Considering how my head is going tizzy so often these days (as stepping out of cocoon comes closer), I was forced to read an article that ensured I should not sleep for days.. GREATER COMMON GOOD <http://www.narmada.org/gcg/gcg.html> ..ofcourse, the title is a satire.. what were you thinking? Looks like nothing is going to happen anytime soon to pacify my confusion..
As I said, this article has made me think twice about complaining when there is no electricity.


He is lucky we dont bury our dead according to Hindu customs, where he was likely to turn in his grave if he read it.

Normally, I ask a lot of questions in the class and am reprimanded by my classmates not to ask so they can be free. Thats why I refrained yesterday. We were to read this article and comment on it. Ofcourse, each of 24 journalism student emerged an expert, they all had comments to offer, some evaluated the writing style others put their ideas forward. As I was confused totally after reading it, (I understood it and that fueled more confusion..), normally outspoken, I spoke a line and kept shut.

What was to follow, was a confession by my teacher, a displacement victim himself, and a shock to the rest of us. It never occured to me that this problem of evacuation or of displacement would strike so closer home to me. For some reason Narmada problem has become the food for media, there are reports (never read sometimes) and this article was published in 1999, I was in 9th class, I was more bothered when current was out than who is being thrown out for bringing this current in.

Old habits die hard, I still complain when electricity is out.It all seemed so distant. But all this is irrelevent. And truth be told I did'nt care. Even so, when I started reading it I was angry, every cell in my brain screamed, putting forth the prejudiced arguement of developemental requirements I grew up with. At the end I was even more jarred, I saw no solution. The article effectively puts forth a point, but what is the solution?

I decided I would seek council from my teacher fully aware his views were likely to be biased. And biased they were, why should they not be? The fan in the class room runs because the village people like him played in are submerged, the river which is source of life, drowns every thing that people own and by displacing a community, you throw away a culture, an existance, for people like this, entire life. I would be biased too, if my house was purposefully drowned and my family made a pauper, sister dropping out of school and father to coolie, imagining same story for millions of people...

....I understood, I tell him, but what is the solution?

"Change cannot be brought in a day or two, you cannot stop using fan and expect it to make a difference", he said. The change has to come at policy levels, the change will take time and effort, and change is struggle.. Struggle it is, and if you have read this piece till here, care enough to read " Greater common good", its long, its boring and makes a full text book for some enviromental journalism courses, but its worth the effort because it can make one think and consider this, Indians dont have the money to buy the food they produce themselves while Centre exports food grains..

Long live democracy!
As for me confusion continues..

Living in 21st century India, I was under an extremely misguided picture of this country just as all of the others like me out there.. Partly my parents can be conveniently blamed for not educating me enough, I did not know of the caste issues, or discriminating against women, or north-south divide(oh come over it, it exists!!), rural urban divide, political marginalisation etc etc..and am still quite ignorant had it not been the ongoing scandal in the university. Also, as i complete my post graduate course, i don't feel scholarly at all!! I know for sure now that I know nothing. There is land grabbing campaign by the government the very sentry of our democracy, the police is murdering and raping and the rural India is still stuck with traditional evils. Closer home, university students in girl's hostel are penalised just for speaking up, talk of great democracies. From the very threshold you are being told "shut up and tolerate non-sense! or else be persecuted!!". I am confused. As I would be collecting my convocation certificate, I want to ask the University people what have I been taught? I know a lot, about the universal human rights, constitution and yada yada... and yet Why am I confused? I am a self proclaimed materialist and yet why do I feel ashamed of wanting to wrap corporate shit in tin foil. Is it the media hollering over non-issues or is it the very act of decidedly putting you in a box from the day you are born..as I said I am confused and so should be every one under the roof.. If you have one that is, instead of making every one believe all is great and fine with the world ..