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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Observation and Research

Observations along with their grand paradoxes as the heart of research along with the existing well developed scientific research can help humanity a great deal.


Your profile looks great and the areas of research are also vast.


In terms of scope the width and depth of study to be done in these domains is almost infinite, as is the case in many other domains of proper scientific research, either through reverse engineering or through macro analysis and magnified observation of micro details.



These are merely notes of apology from my part that I have not done any in depth academically based scientific research as such but rather proceed almost like any other layman through mere unbiased observation of working and workable models in different places or regions with enormous contextual influence and impact on the models.



So, predominantly and consciously I strive for observing without any fixed frames of references or scales of observations [two great inevitable inconsistencies of perception-{1}] and express the observations in generalities rather than specifics and/or pointed study based results.



In the process of observation I also do not confuse information for knowledge and knowledge for experience and thought and ideas formulated based on these for wisdom as these may inadvertently lead to an arrogance which may create unassailable prejudice, petrified presumption and start projecting these as panacea.



The most important fact of humility is that nothing is a panacea in this world [2].



Unbiased observation when used not as a mere articulation of two words or appropriated as a mere label but when actually practiced involves two enormous paradoxes:-


One, to stand detached from the thing observed [because I am often reminded of what M.Singer has once said, “There is nothing more important to true growth than realizing that you are not the voice of the mind you are the one who hears it”] and


Two, to become an intrinsic part of the thing observed [You are a function of what the whole universe is doing in the same way that a wave is a function of what the whole ocean is doing.―A. Watts]


But once anyone is able to perform this difficult task then multiple facets of reality based on facts are revealed, serendipity showers unsolicited her generous bounties for us to discover and delight in.


Ultimately progress happens and change takes place for different or better evolutionary growth only when as Gerry Spence puts it, “I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.”, or as H. Jackson Brown, Jr puts it across "Never underestimate your power to change yourself. Never overestimate your power to change others".



There are no absolutes to something as temporary or mortal as life and if  there is any constant that is ‘Change’ in all spheres of life that we see around.

So, ultimately data drilling will continue and must continue and data driven processes have also to be inevitably adopted for various reasons rather than making contextually irrelevant claims of good old days because we need to look at new horizons and try to live beyond even chronological and calendared lives.



"Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory." - Franklin Pierce Adams


Most things are also impacted by our perspective [3] besides perception and attitudes.



With this preamble I would like to share links [which may lead to further links so you need lot of time to read ] to some of my writings based on such observations in areas of your interest and focus because anyone coming in contact with me can easily get diverted into too many desultory hobbies.


In many of these observations I have noticed that every activity/issue/policy was imbued with many incondite [adj. consisting of parts which are ill composed] elements/aspects.


For example many successful Indian public sector companies and even private sector big enterprises had these aspects:-





Some of my general observations of the very fast paced modern day economics are





I also feel it would be helpful to learn to make any writing on science more interesting by reading  the following books because when writing is a mixture of rationality, reality , research to reveal something or a resource to reach some realization through unbiased philosophical inquiry then such writings create the maximum impact and also become romantic literary pieces.



Sunday, August 21, 2016

The coconut water conundrum?

The coconut water conundrum?

Any technological or scientific modification in any aspect of agricultural process introduced to enhance production, to fulfill the excessive demands of consumption due to ever growing population, especially at cultivation stage may have at least some side effects and may also alter certain metabolic structures but it is wise to adopt, among the many options, those technological or scientific processes which enhance with minimum negative impact in terms of side effects.

Of late I came to know through some villagers that they get big tender coconut with lot of coconut water in it and that too they are able to harvest it within 30 to 35 days.

There is a practice almost for more than 3 decades wherein insecticides for coconut trees are injected through the roots along with many other minerals and vitamins because it is more effective and through osmosis it ensures that all parts of the tree are protected because spraying insecticides especially for coconut tree leaves is difficult.

So, this process is adopted more in areas where the leaves become dry and vulnerable to insects which make many holes in leaves and render all leaves almost dry, brownish and with multiple holes and rendering chlorophyll depletion.

But according to reliable sources that there were gadgets some years ago which studied the presence or absence of toxic insecticide present in tender coconut water of such trees and it was advised to farmers that they must preferably harvest them only after 50 days to ensure that the toxicity levels are either low or nil.

However, to my knowledge there has not been any study done on how these externally injected pesticides metabolize inside and what compounds they create? Because I suspect consuming tender coconut water as a very good thing for kidney due to the presence of some things like excess of Celica and some similar compounds may end up causing kidney stones.

Some villagers have a very interesting habit, out of some rural wisdom and may not be scientifically proven, of gulping down a cup of diluted lime juice or a few tea spoons of raw lime juice after consuming tender coconut water to neutralize the side effects of such chemical compounds!!! I really do not know much less understand the wisdom of this practice.

I would like the scientific community to enlighten on this as in present day while there is one section which is totally careless about their health and become sponsors of health care industry and another section who are health and fitness freaks who consume whatever is labeled as good for health, mostly in large quantities too. When people consume tender coconut water in good faith and end up with kidney stones it really hurts, instead they would have been better off drinking beer.


Are Auxin, Cytokinins, Gibberellins injected and if so has any scientific study conducted about how they metabolize inside the coconut water and ultimately what further metabolism takes place inside the human body.  

What happens to Gamakas and proper speed

What happens to Gamakas and proper speed


Bombay Jayashree’s album of Syama satri’s kritis released in the last week of Ausust 2015 [ I would suggest you to listen to this after listening to all the rest or preferably not to listen to listen to this- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xufEnPRi9DU] and it popped up in someone’s old memories stuff of FB and that took me into a nostalgic journey of very old memories nostalgia and nuances of rendering certain ragas.


The beauty and unique aspect of Carnatic music is the subtle nuances that Gamakas [1]  can produce which can literally touch certain nerve center in a very aesthetic and hyper sensitive way the nectar of  its sweetness make us swarm around like the irresistible bees.


Besides, every raga and composition has its own unique stamp through the pace at which it must be rendered.


Though Caranatic music is predominantly manodharma based but at the same time this basic fabric of Gamakas and proper pace will ooze the essence of musical quality which can get contaminated with unwanted frills, excessive stress or pause and different speeds.


In this it is purely a matter of sensitive that the listening mind not ears not culture but the mind develops over the years and which cumulatively goes on to develop into taste or prejudice and sometimes both as two sides of the same coin.


Most of Shyama Sastri’s compositions are meant to be rendered and savored in vilambit kal or chowka kalam or for the exclusive Anglophones ‘ slow speed’ more so a raga like Punnagavarali and the composition kanaka saila. One day some 25 years back I listened to the same song rendered by  Maharapuram Santhnam at least 20 times on the same day till it permeated into every cell of my body.


Listen here item number 8 in the link with his natural blend of power of his guttural passage and the mellifluous melody from the tip of his mouth and sound waves just touching the bottom of nasal passage too every now and then this is a great voice culture technique otherwise nasal sounds will dominate [more on this technique later on] 

Devi brova samayamide by Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna


For example for Bhairavi wonderful swarajathi kamakshi a master piece in bhairavi with swarkshra that is every stanza starts with a swara in that order with swarasthanam and that jells with the lyrics in sound like by MD.Ramanathan


or Prince Rama Varma


[1] For want a much better way to explain Gamakas I came up with this




On Gamakas and voice culture

If a vocalist pays more attention to various appropriate kamakas the more embellished the rendering becomes. To some it comes naturally for some they have to work at it hard consciously.

Special addition on Gamakas a very comprehensive and crystal clear demonstration of gamakas 


One of the most precise and perfect demonstration of minutest nuances of voice culture which go onto embellish a vocal rendering.

Voice Culture - Lecture demonstration - Dr. M Balamuralikrishna


Another good demo of voice culture impregnated with certain unique features of Indian classical music







Saturday, August 20, 2016

Over active Judiciary and the restive reactionaries

Over active Judiciary and the restive reactionaries

The following is my comments to this article

Invariably in most debates on judicial over reach two major issues are getting entangled and are engaged in a tug of war.

One judicial over reach or judicial activism and two ideological extremism of the Left and the Right [both are trying to defend some indefensible status quo in certain activities where they have problems in adopting to change due to their ideological fixations or  traditional practices] and these two along with  India's dubious political outfit [ a sinking boat] which has appropriated the label of center of the Left and Right because it tends to change its sails in the direction where it presumes the winds blow favorably- a totally opportunistic political outfit whose only principle is expediency.

The ultimate casualty is common sense, common good and humane concern for social welfare.

Besides it also diverts the whole public attention and public debate from more vital priorities, mostly ignored for many centuries due to various reasons, like better economic prosperity for maximum number of people, good governance and creating a prosperous welfare state where living is pleasant journey and life is more comfortable.






BCCI


















BCCI do not worry the nation is with you and the nation has many more things to bother about.

BCCI and Justice Lodha – Cricket is a topic in which in India no one can have a final word as long it unites all Indians, makes the whole nation enjoy it and also generates lot of money and employment why put a spanner. Why no court has the guts to question any single actor making few hundred crores for a single movie? Or when a single media house makes many crores manipulating news?

Many more such things in these links written as and when Lodha and a hoard of qualified judges as well as self appointed moralists started throwing stones at BCCI.







Ideology Peddling



















Ideology peddling creates identity cages which prevent independent observation.

If we go deep into the root cause of all sorts of mental illnesses and their myriad manifestations, if not seen as a over simplification but as a simple fact, then, they are all the results of all these externally injected identity issues peddled by religion, politics and other ideology peddling grand institutions which prescribe rules to experience life as per some pre determined ideology.

These can impact many vulnerable beings that prefer readymade templates to experience life.






Global governance is a good idea but a greater idea must be global concern

Global governance is a good idea but a greater idea must be global concern

Global aspirations must be inspired by universal and humane attitudes towards all for the benefit of everything including the whole environment taking into consideration the inevitable regional varieties and group identities as well as individual aspirations.

The word global too, unfortunately, become a much misused term by some vested interest groups who have covered up many deeds of international manipulations through creating homogeneity and to push through their hidden agenda of hegemony.


Most of us, obviously, review all existing problems and pleasures using our available or anchored identities of religions with all their scriptures, political systems with all their ideologies and so on.

This is perhaps the tool that we tend to see because the problems basically originated from these pools of knowledge and ideas and so we think that the solutions also must be available somewhere there so that we can recycle all the waste in those domains and create new toys with different names. But unfortunately that does not work that way.

I, like many other souls, on earth, have felt the need for happy co existence of humans all over the planet along with all other species and as a species actually contributing positively and more effectively for enhancing and making life more enjoyable and enlightened due to some unique faculties that human species possess over the rest and the huge advantage that science and technology offer to us.


However, the story is otherwise. We have complicated our life too much with excessive love for external identities and contaminated our thinking by interpreting all well meaning models of our ancestors by looking at through perverted and negative perspective and are perennially enjoy a sadistic pleasure from projecting a paranoiac bleak future.


If at all there is any method which can at least move in the direction of effecting the necessary changes to all these problems, then, it has to inevitable start with again some idea of global thinking, global attitude, global rules and regulations and so on.


But the problem arises as to in which areas of human life and nature can a global agenda or regulation work effectively because life in every aspect and in all its myriad manifestations reveals, revels and reverberates with variety.


Also whether global outlook and thinking can ever emerge as an idea, or as a culture or as a psychological attitude or as a social reality and accordingly it has to be implemented because very often good intentions do not get implemented as you cannot push them as another agenda and also they get struck due to excess of exaggerated expectations, in modern times also un wanted excessive publicity along with lack of realization of ground realities.

I have been very badly wanting a global perspective on everything on this planet and written with my limited perceptions and perspectives on many occasions on various issues on this.

My observation if we shift our emphasis from human life centric approach to boundary less or border less humane attitude centric attitude to evolve a lovable life at present with adequate prosperity for all and bequeath a livable planet for posterity

The links to them are given below:-











Can we emerge with a new realization of reality in 2017



Thursday, August 18, 2016

Let us promote positivism and stop portraying negativism and victimhood

Let us promote positivism and stop portraying negativism and victimhood.


Reality is reality with all its multiple facets and faces; dimensions and dynamics; polarities and probabilities; positives and negatives; victors and victims and so on.


But reporting of reality is confined to or constricted by perspectives, frames of reference of limited perceptions, populist projections, perverted and preconceived portrayals based on identity affiliation of religion, region, language, ideologies etc.


Even the most beautiful and attractive human physical form do carry some amount of drainage always in it which may get eventually expelled as secretions but to magnify only that through colonoscopy and portray the whole body as carrier of drainage is wrong.


Some people have, more so of late, this tendency to magnify selectively the negatives at the expense of positives and probabilities and promote either intentionally or inadvertently a sort of negative ideological fixation among especially the gullible or vulnerable social media users and spoil their mindset too.


I think it is imperative that at least the so called elders and educated folks look for positives in everything and everywhere [devoid of any religious or ideological fixations] and also impart positive news, positive views, valuable comments and suggestions and create an atmosphere of positive vibes and vibrations.


Every place on the globe has lot of positives and Haryana has many of them.
So, let us not paint a whole state based on a few isolated issues or individuals.


What humanity needs is economic prosperity at present, pride of ancestry, hope for the future created through lovable positivity which must also ensure bequeathing a livable planet.


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Paradoxes or Polarity

Human Nature: An Evolutionary Paradox



On the whole a very informative, scholarly and thought provoking articles which leads one into various ideas, concepts, emotions, philosophical questions etc

Some Stories from the Bible

Truly and as rightly pointed by the author trying to address present or new problems with old paradigms is by itself a paradox.


For that matter even giving too much of importance to any scripture of any religion as if it is some omniscient search engine or use it as a panacea or even using it to drive any reason or logic in the realm of present day living is again a great paradox.


Neither values nor morals can be downloaded from any scripture but rather they emerge as responses to specific context [they are contextual-{1}]based on inherent attributes, inculcated attitudes which are not wedded to any one particular or specific identity  either regional, cultural, religious, ideological, political, socio-cultural and so on {2} however great or good that may be.

Ethology

Ethology and evolutionary biology are records of facts of tangible human evolution and therefore always both are interesting and instructive to derive lessons for a better living  of human beings as one among the species with a realization that humans are part of the environment and environment is part of human  species, and based on this understanding to lead a peaceful life as social animals with conscious awareness and greater faculties in some spheres of life to live a lovable life and bequeath  a livable  planet –whose very name has been  coined  wrongly as ‘earth’ when more than 70 percent of it is made of water and all the remaining 30% survives because of sunlight-{3}

On Aggression

But for aggression manifesting in love and passion the world would be a dull place {4}.

However, it must be prevented from becoming violent, disturbing the peace and unity of many and becomes destructive of peace, life of human beings and other species to ensure unity, peace and harmony avoiding wars as much as possible, but  are these possible ,if not why ?{5}.

Paradox or Polarity principle

While paradoxes are well explained and proven and they often contribute to conflicts, confrontations or at least discomforts.

Scientifically we cannot deny the inevitability of polarity principle in many realms of life on the whole {6}.

A mere change in perspective may even enable us see that it is not paradox per se that causes a problem but a negative quality, a relative value {7}.

The greatest and most pleasant paradoxes which have given us the purple pages of past glory pursue our present story and perhaps may safely sail us through into our future without much worry are the non stop churning of evolutionary process {8}.

{1} Morality and Values

or


and

Values

{2} Identity


{3} Environment


{4} Passion


{5} Unity, Peace, Harmony and Wars


Wars


 and

{6} Polarity principle



Emotions a paradox always why? I felt this last week and wrote a free verse.

{7} Perspective can change many things


{8} The Great leveler Evolutionary trends




Monday, August 15, 2016

India's Gender bias

Suppressing facts, reality and scientific reasoning at the altar of scriptural justifications is in bad taste.

My views are neither right nor left oriented but ambivalent here [because I know some statements are true however the real practices are totally contradictory and hypocritical].

I am neither for or against all tradition but then I am against suppressing facts and reality.

They are not only ambivalent but irritating too because whenever I listen to these types of presentations which emphasis justification based on cherry picked scriptures and traditions and totally brushing aside facts and reality on ground.

Suppressing facts, reality and scientific reasoning at the altar of scriptural justifications are in bad taste even if spiced with  pleasant tales, appealing anecdotes, usage of logical fallacies either intentionally or unintentionally, they all blunt the enlightened intellectual and social emancipation of human beings based on ground realities.

I feel like telling these people often this, "Don't look for ideas to confirm your thinking, rather look for trends that will disrupt your thinking" - Rich Simmonds.

India and Indians practiced and are still practicing gender bias and discrimination in many areas  and probably this is the case in many parts of the world or perhaps all over the world too, but that is not a justification.

With all tall claims and small practices we Indians still treat women badly.

I can give many examples starting from how old widows are left to beg at the banks of Ganges by her own children to weaving multiple taboos around certain mere biological inconveniences.

Prefixing a Gowri to Shankar or Lakshmi to Narayanan or Seetha to Raman in name have not changed the status of or state of treatment meted out to women in many parts of our country.

At various times as reaction I have written about the gender issues and feminism in many places. Here I am giving links to some of them.

We are talking about human beings as a species and this question of Western Values or Eastern Values do not come in, it is all created by vested interest groups. 


For all human beings there could only be one set of values and that is humane values though that too can have certain differences in space, modifications, variations or differences either nuanced or blatant to be in tune with the frequencies of predominantly [though right or wrong here is purely relative] prevailing customs, traditions, socio-cultural practices etc but even they need not be and preferably must not be thrust upon everyone and may be avoided if they are detrimental to human happiness, freedom and cause damage to the environment. 




This was written as my reaction to Visaka Hari's lecture for which I was asked to write a review and instead I wrote my views. After that obviously they stopped asking me to write on anything.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Extremities in ideology, Left or Right

Both extremes are blinded by their preconceived ideological fixations and presumed ideological superiority complex claiming as if their version is not only the best but superior version of ideas for social life.

These are all the symptoms of a much deep rooted malady of human psyche.

Most unfortunate aspect of human life is that it weaves a cage or is made to live in a cage of specific identities,[1] made of certain ideas or belief systems- though in my opinion none of these are required for any aspect of life but I must respect the sentiments or at least not hurt the sentiments of those who prefer to lead such a life out of their choice.

Normally those wedded to identities and see the world only through such well grown and assiduously groomed identities become very faithful, then fervent and finally fanatical.

Identity cages lead to insulation which leads to intolerance of other types of environment which then contributes to conflicts and lack of harmony.

I may not like the noise created outside the four walls of any religious practice, I may not like subjecting the human physic to any unwanted torture to please any god but then those who prefer to do it, do so because they believe in doing so.

I am a pure vegetarian by choice, perhaps the contribution or curse of my cultural upbringing but to preach vegetarianism, much worse force it as the best and only way to the whole world is sheer nonsense and useless activity because more than 99.99% of the world population is non vegetarian.

I once had an argument with Menaka Gandhi during Vajpayee Government when she decided to ban all animal products and therefore there was a ban on Kanchijara and many well meaning leading advocates were fighting it out legally and some big wigs politically too but then I just told her one thing- “Menaka Gandhi Madam, please call Sachin Tendulkar and tell him not to use cricket ball as it is made of leather”.
Similarly, a very virulent European environmental protection and green group came up a resolution to totally ban any tree cutting especially for fire wood in under developed countries and developed ones. I just happen to get a picture of their building with fantastic wood works, walls made of wood, partition made of wood, all furniture made of wood etc. Then suggested please pulp your entire building and recycle it and spray it in nearby forest and also take a pledge to stop using wood in any form.


That’s why my write up on Environment Day was retweeted by global environmental organizations in France, White house’s official tweeter handle and so on. Link given below [2] 


However, in this specific case there is pattern of trying to inject in the case of right over zealous sudden love for/of Sanskrit promotion as if all other languages are inferior.

Protecting cows as objects of veneration and as if other animals are in some way inferior.

Proclaiming that everything is said in our scriptures and we were the pioneers in everything and so on and unfortunately this leads to obsessive identity veneration which can prevent learning further.

In the case of left take out every aspect of Indian tradition, preferably not sponsored or practiced by non Hindus and inject all of a sudden some perverted version of selective socialistic ideology, read as leftist ideology, to confuse the masses in a very small group who seem to enjoy what they are doing. If you do not like it you move away, as simple as that.
I only ask them if they have balls to do something similar to other religious denominations or other cultures.

Anyway as life and times move on evolution shall take care of all types of nonsense and make people look to provide at present prosperity to as many as possible [3] and for posterity a livable planet in future.






[3] Small verse I wrote for a magazine in the 90s http://contentwriteups.blogspot.in/2009/04/poverty.html

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Evolution takes care of mistakes

No need to bother about erasing or not.

Long stuff read whenever you have time especially the links.

There is nothing either permanent or absolute or perfect to something as temporal or mortal as human life- as one among the many species- more so to individual human beings.

Everything is either intended or unintended manifestation in the process called evolution.

So what, if mistakes are made and remain without getting erased, it would be all the more helpful for others and posterity not to repeat similar mistakes.

Let the strides of evolutionary trends leave their imprints as they must, and there is nothing wrong, in fact in many cases they happen without our active participation.

Whenever I think of pen I think of the great things it can do on a blank page




Sanskrit

Sanskrit

Incidentally one of the most vital aspects of Sanskrit that is over looked by many has been brought out well by my friend in his blog which I later on included in one of my blog posts.[1]
Meaning of "Hrudaya" from the Bruhadaranya Upanishad:
'Hru' means to bring. This involves bringing impure blood from the body to the heart.
'Da' means to give, involves giving pure blood to the body.
'Ya' means to set right all the activities and maintain the stability of the body. 

Every language has its own uniqueness and beauty basically because they were the first effective tools of documentation and communication.

So, every language and any language is a tool or a very effective means and its strength and substance is in its usage and utility as on date at present as a very effective user friendly tool otherwise it is consigned , however great and wonderful into an object of past glory like ancestral veneration with some nostalgic ethnocentric pride.

Unless and until such things are scrupulously repackaged in a way acceptable and usable by majority of the present generation of youth, they may end up nowhere or may exist somewhere, whether we wish it or not; whether it is right or wrong.

Ultimately, in more than one way the words used or in use in any language, or the language itself reflect the culture and activities, abilities, attitudes and aspiration of the people who have either used them or using them.
There is, therefore a major connectivity among these three words, language and culture.

[1] I would like to quote a wonderful and worthy observation from a wonderful blog maintained by my friend Mike Mageehttp://www.shivashakti.com/ [don’t miss to see his pagehttp://www.shivashakti.com/datta.htm] about some aspect of Sanskrit language One of the unique but mysterious features of the Sanskrit language is how many words can be used at three separate and distinct levels of thought. Even whole verses have this remarkable feature. It is one of the factors which have made translation into other languages so difficult. The difference presupposes three groups of people. First there is the literal meaning intended for the householder or worldly man, and a guide to better thought and action. The second is the meaning on a higher level intended for the mumukshi or hungry seeker for God. Here the same words take the reader from the mundane level to the higher level, and the implications. The third is the meaning intended for the soul who has attained or is nearly ready to attain liberation”.


Emotions –a paradox
















Emotions –a paradox

Ever in Motion and at the same time eternally motionless.

Petrified mind with pleasant spirits.

Paradox of unmoved movements;

When every step you move forward A thousand KGs of heavy heart pulls you back;

When every step you still manage to move, you age a few years too fast- Struck in perhaps the pleasant memories of the past;

The heaviness makes your heart weak;

When everything around you moves ahead and around, including all planets and your life itself;

Your mind and spirits alone are not willing to move and cannot move, thankfully they are not physically constrained or confined or forced to move away.



Emotional attachment is a funny net which can catch a small fish of momentary concern as well as massive sharks of marvelous love.


Minds and spirits of emotional attachment do not move and so cannot be caught but they experience uneasy immobility between the crying heart, a chocking throat and a struggling heavy breath.


Mortality is for movable matters but unmovable emotions are enshrined in eternity.