The Young India

Kartikey Sehgal

Read the first half here.

–Drugs and economic disparity in the Indian home of the Dalai Lama

continued…
“If you have the money, you can buy anything here”, says Manoj and feels strongly about the drug problem especially because it affects the local Indians more than it affects the Tibetans.

I have already learned from some locals about the rules of selling the drugs. You have to approach the vendors. If you are a foreigner then they will sell you what you …

Kartikey Sehgal

–Drugs and economic disparity in the Indian home of the Dalai Lama

(The author travelled to Dharamsala earlier this year.)

“There will be a big vacuum once the Dalai Lama leaves us”, says Sonam Dorjee, a member of the Tibetan Congress in India. Listening to him talk passionately about his love for Tibet, I begin to think that he subscribes to the philosophy of some young Tibetans who feel that violence is the only way to achieve Tibetan independence from China.

…

Kartikey Sehgal

• Suppose that a man is unfaithful to his wife but stays on for the sake of their child.
• When he is caught cheating, would we say that his action has compromised the future of the child.
• Would he be considered inconsiderate to his child.
• Does the fault lie in his cheating or in not divorcing his wife before cheating.

                                  ……………………………………

Why do you cry, father?

Because I am bound and yet I seek our bondage. I cry because there is dew on …

Kartikey Sehgal

[Written immediately after the ‘Tiger Woods Scandal’ obsession and kept aside. Sentences in brackets and italics are current, additional thoughts]

Tiger Woods’s wife should have forgiven him his extra-marital affairs. Who stands to gain; have the children benefited from this drama? Tiger Woods? Or has it ‘improved’ him or made him a ‘better’ man? Nobody except the wife stands to gain. She gains sympathy. And money, of course.

(private affair. Was she a good wife, mother. Has anybody investigated. There must be other …

Naren Sabarish

A Little Fish Learns to Hop

One morning at sea in Canada. A little fish lived in the sea.
He was not satisfied in his swimming. He was sad. He was unhappy.
He told himself, “I want to learn to hop. Then, I will be very happy.”

One day, he was swimming in the water. He saw a Dolphin in the sea.
He asked him, "I want to hop. If I ask, you can teach me or not?"
"Yes, I will teach you", …

Kartikey Sehgal

The Young India started out as an experiment (an expression by itself) in style, prose and courage. Now, I am the only expressionist in the post-modernist sea of cerebral waste. The other writers are living—as I am no serial killer—but they are merely claimants to their wisdom.

I summarise them thus:

• Outbursts over issues are calls for attention; to ensure presence and identity, at least in the intellectual life-sphere.
• No expression at all. Their blogs are almost-vacant; no expression through music, dance or

…

Kartikey Sehgal

If nature is not god, and it is to be controlled by a god, then its destruction is not akin to god’s destruction.

Nature is then secondary; it comes after god. Nature is not god but since it is important for survival it is to be protected. If you don’t protect nature, then god will punish you. Never mind that without nature you will die in the first place. And how will you then think of god?

Transference of Power

If you commit …

Kartikey Sehgal

Despite the presence of several journalists at the recently concluded Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI ) certain ‘disturbances’ have not been brought out well in the newspapers.
Since it is being talked about for its ‘seventy percent growth in delegate registration’, the behaviour of the delegates (more like a representative than a common movie watcher) must be brought out publically too.

For instance, Iranian director Saman Estereki came to the premiere of his film ‘Empty Chair’ with big and seemingly heavy bags on his …

Kartikey Sehgal

A conversation on the decision to die.
C and J.

“Want to inform you that I’ll commit suicide”, said C.
“Commit suicide…hmmm…” J muttered to himself, bit his upper lip and then relaxed.

A moment later, C put himself in the chair. Their black coats were the only colour in vicinity.

“Ok, let’s get over it. Reasons”
“Reason. My will has been amputated. I am not my person”, said C.

“So you know the reason. Extend your will now”
“It’s too late. I …

Kartikey Sehgal

(In coffee shops, restaurants and elsewhere, a selection from conversations on India and its ancient culture. The author has connected the various thoughts as a story. Written in conversational style and the author addresses the reader at some places.)

How old are we (the ‘youth for new culture’ variety) to demand that we do not want the India of the past because we cannot connect to it. And hence we start movements and labels groups as superstitious and backward because we don’t want …