Unprecedented Imagination - Need of the Hour

Since industrialization, modern world has witnessed the cyclicality of economies many times over. The slowdowns which these bring in are termed as recession or depression depending on the pace at which economies grow or shrink. Most of these we have either been a witness to or have studied. Randomly speaking these range from the great depression of 20s to the last witnessed dotcom bubble burst and now the one which is going on currently. Each of these lasted for an average 2 years. Yet each of these are but a harbinger of economic growth. Each of these also impacted the social, political and demographic structure of society.

Capitalism came out of all these unscathed and with larger number of believers. Often supported by governemnt spending or governments urging people to spend. Communism which people read and quote today, might not be a better choice even this time. Soviet Union broke down and accepted capitalism. Soviet Union is also an example of the fact that communism is nothing short of state funding economic growth while people continue to live in recessionary environment, and in the end both the state and people emerge poorer. China is the sole surviving communist country which has been delivering economic growth. How it tackles this dowturn - socially, demographically and politically is yet to be seen.

What we are witnessing now is unprecedented. Unprecedented because never before have we witnessed a simultaneous downturn of both Wall Street and Main Street, the metaphors for financial markets and indurtial production, that too this sharply.

Never before has the world been under so much of social strife or fundamentalism or terrorism (are the two different?), and these are likely to be fed by weakening economies.

Never before was Mother Earth under peril from warming or pollution and under urgent need for repair. A shift of government focus to economic repair does not augur well.

Never before has financial system implode the way it has now. Collapse, in fact, is the right word. The largest FIs are either no more or have shrunk to less than 10% in valuations. Governments across the world have either been bailing out these haloed institutions or guaranteeing them. And if some economists are to be believed the worst is yet to come.

Governments have been doing their level best by spending and investing. Businesses too have been reassessing and realigning strategies, cutting costs and downsizing. These have been standard reactions to all earlier downturns.

But these are humbling times and unprecedented. And in times like these especially in todays connected and communicating world gloom breeds gloom, often faster. Such times demand unprecedented imagination on part of governments, people and businesses.

In the name of God

Secular country, I suppose, allows people to go politicking also in the name of God.

Unsecular, or fundamentalist as some may call it, countries go doing politicking only in the name of God.

So what's the difference, some may ask.

What's the difference between radical Afghanistan which doesn't allow girls to go to school and today's Mangalore. I do have Manglorean friends, am sure they aren't proud of what happened there recently.

But even when one looks deep into some of the most radical nations or religions, its impossible to recall any political front in the name of God, except in India and Hindus. Bajrang Dal, Shri Ram Sena are some I can recall. And the events that are associated with them would be putting the Gods to shame.

Shouldn't it be banned? Using HER or HIS name to form a political front? Irrespective of whether we the people are secular, or radical or even pseudo secular.

Difference there is though between a radical nation and mine that is India. I can go out and vote for a candidate independent of his or her religious beliefs. Its for us to ensure that this difference delivers value.

Time For Schadenfreude Is Passe

To feel pleased to see someone else succeed, takes divinity. Lesser mortals are often courageous enough to empathise. Its devilish, inhuman however to draw pleasure out of someone else's failure. Yet, we see more and more people display schadenfreude, especially in the modern era. But that era is passe. The sooner we wake up to it the sooner will we truly be able to "make a difference".

In this era of communication and connectivity, globalised so to speak, whether it is economically or socially or even politically, our fortunes or even our misfortunes are related to those of the rest of the world. Especially those of our neighbours, peers, colleagues, even competition.

We have been witness to the fact that a bank failing in one part of the world can lead to financial tremors and similar failures across the globe. Job losses, financial losses, valuation losses, economic contrction is a harsh truth. Especially the scale at which it is happening is unprecedented. Unprecedented because maybe there were never so many humans on mother Earth - Crowded. Borrowing the phrase from Friedman's latest book which adds a few more dimensions to describe today's world - Hot and Crowded. Hot, because the environment is geting warmer. Crowded, merely because there were never so many humans. Flat and interconnected is what he had elaborated in the first. He should have added religion as another dimension.

As it was with competition, as it is with peers, similarly with neighbours, we are so interconnected that for happiness's sake, schadenfreude has to be lost as a word as well as a feeling. In Pakistan's stability and success lies safety and economic growth for India.

New Year - Renewed Resolve

A very Happy and prosperous New Year to all, for happiness and prosperity imbibes the spirit of a safe, secure and a growing nation and even the neighbourhood.

Renewed resolve to stay aware - of politics as well;

Renewed resolve to influence - there are still loads of people who can but dont;

Renewed resolve to be influenced - for new knowledge may be hitting hard against existing prejudices or un-informed biases (ill informed too, some may be);

Renewed resolve to not be swayed - for then there is no difference between oneness and being part of a mob.

And there is a very fine line between being open to be influenced and to being swayed - resolve to recognise that.

Renewed resolve - for that's what a citizen can least do.