Tribe Desi, Vol. 232: Jasmine Revolution, Soul Call

vol 232| Feb 13, 2011| Pure.Desi.Unfiltered Signup | View in a Browser | |    REFLECTIONS First Egypt, and now Algeria? Then Tunisia, Yemen and Sudan? Its great to see authoritarian regimes topple, but the stability of the region should be a cause of concern. Egypt under Mubarak had a tight control on Islamist militancy - would that be used by the military to extend the martial law aftre the six months it is proposing? According to the inetlligence firm Stratfor, "The Egyptian opposition is watching and waiting to see if the military will in fact follow through with promises to hold fresh parliamentary elections, lift emergency law and pave the way for a presidential vote. Many of the demonstrators cautiously viewed the military as their only real hope of removing Mubarak and are now hoping that this military-led transition will bring about a more pluralistic political system. The priority for the military is to stabilize the country and preserve the regime, so as to keep a strong check on opposition forces if and when the political system opens up. One oft-used tactic in the military�s arsenal to accomplish this objective is waving the threat of Islamist militancy..." In other news, an interesting article on the rise of alcohol sales in India: "This particular night there is of a crush of buyers. ''Not from a high shelf, but very popular,'' one customer says, showing his bottle of McDowell's Whisky. India is defying its long held abstemious reputation and becoming the fastest-growing alcohol market in the world. In each of the past five years sales have grown more than 19 per cent. The market is now worth more than $US25 billion a year. By 2014 it will be one of the world's most lucrative, worth in excess of $US39 billion. The massive working class, and its growing and wealthier middle classes, have more disposable rupees and more time to spend on leisure, than ever before. In a globalised world of vodka-sponsored Bond films and US cable TV, the Gandhian notions of abstinence and austerity grow less relevant, particularly to young Indians leaving villages to live in the cosmopolitan cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore..." Till next time! The DFW Desi Don't miss the new Silk Threads Tunics... CULTURE Meditation lowers violence in AL Prison  "Warden Gary Hetzel doesn't fully understand how the program called Vipassana (which is pronounced vuh-'POSH-uh-nuh) can transform violent inmates into calm men using contemplative Buddhist practices. But Hetzel knows one thing. "It works. We see a difference in the men and in the prison. It's calmer," he said of the course that about 10 percent of the prison's inmates have completed. The word Vipassana means "to see things as they really are," which is also the goal of the intense 10-day program using the meditative technique that dates back 2,500 years. .." Read the full story SOCIETY Galloping Growth and Hunger in India  "While India�s agricultural problems are part of this bigger global puzzle, in many ways India�s food challenges are more entrenched and systemic than those faced elsewhere. Western investors may take eager note of India�s economic growth rate of nearly 9 percent a year. But that statistic rings hollow in India�s vast rural areas. Agriculture employs more than half the population, but it accounts for only 15 percent of the economy � and it has grown an average of only about 3 percent in recent years..." read on... MUSIC Soul Call  The career musical path of Grammy-nominated Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon is definitely interesting - from IIM, McKinsey to Tandon Capital Associates - financial advisor to NYU (not to mention sister of Indra Nooyi...)... "Ten years ago I realized that the happiest moments of my life were tied to music and decided to make it center-stage in my life. I searched far and wide to find great masters to give me a rigorous grounding in classical Hindustani music and devoted hours of study despite my tough work schedule. This whole journey has been about going deep into myself, of viewing the world through a kaleidoscope rather than a single lens. We have one short life, are given certain resources and have an obligation to use them. It's all about giving back, and sharing. That's why all proceeds of "Soul Call" go to community-building causes..." read on... 18,000+ active members. To advertise here, please email desi@TribeDesi.com