I had initially thought that I should spend my time peacefully in Chakauti enjoying clean air and close connection with near and dear ones and working as farmer, like Garibaldi did in early 20th century Italy. My dreams were shattered by the tremendous changes in the farming scenario which has become non viable and uneconomical in Chakauti.
My four decade long assosciaton with matters of India's interests in foreign countries and international issues brought me to Indian Council of World Affairs, an institution of national importance and a think tank on foreign policy and international issues which conducts research and offers policy options through its publications, conferences, seminars, lectures and large number of other programmes, which can be accessed through its website: www.icwa.in. After my retirement from Indian Foreign Service, I joined the Council as a Consultant.
However, I do keep contemplating my plans to return to the serene breezes in the meadows of Banrahi and Darima and to the mango grooves of Paktola Gachhi.
At the same time, I consider it an opportunity for me to promote among the villagers an awareness towards international issues as well as our need for connecting to the world at large. The connection has grown multy fold in the twenty first Century with the expanding contours of communication revolution and availability of media resources to the masses.
A village in the shadow of darkness of the past century, still bereft of electricity and internet has to come up with the modern facilities to connect to the world to the point which could allow it to attract its own people, before we can hope too invite a foreigner. Those interested to internationalize Chakauti may visit the website of Indian Council of World Affairs ( http://www.icwa.in/ )
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