Pelmo's Hierarchy Of Needs for Existence (PHONE): For Us and Around

Well, the PHONE is modeled with an inspiration from the unceasing Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs of the mid 1950s. This is however the Needs' Model of my way, our days-current times. It is entirely an individualist interpretation, so may not be considered too good to theorize. You may wish to consider it as an evolution of the 'third kind'.

The theoretical explanation could be a result of an obsessive emotional expression or an idealist imagination of perfect human existence.

I call it the PHONE, which also has a tangible connotation in the modern day work, play and management. This will be explained in detail once we have a progressive understanding to my notion of theory building.

My theory of Needs has a pyramidical representation like great Maslow's and I too begin with a bottom-up approach. I first have the 'default needs' which we can also consider filling with wide variants of our living structures-accommodating the proportional space of the many tangible figures. The following attributes, both tangible and non-tangible are considered the 'default needs' for one's existence:

1. Default Needs: Air, water, food, shelter,family, friends, sex, physical comfort, mobile phones indeed!

After having attained all the 'default needs' we strive for a little higher band of attributional needs and I call that the 'Satisfying Needs'. This includes:

2. Satisfying Needs: Material stability, Relationship matureness, Knowledge practicality, Societal acceptance, Family coherence

I believe all the conjunct words for the above needs'-band are self-explanatory and may resonant on today's modern lifestyle. However, in case for any clarification, readers can mark a comment. Moving higher up for meaningful attainment of life and breathing, I consider band of 'Corrective Needs' to be the values and attributes that help our mind and soul converge for better living and a world of peace and harmony. Having acquired the 'default needs' and the 'satisfying' ones, we tend to explore our outer selves, neighbors and the world . The spaces outside homes, communities, associations, clubs and meets.This I call the willingess to complete one's cycle of existence, foster meaning and respect to life- barring all religious beliefs and traditional practices.Therefore, this band of needs include the following:

3. Corrective Needs: Cross tolerance, Constructive criticism, Proactive dwelling,Virtues, Emotions, Principles,Values

The 'corrective needs' may require just a slender description in case we misinterpret...for we have the world with us now. Having mentioned that 'default and satisfying needs' are more to do about oneself, individual desires and peace of mind, while 'corrective needs' and other to follow include the world and other along. This is the phase where we try to re-evaluate, re-calculate and re-define our positions and life meanings.This requires abundant tolerance and space for listening.We need to merge ourselves with the outer world-workplace, neighbors, culture, creativity, government and politics. We bare the hearts for resistance, wrong influence and continuous self improvement. With this follows to give constructive feedback and not just criticism and gossips.

This becomes more evident in the complex multi-lateral societies when life races for ultimatums all the time. One can succumb and sustain only with the willingness to be proactive to change, to change for better. And, this can be achieved only with a willful heart of right virtues, emotions, principles and values.

Having attained the values and attributes of the 'corrective needs' we move upward for 'coping needs'. We require those hearts and minds that can accept and tolerate change and wellbeing. Hence, coping band of needs include:

4. Coping needs: Acceptance, Respect, Understanding, Realization and Rationalization

The adjunct words however does not imply to any irrational understanding.So now the question arises as to how does one differentiate between a rational and an irrational decision? For we have considered the world of tolerance and value construction. Here, we need to judge the situation and not the decision maker. We need to evaluate the context and place of occurrence and not the individual. This will avoid the world from being 'pre and post' judgmental and evade unnecessary heroism.

By now, we almost have it all, we now seek for spiritual oneness with the world and the God. We have passed the phase of struggle, chaos, noise and worries, we've got our partial-peace of minds now. We got those hearts to look out for those blissful souls. This includes:

5. Spiritual Needs: Dedication, Solidarity, Philanthropy, Belief, Trust and Faith

In attaining most of the cognizable and tangible needs in life, we look for spiritual and philanthropic growth of oneself and of the world in entirety. And this can be achieved only if one is happy and satisfied with oneself....I say this because I've met scores of people who are not happy with themselves so can't see the world be happy either. This disgruntlement is the food for unhealthy growth of fruit and the fields.So all needs to be happy first to make the world happier. And all these efforts begin from the womb and the home. We can thus, point out the importance of value living, education and best practices- all that begins from one's home.

We now move to the highest band of needs which Maslow calls Self-actualization. For PHONE, self-actualization gets encrypted way ahead when we endeavor for mutual virtue and tolerance (Corrective needs). Correcting and coping modern discruptions and open discomforts, one can attain complete satisfaction with all the material and spiritual gains when one starts to experiment. Experiencing happens only when we have all the five crude bands of need in hand. This happens when we know what we are and what we want. PHONE however explains a very young span of life where self actualization needs to be attained in one's rather very tender age. Modern lives got no time for deliberating, we explore, we experience. A full fledge experimenting begins only once one knows what gives them real happiness and genuine pleasure.

6. Experiential Needs: Volunteering, Cross-membership, Participation and Contribution

However, the 'experiential needs' are endeavored by a very handful individuals who have been successful and content with their lives and the world. And we all know that it is 'not-so-easy' is to be successful very quickly these days. So this band of needs include quite a wide stretch of success stories and achievement histories. The experiential needs, nevertheless demands only honest hearts with meaningful lives to be involved in voluteering and contributional experiencing than anyone without self actualization and self exploration. 'Who haven't thy explored, cannot explore thee...'

The PHONE explains the modern fast-paced hierarchy of needs to which cross-industrial management units of both public and private entities from anywhere, could refer for new policy making. I know how secondary researching works! This is an honest contribution to reconstruct the 'old school buildings'....perhaps very soon!

‘Perceptions on Gorkhaland from Hyderabad’…Cont

With a view to connect to the political atrocities exiting in Bengal, I would like all Gorkhalis to read, and perceive it right. The article posted by Mr. Abhijit Dasgupta, a veteran blogger in the India Today website is one of my listed click. He seems to perceive lot more things alike. But as an outsider. His recent post entitled “It's hard to be an outsider in Darjeeling” happens to relate quite closely to my last post. He could be an eye-opener for many who perceive us wrong. Such mindsets ought to be the hold for future India. Read and analyze…the rest follows. Being a Bengali (claimed as our bitter companions), unlike many seems to have the right mind with practical, nationalists and unbiased thought processing… which is truly well appreciated.

So in continuation to my previous post, I did pose a perplexed question of “Who are Indians anyway?”
Now I feel Mr. Dasgupta could be identified as one of an Indian. I do not intend to glorify him in any way. Hence, fully acquaint with the fact that he is no way related to me in any folds of my life…except we both have adequately, well-positioned cerebrums each.

This is, however, deliberated to help and enable all, to perceive things right…keep our eyes open and participate in changing our mindsets for better future. And of course an effort to UNITE ALL and help in creation of society of like-mindedness individuals. Prof. Mahendra. P. Lama has already marked that the biggest challenge for all, is to curb the problem of unique and often clashing individual-mindsets. Nevertheless, knowing the fact that Gorkhalis are far more tolerant and have broader mindsets than many in India, I don’t think that Gorkhalis actually need to work on it. However, it’s always beneficial to have a balanced outlook.

His article follows:

[ It's hard to be an outsider in Darjeeling - Abhijit Dasgupta

I felt so much at home. Despite the shift in a couple of hours' time from a scorching 40 degrees in bitter Kolkata to a pleasant, cool 19 degrees in the sweet hills. Yes, the Gorkhas are so right as they sing: it's difficult to be an outsider in the hills.

I spent two days following BJP candidate from the Bengal hills, Jaswant Singh, through Kalimpong, Mungpu and Darjeeling just ten days short of his elections. Kalimpong is a quaint little town where the gradient falls and rises sharply with personal memories at once happy and nostalgic; Mungpu is famous for us Bengalis because of its tryst with Rabindranath Tagore and well, Darjeeling is, after all, Darjeeling.

The only tourist destination which, for us Bengalis again, has always been the logical choice in the summers for decades now. It's cheap and beautiful; wonder why it was called the Queen of the Hills. Its serenity, calmness and above all, its simplicity hardly goes with the grandeur of anything regal. Darjeeling, if the Brits had been less given to malapropisms while handling their own language, should have been synonymous with a loyal subject. Always handy, always cheap and almost invariably, loyal. All of which makes it beautiful.
As it has been with the Rajah of Rajasthan, Jaswant Singh. Well, it's not as if this subject can ask the Communists before April 30, election day, but the question paramount to me as I followed the soldier of royal bloodline through the roadshow in Kalimpong was quite unrelated to the hills but definitely an issue close to Jaswant Singh's heart: Is Manmohan Singh an outsider in Assam? Yes. Does that in any way influence or stop him from running the country? No. Is Jaswant Singh an outsider in Darjeeling? Yes. Will that influence or stop him from taking the Gorkhaland cause to the national stage? No.

The argument is simple and not too difficult to comprehend unless you have other hidden agendas besides making cannister noises at Singh's nomination. This is not an Assembly election and the whole point of a Lok Sabha poll is to ensure that the cause of the nation comes first and of course, the legitimate demands of the local populace are placed centrestage, that is, the national stage.

Story writer-turned-politician Subhas Ghising successfully burned the hills to turn a stray noise into a national boom and the result was for all to see: thousands of lives were lost, the queen of the hills lost her tourist subjects and a local leader ran his fiefdom from a palace in Darjeeling which, ironically, was called Lalkuthi, since Ghising's main fight was against the reds. He has, two decades hence, lost his kingdom, exiled to a guesthouse by his chief follower, Bimal Gurung, and has now come out saying that his baby, the GNLF, is very much kicking and alive. Alive, however, but for whom? Those who are following the events in the hills with keen interest feel that Ghising has suddenly woken up from sleep to join the battle in favour of the reds; actually, his call for a boycott is actually participation.

The two-lakh odd supporters that he still has in the hills who might have voted for Singh and Bimal Gurung's Morcha combine in the absence of a writ from Ghisng, will, now, in all probability, keep silent only to help the Left. Ghising, though he may be unaware of it, has written his own funeral script. Jaswant's victory is common cause in the hills and even if the GNLF does manage to keep some votes away from him, the CPI (M) candidate, Jibesh Sarkar, may not taste anything near to even the syrup of sweet victory given the tremendous sway that Gurung and company have in the voter-dominated hills.

The hills still decide the outcome in Darjeeling constituency and it is the Gurung supporters who will go in a khukhri-waving celebration march after the results are announced. While, as they say, there should never be any predictions made in elections, this one is beyond forecasts. Jaswant has already won. And why shouldn't he when the majority of the people in the hills want him to win? And who better a man than a former Union minister for defence, finance and external affairs who knows how to project issues on the national stage?
Ghising should remember whom he had backed as nominee from the hills. A journalist, Inderjeet Khullar, whose only claim to the hills was that he was an activist-negotiator tourist. I have no clue as to what Khullar did as MP with the GNLF's backing but the world can see that he failed to bring Gorkhaland to the people of Darjeeling. With Jaswant, it will be a different ballgame altogether.

The party to which he belongs gave us Uttaranchal and Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand as separate states and has promised Telengana soon. What will stop them from carving out a Gorkhaland now if it comes to power? And even if they do not, at least Jaswant has a high decibel power to make himself heard in Hindi throughout the land. Not Bengali, not Nepali but Hindi. Like the Saas-Bahu rant in Hindi throughout the land. If you wish to have high TRP ratings, go to Hindi Doordarshan and not any sophisticated regional rich baron-owned channel. It's simple logic. But simplicity eludes the political animal. Thus the "outsider" tag on Jaswant.

I was touring Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mungpu and Kurseong on Jaswant's campaign trail. I may be wrong but Gorkhaland, thanks to Gurung's marksmanship, could just be a few years, if not months, away. Every single person that I spoke to was for Gorkhaland and the sight of Gorkhaland stickers atop restaurant cubby holes and hotel receptions were clear indicators that the hills people will not settle for anything less.

At least, Gurung, in negotiating the nomination of Jaswant, has shown himself up as a far better politician than his onetime mentor Ghising.Ghising, at the cost of blood, got for himself his Lalkuthi and consolidated the disillusionment of the Gorkhas and the hills people; Gurung will get them their Gorkhaland. Not through blood hopefully, but through Jaswant.

But the CPI (M) protests too much. A party which still does not know what to do with the Congress and whose top leader smiles away from the camera nervously when he is asked embarrassingly naive questions on Buddhadeb Bhattacharya as a future Prime Minister. Sitting in Kolkata, Prakash Karat cannot be seen to be denying Buddhadeb a stake for the Prime Ministership while in his heart of hearts he knows that would be disaster and quite unquestionably an issue which most certainly has not crossed the Politburo meeting table brains ever.

The CPI(M) talks of the BJP planning to break the country and Buddhadeb told a meeting that Advani had himself told him that the creation of smaller states had led to more problems than they had the power to solve. I do not know whether an intrepid and curious journalist will whisper these quotes from the chief minister into Advani's ears but I am sure, after Mamata, it will be the BJP's turn to take Buddhadeb to the Election Commission for this remark.

Is there any chance of a leader like Advani trashing the stakeholder policy of smaller states to a political adversary like Bhattacharya? I wonder what has happened to Bhattacharya of late. He froths at the mouth at the mention of Mamata, uses body language that his pristine cultural self would have hated to see in the mirror and has now emerged as a warmonger with statements which clearly prove that his anger and frustration are getting the better of his sane political self-control.

While talking about Hindi and the national stage, one cannot help but mention one man who has indeed shown how upgradation of the self can help a man individually to at least reach near his goal and how the knowledge of limitations can be turned into a virtue. He says he has not harboured ambitions of becoming PM because he is not comfortable with Hindi (is Mr Bhattacharya listening, please...we in Bengal have a right to know if he knows Hindi if he is to aspire for the PM's chair) and that you cannot become PM of a country "just because you want to." This, from a man who was clearly tipped be PM after Mrs Gandhi's assassination before Rajiv Gandhi stole the thunder. May be, Pranab Mukherjee in 1984 was disappointed but now when he sees lesser men like Bhattacharya being even discussed in press conferences as a PM possibility, then he must be revelling in the fact that sometimes being number 2 is far better than the top spot. First, it is less lonely, and second, it can afford you the luxury of laughing publicly at silly boy-men.

I have one last observation. I think Deve Gowda knew better Hindi than Jyoti Basu and it is good that the brains that Basu had were put to better use in Bengal than in Delhi where he would have had to be translated after every thought gone public. It is indeed necessary for a national stage holder to know the national language as well as his mother-tongue (the office of the President excluded; s/he can get away by speaking in English).

I wonder what is going to happen to the likes of Bengali firebrands like Somen Mitra and Subrata Mukherjee if they are elected to Parliament for the first time. Mukherjee had told me years ago, "The only reason why I do not contest for Parliament is because I do not know Hindi." I do not think much has changed in Mukherjee's linguisitc prowess in 15 years but if he, or anyone else, thinks that they can emulate Mamata Banerjee by holding the Lok Sabha to ransom with a language quite similarly incomprehensible as Baba Sehgal's rap at its best, then he or she is wrong and barking (all puns intended, in case you miss) up the wrong tree. Mamata is an enigma wrapped in a saree; she is an exception.

And thus shall Jaswant win. Without knowing the Nepalese language. And despite being an outsider. Because in India, Hindi matters. Whether you like it or not, you have to be either Atal Behari Vajpayee at his Hindi best or Sonia Gandhi with foreign charm at its worst if you want to be heard on the national podium. And get things done.

Do not forget, this country does not have a Nehru any longer who once famously told Lord Mountbatten, "You are still here because I happen to speak in English and dream in Hindi."]

Lastly, for all: True…it is really important to speak in Hindi, makes life lot more easier esp. to ones like us who have to survive amongst ‘the many’ and face the everyday ‘identity crisis’…. Take any initiative to enhance the usage-frequency of the language…knowing that the scope for it’s actual articulating usage is very low in the hills). However, this doesn’t mean that we risk our real identity either. Keep it as ascribed.
Let them not feel that we are not Indians…a cleanest strategy…. rest follows;)

Perceptions on Gorkhaland from Hyderabad

I have had numerous heated arguments on demand for Gorkhaland, with friends, colleagues and neighbours here in Hyderabad. Of course, me siding for the argument. Having discussed with varied set of individuals-from rich to middle class, I’ve however missed on the poor (as it might sound like the Indo-US Nuclear Deal to them…out of space), apart, from students to professors, from a commoner to administrators so far. All said and talked could have been from a political or an ideological point of view (variance of perceptions). Nevertheless, the discussions were on a complete social front. So I can’t theorize.

CPIM today says granting autonomy would be the solution to all such problems (do you even know what our problems are) if that were so, granting autonomy to areas like PoK rather? Allowing more tangible border on humanistic lines? Combating militant insurgence in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh? Are these not the real issues to be addressed instead–here we see threat to our security, threat of extremists (I don’t like to use the word ‘terrorist’) infiltration, threat for humanity. Instead they are stuck up with the false notion of ‘no separate state to the Gorkhas’ and nothing else. We already are aware of galvanization of Swat Valley in Pakistan and moral/ legal empowerment of extremists already. But Gorkhaes aren’t fighting for an independent country or any alien, extra-terrestrial demand or any of the above kind; its one- simple and constitutional. I feel blindfolded. I’ve been persuasive many a times, few instances being positive and few raging more hatred. Stupid, ignorant politicians come to their interest-driven constituencies- throb their vocal cords out and try brainwashing innocents. Why are these dimwits talking about autonomy at all? Guess all Gorkhalis are over with CPIM and autonomy, if not a State…Gorkhaland a Union Territory.

To mention, the LTTE movement in Sri Lanka also started off with the same modest vigor for right and justice for their civilians, but the world today sees it as a terror organization. God forbid, hope Gorkhalis don’t turn out to be the same someday. So here goes hamro Gorkhali vhanai - “manchae lai manchae lay nai bhigarcha”. But one thing is certain, violence and hatred is not the solution to our problem either. We ought to be more tactful, strategic and get morally CUNNYING because only such people have better lives in India than the modest lots. We also see how the world has been so pacifying with Tibetan demand of a leader like Dalai Lama…what has been the outcome? I’m not fostering hate and violence here. But I’m surely hinting on pro-activeness and power of persuation. To be honest; there isn’t much scope for non-violence and peace movements as such these days. There ought to be some form of jolts and shivers for sure.

To talk about, Congress comes to Andhra for their dense campaigning process and abruptly talks about “always been considerate to the demand for Telangana”- We know 2004 Congress Election Manifesto was inevitably against the creation of smaller states. So what’s clouding up in their minds in this election now? So why not considerate for Gorkhaland too? How are these two demands different from the other, anyway -expect its geographical locations? Are the sentiments of both not the same?? If for Telangana- then for Gorkhaland too…(very constitutional- pun intended). Or does India have any Duplicate Invisible Constitution by any chance.

No wonder- all debates shape up on the lines, of India being sold off to their own politicians- where politics are gradually whirling from democratic-to vote bank-to opportunist politics now. There would be a day soon for mercy politics too. The days could not be very far.

We see how easily the states of Jharkhand and Uttarakhand were created in the year 2000 (though I’m not saying that there weren’t any struggle there either, but comparatively less exerted than ours) not so long ago, just couple of years back. Whereas Gorkhaes having been struggling for decades are still in the midst of tranquility. Bhayo abo cha aati nai bhayo… My point of reference here is, ‘these politicians and law makers are simply joggling with our modest and tolerant natures – they are wildly taking us for granted and trying to subdue us vividly’. It’s too long a struggle for peace and happiness (sad but the truth).

I’ve tried to pull all historical, factual, physiological, ethical and moral points in supporting the demand (whatever viable…DT has been a helpful knowledge source here) But deep inside all say ‘they, all from Nepal’…. so??? Thought stuck up in their heads. How do I answer to such a question? Of course it’s the Identity crisis…but how do I defend myself here. I have managed to shut their mouth at many occasions somehow (depending upon who I was facing…), sighting the fact that the Indian government granting us the right to vote, issuing Indian passports, ration cards, driving licenses, everything- and then go around saying they are Nepalis from Nepal (where’s the sense and logic in that?). Of course there ought to be a point of origin….no one is thrown from the space or digged out from the ground? Ironically it normally erupts from the educated lots. That surprises me even more. Sad how Constitution of Indian interprets its own laws of the land which seems so void and unknown. If they do not consider us Indians why on earth do they give us such rights and privileges at all?? And allow us to call ourselves as Indians? Why is Nepali an Official Language of India? Why can’t we say we are Nepalis? Or why is the language not called Gorkhali instead? Who are Indian anyway?

In few instances, I’ve given the weirdest backup, saying, “ Did God mark the territorial (geographical) or political map of states or countries then?” all helpless and suffocated, sounding like a fool. I backed it further, “creation of boundaries are all political and an evolutionary process. With growing complexities in societies, the structure and boundaries ought to change to adapt and accommodate human needs and requirements accordingly. Culture, religion, social norms, beliefs and laws- all are man-made”. Not made by the Congress nor BJP or by any so evolving- the Third Front in entirety.

Some have been sympathizing to the need of Indian Ghorkhali at a highest note making me weak to the brim. Some just brush it off saying there are hundreds more in the line. Some ignore like as if a fungus growing in somewhere north of the India Subcontinent, in the state of West Bengal, lifeless and colourless. But I say, division of India into smaller states is one of the key means to effective administration and for inclusive growth in such growing complex societies and populous country like India. This is to be applicable to all areas of governance of the country- like principles of specialisization, decentralization and participation. It would be too long to sight all in one go. Increasing population, gap in urban and rural India, low tolerance and understanding level between ethnicities, education disparities are to scatter a few amongst many.

I am sure if Indian Politicians are not for CREATION OF SMALLER STATES, then I’m assuming that they are surely for MERGENCE OF SMALLER STATES?? If am pragmatic enough and if policy makers are relative to Article 3 of Part I of the Constitution, and considering it not from any invisible Constitution. By this I intend to imply a really big move to all the Gorkhalis.

So Gorkhalis stick to the Book (the Constitution) and stay united- no matter where you are.

[Pls: Allow Ghising Jeu to talk later, not now…kindly convey him the words “united we stand, divided we fall” (preferably all bold and in upper case)…very old and stale but apt for the context. No doubt, he could be one of the best in opposition (given a chance), but requesting him to have a little patience at least for the moment.]