Living in the Now. Weekly Column. 14.10.23

 

Living in the Now | Mrinal Chatterjee | 12.10.23

Empathy Deficit

and why we should be concerned about it

Remember the horrific incident of a brutally raped twelve year old girl begging for help on the streets of the holy city of Ujjain and nobody coming forward to assist her. The poor bleeding girl walked till she fell unconscious. It happened early October this year.

The question that immediately comes to mind: why didn’t people help her? What prevented them? The answer is loud and clear: lack of empathy and social responsibility.

Oxford English Dictionary defines empathy as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.”  Empathy goes beyond sympathy, which is broadly defined as understanding how someone else feels.

Empathy enables us to actually experience those feelings for ourselves. We feel the emotional pain of others as if it was our own. There is a Sanskrit word which comes quite close to it: samabedana (sama means same, and bedana means pain). There is another word in Sanskrit: sahanubhuti, which means the same feeling (sama means same, anubhuti means feeling). However, in English it translates to sympathy.

Studies in neuroscience have discovered that the key brain regions which evoke empathy in a person appear to be the amygdala, which is involved in the regulation of emotional learning and the reading of emotional expressions, and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which activates when people experience their own pain or observe others in pain. But the most important region of all is the medial prefrontal cortex (MPC), also known as the prefrontal lobe. A "hub" for social information processing, the MPC modulates self-awareness and our awareness of other people's thoughts and feelings. It also appears to play an important role in "marking" certain emotional experiences so as to provide us with emotional shortcuts to actions that are positive and therefore likely to be rewarding.

These discoveries show that empathy is hard-wired and that we are primed for morality, hence the writer Jeremy Rifkin’s claim that these circuits are the source of humanity's desire for "intimate participation and companionship".

This finds resonance with several Indian seer’s claim of the basic goodness of human being and also with Scottish Enlightenment philosopher Adam Smith's notion of a "moral sentiment". As Mark Honingbaum writes in the Observer ..(they) have come to regard empathy as intrinsically pro-social. When we empathise, they argue, we mirror the distress of an "other" and, unless our brains are damaged or we are developmentally abnormal, we are moved to alleviate their suffering. The result is that, like other modern moral sentiments such as trust and altruism, empathy is increasingly seen as a "social glue" and the evolutionary basis of human cooperation.

Empathy is vital for the running of a civilized society. Empathy is important for developing social relationships and being able to live with others. In fact empathy has often been termed as social glue- that binds the members of a society- even if they are not personally related or even know one another.

So why are we experiencing this downward trend in empathy levels, especially in young people? There aren’t any clear answers to this question.  Some experts are suggesting ICT (Information Communication Technology) may be largely to blame.

ICT may make communication easier and more frequent, however,  it promotes only superficial connections rather than the deeper connections you can only get in person. As Dr. Michele Borba, author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World, puts it: “It’s very hard to be empathetic and feel for another human being if you can’t read another person’s emotions. You don’t learn emotional literacy by facing a screen. You don’t learn emotional literacy with emojis.”

The second reason could be the constant push to succeed. To be rich, at any cost. To acquire material possession- at any cost. And to be happy at any cost- as if happiness is a physical entity and one can buy it with loads of money. This misguided and fallacious notion of success and happiness is making us soulless morons.

Empathy is the bond on which human civilization sustains and thrives. Without empathy the bond slackens, and so does the growth and advancement of the civilization. Without empathy, we stop growing and gradually regress. Presently we are in a peculiar situation- call it an existential crisis. Our body and science are in the twenty first century- poised for even further development. But our mind is regressing to the middle ages. A me-only existence will give rise to a hollow civilization.

Therefore, we need to practice empathy- at individual level, at family level, at community level and at societal level. Nature has endowed us with empathy. We need to let the feeling flow and translate it into action.

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https://www.odisha.plus/2023/10/empathy-deficit-and-why-we-should-be-concerned-about-it

Prajatantra turns 100. Article in Odia. 9.10.23

 Nirbhaya, 9.10.23

 

Window Seat. Weekly Column in English. 8.10.23

Sikkim Express. 8.10.23

 

Pathe Prantare. Weekly Column in Odia. 8.10.23

Samay. 8.9.23

 

Living in the Now. Weekly Column.

 Living in the Now | Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee | 3.10.23

Gandhi’s Tenets to

Bridge the Development Gap

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It grew at 7.2% in the 2022-23 fiscal year. However, India is also one of the most unequal countries. A 2022 Oxfam report The top 10% of the Indian population holds 77% of the total national wealth. 73% of the wealth generated in 2017 went to the richest 1%, while 670 million Indians who comprise the poorest half of the population saw only a 1% increase in their wealth. The inequality in India has been rising for the last three decades. The rich are getting richer at a much faster pace. Consider this: by 2022 there were 119 billionaires in India. Their number has increased from only 9 in 2000 to 101 in 2017.

Besides contributing to social tension, the growing inequality adversely impacts the poor and the marginalized the most. The biggest casualties are health and education. A quick survey of available literature shows a general agreement about a correlation between income inequality and health/social problems. Inequalities in access to resources, finances, and opportunities lead to vast disparities between those students with privilege and those without it.

Media could and ought to play a proactive role in highlighting this and taking measures to reduce the gap. But unfortunately, in post-globalisation mainstream media in India, the poor and deprived have largely been marginalized. Market pressures have forced the media to provide space and time to people who can afford to buy goods and services that the market does and can supply. A market propelled media needs and therefore creates no discerning and informed citizens but mindless consumers. The trend continues unabated even as the impact of globalization is receding across the world. It is creating a sharply divided society where inequality is rising.

This issue needs to be addressed expeditiously; otherwise it will create many more problems including a vicious circle of perpetuating poverty and social tension leading to large scale violence. Gandhi in his avatar as a journalist and editor had extensively written and commented on this issue. From Champaran Diary to his fiery editorials in Harijan- Gandhi wrote about social and economic inequality. He had also suggested ways to bridge the development gap.

Gandhi's basic aim was to have an all-round development of the society for socio-economic- political, moral and spiritual development. The Gandhian Economic Order is based on simplicity, decentralization, self-sufficiency, cooperation, equality, non-violence, human values, self-sufficient village units, and nationalisation of basic industries, Swadeshi and the theory of trusteeship. The three pillars of Gandhian approach to development were: a. equitable economic growth, b. redistributive justice, and c. moral regeneration.

Gandhi was not particularly fond of massive industrialization at the cost of individuals for a form of rapid economic progress, which breeds inequality. Rather, Gandhi's model of industrialisation was village industries based on limited capital, local raw material, short gestation period and easy marketing. He favoured the khadi and village industries model. The industries should be small in size, simple in organisation, capital saving, non-violent and non-exploitative.

It is time we take a hard look at Gandhi’s tenets and follow his guidance to bridge the development gap.

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https://www.odisha.plus/2023/09/gandhis-tenets-to-bridge-the-development-gap/

Pathe Prantare. Weekly Column in Odia. 1.10.23

Samay. 1.10.23

 

Window Seat. Weekly column in English. 1.10.23

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 4. 6. 23

Dev Anand@100

If alive Dev Anand, one of the most debonair heroes Bollywood have seen and one of the first to take on gey shade would have been 100 now. Born on September 26, 1923, in the city of Gurdaspur, Punjab, India Dharam Dev Pishorimal Anand became one of the most iconic and enduring heroes of Hindi Film Industry. Considered one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema. Through a career that spanned over six decades, he worked in more than 100 films. He was an actor, producer, director. He also wrote stories of several of his films.

Dev Anand’s versatility as an actor added another layer to his charismatic appeal. While he was celebrated as the evergreen romantic hero, he could seamlessly transition into a wide range of characters, from the playful to the intense, showcasing his depth as an actor. 

Throughout his illustrious career in Indian cinema, Dev Anand carved a niche for himself as the quintessential lover.

One of his most iconic romantic roles was in “Guide” (1965), where he played Raju Guide, a charismatic and enigmatic character who falls in love with Rosie, portrayed by Waheeda Rehman. “Johny Mera Naam” (1970) saw Dev Anand as a flamboyant lover boy. Dev Anand’s evergreen romantic image was not limited to specific films but permeated throughout his career. His trademark puff hairstyle, stylish attire, and infectious smile made him a heartthrob of his time.

He acted in many films acted in different characters and left a distinctive mark of his persona.

His association with films was not limited to acting alone.

In 1949 Dev Anand and his elder brother Chetan Anand, started Navketan Films. Dev Anand produced 35 films and directed many of them. Of the 35 films he produced, 18 were commercially successful at the box office. He wrote the stories for 13 of his films.

5 ‘W’ and 1 ‘H’ of Philanthropy

Recently I read an article, crux of which is: despite a rich tradition and legacy of daan (charity), Indians are actually kanjoosh. They do not ‘give’ in charity. The article has impressive statistics to show that unlike the west, corporate India is not keen on charity.  It says that the culture of institutionalized philanthropy is relatively new to India, barring a Tata here or an Infosys there. Business houses have erected temples, built dharmasalas. But when it comes to doing something noticeable in social sector, it has little to show. The article goes on to suggest that forget the corporate bodies, even an average Indian gives a fraction of what his American counterpart and about half his South Asian counterpart gives in charity.

I wonder why? We give ‘chanda’ in all religious festivals willingly or through coercion. We willingly put in green backs in the hundi, strategically placed in front of almost all temples. We throw handful of coins towards the beggars, who crowd the entrance of the religious places. But why don’t we donate for social causes?

As a former journalist, I approached this question with 5 ‘w’ and 1 ‘h’ strategy.

1.   Why give? Most of us are reluctant if not averse to give in charity. The first question that we ask ourselves: why to give? Can’t we utilize that money or article or time or whatever for ourselves or on second thought for our near and dear ones? Why give to strangers, without any hope of getting anything tangible in return?

2.   What to give? Do we give money? What should be the appropriate amount?

3.   Whom to give? This probably is the biggest question which plagues our decision. Credibility of the receiver is a big factor. We are familiar with religious places and beggars. But when it comes to giving to somebody or some institutuion for social causes- we really do not know whom to give. We are skeptic about majority of the NGOs. We think they will usurp our hard earned money.

4.   When to give? Do we give regularly- say once a month, or occasionally? Do we give on some occasion like say on the birthday of your son or when situation warrants like say when calamity has struck?

5.   How and in which form? There are practical problems. Suppose, I want to donate my old shirt. How do I give? There is hardly an institutional system working nationwide or even statewide? I understand there are some NGOs who are working at this in some large cities, but an institutional system is yet to be developed.

 

I feel we Indian are willing to give in charity. The problem is to translate the willingness to reality through a credible and efficient system. If that is taken care of, Indians will not hesitate to ‘give’ in charity. After all we have a long history and legacy of philanthropy.

Soft drinks

These days soft drinks are considered hep. Where ever you go, any social do, you are offered soft drinks. Thanks to the television advertisement urging the youth to drink soft drinks, kids are guzzling it by gallon. The grownups usually indulge the kids.

Soft drinks impact our health in more ways than we tell ourselves. It impacts our tooth enamel. It affects the functioning of the kidney. It makes us fat. It increases risk of diabetes. It impacts heart and reproductive organs.

Despite everything we continue to guzzle aerated soft drinks. I am beginning to believe that we are a race with suicidal tendency.

Tailpiece: Men and Women

Who are Men?

Woh jo narak me bhi mile to kahe ....abe !! Yamraj ki beti dekhi ?? Aag hai Aag !!

And, who are Women??

Who go to heaven and say "apsara dekh...no dressing sense at all!

(Courtesy: Bibhuti Rath on facebook)