Friday, September 30, 2005

True Democracy

Social Technology for a Better Future

At the moment we have indirect democracy. We elect people who are supposed to represent us.

Let us look at the democracies around the world.

Can every person vote? We know that some people can not vote because they are not registered. Some are coerced by the powerful to vote for them. We are all familiar with rigging, ballot snatching, class, caste, race equations.

Who can stand for an election? Only those, who can spend money to campaign. They generally gather funds from people, corporate houses or MNCs with a tacit understanding that favours would be returned.

What do we get too choose? This political party or that.First one party, then the other, then the first…. The condition of the ordinary people does not improve.

What do we land up with? A kind of oligarchy, mostly unresponsive governance that is riddled with inefficiency and corruption. Most of the time the governments just mess along till it is time for the next election. They do not generally reflect the opinion of the people.

They hardly represent the people who elected them.

When accurate data gathering becomes possible we may be able to vote for issues that affect us directly. We could have a direct vote on any issue as and when required. This could again be stared in a small way, at local level of a village or a city. It could then be extended to larger areas.

Information and Communication Technology for Accurate Data Collection

Social Technology for a Better Future

At this point in history when all the cultures meet, when information moves at the speed of light, we are in a position to find what is best for all of us. We can us gather the opinion of all the people on the issues that concern us most by using information and communication technology.

Websites and TV channels already use email, telephones and SMS to gather opinions. However such polls are not very accurate yet because one person may vote many times and some people may not get to vote at all. For accurate data gathering we need:

1. Our IT experts to develop some method of authentication, perhaps Biometrics to ensure that each person votes only once.

2. This technology has to be simple and inexpensive so that it can reach all the people.

If a concerted effort is made in this direction, hopefully in a few years we will be able to know the true opinion of the people on a given issue.

In further future it may also be possible for people not just to choose between yes/no or choose one of the few options but space to express and record their opinion and suggestions in voice or written text.

The database and computing capabilities needed for such an enterprise would be very large. Perhaps they can be distributed. Initially a prototype would have to be designed and tested for a small region like a village or a city. It could then be slowly extended to larger areas.

Integration of Knowledge

Social Technology for a Better future

Through the collective effort of various generations of human beings, we have gathered a vast amount of knowledge. This has been possible only because of our unique ability to store and transmit knowledge from one generation to another.

This knowledge is not mere survival skills transferred by other species. This vast body of knowledge has helped human beings to progress gradually and build a complex civilization.

At this point in time we are the only species on this planet that uses symbols and words to solve problems, convey ideas, thoughts and emotions. We draw, paint, make music, choreograph dance, create beautiful buildings and build new marvels of technology. We are driven by the desire to know the secrets of life, to create beauty, to explore the universe. We classify, formalize, codify all we learn, be it music or mathematics.

This has lead to greater and greater specialization in many diverse fields. One human being in the course of one life time can perhaps specialize in 1 or 2 to 5 different areas.

What we need now is that the people who have in depth knowledge of their field should join hands with people in other fields to try and integrate knowledge. Regular discussions on the internet, meetings and brainstorming could help.

A social sector worker may have great understanding of the problems of the society but may be totally unaware of the strides made in Biology or Technology that could help solve these problems. The integration of knowledge may provide us with insights to solve the complex social problems. It may allow us to look at the larger picture.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Social Technology for a Better Future

Social Technology is the art and craft of applying technology and social knowledge to enhance the human condition.

Social Tecnology can help all the people on this planet. All of us need to think very carefully about the following:

• At this point in time we need to integrate all knowledge.

• With information and communication technology we can gather thoughts and opinions of all the people on the earth.

• We can have true democracy; Voting on issues not simply voting for people who are unable to take care of the major issues.

• Ethics: Which values are universal? Honesty? Compassion? Which values/norms and practice vary from culture? We can determine this by using information technology.

• Voluntary Experiments by social groups can help us try new social formations and observe their advantages.

Friday, September 23, 2005

Old

we stand at the edge
looking back.
lives
spaces
all swallowed by time.

we know we are not strong
nor handsome.
trembling hands
fading memories
wrinkles darkening skins.

we can barely hear
the bird song
as the night
casts its dark shadow
in our eyes.

remember,
when you were children
all queries
all stories
were repeated umpteen times.

we know you are busy
maintaining lifestyles.
problems of living
punishing schedules
lie heavy on your shoulders.

all we seek
is a smile,
a patient hearing
when we forget and repeat
the same old stories.

do not banish us
to old people’s homes
it is lonely there.
allow us to share
the laughter of grandchildren.

springs will come and go
and you will find us
in the looking glass.
please, if we must live
let us live with dignity.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

women

don’t bind us to dogma
traditions
rituals
religions.

don’t coerce us
to marry,
nor sell us
for a bride price.

don’t burn us
for a dowry,
nor batter us
as we are married.

don’t take us
for granted.
we are not
for honour killing.

we are strong.
we tread our own path
create bliss
enrich life-space-time.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

girl child

don’t kill me
before i am born.
don’t kill me
after i am born.

don’t
discriminate,
mutilate my body,
burden me with work,
molest me,
blame that i am beautiful,
abuse me.

i want
to breathe,
laugh,
read and write,
play and scream,
sing and dance,
dream.

i want
to touch the sun,
twinkle the stars,
race the wind,
i want to fly.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Aid ?

Now it is Niger aid that is misdirected.

Why can we not manage the aid distribution any better?

Why is it that when people spend other people’s money, they manage to waste most of it and use some of it for self gain?

Monday, September 12, 2005

DR. TARA CHANDRA

I thank Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife Mrs. Malti Singh for sending the following information via email.


After his intermediate (science) education, Dr. Tara Chandra was
admitted to King George Medical College, Lucknow, in the year 1944. Soon
after his MBBS, which he completed with flying colours, he took up short
service commission in Army Medical Core. After his discharge from Army, he
resumed his post graduate studies at K.G. Medical College, Lucknow, and
passed his MD (Medicine). Dr. Tara Chandra, has all through been a good
sportsman. He excelled in Hockey and represented in many of the league
matches in Uttar Pradesh. After his MD (Medicine) he joined Clara Swain
Methodist Mission Hospital, Bareilly, UP. As the luck would have it,
instead of practicing medicine he took up Thoracic Surgery, which he started
learning from scratch under the guidance of Dr. Parrell in Mission Hospital,
Bareilly. Although, it was a challenging job, but he did it so well that
the patients as well as his colleagues marveled his result. He worked in
team with Dr. Parrell and Dr.Earnest Sundharam at the Mission Hospital,
Bareilly.

He joined the U.P. Medical Services, where he worked for some
tim e and then posted as Medical Superintendent and Surgeon in K.E. TB
Sanatorium at Bhowali. During his second fruitful years of life he did a
lot of good work and service to humanity. Because of his honesty and good
work, the local people were not only jealous, but some times he had tough
time in solving the local disputes and union activities of the hospital. He
also worked in ESI Corporation and was posted in Kanpur.

Dr. Tara Chandra, a medical specialist by education, who turned
out to be an eminent Thoracic Surgeon, was an honest and devoted worker who
will be remembered for times to come.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Shanti Tarachandra who is also a
specialist and trained anaesthiest.

He had four daughters and a son, who are all well settled.

Dr. Tara Chandra, breathed his last on 26 June, 2005, after a brief illness.

This tragedy was aggravated when the aggrieved family got the
news about the sad demise of his son in U.S.A., which took place a month
earlier than his own death.

Dr. Tara Chandra was a friend of friends and always eager to
help anybody or everybody, in need.

© Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Malti Singh

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Song of the Oppressed

emaciated
we stand
in the middle of nowhere.

hapless hands
barren bodies
eyes beyond hope.

death takes us
as you confer
in air conditioned halls.

you divide people.
colour, caste, creed
any excuse is fine.

you wage wars
sow hatred
for your own petty gains.

for ages
you have plundered
our wealth, food, our raiment.

voices
crushed viciously
scream together in silence.

you
who exploit us
will never rest in peace.

paroxysms
of dying children
will haunt your children.

reverberations
of silent screams
will shatter your homes.

you seek to enslave
our bodies,
minds and souls.

but against all odds
we will live
beyond forever.

Friday, September 09, 2005

Thank You

My sincere thanks to all the people who passed this link along. I have received a number of messages from people who knew Dr. Tarachand and who are happy to know about a person like him. I met ‘uncle’ Tara only in the 90s.

The following document has been given to me by his daughter Rachna:

Dr. Tarachand was born in 1929. He studied at KGMC in the 50s. He did his specialization at CMC Vellore. He was with the Army on a Short Service Commission for a while.

He was the first thoracic cardiac surgeon in U.P. He worked with Dr. Pomeroy and Dr. Earnest Sundaram at Clara Swain Mission Hospital at Bareily from 1956 to 60. He was well known for performing free surgeries for the poor.

He was also a specialist in medicine. He worked at King Edward VII T.B. Sanatorium Bhowali, Nainital from 1960-73.

Then he worked at T.B. Hospitals in Saharanpur, Kanpur and Faizabad from 1973 -83.

He retired as the director ESI from Kanpur in 1986.

All through his life, he and his wife worked for various charities. He continued to work for charity till the end.

© Rachna

Saturday, September 03, 2005

A Star

Dear Dr. Tarachand,

I don’t even know if there are souls. I really hope there are. Perhaps the souls can read all those electronic bits and bytes floating in space.

I am not going to let you die unsung. People don’t die. They live in our memories. I am going to do my level best to ensure that people know you and remember you.

Way back when I was not even born, you were one of the first few intelligent doctors who realized that the major drug companies were dumping untested medicines in the poorer countries and using people as guinea pigs. And you fought against it.

You worked so hard to help people all the time. You were so kind and generous! I know you spent your own money to buy medicines for your poor patients. I have met so many people who remember you as a kind, warm and giving person. People called you Dr. Tara or Dr. Chandra, the radiant star and the moon.

I know how you fought against corruption. I miss all those discussions about God and people.

No palatial homes, no flashy cars. A fine, strong, honest gentleman who stood firm against injustice and corruption, who worked very hard to help others, that is how I remember you.

Where ever you are; in heaven or a soul being reborn, I hope you are happy and at peace.

Greatest regards,
Nirupma

P. S. Please pass this link along. I know that there are a lot of people who knew Dr. Tarachand. We have just lost contact. Those of you who knew Dr. Tarachand and his work please contribute anecdotes, pictures or any other material that you have. I will upload it with your name and your ownership rights.