Buddhism begins with impermanence: everything changes, clinging to what changes produces suffering, and no fixed self persists through the flux. Marxist dialectics begins with contradiction: every system generates internal tensions that undermine it, and development arises from the working-out of those tensions. Both reject static substances. Both insist on process. Both claim that understanding changeContinue reading “Philosophies of Contradiction: Marx contra Buddha”
Author Archives: kazisiddiqui
Genius Is Retarded
It is important to argue that humans don’t have transcendent intelligence. Fascist discourse thrives on praising human brilliance, and by proxy, the so-called brilliance of the world’s leaders. Rather than there being a general skill called “intelligence”, humans can do 3 things: 1. Observe objects, 2. track their movements in memory, whether internal or external,Continue reading “Genius Is Retarded”
Ruins
I. The Cloudy Lens The fog of a January morning in Shobhabazar coated the tongue with particulate matter and river damp and the faintly sweet residue of last night’s garbage fires. You breathed it in and it became part of you. The distinction between body and city dissolved in that grey, chemical intimacy. I wanderedContinue reading “Ruins”
Translation: এই মেঘলা দিনে একলা
Another legendary song by Gauriprasanna Mazumder. এই মেঘলা দিনে একলাAlone on this cloudy day ঘরে থাকেনা তো মনMy mind doesn’t stay at home কাছে যাবো কবে পাবোGetting close to you, when will I get, ওগো তোমার নিমন্ত্রণMy dear, your invitation? যূথীবনে ঐ হাওয়াIn the flower forest, that wind করে শুধু আসা যাওয়াOnly comes and goes.Continue reading “Translation: এই মেঘলা দিনে একলা”
Translation: শুধু তোমারই জন্যে সুর
Legendary song by Salil Chowdhury. শুধু তোমারই জন্যে সুর, তাল আর গান বেঁধেছিTune, rhythm and song, I have composed only for you এর আর কোনো নেই প্রয়োজনThey have no other use তুমি হাসবে, ভালোবাসবেYou will laugh, you will love তাই আমার এ ভুবনে রঙের-রসের এত আয়োজনThat’s why in my world, I prepare so many colorsContinue reading “Translation: শুধু তোমারই জন্যে সুর”
Translation: আজ সৃষ্টি সুখের উল্লাসে
The revolutionary poet Nazrul was in prison for sedition from the British Empire when he wrote this. Not long after, he really did go mad. আজ সৃষ্টি সুখের উল্লাসে–Today, in the joy of creation মোর মুখ হাসে মোর চোখ হাসে মোর টগবগিয়ে খুন হাসেMy face laughs, my eye laughs, my boiling blood laughs আজ সৃষ্টি-সুখেরContinue reading “Translation: আজ সৃষ্টি সুখের উল্লাসে”
Free Rider Problem vs. the goal of socialism
Leftists shouldn’t try to ban competition altogether. The problem with capitalism is that the profit motive leads to dynamics like the business cycles: As a result, when a capitalist economy doesn’t grow, it keeps shrinking. No stable state is possible. So far, capitalist growth has been fueled by incorporating new markets like new technology andContinue reading “Free Rider Problem vs. the goal of socialism”
Translation: অলির কথা শুনে
A song by legendary artist Gauriprasanna Mazumder. অলির কথা শুনে বকুল হাসেThe medlar laughs hearing the bee কই তাহার মতোWhy, like them, তুমি আমার কথা শুনে হাসনাতোdon’t you laugh listening to me? ধরার ধূলিতে যে ফাগুন আসেWinter comes to the world’s dust কই তাহার মতোWhy, like them, তুমি আমার কাছে কভু আসনাতো।।don’t you ever comeContinue reading “Translation: অলির কথা শুনে”
Translation: আমার এই পথ-চাওয়াতেই আনন্দ
A song from the Gitanjali. আমার এই পথ-চাওয়াতেই আনন্দ।Just watching the road makes me happy. খেলে যায় রৌদ্র ছায়া, বর্ষা আসে বসন্ত ॥Sunlight and shadow play along, monsoon comes, spring. কারা এই সমুখ দিয়ে আসে যায় খবর নিয়ে,People in front of me come and go carrying news. খুশি রই আপন মনে– বাতাস বহে সুমন্দ ॥IContinue reading “Translation: আমার এই পথ-চাওয়াতেই আনন্দ”
Disagreement with ideas that pass for common sense, Part 1
Re: https://youtu.be/HmCvw-TJyb0 By opposing socialism, religion prevents the creation of a society that feels meaningful.
Snapshots of the Labyrinth 