Latest news with #Marx
New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lord Meghnad Desai: Economist, Mahatma Gandhi baiter, Dilip Kumar fan and much more
Lord Meghnad Desai, by his own admission, was a short-term pessimist and a medium-run optimist. The renowned British Indian economist and House of Lords peer, taught econometrics at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE), and dabbled in developmental economics, macroeconomics and Marxian economics. His multi-disciplinary thinking and commitment to social justice drew Desai into writing on a range of subjects besides economics such as films and even the Bhagavad Gita. He once casually quipped that his book on Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar -- Nehru's Hero Dilip Kumar -- was his greatest achievement. But as Desai later clarified, the comment was 'mostly facetious,' because he met his second wife Kishwar Desai (former TV personality Kishwar Ahluwalia) while she was editing the book. His first marriage lasted 25 years, from which he has three children. Desai specialized in teaching Marxist economics and wrote several books including Marxian Economic Theory in 1973 (revised later in 1979), Applied Econometrics, Testing Monetarism, Marxian Economic Theory, Marx's Revenge: The Resurgence of Capitalism and the death of Statist Socialism. Some of his other offbeat books include The Rediscovery of India and Who Wrote the Bhagavad Gita. His other academic contributions include over 200 scholarly articles. Among all the books he wrote, his actual favourite is Marx's Revenge: The Resurgence of Capitalism and the death of Statist Socialism, which he termed as a 'globaliser's' book, championing the full freedom of movement of capital, labour, trade and migrants. The book's central argument was, if it came to a choice between the market and the state to goose the economy, modern libertarians would be as shocked as modern socialists to find Marx on the side of the market. "If it came to a choice between whether the Market or the State should rule the economy, the modern libertarians would be shocked as much as the modern socialists to find Marx on the side of the Market," he wrote in the book. Analysing some of Marx's lesser-known writings, he argued that his theories enhance our understanding of modern capitalism and globalization. First, that international trade is good for poor countries, workers have an interest in being exploited by capitalists, as high profits guarantee employment. Third, states are inefficient and markets efficient. He went to show how, in theory and in argument, Marx was committed to the idea that capitalism has to flower fully if it is to allow the bourgeois class to fulfil its modernising destiny. The book briefly surveyed 150 years of global capitalism and some of its leading thinkers including Adam Smith, Lenin, Schumpeter, Hayek, Polanyi, Keynes and Marx. Religion rebel Interestingly, Desai was actively opinionated about religion and pretty often. In January 2012, delivering a lecture at the Prof Ramlal Parikh Memorial Lecture organised by the Indian Society for Community Education, Desai castigated Gandhi's use of the Gita as it condoned violence and equated the Mahabharata war to a holocaust. He raised two issues. First about Gandhiji's endorsement of Bhagavad Gita, and his 'admiration' towards Hitler. "How could someone of Gandhiji's intellect make a mistake on Hitler? How could food and drink habits could be mistaken for virtues?" he wondered. He didn't stop there. In September 2012, he delivered another lecture at the Nalanda University in Bihar on the same topic, this time titled The Bhagavad Gita: A secular inquiry into a sacred text, which caused quite a stir. He argued that the holy book was not "a suitable text for modern India" and further questioned, "Why are we respecting the text uncritically, which has so many flaws?" Subsequently, in 2014, he developed it into a book, Who Wrote the Bhagavadgita: A Secular Enquiry into a Sacred Text, as a humanist critique of the sacred text. Desai, himself, confessed multiple times that he wasn't an expert on scriptures and that he was a self-proclaimed atheist. Still, he went on to outline how the Gita reinforces social inequity and lack of concern for others. Needless to say, Desai's views perplexed critics who concluded that perhaps, Desai found the Gita confusing, and difficult with a scant understanding of the intricacies of Vedic philosophy. They maintained that while Desai may be an intellectual giant in the field of economics, 'he was intellectually bankrupt in the field of Indian philosophy'. That aside, Desai was not new to controversies. Be it with his sensational remarks that India was never an ancient nation, or attacking the Narendra Modi government for the high-profile exits of the Reserve Bank of India governors, or the "spectacularly foolish" move to get the government's hands on RBI reserves, or spending on "stupidities" like farm loan waivers and so on. Outside India, he was under the spotlight for dispatching a letter complaining how the Asia House (in the UK) had withdrawn offensively anti-Hindu paintings by MF Hussain. Separately, he found in Labour's crosshairs for his remarks in a TV interview urging the government to impose VAT and bridge the budget deficit. Prior to that, he created a flutter for his remarks on the Church when he said: "Like my noble friend Lord Dormand I am an atheist and therefore should not speak too much about religion, but I am glad that the Church of England, having lost money in real estate, is now interested in sex and making money. That is always welcome." In 2003, he landed himself in yet another controversy for admitting dictator Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, into the London School of Economics. Amid an uproar that that Saif plagarised his PhD, Desai reasoned that the admission wasn't based on parentage but purely based on scholastic merit. But he drew ire for accepting the £1.5 million financial donation from Gaddafi. Eventually, in 2020, he resigned as a member of the UK's Labour party over its failure to effectively tackle antisemitic racism within its ranks. "I have been very uncomfortable and slightly ashamed that the party has been injected with this sort of racism. Jewish MPs were abused openly, and female members were trolled. It is out and out racism," he said. He had joined the Labour party in 1971 and was elevated to the House of Lords in June, 1991. From Baroda to Britain Desai's journey from Baroda to Britain is rather interesting. As a kid, his maternal uncle once locked him up in a dark bathroom for 20-30 minutes for being mischievous, and that unmemorable incident influenced his decision to migrate. "...In fact, I would say that I may have rejected the prospect of my staying on in India once I had the chance to go abroad for this very reason," he recalled in an interview. His journey in the US began at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his PhD in economics in 1963, but it was at the University of California-Berkley that shaped his political leanings decisively towards the Left. It's also where he first met Nobel Laurette Amartya Sen and also participated in various student protests against the Vietnam War and others. Incidentally, Desai was appointed as a lecturer at LSE in 1965 on the eve of a student rebellion! In 1983, he became a Professor of Economics and went on to head LSE's Development Studies Institute (1990-95) and found and lead LSE Global Governance (1992-2003). Desai, a Padma Bhushan awardee, taught economics during his prolonged stint at the LSE from 1965 to 2003, saw his research interests on a variety of subjects -- Marxian analysis, applied econometrics, Indian development and reform, poverty, globalisation, and the role of private markets. He founded the Centre for Study of Global Governance at LSE, as well as its Development Studies programme. Importantly, he was one of the creators of the Human Development Index (HDI) -- an inclusive index that quantifies development not by what is to be achieved but by what has been achieved. After retiring from LSE, in 2015 he collaborated with his former students to set up the Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics (MDAE) in Mumbai. His passing away at the age of 85 leaves a gaping void in many spheres.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
International superstar singer Richard Marx to perform at 2025 Logies alongside Guy Sebastian
International superstar singer Richard Marx has been confirmed as one of the musical guests performing at the 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards on Sunday. The Grammy-winning American pop star will appear as a mentor on this year's season of The Voice. He will perform a medley of his greatest hits, alongside homegrown star Guy Sebastian, who will perform his new song, Get It Done. 'Australians have always been huge supporters of my music and have brought their passion and infectious energy to my live shows across the decades,' Marx said in a statement. 'It is a privilege to be performing at Aussie TV's biggest night of celebrations. I can't wait to deliver something special for those at home and in the room.' Joining the pair, and previously announced as a musical guest, is Aussie music icon Jimmy Barnes, who will also perform on the night. They join confirmed presenters, including Kitty Flanagan, Hamish Blake, Sophie Monk, Tom Gleeson, Ricki-Lee, Poh Ling Yeow and Ray Martin, and a host of other big names, who will be on hand to present the awards. The ceremony will once again be hosted by beloved comedian Sam Pang, who has helmed the show twice previously to widespread acclaim. Marx, who has been down under for several months filming The Voice, is a singer-songwriter best known for his musical ballads Right Here Waiting and Hazard — both songs reached number one in Australia. Marx has written fourteen number one hits across multiple genres – pop, rock, country, and R&B – and is one of only two artists (alongside Michael Jackson) to have scored a number one single in four different decades since his musical debut in 1987. The 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards will screen Sunday August 3 from 7pm on Seven and 7Plus.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
International superstar to perform at this year's Logies
International superstar singer Richard Marx has been confirmed as one of the musical guests performing at the 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards on Sunday. The Grammy-winning American pop star will appear as a mentor on this year's season of The Voice. He will perform a medley of his greatest hits, alongside homegrown star Guy Sebastian, who will perform his new song, Get It Done. 'Australians have always been huge supporters of my music and have brought their passion and infectious energy to my live shows across the decades,' Marx said in a statement. 'It is a privilege to be performing at Aussie TV's biggest night of celebrations. I can't wait to deliver something special for those at home and in the room.' Joining the pair, and previously announced as a musical guest, is Aussie music icon Jimmy Barnes, who will also perform on the night. Guy Sebastian will perform Get It Done at this year's Logies. Credit: Supplied They join confirmed presenters, including Kitty Flanagan, Hamish Blake, Sophie Monk, Tom Gleeson, Ricki-Lee, Poh Ling Yeow and Ray Martin, and a host of other big names, who will be on hand to present the awards. The ceremony will once again be hosted by beloved comedian Sam Pang, who has helmed the show twice previously to widespread acclaim. Sam Pang has been announced as host of The Logies again this year. Credit: James Gourley / Getty Images Marx, who has been down under for several months filming The Voice, is a singer-songwriter best known for his musical ballads Right Here Waiting and Hazard — both songs reached number one in Australia. Marx has written fourteen number one hits across multiple genres – pop, rock, country, and R&B – and is one of only two artists (alongside Michael Jackson) to have scored a number one single in four different decades since his musical debut in 1987. The 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards will screen Sunday August 3 from 7pm on Seven and 7Plus.
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Labubus of the world unite, but not at Karl Marx's grave
If not contradictions, then what? Just beneath the iconic slogan "Workers of the world, unite!" engraved on the grave of German philosopher Karl Marx, was a Labubu doll, carefully placed, reveals a now-viral post on X. Labubus — a symbol of capitalism — of the world can unite, but not at the grave of the father of Communist photo of the odd pairing went viral, racking up over 10 million views in just five days. While some adored the quirky contrast, others were far less one user said, "Labubu could be one of the most anti-Marx things ever". The designer toy, arguably a peak symbol of late-stage consumerism, which the philosopher had long warned against, resting on the grave of the man whose socio-economic theories laid the foundation for anti-capitalist thought in the modern world, felt nothing short of ironic, and yet, undeniably some people offered an "awww", what truly stood out was a handwritten letter by a Chinese student placed next to the Labubu doll, amid other tokens of tribute left for the letter, the student, having claimed to study theories at length, hailed Marx's ideas for transforming China's destiny, which were, honestly, far more heartfelt and endearing. But in the capitalist world, who's really stopping to read that?"People clowning on the Labubu but the letter itself is very heartfelt," a person DOLLS AND COMPULSIVE CONSUMERISMLabubu dolls, part of Pop Mart's "The Monsters" collection, are the brainchild of Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. These snaggle-toothed, elf-like figures have become a global sensation among the GenZ. Its marketing model has thrived on scarcity and surprise. Sold in blind boxes, buyers don't know which doll they'll get until they open it — a tactic that mirrors gambling mechanics and drives compulsive limited-edition figures reselling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, Labubus, to me at least, epitomises the artificial desire Marx critiqued in his warnings about capitalism's commodification of human dolls, often flaunted by influencers like Rihanna and Dua Lipa, have gone from being toys to status symbols for Gen Zs, and now, even gripped the late toys dangling from luxury handbags as badges have become symbols of Labubu dolls range from $15–$30 for standard figures and keychains, up to $960 for large editions. Rare 1.2-metre pieces fetching up to $170,000 at auctions. In India, prices start at Rs 2,000 for authentic pieces, but in flea markets, one can find counterfeit ones for as low as Rs ARE WHAT MARX HAD WARNED OFThe manufactured hype, where value stems from market frenzy rather than utility, is what late-stage consumerism is, Marx foresaw. It is a system where desire is engineered, and consumption is an internet's reaction to the Labubu on Marx's grave was a mix of hilarity and biting commentary."Icon of modern consumerism on his grave. He would have hated you," one person wrote. And fair enough, given the dissonance of a capitalist trinket adorning the resting place of Communism's person observed, "There's something deeply poetic and unhinged about a collectable capitalist gremlin sitting on the grave of the man who critiqued capitalism itself. Peak irony".With the question of who placed the doll still unanswered, the safest guesses remain a playful tourist, a cheeky critic, or an unwitting fan. But the sentiment online was clear: "Capitalism wins again", as one person declared, though perhaps they missed the fall of the Berlin LETTER AND BOILED POTATOES FOR MARXWith the viral buzz on, the Chinese student's letter offered a counterpoint. Written by one Liu Yuhae, the letter was full of deep gratitude for Marx's influence on contemporary socialist thought in China."I have always wanted to write you a letter," the student began, admitting their struggle to fully grasp his complex works, like The Communist Manifesto and The Critique of the Gotha a heartfelt touch, the student joked about looking like a potato and dreaming of cooking them for Marx in the after all, in his The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte (1852), likened the French peasantry to a sack of potatoes, lumped together by condition but scattered in spirit, incapable of collective action without a binding IT NEED A LABUBU DOLL TO REMIND THE WORLD OF MARX?This letter carried, if not less, far more substance, more weight and thoughtfulness, the kind of note that truly belonged knows how many such letters lie unread at Marx's grave? But in a world dominated by capitalism, it took a Labubu doll for the post to go combined appearance of the sincere letter and the Labubu doll in northern London, where the philosopher spent the last decades of his life after fleeing political persecution in continental Europe, is nothing short of magic and their fans of the world may well unite and are uniting, but preferably not at Karl Marx's grave. True admirers of such marketed and ornamented trends would be better off finding more appreciative company presence of the Labubu doll at Marx's grave, however, is a reminder of capitalism's uncanny ability to repackage things as a marketable aesthetic. Let the dolls gather elsewhere, and leave Marx's to inspire, at least until the workers of the world unite. If they really ever do.- Ends
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Netizens tickled by images of Labubu doll resting on Karl Marx's grave in London
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The popular elf-like plush toy, with its pointy ears and toothy grin, is seen among letters and flowers left on Marx's grave. Call it an unexpected crossover. A photo of a Labubu doll placed on German philosopher Karl Marx's grave in London has gone viral in recent days, leaving many netizens amused. Photos and videos shared on social media platforms show the popular elf-like plush toy, with its pointy ears and toothy grin, resting among letters and flowers left on Marx's grave in Highgate Cemetery. A video posted on TikTok had amassed over 4 million views in one day. The doll quickly became the centre of discussions online, with some pointing out that it was ironic to see doll on the grave of a figure who was a strong critic of capitalism. Known for his works on socialism and communism, Marx critiqued capitalism as a system that alienates people from the society they belong to. One TikTok user commented: 'Something poetic about the newest symbol of consumerism and capitalism to be at the grave of the founder.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Singapore Vapes: The silent killer hiding in the pocket Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers without facing penalties Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly 'The symbol of would have hated it,' another user said. 'Are they trying to rage bait him back to life?,' another used asked. The term is used to describe situations or content that provoke outrage. Labubu dolls, created by Chinese toy maker Pop Mart , have become a recent global sensation. The highly coveted dolls inspired by Nordic folklore have been flying off the shelves in Singapore and globally, after they were seen on celebrities, including Blackpink's Lisa, Rihanna and Dua Lipa. Collectors would form snaking queues outside stores ahead of new releases, which are snapped up almost instantly. In June 2025, a human-sized labubu doll was auctioned off for a whopping US$150,000 (S$193,000) in Beijing. Meanwhile, once seen as a niche industry, necrotourism is becoming increasingly popular as more tourists visit sites of suffering and death, such as battlegrounds and cemeteries. Highgate Cemetery in north London is also where other well-known figures, such as musician George Michael and author Douglas Adams, have been laid to rest. There is an admission fee of £8 (S$13.80). Marx moved to London in 1849 and lived in the British capital for the rest of his life. He died on March 14, 1883, aged 64. The granite slab monument in north London, 3.7m tall and topped with a bronze bust of Marx, was funded in 1956 by the Communist Party of Great Britain. As one X user puts it: 'Late-stage capitalism really said: Labubu x Karl Marx collab'.
