This & That - Here & There

1 ) Forecasting future

This is about astrology, predicting future on the basis of horoscope and palmistry. Most often the predictions have been off the mark. All of us know this. It is only rarely that predictions have come true. But that is bound to be so based on mathematical equations. Hardly ever bus, rail or plane accidents have been predicted and happened. Long marital life is predicted but then divorce happens or one of the spouses die much earlier than predicted.

Yet there is always temptation to show the hand the moment somebody says that he is a palmist. Similarly rarely do we look into our horoscopes or that of written for the children. Yes, the horoscopes of children are dusted when the time comes for their marriages, for, then the other parties would ask for horoscopes.

The belief on predicting future has been passed on from generation to generation that it has become part of the psyche of many people. But it is only a nebulous belief like the Hindu belief that one will be punished in the next birth for the sins committed in this life. Had the belief been strong then fewer sins would be committed by those who believe in this thesis in their current birth. This nebulous belief extends to other matters, such as, auspicious time and day for marriage, launching a business venture, etc., But the fact is that even those who strongly believe in astrology seldom purchase air or rail tickets based on astrological predictions. Otherwise, considering the large number of believers, the train or plane which meets with an accident should have only very few passengers. Or people would have fled from areas which have been affected by earth quakes much before the happening of the same.

Many a person would say that on this or that matter, the predictions have come true in his case. But he is not going say how many predictions in his case have gone wrong.

There are a number of systems predicting future: Horoscope reading, palmistry, face reading, numerology, crystal gazing, tarot cards, etc., Belief on this front is much less in western countries. India tops the list with having a very large number of believers. And that is why the interest in TV shows where predictions are trotted out by those who claim to be knowledgeable on the subject. And newspaper predictions are avidly read by many.

But things are changing. Most of the youngsters of today have no belief in these sciences. Let me end this by pointing out that it has never been reported that any of the experts in reading the future have been able to predict correctly his time of death.

2. Indians - fetish for personal cleanliness but unconcerned with filth around

Why is this paradox. We are fastidiously clean. Almost all Indians take daily bath once or twice. We keep our houses clean all the time. Often sweeping and cleaning are done more than once, especially due to the visit of somebody during the day, the floor or tea table has been stained. Wearing clean dress every day is more than a habit. After the morning bath we would be uncomfortable to wear a soiled dress. We take particular care of our kitchen which is cleaned thoroughly, in many cases more than once daily.

The above fetish is matched by the absolute unconcern for dirt outside our homes. We have no qualm is throwing out waste just outside our house. We don’t mind littering on the road side, spitting everywhere, throwing wrappers and in the case of males urinating publicly. Do not mind is not the correct expression. We just do not even think about it. Being clean so far as personal body & dress and inside home is equally matched by dirtying outside.

The above attitude has nothing to do with poverty. Many of the countries, which are poorer than India, do not exhibit this dichotomy.

This is a good subject for psychologists to study.

3. Legal jargon - Judges / Advocates love to continue

Legal terms used Plain meaning

‘res-judicata’ The case been already decided
‘in limni’ At the outset
‘ad curiam ‘ At the court
‘res derelicta’ or Abandoned or not yet decided
‘res integra ‘
‘puisne’ Subordinate
‘Plaintiff’ Claimant
‘Writ’ Claim form
‘In camera’ In private
‘Inter partes’ With notice
‘ex parte ‘ Without notice
‘Sub judice’ Pending litigation

Judges are in love with these words or phrases which, I suppose, are Latin. It is an attitude of ‘ we know, you don’t.’ Given below is extract of a Supreme Court judgment delivered some time back.

“ ………Because exordiums are opprobrium’s and socio-economic apercus are anathemas for some judicial psyches, and I should have, for that reason, abandoned my habitual deviance from the orthodox norm idealized by some that judicial judgment shall be a dry statement of facts, drier presentation of law and logomachies and driest at least communicating to the law abiding community, which is the Court’s constituency, the glow of life-giving principles rooted in social sciences and translated into juristic rules which legitimate our institution functionally…….”

Should one say more.

Simply put, judges need to use plain understandable English in their judgments.. But the fact is they are loathe to do it. Same is the case with Advocates. In the heart of hearts they want to continue with this system, though openly they would deride. Clients have to be impressed and if the clients understanding the meaning of these terms, then the importance of Advocates would be a shade lower.

It is the human tendency to worship on one hand and cling on the other hand power, pelf and authoritative pronouncements. This is the case universally. For example, a rail ticket collector has the uniform of black coat, black tie and white trousers. In the hot humid weather most part and time this country go through, this is the most unsuited dress. Yet they are loathe to adorn more suitable dress with a pin indicating that they are ticket collectors. The dress is a symbol of authority for him. So also for the judges and advocates.

It is not that changes in these matters are controversial or cannot effected without upsetting the apple cart. This does not require recommendations of the Law Commission.

In many of the developed countries, court structure is being simplified and changes are being made to take into account the changes that have happened outside. The dress of judges and advocates have been changed to the normal dress people wear. But not in India. The British Raj persists. ‘We are more loyal to the King’ syndrome persists.

Of course there is the more serious matter of undue delay, running to often five to ten years in disposing cases. Then again for those who are not directly involved, the sheer volume of paper work would be daunting.

4. Controversial nude paintings of M.F. Husain

In May 08 Delhi High Court has exonerated Husain from the charges, which led to filing a case, of immoral depiction of Indian women nude and more particularly as Bharat Mata and Hindu Goddesses. The judge stated, inter alia,

Quoting Pablo Picasso:

“Art is never chaste. It ought to be forbidden to ignorant innocents, never allowed into contact with those not sufficiently prepared. Yes, art is dangerous. Where it is chaste, it is not art.”

Recalling the richness of India’s 5000 year old culture, the judge added:

“ Ancient Indian art has been never devoid of eroticism where sex worship and graphical representation of the union between man and woman has been a recurring feature. The sculpture on the earliest temples of Mithuna image or the erotic couples in Bhubaneshwar, Korarak and Puri in Orissa ( 150-1250 AD ); Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh ( 900—1050 AD), Limbojimata temple at Delmel, Mehsana ( 10th centure AD ), Kupgallu Hill, Bellary, Madras, and Nilkantha temple at Sunak near Baroda ( are examples of this )……..Even the very coincept of ‘ lingam’ of the God Shiva resting in the centre of the yoni, is in a way representation of the act of creation, the union of Prakriti and Purusua. The ultimate essence of a work of ancient Indian erotic art has been religious in character and can be enunciated as a state of heightened delight or ananda, the kind of bliss that can be experienced only by the spirit.”

“ Today Indian art is confidently coming of age. Every form of stylistic expression in the visual arts, from naturalism to abstract expressionism, derives its power from the artist’s emotional connection to his perceptual reality.”

Describing the nude as a “ perennial art subject,” the judge observed that

“some paintings have been called ‘ obscene,’ ‘ vulgar’ ‘depraving ‘ ‘ prurient ‘ and ‘ immoral ‘ - but it was important to look at art from the artist’s perspective. As a judge he had to balance ‘ the individual’s right to speech and expression and the frontiers of exercising that right - to prevent a ’closed mind’ becoming ‘ a principal feature of (our) open society’ or ‘ an unwilling recipient of information ‘ from enjoying a veto over others’ rights to the same information.

The judge added

‘ obscenity which is offensive to public decency and morality is outside the purview of the protection of free speech and expression……..but former must never come in the way of the later and should not substantially transgress the latter.’

‘ The test for judging a work should be that of an ordinary man of commonsense and prudence and not an out of the ordinary or hypersensitive man.’

‘ Obscenity ‘ the judge opined, ‘ is treating with sex in a manner appealing to the carnal side of human nature or having that tendency.’

‘ As an artist he actually celebrates nudity and considers it as the purest form of expression.’ In the case of his painting of ‘ Bharat Mata ‘ which had offended several petitioners, the aesthetic touch to the painting dwarfs the so called obscenity in the form of nudity and renders it so picayune and insignificant that the nudity in the painting can easily be overlooked.’

‘ It seems that he complainants are not the type who would go to art galleries or have an interest in contemporary art, because if they did, they would know that there are many other artists who embrace nudity as part of their contemporary art.’

‘Art and authority have never had a difficult relationship until recently.’

While I have no truck with the fundamentalists who see everything in black and white with no grey area whereas on most maters it is the grey area which is important, at the same time I loathe those who with a veneer of emancipation try to put down beliefs and ape the approach taken on various issues by societies or rationalists or intellectuals in the West. I respectfully disagree with the reasoning and decision given by the judge.

1. ‘In this land of Kamasutra and Khajuraho sculptures……….’ bemoans the so called emancipated souls. For a long time this country was ruled by kings. Each King had the absolute right to do what he wanted in his kingdom. So a King allowed and accepted Kamasutra. A few other Kings allowed sexual depiction in sculptures, paintings and poetry. But it cannot be said that this was the culture of the country. Had it been so such erotic sculptures, paintings and writings would have been there in most of the places in the country. But that has not been the case.

2. Without making a value judgment, most of the Indians have been in the past and present are uncomfortable with these depictions of erotic culture because it has not been our culture.

3. Belief is belief, transmitted from one generation to another through genes. It is part of the tradition and changes in the tradition happen at times slowly and at times fast, depending upon the resilience of people to accept or seek for such changes. Belief or faith cannot be explained rationally. Unwed mother of God in a faith or thousand children for another incarnation, etc., are no issues with the follower of the faith of a particular religion. It is members of other religions or atheists or rationalists who question these. To the believer, belief is sacrosanct while to some others it may be an intolerance or ‘no change’ syndrome.

4. No time frame can be fixed on change in beliefs or what is acceptable to society. Even thirty years back in this country it would have been shameful to horror for those who see a young girl with head hair coloured, midriff bare, tight hugging dress with a cigarette. Even in Bollywood such a character would be the vamp. But not any more. Nudity is becoming less and less touchy subject.

5. For most Hindus the fact that it is a Muslim who had depicted Hindu goddess in nude is perceived as an attack on their faith. That is the psyche of human beings. It is not a question of good or bad. It is a fact and hence has to be accepted. To quote an analogy, when five pucca Brahmins are discussing mythology of Hindus, especially areas related to erotica, if a non Hindu expresses his views the same would be taken amiss. That is how human beings are.

6. The judge is trying to find rational explanation to a belief, which need not be rational.

In short, it is possible that Husain’s paintings would not ruffle the feelings of many Hindus twenty or forty years ahead, but it has done so now. There is a Laxman Rekha for beliefs and crossing that would invite wrath, be it art or any other subject.


5. Anger at work places – double standard – one for men and another for women

‘ Male aggression is seen as a sign of his competence, his hunger to do and get more and hence, excel at whatever he does. This may taken the form of higher status, responsibilities and higher remuneration in the corporate world. Women are just seen as frustrated if they get angry.’

‘ I have a female boss and every time she loses her cool, we blame it on everything but work. It is not to say that she is not a good professional but I guess it just has to do with the way women are looked at in society.’

‘From sports to corporate world, male anger is synonymous with the killer instinct and a go-getter attitude, but if a woman were to lose her temper, she is quickly seen as frustrated with her own incapability to handle the work pressure. Women always end up justifying their anger.’

The above opinions expressed by senior executives of corporate sector in India confirms the conclusion of a study by Brescoll and Eric Uhlmann at Northwestern University, US.

Men are macho. Men are the bread earners. Expressing anger openly is the prerogative of men and not women. For millennia this has been the accepted position. Men has to hunt in earlier times and now go to work outside. Women has to tend the home and children and do the cooking. Yes, that was the position for eons. But now women are entering the citadels of corporate sector. But what has been built in the psyche will exhibit, often without any awareness on the part of individual. That is the case here.

6. Hindu religionists disservice to Obama – US Presidential candidate

According to newspaper reports, among Obama’s ‘Good-luck’ charms are ‘ a bracelet belonging to a soldier deployed in Iraq, a gambler’s lucky chit, a tiny Madonna and child and a tiny monkey.’ Obama had not identified the charm he has of monkey as that of Hanuman, the Hindu God. But some of the Hindu religionists in India have themselves determined that the lucky charm is that of Hnuman. They further made a two-foot high gold plated statue of Hanuman and presented the same to Obama through the Chair person o Democrats Abroad India, at a special prayer performed by 12 priests. The organizer said that Obama’s devotion to Hanuman has strengthened his backing. Please note that Obama had not even stated that the lucky charm of the monkey is that of Hanuman.

This development would give Obama’s opponent ammunition to fire against Obama ( that though a Christian , Obama worships a Hindu God ). The Christian Church in USA would also look askance at this incident. And if Obama is questioned on the matter, he would be at his wits end ( there is large Indian population in USA and their vote / donation is sought by both candidates ). What about Jews and Muslims in America. If the above issue crops up in the lection campaign, Obama would have to do the rope balancing trick of being equi-distance with all religions, except Christianity.

Is it a publicity gimmick. It would appear so. But then does an old religion with crores of believers require publicity or certificate from a celebrity.

Foot-note: I hope that some Hindu fundamentalist would not quote from Hindu scriptures to claim that Obama’s distant ancestors had migrated from India to Kenya and then to USA and hence essentially Obama is a person of Indian oigin.