Why we need a balanced, objective and an ideology-free assessment of individuals

 

Why we need a balanced, objective and an ideology-free assessment of individuals

Sujay Rao Mandavilli

 

To objective of this blog post is to discuss why we need a balanced, objective and an ideology-free assessment of individuals. Let us begin this blog post by discussing what ad hominem attacks are. But what just are ad hominem attacks? Ad hominem attacks are vicious, merciless, personalized attacks against individuals. This is often carried out in lieu of attacking a concept, a proposal or an idea. This is a major logical fallacy in science, and leads to poor quality science. It also mars and hampers scientific progress, and stymies and muzzles objectivity. The term itself comes from Latin and means "against the person". An ad hominem attack can also be called a personal attack fallacy or name calling. Ad hominem attacks must be avoided in order to maintain and preserve a modicum of high-quality scholarship. Proper espitemology must be in place, and this applies both to research paper publication, and review of papers.  We also need self-contained scholarship, and research that is complete in all respects.  We need a nation and a world of proactive people, not irresponsible, aimless arm chair critics, or puppets and ideological dummies.  

Objective criticism also boosts positive reinforcement and diminishes negative reinforcement. What is positive reinforcement? Positive reinforcement is used in operant conditioning to increase the likelihood that certain behaviors will occur. What is negative reinforcement? Negative reinforcement is a technique that involves removing an undesirable stimulus to encourage a desired behavior. This is different from punishment which uses a negative stimulus. We must also discuss behaviorism at this juncture. What is behaviorism? Behaviorism is a psychological philosophy that studies how people and animals learn and behave through conditioning. Let us also discuss operant conditioning. What is operant conditioning? Operant conditioning is a learning process that uses rewards and punishments to modify voluntary behaviors. It's also known as instrumental conditioning or Skinnerian conditioning. All these concepts must be borne in mind as we reward good behavior and punish bad behavior.

Good scholarship therefore lists both the positives and the negatives. This kind of approach is sorely lacking in present-day scholarship; we either have hagiographies or ideology-filled hatred i.e. vendetta driven scholarship. We need constructive criticism, not ideology -based criticism. What is an ideology? We had discussed this previously. An ideology is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons, especially those held for reasons that are not purely about belief in certain knowledge. The term was coined by Antoine Destutt de Tracy, a French Enlightenment aristocrat and philosopher, who conceived it in 1796 as the "science of ideas" to develop a rational system of ideas to oppose the irrational impulses of the mob. Nowadays, it is mostly associated with dogma and irrational belief.

Sometimes, attitudes against individuals are shaped by personal experiences. While this is sometimes only natural, this must be reined in and mitigated. For example, we have Dalits against Gandhi, Hindutva groups against Gandhi, Marxists against Hindutva groups, Hindutva groups against Marxists, etc. Advantages of a balanced approach is that it does not demotivate individuals, it does not demoralize individuals, it provides just rewards and recognition, it leads to faster progress and greater scientific output, it does not tarnish the attackers name, it leads to balanced scholarship, it leads to more trustworthy and dependable scholarship, it provides a good example for others to follow because other researchers depend on pre-existing scholarships, it eliminates or exterminates ideologies, leads us towards an ideology-free worlds, it helps us to learn from mistakes other individuals commit. The same extends to review of scholarship also. For example, while Gregory Possehl may not have had biased intentions, he was a believer in American exceptionalism. Scholarship also needs to be ideology-free to begin with, and balanced, constructive and objective.

We must learn to acknowledge the good deeds of individuals; we must acknowledge the deeds of people who made the world a better place. We must imbibe good characteristics and attributes of individuals. Only losers and weaklings adopt a defeatist approach - let us put it into our pipe and smoke it. We need next generation of scholars, thinkers, and thought leaders who adopt an ideology-free approach. Hindutva groups may end up bringing science, India and Hinduism a bad name - from a narrow nationalist perspective, that is. Read Hindutvavaadins posts on facebook and other social media- we will understand who and what they are; they adopt a narrow, sectarian view of Hinduism, and then equate it to the whole of Hinduism, ultimately equating it to the whole of India.

Mahatma Gandhi  fought for the rights of Indians in South Africa. In 1904, Gandhi established the Phoenix Settlement in Durban for community living. In 1908, Gandhi spoke at the YMCA in Johannesburg, envisioning a South Africa where different races would commingle. He launched journals and publications – name was Indian opinion in South Africa – 1903 to 1961. Gandhi later shaped a nation's ideas through Young India, Navjivan and Harijan. However, he ignored the rights of blacks. He referred to them derisively as Kaffirs. He called them uncouth, uncivilized, barbaric, unclean, and unhygienic.  He did not consider blacks to be equal to Indians. According to some sources Gandhi considered Europeans and Indians of Aryan descent. Gandhi was however a man of his times. We must talk about the term zeitgeist. Zeitgeist is a German word. Zeitgeist is the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time. As it was noted "imperfect Gandhi was more radical and progressive than most contemporary compatriots". His ideas also changed with the times, and he later became less and less racist. Ramachandra Guha, writer of the magisterial Gandhi Before India, writes that "to speak of comprehensive equality for coloured people was premature in early 20th Century South Africa"

Gandhi also participated in the Boer War. He founded the Indian Ambulance Corps. He supported the British cause because he wanted to obtain Britain’s  help. He likewise did so during the world wars. However, his confidence in the British was misplaced. Some Hindutva groups called him a British stooge but this is a gross oversimplification. Gandhi was a multifaceted man. Gandhi returned to India in 1915, and generated awareness among the Indian masses about the need for independence. Till then Annie Besant, Lala Lalpatrai and Balgangadhar Tilak were prominent in the nascent freedom struggle. Gandhi became prominent in the freedom movement after the death of Lala Lalpatrai and Balgangadhar Tilak (Lokamanya Tilak) after which he took centre stage. Gandhi also supported the Khilafat movement. The Khilafat movement (1919–22) was a political campaign launched by Indian Muslims in British India over British policy against Turkey. It was against the planned dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire after World War I by Allied forces. It was a movement for the restoration of the Caliphate. - Leaders participating in the movement included Shaukat Ali, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Abul Kalam Azad.  Mohammed Ali Jinnah opposed the Khilafat movement. However, Vallabhbhai Patel, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and other Hindu and Congress figures also supported the movement. The Khalifat movement had nothing to do with India. It leaned towards Islamic extremism. However some say he wanted to draw Muslims into the independence movement. We need dialectical approaches here. Many voices need to be heard.

Gandhi also led the movement against forced Indigo plantations in Champaran, Bihar. The farmers were forced to grow indigo by European planters instead of food crops. The planters used the "Teen Kathia" system, which required farmers to cultivate indigo on 3/20th of their land. The farmers were also paid a fixed amount per bigha of land, but received reduced payments if the crop was not good. If they failed to grow indigo, they were liable to pay heavy damages. Gandhi also proposed non-violent methods and satyagraha for independence which were not entirely misplaced. Gandhi wanted to foster bohhomie and camaraderie between Hindus and Muslims, even if it was to a fault. Gandhi inspired Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. However, the Quit India movement of 1942 largely failed. Some accuse Gandhi of espousing  minorityism. Gandhi supported the Varna system till the early 1920's. He was an orthodox Hindu. However he opposed untouchability and called outcasts Harijans – his views changed later in life. The term Harijan is opposed by many Dalits. Some Dalits are Gandhi's biggest critics, and Kancha Ilaiah calls him an untouchability abolitionist, not a caste abolitionist. Gandhi was sometimes idealistic and quixotic - read his remarks on the assassination of Swami Shraddanandha by Abdul Rashid in December 1926. Swami Shraddanandha tried to convert Muslims back to Hinduism and paid the price for it. Mahatma Gandhi’s comments on the Moplah rebellion were also seen as controversial – According to Gandhi, people needs to admire the bravery of the Muslims.

Mahatma Gandhi's son Harilal Gandhi was it tatters. Gandhi never imparted him formal education. Gandhi denied him opportunity to study abroad. He became a vagabond. Harilal even said of his father, " He may be the greatest father you have, but he was the one father I wish I did not have". "I was a slave of my passions when Harilal was conceived", said Gandhi of Harilal’s birth in 1888. Other people too contributed to the freedom movement - some of them lesser known’ all of them deserve credit for the independence movement, not Gandhi alone. The losses suffered by Britain during WW2, the election of Clement Atlee as the British PM, efforts by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose – associated with the Indian national army, all played a part in India being granted independence. The INA was formed in 1942 by Mohan Singh with the help of the Japanese Empire. Rash Behari Bose led the INA until April 1942, when he handed over leadership to Subhas Chandra Bose. The Royal Indian Naval mutiny of 1946 also played a role in India being granted independence. The mutiny began on February 18, 1946 and lasted until February 25, 1946 

 

Mother Teresa took care of the sick, destitute, dying and the needy. Early books on here were “Something Beautiful for God” which is a 1971 book by Malcolm Muggeridge on Mother Teresa. There were however hygiene issues, there was an absence of anaestesia being administered. She may have indulged in proselytization, and may not have been free from ulterior motives. Christohper Hitchens hosted the television documentary Hell's angel (directed by Jenny Morgan). Aroup Chatterjee also criticized Mother Teresa. “She was not a friend of the poor, she was a friend of poverty” said some of her critics.  

Nehru laid the foundation for industrialization in India; he launched many institutes of higher learning and established public sector institutions. He neglected basic and primary education and believed in Fabian socialism - which was in vogue at that time. This led to Hindu rate of growth – A term coined in 1978 by Indian economist Raj Krishna. However, C Rajagopalachari did not believe in socialism - believed it would lead to corruption and red tape. KN Raj did not support socialism. Sardar Vallabhai patel was right leaning. Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was left leaning. PC Mahalonobis supported socialism. DD Kosambi supported Marxism and accused Nehru of being too right oriented. There was a great opportunity loss associated with Nehru. India wasted many years after independence. Therefore, Nehru was a mixed bag too.  

Ambedkar fought for the annihilation of caste. He fought for entry of Dalits into temples. The temple entry movement began in 1927 at the Kalaram Temple in Nashik. He was the architect of India's constitution. He famously clashed with Gandhi and was his bitter critic. He however reached a compromise with Gandhi in Poona pact of 1932. Ambedkar is known for his diatribes against Hinduism based on obsolete historical models, and based on his own unfortunate experiences. He fought monochromatically for the rights of Dalits, and ignored many other issues such as the rights of scheduled tribes. He may not have become a good Prime Minister. However, Hindutva groups may appear to support Ambedkar due to vote bank politics. Likewise, Periyar was also a critic of many of Gandhi’s policies. Periyar represented Dravidian nationalism, and opposed North Indian hegemony bitterly. Periyar opposed casteism and caste domination by upper caste Hindus. Nehru once even called him a lunatic.  

PV Narasimha Rao was architect of Indian liberalization and Indian economic reforms along with Dr Manmohan Singh. He was a polyglot and a learned and erudite individual. He was called Chanakya, the wise man. Chanakya was an ancient Indian teacher, philosopher, Indian, Jurist. Chanakya served as the chief advisor and Prime Minister of the both emperors Chandragupta Maurya and his son Bindusara. PVN Kept critics of liberalization at bay – He steered the liberalization program in the face of adverse criticism. He also kept the Gandhi family at bay. Manmohan Singh was however the technical architect of India's reforms. He became the hero of aspiring Indians and was an erudite scholar. He had impeccable economic credentials. He played a role in formulating schemes such as the MGNREGA. However, he was seen by some as a weakling; he was a puppet of the Gandhi family

 

 

In conclusion, we hope people will pursue a more balanced and objective approach in scholarship - this is extremely important as this will greatly improve the quality of scholarship and research. it will serve as a heuristic guide for other individuals and scholars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The importance of progressive and constructive criticism in national and international affairs

 

The importance of progressive and constructive criticism in national and international affairs

Sujay Rao Mandavilli

 

Let us being this blog post by discussing what criticism is at the very outset. Criticism broadly means two things. Firstly, it may mean the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of his or its perceived faults, lacunae or mistakes. Alternatively, It may also be taken to mean the analysis and judgment of the merits and faults of a literary or artistic work. There are of course, many different types of criticisms. Let us now briefly review the different types of criticism. Criticism can range from impromptu comments to a written detailed response.Criticism falls into several overlapping types including "theoretical, practical, impressionistic, affective, prescriptive, or descriptive"

We also then have Literary criticism. As a genre of arts criticism, literary criticism or literary studies is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Art criticism is the discussion or evaluation of visual art. Art critics usually criticize art in the context of aesthetics or the theory of beauty. Another important type of criticism is the criticism of religion. Criticism of religion involves criticism of the validity, concept, or ideas of religion. Historical records of criticism of religion go back to at least 5th century BCE in ancient Greece, in Athens specifically, with Diagoras "the Atheist" of Melos. In ancient Rome, an early known example is Lucretius' De rerum natura from the 1st century BCE.

We must also discuss the criticsm of science here, and at least in passing. Criticism of science addresses problems within science in order to improve science as a whole and the role played by it in critiquing and improving society. Criticisms may also come from philosophy, from social movements like feminism, and from within science itself. The emerging field of metascience seeks to increase the quality of and efficiency of scientific research by improving the scientific process. Metascience is the study of science using scientific methods to improve the quality and efficiency of scientific research. Metascience is a growing movement that involves academics, governments, and other institutions.

What is the difference between critique versus criticism? In the French and in Italian languages, there is no difference between critique and criticism. In the English language, philosopher Gianni Vattimo suggests that criticism is used more frequently to denote literary criticism or art criticism while critique refers to more general writing such as Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Another distinction that is sometimes made is that critique is never personalized nor ad hominem. Critique is presented in a way that encourages rebuttal or expansion of the ideas expressed. Nonetheless, the distinctions are subtle and ambiguous at best.

What then is constructive criticism?  Constructive criticism is a type of feedback that provides specific and actionable advice to help someone improve. It's a balanced critique that acknowledges both positive and negative aspects of someone's work, and it's focused on helping them make honest changes. Here are some characteristics of constructive criticism:

1.       Specific: Constructive criticism provides clear and direct steps that the recipient can take to improve. 

2.       Encouraging: It's offered in a friendly manner with good intentions. 

3.       Balanced: Constructive criticism should include both positive and negative feedback and a balanced combination of the two. 

4.       Actionable: It provides insights, suggestions, and advice that empower the recipient to grow and develop. 

5.       Focus on actions: Constructive criticism should focus on a person's actions, performance, or behaviors, not their character or personality. Ad hominem attacks should be avoided.  

6.       Contextual: It highlights the things the recipient is doing well, which puts the criticism into context. 

7.       Respectful: Constructive criticism should be delivered with respect for the recipient's feelings and perspective. 

8.       Follow up: After providing constructive criticism, the individual offering criticism must follow up to check on progress and offer ongoing support and guidance. 

9.       Constructive tone: The tone of criticism also matters a great deal, and must be greatly modulated. 

10.   Focus on goals: The individual offering criticism must ensure that the criticism is aligned with shared goals and objectives. Constructive criticism can help foster a growth mindset, encouraging individuals to view challenges as opportunities to learn and develop. 

11.   Growth-oriented: It seeks to foster a supportive environment where the recipient can thrive. 

Here are some tips for giving constructive criticism: 

As far as possible, the person offering criticism may use the sandwich method. The sandwich technique, also known as the sandwich method or hamburger method, is a feedback technique that involves starting and ending a discussion with positive comments, and including negative feedback in the middle. The goal is to make the recipient feel more receptive and leave the conversation with a good impression. Here are some tips for using the sandwich technique: 

1.       The individual must start with praise: Highlight something positive about the person's performance.

2.       The individual must be constructive: Explain the concern or area for improvement in a clear and specific way.

3.       The individual must use examples: Support your assessment with concrete examples.

4.       The individual must end with praise: Reaffirm the person's value and strengths, and your confidence in their future improvement.

5.       The individual must use the “We” language strategy.

6.       The individual must focus on the action or behavior.

7.       The individual must not focus on the person

8.       The individual must Include specific positive praise.

9.       The individual must keep an appreciative tone.

10.   The individual must use words like "we" and "our" instead of "you" and "your". –this makes the recipient or the target of advice feel more at home

 

The principle of evidence based criticism must also be assiduously followed always, and at all times. As va part of this principle, we must provide evidence always for criticism. Evidence must be pertinent and must pertain to the issue. We may note here that the word evidence comes from the Latin word ēvidēnt-, which means "obvious". Evidence is anything that can be used to prove whether something is true or not. Evidence can be presented in many ways, including: 

a)      In a court of law

Evidence can be presented in the form of testimony, writings, or objects. This can include: 

Physical evidence: Tangible items or substances, such as weapons, fingerprints, DNA samples, or documents 

Documentary evidence: Written or recorded materials, such as contracts, emails, or medical records 

Expert evidence: Testimony or opinions offered by qualified experts in a specific field 

b)      In literary studies

Background information can be used to provide context about the historical, political, or cultural setting of a text. This can come from dictionaries, encyclopedias, or news articles. 

c)       In everyday life

Evidence can be used to show that something is true, such as "the chocolate stains around your mouth and the crumbs on the table are evidence that you ate the last of the brownies". 

Issue based criticism must be followed at all time, not ideology based criticism. i.e. one that is based on another ideology or a set of ideologies. An ideology is a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy. The term ideology originates from the French word ideologie, itself deriving from combining Greek: idea meaning 'notion, pattern'; and -logia,  meaning 'the study of'). The term ideology and the system of ideas associated with it was coined in 1796 by Antoine Destutt de Tracy. Other definitions of the term ideology were provided by David W. Minar, Willard A. Mullins, and Terry Eagleton. Please read our previous papers, and please watch our previous videos. We must state an infinite number of times “One kind of bias legitimizes every other kind of bias”. This should be the social sciences equivalent of every “action has an equal and opposite reaction”.  We have used it ad nauseum over the years.

Types of ideologies may include political, social, cultural, religious, scientific, and economic ideologies. List of ideologies include Eurocentrism, Indocentrism, Sinocentrism, Afrocentrism, scientific racism, Hindutva, Dravidian nationalism, Marxism,cCommunism, laissez-faire capitalism, anarchism, etc.  Ideology-based criticism is biased and misleading, does not serve its purpose, is flawed inherently, is recursive and inward looking, and does not make the world a better place.

Examples of non-constructive criticism include people making fun of Indian accomplishments, Indians making fun of India’s space program, not offering any meaningful suggestions, making fun of new progressive technology, making fun of progressive ideas such as the environmental movement, etc. Criticizing the government was fashionable during the Nehruvian era. Things have changed greatly since then. We have had good governments. In post-liberalization India, the public too must contribute to nation building unlike many left-leaning intellectuals who do nothing but criticize. Gone are the days of arm chair criticism. An underling methodology - a system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity.- must be used. An underlying process - a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.- must also be used. An underlying epistemology must be used. Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that examines the nature, origin, and limits of knowledge. It is also called theory of knowledge, it explores different types of knowledge, such as propositional knowledge about facts, practical knowledge in the form of skills, and knowledge by acquaintance as a familiarity through experience. Epistemologists study the concepts of belief, truth, and justification to understand the nature of knowledge. A notable list of critics has included Jacques Barzun, Walter Benjamin, Whitwell Elwin, Camille Paglia, Susan Sontag among others. Many of them were arm chair critics. We cannot make an omnibus list, though the above list may be useful.  

Objective criticism of individuals must also be pursued at all times, whether it may be Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, or Veer Savarkar. All of them were humans, and all of them had ttheir own set of flaws and internal contradictions. A balanced criticism of individuals must therefore be pursued and accomplished listing plusses and minuses. A hagiography is a biography that treats its subject with undue reverence. Hagiographies may push their own agenda an must be avoided. Examples of hagiography include James Boswell's biography of Samuel Johnson: An influential hagiography that explores the life of the 18th-century English writer, Pope Gregory I the Great's Dialogues: A collection of stories about Saint Benedict and other 6th-century Latin monks and Jacobus de Voragine's Legenda aurea (Golden Legend): A 13th century hagiographic collection. An autohagiography is a hagiography about oneself. Examples inclide the Book of Margery Kempe: An example of autohagiography, where the subject dictates her life using the hagiographic form.

Examples of ideology-drenched hatred include books critical of Gandhi such as “Gandhi: Behind the Mask of Divinity” which is a book by United States Army officer G. B. Singh. Another book is “The Dark Side of Gandhi” by Hari Pada Roychoudhury. More balanced book on Gandhi include “The Life of Mahatma Gandhi”, a book by Louis Fischer. What are ad hominem attacks? An ad hominem attack is a type of argument that attacks the person making an argument instead of their argument or position. Ad hominem attacks are also known as personal attack fallacies or name calling. They can be used to discredit an opponent or to avoid the actual topic of discussion. This is also related to dogma. Dogma is a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true without comprehensive evaluation. It is associated with rigid, inflexible and doctrinal thinking

What is pessimism? Pessimism is a a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. It is a belief that this world is as bad as it could be. Pessimism is generally seen to be unhealthy with minor exceptions. Pessimism is also the idea or that evil will ultimately prevail over good, and that good things will never happen. This may be largely a carry forward from the Nehruvian era when the Indian economy was stuck in a time warp. Cynicism is a general attitude of distrust and disbelief in the sincerity and goodness of people's actions and motives. It can also refer to the belief that people are primarily motivated by self-interest. The term "Cynic" comes from the ancient Greek word for "dog-like", which refers to the Cynics' belief that they were more similar to animals than modern humans. A prominent List of cynics include Antisthenes, Diogenes of Sinope, Onesicritus, Philiscus of Aegina, Hegesias of Sinope, and Monimus of Syracuse. Both pessimism and cynicism should be eschewed while delivering criticism and judgments.

Skepticism is a questioning attitude or doubt toward knowledge claims, often because the available evidence is insufficient to support them. It is healthy to a certain degree, and some skepticism is actually necessary. For example, government claims about the efficacy of new a policy. However, skeptopathy or pathological skepticism is unhealthy, and diminishes scientific output. Here are some people and schools of thought associated with skepticism. Pyrrhon of Elis was a Greek philosopher who is considered the father of skepticism. The school of thought named after him is called Pyrrhonism. Sextus Empiricus was an ancient skeptic whose philosophy is considered to be the culmination of ancient skepticism. Galileo Galilei was a famous skeptical thinker who challenged beliefs about the planet and is considered a pioneer of evidence-based scientific methods. Academic skepticism was a school of skeptical philosophy in Hellenistic philosophy. Hellenistic philosophy is a term used to describe the philosophy of Ancient Greece during the Hellenistic period, which lasted from 323 BC to 31 BC. Radical philosophical skepticism was a form of philosophical skepticism that denies that "knowledge or rational belief is possible". Pyrrhonian skepticism was a form of skepticism that involves suspending or withholding belief about the possibility of justified moral belief. Dogmatic moral skepticism is a form of skepticism that involves making definite claims about the epistemic status of moral beliefs.

Criticism also needs to be tied to progressive approaches. Progressive approaches are those which lead to progress or betterment of situations, and those which lead to a betterment of people’s lives. Criticism also needs to be tied to practicalism and pragmatism. We had defined these previously. We also need a flexible approach – the ability to change with the times, and to change with the situation.  We also need adaptability and malleability. Advantages of constructive criticism is that it emphasizes contribution of individuals to society, it makes the world a better place, and it enhances qualitative and quantitative output. Dangers of arm chair criticism is that it is meaningless, pointless, futile, and it is not associated with action. We have for example, champagne and caviar Marxists, armchair Marxists, and lounge lizard Marxists. We also have library Marxists, armchair anthropologists, verandah anthropologists, and anthropologists as haindmaidens of colonialists. Smart people see good in others and smart people learn from others. Weaklings stoop to any level to criticize and spare no effort to demean others. Constructive criticism is the hallmark of an emotionally mature person. This is because Citizens are also stakeholders in nation building. We must all contribute to making the world a better place for everybody to live in. Citizens must contribute with ideas and do their mite. Citizens must rack their brains – so to speak. Old fashioned ideas need to go. For example Mahatma Gandhi did not provide constructive criticism to his children. He told his children what not to do most of the time, rather than what to do. He never empowered his children. He never even gave them a formal education. He never gave them a chance to succeed. He was sanctimonious and pontificated. Harilal Gandhi the eldest son went astray due to the lack of proper guidance. He became alcoholic and died destitute. Harilal even said – “I went on looking for a father, and found a Mahatma instead”.  We look forward to next generation of individuals who think differently, and act differently, and provide constructive criticism to make the world a better place to live in.

Amit Shah crazy? Letter to Amit Shah, Home minister government of India on the contentious language issue

 

Amit Shah crazy? Letter to Amit Shah, Home minister government of India on the contentious language issue

The following are excerpts of my letter to Mr Amit Shah, Home minister, Government of India

 

To Mr Amit Shah, Home Minister, Government of India

Your statements regarding role of Hindi and English in India

Dear Mr Amit Shah,

Greetings! I  hope this mail finds you in the best of health and spirits. It is with great alarm and  concern that I have observed and noted your ongoing and recent statements regarding the use or proposed discontinuation of the English language in India, and its replacement with Hindi which is obviously impossible on linguistic or anthropological grounds. In this regard, please note the following:

1. English is a neutral language, while Hindi is not:In case of Hindi, some states will have two languages, some states will have three languages. If English is removed, some states will have one language, some states will have two languages. Those who have Hindi, have it as their mother tongue; while non-Hindi speakers will have it as an alien language. This will be a double discrimination against a non-Hindi speaker. This is highly discriminatory, and obviously undemocratic. English is the only viable neutral link language, as opposed to other neutral languages such as Sanskrit which are opposed by some Dalit and Tamil groups who see it as a symbol of Brahminical hegemony. Sanskrit also has very little business of commercial value, and is generally seen as non-implementable, and non-communicable.

2. Language dynamics has become a major field of study in the fields of linguistics and anthropology. Languages spread in accordance to the principles of language dynamics, and not based on the whims of a politician or what he or she decides. It is not the prerogative of Amit Shah or any other politician to tell people what language to speak. This too is blatantly undemocratic. I have been writing extensively on language dynamics for over a decade now, with many publications in peer-reviewed journals. Hindi cannot replace English in India at any time, and this is quite obvious.

3. Countries which have attempted to impose the language of one community on other communities have either long since disintegrated or become failed states. Classic examples of this are the USSR which broke up and Pakistan which split after its eastern wing seceded to form Bangladesh. Also, kindly note that the central government cannot support the language of one or more states in a federal set up. Each state has to have its own language policy. India is not China. I have written on the differences between India and China extensively.

4. We also have other organizations and Entities such as the United Nations and the PEN club who have come up with declarations such as the UN declaration of human rights and the declaration of linguistic rights. We do not also want our language policy to contradict or contravene international frameworks. I will also write to these organizations shortly to ask them to strengthen their own respective frameworks.

I hope this makes sense to you. Focus instead on developing ALL Indian languages lexically to meet the technical challenges and requirements of the twenty-first century. I do not blindly support English at any cost, and those who want to pursue education in their mother tongue should be encouraged to do so. The antiquated and obsolete Rajbhasha department must be replaced forthwith with the department of Indian languages. I have written extensively on language policy. I am attaching my list of publications herewith. Your proposed policies are not in the interests of a strong and united India. All Indian states must teach the language of the state and English as primary languages. In addition, the learning of another Indian language is also welcome. As a matter of fact, Indians must be encouraged to learn other Indian languages to communicate with other Indians such most Indians may not want to use English all the time. The latter is somewhat elitist, and can play only some roles in society. We have no other options here, this is only a Hobson’s choice. I am copying this letter to other government department and to some international agencies as well.

Best and kind regards,

Sujay Rao Mandavilli

Founder-Director,

Institute for the study of the globalisation of science

 

 

 

Success in science: Is there a cultural misalignment in India and other developing countries?

Success in science: Is there a cultural misalignment in India and other developing countries?

The objective of this blog post is to discuss whether there is a cultural misalignment in India and other developing countries with respect to science and scientific development – i.e. whether people in developing countries, or at least a large number or a vast majority of them, harbor a scientific temper or a scientific temperament and one that is conducive to science. Let us begin this post with an interesting twist.  What is the geocentric theory?  The geocentric theory, also known as the Ptolemaic system, is an ancient cosmological model that places the Earth at the center of the universe, with the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars all orbiting it. 

This model was comprehensively developed by Ptolemy in the second century and remained the dominant view for centuries. Claudius Ptolemy was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist. He is remembered for his prodigious scientific output. However, most of his scientific ideas are outdated. At that time, it was not even known that stars were other suns. It was inconceivable to most that the earth went around the sun, and many believed the earth was flat. It must also be noted that the heliocentric model, with the Sun at the center, was only introduced by Copernicus in the sixteenth century even though Aristarchus of Samos and Philolaus believed in it much, much earlier. Claimed evidence for geocentrism where the apparent daily movement of celestial bodies around the Earth, and the feeling of Earth being stationary and unmoving. These observations were however subsequently falsified. The geocentric model, while no longer accepted by any scientist worth his salt, is a significant part of the history of astronomy and cosmology, marking the transition towards a more accurate understanding of the universe. 

The heliocentric theory, also known as the heliocentric model, is a model of the solar system where the Sun is placed at the center, and the Earth and other planets orbit around it. This theory stands in contrast to Geocentrism, which places the Earth at the center of the universe. Key aspects of the heliocentric theory are that the Sun is at the center of the solar system, the earth and planets orbit the sun, etc. It may be noted that Aristarchus of Samos was an ancient Greek astronomer and mathematician. He presented the first known heliocentric model that placed the Sun at the center of the universe, with the Earth revolving around the Sun once a year and rotating about its axis once a day. Most of his works are lost but are attested indirectly. Philolaus beleived that the Earth was not the center of the universe, and is credited with among the earliest known versions of heliocentrism. This is the theory that the Earth is not the center of the Universe, but rather that the Sun is. Philolaus discussed a Central Fire as the center of the universe and that spheres (including the Sun) revolved around it. However, Anaxagoras, a fifth century BC Greek philosopher, is not known for proposing a heliocentric model of the solar system. While he did propose innovative ideas about celestial bodies, including that the moon reflects sunlight and that the sun is a fiery mass larger than the Peloponnese, he did not suggest that the Earth revolves around the sun. His views on the sun and moon as physical objects rather than deities clashed with religious beliefs of the time, leading to accusations of impiety, according to some historical accounts. 

Let us now move forward to the Renaissance period. The Renaissance was a period of significant cultural and artistic flourishing in Europe, roughly spanning the 14th to 17th centuries. It followed the late Middle ages or the dark ages which were a nadir in western history. It's characterized by a renewed interest in classical antiquity, marking a transition from the medieval period to modernity. This revival led to advancements in art, literature, science, and mathematics, and saw the rise of humanism, a philosophical and intellectual movement emphasizing human potential and achievement. Major advances were made in science during this period. This was also a period of immense social change.

Some important scientists of the period were Nicolaus Copernicus who was a Renaissance polymath who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than Earth at its center. As he was born in Poland, he escaped the persecution of the church. Tycho Brahe, was a Danish astronomer of the Renaissance, known for his accurate astronomical observations. He was also an astronomer, astrologer, and alchemist. He was the last major astronomer before the invention of the telescope and has been described as the greatest pre-telescopic astronomer.Johannes Kepler  was a German astronomer, mathematician, astrologer, natural philosopher and writer on music. He is a key figure in the 17th-century Scientific Revolution, best known for his laws of planetary motion. His books were Astronomia nova, Harmonice Mundi, and Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae, influencing among others Isaac Newton, thereby providing the foundations for the theory of gravitation. His varied work made Kepler one of the founders and fathers of modern astronomy, the scientific method, natural and modern science. Sir Isaac Newton   was an English polymath active as  mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author. Newton was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment that followed.  His book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), first published in 1687, achieved the first great unification in physics and established classical mechanics.

He also famously discovered the law of gravity  as an apple fell on his head, or so the story goes. Newton also made seminal contributions to optics, and shares credit with German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz for formulating infinitesimal calculus. However, Newton developed calculus many years before Leibniz. Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, and a polymath. He was born in the city of Pisa, in Italy. Galileo has been called the father of observational astronomy, modern-era classical physics, the scientific method, and modern science. Galileo studied speed and velocity, gravity and free fall, the principle of relativity, inertia, projectile motion and also worked in applied science and technology. He built an improved telescope based on earlier work by Lippershey. Hans Lipperhey it may be noted, was a Dutch-German spectacle maker

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a period of significant intellectual and cultural change in Europe, primarily during the eighteenth century. There was a renewed and heightened emphasis on reason during this period. It was characterized by a belief in the power of human reason to understand the world and improve society. The Enlightenment emphasized concepts like liberty, progress, tolerance, and the separation of church and state. The Enlightenment influenced various social and political movements, including the American and French Revolutions. Notable Enlightenment figures included Immanuel Kant, John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Voltaire. During the time of the enlightenment people’s attitudes towards science changed. Intellectuals became more scientifically inclined, though not always not the masses. Till the early nineteenth century, even astronomers had no idea of the vastness of the cosmos. Therefore, people ideas and mind-orientation can change with the passage of time as has been proven from time to time. Likewise, Japan only modernized and opened up to the west after the Meiji restoration which led to a great deal of westernization and the assimilation of new ideas.

There was a lot of intellectual curiosity too. Researchers also speculated on the origin of life, though inconclusively. There were two important theories of life, namely biogenesis and abiogenesis. The term biogenesis refers to all living things that come from other living things. This theory also gave rise to cell theory and other theories on the origin of life. The term abiogenesis refers to the theory that living things come from other non-living things such as mud, slime and dew. Notable experiments, such as Pasteur's swan-neck flask experiment, refuted the theory of spontaneous generation by demonstrating that living organisms arise only from other living organisms, not from non-living matter. This experiment and others like Fransesco Redi's meat experiment supported the principle of biogenesis, which states that life only comes from life. Lazzaro Spallanzani's experiments involved boiling broth and sealing it, which prevented microbial growth. This suggested that microbes were not spontaneously generating in the broth but were entering from the outside. However, the origin of life itself has not be satisfactorily explained, and there are no overarching theories in this regard.

There was also an increasing challenge to the power of the Church. Corruption and dogma within church organizations manifested in various ways, including financial misappropriation, abuse of power, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Issue of indulgences by the Church for atonement, or penitence was also noted, and gradually became widespread. Giordano Bruno was an Italian philosopher, poet, alchemist, astrologer, cosmological theorist, and esotericist. He is known for his cosmological theories, which conceptually extended to include the then-novel Copernican model. He proposed that the stars were distant suns surrounded by their own planets (exoplanets), and he raised the possibility that these planets might foster life of their own. For his supposed heretical beliefs, Bruno was burnt at the stake by the church in the year 1600.  Martin Luther was a German theologian, professor, pastor, and church reformer. Luther began the Protestant Reformation with the publication of his Ninety-Five Theses on October 31, 1517. In this publication, he attacked the Church's sale of indulgences. His movement gave rise to Protestantism as the third major force within Christianity, along with  Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy

Evolution led to a change in scientific thought and impacted the masses greatly by unleashing a scientific temper. Evolution, in a biological context, refers to the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. This change occurs through processes like natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation, leading to increased adaptation of organisms to their environment and potentially resulting in the emergence of new species. Charles Darwin initially called this descent with modification Speciation and macromutation could also occur as it was eventually discovered. More recently evolution has been synthesized with genetics to give rise to more cogent and comprehensive explanations, and the field is still evolving.  

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck  was a French naturalist, biologist, academic, and soldier. He was an early proponent of the idea that biological evolution occurred and proceeded in accordance with natural laws. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's theory of evolution, known as Lamarckism or the inheritance of acquired characteristics, proposed that organisms could pass on traits they acquired during their lifetime to their offspring. This meant that if an organism, like a giraffe, stretched its neck to reach higher branches, its offspring would inherit a longer neck. He also spoke about the use of disuse of inherited organs. While Lamarck's theory was influential in the early development of evolutionary thought, it is now largely discredited due to the lack of evidence supporting inheritance of acquired characteristics. 

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor is now generally accepted and considered a fundamental scientific concept. Charles Darwin wrote about twenty books, including the most famous book in biology, the Origin of Species. The books covered the natural history sciences, now called geology, palaeontology, zoology, botany, anthropology, psychology and evolutionary biology. The Origin of Species is the most important single book in the biological sciences, and its main ideas are well-supported by modern research.

Herbert Spencer was an English polymath and also  philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist. Herbert Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's 1859 book On the Origin of Species. Herbert Spencer is also famous for his doctrine of social Darwinism, which asserted that the principles of evolution, including natural selection, apply to human societies, social classes, and individuals as well as to biological species developing over geologic time. Alfred Russel Wallace was an English naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist, and biologist. He independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection; his 1858 paper on the subject was published that year alongside extracts from Charles Darwin's earlier writings on the topic.

Charles Darwin's theories, particularly evolution by natural selection, initially faced resistance but eventually gained broad acceptance, including among some religious figures. While his work was groundbreaking and influential, it also sparked debate and controversy, particularly between scientific and religious communities. Darwin's ideas directly challenged the prevailing belief in a divine creation of species, leading to significant resistance from religious institutions and individuals. Darwin's theories also raised questions about human place in the natural world, leading to debates about the implications of evolution for human society and morality. Notable critics of Charles Darwin included Richard Owen, Samuel Wilberforce, St. George Jackson Mivart, and Fleeming Jenkin. By the time of Charles Darwin’s death however, it had gained popular acceptance in England even among some sections of the clergy. As scientific evidence for evolution grew and more research supported Darwin's theories, the initial resistance also began to wane. By the time of Darwin's death, his theories had gained widespread acceptance, even among some religious figures and institutions. This clearly shows and demonstrates that people’s ideas can change with the passage of time. Darwin's work laid the foundation for modern evolutionary theory, significantly shaping the fields of biology, genetics, and other scientific disciplines. Darwin's ideas have had a profound impact on various aspects of culture, including literature, philosophy, and social thought. 

 

Gregor Mendel, through his work on pea plants, discovered the fundamental laws of inheritance. He deduced that genes come in pairs and are inherited as distinct units, one from each parent.Gregor Mendel's laws of inheritance, established through his experiments with pea plants, form the foundation of modern genetics. They are: the Law of Dominance, the Law of Segregation, and the Law of Independent Assortment. He died in obscurity partly because he was silent about is work and partly because he published in German. His work was rediscovered by Carl Correns, Von Tshermak, and Hugo Vries.

 

The discovery of extrasolar planets since 1992 has also proved to be epoch making and earth shattering. An exoplanet, also known as an extrasolar planet, is a planet that orbits a star outside of our solar system. These planets are not part of our solar system and orbit stars other than our Sun. Exoplanets are detected using indirect methods such as the transit method due to their faintness compared to their host stars. Only few have been directly observed. First discovery of a planet around a pulsar star occurred in 1992, and around a main sequence star in 1995. As of 2025, over 5800 extrasolar planets have been discovered. The first discoveries were made by, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz of the University of Geneva. Indian origin scientist Dr Nikku Madhusudhan also claims to have found evidence of life some 120 light years away, though this is still disputed.

 

Ideologies can damage science, including scientific ideologies. We had written extensively about this previously. Intellectual Marxism is on the decline, and though this might be good news, we need robust twenty-first century intellectualism. Hindutva has raised its ugly head, and this is highly troubling and disconcerting. Hindutvavaadins have their own gross misrepresentation of events much like Marxist historians or Dravidian nationalists. We have the Vedic Indus theory, and the Out of India theory, for example. Hindutva groups must think again and act in favour of the nation and science. Hindutva groups must think again and act in favour of Indian science. They must understand that they damage national interests too. There is no emphasis on objectivity – only ideology. Indians can change in one generation. All it requires is a generational change in the author’s opinion. The next generation can be more scientifically inclined. We had written about structured apperception techniques for sociocultrual change, and eureka and mini eureka points, among a vast plethora of other allied and related topics. India is already the third largest publisher of research publications. Quality of Indian publications however lags behind the west, and this must improve and change with the times.

Teaching innovation in schools is a must. Teaching creative thinking in schools is a must. Focusing on concepts and application rather than rote learning is a must. Refer all our previous videos and papers. As such there is no cultural misalignment. Hinduism is also a diverse religion, and accommodates many thoughts, and ideas. We can bring about change, and bring it in real fast. This only required proper formation and gestation of concepts, and implementing them properly and in true spirit of the game. However, it is absurd to claim that no change in required as some Hindutva groups have told the Author. Change is indeed required, as even educated people believe in myths and superstitions, and historiography and other fields of social sciences are in dire need of an overhaul. Readers may read all our publications in the interests of scientific progress and common sense, as we have justified our assertions comprehensively and unequivocally to say the least.