15th April 2018
15 April 2018
Musings.......
Today is Vishu or 'Bisu Sankramana' in Arabhashe dialect ( of Tulu and Kannada languages) and is celebrated in Kerala, Tulunad region and Kodagu in Karnataka. However, it is not new year for Malayalis as that falls in Chingam 1st which comes in August. Vishu literally means equal and signifies the completion of the spring equinox. This day marks the Solar new year and correspondingly is celebrated as Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in the Northern parts of India.
Malayalis celebrate Vishu with the customary early morning temple visit wearing their Puthukodi (new dress) and the womenfolk prepare Vishu sadya which eventually culminates in a family get together. Though, nowadays it is instant Vishu with many ordering or getting their food from nearby hotels. However, the mood is bright as everyone savours a rich meal and a good afternoon sleep.
This year we did not celebrate Vishu as it was our first Vishu without grandmother. She was with me last year this day while I was busy preparing for my final exams. Hence, we decided against celebrating Vishu and restricted my celebrations to an early morning temple visit.
As I sit after a rare sadya brought for my by my dear friend from his home, my ever so drowsy mind flirts with the idea on writing another article. Ultimately my mind does fall prey and here I am !
These days have been surprisingly tense with me back into exam mode and hectic preparations that I have left my readings to the back burner. I so desperately want or read the latest short story collection of Jefferey Archer which I heard is one of his best. The English author took me through my school literally and along with Ruskin Bond and later the likes of John Grisham, indulged me into the world of letters. Though I did use to cheat them with the occasional Sidney Sheldons and the Salman Rushdies here and there.
Once I entered professional college, my reading suffered a lot. The only reading I had was medical books which was to be frank interesting with a pinch of salt, as it had to be read not for leisure but contemplating an exam. Then came post graduation and most of the time went working, the numerous hours spent in front of an Ultrasound machine or in front of a PACS monitor made me into a robotic existence. And then there was the last few months of exam preparation. Looking back they were all a blur. Close to one year from post graduating ( don't know if that's the correct expression ) I am none the wiser. The what next question that people face is staring me right on my face and I am to be frank flabbergasted.
Do I continue working as it is or do I aim for more? Any day I choose the latter, because as they say ' An idle mind is a devils workshop'.
Foreign policy, International diplomacy has always caught my eye because of its unpredictability and thrill not to mention the occasional comedy, and the present day world leaders do not disappoint.
Last month started with news from Brazil that an hyperactive judiciary in a judgement upheld a corruption conviction against Luiz Inacio de Silva who was most likely to win the upcoming Presidential election if he is allowed to contest. Needless to say Luiz who is also a former president, mentor of ex-president Dilma Roussef and the tallest leader that Brazil has, did not go down without a fight. There was a standoff eventually ending with him surrendering to the police, in the meantime Brazilian streets erupted with support for Luiz de Silva. The inside story goes that the establishment within his own Party was against him getting another term, but then we will never know.
India hosted the whole bunch of 10 ASEAN nations for its Republic Day including heads of states from - Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore,Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia. With huge potential for trade, ASEAN will always be a prospect for India. Needless to say the diplomatic urgency stems from the huge Chinese influence in these countries and their seas. The Scarborough Shoal, Spartly Islands, Paracel Islands and others are just Anchovies among the big fish intentions of the Chinese. Indias Look east policy which has now transformed into the Act East policy under the present government and aims at multi sectoral cooperation. With South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation loosing its teeth, the new Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi sectoral Technical and Economic cooperation (BIMSTEC)- Myanmar and Thailand being its members has come into the picture. Needless to say the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has to be maintained and strictly followed. However, I feel the UN should be more proactive and follow the rules strictly for the member countries to follow.
A strain in relationship among the ruling alliance partners in Sri Lanka was in the news with Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe losing the confidence of the President Maithripala Sirisena. The PM faced a no confidence motion in Parliament which he survived, however the President suspended the Parliament for now. An unstable Sri Lanka won't b good for India. We have already lost a PM in this regard in the form of Rajivji. Any imbalance in the ruling coalition would provide ammunition to Mahinda Rajapaksa who is considered pro China.
The launch of Operation Olive Branch by Turkey against the US backed YPG which has been fighting for a separate Kurdish state along the Syria-Turkey border has brought Turkey on the verge of a confrontation with the US. Further instability in West Asia is not the need of the hour and talks rather than bombings should be the solution when varied interests have to be considered.
To add to this is drastic news coming in from Syria where there were reports of biological weapons used by Russian backed Bashar Al Assad government against women and kids killing many. The US, UK and France in collective retaliation bombed the government held areas in Syria and the Donald Trump in his now viral tweet said "Mission Accomplished". What this has accomplished is anybodies guess and with a prolonged civil war the loser is e millions who have lost their lives and the others who were forcefully displaced. This Civil war if unchecked has all the looks of snowbowling into a Third World War.
Surprising news came in from the Korean Penunsula, where the North and the South have toned down their aggressive rhetoric with significant bilateral moves. There may well be a meeting between heads of state before North Koreal head of state Kim Jong Un meets Donald Trump.
Kim Jong Un in another surprising move visited China in a hushed up meet who's details the world came to know only when he was back to his homeland safe and sound. Like his father the dictator travelled in a bulletproof train fearing air travel.
The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau visited India, turned out to be controversial to say the least. His entourage having a Khalistan operative didn't help matters. Needless to say he was given a cold reception by New Delhi and Canadian PMs brilliant election gimmick to play to audiences back home turned out to be a damp squib.
The UK governments investigation into the alleged poisoning of an ex spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal by Russia has led to diplomatic tensions. Russian and U.K. Dismissing many a diplomats in a tit for tat kind of diplomacy with the US joining in reminded us of how things were back in the Cold War days.
However interesting it may seem, the international scene for India do not paint a rosy picture. The NDA Governments foreign policy has been a nuclear disaster with India worse off that it was 4 years ago.
Take each policy step by step-
⁃ Jammu and Kashmir has become extremely volatile with communal violence within Indian occupied areas needless to say POK. The Mehabooba Mufti led PDP government who supports the extremist sentiments seems to have lost the cause The public support for India in J and K has plummeted and seems to be at an all time low. Pakistan sindabad slogans echoes in the streets of Jammu and Anantnag or as they call it Islamabad. Yes Anantnag has another name Islamabad. Unless development works are taken up and employment of the Kashmiri youth becomes the main agenda, India is set to lose J and K to the angry youth of Kashmir.
⁃ With China making multiple border incursions and after Doklam, they have sensed weakness among the Indian ranks. They still want Arunachal and have also claimed parts of it to be theirs. Indias relation with Tibet and its administration has withered with China making more and more construction works mainstreaming TAR ( Tibetan Autonomous Region ) into their fold as part of their famous Belt Road Initiative.
⁃ Dalai Lama issue still remains unresolved. The aspirations of the Tibetans who fled to Dharmashala and other parts of India have not been met. The succession among the Lamas also needs Indian governments proactive diplomacy. However nothing has been done in this regard to date and China continues to rule the roost.
⁃ With Maldives, India seem to have reached an impasse. With its said policy of not involving in the matters of another sovereign country, India seems to have lost the bus when it comes to instilling Democracy into the archipelago nation.
⁃ With the US President publicly reprimanding our PM over tax laws, the Hugging diplomacy of our PM seems to have gone waste.
⁃ SAARC has become redundant and rusty.
⁃ BRICS has lost its glamour with no more impetus to the organisation.
⁃ India seems to have completely left NAM and made it irrelevant
No government can create a flawless foreign policy, however drastic mistakes should be amended and taken care of without loosing time. If India cannot amend fast, rising over petty communal internal politics, then in this election year the common public is bound to make amends
Food for Thought.......
⁃
RC
Musings.......
Today is Vishu or 'Bisu Sankramana' in Arabhashe dialect ( of Tulu and Kannada languages) and is celebrated in Kerala, Tulunad region and Kodagu in Karnataka. However, it is not new year for Malayalis as that falls in Chingam 1st which comes in August. Vishu literally means equal and signifies the completion of the spring equinox. This day marks the Solar new year and correspondingly is celebrated as Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in the Northern parts of India.
Malayalis celebrate Vishu with the customary early morning temple visit wearing their Puthukodi (new dress) and the womenfolk prepare Vishu sadya which eventually culminates in a family get together. Though, nowadays it is instant Vishu with many ordering or getting their food from nearby hotels. However, the mood is bright as everyone savours a rich meal and a good afternoon sleep.
This year we did not celebrate Vishu as it was our first Vishu without grandmother. She was with me last year this day while I was busy preparing for my final exams. Hence, we decided against celebrating Vishu and restricted my celebrations to an early morning temple visit.
As I sit after a rare sadya brought for my by my dear friend from his home, my ever so drowsy mind flirts with the idea on writing another article. Ultimately my mind does fall prey and here I am !
These days have been surprisingly tense with me back into exam mode and hectic preparations that I have left my readings to the back burner. I so desperately want or read the latest short story collection of Jefferey Archer which I heard is one of his best. The English author took me through my school literally and along with Ruskin Bond and later the likes of John Grisham, indulged me into the world of letters. Though I did use to cheat them with the occasional Sidney Sheldons and the Salman Rushdies here and there.
Once I entered professional college, my reading suffered a lot. The only reading I had was medical books which was to be frank interesting with a pinch of salt, as it had to be read not for leisure but contemplating an exam. Then came post graduation and most of the time went working, the numerous hours spent in front of an Ultrasound machine or in front of a PACS monitor made me into a robotic existence. And then there was the last few months of exam preparation. Looking back they were all a blur. Close to one year from post graduating ( don't know if that's the correct expression ) I am none the wiser. The what next question that people face is staring me right on my face and I am to be frank flabbergasted.
Do I continue working as it is or do I aim for more? Any day I choose the latter, because as they say ' An idle mind is a devils workshop'.
Foreign policy, International diplomacy has always caught my eye because of its unpredictability and thrill not to mention the occasional comedy, and the present day world leaders do not disappoint.
Last month started with news from Brazil that an hyperactive judiciary in a judgement upheld a corruption conviction against Luiz Inacio de Silva who was most likely to win the upcoming Presidential election if he is allowed to contest. Needless to say Luiz who is also a former president, mentor of ex-president Dilma Roussef and the tallest leader that Brazil has, did not go down without a fight. There was a standoff eventually ending with him surrendering to the police, in the meantime Brazilian streets erupted with support for Luiz de Silva. The inside story goes that the establishment within his own Party was against him getting another term, but then we will never know.
India hosted the whole bunch of 10 ASEAN nations for its Republic Day including heads of states from - Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore,Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia. With huge potential for trade, ASEAN will always be a prospect for India. Needless to say the diplomatic urgency stems from the huge Chinese influence in these countries and their seas. The Scarborough Shoal, Spartly Islands, Paracel Islands and others are just Anchovies among the big fish intentions of the Chinese. Indias Look east policy which has now transformed into the Act East policy under the present government and aims at multi sectoral cooperation. With South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation loosing its teeth, the new Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi sectoral Technical and Economic cooperation (BIMSTEC)- Myanmar and Thailand being its members has come into the picture. Needless to say the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has to be maintained and strictly followed. However, I feel the UN should be more proactive and follow the rules strictly for the member countries to follow.
A strain in relationship among the ruling alliance partners in Sri Lanka was in the news with Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe losing the confidence of the President Maithripala Sirisena. The PM faced a no confidence motion in Parliament which he survived, however the President suspended the Parliament for now. An unstable Sri Lanka won't b good for India. We have already lost a PM in this regard in the form of Rajivji. Any imbalance in the ruling coalition would provide ammunition to Mahinda Rajapaksa who is considered pro China.
The launch of Operation Olive Branch by Turkey against the US backed YPG which has been fighting for a separate Kurdish state along the Syria-Turkey border has brought Turkey on the verge of a confrontation with the US. Further instability in West Asia is not the need of the hour and talks rather than bombings should be the solution when varied interests have to be considered.
To add to this is drastic news coming in from Syria where there were reports of biological weapons used by Russian backed Bashar Al Assad government against women and kids killing many. The US, UK and France in collective retaliation bombed the government held areas in Syria and the Donald Trump in his now viral tweet said "Mission Accomplished". What this has accomplished is anybodies guess and with a prolonged civil war the loser is e millions who have lost their lives and the others who were forcefully displaced. This Civil war if unchecked has all the looks of snowbowling into a Third World War.
Surprising news came in from the Korean Penunsula, where the North and the South have toned down their aggressive rhetoric with significant bilateral moves. There may well be a meeting between heads of state before North Koreal head of state Kim Jong Un meets Donald Trump.
Kim Jong Un in another surprising move visited China in a hushed up meet who's details the world came to know only when he was back to his homeland safe and sound. Like his father the dictator travelled in a bulletproof train fearing air travel.
The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau visited India, turned out to be controversial to say the least. His entourage having a Khalistan operative didn't help matters. Needless to say he was given a cold reception by New Delhi and Canadian PMs brilliant election gimmick to play to audiences back home turned out to be a damp squib.
The UK governments investigation into the alleged poisoning of an ex spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal by Russia has led to diplomatic tensions. Russian and U.K. Dismissing many a diplomats in a tit for tat kind of diplomacy with the US joining in reminded us of how things were back in the Cold War days.
However interesting it may seem, the international scene for India do not paint a rosy picture. The NDA Governments foreign policy has been a nuclear disaster with India worse off that it was 4 years ago.
Take each policy step by step-
⁃ Jammu and Kashmir has become extremely volatile with communal violence within Indian occupied areas needless to say POK. The Mehabooba Mufti led PDP government who supports the extremist sentiments seems to have lost the cause The public support for India in J and K has plummeted and seems to be at an all time low. Pakistan sindabad slogans echoes in the streets of Jammu and Anantnag or as they call it Islamabad. Yes Anantnag has another name Islamabad. Unless development works are taken up and employment of the Kashmiri youth becomes the main agenda, India is set to lose J and K to the angry youth of Kashmir.
⁃ With China making multiple border incursions and after Doklam, they have sensed weakness among the Indian ranks. They still want Arunachal and have also claimed parts of it to be theirs. Indias relation with Tibet and its administration has withered with China making more and more construction works mainstreaming TAR ( Tibetan Autonomous Region ) into their fold as part of their famous Belt Road Initiative.
⁃ Dalai Lama issue still remains unresolved. The aspirations of the Tibetans who fled to Dharmashala and other parts of India have not been met. The succession among the Lamas also needs Indian governments proactive diplomacy. However nothing has been done in this regard to date and China continues to rule the roost.
⁃ With Maldives, India seem to have reached an impasse. With its said policy of not involving in the matters of another sovereign country, India seems to have lost the bus when it comes to instilling Democracy into the archipelago nation.
⁃ With the US President publicly reprimanding our PM over tax laws, the Hugging diplomacy of our PM seems to have gone waste.
⁃ SAARC has become redundant and rusty.
⁃ BRICS has lost its glamour with no more impetus to the organisation.
⁃ India seems to have completely left NAM and made it irrelevant
No government can create a flawless foreign policy, however drastic mistakes should be amended and taken care of without loosing time. If India cannot amend fast, rising over petty communal internal politics, then in this election year the common public is bound to make amends
Food for Thought.......
⁃
RC
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