WORLD IS NOW A GLOBAL VILLAGE

From Sampath’s Desk:

WORLD IS FAST SHRINKING INTO A GLOBAL VILLAGE!

 

Man is not only a social-being but also a political-being. With the civilizations that initially flourished on the banks of rivers such as Nile, Yellow, Indus, and Tigris-Euphrates, to mention a few, people started rallying round as homogenous groups or societies under different unifying factors and banners like country, region, continent, religion, culture, language, customs, traditions, etc. Thus came to be formed different regions at the first instant. Thereafter several distinct nations came into being in due course of time. On the one hand, civilization brought all homogenous people together; on the other, people developed craze and avarice for expanding their respective kingdoms or borders of their countries that necessarily resulted in many conflicts and isolated wars besides two catastrophic World Wars.

 

In World War I, Britain and Germany were competing to have the most powerful Navy in the world. The Scramble for Africa (when European countries tried to get as many colonies as they could) had led to many local conflicts around the world. This meant that some of the major European powers were not very friendly towards each other. The Triple Alliance forces consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy were pitted against the Triple Entente consisting of Britain, France and Russia.

 

World War II was fought between the ‘Allies’ and ‘Axis’ powers. ‘Allies’ consisted mainly of France, Britain and the U.S. ‘Axis’ powers were made up of Germany, Japan and Italy. Japan bombarded the Pearl Harbour of the U.S. and in retaliation the U.S. dropped Atom Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki of Japan inflicting unprecedented catastrophic destruction to humanity. With Japan surrendering thereafter, the age of nuclear weapons began. The examples quoted bear testimony to the change of psyche in some territory expansion hungry and greedy leaders. It led to fissures, animosity of sorts and grouping, re-grouping, alignment and re-alignment of countries, etc. in the international circuit which human history has always been replete with. Thereafter, even though the craze for going nuclear has been continuing, fortunately there was no major conflict.

 

The 193-nation strong United Nations (U.N.) is now functioning with the objective to maintain world peace and also to settle disputes, if any, arising between states amicably and also for balanced economic growth and development of all the member-states. Thus the imperative need that was felt for long for establishment of a world body was fulfilled which is doing yeomen service for the causes of peace, overall development and prosperity of the world, particularly under-developed and developing countries. Thus perfect platform, podium and bridge between member-states have been established to enable constant and timely interactions among member-countries under the auspices and aegis of the UN. There have also been many UN programs aimed towards the welfare and well-being of the under-privileged states and people of the entire world at large.

 

While there has been community of interest between peoples of many countries enabling interactions through various modes and mediums, the UN rightly called upon the tele-community to bridge the Digital Divide between countries - rural and urban areas, rich and poor, educated and illiterate populations, and men and women. The UN felt that there is enormous power of ICT for socio-economic development of the member-states through access to ICT for all those who have been unable to participate fully in a knowledge-based digital economy. Steps are afoot and a good lot has already been achieved in this regard.

 

Technology explosion, communication expansion and worldwide/free trade are the main catalysts of globalization and the reason for the world to be a global village. Globalization has taken roots over the years to keep different countries and nationalities across the world well connected. Internet, media, international business and embassies are the leading factors that increasingly and positively influence, impact and induce globalization. It is now severally said that today, the world has become a village in which there are no boundaries to trade and communication between countries and peoples.

 

Free-trade exchanges between countries, import/export of goods, services and knowhow, and generation of worldwide employment opportunities have almost removed the geographical boundaries and borders that traditionally separated countries. And when you transcend barriers of sorts you enter the global village.

 

Telecommunication revolution has networked people into new lifestyles. It has become an integral part of our everyday life, twirling, twisting and spurring waves of industrial activity, slashing the costs, constantly changing the market dynamics, giving a fillip to economic and commercial activities and above all, cobbling up a new well connected world. Once a preserve of the elite and administration, telecommunication has become a key, crucial and indispensable tool for common man to stay connected within the country and abroad at ease! It is also tactical artillery for companies to create market in other parts of the world, and protect, sustain and even expand, and reach out to the hitherto uncharted and unexplored avenues in other countries. And where once longer distances made communication progressively more complex and costly, now distances have become increasingly immaterial, thanks to the new fast evolving and emerging communication technologies (mostly wireless) day after day enabling voice, image and data transmission through different modes and medium, virtually from any place to any place – to any nook and cranny of the world - a mind-blowing revolution indeed!

 

The digital revolution holds great promise for overall prosperity and progress. Today, simple initiatives - content and accessibility - bridge the urban-rural digital divide to a great extent chiefly to make common people digitally-literate. Keen more on partnership, it is a community development initiative and needs all support and encouragement. Digital literacy could make a positive difference in achieving convergence even amid divergences, positively benefiting the whole world community.

 

As we head towards a world village, the importance of high-end support functions is all the more necessary. Brain alliance along with nuanced strategic actions by parties concerned - individual(s), countries and group or group of countries - in tandem with each other is the need of the hour in the global village context. In the present scenario, emergence of a global economy characterized by ever changing market dynamics transcending geo-borders and natural barriers is the obvious choice and trend. It is slowly but steadily making strides towards transmutation and continuous changes in the contours of trans-national tie-ups and relationships! 

 

The old school of thought was that brain drain was better than brain in the drain. Much water had flown under the bridge since then and in today’s context of globalized era, it is immaterial wherefrom technology comes from, or is generated or diffused. What is more important, therefore, is how and where it is deployed to make the world a paradise of comforts and convenience to live in. The dictum of the day is ‘Think globally and act locally’. There is already an increased thrust and focus on providing urban amenities/facilities in rural areas which is already making an appreciable headway.

 

Today we stay connected virtually with any nook and cranny of the world by staying anywhere, just at the press of buttons or on-screen touches. Is it not mind-boggling? Yes, the world has almost shrunk into a global village with attendant slew of comforts and conveniences keeping us in good stead and at ease!

   

R.SAMPATH