Where is the animosity?
At a time when there is heightened tension between India and China at the political front, life for ordinary people revolves around business, work, and shared moments.
A trip to my first home now - Nepal, gives me the greater sense of brewing hatred towards Indians. Anti- India sentiments reign high at every corner of Nepalese cities. I talk to people and they only think of reaping profit. I meet scholars and every word of my scholarly proposition is weighted in lean towards India or seen as an Indian government propaganda, as though I was a special envoy of the Indian government. With so much closeness between culture and civilization, I remain an unwelcomed guest in Nepal, which should love and treat me as a member of the family. A home remains a far dream.

However, a short visit to China, takes my confidence as a woman to a rather new heights. Though, I should call China as my third home, the feeling of being in China is unusual and relaxed. People around are too happy to know that I can speak Chinese. The initial inhibitions of communicating with a foreigner disappears by uttering few words in Chinese. That follows with a flood of questions and surprises....'how can you speak Chinese? How come your Chinese is so good? You must be settled here in China for long, isn't it?...' Any response in negative is coupled with more inquisitiveness and surprises of unbelivable facts. The short meetings turn in long chats filled with laughter and joy. Some even pulling you and holding you to know more about your life, some giving suggestions of settling in China for life, and some checking all parts of your body and dresses. The jokes and comments go beyond business.

Just yesterday, I bought a bottle of cold drink from a small street vendor, when heat made me all dry. The lady was too happy to hear me speak in Chinese at ease. Followed was her explanation of how difficult it is to communicate with foreigners. As I drank the coke, the husband sitting next joked, 'gan ba' (bottoms up). I stopped and laughed saying, 'this is not beer'. Immediately, the woman tells her husband, she is from India and her putonghua (standard Chinese) is very good. A compliment almost all Chinese give hearing few words in Chinese. The man was full of smiles and replied to me, 'Ok, then if this is not beer, come tomorrow and I will treat you two bottles of beer. Then you finish at one go.' At the expression of my inability, both and few people around gathered to convince, 'yes you can and we join you tomorrow. We will share some moments of joy'. I laughed and moved back to my hotel.
Learnt politics remains, border problem is too complicated to solve, but all Indians and Chinese need is to 'gan liang bei' (empty two glasses) to understand and share. 

APPLYING FOR A CHINESE VISA? BE READY FOR THE NIGHTMARE

India-China relations are getting better and better each day, so is the news all around. Business-to-business ties are heading to cross the 100 billion mark. People are in-and-out on frequent intervals. The task now is to manage the flow, rather than to push the flow. Therefore, it should seem that the good relations have much in store for those engaged in studying China or at least propagating its culture in India. However, the ground realities tell a different story. In the decades, things for the students and scholars have not improved much, rather there has been an added apprehension for all those who want to explore China, understand China and probably help China in linking with India better.....

Continue reading @  http://www.c3sindia.org/china-internal/3145

NEPAL – CHINA CLOSENESS:WHAT INDIA LOSES?

India and Nepal are not only linked due to the proximity of land, but it is the cultural affinity that binds the two nations. The common linguistic and ethnic identities, Hindu religious practices, similar festivals, affinity of food, resemblance of dresses, and the overall way of thinking, all make inseparable ties between India and Nepal. Added to this range of similarities and affinities, is the presence of many prominent Nepali political leaders that have their ancestors or relatives in India. Some view this as a domination created by well thought moves of the Indian government since Independence; while others regard it as historical civilizational inter-linkages. No matter with what lens one looks at it, the relationship between India and Nepal is an age-old deeply inter-connected relationship. Yet, a recent visit to Nepal will make Indians feel strangers in a foreign land. It will come as no surprise that most of the Nepali businessmen now prefer to speak Chinese rather than Hindi, and prefer Chinese tourists over Indian. Why such a change? Will this closeness of Nepal with China impact India-Nepal relations? What if Chinese government strongly influences Nepali government? Is Chinese government using soft power tactics to strategically link Nepal with China? These are the most haunted apprehensions of the Indian government and are not without any basis.....


Continue reading @ http://www.c3sindia.org/china-internal/3556

TECHNO YOUTH: Changing the face of Chinese media
Media in general is regarded as a medium of disseminating information. However, its role gradually evolved to generating public opinion that helps governments to understand the issues and problems of its citizens better. In this sense, media has become a mediator between the state and the society. For many countries, media also became a tool for the governments to propagate their policies and ruling Party ideologies. The nature and importance of media grew with the very many roles over the years. Chinese media is no exception to this phenomenon, but the tectonic shifts in Chinese media are worth examining.

In the years of Mao, media was a very strong tool to disseminate the Party policies and programmes to gather mass support. In fact, even after Deng Xiaoping came to power, and reforms in almost all sectors were introduced, media reforms did not transform the nature of reporting; while internet did bring in the change of visible reporting. Today, Chinese media is very active in playing its fullest role, but not just because of spreading globalization and the impact of market forces. A bigger force that is directing and shaping the way media works in present day context is the ‘techno youth’. The term ‘techno youth’ here refers to the younger generation of population ranging anywhere in the age group of 15 to 30 who are skilled in using new communication technologies.

According to official statistics, there were roughly 485 million netizens at the end of June 2011. A major portion of this population is composed of the younger population. With the increased penetration of market forces, advance technology is easily available in China. In particular, large cities of China cater to link with the outside world more closely. These are also the hub of educational institutions and vibrant digital social interactions. Over the years, many Chinese companies have mushroomed to cash on the potential demand of internet users to provide space similar to western social networking sites or search engines. Besides, information/news sharing that abides by the social conditions of China is multiplying in numbers. However, this created a challenge for the established news media to either advance with the times or perish.
The challenge was not just for competing with the expanding information industry, but with the demand this new industry places on the established notions of dissemination of information. With the broader use of internet through computers, ipads, mobile phones etc., young generation wants to be constantly connected and informed. Besides, the demand is also of their active involvement in almost all issues. The resultant revamping of media is visible with People’s Daily, Xinhua News, China Daily, Global Times, etc. all entering the digital information industry. These media giants not only disseminate information through digital mediums, but also provide space for open discussion and debate through various forums. The emphasis has also shifted from just national and international political ideological issues to greater domestic social issues. Thus, one finds a larger debate on issues ranging from inflation in the economy to Chunyun problems (Spring festival rush) or housing problem.

While the internet has changed the way people get connected, it has also changed the way media is required to deliver. Visual mediums of course have come to the center stage, but a larger emphasis is on two-way interaction. The opinions and comments of the readers/viewers becomes an integral part of all discussions and debates. In fact, on critical issues of public interest, Chinese political leaders have also directly connected to the masses through media forums. In addition, the demand of the techno youth to have multitude of opinions has opened the doors for incorporating diverse views on various subjects. Internet has changed the way we work, but the Chinese techno youth have redefined the role Chinese media will have to play in the long future.

CHINESE MEDICAL TREATMENT
Available at http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/viewthread.php?gid=3&tid=695089&extra=page%3D1
The other day when I had an ankle sprain, I realized the true essence of “kan bing nan” (meaning the difficulty of treating illness in China). A friend of mine came to pick me up from a commercial mall in the south of Beijing. Somehow with great pain and with his help, I entered the car. While he was driving in the huge traffic jams, I asked him “which hospital are we going to?” He looked at me with a surprise and asked, “don’t you want me to drop you at your residence?” “I am in severe pain and need to see a doctor”, I replied. He looked astonished and said, “for such small problems we don’t go to hospital. Rather even if there is some severity of the problem, we avoid going to hospital”. I wondered why? He kept driving for almost one hour or so. I thought I needed an emergency treatment and already I had waited for him for more than an hour. Now where is he moving? After I insisted he took me to a hospital in east side of Beijing, which was near my place of stay. He parked the car outside the emergency ward. I looked ahead and could see no help but stairs to climb. Somehow I managed to get down of the car and he was helping me climb the stairs. The problem was I could hardly climb even with his help. There was no wheel chair and no ward boy or nurse to assist. The stairs were almost ten in number, if I am right. Suddenly a doctor came out for a leisure stroll. He looked at my inability to climb and just helped me raise the cotton padded curtain to enter the main hall. However, I was looking forward for help to climb up the stairs. With great difficulty I climbed the stairs and went into the hall. On my right side, there were few chairs where every next person was hooked to a glucose/medicine bottle. I looked ahead there was a nurse who asked in a cold tone, “what happened?” My friend explained that I fell from stairs and my leg is twisted. “Oh”, she replied, “get a number” (gua hao). My friend told me to wait till he gets the number. He took almost twenty minutes to return. No one to attend you till that time. By that time I had already endured a lot of pain. He returns and tells me almost 6-7 yuan is spent. I was hardly worried about money. In particular such a small amount, who cares. I was bothered about my pain. He then takes me outside a room where the doctor is seeing the patients. I look inside and a girl was explaining her problems. Did not seem to be in emergency, or probably she was. She took almost 20 minutes to explain and discuss with the doctor. The doctor then takes him for some check up. The doctor comes out and washes his hands and then rubs his hands to his white coat to dry. “Oh my god, hygiene of this sort”, I got scared, so decided no injections. Suddenly another man enters the hall and explains to the nurse that he has a sudden swelling on his left cheek. The nurse says, “we don’t attend to such problems”. When he insists, the nurse takes him inside the room to talk to the doctor. The doctor looks and says, “it is nothing serious, tomorrow go to a specialist”. The man moves out and the doctor again washes his hands and wives on his coat. By then I realize that this is his habit. He then calls on my name and I walk in with the help of my friend. The doctor asks, “what happened?” After I explain, he tells me to remove my shoes. He gives one look and starts to prescribe medicine. I ask him “don’t I need an X-ray”. “Does not seem to be a fracture”, he replies. He then asks me, “will I get a reimbursement?” “No”, I reply. He then tells me, “90% chances are there is no fracture and so you don’t need an X-ray. Take medicine for two –three days and if still not fine, get an X-ray done”. I wonder, will it not be late by then? Then he prescribes me some Chinese medicines. I ask him “don’t I need to put some bandage or some way to prevent it from further injury?” “No need, let it free, bandage will block your blood flow”, he answers. I was wondering about the treatment, but you need to trust your doctor. He gives me the prescription and calls another name. Me and my friend moves out and he helps me buy the medicines. He returns smiling after spending some hundred or more yuan. “The doctor was nice to you, he asked you so many questions and prescribed so less medicine. Had it been a Chinese, they would have written a lot of medicines and an X-ray”, my friend said. However, I was wondering why my friend is so happy. He said, “Chinese doctors get commission for the medicines and tests they prescribe. So the more they write the more money they make”. I was amused. Doctors get commission for medicines. “You are lucky to have spent only in hundreds, a Chinese would have spent thousands”, he kept saying. However, in my heart I was worried about the right treatment and not the money. I return home in continuous pain.

INDIA-CHINA: A Difference of Human Concern
Available at http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/viewthread.php?gid=3&tid=695073&extra=page%3D1
India and China are two different civilizations. Hence, much of the culture of food, culture of dressing, culture of living differs. But what amazed me is the big difference in the culture of human concern. The other day I had an ankle sprain in my left leg in a very crowded business area. I was coming down of the stairs and slipped. The first reaction of Indians would be they would gather around and ask "Are you alright?" Are the Chinese afraid of police/government or is it that a foreigner has to be kept at a distance. I dont know. But for few moments, no one came near me. Then realising that I am just not getting up, two or three people came and asked me to move. The words, "dont sit here and move to a side" hit me like anything. Was there no concern even for a woman? That is what is China. But the big problem was I was not able to stand. Pain was one reason, the other being my foot was not able to carry my own load. My immediate thought, in India people would have got some water and probably offered help to take you to a doctor. Here, I was like in a strange land with people being too practical and cautious. Do Indians mind if it was a foreigner? No way. Human gesture does not change with someone's race or residency, I learnt as I grew in India. Anyhow some of them realised I could just not move with my utmost efforts, so someone just pulled me to a side and asked me to sit on a seat. I was so grateful and even before I could call for help from my known friends, another load of bag fell on my leg. Was it my bad day or just my bad luck. One after another things were going wrong and people around me were finding it amusing. "Amusing", yes that is the right word to use. I realised in China, anything that happens to a foreigner is really funny for the Chinese. At times they even utter "Hao wanr" (literally meaning good to enjoy). Thankfully those words did not come out at this time, but I could hear someone laugh and someone stating she is a foreigner. So what if I was a foreigner. Was I not a human as you are? I screamed within me, because by now I had started to get irritated with the words "Laowai" (meant for calling someone a foreigner). I called up one of my friend, who told me he will take another hour to reach and so I need to wait outside the building. The market area was to shut down within an hour. So one girl sweetly approached me and asked for the seat I was occupying. She needed to shut the shop, so it does not matter where and how you go. I had to get up and sit on ground again. People around me laughed, "she is sitting on ground". Do I have another choice? I asked myself. Then one of them asked me, "why dont you go to hospital?" "Hospital? Where is that and how do you go?" I had no idea and worst I was not able to move out of the building to take a cab. I requested a girl nearby, "can you please help me move out of the building?" I was already on the ground floor and not very far from the main entrance. I thought if I get out of the building, I can wait for the friend to come and take me to a hospital. She asked a fellow nearby, who was busy shifting stuff, to put me in his cart and help me go out to the entrance gate. His first reaction "what will she pay?" So the main idea was if he helps someone in distress, money is important. My thoughts run to my home where almost every next day my father is helping people by giving free medicines, doing bandage, and at times if some road accident happens, he along with others will be at the forefront to help. Here I was to pay to move few steps. I thought, not a bad deal. I was ready to pay and soon he changed his mind. "May be at this point I should not ask money", he stated. He put me in his cart and drove me out. I was thanking in my hearts of heart and soon heard his rude words, "get down here". I was taken aback and realised I was outside the entrance gate, so now manage yourself. He was not bothered where I go or I sit. I thanked him for bringing me out and dragged myself with fierce pain. I had to walk few steps before I could sit on a side. How can I ever forget that pain. Not just the pain of the injuries, but the pain of being in China. What was I doing in such a place where people live just for money? Soon I realised two girls walked close by and started to smoke. I was allergic to smoking and so I explained them that I can not move, so if they can move aside and not smoke near me. One of the girls was kind enough, but the other stood up and stated "it is an open air, it will not affect you." My thoughts again back to India, where on one side public smoking is banned now and on the other at such a crucial moment anyone will listed to your problem. However, here I had anything to say. Now bear this too. This place is meant for business, I understood. So live in China and talk business. Human concerns stays a little far.

This sounds interesting. A Yunnan Provincial Party Committee Publicity Department Deputy Director Wu Hao, who came to People's University for a talk at the School of Journalism, was welcomed with bills. As he stepped on the podium, a man abt 25 yrs old walked to him and showered him with fifty-cent bills, yelling "Wu Hao, wu mao". "Wu mao" in China refers to the pay a commentator receives for every internet post/comment made in accordance with government instructions. The man who threw the bills is a graduate of the University named Wang Zhongxia. Why do governments everywhere pay so minimal amount for all the labour. Sheer exploitation. First you want the youngsters to praise the government and the publicity.... free of cost. Are we seriously looking to Chinese blogs/comments on net/internet posts????????

Interview to Global Times on the 60th Anniversary of India-China Diplomatic Relations athttp://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-04/763155.html

Chinese government is also showing some signs of concern for women in China. According to Chinese Government Reulations, all full-time female employees are entitled to a half day off from work every year on March 8. Essential female employees (such as hospital staff or police) who are required to work on March 8 must be compensated at three times their normal salary rate for the half day of work.

Some informal activities to revive Chinese culture. The women who wear the traditional Chinese clothes are granted free entrance admission to forest park in Fogang county, south China's Guangdong Province on the occasion of the International Women's Day on March. 8, 2010. Chinese woman should learn from Indian woman in this respect. Love your culture and preserve your culture in the best possible manner. A note of caution, do all that not at the cost of killing someone's desires, as some in India do. Not by forcing someone to wear traditional, just because soem men like it, but should be voluntary, as one likes it.