This short story Priya Sarukkai Chabria is a part of Kitaab Quarterly Vol 1.
Cockaigne A Reappraisal (Draft of paper) by Dr. Indumati Jones
(To be presented at UTIIMDS)
(smile widely on reaching the podium while turning your head 180 degrees to include all members)
I am honoured to present to this august gathering my paper Cockaigne A Reappraisal which is also a reappraisal of the era of so-called ‘Anthropocene greed’. It raises fundamental issues about humankind’s right to peruse a long-standing dream of plenty. But first to Cockaigne’s colourful history in legends.
(pause, smile again, and begin)
A popular term in medieval European lore, it signified a land of peace and plenty where work was forbidden; peasantry and palace servants indolently lay about all day. In this fabled land, the harshness and drudgery of farm life are banished and replaced with every kind of pleasure and luxury: fattened fowl run about asking to be eaten, buttered lark fall from the sky, roasted pigs peel off their crackling skins as offerings. Moreover, the lucky denizens lived in edible castles and the season remains an eternally balmy spring. An early Irish version, The Vision of MacConglinne provides a parody of the traditional saint’s vision in which a king is possessed by Demon Gluttony but is cured by a vision of this land. In the 13th century, France appears the fabliau, Cocagne, a similar satire, while The Land of Cockayne of about the same period lampoons monastic life. In this Irish ditty of the 14th century, Cockaigne is linked to biblical promises of plenitude which illustrates the enduring impact of its lure on mankind. I quote: (read in a sing-song voice)
Though paradise be merry and bright,
Cokaygne is yet a fairer sight
There is no thunder, no hail,
There is no vile worm nor snail,
And no storm, rain nor wind.
There no man nor woman is blind.
There are rivers great and fine
Of oil, milk, honey, and wine.
End quote.
In the 16th century, the Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder famously portrayed scenes of laziness and lassitude in his version of The Land of Cockayne. Lubberland displaced the term Cockaigne in the 17th century; while the American hobo folklore Big Rock Candy Mountain expresses a utopia that provides an escape from the meanness of reality. In other legends across the world, we repeatedly come across the same alluring idea that underlies our shared dream – across continents (add the previous phase quickly) of a good life for all.
Viewed from the perspective of the 21st century, Cockaigne is (read this slowly and emphatically) a state of reality where automatons work the grind; it posits a future world of undreamt comfort that (smile here) closely parallels our world today. The famous Brothers Grimm who wrote fairytales put out: ‘There I saw a plough ploughing without horse or cow… and I saw two gnats building a bridge… Have I not told enough lies?’(smile) The first ‘miracle’ (emphasis miracle) obviously translates as harvesters while bridge-building gnats clearly are drones. I now ask: which side of the climate debate is ‘telling lies’ if they merely emphasize an exaggerated underside of this shared dream?
Through the corresponding qualities of fairness and justice embedded in the idea of Cockaigne remain at some distance for many world citizens, we have largely eased toil from our existence with a range of equipment from heavy earth lifters in the industry to washing machines in our domestic spaces to AI robot companions of which more shortly. In other words, we already exist in the previous ‘dream world’ of Cockaigne without us realizing it (emphasis this) as we speed down the technological highway; and as we creatively and scientifically reimagine AI and the digital sphere as more than technology relegated to the entertainment industry.
To date, AI and satellite communications have improved transportation, traffic management, and weather warnings on land, air, and oceans. In the field of medicine, the application of nanotechnology and more complex robotics is enhancing recovery from disease and will continue to revolutionize the healthcare industry to an unforeseen degree. With augmented AI inputs that analyse large amounts of financial data, this sector is being steered towards making more predictive decisions in the stock market and can tailor options to meet the investment patterns of specific financial firms. (Add examples. Quote sources?) On a lighter note, (smile here) Photoshop will be relegated to the past as in-camera devices will automatically correct flaws. Power outages like the one I’m currently experiencing will be outdated –pun intended! – (smile here) as various AI-driven units will be linked to a central intelligence system – as is already occurring in certain Smart Cities worldwide.
The emergence of Big Data enabled by digital technology and increasingly complex simulations of weather patterns will further enhance sustainable agro-commerce thus relieving stresses on the planet. Corporations have invested in research of genetically modified seeds (GM) and seed editing to develop varieties of even higher yielding crops while vegan flesh (VF) grown without brain or nervous systems will be the new norm for our tables. (brief smile here). Hard-core Paleos who demand their daily ‘pound of flesh’ (chuckle here) per day – which includes me (brief smile)– need not feel excluded. For instance, Omega-3 enriched GM pigs (O3GMP) are already being herded toward factory assembly lines. A diet produced by such innovative and eco-friendly methods promises better prospects for humankind than Cockaigne’s buttered birds that drop from the sky. (wide smile here). With the world population expected to leapfrog by over two billion within the next thirty years the mantra for agro-science will be ‘Grow More On Less’ (GMOL). The Vertical Intensive Indoor (VII) model of large, covered farms will provide wholesome and delicious produce grown in nutrient-rich solutions even in terrains now considered inhospitable to cultivation.
Similarly, sustainable forestry –already a rapidly growing industry– is focussed on genetically tweaked adaptations of local flora that seem to be diminishing due to climatic warming as it has been recorded that such species prefer to slowly migrate to higher altitudes. This movement will thus soon be brought to a halt. Alongside, the miniaturization and specialization of Drone Bees (MSDB) for pollination purposes are no longer in the realm of fantasy as such experiments have begun, (drop voice) albeit in laboratories.
(raise voice) Early anthropologists named our species homo sapiens or Wise Ones for a good reason. As the dominant species, we are dedicated to the protection of other species on our planet. As is well known, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already set aside billions of dollars for such enterprises worldwide. We are committed to creating large ecospheres for species in interactive safari parks, zoos, and reserved zones. Furthermore, an extensive database in the Antarctic is already established to preserve the DNA of every known species. These will, in the near future, and if necessary, be able to resituate and re-establish extinct species –though not in the mode of Jurassic Park! (quick laugh here). Equally important, laboratories are already established that extensively preserve and study hitherto unknown properties of flora and fauna for the advantage of homo sapiens and of course the species under our dominion.
‘Miracle’ cures for various diseases via new medicines lie within our grasp once a rational approach is adopted worldwide against outmoded ‘Earth Protectionist’ tendencies of certain Indigenous Peoples and their activists. Tremendous breakthroughs await us in every field. While on the one hand certain corporations –and governments–are developing economically viable strategies to mine the moon for resources, there are still those who see malevolent and/or guiding spirits among trees (smile here). This is an extension of their belief systems wherein they confusedly assign human qualities of life and consciousness to nonhuman and inorganic substances. For instance, not only do they believe that trees in a park sense us as we pass them but even that the walls and seats in this commodious conference hall are aware of our presence as we sit. That is, there exists an ongoing state of mutual detection of existences between species, although we dwellers of hyper-cities have now apparently sadly lost this ability. (smile here) Furthermore, such groups submit that the planet speaks in the voices of natural phenomena that we must once again train ourselves to hear. (smile here and pause) for they cherish the belief (substitute repetition of ‘belief’ with ‘idea’ if this doesn’t suggest creative thinking?) for they cherish the belief that the earth itself is a gigantic living organism whose unwritten laws must be heeded. Else, our impending peril! (smile widely)
Thus, of crucial importance to our evolution is the dismissal of obsolete cultural paradigms such as the abovementioned and the rapid re-education of sections of the populace that are swayed by similar faiths so that Cockaigne is reappraised to represent an aspirational and affluent reality, more than the one we currently inhabit, but surely deserve. (work on these last two paragraphs to drive the point home without obviously rankling IPs and activists)
We do not shy away from addressing concerns about deteriorating climatic conditions, for instance, experienced by Hurricanes Ivanka and Imalda that recently left a wake of destruction in our neighbourhoods. I point naysayers to covert, ground-breaking research – (drop voice here, quickly as an aside) though still in the experimental stage – (raise voice) of Weather Bomb Capsules (WBC) that can be launched on rockets into the stratosphere to target forming storms through controlled explosions. These will neutralize potential danger via a two-pronged strategy
1. by dispersing cloud formations that threaten nearby vicinities and
2. by creating miniature vacuums in remote places or if the Army has its way (rich chuckle here) over hostile nations into which the remnants of the storms will amass. (smile here) At a later stage of our development, we envisage harvesting the energy of storms and other such natural phenomena that we presently term ‘disasters’ — though this innovation currently lies in the area of speculation, much like men were sceptical about hydroelectric projects before the first power plant began operations in 1882 along the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. It is only a matter of time before the awesome ‘improbable’ will become an accepted part of our reality, thus far exceeding the expectations of an easy life envisioned by the creators of Cockaigne. (is the last sentence overkill? Reappraise?)
We, as world partners in a burgeoning growth industry, are hastening sustainability that will enhance, rather than deplete the ‘integrity’ (pause, raise an eyebrow) of soils, waters, and wind. AI’s ceaseless creativity undoubtedly unleashes into our lives a sense of unbounded possibilities which promises greater freedom for our kind. I now call your attention to a point about Ethics. Should the benefits that accrued from expensive research products developed by Big Tech like, for instance, Super Yield Grains (SYG), be channelled into prosperity systems of large corporations or scattered into some dozen NGOs? The answer is obvious. Multinationals have the capacity to manufacture on massive scales, which they then sell to multitudes of consumers who thus improve their lot worldwide, while handing out the same to NGOs will only be ameliorative to a few, and in the short term. It is significant to point out that orthodox thinkers and cynics are only too quick in raising objections about the amazing, almost uncanny wonders that AI and NewTEK bring into existence, but (pause) but are on the forefront when demanding a share of its gains. (suppressed snigger effect, ‘clear’ throat, and continue).
In every earlier age pushing physical boundaries, revolutionary thinking, and brave new technology was considered tampering with God’s work and inviting dark supernatural forces into human lives. Alas, to many, our age is no different. But, as has been repeatedly proved such visionaries led their people into prosperity. Let us recall that Christopher Columbus and similar globe-trotters who circumvented the earth brought unimaginable wealth to their counties that were mired in poverty and hunger. Before their ground-breaking achievements mankind believed the earth was flat, and at its edge lived bloodthirsty hellhounds. Today, such backward-looking standpoints prevent realization that science, AI, and tech can solve any problem that could arise, that indeed the ‘Monsters’ are only in their minds, not in the thrilling high-yield world we are leveraging. Let us remember it is our birth right to envision large happiness. (bring hand down on podium without thumping).
We now address the concerns of citizens about the extraction industries on which our civilization flourishes via the extraction of rare earths, oil, gas, and even gemstone mining. (smile here). Our scientific use of AI-enhanced robotic technology for deep sea oil extraction and ground-breaking sensitive directional drilling technology (DDT), particularly in the Arctic ice fields has led to unprecedented depth and precision of boreholes, substantially lowering investment and running costs. An analogy I find ‘fun’ is to imagine the earth as a gigantic coconut (smile, look around) with us pushing in straws to suck up its water. (quick smile) ‘Earth-Sensitive Economist and Social Scientists’ (ESESS) -to use the popular sobriquet- (smile widely here, pause, repeat ESESS before continuing) propose that extensive mining and extraction industries cause increased imbalances in tectonic plate movements thus augmenting fissures that lead to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on land and undersea, that cause amplified damage worldwide. We are familiar with this argument. (smile here and perhaps wave a hand in a casual dismissive gesture?). However, this has been proven to be untrue as the planet has a history of such natural disturbances since its beginning some 4.54 billion years ago. Slight tremors caused by mild seismic shifts such as the one I am experiencing while formulating this paper will, in the future, be made more controllable through accurate predictions and…
Author’s Bio
Priya Sarukkai Chabria’s ten books include poetry, speculative fiction, literary non-fiction, translation; and as editor, two poetry anthologies. Among them is Sing of Life: Revisioning Tagore’s Gitanjali (poems), Andal: The Autobiography of a Goddess (translation), Clone (speculative fiction), and Bombay/Mumbai: Immersions (non-fiction). She channels the Sanskrit rasa theory of aesthetics, Tamil Sangam (2-4BCE) poetics, and bhakti/sacred ecologies into her work. As Founding Editor, of Poetry at Sangam she’s editing World Poetry In Translation culled its pages, forthcoming, 2023. http://poetry.sangamhouse.org/. She has received the Muse Translation Award, Kitab Experimental Fiction Award, and Best Reads by Feminist Press; and has been recognised for her Outstanding Contribution to Literature by the Government of India. http://www.priyasarukkaichabria.com