Nov 15 2015

India is, in the description of BR Ambedkar, a society embedded in inequalities invoking a social milieu marked by the worst forms of hostilities and antagonisms.
Ambedkar was correct in stressing that our inability to overcome caste as a modern nation would continue to make us deeply suspicious and distrustful of each other. Our loyalties would never extend beyond our primary socialisation. We would be a nation perpetually fragmented and at war with itself...
... modernity wears thinly on our being, beneath the veneer of civility we continue to practice caste as if it were our birth right. Caste antagonism, hatred and perversion surface at the slightest provocation...
... an expression of the natural attitude that has completely internalised a consciousness of caste that we are not even aware of when we insult and humiliate our fellow beings. It is a condition of normalcy especially when practiced by the upper castes on the Dalits...
... Dalits and minorities are the worst hit given the growing intolerance and insensitivity of a majoritarianism that is repeatedly threatening not only our rich cultural diversity, but also the very foundations of our constitutional democracy...
... Notwithstanding their democratic victory, what is now on public display is a clear deficit of democratic sentiments where respect for human rights is being replaced by the diktats of majoritarianism...

http://www.tehelka.com/2015/11/if-a-general-barks-who-is-responsible/

Nov 16 2015

So for 300,000 years after the big bang, there were just hydrogen 75% and helium 25% and a trace amount of Lithium.
Then began from star dust the formation of stars like our sun (that itself will call for an essay of it's own).
All the elements after Helium to Iron were forged in the center of the stars.
The temperatures there can exceed 15 million degrees and pressure is extreme.
This allows nuclear fusion leading to the formation of successively heavier elements till the formation of most stable element iron.
No star can fuse elements heavier than iron due to shortage of neutrons.
So then where did our Gold come from?
That will have to wait for another day and another essay.
Time to read.
Good night mon ami.

Today I listened to very clear and plain speaking discussion on the rise of Wahabi terrorism, it's origins, it's sustainance and the political hypocrisy and a huge financial greed backing it.
If the Western powers think they can battle the Islamic hydra by blowing away the Middle East and North Africa to the dark ages, they are fighting a losing battle.

Good night mon ami.