Panda diplomacy is inscrutably Chinese.
Back in 2001,Donald Rumsfeld, the then defence secretary to President Bush had advised his boss to elevate China to the status of global enemy number one.China was perceived as the principal threat to American global dominance.
But much to the surprise of everyone,USA's decision to turn more of its guns and missiles towards China was returned with a proverbial 'turning the other cheek'.China generously forgave its capital friend.
Not only did China forgive and hug them,but, also presented them with precious Pandas.
But, they were not the only lucky ones,some others too got this premier China-friends club membership - Australia,Taiwan,Japan,Hongkong.
Though we heard some chatter about the Taiwanese president Shen Chui Bian daring to refuse the gift..How impolite!
Well,in 2009,Chen Shui Bian has been convicted of criminal charges along with his beloved wife..
Our reaction? ...May be it is unlucky to refuse Pandas,perhaps that disturbs the planetary positions in your astrological birth charts!
Recently,USA did something to invite the ire of its bosom buddy.How did we know?Because China called back its pandas from the US.
It took quite some amount of brainstorming to figure out what could have angered the Chinese,people resorted to all kinds of wild guesses till it was officially made known that - as President Obama and Dalai Lama shook hands - China's heart was shattered,burnt and devastated..
Really,how could the Americans do this - even with the Pandas on their conscience!
Our reaction?They may forgive you if u train your missiles and guns on them,but they will never again see you in the eye if u talk to a certain monk...Hmmm...this is beyond astrology too,as byzantine as feng shui.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Cupid's Coffee
Nowadays Cupid doesnt hit arrows anymore.Nor darts either.
After all,a chubby infant cannot shoulder the blame of creating nuisance for an already overburdened healthcare system.Such and other practical considerations have forced him to change his methods.
Plus,this is the era of upgrading to smart,new techniques.Why should the little god stay behind?
Coming to our story now.
A princess from the hills met a prince from the great plains, in a faraway city, at a neat little coffee shop.
A bit of spilt coffee,a stain on a white shirt,a clumsy apology,and a few warm smiles and words that passed between them, made them friends that day.
Since then ,every single evening they met at a little table inside that shop, at the strike of 11.30,almost like a ritual.
Their table was lit by a 40 watt bulb under a dark lampshade and on the wall opposite them,hung a framed poster of a famous Cupid painting.Sitting there,immersed in each other's words,they went on for hours about stories of the past and the present, their growing up years, mom,dad,friends, family,other people,other lands,other kingdoms,their beliefs,their hopes,their dreams...while steadily,the clock ticked past.
The coffee shop remained open all through the night,but hardly a few customers came by,so nothing ever disturbed their peace.
When every night turned into day,they left for their separate worlds with a promise to meet again.
One day ,suddenly,our prince announced to the princess,he was going to the land of fairies."We wont meet from tomorrow.But you take care of yourself,ok"
"Going away?"She thought."Where is he going?And why?To seek what?"So many questions stormed her from within.This news was too sudden.
But she composed herself quickly,and confined the storm to a deep private chamber inside herself.Outwards,she smiled at him."Is it?Thats great news.You take care too"
They went back early that evening.The prince was was short of time,he had a long way to travel.
And so they shook hands,wished each other well and parted ways.But they forgot their hearts on that two-seater coffee table,under Cupid's shadow.
(..To be continued..)
After all,a chubby infant cannot shoulder the blame of creating nuisance for an already overburdened healthcare system.Such and other practical considerations have forced him to change his methods.
Plus,this is the era of upgrading to smart,new techniques.Why should the little god stay behind?
Coming to our story now.
A princess from the hills met a prince from the great plains, in a faraway city, at a neat little coffee shop.
A bit of spilt coffee,a stain on a white shirt,a clumsy apology,and a few warm smiles and words that passed between them, made them friends that day.
Since then ,every single evening they met at a little table inside that shop, at the strike of 11.30,almost like a ritual.
Their table was lit by a 40 watt bulb under a dark lampshade and on the wall opposite them,hung a framed poster of a famous Cupid painting.Sitting there,immersed in each other's words,they went on for hours about stories of the past and the present, their growing up years, mom,dad,friends, family,other people,other lands,other kingdoms,their beliefs,their hopes,their dreams...while steadily,the clock ticked past.
The coffee shop remained open all through the night,but hardly a few customers came by,so nothing ever disturbed their peace.
When every night turned into day,they left for their separate worlds with a promise to meet again.
One day ,suddenly,our prince announced to the princess,he was going to the land of fairies."We wont meet from tomorrow.But you take care of yourself,ok"
"Going away?"She thought."Where is he going?And why?To seek what?"So many questions stormed her from within.This news was too sudden.
But she composed herself quickly,and confined the storm to a deep private chamber inside herself.Outwards,she smiled at him."Is it?Thats great news.You take care too"
They went back early that evening.The prince was was short of time,he had a long way to travel.
And so they shook hands,wished each other well and parted ways.But they forgot their hearts on that two-seater coffee table,under Cupid's shadow.
(..To be continued..)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Cupid er Coffee (Bengali version)
Aj kal Cupid ar teer marey na.Ekei shob hospital er opor eto pressure,tarpor abar teer er ghaye kar kothaye legey jabey,ei shob bastobik shomoshyar kotha bhebeyi Cupid keo notun notun technique shikhtey hochhey..
Asha jak amader golpey.
Ekdin ekta basto shohor er chhotto shundor shajano ekta coffee shop ey dujon er dekha holo.
Ek pahari rajyer rajputro r shathey ek nodi r rajyer rajkonyar.
Ek din-ei, dujon er modhye besh bondhutto jomey gelo.Erpor dujonei din er sheshey,shob kaj er phankey coffee shop er ekta bishesh table ey boshey roj golpo korey.
Thhik jeno ekta ritual er moto.
Table-er ek pasher dewal-ey Cupid er bikhyato kono painting er ekta poster lagano.Table er majhey ektai 40 watt er alo lagano lampshade.Sheyi alotei dujon dujon er dikey takiye thakey ar ghontar por ghonta golpo korey.
Kotto kotha oder jomey achhey!Chhoto theke boro howar ,ma er,baba r,bhai bon-eder,bondhuder kotha,desh bidesher golpo,onno rajyer, onno prithibir alochona.Golpo kortey kortey shomoy er kheyal thakey na.
Raat ketey bhor hoye jaye.
Coffee shop shara raat khola.Tobu raat ey lok khub i kom ashey,tai dujon er golpey badha dewar keu nei.
Emon i ekdin,rajputro janalo ,"kal thekey ar amader dekha hobey na.Ami ek pori-r rajye jachhi.Tumi bhalo theko,kemon?"
Rajkonyar hothat i chomok laglo.Choley jabey?Kothaye?Keno?Ki achhey ei pori-r rajye?Aro koto ki mon-ey holo.Kintu shobhaboto proshno gulo mon er ghor er bhetorey purey diye,dorja bondho rekhey,mukhey hashi ene bollo,"tai?bah anonder khobor.Tumio bhalo theko"
Shedin ora taratari firlo.Rajputrer onek ta poth jetey hobey,tai shey shedin basto.
Dujonei choley gelo alada pothey,tobuo dujon-eri mon porey roilo cupid er chhaya-r oi two-seater coffee table taye..
(to be continued and english version will soon follow :) )
Asha jak amader golpey.
Ekdin ekta basto shohor er chhotto shundor shajano ekta coffee shop ey dujon er dekha holo.
Ek pahari rajyer rajputro r shathey ek nodi r rajyer rajkonyar.
Ek din-ei, dujon er modhye besh bondhutto jomey gelo.Erpor dujonei din er sheshey,shob kaj er phankey coffee shop er ekta bishesh table ey boshey roj golpo korey.
Thhik jeno ekta ritual er moto.
Table-er ek pasher dewal-ey Cupid er bikhyato kono painting er ekta poster lagano.Table er majhey ektai 40 watt er alo lagano lampshade.Sheyi alotei dujon dujon er dikey takiye thakey ar ghontar por ghonta golpo korey.
Kotto kotha oder jomey achhey!Chhoto theke boro howar ,ma er,baba r,bhai bon-eder,bondhuder kotha,desh bidesher golpo,onno rajyer, onno prithibir alochona.Golpo kortey kortey shomoy er kheyal thakey na.
Raat ketey bhor hoye jaye.
Coffee shop shara raat khola.Tobu raat ey lok khub i kom ashey,tai dujon er golpey badha dewar keu nei.
Emon i ekdin,rajputro janalo ,"kal thekey ar amader dekha hobey na.Ami ek pori-r rajye jachhi.Tumi bhalo theko,kemon?"
Rajkonyar hothat i chomok laglo.Choley jabey?Kothaye?Keno?Ki achhey ei pori-r rajye?Aro koto ki mon-ey holo.Kintu shobhaboto proshno gulo mon er ghor er bhetorey purey diye,dorja bondho rekhey,mukhey hashi ene bollo,"tai?bah anonder khobor.Tumio bhalo theko"
Shedin ora taratari firlo.Rajputrer onek ta poth jetey hobey,tai shey shedin basto.
Dujonei choley gelo alada pothey,tobuo dujon-eri mon porey roilo cupid er chhaya-r oi two-seater coffee table taye..
(to be continued and english version will soon follow :) )
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