SoCultures Magazine 2018 SoCultures Magazine November 2018 | Page 12

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