No Borders and Binaries

India is on the Moon. Will this solve the problem of illiteracy, dowry marriages, poverty, floods, communalism and caste tensions?

Probably not. But the country is still proud of its ‘achievement’

And, of course, who can deny there is always pride and a sense of accomplishment in doing science at the cutting edge? To be just one of a handful of countries who have the technical skills and expertise to launch an indigenously developed space craft that can reach the moon is a tremendous achievement by itself.

When the Indian obsession with going to the moon in order to parallel and join the exclusive space war club enshrined by whiteness is over, do take a look at this video:

This is an adaptation of Gil Scott Heron’s Whitey on the Moon, which is quite apt for the situation:

A rat done bit my behen.
(with Desi on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Desi’s on the moon)
I can’t pay no doctor bill.
(but Desi’s on the moon)
Ten years from now I’ll be payin’ still.
(while Desi’s on the moon)
The man jus’ upped my rent las’ night.
(’cause Desi’s on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Desi’s on the moon)
I wonder why he’s uppi’ me?
(’cause Desi’s on the moon?)
I wuz already payin’ ‘im fifty a week.
(with Desi on the moon)
Taxes takin’ my whole damn check,
Junkies makin’ me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin’ up,
An’ as if all that shit wuzn’t enough:
A rat done bit my behen.
(with Desi on the moon)
Her face an’ arm began to swell.
(but Desi’s on the moon)
Was all that money I made las’ year
(for Desi on the moon?)
How come there ain’t no money here?
(Hmm! Desi’s on the moon)
Y’know I jus’ ’bout had my fill
(of Desi on the moon)
I think I’ll sen’ these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Desi on the moon)

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