Sujavna 1:31 (&30)

Giri at 1530 hrs on 24th September

Hello and apologies for missing on my communications with you last Sunday. I have been travelling in the UK and slipped on my blogging schedule. This Sunday (25th September), I will again be on my return flight to Mumbai tomnorrow, and hence this post comes to you today.

Since yesterday, the media in London (and I guess the rest of the world) has been tracking the diplomatic anxieties resulting from the Palestinian leaders' application in the UN for statehood. Earlier the media, especially in the UK, was also following up on the Representative of the Quartet Tony Blair's conflict of interests between his position as the Middle East Envoy for the Quartet and his position as a lobbyist with TBA. My interest (in reading and listening to views on these news reports) has led me to think about the innovative ways by which ex-diplomats and civil servants and world statesmen are able to influence and change the status-quo in geo-politics, international finance and business and human rights. Are these innovative approaches or just instances of slick and despicable ways of remaining in the limelight and getting handsonmely paid for the same? If there are innovative approaches that these individuals have adopted, can we learn from them to benefit in our daily lives?

I wish you all a great weekend and a wonderful and staisfying week ahead.

Sujavna 1:29

Giri at 0715hrs on 11^th September

Today the world (especially the media) will recall the horrible events that happened in the USA ten years ago. Many will be the platitudes, written and spoken. For those individuals that lost a near and dear one, there will be some moments of anguish, some moments of fond memories, some reminders that they have moved on in their lives.....

But are we any wiser and more mature? Do we want to acknowledge that terrorism is as old as the era when human beings started evolving as social units that encouraged the maxim “might is right”; and will continue as long as this maxim underscores the behaviours of social institutions?

So where do we go from here? What social innovations are required to bottle this genie known as terrorism? Would these innovations be cathartic in nature? I do not believe they have to be, but I would not be surprised if some of them will end up being so. One such innovation that I would like to understand and experience in a country such as India and perhaps in the USA, is that of having a parliament of elected youth (under 30 years) which seeks to debate, carry out referendums and recommends legislation and executive action to the actual parliaments (or Congress and Senates in the USA) and executive institutions in the country. For after all, shouldn’t our growth and development and societal well-being be targeted to ensure that our youth benefit and take responsibilities for?

Wishing you a safe and interesting week ahead.

Sujavna 1:28

Giri at 1500 hrs on 4^th September

What? Why? Who (and by Whom)? When? Which?

Are we inquisitive enough and bold to ask these questions to all aspects of our lives at work, at home and in our interactions with our social communities?

I think these are the basis for any positive changes in our lives. I leave these thoughts for all of us to cogitate as we go about our lives. Perhaps these are the clues for identifying the innovation-machines that I wrote about last week. Until next Sunday.....