SEEING IS BELIEVING, BELIEVING IS SEEING

 

HUMAN MOBILE by Felipe Reynolds

The Atrium, Melbourne, AU (2016)

Most of the time,

We do not see things as they are, but as we are

So, believing is seeing. And not seeing is believing.

Given this perception of ‘reality’ how do we see our future?

The above question was posed last night by the Chancelor of the university I work for. It made me think and I started contemplating on the question. I picked my thoughts and below was my response verbatim.

"Perhaps an existentialist perspective may give an insight to this dilemma, where it assumes the individual exist first and then they define their essence through choice and action. Prescriptively the individual should have the freedom of choice and be accountable for its outcome. Hence indivduals create their own purpose.

Therefore the phrase believing is seeing tend to incline towards the existentialist view, where it acknowledges the nuances of subjectivity as to how one interpretes and develops a world view.

In the case of seeing is believing, it is constructed within the boundary of empiricism, hence it may restrict thought processess within a known realm. As for existentialism it encourages individuals to go beyond observation and actively engage in the pursuit of "meaning."

"The self consiousness we ought to consider, not as a new consiousness, but as the only mode of existence which is possible for a consciousness of something." - Satre.

Satre expounds, that there is a need for a core awareness in order to to have the awareness of experience (which he terms it as pre-reflective self consciousness). This is the concept called 'Vokhta" in the Katha Upanishad.

So, the future, perhaps is a construct that one pursues.

We are at the cusp of the end of 2023, another year had passed, i ask myself, where am i, where am i going, and the most important of all, who am i?

The journey continues.........

Cheers to Everyone.

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1304301220233.0567° N, 101.5851° E

Note:

The above photo was taken at the Atrium Building, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia in 2016. This giant 50kg inflatable baby was placed on the ceiling of the Atrium entrance, supposedly a modern take on the Sistine Chapel. This was the work of artist Felipe Reynold, capturing the modern society's constant need for engagement, affirmation, play and novelty. Called the Human Mobile and nicknamed 'Ping Pong', the inflatable baby is gender neutral and culturally ambiguous, befitting the current narrative. 

The artist perspective is that, the baby is actually on the ground and its the bystander who are upside down, who are the active players for the amusement of the baby. The artist said that he drew his inspiration from Michaelangelo's, "Creation of Adam", from the Sistine Chapel. An according to Felipe, the pose of the baby depicts Adam, and visitors can play the part of God.

It was ironical, I found this photo from my collection that appeared apt for the occasion. 

The Dynamics of Corruption: A Comparative Brief

No other period in the world best describes corruption than ancient Rome. Corruption in Rome basically stems from its own political, economic, and social structures. The Roman empire was bequeathed with vast wealth, which fueled bribery, favoritism, and embezzlement among officials vying for power. Patronage networks and nepotism was the order of the day which then promoted cronyism. Since the Roman Senate had an absolute power without punity it only further promoted abuse. In the end owing to economic inequality, unchecked power dynamics, and a tolerant culture towards unethical practices, contributed to the pervasive corruption that eventually led to the collapse of the Roman Republic.

It was during the late 1st century BCE, corruption became particularly pronounced. Personas like Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus faced allegations of corruption, bribery, and manipulation of political processes. And The First Triumvirate, a political alliance between Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, was  marked as the peak of corruption in the Roman Empire.

Meanwhile in U.S.A Inc., a young country, that was established out of rebellion from a corrupt Europe has not been spared of the disease called corruption either. Though generally ranks lower on global corruption indices compared to many other countries, but USA is not free from corrupt and unethical conduct. In the USA corruption takes various forms, including bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and other forms of misconduct. Both Public officials and private individuals have been indicted over the course of American history involving scandals such as lobbying influence, campaign finance concerns, and conflicts of interest.

One notable instance of corruption in the early days of the USA was the Yazoo land scandal (1795–1796). Georgia legislators were bribed to sell vast tracts of public land to private companies at significantly reduced prices. The scandal exposed corruption in land transactions and led to legal battles and political repercussions. The dilemma of corruption in the USA today, lies in balancing its robust legal and institutional framework with instances of public and corporate misconduct. Striking a balance between effective enforcement, transparency, and preventive measures has become a crucial element in maintaining public trust and the integrity of democratic institutions.

In India however, corruption stems from a combination of factors, including bureaucratic inefficiency, low salaries fostering a temptation for bribery, political corruption intertwining with business interests, lack of transparency in government operations, wide economic disparities prompting corrupt practices for survival, weak law enforcement fostering a culture of impunity, a complex regulatory environment providing opportunities for corruption, cultural acceptance and historical tolerance for informal networks, and the role of money in politics influencing policy decisions.

Did the British Raj have anything to do with the current quagmire in India, perhaps yes. Not with-standing the fact that corrupt practice is an inherent human behavior that stems from greed, which is an internal force, but via the British Raj much of the corrupt practice in India got an institutional condonement.  The British introduced a centralized administrative system, concentrating power in the hands of a few, in which it had opportunities for corruption and abuse of power. The British also employed a policy of "divide and rule," creating divisions among various communities. This strategy indeed had contributed to social and political fragmentation, fostering an environment conducive to corruption. The colonial economic policies, such as the extraction of resources for the British Rajs’ benefit, definitely have contributed to economic disparities and a sense of exploitation, potentially fostering corrupt practices. The British also did not prioritize widespread education in India during the early part of their rule, which limited the opportunities for social and economic advancement, potentially contributing to conditions conducive to corruption. Finally, the imposition of foreign legal and administrative systems did create a gap between the rulers and the ruled, with potential consequences for corruption.

Though these colonial legacies had contributed to corruption, but post-independence factors, such as political, economic, and social dynamics, have played a significant role in the subsequent state of affairs of the country. The relationship between colonialism and corruption is multifaceted, and understanding it requires a nuanced examination of historical contexts and local realities.

In addressing this multifaceted issues, India and the Indian government need a comprehensive effort, which includes legal reforms, institutional strengthening, transparency promotion, and a cultural shift towards accountability.

After much neglect, I believe it was PM Modi who has given priority to the eradication of corruption as one of the main agenda of the state. Modi's government has implemented measures to address corruption, such as demonetization, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for tax reform, and initiatives like Digital India. Further anti-corruption initiatives, including the introduction of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, aim to strengthen the framework, have been put in place to deal with this systemic problem.

However, the effectiveness of these measures have been subject to much debate, and critics argue that challenges continue to persist towards operationalizing it in order to achieve the desired outcome.

Moral of the story, personal greed promotes corrupt actions. Be it at the highest level, or to the lowest echelon of socioeconomic position, when an individual is driven by greed nothing can stop the voracity of the desire that follows. Established rules and laws can only be a reminder but cannot be an absolute deterrent. Only self-awareness through personal convictions towards ethical behavior can make a definitive change towards establishing a society which is lesser burdened by corrupt practices.     

ravivarmmankkanniappan@1754141220233.0567° N, 101.5851° E