Comfortably Numb.

Sometimes there's a news item that you glance upon once, think of reading it, but then just as you are about to start reading it, just give up on it. One such item was "Chidambaram to visit 'blocked' Manipur today" a few days back. Given the fact that strikes are commonplace in strife torn north-east, I casually ignored the news item; until yesterday, when again I saw a news item concerning the remote state of Manipur but only too grim to be ignored this time. It read, "Nagas end Manipur blockade after 121 days." And my first reaction was "121 Days? When did that happen?". It was time to dig some dirt!

The bone of contention is the Sadar Hills region (which is Kuki dominated) of the otherwise Naga dominated Senapati district in Manipur. To press forward their demand of a separate district for Sadar Hills, Kukis started a blockade of National Highways 53 and 39 on 1 Aug. The Nagas, who have been fighting for a greater Nagalim (Nagaland along with Naga dominated parts of Arunachal and Manipur) with greater 'autonomy' were opposed to any redrawing of  administrative regions when talks were in progress with GoI. So they responded with a blockade of their own on Aug 21. The state government's assurance to Kukis only worsened ethnic tensions. Nagas, who felt short changed, intensified their blockade.

But it's not just Nagas and Kukis who are fighting in North-east. There are Mizos, Bodos, insurgents in Tripura; Khasis, Garos, Jaintias in Meghalya (though relatively peaceful) who are fighting for 'autonomy' and it's been decades now. Ethnic nationalism runs deep in these tribes of the North-east and over the years has been bolstered by government apathy, cross-border havens and forced conversions. The north-east is sitting on a hot bed of feelings of ethno-nationalism and that is reminiscent of a situation not so long ago in the Balkans. There are uncanny parallels between erstwhile Yugoslavia - its ethnic Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Bosniaks and India's North-east - its ethnic Nagas, Mizos, Kukis, Bodos and the like. With the fact that the North-east is connected to the Indian mainland by just a 21-40 kms stretch of Chicken's Neck but has a far greater border with China, Bangladesh and Burma - which are either hostile or at best non-friendly territories, the idea of a Yugoslavian deja-vu, though may seem difficult but is not improbable. 

But there is something more disheartening in this whole episode. The whole idea that someone can dare block for 4 months, the only national highways that link a state to the rest of the country, with such impunity, leading to sky-rocketing prices and acute shortage of essential commodities, fuel, medicines, is just too uncomfortable. The pillars of democracy - Legislature, Executive, Press failed miserably in their duties. It did not generate as much uproar in the opposition benches as it should have. The Home minister took cognizance of the situation only on 94th day of the blockade. The PM is scheduled to visit on Dec 3 - but only because the state is supposed to go elections in Feb. Even the usually active print and digital media did not consider the issue worth a decent cover story. The twitterati, the facebookers, the bloggers all chose to ignore it - There was an ominous silence all around. All chose to be so Comfortably Numb. And that rankles !

P.S: As per an article in The Hindustan Times, Nagaland would be given a special state status which will have its own flag, Naga nomenclature would be given in administrative posts in Nagaland. Insurgents seem to have dropped demand for Nagalim as well as sovereignty, in return for Naga councils in Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Restricted Area Permit ( RAP) will also be introduced in Nagaland. Thankfully, Indian govt. seems to have refused the insurgents' demand that the head of state of Nagaland should be known as Prime Minister. 

Heard of Article 370 anyone?

The Phenomena...that weren't meant to be !

The economic contours of the 20th century and to an extent social and political as well, were perhaps shaped by 3 phenomena: Capitalism, Consumerism and Globalization. An eventful beginning to the 21st century, especially the last three years, makes sure that the triad remains relevant, albeit with one rider. While the  current economic order has its roots in the universal glorification of the ideas behind the triad, the recent skepticism and disdain for the triad, is perhaps turning out to be a pre-cursor for a new economic order that will be synonymous with the 21st century.


Capitalism - The oldest of the troika, conceptualized perhaps in second half of the 19th century, gained prominence in early 20th century, broadly signifies that means of production are privately owned and the investments are made with sole aim of deriving maximum profits out of them. Despite its fallacies and being challenged by Communism, it thrived. It was the Great recession of 2008-09 which finally shook the very foundations of Capitalism - the concept of a free market economy and that of Laissez Faire. In the world's foremost free economy, where prices were supposedly determined by supply and demand and on rational behavior of market participants - it led to creation of asset bubbles which when burst, brought the whole economy to a standstill. Similarly, laissez-faire - the concept of minimal government intervention in the markets - was conveniently and blatantly forgotten when businesses facing pressing needs for capital were bailed out by the sovereign by pumping in trillions of dollars through stimulus packages. But the story does not end here. 'Occupy' campaigns and 'The Indignants' have gained momentum and are a reflection of a popular public discontent brewing against Capitalism and are turning out to be the greatest  build up ever against Capitalism.

All this surely suggests one thing - Capitalism in its current form can't continue or rather won't be allowed to continue. The glory days of yore when capitalists were untamed beasts will soon give way to days of suspicion, supervision and social responsibility - all so uncharacteristic of Capitalism !

Consumerism - The genesis of Consumerism lay somewhere in Capitalism. Capitalism needed public consumption to sustain the vulgar profits and Consumerism - which thrives on ever increasing desire for buying more goods and services - was a perfect ally! As a result, Consumerism was born sometime during middle of 20th century and very soon it engulfed the whole world.  The flood of options available in super markets and the hype of artificial low prices created though 'Sales', fomented the desire to buy more and led to patterns of irrational buying. People started to live beyond their means. All was seemingly well when Alas ! one day, the great recession struck. Governments tried their best to boost the economies but when the stimulus did not achieve the desired resuts, govts. had to resort to severe austerity measures. The severe austerity measures effectively translated into lower wages, lower pensions, lower health care and other benefits but more taxes. The 'Consumers' suddenly realized that in their quest for endless consumption, they had not saved enough for the rainy day! In some other parts where the stimulus did work (India & China), sudden downpour of money (and other factors) led to unprecedented inflation levels (not as those experienced by Zimbabwe but historically higher).

As people all over the world start redesigning their budgets to suit their wallets, the consumer in them will no longer be the same - profligacy will give way to frugality;  irrationality will be replaced by cautiousness.

Globalization - The phenomenon of Globalization seems a logical evolution to Capitalism and Consumerism. Focus on profits; to sustain them - enable voracious consumption and when markets in your country are saturated, just spread the malaise - globalize it !  Defined as an integration of economic, political and cultural systems across the globe, globalization - the youngest of the triad, took centre-stage by the end of the 20th century. Advancements in communications and ease of travel fueled it. Free trade zones, various economic and monetary unions, relaxed immigration policies diminished national boundaries further. An example of globalization often quoted was that a person in India, uses equipments made in China, to communicate with an American, helping him how to boot his laptop, which was assembled in Malaysia and was shipped to him in a box, which has some elements of the Brazilian Amazon forests in it. But soon, it was realized that this integration has left the world economies susceptible as never before. Now, the bitter fruits nurtured due to the misadventures of one or a few (US earlier and PIIGS lately), have to be tasted by all. The example of globalization that can now be given is perhaps how the inability of an American to pay his mortgage made an Indian textile mill worker unemployed! As a corollary, it also brought Greece dangerously close to being ousted from Eurozone and has kindled a million mutinies in the form of OWS and The Indignants.

Thus, lately we see people in monetary unions questioning why they should be paying for someone else's folly; concept of open borders giving way to increased protectionism; stalemate in WTO (the organization which was at fore front of promoting globalization by reducing trade barriers) meetings as no one is prepared to recede ground. Some scholars even argue that globalization is actually promoting neocolonialism!

Lord Krishna says in Bhagvad Gita," Parivartan sansaar ka niyam hai". Everything that is created must be destroyed. Without destruction there would be no creation. Capitalism, Consumerism and Globalization - the phenomena that shaped most of the 20th century are currently in a state of flux as the happenings world over threaten to destroy the foundations they were based upon. What, however remains to be seen is that whether the destruction this time, will take us back in history and the concept of nation states with strong economic, cultural and social identity regains prominence. Or is this destruction, actually a creative destruction, which will lead to better, evolved and more open and matured philosophies? 

Either way, it's time for Change ! Time for a RESET!