Noam Chomsky
I remember watching interviews of Noam Chomsky on Manufacturing Consent when I was 21 and it blew my mind.
To criticise governments, media for the shit they do, it needs balls. Educated population for wasting time watching TV instead of questioning people in power. It's reels now but the idea remains the same.
It was new for me.
His interviews on Justice and need for a creative outlet in a person's life were universal. His arguments made sense at every level. Doesn't matter a western country or a third world.
He was an anarchist and some of ideas repelled me. That it felt it was so easy for him to just go to interviews and say Capitalism bad, communism bad. He never took actions. Or did he? This I do not know.
But the questions he raised were on point.
My first reaction was that yes, it is relevant to India. Second was curiosity. Why isn't anyone talking about this in India? Or are they not allowed to talk?
It felt like Noam was talking on behalf of all the dissenters who have been called names since forever.
Anyone who reads or watches Noam Chomsky will never worship big corporations, government and its leaders.
Anyone who reads or watches Noam Chomsky will understand that there are plethora of questions they can't ask, even though they live in a democracy.
Anyone who reads or watches Noam Chomsky will understand that your freedom is defined by people in power, and not necessarily the elected ones.
Anyone who reads or watches Noam Chomsky will know that dissent is not optional in a democracy.
I don't remember who suggested Noam to me but his work has played an important part in building my political beliefs.
I suggest him to everyone who reads or is interested in broadening their horizon of thinking and do not want to be fit in a box according to their vocation.
Remembering Noam Chomsky today. May he rest in peace.