10 Public Intellectuals

The Top 100 Public Intellectuals Poll was conducted in November 2005 and June 2008 by Prospect Magazine (UK) and Foreign Policy (US) on the basis of responding readers’ ballot.

Noam Chomsky : American linguist, philosopher,  libertarian socialist

Umberto Eco : Italian medievalist, semiotician, philosopher, literary critic

Richard Dawkins : English  evolutionary biologist  author Atheist

Václav Havel :  Czech playwright, essayist, former dissident and politician.

Christopher Hitchens : British author, journalist, and literary critic

Paul Krugman :  American economist, liberal columnist, and author (Nobel)

Jürgen Habermas : German philosopher and sociologist

Amartya Sen : economist,  Professor (Nobel)

Jared Diamond : merican scientist and nonfiction author Atheist

Salman Rushdie : British Indian novelist and essayist

Fethullah Gulen : Turkish preacher

Muhammad Yunus : Bangladeshi banker and economist (Nobel)

Yusuf al-Qaradawi : Egyptian scholar and preacher

Orhan Pamuk : Turkish novelist (Nobel)

Aitzaz Ahsan : Pakistani Advocate

Amr Khaled :  Egyptian activist and preacher

Abdolkarim Soroush :  Iranian thinker, philosopher, reformer

Tariq Ramadan : Swiss Muslim academic

Mahmood Mamdani : Uganda) is the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government in the Departments of Anthropology

Shirin Ebadi :  Iranian lawyer, human rights activist

A weird analyses on the results for  Top 100 Public Intellectuals Poll conducted by Prospect Magazine (UK) and Foreign Policy (US). Do you see any difference as I did?

People who voted think religious preachers are more impotent intellectuals to this world than atheists. The same crowd was mentally aright  in 2005 . Also , now there are more intellectuals in south Asia and gulf compared to west.

Looks like whole poll has intention of appeasement.

2005 list :

1. Noam Chomsky : American philosopher, libertarian socialist
2. Umberto Eco : Italian critic, philosopher
3. Richard Dawkins : English biologist , author, atheist
4. Václav Havel :  Czech playwright, essayist, politician.
5. Christopher Hitchens : British author, journalist, and atheist
6. Paul Krugman :  American economist, liberal columnist, and author (Nobel)
7. Jürgen Habermas : German philosopher and sociologist
8. Amartya Sen : Indian economist,  Professor (Nobel)
9. Jared Diamond : American scientist , author Atheist
10. Salman Rushdie : British Indian novelist,  Atheist

2008 list

1. Fethullah Gulen : Turkish preacher
2. Muhammad Yunus : Bangladeshi banker and economist
3. Yusuf al-Qaradawi : Egyptian scholar and preacher
4. Orhan Pamuk : Turkish novelist
5. Aitzaz Ahsan : Pakistani Advocate
6. Amr Khaled :  Egyptian activist and preacher
7. Abdolkarim Soroush :  Iranian thinker, philosopher, reformer
8. Tariq Ramadan : Swiss religous academic
9. Mahmood Mamdani : Ugandan Professor Government
10. Shirin Ebadi :  Iranian lawyer, human rights activist

Maharashtra Police, they are second to only the Scotland Yard of Britain

This is what you might have heard, or may be variant of it “This Maharashtra Police, I tell you, they are second to only the Scotland Yard of Britain – Big B“. I have heard the same about Hyderabad police , even Vijaykant (Captain) quotes in a movie that Tamilnadu police is second only to Scotland Yard.

Its a lie , it’s a bigger lie than “Salman Khan” can act !!. In fact, there are three lies in one statement.

• Scotland Yard is not a police force. Its an address of a (one of a )London City police force headquarters. Metropolitan police headquarters is at Scotland Yard , Westminster London with some post code.
• There is no citation that Met police is number one in world. Even if it there (citation needed) , on what basis ? what are the qualities analysed ?
• There is no reason that, one of Indian police force is second to that. Its just way to convince people with the information crowd is not going to verify , forever.

“Second only” song for those people who may go to google and try to verify if they were told it is “the best”. i.e. If you say “we are the best” could get “get lost…!” from some people. To convince these set of people try saying “we are not best , but we are right behind the best..” and the reaction would be “possible ..hm!!”.

There are so many other facts convinced with these kind of lies, for example :

• “India produces maximum wind power in whole world and Tamilnadu accounts for 80% of it”. This gem was by a key note speaker in a Electrical Engg. conference. He had authority on this topic since he was in Electricity Board.
• “It is scientifically proven that animal does not feel any pain if it is butchered as Halal and Kosher (religious way)”. I am not going to believe this till a dead bird or a goat explains me this logic. If you need proof , just go to PETA site and watch some videos on religious butchering, you will see everything yourself.

Its easy, you can always use words like ’scientifically’ and ‘technically’ to prove anything. See , I will create one theory right away : “Its is scientifically proven that “ginger-garlic paste” used in tikka masala has medicinal value and is a natural cure for Anthrax.

Indians are highly moral

This guy stole my thoughts

Indians are highly moral. Morality in India is everything to do with sex. Morality has nothing to do corruption, cheating, bribes, or dowries. Sex is bad. Hand-holding is bad. Discussing sex is bad. Kissing is bad. Indian families look down upon sex (though they happen to make so many babies). But then they sit as a whole family in front of a TV to watch soft porn on a daily basis. Body gyrations, pelvic thrusts, and other sexual innuendos are all lapped up. Newspapers like TOI bombard them with nude women on a daily basis. But sex is bad. And Indians are highly moral.

Please read Indians are highly moral

Pseudo-secular silence

Here is one of the reasons “why you shouldn’t trust Indian media”:

The news was simple to understand “Taslima Nasrin heckled by God’s own warriors in one of the God’s own check post Hyderabad”. Just another event God wanted them to do.

I read all the news items in Google taking a cue from barberindian , for the same.

“Local politics behind attack on Taslima” – Hindustan Times
“Taslima Nasreen attacked in Hyderabad” – NDTV
“Taslima heckled in Hyderabad” – Economic Times
“Taslima heckled in Hyderabad” – The Statesman
“Taslima Nasreen, Poet, Attacked in India: Men Attack Her; Other …” – The Moderate Voice
“Assault on Taslima Nasreen” – Central Chronicle
“Taslima Attacked In Hyderabad, Journalists Protest” – Newspost
“Taslima Nasreen attacked in Hyderabad” – Zee news
“Andhra MLAs, 20 MIM activists manhandle Taslima Nasreen” – Daily news

and our own Desicritics:

“Taslima Nasreen Attacked by MLAs in Hyderabad” – Desicritics

If you want news items from international media

“Muslim Protesters Attack Bangladeshi Author in India” – Voice of America
“Muslim group in India threatens to behead Bangladeshi author” – EarthTimes

See any difference ?

All for BoSs

When the movie ‘Pirates of Caribbean’ came to theatre here(I am a hardcore fab of Jonny Depp), I bought tickets, watched that crap, ate pop-corn and came back. I am also planning to watch Sreck 3. If I like it, I’ll applaud and write a blog entry. If not walk out in the middle of the movie and drive back home.
Watch a movie, laugh/cry, watch again/quit in middle then forget about it, that’s all… Life is to enjoy…so simple … I thought, So far.
Now, let me introduce some of Rajni’s fans, to whom watching movies is not as simple as it to me (buy tickets, eat popcorn etc). They cry, they laugh, they go hysteric, they get new hair cut, they get tattooed … pierced etc, etc.

Have a look at couple of extreme worshipers of Shivaji

I live in Chennai and life seems so different from last one week. Having Rajani movies in your town is not all that simple. This phenomenon is observed on such a large scale, the entire state seems mesmerized.

Moody Monday

Little competition to prashanth

Dint come up that well though,

Thin red lines

In competition with her.

 

ಪೂರ್ಣಚಂದ್ರ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ ಎಂಬ ಕಥೆಗಾರ

ಪೂಚಂತೇಯವರ ಮೊದಲ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ನಾನು ಓದಿದ್ದು “ಕರ್ವಲೋ”. ಆಗ ನಾನಿನ್ನೂ ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಹುಡುಗ, ಐದ್ನೇ ಕ್ಲಾಸಲ್ಲಿದ್ದೆ. ಹೈಸ್ಕೂಲಿನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಅಣ್ಣನಿಗೆ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಬಹುಮಾನವಾಗಿ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ರು ( ತಟ್ಟೆ ಪ್ಲೇಟು ಬಹುಮಾನವಾಗಿ ಕೊಡೋ ಪದ್ದತಿ ಆ ಸ್ಕೂಲಿನಲ್ಲಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ). ನನಗೆ ಅದು ದೆವ್ವ ಭೂತಗಳ ಕಥೆಗಳನ್ನು ಒದೋ ಕಾಲ ( ಅರೇಬಿಯನ್ ನೈಟ್ಸ್, ವಿಕ್ತ್ರಮ ಬೆತಾಳನ ಕಥೆಗಳು ). “ಕರ್ವಲೊ” ಕೇಳೊಕೆ ಹೆಸರು ವಿಚಿತ್ರವಾಗಿತ್ತು , ಕೇಳಿದ್ರೆ ” ಕರ್ವಲೊ ಅಂತ ಒಬ್ಬ ವಿಜ್ನಾನಿ , ಅವರೂ ಮತ್ತೆ ಕೆಲವರೂ ಹಾರೋ ಉಡದ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹೋಗೊ ಕಥೆ”.

 

ಹಾಗೊ ಹೀಗೊ ಮುಗಿಸಿದೆ … ಹೀರೋ ಭೂತದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಫೈಟಿಂಗ್ ಮಾಡ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಸೊಲ್ಪ ಬೇಜರಾಯ್ತು. ಕ್ಲಾಸಿಕ್ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳೇನೆಂದರೆ ಐಡಿಯಾನೇ ಇರ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಶಾಲೆಯ ಗಣಿತ ಪುಸ್ತಕಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ದಪ್ಪದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದಿಬಿಟ್ಟೆ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ ಅಶ್ಟೇ. ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ “ಸುರಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾಧಿ” ಓದೋ ಕಾಲ ಅದು. ಕತ್ತೆಗೇನು ಗೊತ್ತು ಕಸ್ತೋರಿ ಗಂಧ. ಮುಂದಿನ ನಾಲ್ಕೈದು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಏಳೆಂಟು ಸಲ ಓದಿ ಜಸ್ಟಿಸ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕಕ್ಕೆ.

 

ಮುಂದಿನ ವರ್ಷ ಅಣ್ಣ “ಶಿವನಿಪಳ್ಳಿಯ ಕಪ್ಪು ಚಿರತೆ” ತಂದ, ಬಹುಮಾನವಾಗಿ. “ಕೆನ್ನೆತ್ ಆಂಡರ್ಸನ್” ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ್ಯಪೂರ್ವ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಟೆಯಾಡಿದ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕ ಚಿರತೆ ಹುಲಿಗಳ ಕಥೆಗಳು. ನನ್ನ್ನ ಪೋಚಂತೇ ಅನುವಾದ. ಪುಟಪುಟವೂ ರೊಮಾಂಚಕವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆಂಡರ್ಸನ್ ಯಾರೋ ಕೇಳಿ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ , ತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯಂತೂ ಒಂದುವರ್ಷದಿಂದ ಪರಿಚಯ. ಸೊ.. ಇನ್ನೂ “ಶಿವನಿಪಳ್ಲಿ..” ಬೇಟೆಯಾಟ ನೋಡಿದ್ರೆ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ ಬೇಟೆಗಳೇ ನೆನಪಾಗುತ್ತೆ.

 

ಮಧ್ಯದಲೊಮ್ಮೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಹಳ್ಳಿ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಮಾಮನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಡಿ ಬೇಡಿ ಅವರ ಕಲೆಕ್ಶನ್ನಿಂದ ‘ಮಿಸ್ಸಿಂಗ್ ಲಿಂಕ್” ಓದಿದ್ದೆ. “ನಿಯಾಂಡರ್ತಲ್ , ಕ್ರೊ – ಮ್ಯಾಗ್ನನ್” ಮನುಷ್ಯರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದ್ರು ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ.

Skaterboy

I was cute. wasn’t I ? this is 1987 . scanned photo.

Hello hello hello how low

Do you recognize this song? (Hint: tomorrow is his death anniversary.)

Load up on guns Bring your friends its fun to lose and to pretend
She’s overboard myself assured I know I know A dirty word

Still dint get it? Listen to some more…

Here we are now Entertain us I feel stupid and contagious

A mulatto An albino A mosquito My libido

Hello hello hello how low

When this song released, Kurt Donald Cobain was lying (supposedly) high on streets (with normal dose of heroin). Cops gave him roof that night, while radio stations repeatedly playing this song “Smells like teen spirit” a new genre altogether. Within no time song was topping the charts, and teen found a new god.

 

Kurt Cobain defined “grunge rock” as a genre to the world, and this song (and another “come as you are” in the same album) became anthem for mass hysteria. He was 27 when he died, a suicide. But he is biggest teen icon even today (may be second biggest, after “che guevara”