Utilitarianopia

The Govt of Maharashtra, the state in India i live in, has decided to ban bar dancing. The decision has been taken in light to "moral corruption of youth", general good of the society and protecting womanhood. RR Patil, the hon'ble Deputy CM has decide to launch a crusade against such immoral customs and now would like to turn Mumbai into Shanghai.
We live in times when the state decides for us what we can watch, engage in, work in, think about. All in the name of "greater good". Where will this paternalizing attitude of the state lead too. Today most people talk about how states like Singapore, work better because of their "benign dictatorships". People love dictators not because they are better but because they carry power. Everybody wants to be a dictator, few want to live under one. We are no different from the state we live in. We dont protest when one of the state's employee rapes a 17 year old girl. We dont raise a finger when the livelihood of thousands of women is taken away to avoid moral corruption of the youth. Because we secretly do the same with others, with our family, with subordinates and with people who dont think, behave or act like us.
In short we dont like people who are different, think different and act different. We want everyone to the same,to be a mould of the one faceless, nameless,thoughtless commune called the "greater good".
Hail Utilititarianopia!

A Humane View of Sexual Rights

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-- Margaret Mead

I am currently undergoing a course in Open Space titled "Gender, Sexualities and Human Rights". An eye-opener of sorts to the kind of brazen acts of violation of human rights going on in the area of sexuality and gender. The moot point, is the fact that how nicely society has bracketed sexuality under either normal or abnormal. Sexuality is not something people are born with, it is constucted. The way our society is increasingly becomig rigid, intolerant and bigoted on issues of sexuality seems frightening. The prevailing norms on gender, sexuality and sex are never questioned. I believe Huxley's Brave New World would not be mere fiction if that is how we tolerate diversity in sexual orientation and sexual choices.
The course would end with the group charting a sexual rights manifesto. We would be inviting people to read and sign it voluntarily. I would be putting it in my blog and inviting people to send their signatures by e-mail. Its going to be a small step, but a step nevertheless in making us aware of our right to expression of sexual feeling, sex and sexual orientation.

Corporate Silences

Corporate Silences

Misshapen ellipses in caged cubicles,
Stare at me in stony silences,
and I stare back beyond my grave,
a cushy swiveling chair,
designed for ergonomic comfort,
for souls in enduring pain.
Who will break their silence?
and invite the stranger within,
to the known without,
if not they, then would you?

Cool in May!

Its Maadu's birthday today. maadu the ephemeral, the aloof, the cute and the confused. I had my ups and down in my friendhip with him. but what i like most is that regardless of the bumps, the feeling of friendship and affinity remains. Maadu you are certainly cool, not only in May, but for life. Here's wishing you many more B'days to come.
Ah now i feel light! As light as your TVS without my extra load!