Spectre of Anarchy

Speaker: Kumar Ketkar

December 7, 2011 | 6.30 pm
Cama Hall, K.R. Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai

Almost everything around us appears to be disintegrating–institutions, beliefs, values and even individuals. The authority of the Parliament is being challenged by civil society, caste-based khap panchayats are violating the constitution and the Lokpal is likely to become a power centre, larger and stronger than parliament, judiciary and bureaucracy. The idea of ‘linguistic states’ has come into conflict with the advocates of smaller states and while the collapse of socialist ideology was to establish the capitalist principle there is greater inequality and conflicts in the liberalized and globalised scenario. Liberal Democracies were to put an end to fundamentalist ideologies and intolerant attitudes; in reality, both have grown. It is a world with borders and conflicts where individuality is replaced by individualism; idealism is replaced by cynicism and ethics by pragmatism. The spectre of anarchy is an overwhelming reality; are there any alternatives to the problems of our times?

Kumar Ketkar is the Chief Editor of Dainik Divya Marathi of DNA Group. Earlier, he served as the Chief Editor of Loksatta, the leading Marathi Daily of the Indian Express Group. He also served as the Editor-In-Chief, Lokmat and Maharashtra Times and is the recipient of many prestigious awards. He is known for his social and cultural concerns and has personally been engaged in theatre, literature and environmental activities. Ketkar has a keen interest in history and anthropology; particularly in music, cinema, painting, architecture and language.