Immortalised by Kipling in 1901, at a time when Central Asia was seen by many strategists as the geopolitical centre of the world, now, in the early part of another century, 'The Great Game' is on again.

The first "Great Game" between Tsarist Russia and Britain was never cricket. It was a battle of wits and wills, and often a deadly one. For much of the 19^th century, these two powers fought a secret war across Central Asia, vying for the allegiance of powerful khans. Russia was expanding its empire and Britain was determined to protect the jewel in its colonial crown - India. Espionage came into its own at this time, and every imaginable disguise was put to use, whether that of a mendicant monk or camel trader.

The British writer, Rudyard Kipling, immortalised the term "Great Game" in his novel Kim in 1901, at a time when Central Asia was seen by many strategists as the geopolitical centre of the world.

Now, in the early part of another century, the battle's on again. But this time it's not so much for control of territory as it is for access to the region's rich reserves of oil and gas, as well as to its abundance of minerals. Also tantalising are its markets and huge reserves of petro-dollars, which more and more are being pumped into infrastructure projects as large numbers of people move into urban areas and demand electricity, water, transportation and telecommunications.

The axis that runs through the region extends from Shanghai to Istanbul, and for much of its length follows the route of the ancient Silk Road. Nowadays it is increasingly crisscrossed by pipelines and railways, for which reason some call it the "Iron Silk Road". The Stans - once part of the underbelly of the old Soviet Union - straddle this corridor, with a resurgent Russia across the top, China at one end and India below.

Symbolic of the new dialogue in the region is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that was set up in 2001 by Russia and China, with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan as members. India, Iran, Pakistan and Mongolia have observer status. Originally a loose security alliance, it now covers energy, nuclear power, the fight against organised crime and terrorism, plus health and education.

This is an excerpt from an article 'Earthly Matters' by Rina Saeed Khan in The Review Dawn Aug 28-Sept 3 2008. the-review@dawn.com and http://dawn.com .........this goes to show the before and after effect of changes which alter the looks of a once favorite spot. I can fully empathise with the feelings expressed by the writer.

(Also read, I suggest "Salute to the worker, who works for the "Green" cause". In foggy’ s blog, in openforum.com.au ....of 21/05/2008. Key words: favorite spot. Thank you).

Excerpt:

By Dr Nicholas Gruen 

Those with an unusual surname have to get used to spelling it.  No it's not Gluner.  Not Glueball or Grewbie it's Gruen "G-R-U-E-N".  The compensation is,  your name identifies you or a family member pretty clearly.

How many people since the planet Earth was created must have had their favorite spots? Favorite spots of children are the ones remembered the best. When you see the map of the world you can be sure, that there are many such places of unpolluted beauty, far away from populated centres, which maybe the favorite spots of people living there. When one comes close to thinking of cities and their surroundings the chance of having a clean, clear, place of natural beauty becomes slim. Maybe 50 or 100 years back, here might have been such favorite spots. But now the count is diminishing. How many of the world's total populace of billions have had their favorite spots? How many of them cared they had? Yet how many swallowed their pride, curbed their anger, blinked away their tears, kept silent, did not know how to speak about their favorite spot which was also their secret place... when they found this secret place was there no more!! Lost to rapid modern construction and development work more often than not unplanned and indiscriminate. Or succumbed to a wave of pollution, toxic seepage from intervening industrial influences, overtaking the scenic beauty including your Favorite Spot?!

How many parents, taking their children back to their hometowns on a visit, hometowns from where they had migrated long time ago; made plans, almost having the sanctity of a pilgrimage to their favorite spots of their childhood days? How many stories they had told their offspring about this place, and how many times were the same stories told? And after building up the excitement in their little children's heads, they reached the place where their favorite haunt was-to find-it is not, anymore. It is just Not there... Not even a bit, not even a tail-end. It must be on the other side, hidden behind that structure! No it is not! Or maybe their favorite spot is now, eaten up by pollutants and toxic waste, its not just an eyeful of a sad degraded waste, pool of dirt, sludge and slime, or burnt out vegetation. Flowers have left for some eternal abode. No birds, no plump, furry animals , cute with sounds of peace and chirrups melting like music in your ears. No that is not enough, the nose wants to be a party to the protest. The place just stinks. Repel. Disgust. In the olden days, when people returned to the places they had left several years ago, the places were still there. The scenes of life being painted and repeated, with humans, birds, animals and flowers, like a classic painting by the old masters. Or for the children like a Disney film animation, when pages of opening books follow a brush moving into scenes of Disney's wonderland.