Conversations with the Swede

I'm on a prolonged vacation. I have been here for more than two months now. A prolonged vacation is synonymous to being jobless. As you see, that's what allows me to write. It has allowed me to do lots of other things as well. My posting on career choices was meant to reflect the times. My vacation happens to be during the greatest economic depression since The Great Depression. Words have changed though. To soften the blow, we use the word "recession" as it is more easy on the ears than "depression". This is a scenario affecting the whole world and we, Indians, have the habit of being positive at the wrong time of history. This optimism is also called over-confidence and without a little research, it could turn our lives upside down, if we are not prepared. 

My point is not to discuss the recession. If you want that, go to nytimes.com or mckinseyquarterly.com for detailed, in-depth analysis of the economic downturn. I have a job waiting for me to get back and here I am, celebrating recession. There is a good chance, though, that I'll stay back in India and that I won't go back to claim my job again. That's a different story, too.

This time around, I found time for a lot of other things. Meeting people was one among them. I met this Swede who has been living in Kannur for more than 12 years. I started meeting him occasionally. We talk about anything under the sun. But, I would like to share some of the ideas we exchanged during the past month. 

He has a son and a daughter. He says his son, a student of Environmantal Science, has moved out. His daughter will move out soon, too. "Moved out" is something permanent. After a person moves out, he meets his family only during Christmas and sometimes more infrequently. The old man himself didn't see his mother for 35 years, at a time. I told him that we have a system here which demands families to stick together even if they move out. Well, what can I say, he argued that the Indian system is failing. His view went like this. In the Indian system, old people get a second life seeing their grandchildren grow. It's a pleasure that makes them want to live each day. In the Western system, old people are not used to that. They have no problems living alone. They adjust to it with ease. But now, owing to the children's migration to countries like US and UK, the Indian grandfather is more and more alone. It is unbearable for him to live violating centuries-old system. Apparently, the Indian system is breaking to give way for the Western ideology. He was not happy about it, though. He says, the Indians should never have tried to be like the Europeans or Americans. Alhough I didn't agree with the Swede entirely his point was true to an extent.

Knowing the predicament I am in, concerning my job, the other day, he suggested me to go to Iraq.  Well, if someone from my family had suggested that to me, I would have labelled it cruel. But, coming from the Swede, I knew he would have a good reason for saying it. I prepared to listen. 

Iraq is a war-torn country. But, it is also a rich country. The resources are lying there, waiting to be tapped. And, the Iraqi government is on a hunting spree to bring in the best companies in the world to invest in its country. Meanwhile, the riots, the bombings have receded to the outskirts and interiors. Baghdad and places like Basra, are waiting for a new infrastructure boom. Recently Iraqi ministers visited countries all over Europe giving away contracts worth millions of dollars. My Swede friend was quick to point out that if one gets there at the beginning of the boom, one may grow to a good extent.  True as his words are, we do doubt before jumping into decisions. We all value our lives more than anything else. 

But, his words made me think. It is the Westerners' spirit of adventure and risk-taking that took them to places even before they were civilised. Their leadership abilities and overall development does not come from their address. But, it is from their daring to go where others fear to tread. 

As long as my vacation continues, I promise myself to be in touch with the Swede. There are things we can learn from him. Good day, Good night!!!

Suhail Rasheed

[Edits: Read the comments on this post]