A Post to Irene

Hunger could be the most diminishing, most demeaning of all crisis. Poverty is not an issue to be solved, but a disease that cripples many of our lands. My scare is the pretentious "Globally happy" faces that dot across governance, from the highest of the governments to UN to moderate size organizations are busy are tied up with numbers to prove themselves and convene scientific conferences increasing the burden of printed paper, plastic cups and water bottles. But hunger is not number, hunger is local, its very real. Its us who have decided to stay away from the reality and looked at it from the filter of what we know. I am sorry, but somewhere I cant help but blame our education system. Its always built on the paradigm of "what is right for others". the communities are largely mis-judged by the politicians, by educationists and not the least, the institutions; providing them what they don't want, luring them into an urban centric whirlpool, like any other from a city.

Between the thought, and the next of it a large gap was created by the interruption of office documents. Multi tasking is great, but its no good for our focus, if we are not interested in it. I know the document will lie there for a while, then I will browse through it, correct and put comments; yet I would not really remember what the document content is. Current context of work is devoid of new, surprises are not to be there. The sectoral concept of living in societies, townships, could be great proof how we create boundaries for ourselves. The territoriality is far beneath the surface, it bounders Physics, Chemistry, nations and classes. However most of it do not match with the natural reality of space and time. The classic answer "..road is what is not home" divides the context of existence for the same individuals. The protocols that we have developed for our society creates a conscious effort of "being something else than what you are", a driver on the road, student in the school, fashioning designer dresses for party, looking at other children excelling in cricket- we are not many, these are our incarnations of our daily city lives. They are so far away from those remote villages, where people chop wood, as a necessity of survival; but the collection of wood unwinds along a path thats new every moment, change is seen, felt and used. With our existence as many forms of desire we would never become them, US and THEM are going to exist if our lives don't converge. If FAO has to really do something for food crisis, it better shifts its office to Orissa, Bangladesh or wherever, but Rome is very unacceptable, similar to the fact that the India office is in new Delhi.

A few months back, a meeting was convened in New Delhi, by Mr. Gurjeet Sing, Joint Secretary (E&SA) (ref: 1. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zWQhHHZKTIvkzPz4gnFfmHxLWviypzGskXSmFsvaowI/edit?hl=en_US)

- A noble idea indeed. We should try to assist everybody who need us. But sitting here, how are you going to judge the people who you intend to help. I know there would be a number of organizations and institutions share this responsibility, finding their way to the ground. But, if the Delhi centric "development organizations" WERE THE ONLY ONE TO TAKE PART, how on earth are you planning to create a transparent information system that sips through to support your quest to reach ground? Cant help but think this is somewhat like "teaching others what to do" approach that clogs our education system:

The Development Set

by Ross Coggins

Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet

I’m off to join the Development Set;

My bags are packed, and I’ve had all my shots

I have traveller’s checks and pills for the trots!

The Development Set is bright and noble

Our thoughts are deep and our vision global;

Although we move with the better classes

Our thoughts are always with the masses.

In Sheraton Hotels in scattered nations

We damn multi-national corporations;

injustice seems easy to protest

In such seething hotbeds of social rest.

We discuss malnutrition over steaks

And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.

Whether Asian floods or African drought,

We face each issue with open mouth.

We bring in consultants whose circumlocution

Raises difficulties for every solution –

Thus guaranteeing continued good eating

By showing the need for another meeting.

The language of the Development Set

Stretches the English alphabet;

We use swell words like “epigenetic”

“Micro”, “macro”, and “logarithmetic”

It pleasures us to be esoteric –

It’s so intellectually atmospheric!

And although establishments may be unmoved,

Our vocabularies are much improved.

When the talk gets deep and you’re feeling numb,

You can keep your shame to a minimum:

To show that you, too, are intelligent

Smugly ask, “Is it really development?”

Or say, “That’s fine in practice, but don’t you see:

It doesn’t work out in theory!”

A few may find this incomprehensible,

But most will admire you as deep and sensible.

Development set homes are extremely chic,

Full of carvings, curios, and draped with batik.

Eye-level photographs subtly assure

That your host is at home with the great and the poor.

Enough of these verses – on with the mission!

Our task is as broad as the human condition!

Just pray god the biblical promise is true:

The poor ye shall always have with you.

“Adult Education and Development” September 1976