My musing and other: Dear Departed

My musing and other: Dear Departed: T

This is a Malayalam short Story Written by a young author  called Ms. Lalitha Rajakrishnan published in the Mathrubhumi Malayalam Daily.  I felt that I should share it with my folks many of whom  in all respects believes (though not always aspire) to be  a Malayalee- some one would like to correct it as Mallu?  I do not know how far I could do justice to the original, though on my part I have not spared any effort to make it readable. Please go through it. Your comments and suggestions are very precious for me. 

Dear Departed

This is a Malayalam short Story Written by a young author  called Ms. Lalitha Rajakrishnan published in the Mathrubhumi Malayalam Daily.  I felt that I should share it with my folks many of whom  in all respects believes (though not always aspire) to be  a Malayalee- some one would like to correct it as Mallu?  I do not know how far I could do justice to the original, though on my part I have not spared any effort to make it readable. Please go through it. Your comments and suggestions are very precious for me.  

In the early morning of Karkidakam, the darkest month of the year further darkened by the new-moon, which looked as if someone had poured black oil all over, Sunanda the Crow incarnation*flew down. She perched herself on the lowest branch of the mango tree which leaned on to the terrace of the house. From here she could get a good view of things happening in the household.

The first person she encountered was her husband; busy exercising himself on the terrace. After the exercise, which may last about an hour he will have his elaborate bath and the breakfast; then the office and other things you know…  

Where is my daughter? Sunanda looked around tilting her head as only a crow can do. Ah there she is, sitting on the windowsill talking to someone on her mobile-phone; fidgeting as usual , crooking her fingers whenever she felt frustrated. There is an obvious anxiety written all over on her blushful face. 

“How can one buy such thing from a shop? I have never ventured to do so far. .”: she is complaining to someone on Phone. It is not possible to know about the response of her friend; but Sunanda observed that her daughter’s face brightens up.

She looked through the window of her son’s room, and the sight is the usual one. He is deep in his sleep lying on his side with a pillow firmly held between his legs. It is too early; his day usually starts at eleven.

Sunanda found her Mother-in-law in a pensive mood in the kitchen. As she did not have any one to talk to; she is busy in the usual chores of boiling milk, making Dosa (a kind of pan cake) for breakfast etc.

As the time passed; a bleak sun momentarily peeped out of the clouds and slowly moved to the apex.

Sunanda started feeling hungry.

She remembered  of the Black-forest cake she baked to celebrate the 18^th birth day of her son. A beautiful jet black cake brilliantly decorated with icing, cherry and nuts and the name of her son tastefully imprinted on it. Later on he told her about the numerous likes he received when he posted its picture on his FB account. On Whatsapp also lots of his friends had appreciated it and responded with a ‘wow’

People usually offer rice, sesame seeds sandalwood paste and other things on this auspicious day for the dear ones departed, as a part of a ritual. Sunanda searched in vain for the scattered remains of this ritual across the patio.

It was getting dark; the weeping month of Karkidakam; her hunger pang has become acute.

Her son now is reclining on the cot with a lap-top on his knees. The door was ajar; probably he is confident that nobody will surprise him by barging intoat this moment.

 “What is he watching? A down loaded movie?” His tensed face and his restlessness are reflective of the pictures he was watching.

In the mean time she saw her daughter on the other end of the terrace. She was flirting on her mobile phone in a hushed voice, careful that she is not being over heard.  Sunanda was surprised. “Has she attained puberty? I am not even aware! She is just thirteen!! Wonder who is on the other end capable of bringing all those rainbows on her face!!!

She again looked into the rooms through the windows. Mother in law is watching TV. She will be so engrossed that even an earthquake causing catastrophe may fail to disturb her. Occasionally she is wiping the tears away with the end of her garment and also cursing someone in a subdued voice.

Finally tilting her head in the typical fashion that only a crow can do, Sunanda peeped into her husband’s room. He is on the phone for the last one hour. Sunanda picked up one sentence of the conversation very clearly. “Of course honey, next weekend we will spend together; Happy?”.

  Sunanda felt like throwing-up.  Her mouth started getting flooded with bitterness. Darkness was spreading all over. She saw a handful of scattered and rain drenched rice-offering in a piece of plantain leaf in the southern corner of the house next door. Somebody might have offered it to the spirit of some relative, on this auspicious day of the dead.  She swallowed the absolute truth that she is absent not only from this world but also from the hearts of her loved ones; The time is up and its time to go.

In to the night of the darkest month of the year; the new-moon enhancing its darkness further and making it look as dark as someone had poured black oil all over-Sunanda spread her wings. 

* It is believed that those dear departed, visit their house-hold on this auspicious New-moon day of the last month (Karkidakam)of the Malayalam calendar. People conduct poojas and rituals on this day and offer cooked rice and grains of sesame seeds as offerings. It is also believed that these spirits will be coming in the incarnation of a crow to accept these offerings.

My musing and other: An Article by Kanti Bajpai on Soft Fascism.

My musing and other: An Article by Kanti Bajpai on Soft Fascism.: Today’s (29th March 2014) Times of India carries an important article by Mr. Kanti Bajpai on Soft Fascism. The article captured my attenti...

An Article by Kanti Bajpai on Soft Fascism.

Today’s (29th March 2014) Times of India carries an important article by Mr. Kanti Bajpai on Soft Fascism. The article captured my attention because Mr. Bajpai had virtually taken the words out of my mouth. I remember having a discussion with my cousin Mr. Ramdas Menon from US. During the conversation I put forward the same arguments and also cited the example from the world history. I concluded my argument quoting the maxim that “if we fail to learn from history it will go on repeating itself”  The only solace that I can find in this otherwise bleak scenario is that our great country is characteristically diverse in nature.

 But now after reading Mr. Bajpai’s article I am not sure any more that even this unique quality of our beloved country will with stand the slow poisoning that may seep-in at a slower pace through “soft Fascism”. I am sure that people carrying such opinion like me and Mr. Bajpai will be categorize as Alarmists and our voice is definitely going to be a cry in the wilderness

The article of Mr. Bajpai is quoted verbatim below for those who might have missed it. Before I conclude let me quote the famous lines of  Rev. Martin Niemoller (1937).

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

The general elections are barely a week away and voters must consider how they will vote and with what consequences. The frontrunner in the campaign is BJP, led by Narendra Modi. With its allies, the party may well have enough support for a majority government. What does the rise of Modi represent, and if he becomes prime minister what kind of India will we get? 

There is every danger that a Modi-led India will be an India marked by soft fascism. At its core, fascism stands for state authoritarianism, intimidation by conservative-minded extra-legal groups, national chauvinism, submission of individuals and groups to a larger-than-life leader, and a Darwinian view of social life (the strong must prevail). A society living under soft fascism is simply a society marked by less extreme levels of authoritarianism, intimidation, chauvinism, submission and social Darwinism. 

India, at least in the first instance, will feature soft rather than hard fascism because it is big, diverse, and argumentative, and the administrative arm of the government remains weak. Those who want a harder fascism will not be able to exert their will immediately over the length and breadth of the country. But to the extent that the various state governments feature soft fascism as well (many do) and to the extent that the Modi-led elements of BJP prevail in the states, a harder fascism may not be far away. 

What accounts for the rise of soft fascism? The short answer is: Modi-ology, the preferences of the market (big and small business), middle class disaffection and media. 

Modi-ology is the view that only Modi can "save" India, that Modi is the only decisive, effective, clean, visionary and astute leader in the country, and that he has a record in Gujarat which "proves" he can "deliver". In Modi-ology, Modi has delivered human development, economic growth, social stability and good governance, unmatched anywhere else in the land. Many Indians who do not particularly like Modi, BJP or soft fascism increasingly think that Modi is the saviour. It is another thing that virtually every claim of Modi-ology is open to argument and rebuttal. 

The second force in the rise of soft fascism is the market — big and small business, especially corporate India. Fascism everywhere depends on the coffers and cooperation of big business. It is no different in India. The uncritical cheerleading of Modi by big business is tactical and rather shameful but is an existential reality. Small businesses are pro-BJP anyway, so it is no surprise that they are backing him. Big and small business are fed up with costly social programmes, ramshackle infrastructure, suffocating regulatory structures (including environmental ones) and interminable procedures; and they think Modi is the medicine for all these ills. 

Behind the rise of Modi-ology is also disaffection of the middle classes. They are disaffected because they are pinned between the upper classes and the lower classes and for 10 years they were ignored by Congress. The upper classes have done well in a globalising India. The lower classes have either given up on the possibility of doing well or have had some help from various UPA programmes (NREGA etc.). The middle classes therefore hate Congress as well as corruption and the chaos of urban and semi-urban India, and they seek redemption in Modi. 

Big business and middle classes are helping line up media behind soft fascism. Media is influenced by big business, which funds it through its advertising, and by the middle classes, who work in it. Today, both stand behind Modi and together they have helped rally millions of Indians behind Modi-ology. It is another matter that media may well come to regret its role. Those who were in the media when BJP was last in power seem to have forgotten that this is a party that is not particularly interested in, or indulgent of, journalistic independence. 

Soft fascism rises, establishes itself and consolidates its hold through the structures and systems of democracy. Even as we celebrate our elections and openness, we should be worried about right-wing opportunism and political exasperation leading to political suicide.

Kanti Bajpai in TOI dated 29th March 2014