Ajith Nair

The Delhi rape is a shocker. Every rape is a shocker. Every rape is one rape too many. It’s an insult to our culture, our past, our nationhood and the defining values of our society. Yet, we cannot negate a rape because it wasn’t done by people like us or daresay it didn’t happen to us. Am sorry, that is a convenient sidestep that we the Indian middle class have perfected. We can’t afford to do so any longer or any more. I am not linking this to just the Delhi rape. I am linking this to all incidents in the recent past, that were supposed to shake the foundations of our morality, most of them did, yet we accepted and move on- EMIs to pay, promotions to earn, movies to watch. Some of us at least stood up and said “enough is enough”, held up candles, organized protests, sent texts in support, signed petitions. Well done. But not enough done. How is this inaction acting on all of us? Are we feeling guilty, many of us are! We wear the guilt strongly in words, justify lack of action

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha writes in the Mint Lounge about the Fate of Public Libraries in India, how they are dying a slow death (Read here http://www.livemint.com/2012/07/13214936/Libraries-a-reminder-of-how-l.html ) I have been a Librarytard. Though the last time I visited any library was about 10 years ago if not earlier. The reason being, there aren’t any public libraries around where we live. The only Public Libraries that I am aware of, in Mumbai, are the British Council and the Asiatic Library. I have been a member of the former in the past; have never had a chance to explore the latter. I am now part of a book club called Librarywala, cataloged online, have borrowed two books in the last one year, never returned them. A poor substitute to not having a large public library around, has been buying books oneself. It is an expensive hobby to cultivate and when space is at a constraint it can make your room look ugly too. Ask me. I feel guilty often about buying a lot of books,

Among many things that vie for our attention and sometimes do manage to get it is our breakfast and of course our kids. They really have to fight hard to win over the ipad or the handheld device that has kept us engrossed, across apps, tweets, FB messages and instagrams. This morning was no different, staring at the many green buttons that emerged on my FB chat window, some of who also were parts of the Gmail chat app as well. Each of those green buttons meant something, a need to connect a need to feel connected. Yet, none of them were possibly really connected to anyone. This is the biggest paradox of the times that we live in, we have more ‘friends’ than any past generation ever did, we have more means to talk, chat, scream, dialogue than any past generation, yet we are bereft of any emotional fulfillment that these should bring. For most of us, this is an addictive companion who you want to have by your side, but don’t want to engage too much with. The makers of social med