gadfly

Noah Yuvel Harari's  Homo Sapiens , Homo Deus , 21 Lessons for the 21st Century ,  and now Nexus point to the evolution of the human person from being a creature of insignificance to becoming a creature of all importance, to eventually succumb to the very things that humans created to assist them. The question "Are we,  humans, becoming redundant ?" is not a rhetorical question, but rather one that carries pain, helplessness, and concern. Even as we navigate the stresses of modern life, we have become increasingly dependent on non-human actors rather than human ones. Hardly anyone turns to a human being to plan a trip, find a way, or even to write a paper. Our obsession with technology has made the majority dull and receptive rather than skilful and creative. Harari warns that artificial intelligence is no longer a tool but an agent . As long as science remained an instrument, humans had the power to decide how it was used; the moment it became an agent, it had the powe...

In a world of apathy, voices of reason and compassion shrink day by day. Young people are often erratic, caught in a world of fantasies, and fail to recognise the dangers the planet Earth faces. That there is no Earth B seldom sinks into the minds of people who are recklessly on the rampage to destroy it in the name of development. It's heartening to find a ray of hope amidst chaos and endless destruction.  Greta Thunberg , a Swedish global icon on Climate and Human Rights activism , began her journey of activism, calling it " Fridays for Future " at the age of fifteen in 2018, reminding the world that there's no possible future. Greta's determination and willingness to take on powerful men and women, despite being mocked, have inspired millions of people worldwide. It's no exaggeration to say that she is one of the world's conscience keepers today. "Why should I be studying for a future that soon will be no more?" is the poignant question of Gr...

Unprecedented is the word to describe the way TVK stormed into power  in Tamil Nadu  – some might even say crawled into it with the help of other parties in a post-poll alliance - supposedly a state with a progressive mindset, only in comparison with the dismal records of other states. While change is permanent and welcome, the aura built around an individual is a serious cause for alarm. What propelled him to power is not necessarily the misgovernance of the past government, but rather the cult carefully developed around him. Let me decode some of the traits of a cultic figure and impending disaster for all. 1. It’s all about me, and I can make no mistake This, in a way, is a variant of narcissism. Self-obsession and invincibility are dangerous traits in any leader. From the start, Mr Joseph Vijay has consistently manifested a narcissistic tendency in his dealings. He declared that people should consider him as if he were a candidate in all the constituencies. It was ridiculo...

The election results in five states and a union territory are quite shocking in India, especially those of Tamil Nadu. Three sitting Chief Ministers – Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal, who championed the cause of federalism in trying times - have lost their own constituencies, not because there was any palpable anger simmering against them! Let me refrain from commenting on a process so dubious for all to see. I assume, for a moment, the process is fine. Political parties vie for power, and it’s normal to lose. However, whom do people en masse choose? What has shocked, rather, is the kind of celebration among the young not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Sri Lanka. Having been in Sri Lanka and having become closely associated with students, I feel sorry to see the kind of celebration. Don’t we need to care about youth in Tamil Nadu? We have to. But for a long time, academic campuses across Tamil Nadu cultivated uncritical youth addicted to cinema. Every institute of higher learning s...