Philanthropist and Not Corrupt

At the starting of every financial year we have to declare our investments and other applicable expenses which are, as per the rules of income tax department, allowed to be non-taxable. And later, for the same declarations, we have to show proofs. I think, almost everyone provides genuine proofs for the part under investments, mostly in form of insurance policies, but not so is the case for “other expenses”.

Other expenses generally include the following:- 
1. House Rent Receipts. 
2. Home Loan. 
3. Fuel and Maintenance: Expenditure on fuel for official duty.
Of the three, proof for only home loan, as I believe, is not faked, but proofs for other two are generally bogus. And the reason being, the sheer amount of proofs, which make their verification humanely impossible.
Why do people fake? It’s not a question which would require an expertise of a rocket scientist to answer.

Why am I writing this here? A few days ago, I had a discussion with some of my friends, who presented their arguments in support of such a practice and I would like to present the same here along with my own views.

Their arguments:

1. If we pay our taxes genuinely then it will only end up in the pockets of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, because of rampant corruption.

2. And, instead of paying it to the government and letting her waste our hard earned money on flawed policies, we must keep it with ourselves.

3. And, if you feel guilty for doing so, then wash away your sins by donating all the stolen tax money. (I wonder if anyone would actually do so).

What do you observe?

It’s a beautiful human trait, similar to the one exhibited by Arjuna, when he showed his reluctance to fight the war. Following is a quote from a book which applies wonderfully to the present situation.

The mind of man is indeed very clever, for, it always finds suitable arguments for what it wants to do, or for what it does not want to do. Wanting to get out of an awkward situation it deduces arguments which are sometimes too virtuous to be true.

Following are my views.

Yes there is ubiquitous corruption, but are we not becoming corrupt and justifying the actions of the very same politicians whom we so vociferously denounce as corrupt. On what grounds can we attack them if we are not clean ourselves?

We want clean and efficient system, honest and hardworking bureaucrats, sincere and visionary leaders, but do not want to clean ourselves. Is it possible? Let’s think…hmm…does it seem impossible? Yes, it is. Because the same bureaucrats and leaders who are later called corrupt get their training from our homes only.

And there are others who say that we should evade tax and then donate the same. Here it’s the same dangerous thought, which has no regard for democracy and its institutions, instead asks for subverting the same. It’s like saying if your ends are well intentioned then means does not matter. 
A quote by Nietzsche, “When you looklong into an abyss, the abyss looks into you”.

If we have once decided to live as a democratic country under a constitution and its laws, then it is our responsibility to abide by the same. And if we do have any problem, then it is only on us to fight for the redressal of same through constitutional means, instead of advocating “corruption”.

It’s a system, flawed may be, but still a better one than complete lawlessness. And with time we are sure to encounter or discover its problems and then an opportunity to correct the same. We should not miss them by blinding our eyes with our self-interests. It’s time that we honestly and sincerely accept that we all are corrupt and then should change ourselves, instead of living under our hypocrisy, and always calling only public officials corrupt.

I sincerely feel very sad and I just don't know why. 

That suicidal feeling seems to have overtaken me again. What is the problem with me? I have a job with a decent salary, good enough for me to sustain and which I am doing. Yes, I don't like my job, but then how many does still they seem to be happy. What is it that I'm looking for? What is it that can probably fill this vacuum inside of me? It's not as if I never feel happy, in fact I do, when I get a chance to play cricket with full energy so to say as if I'm deeply involved in it, as if there is nothing which I care about. But, still there's this hole which makes me feel, what am I doing, what could've I done...

It's not that I worry about dying, it's just this dream which horrifies me. I see myself in a room on a bed looking at the ceiling wondering what could have I done with this life. 

As I look at my grandfather's, my parents, and other people's lives, I see nothing which can probably motivate me to do something in life, I see no real purpose. They lived the way millions had before them and millions will after them. So, what's the point? Why is everyone striving so hard to earn and collect materials? What is everyone trying to achieve? What will happen in the end?

Why did I write so? It was a mindless statement, delivered without due thought. How can I just write about movies, "which have nothing to do without reality." Did I have some concrete information for that? No, I didn't.

How did I realize my error? As I do not expect anyone else to read and "comment", so I read it "as usual", while trying to figure out why anyone else would come and read it.

Why am I writing this here, could have easily edited the earlier blog? Oh! come on do I need to explain this also and that too to myself. As they say, "vainglorious".

But, in future, I will try to make sure that I do not write hastily.

Anyways, my office hours were as usual boring and monotonous, but there's always a story to tell, though I do not write everyday, but today I would like to share something.

Mr. Eccentric was as usual whining about Rs. 3300, that I owe him, in his words, which in actuality belong to, as we have to come to call it, the Recreational Committee or is it Club or is it Council...oh! come on man what is it...whatever, the point is that I was avoiding him for quite a number of days, thinking that when he would actually need it, I will give him. But, today he asked me again. So, I decided to give him back.

While transferring the money to his account, the bank's portal asked me "Transaction remarks", and just to have some fun I wrote in it, "Bheekh", which in English means Alms. It doesn't sound so bad in English or does it? Only native English speakers can actually tell, but to me, in English, it surely doesn't. But to him in Hindi, it surely sounded like Hell. I also admit that it does sound bad in Hindi.

But this bad it would sound to him that I had never imagined, and that he would react like the way he did, surely was inconceivable by me. 

He quickly read it and then agitatedly asked me, "Yeh kya likha hai tune", "What is this that you have written?”. And, then suddenly started shouting angrily, "I will tell you in open forum", "I will bring this in front of everybody" and blah blah.

I have known this person since three and a half years, and we have since been quite friendly. But, after this incident and when I look back, I can remind myself of a few more, I can surely say that I cannot claim to have known him.

I don't know how he can behave like that; he behaved as if I actually meant to hurt him or genuinely tried to humiliate him. Have we not been friends long enough to understand each other at least that much and that friends never actually mean anything from their hearts, even though sometimes they might say very crude jokes, which might seem like nasty, though not intended to hurt? Can’t he remind himself of how many times he had said things to me of a similar nature? And, that I never actually took it the way he did today, because I have always believed that he never meant them, which indeed he did not (atleast that’s what I believe), same as I did not mean today. 

Whenever any of my friend says such a thing which might be bad but not deliberately designed to harm, I always ignore it saying "Koi baat nahin or jaane bhi do yaaron or dil pe mat le yaar", "No problem", for I know it's hard to have good friends.

But now it is certain that I shall refrain myself from being friendly with him anymore and would not talk to him except for professional matters.

And, I have also realized one thing after this incident that I will have to be very careful while making remarks or passing jokes, especially with whom, which as a matter of fact leads me to believe that I should adopt a silent way, because I don't know what I would say and how would it be taken up.

P.S: There’s sufficient reason for me calling him eccentric and it is not only due to this spat with him and certainly not because I do not like him, but we “all” agree with him being termed as such. While, that “all” may not actually include all, but I think finding exclusions may result being a futile activity.

Happy New Year 2012

2012 has finally arrived. While some prophesied that it would be the end of world, millions wished each other a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Withal, I wish everyone a purposeful and meaningful new year, this I also wish to myself.

A friend once asked me, “Where do you see yourself, five years down the line?” to which I said, “That’s a difficult one. Give me some time to think.” So, he asked me another question, “Where do you want to see yourself?” and then I answered, “May be first one was easy to answer.”

See that’s the problem, you might learn to do many a things for survival and start making money, but after a few years of monotonous and banal life, it occurs to you that, is it really the purpose of my life? Is it for I was born? And then a fearful thought takes its birth in the mind, “Will I go on living like this and suddenly die without any warning. What is the purpose of this life? Why does this world exist?”, and with passing of every second it grows stronger and stronger. It surely had grown in me and sometimes, it makes me consider the idea of putting an end to this mundane existence. But then comes another feeling, as Tom Hanks said, that I have to stay alive, I gotta keep breathing, because tomorrow the sun will rise and who knows what the tide might bring. It may intrigue someone as to how can I seek an answer in a movie quote, which have nothing to do with reality. I don’t know but somehow it comforts me!

Once again I wish you all a very happy new year… and hey! You too have a great one..!

Search Continues

“They say, I do not agree with them. Just want to say, give me reasonable arguments backed upon by “verifiable” facts and not surmises and conjectures drawn upon from “wild imaginations”. And you will see me agreeing with you.”

I thought, I finally had found a friend with whom I can discuss matters ranging from cricket, politics, and history to religion to sciences to spirituality, a friend who is clear-headed, calm, unbiased and ready to challenge his own beliefs, in order to come to the right path, and does not care about winning or losing the argument. But, I was disappointed when he exhibited himself as any other person, though his varied interests somewhat save him. I really feel disappointed. And, yes it is only my perception of his personality based upon the discussions we had. In case I missed something, which I genuinely hope I did, I would be more than happy to accept my mistake, for I don’t want to lose such a polymath, who indeed is a rare species.

Most of the people I meet and talk are suffering from following diseases ^[1]:-

1. Bias
2. Self-centered thinking
3. Group-centered thinking – Tribe, race or nationality.
4. Narrow-mindedness
5. Unwarranted Assumptions and Stereotypes - Unwarranted assumption is something taken for granted without good reason. Such assumptions often prevent our seeing things clearly. Stereotyping is something like, if we meet one Muslim who is rude, we might jump to the conclusion that all Muslims are rude. Hasty generalizations!
6. Wishful thinking - believing something not because you had good evidence for it but simply because you wished it were true.
7. They take their facts as the only relevant ones.
8. They take their own perspective as the only sensible one.
9. They take their goal as the only valid one.

The problem with them is that, they don’t want to think with fair-mindedness. Their whole concern, whenever they enter into a debate is just winning and winning. It does not matter to them whether they come to a right conclusion or a wrong one. I don’t understand why they don’t want to question their already formed beliefs. Why? Why? How come they believe that whatever they have learned is one hundred percent true?

Take for instance this example. It is a talk between me and one of my friends, and he is not the one mentioned above…

Me: I think, by leaving of Mr. XYZ, our company has lost a good employee.

My friend: What? Boss, I am telling you he was a “badawaala”…Do you know what he said in a meeting…blah…blah…

[I listened to his story…and in between he said that he has only heard those things…and not witnessed…still such a strong opinion…I am surprised!]

Me: I don’t think so…I sa…(cut in between as usual, not even allowed to complete my statement or even the word).

And, he started telling me more and more defects of Mr. XYZ, based upon his “dubious” facts, which are nothing more than “hearsay”. Even when I told him that I actually “witnessed” a meeting of Mr. XYZ, in which he solved problems objectively and in a calm manner, he didn’t listen me. He just wants to talk, talk and talk, and as I have seen does not have even an iota of patience to listen to others. Well, what to do now, I think it is better to just walk away.

I truly admire people who have got following qualities (though they exist in my dreams or books only, and have never met any) ^[2]:-

1. They ask questions and analyze. They consciously apply tactics and strategies to uncover meaning or assure their understanding. 
2. They are open to new ideas and perspectives.  They are willing to challenge their beliefs and investigate competing evidence.
3. They are good listeners (very important).
4. Recognize our own assumptions, prejudices, biases, or point of view
5. Recognize emotional impulses, selfish motives, nefarious purposes, or other modes of self-deception
6. Avoid snap judgments
7. Challenge their own beliefs, each and every step, if someone presents suitable reasons (did I repeat this one?).

References:-

1. Critical thinking, A student’s introduction, Fourth edition, The Mcgraw-hill companies, Page 16 and 24.
2. http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_thinking.htm

Suchan and Geniuses

Genius

Who is a genius? In my friend Suchan’s views, he is someone having extraordinary and brilliant qualities, which he acquires by birth. To say it simply, he calls it “in-born” talent. Did he miss something? What do you think? Boy! Where the hell is hard work…!!!

Albert Einstein, the world calls him a genius and by doing so they unjustly put a blanket over his hardships and the pains that he went through, and the number of hours and years he pushed himself persistently to discover something, yes something, which he himself would have been unaware of.  And then, they easily ignore that how he put his career at stake by clashing with the authorities and the school's regimen and teaching method. And, had he been unfortunate enough to have not discovered what he was looking for, even after this much hard work, he would’ve ended up in obscurity and that too without any prosperous career to console with.

See sacrifice, that’s what it takes to be a “genius” and indubitably not “in-born” talent. But would Suchan know that, would he? He is happy, absolving himself of any hard work and persistence efforts, by comfortably attributing someone else’ to a mystifying term “genius”.

It takes everything, yeah everything to be called a genius; it takes five or may be fifty times more effort than an average mortal; and certainly not the so-called “in-born” talent.

And in the end, I do hope that this “good” friend of mine has got some good-sense of humor.   

My Reply

Black and White

What I posted earlier seems to have generated a lot of friction among some of my friends and I have been insinuated of partisanship, of taking sides with a particular religion.

Following is a comment which I received for my earlier post and here I am sharing the same with you all. Even though this comment had been sent by only one person but almost everyone else seems to in sync with this. I will try my best to answer or should I say, put myself in right perspective.

“I take a different view on this. You are right that we are not what we are by choice. Its the way we have been raised. yes the people may have different ideology and everyone is entitled to hold to his view point. but we are also left with no choice when something is foisted upon ourselves. history will tell you that the civilisations which did not stand and fight for them got razed from the face of the earth. hinduism is a wonderful ideology and i am proud to be one. we were brought up with the virtues taught to us like patience and pluck. we have always been accommodating to all the religions. the fact that proves is the contrasting studies of the minorities. you dont need to look miles. just a glance across the border will tell you that. hindus bore the brunt of brutalities for centuries and said nothing (we were busy fighting ourselves), this is the repercussion of the anger and frustration that has festered the generations. every elastic body has its limits. i know as always you wont agree, but even a mild creature like cow will hit you back if you pester it beyond limits. and if you think again that no ideology is bad, i wud like to see following islam yourself. we practice before we preach.”

Before I answer, I would like to thank you for taking out your time to read and then still having the patience to comment, and that too on a subject which not many people find interesting. I sincerely appreciate your effort. 

My opinion (without associating myself with any identity)

The way the above comment has been made, gives us a clear impression of the state of mind of the person who actually wrote it. For to use the words such as, ‘we’ and ‘they’, easily suggests his chauvinism with his own developed sense of identity, which if called in proper sense, is nothing but “deluded sense of belongingness”. It seems apparently true that he had judged the case before-hand.

I agree with him unequivocally for the first three lines of his comment (nullifying the very first line). Then suddenly in his fourth line, he says, “but we are also left with no choice when something is foisted upon ourselves”. As much as I can infer from this statement, he is here justifying the demolition of Babri Masjid itself based on his belief that "something was foisted upon ourselves". What that was he does not make it clear.

And, in his sixth line he exhibits himself as a history student by making a comment about the conflict of civilizations, that those who did not fight got razed. I seriously do not understand this conclusion of his; being applied for the situation which was prevailing then, for it had been almost 45 years since we have been constituted as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and the general ideas of justice, liberty(of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship) and equality were present at that time. I do not understand this theory being used here. Were we living in a monarchy where religion was sanctioned by the King? And, when kingdoms fought each other for the sustenance of their religion, culture, customs, belief, etc. No, we were not. 

In rest of his lines, first he celebrates the virtues of Hinduism, and then forgetting the same ‘virtues’ he manifestly justifies the demolition as the “repercussion of the anger and frustration that has festered the generations” for the brutalities that, in his opinion, only Hindus bore for centuries meekly. He clearly seems unaware of the atrocities which were committed by both sides on each other during the partition, with a larger share of that crime falling into the hands of the larger party, I need not mention that.

And, then is there, this “contrasting studies of the minorities” being evoked, again in order to celebrate the ‘virtues’ of Hinduism. Is he unaware of the carnage that followed, in Gujarat, after the Godhra incident, which might well have been an accident as suggested by the forensic evidence available at that time? More than 2000 Muslims were killed, and at least 50 times that number (feel it, it is 1, 00,000) rendered homeless, forced to live in refugee camps under pitiable conditions. And the conditions are no better even now.

And, did he forget the Hindu-Sikh riots of 1984, in which innocent Sikhs were butchered. And that too, who were in no way connected to the Sikhs who killed Mrs. Gandhi.

Anyone who is intelligible enough will see that minorities (not only Muslims or Hindus) are not safe in any country. Be it largely Hindu populated India or predominately Muslim populated Pakistan.

The last lines again seem to have been spoken out of a mind which has lost all its equanimity and tranquility, for making personal accusations only suggests that. The statement, ‘i know as always you wont agree’, speaks a lot about his frustration of having not been able to convince me, to his viewpoint, on previous occasions. And to vent that frustration, he comes up with a statement, ‘i wud like to see following islam yourself. we practice before we preach’, which to him appears as an ace argument.

In order to answer above, I have to resume my Identity of being a Hindu

Let me be honest here, I am an imperfect Hindu and he is asking me to practice Islam. Let me follow one religion first and perfect it. As for practice of Islam, let me ask him one question, has he heard of Ramakrishna Paramhans? Hmmm…..

I can only advise him to abandon this thinking of Black and White.

P.S: Though I have only used, ‘he’, ‘him’ and ‘his’, in above statements, my opinion presented here, is for everyone who preaches parochialism.