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My small, probably insignificant advice to Indians in the wake of the border clashes - start showing some interest in the neighbor next door. Ditch the wrong pronunciation of mandarin (Mao is "Dzuh-doong" not "Tse toong") (Indian army still uses Wade Giles instead of Pinyin)
India's official conceptualization of China is still based around 20th century kernel. Change that. Take an interest in what Chinese people like to watch, what they eat, what people are reading. Popup dictionary extensions make it so easy to translate Chinese characters
Use it to see the search trends on Baidu and Weibo.
Even if you consider China to be "enemy" of India (which I don't think it is), corpus of ancient wisdom bemoans you all to know your "enemy". You might even stop thinking of China as the "enemy" after seeing the gray.
Even if you consider China to be "enemy" of India (which I don't think it is), corpus of ancient wisdom bemoans you all to know your "enemy". You might even stop thinking of China as the "enemy" after seeing the gray.
Indian government has to shed its inertia in using thoroughly outdated static pictures of India.
Chinese, who are very curious about the world around them, know India miles better than Indians know China.
Look at their geography textbooks.
Chinese, who are very curious about the world around them, know India miles better than Indians know China.
Look at their geography textbooks.
We are fixated in teaching our kids about Europe, completely ignoring the East, our backyard.
Southeast Asia used to be India's backyard. But we are hopelessly disinterested culturally to learn more about the world next to us, which we have to live next to.
Southeast Asia used to be India's backyard. But we are hopelessly disinterested culturally to learn more about the world next to us, which we have to live next to.
Chinese kids get tested on questions asking them what reasons enabled Bangalore to develop its tech sector in 1990s.
Do any of our school kids get taught what is going on in Beijing, Shenzhen? What kind of reforms happened in Shenzhen in 1990s?
Do any of our school kids get taught what is going on in Beijing, Shenzhen? What kind of reforms happened in Shenzhen in 1990s?
Because companies that got established indirectly due to those reforms in 90s own a large chunk of Indian tech landscape today. While our kids are learning about Europe. And the French revolution.
The only mention of the East 10 years ago in CBSE was a lesson on Indochina war.
The only mention of the East 10 years ago in CBSE was a lesson on Indochina war.
I had the pleasure to show around someone who was key in the establishment of Zhongguancun around Bangalore few years ago.
He mentioned that ITPL in 1990s was his main blueprint for basing Zhongguancun on.
He mentioned that ITPL in 1990s was his main blueprint for basing Zhongguancun on.
Think about that for a minute. India was barely noticeable in 1992, and this person in a different country was keenly following and studying what was happening in this laidback, small city called Bangalore.
How many Indians would know what Zhongguancun is?
How many Indians would know what Zhongguancun is?
The asymmetry between India and China is not about military. Its most stark in how socially and culturally there is an absence of any awareness of China, even if done with the moribund intention of "knowing your enemy".
There are pockets where there is a lot of exchange.
There are pockets where there is a lot of exchange.
Indian traders comprise among the largest groups of expats living in Yiwu. They come from all across India. And they have been present for almost two to three decades. Via these exchanges there is a lot of perspectives flowing across the border.
Problem is that there is an institutional inertia to not translate this into the govt level. Old caricatures still persist. Think tankers who see China from the lens of 1970s and call Mao as "Tse tung" are still the ones who are called upon to "decipher" China.
Quite sure, they
Quite sure, they
will again be the ones called upon for advice now after the Galwan clash.
Time to revamp how India sees China. Time to throw away pointless ultra long lessons about nationalism in 1700s in Europe, and learn about Chinese history. Teach kids the reforms of Deng, about the
Time to revamp how India sees China. Time to throw away pointless ultra long lessons about nationalism in 1700s in Europe, and learn about Chinese history. Teach kids the reforms of Deng, about the
deep seated experiences of China of colonialism.
If same caricatures are allowed to continue, India will be shackled completely, not knowing the changes that are happening, taking them in due importance.
If same caricatures are allowed to continue, India will be shackled completely, not knowing the changes that are happening, taking them in due importance.
