Why the viral Ghibli craze should stop? The Good, Bad & Ugly AI

Did you catch the Ghibli fever as well? Or are you immune to it?

Shiney Miracula
AI Ghibli

The whole world seems to have gone crazy. As the AI image generating trend in Ghibli style has gone viral, social media is flooding with Ghibli images. Now, instead of impulsive teenagers or Generation Z, these are trending among world leaders, politicians, and journalists. The people we expect to dissect and deconstruct the truth appear to be enjoying the farce that is taking over the world, which is scary as hell. 

Now, for those who do not know the background story, here’s a quick rundown of why some of us can not stomach this trend. Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary Japanese animator, is the creator of the original Ghibli style. Ghibli style is known for its slow and deliberate creation, which results in breath-taking animation. The majority of Ghibli animations are meticulously hand-drawn, and Miyazaki’s works carry the weight of memory, longing, and human touch in every frame, creating an inexplicable connection with the viewer while presenting enduring art worthy of a legacy. 

Original Studio Ghibli Images

Also, Miyazaki was well-known for his contempt for artificial intelligence. When shown a demo of basic AI animation, Miyazaki called it “an insult to life itself…” He went on to say: 

“I am utterly disgusted. If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all.” 

As AI Ghibli Images are taking the front line, these videos from a documentary featuring Miyazaki are also making rounds in social media. That is how Miyazaki felt about AI in the field of art. It is disheartening to see his signature style being replicated by artificial intelligence through automation. Artists against AI from all over the world are concerned about the dominant Ghibli AI trend, claiming that AI can never thrive without exploiting and endangering human artists.

AI takes existing original artists’ models and continues to generate tools without proper consent or credit, and the possibilities for using these tools are limitless. Anyone with access to this technology has the freedom to experiment with anything. Art is created without skill and displayed without aesthetic attachment, reducing the soul of art to algorithms and prompts. 

People who have seen Studio Ghibli films are aware of Hayou Miyazaki’s beauty, craftsmanship, and aesthetic quality, as well as the efficient team under his leadership. Eiji Yamamori, Miyazaki’s animator in The Wind Rises (2013), worked for 15 months on a four-second shot. This shot covered a whole lot of people with each face having a unique identity and personality. Now, as millions of artists worldwide pursue animation as a profession, the Ghibli AI trend is reducing everything to a passing fad on the internet. 

The Wind Rises (2013)

And, if you care about the environment, there is a good reason to avoid AI, especially for frivolous purposes. According to a recent study, OpenAI’s current ChatGPT model uses approximately 2.9 watt-hours per request. To put this in perspective, a single Google search uses an average of 0.3 watt-hours. Additionally, according to the study, generative AI models like ChatGPT will use at least ten times as much energy in 2026 as they did in 2023 (I fact-checked this using AI. Well, AI should be used like this!). The world is on the verge of a climate catastrophe, and it cannot afford to waste energy on viral trends. 

Miyazaki once commented that most of our world is rubbish. He is correct, as always. Whether or not art is involved, the AI Ghibli trend alerts us to a serious mental health issue. As soon as the trend began, almost everyone felt compelled to post something Ghibli-made with AI on their wall. Surprisingly, politicians, journalists, and everyone who is supposed to think independently succumbed to the trend. The traffic became so heavy that even Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, posted on X that his team needed to sleep and asked people to slow down generating Ghibli images.

Sam Altman, CEO Open AI

The entire world appears to have been overcome by mass hysteria, and I believe this is just the beginning of how AI will take over our lives for the worse. This strikes me as very similar to OCD. Maybe we should call it OMD: obsessive media disorder. Most people who posted with AI Ghibli must have done so without regard for personal feelings, whereas influencers have no choice but to follow the trend in order to retain and grow their social media followers. 

When we discussed it, most of my friends said I was overreacting and that I needed to chill. I can not bring myself to relax when I know I need to speak up. It is fine if not everyone understands, but enough voices must be raised against the audacity of AI before it becomes too common to introduce anything and drive people insane. 

AI Ghibli

So, should we just eliminate AI? No, as AI is not evil in its entirety. AI is good when it assists humans. It is bad when it tries to overtake us. And it’s ugly evil when it belittles and tries to replace mankind. 

As the viral trend is being fuelled by a madding crowd mentality, if you haven’t participated in the AI Ghibli trend yet, you have my respect. Paradoxically, those who genuinely love Ghibli have avoided the AI Ghibli trend because they are aware of the potential damage it can do to the original art. 

Setsuko from “Grave Of The Fireflies”

This is not just an ethical dilemma of some artists. Quite the opposite; they were the first to sense the war of our times. You might feel the internet is divided on this issue. Actually, the world is divided. Who are you rooting for, AI or humans? 

Prisons in Disguise: The Invisible Suffocation Of Indian Women

Just imagine if these people won’t allow the daughters of their house to plan a single day for themselves, how will they react when they take life altering decisions?

Shiney Miracula

In a society deep-rooted in patriarchy, we the women have come a long way in terms of education, career, and so on. But, we are a long way from finding or in other words securing our own space literally and figuratively.

A woman having her own space, space to live and space to think and explore her options and passions are vital for her personality development but Indian households call themselves progressive if they ‘allow’ girls in their houses to study and women in their houses to work. And, the message is pretty much implied which is they’re stretching themselves too far by ‘allowing’ this so women have to be grateful to the family, contribute to household chores, and act as an emotional support person for the entire family.

Much is expected from women than what they receive. What becomes out of the question is personal space for women. The time to pursue her hobbies and interests, time to spend with her friends’ circle, to go out and have fun or just step out of the door for some fresh air is all ruled out as unnecessary or irrelevant activities. But men in the house can do all of the above things and more as normal as breathing air and drinking water no questions asked and no judgments passed.

I know educated families withholding educated working women from going anywhere at all without male company(family members, precisely). And even with the company, they won’t send anywhere except work.

These women have education, potential, quality, and whatnot. But, their entire life is planned by the patriarchal people of their family who forget that these women have souls, minds, and a body of their own. Their physical, mental, and emotional needs have to be fulfilled and only then, they can feel happier and satisfied with life instead of feeling strangled by it. Moreover, it’s a fundamental right for every human being to live on their terms.

And, adulting has no meaning if you can’t take a single decision in your life. Just imagine if these people won’t allow the daughters of their house to plan a day for themselves, how will they react when they take life altering decisions?

60% of women are okay with this setup and even worse they advocate this regressive mindset. Of the remaining 40%, half of them might be aware of the circumstances but accept the bitter truth and decide to live with the fact that they can’t do anything about it. These are the women who are suffocated by this invisible pressure and longing which cannot be comprehended by others. The rest of them, the least faction of women fight it all and find liberation but trust me, it’s not easy for any woman to find her place in Indian society.

So the next time you see, a seemingly happy girl who looks like she’s enjoying her life, remember she had her share of suffering from this society, just for being a girl.

Apologies and Assurances..

It’s been a year or so since I wrote something on my blog.

Shiney Miracula

Dear Readers,

I have no idea how many of you are still following my blog. If you happen to be one and if you are reading this now, I apologize for being inactive. I know, it’s not a crime or something. But, fellow writers will know what I’m feeling right now. It’s been a year or so since I wrote something on my blog.

The irony is I do full-time writing for digital content nowadays but couldn’t bring myself to spare a few minutes to keep my blog up and running. Anyways, now I have resolved to try and write at least one blog per week. There’s always a lot to say. It’s just that procrastination, depression, or both that gets in the way.

With all that said, I assure this blog is going to be more vibrant and alive. Thank you for sticking together. The world will end when pens do bend. So, let’s retain the power of our pens and keep writing. Who knows, one day, we can change the world because we fight for the right causes with the words we write.

Yours sincerely,

Shiney Miracula E.

And, Cover or Uncover?

Pardon me for focusing on the future than the present!

Shiney Miracula

Hijab protests have become the talk of our nation. The whole issue is a lot more complicated when we dwell deep into the subject. There are many international norms against face covering and camouflaged clothing in important places of concern like airports, embassies etc for security purposes.

Hijab is controversial as there are many for and against opinions about it and mostly those who speak for it happen to be Muslim and those who speak against are not which projects a strong suggestion that others are scrutinizing Islam’s internal issues. Sometimes it’s not true as activists, feminists and progressive people want Islamic women to liberate themselves from the religious patriarchy that they have entangled themselves in.

Psychological studies say that face-covering enables the loss of personal identity, individual interests and being submissive in nature. As the great philosopher David Hume once said, there’s no choice unless there’s a choice to refuse, hijab should be a personal choice of each individual and the more important question that I would like to raise to Muslim women is whether they can choose not to wear hijab as easily as they choose to wear it.

Nevertheless, what is happening in Karnataka might sound rational but the instinct ignited against the hijab and the intention behind the hijab ban is diabolical as here the target focuses more on divisions rather than providing unity in an academic campus.

Chaos is unleashed and students who should be focusing on studies are intoxicated with a communal divisive mentality and are ready to wage war against each other which all started with a regulatory statement.

Yesterday when a girl bravely chanted “Allah Uh Akbar” when confronted with majoritarian Hindu fundamentalists, many secular Hindu and Christian people posted on their socials the same slogan standing in solidarity with the courageous young woman. While it’s a gesture of goodwill, we should realise that endorsing every other religion is not secularism but leaving everyone to follow their religion unapologetically without imposing it on others is genuine secularism.

Uniforms in educational institutions are designed to serve equality and fraternity without giving place to religion, caste and social status. But if it can stir a communal conflict like this, it’s very ill-intentioned and issued to trigger Muslim people being fully aware of the impending intense explosion which goes by the saying of T.S. Eliot as follows.

“The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.”

As I mentioned above, hijab is Islam’s internal issue and even if it’s one of oppression another stroke of oppression doesn’t make it right. Now, as we see Muslim women are robbed of their right to wear hijab, we extend our hand in support for them against such imposition and it’s the right thing to do at this time. But, a secular country like ours should go a long way in reaching and reacting beyond religion. Developed countries like America practice separation of Church and State when it comes to government. Our country boasts to be a secular country when our entire politics, life and conflicts revolve around religion.

In the long term if we want to live in a secular country in reality as much as in print we should advocate for students not representing any religion at all during their academic life be it hijab, crucifix, turban or vermilion. The same should be applied to politicians and celebrating religious festivals in government offices should be prohibited as well.

It’s a distant dream for sure but the only way to achieve secularism is only when we prefer productive solutions instead of pitching emotionally for and against any religion.

Chances Are, We Might Be Happy With The Right Choices!

Life is a balance of free will and destiny.

Shiney Miracula

Life is a see-saw with choice and chance on each side. To be clear, life is a balance of free will and destiny. When we grow old and look back, life is simply a series of decisions but did we decide every single one of them is the big question. We consciously make certain decisions and moves which can be called choices. Chances are often disguised as the most undeniable opportunity or sometimes a compulsion from which you can’t run away as easily as with a choice.

Now, coming to our topic which dwells on the subject of whether happiness happens by chance or is it a choice. It’s not an easy question to answer. Let’s try anyway.

Chances have a say in anyone’s life like offering something which you cannot change by choice. For example, you get your family by chance and your friends by choice. You might try to stay happy with what you have got but what about children beaten by their drunkard fathers and abandoned by unloving mothers. Choice doesn’t work much in favour of happiness in that case.

Again, a person might’ve been born in a royal family but what if they feel like they’re being punished by chance and can’t find happiness. Here, this individual could reasonably choose to be happy but does it work like that?

Happiness is complicated. More often, we don’t even know what happiness is. We are not sure about happiness as much we are about sadness. We never wonder whether we are feeling low. We just might ponder why we are feeling that way but when everything is alright and we have cause for celebration we struggle to be sure that we’re feeling happy. And many times, we pretend to be happy as we’re supposed to on certain occasions.

It is doubtful whether we can be happy without doubting it like with sadness. Maybe it’s the human curse to search for excuses to remain desperate amidst prosperity and forever doubt certainty.

Happiness can never be found in a life of regrets, choices never made and chances never realised. In my opinion, the will and independence to make choices and the discernment to acknowledge and accept the vital chances Providence might offer can get us near to the path of happiness.

To do what you want, when you want and still want it the same when you accomplish it is the essence of happiness. The peace that you’ve done your best, satisfaction that it turned out well and liberty to make your move any way you want all contribute to happiness. Happiness is correlative and never singular. Let’s embrace whatever it takes to run gracefully in pursuit of happiness with the best hope of attaining it.

The Blackest Eyes

Our blackest eyes see better through the clearest glass.

Shiney Miracula

My eyes were dark black when I was a child. Well, let’s say intensely dark enough to be distinguished with long lashes. Or, everyone said so. The dark eyes in my chubby face sure turned heads and guaranteed greeting card worthy photographs. But what did I see through them?

Does the church altar come with a bit of haze normally? Does a rose in the garden suppose to seem blurry from my window? Why didn’t I recognise my aunt at that wedding? Why was it easier to copy from my friend than from the blackboard? Well, these are the questions I used to ask myself a lot before I could figure out that wasn’t the normal vision witnessed by everyone. The revelation that I am the one lacking a healthy vision shattered me.

What am I going to do? Am I going blind? The next set of questions that popped into my mind was even more frightening. The initial discovery of my condition by myself was around age 8. I felt frightened and challenged simultaneously. I thought I can make it through if I strategize and plan properly and there won’t be a need for glasses.

I stuck to books mostly so that there won’t be a question of not being able to appreciate or acknowledge a faraway object or a rare bird flying in the blue sky. By the time I hit teenage, I became aware of the many things I’m missing out on. I felt the pressure to hide my condition from family and school.

It made me a person with low self-esteem and I struggled to pass judgement on anything which made a lot of people assume that I am a very shallow person though I thought about many things.

And the impact of this condition in my life was of greater intensity than I could explain. Basically when my parents hesitated to offer me freedom as I’m a girl, my compliance because of my short-sightedness was taken as a modest trait which resulted in spending an eternity indoors.

Every time I tried to talk about it and resolve the problem, something of a higher weightage aroused and doused my will to act. At last, when I went to college I decided it’s time to stand up for myself in every way and it will be nearly impossible if I get to be almost blind.

Then, I gathered up my courage and got my eyes tested. And, voila I’m seeing the world as it is within a week. I felt grateful to God for creating this wonderful world as now I could appreciate the finest detail. I was bedazzled by everything I saw in its fullest form. An aura of confidence hovered over me and I got the zeal to be ultimately genuine regarding my personality, my opinions, taste, judgements etc.

I felt relieved of a burden I couldn’t explain to anyone and finally began to concentrate on stuff that mattered. I got to know myself when I had options and alternatives all before my eyes. I started to have a feeling that my eyes look beautiful indeed.

Now, this might be a pointless rant to some people but not to anyone who is wearing specs as they read this article. Getting to wear spectacles is like coming out in a way. You have got to admit that you lack something which many others possess effortlessly. You’ve got to burst your ego for that. You need one hell of courage to go through the process for the first time.

Not so many people talk about it but getting one’s eyes tested and prescribed with glasses at a young age tests an individual’s mental health considerably. They are always looked at by their peers as misfits, called names, mocked at and whatnot.

Yes, we can’t enjoy the rain like others without getting our sight blurred. We can’t drink a hot cup of coffee without fogging our glasses. We can’t just put on make-up and leave without wearing our vision enabler. Our nose wears out and our ears hurt but as if it’s not enough, a random tease from anyone regarding spectacles hurt even more.

My life changed the day when I first saw the world through my glasses. It looked beautiful and scarred just like me. There’s so much to appreciate still so many wounds to heal. It is a turning point in my life because if I hadn’t got my spectacles and accepted who I am, I would’ve lost my voice as well as my vision.

I realised that I’m an independent person after all who can make decisions and choices only after I started to wear spectacles. It was a literal and symbolic change in my life simultaneously. That’s why I look out for people who wear spectacles whenever I go out. And, I don’t simply see them as fellow humans sharing a similar misery. Instead, I view them as courageous individuals who at some point in life went through a struggling phase. We share a unifying identity. Yes, our blackest eyes see better through the clearest glass.

NEET not Worry!

Hope can hold you up when you have nothing and fear can destroy you amidst everything.

Shiney Miracula

It’s that time of the year again. Well, I’m not talking about the festival season. It’s NEET results day once again. Few might have passed somewhere but mostly we meet students who don’t make it.

Some pointers to keep in mind to make it better for those who did not score the required cutoff. That’s how we should see them and not as losers or embodiment of failures. If you come across such a person, don’t treat them as if they have lost everything. Also, don’t treat them as if they haven’t lost anything. Validation helps more than patronizing kindness. So, understand and expect that the students who didn’t make it will go through a difficult time at least for a while. We shouldn’t ask them to quit being upset just like that or not to feel bad at all. Things don’t work like that. They will go through a bad time. They don’t need motivational speeches, life advice or constructive criticism right now. All they want is an understanding heart, a shoulder to cry on and eyes not mouths that share hope.

And if you are a student who didn’t make it through NEET, it’s okay. You don’t get to be defined by a single event of your life. We don’t rush out of theatres when the protagonist gets his first conflict because we are sure that he’s going to make it somehow. We don’t close our books when things go south for our favourite characters because we hope they will find a way.

Art is a representation of life and if there’s so much chaos stuffed inside a single movie and book, imagine how much we have to go through in the entirety of our lives. But the good news is just like that, one day we will make it. It might not be the way we want but it will be the best story specifically planned to match your personality.

People say life goes on. It goes only when you let it go on. So, take a break. Cry if you want to. It’s okay to be not okay. But remember there are so many good things waiting for you ahead of your life. You just haven’t reached that phase yet. When you feel bad about not making it in an exam, remember millions of people’s cannot make it through the unprecedented pandemic.

Live your life. Life is a gift not to be belittled with as trivial as an entrance exam. It’s a miserable phase no doubt but once you climb the stairs of despair with perseverance, you will walk the corridors of power. With that said, let me stop contradicting myself by giving more advice. Wishing the best for everyone who read this. Thank you.

Desperate Remedies for Indian National Congress!

5 ways to seize the game before it’s over!

Shiney Miracula

We are witnessing the most turbulent times in the opposition party of India, which is the Indian National Congress. The question of whether Congress leaders are subjected to deception or there’s a lack of proper leadership occupies the debate table as of now. As the famous saying by Leszek Kolakowski goes,

“In politics, being deceived is no excuse,”

it’s time to realise the responsibilities of politics along with the disasters that come with it. Also, it’s always better to prepare ourselves instead of blaming others. Now, enough of rounding about of what we all are aware and let’s focus on how best to control further damage for the party and to get back in the game before things go beyond repair. In my opinion, the following five measures are the crucial steps to be taken keeping in mind that time is of the essence for potential damage control and to ensure the party’s strength for future battles.

1. Own up or Give Up

This suggestion is mainly for Rahul Gandhi. He should either feel responsible for the decisions in which he has direct or indirect influence by being the official president of the party or should be content to work as a pivotal congress leader looking out for the welfare of the party within the limitations applied to any other person with the same position in the party. It’s high time to declare not an interim but a President for Indian National Congress immediately. The person selected should take charge of the situation and own further developments regarding the party.

2. Directions to Democracy

Well, this is another delicate subject to be handled within the party. How much is too much is the question here. If Rahul Gandhi is all for democracy then, there should be no hesitation to conduct an internal party election. Moreover, if Rahul Gandhi abides by what he states regarding democracy in the party a lot more things will fall in place.

Rahul Gandhi resigned his post as a President of the party as a gesture of owning the responsibility of the defeat. But, won’t it be a nobler gesture if he had stayed the position and took the responsibility for the loss with a determination to build the party better? He’s not the nominal or acting President but can he deny his influence on putting Sidhu before Amarinder Singh which inflamed the massive unrest in the party today? And if Kapil Sibal wants to register his opinion it should be allowed without a group of Congress cadres holding siege to his house. It will result in a very unbecoming phase for Congress if the leaders don’t practice what they preach.

If one can’t provide democracy within the party how can the public trust this party to lead the nation? Multiple opinions should be allowed. Still, everyone concerned with the party should be asked to use it wisely after asking themselves one important question that does this opinion benefit my party.

3. Face the storm

Whenever situations go out of control, we should try to make the most of them. That is, the image is going to be portrayed in a way for a considerable amount of time. So, within that time we should finish our issues meaning, we solve all our problems under the impression of that one big problem.

If heavy clouds are hanging over us, it’s no use preserving the clouds hoping that it doesn’t rain which is impossible too. We should let it all rain out making way for sunshine. Coming to the context, it’s better to let counter-ideological, unfitting, damaging people from the party leave it for good making way for genuine cadres.

4. A leader who can deal

This point cannot be stressed enough. This is the ultimate solution to gain the trust of the people and to exhibit the party’s stability in the nation’s political arena. Rahul Gandhi is still the best choice, that is of course if he takes the role officially, responsibly and in good terms with the party’s favour. A name should be finalised and a face should represent the party in all its future endeavours. The person should be able to lead the party with unity and at the same time deal with unprecedented issues inside and outside of the party with strategic planning.

5. Consistency is the key

Be it Rahul Gandhi or the last cadre of the party, the party goes nowhere with inconsistent activities however intense it might be. An organised execution of political activities and participation will ensure a much better place for Congress in the long run. It’s time to establish itself as the reliable opposition of India. For instance, let’s keep BJP as A, other secular state parties as B and Congress as C. If 80% of the people are against BJP, still, they are divided as they can’t trust India’s future with Congress. So, they choose somewhere in B which might result in split votes again giving an advantage to BJP. People are against A, no doubt. But, how Congress is going to harvest the profit if it doesn’t prove itself as a worthy choice?

Well, these are my humble suggestions for Congress and whoever is responsible for taking action (we don’t know that!). As a Congress well-wisher, I sincerely wish and hope that the next move to be the best one!

The Path Of Persecution: From Staines to Stan

Still, the legacy was, is and will be service

Shiney Miracula

Who killed Stan Swamy? Was it the government which establishes itself with its killer laws, or the indifferent judiciary or the negligent jail authorities, or it’s the opposition parties whose voice is not loud enough regarding UAPA and political prisoners or is the media who never bothered to speak up for just causes or is it every other citizen who was complacent and lethargic who enables the autocratic rule with their silence? We all are guilty in our own way. Read on to know the how and why.

The 16th and the oldest person to be arrested in the conspiracy case of Bhima Koraegon breathed his last after struggling a lot against the suffocating draconian law UAPA, indifferent judiciary and what not?

A life spent for the service of people had to go through unspeakable suffering in the end just because the government finds service to the underprivileged and speaking up for rights for the voiceless community as unlawful activity deserving utmost punishment.

All his life he fought for the rights of the tribal community and in the end he was made to fight for a straw, sipper, bail and justice, just because his presence and dissent troubled the ruling party that they had to put a 84 year old person through a brutal ordeal which only they can do.

The UAPA is cruel in every way as it can exercise any amount of pressure on an individual and restrict their life itself when they haven’t even faced a trial, leaving them to spend an eternity as pre-trial prisoners while experiencing an unwritten verdict. If you remember a similar situation happened for Natasha Narwal who cannot see her father, Mahavir Narwal before his demise because of her arrest falling under the about mentioned category.

Now, what’s the story of Fr Stan Swamy? Stan believed everyone has equal constitutional rights, and that’s what he fought for till the end, for others and for himself. Stan is known for his relentless pursuit of equality of tribals, Dalits and women. In the mid 1970s he fought for the rights of bonded agricultural laborers and in 1978 he played a prominent role when Dalits faced a very discriminative approach in Tanjore and Villupuram. His goals have always been justice to the poor, and he wanted to see and live in an inclusive India. His major contribution and fight remained in Jharkhand, where he strived hard to secure the rights of tribal people who were exploited with cheap bonded labor.

Stan’s remarkable fight against such atrocious exploitation include the case which he took to high court seeking the freedom of more than 3000 tribal youngsters who were arrested for demanding Prevention of Tribal Alienation Act and Panchayat Extension to the Scheduled Areas Act which are all seminal acts providing stability to the tribal community.

The UAPA act which is used to arrest Stan Swamy is one such law which is synonymous with a death sentence. The 83 old Stan was arrested by NIA despite his fragile health condition with multiple co-morbidities. Stan was lodged in Taloja jail since 9th October 2020, and he applied for bail on medical grounds for the first time in NIA special court on November 27, 2020.

The court was informed of his multiple ailments which includes hearing loss (both ears), two hernia operations, intense abdomen pain from lumbar spondylosis and tremors in both hands due to Parkinson’s disease. Still, the special court denied bail to Swamy. Worse more, Stan had to petition the court for acquiring a straw and sipper.

Recently in 21st May, when Stan again pleaded for a medical bail showed more deterioration in his health and was said to have trouble hearing the judge and so on. Stan further more shed light on the futile treatment given at the government hospital that he either want an interim bail or will die in jail itself rather than suffering endlessly at JJ hospital. However, he was admitted there till his condition worsened and pressure from various sides came pouring in, which finally made it possible for him to be shifted to Holy Family hospital. However, it was too late for everything and Stan passed away with a cardiac arrest, a day before the court was to hear his bail plea.

The judgement which consists of 14 paragraphs did not dedicate a single paragraph to explain why Stan’s health condition cannot be considered for bail. Stan pleaded not to live freely but to die among his own, which wasn’t granted till his last breath.

UAPA is irrevocable, and its core aim seem to punish than probe, making the values of liberty and life worth less. While the Indian Supreme Court once said, “bail is the rule and jail is the exception” it never functions that way. What Stan received from legal provisions is little to nothing, though he had every reason to, giving the impression that his death was more of a judicial murder.

John Dayal, activist and Stan’s friend in his interview to Quint has expressed his anger towards this unjust system as follows,

“Our pain, shock and grief are tinged with an element of distaste. The cold-blooded manner in which he was denied bail, a revengeful government made it clear that they wanted to teach him, and through him to the others who are arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case, that they will break any dissent, any voice for the people.”

Father Joe Xavier, Stan’s closest friend, revealed Stan’s statement before NIA arrested him which is

“I have already lived my life. I can register the last bit of my resistance by going to jail so that I can be satisfied that I have justly stood for the cause that I have been fighting for.”

On his 100th day in custody, Stan wrote a letter which read as follows,

“…..we 16 co-accused have not been able to meet each other, despite being in the same jail. But we still sing song in chorus. A caged bird can still sing.”

Throughout his period of pain and uncertainty, he never once expressed it. He always spoke of hope, perseverance, resistance and love but sadly mistook for a terrorist by NIA and met his death while still being in custody, technically.

Another thing to notice in this case is, though NIA claims to have a foolproof case, Stan wasn’t seemed to be interrogated regarding the alleged accusations. If the case is so important, why more information wasn’t acquired from the accused, and why there isn’t any trial till now?

We live in a period where dissenters and activists are labelled as Maoists and urban naxals, but there is one more angle when the accused happens to be a Christian. Forcible conversion is one convenient label to be thrown on whenever a Christian missionary or activist gets involved in society or speak against government, especially without any political backing.

We know what happened to Stan Swamy now, but there are always others who faced similar plights just because they fought for something they believed in. On October 1995, A.T
Thomas was killed by dominant farmers in Jharkhand for endorsing and joining in the fight with Dalits for land rights. Sr. Sunita Mary was killed near Indore for working towards the freedom of bonded laborers. And this is the nation which witnessed an innocent missionary along with his two sons burned alive for serving the poor and lepers. While Graham Staines (read more on Graham Staines in this article https://21stcenturyrealist.home.blog/2019/01/22/the-unforgettable-fire-of-january-231999/) was burned by Hindutva fanatics in a mood of lawless communal anarchy, Stan was left to die suffocated in the cruel hands of law.

Fr Stan Swamy in his own words has expressed about his arrest with the following words,

“What is happening to me is not something unique happening to me alone, it is a broader process taking place all over the country. We all are aware how prominent intellectuals, lawyers, writers, poets, activists, student leaders are all put in jail because they have expressed their dissent or raised questions about the ruling powers of India. So we are part of the process. As such, in a way, I am happy to be part of the process, because I am not a silent spectator, but I am part of the game. I am ready to pay the price, whatever it be.”

And he paid the price with his life. He remained uncompromised even if it meant inevitable prison death with the hope that dissent will live. He died so that we might have a discussion on oppression and liberation. Do not enable fascists with your silence. Speak up for Stan Swamy.

The Great Indian Virus and the Miserable Modi Mutant

The virus fell sick when it saw the PM sickening than it ever can be

Shiney Miracula

The last few months had been the worst for India with literally most of the nation suffocating for lack of oxygen and dying on the hospital gates unable to secure a bed for themselves.

What or who is the reason to let things get out of hand? It’s not an easy question as the answers might be complicating like some people arguing that how can we blame someone for the pandemic.

Of course, no one can be blamed for the spread of the virus, but what about the government that failed to do whatever it should have done to protect its people. That’s exactly is what happening in India.

People die around the world because of Covid-19 infection, co-morbidities and when treatments are futile when the body cannot fight anymore but is that the case in India?

When you know you got the virus, it’s not about taking care of yourself or your family. It’s about calling anyone and everyone influential to get a hospital admission. And then the quest for oxygen never ends. The patient literally has to source everything before he can lie down to respond to the treatment he needs so badly. That is, as well, tolerable only if your wallet is bulk enough.

So many Indians, even today, are not aware that an Indian variant of the virus exists, and its transmission rate is much faster than the previously found variants. We had all liberty calling UK variant and Brazil variant but what about the Indian variant? Well, it is referred only as B.1.6172 in news media and now the WHO recommended Greek name, Delta.

The special property of this variant is said to be more transmissible, which resulted in the sharp rise of cases in a very short period of time. More research is required regarding this variant according to popular health sources and WHO as well.

The beginning of the second wave initiated as early as 10th of February when the number of cases happened to be 11,000. In the next 50 days, the daily average rose to an alarming rate of 22,000 cases and in the following 10 days the daily average was 89,800. India recorded 50% of Covid-19 cases and 30% of Covid-19 deaths globally according to WHO.

India let down the guard in January when its cases dropped to 20,000 daily average after reaching a peak of over 90,000 daily cases in September. With the pandemic not yet over, and with not even vaccinating half the nation’s population, Modi declared a victory over the virus when he spoke in World Economic Forum’s Davos Dialogue which was conducted virtually on 28th January 2021. He added that India is one of the countries that has successfully controlled Covid-19.

With this said, elections in several states functioned with full swing of campaigns, rallies and what not. No strict protocol or advice was given by the election commission as well. As of April 22nd, India hit world’s biggest ever daily surge in Covid-19 infections of 3.32 lakhs new cases recorded in 24 hours.

People who was caught off guard had to fight the virus and as well as the incompetent and inefficient Modi government which weighs more as a burden and not as the responsible government it should be in a crisis. The shortage of beds, unavailability of oxygen supply painted a very bad picture and instead of making the reality better, Modi spent his time and effort to boost his image amidst the crippling crisis.

The variants attacked different people in a peculiar way and more people could have died because of lack of proper diagnosis regarding the variants. According to sources, only a minimum of 5000 samples might have undergone genome sequencing to label the variant.

The first wave at its peak reached 97, 4000 cases in 24 hours wherein the second wave recorded 2 lakh everyday cases since April 15. The situation went dire as even the Delhi high court on 21st April directed the Central Government to ensure medical oxygen supply by “whatever means required.”

There was a considerable fraud on part of the government playing in unreported Covid-19 deaths where the crematoriums in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are visibly overburdened. If Modi had spent half the money for real Covid-19 relief than on his PR of how things should be portrayed, India would’ve recovered half way, but we are still struggling all because we are ruled by a PM who doesn’t care whether you exist or not but makes sure PM CARES function to get him more money.

While India was suffocating without oxygen and was choking with funeral fumes, Modi had one thing in his mind that is, capturing West Bengal. He lost at it, he lost the people of India and still he is micro playing Bengal politics forgetting he is responsible to ensure vaccine supplies, provide proper medical care for the people of India.

By the looks of it now It’s impossible to say whether the virus alone would have damaged our nation, cost this many lives if it had not been for Modi to handle this crisis. While we practice SMS (Sanitising, Masking, Social distancing) it is important to remember another SMS (Send Modi Soon) to make the right decision in 2024 election.