Covid and Life Expectancy

Was there under reporting of Covid deaths? Yes. Substantially! This can be assessed from number of excess deaths data:

According to the Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System (CRS) 2021, the number of registered deaths increased from 8.1 million in 2020 to 10.2 million in 2021.

But the government has only linked 0.6 million of these deaths to COVID-19 in its report. It can be easily concluded that there is 1.5 million or 15 lakh covid deaths has been recorded as death due to other reasons though it can be traced to Covid..

Multiple studies show that COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 conditions cause several health issues including lung and heart abnormalities, increasing risks to heart attacks and lung diseases.

The death rate in the country increased from 6.0 per 1000 in 2020 to 7.9 in 2021. This is contrary to the trend where the death rate in India has recorded dramatic decline from 14.9 in 1971 to 6 in 2020. This has moderated to 7.53 in 2025. COVID has a long tail!!!

Expectation of life at birth for India has dropped for the first time in 50 years, registering a decrease of 0.2 years in a year. Life expectancy at birth has been estimated at 69.8 years between 2017 and 2021.

Due to several reasons such as literacy, poverty, economic development etc., there is a vast difference in life expectancy between different states of India.

Variation of life expectancy among different Indian states

Though median life expectancy is around 70’s, are we not seeing more and more octogenarians and nonagenarians around though centenarians are not rare! If pandemics such as Covid are not in the vicinity, one can hope to live longer (though with some manageable ailments or the other!).

Japan leads the number of centenarians @99K followed by USA @98K and China @54k. India trails @ 27K.

When a Chinese state television microphone recently caught China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, and President Vladimir Putin of Russia musing about the possibility of living to 150 and perhaps even forever, many reacted with anxious consternation (2).

But there has been no tut-tutting in the laboratory of Lonvi Biosciences, a longevity medicine startup in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. “Living to 150 is definitely realistic,” said Lyu Qinghua, the chief technology officer of the company, which has developed anti-ageing pills based on a compound found in grapeseed extract. “In a few years, this will be the reality.”

He is skeptical about modern medicine defeating death entirely — something Putin said was possible with organ transplants — but he thinks that longevity science is advancing so fast even the seemingly impossible might come to pass.

But that, improvements in health care and lifestyle, is still behind Japan’s average of nearly 85 years and a long way from the 150 years mentioned by Xi.

World in general is marching towards ‘kayakalpam’, panacea for longevity. So, more geriatricians, old age homes would be in demand soon in the coming years ………..

Reference:

1. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/life-expectancy-in-india-drops-for-the-first-time-in-five-decades-2020-21-saw-2-million-excess-deaths.

2.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-plus/health/living-to-150-is-definitely-realistic-how-china-is-preparing-to-live-forever/articleshow/125199540.cms

Musings of a Maverick

Whether religions survive on the belief that the almighty will bestow relief in exchange of either offerings or self inflicted sufferings?

May be it is good for the society as self morality due to fear of retaliation by Him. Isn’t it better than modern day policing to ensure law and order? It is not only cost effective but ensures livelihood of sellers of offerings! It is paradoxical that while Hindus believe in karma there is equal leverage to the almighties to set them right!

But the popularity of a temple is not just how powerful the deity is to alleviate your sufferings but on other factors too.. Why do some temples, inspite of being huge and beautiful do not have much footfalls? Some acquire prominence all of a sudden – like Thiruvannamalai which was a quiet hillock a couple of decades back but attracts attention after Rajinikanth, Ilayaraja visited. Is sponsorship a prerequisite for eminence?

Accessibility is also an issue to gain prominence. Many huge temples of Tamil Nadu We visited this temple very recently. Really huge. But very few visitors – is it because one has to detour from the highway? Or no mythical belief of miracle cure associated with those shrines?

Do the temples and religions thrive only on barter deals with the almighty? It might be true for ordinary mortals like you and me but this is not what the saints preached… Do not expect anything in return – may be a sane advice.. but…. ???

The great sages of Hindu philosophy saw the universe as one integral entity with all the living beings. The suffering is only due to the disturbed minds from the longing for things that are purely temporary. The realisation would lead to detachment from such pleasures and bestow bliss. But to reach such state, training of mental state is mandatory for which the saints proscribed multiple ways, like fasting chanting, praying, meditation, rituals and so on. With this training, such religious practices may be superfluous!

ஆடலரசனின் அழகு உருவம்

நடராஜர் சிலை சித்தரிக்கும் பிரபஞ்ச நடனம் மயக்கும் அளவுக்கு அழகாக இருந்தாலும் சமச்சீர் இல்லாதது (asymmetric) என்பதுதான் உண்மை. இந்த அழகான வடிவை யார் கற்பனை செய்திருப்பார்கள் என்ற ஜயம் இயற்கைதானே?

பல்லவர் காலத்தில் (6 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டின் முற்பகுதியில்) இருந்த நடராஜரை சித்தரிக்கும் ஆரம்பகால சிற்பங்கள், பிற்கால வடிவங்களை விட ஆற்றல் குறைவாகத்தான் உள்ளன.

6th/7th century Nataraja in Cave 1 of Badami cave temple

Rock-cut architecture by the Pallava king Mahendravarman I during the 7th century in Seeyamangalam, Tamil Nadu

8th-century Nataraja in Kailasa temple(Cave 16), Ellora Caves

சோழ வம்சம் (சுமார் 9-13 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகள்) ஆண்ட காலங்களில், கலைகள் மற்றும் கோயில் கட்டுமானத்திற்கு அளித்த அரச ஆதரவு குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. இந்த காலகட்டத்தில்தான் தென்னிந்தியாவில் நடராஜரின் சின்னமான இன்றைய வெண்கல சிற்பங்கள் தோன்றின எனலாம். இன்று காணப்படும் வடிவத்தை தரப்படுத்தியது அந்த காலகட்டத்தில்தான். சோழ மன்னர்கள் பக்தியுள்ள சைவர்கள். நடராஜர் சின்னம் சோழ அரச குடும்பத்தின் சக்திவாய்ந்த அடையாளமாகவே மாறியது. கும்பகோணத்திற்கு அருகேஉள்ள கோணேரி ராஜபுரத்து கோயிலில் உள்ள மிகப்பெரிய நடராஜர் சிலையின் வரலாற்றின்படி (அல்லது அது ஒரு கர்ணபரம்பரை கதையா என்று தெரியாது) அதுவே அந்த வடிவுக்கு முன்னோடியாக இருக்க வாய்ப்பு அதிகம். அங்குள்ள அந்த வடிவத்தின் முதிர்ந்த நிலையும் அதுவே பிற்கால கோயிலில் இருக்கும் நடராஜர் சிலைக்கு முன்னோடியாக அதையே முத்தாய்ப்பாக கொண்டார்கள் எனவும் கொள்ளலாம். அப்பர் கனவு கண்ட ஆடல் அரசனை, நினைவுலகத்துக்கு அந்த கலைஞன் கொணர்ந்து உயிரூட்டி உள்ளான். பல்லவ காலத்திய வடிவத்துக்கும் தற்போதய வடிவத்துக்கும் எவ்வளவு வேறுபாடு பார்த்தீர்களா?

சோழர்கள் கால வார்ப்பட சிலை கைவினைஞர்கள் “இழந்த-மெழுகு (Lost wax)” வார்ப்பு முறையில் சிறந்து விளங்கினர். அந்த தொழில் நுட்பம் சிறந்து விளங்கியது. துடிப்பான, நுணுக்கமான பல ஆயுதங்களை அணிந்த உருவங்களை அந்த முறையில் உருவாக்கினார்கள். வெண்கலத்தில் நடராஜரின் நடனத்தையும் அதன் ஆற்றல்மிக்க இயக்கத்தையும் அழகான வெளிப்பாட்டையும் அவர்களால் படம்பிடித்து காட்ட முடிந்தது.

எனவே,

“குனித்தபுருவமும், கொவ்வைச் செவ்வாயில் குமிண்சிரிப்பும்,பனித்த சடையும், பவளம் போல் மேனியில் பால் வெண் நீறும்,இனித்தம் உடைய எடுத்த பொன்பாதமும் காணப் பெற்றால் மனிதப் பிறவியும் வேண்டுவதே, இந்த மாநிலத்தே”

என்று நாவுக்கரசர் தேவாரத்தில் பாடியபோது இப்போதைய சிலைவடிவம் இருந்திருக்க வாய்ப்பில்லை. ஏனெனில் அவர் வாழ்ந்தது ஏழாம் நூற்றாண்டு. ஆனாலும் அவர் கனவு கண்ட அந்த காட்சியை அப்படியே பிற்காலத்தில் வடிவமைத்த சிற்பியை எப்படி பாராட்டினாலும் ஏற்புடையதுதான்.

பிரபஞ்சத்தின் ஓய்வில்லா ஓட்டத்துக்கும் அதில் உள்ள ஒவ்வொரு அணுக்களுள்ளும் அதன் இயக்கத்துக்கும் இந்த ஆடலரசன் ஒரு வடிவமாக உள்ளான்.

நடராஜரின் சித்தாந்தத்துக்கும் அணுக்களின் இயக்கத்துக்கும் ஒற்றுமை உள்ளதாக விஞ்ஞானிகள் கூறுகிறார்கள் (1). இந்த ஆச்சரியமான சித்தாந்தத்தை போலவே இந்த வடிவ வரலாறும் சுவாரஸ்யமானதுதானே. இன்றைய அழகிய நடராஜர் சிலை, மத மற்றும் கலை மரபின் ஒரு வளமான பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியாகும். சோழர் காலம் இந்த உருவத்தை முழுமையாக்கியதில் பெரும் பங்கு அளித்துள்ளது உண்மைதான்.

References:

1. The Tao of Physics, Fritjof Capra

To be or not to be

Why do we see increased crowding in religious places nowadays?

Basically எத்தைத்தின்னால் பித்தம் தெளியும் is the underlying principle.

is the purpose of Religion, to seek a desired result from the almighty, knowing pretty well, He will not do? At best praying could give mental relief to the one who believes in Him. He feels blessed even if his material desires are unfulfilled as most of the religions teach him about karma or the effect of past sins. Those religions that don’t in karma concept, simply plead!

Nowadays the reason you see thick crowds in temples – a major fraction goes for spending quality time with family and a tiny fraction with the belief that He will not bless him unless he makes a prayer in person!

And mind you – there is a list of deities and temples to meet specific desires. Also there are deals one can make with the deity for such requirements too. By doing so one gets relieved of the pressures by passing it on to the deity and get along with the daily rotes. Is this the reason for such massive crowds in some temples – even for US visa, there is a god.. How would it influence Trump – god only knows!!

I am reminded of Robin cook’s novel ‘Intervention’. Without giving a verdict on the power of faith healing, he narrates a story of juvinile cancer getting miraculously (mysteriously) cured by the mortal remains of Virgin Mary!! The athiest protagonist, the Doctor father of the kid, is enthralled anyhow as only result matters!

Is this the purpose of religion? Does it fulfil the objective of such a concept? Aren’t the very purpse and tenets of religion set aside by such barter deals?

Golden era of Indian architecture

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the temple at Avudayarkoil, a not so famous temple built by Manikkavachagar in the third century. I was spellbound by the uniqueness of Sivite temple – it has no ‘physical’ deity – it is ‘atma’ – atmanabhar. The presiding deity is formless (Atmanatar); there is no Śivalingam but only a pedestal (Āvudayār) located in the sanctum, hence the name Avudayar Koil. The God faces South in this temple- in Dakshinamurthy or Guru form.

God is formless; though it would be difficult to focus the mind in emptiness for the common mortals, it is the truth and this philosophy is the theme of this temple.

Here, there is no nandhi dev. No Dhakshunamurthy, no kalabhairav etc., one can see the garbagruha right from the entrance of the temple as there are no Nandhi, flagstaff or Balipeetam.The garbagruha is south facing unlike the tradition of deity facing east!

What struck me most are the sculptures in the temple – intricacy is something astounding… unlike in Belur, Halabedu which are made of sandstones that are soft, these are of hard granite. I am not sure whether they are built in the early 3rd century period or added during Vijayanagara dynasty… but according to local folklores, the temple was built by ‘ghosts’! But, yes, it requires a gargantuan effort to build a temple of this size and stature!

Many west leaning historians believe ‘but for English rule before independence, India would not have prospered – be it railways, bridges and many colony buildings’! But they turn a blind eye to the architectural acumen that existed in the pre-British period of occupation!!

Though right from the sangam period, the South Indian temple architecture has taken roots as early as 3rd century AD, it has matured into a full-fledged technology over several centuries starting from early Pandyas, then Pallavas, cholas and later Vijayanagar dynasties up to 17th century. Later stunted by mogul dynasty and death knell during British era. What is remaining in these temples deserves to be preserved as a mark of respect to our ancestors..

My recent visit included a few more temples – Srirangam, Thiruvanaikkaval, Thirumayam. There are many more such temples that trumpet the grandeur of the rich tradition and the art farm, very little effort is put to lure the tourists. Government should exploit this rich cultural treasure economically – the west would have milched even with a single temple!

Yet another Granite statue @ Avudayar Koil

Narasimha tearing Hitayanyakasipu’s stomach

Could you believe this is made of stone pieces and not of wood! This is in Avudayarkoil.

Boredom Blues

What leads to boredom?

Some possible reasons could be,

Engaging in the same tasks repeatedly or a predictable routine that fails to challenge the brain, leading to feelings of disinterest and dullness.

Activities that do not provide enough mental engagement or a sense of challenge can make it difficult to focus on the job and lead to boredom.

Being forced to do something that are uninteresting or pointless, like waiting for the bus or train or being stuck in a boring movie would cause boredom.

Feeling powerless or unable to make choices about the activities or environment can heighten boredom.

These days addiction to social media could be a sign of boredom though many would argue it is an escape route!

Would it lead to mental illness?

Continued boredom leads to depression or anxiety; this can lead to not just mental but even physical health issues. To escape from boredom, some would resort to stimulants such as casinos, alcohol and narcotic drugs or sometimes even indulging in violence and unnatural sex. Kleptomania could be one such outlet for millionaires! This explains the common observation that those who built business empires through hard-work could be misers and teetotallers, while their wards invariably would be spendthrifts and drug addicts! They escape easily from boredom with such thrills!

A healthy mind seeks challenge. Learning new skills, reading, solving puzzles, going outdoors, connecting with people which antidote boredom.

It is paradoxical that not only an idle mind breeds boredom but even arduous monotonous tasks lead to the same fate.

In every culture, there are festivals which are designed to break the boredom – with exotic cuisines, social gatherings, community games etc., The celebrations are noisy and polluting and may be detrimental to public health but they serve as outlets do break boredom!

It is astonishingly true that yogic practice trains the mind to be in tranquility that would bring mental peace and bliss! Essentially it tunes the mind to be away from boredom inspite of apparent monotony of being idle!

In modern democracy, elections are a way to break the boredom! Chaos, rallies, fist fights, noise etc., being part, especially in India. Politicians such as Trump, Rahul add flavour to make everyday-news interesting, lively and a circuit breaker for boredom!

Suppose India is devoid of such lawlessness, disorderliness and say nothing to complain about, would it not result in boredom? So, the presence of limited measure of such evils is indeed welcome for a healthy living!!!

So don’t yearn for emigrating to peaceful countries! A vibrant and chaotic India is heaven for ensuring your mental health!!

எரியிற கொள்ளில எந்த கொள்ளி நல்ல கொள்ளி

அமெரிக்காவின் எதிரியாக இருப்பது ஆபத்தானது, ஆனால் நண்பராக இருப்பது அதனிலும் கொடுமையானது. இதை சொன்னதே ஒரு அமெரிக்கர்தான் – புகழ்பெற்ற அந்த சாணக்கியர் ஹென்றி கிசிஞ்சர்.

ரஷயப்பேரரசு உடைந்த 1990களில், வாஷிங்டன் உலகத்தின் ஒரே வல்லரசாகிய தருணத்தில், பிரேசிலும் இந்தியாவும் அமெரிக்க அதிகாரத்தின் மீது எழ்ந்த அவநம்பிக்கையால் மற்ற உறவுகளை அமைத்துக் கொள்ள ஆரம்பித்தன.

அமெரிக்கா எப்பொதுமே தனக்குப் பிடிக்காத பேச்சுவார்த்தைகளை கைவிடுவது; சர்வதேச அதிகார அமைப்புகளின் கட்டுப்பாடுகளை மீறுவது; தாங்கள் விதிப்பதுதான் விதிகள், இணங்குவது உங்கள் கடமை போன்ற நிகழ்வுகளை உலகம் சகித்துக்கொண்டுதான் உள்ளது.

மறுபுறம், பெய்ஜிங் சீன ஏற்றுமதிகளுக்கு வர்த்தக விதிமுறைகளையும் உலகம் கண்டும் காணாமல்தான் உள்ளது.

இந்த இரண்டு பொருளாதார வல்லரசுகளில் எதை சார்வது என்பதில் பல நாடுகள் குழம்பின – எரியிற கொள்ளில எந்த கொள்ளி நல்ல கொள்ளி என்பது தான் வளரும் நாடுகளின் நிலை.

ஆனால் பிரேசிலும் இந்தியாவும் யாரையும் முழுமையாக சார்ந்திருப்பது இறையாண்மைக்கு உகந்தது அல்ல என்ற முடிவுக்கு வந்து அதற்கான வழிமுறைகளையும் வகுத்துக்கொண்டுள்ளன.

தற்போது பிரேசிலும் இந்தியாவும் டிரம்பின் வரிகளை எதிர்த்து அமெரிக்க பொருளாதார வற்புறுத்தலை வெற்றிகரமாக எதிர்க்க முடியும் என்று நிரூபித்தால், மேலும் பிற நாடுகள் நிச்சயமாக இந்த பாதையில் செல்ல ஏதுவாகும். இதன் விளைவு ஒரு புதிய உலக ஒழுங்காக இருக்காது, ஒழுங்கின்மையாகத்தான் இருக்கும் – 20 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டின் முற்பகுதியில் பல சக்திகளும் பலவீனமான சர்வதேச நிறுவனங்களும் இறுதியில் உலகப் போருக்கு அடித்தளமிட்ட குழப்பமான பன்முகத்தன்மைக்குத் இது உலகை திருப்பும். இது ஸ்திரத்தன்மைக்கு எந்த உத்தரவாதத்தையும் அளிக்காது.

ஆனால், அமெரிக்க மேலாதிக்க ஏகாதிபத்யம் முடிவுக்கு வரும்.

வரும் காலங்களில் விநியோகச் சங்கிலிகள் உடைக்கப்படும்போது ஒரு புறம் அமெரிக்கர்கள் அன்றாடப் பொருட்களுக்கு அதிக விலை கொடுப்பார்கள், டாலர் அதன் அந்தஸ்தை இழப்பதைப் பார்ப்பார்கள், உலகின் வேகமாக வளர்ந்து வரும் சந்தைகளில் இருந்து தங்கள் நிறுவனங்கள் பூட்டப்படுவதைப் பார்ப்பார்கள்.

மறுபுறம் பிரேசிலியர்களும் இந்தியர்களும் இறக்குமதி செய்யப்பட்ட தொழில்நுட்பத்திற்கான அதிக விலைகளை எதிர்கொள்ள நேரிடும், மொத்தத்தில் உலகத்தின் பொருளாதாரம் நசிந்து, நிச்சயமற்றதாகவும், மோதலுக்கு ஆளாகக்கூடியதாகவும் இருக்கும். குழப்பங்கள் அதிகரிக்கும்…

BRICS அமைப்பு எப்படி இதை எதிர்கொண்டு பொறுப்புடன் சமாளிக்கப்போகிறதோ – பார்ப்போம். ஆனால் அந்த பொறுப்பு ஒருதலை பட்சமல்லவே? அதில் அமெரிக்காவுக்கும் பங்கு உள்ளதே? மோடியும் பரேசிலின் லுலாவும் ட்ரம்புக்கு அடிபணிந்து தங்கள் நாட்டின் நலத்தை விட்டுக்கொடுக்க மாட்டார்கள். ட்ரம்பும் தன் நாட்டின் பொருளாதாரத்தைக் காட்டிலும் தன் சொந்த விருப்பு வெறுப்புக்களுக்குத்தான் அதிக முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுப்பார் என்பது நிச்சயம். அவருக்கு கடிவாளம் போட அமெரிக்க அரசியல் சாசனத்தில் வழியில்லை. இன்னும் நான்கு வருடங்கள் இந்த ஒருவரின் கோமாளித்தனத்திற்கு உலகமே அதிக விலை கொடுக்கவேண்டிய கட்டாயத்தில் உள்ளது. அதன் பிறகு மீள எவ்வளவு காலம் பிடிக்குமோ?

ஆனால் ஒன்று – வரலாற்றின் பாதை வெகு வேகமாக மாறிக்கொண்டு வருகிறது என்பது மட்டும் நிச்சயம். இந்த காட்டாற்றில் யாருக்கு அதிகம் பாதிப்பு என்பது போகப்போகத்தான் தெரியும்.

Fight it out for Salvation?

Vadakalai – Thenkalai debate reaches court yet again!

Recently petitions were filed by TAP Srirangachari and KB Srinivasan, seeking to quash a May 28, 2024, communication from the executive officer of Vilakoli Perumal Sri Vedantha Desikar Temple in Little Kancheepuram, which barred Thenkalai followers from reciting the Prabhandham even outside the temple during a procession.

They also wanted the authorities concerned to go by the order and decree passed in the early 1900s. The judge, however, said the high court cannot function as an executing court and advised the petitioners to approach the civil court to enforce the decree. Noting that disputes between the sects have often turned volatile, the judge said the temple executive officer wanted to avoid such a volatile situation.

Even during the British colonial period, the existing tensions were exacerbated by the introduction of new legal and administrative structures. The British legal system was sometimes used to formalize the practices of each sect, leading to court cases and decrees that further defined their separate identities.

One would be surprised at what is this dispute for especially when religions show a path for salvation!

There are two divisions, Vadakalai and Thenkalai, within Sri Vaishnavism. Sri Vaishnavism, as formalized by Ramanuja, formed the foundation for both schools. However, the specific interpretations and practices that led to the division arose later. The division is not attributed to a single individual or a specific point in time, but rather developed over time due to differing interpretations of philosophy and practices. While the formalization of the two schools is relatively recent, the philosophical underpinnings for the distinction can be traced back to the 14th century, with figures like Vedanta Desika (associated with Vadakalai) and Pillai Lokacharya (associated with Thenkalai).

The core difference lies in how they interpret Visistadvaita (qualified non-dualism), the core philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism. Vadakalai emphasizes Sanskrit scriptures and traditions, while Thenkalai focuses more on Tamil devotional hymns (Divya Prabandham) and practices.

Vedanta Desika is considered a key figure in the Vadakalai tradition, emphasizing the authority of the Vedas and Sanskrit texts. Pillai Lokacharya, along with Manavalamamunigal, is a central figure in the Thenkalai tradition, emphasizing the importance of the Tamil Prabandhams and the concept of prapatti (self-surrender).While both were influential figures within Sri Vaishnavism, their followers developed distinct interpretations.

The division also has geographical and temporal aspects. The Vadakalai tradition is often associated with regions north of the Kaveri river, while Thenkalai is associated with the south. The formal entrenchment of the two sects is also seen as a development over time, particularly during the Vijayanagar and subsequent periods.

The Thenkalai sect emphasizes devotion (bhakti) and divine grace, likening God’s help in salvation to a mother cat carrying her kitten, requiring minimal effort from the devotee. Conversely, the Vadakalai sect stresses the importance of both devotion and human effort in attaining salvation, using the analogy of a mother monkey carrying her baby, which requires the baby to cling on.

There are three major temples practising srivaishnavite tradition – one in Srirangam, Kanchipuram and Thirupathi. In Srirangam, the rituals are done in thenkalai and there is no dispute whatsoever.

In Thirupathi, the Chief priest of the temple is from vadakalai and it is a hereditary post, so it continues like that for ages. BUT the temple activities are monitored and implemented by the tirupati jeer swamigal who is tenkalai and his lineage goes back to Sri Ramanuja who is credited with the foundation of the proper temple activities. The committee consists of members of both groups. The Namam on the face of main deity is neither of tenkalai nor of vadakalai but a via media ப. There is no dispute here to between the sects!

Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal, being a place where the scholars of both the schools were prevalent. Staunch followers of both the tradition engage each other during festivals has become a common sight in Kancheepuram as one is refusing to accept the other ritual.

Not just that: the dispute transcends as to which of those sects should be seated in the front rows during festivals; the order of hymns, the religious mark of the forehead of the temple elephant, and so on.

For those non Vaishnavites, such disputes seem trivial especially when one is seeking salvation! Those who brought peace in other places, especially Thirupathi can extend their yeoman services in Kanchi too!

Why is west deaf to reasoning on Pakistan affairs?

Why does US support Pakistan inspite of its harbouring terrorism – even when it has concealed the dreaded 9/11 Osama Bin Laden with their state machinery? But for a brief lull of anguish, it is business as usual! Pakistan continues to get US aids and repeatedly bailed out by the western funding institutions while the vibrant democratic India with 1.4 billion population, gets only preached to restrain when terrorists strike? Isn’t it disgusting? One would have expected the democratic west to stand up on the stated moral principles and support India. But it is always gets lectured to maintain peace lest there will be a nuclear conflict! Why?

USA wants just a pliable partner – Pakistan holding a begging bowl with chaos and instability all around, suits well. Its strategic location advantage in Central Asia adds to its credit for keeping the military assets of the west.

In the past decade, India has started taking its own decision, be it buying oil from Russia defying sanctions, in spite of west dictates. Even for military supplies India is no longer arm twisted – also the lobbies that were in vogue in earlier regimes have got vaporised! India is becoming economically strong – makes most of the equipment indigenously, builds its own trade links – be it BRICS or Middle East trade corridor! Would US or for that matter any other strong country like such a nation? USA does not want any nation to question its stand – wants only those who tow their line. Yes – Pakistan fits the bill and not India! The country is so reliable that some nuclear arsenals of the west are safeguarded in Pakistan as per some reports!

These days, global partnerships are not structured on principles, it is built only on pliability. The more you are strong and independent, more an unreliable and undesired partner you become! West would even indulge in weakening!

So for heaven’s sake don’t expect US to appreciate your moral stand not only now but ever in the future – be it a democratic or republican president in chair – they don’t want an economically strong partner with an independent mindset! Western principles are more self centred than that of the morally oriented east! West is only good at diplomatic preaching of others!

As long as Modi and Jaishankars are around, India is unlikely to blindly tow the western world! Pakistan would continue to be in political and economic turmoil for ages to come and be a launching pad with lavish aids from the west, for all the trouble makers!

It is only a waste of time and effort sending multiple delegations to explain our position – west is deaf!

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Trumpenomics – Disruptive world order

After the end of the Second World War, America became a true leader of the world innovative technology development with the right kind of all around progress in science and manufacturing. With the advent of Carter led USA changing the economic model to outsourcing the manufacturing to the low cost developing nations like China, Vietnam and the likes retaining only the technology, imports surpassed exports with the manufacturing sector in USA loosing out fast. American government promoted consumerism as the development model, though balance of payments was deficient. US$ was propped up by the investment of surpluses by the exporting nations. Though this was not a sustainable economic model, no one had the guts to reverse the trend which would have a severe backlash in the domestic market.

The present disruption is to bring back the manufacturing to US. Unless the imports are taxed, there would not be incentive to set up shops locally. The counties that rely on US markets cry foul as they are losing out.

How would the markets behave from now on? There would be inflation in US though the Government may compensate from the huge existing reserves. There would be a significant drop in demand for goods and since US being a large market, this would impact the world GDP, in other words there would be recession. As manufacturing sector would take longer to stabilise, the recession may last longer, may be close to five years??

US $ may drop, so too oil, stocks too but since gold is the only resort in such a scenario it may reach to the level of ‘mount Everest’!

Another possible scenario, is a slow calibration of the market forces, with quick settlement of tariff rates. While others are on track, who would blink first China or US? Both would soon realise it is a futile war and negate a deal for a better world but a bit bitter to the present generation Americans who are not used to harsher living conditions!