Reflections on our Republic Day
As we finished our weekly multidisciplinary meeting on The Republic day of India (which is also Australia Day) I asked the meaning of “Proletariat” to one of the participants.
Being a non-native English speaker he did not know the meaning of this word.
What does Republic Day of India mean to the millions of Diaspora?
How is their experience common with proletarians? The Collins dictionary defines “proletariat” as the class of Wage earners esp industrial workers in a capitalist society whose only possession of significant material value is their labour.In ancient Rome it referred to the lowest class of citizens.
On telling this meaning, my friend immediately identified himself as a ‘proletariat’ (with a few smiles) as he has nothing of significant material value except his labour. Maybe, on a later day, we will sit together and tease out the differences and similarities between “subalterns” and “refugees”. The turmoil in Libya in 2011 made us revisit the meanings of these words in many ways as events of cataclysmic proportions unfolded on the ground. As some of the workers who fled the conflict return, there is an interesting environment to reflect on the different dynamics in place.
Current turmoil
Firing from Bab-Al-Aziziya compound of Gaddafi. Did militarism overshadow other aspects of the movement? Will the women pay a heavier price of this than the children? As I see my friend wince and turn away from the shots being fired, the August 2011 afternoon when we went to Bab-Al-Aziziya comes back with some interesting questions
As the “NTC” coalition faces increasing challenges in Libya, the Diaspora and intellectuals watch with interest the way the different dynamics play on the ground.
The relations between the various components on the “power-level” are in a state of great flux. What will be the attitude of the current persons in power to persons who want to peacefully express their opinions, will be a key to the future.
There is a churning going on in the inner depths of this society.
Educational institutions and women power at home are two areas where these will play out in a significant manner.
In his essay- “The Prophet and the Proletariat” Chris Harman talks about the ideological somersaults the Islamist leaders take whenever they get close to power.
“ They counterpose “Islamic” to “Western” values. But most so called Western values are not rooted in some mythical European culture but arise out of the development of capitalism over the last two centuries. Thus a century and a half ago the dominant attitude among the English middle class to sexuality was remarkable similr to that preached by the Islamic revivalists today (sex outside marriage was forbidden, women were not supposed to bare even their ankles. Illegitimacy was a taint people could not live down), and women had fewer rights than most versions of Islam grant them today (inheritance was to the eldest son only, while Islam gives the daughter half the son’s portion, there was no right at all to divorce, while Islam grants women that righ in very restricted circumstances). What changed English attitudes was not something inbuilt into the Western psyche or any alleged “Judeo-Christian values” but the impace of developing capitalism –the way in which its need for women’s labour power forces it to change certain attitudes and, more importantly, put women in a situation where they could demand even greater changes” (http://www.marxists.de/religion/harman/pt09.htm)
Another interesting work the famous essay on Chaplin “The Poor and the Proletariat” in which Roland Barthes argues that the Poor Man essayed by the legendary comedian is successful precisely because this character “is always just below political awareness…still outside the Revolution.”
http://prashantbhatt.com/2011/02/06/different-meanings-same-words/
An End-Note
In the coming week, maybe my reading group friend will ask a few
Women colleagues in this society, the meaning of “Proletariat”
A book in Devnagri Script-Exploring links and memories
Internal and external immigrants are known to have reading groups which help them foster a sense of identity and security.
A book in Devanagri script
Last meeting, Dr.Bachchoo Singh brought a Gita in Devanagri script, printed at Gita Press, Gorakhpur.
“It was given to me by Dr.Gaur, the anatomy teacher at the University who had stayed in Libya since 1974, being one of the first founders of the department.”
Dr.BS himself has been in Tripoli since 1988 and our weekly reading sessions were enhanced by this addition to our library.
Community activities
“Our embassy is not able to lobby well for such things. They could not procure land or building to have a community school,” Dr.BS, a veteran of many struggles told.
A medical doctor, who has seen lot of things, I once took an extended life-story interview of his .
“I taught science in the community school for two years at the high school level,” he told me. According to me, this is one of his most impressive acts.
It is easy to criticize but very difficult to do.
Narratives of community
Recalling the civil society which develops around expatriate communities I remembered the school fairs which taught me so many things. To read a full narrative you can follow the links below
Half Alive Again-An Evening at Zawia Dahmaani
“However, one does develop some type of life here. Watching the school fairs, seeing the stalls of different nationalities, the books which one would otherwise never have come to know of, gathering perspectives of writers who have spelt out the secret lives of the families of their societies, the shame and longings which are common to humans.”
http://www.chowk.com/Life/Half-Alive-Again-An-Evening-At-Zawia-Dahmaani
The Lion at Dahra is a nice spot to read on a sunny winter morning
Cyclonic Silence-M.F.Hussain.NGMA Gallery Delhi. Interpreting works of art can be an interesting exercise in a reading group
Community centers in Tripoli region.
If the various Christian communities of different churches-Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans can petition and acquire premises for churches why can the Indian community not acquire a premise?
“Will it be secular, or will there be religious connotations?” was the immediate next question.
“We will have a library with a wide range of books, ranging from history of the mutinies to conditions of Working class to the classic religious texts.”
Reading groups have their links and chains which stretch far and wide. I remember a copy of Bible given to me by a Nigerian footballer Carlos whom I met in the Dahra church and became good friends with. The Bible was printed in a press in Bandra, Mumbai.
The book in Devnagri script presented by Dr.Gaur to Dr.Bachchoo Singh opened many past links and memories. How the community was organized in this area for the past four decades came alive in many ways in a lively discussion over a book in Devanagri script.
Good Idea-Bad Idea
Evolving a multidisciplinary approach was one of the good ideas a colleague discussed.
The Multidisciplinary meeting
Discussion theme-What was my best and worst idea. Last week we had discussed the experiences of a Radiology Chair who reflected on how tolerating the disruptive behavior of a celebrated Physician scientist harmed his department.
http://prashantbhatt.com/2012/01/05/preview-trg-meeting-topics-and-themes/
The links between academia and industry are sought through discussions. One cannot avoid the pharmaceuticals, insurance, materials, machine suppliers. So my friend developed a MDT approach to handle things. This involves hard work but the dividends are good over a period of time.Some interesting ideas came up while he recalled his experiences with teaching catheterization to different levels of doctors, nurse practitioners, the different components of setting up a teaching program ranging from setting the curriculum to be gone through to inviting the speakers, ensuring that there is a feedback form and also coordinating with the caterers.
The user approach
Another interesting topic which came up was from the view of different companies which try to sell their new products. If you are thinking of buying a new camera and are reviewing books-magazines for it, chances are that you already have a camera. So why buy a new one?
If your hospital has an ultrasound-doppler unit, why try to go for a new machine. What are the organizational financial logistics involved in such an approach and the clinical use of such a buy. How will it change management of patients?
Serving interests
“Are you not falling into the logic of foreign powers when you ask them to come and do the policing for you,” I asked a fellow professional who is growing increasingly angry at the lack of proper civic structures in place.Tripoli of January 2012 is not the most stable of places.
“Maybe yes, but at least we will be civilized and secure,” he said.
“Will such foreign powers serve their interests or yours,” I asked.
He fell silent and thoughtful.
Wondered if it was a good or bad idea to get them in, before or now.
Remembered the previous months-
http://prashantbhatt.com/2011/02/27/evacuations-in-tripoli-touch-and-go/
It will take a long time and lot of painful but much needed debate to get a proper perspective on that question.
