A took an evening walk two weeks ago on Friday. There was a nip in the air and you knew the summer was gone. As we step from fall into winter, I can feel the desire to do a wrap up on 2011 like the one in 2009. Its been a busy year and there is a lot that's going to happen before we wrap up.
Between the last trip to Pune, which I recorded on the blog I've managed a get-away to Kasauli without keeping an entry and I've not been able to put up the Annapurna journal either. So I am going to skip over to October and my thoughts right now. I have been writing though but only on my teaching blog: Learning to be a great teacher - http://tarunasateacher.posterous.com
We celebrated Diwali just two days ago. I've begun counting Diwali's at home since I missed the ones in 2006, 2008. As fireworks are lit and the rest of India turns to celebration my thoughts always turn to family. Of course, I've ended up missing my sister more often than I'd like but hey that's life right. :)
My biggest thinking point this month though stems from a lecture I attended with Thomas Pogge, Rahul Ghandhi and Kaushik Basu at Jawahar Bhavan two weeks ago. To hear a philosopher (Pogge) speak about macro economics (a love despite my poor understanding of it) was brilliant because I see the economics and social outcomes manifest itself in the school and community I work in.
Prof Pogge shared a convincing argument about how competitive systems drive the economy. The major flaw / the Achilles heel of these systems being - they are prone to influence by sections who want to corner advantages - industry, lobby groups etc. At the same time, national / a section of interests who influence policy come into conflict in a rapidly globalizing word where several such interests become a 'quilt' of global economic policy.
The thinking point for me was - I thought the Indian path of development and trajectory mirrored America's. We have similar inequalities and certain similar problems. The Economist, in its latest report on India, however, talks about distinct shades of capitalism and Prof Pogge argues for a representative system coming via India to show the world a slightly better path. I think that is a tall order for an economy faced with inflation and a number or immediate problems but certainly a very good vision draft to start off with.
A country that seeks to make policy and systems representative of public demand.
How we separate politics and economics though is a longer (and nastier!) question.
On a wholly different note I was very impressed with Rahul Ghandhi - enough thought went into his address to setup Prof Pogge's speech. He is immaculately well behaved, his references are something I can relate to... I want to get to know more about him. Not something I've ever said about a politician before...
It seems I will manage a visit to Mumbai coming November and one to Ahmedabad end of December. Both on work but I'd love the chance to get out of Delhi. The goal is to ski / trek from 1st - 14th Jan 2012 when I have two weeks off from school. That would be awesome!
