The Fountainhead and other things

Cover of The Fountainhead

Finally have got hang of twitter (or so I think). Its nice for some content discovery, chila chalu flirting and knowing what is around. The Indian Political Scene is full of surprises. Just when I thought it cant get bad than this, they surprise me and come up with something more mind-numbing. Self-evaluation and self-respect seems to be words alien to Indian-political personnel. 

As, such, I avoid commenting on things/people untill I feel I have reliable information to make a decision. As such, I hear people scream about things after having few facts, and feel a bit amused. For me, it has been always diffficult to criticize anyone until there is no possibility to avoid it. I mostly try to be happy with/around things/people I like. So, why should be this space any different. Let me talk about something which I liked a lot.

The book (yeah, m not called bookbluff for nothing) is called 'The Fountainhead' and its written by Ayn Rand. Was introduced to it during the last year of under-graduation exam. We had a viva during one of the practical exams. Me and my college crush, were having viva together. The professor who was taking the viva and us 3 shared common passion for reading. The questions during viva drifted from science to literature. One of the questions that our Prof. Dr. Vyas asked us was have we read The Fountainhead. I said no. My crush S said yes ( I still think that is one of the reason she got more mark than me and topped the university). We discussed the book for quite a bit of time. This lead me to buy one and read it. 

The book was amazing. Didn't agree to entire Philosophy of Ayn Rand, but liked parts of it. It describes selfishness as a virtue. The thing I liked most about the book was the character of Howard Roark, the Hero. He was sure of what he wanted to do since childhood Do what you like. Be a master of what you do. Do things you own way. Don't give a damm about what people/world say. (come to think of, I am not the perfect disciple, at 27  yrs and some months, still not sure what I want to do with life). 

The book is sort of a magnifying glass. There are some simple things which are not acceptable in society or considered anti-human. One such is selfishness. What book does is tries to take the things to extreme and shows a society/characters which are self-less and poses it against the ones with selfish and brilliant. 

There is one particular dialogue which I still remember after 4 years. Howard is asked by the anti-hero (forgot his name), what he (Howard) thinks about him. Howard says, but I don't think about you. 

The book was awesome. Its quite a long book, and by the time I completed it, I was under its spell. Tried some of the things mentioned in the book, and was immediately hated by people around me. It was then I realized that how difficult it is to be a minority. One has to drop one's intelligence to the level of majority or become Howard Roark. 

Barkha Dutt and Twitter

I have created an account on Twitter, just to follow the Barkha Dutt controversy, as apparently, there seems no other way to get information on the subject. Could not find anything on regular news sites that I follow. Seems, that the media has decided to go stand by their rotten apples. My impression of NDTV has taken a big set-back. Now wonder, whom should I turn to to get a fair coverage of what is happening. 

I have often thought that people who are in position to mould the opinion of millions have a social responsibility irrespective of their profession. But, I have seen atlest some journalists, who have used their power of Pen, to threaten the system and get an unfair advantage. However, I thought that this rot was restricted to the lower portion of the journalist, and the elites were all Mr./Mrs. Clean. But this controversy has made me think again. Although Ms. Dutt, keeps saying that what she did was just sourcing information, the words used on tapes and tone seem to indicate that there was more than just sourcing. But, lets forget what she was actually doing. I am more disappointed at how the media has avoided to even report it. If it was some politician who was caught on tape, there would have been demands for his resignation from the same people, but now that one of THEM is caught, they don't even feel the need to report it. Apparently, it seems NEWS (north, east, west and south) media, takes it for granted that it is not responsible to report what lies within.

I also wonder, how appropriate it is to give the power to mould the opinion of millions into the hands of these few (corrupt or otherwise) people. 

Thinking: can't live with you, can't live without you

I have been told many a times by my father that I think too much. Put too much of mental effort on every problem. According to him, I am so much afraid of being deceived, that I am not enjoying life per se.

Recently. I have been thinking (haha) that he is right. Like someone said in response to define poison, that excess of anything is poison, I feel right now, too much of thinking is injurious to one's health.

Which does not kill me

Nietzsche once said: That which does not kill us makes us stronger. I need to modify it for me for a more relevent context. 

That which does not kill me, makes me lazier. 

Need to do something about it. Have visa for one more month to stay in Europe, need to finish thesis, submit all the reports and give an interview.


Seems like there is a lot on the plate (of the guy who is fasting!!)

Right now

1. Wanted to make a list of 'Things to-do' in life and could not write down a single point (except to travel to Paris, but then it has been dream since I don't remember when). Makes me think if I am too much satisfied with life or too lazy to work for anything in life.

2. Just had a thought would humans would be much better/worse if,

    a) They were immortal and knew about it

    b) Did not have any idea about mortality

3. Thought about Communalism/Socialism/Capitalism, trying to find out which was the best way of governance. Not a fan of communalism, but its a difficult choice between socialism and capitalism. Mind says capitalism, heart says socialism. 

4. Have been thinking a lot about love. Still remains an enigma for me. Have been trying to figure out what it does actually mean ? Does it differ from wife to parents; from bother to friend ? If so, in what way. On the side thought, would it be possible to be in love with a person knowing he/she hates you ?

5.  Thought about secret cyber identities. Why people like to keep their identity secret on web, even if they are not doing/writing any damming stuff. Is there not a secret desire in most of them to get identified ? 

Just realised

I just realised that reading all those suspense novels for years, has made me in-tolerant to secrets. Also, on a completely different subject, made a note that I am prone to fall in love.