I've been reflecting on the recent news regarding Nepal's new Rs 100 notes featuring Indian territories, which has predictably revived the 2020 border row. This incident, as reported by the Times of India, makes me think about the very nature of currency and the information it carries — whether explicit or implicit.
Years ago, I explored the idea of currency notes themselves becoming data carriers. In my blog, "Privacy does not live here!", I posited a future where "Currency Notes made of flexible / conducting Plastic, capable of capturing the finger-prints of every person who handles it and then relaying that info to Income Tax department." While that specific thought was about individual privacy and data, the underlying principle is similar: currency isn't just a medium of exchange; it's a canvas, a statement.
The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge, and I had even proposed a solution at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
When a nation prints a map on its currency, it's a powerful declaration of its perceived territorial sovereignty. This isn't just about money; it's about identity, history, and geopolitical claims. It reminds me of the broader challenges Eric Schmidt (eschmidt@relativityspace.com) and Jared Cohen (jared.cohen@gs.com) discussed in their 2013 book, "The New Digital Age," as I referenced in my blog, "Supreme may Propose: Technology will Dispose". They pointed out that it would be "IMPOSSIBLE to control what others capture and share." While they were primarily speaking of digital information and its pervasive nature, this physical act of printing a disputed map on national currency is a deliberate act of 'sharing' a perspective that immediately enters the public realm and, as we observe, invites intense scrutiny and dispute.
We live in an age where every piece of information, whether on a physical banknote or transmitted digitally, carries immense weight and can spark immediate reactions across borders. The dispute over Nepal's new notes highlights how even traditional mediums like currency are deeply intertwined with complex geopolitical narratives. It's a testament to how profoundly a simple image can resonate and reignite long-standing issues. The digital age, with its instant global communication, only amplifies these declarations. A map on a note, once seen by a few, now instantly becomes news across continents, intensifying discussions and demanding careful diplomatic navigation. This makes me wonder if, in the pursuit of clear national identity, we sometimes overlook the potential for such overt displays to inadvertently complicate international relations. It is a persistent reminder that the "information" we put out, whether on a high-tech platform or a humble banknote, carries the potential for both connection and contention.
Regards, Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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