PROTECTIONISM IS NOT PATRIOTISM

Just like Toyota, Hyundai and Honda cars are present in every road of South Asia, there is an Indian automobile which is also omnipresent. Have you seen the rickshaws and the tuk tuks in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand? They are all made in India and they are all made by Bajaj. They have overcome challenges and come out of intense international competition to emerge as the leading exporter in this section. So, if Bajaj can do it why can't others?

India is shying out of signing free trade agreements with individual nations and with regional trade conglomerates because we fear cheap goods from China and cheap dairy products from Australia and New Zealand will flood our market and kill our local industry. While on the face of it, it may sound very noble and patriotic but the fact of the matter is we are gradually isolating ourselves into a cocoon, impervious to both imports and exports.

If a product A manufactured in India and marketed for Rs. 100 comes from China at a discounted price of Rs. 90, we immediately put a 20% trade tax on it so that now it costs Rs. 118, thus protecting the local manufacturer. So whose interest is being protected......the manufacturer's, the guy who is so inefficient that he can not compete without the government's help. But, and a very important but, whose interest are we sacrificing ........the consumer's, yours and mine! We could have purchased product A for Rs. 90, thus saved Rs. 10 and purchased product B, C and D also! So by protecting an inefficient industry the government is not letting other smaller businesses thrive. These businesses could have prospered by our patronage, employed more people, and added to the productivity of the nation! But we are sacrificing all this to help an inefficient industry.

Amul is a multinational company with a diversified product range. Why should it need government protection against dairy imports from Down Under and Kiwi land? Are Harley Davidson and our locally manufactured two wheelers even remotely comparable? They are in different price range, catering to different consumer sections and still we insist on taxing them astronomically. If the world has opened up to our two wheelers it is because they provide excellent value for money. If other industries want to enter the world market they too will have to do the same. How long do they intend to use crutches of trade taxes?

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade block is a group of 16 countries and we are negotiating with them since 2012. Do we look like a confident trading nation if even after seven years we are not yet prepared to open up our economy to this group? After the demise of EU and Trump mauling of NAFTA this RCEP is the coming together of the most vibrant economies of the world. Can we afford to miss the economic bandwagon and isolate ourselves from this growth opportunity?

Let us not confuse patriotism. It is not there in protecting the inefficient industries, it is there in giving the best deal to all countrymen

RULES OF THE WINDOW SEAT

I am a window seat flyer and I insist for it every time I book a flight. I have, in the past, written about  the pleasures of the window seat in https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-window-seat.html

But today I will dwell on a different aspect of flying in this privileged seat, the responsibilities that come with this privilege. I know that when it comes to the best seat on a flight, travellers are split between the aisle and window. My reasons for preferring the window are the views and avoidance of drink-cart knee-bonking; while the aisle traveler is looking for more breathing room, convenience for lavatory trips and exiting the plane before me.

The view from 30,000 feet in the air, soaring through the clouds at high speed to get to destinations near and far is simply breathtaking and unique every time. The magic of the sun rising from behind the Himalayan range or melting into the Arabian Sea as it sets in the evening change every time I get an opportunity to witness from the comfort of the window seat

Window-seat-seekers often see the romance in that scientifically supported magic, seeing this perch as a coveted treasure. It brings the chance to see the Earth's majesty from a rapidly changing vantage point. You soar like a bird over the landscape of our diverse planet, its flora and fauna and fast-casual chains and freeways below. Mountain ranges rise and fall as your plane hums along its invisible path. And if you happen to land in Paro, Bhutan or Queenstown in New Zealand you will never forget the thrill of the window seat!

I am often aghast when I see some frequent flyers occupying the window seat but ignoring the experience, preferring to sit there not for the scene but for its nook-like comfort. You can hole up, sleep relatively undisturbed and deal with the rest of life upon landing. These folks keep the shade shut, opting to catch up on emails, TV shows or shut-eye without a glare beaming into devices or their eyes. I feel that is a waste of the window seat!

No matter what camp you fall in, here are the unofficial rules for both breeds of window-seat passenger.

Rule No. 1: You are the ruler of the shade.

The window shade breeds contempt and conflict among plane passengers. Some could never imagine shutting the thing, blocking the window's best feature: the ability to see outside. Others prefer to keep it down, opting for better sleep and better views of entertainment systems. Both parties have a point.

Because you selected - and perhaps even paid extra - to sit at the window, you have the final say in whether the shade stays up or down (excluding times flight attendants instruct you otherwise). That being said, just because you're the boss doesn't mean other people will respect your authority. Flying is generally a communal activity, and unless you're one of the incredibly lucky souls to get a row to yourself, neighbours may ask you to adjust from your own shade preference.

Some questions to keep in mind before you make that decision: Is the person asking you to change its status a child? A parent with a child who's trying to sleep? A person who has never flown before? An anxious flyer? Also consider your route. Are you flying into a new time zone, especially overseas? Controlling the window shade may have an effect on fellow passengers' internal clocks, as well as yours.

Ultimately it's up to you, the occupant of the window seat, to decide whether you'll be a benevolent or omnipotent ruler.

Rule No. 2: Limit trips out of your seat.

Our human bodies are not always easy to control. There's nothing unethical about needing to use the restroom frequently on a flight, or wanting to stand up and stretch. But if you're a person who fits either of these travel styles, don't book a window seat. If you have a prostate problem then the window seat is not for you.

Sometimes requests to exit your row have nothing to do with bodily functions. If you pack your carry-on bag strategically so you have everything you need within reach when you're locked in by the window, you can avoid making everyone stand while you grab your headphones/neck pillow/laptop/jacket packed in the overhead compartment.

Particularly given the tiny nature of seats in economy, it's a hassle to squeak in and out of airplane rows these days. Don't plague your row-mates with a barrage of requests to leave your seat every now and then.

Rule No. 3: Time bathroom breaks with the middle seat or aisle.

Per the rule above, the way to be the most considerate window-seat passenger is to follow your neighbours' lead. Watch for the opportune time to make a break for the lavatory: when the middle is exiting, too. That's your queue to get up, capitalizing on everyone having to rise, anyway.

Rule No. 4: Lean into the window.

This rule is ordained with the middle-seat passenger in mind. While you're tucked deep, deep into the row as the window-seat holder, you're also often blessed by a little alcove between your armrest and the window. Take advantage of those extra inches by leaning into that nook when possible. You'll alleviate some of your squished neighbour's misery in the process. Remember if you have the window then the aisle side arm rest belongs to the middle seat passenger!

Rule No. 5: Overcome claustrophobia.

If you're claustrophobic, this position is not for you. The window is for people who don't mind huddling up in a confined space for long periods; people who understand that with great power (controlling the shade) comes great responsibility (not getting up unless everyone's getting up).

The view from the window may be comforting if you're claustrophobic, but once you look ahead or to your side to see how you're crammed like a sardine, you could lose that sense of relief. Opt instead for the aisle, or, if your phobia is stemming from a general fear of flying, turn to apps that help nervous flyers.

Rule No. 5: Be generous with ‘excuse me’ and ‘thank you’.

If you're in the window seat you may be the object of envy of your neighbours, so be a wee bit extra polite. A generous dose of Excuse me /  excuse moi / Pardon /  Por favor / Sumimasen and thank you / gracias / merci / arigato / danke sher / do jeh / obligado / shukriya goes a long way in befriending the less privileged and moving in and out of the row.

Rule No. 6: Be patient.

If you're in the window seat there is no way you can get off the plane early. You have enjoyed the view and the thrill and now on arrival at your destination be patient and let others deplane first. Be careful while pulling down your cabin baggage and don’t try to do so from acrobatic positions thus hurting your fellow passengers.

A window seat gives you both - the view and the experience, but along with this dual privilege comes certain responsibilities. We must appreciate this when we opt for the privileges.

MIDLIFE - WHERE WAS THE CRISIS?

I and my wife are now senior and almost senior citizens respectively. Not so long ago we were young and though neither of us even today refuse to believe that we are not, but the number of years spent have stacked up and so have the experience of living a good life. We heard such a lot about the catastrophe that befalls once youth chooses to desert us, but honestly nothing like that ever happened! We kept waiting for our midlife crisis, the creeping sadness of middle age, but it seems we bypassed that age!

We were served with an endless stream of advice on “how to survive your 40s”, as if we’re in the endurance stage of a slow shuffle to decrepitude. The magazines, the internet and the social media were full of well intended admonitions and instructions. This is the age when men become boring and predictable or outrageously unpredictable and flashy they warned. This is the age women start to become “invisible” – their value, sexuality and power supposedly diminish by the vanishing of youth. But we don’t feel like we are fading into obscurity. If anything we feel more visible than we ever have been because we have, most disturbingly, added a few inches in our equatorial regions.

For the first time in my life, I have a clear-eyed view of myself that is authentic, compassionate and accepting. It’s a grounding sense of strength that was forged in the flames of those times when life threatened to burn us to the ground but we found a way to get back up. Now, when we look in the mirror, and we need a wider mirror, we are proud of the couple we see inside it. So when advertisers try to sell me ways to “turn back the clock”, both I and Neeta have to stifle a laugh. I wouldn’t go back to the crippling self-consciousness of my youth if you paid me. But if I could tell that scared, bullied teenager anything, it would be that he doesn’t have to apologize for taking up space in the world.

Life in a middle class family in India was a struggle, and yes we enjoyed the struggle together, but would we like to turn the clock and relive those days when we know for certain that happier times lie ahead. Today, next to God we need to fear no person, no situations and no circumstances and  the only approval we needs is our own.

This hard-won sense of self-acceptance is one of the joys of being an older person. But it’s a narrative often drowned out by the shame marketers who try to peddle us their diet pills, miracle face creams and breathable yoga pants – as if self-love is a purchasable commodity.

Wouldn’t it be great if the second half of our life was a cause for applause rather than trepidation? There are countless fierce and vibrant men and women in their 50s, 60s and beyond, who are living their best lives and kicking societal expectations of ageing in the pants. They are feeling comfortable in their own skin and would trade that for nothing. They have got no time to care about middle age blues, the are just too busy living their life.

Whereas youth is vital for acquiring knowledge and skills, struggling to make a life and a career, the appearance of middle age turns on a magic switch that turns you into an awesome individual, capable of doing anything under the sun or even when it sets. We now have the experience to know with a sense of certainty that on most occasions we are far more right than wrong. We have learned prioritizing of what really matters and we do so un-apologetically as we do not have to live up to anyone’s expectations.

Age and experience has brought about an unfolding of our strengths, an acceptance of our weaknesses and an attitude of ‘swantah sukhaya’ or what gives happiness to oneself! It was like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly! We have learned to give high priority to family time and highest priority to each other and we do so disregarding what the world thinks of us. We have realized that we can’t please everyone and we don’t have to. We try to help as many as we can but not at the expense of our health and our comfort, which we had been doing for a very long time when we were young.

In our younger years perhaps we were thinking that somebody else will rescue us or somehow fix us and the pain we’re in, but as we got older we understood that we’re accountable for creating change and the way we respond to those challenges. Yes, people have helped us from time to time – our parents, our teachers, our friends and our children, and that has made our life more livable but they were just the support system till the trunk gained strength to stand alone. But when life got tough the only persons who could pull us out were we ourselves.

Couples of our age are enjoying each other’s company, of growth through adversity, deepening bonds of friendships, the ability to be more compassionate, less judgmental and to listen more and appreciate the small pleasures of life. We have realized that it is all right to be open, raw, real and vulnerable so long as we realize that it is only we who have all the answers. We have to self-soothe without reaching for external props or validation from the crowd, something we have stopped caring a long time back!

Life past 50 - 60 is far from smooth sailing, but it’s so much more than the reductive depictions we see in magazines and on the Cinema’s big screen. I may have more wrinkles on my face, need frequent trips to the loo and my knees aren’t as strong as they once were, but I’m stronger, happier and fitter than I’ve ever been. Bereft of most family responsibilities midlife doesn’t feel like crisis. It’s feels like a celebration.

BREAKFAST THE WORLD LOVES

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Whether I am at home or travelling it remains a very important meal and almost a ritual. Every morning I wake up with a hankering for something delicious. Now if that has added a few inches to my girth I am not at all disheartened for I am open to a working lunch on a busy day………..but there can be nothing short cut when it comes to breakfast! While away from home it is a chance to steer away from the regular home cooked breakfast and get into something more interesting, to shake your taste buds into action with spice or salt or delicious grease. It's a time to observe local life, to sit back and ponder the day ahead, to enjoy food that everyone should really be enjoying at all times of the day.

It seems I am not alone in this love for an ideal breakfast, travelers around the world take their breakfast very seriously right from the time they make a booking for their bed & breakfast accommodation. So what is the world eating in breakfast and what should you eat when you are visiting them?

India: The problem with India is it is too big and too heterogeneous. Indians tend to eat for breakfast, spicy, flavourful sauces designed to be sopped up by fried chickpea fritters, or steamed rice cakes, or rice-flour pancakes, or fresh, flaky bread. There are so many different combinations and flavours, but all make an excellent and exciting way to start the day.

Puri, Sabji, Dahi

The choice of breakfast depends on which part of India you are visiting.Thus it can be Luchi and Alur dom with mishit doi (Puri, Dum Aalu and sweet yogurt) in Kolkata, Poha in Mumbai, Aloo Paratha (paratha stuffed with cooked and smashed potatoes and roasted with oil) with makkhan (butter) and lassi (flavoured butter milk) in Delhi, and Rava idli with chutney and sambar in Chennai. You can also go for Poha with jalebi in Central India, Kachori in Rajasthan, Paav Bhaji in Goa, Chole Kulche in Jammu and Punjab, Khaste with jalebi & Dahi in Lucknow and Samosas almost everywhere in India

Nasi Lemak

Malaysia: Nasi lemak is the king of breakfasts. In Malaysia they start the day with an explosion of flavour,

with rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan, with dried anchovies, peanuts, boiled egg, cucumber, maybe some beef rendang, maybe a fried chicken leg, and a big dollop of a chilli-and-fermented-shrimp sambal that's spicy, pungent and incredibly addictive. An absolute must!

China: Congee is the Chinese soup the world loves. It is that rice porridge with various toppings and seasonings is a truly excellent way to begin the day. There are many different styles of congee being served in many different parts of China, and India, and everywhere in Southeast Asia and it is a truly popular breakfast.

Vietnam: Pho is the Vietnamese noodle soup which will never disappoint you, whether you are comfortable with the chopsticks or not. There is no better way to begin a day than with a warming, nourishing, delicious bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. The flavours aren't too punchy here: pho is more of a gentle shake into wakefulness than nasi lemak's slap in the face. The noodles are filling, the meat is tasty and the subtle spice mix is just right. I love it.

Mohinga

Myanmar: Mohinga is another southeast Asian noodle soup worth a mention. It is an ethnic Burmese dish, eaten across Myanmar in the early morning, dished up at street stands and small shops everywhere you look. This spicy, pungent fish-based soup is served with vermicelli noodles, crispy fried onions, fresh chilli and various other toppings depending on where in the country you are. Absolutely delicious!

Japan: Don’t ask me the name. A fresh, seasonal, complex and amazing breakfast that the Japanese sometimes indulge in whther they're staying at a fancy hotel or  a ryokan comprises of grilled fish, Japanese omelette, miso soup, pickles, and usually multiple small bites of all things zesty, funky, umami and delicious. This is a serious treat but you will have to pick them up from the smorgasbord and spice them to suit your taste!

Egypt: Ful medames is Egypt's national breakfast dish. It is a thick, hearty fava bean stew, served with chopped parsley, and sometimes boiled eggs. Anyone who doesn't try this while they're in Egypt – well, I pity them!

Turkey: Breakfast can be a huge choice! At its most basic you'll find fresh tomatoes, sliced cucumber, local cheese, olives, boiled eggs, and maybe "simit", the donut-shaped Turkish bread coated in sesame seeds. Fancier versions include cured meats, savoury pastries, and scrambled eggs with sausage. Oh, and a heart-warming Turkish coffee.

Italy: Café e cornetto - Breakfast is probably the least important meal of the day to Italians. This isn't something to sit down and savour, but rather something to smash and go. Plenty of Italians will call into a bar in the early morning for a coffee and a "cornetto", a croissant filled with sweet cream, eaten while standing up and chatting, with little to no ceremony. I'm a fan.

Spain and Portugal: Churros con chocolate: Most people would consider fried sticks of donut batter dipped in thick chocolate to be a dessert dish, but not the Spanish. In Spain and also in Portugal, churros con chocolate are eaten first thing in the morning, the breakfast of champions. They're a sweet, sticky and perfectly lovely way to get things going.

France: Croissant is an absolute classic and has spread around the world, from Tokyo to Tunis, from Moscow to Mumbai. A croissant is a simple, buttery pastry that's almost alchemical in its brilliance. The French start their day with this and coffee.

Bacon, sausage, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms,
baked beans, fried bread

England: Breakfast is the best meal available in England. An artery-clogging plate of bacon, sausage, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, fried bread, and maybe even black pudding, will set you up for the day. Be forewarned it may set you up for a morning nap, who can say? Still, this is one fine breakfast.

Ireland: Irish breakfast is not dissimilar to the English, only with the addition of both black pudding (a sausage made using pork blood) and white pudding (a sausage made using pork fat and liver). If that doesn't get your day started right, nothing will.

Australia: Breakfast can be light and cold - cereal, toast coffee and fruits or hot and heavy - smokey bacon, eggs, sausages, hash brown and grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. Corn fritters with Avocardo salsa and Vegimite sandwich are typically Aussie though!

Mexico: Chilaquiles is as full of flavour as so much of the other Mexican cuisine: huevos rancheros, fried eggs with beans, smothered in spicy sauce; tamales, steamed cornmeal with various fillings; huevos divorciados, eggs with two sauces. But my favourite is chilaquiles, fried corn tortillas topped with plenty of spicy sauce, queso fresco cheese and sometimes shredded meat.

Egg Benedict

U.S.A: Eggs Benedict is a classic breakfast dish that originated in New York City, and includes a few of Americans' great loves: English muffins, eggs, ham, and rich, buttery Hollandaise sauce. You can now find eggs Benedict served throughout much of the Western world, and it's almost always good.