Tomichan Matheikal's blog

  We live in a political system that reduces us into mere numbers. In India, your Aadhar number is your identity. Whether you want to travel by train or flight, you need this number. In fact, you can do nothing without that one number which in turn is connected to a host of other numbers like your bank account, driving license and income tax payments. Even to be admitted in a hospital for treatment, you need your Aadhar. What this number implies is that the political system is not interested in you as an individual. Its sole interest is what it can extract out of you: taxes and votes. Have you ever received a birthday greeting from your government? A get-well wish when you are in hospital, let alone a query whether you need any assistance? Votes and taxes. You are valuable only for the sake of those two things. Otherwise, you are just another pawn on the board or a cog on a gear. To make sure that you remain just that – a pawn, a cog – the system bombards you with all sorts o...

Japan's latest maglev train   When Japan was test-running the fastest maglev train in the world, India was discussing whether Taj Mahal was originally Tejo Mahalaya, a Hindu temple.   In spite of all the great slogans like ‘Make in India’ that the Prime Minister bestowed on the nation, nothing has changed for the better since the BJP came to power.   Many things changed for the worse, in fact.   There is more communal polarisation, for example.   There is increasing disgruntlement among the economically weaker sections.   And history is being twisted out of shape. History as social science is being replaced by history as fantasy and myth, says the editorial in today’s Hindu .  Why is India still so much obsessed with religion and its infantile myths and rituals, when countries like Japan are making rapid progresses in science and technology in spite of the conservatism that runs deep in the people’s veins? The BJP wanted to come to power ...

The less we know, the easier it is to assume our identity.  It is much easier to perceive ourselves as Indian or Pakistani or Hindu or Muslim than to understand the complex range of crucibles and forges which gave shape to most people’s identities on the planet called the earth.  The more we know, the more ridiculous re-conversions and identity arrogations become. Who was an Indian before India became an independent republic?  How did the Indian become a Hindu, a Muslim, a Sikh, or whatever?  What about the increasing number of agnostics and atheists in the country?  What about other identities which may be more important to certain individuals such as feminists, environmentalists, or even Maoists?  If I travel back in time and see the entire history of my ancestors, what will my identity be?  Will I see myself as a person whose helpless ancestor was forced to convert (or re-convert) to some religion by an emperor or his/her given situation...