Business to the Buddha

Tag: Democracy

  • Incentive to cheat – Problem with Democracy







    I read a book – Games Indians Play by Mr Raghunathan a Professor in IIM-A and CEO of GMR group. I have written on this book earlier too – Individually smart collectively dumb. The problems with Indian – supposedly sharp – minds is given below in story format.

    This story is from a book – ‘The prayer of the Frog’ by Father Anthony de Mello, S.J. This book has very interesting stories on religion, spirituality and human relations etc. The story precisely explains how we – Indians – think and act.

    …

    A great festival was to be held in a village and each villager was asked to contribute by pouring a bottle of wine into a giant barrel.

    When the banquet began and the barrel was tapped what came out of it was water. One of the villagers had had this thought: “If I pour a bottle of water in that giant barrel, no one will notice the difference.” But it hadn’t occurred to him that everyone else in the village might have the same thought.

    …

    This happens in Indian political system. Everyone thinks that yes there is corruption, but I am paid 100/- let me vote this corrupt politician. Others would not vote him… similar to the story above. Every poor person gets an incentive to cheat – that cheating is a responsibility of politician – development Vs one time benefit to voter – 100 rupee note or a quarter of alcohol etc.

    The interesting part is we Indians more complex yet cheat always. We think in two fashion. 1. the way story suggests above and 2. why should I do it when everyone else is cheating?

    Option two suggests that every Indian knows what others are going to do and thinks why should not I do the same?

  • Business of politics







    “Religion-based quota won’t divide our people. Google will. That’s our Government’s logic.”
    – Chetan Bhagat, Author

    My friend Tejas Phatak (T Gates) recently wrote a blog – ‘Dot hai to Hot hai!’ I was thinking about the democracy, elections for couple of days and honestly laughing on the kind of stories and promises we hear from politicians. Specially during the election season.

    With due respect to the ‘business’ of politicians, I do not see many changes QUOTED/STATED (I am not using words such as done and made) by them and work done often falls way behind the promises. Look outside your window you would ‘see’ examples. I remember a statement of Collector of Indore (somewhere in 1997-2000) – Mr Manoj Shrivastava – in Nai Dunia (Very famous news paper in MP specially in Indore) that “reason for development of Indore is the people – not the politicians – of the city“. This applies to any city in India I believe.

    When we talk about ‘business’ of politicians, we hear categorical statements of religious bias too. During the seasons of elections you see ‘business of religion’ and ‘business of politics’ meet. I wonder according to the constitution of India where does religion get special status? I think in India every religion is given equal rights. Referring to the Wiki article Population statistics of India by religion I am wondering why we talk about religion based quota? If religion should be the basic Jains and Buddhists should get quota; is that happening? The very fundamental issue is – we want quota everywhere. I recall Lokpal debate everyone wanted quota there too.

    There are responsible positions where we need people who are capable – irrespective of their caste, religion or region (specially we have seen my Prime Ministers from UP!). I understand the prime reason for quota system is to bring equality in society, should we consider other methods of bringing equality – creating entrepreneurs for example.

    Tejas – voting in Mumbai has not been very encouraging. I think the reason for apathy in Mumbai is – people live here on a daily basis, we care more for our survival. How many politicians are solving problems of daily basis. I heard Arnab Goswami saying yesterday – ‘reason of Shiv Sena winning here could be the grass route work of the workers. They are available when there is a need’. Secondly, in Mumbai perhaps maximum jobs are in private sector where Quota statement does not make much sense for voting.

    I support quality work irrespective of political affiliation. So the ‘business of politics’ and ‘business of religion’ should talk about the kind of work and developments happening for the guys next door like you and me!

  • Syādvāda – The Doctrine of Postulation







    I had written about this earlier, however thought to revisit the same again. What is the meaning of system when it is not solving the required purpose? Let us take the same example again from my previous post Lost in translation. What is the meaning of grammar (System) if the language (Following the system) is not able to communicate the message using the grammer?

    To make my point further clear, let me take recent developments in India. In case of Anna Hazare, the Government was shouting about the SYSTEM in place, “THE SUPREME PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS” and therefore was not relenting to the rightful issue of sentiments of the common man of India. What is the use of such process which is not listening to the voices of people, and we call it DEMOCRACY! At the same time, Supreme court of India has kept death sentences (ruled in favor of High Court) for Killer of Mr Rajiv Gandhi and Afzal Guru (involved in parliament attack of 2003), let me repeat – Supreme Court of India. Yet for many years they are in jails of India. Now, the system of respecting the Supreme Court is not followed. What kind of SYSTEMS we are talking about?

    A man/woman – actually killer in some sense – is in jail not receiving the fruits of his/her crime, why because we can do away with some systems selectively to suit our benefits. At the same time a man (Anna) – who is fighting for a cause – is given rule-book and all sorts of stories of systems, stating what he is doing is not in favor of democracy. What nonsense! Are not these systems making us handicap rather than helping us? Is the system making us feel – in India, you can get away with murders too?

    Reiterating this from my earlier blog – …I am not arguing against systems. I am just trying to say that one has to answer the question – why at first place we designed systems?

    1. to facilitate operations of society (in case of religion, culture and laws)
    2. to facilitate operations of work (in case of businesses).

    Inputs from Prof Mankad on need of system –
    3. to facilitate understanding of the present and formulating vision for the future (in case of education)
    4. to facilitate orderly day to day living for people, ensure fairness in dealings, security and openness (in case of governance, transparency and judiciousness). At times, systems are inadequate too.

    And therefore my stand is no spiritual teacher advocated “create a religion in my name” …and do business on the same. They just showed the path, I recall Mahavir (one of the messengers of Jainism) used ‘Syādvāda’. What I understand about ‘Syādvāda’* is – this is true and that is also true. Everything is based on relativity. Systems are correct if they solve the basic purpose, if they do not – better to change them. Everything of 12th century (or Before Christ) may not be relevant today better abolish some of them, right? So, relevance is important and thus the doctrine of postulation… systems are correct but in context, be it democracy of India. Mahavir said that 500 years BC (Before Christ), we are still not listening/learning, are we?

    More on Syādvāda in future blogs.

    *Note – it is purely my understanding and please do your research for references