Habitat for Humanity
Ninety Singaporean students have been offered scholarships which were aimed at drawing young talents to various sectors of the economy. Called the Singapore-Industry scholarship, 90 awards have been given as part of the government’s plan to build a strong core of talent in the private sector. As many as 27 private sector companies and statutory board partnered with the government.
Prof Liu Jian, a senior professor at the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), is a strong votary of Sino-Indian ties. He has translated Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s Argumentative Indian into Chinese. He says India and China have century-old ties and he feels the two countries are capable of playing a key role to ensure global peace. The professor took time off his frightfully busy schedule and answered the following questions. His understanding is critical at a time when two Asian neighbors are poised to enter a significant phase in international politics, as the South China Sea becomes a sea of contention and the Asean group finds it hard to reach a consensus.
Few know that there’s a daily in Sanskrit language and that too has been coming out over the past 41 years from Mysore in south India. At a time when a language, whose use declined in political and literary circuits since 12th or the 13th century, bringing out an edition in Sanskrit deserves thunderous applause.
My trip to Beijing in April is memorable not only because it was my first encounter with the mighty mainland and the country’s mind-boggling progress, but also because I had the taste of a Chinese scholar’s humanism. During my two week’s stay, I had the opportunity to meet two great scholars: Prof Liu Jian and Prof Dong Youchen.
The US Olympic Committee’s decision to use China-made clothing designed by Ralph Lauren, a sponsor of the US Olympic Committee, for the London Olympics has drawn loud condemnation from Senate majority leader Harry Reid, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (both Democrats), House Speaker John Boehner (Republican) and several other Senators and Congressmen. Senator Harry Reid even called on the US Olympic Committee to burn China-made uniforms.
Singapore rail operator SMRT was in the news this week. Reason: The rail operator was fined $2m for two major breakdowns on December 15 and 17 last year. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the company had failed to exercise due diligence and vigilance expected of a public transport operator.
My trip to Beijing in April would not have been possible without Prof Dong, the Chinese scholar who has translated Tagore’s work in Chinese. His invitation gave me a chance to explore mainland China.
Well, I was in Hong Kong as part of my assignment with China Daily Hong Kong Edition (2006-2009) and visited Shenzen and Guangzhou a number of times, but never did I get a chance to visit Beijing.
Thanks for stopping by.
