Yeh Aamrika MAGA more!

 Oh, no, not to worry. The title of the blog today should not delude you to the effect that I do not know spellings well. It is just that I want to inter-semiotically, that is, across signification systems, that is, across languages play with words and meanings.

Well, how do most Indians pronounce 'America'? Mostly it is "Aamrika", right? Well, my submission today is that the Trump Triumph has yet again proved that it is wrong to 'under-estimate the power of the common man', the 'aam adami', in this case, from 'Aam-rika'!

The Trump Triumph is indeed stunning. In its wake, it has yet again stunned the political punditry as well. Why? How? Let us explore a little the possible causes. The MAGA magic undoubtedly worked, and how! ' Awesome' hugely! It looks as if that was what America wanted, the 'dil mange more' chorus by the 'Aam-rikans', right?

Let us begin this  brief analysis of the Trump Triumph by trying to find out why his opponent lost. Well, the Biden bid was withdrawn a tad unwillingly, and a bit too late. It was not ageism either. His dementia like inefficacies got writ large on the entire world canvas, and rather too often. The whole poor show was harsh on an octogenarian, and embarrassing for a nation 'pride'-ing itself on its 'dream' vibrancy. 

Ms Harris thus entered the arena quite late. She was, moreover, Biden's V.P. She possibly could not hence shake off any of the regime's inadequacies as these were hers, too, by implication, obviously by association. Her abortion insistence, may be, made the campaign a tad too of/by/for women, as if sidelining the larger stakes of economic realities which the MAGA clarion call addressed powerfully, I suppose.

'Remember, it is always the money, honey', as the American dialect would put it. And did not the Mr. Musk moolah add to the MAGA matters? Does that mean that now the trans-national big companies would rule the roost? They, anyways, have in the post-globalised world!

That makes me address the fears that America, which twice defeated women candidates, in the process preferring Trumpism, would now be ultra-conservative. I absolutely do not think so. I am sure Mr.Trump would have learnt from his past mistakes. He is too much a shrewd businessman not to have. Neither would his party allow him to throw to winds a great win for them.

Most importantly, I have solid faith in the institutions that are the checks and balances of any democratic nation. Anyways, more than the Democrats, the Republicans are pro-India, actually. So here is hoping that the tested-n-tried Trump-Modi equation is both MAGA(=make America great again) and MIGA (=make India great always)!

Pratima@None can now accuse the favourite culprit, the EVM, right? And, oh, yes, the international conspiracy theories! Well, it is difficult attempting a Dan Brown in a blog, right?

Less is more! More is less!!

 No, the title of the blog today is not a clever game on words. No, it is not a quote from George Orwell's "1984". Neither is it my attempt to prove how good I am at using that unique figure of speech called oxymoron. Rather it is a response to realities faced these days as a reader. What is this trend currently popular?

Well, very few people 'read' now-a-days. Most people 'hear' books these days. Yes, you read it right. People prefer to hear literary texts. Oh, yes, as for the other 'diy' kinda texts, they choose to hear the summaries!

Personally, I am not comfortable with the idea of listening to a literary text. Yes, the reader has a voice quality one may not like. The pronunciation may be awful. The word stress, sentence stress, intonation may be such that the whole read grates on one's ears. 

The worst part of this 'listen as read' stuff is that one inevitably gets to hear the reader's interpretation. Often it may not exactly be the okay type, forget the excellent variety.  When one reads on one's own, one is re-creating the writer's universe in one's own unique imaginative way. Listening to a literary text is like watching a film based on a great literary text. Most often than not, it is inferior in quality. In this sense, more is less!

Think of it from a larger perspective though. Suppose, one is visually impaired. Such an atrophy is always balanced by a hypertrophy. Most often, it would be an auditory finesse. For such a person, a speaking text that he/she can listen to is a godsend. In that sense, such more can never be less.

In other words, one should never ever generalise, I think. Every generalisation is an over-simplification that lacks the acuity and finesse of a thought-through opinion. It is intellectual laziness, in brief. Such a general perception may appear more, but it is always less!

Pratima@As for the speaking texts, it is, I suppose, a matter of developing a taste for it. May be, one should initially choose texts 'read' by the best in the field so that the psychological resistance to it could be overcome, and one can 'listen' to, rather than 'read' a text if and when necessary and/or inevitable. Anyways, something is better than nothing! Less is always more!

The best medicine

 Generally, ignoring minor ailments is the best medicine, is what I think. You would agree with me, I suppose. In my opinion, be it cough, cold, fever or relationships, whether personal/professional, generally I tend to ignore, of course, absolutely knowingly, the minor disturbances.

At times though, better measures become necessary. Let me give you my own example. Around October 8, or, may be, it was October 9, it rained really heavily, and I got caught in it. As I was returning home anyways, I did not pay much attention to how thoroughly had i got drenched which had happened twice or thrice earlier, too.

As usual, I saw to it that the head is properly dry, and went ahead with the usual routine. Around October 10, my system started prolifically producing phlegm. I had to clear my throat repeatedly, the voice quality had gotten rough, too. 

By October 14, my nose and ears blocked badly so much so I could hear my own voice echoing in my ears while I spoke or taught. I got an earful from the ENT specialist, took the medicines he prescribed. I felt, however, that these should be supported as well. So tried the traditional wisdom kind of medicines, too. Am slowly limping back to normalcy, my typical state.

For a person who generally does not fall ill, surely not easily or often, illness is tough to bear. May be, hence, the traditional alternatives could also help alongwith the allopathic tablets, I suppose. Along side these, it helps to remember people you care for. Laughter is the best medicine, too!

As for people, often ignoring them does not help. No use it is confronting them either as they have either consciously or/and maliciously planned the whole, and as a group activity. Your irritation is going to comfort them as they breeze along their ego trip. I suppose, keeping calm, and trying to find out more (for example, if others are sailing in the same boat) could be a strategy.

Yet another possible medicine is letting these others know that there ARE people supporting you. This afternoon, a lady in the neighbourhood, who I hardly ever talk to, on her own suddenly starting asking how I stay 'all alone', et al. So sweetly but surely I let her know that I am busy with my teaching etc, and, moreover, I often go visit my brothers, and that we are in constant touch. May be, she got the hint, and that is what I think is the best medicine for 'nosy neighbours' types, and other such variants! What say?

Pratima@ It is extremely difficult these days to gauge the hidden motives of people, their curious activities, their subtle machinations! Such people, whether in the personal space,  social sphere or in the professional arena, have complex motives difficult to decipher, especially because they always operate in gangs, however hidden. Being cautious is the best medicine, I suppose!

The Bhaubeej Gift

 You might have read that simple yet superb story entitled "The Gift of the Magi." The moral of the lovely and most touching story is that a real gift is from the heart, and hence always centers around what the receiver adores.

Both my brothers proved this Diwali how faithful this signification of a true gift is. Well, I adore idlis. This morning at 7.30-ish, Sanju, my brother, made me the most luscious, softest idli's with the perfect coconut/coriander/ginger chutney. Divine the dish tasted, offered literally on a platter as it was.

On the Laxmi Poojan day, I was with Raju, the elder between them. My coffee connect is well-known in our family. In soft tones, he asked his daughter-in-law if she would make coffee for the breakfast. One of the nicest cuppa's it was. 

This Raksha Bandhan day, Raju himself prepared the ideal most masala mix tea. So wonderful was the taste that a coffee person like me fell for it.

I suppose, such heartfelt actions without much ado are the bestest gifts. Some sick people may think that I did not get the other typical gifts. Well, not to worry, weirdos! I did get them. But such typical gifts can never be as ever-lasting as these moments and momentous memories.

Well, like the father's, the brother's love is the most selfless. There are hardly any expectations in return. Busy with their lives, they may not meet me every day. Hardly matters at all. I know very well that they sure would be there if and when the need arises! That re-assurance revived yet again is the real Bhaubeej gift, and I treasure it the most! 

Pratima@"The heart of the giver makes the gift precious," says Martin Luther, the great monk, who literally made German a language and initiated Protestantism.

 Rather like our Sant Dnyaneshwar who initiated a social and  signification revolution by translating the Geeta in to Marathi, then just a mere dialect, one among many! As they say, great souls think alike.

Sis-n-bro/is how we grow!

 Big brother! That terror made horrific by George Orwell in his dystopian novel "1984" could be a reality for many in real life, sibling relationships. Lucky I am! I do not have to worry that way.

Sure the sister-brother relationship is more complex than what many senti novels or most typical Bollywood films show. Indeed, flowers and stars would most often than not blush at what they are supposed to say as per the famous song because very few sisters are 'one in million'!

In other words, hype may be hip, but it is as banal as the apparently naughty, actually nutty, smart Alec-y wisecracks that WhatsApp, Instagram types overflow with. A sibling IS for lifetime! No other relationship, except that with parents, is as born and grown up with as the sibling bonds are. 

So much is shared during the formative years that it just cannot be wiped out. Whatever magic as well as havoc life may bring in its wake, our responses, despite all the developments during later years, are defined by our pre-teen years when the closest we are is with our siblings. In short, as sis-n-bro we do grow.

Cousins can never replace a sibling. Period. The reasons are aplenty. That is hardly the theme today though. A brother, unlike a cousin, would never even think of harming you even unconsciously. Whatever might be the compulsions in his life, he would wisely negotiate them so as to be there for you if you need him. In brief, as sis-n-bro is how we do grow, and stay.

Yes, a brother is a silent support, most reliable in a world that is always busy back-stabbing and/or double-dealing. If your brother dislikes something you say or do, you worry yourself sick finding the cause, and the solution to it.

What I like the most about the sister-brother relationship is that there are hardly any material expectations. Most sisters these days are independent, have their own careers, face thousand difficulties, personal/professional, on their own. Yet the real succour if it is found is with one's own brothers who are the same generation, and hence would help the best, in case you need any.

As the sister-brother bond is so born(e) and basic, is not it but natural that Diwali, the festival of hopes, should close with the celebration of this most helpful and hopeful bond? Happy Bhaubeej!

Pratima@Oh, yes, unlike "rakhee",  "Bhaubeej" has not evolved either historically nor has it proliferated due to Bollywood bonanzas. It is very much there in our texts, myths and legends.

Yes, I am aware that most children these days are the only child of their parents. May be, that is why all the tensions and troubles that cannot be shared? 

Oh, yes, brothers are the best buddies and sisters often are strong supports in the "Little Women" mode, right?

A new beginning yet again!

 It is the second last day of the festival that all of us, literally the whole of India, loves. This fact is what is remarkable about Diwali. It does not differentiate between the rich and the poor. Each one celebrates it in his/her own way. In big cities, moreover, many individuals as well as associations take care of the less advantaged.

With the Diwali Padwa, we notice yet another remarkable aspect of our festivals. Our festivals are both individual oriented and yet have a social signification. This Padwa, like the Chaitra Padwa, celebrates the beginning of an era, but in a unique way. 

Associated with this Padwa is the memory of King Bali. It is hence known as Bali Patiprada. King Bali's story is most interesting for two reasons. To begin with, it shows a deep bond between a good, committed ruler and his devoted people. So strong is the bond that there is this annual reunion celebrated joyously year after year.

The Bali story is significant for yet another reason. The powers that be, however domineering, cannot wipe out either a good individual or his memories. The bond remains, the connect continues. In dark times, nothing can be more reassuring! Happy Padwa, hence! Let us celebrate this victory of good over the evil which is the real meaning of Diwali.

Pratima@In Maharashtra, the day dignifies the marital bond by assigning this day as a special celebration of the relationship. What a lovely reminder of a relationship that could be as equal and as ever lasting as that of King Bali and his beloved countrymen.

The real wealth

 It is Laxmi Poojan today. All of us would perform the traditional pooja in the evening. The home-n-hearth would look real pleasant with the glitter of our hard-earned wealth. 

The evening is worth a wait. Some proof it is of our year long sincere genuine commitment to our respective professions. For the merchant community, it is the beginning of a new account book. Even when these days, they might not ever be using the traditional "khatawani", they perform a puja that celebrates the tradition, right?

Let us hence explore the trite notion of what real wealth is. Let us begin (and end) with what Sant Dnyaneshwar says as he is the progenitor of the classical status of our mother tongue, Marathi, right? Yes, his 'Dnyaneshwari' accorded the status of Dyanbhasha to a dialect by en'rich'ing it with deep vision, superb knowledge and poetry felt on the pulse. 

Sant Dnyaneshwar compares Diwali with removing the soot of very many ignorances from our discerning conscientious awareness. That indeed is the real wealth because a mind lighted from within can truly illumine existence, right?

Pratima@Let your inner light shimmer ever. That will illuminate all the "amavasya's", darknesses within.