Politics, nationality, democracy - all run on irrational basis

There are many imponderables. We must train ourselves to look beyond surface happenings in a holistic fashion. Sentiments and political system are two entirely different things. By expressing our opinion on a few burning issues we can't change the duly elected governments. Politics should be left to the politicians and others should concentrate on their respective economic activities. Those who are in power have their own compulsions. Politics is a difficult vocation, and we should not pretend of being more concerned than the elected representatives.

Since we do not have all the facts before us, we shouldn't offer opinions on matters of state; those who are in the office are better equipped to do that. Democracy is a system of authorisation and hierarchy. Aspiring politicians may better come out in the open and let it be a no-holds-barred fight, without fighting shy of the consequences. Long-distance sub-nationalism and arm-chair politics should stop. As responsible citizens, we must respect our constitutional systems.

In politics, as in other spheres of life, nobody can sideline anybody. It's all a play of Time and Nature. Nature hates to move in linear pattern, curves are more frequent. Time has always surprises in store for us. It's futile to expect fairness in politics; it's always Machiavellian. Life would be unbearable without some aesthetic. Charisma and brand value take long to be created. If millions of people derive pleasure from the political theatre and one family manages to provide them, then it's great showmanship, lovingly called statesmanship in politics. Just consider, how people are emotionally attached to their Kings and Queens in Japan, UK, and elsewhere.

We delude ourselves by uttering the word, Democracy. Politics, nationality, democracy- all run on irrational basis. Multi-party politics in India is a recent phenomenon, let it evolve. If we return some day to our traditional Monarchical system, nothing wrong in that. For Market and Corporate empires with overlapping and inter-penetrating borders are replacing old models of nationhood and governance. Mania economy is the in thing, there is no rationality. Boudrillard speaks of Seduction; there is no escape from that. So in the meantime, let's not be unduly perturbed over things, rather watch and enjoy. Of course, we need some pretext to relish the aesthetic of blurting out e-mails. So thanks to [...] for that. Fraternally, Tusar N. Mohapatra

Subject: May be tomorrow, he will find beauty in our caste system, Sandip to Tusar (Suggest Your CM) Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:18:23 +0530

Dear [...] babu:
All his garbled logic can't justify Tasar babu's above statement. What is in his mind, when he wrote those words? Does he want to get the Gajapati Raja of Puri and coronate him in BBSR? It beats me as to how can a modern man write like this in an elite forum in 21st century? It is mind boggling that we have such people amongst us - may be tomorrow he will find "beautiy" in our caste system. With such confused ideas and lead intellectuals, Bihar will soon overtake us. With such friends, our people, don't need enemies to keep them down. Best wishes, Sandip

Subject: We must suggest, support or protest , Arun's disagreement with Tusar (Suggest Your CM) Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 09:14:51 +0530 From: arun patnaik patnaik_101@hotmail.com Date: Feb 24, 2006 4:49 PM Cc: arun.patt@gmail.com

Dear [...],

Tusar babu's mail is well written ( in good english) but makes hardly any sense why he chose to write that way. There are hundred and one reasons for us to disagree to what he says and thinks about Politics, Society, People and Issues.

1. People in a democracy cant be dictated by others ideologies what others say. We must suggest, support or protest against if we feel anything against the interset of the society and its poeple. We cant just vote and elect the legislatures and sit down and expect them to do everything for us.

2. I dont understand why he suggests that people should not react and even suggest to the elected representatives, whats his problem? If he thinks that they (elected representatives) are doing a great job why the people and the state is still back ward??? I am not sure if they are even equipped enough to do something for the state?

I must say that we should be open to any discussion and debate on any issue that concerns the people and society. As the responsible citizens,we must respect our constitutional systems an so more and more people must take part in these dialogues....issues...it should not give unnecessary headache to others who thinks irrationality everywhere.

At the end of the day the legislatures are accountable to the people and the state and not to these well written meaning less compositions. I am just mailing this by using my freedom of _expression, those who agree to this may mail to me. Thanks and best regds Arun Patnaik

Subject: Power politics is not synonymous with Policy Politics Says Mahesh (Suggest Your CM) Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 16:32:19 +0530 From: Mahesh Mahadarshee mahadarshee@gmail.com Date: Feb 25, 2006 12:18 PM Subject: with reference to Tusar Mohapatra's understanding of politics

[...] bhai,
It is with reference to Mr Mohapatra's mail. It clearly seems to me that he has been ignorant of the broadest sense of Politics. Power politics is not synonymous with Policy Politics. Government is more of policy than power. Also, centres of de facto power are now not necessarily at constitutionally provided positions. As such politics is no more the preserve of "politicians". No concerned citizen can afford to be a bystander and onlooker. Every concerned citizen has every reason to design and redesign politics to arrive at greatest possible consensus which is the core essential of politics. Mahesh

Tusar N. Mohapatra : Democracy is all about suppleness of thought and plasticity of ideas. It is prudent to chew over cues than to wildly react instantly. Lack of reading is one of the major maladies today. No wonder, most of us carry a school-goers' world-view throughout. To qualify as an elite or intellectual one has to be well-read. Welcome to the world of Savitri Era Learning Forum.