SoCultures Magazine November 2018
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<strong>SoCultures</strong> <strong>November</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
India & Russia<br />
forms of entertainment. I would regularly go for such events in the autumn and<br />
winters.<br />
Moscow is as busy as Mumbai with people always running to get somewhere and<br />
the hustle and bustle of life being visible everywhere, but the quality of life in the<br />
Russian capital can be significantly better than in most major global cities. It has<br />
one of the world’s cleanest and safest (and visually appealing) metro systems.<br />
There are also great museums that have the works of Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet,<br />
Manet and other great artists. Not to forget the Bolshoi Theater - stages opera and<br />
the ballet! Despite being a big and busy city, Moscow has large and expansive<br />
parks that are open to the public. It’s impossible to get bored in the city and I make<br />
sure that I enjoy every moment when I am in the city.<br />
I particularly enjoy being in Russia in late-June when the sun sets very late in most<br />
parts of the country. In cities like St. Petersburg, there is a phenomenon called the<br />
White Nights when there are more than twenty hours of daylight. It almost feels<br />
like the sun never sets on those days. I treasure such long days and enjoy staying<br />
up and enjoying the endless daylight. Few experiences can compare with spending<br />
long summer evenings in the northern Russia.<br />
Do you think the intellectual-cultural dialogues can be a big catalyst to end the<br />
conflicts in the world?<br />
I am all for a world without major travel barriers. The more people interact with<br />
those from different cultures, the better it is for the world as a whole. Hatred is<br />
rooted in the fear of the unknown. If more people travel, cultural barriers and<br />
misunderstandings will fade away. Unfortunately we can’t wish away conflicts<br />
since there are powerful interests that ensure that the world is in a state of<br />
confrontation. Certain countries will always stay in a state of confrontation thanks<br />
to these vested interests. People to people interaction can help reduce, hate, fear<br />
and ignorance, but the rich and powerful arms lobby will always do what it can to<br />
aggravate global tensions.<br />
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