06 SRINAGAR | December 28, 2020, Monday

Greater Kashmir
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A Journey to South India
Greater Kashmir Editorial

Penalising the errant

My learnings about culture, tradition, language, and humility
If unwanted overtaking is checked on this road,
it can bring great relief to the commuters ‘Manu’ from Kerala pursuing PhD in
EXPERIENCE

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English. That night, I could not sleep
very other day we come across the news that passengers were comfortably. After 8 or 10 days, I was
stuck for hours on the highway connecting the two capital
DR. AASIF SHAH caught up with fever in the middle of
cities of Jammu and Kashmir – Srinagar and Jammu. In the shabeerparey2000@gmail.com the night and the gentle man sensed
winter months these traffic jams are more frequent. For years my restlessness. He consoled me and

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people have been crying for the redress of this complaint, but took me to the hospital at around 2:30
no worthwhile attempt has been made to ensure smooth flow of traf- hat I learnt during my eight AM on his bike. He took care of me as if
fic on this road. Just a few days ago we had the news of a prolonged years in Tamil Nadu, I could he was my real brother. Of late, during
traffic jam on this road because of landslides. Now these natural never have learnt in twenty my PhD and Postdoc at IIT Madras, I
hazards are a part of this terrain, and given the past experience years in Kashmir. found them (Maliyalis and Tamils)
such things are not going to go anywhere. But there are other ways If I recall, it was 3rd August great, simple, sober and helping.
of approaching this problem and making sure that the journey on 2009 when I landed at Chennai airport What impressed me most about
this road is safe and hassle free. If a stringent vigil is ensured on for the first time for my MPhil regis- them is their high opinion towards
this road, a check can be exercised on wrong overtaking. If only this tration at Pondicherry Central Uni- their culture. They treat it as if it is
is ensured much of the problem can be solved. Those who travel versity. As soon I came out from the their religion. Several times I saw the
on this road know that once vehicles try to overtake each other, airport, I began asking everyone, from then CM of Pondicherry visiting the
multiple queues of vehicles are formed on one side, leaving no space pedestrians to cab drivers to street university on important occasions and
for the vehicles coming from the other direction. To clear these long vendors, that ‘Bhai sahib Pondicherry every-time he spoke in Tamil. And each
lines of traffic takes hours together. This is the time when a traffic bus kahan se mile ge’. But to my bad time, he and his minsters were wearing
jam, without any exaggeration, extends to kilometres altogether. luck none of them could understand local dress. Culture is such a strong
Now there is nothing related to a natural hazard that is involved my words. I stood for one hour at the symbol in Tamil Nadu that it is pre-
here. It is purely a case of wrong driving and an inefficient traffic road side looking for possible help. In ferred over everything including life.
management. If those stretches of this road where such jamming the meantime, I saw a running auto cherry bus stand. Because, I had no Several times I saw the then When Jallikattu festival of Tamil Nadu
frequently happens are manned by more ground staff, things can without any passengers, and like a friends at Pondicherry University, I was banned by the Supreme Court in
be better managed. Also, if cameras are installed at all such places bat out of hell, I waved at the driver. decided to stay in hotel for that night. CM of Pondicherry visiting 2014, Tamilians objected, and resisted,
and no patch is left without surveillance, drivers will desist from How to go to Pondicherry University? I asked few pedestrians and shopkeep- the university on important to the extent that they sacrificed their
unwanted overtaking. In case such a thing happen the errant can I asked him to which he replied “Bus ers ‘bhai sahib, yehan pe koi hotel naz- occasions and every-time lives until the decision was withdrawn.
easily be caught and a heavy penalty can be imposed. Leaving aside Stand”? “No! Pondicherry University”, deek mai hai kya’; but unfortunately no he spoke in Tamil. And each The life of people is so simple that I
all other short term, mid term and long term measures that need I repeated. If I quote his words exact- one could understand my words again. time, he and his minsters have seen even professors teaching
to be taken to ease the movement of traffic on this road, if only the ly, he said ‘Pondicherry-aaa, going Time was running fast and so did my without footwear at times. They do not
concerned departments succeed in ensuring that no wrong overtak- bus stand wokay, three hour journey, heartbeats. While standing out all were wearing local dress. mind using cycles for transportation.
ing is resorted to, we can ease the flow of traffic to a great extent. Pondicherry bus YAC non YAC yavail- alone, one of the bikers stopped nearby One day, I attended marriage ceremo-
able’. I sat in his auto and for the entire and asked me ‘where going-aaa? Scared and I replied that I came from Kashmir, ny of my senior colleague. The dinner
30 minutes or so, I enjoyed his broken with his physical appearance, with a and I am supposed to go to Pondicher- was served on banana leaves and on
english and ‘funny’ pronunciations. long and dishevelled hair, tattered ry University. Without asking for my return every invitee was given a bag
THOUGHT OF THE DAY By around 4 pm, I reached CMBT
Chennai bus stand where I could hear
dress, missing footwear and with bike
that was as old as black & white televi-
identity proof, she said I can stay in the
hostel. The biker, however, could not
containing a coconut and two plants.
I asked my other colleague, what am
Faith is the strength by which a shattered conductors yelling Pondy, Pondy, sion, I replied with a babbling voice understand our conversation in hindi I supposed to do with these plants. He
Pondy. I approached one of the agents ‘I am waiting for my friends’. Again that was quite understandable from said, I can plant them anywhere in
world shall emerge into the light. to ask him if the bus was going to Pondi- he asked, ‘Where from coming-aaa. I his face. He just uttered three words Pondicherry I wish. The idea is to make
Helen Keller cherry. He replied ‘Pondicherry going- said, Kashmir. ‘Nice hostel wokay’. I thanked him and Pondicherry green.
aaa, come, seat yavailable’. While trav- He invited me to sit on his bike. But offered 100 Rs. Note, but he refused to The other day, I was travelling in
elling, I noticed the local music played I denied. He said, ‘brother you coming take. He left the place by giving me a crowded bus although there were some
in the bus was so loud and piercing. It from Kashmir, You Muslim, I Muslim, warm smile. unoccupied seats on the other side. I
COVID-19 and was as if there were too many speakers
installed in the bus. A passenger sitting
only help, come, wokay’. I took the risk
to sit on his bike and my heart started
Next, morning I left for the univer-
sity and it was wondrous to travel on
was told that I cannot occupy them as
they were meant for women. What I
next to me was talking on phone. The beating aloud. He took me through the other side of the Bay of Bengal. have learnt in my eight years at Tamil

macroeconomic stability only word I could understand from his

conversation was ‘sorry’ and he repeat-
ed it several times. I was impressed by
narrow and compressed streets and
finally stopped his bike outside the
building painted white that turned
When I was through with my registra-
tion process, I was allotted Room No.
18 at Ilango Adigal Hostel. It took me
Nadu, I could never learn in twenty
years in Kashmir. Having said all this,
it is time for introspection to catch a
his humility and I speechlessly started out to be the youth hostel. He took me 15 minutes to reach the hostel under glimpse of our own language, literature,
The body of knowledge on macroeconomic cursing the person on the other side of inside where I saw a gentle lady at the severe heat and humidity. A half-naked philosophy, identity, values, tradition,
instability in the times of present crises is the phone for his cruel and unforgiving receptionist counter. He talked with guy with black complexion appeared food, lifestyle to make sure that we do
nature. However, lately I came to know her in the local language; something when I knocked the door of allotted not suffer from a cultural bankruptcy.
limited, hence showing diverse results that it was not ‘sorry’ but ‘sari’ meaning about me. The lady right away asked room. Frightened by his appearance,
okay in Tamil. me ‘Beta aap kahan se arahe ho’. I I introduced myself. He welcomed me Author works as Assistant Professor,
economic development in India Around 7:50 pm, I reached Pondi- pledge, I felt relaxed with her Hindi with a smile and introduced himself as GDC Bemina
GLOBAL started much earlier than the rest
ECONOMY of developing South Asian econo-
mies of the world. In view of this
BINISH QADRI perspective, the problem of the con-

The Art Doing Nothing

temporary pandemic seems little
qadribinish@gmail.com less worrisome. But, that is not the

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case and hence many economists
he world economy in COVID- are trying to look into the eco-
19 altogether changed from a nomic aspects of coronavirus and
modest economic and social
structure to a complex set
its impact on the macroeconomic
stability of the economy.
Doing nothing is a skill we may have lost touch with but it can be acquired or reacquired with a bit of practice
of intertwined economic The consistent exposure of
and social systems. We have wit- COVID-19 in the whole world, had a very hard time doing this. ingly overwhelming; with the voice
nessed a dip in economic and especially developing economies, What they found was that study par- in your head feeling like you have 100
social systems. With such a dip reflects that a high level of eco- ticipants from a range of ages gen- It is the ability to savor an news channels all competing for your
the international orders too have nomic impetus is required for the erally did not enjoy spending even experience, relishing the attention, as happens to beginners in
experienced deep changes. The reason that the developing and brief periods of time alone in a room feeling of wholeness as it meditation. But we shouldn’t give up!
national and international finan- emerging economies are acknowl- with nothing to do but think, ponder Start small and trying all the while
cial markets also have observed edged as main drivers of macro- or even daydream. The participants,
fills what is empty. to keep bringing our focus back to
great changes. The graph of eco- economic instabilities compared by and large, enjoyed much more, our breath, releasing our thoughts
nomic and social growth param- to developed economies. Their doing external activities such as never ends. The idea to indulge in but also not judging ourselves for
eters has been disproportionate. characteristics are inconsistent and listening to music or using a smart- one or more of these activities is to having them. All the devices we have
In financial markets we have seen underdeveloped. After the onset of phone. Some even preferred to give find pleasure in moments of idleness got used to should be kept away and
too much variability especially in economic reforms, in developing CHANGED TIMES themselves mild electric shocks or relaxation. Enjoy those moments friends and family asked to leave us
exchange rates. Moreover, there and emerging economies with the than to think. when our heart is full and we feel alone in peace for the duration of the
are sequences of economic and rise in national income, aggregate
B L RAZDAN We, however, need not feel guilty. lighter as our burdens are lifted, meditation.
financial market crises post pan- output, and employment, there bl_razdan@yahoo.com For most people it’s nearly impos- even if it may be just during that In the beginning try setting aside
demic. The debate on the impact of has also been an upward trend in sible to do nothing, because there are time. two minutes a day for a week where
COVID-19 on the macroeconomic economic volatility. This behavior so many options available to keep us In the Western world, we have one may step away from duties
instability at national and global seems to worsen the already dis- “Doing nothing is better than busy that we have forgotten the art of been aping, being busy has become and distractions and just sit with
level in general and financial insta- tressing pandemic. Hence, there is being busy doing nothing.” doing nothing. Therefore, if the idea a desirable attribute with it seeming oneself, using this time to breathe
bility in particular is open. It is excess need for the expansion of eco- –Lao Tzu of spending time relaxing and doing impressive to be juggling an armful of deeply into one’s stomach and feel

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beyond what is seen and observed. nomic resources (health resources nothing was uncomfortable to us, we balls, all at one time. As such, people into one’s body. At times the mind
The existing body of knowledge on in particular) and branching out e cried, we clapped, we were not alone. Our own society has often completely ignore the fact that may be racing and one might feel as
macroeconomic instability in times of the health sector to improve the stayed at home, we baked, somehow shifted towards prioritiz- we’re in a constant state of stress though this ‘relaxation’ is a waste
of crises is limited, and also shows efficiency in allocating economic we homeschooled, we paint- ing hyper-productivity, making the while doing so. However, living in of time, but persevere. With time,
diverse results. Many empirical and health resources for reducing ed rainbows, we stayed 2 notion of doing nothing seem unpro- this fight-or-flight mode can lead to the inner chatter will begin to qui-
research studies have confirmed coronavirus cases. There must be metres apart, we zoomed, we ductive and inefficient. From rush- health issues such as increased blood eten down and one starts to feel
that macroeconomic instabil- a complementarity (relationship locked down, we thanked our NHS, ing around doing housework and pressure, anxiety and depression peace and reap the benefits of still-
ity negatively influences economic between two things in such a way we waived through windows, we chores to getting the shopping done and reduced sleep which all have an ness. Once there is mastery over the
growth because it is a stumbling that improves each other) between did DIY, we wore masks, we lived in and the dinner cooked, not to men- impact on our overall wellbeing. So two minute duration, try to up the
block against the real growth and health and other important sectors bubbles, we went on staycations; but tion going to work, we barely have how can we bring more peace and alone time to five and then ten min-
development parameters of the of the economy so that they will get most of all, we made it through 2020! time to stop and breathe, let alone space into our lives? Why is the art of utes at a time. Many of us complain
economy. It disturbs the economy better by the passage of time. We did all this and yet we felt sit down and do nothing for half an doing nothing a good idea? And how that there simply aren’t enough
and develops shocks and distur- As far as income, output, and bored. The reason: we had not learnt hour. Yet the art of doing nothing is can we master it? hours in the day to ‘do nothing’
bances. The United Nations Orga- employment sides are concerned, the art of doing nothing, which could something quite powerful that may The answer lies in a visit to Italy but when one begins to consciously
nization (UNO) declared COVID-19 import substitution or inward have come to our rescue during the well change our lives. If at all, there where we will soon have ourselves look at one’s schedule, it is seen that
a pandemic which is worse than looking trade strategy must be cruel pandemic days. Doing noth- is time left unfilled during the day, embracing the concept of dolce far there are more moments than one
many global financial jolts such as adopted in this hard time. The ing would have served an important there is an urge to fill it with some- niente or “sweetness of doing noth- thinks where one could squeeze in
the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. government should safeguard the purpose too, probably unwittingly to thing. No wonder, people have such ing.” It does not mean being lazy; 5-10 minutes of nothingness.
It aggravated the macroeconomic indigenous or domestically pro- most of us, in that it would have pro- a hard time relaxing and enjoying instead, it’s the idea of finding plea- Then, when one feels accom-
shocks and asymmetries and nega- duced goods from rest of the world, vided us a sense of connection, not moments of leisure or more appro- sure in idleness or relaxation. It is plished in finding stillness when just
tively impacted the various essen- or foreign competition. It has a dual to others whose mere touch or close- priately, nothingness. Doing nothing the ability to savor an experience, sitting or lying in silence, one may
tial macroeconomic aggregates safety net for imports in the form ness would be risky, but with our- is a skill we may have lost touch with relishing the feeling of wholeness as want to attempt practicing the art of
such as national income, employ- of quota and tariffs that are levied selves. As a result, we would end up but it can be acquired or reacquired it fills what is empty. This is a dif- doing nothing while out and about
ment, aggregate demand, exchange on imported goods so as to make gaining greater clarity about what with a bit of practice. The potential ferent sort of doing nothing, much in the world. This can be quite diffi-
rate, FDI, exports, etc. them costly thereby diminishing is important to us at the very core. is there within each one of us – we all more than laying around scrolling cult as there will be distractions and
The industrial policy of 1991 and their consumption. Many econo- We would find pleasure in moments had it as kids - so let us at the very on our phone. It offers the opportu- temptations in one’s way, but focus
the onset of Liberalization, Privati- mists and trade experts argue of idleness or relaxation. We would least give it a try. nity to be in the moment in whatever on being mindful and remembering
zation, and Globalization brought that such policies in present times also have given ourselves the space There are many ways to remain way we choose and, in the process, the breath, one might be surprised
banking sector and financial sector won’t work since these are not to think and feel deeply in a way that inactive or engage in idle activity; improve our life in surprising ways. at how calm and collected one would
reforms in India. Indian economy sustainable in the long run. There can’t happen when we are consumed it’s an art that one can refine over For Italians, dolce far niente is a part manage to stay despite being sur-
after 1991 economic reforms devel- is a lack of domestic demand for by the business of our daily activi- time. Here are some ideas suggesting of everyday life, and they do it well. It rounded by noise or nature. 
oped many policies that helped in COVID tests and other basic health ties. We would have enjoyed those creative ways to spend time enjoy- is observed in families taking a stroll The final step is bringing the art
correcting many macroeconomic tests which is why they may find moments when our heart is full and ing the sweetness of doing nothing: together, sipping wine with friends of doing nothing into one’s every-
instabilities and disabilities. It it unrealistic and unsustainable we feel lighter as our burdens are Taking an epsom salt bath, discon- at a café, enjoying good coffee, and day life, knowing that it is a practice
opened the vistas of the service nowadays. Therefore, domestic lifted, even if it’s just during that necting from technology for a day, watching the passersby. Noticeably, one can tap into whenever one feels
sector and widened it, that was resources may remain underuti- limited duration of time. reading a good book, performing there is a feeling of presence and stressed, nervous or overwhelmed.
facilitated greatly by private and lized and economic growth might “All of humanity’s problems stem breathing exercises or pranayama truly enjoying the moment as it is. Whether we’re in the workplace,
liberalized investment alongside retard. Keeping the implication from man’s inability to sit quietly in or even yoga, having a day of rest, It is simple and pure. Doing nothing stuck in a traffic jam or have just
new trade systems. Consumer of domestic resources in view, the a room alone”, said Blaise Pascal. watching one’s children play, taking can be an event in itself! received an email that has made us
preferences have got special atten- reference point or model of inward In 2014, psychologists from the Uni- time to smell the roses, discovering Understandably, it is desirable angry or upset, take two minutes to
tion which is why they increased looking trade strategy must be con- versity of Virginia asked a number one’s inner artist, taking an after- to cultivate the art of doing noth- practice nothingness and one’ll start
and the level of poverty reduced. sidered for improving shocks and of subjects to sit in a room by them- noon nap, watching the sunset or ing, if only for a contingency like to feel the benefits right away.
Broadly speaking the economic pandemics. selves for a period of 6 to 15 minutes staring at the stars at night, having the pandemic. Well, it is not at all
literature of the post economic Binish Qadri is ICSSR Doctoral Fellow in the at a time. They were asked to simply dinner with a dear friend or a loved difficult even though it may appear Bhushan Lal Razdan, formerly of the Indian
reform era in India shows that the department of economics, CUK; be alone in the room with their own one. enjoying our food, taking a walk to be so to start with. Initially, the Revenue Service, retired as Director General
Quarterly Franklin Member, London Journals Press. of Income Tax (Investigation), Chandigarh.
conditions to the take-off phase of thoughts. It turned out that people in nature, meditating, et al, the list art of doing nothing can be surpris-

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