and i’m at the founder editor of metadata metadata is an independent and
metadata metadata is an independent and
metadata metadata is an independent and nonpartisan of service a new service
nonpartisan of service a new service
nonpartisan of service a new service that is focusing on indian politics and
that is focusing on indian politics and
that is focusing on indian politics and policy and i think of metadata is
policy and i think of metadata is
policy and i think of metadata is addressing one of three problems right
addressing one of three problems right
addressing one of three problems right now we’re focusing on what politicians
now we’re focusing on what politicians
now we’re focusing on what politicians do because a lot of the media is
do because a lot of the media is
do because a lot of the media is focusing always on what politicians say
focusing always on what politicians say
focusing always on what politicians say and the subject of today’s conversation
and the subject of today’s conversation
and the subject of today’s conversation is a thought box and this addresses a
is a thought box and this addresses a
is a thought box and this addresses a second problem that nate errata is
second problem that nate errata is
second problem that nate errata is trying to solve which is that there
trying to solve which is that there
trying to solve which is that there aren’t enough safe spaces so indians in
aren’t enough safe spaces so indians in
aren’t enough safe spaces so indians in the public sphere for having saved
the public sphere for having saved
the public sphere for having saved conversations about some of the most
conversations about some of the most
conversations about some of the most contentious issues and the third problem
contentious issues and the third problem
contentious issues and the third problem that we are addressing with anita data
that we are addressing with anita data
that we are addressing with anita data is that is the media itself it has a
is that is the media itself it has a
is that is the media itself it has a crisis of credibility and there’s an
crisis of credibility and there’s an
crisis of credibility and there’s an absence of transparency so what’s the
absence of transparency so what’s the
absence of transparency so what’s the thought box for the thinking indian it’s
thought box for the thinking indian it’s
thought box for the thinking indian it’s like a box of tools a tool box and
like a box of tools a tool box and
like a box of tools a tool box and similarly a thought box is a box of
similarly a thought box is a box of
similarly a thought box is a box of thoughts or some principles that I
thoughts or some principles that I
thoughts or some principles that I believe that we need to address some of
believe that we need to address some of
believe that we need to address some of the most contentious issues in our
the most contentious issues in our
the most contentious issues in our politics I’ll get to that in a moment
politics I’ll get to that in a moment
politics I’ll get to that in a moment but first I’m going to tell you a small
but first I’m going to tell you a small
but first I’m going to tell you a small story as it happens this is a story of
story as it happens this is a story of
story as it happens this is a story of my own impulsive pneus and it’s a story
my own impulsive pneus and it’s a story
my own impulsive pneus and it’s a story of my own impulsive pneus on social
of my own impulsive pneus on social
of my own impulsive pneus on social media on 29th of sep tember i wrote a
media on 29th of sep tember i wrote a
media on 29th of sep tember i wrote a facebook post and this is what i wrote i
facebook post and this is what i wrote i
facebook post and this is what i wrote i said well done india it reminds me this
said well done india it reminds me this
said well done india it reminds me this reminds me that I to need a surgical
reminds me that I to need a surgical
reminds me that I to need a surgical strike against the tone cartilage in my
strike against the tone cartilage in my
strike against the tone cartilage in my left knee which has been carrying out
left knee which has been carrying out
left knee which has been carrying out proxy warfare in my body for the last
proxy warfare in my body for the last
proxy warfare in my body for the last ten years I repeat it’s kind of a long
ten years I repeat it’s kind of a long
ten years I repeat it’s kind of a long ish status update I said well done India
ish status update I said well done India
ish status update I said well done India this reminds me that I do need a
this reminds me that I do need a
this reminds me that I do need a surgical strike against the tone
surgical strike against the tone
surgical strike against the tone cartilage in my left knee that has been
cartilage in my left knee that has been
cartilage in my left knee that has been conducting proxy warfare on my body for
conducting proxy warfare on my body for
conducting proxy warfare on my body for the last ten years now when i wrote this
the last ten years now when i wrote this
the last ten years now when i wrote this update people didn’t really know how to
update people didn’t really know how to
update people didn’t really know how to react you know i have many friends on
react you know i have many friends on
react you know i have many friends on facebook some of them put likes or place
facebook some of them put likes or place
facebook some of them put likes or place likes click on the like button some
likes click on the like button some
likes click on the like button some people commented a few friends of mine
people commented a few friends of mine
people commented a few friends of mine were very angry one friend in particular
were very angry one friend in particular
were very angry one friend in particular was very very angry and she thought I
was very very angry and she thought I
was very very angry and she thought I was making fun of the Indian Armed
was making fun of the Indian Armed
was making fun of the Indian Armed Forces and another friend of mine
Forces and another friend of mine
Forces and another friend of mine thought that I was being sarcastic and
thought that I was being sarcastic and
thought that I was being sarcastic and that I was actually standing up for all
that I was actually standing up for all
that I was actually standing up for all the talk of war mongering that we’d been
the talk of war mongering that we’d been
the talk of war mongering that we’d been hearing in that month and just to
hearing in that month and just to
hearing in that month and just to refresh our memories a few days earlier
refresh our memories a few days earlier
refresh our memories a few days earlier the Indian Army had announced that they
the Indian Army had announced that they
the Indian Army had announced that they carried out a surgical strike across the
carried out a surgical strike across the
carried out a surgical strike across the line of control in retaliation for the
line of control in retaliation for the
line of control in retaliation for the deaths of 18 indian army personnel a few
deaths of 18 indian army personnel a few
deaths of 18 indian army personnel a few days earlier so these were very few
days earlier so these were very few
days earlier so these were very few times and i wrote that facebook post and
times and i wrote that facebook post and
times and i wrote that facebook post and the truth is I was neither trying to
the truth is I was neither trying to
the truth is I was neither trying to make fun of anybody I wasn’t I was very
make fun of anybody I wasn’t I was very
make fun of anybody I wasn’t I was very proud of the Indian Army and I still AM
proud of the Indian Army and I still AM
proud of the Indian Army and I still AM and I was also not trying to be
and I was also not trying to be
and I was also not trying to be sarcastic it just simply occurred to me
sarcastic it just simply occurred to me
sarcastic it just simply occurred to me that having myself suffered from a knee
that having myself suffered from a knee
that having myself suffered from a knee condition for about 10 years and an
condition for about 10 years and an
condition for about 10 years and an orthopedic surgeon 10 years ago at asked
orthopedic surgeon 10 years ago at asked
orthopedic surgeon 10 years ago at asked me to undergo surgery and it was an
me to undergo surgery and it was an
me to undergo surgery and it was an option that I felt not comfortable in
option that I felt not comfortable in
option that I felt not comfortable in choosing and therefore I thought you
choosing and therefore I thought you
choosing and therefore I thought you know well the knees conducting proxy
know well the knees conducting proxy
know well the knees conducting proxy warfare on my body maybe it’s funny
warfare on my body maybe it’s funny
warfare on my body maybe it’s funny maybe I should put it off maybe I should
maybe I should put it off maybe I should
maybe I should put it off maybe I should put it up on facebook people will think
put it up on facebook people will think
put it up on facebook people will think it’s funny and of course it was anything
it’s funny and of course it was anything
it’s funny and of course it was anything but it ended up hurting a lot of people
but it ended up hurting a lot of people
but it ended up hurting a lot of people because my question is why am i bringing
because my question is why am i bringing
because my question is why am i bringing this up right now the fact of the matter
this up right now the fact of the matter
this up right now the fact of the matter is at any given point of time there are
is at any given point of time there are
is at any given point of time there are a number of status updates on social
a number of status updates on social
a number of status updates on social media there’s a lot of chatter on
media there’s a lot of chatter on
media there’s a lot of chatter on Twitter there’s a lot of chatter on
Twitter there’s a lot of chatter on
Twitter there’s a lot of chatter on whatsapp groups outside or offline as
whatsapp groups outside or offline as
whatsapp groups outside or offline as well in dinner party conversations in
well in dinner party conversations in
well in dinner party conversations in conversations with friends when we have
conversations with friends when we have
conversations with friends when we have conversations at work there are heated
conversations at work there are heated
conversations at work there are heated conversations about the challenges of
conversations about the challenges of
conversations about the challenges of our times and a lot of the contentious
our times and a lot of the contentious
our times and a lot of the contentious issues that we face as a nation II and
issues that we face as a nation II and
issues that we face as a nation II and the truth of the matter is we live in
the truth of the matter is we live in
the truth of the matter is we live in polarized times and what I mean by this
polarized times and what I mean by this
polarized times and what I mean by this is very simply pretty much anything we
is very simply pretty much anything we
is very simply pretty much anything we say or do sometimes it subscribe to
say or do sometimes it subscribe to
say or do sometimes it subscribe to either one of do polls if we say
either one of do polls if we say
either one of do polls if we say something we seen as either leftist
something we seen as either leftist
something we seen as either leftist sometimes you seen as rightist sometimes
sometimes you seen as rightist sometimes
sometimes you seen as rightist sometimes our people ballers secular sometimes
our people ballers secular sometimes
our people ballers secular sometimes they say communal if you say something
they say communal if you say something
they say communal if you say something against the government we call
against the government we call
against the government we call Andy national if we say something for
Andy national if we say something for
Andy national if we say something for the government we have a lot of chatter
the government we have a lot of chatter
the government we have a lot of chatter and people calling us you know words
and people calling us you know words
and people calling us you know words like butts so the fact of the matter is
like butts so the fact of the matter is
like butts so the fact of the matter is this is not an atmosphere in which we
this is not an atmosphere in which we
this is not an atmosphere in which we can actually have a sustained and
can actually have a sustained and
can actually have a sustained and reasonable dialogue and as a political
reasonable dialogue and as a political
reasonable dialogue and as a political journalist it is that that obsesses me a
journalist it is that that obsesses me a
journalist it is that that obsesses me a lot the need to have the reasonable
lot the need to have the reasonable
lot the need to have the reasonable dialogue what are the conditions under
dialogue what are the conditions under
dialogue what are the conditions under which we can have reasonable dialogue
which we can have reasonable dialogue
which we can have reasonable dialogue these are questions that I obsess over
these are questions that I obsess over
these are questions that I obsess over and I believe that there is a way
and I believe that there is a way
and I believe that there is a way forward and the way forward is to have
forward and the way forward is to have
forward and the way forward is to have you know an atmosphere good will the
you know an atmosphere good will the
you know an atmosphere good will the best way to have good dialogue is good
best way to have good dialogue is good
best way to have good dialogue is good will the thing is because of a complex
will the thing is because of a complex
will the thing is because of a complex mix of historical sociological and
mix of historical sociological and
mix of historical sociological and cultural and political factors that kind
cultural and political factors that kind
cultural and political factors that kind of atmosphere of goodwill is simply not
of atmosphere of goodwill is simply not
of atmosphere of goodwill is simply not available and it’s not there for us and
available and it’s not there for us and
available and it’s not there for us and therefore we have to discuss some of the
therefore we have to discuss some of the
therefore we have to discuss some of the most contentious issues using other
most contentious issues using other
most contentious issues using other tactics and this is where I come to the
tactics and this is where I come to the
tactics and this is where I come to the idea of a top box a top box which i
idea of a top box a top box which i
idea of a top box a top box which i believe is a new language for our times
believe is a new language for our times
believe is a new language for our times and some new principles or guidelines
and some new principles or guidelines
and some new principles or guidelines when it comes to addressing some of the
when it comes to addressing some of the
when it comes to addressing some of the most contentious issues at this point in
most contentious issues at this point in
most contentious issues at this point in time you might be wondering well all
time you might be wondering well all
time you might be wondering well all this is very well this is for
this is very well this is for
this is very well this is for journalists this is for people like
journalists this is for people like
journalists this is for people like politicians who people are people who
politicians who people are people who
politicians who people are people who were in the public sphere why does it
were in the public sphere why does it
were in the public sphere why does it appear applied to me after all an odd
appear applied to me after all an odd
appear applied to me after all an odd working person I go to school or go to
working person I go to school or go to
working person I go to school or go to office I come back I do my I carry out
office I come back I do my I carry out
office I come back I do my I carry out my other duties relax in the evening
my other duties relax in the evening
my other duties relax in the evening with loved ones or by myself why should
with loved ones or by myself why should
with loved ones or by myself why should I worry about all of this and to that my
I worry about all of this and to that my
I worry about all of this and to that my answer would be well we live in an age
answer would be well we live in an age
answer would be well we live in an age which is fueled by technology social
which is fueled by technology social
which is fueled by technology social media is not far off maybe just a click
media is not far off maybe just a click
media is not far off maybe just a click away from making our own opinions known
away from making our own opinions known
away from making our own opinions known to the entire world in such a scenario
to the entire world in such a scenario
to the entire world in such a scenario we all become public figures and even if
we all become public figures and even if
we all become public figures and even if you are not the kind of people who like
you are not the kind of people who like
you are not the kind of people who like social media or call online very much be
social media or call online very much be
social media or call online very much be surely know people who are on social
surely know people who are on social
surely know people who are on social media and we’re also just a click away
media and we’re also just a click away
media and we’re also just a click away from
from
from in public personalities and yet another
in public personalities and yet another
in public personalities and yet another thought along these lines is you know
thought along these lines is you know
thought along these lines is you know someday there might be a cause that you
someday there might be a cause that you
someday there might be a cause that you deeply care about that we will need you
deeply care about that we will need you
deeply care about that we will need you to stand up and fight for instance
to stand up and fight for instance
to stand up and fight for instance people in the national capital region
people in the national capital region
people in the national capital region they have to deal with evolution which
they have to deal with evolution which
they have to deal with evolution which is a big problem right now it is perhaps
is a big problem right now it is perhaps
is a big problem right now it is perhaps something they did not think about five
something they did not think about five
something they did not think about five years ago and what happens is people end
years ago and what happens is people end
years ago and what happens is people end up becoming activists they ask
up becoming activists they ask
up becoming activists they ask government of questions people who
government of questions people who
government of questions people who didn’t think of them as activists of
didn’t think of them as activists of
didn’t think of them as activists of political political personalities end up
political political personalities end up
political political personalities end up taking political positions and for such
taking political positions and for such
taking political positions and for such a scenario we need a thought foss like
a scenario we need a thought foss like
a scenario we need a thought foss like I’m talking about well so far I’ve only
I’m talking about well so far I’ve only
I’m talking about well so far I’ve only my story about my status update told you
my story about my status update told you
my story about my status update told you how it backfired I’ve spoken about the
how it backfired I’ve spoken about the
how it backfired I’ve spoken about the need for reasonable dialogue I’ve spoken
need for reasonable dialogue I’ve spoken
need for reasonable dialogue I’ve spoken about the need for a new thought box a
about the need for a new thought box a
about the need for a new thought box a set of guiding principles but before I
set of guiding principles but before I
set of guiding principles but before I get to that there’s one thing that
get to that there’s one thing that
get to that there’s one thing that remains to be said which is a word on
remains to be said which is a word on
remains to be said which is a word on free speech what is free speech we all
free speech what is free speech we all
free speech what is free speech we all know this it’s basically a person’s
know this it’s basically a person’s
know this it’s basically a person’s right to say whatever they think or feel
right to say whatever they think or feel
right to say whatever they think or feel or publish whatever they think or feel
or publish whatever they think or feel
or publish whatever they think or feel without government sanction without
without government sanction without
without government sanction without censorship and without social or
censorship and without social or
censorship and without social or societal sanction and there are very
societal sanction and there are very
societal sanction and there are very good reasons as to why we need free
good reasons as to why we need free
good reasons as to why we need free speech in our society there are four
speech in our society there are four
speech in our society there are four reasons that I can take off right now
reasons that I can take off right now
reasons that I can take off right now the first is progress without the Frank
the first is progress without the Frank
the first is progress without the Frank and fearless exchange of ideas we cannot
and fearless exchange of ideas we cannot
and fearless exchange of ideas we cannot contest existing ideas without
contest existing ideas without
contest existing ideas without contesting existing ideas we cannot have
contesting existing ideas we cannot have
contesting existing ideas we cannot have progress and I’ll give you a few
progress and I’ll give you a few
progress and I’ll give you a few examples think about the theory that the
examples think about the theory that the
examples think about the theory that the earth moves around the Sun or revolves
earth moves around the Sun or revolves
earth moves around the Sun or revolves around the Sun the theory of natural
around the Sun the theory of natural
around the Sun the theory of natural selection or Darwinian survival of the
selection or Darwinian survival of the
selection or Darwinian survival of the fittest the theory of women being equal
fittest the theory of women being equal
fittest the theory of women being equal to men the theory of all races being
to men the theory of all races being
to men the theory of all races being equal the theory of all costs being
equal the theory of all costs being
equal the theory of all costs being equal these are all theories which five
equal these are all theories which five
equal these are all theories which five years ago 10 years ago 50 100 500 years
years ago 10 years ago 50 100 500 years
years ago 10 years ago 50 100 500 years ago if you had these theories and you
ago if you had these theories and you
ago if you had these theories and you average them or you spoke about them it
average them or you spoke about them it
average them or you spoke about them it could put you in real danger it would
could put you in real danger it would
could put you in real danger it would even give you a sentence for death but
even give you a sentence for death but
even give you a sentence for death but somehow we as a society and we as a race
somehow we as a society and we as a race
somehow we as a society and we as a race they’ve come across and we fought
they’ve come across and we fought
they’ve come across and we fought through
through
through and because of the ability of the
and because of the ability of the
and because of the ability of the expression in free speech we managed to
expression in free speech we managed to
expression in free speech we managed to contest old ideas and we’ve had
contest old ideas and we’ve had
contest old ideas and we’ve had progressed a couple of other reasons why
progressed a couple of other reasons why
progressed a couple of other reasons why we need free speech one is if you don’t
we need free speech one is if you don’t
we need free speech one is if you don’t have these free speech you end up
have these free speech you end up
have these free speech you end up self-censoring and you end up thought
self-censoring and you end up thought
self-censoring and you end up thought censoring what I mean by this is if some
censoring what I mean by this is if some
censoring what I mean by this is if some sense you’re on social media and you say
sense you’re on social media and you say
sense you’re on social media and you say something and somebody doesn’t like what
something and somebody doesn’t like what
something and somebody doesn’t like what you said and 100 people start up using
you said and 100 people start up using
you said and 100 people start up using you and you go offline and then you
you and you go offline and then you
you and you go offline and then you start getting dreads the whole deal is
start getting dreads the whole deal is
start getting dreads the whole deal is you end up not expressing yourself in
you end up not expressing yourself in
you end up not expressing yourself in the future and sometimes you end up not
the future and sometimes you end up not
the future and sometimes you end up not thinking about the idea that made you
thinking about the idea that made you
thinking about the idea that made you want to express them either and that is
want to express them either and that is
want to express them either and that is thought censorship and just one more
thought censorship and just one more
thought censorship and just one more reason for why we need free speech it’s
reason for why we need free speech it’s
reason for why we need free speech it’s the best defense against poor government
the best defense against poor government
the best defense against poor government if you don’t like what the government is
if you don’t like what the government is
if you don’t like what the government is going whether it’s the local government
going whether it’s the local government
going whether it’s the local government the state government the central
the state government the central
the state government the central government you have the right to
government you have the right to
government you have the right to question the government’s decisions and
question the government’s decisions and
question the government’s decisions and so these are reasons why we need free
so these are reasons why we need free
so these are reasons why we need free speech and because we have free speech
speech and because we have free speech
speech and because we have free speech more or less in our country and now come
more or less in our country and now come
more or less in our country and now come to what I wanted to discuss the six
to what I wanted to discuss the six
to what I wanted to discuss the six principles or the thought box that we
principles or the thought box that we
principles or the thought box that we need to focus to address of the biggest
need to focus to address of the biggest
need to focus to address of the biggest challenges first I would say we must
challenges first I would say we must
challenges first I would say we must accept and learn that everybody has a
accept and learn that everybody has a
accept and learn that everybody has a valid point of view and that we should
valid point of view and that we should
valid point of view and that we should take everybody seriously a quick example
take everybody seriously a quick example
take everybody seriously a quick example the American elections the Democratic
the American elections the Democratic
the American elections the Democratic Party had they listened to the
Party had they listened to the
Party had they listened to the supporters of Donald Trump and had they
supporters of Donald Trump and had they
supporters of Donald Trump and had they not dismissed them as racists or
not dismissed them as racists or
not dismissed them as racists or missiles misogynists you know they might
missiles misogynists you know they might
missiles misogynists you know they might have won the second we have to accept
have won the second we have to accept
have won the second we have to accept that we have our own biases and even the
that we have our own biases and even the
that we have our own biases and even the most unbiased of us is judgmental a
most unbiased of us is judgmental a
most unbiased of us is judgmental a quick example again I’m a journalist I’m
quick example again I’m a journalist I’m
quick example again I’m a journalist I’m interviewing someone I’d be given 20
interviewing someone I’d be given 20
interviewing someone I’d be given 20 minutes suddenly I’m told I just have
minutes suddenly I’m told I just have
minutes suddenly I’m told I just have five minutes I have 20 questions I have
five minutes I have 20 questions I have
five minutes I have 20 questions I have to cut that out and just got time to ask
to cut that out and just got time to ask
to cut that out and just got time to ask five questions which questions do they
five questions which questions do they
five questions which questions do they do i do i do i include which questions
do i do i do i include which questions
do i do i do i include which questions do I leave out that is an editorial
do I leave out that is an editorial
do I leave out that is an editorial choice and even if I’m non-judgmental
choice and even if I’m non-judgmental
choice and even if I’m non-judgmental I’m bringing my own biases into this and
I’m bringing my own biases into this and
I’m bringing my own biases into this and number three we must resist the urge to
number three we must resist the urge to
number three we must resist the urge to label others through language and
label others through language and
label others through language and through labels and jargon that makes us
through labels and jargon that makes us
through labels and jargon that makes us blind for instance calling somebody
blind for instance calling somebody
blind for instance calling somebody conservative calling
conservative calling
conservative calling somebody or fastest calling somebody you
somebody or fastest calling somebody you
somebody or fastest calling somebody you know there are other more rude names
know there are other more rude names
know there are other more rude names what happens is when you do that there
what happens is when you do that there
what happens is when you do that there isn’t enough space the sufficient
isn’t enough space the sufficient
isn’t enough space the sufficient dialogue the fourth set of guidelines in
dialogue the fourth set of guidelines in
dialogue the fourth set of guidelines in this thought box I would say is we must
this thought box I would say is we must
this thought box I would say is we must all remember that having an opinion all
all remember that having an opinion all
all remember that having an opinion all the time about everything is not always
the time about everything is not always
the time about everything is not always desirable and opinion is a thought stop
desirable and opinion is a thought stop
desirable and opinion is a thought stop that’s what a professor of mine once
that’s what a professor of mine once
that’s what a professor of mine once told me and I realized it’s true when we
told me and I realized it’s true when we
told me and I realized it’s true when we have an opinion about something it also
have an opinion about something it also
have an opinion about something it also means we’ve stopped engaging about that
means we’ve stopped engaging about that
means we’ve stopped engaging about that particular idea and finally last couple
particular idea and finally last couple
particular idea and finally last couple of sorts in this short box it’s
of sorts in this short box it’s
of sorts in this short box it’s perfectly fine to attack ideas but we
perfectly fine to attack ideas but we
perfectly fine to attack ideas but we must always remember that we must not
must always remember that we must not
must always remember that we must not attack the person holding those ideas
attack the person holding those ideas
attack the person holding those ideas and this is an important distinction
and this is an important distinction
and this is an important distinction that we must all learn to make and most
that we must all learn to make and most
that we must all learn to make and most important of all the sixth guideline
important of all the sixth guideline
important of all the sixth guideline would be simply assume goodwill what
would be simply assume goodwill what
would be simply assume goodwill what this means is you think the best of
this means is you think the best of
this means is you think the best of anybody when you come into a
anybody when you come into a
anybody when you come into a conversation and what happens is you
conversation and what happens is you
conversation and what happens is you start appealing to the best in that
start appealing to the best in that
start appealing to the best in that person and when you start doing that you
person and when you start doing that you
person and when you start doing that you don’t appeal to the worst in that person
don’t appeal to the worst in that person
don’t appeal to the worst in that person and you can actually have a good
and you can actually have a good
and you can actually have a good conversation so here’s to having many
conversation so here’s to having many
conversation so here’s to having many important and good conversations about
important and good conversations about
important and good conversations about most pressing issues of our times
most pressing issues of our times
most pressing issues of our times conversations with our friends our
conversations with our friends our
conversations with our friends our family conversations in school in office
family conversations in school in office
family conversations in school in office in public life in speeches in mahalo
in public life in speeches in mahalo
in public life in speeches in mahalo Saba’s so on and so forth thanks
”
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