Author Archives: maansi
Oh “India Shining”, Wherefore Art Thou?
A Catchy Sound Bite
India Shining was a slogan popularized by one of the leading political parties (BJP) during the elections of 2004. It was supposed to reflect the economic optimism of an emerging giant.
Prior to that, the Indian government had used it to market the country internationally. Since that time, it’s no lie to say that there was remarkable success in transforming the image of this country in the eyes of so many – within the nation, as well as far and wide, outside these borders.
In fact, many Indians seem to still believe that India Shining is the reality – if not now, then soon. To me, it feels like they’re fooling themselves – either immersed in naiveté or patriotic self-deception.
But Reality Bites
Here’s some of what is happening in this country that is leading me to this conclusion:
Economic Growth: Below expectations.
Inflation: High and rising.
Rupee: Down, way down…the lowest ever against the dollar last week.
Per Capita Debt: Rising steeply.
Industrial Output: Declining.
Trade Deficit: Growing.
Government: Paralyzed – by coalitions and many pockets of self-interest. Except perhaps for removing cartoons from text books. Big 😦 .
Alternative political party strength: Not very hopeful.
Corruption: Healthy. No, make that thriving.
Innovation: Huh?
Social Indicators: Declining. (Bangla Desh has overtaken India in nearly all of them).
India versus China: Sheesh…here’s one write-up on the topic – The elephant can not fly like the dragon unless winged.
Foreign Investment: Fleeing.
BRICS: What’s on its way – The “I “for India to be replaced by Indonesia.
Okay, so go ahead and ask me…am I not being a tad harsh here? Isn’t the entire world experiencing a similar plight, especially economically? Aah, but while the entire world is experiencing this plight, the India growth story was supposedly intact and one of few exceptions. No more!
Here’s something scary I just read. The Financial Times asked a Western investor – What ails India? The reply: Everything. And then he went on further to say: “On every indicator we look at, there is a red flag. This country is close to becoming the Greece of Asia.”
Is that scary or what?!
Worried Yet?
People here need to get their heads out of the sand, stop being content with things as they are, stop believing all the hype about India Rising and India Shining, stop focusing all their attention on cricket and Bollywood, and wonder what is really happening to this country and what they can do about it!
Thomas Jefferson said about America – “I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” For all its faults, that country’s various governments over its short history have done more to accomplish this (prosperity and the pursuit of happiness) than virtually any other. And the beauty of that democracy is that it allows this to happen.
A government that genuinely takes care of its people rather than of its politicians can affect the same positive outcome in India. This is a democracy too. Isn’t it?
Mammoth Potential
You say then, is there no hope for India?
Hah! But then you are asking a Pollyanna this question. Of course, there is hope!
What is left that we can hope for are the two P’s.
PEOPLE – all that human capital (and so much of it so young!) – surely among them there are some true leaders for the nation.
POTENTIAL – all that budding energy and those resources, waiting to be harnessed.
Now, India just needs something or many someones who care enough to put these together and make them work FOR this country.
As someone once said: “The potential of the average person [nation?] is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good.”
But as someone else once said – “Potential has a shelf life”.
Sometimes, people (and governments?) mobilize towards solutions when a crisis looms. That time is now. Time for the real “India Shining” – the one that is waiting to be discovered behind an empty slogan.
Yes, I simply talk and write. And wish. But what I would do, if it did happen in my lifetime!
If only.
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It’s Celebration Time for the Hair-Challenged Male
Bald is beautiful. What a cliche! Until I began to notice in the past few years that, shoot, yes it is! Whether in a shopping mall, on the street or at my favorite visiting place (!), Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (and now in India too), more and more men were going completely bald. By choice. And they were getting second and third looks. How about that?
I thought it was just me but then of course my favorite newspaper ran a piece on it recently. Bald is not only beautiful. It’s gone viral!
Yul Brynner didn’t know what he was starting. But, it sure took a while to catch on, didn’t it?
So, here’s the question, how come completely bald by choice is good, but partially bald by nature is not so hot (sorry guys)?
The good news is that there is a cool (really cool!) choice that men who have fretting for years can make. It’s not just men who fret, it’s their partners and their moms. I’ve seen it happen all the time.
That’s because 25% of men begin balding at age 30, and over 65% by age 60. There is a 4 in 7 chances that you may be the lucky one to receive the baldness gene. 🙂 And, further, men whose fathers had experienced hair loss were 2.5 times more likely to experience hair loss themselves, regardless of the mother’s side of the family.
Seriously though, the psychology of hair thinning is known to be a complex issue. Hair is considered an essential part of overall identity (especially for women, for whom it often represents femininity and attractiveness). But men too – they typically associate a full head of hair with youth and vigor.
Many are uncomfortable talking about the issue. Hair thinning is a sensitive issue for both sexes. For sufferers, it can represent a loss of control and feelings of isolation. People experiencing hair thinning often find themselves in a situation where their physical appearance is a contrast with their own self-image, and they end up anxious or even tormented about appearing older than they are or less attractive to others. Psychological problems due to baldness, if present, are typically most severe at the onset of symptoms.
How many of you know men who worry, worry and worry some more, while you are wondering why it’s such a big deal? Studies have shown just how big a deal it is for them. Homo sapiens and a touch (or more of) vanity seem to go very much hand-in-hand. It’s just how we’re made.
Coming back to the question I raised earlier – how come completely bald by choice is good, but partially bald by nature is not so hot? – a study that was conducted showed that males with facial hair and those with bald or receding hair were rated as being older than those who were clean-shaven or had a full head of hair.
While billions of dollars have been spent on how to halt baldness (Rogaine, Propecia, etc.) or reverse the process (hair transplants, hair pieces), it appears that there may be a much simpler solution after all.
The solution is real. It’s simple. It’s good. It’s cool. And it’s your choice to make. This is certainly good news for men and it appears that more of them are catching on. [Though not the guys below…yet].
So all you guys and girlfriends, wives and partners. And moms. Stop all your fretting! And try saying this:
Bald is beautiful. Bald is sexy.
As long as it’s completely bald. And by choice.
Have I convinced you yet? If I have, forward it to those you know who could use this.
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The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 