BRAZIL: A LAND FULL OF VIBRANCY

When Portuguese founded Brazil, they named it after a tree, “Pau-Brazil” due to its abundance of producing Brazil nut. Originally named, ‘Terra de Santa Cruz’ (Land of Santa Cruz), the country tried to distance itself for the territory that France was interested in occupying. In an attempt to hide Brazil’s connection to Santa Cruz, it was renamed Brazil.

Not many know, that Brazil is the longest country in the world spanning to almost 2,800 miles (4,500 km) from north to south and has the largest river, the Amazon on the basis of water volume. Along with having a fantastic variety of wildlife, there are up to four million species of plants and animals. Brazil inhabits one third of the world’s 300 monkey species. Over the last 15 years, 14 new species of monkeys are discovered there.

Brazil started developing a reputation for crime and violence in the 1980s due to massive debt that left necessities such as police, hospitals and schools deprived of revenue. Things started to look up in the early 1990s when the government was able to decrease its debt and reintroduce money into public services, starting with the police department and slowly the crime rates began to fall. Tourism is a top priority and their protection and comfort is the government’s responsibility.

Today, the economy is booming and Brazil is evidently growing strong across different sectors such as marketing and communications, creating a new sense of national confidence and identity. There is an increased sense of social mobility that comes with poor residents having greater purchase power. As markets get competitive, the wide gap between rich and poor is decreasing.  However, such an economy spectrum has also made Sao Paulo, the capital of Brazil, one of the most expensive cities to live in the world right now.

Brazilians are known to be warm and friendly people due to their interaction with tourists on a regular basis. Hot climate allows them a great deal of time to be outdoors and chat with people, making them inevitably outgoing and gregarious. Not to forget, men love to stare and pass comments at women as they walk by. The natives of Brazil take pride in being free spirited, resent being told what to do and tend to be very opinionated. On seeing them arguing with vigor for their convictions, visitors often get offended and tend to believe that they are angry in general. Often laidback and extremely casual, they view time as a sequence of events rather than hours, minutes and seconds.

Language is one of the strongest elements of binding together Brazil as a nation. Portuguese is spoken by nearly 100% of the population. Not surprisingly, over 200 languages exist today, and estimates claim the country had inhabited around 800 languages at some point. Brazilians love to talk and they do it effortlessly. It is no wonder then that the nation’s passion transcends to new communications technology, regularly topping charts globally for the most amount of time spent online in social media usage. 

Brazil is a melting pot of creativity. Art, music and dance is present everywhere and is magnified during Carnival which takes place annually for which people prepare for year round. Another thing the country is immensely popular for its rich mixture if races and ethnicity from where artists get their inspiration from.

Many original Portuguese settlers married native women which created a new race called, ‘Mestizos’ and descendants of Portuguese and African slaves are called, ‘Mulattoes’. Slavery was abolished in 1888, which overtime blurred racial lines. Brazil is also home to the largest population of Japanese citizen, outside of Japan.

Family life is considered to be the foundation on the basis of stability, closeness and assistance for most people. Families tend to be large, although this has been diminishing in recent years. Nepotism is considered positive as it implies that employing people one knows and trusts.

Despite the mixing of ethnicities, Brazil is obsessed with class system. Social discrimination of the basis of skin color is considered normal. The upper and middle class only have brief interactions with lower class, usually consisting of maids, drivers, etc. Due to the great disparity and wage differentials, lifestyle and social aspirations are also different amongst different classes.

Women are typically found in lower paid jobs such as teaching, administrative support and nursing, even though they make 40% of the total workforce. The 1988 constitution prohibits discrimination against women, but it still exists. The one place that it doesn’t is in the government, the current President Dilma Rousseff who is a woman, being a prime example.

Palak Singh

3753

FOOTBALL FEVER

Apart from having Brazil’s flag colors on the national team’s jersey, the country is obsessed with football.  More like a religion, Brazil considered the Mecca for football fans.

Football has easy to understand rules; no need of fancy gear or too much space, fast paced and fun to watch, all these factors made it a cult favorite amongst Brazilians. Ordinary people on the street hone spectacular skills of free styling and aiming.

Originally introduced by an Englishman, Charles Miller, he went to boarding school in England and returned to his birth country Brazil in 1892. His idea to spread football by teaching all his friends changed Brazilian culture for good. European influence faded and it became the game of people over time. This is where the sport was perfected, transforming it in an expression of talent and an effective tool for social cohesion.

Considered best in the world, Brazil team has won five World Cup titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) in the last 40 years, way ahead to the next best teams that are Japan, Italy and Australia. Along with winning the World Player of Year eight times, since its 19 years of existence. That’s more than any other country, setting the benchmark for excellence in football. So passionate are the people about football that the entire nation mourns the loss of a final match in a similar way it does when a disaster like earthquake/hurricane strikes the country.

 Brazil boasts of having produced some of the greatest players ever and can afford to do so. Socrates, Carlos Alberto, Garrincha, Rivaldo, Jairzinha, Romario, Rivelino, Zito, Ronaldo and Tostao make it on top of the list. Other fine players include Ronaldinho, Lúcio, Alexandre Pato, Júlio Cesar, Maicon, Luis Fabiano and Kaka. However, one footballer which is considered the best at his craft is, Pele. Brazilian footballers, with their mysterious charm and exotic sounding names add fresh approach in every game, enthralling the public. They stamp their authority over their opponents peerlessly (well, most times.)

In order to have a better shot at expanding avenues footballers are lured by European clubs, which moves them away from their native country. So it is inevitably that the talent pool of Brazil reduces and they struggle to impose themselves as significant rivals of European teams. However, this also works in their favor when famous professional players represent their country during World Cup.

 Women’s football is not as popular in Brazil as that of men’s due to the strong and continuous social stigma. Limited financial interest and support, makes the national teams lag behind and run only on small amateur, semi-professional and regional level. Despite taking part in the World Cup and Olympics, the team needs more than just opportunities; it needs encouragement and motivation from the nation to excel. 

Football is an important component of the national psyche. Children grow up idolizing payers and perfecting their skills. It is often a motivation for young boys and girls to spur them out of poverty and achieve great things in football or otherwise.

 World Cup tournaments are like a social phenomenon where people skip work to watch their national team play. Banks leave their employees 3 hours before the match starts while other offices specially set up apparatus in the workplace for everyone to watch together. Politicians are accused of taking advantage of this national surge for General Election and try to push their political campaign forward. Also, former footballers are often elected to legislative positions.

Brazil being the powerhouse of talented footballers has been on top of its game for decades. Players in the national team are said to be improving by the season; with a more structure and counter-attacking style that pushes them to excel. They are gearing up for the next World Cup in 2014, which the nation itself is hosting. Looking by this, the craze for football in this country will never seem to fade.

Palak Singh

3753

SAMBA SHAKES!

The moment you think of Brazil, you think Carnival (or football) but I’m sticking to the first one.

Rio de Jeneiro hosts the lavish world-famous celebration which lasts for almost a week held annually. Scores of tourists flock the city to witness the sensational parades having elaborate floats that are surrounded by thousands of artists, singers and dancers who are all dressed in intricate and inevitably outrageous costumes.

As they grove to the mesmerizing beats, one can spectate the richness and vibrancy of their culture, resulting as a major tourist attraction and being televised around the globe. This is an opportunity when locals shut their offices, shops and institutes to merge themselves in the manifestation of happiness and freedom, whatever the time, wherever the place being in the peak season of summer.

The Carnival is celebrated 46 days before Easter leading up to Lent festival which is an abstinence period, in the Roman Catholic calendar. Traditionally, Christians celebrate the Carnival to bid farewell to eating flesh in the months of February and March. They stay away from the consumption of meat/poultry, hence the word ‘Carnival’ which originated from the word ‘Carnelevare’ (Carnival is actually spelled as Carnavale) means to “remove meat”.

The event was brought to Brazil by the Portuguese who occupied the zone of Rio at that time, celebrated and called it ‘Entrudo’. It was a violent practice by the poor classes which involved throwing water, flour, eggs and mud at unsuspecting people on the street, often resulting in fights. This tradition is still persevered in certain parts of Brazil and South America.

The festival gradually evolved as a form of imitation from Paris by holding balls and masquerade parties. It mimicked the European style, later absorbing elements form Native American and African cultures.

Samba music and dance which is a mix of Angolan, European and Cuban art is the life of the Carnival. It was a result of black Brazilians who after the abolition of slavery settled in slums and their art became a part in of the festival only later.

Today, Samba schools composed of thousands of people including dancers; professional or amateurs, commoners or celebrities prepare relentlessly throughout the year and proudly showcase their talents and handmade costumes inspired by social and political themes during parades. Along with criticizing and praising the Brazilian reality while celebrating, these associations do their bit by involving in programs that aid in education and healthcare services in various poverty stricken areas.

The crux of action takes place in Sambadrome a well-designed stadium that can accommodates 90,000 spectators and more than 30,000 participants where over 100 block parades participate. . A keen panel of 40 judges gives points the samba schools on the pretext to costumes, percussions, songs, flag and theme as they move along the route. The winner of is announced on Ash Wednesday, the next day. As the well-orchestrated parade moves along the strip, the crowd on the stands goes insane in the union of song, dance and art making it a giant electrifying party. This is all done within the constraints of a strong security system and provided toilet facilities.

Skimpy outfits worn by women also increase the intensity of the Carnival. While onlookers (mainly women) say it is not family-friendly, they take pride in their beaded, spangled and feathered attire and blame the heat and liberality of Brazil for their minimalistic clothing. However do not make the mistake of regarding Brazilian women as easy. Foreigners are mostly shunned negatively due to problems of sexual tourism in the past.

Besides having unprecedented tourists flocking the country which aids in economic development, there is also a high alcohol consumption rate and a great opportunity for the government to launch AID awareness campaigns. Last year, 600 thousand condoms were distributed. 

Palak Singh

3753

ESCAPING THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY

The debt crises and rising inflation caused Brazil to be conspicuous of its growth in the 1980s. This led to unevenness after the poverty stricken decades of 1960s and 1970s. The country witnessed no rapid growth or reduction in poverty until the 1990s. Alteration in measures of income distribution, decentralized local decision making process and transfer the resources directly to poor rural communities resulted in Brazil’s economic development and status to improve. However, economic inequality was on a rise.

On the bright side, today Brazil’s level of economic inequality is dropping at a steady rate, better than most other countries. Research shows that between 2003 and 2009, the income of poor people has grown seven times and poverty rates have noticeably fallen.

As an effect of inequality one can see a world of contrast between the wealthy and poor in most regions of Brazil especially in cities such a Sao Paulo and Rio de Jeneiro. High rise luxury apartments are tucked away and guarded with barbed wire right opposite illegal crowded slums/favelas that are encroached on hills.

With the roots of social economic and cultural inequality in Brazil, it knows how to progress form it. The government and society are active players in doing so by creating mechanisms such as social participation and control, development programs and projects toward encouraging change in the sectors of education, health income distribution and employment.

However, the government social programs do not always reach the poorest communities in rural areas that are scattered all around geographically especially in the North-East region (a vast semi-arid area.) They are often neglected and left to the mercy of weather and crop failure. It results in, overall low human development, continued poverty and no or little access to basic services such as water, education, electricity and health care.

In an attempt to mitigate these social and economic problems, the then President Lula da Silva reinforced “Bolsa Familia” in 2003, an anti-poverty program which is aimed at hunger-eradication and gives money directly to impoverished families if they keep their children in school, go for regular medical checkups and attend nutrition and disease prevention workshops. This concluded in an impressive 40 million Brazilians to step out of poverty and join the middle class, along with economic growth and increased the focus of the nation on poverty reduction.

A part of this program also involves recognizing the poor and giving them jobs and social policies. This action has not only improved the health and lifestyle of people but also brought them new found dignity and self-esteem.

Brazil is in a continuing path to improvement. Pioneering in deep water oil research and ethanol production has led to human development and economic boom even if it’s dizzy. With the nation being host to the 2014 World Cup and Olympic Games in 2016, it is getting prepared to put on a brave and clean front and in the process, abolish poverty. There couldn’t be a better time for the world to be awed by the beauty and culture of Brazil rather than  its drawbacks. 


Palak Singh 
3753

FATAL ADDICTION

The dizzy economy of Brazil has resulted in creating a large gap between the wealthy and the destitute (stands second in world ranking). A huge amount of poor population living in slums/favelas dodge incidents of violence including crimes, muggings, armed robbery and sexual assault on a daily basis. The unplanned natures of these favelas that are encroached illegally on hills have a maze of pathways and narrow alleyways, making it easy for gangs to navigate and hide.

In major cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Salvador and Recife, criminal gangs reportedly rob and assault tourists, use unregistered taxis to abduct and force them to withdraw funds from ATMs. Naturally then, petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching is common in breaches and outdoor markets where thieves operate from. Human trafficking and slavery cases also have been reported.

But the most life-threatening crime can be traced down to the drug trade. Brazil is a heavy importer to illicit cocaine and plays a huge part of the international drug route. Locally produced arms and marijuana also make rounds in the drug circuit. Thousands of people who are involved in this trade are fatally shot due to their inability to pay back or simply die due to consumption.

The shantytowns are infamous for the local drug mafia. Started in early 1990s there are several gangs, each of who proclaim a certain area in the favelas, where they govern, rule, increase their network and practice their drug trade from. Apart from engaging in drug-dealing, these gangs also venture into illegal businesses such as distribution of bottled cooking gas, cable television service and transportation. They employ a number of youths, who find this the most viable option to earn a quick buck.

People residing those areas are controlled and restricted to their command. If the word of their atrocities spreads out in public, a typical punishment includes burning rubber tire around the person’s chest and arms. There is also much inter-gang violence in favelas which claim the lives of thousands of innocent people.

The government, in order eradicate this problem, introduced a policy where the Pacification Police Units (UPP) are installed in slums to take actions to modify the neighborhood. They carry out operations to remove gangs and take their occupied space. Whether they flee or hide somewhere is still unknown.

While some people feel that the police has invaded to cause fear, mistrust and hatred amongst each other and refuse to cooperate, others think it’s a great move to bring harmony and prevent the young form indulging in the drug trade. Police officers do their best to change their image of being brutal by being friendly and greeting locals warmly. They have reduced 80% of murders since their arrival in 2009. The favelas are now also open to tourists who come to witness the uneven structure with elaborate graffiti on walls depicting their rich culture.

Brazilian youth have the energy but lack the opportunity and vision which pushes them into drugs and working for criminal gangs as they think it's the most convenient option. The government, society as well as the media are working towards seizing the menace once and for all before the arrival of games season in Brazil in 2014. 

Palak Singh
3753

FUELED SWEET ENERGY

Brazil takes full pride in claiming that it is 100% electricity independent. The country has been making optimum use of its resources (high yield of sugarcane production) and has been using Ethanol fuel (fermented ethanol form sugarcane/corn biomass) in cars for over three decades making it the largest producer and exporter and also the third largest hydroelectricity producer of the world. A strong support from the government, along with continuous adoption of new technologies and cheap production cost has made it possible.

Ethanol became largely popular due to heavy subsidy rates but lost its reign to gasoline in the 1980s due to its price hike. New technologies with flexible fuel engines put Ethanol back on track in 2003 and by 2009, more than 88% of vehicles worked on “Flex” engines meant to be gasoline and ethanol. This gained worldwide recognition for alternative fuel as other countries such as US and Europe who are importers of Ethanol fuel form Brazil.

Although many areas of Brazil suffer from rampant poverty and staggering social inequality, advancements in alternative fuel technology came as a blessing of sorts for viable source of food security following the economic boom. There has been a rise in the economic sector as its output is 35% higher due to the focus on diverse energy production from sugarcane ethanol production to offshore oil extraction. This production also hampers job opportunities and employment in rural regions.

Ethanol produces close to one-third less energy than gasoline, which means less energy content ideally having a low rate. However, since it is used to replace gasoline and diesel the prices have increased. But this is a price one is willing to pay in order to save the environment from harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The rise of Biofuel in Brazil has also caused a fall in gas emissions by 600 million metric tons of carbon dioxide since 1975 contributing to saving the world from pollution and global warming.

Sugarcanes have been cultivated for more than 500 years now; making it the most efficient source of energy after oil. It is not only edible but also forms a renewable-energy source.  The Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil hamper the production of sugarcane due to its fertile land and favorable climatic conditions. Traditionally sugarcane fields are burnt to remove leaves, debris and pesticides for harvesting. This causes exploitation of the land which is a possible threat to nature.

The land has also been a subject to monoculture cropping. As the natural yield becomes less and less over the years, farmers use heavy pesticides to maintain the level of production but it further causes vast areas of land degradation and growth of crop pests and diseases. Cities such as Sao Paulo are devoted to sugarcane cash crop cultivation. It drove out and denied other food crops, which increased their price. 

Every scenario has its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand Brazil is making the most of its resources, providing employment and being eco-friendly and on the other hand unethical farming methods are screaming out equal environmental disaster.  To be able to maintain a balance with smart farming techniques can lead to better results. 

Palak Singh

3753

CHILDREN & WOMEN

STREET CHILDREN OF BRAZIL

One of the biggest social challenges faced by the Brazilian government and society today is the lack of education, housing, health care and nutrition for homeless children in Brazil.

Thousands of children are abandoned on the streets and left to fend for themselves, as parents are unable to provide for them financially. These starving children living in deplorable conditions resort to activities that exploit them on being coaxed by street sellers and other adults. Such as abuse/sell drugs, petty theft, commit crimes and prostitution to earn them quick money.

For shelter, these children aged between 5 to 18-years-old live in abandoned buildings, cardboard boxes, and parks or on the street itself. Most of them do not even live to see their eighteenth birthday, due to the atrocities they suffer in life. Drug taking, particularly sniffing glue is common and a cheaper alternative. This adversely affects their mental and physical stability and reduces their life-span.

With the highest number of people living with HIV and AIDS (estimated 660,000); poor families are unable to provide their children with enough attention. Parents that are murdered or die in death related cases also can’t pay heed to young ones they leave behind.

A staggering 200,000 to 8 million live off the street in Brazil and 609 in Sao Paulo alone. Police that regularly picks up street children for petty crimes have nowhere to take them but in jail, however after a period of time they are released and sent back to the same place. There are a few outreach programs that provide shelter, but are always full.

Known to be a nuisance to the society, they are shunned by politicians because they have no voting power or voice. Children that live with their parents have benefited with the policies introduced by the government that provides them free education and medical check-up. However those that stay on the streets are rejected and neglected.

ELEVATION OF WOMEN IN BRAZIL

There are more women than men in Brazil. Contributing factors for male deficiency is that men die at a younger age due to crime, motorcycle/car accidents and gang violence. Many men also have migrated to countries like Europe, Asia and America for better life opportunities. Brazil has become a land of women but sustaining the power to rise was an uphill battle.

Brazilian society was originally strongly patriarchal because of property transmission and religion. They put Roman Catholic values into effective practice where men were expected to demonstrate their masculinity by being the head of household and women were supposed to stay virgins before marriage and stay faithful to their husbands. Consensual unions, illegitimacy and prostitute still being a part of the society, people were not entirely acceptable but tolerant of such a lifestyle. Women achieved equal footing with men for all legal purposes under the constitution of 1988.

Female participation in labor force grew dramatically in the 1970s and 80s, resulting in new employment patterns and expansion in service and economic sectors. There were also several feminist movements which threw light on violence against women during this time which resulted in getting them specially dedicated for women police stations. From the 90s, focus shifted on reproductive health and rights along with increase of female participation in professions. They entered the formal and self-employed market with the increase of education. Status of women in Brazil is still going strong in various fronts such as sports, fashion, law, medicine, dentistry and engineering. Now, growing economy and rising prices have propelled women to aim higher.

Brazilians simply call her Dilma. Dilma Rousseff is the first female president of Brazil who was a onetime Marxist militant, technocrat, economist and is now the handpicked successor to the highly regarded Lula da Silva. In just 11 months since her entry in the presidential palace, she has emerged for his shadow to prove herself at the helm of the world’s seventh-largest economy at the time of global crisis. She has appointed women to high-profile positions like chief of staff, planning minister and minister if institutional relations, making them up to one third of her cabinet. This has injected a new tone in the presidential office and is influencing the country overall. 

Palak Singh

3753

MAXIMUM MEDIA

Brazilian democracy and economy has been stable for more than a decade and newspapers have also been given the advantage for prosperity and institutional stability. Although readership is still low, top four newspapers combined have a circulation of 1.4 million copies daily to an ever increasing audience. Even the broadcasting industry and Internet have been experiencing an astounding growth that started from the 1990s and early 2000s. The future of these emergent technologies in the country seems bright.

Freedom of the press has been somewhat restricted and in some cases completely abolished for certain important periods of Brazilian history. It was not until the end of World War II, that the country started to enjoy expansion of universities, literacy and newspapers. Mass media, especially newspapers and magazines did not provide the audience with authentic information from the transition of military rule to democratic rule in the late 1970s (A process known as abertura polictica.) However, after the restoration of democracy and civil liberties in 1980s and 1990s, newspapers and journalists played an instrumental role in voicing social and economic problems such as political corruption and poverty. It further took the role of a government watchdog seriously throughout the 1990s and into the twenty-first century ranking high in terms of public credibility surpassing even the government. 

The entire media of Brazil is controlled by six major companies with no limit on cross-ownership and reach. These handful corporations own and operate publishing houses, news agencies, as well as cable and satellite television companies. The government has recently introduced an educational channel which is socially relevant along with having many community media groups and productions. Even with the liberalization of internet laws, political parties are not allowed to use internet as a medium to gain public support.

In urban areas of Brazil, people utilize communication technologies to their optimum and in small towns it is still a ritual to gather and watch communal television together. This not only keeps them informed of latest development in national, regional, political and economic development, but it also contributes in boosting peoples’ participation and elevates education.

In big cities transportation companies and private institutions distribute free newspapers which are a huge factor in encouraging the habit of reading. Due to high level of illiteracy, the concentration of readers in more in the south part of readers as compared to those in the north. Distribution rates are high; those that are sold are available at baker shops along with a variety of other products and at newsagents which are small steel huts on pavements.  

Around 95% if Brazilian households are tuned to television, out of which only 10% pay for it. Broadcasting airwaves are public and a federal government agency grants licenses to media companies. Programs in language other than Portuguese are dubbed and not subtitled as oppose to imported films that are subtitled and not dubbed.  Television is by far the most reliable and dominant information source of the country, and nearly everyone watches only one channel, Globo. There are other networks such as SBT, TV Babderirantes, and TV Manchete along with hundreds of local and regional television stations.

With the country thriving in community arts and culture, community television has gained immense support from the government as well as NGOs that provide funds.  Such media programs establish an integral part of Brazil’s colorful and cultural landscape. Known as one of the greatest public investments in the community, there are dozens of groups teaching hip-hop, graffiti, circus skills, carnival-arts along with digital media to youths from favelas. Community media is an educational tool that focuses primarily on training rather than distribution of content, making it immensely popular and rewarding in the media circle.

Whenever a new technology arises, radio being the first communication vehicle has its days numbered. Webradio, which is a new concept, provides interaction and enriches visual aspect soon replacing the traditional one.

Telephone lines that were once preserved only for the elite, has shifted and reached 233 million mobile phone users in 2011. Buying a smart phone is however expensive and is equivalent to the average monthly income of the country.

Brazil has the highest rate of participation in social media with 23% of the entire country’s population, defeating America which has 11.9%. There are a total of 81.3 million internet users and increasing, out of which 31% use cyber cafes, 27% from home and the rest use their mobile phones for accessing it.

Twitter being the most powerful forum, has carved a niche for itself in Brazil. A country which is known for its vast gulf between the rich and poor has managed to cut through the class divide. What makes it so popular is the fact that it gives access to normal people to get directly in touch with their idols and favorite sport stars. Orkut, Facebook and LinkedIn are famous websites too. Brazilians embrace the social media phenomenon and newfound status as a budding global power.

Palak Singh

3753

ALIKE RISE: BRAZIL & INDIA

“Countries can have policies made, not just in self-interest, but in mutual interest. Emerging nations cannot sit and wait for beneficial concessions from the richer nations. Accords such as these should not substitute international relations with developed countries, but complement them”. These were the words of Lula da Silva (now ex-President of Brazil) after his arrival in Rashtapati Bhavan, New Delhi almost four years ago.

I couldn’t help but notice, while in the process of compiling this project, that Brazil and India have stark similarities. Let’s divulge in it more.

Both the countries fought for democracy, have parallel socio-political stratification and the geopolitical stature they share as pivotal states are also alike. Above all, about 50% of population is in the process of emerging. Even though their per capita income is higher than that of India’s, the later has projected to become the fourth largest economy by 2025 while Brazil doesn’t lag too much behind at the eighth position.

The two countries have analogous problems too; India has 70 million people suffering in poverty and Brazil has 50 million. When in power Lula reinforced the family grants program, Bolsa Familia (assistance package) which encouraged participation of citizens for development in healthcare and education. Indira Gandhi too initiated the Garibi Hatao (remove poverty campaign) in India.

They both also have hugely underdeveloped regions; the northern states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh in India and the nine northeastern states in Brazil. Emerging young and massive population between the age of 15 and 25 also makes them alike, with 54% in India and 47% in Brazil, making the future prospects bright.

Kerala, that is situated in the southern strip of the geography in India claims that it has more than one aspect to bond with Brazil, fascination with football being the foremost. Their everlasting love for soccer progresses with Brazilian footballers being a household name in Kerala, especially Pele’. Also, Kerala had the only national television channel that telecasted matches of Brazil in the World Cup of 1986.

It was from here that the Portuguese collected and introduced pepper, tapioca, pineapple to Brazil and brought rubber, one of the most important cash crops of Kerala to the state. They are also the major coffee producers and exporters of the world and host charismatic carnivals. High literacy rate, amalgamation of various ethnicities, cash crop cultivation and the obsession of football bind the two territories together.

Presence of various groups and races having a mixture of diverse cultures also make them alike not only in Kerala but in the whole of India. Not to forget, both the countries at the time being have a women President which indicates the rise of women in society over the years.

It is important that the two countries learn about each other’s struggle to rise above. Efficient democracy and trained manpower resources is the key. Including every single person in the path of growth is ideal; as both nations have mammoth population (180 million in Brazil and 1 billion in India) it is essential to turn the cons around positively. 


Palak Singh
3753