Identity: Part 2

The first part (Identity - Part I) of this blog post discussed the parameters of our Identity that are either difficult or impossible to change. Exploring alternate parameters defining our Identity by our actions and behaviors can lend us more control in how we are perceived. A crisis is slowly creeping into such actively defined parameters of our Identity as political and social orders try to extend their control over people.

IDENTITY: Part 2

We can actively shape our behavioral traits, manners, body-language, spoken-language-accents, dress-sense, health-consciousness and intellectual-prowess. The economic wherewithal, geopolitical and social environment will help us achieve this at varying (personal) costs. This opportunity-cost makes it easier or less easier depending on parameters we do not control.

Read on for a deeper analysis and discussion of 'Identity' we can shape, for the most part ...

Identity: Part 1

Everyone living in this world in any time, has had to face their "Identity." This two-part blog post is an exploration of both physical and digital identities, and how they have come to drastically change the way we build our identity.

One part of our Identity is thrust upon us, leaving us with little or no choice. Another part of our identity is something we can build and increase our control over. Today, the societies permissivity to free ourselves from the 'identity' that was thrust upon us is (in the first part) is far greater, than several centuries ago. 

Several unchangeable parts will cling on to ourselves until we find ways to exercise change and control over it if necessary. 

The second part of our identity (covered in the follow-up to this) will be one that we can shape and control even today or perhaps at any point historically. It is that part that has to overshadow the former and help us define us far better by action rather than circumstance & causality.

What follows is an exploration of key parameters that differentiate us, with viewpoints borrowed from different sources to help us understand "identity" better ...

EU India - Free Trade Agreement

( src: http://www.caef.org.uk/d123ldr.html )

The Indian government has seemingly invested a lot of effort into this Free Trade Agreement (FTA) from July 2007.

We will be ill advised to pursue this in the present time in its present form.

Status Quo
India imported goods worth €34.7 billion from the European union, and exports  goods worth €33.2 billion to the EU.

FDI from the EU to India is about €3 billion and from India to the EU is about €0.8 billion.
Refer: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/india/

Sentiments of people are strongly against it. Here is a comparison of pros and cons (written in converse) to show what the FTA holds against the people of India and for the people of India.

"A civilization is built on what is required of men, not on that which is provided for them." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)