Farouk Gulsara's Blog, page 118

Back to the USSR

The Americans (Seasons 1 - 6; 2013-18)

The Russians and the Americans have had a love-hate relationship for a mighty long time. It probably dated back to a time before the 20th century when the Americans had the first taste of imperialism after the winning over the Spanish mighty naval army in the Spanish-American War and annexation of Texas as well as California. This gave them access to sea routes over the Pacific as well as the Atlantic Oceans; the only nation with such an enviable capability.

The Russians claim that the Americans, through their Jewish proxies, had a hand in the fall of the Romanov Dynasty and the plotting of the Bolshevik Revolution. Now there are allegations that Leon Trotsky and the Marxist regime is an American construct! Trotsky was paid by Jewish-Americans to jumpstart workers' revolt. Under cover of humanitarian aid by the American Red Cross, financed the 1917 People's Revolution against the monarch. 

The paranoia has traversed all through last century, and the heat does not seem to be simmering. For a brief moment of time, in the world wars, they were comrades. The Russians feel that they have been taken for granted. They had to fend for themselves when Germans attacked, and it is only wit and resilience that turn the Second World War the other way around, no thanks to the Allied Forces. It was the Russian's Red Army which marched into Berlin and stormed the Fuhrer's bunk.

The Russians feel shortchanged. Even their earth-shattering feats are downplayed by the American media. They are portrayed as the evil nemesis of freedom and liberty. The animosity has not ended even today. They are accused of rigging the Presidential elections and are charged with taking control of American uranium mines through back door deal.

This addictive TV miniseries with 6 Seasons (13 one-hour episodes in the first five season and 10 one-hour shows in the sixth) tells the secret lives of two KGB officers who live incognito amongst the Americans to carry out espionage and executions. If one ignores the believability aspect of the whole setting - the makers want us to believe that it is physically possible to plot and execute a murder in the wee hours of the night while preparing breakfast and sending their teenage children as if nothing happened.

Nevertheless, the exciting part of the whole series is that it is set during the tumultuous times of the early 1980s when the US-Soviet Union relationship goes through a significant jolt. The dream of a utopia where workers' struggle can solve existential problems goes pear-shaped. The Americans with their capital seem to be winning the Cold War.

The spies, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings (their pseudonyms), were born in Russia and were paired as a couple to live among ordinary people like everyday Americans. They begot a daughter and a son. Philip and Elizabeth, despite all the near misses and the agony of exposing their cover to their neighbour who happened to be an FBI agent, they come out tops in their assignments. The subplot involves the Russian Cultural Centre employees, who are covers for KGB activities, with their complicated affairs.

Growing up during Stalin Russia in poverty and fed with nationalism, Philip and Elizabeth are genuinely patriotic and see clearly the vision set by their communist forefathers. They soon realise that their children, after growing in the comforts of the capitalistic world, are worlds apart from them regarding values and character. That seems to be a challenge.

Unlike most American productions, this one stays away from giving a lopsided biased account of the greatness of the capitalistic system over communism. They hint that human values seem to take a back seat. It is interesting that they compare Christianity as a form of smokescreen that deceives the mind from the real problem and conveniently dumps it on an invisible God for solace.

An interesting watch. Try to catch all those hallmark events that happened in the 80s. No, it ends before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, but there are episodes on the Nicaraguan Contras movement, Russian's involvement with anti-apartheid movement, bioweapon, the Star War project, David Copperfield's disappearance of Statue of Liberty and Gorbachov's graceful exit from politics,
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You, your Master!

Yes, I do my job but I am not your slave!They tell your vocation is God. They tell you stories of postmen clinging on their mail-bags like it was their dear lives they were holding on to in fatal motor-vehicle accidents. You have seen simple men giving their whole lives away doing repetitive mundane jobs to bring food to the table. You have heard of Men of God or self-appointment saviours of mankind in obscure places performing seemingly meaningless rituals that garner no worldly gains but only personal satisfaction. To the uninitiated, it may appear that they are just deluding themselves into doing something worthwhile for the rest of humanity. You, the simpleton, may not visualise it. In short, in the old world, a person's job was viewed as their purpose for living. You are born, you do your part for the continuity of species, then you wither away.

The thinking man, however, looks at it from a different angle. Sure, everyone is answerable during his assigned time and scope of duties. He is a worker between a particular time. He is at your service at the ping of your call. Beyond that, he is not going to lift his finger to do anything for you. Outside his pre-designated roster, he executes his other duties - a father, a husband, a friend or just to indulge in his recreational duties. For him, the purpose of life is to achieve personal development besides doing his part in the continuity of the species. There is no dichotomy between the upper echelons and the plebeians. Everybody just plays their part to oil the cogwheel of life.

The first model may be viewed as a fatalistic one. It is easy to compartmentalise people into pigeon holes to ensure the smooth running of a society. Manpower shortage will not arise. Individuals are born to do their designated jobs but there is no upward mobility of people. A cobbler's offspring will stay a cobbler. Aptitude and passion for other vocation are killed but there is plenty of room for specialisation and knowledge for the obscure. 

In the second prototype, there is space for the common man to expand. Man has the opportunity to determine his own destiny, away from dogmas of archaic rhetorics. The downside of such an arrangement is that there would be many jacks of all trade but master of none.

Albeit its ups and downs, the majority of a certain locale would decide which one works best for them. Newcomers, whether they like it or not, have to conform. perhaps, that was the reason for their migration to the new found land in the first place. And their old system failed to protect them and pushing them away from the land that they tried to build their legacy, traditions and footing.


You clear your mess!
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Valencia - Land of Paella

I was taken back when I was told that paella (pronounced payea) was the national dish of Spain; surprised because it was basically a variant of what Malaysian know as 'nasi goreng' and that rice could be a staple food in a region in Europe. Rice was introduced to this region in the 10th century by the Moors in Andalusia, making rice eating a custom in this region. Valencia is well known for its varieties of paella.
Paella - the rice is of the round ended variety, bomba rice. ©FG Seafood paella, pick your choice: rabbit meat, snail, squid with black ink. ©SKCL
Around the railway station ©FG High Street ©FG
Like opium to the masses, every town in Spain has a football team to showcase the prowess of the local boys. Everybody is happy; the boys who have their soccer stars to look up to for aim in life, the local populace are kept busy anticipating their favourite team's next outcome, the local thug with his betting racket, the local council with revenue, the club with selling tickets and memorabilia, the country with the proud yell of nationalism and the Malaysian bookies who decide the success or fall of the clubs. 
Valencia FC stadium - Mestalla ©FG©FG



The confluence of people exchanging their produce is the precursor of business activities. The Central Market of Valencia is an important landmark for visitors. Around this iconic structure are many sites of historical significance. Even the Market (Mercado) is a tourist attraction ©FG Jamóne ©FG
Aesthetically pleasing and pleasant to olfactory senses - Valencia Mercado Central ©FG Around the Central Market ©FG ©FG
©FG






In the vicinity of the Virgin Square ©FG Cathedral of Valencia ©FG
©FG
Valencia is an important port city. In the 15th century, it was an important trade centre before its role dwindled as the trans-Atlantic dealings became more lucrative. In its heydays, the area around the Central Market was abuzz with activity. Many a priceless deal were inked under the roofs of The Silk Exchange building, the structure considered one of most attractive and architecturally important of ancient Valencia. 

©FG
©FG
Look at the intricate woodwork over the ceiling and be mesmerised! ©FG


3D effect flooring ©FG
Fine masonry ©FG
©FG

©FG
©FG
Gothic ceiling ©FG


The City of Arts and Sciences is an ultra-modern looking nouveau designed building thathouses exhibition halls, museum, recreational water park, oceanographic centre and an opera house. Unfortunately, it looked grossly underutilised with hardly any activities on-going.
©FG
©FG
©FG
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©FG
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Filling up the bottomless pit!

The Spider's Web: Britain's Second Empire (Documentary; 2017)
Director, Producer: Michael Oswald

I always wondered how Britain, after 200 years of ruling over almost half of the globe, survived after losing everything after the Second World War. It is a mystery how they continued their role in being one of the economic powerhouses of the world.

It is no secret that WW2 marked the beginning of setting of the sun over the British Empire. Slowly, one by one, its colonies demanded to be cut off their attachments to the Crown. The coup de grâce must have come after their disastrous 1956 campaign over the nationalisation of the Suez Canal by President Nasser.

The value of the pound-sterling plummeted. Foreign investors withdrew their investments. A special market was created to circumvent the control of the monetary bodies of the UK. Hence was born the London Euro-Dollar market to keep investors' interest in Britain. This was the precursor to the setting up of the spider's web of secrecy jurisdiction in the remote off-shore tax havens. 

These tax havens were mostly British territories like Cayman Island, Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Jersey in the UK. Soon Americans set up their own concerns in the Caribbean with the same midis operandi - funnelling global funds which were obtained clandestinely and laundered into London and other Western markets. The web attracted bankers, lawyers, accountants and the elite of the society. It formed like a secret society that drew in ill-gotten spoils from drugs and corruption the world over to syphon it to finance more than 90% of international loans.

Bankers are a protected species. No law so far has significantly brought down big banks. Bank of England and its affiliates carry out their tasks with impunity. The City of London, it seems, because of 1066 William the Conqueror's failure to capture this town, has its own council and elected its own Lord Mayor. (Cf. Mayor is a political post elected four years once; Lord Mayor of London is an annual apolitical appointment by the Sovereign.) The council is made up of a guild of businessmen, retired high-ranking civil servants and aristocrats who have no qualms using public funds for personal gains. They are also seen making use of public monies for dubious business ventures. They are experts in creating shell companies and concocting creative accounts to cover their trails. Just in case their endeavours go south, the general public can always be used to bail them out. They are, after all, protected by the law. 

Losers of the deal are also the citizens of Africa and other third world countries who are regularly looted by their elites with the help of these financial wizards. CIA is known to finance covert operations via this channel. 

One of the purposes of this offering is to make its viewers aware of the dealings of these big conglomerate. The general public, in turn, must demand greater transparency in their leaders' dealings. The national agreements should not be official secrets but must be assessed by concerned citizens.

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The destructive force of obsession!

The Librarian 2017 Author: Kavitha Rao

One of the problems identified to have inflicted the vast majority of people of the 21st century is their over-attachment to their mobile devices. They seem to be engrossed in their gizmos that it is sometimes comical to see them walking like zombies. They appear as if they are talking to their imaginary friends, all complete with hand gestures and explosive curses. Sometimes they become oblivious to their surroundings, walking through glass-doors or moving vehicles. They seem so engrossed in their gadgets that I would not be surprised if they are unaware if somebody jocularly strips them down.

Well, it is not much different than how it used to be when I was growing up. An acquaintance of mine, while immersed in his spy-thriller novel, had his house burgled right under his nose (not really under his nose but rather with his presence). Amma also used to complain my sister and I were too buried in our books. She accused us of using the need to study as an excuse not to do what is expected from us, children, to help around the house doing simple chores. We have to confess. We were sometimes engaged in leisurely readings.

In Amma's eyes, we were sometimes too engrossed that we lost track of the ground we stood on -- no different from the 21st-century zombies who live in alternative universes.

Kavitha Rao, Lucknow; 2018.At what level do we lose the ability to differentiate what is important and what is not? Sometimes we are so passionate about something that we lose our bearings and fail to appreciate something so important as life itself. This novel tells the tale of a bibliophile with her dream job at the library. It narrates her struggle to satiate her appetite for books and, perhaps, live in her make-believe world of fictions and the characters from those books.
She works in an ancient library which had seen better times and faces the risk of being shut down due to lack of funds and readership.

The book is an interesting and descriptive one that manages to keep the interest of the readers right till the end.
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Grab a cab?

My experience in Spain is that the taximen there are not really affected by the hailing of rides stimulated by the digital economy. Nobody calls in or rather uses the Uber App to pimp their rides. The taxis still function as before, and they never lost their sleep over it. Just why is this possible?

Sure, the taximen invested a lot of money in their machines and their licences. For the Uber drivers, it is just another way to make extra revenue. Being the socialist, people-minded that the elected government is, it naturally cared more for the people that elected them rather than the business people who financed their campaign. Furthermore, at a time when everyone has become nationalistic if not, practising 'identity politics', it does not help that the parent company is foreign-owned.

Whatever way the debates go, the bottom line is providing a service. Mobility and agility is an essential tool for an economy to prosper. The service providers cannot hold the end-users to ransom. Above all, they should provide a reasonable and workable facility.

This could be a wake-up call to our local cabbies, who, when given the carte blanche of solely providing the private chauffering amenity, were too haughty, lazy and lackadaisical at best. Above all, the taxi drivers are providing a vital service to spur the economy and even to promote the country to that occasional tourist like my experience in Spain. Still, no one is indispensable.
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One who lives by the sword, dies by one!

Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil, 2018)

This film is supposed to have elements of Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran' in its storyline. And Kurosawa's 'Ran' is supposed to have similarities to King Lear. Unfortunately, the similarities end at the level of a man of power and the power struggle between his three sons over his ruling empire. Here, the struggle is for the position of 'Don' between three sons. Each suspects each other of sabotage and try to outdo each other with wit and the might of gunpowder. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, after much killing, the sufferings of their loved ones, the death of the few and the double-crossing of their most trusted ones, the thugs realise that one who lives by the gun dies by one. 
Not much of a film. Just another movie that depicts India as a land of lawlessness with a corrupt police force where everything and everyone has a price. Sadly, they try to sell the idea that even the immigration is under the thumb of thugs! 
Not worth spending your precious Sunday afternoon watching this. Spend it in something more worthwhile; forget trying to promote Tamil culture to the diaspora. There are other ways of doing this.

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Just a job or a calling?

You are made to believe that the way to do it is divine. That, the effort that you put in your work is like serving God. That, you are performing the Almighty's job on Earth. You do not have to display your piety for others to see. All you have to do is to serve, everything else will take care of itself. You follow suit. 

Then you realise that life cannot be all work. The people that you thought you have been sacrificing all your life for suddenly turn their back against you. They start hurling accusations of this and that. That you had been shortchanging them; that that is your job - your only job is to serve them. You, on the other hand, thought they would be eternally grateful to you for you had sacrificed everything for them in the course of your vocation. You thought yours was a calling. It, apparently, was not. It was just another job. You are just another spoke in the machinery of society that moves it forward.

The tale that the people before you told were just to ensure that everyone kept their gab shut and did as they were told. You were the clown cajoled to maintain equilibrium while those in the realm of power did what they did best- flaunt their power. You were suckered into believing that you were doing something right, something noble, something indispensable but... the wrong answer.
Yama's scribe who keeps the record of peoples'karma. © Devdutt Pattanaik
You had worked like your life depended on it, now you have to work as that is the only work you know. And any remote chance to clear your name depended on it as the pressures of seeking legal representation mounts together with their bills. Your future, your honour, your own self-esteem, removing your name of alleged negligence all rest on it. 

Yours, they say, is just a job. Just like everybody else, you are given a job. But, your duties are not a 9 to 5 pushing buttons or envelopes kind of work. You cannot just wash your hands come punch-out time. In fact, you do not clock out. You are beyond all that and more. 

Hence the dilemma...

You convince yourself that Chitragupta and St Peters are taking the tally.
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Seville will not disappoint...

These banks of the River Guadalquivir witnessed the most momentous time in history which must probably be the single most crucial juncture in the maritime industry. Ferdinand Magellan is said to have set sail to explore another route for the Spanish to lay their hands on the lucrative spice trade. As it stood at that time, the Muslim rulers tightly controlled the land routes to the East. The river also saw the passage of a colossal amount of 'blood' gold from South America being transport through this port to the Spanish Empire.

By the River Guadalquivir ©FG The modern arched bridge over Guadalquivir ©FG
Torre del Oro - the watch tower that oversaw entrance of ships to the port. A chain went across the river to block the passage of unauthorised vessels. ©FG
1929 was an important year for Ibero-Americano cooperation. After 20 years of planning and planned to be held in 1914, only to be delayed by the Great War, colonies decided to show the best that they had to offer, architecture and style wise, for a year from June 1929. Sevilla, being the centre of Latin American exploration, was given the honours to host this fair. Each participating country, including the USA, Portugal and Brazil, built an exhibition place each which was later functioned as their consulate building. The landmark of this expo is the Plaza de España, the picturesque building which showcases the splendour of Renaissance, Moorish and Baroque styles of construction. This beautiful structure may appear familiar as it had been used as the backdrop in many Hollywood blockbusters including 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Star Wars'.

Plaza de España ©FGThe Pavilion at Plaza de España ©FGThe walls at the Plaza are decorated by the coat of arms of each Spanish district ©FG
The Real Alcázar (Royal Palace) of Sevilla showcases the majestic representations of the greatness Visigoth, Moorish and Gothic architecture. A portion of the palace is still being used by the Spanish royalties for state functions.


©FG
Garden fit for a King, boasting of tropical and Oriental variety too. ©FG

The Star of David is evidence that the Jewish community is represented in this palatial area too. ©FG
Hall of Ambassadors at the Alcázar of Seville. Imagine how this dome, at the heights of the Almonad Sultanate, would appear to the waiting diplomat. The grooves between the frame of the dome which used to be filled with pieces of mirror must have been scintillating to the visitor, adding grandeur to the grand structure. It is supposed to give the illusion of viewing into a star-lit night sky. ©FG

Eyecatching patterns ©FG
Something for everyone in the pillars. One of the favourite pastime of the little tots of the royal courtyard to pick out the hidden doll carvings in the cast. Much like how children in the 1990s used to identify 'hidden Mickeys'. ©FG

The infusion of Islamic scripture to remind everyone that above all Allah is the mightiest. Apparently, some of the Arabic inscriptions also glorify Christian rulers. ©FG
The Courtyard of the maidens of Alcázar. ©FG©FG


The coveted Seville Cathedral ©FG





Interior of Seville Cathedral ©FG
Bullfight ring - Seville ©FG A typical Spanish square. A cosy place for Sangria, tapas, idle chat, people watching and followed by an afternoon siesta. Life... ©FG The Kissing Alley - private ownership promoted uncoordinated extensins of buildings. It is, however, convenient for potential and wannabe Romeos and Juliets for their amorous activities. ©FGSouvenir from Sevilla. The characteristic broken marble ceramic from Andalusia. It is said this type of design is Visigoth in origin, not Islamic or Arabic. ©FG Sevilla is said to be the birthplace of the Flamenco dance. The Roma (formerly referred to as gipsies) folks, who occupied the fringes of the burgeoning of Andalusian society, used to bury their sorrows and their trepidations of life in music and dance. Triana, at the banks of Guadalquivir, with its sojourners and their bohemian lifestyle is sort of a musical hub of the town. 
No religion can claim to have won heart without conquest, blood, tears and human sacrifice. Conversions by force, coercion, intimidation and fear of death but everyone claims that their religion promotes peace. More lives are lost through religion than diseases and natural calamities combined. Still, religion is relevant, they say, at any time of human civilisation. ©FG


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The land we spilt our blood!

Hidden Heroes: Snapshots of A True Malaysian Patriot's Life (2018)
Author: Lai Chee Seng

Having gone through life hanging on a thread, living precariously one day at a time, having been shot in the thigh and miraculously surviving the communist terrorists' watchlist, S/Sergeant S. Kesavan would be the last person to empathise with the struggles of Chin Peng and his band of 'self-appointed' freedom fighters. In his eyes and the people of his generation, MPAJA and their successors can never be viewed as liberators of the land of Malaya from the Japanese and later the British colonial masters.

No amount of facts and cajoling with the idea that history was written by victors and that the propaganda machine changed the psychology of the nation to look at them as the bad guys are going to going to convince S/S Kesavan of the genuine altruistic intentions of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). 

He was there to experience the brutality of the members of CPM who decided to go underground and take up arms after the peace talks to recognise it as a legitimate political party in 1955 failed.

This book is a tribute by a daughter to her father hailing the bravery and sacrifices of her father and the many unsung heroes around the country who were the people working in the background, unnoticed, so that the rest of the country can continue with their lives and prosper.

A nation becomes successful because of its people, who believe in its course and have pride in defending its ideology against intruders who have ill-intent. Its people, in spite of their ethnicity who are willing to spill blood during sanguine times, should not be questioned of their patriotism. A nation prospers not only due to its capable leaders but also by the little people who in their own way, like a tiny screw in the heavy machinery, do their part conscientiously.

Spruced with interesting vignettes on the history and events surrounding young Malaya/ Malaysia, the writer narrates beautifully the early years of S/S Kesavan as a young boy in the trying years of World War 2 around Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. The strong-willed pint-sized boy from humble beginnings, strive hard to improve his living standards with his wit and charisma as his tool and his determination being his weapon. He led his life with the firm conviction that the Almighty is by his side paving a safe passage during his trying times. And it worked well for him.

Starting from rank and file, he served the Police Field Force tracking down communist activities in the thick jungles of Malaysia during the heights of Emergency. His zest to learn landed him in the RDF (Radio Direction Finding) unit of the Special Branch to remotely detect and locate strongholds of CT. The book traces through his career, his family life, his children and all the sacrifices made  by himself and his family. All in the name of the country, the only place they can call home.

As if as a fortunate stroke of serendipity, the country's fight against communism also ended about the time that S/S Kesavan retired from the service. As his senior jocularly said, "Chin Peng decided to call it a day and hang his AK47 when K7 (Kesavan) retired. 

The effort to tell family stories is lauded. Quite too often, the younger generation forgets the sacrifices made by the immigrant population to turn this backwater malaria-filled jungle called Malaya to put it on the world map. It is time we, Malaysian, open that treasure chest of our grandmother stories that we hold so close to our hearts to put on paper the true chronicle of the course of the history of our country. 

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