Diplomatic Strategies ..

I am sure every one might have come across a passing reference of following activities:

1. Ample availability of Bollywood movie CDs/DVDs in Afghanistan. In fact these days all the visitors to the Indian embassy in Afghan can pick as many CDs/DVDs as they need for free.

2. Sudden attention in building Buddhists temples and organizing Buddhist festivals/get togethers. There has been a Buddhist Univ in MP near Sanchi, a Buddhist get-together in Amaravathi, AP, a world class Buddhist research institute near Takshashila, Bihar, Display of Budhist artefacts (including ash remains of Gautam Budha) in Singapore.

3. Indians purchasing Tea gardens and Flori-cultural lands in Africa. In fact this year has been a record year for FDI out of India to Africa for owning these lands.

4. Hosting IIFA (film awards) in countries outside India. The last one was in Colombo, Sri lanka. The previous were in cities including London, Dubai. The next will be in Toronto, Canada.

5. Encouraging Afghan and Iraq cricket teams to play cricket.

6. Issuing a no-Australia decree to Indian student community.

All these events seem to be out of place discrete events characterized by a happenstance. A deep though actually reveals a hidden intent of the activities. Indian is trying to build its clout and doing it in a refined way. These are the hidden intentions and will surprise any budding strategist (me included).

1. Taliban seems to be anti-India. The only way they can veer them towards India is by luring them to a favorite Indian Dessert - The Bollywood flicks. The Afghans like them because they understand the language easily and they can co-relate to the Indian culture unlike Hollywood. Using this as a bait, India is trying to enter their leisure list and eventually their good list. I am sure in a few years from now Afghan entertainment hunger can be satiated only by a diplomatic engagement with India for the flicks to be aired in cinemas. Thats when the fruits are bore.

2. China is trying to lure the Asian economies like Japan, Singapore with their "Mongloid-race" card. The only way India can connect here is at a religious/spiritual level: Buddhism. There is no denial of the fact that the roots of Buddhism are deeply implanted in India and passed to the ASEAN countries via the silk route. Now India is strongly exploring this route by inviting diplomats, leaders to Buddhist spiritual/religious activities. India also hinting at its association with these countries that existed for centuries.

3. China has already built massive projects in Africa. There is no way India can beat it at its scale of infrastructure projects. But it has MEA officials has realised one thing, that once the project is completed Chinese influence on these countries might go down. So the best way to build a clout there and influence is to own up land. Indian tea gardens and flori-cultural lands are already internationally renowned. Now extending them to own up land in Africa and become permanent influencers there is a logical extension.

4. Awareness and acceptance of India as a country with constant presence is thrust by missions like IIFA. People throng to see SRK, Salman, Katrina and leave a mark in their minds. This increases acceptance and tolerance towards India and Indians.

5. Iraq and Afghan cricket teams are constantly engaged by visiting India or India's B-Teams visiting these countries. They are trying to portray an image showcasing India as a Big-Bro who can aid them to get a decent place in the Global eyes.

6. India has passed silently threatened a developed nation to face the consequences if they follow a No India policy. Around 11K seats in the Oz-universities are going vacant this year. That shows a potential loss of for-ex money into Australia. It also indicates how they will fall short of skilled labor in the years to come. This threat is not just directed towards Australia but towards US and UK too. Now we need to see how can Oz-land cope up with this back lag.

Wet Pleasures

With rains all around, I thought I list the ten things which I like to do when it rains. These are things I really enjoy doing while it is raining outside (and not another do-it-in-future-wish-list).

1. Have a really hot cup of green-tea and chat with Manoj. Hot tea and hot gossip will ward away the chill factor.

2. Eat hot chat and mirchi bajjis. Nothing can beat a spicy taste in mouth when the weather is cold.

3. Go on a long drive with "Illayaraja" or "Kishore Kumar" music in the back ground. Depending on the mood driving alone has a comfort feel. Drive on NICE road or Devanhalli Airport road or even out of the Bangalore.

4. Race with the rain and speed the car till I beat the rain. Crossing the rainy region and savoring the victory by lighting a "Davidoff Lights" just finishes it off.

5. Drive under the flyover from where water is gushing heavily. Its like a shower to the car. The first time you do, you are really scared as though you are getting wet with the splash. But as you get over the fear the real thrill lies.

6. Its awesome to get drenched in the first rain. Real ecstasy is when you recollect your memories of childhood, schooling or lost love and savor them.

7. Splash the water collected in small ponds. Best if you can get some strangers and wet them. It comes with a caveat that not every one will appreciate it.

8. When it is drizzling go for a jog. Nothing like slow jogging in mild rain. Just did it yesterday.

9. Watch people scurrying in rain. It will give a sadistic pleasure. :P. Also watch kids play.

10. Make a cocktail specially a vodka based one. Gulp it while standing in balcony. The heat of vodka in throat nullifies the chilliness of weather.

Finally one suggestion from me. Ever tried making paper boats and leaving them in the water ponds of rain? Try it. Remember every man has a child in him.

Do include your fav list or wish list too in the comments belows. Tx

Four things a Banglorean should know

My earnest request to all naturalised Bangaloreans:

1. Houses are meant to protect you and all your things. Please provide car parks. I dont want to park my car on a public road.

2. Surprisingly, arranged marriages are still legal in India. So please cut all the gyan on why you did not object for your son or daughter's love marriage. I am not interested nor sympathetic. I know better on what to do.

3. A human voice exists not just for office teleconference calls but for arguing with autowallahs and police wallahs. Please do. You do not want to spend so much money.

4. Sightseeing list in Bangalore should include places like Bannerughatta, Hulimavu, Lepakshi, Nandi hills and not Forum, Garuda, Mantri Square.

Four things a Bangalorean girl should know..

To start with I took the advice of a well wisher and changed my lucky number to 4 going the ekta kapoor style.

Four things which a Bangalorean boy (like me) wants to convey to Banglorean girls:

1. Wearing western dresses not only needs money and attitude (both these all Bangaloreans have in plenty) but also some sense. Please shave your armpits. How much ever skin you show, it puts any guy off.

2. No... not all guys want you to run into them while walking on MG Road. Please maintain some distance. In case we are really interested in you we would let you know.

3. Drinking and Smoking does not make you hep. Probably it used to be that way when you are in college. But here now while working it is just a stress reliever. So drink responsibly and not to show how western you are. Believe me no guy will be aroused because you smoke or drink.

4. Stop giving cheeky looks while with your boy friend or husband. If you are really interested for a one night stand, come speak to us outrightedly. But I believe if you are hungry so is the guy standing beside you, talk to him he has the first right.

And finally, for the all the new/wannabe mothers, babies are not born into the world to generate employment for the "aayas". They are your responsibility, please nurture them yourself and spare us your gyan on how you taught your aaya on rearing a child.

Thoughts on Religion

I still remember the uproar created (including media) when L.K.Advani said that Hindutva is not a religion but a way of life. They twisted and turned the meaning and tossed banters across "pundits" and "politicians". Any sensible dweller in hinduism outrightedly appreciate Advani's boldness and frankness. After all we cannot claim Hindutva as a religion. It is a way of life... some generally accepted religious principles (GARP!! :P).

Unlike some other religions, Hinduism is never binding nor enforcing. Atleast from the vedas there is no way in which one can be converted into a Hindu. He is a born Hindu. There is no way that you can restrict definition 'Hindus' to followers of few Gods. There are many. The Vedas mention about 3 crore Gods present in this Holy land. It does not even bind saying a Hindu should believe in God. Hinduism is the only 'religion' which can have non-believers of God (nasthik) as patrons. Then if we have non-believers in God, then how can Hindutva be a religion? An accepted definition of religion is 'an institution to express belief in divine power'. So if an institution accepts people without any belief then it cannot be a religion in strict sense.

Does that mean the Hindutva way is just a life style rather than a tradition? I think so. It can also be considered a highly evolved religion. It is a more tolerant religion, where there is a tolerance even towards the non-believers, other religions, off shoots of hindu based religions and an ever increasing list of Gods and saints. If we dont accept this definition, then we do not have an explanation for one religion being so tolerant towards others, while by definition religion means propogating ones Gods?

How do a religion reach a higher stage of maturity? Because, it gives the flexibility for its patrons to execute the day to day work without much interference. It does not dictate which job to do, whom to trade with, what to trade, what to eat, how to live, when to seek God, when to visit temple. Though a few norms exists there are well defined work arounds for each of these. This gives the flexibility of following the rules normally or seek the help of work arounds when needed. In case of hindutva: if a Brahmin is forbidden eating meat, there are enough examples of sages killing and eating. If there is a rule forbidding eating or drinking certain things, there are enough venerable examples to take an alternate view. If someone looses his identity/caste/religion by travelling the seas, there is a way in which a prayer can be offered and get back lost identity. My general observation is that wherever this kind of flexibility exists, religions became more tolerant. To quote a few examples, Christianity is more tolerant and thrives even today compared to Judaism, though both are based on same principles. Buddhism survived in other parts of the world as it was twisted and made flexible, while here in India it is diminished because of its rigidness.

Why I write this? Today I see a video on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeCdIfkSbzE . This video protrays an Islamic priest claiming intolerance and hatred are the best way to cleanse the world. The video shows how some followers try to spread and tarnish an entire religion. Islam was born as a tolerant alternative to the brutal and violent christianity that existed in 500AD. People needed a more tolerant and peaceful religion and thats what the Prophet has advised. But soon with the Islamic wars (with the then dominance of christianity) at peak, they have manipulated the definition of the religion, as a means of propogating hatred and violence. Over the ages, Christianity became a more peaceful and friendly religion but some Islamic views are still lingering in the medivial times. I am surprised, that to this day in some lands Mullah's and so called religious guardians preach to treat, women as mere objects of pleasure and use, than humans. It is likely impossible that such a view carries weight or deserves audience in this age except for some brute force method of making people accept. This anarchaic rules will slowly and eventually fade away. If this doesnt happen people start avoiding such religions and they surely have to meet with obsolescence.