[Reader-list] On a sublime form of propaganda: ‘UIDAI is just the back-end’

[A.K. Malik]

HI Bipin,
            As per information made available to me current data is the basic data for UID which will be followed up by finger printing etc.A separate pilot UID project unconnected with census is alreading working in Nalanda.
Regards,

(A.K.MALIK)


--- On Tue, 5/25/10, Bipin Trivedi <aliens at dataone.in> wrote:

> From: Bipin Trivedi <aliens at dataone.in>
> Subject: RE: [Reader-list] On a sublime form of propaganda: ‘UIDAI is just the back-end’
> To: "'A.K. Malik'" <akmalik45 at yahoo.com>
> Cc: "sarai-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 10:17 PM
> Dear Malik,
> 
> That was for only census and UID data not started yet. It
> will be with finger print only
> 
> Thanks
> Bipin
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net
> [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net]
> On Behalf Of A.K. Malik
> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 6:52 PM
> To: Taha Mehmood
> Cc: Sarai List
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] On a sublime form of propaganda:
> ‘UIDAI is just the back-end’
> 
> HI Taha,
>            Yesterday the
> fellow for Census also took data for Aadhar project from my
> residence. The data items were: Name, father's name,mother's
> name, date of birth & place of birth.This is for your
> info pl.
> With warm regards,
> 
> (A.K.MALIK)
> 
> 
> --- On Tue, 5/25/10, Taha Mehmood <2tahamehmood at googlemail.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > From: Taha Mehmood <2tahamehmood at googlemail.com>
> > Subject: [Reader-list] On a sublime form of
> propaganda: ‘UIDAI is just the back-end’
> > To: "Sarai Reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 1:04 PM
> > Dear All
> > 
> > Consider this: In a cognitive propaganda model,
> language is
> > used
> > extensively to induce what is known as cognitive
> > distortions. Such
> > distortions are then utilized to justify an action. A
> good
> > example for
> > this would be: The underprivileged of India are
> > ‘suffering’ we give
> > them a number and everything would be alright after
> wards
> > etc.
> > 
> > The sublime technique of filtering is part of
> Cognitive
> > Propaganda.
> > Now as we all know, ‘filtering’ is over-focusing
> on one
> > aspect of
> > something to the exclusion of everything else.
> > 
> > Now consider this:
> > 
> > After attending a cabinet committee meeting on UIDAI
> alias
> > Aadhar
> > alias MNIC, Mr. Nilekani spoke to the press. In this
> > respect, I wish
> > to
> > draw your attention to the following statement given
> by Mr.
> > Nilekani
> > about UIDAI.
> > 
> > “We are just a number issuing and data collecting
> > authority…UIDAI is
> > just the back-end,” said Mr. Nilekani.
> > 
> > http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article433961.ece
> > 
> > I find the portrayal of UID by its boss Mr. Nilekani,
> as a
> > ‘number
> > issuing authority’ very very interesting. My
> interest was
> > drawn to a
> > particular word -JUST-
> > 
> > Remember 1,50,000 Crores are riding behind this word
> very
> > innocuous
> > word  -just-. 1,50,000 crores of public money
> which is
> > going to be
> > transferred in the name of creating an archive of
> > hearsays’.
> > 
> > My respect for Mr. Nilekani has grown manifold,
> because he
> > seems to be
> > using a very sophisticated cognitive propaganda model
> to
> > complete his
> > brief i.e. to transfer 1,50,000 crores of public
> money, in
> > the name of
> > a  necessary exercise, to a particular industry,
> in
> > the name of a
> > technological ideal.
> > 
> > Every time Mr. Nilekani comes to face the news camera
> or
> > talks to
> > press reporters. These days he does it every day. He
> will
> > focus on ‘number issuing authority’ aspect of UID
> in a
> > very carefully
> > crafted manner.
> > 
> > What about Natgrid Sir?
> > 
> > What about total costs of the project, SIr?
> > 
> > He will not answer any question related to the total
> cost
> > of project.
> > I mean. Man! does he wants us to believe that this is
> how
> > he has run
> > his business all these years, without having an idea
> of the
> > cost of
> > investment, or returns on investment or without having
> an
> > idea of how
> > he will be spending in the course of say next five
> years?
> > 
> > Why does anyone not talk about this loot of public
> money in
> > the name
> > of underprivileged of India?
> > 
> > Reminds me of a conversation I have had with a friend
> once.
> > He was
> > telling me about the atom bomb. When atom bomb was
> made, US
> > gov, hired
> > some linguists and propagandists i.e. communication
> experts
> > to sell
> > the idea of bomb to the US public. They had to sell to
> the
> > general
> > public, that it is morally okay for US army to
> slaughter a
> > huge number
> > of innocent people who had nothing to do with the
> war.
> > 
> > Linguists zeroed in on one word. -ONLY- . The
> propaganda
> > machine
> > worked like mad to sell this idea. Only a couple of
> > thousands will be
> > affected. Only few hundred thousands will have to pay
> the
> > immediate
> > price and so on to create an impression that
> ‘only’ a
> > ‘few’ people
> > will be affected.
> > 
> > ONLY is a deeply ambiguous word which means a variety
> of
> > things but
> > while used an adjective it means, being the single one
> or
> > the
> > relatively few of the kind.
> > 
> > ONLY shares a close association with JUST which is
> also a
> > deeply
> > ambiguous word and when used as an adverb means, only
> or
> > merely.
> > 
> > I wonder if, Mr. Nilekani is deliberately resorting to
> the
> > use of
> > these words to create some sort  carefully
> calibrated
> > cognitive
> > dissonance? A type of dissonance which first justifies
> the
> > use of UID
> > as an aid to the underprivileged while distorting
> UID’s
> > potential as
> > an agency which could deeply harm the privacy of
> > individuals. At the
> > same time, I wonder whether, cognitive dissonance is
> used
> > deliberately
> > to take attention off from an open loot of the public
> > money, this
> > naked subsidizing to revive a middle class sector, to
> > revive a myth of
> > India as IT Superpower?
> > 
> > Warm regards
> > 
> > Taha
> > _________________________________________
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> 
>       
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