Govt, local authorities and Uber Cabs will not be held liable in case of fleecing, overcharging, robbery, rape or murder. All disputes will be subject to jurisdiction of the Hon'ble court of Cayman Islands. Passengers are advised to avoid napping and to carry mace or any suitable items for self defence'. If that is too much to paint on the car, the driver can play a recording, like the recorded messages played in Delhi markets by Delhi police to warn the public of explosive devices and such.

Wait, I am not done, not by just blaming Uber and the authorities. We too are responsible. We, the educated, enlightened, upper class citizens, those who can afford air travel and Uber cabs and scoff at bargaining and all things Indian. We don't bother to check anything before buying or hiring, not if it is 'imported'. The maid who has worked in your house for the last 10 years is surreptiously followed around the house as she performs her duties. Even a missing butter knife is proof of her 'aukaat'. But if the same person is sent by a 'Housekeeping Firm' with a fancy name, an upmarket office and an English speaking front office, we are thoroughly convinced about the moral fibre of the worker.

And then there is the question of indigenisation. We dont just need 'Made in India', we need everything in India. We get so many posts on FB about being Indian and buying Indian. These aren't totally without merit. Its not just about keeping our money within the country. Its also about self interest. I have already stated that then one aim of every business is to earn profits, so I am not going to say that Indian firms will look after your interests. Its just that a local firm is more susceptible to legal action in case of any misdemeanors. Think Satyam and Union Carbide. In case of customer uprisings, an international firm loses just one market, a local market risks losing its market. 

So, think Flipkart before Amazon, Meru before Uber, Bajaj before Suzuki, Tata before Honda. Definitely Tata!

Disclaimer. The author is not in receipt of any commissions from Flipkart, Meru, Bajaj or Tata of any kind, except a fierce sense of pride.