Destino.

GTKY

X: What is your name?

     "Vaibhav"

X: What?
     "Web..huv' (w-bh-av)"

X: [Looks perplexed, would not even try to pronounce & not remember it anyways)]
    "That's ok! You can call me VK."

X: Muslim?
      "no.."

X: Your name sounds like.
     "(genuinely surprised, the first time). Born in a Hindu family."

X: Are you Tamil?
     "‘Illay’...(No - the only Tamil word I know), from North India, near Delhi- Rajasthan, the deserts in the west bordering Pakistan."

X & I: Talk about either of the three: women in India(Aishwarya Rai / Bipasha Basu genre) [Read: not women issues]; Cricket or Hindi Movies. Well, that’s pretty much the usual ‘Get to Know You’ conversation.

He / She has already made impressions about you (religion + country) and would not really ask questions about your journey, emotions or aspirations. This is not how you get to know people conventionally.

I failingly try and steer the conversation to issues of upcoming elections, ethnic conflict or economic progress & sometimes succeed with a limited few (usually in office).

Sri Lanka goes for Presidential elections on Nov. 17, election pundits / journalists say that swing votes from Tamil dominated North shall define the outcome of the elections and of the future peace process. A few Tamilians I have talked to are of the view that current Prime Minister Mahinda cannot be trusted with peace and should not win the presidential race. However he holds strong support in the masses, especially in Buddhist - Sinhalese, (the first candidate from South Sri Lanka for President). His strongest opposition – Ranil Wickramasinghe, not very popular with masses (allegedly his speeches can put crowds to sleep), but hails from a pro economic reform party & ‘promises’ to change constitution making SL a federal state, sharing governance / power with the Tamils & thus bringing peace.

Since elections are coming soon, there is a flurry of sops & promises handed out each day, past scandals are surfacing suddenly, secret information (discovery of oil off shore of Colombo) being shared with public & businessmen a la George Soros way are running their own information / awakening campaign to educate the voters.

All in all, a view into democratic-constitutionally-run-international-agency-monitored-‘this-time-life-changing’-national-elections (the best of governance) like anywhere else.

I am happy I don’t need a GTKY with this one.

End of Reconciliation III.

More on news from SriLanka at: www.lbo.lk

'The Business Experiment'

The Business Experiment (www.thebusinessexperiment.com) - it's a new business idea that is based on the 'wisdom of crowds' concept.  WoC refers to the idea that the average opinion of common people is better than the best estimate of the most knowledgable expert. 

TBE is basically a bunch of people trying to start a business (it looks like it will be some type of niche consulting firm).  All major decisions are voted on by members.  The more people participated the more shares they earn in the company.  A unique and interesting concept.

Another interesting similar business in function already is www.trendspotting.com. However it doesnot give you ownership, but gifts etc. to spot a useful emerging consumer trend. For those in Europe, try and join one of their conferences focusing on emerging consumer patterns and marketing to niche audiences.

‘I did not Kill Gandhi..’

‘Maine Gandhi ko nahi maara..’ (I did not kill Gandhi) is a new Hindi movie bringing back Gandhi, father of the nation in the current Indian context and living. The movie is stirring a debate about the application of Gandhi’s ideals in today’s world and today’s India. Yesterday I got to know about the movie while watching a show (Mtv) asking people to express their opinions about relevance and application of Gandhi’s philosophy in today’s context…

Most said (mostly young people).. “not applicable in today’s context”, this was not surprising to hear.. however, what was more surprising was the primary reason why people think Gandhi is irrelevant today… “if a country or terrorists strike us, we will strike back. We got to defend.”……people easily externalizing Gandhi and his ideals away from their own action and making big political statements about war & peace forgetting Gandhi’s way was simply about looking at yourself.. looking into you and improving bit by bit. Steady on course. Ofcourse we will defend, but how does that make Gandhi irrelevant?

Mahatma was not about just a freedom movement from the empire (The Raj).. he is so much about freedom to live a life of peace and fulfillment through reflection, action and responsibility. He is about building a better nation with ‘your action’ than ‘abdicating from your responsibilities’.

He is not just about earning freedom from someone else, Gandhi is about being free to pursue your ambitions in a framework of principle. He is about Self-reliance while being collaborative and forward thinking.

From my understanding if I were to put in today’s activism and policy making jargons, Gandhi was instrumental in India to bring attention to:

1.

‘Diversity and inclusion’: the way he championed the Dalit,  women’s rights & peace among religions.

2. ‘Sustainable localized economic Progress’: Gandhi is the epitome of Cottage Industry and sustainable local communities working on a basis that suits best to the local reality. (Salt making, cotton weaving, farming).

3. ‘Education for all, Health & well-being’: His ten principle mentioned them always and championed literacy & ‘Health and well being’ in each speech to the masses.

The application of Gandhi and his ideals are as relevant today as were before he even articulated them for us. Perhaps, it is a matter of what perspective(read: box) you choose to live your life in.

Possibly, with each missed day on living a life of principle.. we all are individually killing Gandhi.

Anyways, coming back to the movie, you can read a review here

Also, another article on Relevance of Gandhi in today’s India:

- Peace.

Assorted Browsings

UN: International online student  conference on 'Building a Safer World' and role of UN in future is starting soon, for those interested to voice out, visit: http://discuss.politalk.org/ and register yourself.

Energy: If you are intersted in future of energy (which you should be), considering within our lifetime we need to massively shift away from fossil fuels to green fuels (if legislations facilitate and companies dont chase Q-Q profits for a few years).  An interesting read is on the discovery & usage of Jhatropa (Diesel fuel plant).  I am personally eager to know more about this as Rajasthan is piloting the project. India is aiming to have 5% Jhatropa bio fuel mix in all diesel used by year 2008. Huge opportunity for plantations! Any enterprising people listening to this one?! or VCs

Year of Microfinance: Yes, the ‘Live 8’ concerts are done, G8 announcing debt write off’s gone by and with the natural disasters in the news in 2005, Making Poverty History seems to be taking a backseat. However if you are looking to know what is happening on this front & how you can contribute, you can take a look at: http://www.yearofmicrocredit.org/, view this celebrity endorsement.
Also

India, real perspective: For those interested in reading about background of Indian Economy & political environment & some  pragmatic suggestions on the future, I highly recommend "Future of India" by Bimal Jalan (ex 'RBI' chief  / The Indian Central Bank).  Clear sighted & easy to read with an insiders view & recommendations on demand & supply of Corruption, redundant legislations, rusted bureaucracy, loss making public sector, Elections of coalition interests, etc. No “we will be 3^rd largest economy in 2025" euphoria. Mr. Jalan states how India can easily blow up its chances of doing better, just like in cricket!! Now, I endorse that one!

Syntax Error. System Hegemony,

People & places have an influence on you deeper than you think. Proof: they bring a situation and then a déjà vu; sometimes the other way around. An actual situation with you as actor and observer may seem to be déjà vu, and after that eerie paused-long second, you realize… voila! I was the director too!

Each new interaction evokes a sentiment, idea or simply put a reaction. So one day you decide conveniently what ideas, action, reaction you want to constantly live in and with great hope you start to choose judiciously the people you want to be with, place you want to be in and call it ‘your wonderful world’ (you may choose to be deliberate and give it a constitution, call it a democratic, secular, socialist, republic, have a currency of love, or simply just put a powerful basic tried and tested principle in practice: “your gene pool shall determine the course of this world from now!”). Not the entire point here.

You are toiling to effectively shaping your world that is functional, conducive to your need of comfort and allows you to conserve & nurture your identity: you call it ‘home’. However to continue to stay on course, you know your world should not be challenged too much, because you feel threatened, insecure. After all you created it to “live happily ever after” & some moron challenging you is hurting your fundamental idea of what you think is human purpose, society’s role and other big-macro instruments (that are failing to help for whom they are designed). In short, you don’t want anyone stirring the value system. You don’t want a change. (scene ended)

My reconciliation brings me to understand that not all stories start with “once upon a time” and end with “..and they lived happily ever after”. Though they may & can. The Boatcar guy did answer: …“ I may not understand, I may not even necessarily agree to it, it, but I accept it and sort’a just glide along.” In a non-linear world as mine, where circles are more important than squares, I came along this piece explaining the macro cultural and mindset shifts I am living today.

A pragmatic comparison of ‘rough mindset’ of world I belonged to and the world I went to, borrowed from the Patrimonio Hoy research:

Cultural Values coming into conflict:

Historical, Status Culture	Modern, Economic transactional culture
Personal identity and reputation based on place in social network given at birth and confirmed by patrons	Personal identity and reputation built by responsible series of effective transactions.
Fate or God determines outcomes: Therefore, planning is arrogant, particularly for more than a year.	Planning and regular execution determine outcomes: Therefore, believing in an individual fate is foolish.
Family and community festivals put you in touch with meaning of life. Work to Live. Failure to take part produces shame.	Working for the sake of working is a value in and of itself. Getting yourself and nuclear family ahead is the good life.
Patrons and authorities are important. Important relations are hierarchical. And Patrons give and forgive loans.	Negotiated or contractual relationships are important. Important relations are equal.
Envy and distrust produce a win-lose mentality.  Anyone who gets ahead has taken something that could have been shared.	Self-motivating attitude or ‘echarle ganas’.  Working at something with a good attitude can help you get ahead.

In a world of butterfly effects, things will never reach one perfect state and stay there. You mix, match and stay curious.

However, life & living seems to just teasingly confront you with “your possibilities, make a choice, live the reality”. Again & again & again, till one gets tired and stops playing. However, it still is playing with you.

Welcome to a world of circles lead by square boxes!

End of reconciliation – part 2

Welcome to wherever you are!

The great reconciliation started sometime back…

I remember being in Rotterdam in one of those last few days of July, some time in late evening in my own space of 529 Hofdijk. A usual setting that felt home, from the window ahead, laid the familiar 200 degree Rotterdam view with characteristic KPN lights & stringed Erasmus bridge, room with the same cinnamon incense, multi-colored agates, one lit candle, dim lights & ‘Che soave zeffiretto’ making it complete, almost perfect. And then looking out, I had this immense urge.. “I need to be back in India”, I need to get connected with…

As I continue, I discover the urge that said ‘ I want to be back in India’ was just a metaphor, just an image to mean: I want to be ‘back to myself’...my hopes, my aspirations and my promises made to myself. A possible egocentric vision of fulfillment..or putting another way, one with most freedom; unsure at first glance, like before.

It is not same as saying.. I want to be myself… that I have been all this while, but to say I want to be doing more of what really means to me & I value. And thus to meet the challenge to know more of what really means to you or has meant to you… started the exercise to open bags of memories where you find old promises wailing to be acted upon, loved ones holding you, almost embracing you to play a part in their dreams & you running from somewhere to somewhere.

Still Running. However, the lights now said: “Welcome to wherever you are.”

End of reconciliation-1