Alternate Vision

His diplomacy skills may not surpass those of his opponent, but if words alone could sway masses, end wars and give hope to the world where it is needed most, then I think Shashi Tharoor would have made a smashing Secretary General. Or maybe I am just biased because he is Indian, or could it be that I am mesmerized by the fact that he recieved two masters and a PhD by the age of 22. To be honest, I didn't know a whole lot about him prior to the build up to the SG race. But now I am huge fan.

I will leave you with a snippet from an article he wrote titled 'The Idea of India' -

It is the idea of an ever-ever land – emerging from an ancient civilisation, united by a shared history, sustained by pluralist democracy. India’s democracy imposes no narrow conformities on its citizens. The whole point of Indian pluralism is you can be many things and one thing: you can be a good Muslim, a good Keralite and a good Indian all at once. The Indian idea is the opposite of what Freudians call ‘the narcissism of minor differences’; in India we celebrate the commonality of major differences. If America is a melting-pot, then to me India is a thali, a selection of sumptuous dishes in different bowls. Each tastes different, and does not necessarily mix with the next, but they belong together on the same plate, and they complement each other in making the meal a satisfying repast.

So the idea of India, as Rabindranath Tagore and, more recently, Amartya Sen have insisted, is of one land embracing many. It is the idea that a nation may endure differences of caste, creed, colour, conviction, culture, cuisine, costume and custom, and still rally around a consensus. And that consensus is about the simple idea that in a democracy you don’t really need to agree – except on the ground rules of how you will disagree.