The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Need to understand human face of China better”

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Thursday, Jun 05, 2008
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“Need to understand human face of China better”

Special Correspondent

Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

UNDERSTANDING CHINA: Pallavi Aiyar, author of ‘Smoke and Mirrors: An experience of China’ with C.R. Swaminathan, deputy chairman, CII Southern region, and P.M. Sukumar, CEO, HarperCollins Publishers, at the launch of the book in Chennai on Wednesday.—

CHENNAI: India’s interest in China has spiked dramatically over the past few years, but most commentators, businessmen or politicians still miss the human angle.

Pallavi Aiyer, The Hindu Correspondent in Beijing, who has lived in China for the past five years, says understanding the human face of China better is important for sustained successful Sino-Indian cooperation. China attracts sharp judgments, but what temporary visitors see is not reality, Ms. Aiyar said at the launch of her book on China organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry on Wednesday.

‘Smoke and mirrors’ attempts to explore broad themes that define modern China through the lives of ordinary citizens, and her own experiences. Viewing contemporary China through Indian eyes, Ms. Aiyer also seeks to explain the nature of differential growth of India and China, finally asking herself the simple question, ‘Where would I choose to be born?’

Dualities

The dualities of tradition and modernity, socialism and capitalism, freedom and control, which Chinese people negotiate on a daily basis, are at the heart of the book. She describes how China’s rubbish pickers wear rubber protection gloves, its women are free to drive buses without remark, but its academic community is stifled. Innovation, she pointed out is the buzz word of science but the scourge of the arts. The rural-urban divide, often overemphasised by western media, is relative when compared with India, but the Indian Parliament looks inspiring compared with that of China. Kleptocratic corruption was less common among political elites in China, she said, because many believed they were working towards a better future for the country, but Indian citizens had the right to make choices about who rules them. Many Indians, including those who attempt to set up businesses in China, do not see below the surface, she said. The problem begins with food and language. While Indians value vegetarianism and select vegetables at that, the Chinese value exotic diversity of meats and animal products. Few, said Ms. Aiyar who speaks Mandarin, ever learn the language.

Part reportage, part memoir, part travelogue, these analyses are given without recourse to theorising. P.M. Sukumar, Chief Executive of publisher HarperCollins India, said the book, disarming in its simplicity, is distinguished both for its Indian perspective and for its ability “to make an insular country more understandable.”

Based on life experiences, the book is written with great felicity of style and provides fascinating insights into the working of the Chinese mind and its young people, N. Ravi Editor of The Hindu, said releasing the book. He noted the apparent contentment of youth to give up right to dissent for prosperity, and the replacement of religion and communism with a new ideology of money.

Quantum surge

Deputy Chairman of CII South India C.R. Swaminathan said there had been a quantum surge in cooperation and bilateral deals with China. Given that China is India’s largest trade partner at $38.7 billion (2007) and that India wants to diversify its trade basket with China to correct trade imbalances, this book he said, served as an important reminder to look beyond the figures and towards the faces of China.

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