Skip to main content

Atavism

A beautiful facet of Indian mythology is its very nature of the presentation. Most of the stories are merely answers to intriguing questions, drawing attention to the basis of societal design and functioning. The narration merely presents a scenario to questionee. Quite different from other forms which build upon a higher than a human figure of the hero and dehumanise the villain. So, when mythology is retold, it must be open to new perceptions and interpretations. This by no means should be judgmental, rather a more encompassing exercise.
But, the picture of modern society speaks a sorry tale. A place where, a constant and deliberate attempt is made to match between the protagonist of myths, to ensure just a mental pleasure or some other gains. This, however, comes at a cost, the cost of reason since most choose to accept the majoritarian opinion as for the truth. The shift, from dialogue to an authocratic discourses is at the heart of the atavism, I intend to speak of.
Looking back at one's ancient culture and seeking pride from it is no stranger to any nation, but being protective about the image of the characters and the presented structure of life is a newer phenomenon. To an extent where facts and phrases in science textbooks are quoted from works of mythology, may deter the real purpose of scientific education, the ability to reason with. Though, there have been some interesting descriptions in our literature, that have as of yet, no scientific explanation. Claiming them to be beyond science is as false as stating them untrue.
Therefore as an endnote, I must add, that doubt is a powerful evolutionary instinct. The human nature to be specific has single-handedly let us discover hidden truths and still keep looking for what more could be hidden within. In this regard claiming something as absolute truth and condemning the questioning of its claim, seems no more than an idiosyncratic atavism.

Popular posts from this blog

Behind the Gig economy.

The battle between push and pull is familiar to supply chains. For ages now, industries have produced goods they thought were relevant for the customer and then used networks of distributors and retailers to push these to the consumers. The apparent outcome of this is the massive scale of advertising that uses tactics to lure a customer base for the product.  The shift to a pull-based supply chain seems more rational. One is where the production takes in the customer's demand before the show. Not only does that minimize the risk of product failure, but it also captures the market sentiment with greater accuracy. In other words, it caters to an existing demand rather than creating one for itself. This process is lean and profitable, except for a shortcoming; Production takes time. During the early 90s, when the internet spread like wildfire, people almost immediately expected the internet business to take off. However, it was only after a decade and a massive dot com bubble that tod...

Gift of India

India finds its etymological origins in the Indus, the first of the largest rivers that marks the plains if one travels through the land routes from the West. However, in the present fate of the State, the river lies in Pakistan, best described as a geopolitical adversary. The other words for the state, like Hindustan or the abode of Hindus, have slightly relevant terminology but none that reflects the actual history. Since no Hindu king had presided over the land after the 11 century. Further, it's crucial to note that no king has ever ruled over the entirety of present India at any point in history. Instead, rulers have found it easier to consolidate the connected regions of Pak and Afghan than the southern coasts. Midst all these historical facets, the question that begs to be asked is when India began to identify itself. Many believe the form that India exists today must be credited to the Britishers. I find this argument, first of all, hollow and, secondly, misleading. Open be...

Changing face of Entertainment

The entertainment industry in India is waiting for yet another disruptive innovation, with millions of young users equipped with gigabytes of data every day, there is a new untapped customer base. Not particularly untapped since it makes do with pirated movies and free web series. But, there is an apparent lack of entertainment streamed towards them. Also, the shift from television sets to mobile devices, sets the stage clear for a change in content. the spikes in porn consumption and adult web series do speak of this unattended guest. The popularity of two platforms, mostly youtube and TikTok, have also helped in developing a new class of actors. To name a few Sumeet Vyas, Jitendra, Bhuvan Bam and much more. It has become apparent that the arduous task of going from one to another production house seeking a side role in a daily soap or movie, is on a decline. Not that, people won't get their debut at soaps and movies, but it seems easier to get a web series and keep working tha...