If i would have been a movie director i would have been tempted to make a movie about this.
An Italian fugitive, a Queen and a God-mother who rescues the fugitive from the laws of a nation of one billion dodos. What a deliciously attractive plot !
Quotrochi was let off in 1993 by the government of India and allowed to leave the country. In 2005, when the same government came back to power, his account worth 23 crores (coming from Indian tax payers like me and you) was defreezed on the orders of Indian government and within couple of days the entire amount was transferred to Quotrochi's italian account.
Neat.
(Wonder which government would do that ?)
And here's the best part. The Queen remains unaffected. Her "popularity" remains intact. Infact people actually love her. Her party man actually fall over one another to lick their "Godmother's" feet. (I would have liked to use a different word instead of feet here) And the media is uncharacteristically mum. Infact one of them, what's its name, oh right NDTV, gives the "Queen" its "Indian of the year" award.
One wonders how apt that song from one of Govinda's movies- "It happens only in India", is.
We may have "freed" ourselves from the British raj. But guess what, we still are slaves to a mentality. A mentality which says - the Dynasty can do no wrong. A nation of one billion dodos is taken for a royal ride by the Queen, all along portraying herself as a political victim and a widow who is so great that she "sacrificed" and "renounced" the Prime Minister's seat because she apparently heard her "inner voice" - whatever that means.
I am sure Congress will win next elections with a thumping majority. The scion of Gandhis and the prince-in-the-waiting will take over his "rightful" chair as the PM of this unfortunate nation where it's people actually love the nation's biggest culprits. And the Queen will rule again - this time not through her puppet but through her own blood, her own son. And then many more Quotrochis and many more Volckers later the Indian people will wake up. !!!
No just kidding. We will never wake up. We will never have our own French revolution against a shrewed Queen- thats just a mirage.
Which by the way reminds me. This movie will never have a hero. The slaves will continue to remain so...
Amen !
Refer the articles - The Family Does no wrong and Q marks dent the halo around a ‘renunciant’
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
While you were sleeping
While the nation was sleeping and waking up only to criticise Gujarat and it's CM again and again, slowly a miracle was unfolding in Kutch. Another of the innumerable success stories of Gujarat which have been (intentionally) kept away from Indian public.
For the politically correct media nothing positive about Gujarat/Modi should be reported. Else they will face the wrath of their secular masters in Dehli,Calcutta and may be even China, who knows ?
For the politically correct media nothing positive about Gujarat/Modi should be reported. Else they will face the wrath of their secular masters in Dehli,Calcutta and may be even China, who knows ?
Signs of danger
This is not a good sign. Hamas has won a landslide victory in Palestine elections
Since we are staying in a closely interactive global village so to say, such events, however irrelevant and distant from us they may seem will some day indirectly affect us. A hard-code jehadi group forming a government in Palestine is a clear sign of danger for India which offically acknowledges Palestine as a free nation. Now India will have to deal with Hamas at an official level. Its like dealing with Taliban at an official level. Doesn't make sense, does it ?
Anyways our current government is bending backwards to keep the muslim population in good humour, often forgetting the national interest in its pursuit for naked vote-bank politics. Now with Hamas/Musharraf et al in power and more aggressive alien leadership to deal with for our soft leaders, it will further complicate domestic policies.
Off course the Leftists will be quite happy today as they relate to the Hamas doctrine of killing and terrorism very well. With their jehadi brothers in power leftist will see this as a "sign of victory over imperialism".
Since we are staying in a closely interactive global village so to say, such events, however irrelevant and distant from us they may seem will some day indirectly affect us. A hard-code jehadi group forming a government in Palestine is a clear sign of danger for India which offically acknowledges Palestine as a free nation. Now India will have to deal with Hamas at an official level. Its like dealing with Taliban at an official level. Doesn't make sense, does it ?
Anyways our current government is bending backwards to keep the muslim population in good humour, often forgetting the national interest in its pursuit for naked vote-bank politics. Now with Hamas/Musharraf et al in power and more aggressive alien leadership to deal with for our soft leaders, it will further complicate domestic policies.
Off course the Leftists will be quite happy today as they relate to the Hamas doctrine of killing and terrorism very well. With their jehadi brothers in power leftist will see this as a "sign of victory over imperialism".
UPA's Extended Honeymoon
Recent surveys/polls carried out by some Indian media houses give Congress/UPA an edge. Apparently if elections were to be held tomorrow, Sonia will lead Congress to "another victory".
Now i am not surprised by this finding. And here's why.
1] Positive media spin : The Congress government and specially Sonia has still been able to maintain that (media created) halo of hers. Volcker/Bihar/Quotrochi et al has not affected her image much, thanks largely to the shielding provided to her by Times of India/The Hindu etc. Come to think of it, the combined readership of Times of India, Hindustan Times,The Hindu, Outlook, Asian Age,Malaya Manorama, NDTV all of whom are avowedly Sonia fans, have provided her the much needed protection from accountibility. She has been smart enough to keep mum on all of these issues as she was never probed by these houses and thus effectively cutting any chance of meaningful debate in national discourse.
2]Apathetic Youth : The BJP is loosing ground amongst the young urban of the nation. And this is clear from the general apathy I see amongst today's generation towards anything that relates to Nationalism. We are too swayed and busy with the success of BPO and IT. Apart from that, that the BJP has arguably the poorest marketing skills, is not helping. With 65% of electorate expected to be less than 30 years of age in next elections, it is going to be a cake walk for Rahul Gandhi in next elections. BJP has no answer to his (again media created) charishma. Something that is so important for the (shallow) voters of this nation.
So lets just say that next general elections Congress will come back to power and the half-educated-prince-of-the-worlds-most-pathetic-dynasty will take over his "rightful" place as an Indian PM which the current one is keeping warm for him.
India will again be officially handed over to the Gandhis. We lesser mortals, who are forever enslaved in our mental thoughts as the subject of high and mighty will bow down to the power of dynasty. Monarchy will prevail back over Democracy which did have, in all fairness, a chance to survive a few years under NDA. The Czars of this nation led by "young Gandhi" will take their "rightful" places and decide our fate for the next decade.
Now i am not surprised by this finding. And here's why.
1] Positive media spin : The Congress government and specially Sonia has still been able to maintain that (media created) halo of hers. Volcker/Bihar/Quotrochi et al has not affected her image much, thanks largely to the shielding provided to her by Times of India/The Hindu etc. Come to think of it, the combined readership of Times of India, Hindustan Times,The Hindu, Outlook, Asian Age,Malaya Manorama, NDTV all of whom are avowedly Sonia fans, have provided her the much needed protection from accountibility. She has been smart enough to keep mum on all of these issues as she was never probed by these houses and thus effectively cutting any chance of meaningful debate in national discourse.
2]Apathetic Youth : The BJP is loosing ground amongst the young urban of the nation. And this is clear from the general apathy I see amongst today's generation towards anything that relates to Nationalism. We are too swayed and busy with the success of BPO and IT. Apart from that, that the BJP has arguably the poorest marketing skills, is not helping. With 65% of electorate expected to be less than 30 years of age in next elections, it is going to be a cake walk for Rahul Gandhi in next elections. BJP has no answer to his (again media created) charishma. Something that is so important for the (shallow) voters of this nation.
So lets just say that next general elections Congress will come back to power and the half-educated-prince-of-the-worlds-most-pathetic-dynasty will take over his "rightful" place as an Indian PM which the current one is keeping warm for him.
India will again be officially handed over to the Gandhis. We lesser mortals, who are forever enslaved in our mental thoughts as the subject of high and mighty will bow down to the power of dynasty. Monarchy will prevail back over Democracy which did have, in all fairness, a chance to survive a few years under NDA. The Czars of this nation led by "young Gandhi" will take their "rightful" places and decide our fate for the next decade.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Google's googly
While Google is fighting the Bush administraion against giving it more freedom for searching and peak into the google database, it has surprisingly conceded to Chinese government's demand and has agreed to censor its results in China, adhering to the country's free-speech restrictions in return for better access in the Internet's fastest growing market.
Difficult to fathom what can lead someone to oppose its own nation and bow at an alien entity for some cheap rewards. May be we should probe the Communists back home. We might get the right answers !
Difficult to fathom what can lead someone to oppose its own nation and bow at an alien entity for some cheap rewards. May be we should probe the Communists back home. We might get the right answers !
Yankees suck at saving
Americans are the world's worst savers says CNN headline.
Having stayed in this country for sometime now, I can vouch for that personally. There are so many avenues , some might say tempting avenues, to spend that its hard not to go that way. Apart from that, Americans are undoubtedly the world's best sales-people. Me and my wife in past three years have brought so many things that we had no compelling reason to buy. We just got sucked into that.
But isn't that precisely the reason why Americans have such a huge economy ? The money is always circulating and not stagnant eternally in banks of a few (unproductive) individuals. It keeps changing hands and spirals into growth.
I know of individuals in India and some in my own family who have accumulated millions in wealth just by SAVING and SAVING. To a large extent they compromised with "materialistic pleasures" and kept themselves happy looking at their bank accounts.
I am surely here not making a case for abusive, exhorbitant spending. Just pointing out to some facts about my own family.
Americans have enjoyed success largely because of this attitude amongst its citizen, that of letting money roll in the economy. And the best part is bankruptcy is not a social taboo here. As some might say even Enron can go bankrupt.
The interest rates are so low that nobody bothers to keep money in banks if ever that was the motivation. People would rather buy stuff and repay in installments. And even the installments now come at 0%; while some even go for deffered payments as far as by three years.
Wonder why Americans shell out so much than ?
Having stayed in this country for sometime now, I can vouch for that personally. There are so many avenues , some might say tempting avenues, to spend that its hard not to go that way. Apart from that, Americans are undoubtedly the world's best sales-people. Me and my wife in past three years have brought so many things that we had no compelling reason to buy. We just got sucked into that.
But isn't that precisely the reason why Americans have such a huge economy ? The money is always circulating and not stagnant eternally in banks of a few (unproductive) individuals. It keeps changing hands and spirals into growth.
I know of individuals in India and some in my own family who have accumulated millions in wealth just by SAVING and SAVING. To a large extent they compromised with "materialistic pleasures" and kept themselves happy looking at their bank accounts.
I am surely here not making a case for abusive, exhorbitant spending. Just pointing out to some facts about my own family.
Americans have enjoyed success largely because of this attitude amongst its citizen, that of letting money roll in the economy. And the best part is bankruptcy is not a social taboo here. As some might say even Enron can go bankrupt.
The interest rates are so low that nobody bothers to keep money in banks if ever that was the motivation. People would rather buy stuff and repay in installments. And even the installments now come at 0%; while some even go for deffered payments as far as by three years.
Wonder why Americans shell out so much than ?
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Stinging Rebuke
Sandipan Deb is a self-proclaimed Leftist and hence would qualify as a friend of the Congress under the present circumstances. But even he could not take what's going on in Congress Plenary in full public view. The absolute and perverse show of sycophancy by Congressmen, young and old, experienced and new, falling all over each other to touch (metaphor) the feets of (their Highness) Rahul and Sonia can almost lead one to, as Deb says, PUKE.
Link Courtesy : Indian Express
Congress leaders and Cabinet ministers were in competition on how much praise could be showered on the Gandhis before they puked. (I am assuming that this collective Uriah Heeping induces some nausea in the bellies of the Gandhis. I sincerely hope it does.)
We saw the same cravenness two years ago when, after the UPA won the elections, hundreds of Congress politicians queued up to implore Sonia Gandhi to be prime minister. This disgusting spectacle of grown men and women — and many of them quite well-educated — debasing themselves shamelessly would have made any decent man’s skin crawl. I remember wondering, as I watched MP after MP jumping through hoops to prove their devotion to Mrs Gandhi, what Manmohan Singh, sitting next to her, was thinking. Because with every ringing eulogy to Mrs Gandhi, every promise that they would slit their wrists right then if she did not agree to be prime minister, they were also insulting and rejecting Dr Singh. Mrs Gandhi was, as usual, inscrutable, but the primary emotion any person with any sensitivity at all would have felt in her situation is contempt for these toadies.
Such a stinging rebuke even if it comes from a Left winger is always welcome.
Link Courtesy : Indian Express
Congress leaders and Cabinet ministers were in competition on how much praise could be showered on the Gandhis before they puked. (I am assuming that this collective Uriah Heeping induces some nausea in the bellies of the Gandhis. I sincerely hope it does.)
We saw the same cravenness two years ago when, after the UPA won the elections, hundreds of Congress politicians queued up to implore Sonia Gandhi to be prime minister. This disgusting spectacle of grown men and women — and many of them quite well-educated — debasing themselves shamelessly would have made any decent man’s skin crawl. I remember wondering, as I watched MP after MP jumping through hoops to prove their devotion to Mrs Gandhi, what Manmohan Singh, sitting next to her, was thinking. Because with every ringing eulogy to Mrs Gandhi, every promise that they would slit their wrists right then if she did not agree to be prime minister, they were also insulting and rejecting Dr Singh. Mrs Gandhi was, as usual, inscrutable, but the primary emotion any person with any sensitivity at all would have felt in her situation is contempt for these toadies.
Such a stinging rebuke even if it comes from a Left winger is always welcome.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
A Consortium of Otiose
Congress planery session currently in Hyderbad is nothing short of futile excercise of packaging the hopeless. Brand Gandhi is on display and Rahul-baba is being portrayed as the saviour of our Nation..(Give me a break !). While Mamaa Gandhi channelizes her herds to new levels of sycophancy,Rahul Baba is busy polishing his image in presence of shallow media men who like bunch of idiots keep pasting his portrait in our newspapers day in and day out. In the din the voice of our alleged PM is not even heard. Invisible he truely is. Can't think of time when the PM of our country was so irrelevant. Even the sleepy Gowda commanded greater respect than this PM.
In the meantime the Congress session has come up with announcements that will blow you off.
1] It says that it will go against the SC judgement and bring minority status back to AMU.
2] It says it will not privatise the Navrathnas (PSUs)
3] It says that to keep BJP away from power it will go to any lengths.
Great ideas aren't they? I mean what more can a nation ask for. With all the above pronouncements all the ills facing the nation will be gone forever, isn't it?
Hail this country and its people who elected these bunch of morons to rule us.
And in the meantime if you want to witness some mind-numbing action and have a laugh, visit Hyderabad. You won't be dissappointed.
In the meantime the Congress session has come up with announcements that will blow you off.
1] It says that it will go against the SC judgement and bring minority status back to AMU.
2] It says it will not privatise the Navrathnas (PSUs)
3] It says that to keep BJP away from power it will go to any lengths.
Great ideas aren't they? I mean what more can a nation ask for. With all the above pronouncements all the ills facing the nation will be gone forever, isn't it?
Hail this country and its people who elected these bunch of morons to rule us.
And in the meantime if you want to witness some mind-numbing action and have a laugh, visit Hyderabad. You won't be dissappointed.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Hopelessly Inadequate
I read with great interest this column by Chandan Mitra of DailyPioneer - Editorial
This link may not work as Pioneer is notoriously careless on web pages management.
There are some startling facts reported in this column by Mr.Mitra and one wonders how hoplessly inadequate we as a democracy are to deal with this. For example it seems to be a common knowledge that West Bengal has more ration cards than the actual population! And check this out- Mitra claims that our “honourable” Speaker’s constituency had 93% voting in last lok sabha elections.
Just the idea of a handful of communists, who have won elections over and over again by stifling every norms of Democracy and who have been for so many years keeping the entire nation hostage to their whims, is so suffocating.
Makes me wonder if ever we needed Dictatorship more?
This link may not work as Pioneer is notoriously careless on web pages management.
There are some startling facts reported in this column by Mr.Mitra and one wonders how hoplessly inadequate we as a democracy are to deal with this. For example it seems to be a common knowledge that West Bengal has more ration cards than the actual population! And check this out- Mitra claims that our “honourable” Speaker’s constituency had 93% voting in last lok sabha elections.
Just the idea of a handful of communists, who have won elections over and over again by stifling every norms of Democracy and who have been for so many years keeping the entire nation hostage to their whims, is so suffocating.
Makes me wonder if ever we needed Dictatorship more?
Thursday, January 19, 2006
'We and They' revisited
In one of my earlier posts -We and They-, i mentioned how "we" - as in conservative nationalists- have become the "they" of the nation. In yet another example of how deeply the hatred for the nationalists is entrenched in the Communist's doctrine, take a look at this article on rediff
The author, allegedly an expert on comparative politics and political theory, who teaches at Jawaharlal Nehru University (where else can all this crap come from ?), gives us a glimpse of the tons of hatred the commnuists carry for "us".
Look at statements like - "But the Congress and Left know they have to work together, against their common and powerful enemy, the BJP-led NDA." or "Left has always considered the BJP a fascist force,"
The professor tries to put up a facade of articulate analysis and objectivity initially, but looses it towards the end and shows his true (RED) colours.
But Communists have always hated what is good for India and so their hate for BJP-which gave us the most development pro government till date - is of little surprise.
The author, allegedly an expert on comparative politics and political theory, who teaches at Jawaharlal Nehru University (where else can all this crap come from ?), gives us a glimpse of the tons of hatred the commnuists carry for "us".
Look at statements like - "But the Congress and Left know they have to work together, against their common and powerful enemy, the BJP-led NDA." or "Left has always considered the BJP a fascist force,"
The professor tries to put up a facade of articulate analysis and objectivity initially, but looses it towards the end and shows his true (RED) colours.
But Communists have always hated what is good for India and so their hate for BJP-which gave us the most development pro government till date - is of little surprise.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Ridiculous
A royal salute to the highest level of perverse sycophancy. An Emir dies in Kuwait and India declares a day of state mourning. Oh wait a second, didn't we have a state mourning for Yasser Arafat as well ? Ya, the best known international terrorist ?
And believe it or not, The Hindu, the leader of the "secular" gang puts this news item right on the front page.
Ridiculous or what? Next, they will have a state mourning for Dawood and Salem.
Crapy stuff this.
And believe it or not, The Hindu, the leader of the "secular" gang puts this news item right on the front page.
Ridiculous or what? Next, they will have a state mourning for Dawood and Salem.
Crapy stuff this.
Balochistan
The foot is squarely on the other one this time. Pakistanis are facing a similar situation like we are in Kashmir. The Balochs are demanding freedom from the shackles of Punjabi controlled Pakistani regime.
Worse. Pakistan is doing the same (bloody) mistake it did in 1971. It tried to crush the rebellion in what used to be East Pakistan with utmost ruthlessness; thus losing in the process any moral bearing it could have encashed. Though it is too early in the game today, it might not be entirely misplaced to say, Baloch is going Bangladesh way.
Pakistan surely has not learnt its lessons well. Talk of dog's tail.
Pakistan and Musharraf may be putting up a brave face, but they know too well that the situation may not be entirely under control. The danger for India is that ISI and Musharraf may try to do something funny in desperation to divert the focus from Balochistan's problem. And the best way to divert attention from domestic problem is to create problem elsewhere. Sadly that elsewhere happens to be India. In the days to come Pakistan will up its terrorist activities in India just so that the media attention remains away from its excesses in Balochistan.
In the meantime the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army), a pool of young Balochs, is giving a hard time to the Pakistani Army. What more the struggle has got a well rounded shape with women and children joining it. It is being said that they are using M.K Gandhi's weapon of non-co-operation. We all know how hopelessly ineffective that weapon is. But what the heck, they are standing up against a ruthless dictator.
BLA off course faces an uphill task and they may not achieve anything substantial. But by bringing this rebellion out in open they have done some service to world politics.
India would do good not to burn its fingers by doing anything fancy, but may be use the same WE-WILL-GIVE-THEM-MORAL-SUPPORT-CRAP to Pakistanis and return with thanks what they have given us all along.
India can do one more thing. As B.Raman says in his article. It can embarrass the dictator's regime by asking them to involve the Baloch's in the tripartite (India, Iran and Pakistan) exploratory talks on the gas pipeline from Iran. This could really make that General red in face.
But that would be expecting too much from our Government, wouldn't it?
Worse. Pakistan is doing the same (bloody) mistake it did in 1971. It tried to crush the rebellion in what used to be East Pakistan with utmost ruthlessness; thus losing in the process any moral bearing it could have encashed. Though it is too early in the game today, it might not be entirely misplaced to say, Baloch is going Bangladesh way.
Pakistan surely has not learnt its lessons well. Talk of dog's tail.
Pakistan and Musharraf may be putting up a brave face, but they know too well that the situation may not be entirely under control. The danger for India is that ISI and Musharraf may try to do something funny in desperation to divert the focus from Balochistan's problem. And the best way to divert attention from domestic problem is to create problem elsewhere. Sadly that elsewhere happens to be India. In the days to come Pakistan will up its terrorist activities in India just so that the media attention remains away from its excesses in Balochistan.
In the meantime the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army), a pool of young Balochs, is giving a hard time to the Pakistani Army. What more the struggle has got a well rounded shape with women and children joining it. It is being said that they are using M.K Gandhi's weapon of non-co-operation. We all know how hopelessly ineffective that weapon is. But what the heck, they are standing up against a ruthless dictator.
BLA off course faces an uphill task and they may not achieve anything substantial. But by bringing this rebellion out in open they have done some service to world politics.
India would do good not to burn its fingers by doing anything fancy, but may be use the same WE-WILL-GIVE-THEM-MORAL-SUPPORT-CRAP to Pakistanis and return with thanks what they have given us all along.
India can do one more thing. As B.Raman says in his article. It can embarrass the dictator's regime by asking them to involve the Baloch's in the tripartite (India, Iran and Pakistan) exploratory talks on the gas pipeline from Iran. This could really make that General red in face.
But that would be expecting too much from our Government, wouldn't it?
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Siachen
The word "Nationalism" has a diminishing value today. Don't know why but somehow nationalism gets attached with "Hinduism" and than "communalism" and all this gets convulated. But beyond all these political terms are people who wear the badge of nationalism with pride.The real people. Our jawans. The real and probably the only heroes still remaining in the country after 50 years of independence.
Today loving your country is no more fashionable. Debunking your culture is; thanks to NDTV and TOI.
Beyond the world of ipods and gadgets and malls and latest reality shows and amar singh's phone tapping and rahul gandhi's latest girlfriend is a different world. Its called Siachen. The world's highest battle ground. A world beyond the purview of Times of India or NDTV or any of those "progressive,secular,trendy,modern" news presenters. Beyond IT and BPO. Beyond Ganguli and Pawar. Beyond Bush and Iraq.
A world where our soldiers brave artic conditions just so that they can fulfill an unwritten , non-verbal commitment they gave to our mother land. A commitment to keep her immune from the danger of predators from North West. When our celebrities and showbiz guys talk of cricketing ties with Pakistan, of Gazhals and biryani, of the Punjabiyat and all that, these young lads, some sons and brothers, some husbands and fathers, some friends and relatives of someone back home are holding their grounds in sub-human conditions on peaks higher than Vinod Mehta or Kuldeep Nayar's imagination and braving all this just so that the one billion (mostly thankless) Indians on the ground can feel safe in their cozy comforts of their homes.
Holding on for us , what is a prestige issue between the two nations. While they are there on the top, atleast 20,000 feet above sea levels, they are cut off from everything's thats happening below. They do not even know whether half the country even cares about their effort. Forget care. Whether 80% of the nation even know if they are up there.
The word Siachen actually means - the place of roses. In reality it is far from it. Even more horrendous than bed of thorns. It is one of the longest,highest glaciers in the world. It lies at a point where borders of India,Pakistan and China meet. And there lies its real significance. For India it is important to keep an eye (birds-eye-view) on the passage that connects Pakistan and China; both being harmful to India's security. Pakistan's strategic route to China- the Karakum Highway- and the activity on this highay can be orbserved from this glacier.
Its easier for Pakistan to maintain troops on Siachen because it is connected by road to Pakistan main-land. On the other hand the only way India can connect to Siachen is by air. By a conservative estimate India has to spend around 5,00,000$ / day to maintain its troops over the top.
It is important for India to keep a control and if possible an upper-hand in Siachen. For the starters, China has high stakes in that region. It is anyone's guess that if India decides to pull out of Sichen, who will be the real "occupier" of that region. For our marxism infested English media, China may not be India's enemy, but for those who have little knowledge of the way world works, know how dangerous China can be for India.
Strategic Importance of Siachen
There have been reports that India and Pakistan have been having talks of settling this issue peacefully across the table. I guess this excercise will not reap much. Pakistan has time and again played mischief with Indian trust. It has always stabbed us in the back and it is fully aware of our soft belly. No meaningful solution can ever be reached with Pakistan on any issues till it continues with its bleed-India program.
In the meantime however thankless job our brave Jawans may be doing for us, they will have to continue with it.Notwithstanding Indian people's general neglect of their heroic efforts, they will have to keep coming up triumphant for our mother land.
Hindus belive that we have another life to live after we die. If thats true, these brave ones have already ensured them of a First class compartment in the next journey.
I feel shallow and inadequate when I even think of them.
This writer salutes these bravest of the brave heroes for doing what they are thanfully doing for our country. No words can be good enough to thank them. I also salute and bow to their mothers and wives and sisters and daughters and fathers and brothers for giving us these rare gems.
Today loving your country is no more fashionable. Debunking your culture is; thanks to NDTV and TOI.
Beyond the world of ipods and gadgets and malls and latest reality shows and amar singh's phone tapping and rahul gandhi's latest girlfriend is a different world. Its called Siachen. The world's highest battle ground. A world beyond the purview of Times of India or NDTV or any of those "progressive,secular,trendy,modern" news presenters. Beyond IT and BPO. Beyond Ganguli and Pawar. Beyond Bush and Iraq.
A world where our soldiers brave artic conditions just so that they can fulfill an unwritten , non-verbal commitment they gave to our mother land. A commitment to keep her immune from the danger of predators from North West. When our celebrities and showbiz guys talk of cricketing ties with Pakistan, of Gazhals and biryani, of the Punjabiyat and all that, these young lads, some sons and brothers, some husbands and fathers, some friends and relatives of someone back home are holding their grounds in sub-human conditions on peaks higher than Vinod Mehta or Kuldeep Nayar's imagination and braving all this just so that the one billion (mostly thankless) Indians on the ground can feel safe in their cozy comforts of their homes.
Holding on for us , what is a prestige issue between the two nations. While they are there on the top, atleast 20,000 feet above sea levels, they are cut off from everything's thats happening below. They do not even know whether half the country even cares about their effort. Forget care. Whether 80% of the nation even know if they are up there.
The word Siachen actually means - the place of roses. In reality it is far from it. Even more horrendous than bed of thorns. It is one of the longest,highest glaciers in the world. It lies at a point where borders of India,Pakistan and China meet. And there lies its real significance. For India it is important to keep an eye (birds-eye-view) on the passage that connects Pakistan and China; both being harmful to India's security. Pakistan's strategic route to China- the Karakum Highway- and the activity on this highay can be orbserved from this glacier.
Its easier for Pakistan to maintain troops on Siachen because it is connected by road to Pakistan main-land. On the other hand the only way India can connect to Siachen is by air. By a conservative estimate India has to spend around 5,00,000$ / day to maintain its troops over the top.
It is important for India to keep a control and if possible an upper-hand in Siachen. For the starters, China has high stakes in that region. It is anyone's guess that if India decides to pull out of Sichen, who will be the real "occupier" of that region. For our marxism infested English media, China may not be India's enemy, but for those who have little knowledge of the way world works, know how dangerous China can be for India.
Strategic Importance of Siachen
There have been reports that India and Pakistan have been having talks of settling this issue peacefully across the table. I guess this excercise will not reap much. Pakistan has time and again played mischief with Indian trust. It has always stabbed us in the back and it is fully aware of our soft belly. No meaningful solution can ever be reached with Pakistan on any issues till it continues with its bleed-India program.
In the meantime however thankless job our brave Jawans may be doing for us, they will have to continue with it.Notwithstanding Indian people's general neglect of their heroic efforts, they will have to keep coming up triumphant for our mother land.
Hindus belive that we have another life to live after we die. If thats true, these brave ones have already ensured them of a First class compartment in the next journey.
I feel shallow and inadequate when I even think of them.
This writer salutes these bravest of the brave heroes for doing what they are thanfully doing for our country. No words can be good enough to thank them. I also salute and bow to their mothers and wives and sisters and daughters and fathers and brothers for giving us these rare gems.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Such a pain
Such a pain this guy is. Why doesn't he go back to his Kolkotta and give some time to his restuarant?
If this news item is true , Sharad Pawar should be sacked. First of all Pawar, who's "also" our Agriculture Minister had no business becoming BCCI's president. Agriculture needs him more than cricket does. And even if he has forced himself onto cricket he has no freaking right to indulge in politics all the time.
Gosh , everything just sucks out there !
If this news item is true , Sharad Pawar should be sacked. First of all Pawar, who's "also" our Agriculture Minister had no business becoming BCCI's president. Agriculture needs him more than cricket does. And even if he has forced himself onto cricket he has no freaking right to indulge in politics all the time.
Gosh , everything just sucks out there !
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
'Q' let off
Ottavio Quottrochhi has been let off by the Sonia led UPA government. Not surprising, considering that Sonia and Mr. Q are related.
Lot of water has flown under the bridge since Bofors first erupted on the scene. And now with VP Singh himself, the Left and the media firmly in pocket of the Gandhis, no one dare question this move.
Corruption is more or less an expected norm in the nation. So one would feel stupid at raising questions related to corruption.
One feels sad for those MPs "caught on camera" for taking "bribe". Small frys, they were. The big guns are always too powerful to be caught. Right Sonia-ji ?
Lot of water has flown under the bridge since Bofors first erupted on the scene. And now with VP Singh himself, the Left and the media firmly in pocket of the Gandhis, no one dare question this move.
Corruption is more or less an expected norm in the nation. So one would feel stupid at raising questions related to corruption.
One feels sad for those MPs "caught on camera" for taking "bribe". Small frys, they were. The big guns are always too powerful to be caught. Right Sonia-ji ?
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Gujarat is Galloping
Gujarat is not walking or running. Under Modi it is jet-skiing, galloping at a rate faster than anyone. When we hear that India's GDP is growing at 8% we feel good. Well, than how about 16% ? Gujarat is growing at 16%.
Media won't be telling us all this. But its time we listen to Modi and Gujarat now.
1] 24 Hour uninterrupted three-phase electricty - (Vilasrao Deshmukh are you listening ?)
2] Only state to have a private railway company
3] Agriculture output growing at 11.2%
Check this
Media won't be telling us all this. But its time we listen to Modi and Gujarat now.
1] 24 Hour uninterrupted three-phase electricty - (Vilasrao Deshmukh are you listening ?)
2] Only state to have a private railway company
3] Agriculture output growing at 11.2%
Check this
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Timeless
Who else but a person from my favourite political party could have written such an interesting and thought provoking essay. I think Indian Express has done itself a world of good by including Sudheendhra Kulkarni in its columninst's list
Read this scholarly article
Read this scholarly article
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Welcome change
I am noticing a welcome change at Indian Express, though it will be far fetched to say that it has changed all its colours. Indian Express still remains a pro-UPA outfit. But it seems it is increasingly feeling uncomfortable with itself having so aggressively defended UPA so far.
In his OP/ED Shekhar Gupta takes on the Sonia led govt - here
Only a few days back after Banglore was attacked Shekhar Gupta made a scathing attack on the Home Ministry.
I don't care if every one hates BJP. But atleast some one from the media should expose this current pathetic government. If its IE so be it.
I only hope people of India get the complete picture before judging. So far they have seen only BJP-bashing coming out from the media.
In his OP/ED Shekhar Gupta takes on the Sonia led govt - here
Only a few days back after Banglore was attacked Shekhar Gupta made a scathing attack on the Home Ministry.
I don't care if every one hates BJP. But atleast some one from the media should expose this current pathetic government. If its IE so be it.
I only hope people of India get the complete picture before judging. So far they have seen only BJP-bashing coming out from the media.
Qualification and Politics
Ashok Singhal is amongst the most hated men in India (read media). He is supposed to be communal,hate-monger,castist person. He, according to the media spreads "venom". Now get this, he is a qualified Electrical Engineer from Banaras Hindu University (One of the most prestigious institutes in country). He got his degree at a time when most wouldn't even clear their matriculation.
Praveen Togadia is far worse than Singhal according to the media and guess what - He is a Cardiologist (MD), heart surgeon.
Arun Shourie who belongs to the communal BJP is a Doctorate in Economics and has to his credit a tenure with the World Bank. Arun Jaitley is an honours from University of Delhi where he also completed his Law Degree. Lal Krishna Advani, the diabolical face of BJP is a qualified lawyer from Bombay University though he cleared his pre-Engineering exam during those days and couldn't pursue because of lack of money. Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an MA from University of Gwalior. Remember during those days completing education was a huge thing and doing Masters in a subject was usually a mile stone is someone's life.
I had read with great interest a survey counducted by India Today on the eve of General Elections few years back. I have forgotten the details but i recollect clearly the message of that survey.
The more you are educated the more likely you are to vote for BJP.
Lets for the time being presume that what the survey says is incorrect or plain blank made up. Lets take a general snapshot of people around us, those whose column we read or those whose view we know. We know that following people either support the BJP or are in tune with its ideology directly or indirectly.
Swapan Das Gupta - a pro-BJP writer has a PhD from England. Rajeev Srinivasan is an ex-IITian and a Management Graduate from Stanford, add to this list of Pro-BJP writers and you will get Rajiv Malhotra,Subash Kak,B.Raman,Bramha Chelleny,Kanchan Das Gupta etc in the list, all of whom are extremely qualified and well educated individuals who have consistently by their articles shown their prefernce for BJP.
So the question is, does your educational background has something to do with your general preference or general inclination towards a particular ideology? May be it is or may be it isn't. Lot would argue that even the communists have a wide range of lumanaries who are highly qualified. I am not sure on that. Most communists that i know of have had their degrees from London where like Jawaharlal Nehru, they were brainwashed into the concept of communism and socialism. Point being they all or atleast most belong to the same school of thought (literally). I mean i don't know of any IITians or MBA's or Doctorates amongst the Communists.
So now let me go further and add another variable to this discussion. Does, not only the degree, but the kind of degree matter in a person's preference? It would be far fetched to say that all Engineers would support BJP and all Arts or Commerce guys would supprt the Congress. But i would stick my neck out and say , well, most Engineers would support BJP and most Arts guys would support the Congress. I'll also add this here, most qualified people who have had education from really really good institutes such as IITs would find them closer to BJP.
So that explains why Congress has consistently been in power in this country for so long. Except for Nehru none of the Gandhi-Nehru family completed their education. Indira,Rajiv and now even Rahul, have dropped out from their courses. Sonia Gandhi's educational qualification has always been suspect though she may claim otherwise. So we as a nation voted en-bloc for the Gandhis who have enjoyed for more than half-a-century, a life that can be compared to any of the richest Kings and Queens who ever ruled in the world. I doubt they would have been in power for so long had Indian population been even 50% more educated than it is today.
The rise of BJP in India is consistent with the growth of literacy in the country. And that off course is a bad sign for Congress which has so far successfully kept India poor and uneducated - a gaurantee to vote bank. Congress had high stakes in keeping the country poor and uneducated. This ensured its survival thus far.
India has very recently breached the 50% mark in the literacy rate. Thats an ominous sign for Congress, though i may add that literacy and education are two very different things.
Its a poetic justice that the first IITian to be a Chief Minister of any state in the country belonged to the BJP. His name is Manohar Parrikar who was reforming Goa like no one. It was only Sonia Gandhi's lust for power that stopped him in his tracks.
There are a whole lot of educated guys in Congress, no doubt. But if we take a cross-section of Congress and another Cross-section of the BJP, we will see the difference very clearly. And we will see a greater difference when we take a cross-section of their supporters.
Vinod Mehta is a Congress supporter and he is blatant in his love for the Gandhis. I am sure his educational qualification is no match to his counter-part and rival - Arun Pourie of India Today who keeps a low profile.
By the way,what is common between Vinod Mehta,Mahesh Bhatt, Teesta Setalvad, Shabana Azmi, Barkha Dutt,Rajdeep Sardesai, Pamela Phillipose, Javed Akhtar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Somnath Chatterjee etc etc...
All of then are loud mouth,hate the BJP,love Pakistan, and are pretty much from a similar educational background.
What is common between Swapan Das Gupta, Rajeev Srinivasan, B.Raman, TVR Shenoy, Arun Poorie, Kanchan Das Gupta et al. All of them keep a low profile, are highly qualified, logical and very neat in their approach and well they hate ... err... sorry, dislike the Congress.
Got the drift ?
Ya right :-) I belong to the good company !!!
Praveen Togadia is far worse than Singhal according to the media and guess what - He is a Cardiologist (MD), heart surgeon.
Arun Shourie who belongs to the communal BJP is a Doctorate in Economics and has to his credit a tenure with the World Bank. Arun Jaitley is an honours from University of Delhi where he also completed his Law Degree. Lal Krishna Advani, the diabolical face of BJP is a qualified lawyer from Bombay University though he cleared his pre-Engineering exam during those days and couldn't pursue because of lack of money. Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an MA from University of Gwalior. Remember during those days completing education was a huge thing and doing Masters in a subject was usually a mile stone is someone's life.
I had read with great interest a survey counducted by India Today on the eve of General Elections few years back. I have forgotten the details but i recollect clearly the message of that survey.
The more you are educated the more likely you are to vote for BJP.
Lets for the time being presume that what the survey says is incorrect or plain blank made up. Lets take a general snapshot of people around us, those whose column we read or those whose view we know. We know that following people either support the BJP or are in tune with its ideology directly or indirectly.
Swapan Das Gupta - a pro-BJP writer has a PhD from England. Rajeev Srinivasan is an ex-IITian and a Management Graduate from Stanford, add to this list of Pro-BJP writers and you will get Rajiv Malhotra,Subash Kak,B.Raman,Bramha Chelleny,Kanchan Das Gupta etc in the list, all of whom are extremely qualified and well educated individuals who have consistently by their articles shown their prefernce for BJP.
So the question is, does your educational background has something to do with your general preference or general inclination towards a particular ideology? May be it is or may be it isn't. Lot would argue that even the communists have a wide range of lumanaries who are highly qualified. I am not sure on that. Most communists that i know of have had their degrees from London where like Jawaharlal Nehru, they were brainwashed into the concept of communism and socialism. Point being they all or atleast most belong to the same school of thought (literally). I mean i don't know of any IITians or MBA's or Doctorates amongst the Communists.
So now let me go further and add another variable to this discussion. Does, not only the degree, but the kind of degree matter in a person's preference? It would be far fetched to say that all Engineers would support BJP and all Arts or Commerce guys would supprt the Congress. But i would stick my neck out and say , well, most Engineers would support BJP and most Arts guys would support the Congress. I'll also add this here, most qualified people who have had education from really really good institutes such as IITs would find them closer to BJP.
So that explains why Congress has consistently been in power in this country for so long. Except for Nehru none of the Gandhi-Nehru family completed their education. Indira,Rajiv and now even Rahul, have dropped out from their courses. Sonia Gandhi's educational qualification has always been suspect though she may claim otherwise. So we as a nation voted en-bloc for the Gandhis who have enjoyed for more than half-a-century, a life that can be compared to any of the richest Kings and Queens who ever ruled in the world. I doubt they would have been in power for so long had Indian population been even 50% more educated than it is today.
The rise of BJP in India is consistent with the growth of literacy in the country. And that off course is a bad sign for Congress which has so far successfully kept India poor and uneducated - a gaurantee to vote bank. Congress had high stakes in keeping the country poor and uneducated. This ensured its survival thus far.
India has very recently breached the 50% mark in the literacy rate. Thats an ominous sign for Congress, though i may add that literacy and education are two very different things.
Its a poetic justice that the first IITian to be a Chief Minister of any state in the country belonged to the BJP. His name is Manohar Parrikar who was reforming Goa like no one. It was only Sonia Gandhi's lust for power that stopped him in his tracks.
There are a whole lot of educated guys in Congress, no doubt. But if we take a cross-section of Congress and another Cross-section of the BJP, we will see the difference very clearly. And we will see a greater difference when we take a cross-section of their supporters.
Vinod Mehta is a Congress supporter and he is blatant in his love for the Gandhis. I am sure his educational qualification is no match to his counter-part and rival - Arun Pourie of India Today who keeps a low profile.
By the way,what is common between Vinod Mehta,Mahesh Bhatt, Teesta Setalvad, Shabana Azmi, Barkha Dutt,Rajdeep Sardesai, Pamela Phillipose, Javed Akhtar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Somnath Chatterjee etc etc...
All of then are loud mouth,hate the BJP,love Pakistan, and are pretty much from a similar educational background.
What is common between Swapan Das Gupta, Rajeev Srinivasan, B.Raman, TVR Shenoy, Arun Poorie, Kanchan Das Gupta et al. All of them keep a low profile, are highly qualified, logical and very neat in their approach and well they hate ... err... sorry, dislike the Congress.
Got the drift ?
Ya right :-) I belong to the good company !!!
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