Explore, Innovate & Communicate: Jan 30, 2012

(From left) Sunil Khilnani, S. Anand, MJ Akbar, Joseph Lelyveld, Aruna Roy & moderated by Urvashi Butalia. (Audio of this discussion available on side panel of this blog.)

Friendship_Stories_Conversations

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"Narrative is the art closest to the ordinary daily operation of the human mind. People find the meaning of their lives in the idea of sequence, in conflict, in metaphor and in moral...

The narrative mode of thought comes universally to people as, for instance, mathematical or scientific reasoning do not.

Everyone all the time is in the act of composition, our experience is an ongoing narrative withing each of us. "

--- E.L. Doctorow

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Constitution of India: Part IVA- Fundamental Duties

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Article 51A Fundamental duties
It shall be the duty of every citizen of India -
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.

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Understanding Globalisation...!!!

Because I am globalist...!!!
That is the school of thought to which I belong. That means I am not a realist who thinks everything in foreign affairs can be explained by the quest for power and geopolitical advantage--and markets don`t really matter.

I am not an environmentalist, who looks at the fate of the world only through the prism of the environment and what must be done to save it---and development doesn`t matter.

I am not a technologist--one of those silicon valley techno-nerds who believe that invention of microprocessor and that of internet will determine future of international relations---and geopolitics doesn`t matter.

I am not an essentialist who believes that people`s behavior can be explained by some essential culture or DNA trait---and technology doesn`t matter.

And I am not an Economist, who believes that you can explain the world with reference only to markets--and power politics & cultre doesn`t matter.

(Thomas Friedman in THE LEXUS AND OLIVE TREE)

Explore, Innovate & Communicate

Monday, January 30, 2012

'Gandhi, Ambedkar and the Crossroads at Jantar Mantar'

Signboards: Better Angels of These Times...

2010 UN Year of Biodiversity