Prafulla Kumar Mohanty
I grew up with certain ideals from books and also those imparted by teachers . I grew up with the belief that man is divine, mankind is one, humanity manifests itself in different cultures of the world and artistic expression and aesthetic appreciation of life's multifoliated contours are the best attributes of life . I preached and practised most of these values and was delighted when the idea of globalization started with hope for assimilation of human diversity and celebration of human efforts in literature, science, inventions and a borderless world picture. The world would be one market and all virtuous products of the human mind , be it in technological production or imaginative expressions, would be appreciated as the hard work of Man and his creative mind. But disappointment soon followed. Now that I have already crossed the twilight zones and slowly moving towards the receding horizon the disappointment is life- denying. Ideas of cooperation , love, truthfulness, integrity are on the decline . Liberals and wallowing in the frenzied variety of human expressions in culture, art, science, economics and politics is now at crossroads.
I grew up with certain ideals from books and also those imparted by teachers . I grew up with the belief that man is divine, mankind is one, humanity manifests itself in different cultures of the world and artistic expression and aesthetic appreciation of life's multifoliated contours are the best attributes of life . I preached and practised most of these values and was delighted when the idea of globalization started with hope for assimilation of human diversity and celebration of human efforts in literature, science, inventions and a borderless world picture. The world would be one market and all virtuous products of the human mind , be it in technological production or imaginative expressions, would be appreciated as the hard work of Man and his creative mind. But disappointment soon followed. Now that I have already crossed the twilight zones and slowly moving towards the receding horizon the disappointment is life- denying. Ideas of cooperation , love, truthfulness, integrity are on the decline . Liberals and wallowing in the frenzied variety of human expressions in culture, art, science, economics and politics is now at crossroads.
What I see today is that
Globalization is on its last throes, equality, human rights, the soul values
are being replaced by Feminism, Anti-
Racism, Gay rights, Dalit rights etc. A rising nationalism is now the greatest
challenge to globalisation. The electoral victory of Donald Trump in America, the failure of the
European Union to accommodate the aspirations of United Kingdom and the rise of
Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party bear testimony to the fact that the World
today is on the cusp of change. Cultural nationalism, glorification of the
past and continuity of a sense of
national pride are the new order of the world post- globalization. The 2019
election in India is loud enough to make
the voice of change heard and pondered. Although Brexit has not yet
succeeded the message is clear. The people in America thought promoting global
culture in a borderless economy is none of the business of America. The English
voter as the Indian or American voter
still believes in democracy, free
speech and competition but none
thinks of the world as one unit of mankind. The rise of China as an economic and
military power also has impacted the balance of the world if there was any.
Nationalistic expansionism has eroded to a large extent the elitist liberals of
the world. Nationalism too is now under attack by regional culture and language
pride. The Tamils led by a self glorifying band of politicians refuse to learn
Hindi. West -Bengal under the leadership of a ruthless and hyper ambitious
leader has now coined new slogans like Joy Bangla. Nationalism too has its
internal dissensions all over the world.
But the most painful for me is
the death of Romantic Love. Man's primal value, the sustaining sensibility enriched by imagination is now only a pastime
in the bed, that too is now snappy. the humans have no time to watch in languid
contemplation the moods of a man or woman making him/ her a universe to live in
for time's wisdom. Man is busy with living, naturally he has no time for love,
for that is not a marketable proposition. Poetry and classical music too are
now confined to a few lovers. The road show in politics is symptomatic of non
participatory entertainment. The street corner play or the local area band or
the gossip in the local papers are fine to relieve the tension of the working
day in big cities. Commuting to the place of work is now hazardous and
expensive. The working hours have no regularity. Sunrise to midnight one has to
work for success. This success is determined by your market value. The
population rise naturally invites competitive populism in all fields- Art,
Politics economics. The entertainment Industry has its own logic.
Everything now is
corporatised. Simulation of an idea for
public consumption must be supported by a corporation. Otherwise individual
efforts will go unnoticed. Sand artists are now more acceptable to the public only because of Television and corporate
support. Even the Kumbha Mela was a grand corporate affair managed by Government
support and event managers.
All these have changed my idea of
happiness . Eat your fill for variety is displayed there to impact your choice.
Go for the exotic and ephemeral for there is nothing permanent in nature or the
world we live in. Follow the so called mainstream: Otherwise you will be left
behind. Live for the moment and forget
it immediately for new excitement is ready for grabs. Earn but don't cry out
for ethical purity. Speak out and ask for more of everything . Exhaust yourself
so that you will have used up ypur body and mind without caring for guarantees.
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