Peter Kropotkin

Mrinal Chatterjee

Window Seat

Peter Kropotkin (1942-1991), proponent of anarchist communism said, “Competition is the law of the jungle, but cooperation is the law of civilization.”

But we see more cooperation in the animal world. For example, every part of a beehive is important. We like to pretend it’s hierarchical by calling the bee that breeds the ‘Queen’, but if one part of the hive vanishes, the hive collapses. Groups of animals rely on each other to survive, there are leaders, but leaders are often parents.

The true law of nature is a flat hierarchy, where even the leader is just one of the people, not somebody who hoards power for himself or herself. Such a hierarchy only exists when you convince people that the queen is the most important part of the hive. 

Gaijatra

In Nepal, there is a unique festival that centres around humour and satire. The festival is called Gaijatra (the Festival of Cows).

Celebrated mainly in the Kathmandu Valley by the Newar community (but it has spread to many other cities and towns of Nepal; and has become more inclusive), the eight-day festival, generally begins on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra (Bhadra Krishna Pratiprada) and ends on Astami.

During Gaijatra, people of all ages dress up as cows and lunatics, wearing quirky costumes and parading through the streets to honour those who have passed away in the past year. Bereaved families offer fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd, and money to those participating in the procession, including those dressed as cows. Gaijatra has deep historical roots, blending religious, social, and cultural dimensions.

The festival traces its origin to the Malla period, when King Pratap Malla initiated it in the 17th century to console his grieving queen after the death of their son. The king invited families who had lost loved ones during the year to join a parade led by a sacred cow, believed to guide the departed souls to the afterlife. Over time, the festival evolved, incorporating humour, satire, and social commentary as essential elements.

In modern times, Gaijatra remains vibrant, with families organizing processions that feature costumed children, traditional music, and symbolic cows, either real or effigies. It serves as a communal platform for grieving, healing, and reflection. Beyond its religious aspects, the festival is renowned for its celebration of humor and satire. Performances, skits, and street dramas during Gaijatra often mock societal flaws, political inefficiencies, and social norms, providing a rare occasion for open critique. Newspapers and sites specially publish cartoons on this occasion.

Marriage in the winter

The Indian wedding industry size of approximately ?10 lakh crore ($130 billion) is second only to food and grocery, with an average Indian spending twice on marriage ceremony than education. "The Indian wedding industry is nearly double the size of the industry in the U.S. ($70 billion), albeit smaller than China ($170 billion).

Come winter, and the Indian Shaadi bazaar flourishes. Over 48 lakh weddings are expected in the current winter season. Barring few communities in South India, marriage in India is glitzy, elaborate (more and more rituals are being added every passing year) and expensive. This is an occasion to show off by spending like crazy. Elaborate feasts are an important part of Indian marriages, in which according to the NGO Feeding India, 10 to 20 percent of the food served at weddings goes to waste. In a country where over 400 million people go without food every day, out of which more than 50 per cent are chronically hungry, such huge wastage of food is a criminal act. In terms of the financial loss due to food wastage it is equivalent to feeding lakhs of hungry people.

Then consider the environmental impact. As per industry experts, an average three-day Indian wedding produces about 700 to 800 kilos of wet waste and 1,500 kilos of dry waste, including huge amounts of plastic- in the form of plastic bottles.

Tailpiece: Situations

Two situations make a man want to go to his office on a Monday.

a.   A cantankerous wife at home

b.   A very affectionate colleague.

(Courtesy: J.P. Jagdev, Bhubaneswar)