Democracy- the only alternative?

What if you lived in 15th Century Italy and championed the cause of heliocentrism(the theory that says that the sun is at the centre of the universe)??

If one would have polled people from across Europe during that period, they would have all vouched for the geocentric view(the theory that says that the earth is at the centre of the universe). And because we the bearers of the democratic institution would have basked in it's glory and fortefied that claim. But we now know for sure that Galileo was right.

Rightfully, in questions of science, we all know that theories are discussed before being awarded it's right to become a law. Voting, polling and democracy does not drive scientific temper. This is so because the whole population is not capable enough to figure out the analytical disposition towards science. This is not just the case with science but also with art, music, technology, law and other fields of human achievement.

Then why is this different when it comes to choosing our elected representatives. We all have something against the people standing for the elections. What about those that vote them to power! Do you think that a large section of the population that can't read or write, that can get influenced by caste and religion based politics rather than economic reforms vote the right candidate to power? How can they take informed decisions when the information itself is so thinly disguised in various coatings of populism? Would that be a just and right outcome?

How can a nation where 99% marriages are based on caste and religion, where Ram Mandir and Valentine's day become major issues, where statues burn along with the city and where a film or an artist needs multiple permissions to gain rightful access to freedom of his expression?

Leave it to the custodians of democracy to see it through. We will be a witness to another jamboree of election mayhem where we hope that people take rational decisions. Lastly...as Galileo said 'the opinion of thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual'. Reasonings fail in a democracy.

A Mango is Forever!!

I have never walked past a mango without not wanting to eat it. But, have I been ever satisfied!With countless tonnes of this tropical fruit inside my stomach, I still feel something missing. My stomach asks for more and my hunger is unsatiated. The thing with peeling off the skin of this divine fruit and gulping part of it's tender juice feels heavenly. But, thats just the thing with heaven. You can have all of it and still yearn for more. With a mango-you never know. It can take you in it's grip, bound you to it's taste and plunder you mentally. It perhaps is the only fruit that has a sensous amber of delicacy. It has a fragrance that can put thousand perfumed bottles from Paris to shame. It is said that Emperor Akbar would have left India with it's heat and unrespiteful sultriness. But for the mango. It can take the shape of bottled syrup, ice-cream, and innumerable desserts with unequivocal greatness. The devotion to a mere fruit might seem strange to you. People indulge in stranger activities. But the patience, temparament that takes to become a mango-makes it the king of fruit.

Space Travelling.....and more burning issues

NASA has spent lot of money, time, energy and even few brains to find if life exists on Mars or some other such planets. Although, I agree that the scientists working there are quite intelligent; they never quite use their brains. So after years of toil they come up with something as simple as a micro-organism and yell like they have discovered the next suprise after candy floss! But I give them where credit is due. Agreed, they have yet to find intelligent specious on Earth. And hence their paid vacations to space makes sense. Like a good Earthly tradition; whenever one goes away from home; one has to carry something on his return journey. So, I reckon they don't have malls or flea markets in outer space. Hence these guys come back with soil samples or some weird data or some such memorabilia. So everybody is happy. Kids back home get to see their pictures in outer space with them floating; carrying their toothbrushes or trying in vain to tie their laces. Anyways, back home in India-people are planning to go to the moon for some such safari. Since terrorists wouldn't allow it & air security concerns, they would be required to abandon carrying any liquid stuff, nail-cutters or any such objects that might threaten space shuttle peace. But, methinks that everything will be fine; what with our railway ministry taking personal interest in all activities that involve mass transit. Space? Mass transit? See, to represent 1 bilion+ people with issues like reservations, state-representation and 'national identity crisis theory of equality in diversity'-mass number of people would be required to be sent. So, start early bookings or travel 'standing'. Don't be suprised if any Indian energy crisis is blamed on so many people travelling in space. But I'm sure we the people would go on moon to make it a happenning place. I'm only worried about the land prices in India nosediving because of the news. With vast spaces of land available in space-who would buy land on our planet! But with regards to NASA; their next journey would not be empty handed. They might catch some space pirates and book them for venturing too far away from Indian borders as most countries successfully do at the seas. Atleast, next time, they would catch hold of some intelligent people in space!