I have been following the "Google-China" news item for some time now.The move has been analyzed on a lot of web sites. When you read through all that you get the idea that it is indeed a noble gesture. Someone is finally standing up against the big bad bully.
This opinion is especially highlighted in all western media. But I read an intresting comment to one of these news items purportedly by a Chinese origin person. He/she claims that Chinese/Asians need censorship and need to be told what to do and what NOT to do. According to the reader's rationale, China is what it is today because of its communist ideology and government who decides what each and everyone can do or read. I do not necessarily agree with the comment which includes all of Asia but the reader pointed out to Indonesia as an example. Indonesia is a democracy struggling to develop into a developing nation. Whereas China a non democracy is well on its way to being a developed country. Thinking in that fashion, it makes sense.
The other side of this issue is whether it is Google or the US government who is responsible for having Google move out. If it is then Google for all its rhetoric is just a pawn in the game of politics. Time and time again the US government have meddled into the affairs of other countries mostly with disastrous consequences to all concerned. Hopefully this does not turn out into one of those.
The other reason could be that Google with all its popularity in the rest of the world could not penetrate the Chinese consumer where Baidu still reigns. This could be a face saving measure to not let it be public that even Google can fail.
I sincerely hope is is neither of the above two and that Google is standing up for what is right. The issue should not be about governance or politics or business. It should be about one's right to information and ability to choose. It should be about individual freedom.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Back In Bangalore
Return to India has been blogged to death. I always wondered whether I would do it. The answer to it is yes. It is amazing the changes that my country has gone through.
I spent my formative 25 years or so here. Among various places in India, but always pretty much in the south. Bangalore used to be a known lace to me. Whitefield, a place far away where the Sai Baba had decided to build an Ashram for his devotees. Never did I imagine living close to the ashram. And coming back after a long time, that is exactly where I end up.
It has been almost 3 months since I got back here. Some good experiences and mostly bad sum it up till now. It is amazing that I have to relearn a lot of things, which was something that I never expected to do coming back.
A few noteworthy(some amusing) things
1) I had gone to a place to order dinner. I told the waiter I would like it "to go". He looks at me as if I am speaking greek. I repeat the same and he still looks clueless. I fall back on the ever dependable sign language and he goes---"Oh parecelaaaaa...sheri saar" ( meaning that I should have asked for parcel. And saar is showered upon you constantly. Even at work :(
2) If someone tells you they will come, even though they are making a business transaction, only expect them to turn up at least half an hour after the appointment time.
3) There would be a perfectly nice and walkable sidewalk aka footpath. But people still will walk only on the road.
4) You do not yield or help anyone while in traffic. If you do you are considered a loser.
5) Roads are not made for travel in the inner areas. They are for parking to visit the nearby businesses.
The only thing that gives me hope are that things are changing. People are following traffic signals for the most part. Some amount of civis sense is being shown by a percntage of the population. We still have a long way to go and we are already one quarter down the path. We will become a fully developed country at some point, but I doubt if it will be by 2020.
I spent my formative 25 years or so here. Among various places in India, but always pretty much in the south. Bangalore used to be a known lace to me. Whitefield, a place far away where the Sai Baba had decided to build an Ashram for his devotees. Never did I imagine living close to the ashram. And coming back after a long time, that is exactly where I end up.
It has been almost 3 months since I got back here. Some good experiences and mostly bad sum it up till now. It is amazing that I have to relearn a lot of things, which was something that I never expected to do coming back.
A few noteworthy(some amusing) things
1) I had gone to a place to order dinner. I told the waiter I would like it "to go". He looks at me as if I am speaking greek. I repeat the same and he still looks clueless. I fall back on the ever dependable sign language and he goes---"Oh parecelaaaaa...sheri saar" ( meaning that I should have asked for parcel. And saar is showered upon you constantly. Even at work :(
2) If someone tells you they will come, even though they are making a business transaction, only expect them to turn up at least half an hour after the appointment time.
3) There would be a perfectly nice and walkable sidewalk aka footpath. But people still will walk only on the road.
4) You do not yield or help anyone while in traffic. If you do you are considered a loser.
5) Roads are not made for travel in the inner areas. They are for parking to visit the nearby businesses.
The only thing that gives me hope are that things are changing. People are following traffic signals for the most part. Some amount of civis sense is being shown by a percntage of the population. We still have a long way to go and we are already one quarter down the path. We will become a fully developed country at some point, but I doubt if it will be by 2020.
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