People
Desperate for Security Check
May 20th
I spent the weekend at home in Baroda and my nephew Neel kept me on my toes all through the weekend. He is just under 3 years and full of intelligent questions that are very difficult to answer. On Saturday night we went out for dinner to the Taj in Baroda. Almost all leading hotels in India are under tight security checks and we were greeted by two security with metal detectors right at the entrance. As they checked all of us the metalic objects in our pockets (keys, pens, belts etc) made beeps. We all cleared the security checks and started walking but found Neel was refusing to move. He waved at the security guards and demanded a security check. They were totally shocked and I regreted not having a camera in my pocket to capture their expressions. They smiled at him and said it is not required for you but Neel refused to accept this discrimination. He made them check him with the metal detector till it finally beeped (thanx to the rivet on his jeans) and he walked inside with a big smile on his face.
I guess he was the first desparate security check seeker at the Taj Baroda.
Value of Human Life
May 3rd
Yesterday we met a few of our friends over dinner and needless to say the current health crisis due to Swine Flu was discussed. As always people had contrary opinions on how the government should handle the crisis etc but comments from one particular friend shocked me. He said: “We should not make it a big deal and close down things in Hong Kong as it will curb our entertainment. At the most a few hundred poor people will die from Swine Flu and for that I should not be punished.”
I was shocked because first of all Swine Flu is not only affecting poor and secondly we have lost respect for human life. Today entertainment has become more important than saving human life. It is very easy to say it over a drink but very difficult for families of people who unfortunately get affected by such health tragedies.
Concept of Liberty
Apr 25th
Today I attended discussion on the Concept of Liberty. Dr. Shekhar Kumta & Anand Rao introduced the topic by discussing views of Isaiah Berlin and John Stuart Mill. Discussion started slowly and picked up pace as the afternoon progressed. The discussion drifted to Indian Elections, Liberty in China & Singapore, and linkage of liberty with economics etc. Most of the discussion revolved around Liberty in the context of society and mostly from western point of view.
Made me think about Liberty of Mind rather than just looking at Expression of Liberty as we see it in day to day social context. Also made me wonder about why this topic is so dear to western philosophers specifically when slavery, colonies, 19/20th century trade etc were anything but about liberty. I’m quite shocked at their east to call people barbaric just because they didn’t speak English or didn’t argue with eloquance.
I have decided to explore references to liberty in ancient Indian literature.
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