Pooh-Poohing Islam 
India Se|September 2017

The curious partnership between Communist China and the Islamic State of pakistan.

Ashali Varma
Pooh-Poohing Islam 

The world may see Xi Jinping as the inscrutable supreme leader of China very much in control of the power structure but he is scared. We now know that he is even scared of the cartoon Winnie the Pooh, as it has been banned in China. The fat, cuddly bear he thinks looks too much like him! He just could not deal with the fun the Chinese bloggers were having comparing a cartoon character with him. According to BBC News, this ban is part of a struggle to restrict clever bloggers from getting around their country’s censorship.

When Xi Jinping and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe endured one of the more awkward handshakes in history netizens responded with Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore shaking hands.

But apart from internet policing, there is a stricture that no one in the communist party can have anything to do with: religion. This was especially painful for my Chinese friend in Thailand, who came to me when her father was dying of cancer to ask whether I could advise him on spiritualism. As a child of diehard communists, she did not know anything about religion.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM INDIA SEView all
Framed With Love
India Se

Framed With Love

Angie mui has achieved phenomenal success and celebrity status as a framer par excellence. her personalised attention to each job makes her stand out from the rest.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2017
Preparing For Annual Energy Changes
India Se

Preparing For Annual Energy Changes

The ancient Indian science of vaastu and feng shui both recommend spring-cleaning of homes to ensure a proper flow of energy beneficial to the residents

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2017
Dynasties Kill Democracy
India Se

Dynasties Kill Democracy

India is not a family’s private property.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2017
The Great Cover-Up
India Se

The Great Cover-Up

Film star in a backless dress causes greater outrage than the death of a Christian schoolboy at the hands of muslim classmates

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2017
Big Bose
India Se

Big Bose

What did Jawaharlal Nehru fear when he continued IB snooping?

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2017
Shiva In Umerkot
India Se

Shiva In Umerkot

An ancient Shiv temple has the pride of place in Umerkot, birthplace of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, in thar desert, Pakistan (continued from the previous issue)

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2017
Family Drama In Singapore
India Se

Family Drama In Singapore

Award-winning director Shilpa Krishnan Shukla’s latest feature film was shot entirely in Singapore.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2017
Movie & Myth
India Se

Movie & Myth

Meet Anup Singh, the man behind Qissa and now The Song of the Scorpions.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2017
For Good Neighbours
India Se

For Good Neighbours

How feng shui can help you have good relations with your neighbours.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2017
Silver lining For your portfolio
India Se

Silver lining For your portfolio

Silverdale bond Fund has delivered over 10 per cent a year when you can hardly get 2 per cent from a Singapore bank. How? Sanjay Guglani (cIO) and Aseem Arora (President) explain

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2017