manianviews

          1984 - George Orwell - as relevant now as ever After reading my review of Ayn Rand's novel Anthem, one of my friends suggested reading George Orwell's writings. He was of the opinion that the concept of authoritarian collectivism had been dealt with more exhaustively in 1984 and Animal Farm, two of Orwell's masterpieces. In terms of size, both books are quite small and easy to read. But when we think of the impact, they certainly exert a huge influence on the reader's mind. There are some who would say that the novel 1984 was one of the reasons for Soviet-model totalitarian communism not taking root in parts of Europe. So popular was the novel that it certainly, along with other similar writings, contributed to anti-authoritarian thinking in those days in Europe and the USA. 1984 was written in the late 1940s after World War II, when the world was slowly trying to limp back to normalcy and conditions were quite fluid. Many pundits feared a takeover...

Review: Ayn Rand’s Anthem — The Perils of Collectivism Introduction Of the many books we read, only a few truly kindle and rekindle our thought processes. Ayn Rand’s Anthem is one of them. Most readers know Rand for her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, and for her philosophy of Objectivism—a theory that places the primacy of the individual above the collectivist mindset. I strongly believe that the collective mindset is largely encouraged by religions and dogmatic systems like Marxism. Interestingly, Rand wrote this novella early in her career, and it serves as the thematic foundation for her later philosophical moorings. "I worship individuals for their highest possibilities as individuals, and I loathe humanity, for its failure to live up to these possibilities." — Ayn Rand The Philosophical Conflict The most fascinating aspect of this book is how it stands in direct opposition to Marxism—a concept that remains popular in many intellectual circles...

Factfullness - Book review                     " There is no room for facts when our mind is full of fear" Hans Rosling, author of the book "FACTFULLNESS".  World outlook -Poverty levels                This book I think, is a must read for people who want to know about the journey of human progress made thus far. One of the super positive books I have ever read. This book is a kind of eye opener for many as this will turn their world outlook upside down. For the better, of course. Essence of the book is positive progress made by humanity in the last 200 years. The author establishes with facts and figures and with the help of many charts how we have come a long and better way in poverty alleviation, education, health and many other social indicators. For example, poverty level of the people was 85 percent in the 1800s and now (2018) it came down to just 9% which was just phenom...

Kerala development dialogue              A global level conversation on development has been initiated by Government of Kerala which is called 'Kerala dialogue' in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic.Here are some excerpts from the sessions held.  Kerala CM - inaugural speech             The Covid 19 virus has made us to rethink the core aspects of our life. We have to change for new world. Our priorities may change and we may have to gain new knowledge to adapt. This, governments alone cannot do and a society wide conversation is needed. To facilitate this we are starting a platform called Kerala dialogues in which scientists, philosophers, policy makers, economists,activists, professionals and the general public will take part in this conversation. In a major crisis like covid 19 attack what we need is strong relationship based on trust between public and the govt. Historically Kerala has many lessons to offer in ...

Buddha dhamma - Dr. Ambethkar  One of the recent books I have read is Ambedkar's "Buddha and His Dhamma" (Ambedkar's Book. 22.) Though it was written in a new style, it was enjoyable.  The book provides plenty of information for those who are just starting out with a superficial understanding of Buddhism.  It also gives a complete account of Buddha's life and philosophy.  The book is easy to read.  General Understanding  When Buddha was young, we are taught  that he left the young wife and their child, an infant boy, to go to the forest one fine night  to learn the truth.  What really happened?  This book answers the questions of why the Buddha undertook Parivrajam (asceticism) at the age of 29.  There are some fabulous stories that until the 29th year of his life he was not aware of death, disease and old age and suddenly he leaves the family to forest in search of answers.  There is no record of any such incident,...

பெருமதிப்புக்குரிய ஆசிரியர் அவர்களுக்கு         வணக்கம். இந்த கொரோனா காலத்தில் உங்கள் தளத்தில் சிறுகதை மழையில் எல்லோரையும் போல நானும் நனைந்து கொண்டே இந்த கடிதத்தை எழுதுகிறேன். இன்று வெளி வந்துள்ள 'கைமுக்கு' கதையை வாசித்து விட்டு உங்களுக்கு கடிதம் எழுதியே ஆக வேண்டும் என எழுதுகிறேன்.  ஏராளமான கதைகளை எழுதி கொண்டே இருக்கிறீர்கள்.  ஒவ்வொன்றும் ஒவ்வொரு ரகம். எப்படி சாத்தியம் ஆகிறது என்ற ஆச்சரியம்  ஒரு புறம். அதிக திறமை உள்ளவர்கள்  பற்றி சொல்லும் பொது சரஸ்வதி அவர்களிடம் குடி இருப்பதாக சொல்வார்கள். உங்களிடம் அவள் குடியிருப்பது மட்டும் அல்லாது அவள் அதி உச்ச நிலையிலும் இருப்பதாக  எனக்கு தோன்றுகிறது. I think she not only resides in you but she is in an orgasmic state also. இந்த குறுகிய காலத்தில் இத்தனை சிறப்பான படைப்புகள் சாத்தியமாவது அதனால் தானோ என்னவோ. ( இப்படி சொல்வது கூட இந்த காலத்தில் ஏதும் பிரச்சனையை உருவாக்குமோ ?)        உங்களின் அசாத்திய திறமையை பார்த்து பொறாமை படுபவர்கள் ...

Thoughts on the Hindi movie zindagi na milegi dobara          This is the only movie about which I am writing something. I thought the movie had some chemistry that I could connect with. Some troll the movie for too many messages. But that is what made me write this. I am a south indian and don't follow hindi much and I had to rely on sub titles most of the time. Still I never felt out of place. True, it took me some time to get into the characters and inside the story. After that it was a very jolly ride which never stopped till the end. Really a good experience. You will have such an outing with very few films. I am into novels and don't normally watch movies. And it is very rare that I appreciate a movie instantly. It is very strange that wanted to write about this movie immediately after finished watching it. I watched it only last Sunday on prime videos and I would say that it made my day wonderful. I think it was the feel good factor that was palpa...

ஜெயகாந்தனின்  பாரீசுக்குப் போ              ஜெயமோகனின் ஆல் அமர்ந்த ஆசிரியன் உரை கேட்ட பின்னர் ஜெயகாந்தனின் புத்தகம் படிக்க வேண்டும் என "பாரீஸுக்கு போ" நாவலை படித்தேன்.. முப்பது ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னர் ஒரு முறை  வாசித்து இருந்தாலும் ஹீரோ சாரங்கனை தவிர வேறு சம்பவம் எதுவும் நினைவில் இல்லை. புதிதாக வாசிப்பது போலத் தான் இருந்தது. அன்றைய வயதில் வாசிப்பை  பொழுது போக்காக மட்டும் எடுத்து கொண்டு படித்ததால் கூட இருக்கலாம்.                  1960 களில் ஆனந்த விகடனில் தொடராக வெளி வந்து பெரும் புகழும் சில சர்ச்சைகளையும் ஏற்படுத்திய ஒரு நாவல். இன்றைக்கு படிக்கையிலும் சுவாரஸ்யமாகவே உள்ளது. நடை சற்று பழையதாக முதலில்  தோன்றினாலும் சிறிது நேரத்தில் பழகி விடுகிறது. மிக நேரிடையாக கதை மாந்தர்கள் நமக்கு அறிமுகம் ஆகி கதை அந்த கால கட்டத்துக்குள் சென்று விடுகிறோம். நான் ஒரே மூச்சில் இரண்டரை மணி நேரத்தில் கதையை வாசித்து முடித்து விட்டேன்.                  ...

Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment - reading experience 1             After a long time I read an English fiction novel, that too a timeless classic , Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. I do not intend to write any review of the book which  must have been reviewed umpteen number of times during all these 150 years since the book was written. I stopped reading english fiction long time back i e about 20 years back since I got married. Though I did have all of Dostoyevsky's work in Kindle edition, I did not venture into  reading them as it failed to kindle my interest somehow.             Only recently I got hold of printed version of Crime and Punishment during the corona lock down period which came as a blessing for all kinds of reading to many of us. I really felt overwhelmed by the popularity of the book before starting to read.             I feel that the events tha...