Modern Panchatantra

(Imagining a situation when I am left alone in the company of a goat and I have nothing to do. The goat, interestingly can talk, and that makes me curious. The following is an excerpt from one of the conversations that I had with the goat)

Goat: Let me ask you something. Do you think you are superior to me in anyway? “Superior” – within quotes, like mini me does in Austin Powers!

Me: Oh yeah I do! But very well, after you mentioned you are fan of Austin Powers, I may have to rethink the whole thing. *sheepish grin*

Goat: Now you thought that was funny? Can I ask you why exactly do you think you are superior?

Me: Well if you are giving me a choice there, I would opt for you not asking! I am not really looking forward to an intellectual argument with – of all things in this far and wide world – a GOAT!

Goat: Don’t ever dare you say that, dimwit! You don’t think you have two horns extra, do you? For the fact of it, I do! *proud laughter – something that goes muhaahaahaahaa*

Me: Aargh! I never imagined a goat could laugh that way. Or for that matter any way!

Goat: And before you skip the point, and this time I don’t give you a choice – c’mon tell me what makes you superior?

Me: You know something – now this is so ridiculous! I mean, I don’t understand why I have to answer this!

Goat: I will probably explain why at the end of it all, but first answer me – you Bozo!

Me: *frustrated and helpless* Well then, if that is what it is, let me try some inspired guessing. Goatie, you can’t drive a car and I can! Simple eh?

Goat: Duh – and you talk about training! Has anyone ever tried training me to drive a car? Try doing that and I bet I will learn quicker than you! Not to mention the bribe you gave to that officer to get your license *blurp!*

Me: Now look here! I know I am throwing arrows in the dark. But do you really think we have something to debate here? I mean this is so outrageously obvious!

Goat: I don’t think so! So better get serious on this!

Me: Okay then! * a brief pause for some gasping * Now this is serious! I mean, serious trouble!!

Me(again): I can sum up a huge list of numbers and tell you what the total is – atleast approximately – if you know what I mean! Believe me, I have never seen a goat do that! Uh!! * sense of relief *

Goat: Same thing again. Teach me how numbers work and what you mean by “summing” them up and I will do the total for you! Accurately, for that matter!

Me: Hmm.. playing smart eh? Don’t know anything and blame it all on me? Am I committed to be some kinda life long coach for ya? I have other things, you bet!!

Goat: Now gimme a break! I thought we were debating this on paper! I ask you – theoretically – what is it that makes you superior than me? See if you can answer that! Don’t complain on training issues – and by the way, I can find better trainers than you – if at all I choose to get trained! * evil grin *

(And as the argument reaches fever pitch one Mr. Alan Turing passes by the wayside! Being the eternal supporter of the human race, he inquires me what’s the trouble! I cry out the whole thing to that guy. He smiles gracefully (though I didn’t seem to like it) and whispers a solution in my ears. And here I go.. )

Me: Ok you goatie demon! If you think it is all about training and experience, let me tell you this! If you and I were born at the same time; And if you and I were given similar training to walk talk and do things; And if you and I – after sufficient training – were presented with a maze which we had to solve; And if that maze was an impossible maze – in the sense that it did not have a solution – and we were never told that; I claim that after sometime, I will come out with a decision and announce in all glory that this maze cannot be solved; While you will still be trying to solve the impossible maze!!

* punching my fist and hugging Alan Turing *

Goat: * In deep thought *

Law of conservation of wealth?
Wealth can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can only be transferred from one container to another..

Is this true?

Dynamite..
Thats Virender Sehwag.. He lives by the following simple principles..

- Batting is about making runs.. no matter what situation you are in..
- A ball from a great bowler is same as any other ball..
- When you hit, hit hard..
- What happened last ball has zero significance..

With these basic principles, he goes in, stands and delivers..

My new hero..

Old wine in new bottle..
Imagination is extremely complex. It has been one of our eternal battles to bridge the gap between imagination, as such, and the various forms of representing imagination - like language, actions etc.

In this sense, any form of art is one such attempt.

The quality of art, if there is anything like that, depends on two things.

- the complexity and beauty of the imagination..
- the closeness of representation of the complexity and nature..

By 'beauty' - I mean that undefined thing, which even as they say "is in the eye of the beholder" - seems to also have the inherent nature of having a common thread running across a lot of human minds.. "Beauty" is thus better left undefined.. Its a 'primitive concept' - so to say! :)

So then, the quality of art, I feel, depends on the nature of the thing it represents and the ability of the art to represent it as closely as possible. Among the two parameters, the first one, I would say is dependent on the artist and hence is difficult to quantify. It is the second parameter that makes me wonder...

Makes me wonder, which art form is the best - when it comes to representing imagination to the closest?

Many times when we say something is great art, we are actually referring to the artist than to the art. Can we eliminate the genius of the artist and just look at the art? Simply put, is it possible to qualify one art form as better than another?