All Gains No Loss for India

UN sanctions have been on China for its territorial rights on South China Sea through International Court of Justice. I mean, it is not sanctions but that is how Chinese view it and they have said that they will not comply with the order. Japan has been crying hoarse over Chinese illegal invasion (occupation but invasion seems better) with United States siding with Japan, Chinese went slow on Japan when it comes to South China Sea but they have been bullying the smaller nations like Philippines and Vietnam. 

South China Sea is an issue which has the potential to hurt badly the diplomatic and trade relations with United States of America. China is a bully, the country which can threaten United States of America and its allies must be something. China seems more like USSR of the 80s, who are going after everything which is American and yet the continue to adore and loath Americans at the same time. 

South China Sea is in China’s backyard and it uses the same to arm twist America even though America has nothing whatsoever to do with the disputed water and infringing activity and military activity of the China.

But let’s take a step back and look at the last month’s NSG talks in which India’s inclusion in the Group was under strong opposition from the China. Rather China was the only one standing in the wind to oppose the same. Is South China Sea a repercussion of the same?

China had summoned its Chief Negotiator for NSG afterwords as their diplomatic efforts fell short and China was only itself to be blamed for the blocking of India’s membership to NSG. China fired the Pakistan salvo into the midst which they knew nobody would buy and hence India entry was blocked.

If we understand the whole diplomacy and strategy of filling India into the NSG. India is emerging as a leader in the South Asian strategy of America, the reason a billion Indians and a strong and resilient economy. America has been devising a strategy to counter China. So at one end, they have developed economy with considerable say in international politics diplomacy, Japan and on the side, they want to develop India as the counter to the China along with Japan. 

Pakistan is the prickly thorn in the India’s growth and development to which India has no answer. Pakistan nuclear weapons are a threat to the world and not to India is the realization that America has come to in last few years. Nuclear weapons falling into the hands of the radicals is the biggest headache of the Americans. Donald Trump, the first priority will be to de-nuke Pakistan. Though I loathe Donald Trump but this is his single jibe which makes sense and Pakistan contains the element to destroy the Earth.

India lost its bid to NSG. NSG is the big boys club of supplying nuclear arms. India has supplied to any country, NO. But India is self reliant for its nuclear requirements and they have built and developed the critical components for operating the nuclear technology whether for energy or weapons. 

India was running on a fine piece of rope and kudos to Modi’s diplomacy that he bagged all the nations in his favor in a short time but China is a big piece of the puzzle that it is difficult for India to counter China, who is offering Pakistan unconditional support for anything. China does not want India to grow its stature.

Pakistan is like somebody you can visit when you need them but otherwise nobody wishes to invite them to home. Making Pakistan part of NSG is a fundamentally not possible. All the nuclear capability of Pakistan has been built on Chinese support of technology and finances. Pakistan is not self reliant for its nuclear requirement. It was enough on the China’s to make everybody’s ears pop out of the system. 

China feels or thinks giving only India membership would break the counterbalance of the Indian subcontinent. But in the wake of the same, the international agencies and USA have already upped the pressure on the China by passing the order on the South China Sea.

Obama Administration has not been working for India as hard as the Bush Administration. Don’t forget Obama administration has been building India’s case since 2010 and yet in 2016, it fell flat on US face. Remember BJP fought tooth and nail with the Congress for signing the Nuclear Agreement with USA back in 2006. But in 2008, Manmohan Singh Govt. had a breakthrough when he put his foot on his alliance partner, Left parties who threatened to break the Govt. which BJP saw an opportunity to make a Govt. at the Centre as well. With Bush administration efforts and for one time, when Manmohan Singh threw his weight around as a Prime Minister is etched in the nuclear history of the country. 

This time around, Modi did fire his salvo at the international nations with caution and won their support but he is not the Statesman to have given credit to Manmohan Singh for the giant leap that India decided to take by participating for the race of NSG membership.

Pakistan had also applied in late May 2016 in Vienna for NSG membership. China claimed if you are giving India concessions to win membership, you can offer the same to Pakistan. But by backing Pakistan and stacking Pakistan against India at such high level of diplomacy in the international arena, China has stepped on a mine from which he cannot push its foot off and unless and until they may make Pakistan sit on the same. 

Come what may, India may have lost its chance to NSG membership this time. It still is a winner proposition for the India. It will help in developing a better and more profound relationship with the global superpower America who already devours China and is looking for chances to undermine the Chinese status in the international diplomatic missions and as a rising global superpower. Key takeaway, Western World now thinks India is not fault for strained relations with Pakistan, rather it is Pakistan's own making.

Game of Thrones

My cousin, who does not enjoy watching much of Hollywood or American television. His genre is transfixed on action movies. But then he is a huge Game of Thrones fan. Last year when the season ended, he said he wanted more of it and disgusting was the feeling to wait another year for the next season. This year he was not anticipating it, he had lost interest but then after nine episodes, he requested for Episode 1, Season 6 and an all nighter to complete all the 9 episodes and a leave from office the next day. He was itching for the Finale Episode. At the same time, he was saying what is this concept of Season, they should show everything at a stretch. But I explained to him, had there been no seasons, it wouldn't become the most anticipated event in the world. More on it later.

I remember, watching Mahabharata, that there would be zero existence of human being on roads in a country like India. Back in early 90’s, Mahabharata would make the nation of 80 Crore people come to a standstill. Only people visible on the road were the ones watching the television on the streets outside an appliances shop. Internet was yet to born. Hell, satellite television was yet to born. There will be only one time telecast, so do not miss it. 

In this day and age of satellite television, when there is TV show for possibly anything human can imagine. Internet can give you the experience for the wildest of human being’s fantasy. Game of Thrones is not just a serial or fiction drama series, it is the phenomena. No event or no activity, I can bet on it can generate the amount of curiosity, that even elections of Hillary Clinton (First Woman Nominee for the President’s post in USA) and the mad mogul, Donald Trump, whose antics always keep the media and social media buzzing would generate this level of hype as was witnessed before premiere of Season 6.

Hell, even, POTUS (the glitzy abbreviation for President of the United States, Barack Obama) was quizzed about the same. To which the President admitted, yes, and when asked about his favorite character from the show, he said, he really liked the short guy, the midget Peter Dinklage, who can think that a midget would be favorite actor on the planet.

Season 5, at a tragic note with one of the favorite characters of Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) was killed. Up till Season 5, it was an adaptation of the novel, Game of Thrones. People could still anticipate of what was coming especially for those who had read the book. TV shows follow the trend, which characters people are enjoying and how they are enjoying. They mould the characters and story line in the similar fashion as to the taste of the audience. Like in Castle, people enjoyed the bodily tensions of Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and Novelist Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), so post their marriage, the detective show developed the same reclusive behavior of their relationship by separating them for the world yet they were husband and wife. There was immense media outrage and social media blustering to bring back Jon Snow from the dead. Anything is possible in Game of Thrones.

Melissandre’s Lord of Light brought him back to life. Audiences movement won. More so, because the writers of the book have yet to write the last part of the book. Season 6 was written by the makers in consultation with the authors of the book. So hence, it was an unchartered territory. HBO’s team was free to think and imagine as they liked and not contain themselves within the boundaries of the book or adapt from the book.

Iron Throne and the costumes or the trivia with the home models for sale travel across the world. My brother mentioned last year, Iron Throne was available to sit and click photographs in an exhibition arranged by the makers of the show in Sydney. Exhibition was scheduled to open at 10, people started building queue at 7, after 9, they announced please do not stand in the queue as we cannot accommodate more people than already standing in the queue. It costed 250 Dollars per head. Hell, even the Queen of England was offered to sit on the Iron Throne but then the Queen dismissed the request as she thought she already had a throne to sit. So much for a throne on a television show.

Till Season 5, people were thinking, we are yet to see the nude version of Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and then came the Walk of Shame, what a scene it was? Five minutes long and she roams the entire streets of Westeros in nude. Season 6 was epic and phenomenal. Season 6 began on a slow note. Season 6 had the least number of nude women, which is again the true characteristic of the Game of Thrones. But then they gave us a glimpse of Khalisi, Daenerys Targareyan again. This scene captured so much power and authority that it displays, she has what it takes to rule. 

Season 6 had last two episodes with so much happening and it leaves people gasping. Season 6 Episode 9 captures evil forces like Boltons and Greyjoy also won with the help of Khaleesi. Season Finale leaves us hanging by the cliff.

Jesus Christ, what has Cersei done? Dropped the whole hall of the King and became the Queen without the King and all of her kids are dead. Emilia Clarke is sailing for Westeros to fight with Cersei to claim her title. Margaery (Natalie Dormer), one of the most adorable characters of GoT is dead too. Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) took the revenge of her mother’s death. Now the revenge of her father’s death is left for her to accomplish. Jon Snow’s reality is known to people but the finality of it yet to be known. Who will marry Emilia Clarke? She had left her lover behind.  Can a bastard (Jon Snow) marry Emilia Clarke or are they cousins?

Queen Cersei needs wildfire (sulphuric acid) to fight Danaerys but she has used the every bit of it on her own defectors. Her loss is known to everybody and definitely it will be happening at the hands of Maisie Williams but how is the reason why we watch GoT?

Season 7 will be the penultimate Finale of GoT or there will be more is the question on everybody’s minds. Will the Season 7 be ultimately fully consumed in the war. Will the events spill onto Season 8 as well. The IF questions, or may be it’s important to visit Europe during the winters when and where the GoT is shot and see if we can get a glimpse of it.

Finally, finally, after 6 years, after several times over waiting for it, WINTER IS HERE.