The Politics of Belonging
Quote, I am thinking about -
Four ethical principles for the twenty-first-century economist to consider.
First, act in service to human prosperity in a flourishing web of life, recognising all that it depends upon.
Second, respect autonomy in the communities that you serve by ensuring their engagement and consent, while remaining ever aware of the inequalities and differences that may lie within them.
Third, be prudential in policymaking, seeking to minimise the risk of harm — especially to the most vulnerable — in the face of uncertainty.
Lastly, work with humility, by making transparent the assumptions…
As we navigate the covid stricken world, I have been facing difficulties navigating the online and offline worlds. I have become used to scheduling back to back zoom calls from the comforts of my room. While engaging fully was never easy, it has become convenient to be a spectator. In the multiple sessions in a week that I facilitate and participate in, I find it hard to stay checked in a while sitting all day in front of the screen.
Thankfully I am not alone. This week, with our fellow young leaders at PYLP, we spontaneously discussed feeling disconnected while…
Let’s be the opposition
A government that focuses on protecting its image than acknowledging its failures is digging its own grave.
On the first day of the parliament, I saw our Prime Marketer (PM) visibly upset in public for the first time. When he could not speak out the names of his expanded list of able sycophants, he seemed to lose control and probably scared from what he had been hiding all the while.
For the first time in many years, the opposition has circled the government on multiple lingering issues.
The Farmer’s protest is stronger than ever. Every household…
Sharing my weekly reads and insights
My life is dedicated to the pursuit of enquiry in three domains -
- What is the nature of reality? — The manifestation of self in the here and now and the process of perception.
- How does the world work? — Impermanence, Codependent origination, and the inherent order based on laws of nature — Gati, Samghatna, Niyati
- What does healing, well-being and growth look like at the level of self, communities and systems? — The understanding and practice of four sublime states of mind — Metta (Loving Kindness), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Sympathetic Joy), Upekkha (Equanimity)
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It’s been a week since the great Bengal debacle. For a change when I want to hear from our leadership, they seem to be missing in action. Are they too tired from 8 phases of electioneering? Are they too busy calculating and covering up for their losses? Or are they just hiding, trying to avoid any responsibility for plunging India into the worst crisis ever.
I have so many questions.
What is the plan for the next 100 days? How many doctors are dying every day? How many children have been orphaned so far? On what criteria, aid is being…
A lesson on spontaneity
Last Sunday, my father took me to the space where he grows food for the family. It’s his hobby that he as learnt over many years. He also likes construction. He has designed that space himself with so much care and attention to detail.
Before we went there, my mother shared that my father was feeling sad. It was mostly because of their discontentment with their elder son who is not meeting their expectations. I was naturally feeling weighed down and was expecting a father-son conversation with him. I was not really prepared.
Once there, my…
Growing within — Awareness, Equanimity and Impermanence
Back in 2015, I sat for my first Vipassana out of mere curiosity of a new experience. It was a genuine struggle to sit through the psycho-somatic response that my mind triggered. But I also had some breakthroughs. As I practised more, I became calmer in my head and kinder towards myself. It inspired me to go for it a second and a third time, but the struggles through sitting long hours remained. The fourth time also felt a bit forced to me. …
The Indian Media
It has taken me a while to recover from the anxiety and trauma of the 26th. It was not about the violence which I absolutely discredit. It was not about the rogue elements within the movement who I am glad have been identified and removed. It is also not about the minor setback which everyone who has been struggling and suffering peacefully for two months had to face internally.
I am feeling traumatic and let down by the Indian media. …
Food is political. Those who grow it want to do it their way. Everyone else wants to benefit from it in some way. Farming is traditionally a community-led activity. It is not just self-sustenance but is also linked to the culture and way of life for the farmers.
Markets intrude in this by offering better tools and techniques and hence improving efficiency and productivity. This is great. But there are also consequences. To begin with, as production increases so do competition. As more people get involved there is also a detachment of some kind with the process of farming. …
August 5
August 5 will be remembered in India’s political history. Here is how I would remember it.
It is the day when the parliament was undermined and a ‘masterstroke’ was played out to correct the mistakes done in the past. Invisible to the public eye, pages of the constitution were torn and flung in the air. What followed was a continued violation of human and fundamental rights for over a year in the name of protecting peace and order. Terms like decisiveness and political astuteness were being used for these extra-legal measures. …
Ankit Chhabra
Creating Communities | Enabling Dialogues
