Indo-Pacific, Karma Times Ahead?

'So Indian PM Narendra Modi has arrived in Australia. Bit of a mixed score card there,’ said Johno. ‘In particular, the treatment of Muslim minorities and suppression of free media. Most recently the Indian government’s decision to block social media access to a critical BBC documentary on Modi before raiding the BBC’s Indian offices, for supposed tax irregularities, was a serious blow to media freedom.’

'I was just reading that since Modi came to power in 2014, India has fallen from 27th to 46th in The Economist’s global democracy index’ and is classified as a flawed democracy,’ said Janno.

’Well as they say, “the enemy of my enemy, is my friend,” and we’re all part of the Quad Squad now -pacifying the Indo-Pacific,’ continued Johno with a smirk.

'Curry on regardless then?’ said Alphy, who was now enamoured with the Saps use of the pun. Alphy had observed how the Saps of democratic countries, constantly compromised on issues of human rights, when it came to maximising their economic and political self-interest.

'The other issue is that of those Australians born overseas, Indians now make up the second largest group after England,’ continued Johno. ‘So there is potentially a lot of votes in that Diaspora - further encouraging incumbent governments to maintain good relations with India. Will the democracy sausage eventually be surpassed by the suffrage samosa at polling booths in the future?

'Not forgetting that India is now the fifth largest economy in the world, so Australia is keen to increase it’s share of Indian take-away and conclude a Free Trade Agreement this year.

'And If that isn’t enough, India has effectively taken control of International Cricket. The IPL (Indian Premier League) is like a giant vortex sucking up the world’s best cricket talent with highly lucrative contracts. Sadly it’s all become too commercial. So the good old days of Let’s make whoopee, has been replaced by Let’s make Rupee!

'On a more serious note’,’ said Alphy, ‘Hindus who make up just under 80% of the Indian population, have some interesting observations regarding physics and the Cosmos.

'For example the scientist Heisenberg was interested in the Hindu concepts of non-duality and found similarities between them and quantum mechanics.

'As to the Cosmos, they believe that there are many universes floating around in space, but there are many different ideas about how the world was created.

'They have other important beliefs about the universe and how it works. They believe that time goes around in a cycle and that it is continually destroyed and recreated.’

'So what do you reckon Alphy?’ enquired Janno.

'Any religion that produced the Kama Sutra has a lot going for it,’ interjected Johno.

'Johno has aptly expressed the human condition - Carnal cognition transcends Cosmic comprehension,’ said Alphy, with surprising earnestness.