The Indian budget every year has always been an eagerly awaited event. For many decades, the best minds in economics, finance, tax, business and industry throng the media house to analyze the provisions shared by the Financial Minister.
Sometimes major events completely disconnected may be data points for the plans of the different powers around the world. The challenge is to discern what purpose they serve? More critically, what are we moving towards?
When the US Ambassador threatened India's "Strategic Autonomy" policy over India's friendship with Russia - much more than meets the eye was at stake. Let us unpack how the Ukraine war has fundamentally changed the US and the world. And why are we here anyway?
An interesting diplomatic experiment via kids is underway. Through Marshall Direct Fund’s Global Kid Connect program, Aspen Country Day School in Colorado and Lahore Grammar School in Pakistan are exchanging penpal mails. Apart from the subjects related to music and celebs, these kids are actually touching upon diplomatic and religious subjects as well from their limited understanding and the need to empathize.
So they are talking about how they would like to view each other and how the overall gamut of activities have impacted the world view. The letters have been published on the website of the program. Unfortunately, only the letters by the American kids have been published, not the Pakistani ones. But you can get some idea of the tone and topics that are being discussed.
Terrorism seems to be a big issue.
Audra writes:
Audra’s mail
Meanwhile Tristan (aged 13) writes: To answer your question. We don’t think your country is all terroriscs [sic] but we think that your country has terrorists in it. Are there terrorists in your country?
There seems to be an attempt by these youngsters to reassure the Pakistani kids that they do not view them as evil. There are evil characters, but these American kids can empathize with their counterparts. Andrew and Mat, try to
Andrew & Mat
Interestingly, it wasn’t all nicey-nicey stuff, because one Sarah did forcefully defend herself and her country-people.
Sarah’s letter
At this point in school, these kids’ mindsets will be created and this attempt at empathy will stand them in good stead. Unfortunately, over the years, many other forces will come to bear upon them and their ways will change when they are grown up.
Intellectuals in Pakistan are asking - why is Pakistani society where it is today. It did not happen in a day. The Crimes and the depravity was always present. You acquiesced to it all along.
The story of how Pakistan got its nuclear arsenal is bizarre. Powerful politicians made decisions that will one day jeopardize this planet. For, unbridled power has been handed to ideological extremists. A detailed expose.
Bilawal Bhutto, the scion of genocide backing and a corruption-ridden family, openly abused and threatened India's elected government functionaries in the UN.
Words won't work here. Action will.
Every Sunday AM (US Time)/ PM (India time), we send out a weekly detailed newsletter. We also share other insightful notes during the week. Its free. Do sign up and share with friends!