In a way, the idea I'm about to discuss here came about thanks to Nitya. When we first exchanged e-mail ids, I asked her if the 'behl' in her id was her second name. And she shocked me a little by saying that she didn't actually have a second name; but she wanted one that wasn't too region specific. Months later at a book store, I came across an interesting title - 'The Art of Tantric Sex' written by a certain Nitya Lacroix. I did suggest the name Lacroix to the first Nitya (though I didn't tell her where it came from :)). I still don't know what she thinks of it.
By saying that Nitya didn't want a region specific surname, she meant (and I like to think so) that she didn't want to be 'rooted' to one place; and that her name should rather symbolise the fact that she belongs to the world rather than to any one particular pocket of it. Globalisation has penetrated from amazon.com to our surnames. Along the way, it has flattened currencies, food, bureaucracy, temperaments, corporations, age and households. A 20 yr old behaving like 30 yr old or vice versa is no longer uncommon. Though that is besides the point, the message here is very simply to think like a citizen of the world.
A person living in Saket, South Delhi can learn a Spanish Dance,pick up Russian and practise Feng Shui by moving inside a radius of 3 Ks from his home. Like wise, someone in Johannesburg, S.A. has tasted idlies with 7 different types of chutney, is a Buddhist and is sold out to Paulo Coelho's philosophy. This is the Global Identity we are looking at. Boundaries dissolving between countries only gives us reason to celebrate and adapt to the change. As for the cynics, I'm told they still believe in a North and a South India.
Inspired by: The King of good times, who knows what thinking global is all about.
6 comments:
Three quotes to compliment your thoughts
"The real voyage of discovery is not in seeking and seeing new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes."
---Marcel Proust
We are all citizens of one world; we are all of one blood. To hate a man because he was born in another country, because he speaks a different language, or because he takes a different view on this subject or that, is great folly. Desist, I implore you, for we are all equally human....Let us have but one end in view, the welfare of humanity.
--John Amos Comenius(1592-1670)
For the world is not to be narrowed ‘til it will go into the understanding but the understanding is to be expanded and opened ‘til it can take in the image of the world
--Francis Bacon
Heyy! As usual- U hav turned up a trump card!
True how globalisation has replaced narrow-mindedness. But in the process, don't you think you might be losing ur identity along the way? Of course, U r the person who should be responsible for your identity, not ur environment- all that is ther; but still it is a fact that your environment does mould you. But I guess if you are ready to lose that part of yorself, rahter bury it and imbibe somethin new- Go global!!!! :)
no need for those foreign references as in first comment. We Indian have our own saying like :
अयम निज परोवेती गणना लघु चेतसाम
उदार चरितानाम तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम
but frankly i have no clue why you chose this heading and that novel thing [:(]
one more thing you think the lady dont want to have roots. i think if someone is narrow minded then he/she will presume any how from where u could be. He/She will always categarize u based on whatever wheter it b your face, accent ......
exactly thats what the above "Shloke" says.
above all nice thoughts.
n i'll try not to think as north and south india !!!!!! Thanx
This is for you Hari Om…
I will TRY and attempt to answer your question as to why Arjun chose the topic “Citizen of the World” and I HOPE this gives you an understanding of what it means…and Arjun I hope u don’t mind I took the opportunity to speak on your behalf.
Here it comes……
From the point of view of Humanity (Human kind, civilization, people), humanity has the capacity and the power to turn toward a truly planetary civilization, a Global Civilization that reflects universal, social and ecological values while respecting differences across the continents. Today, our collective wealth and technological prowess could defeat the scourges of destitution, war, and environmental destruction.… The choices we make now and in the critical decades ahead will set the path of global development for generations to come.
From the point of view of any single individual, the world and its future appear to be constructed by vast social forces, elite power networks, and continent-spanning institutions with their own internal logics. Many people would like to help address the intimidating challenges of our times, yet they feel powerless and this diminishes their potential agency for change. They do not know where to begin or what would be an effective contribution to the creation of a hopeful future and a better world.
To begin to resolve this dilemma, Arjun has only ignited a spark, initiated an echo, a trickle effect amongst all of us to broadly analyze the forces shaping world events today.
The world is perhaps best understood as a complex system in which nature, technology, and humanity all influence, and are influenced by, each other. Although difficult to disentangle from other aspects of the global system, “Human agency” which encompasses you, me and the citizens of the world – have the capacity as people, individuals to reflect, make choices, and act collectively to realize those choices—that plays a critical role in shaping the course of events and in the true sense of the word help us become a “citizen of the world” we live in.
Gr8 post as usual :) .
nitya is honoured to see her name in ur genius blog ! good one as usual
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