Tenuous.. at best

The complexity of human relationships never fails to amaze me.

There are so many layers and factors that define the bonds between people, and when the tenuous nature of those bonds change and change again over time, the relationships ebb and rise in ways that are inconceivable to an outsider.

Even in stories as old the Mahabharata, there is no telling when a friend becomes foe, and foe, a friend. It takes so little to make or break a relationship. Childhood admiration, petty jealousy or winning a silly game... They go such a long way and last a lifetime in deciding the bonds between people.

Setting store by so much, and yet so little, that brethren become sworn enemies, only to turn around and love each other again. And yet, do they? Truly?

Is it possible to forgive and forget, those bits of hurt and snubs? Is it possible to forget those hugs and cuddles and shared laughter of yesterday for hurtful words and actions of today?

Today’s stranger becomes more important than yesterday’s familiar. The new becomes so much more endearing than the old.

Social beings that we are, there is so much importance on the nuances of who said what, and how.

Is blood really thicker water?  Then we wouldn’t have so many families break apart. Or would we?

Growing up (or old) with someone, you would think you know them as well as yourself. And yet, people change, and so do the relationships. The old often give way to the new, why can’t it just... grow... to accommodate both the old and the new?

What makes 'em tick?

I just went though one of my old blogs and found myself wondering why I didn't take more time to write anymore. I couldn't come with any excuse that sounded reasonable even to myself. So here goes...

I attended a seminar recently organized by Terumo Penpol Ltd. here in Trivandrum. The focus of the discussion was on Developing an Ecosystem to Foster Entrepreneurship. There was an eminent panel of speakers and discussants to throw up various view points on this much-discussed topic.

I found certain interesting takeaways from the session. Foremost among them was the revelation that a conducive, benevolent ecosystem did not really foster entrepreneurial growth. There seemed to be a disconnect between economic growth and growth of entrepreneurs in the country. Or so the research revealed.

This seems to counter-intuitive to what should be reality. After all, who wouldn't set up shop if Govt. policies allowed you to open even a small scale industry with minimum hassle? But apparently better policies and transparent governance doth not produce more businesses.

So the question arose, did the environment even matter or was it was the individual’s traits that created an entrepreneur. If the ecosystem did not really make a difference, and in fact, a hostile ecosystem seemed to produce more entrepreneurial activity, then what were we even discussing?

I have slightly different take on this, and that is this… What creates or forms these so called ‘entrepreneurial traits’? I believe there is an ecosystem that fosters nurturing entrepreneurs outside of the conventional definition used in the research above. It is the ecosystem that creates leaders, thinkers and hence, entrepreneurs. (Aren’t entrepreneurs leaders and thinkers?) 

I believe that the true ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship is social, in the form of education, family and social support systems, an attitude that encourages risk-taking and advocates not to fear failure. Who was it that said failure is the stepping stone to success? Apparently the Western world (read: the US) tends to look upon failed entrepreneurs more favourably, for are those who dared to try. Unfortunate that the mindset in this part of the world tends to view failure as a stigma and not experiential learning.

(As a teacher, I probably should make it explicit that I’m condoning learning from that failed experience. Not flunking your exams!) 

But I do believe that it is may be better to fail having given your dream everything it deserved, than not try at all for fear of social stigma. Statistics (again, from the US) show time and again that people (rational ones) tend to not repeat their mistakes. So a failed entrepreneur is more likely to succeed than a newbie. 

The fear of failure is just one part of the ecosystem. The foundation for the rise of any entrepreneur is laid much earlier in his/her life, usually in some early part of their school life. A familial and educational system that nurtures dreams and creative thought could produce more entrepreneurs. These seem to be common traits for all risk takers - the determination to win (or survive atleast) combined with maverick ideas that go against the grain.

I believe the first layers of an entrepreneurial mind are formed early, sometimes even before they reach middle school. The do's and don't's of societal norms possible restrain many and nudge them onto the trodden path of a 'safe career'. The mavericks jump out early, some try to break the mould later. But they break their way out in the end. For after all, they are meant for other things. 

April Showers

Growing up, April was a month I looked forward with great expectation on the calendar. Not because it a birthday month or anything… but growing up in the Gulf (or Gelf as us fraud Mallus would call it) it was a month of a short holiday post final exams. Nothing to do for atleast 2 blissful weeks, no holiday projects, no exams on reopening day, no studying at all! Yayy!

But more than that, it was the month of Vishu, also for some odd reason celebrated as the New Year. But since the Malayali calendar disagrees with that and calls Chingam the first month of the year, for sake of simplicity let’s just leave it at an occasion eagerly awaited by young and old alike.

Having only a couple of weeks before school reopening, we would rarely come to India for Vishu. Hence my earliest memories of Vishu are arranging the Vishu kani with my parents, with our limited resources of what specially imported kanni konna(Cassia fistula) fresh off the Indian Airlines flight from Trivandrum.

But my favourite memories of Vishu are inextricably linked with celebrating at home in Cochin, with my maternal grandfather. I was his chief lieutenant in all escapades growing up and arranging the traditional Vishu kani was a special time for us. He would get out the large uruli and arrange special brown rice in it. Then I would be given the privilege of spreading the fresh bunches of bright yellow kani konna over the rice. I remember watching (supervising!)my mother as she expertly arranged the stiffly starched kasavu mundu in the shape of a fan. We would then arrange various items of jewellery, earings, necklace, a ring, on a bright yellow vellarikkai (Yellow Cucumber). Setting out the lamps, polishing the mirror and setting up the best picture of Krishna prominently completed the setting.

 

In spite of having arranged late in the night, the kani itself is a breathtaking experience. The patriarch would wake up first and light the lamps. Each family member is awoken by an elder with warnings not to open our eyes. Soft hands cupping my eyes, we’d make our way over side stepping obstacles that inevitable strew the path. Voices directing me where to sit, the gentle hands of my grandfather would wipe my eyes with water and ask me to open my eyes. Oil lamps lit all over providing the only illumination lend a magnificent aura to the vision.

Then came the kaineetams. The most special part of Vishu where elders would bestow their blessings on the younger members of the family with money. Walking around collecting “blessings”, the money would come to a substantial windfall by the end of the day. Since I rarely trusted my mother with my earnings, I would entrust them to my grandfather, him being the safest bank I knew.

Meanwhile the ladies of the house would already be slaving in the kitchen for the veritable feast that was mandatory on Vishu. By noon, large plantain leaves would be laid out with 6 to 7 different curries ranging from sambhar, olan, kalan, thoran, pachadi, avial, etc. accompanied by all the trimmings of pappadam, chips, pickles, ghee-parippu, etc. Dessert followed in the form of payasam, which to be enjoyed best must be eaten off the leaf.

29 and Counting

As the clock struck midnight on August 15th, 1947, India awoke to freedom and independence.

As the clock struck midnight on December 9th, 2009, Telengana has received the same joy.

Or atleast so claim the supporters of the TRS camp.

A fast unto death, students marches, political mileage, police and paramilitary presence and media spots lights hovered over Hyderabad. A country watched as the volleys shot between the Southern State Capital and the national capital in the North. For 11 long days the two camps stared each other down. Finally the Centre blinked and cowed and gave in to the pressure they were under. Ill health of a statesman held the ruling combine of the world's largest democracy to ransom and brought them to his bedside with his wishes granted.

TRS Chief, K Chandrashekhara Rao, held court as the nation watched with bated breath, waiting and hoping that Andhra Pradesh would not suffer.

With the Centre cowing down to the pressure, an alarming preceedent of great future consequences has been set. Mahatma Gandhi began this saga of 'fast-unto-death' in his non violent battle with the British. His successors have continued in his footsteps, in their endeavour to realise their wishes.

But where was the non-violence? Supporters of KCR and TRS were seen exchanging stones and lathis with the police. Students marched down the streets of Hyderabad and tried to storm the seat of legislative power in a bid to voice their protests. Scenes of people being battered and stoned were played over television screens for a long time. People dodging lathis and trampling crowds were a common screenshot for days.

The method by which Telengana has come into existence (or atleast the promise of its existence) is a dangerous one. Already there are reports of Gurkhas wanting their own piece of land out of West Bengal. The refrain 'My people have been asking for their homeland for 102 years' seems is heard. 102 years? India as a sovereign secular nation with states and elections has been around for only 62 years. The 40 years before they were serving the Brits tea.

The Telengana cause may have its roots in righteousness but what will be the ground realities? Will the Telengana people get their voices heard and see development in their backyards? Or will it be a small princely state for TCR to rule over?

The precedent set by PC and Soniaji could produce quite a few lean politicians emerging from 10-15 days fasts (intravenously fed of course!) with their own patch of land and people to rule over. I wonder if Raj Thackeray will go on a fast to throw the non-Maharashtrians out of Mumbai! South Bombay..oops! Mumbai, will sure wear a deserted look.

Coming back to Andhra, what will happen to Hyderabad now? The State accounts for 18% of the IT exports from India, and the bulk of that coming from Hyderabad. Now if Hyderabad goes toTelengana, and in their rush to 'uplift' the local blood, what will happen to the imported man power that runs the said IT industry? Not to mention the pharma, construction and other industries that found a home in Hyderabad under the industry-friendly policies of Chandrababu Naidu. Reserving jobs in Telengana for the Teleganites, a la MNS, could have serious repercussions for the national outlook.

That brings me to the bigger issue of migration policies. International migration of Kerala blue and white collar workers to the Gulf in the early 90's saw a sudden surge of growth for the Middle East region. While this cannot be attributed solely to the industriousness and zeal of Malayalees and Indians, there was a definite contribution from this diaspora to the economic prosperity enjoyed there.

Its a similar situation in Mumbai, the country's financial capital. In the days when it was still Bombay, it was known as the land of opportunities. Everyone found a 6x5 bit of ground to rest their back after a long day of toil earning, for the first time ever, for some, a lot more than they could get by ploughing their family fields. Slowly these folks scrimped and saved enough to move up in the world, working, contributing and giving back to the very city that gave them a means to live. Yes, there was an explosion of slums, bad living conditions, harsh sights that were broadcast by international media as the true face of India. Was the growth inclusive? Did prosperity affect everyone to the same extent. No, certainly not!

But there was a marked improvement for many. So do we stop migrants from flooding the cities and larger towns because the effect is not uniformly golden?

Migration, according to the 2009 Human Development Report, benefits both host and parent communities. The quality of life and standards of living in both places improve with the contributions from the migrants. Migration does not naturally take away employment opportunities for the local population.

But will this mean the same for Telengana and what the fate of Hyderabad will be, only time will tell. Last heard a two year timeline is being proposed for the formation of the new State.

Truly Secular

India' secular nature has been under the scanner from the time the Constitution we adopted said so. Politicians, journos, writers, thinkers and every man, woman and child has questioned and criticized the nation secularity.

Forced conversions to Christianity in the North East, Muslims facing discrimination, Hindus being exploited, religious riots have all been seen, heard, talked about and experienced. Kashmiri Pandits forced to flee their State, Godhra riots, the 1991 Bombay riots (MNS be damned, it was still Bombay then!), forced conversions of Buddhists in Ladakh to Islam ... history is rife with these and countless other instances of Indians' facing religious (in)tolerance.

Yet I say we are a truly secular nation.

How many Hindus in Lucknow (and all over the country) happily dig into a biriyani every day? The origin of the Biriyani can be fairly accurately traced to the Mughal courts, a Muslim creation. We have all sunk our teeth into the soft kebabs variations available across the country. This was a recipe that came to India from the Persia possibly with the Mughals again.

Can a true-blue vegetarian think of any dish without potato, tomatoes and chillis? These are not Hindu or even Indian in origin. They came to India with the Europeans who themselves discovered these in the Americas.

When milk goes bad and splits it is considered bad. This is the Hindu tradition.

Bengalis are known for their sweet tooth. Their desserts rosgullas and rasmalai are craved all the way across to Kandla and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Similarly it is difficult to find an Indian who does not enjoy the Punjabi Muttar Paneer. All these are made from cottage cheese, i.e. split milk!

The technique of making cottage cheese was taught to the Bengalis by the Portuguese Christians, thus setting the stage for our culinary delights that have now gone all the way to the United Kingdom as Indian dishes.

Our rather humble samosa is also of international origins. Its history can be traced back to the Middle Eastern sambusak. The raiders from the Middle East brought across the mountains with them. The samosa had a special place on the royal dinner tables of the Mughals where innovative chefs turned the sambusak, a rather boring pasty filled with pumpkins and nuts, into the kheema filled samosa. Slowly over time, however, the royal samosa made its way to local bakery as a snack with rather diminished stature.

This is where we are truly secular. We do not close our hearts and mouths to the gastronomical delights offered by the world. Instead we happily adopt the best of what is on offer irrespective of its religious, geographical or political origins. In fact, not only do we adopt culture and cuisine (for what is one without the other! says the foodie in me) we give full reign to our creative capabilities and transform the Middle Eastern pilaf into Biriyani and the sambusak into our samosa.

This is the true strength of India's culture and tradition, no matter what the critics say. And this is what we owe the variety of our cuisine to.

Who is the Queen of Hearts?

It’s a sad state of affairs in Indian politics of late. In-fighting in political parties is being aired on national television, but then that’s nothing new. L.K.Advani, Kulkarni and Vasundhara Raje are embroiled in the midst of one the worst fights played out on the 9 o’clock news. On the other side, there is the controversial ouster of the respected and very senior leader, Jaswant Singh for penning a book on his views on Jinnah. India is still a democracy with freedom of speech is still protected constitutional right isn’t it? Then why has the book been banned in Gujarat?

Why wasn’t Jaswant stopped from writing the book? The book was no secret.

Jaswant calls Jinnah great, but didn’t Advanji say M.A.J. was a “genuine secularist” in his visit to Pakistan in 2005? Public memory is short, but apparently politicos have no memory! Advani himself has praised Jinnah, yet he beheads Jaswant Singh purportedly over the same issue. Or is it?

There seems to be a lot of heads rolling in the party lately. Who is the Queen of Hearts in the BJP?

Kulakarni puts in his papers to a party he has served for almost a decade and a half over what he calls “ideological differences”. Kulkarni claimed he was still loyal to the party, but there had to be something that changed the equation suddenly. The party got a whipping in the recent national elections. Yet no heads rolled at that point, except for a half hearted attempt from L.K.A. to resign.

Then there is Vasundhara Raje Scindia. A public show was put on over the past few days with her MLAs camping out in Delhi and her own multiple meetings with the party leaders. Apparently a “compromise formula” (political terminology for 60:40, 70:30 deals) has been worked out for now.

Now I hear there is another head set to roll, that of Arun Shourie. The reason: he had publicly questioned the party’s debacle in the elections and criticized the party here.

It is indeed a sad state of affairs. Democracy be damned, autocracy rules. The Congress is all about The Parivaar, the BJP had offered an alternative, but the party seems to have lost its focus. A line in the above article by Shourie sums up the dilemma faced by voters: “…our real problem: there is nowhere to turn for an alternative.”

Racism over Protocol?

Today’s news: Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India, father of India’s nuclear programme and one of the most respected and loved public personas of the country, insulted by a bunch of airline crew who “randomly” picked such a public figure out to be frisked. Hah!

Their response in defense of such pathetic behaviour is merely that it’s all company policy!! Do they actually believe that nobody realized he was a former president and not to mention a person who actually created India’s nuclear programme?!

In light of past reports from people who have traveled to the United States, racism, or in this case “religionism”, is a well known habit with the country. I wouldn’t be surprised if the country has a national unwritten policy of behaving this way to all Muslims for their actions ever since 9/11 sure seem to indicate that. Sardars were targeted for a long time for wearing turbans. Anyone with an Abdul, Mohammed or Khan in their name is still targeted, no matter how long they’ve been living in the US or how much of dollars they’ve pumped in to keep the US fat and well fed.

Coming back to Dr. Kalam, an unfortunate explanation for this pathetic display is that he was pulled out for his name, the fact that he was a former President be damned. I can understand if they frisk random politicians. Some of them need to put in strait-jackets before they board. Not surprisingly, the politician in question here was acquitted, but that’s a different story.

The airline in question in Kalam’s case, incidentally, has issued a statement that the former President wasn’t insulted by their treatment. Not raising a ruckus over it was just pure Kalam, his total disregard for protocol was well known during his stint in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Saddest thing about all this is that apparently this whole episode happened in April. It took 3 months for the report that CISF folks reportedly filed the same day, to see the light of day!

Wonder how the US would feel if the same treatment was meted out to former presidents of their country? Now wouldn’t it be interesting if George Bush was frisked and strip searched in say… Egypt!