The Indian Way

My father has a saying, "never give people alms, give them work". In a largely poor nation like India it makes perfect sense. He grew up in a time of optimism, when a nation freed itself from the shackles of colonialism. Everyone was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi who said "work is worship". As I see him age, I see how this practice has borne him fruit. Everyone who has ever served him and continues to serve him, have prospered. He has spread his wealth by bettering the lives of those he touched and those who helped him, by giving them work. Now as an octogenarian, he has a small army of helpers who take care of him while I am away in America chasing my dreams and traversing my own path.

Every few years I return home to take stalk of the situation, and every time I return, I find my father still in command of his surroundings. He has diabetes, his vision is a bit impaired and his movement has significantly slowed, but his mind is still sharp and in control, as it was decades ago. Largely because of the people who generously take care of his daily needs in exchange for his magnanimity.

I grew up in a socialist, protectionist India, when the country was closely aligned with the Soviet Union and two car and TV models were all you had to choose from. There was one state controlled television channel called Doordarshan, whose prime directive was rural education and development with some entertainment and news thrown in for variety. A few hours of black and white fuzzy images beamed from New Delhi, defined my world view. Color television arrived in the eighties and by the nineties, it was clear that India could not withstand the forces of globalization closing in. Economic liberalization was inevitable as the free market was knocking on India's door, eager to devour a billion people with goods and services, deprived under socialism. I left around that time, and when I returned a few years later the change was in full swing. Satellite television had fallen on India like a brick and the flood gates opened and India took a sharp turn.

More than two decades later, India is still transforming, with rapid urbanization and an average growth rate of 7%. Immense amount of wealth and prosperity has been created for many in the process. The middle class has expanded and the unending thirst for cheap skilled labor from America has fueled a meteoric job growth in the IT (information technology) industry. The advent of tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, FlipKart and Uber have created tremendous job opportunities for many. Education institutes have popped up in every corner to meet the demand, churning out assembly line software engineers. With all the wealth generated conspicuous consumption has become the mainstay. The American dream is taking shape in India as more and more expats return and crave for a mix of American and Indian conveniences. From mansions with private home-theaters, to mega cars and flat screen TVs to Gucci and Prada, there is nothing the Indian consumer can now not afford. He or she is as savvy as any other denizen in any part of the world.

But somethings have not changed, and the prospects of them changing seem remote. There are large sections of society that are falling through the cracks. The infrastructure is not keeping up with the consumerism. The environment outside ones air conditioned car window or ones gated house, is deteriorating rapidly. Lakes are turning into cesspools and rivers are turning into sewage canals, ancient rocks are plundered for high rise apartments. The glimpses of poverty I grew with are still present. The soiled face of a child in tattered clothes on a traffic island, a man strewn on a sidewalk, public defecation and urination is still a common sight. As a result the Prime Minister has rightfully launched a massive clean India campaign with much passion and fervor, but sometimes it feels that slogans and public service advertisements fall on deaf ears as a culture of corruption across all walks of life seems as intact as ever.

The present government in power is planning for more growth by inviting foreign investment via it's "Make In India" campaign. India's business friendly Prime Minister is convinced that only more factories and companies can alleviate the suffering of India's masses by creating jobs. Even American defense companies like Lockheed Martin are being given access to setup factories in India in an attempt to create jobs. There is no question more jobs can bring people out of poverty and create an environment of prosperity. But one cannot negate the fabric of the country in the process. India still has a vast rural economy and if everyone were to become an urban dweller, it would be a prime a recipe for disaster. Only 2% of America's population are farmers, and thanks to machines and corporate farming they can produce all the food the nation needs. That model is unsustainable for India, whose villages still form its very backbone. While there is a push to expand the manufacturing and service sectors the emphasis and investment to better the lives of small farmers is uneven or non-existent.

Despite all the challenges and political and social upheaval, for a nation this size, India has a significantly low official unemployment rate hovering just below 5%. That is because people in India do like to work. They are driven to be productive and have an immense desire to climb the social ladder. But what is lacking is a work ethic that delivers efficiency and time sensitivity. A large labor force, often means a dozen people employed to do the job of one. That should translate to better efficiency, but in the case of India it does not. You could walk into a bright shiny store to purchase a TV and there would be a dozen sales people on the floor serving you, but the customer service would not be what you would expect. They lack training and knowledge of the product they are selling and often are not driven sales people. Then there is a culture of lethargy and nonchalance that is infectious, almost to the point that they are there just to read out the sticker price, that is all.

There is no social safety net for most citizens. Government employees and some large corporations offer great retirement plans and pensions, but for the rest, it is a "do or die" insecure future. Against all odds of castism, racism, classism and regionalism, many Indians have to build a future. Therefore people see children as their most reliable asset and investment and then gold, real estate and tax evasion. And when all else is uncertain, India provides the largest selection of gods, godmen and spiritual leaders to put your faith into.

And so India trudges on as one of the worlds best functioning chaotic democracies in the world. Despite all the challenges and collective cultural indifference and apathy towards basic governance, India creates from its marrow some of the kindest, humblest, loyalest, warmest people a nation can offer. While sudden acquisition of wealth does spawn a certain display of brashness, barbarism and disregard for humanity among some, there are those who respond with utter kindness and loyalty when treated well. The kindness and familiarity I receive from some people who I have known since I was a dusty boy playing marbles in an open field, is something truly remarkable and irreplaceable.

Like every nation, a lot has changed in this country and somethings have not budged an inch. The disregard for the environment is appalling. Polluted lakes and rivers, toxic air, unhygienic sidewalks and open garbage dumps only seem to get worse. Hyderabad, the city I grew up in was recently named one of the best cities to live in, in India. Many who live here were shocked and amused to hear that. As when they leave their doorstep these days, they have to put on a face mask.

My evenings in Hyderabad most often end over a glass of beer with my father reminiscing about the days of clean air, open fields with greenery abound. A time when people were emerging from a feudal system and trying to chart their own destiny as a worldly nation. When 200 rupees earned after a hard days work meant you were on the rise. When you knew with a little more effort and honesty you could own a house, a car, send your children to a good school and even take a vacation. When it seemed like there would emerge a more equitable society than previous generations. Almost seven decades later the harsh reality is somewhat different. The old has been made obsolete and irrelevant in every sense of the word. The city has turned into a metropolis that has overrun everything in its path. The soft, sleepy, sophistication that once defined the people of this city has been replaced by something unrecognizable. But refreshingly, some people have held on to a work ethic of old, that was driven by hard work, loyalty and kindness. This rarity is still found in many pockets among people who are the salt of this earth and speak a common language of love and respect. It is what it is.

The Disease Within

"America the Beautiful" a famous patriotic song from the late 1800s, is often sung celebrating the natural beauty of the United States of America. The song is relevant even today as it captures the vast unsurpassed beauty of this land in all its majesty. This and other characteristics of this nation still draws people from all over to its shores. The creativity this land sparks in its people, is second to none. Its music, literature, films and technological ingenuity has infiltrated every corner of the planet like no other force. Its overwhelming economic and military might is constantly molding the globe, not always with positive outcomes. Its universities are cauldrons from which people from all around yearn to sip at any cost. The crown America wore soon after the second world war, as the leader of the free world, is still intact. This fact is mentioned over and over again at every podium by every politician, as every speech ends with, "God Bless America. The greatest nation on earth". But in no means America is perfect. It was always meant to be a work in progress and centuries later it still is. The constitution that was drafted many centuries ago, is sacrosanct, and continues to challenge the nation to shape itself to the best of its ability.

Even though the constitution was drafted by mostly white slave owners, at a time when America was at war with itself, it took human nature and desires of all mankind into account. It was not in the interest of the people of that time to enshrine words such as "... all men are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" into the Declaration of Independence. But they did, with some vague vision of the future. For which they established a system of government, which to a large extent would keep absolute power in check and prevent the president from becoming a tyrant. But there is only so far they could see.

The American system of government is not perfect, and has proven to be profoundly dysfunctional in the recent past, more so than ever. Under President Obama's administration, the polarization of politics, exposed the deep flaws within the American system. Leading to appalling moments of grid lock and the people's work being sacrificed at the alter of racially motivated partisan politics.

All nations around the world have problems that are symptomatic of their unique system of governance. But one aspect that runs common across all systems is corruption. The impact of corruption sometimes is direct as people in power momentarily enrich themselves with the people's money. But most often it is a corruption of humanity that is more destructive. While monetary corruption may be less of a problem in America, moral corruption has become a main stay in a bitterly divided political environment.

If one were to pick one issue around which there is a degree of insanity bordering on total moral bankruptcy, it is the issue of "guns". Many nations deal with epidemics, which are devastating to the health of their people. The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and now the Zika virus in Brazil has brought nations to their knees. If there is one epidemic that plagues this mighty nation it is without question, guns.

A disease is defined as a particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people. Every year 30,000 people die of gun violence in America. When a handful of people were infected by the Ebola virus in this nation a few months ago, the whole nation was on high alert. The fear was palpable. But only when little children are gunned down in their school by demented people, is when America momentarily wakes up to this scourge, and then goes back to sleep as the news cycle breaks.

Enough has been said and heard on this issue. I have written a few essays on this issue as nothing troubles me more. All sides of the argument have been presented. People who want to hold on to their guns and feel deeply about the 2nd amendment, refuse to understand what it means. They negate the fact that the 2nd Amendment only gives you the right to bear arms if there is a need for a "well regulated militia" against the tyranny of a state. No matter how delusional and pained one is by the verdict of the centuries old Civil War, there is no tyranny of the state that can be identified in the United States of America. Even if there is, there is no way it can be confronted with guns of any sort. The state has significantly bigger ones.

Another argument that is often put forth, is that guns are an instrument of personal safety. That maybe the case, if you were living in a war zone. Statistically the chances of you or your loved one falling victim to your own gun is much higher, than by an assailant. This is a fact which most gun owners are in denial about.

The third most commonly heard argument is, owning guns is a way of life, a family tradition. Big game hunting is a favorite pass time in many parts of this country, no matter how barbaric and inhumane it is. What is certain though, is that one does not require a bushmaster machine gun to kill a bear or a deer in their own habitat.

The last but most ludicrous argument that is used by gun ownership proponents, is that guns don't kill people, but bad people behind them do. This is like saying cigarettes don't cause cancer, it is the hands that put cigarettes to lips do. There is no doubt, you take the gun out of any scenario, it really does not matter if it is a good person or a bad person involved in conflict, the harm done is dramatically less.

There is no rational argument for gun ownership in the present, modern society we live in. If you were living in the jungle, in a tent, maybe there is one. Even there the chances of you being killed by your weapon are higher than a large animal. As most animals do not consume human flesh as a source of their diet. They much rather stay clear of the deadliest animal on earth.

What prompted me to write this piece, even though much has been said, was a mind numbing fact I read in a recent New York Times article. Since President Obama took office in 2009, shares of Smith and Wesson and Sturm, Ruger and Co. have each increased more than 900 percent, far surpassing and even outperforming tech stocks such as Google and Apple (up 800 percent). This fact reveals that the business climate for many gun manufacturing companies has never been better. Another bizarre behavior that has become prevalent in this nation, is that gun sales skyrocket whenever there is a mass shooting of a horrific nature and there have been far too many in the last eight years. People believe that the government would come after their guns in response to the shootings, even though time and again it is proven that it is impossible for a government to do so. So this human behavior defies all logic leading me to conclude that it is a symptom of a mental illness that is deep seeded.

Most often things change when there as an economic climate to facilitate it. The economic climate has never been better for guns today, so the chances of any drastic change happening is limited. Lobbies such as the NRA, who serve the gun manufacturers, have every incentive to make sure nothing changes. Therefore they would do anything for this disease to go unaddressed.

President Obama has always openly expressed how powerless he has felt, for not being able to address this problem with any significant legislation. So on January 16, in his final few months as president, he decided to address it with an "executive action". By circumventing the congress, which has been the most rabid opponent of a president in American history, he used his limited power to enforce new federal regulations on how guns are bought and sold. Shedding tears he said, as president he had to respond to the countless parents who had lost children to mindless gun violence. He could not ignore them anymore with inaction. Even though some called his reforms "sweeping", they were only marginal. The reality is, much like anything in this country, the real reform and enforcement happens at the state level. The federal government can only nudge, and the states have to follow through with real action.

There are almost as many guns in this nation as there are people. America has the most well armed civilian population in the world. There is no way any government can take away guns from its people. That is bound to spark a real rebellion, as it will be seen as tyranny. So the best thing to do, is to incentivize people to give up their weapons on their own, make sure there is a strict limit on how much ammunition one can purchase per year, and completely outlaw assault weapons that can fire hundreds of rounds per second. The only way gun violence will decrease, is when there are fewer guns in society. The Australian gun by back program enacted after a mass shooting in 1996, decisively proved this fact. Nations with less guns, or strict gun ownership laws, loose fewer people to gun violence. This is an undeniable statistical fact.

This month Smith and Wesson, one of the largest gun manufacturers in the nation, alerted Wall Street analysts and investors that it believed its full-year sales would be higher than expected, above $650 million for its fiscal year, which ends in April. That is up more than 57 percent from its 2012 sales of $412 million. This economic reality spells death to more people in this country, as this disease within will continue to spread unabated. It is what its.

Full Circle

For 4.5 billion years our planet has been making circumambulations around the sacred sun. In a few days it will complete yet another, and us humans will jump for joy and stay up late, marking the moment with an arbitrary number. We will call it the start of year number 2016, as we have been made to accept that the birth of Jesus was a moment in time worth counting from.

A great many things have happened on our sphere, while it has been making its rounds as a prisoner of gravity. For one, the understanding of our origins is more clearer now, than ever before. Since the moment Eratosthenes showed us the earth was spherical and Copernicus discovered the earth revolved around the sun, and Galileo laid the foundation to modern science and astronomy, it took only a few hundred years for us to discover the Higgs Boson, also known as the "god particle". Today we can most certainly estimate how our universe began and know that the "stuff " we are made off, is nothing but star matter.

A few thousand years is but an infinitesimal point on the timeline of our planet and the universe. But it is our relatively recent shared stories, histories and mythologies that continue to dominate our imagination with enduring force. Stories of miracles passed down through generations, seem to prevail and resonate stronger, no matter how much science unravels.

The power of myth gives identity to large swathes of humanity. The sharing of common belief systems, is the glue that binds us, dividing us into tribes and making us vie for power and significance. One group says their stories are more defining of humanity than others. Others say yours are not in touch with the times and are dogma from a bygone era. Another says ours are more universal, all encompassing and pluralistic and humane in nature. While all seem to agree that there is a master pilot somewhere guiding us through our life's journey and we will be rewarded or punished based on who we follow or how we live this life. 

And so people find meaning, entertainment and solace in ritual, scripture, custom, tradition and mortals who project wisdom and saintliness. Others find meaning in violence and following leaders who propagate visions of the "end of times". The clash of cultures one sees today in some parts of the world, driven by stories some hold dearer than life, is quite appalling. One group feels their stories are misrepresented and another feels theirs are not given enough credence. Another feels there is an inherent phobia against one and another a bias. The polarization that ensues, leaves only disdain and discontent in its path. Leading to violence in thought and action.

While we humans conflict over our shared stories from days of old, the planet keeps spinning and going round the sun oblivious to the behavior of its recent human ant like inhabitants. But now the ants are becoming consequential. Not by their tribal wars but by their very existence. The year 2015 was the hottest on the planet in recorded human history. The human ant colony has become so over powering and expansive, that it is releasing more carbon dioxide and methane than ever before.

And so while a large human colony of seven million in the city of Chennai, India, clung to life, inundated by a deluge of relentless rain, representatives from 196 nations met in Paris to devise a plan to save the planet from the heating. The unprecedented rains in Chennai were partly a product of global warming. The examples of what a planet out of balance can become are more and more apparent as island nations see the ground beneath their feet swallowed by the sea. A recent animation of global emissions released by NASA , shows the extent of the devastating impact industrialized nations are having on the atmosphere. The irresponsible behavior of industrialized nations has put the lives of millions around the globe at risk. If we are to leave a healthy planet for our children, it is they who would have to restore balance. It is also the responsibility of other nations to join hands in the saving, if not restoration of the planet by acting responsibly and learning from past mistakes.

The earth will continue its circumambulations around the sun for millions of years to come. The survival of the human species and its belief in stories and myths is of no concern to it. But it is time for us to create new stories for our children, that talk about a return to balance, as there is nothing more urgent. 

If we are to inhabit this world, we have to pilot this ship ourselves with grace, humility, unity and action. As for the way things are at the moment, I don't see a cosmic pilot doing that for us. And our undying belief in antiquated stories is not going to save us from the deluge. To come full circle, we have to begin now. It is what it is.

Terrorism of Bigotry

It is lamentable to observe, that in the face of unspeakable human violence, what emerges is more violence and less compassion. We see this cycle repeat time and again, as people lose all rational thought, and replace it with fear, racism and bigotry. As a result every generation has its group of people it demonizes and vilifies. Sometimes the group is defined by its belief system and at other times by its race or region of origin. But for the most part, the whole group is victimized in response to the actions of a few. This time, it is the Syrians who are at the receiving end.

The recent carnage in Paris shook us yet again, as did the bombings in Nigeria and Beirut and in Turkey last month, the killing of school children in Pakistan a year ago, and the senseless attacks on the people of Mumbai in 2011. This list is painfully long and only gets longer. Even though it seems clear that the value and attention put on life lost is determined by where one resides, under the skin, all victims share a common bond. The bond of innocence. And so the grief felt for each innocent life lost must be the same. Every decent life lost to violence is worthy of an obituary in the New York Times or The Economist. It is reprehensible though, how our grieving has become selective and how the media chooses to highlight one over the other. Giving us the impression that it is only the west that is at the brunt of mindless terrorism and it is only "their way of life" that is under threat. When in fact more Muslims have died at the hands of demented terrorists and their way of life matters as much as anyone else's.

The fear, paranoia and hysteria that follows terrorist attacks, especially in the west, has become much too predictable these days. The usual politics of fear enters the debate and the media pundits and politicians blast off with little regard for  facts and no patience for the investigation to reveal reality.

This time around, the Paris attacks exposed a side of American politics that is deeply disturbing. Racism was dished out overtly without apology. All Republican candidates running for the presidency, saw it as an opportunity to play into the fear of people watching gore on television. As it was revealed that these terrorists had links to ISIS and were motivated by their hatred for all things western, it was soon translated into a fear of all 1.6 billion Muslims living in the world. When it was found that one of them could have been among the thousands of refugees fleeing Syria, all refugees were declared dangerous and suspect. And the fear mongering began unanimously across the board.

Republican candidate Donald Trump called for the creation of an exclusive database to track Muslims in America and those entering the country. Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz called for only Christian Syrians to be let into the country. When asked how one would determine this, Jeb Bush shrugged and said "well you could tell!". Other candidates unanimously chimed in on barring Syrian refugees from being let into the country for fear of a terrorist attack.

But what was most appalling was when the United States House of Representatives passed a bill banning Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the country until key national security agencies certified that they didn't pose a security threat to the nation. Refugees entering America already undergo between 18 months to two years of screenings by intelligence agencies. So what this bill would accomplish in addition to what already is in place, escaped all logic. The bill was hastily passed in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. The vote was 289-137, with 47 Democrats joining 242 Republicans in favor of the bill, creating a majority that could override President Barack Obama's promised veto. The bill though faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where Minority Leader Harry Reid said he will try to block the bill.

At the heart of this bill is nothing but fear, bigotry and racism. No one in their sane mind with any integrity can deny, that what lit the fuse to the chaos that is engulfing Syria and Iraq today, is America's short sighted, illegal and ill-conceived invasion of Iraq, more than a decade ago. Therefore the United States is culpable in the misery that has befallen the people of Syria. The least we can do, is offer them a safe haven and not demonize them as terrorists. Earlier as the refugee crises stressed Europe, President Obama offered to allow 10,000 refugees into the country. A minuscule amount in the face of tens of thousands on the run. The congress is now attempting to condemn even those to the dark.

America's generosity, sometimes offsets the chaos that its government's damaging policies unleash upon the globe. Many nations have not stepped up to the task of helping the refugees fleeing war in Syria. The least America can do, is show some heart. There is nothing more shameful for a nation that prides itself in hosting the Statue of Liberty, in my city of New York, than to turn away people in dire need.

What we see today in America is nothing new. In 1938 fewer than 5 percent of Americans believed the United States should raise its immigration quotas or encourage political refugees fleeing Fascism in Europe. The vast majority of those refugees were Jewish. Thousands of Jews died as a result of America dragging its feet. Bigotry against the Jews was wide spread in American society then, even though the largest prewar population of Jews in the world, thrived in the US. We see the same bigotry against Muslims now, as the words Islam and Terrorism ring together more and more on our television screens and social media.

Most of the terrorists who took part in the horrific attacks in Paris, were French citizens with links to ISIS. The one who was found with a Syrian passport, had entered through Greece, and the authenticity of that passport is still unclear. So to make the lives of thousands of Syrian refugees - many of them women and children- suspect, is not only misguided and misinformed, but evil.

Much like cancer, terrorism has become a disease we all have to live with as long as there are wars on this planet. The reality is, wars in far off places cannot be contained as they used to. The globe has shrunk and violence sees no borders. When you have people who are willing to strap bombs to their bodies to kill, incidents like Paris will return time and again. But that does not mean we accept it and not look for a cure. As we take preventive measures and live healthy to reduce the risk of cancer, we do not stop looking for a cure. Similarly, yes we must defend ourselves from terrorism with all means possible, but we must also take a hard look at why some people are motivated enough to cause harm and change their circumstances. And we must acknowledge that all lives, everywhere, matter - equally.

The phrase "winning hearts and minds" is often used as a remedy to stop young people from sacrificing their lives at the alter of extremist ideology. But if we are going to be bigoted, how does one even begin to win hearts and minds? The double standards of waging war on one hand and deeply being immersed in the commerce of weaponry and talking peace and democracy on the other, does not go unnoticed even to the most uninitiated.

Recently, a meeting between whistle-blowers Daniel Ellsberg and Edward Snowden, author Arundhati Roy and actor John Cusak in a hotel room in Moscow, has been in the news, for being both a seminal and a quasi-Hollywood moment. The unflattering photo of Roy, Cusak and Snowden on a Ritz-Carlton bed, undermines all seriousness, but what struck me was what Daniel Ellsberg said in a conversation with Arundhati Roy, which she published in a piece for The Guardian. He said with regards to the US, "One more 9/11, and then I believe we will have hundreds of thousands of detentions. Middle Easterners and Muslims will be put in detention camps or deported. After 9/11, we had thousands of people arrested without charges… But I’m talking about the future. I’m talking the level of the Japanese in the second world war… I’m talking of hundreds of thousands in camps or deported. I think the surveillance is very relevant to that. They will know who to put away – the data is already collected.” So the database Donald Trump said he would like to create for Muslims if he were president, may already exist. It is what it is.

Beef with Beef

It is fairly plausible that before us humans learned how to manufacture hunting tools and make fire, animal protein was not part of our diet. We mainly foraged for fruits, nuts and berries and our diet was rich in fiber and other vital nutrients. Then came the agricultural revolution, when homo sapiens developed the art of crop cultivation. Agriculture began to domesticate humans and the less diverse diet of rice, corn and wheat became a staple source of nutrition. We then started to live next to our fields to protect them from pests and animals. Living along water bodies to grow our crops year round became important. Animals began to get used to help till the soil. Foragers became farmers. Then their milk and meat began to get consumed for further sustenance. Our bodies adapted to digest lactose, and we became the only species deriving nutrition from the milk of a completely different species.

Our extraordinary cognitive abilities began to tame nature and civilization in all its complexity began to take shape. And thus the human population began to grow rapidly. Everywhere the homo sapiens went, other species of plants and animals began to disappear in astronomical numbers. In his stellar book Sapiens- A Brief History of Humankind,  Yval Noah Harari charts the destructive nature of humanity, by categorizing its evolution into the First, Second and Third waves of extinctions. The first was accompanied by the spread of the foragers across continents, the second by the advent of agriculture and the third by industrial revolution, which is still on going. The first two waves of extinctions were largely restricted to land. The third moved into the oceans as well and continues unabated to this day. Hariri says "we (sapiens) have the dubious distinction of being the deadliest species in the annals of biology". We have singularly wiped out biodiversity to such an extent, that our very own existence hangs in the balance today.

It is forecasted that by 2050 the human population will rise to 9.6 billion and the greatest challenge mankind will face, will be its ability to feed itself.

Today at 7.2 billion, some challenges are becoming apparent. There are places on earth where food is abundant. Then there are those where children die routinely of malnutrition. In the developed and developing world, obesity is on the rise, and discussion around healthy diets and lifestyle choices have given rise to fads and new business opportunities on a mammoth scale. While countless television shows and restaurants tempt us with an ever increasing array of delectable delights, living healthy has become the need of the hour. The need for exercise in a sedentary urban environment is constantly marketed as a key to long life. The rapid spread of cancer and other diseases constantly push people to take pause and examine the impact of their vices. Abject consumerism across the planet has brought us to a point of reckoning and even though the direction to take is clear, politics and greed fails us from seeing the light.

The last century on the human calendar, was marked with great shortages in food across the globe. During the Great Depression in America, the wars in Europe and the great famines of India and Africa and communism in China, Soviet Russia and elsewhere, food was always scarce. Even though for many today, food is still in short supply, for those who have moved up the socioeconomic ladder the desire to celebrate their rise by indulging in a variety of food has become a trend in this century. Eating at restaurants has become a symbol of affluence and in some cultures so has fattening up.

Recently, there has been a frantic debate on what excessive food consumption is doing to our bodies and the planet, especially meat. The World Health Organization  released a report this week, warning that excessive consumption of processed and red meat can cause cancer. Bill Gates and other luminaries have been sounding the alarm for a while now, that the industrial scale production of meat and dairy is causing serious environmental damage that needs urgent global attention. It is not just fossil fuel and smoke stacks that are contributing to global warming but cows are making things worse.

According to a recent United Nations survey, cattle farming occupies 30 percent of the world's surface and its environmental impact will double by 2050. When cows digest their food they produce methane gas as a by-product; around 250 to 500 liters a day according to a Washington State University study. Methane warms the earth around 20 times faster than carbon dioxide and therefore is a major contributing factor to climate change. Cattle also stress our water resources and forests.

As societies become more affluent they tend to consume more meat. In India and China, the two most populous nations on the planet, meat consumption is rapidly rising. Eating meat is seen as a symbol of upward mobility and prosperity. Australia and New Zealand, one of the world's largest beef producers are clearing more and more land to meet that demand.

Some people from the newly elected government in India, recently launched a conversation to ban beef consumption nation wide. The slaughter of cows is already banned in many states across the country, and has been so for a while, but the government thought it was a worthwhile issue to reignite. As a result a Muslim man was lynched by a mob for allegedly storing beef in his refrigerator and other places witnessed attacks on people transporting cows for slaughter.

Hindus consider the cow to be sacred. There are many stories in Hindu mythology that sanctify the cow for being Lord Shiva's ride and as a beast of burden that tills the land and gives milk for sustenance. But there is also vigorous debate among historians over ancient Hindus having sacrificed cows and eaten beef. In the Hindu nation of Nepal, cows are sacrificed every year in abhorrent numbers in the name of a religious festival. Muslims in India and elsewhere sacrifice goats in the thousands to mark the festival of Bakreid.

In India, lately beef has become a meat of choice for both Hindus and Muslims as it is cheaper than goat meat, a staple. Most Hindus in India are vegetarian, therefore Muslims are most often identified as the chief consumers of beef. This latest drive to ban beef consumption by the central and state governments, was largely seen as an attack on the Muslim community. As always the ensuing debate polarized the nation. Arguments ranging from the government infringing on people's dietary freedoms, animal rights to religious fanaticism, all clogged the media sphere. As the debate took on sectarian overtones writers and filmmakers began to protest the intolerance and apathy by returning their government issued awards. The Prime Minister's long silence on this issue was seen as giving credence to right wing Hindu groups to carry out a sinister agenda. Mass hysteria began to spread on all sides.

The reality is, despite the slaughter of cows widely banned in India, the nation ranks as the worlds top beef exporters. According to the US Department of Agriculture, India is expected to export 2.4 million tonnes of beef in 2015, against Brazil's 2 million tonnes. India also has one of the largest leather processing industries in the world.

What was lost in the cacophony was any sensible debate on the real problem and glaring statistics that show that beef consumption is not a sectarian issue but a global environmental issue that effects us all. No government can address this by instituting bans. It can make a difference though by educating the public. But the results there are suspect, as the human species does not respond well to discomfort, especially when it comes to its food.

Apart from being the architect of India's freedom from colonialism, Mahatma Gandhi is known for his self imposed experiments with abstinence, which tested the limits of human endurance. He exerted all his inner strength to see how he could stay free of all temptations and desires. He believed that the first place a person is tempted is on his or her tongue. If one could conquer one's temptation of taste, one could conquer all and change the world. We now know that human addiction to oil has wreaked havoc on the planet. It seems that our addiction to meat is also doing us in. It is what it is.

Papal Pandering

The news of a Pope arriving in any country is greeted with much pomp and fanfare. Streets are cleaned, flags are unfurled, giant posters are drawn up and the news media goes into high gear with round the clock incessant coverage. So the arrival of the Pope in the US this week was treated no different. A countdown clock was set into motion in New York city, eagerly awaiting his arrival from Washington D.C.. Half the island of Manhattan was shut down as a security measure, irritating some New Yorkers, while making others ecstatic. So as the Pope rode down fifth avenue in his compact black Fiat waving, thousands cheered on with cell phones in hand, trying to capture a fleeting glimpse of the pontiff for their Facebook page. There was excitement in the air, but also vexation as many did not get their packages delivered on time and their favorite restaurants were inaccessible for the day.

In Washington the Pope addressed the joint session of congress. A historic first for any Pope, and a little appropriate for this one, as he is very popular in America and the world for his largely liberal, socialist and humanistic views. After ascending to the Vatican throne in 2013, Pope Francis captivated many by his refreshing remarks on issues, which in the past the Catholic Church was unyielding on. In his sleepy monotonous diction the Pope challenged the US congress and visa vie Americans to reform certain fundamental aspects of their society. He called for an end to capital punishment and to the commerce of weapons of war. He expressed sympathy towards the Native Americans who were decimated in the name of religion by the invading Europeans. He made a plea for immigrants to be treated with compassion and respect, reminding that after all America is a nation of outsiders. He called for religious tolerance in a time of religious extremism spreading around the globe. But he stopped short on expressing any views on abortion and gay rights. Two polarizing issues, one that threatens to shut down the government next week and the other, that still faces challenges despite the unprecedented Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage constitutional.

All in all the Pope made quite an impression on the congress and the thousands who had gathered outside the Capitol Hill to hear him speak. Whether his words actually have any impact at a time when Americans plunge themselves into yet another bitterly fought scathing election season, I doubt it.

So why the pandering? There is no question the Pope is a powerful entity with over 1.2 billion Catholics around the globe seeking membership. Catholicism with all its recent scandals of child abuse and a dark legacy of bloodshed and oppression through the ages, has prevailed and continues to be wealthy and strong as ever. Pope Francis has certainly restored some shine to its recently tarnished legacy. But in the end the Pope is only a religious figurehead to its members, and to others an amusement. He has symbolic political power via statements that catch media attention, but beyond that there is very little the Pope influences in terms of global events. Yet his standing is exceptional, as he is the only religious leader in the world who is given the privilege to address the United Nations.

Socially, the Vatican exerts great power through the riches that it has amassed over time. Through schools, colleges, charitable institutions, churches and social programs, the Catholic church exercises unparalleled influence across the globe. Especially in poor countries where basic services are sparse, thereby bringing more and more people into its fold. Politically it can influence as a voting block on issues such as abortion, traditional family values and contraception. With America becoming more and more Hispanic in demographic, the Catholic church's clout grows, as its membership base is very strong on the continent of South America.

Religion in American society and politics has historically played a significant role and continues to do so even today, even though people would like to believe it did and does not. Even though the constitution clearly makes an attempt to keep religion out of politics, it is always lurking in the shadows as something to abide by to gain public legitimacy. Recently religion was again a part of the political debate when a Republican presidential candidate openly stated to the media that he would not support a Muslim for president. President Obama is still hounded by many on the right for being a closet Muslim, because his biological father was a Kenyan Muslim. When John F. Kennedy ran for president his Irish Catholic background was an anathema. The reality is, even though the constitution says religious affiliation cannot be a litmus test for presidency, it is impossible to be elected president if you are not mainstream christian today. As a Mormon the last presidential hopeful Mitt Romney faced an uphill task. Ben Carson, the presidential candidate who cast aspersions on Muslims as being un-American to be president, himself is a Seventh Day Adventist, which to many is not acceptable. Whether President Obama kneels or stands when he prays, or prays at all is immaterial, as long as he does the job he has been hired to do. But in today's politics optics is everything, and for the president to proclaim and act as a christian is very important, in order to maintain the enduring persona of an American presidency.

A majority of American's today, about 70%, identify themselves as Christians belonging to various denominations, mostly considered as protestants. About 20% of Americans are Roman Catholic. This demographic make up undeniably has a huge impact on the politics of this nation. It is delusional to deny that this nation is not Judaeo-Christian in nature. Despite the constitution and the wisdom of the founding fathers, America at its core is without a doubt a christian nation.

Hence this level of pomp and pageantry only reserved for the "Holy Father".  It is an indication of how firmly the christian ethos dictates and influences the decision makers and the power elite of this country. So while the Pope maybe a figurehead with little tangible political power, his influence cannot be underestimated. In a shocking announcement the present speaker of the US House of Representatives John Boenher, a Catholic, submitted his resignation today. He said his meeting with the Pope helped him arrive at this decision he was mulling over for sometime now.

A few years ago I visited St.Paul's Cathedral in the Vatican city. What struck me most about this place of worship was its enormity and its ostentatious ornamentation. The purpose was clear. To dwarf humanity and to proclaim the wealth and power of the church in an awe inspiring manner. In many ways the cathedral was antithetical to the story of their deity, Jesus Christ. That's when I realized that the image of Jesus was just a means to an end. The Catholic church through out history was and is about amassing power, wealth, influence and dominance. The Pope was installed as the caretaker and king of its wealth and power. Popes through out history have used this power to not only grow the church and its riches but to influence people globally. Behind the angelic, humane, civilizational guise the Pope radiates and the charitable acts the church engages in around the world, this fact never changes and never will. It is what it is.

Migrant Misery

Through out history, fleeing war, famine and disease, humans have crossed oceans, walked over mountains and deserts in search of better climes. As a result civilizations were born and nations started. Humans have always been on the move, as they are today.

Lately, the misery of migrants has been on display, as many trying to cross over from Libya to Europe in search of peace and stability, find themselves in watery graves. The past few months have especially seen a dramatic increase in the influx, and the forecast is that it is only going to get worse. Fleeing war and hunger in Syria and other parts of the Middle East and Africa, refugees pay exorbitant amounts of money to smugglers to find a spot on precarious over crowded floating devices. Landing in Italy and Greece they make their way into Europe with a glimmer of hope. Living in squalor in make shift camps, women, children and the elderly find solace, shelter and respite from the ravages for war. Europe grapples with the enormity of the situation not knowing what to do. On one hand it fears the migrant will change the fabric of it's society and on the other having been through two wars and seen humanity at its worst, it struggles to find a balanced approach to a problem that is overwhelming in magnitude.

The situation Europe faces could have been foreseen almost five years ago when the uprisings in the Middle East began, leaving failed states in its path. Some of the blame can also be placed earlier, on the illegal invasion of Iraq, which instead of bringing peace and democracy, only brought misery to many. The roots of this situation can be traced even further back to colonialism. Nations and peoples were pillaged and looted to such an extent, that they never had the time or the means to develop into stable nations with strong institutions. The post-colonial era of global economy and exploitation, made sure that some of these nations stayed weak, by propping up regimes that did not serve the interest of its citizens. And so it was only destiny that the children of colonial citizens would one day arrive at the door step of their erstwhile masters. When there are places in the world that are left to fall into the abyss, it is only natural that people will claw their way out to find a future elsewhere.

What is a migrant? A migrant is someone or some being who leaves ones home in search of food and a suitable climate. Animals migrate for this reason as do humans. But animals are not bound by an imaginary prison established by invisible lines of geography. They roam free. Humans live in cages called nations, organized for the purpose of economy and the desire to belong to a certain tribe breeding comfort in identity. When a human wants to migrate, he or she needs a visa, passport or some form of tribal identification. One can join another tribe, but only by giving up his or her previous one on paper. But when you risk your life, climb aboard a boat, cross a border, scale a wall, break the rules in search of food and a future, you are branded an "illegal alien".

I am a migrant. I left my home country and moved to a land founded by migrants, in search of a change in scenery. As a younger person, I did feel an intellectual prisoner in my small town in southern India, and the desire to see the world was strong. Having grown up in a family with plenty and in a stable democratic country, my physical surroundings were never dire. So I followed the rules, boarded an airplane and began a journey that continues almost two decades later, to this day. For many like me, America welcomed with open arms and provided a future like no other. But for millions of others, who live and work in this nation without legal papers, life is on a knife's edge.

The US presidential elections are seventeen months away, but the race to the top has already begun. The Republicans have a cavalcade of candidates who never seem to surprise with the most outlandish things they say and do. One who seems to be presently hogging the limelight with his inflammatory comments is Donald Trump. A billionaire real estate developer, Donald Trump made his fortune bribing and bullying his way through the grimy underbelly of the New York real estate market. He plans to use his fortune and the tactics that made him a real estate tycoon, to win the Republican nomination for the US presidency. His controversial stance on illegal immigration has made him favorable to some and a pariah to others. He wants to deport every illegal immigrant in America and build a wall between the US and Mexico to stop more from coming. In a recent speech he characterized Mexican and Hispanic migrants as rapists and criminals. On face value one could dismiss Donald Trump's rants as delusional and idiosyncratic. But on another, the fear mongering is worrisome and very similar to what has been done in the past to win elections. Making the migrant the monster, is a very easy thing to do. Migrants, especially if they are paperless, are voiceless and disenfranchised. In America it is estimated there are about 11 million illegal immigrants. A majority of them are diligent, law abiding non-citizens working in industries, that many citizens would not. To make them the enemy, is not only short sighted but also counterproductive and harmful to the economy and the character of this nation. One should actually be proposing policies to bring them into the fold, as the alternative is procedurally impossible and detrimental in every way.

The argument always made, is that if we gave amnesty to migrants, then others would see it as a welcome sign to violate the laws of the land and pour into any nation in hoards. America was founded on the principle of giving amnesty to the poor and the weak. The reality is, migrants are going to come to this land or any other seeking opportunity no matter what. We could build walls, put up an army to shoot them down, but there is no stopping people from seeking a better future for themselves and their brood. Just as it is for animals, it is a natural instinct for humans to migrate if things are not conducive for life. The only way one can stop the movement of people, is by ensuring that their homes in their homelands are not turned into dismal places of destitution.

Therefore it is in the interest of wealthy nations to make sure their wealth is spread. Extreme inequality on a national and global scale breeds instability within societies. One cannot afford to live in enclaves anymore. Where you live cannot decide whether you live or whether you die. As the population grows, the world shrinks and good real estate is finite. Therefore it is in the interest of everyone to make sure that nations do not collapse. But this is a tall order, as the tribal nature of humanity is inherently opposed to the ideals of democracy and the sharing of wealth.

In the past five years, half the population of Syria, is either dead, internally displaced or has fled the country. A nation of 22 million people is now but a fraction of itself. Other nations could face similar fates, due to war, poverty and global warming. In an interview to the Washington Post, a Syrian refugee in northern Lebanon, who now begs for a living, said "we are only alive because we are not dead", while others pay thousands of dollars to smugglers to make a perilous journey into the unknown. It is what it is.