Yashas Mahajan's Blog, page 32
September 25, 2018
Word of the Week #130:
Let me start off by asking you a question. Did you know what Fax actually stands for?
Well, not much anymore, right?
Such cheap shot… I know…
Anyway, let me tell you something I really do not like. No, I’m not talking about copy machines. I have nothing against them. After all, the ability to copy dozens of chapters worth of notes in a matter of hours is nothing short of divine.
Do you know how many of the 50 highest grossing movies of all time are not an adaptation, sequel, prequel or spin-off of an existing piece of art? 5!
Sounds ridiculous, right?
Well, of those five movies, three were created by Disney, one of which was inspired by Hamlet.
The other two of those five, which also happen to be the two highest grossing movies ever, were Avatar and Titanic, both written by James Cameroon. And even Titanic was based on real life events, right?
So, how many of those 50 movies can be called truly original? 3? Is that not insane?
Still, I can accept that adaptations are more than just copies. They do add a lot to the original artwork. After all, Hermione was always a memorable character, but Emma Watson’s performance made it unforgettable.
What I truly cannot stand are these reboots and remakes that keep popping up and ruining something wonderful. And this is especially palpable among live-action adaptions in animated series.
Let us take an example. Have you seen Death Note? Well, for the uninitiated, let me just say that Death Note is one of the best anime series ever made. It follows the life of a young boy with extreme intelligence, ethics and discipline, and how his acquisition of a divine object leads him down a dark path.
Good story, right?
Now, Netflix decided to make a live-action adaptation, and they had to make a few changes to the plot to make it more palatable to American audiences. Is that difficult? Apparently not. Eliminate the intelligence, ethics and discipline from the protagonist, and you have an American-style plot ready for production.
And this is still not the worst of the worst. But let us not go down that particular rabbit hole, or we will be here all night.
Let us just bunker down, and prepare to weather this torrent of faecal remains of the things we know and love…
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
— Ecclesiastes 1:9
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September 18, 2018
Word of the Week #129:
You know what I truly dislike about this country? The labour laws… Or perhaps the seeming lack thereof.
How many hours is an average person expected to work in a week? In most reasonable parts of the world, the answer is 40. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. As I said, reasonable.
In India, however, the answer can jump up to 60. The law actually states 9 hours a day, 6 days a week, but who cares about that, right?
In most parts of the world, every employee gets around 35 days of paid leave every year. Plus weekends, which gives us roughly 140 days a year. In India? 25… So adding a lone Sunday each week, we get around 80.
Add to that the geographical size, lack of affordable and reliable transportation, and the high concentration of jobs in urban centres, odds are you would not get to visit your home more than twice or thrice every year.
And, as I probably do not even need to mention, the pay is far from stellar.
Growing up, I was always led to believe that we work in order to live, but I do not see much evidence of life around here.
Knowing all this, one might wonder just how this can continue, right? Why do we, in India, tolerate such treatment for so little compensation?
Well, the answer is simple. If you don’t, someone else will.
We are a nation of many people. Too many people. Way too many people.
And as the workforce keeps growing, the employment opportunities struggle to keep up. It does not take a genius to realise this system is built to implode.
I just hope I do not get caught in the aftershocks.
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September 11, 2018
Word of the Week #128:
Even though I am a writer, this was never meant to be a literary blog, per se. However, tonight, let us talk about writing.
One thing I strongly dislike about far too many people in the literary world is the lack of width in their understanding and appreciation of books.
Each one of them would seem to only enjoy a particular way of writing, and any choosing not to employ the same is considered a folly.
Now, nobody appreciates one’s right to personal preference, but when it seeks to lay down a framework that every writer is expected to follow, we have a problem.
Among many other things, there is one edict every writer has always heard: Show, don’t tell.
There is some logic to it, of course.
As the website of a popular editor summarises it:
“Showing makes the writing vivid and more descriptive. Showing also helps readers experience the story by allowing them to interpret the descriptions of places, actions, and scenes.
Telling, on the other hand, is flat and boring and limits the experience for the reader. It also tells editors and agents you’re an amateur. After all, if the very first rule of writing is show, don’t tell, then telling says you don’t know the first thing about writing.”
Sure, that is, in general, pretty sound advice. Setting a scene, letting the readers draw conclusions for themselves, it all makes sense right? Of course, it only works when the perspective is of a proverbial fly-on-the-wall.
The rule is applicable only if you are employing a Third Person Objective narrative. Surprisingly narrow scope for such an important rule, right?
Now, I do not use this style of narrative very often. I have a strong preference for Character Voice. I like my characters to drive the narrative, and telling what the character thinks or feels can often be a part of it. It adds meat to the character, and also adds uncertainty into the narrative.
Think of this scenario. You are writing a novel that talks about a case of sexual harassment in an office.
Which approach would you prefer:
Every chapter written objectively, documenting the actions and words of the characters.
Different chapters written from the perspectives of different characters. Maybe the harasser’s male colleagues describe him as a wonderful guy who always gets the job done, and his female colleagues describe him as a creep who never lets them feel comfortable in the workplace.
Is either approach better than the other? No, they are just two different ways to turn one story into two distinct books. And there is no reason why both cannot be good.
At the end of the day, it is your story, and you get to decide how you write it.
As long as you are smart about it, you can show and tell.
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September 4, 2018
Word of the Week #127:
I like cheesecakes and I cannot lie
You other brothers can’t deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty plate
And a cheesecake in your face
You get sprung!
I love good food.
Maybe you’ve had a long, dreary week. Maybe your spouse is being especially annoying. Maybe you didn’t get any sleep because your cat peed in your bed.
Whatever may go wrong in the world, the moment you put that first spoonful of cheesecake in your mouth, all your pain and sorrow just melts along with its soft, creamy love…
Unless you are lactose intolerant, perhaps. Or diabetic.
Still, you know what I mean, right? Food does have the power to change the world, your world, from the inside.
It is not surprising that I love good food. Who doesn’t, right?
Well, at least that is what I used to think, till I really went out in the world and met more people.
“Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.”
— Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
I often notice that people who have no appreciation for good food are rather bland individuals.
I mean, look at this:
Or this:
Or this:
How can I ever trust someone who does not love these, right? Sounds reasonable to me.
“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”
— George Bernard Shaw
So give me some cheesecake, and you will see how much I can love you.
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August 28, 2018
August 21, 2018
Word of the Week #125:
Ah, love.
Everyone loves love, right?
Isn’t this what we grew up watching in our movies? A young couple, hopelessly in love, who battle against all odds and either end up living happily ever after or die trying.
The formula is quite old. Romeo and Juliet was written over 400 years ago. Considering this, it is quite surprising that the story is not considered outdated.
Why?
Because our society still does not seem to understand that personal relationship should be just that: Personal.
Instead, it becomes a referendum for the entire country. Not just your close family and friends, everyone from your teachers to priests to gynaecologists feels the need to weigh in.
Of course, none of this concerns you when your parents have your back. But when they don’t? When they cannot accept the fact that their children are capable to making decisions for themselves?
That is how we end up with 251 reported cases of honour killings in one year. The key word here being ‘reported‘. Who knows how many of them slip under the radar because, well, dead men tell no tales.
I would generally go on to elaborate the widespread chilling effect this has on women in general but Kavita Krishnan already did a great job at it, in her article for Al Jazeera.
For now, let us look at something interesting.
Our Constitution gives us the right to freedom of speech and expression, which should enable us to express our feelings for whoever we happen to love, and any person who tries to stop us will face the wrath of our legal system, right? Right?
Actually, quite wrong…
You see, there is a catch. Just half a dozen lines later, the Constitution also states that the State can “impose reasonable restrictions” in the interest of “decency or morality“.
34% of our Members of Parliament had pending criminal cases when they last got elected, 21% being charged with serious crimes.
These are the people who get to “impose reasonable restrictions” on us in the interest of “decency or morality“.
After all, nothing says freedom like having your voices muffled by thugs.
Romeo and Juliet must be rolling in their graves.
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August 14, 2018
Word of the Week #124:
Earlier today, on the eve of our 72nd Independence Day, the President addressed the nation.
Did you watch it?
Of course, I did not watch it live. I did not even know it was happening tonight. For some reason, I thought the speech happens on the Independence Day…
But, for the very first time in my life, I actually watched the entire thing.
Among his 21 minutes of remarks, one statement stood out in particular to me. I must warn you that the following is not a precise translation, but I believe I do his sentiments justice.
At the very least, I did a better job than the folks over at NDTV. Come on, guys. You are supposed to be the professionals, around here…
Expanding the extent of freedom is an unabating endeavour.
— President Ram Nath Kovind
Such alliteration… Wow…
Of course, it is news to nobody that we, as a nation, have a long way to go.
On 15th of August, 1947, we did successfully secede from the British Empire. I wonder if any country can truly be called independent, in this day and age, but we have maintained our sovereignty, which is commendable.
However, when it comes to freedom, we have a particularly long way to go.
Just a couple of years have passed since the JNU incident, wherein the government decided to arrest students protesting in the campus and charge them with sedition. Talk about overkill…
While the matter is still sub judice, the court asked the university to take no coercive action against the students, including Umar Khalid.
Naturally, the university responded by refusing to accept his PhD thesis. This was, once again, followed by much hullaballoo.
Now, Khalid was allegedly shot at just three days before the next hearing. Coincidence?
Maybe it was all unrelated… Maybe he is just unlucky… Who can say, am I right?
Of course, according to the National Crime Report Bureau, over 142 unrelated cases of violence against journalists have been registered in the past 3 years. One wonders how many passed not registered.
Interestingly enough, not a single murder of a journalist has been solved in the country over the past decade.
So much coincidence. It makes my nerves tingle.
Clearly, we have a long way to go. And a particularly difficult one at that.
But for now, we fly these colours. Let us talk more about it next week.
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August 7, 2018
Word of the Week #123:
This post culminates the discussion we have been having for the past few weeks, and let me just begin by saying this: DON’T PANIC.
Now, anybody who has not been living under a rock for the past few years must have noticed a few subtle changes in our socio-political landscape over the past decade or so, in our country and across the world. Certain elements that have existed on the fringe of modern society suddenly find themselves a part of the mainstream..
Of course, the eldest among us would argue that the fringe has always existed and it is only the media that now highlights it more than ever before, but there is more to it. One cannot deny that the extremists among us have been emboldened by certain individuals.
One might be tempted to ask, “Really, just what does it matter if certain dogs continue to bark? It is what they do, after all. Why should we bother?”
The answer is actually simple, and lies in the Middle East.
The Iranian Revolution in 1979 overthrew the Persian monarchy and replaced it with an Islamic theocracy. There may be some who would argue this was a step in the right direction but the members of the Jewish community in Iran, which essentially halved overnight, might want to disagree.
There are always certain people who will ask, “What is wrong in seeking religious, ethnic, or ideological, homogeneity in your country?”
Well, if every citizen chooses to believe the same thing, nothing is wrong, is there? It is the opportunity to make that free and informed choice that matters.
Of course, you cannot choose your ethnicity, so if the regime suddenly decides it does not want you around, you better get ready to run, am I right?
The question we now have to ask is this. How does this lead to the end of the world? The answer is, once again, quite simple.
The world is always ending.
It is the rule of entropy.
It is why your clothes are constantly getting dirtier, and your body is growing wearier every day that passed. Both avoid complete degradation because you put some effort in making them last just a little bit longer.
The same is true for the world at large. It is always ending. It survives when the best and the brightest of the entire human race come together to make it last a little longer.
However, that may not continue forever, and from the recent evidence of our self-destructive nature, I wonder how much longer we might have.
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July 31, 2018
Word of the Week #122:
Okay, I’ll try not to get too dramatic, here.
However, as I mentioned two weeks ago, we may be approaching what can only be described as the beginning of the end.
Let us skip the feels and focus on the facts.
Last week we discussed how the world we live in can be defined by two words: Liberalism and Globalisation. Of course, these are not firmly established truths in all parts of the world, but at least they have been seen as ideals worth striving towards. Unfortunately, in many nations around the world, that no longer seems to be a case.
In the words of every horde of aliens invading the planet, let us start with America. The so-called leaders of the free world are themselves being led by a historically incompetent administration, and its population is deeply divided on all major issues. Of course, a difference of opinion among the masses is not a bad thing. But if those opinions are based less on rational facts and more on irrational feelings, there is no way to address those differences and move forward.
Sure, we could talk about the situations with xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia, Nazism, gun control, or the lack thereof, failing healthcare, crumbling infrastructure, income inequality and dozens of other things going wrong with the country, but those are just the symptoms. The two causes are actually quite simple, and exceedingly common:
Apathetic ignorance among the many
Unmitigated dishonesty among the few
The British are similar of course, but with better accents. Their own chicken, fondly known as Brexit, is coming home to roost soon enough and they could not be less prepared if they tried.
The rest of Europe is also far from flawless. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán is extremely popular, both within and beyond his own country. This is despite his blatantly Islamophobic views on immigration and the European society in general, or is it because of those views? Just last week, the government in Poland passed a law that allows them to handpick the chief of the Supreme Court. Neat.
Additionally, economies like Greece still remain in crisis, while Italy is plunging towards a crash. That is definitely going to hurt the entire European Union.
Towards the Middle East, just earlier today, Israel signed a new law, essentially mandating apartheid. The crises in Syria and Yemen are far from resolved, and the Arab Spring has subsided into the Arab Winter.
And this is all without even talking about the Russias and the Chinas of the world.
These can be seen as isolated problems faced by separate countries, but nothing is truly isolated in this ever-shrinking world of ours. If allowed to fester, I see this as an epidemic that can decimate our world just like Black Death through Medieval Europe.
Some people might think this is too outlandish. They would want to remind me that, despite all its problems, this is by far the best time to be alive.
Well, they are not wrong.
However, I would counter with this: A mango is the sweetest just a day before it starts rotting.
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July 24, 2018
Word of the Week #121:
Democracy by itself is not a new thing.
As with many other things, the Greeks did it first. The format itself was dissimilar to what we observe today, but the intent was largely the same.
Experiments with electoral systems continued almost for two thousand years, before the first modern democracy was established. Of course, even that seems archaic by today’s standards.
So, when did real, modern democracy become a norm? As we discussed last week, a lot of this was an aftermath of the two world wars. Essentially, we can mark three major points of inflexion in our recent history.
1918
After their losses in World War I, the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empire fell, laying ground for the foundation of—at least relatively—democratic regimes. Universal suffrage in the United States followed soon.
However, this push could not build to a tipping point, as a combination of economic strain and budding nationalist sentiments led several states towards authoritarianism. This was one of the major causes for World War II.
1945
After World War II, the balance did tip in most cases. The newly liberated colonies opted into this democratic experiment, as did Japan. However, authoritarian communism stayed strong in the Soviet Union, and soon spread to China as well.
With the world divided between the two superpowers, each espousing a diametrically opposite ideology, tension continued to brew. Often referred to as the Cold War, this tension further precipitated in conflicts in Korea and Vietnam.
1992
Eventually, the Russian influence began to wane, before being extinguished completely with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The end of the Cold War ushered an era of economic growth in the former Soviet dominions and allies, and saw another push towards liberal democracy. The unparalleled power of the United States, the consolidation of the European Union and the rise of China and India, aided by the rapid progress in technology, initiated a movement towards unprecedented globalisation.
Those are the two words I would say represent these past few decades: Liberalism and Globalisation.
So, why do we need to talk about this now? Well, to put it simply, I believe we may be moving towards another point of inflexion. The pieces are all there, one simply needs to put the puzzle together.
What is going on? Why should we care? Let us discuss that next week, shall we…
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