the eyeStreet times

Imagine this, the four way talk

2009-12-07T20:40:00.009-05:00

Uncle Sam, Chachu India, Chacha Pakistan and Akaa Ghanistan walk into a cafe.

Uncle Sam orders a mocha frappuccino and a lemon pound bread. He pays by credit.

Chachu India walks up to the counter, orders a latte and some scones and hands it all over Akaa Ghanistan. He then whispers in his ear - "Not a word to anyone. I did not get you all this!". He then walks away and takes a table two seats away from Uncle Sam.

Chacha Pakistan walks in with a made is USA overcoat, glances over to Uncle Sam expecting an invite. Uncle Sam, realizing his predicament, waves to the Chacha asking him to join his table. With a sheepish smile, Chacha joins Uncle Sam, gleefully chiming - "Only because you asked me to, Uncle!"

Meanwhile, Akaa is still standing holding the goodies he got from Chachu India. Looking around he spots Uncle Sam and Chacha Pakistan seated in a corner table and decides to walk up and join them.

"Where did you get these?", asks the Chacha. "What do you mean where I got these? I bought them myself." responds Akaa.

Not to let go so easily, continues Chacha, "I meant how did you pay for...".

"Never mind, guys. Settle down. We have much to talk about", interrupts the Uncle.

Chacha grumbles under his breathe, glances over at Chachu India and makes a rude hand gesture. Chachu rolls his eyes and chuckles.

"First you", points the Uncle, to Akka. "You need to get your act straight. I am not going to keep baby sitting you forever. You are old enough to walk leave alone crawl. Next summer I plan to head back home. And so the clock is ticking."

Akaa gets a bit upset and defensive. "I never asked for your help....", he then pauses mid-sentence realizing the futility of the argument. "I never asked for your help forever. Given the right conditions, I should not be needing either you or your family's help by next summer".

Chacha Pakistan takes off his coat and hangs it behind his chair. He then proceeds to get comfortable. This is going to take a while he thinks to himself.

Noticing this, an irritated Akaa raises his voice. "When do you plan to resolve my next door problem, Uncle?" he says in an apparent reference to the Chacha. "Lot of bug problems from the house next door."

"What do you mean next door?" questions the Chacha. "You have no proof of that. And by the way, its not like your house is spic and span clean." Chacha retorts.

"You don't need to worry about my house." slams Akaa. "Just make sure your bugs remain in your boundary. Just plug those cracks in the wall. You have been at it for over two years now but nothing to show."

An angry Chacha, not one to give in so easily, says "You are beginning to annoy me....".

Uncle Sam heaves. "All right boys. This is not productive. And I don't have all the time in the world".

Now turning his attention to Chacha Pakistan, Uncle Sam begins to admonish, "I don't see why you should protest. What Akaa says is partially right. You seem to want the best furnishings for your house but don't realize the house roof is leaky and the walls are falling apart. I really don't understand what you plan to do with all the money you keep borrowing from me".

"Anyways, this time around you don't get the money unless you furnish the bills first. So you pay out of your own pocket first and then get it reimbursed from me", added the Uncle.

"But that's not fair", complained Chacha. "For no fault of mine you are punishing me", said the Chacha cutting a sorry face.

"Ok, alright what's the excuse today?" quizzed the Uncle.

"No excuse. Its for real and you know it." says the Chacha.

"Okay Okay. Stop wining and tell me what's bothering you." - Uncle Sam.

Chacha Pakistan pulls up a single sheet of worn out paper and begin to read from it, "Why do you think the bugs are so attracted to Akaa's house? Look at what he is holding in his hand. Every now and then "someone" gives him a bag of goodies which is why the bugs troop to this house. If you (Uncle) can somehow get that someone to stop giving Akaa these goodies it will not only help Akaa but also help me."

"Okay, I don't know who this someone is. But I get the feeling that you already know and are about to tell me", retorts Uncle Sam.

"Ofcourse, Ofcourse I will educate you, Uncle", continues Chacha.

"Who else but our dear Chachu. Even these goodies that Akaa is holding was given to him by Chachu. Ask him?" says Chacha.

"Why did I think you were going to say that!" quips Uncle.

Realizing the futility of this conversation without Chachu India, Uncle Sam gets up from his Chair. "I am going to be back in a few mins", he says. "Don't go any where, stay right here". Then he slowly walks in the direction of table where Chachu India is sitting.

Seeing this, Chacha gets really cheerful. He even begins to whistle slowly. Akaa shakes his head in dismay and begins to dig into his scone.

Chachu catches a glance of the approaching Uncle through the corner of his eye. He pretends to not notice and continues to read his book intently.

"Hello Chachu. Long time. How is everything?" greets the Uncle.

Looking totally surprised by the sudden visit, Chachu says, "Hello Uncle ji, what a surprise. I didn't know you visited this cafe. What brings you here?".

"Oh well! I wanted to talk to you about some Home Improvement topics. Is this a good time?" asks the Uncle. Uncle Sam notices that Chachu had cleverly seated himself at a table that had only one chair and so automatically disinviting the Uncle!

Nevertheless, Uncle Sam decided to make do with just standing.

"I would love to talk Home Improvement", replied Chachu. "But you see, I have this book to finish and return by end of today. Why don't we do this another time?".

Akaa and Chacha were watching the back and forth from a distance. Turning to Akaa, Chacha says "Look at the great Uncle. He is not even given a seat to sit but he still has no shame. He is still standing there shamelessly. What is it about Chacha that he fears? I don't get it? He treats us like spoiled kids and treats Chacha like a wise man. It irritates me to the core. Did you know Akaa, Chachu and me are of the same age. Actually I am older to him by a day".

Unable to take it anymore, Akaa barks back "Just shut up! You are jealous. Why can't you mind your own business. Chachu has done well for himself and thats why everyone has started respecting him. He has put his house in order ably and deserves to be treated better. And look at you. What excuse do you have? At least I have plenty, but you?". Done venting, Akaa goes back to his goodies.

Uncle Sam can hear the low decibel arguments going on behind him. He turns around sharply and gestures to both of them to put a sock in it. A temporary truce is called.

"Please Chachu ji. It won't take more than 10 mins of your time. Its for your own good". Uncle Sam wished he had eaten his last sentence.

"My own good? Are you here to sell me something Uncle?", retorts Chachu.

"Absolutely not. This is only a discussion. I need your input for some of the decisions I am making on a Home Improvement project. Your valuable advice and perhaps active help will be greatly appreciated.", reasoned Uncle.

"Look Uncle. This is the bottom line" said Chachu sternly.

"I am not here. Get it. I am not supposed to be in this cafe. You were not supposed to see me, least of all walk up to me. I am not interested in joining your home improvement project. So don't ask me for any advice. My only involvement is with Akaa and that too I did only after he invited me. I am simply trying to spray some bug spray into the cracks in his walls before applying some sealing agent. If you don't want me to help Akaa, simply tell me right now and I will up and walk."

Taken aback by Chachu's angry words, Uncle Sam decides to back off.

"Looks like you are in a bad mood Chachu. Don't sweat it. We can talk later after you are done with your book. Perhaps we can meet someplace else?" replies Uncle Sam.

"Yes Yes. Someplace else. I don't like to talk business in cafes. Too much noise." said Chachu.

"Okay sure. Bye for now", and then Uncle Sam begins to back track towards his table.

Akaa and Chacha try to control their laughter. Uncle Sam crashes into his seat with both Akaa's and Chacha's eyes trained on him.

"One word from any of your mouths, I will thrash both of you", barks Uncle Sam.

Don't the Pak columnist get it?

2009-12-02T21:01:00.007-05:00

Ever since the aborted peace attempt at Sharm-el-sheik, Egypt between India and Pakistan, the revered news paper columnists of Pakistan have been crowding around the - Give peace a chance - bandwagon.

And this bandwagon apparently only runs one way. From India to Pakistan. And this bandwagon carries with it the merchandise called - concessions.

Listen to the logic from across the border here and I paraphrase -

Pakistan needs all the help it can get in its fight against terror.

As a weaker power, Pakistan will always seek external intervention.

Peace in Afghanistan is only possible if Pakistan is secure about India's intentions.

And finally - By halting peace talks, the Indian government had handed the terrorists a major victory.

So which word in peace-talks do they not understand?

Its a two-way street, hello? The columnist have been going on and on about how India needs to show reason, India needs to be the magnanimous one, India needs to realize this is not helping the "war on terror" and that India is the reason for South Asian instability.

Let me be very clear. I am not against peace talks. In fact, thats exactly what was happening when the Mumbai attacks took place.

The problem is not whether India has the will to talk. The problem is whether India has the will not to talk. We all have seen time and time again, India gets beaten black and blue and still goes right back to the table. And for what?

Instead before all these talks can begin how about Pakistan really show us and the "world" how serious they are about the peace-talks.

And waxing eloquent in the media does not count.

How about showing us that you really really want peace? How about doing something really productive about controlling the anti-India terror groups? How about reining in the ISI? How about a year of peace in Jammu & Kashmir to start with? Importantly, how about abandoning terror as an instrument of state-policy, for real?

Yes. These are the benchmarks that no one wants to talk about. The columnist simply want a wild card entry for Pakistan to the finals whereas expect India to give all kinds of concessions to make Pakistan feel better and tickle its ego.

So, the bottom line is this. Pakistan does not want peace, at least not yet. Pakistan still feels that a proxy-war is its key to strategic parity with India. Its their power-parity card along with the Nuclear card.

If Pakistan gave up this one card, its game up. It has no other leverage against its bigger neighbor. And hence it will never give it up.

And this back and forth will go on. Pakistan trying to tie India down to the subcontinent's politics and India struggling to free itself of the colonial baggage.

Collapse of the right wing

2009-10-22T17:43:00.007-05:00

On June 14th, I had written a post titled - Defeat of the right wing.

In that I had warned that the BJP is fast becoming the ideological mirror of the Left. A piece of political space occupied by the huffers and puffers who enjoy the patronage of a select hardcore few in the electorate but banished to the extreme wilderness.

That was then and this is now. The BJP is moving too slowly. They have absolutely no idea what to do next. While they are busy blowing down each others house of cards, the electorate has moved on.

For the third time in Maharashtra, the electorate has shown a thumbs down to the rabble rouser's. The BJP-Sena combine and the Thackeray's squabbling pushed the voters to a saner lot.

Why wouldn't the voters be attracted to a party that has a sane, low-profile, no nonsense president and an equally sane, low-profile and intelligent Prime Minister.

Where is the alternative? It looks like the principle opposition is clearing the political real estate faster than anyone expected.

As I said earlier, I say it now. The Congress is well on its way to becoming the natural party of governance in the country and I don't see any force being able to stop it.

The States should pull up their socks

2009-10-08T19:59:00.004-05:00

Sometime ago I had written about the Lessons India should learn from all the turmoil happening all around her.

Today, after reading about the increase in the naxalite activity and the home minstry's report that 20 states are under some form of naxal influence, I can safely say that our country need not look outside at all.

The Leftist Maoist movement has sprouted from the lack of development and opportunities available in parts of India and its heartening to see that our home minister P. Chidambaram himself openly talking about it.

While the reasons contributing to the naxalite violence could range from failed land reforms to non-existent local employment and development, they all point to a massive failure of our established governing structures.

The self-correcting features of our governing structures seem to have failed. While some states have taken great advantage of the system, like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra etc. Others have let the whole system rot or gamed it.

The next steps are quite clear. The home minister has promised to take back districts under the naxal influence followed by massive aid driven development. While this might work in the short-term, the long-term strategy has to be different.

I hope the wise home minister goes into why some states are unable to drill down economic benefits that stagnate at the state capital.

Should these "weak states" be treated differently? Should there be more economic devolution to the states and from the states down to the district / panchayat level? Should more smaller states be created from bigger ones?

The questions are many, the answers are few and far in between.

Pak does a back flip for Saudi Arabia

2009-09-28T21:31:00.006-05:00

It was really funny reading this news in the Dawn.

Al Qaeda leader’s sons sent to S. Arabia

Pakistan had captured, interrogated and sent packing to Saudi Arabia, suspected Al-Qaeda operatives responsible for the failed attack on their deputy Interior Minister Prince Nayef in Jeddah last month.

The Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik had visited Saudi Arabia end of last month where he was presented with evidence of this linkage between the failed attack and the sons of a Yemeni Al-Qaeda leader. And exactly ONE month later Pakistan not only captures, not only interrogates but also packs these guys to Saudi Arabia. This, even though Pakistan and Saudi Arabia don't have an extradition treaty.

While on the other side, the Pakistani government leaves no stone unturned, giving excuses on why the Mumbai attack masterminds need to be subject to the lengthy process of Pakistan's judicial system. What a whole bunch of BS!

And the Interior Minister and the Foreign Minster of Pakistan have the audacity to shamelessly stand in front of the press complaining of India's impatience and disregard for the rule of law and judicial trial.

I am amazed how these guys can sleep at night. The rate at which the Pakistani leadership bends for Saudi Arabia and China and the United States and the Taliban and whatever else, it will soon become a Pakistani Circus of sorts.

The Narasimha Rao Formula

2009-09-14T19:20:00.006-05:00

India's CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) has its hands full these days dealing with the western neighbor.

In the case of India-Pakistan, history repeats itself. India is unable to shake off the Pakistani shadow and Pakistan simply loves to needle its neighbor, with admirable success I must add.

The recent article by Jawed Naqvi from the Dawn (Is India really a big nation, which behaves small?), asking India to act its size meaning large hearted, is well written but impractical. Its the Gujral doctrine rehashed. While the Gujral doctrine could work with India's other neighbors (sans China), it will not work with Pakistan.

I dont know if the Pakistani security establishment is pulling a fast one on its own media, but what else can I say when they (the Pak media) fall hook line and sinker to their Information Minister's oft repeated line posing as a victim & an anti-terror warrior. Its akin to Bill Clinton preaching morality lessons.

So all this talk of large heartedness and magnanimity is a waste of time.

During the Prime Ministership of Shri Narasimha Rao (remember him!), India went into a low key mode for its relations with Pakistan. While regular Foreign Secretary level talks kept happening, nothing much came out of it in the end. There was no high pitch sabre rattling or hu-ha press releases. Everything was in silent mode.

Its time the CCS took a leaf out of this but with a twist.

Draw up a long time table of secretary level meetings without an agenda. Then work out a limited proportional retaliatory strategy which can be triggered on very short notice when a massive terror attack takes place. This could be ranging from taking out a few enemy posts to lobbing rockets over to surgical cross border stabs. Now, ofcourse this will not go unanswered for which we need to be prepared.

Any such punitive retaliation from India will immediately bring the US right in. And we should count on this. The US should simply be told that this self-defense action will stop when terror emanating from Pakistan stops. The US wouldn't want its battle on Pak's western front disturbed or diluted would it!?

In all this commotion, continue the agendaless meaningless secretary level talks.

The only language Pakistan understands is a bloody nose. Its about time we gave some.

Defeat of the right wing

2009-06-14T10:10:00.009-05:00

This season seems to be the season of the right wing in trouble. In India, the right wing nationalists BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) lost for the second time in five years and in the United States the right Republicans lost for the first time in eight years.

Perhaps its Iran that survived this trend with the re-election of its current President defeating the reformist rival convincingly, though disputed.

I am noticing good similarities between the state of the BJP and that of the GOP. Both are sulking. Both are searching for a theme. Both are clueless.

But I also notice that there are some good dissimilarities too. The GOP is better equipped to recover faster than the BJP simply because its not hamstrung by the "party ways" of Indian political parties. The GOP currently is seeing a back-and-forth between leaders who represent different shades of GOP ideology who are trying to occupy the leadership vacuum. While it looks like a dust storm, it is part of a process of rejuvenation and new direction.

Unfortunately, Indian political parties still chiefly rely on dynasty's and political patronage as a driving force. Even the famous 'party with a difference', has found its 'difference' to be woefully inadequate to meet the current challenge of quickly becoming irrelevant.

I read with amusement a news report where the BJP President Rajnath Singh had issued a gag order prohibiting airing of opinion by party leaders. These people still don't get it. Openly venting is part and parcel of the healing process. By gaging these voices, you are simply postponing it for a rather loud explosion later.

The whole bunch of people on top, those tired faces returning to their seats after this defeat like nothing has happened will hurt the party more. And I never thought I will say this, but the BJP's anti-dynastic mindset has given the Congress party a one up over it. Images of all those young sons and daughters of former party leaders makes the Congress party look young and energized. Compare this with all the grey haired BJP leaders like Advani, Swaraj, Joshi, Jaitely, Singh, Sinha, Modi, etc.

I am reminded of grumpy tired old people sitting outside Walmart welcoming customers when they step into the store compared to young faces that one sees in Target. All these small things shape the mindset of the common folks.

The strength and weakness of the BJP is its ideological roots. If the BJP continued true to its original RSS brand of Hindutva, the part will shrink and become a counter weight to the left parties. A core group sticking to their guns no matter what will surely find some takers, enough to keep them in power in a few states but not at the national or even regional level.

However, if the BJP wants to be relevant and a counter weight to the Congress, then it must occupy the political space between the center and the extreme right. It is there that the anti-congress platform lies and is up for grabs.

Fortunately for the party, there is no other in the horizon that is ready or equipped to occupy this space. At least not yet.

Anyways, I really am not that concerned about what political space the BJP will occupy. I am more concerned about the lack of inner-party political tools and mechanisms to deal with such situations. Its even more shocking that having been in the opposition for five years, one would have expected the BJP to have used all this time to re-invent not only itself but also its party machinery. However, what we see here today is a rudderless, captainless ship on the stormy high seas with mutiny on everyones minds.

For the the party with a difference, its about time to do something that's totally different. Something that's radical and never seen in Indian politics today. Anything short of that will severely restrict its political ascendancy in the near future.

Fortunately for the Congress, its ruling family seems have both its heart and mind in the right place. They are making the right moves and the right noises. And their goal to becoming India's natural party of governance is laudable.

I remember vividly, when the congress party was defeated in the 90s and the BJP emerged as the largest party, there were calls in the air declaring the decline of the Congress. Dynastic politics and cronyism were held responsible for the party's decline and some even predicted that the congress will eventually splinter and die out. Those were the days when the center of the whole country had shifted to the political right and the BJP had a bumper harvest.

Now years later, the political center has moved left of its position coming right back to the Congress's political space and BJP has remained stagnant.

Its about time the BJP interpreted the tea leaves correctly.

The NY Times Patronizes India

2009-05-20T18:10:00.007-05:00

Before you read any further, I suggest you read this New York Times Op-Ed titled "India's Challenges".

And I am sorry to be so judgmental but the article is a whole load of BS.

For this blog post, I will only talk about those lines which, in my humble opinion, are the most bogus.

The first paragraph had these lines.

"...it is time for India to exercise the kind of regional and global leadership expected of a rising power."

The NY times does not waste time and space. The patronizing attitude starts from the first paragraph itself. The paper sets the stage for India by saying its about time she behaved like a power. Oh! wow! Finally some recognition !!

After a few paragraphs of Pakistan bashing, the paper then drops the line and I quote.

"India is essential to what Pakistan will do."

So what does it mean? Does it mean the US should involve India on all its plans in Af-Pak? Or does it mean India to some measure contributes to the situation by its silence? or perhaps the paper cannot make a determination of what it wants?

Anyways, the next few lines not only makes it abundantly clear what the paper wants but also what the administration of President Obama has in store for India.

And I quote again.

"New Delhi exercised welcome restraint when it did not attack Pakistan after the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai by Pakistani-based extremists. But tensions remain high, and the Pakistani Army continues to view India as its main adversary. India should take the lead in initiating arms control talks with Pakistan and China. It should also declare its intention to stop producing nuclear weapons fuel, even before a proposed multinational treaty is negotiated. That would provide leverage for Washington and others to exhort Pakistan to do the same."

Says the NY Times - "New Delhi exercised welcome restraint...". And so the paper approves of India's restraint but that's just not enough.

Continues the NY Times - "India should take the lead in initiating arms control talks with Pakistan and China...stop producing nuclear weapons fuel...That would provide leverage for Washington...to exhort Pakistan..."

Simply put the paper wants India simply to roll over and play dead. Waste of so many words above to express this intent!

Wait there is more. The paper then drops the K-word.

"Ignoring Kashmir is no longer an option."

Oh really! Pray why, may I ask the venerated paper, should Kashmir suddenly come into the picture now? Is it because the US has miserably failed to make Pakistan play ball and wag its tail?

And then comes the most naive of them all.

"India has played a constructive role in helping rebuild Afghanistan, but it must take steps to allay Islamabad’s concerns that this is a plan to encircle Pakistan."

What!? What was that? India should bend over backwards to make Pakistan feel its not being encircled? Are you really that dumb? Why would we want to do that? India IS encircling Pakistan, period. And just because the US finds it inconvenient for its War on terror, why should India give up its legitimate security concerns.

The Op-Ed then closes with these patronizing words.

"India is the dominant power in South Asia, but it has been hesitant to assume its responsibilities."

Oh please! Go sell this to someone born yesterday.

Did any of you watch former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf's interview in Fareed Zakaria GPS?

Pervez list out all the divisions and infantries of the Indian army posted on its border with Pakistan and sights that as the primary reason for Pakistan not being able to direct more troops to its western border to fight the Taliban.

What President Pervez does not say is that India needs to keep troops there on account of two reasons -

1. Export of terror from Pakistan for decades now, latest one in Mumbai.
2. Pakistan army's penchant for high risk battles, the latest one in Kargil.

Pakistan's Mumbai gamble to provoke India into action to enable it (Pakistan Army) to move troops to its eastern border thereby giving some elbow room to their Taliban fell flat. And so once again they have created this mirage of a Taliban take over to jolt the US into complying with whatever Pakistan wants.

The proof is in all the papers. The administration which said it will question every penny spent by Pakistan, now within days is pushing to approve billions of dollars to aid Pakistan in its so called fight against the Taliban. I can only feel sorry for the Americans.

How many of you have heard of the "Super Nanny" TV show on ABC? I picked this up from the TV show's website and it says -

"Jo Frost, as Supernanny, can tame the wildest toddler, soothe the savage six-year-old and get the most difficult child to overcome problems with behavior, sleep, mealtime, potty training and other challenges that have vexed parents around the world for centuries."

Sounds similar?

United States = Vexed Parent
Pakistan = Wild, Savage, difficult child

May be Obama should give Richard Holbrook's job to The Super Nanny.

Victory? What Victory?

2009-05-18T17:09:00.007-05:00

So finally the day has come when Sri Lanka believes no longer will its people be terrorized by the Tamil Tigers. No longer will the Lankans have to send their sons to join the Lankan army to fight the tigers. No longer will they wake up every morning listening to news of attacks and suicide bombings. And so the Lankans celebrate the victory.

But again what are they celebrating? Are they celebrating the fact that their own countrymen are now refugees? Are they celebrating the fact that the armed struggle for equal rights by the minority Tamils started because of Sinhalese nationalism? Are they celebrating the army having fought its way to victory killing and bombing Tamils and their settlements? What hollow victory is this?

The Tamil Tiger's methods may be wrong but their love for their people cannot be questioned. May be they lost sight of the ultimate goal, the welfare of the tamils, but they did start off on the right path.

To the Sri Lankan government and the majority Sinhalese, I say this. Show some humility in victory. Show some magnanimity. Show some brotherly concern. The victory dance over Tamil blood will not go down well with the now vanquished Tamils.

Your behavior will sow the seeds for future generational relationship between different ethnic groups in Sri Lanka and directly impact the island nations future. This is the time to introspect and reach out to the minorities.

If the Sri Lankan government wishes to be seen as the government of Sri Lanka instead of as the government of the Sinhalese, it must stop making crude gestures that could be misconstrued as Sinhalese chauvinism. The Sri Lankan president kissing the soil of Sri Lanka is one such. What soil is he kissing? The soil where blood of citizens were spilled?

The government and the President is advised to keep its emotions in check and get on with the task of healing and reaching out to the hearts of fallen Tamils.

From the Tamils to the Kashmiris

2009-04-28T18:54:00.012-05:00

India always has had problems with its peripheral states. Especially those that were either partitioned or have brethren living in the neighbouring country.

Most of us know these states by their reputation - Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal is special. Not only was West Bengal partitioned in 1947, it also is ruled by a party front ideologically closer to our northern neighbour.

Anyways my point is not to run through the history of these states.

I am going to specifically look at the current crisis in Sri Lanka, its impact on Tamil Nadu and what J&K can learn from it.

Something really beautiful is happening in Tamil Nadu. No need to be aghast. Just hear me out.

The Sri Lankan army has gained considerable ground against the LTTE in the past year. With the LTTE almost close to annihilation, Tamil organizations everywhere have heightened their pitch. The tamil political parties in India jumped right in to speak up for the plight of Tamils in Lanka.

The principle political outfits namely the DMK led by Dr. Karunanidhi and the ADMK led by Ms. Jayalalithaa engaged in a pitch battle to out do each other. That elections were fast approaching added to the combustible mix.

However, there was this common theme or line that both political formations in Tamil Nadu toed. And that was their lobbying with the government of India to intervene in whatever possible means at their disposal to halt the suffering of the Lankan Tamils. Each outfit was pushing the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to lean on the Sri Lankan President to halt the continued bombardment. Leaving aside the merits of the case, what should be taken note of is that for the first time the Tamil parties similar to the Israeli lobby in the United States, lobbied heavily with the government to act.

The Tamils, baring some extremist cat calls, empowered by their clout in New Delhi, used it effectively to steer India's position with respect to Sri Lanka. And in doing so they exercised considerable restraint keeping in mind both India's larger interests and that of pan-Tamil chauvinism. This whole scenario could have gone haywire for a number of reasons, including a scenario where some extremist Tamil chauvinistic group in Tamil Nadu hijacking the issue and stealing the main political party's thunder.

So what lessons can other peripheral states learn from this?

Imagine this.

The Taliban having gained a foothold in Pakistan's Swat, decide to test the waters in the rest of Pakistan. I suppose they have already started doing this. For whatever reason, the Taliban decide to move northwards towards Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas instead of Baluchistan and Punjab. There is real threat of a Taliban take over and residents of the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir do not know if Islamabad will send in the army to help them.

Meanwhile there are massive protests in Jammu & Kashmir on the Indian side. Political parties such as the National Conference and the PDP begin out shouting each other demanding that the Indian government do something. The call to save Kashmiriyat from the Taliban has rallied the entire state and has forced even the pro-Pakistan outfits of the Hurriyat to support this call.

Members of Parliament from the state make speeches in Parliament calling for an intervention similar to the Battle for Srinagar. They warn that India is morally bound to save Pakistan Occupied Kashmir from being wiped out and demand that India do something to save Kashmiriyat.

Sounds familiar? Possible Scenario? Can and will the Kashmiri's learn from the Tamil experience?

Will the Kashmiris see the wisdom of investing their future and that of their children in the idea of India?

photo courtesy: India Tourism Network

Lessons for India

2009-04-21T18:46:00.015-05:00

Ever since Nepal's monarchy was overthrown in a maoist inspired rebellion and ever since the maoist party won in the elections that followed, India's hold on Nepal's pulse has slowly but steadily slipped away.

For whatever reason, all countries surrounding India seem to have trouble practicing democracy. While as a country we cherish the peaceful transfer of power every five years, we take pride in being the largest democracy in the world against all odds, and we strongly believe that our model of democracy is the right one for a diverse country like ours, we still are not seen as that shining democracy upon a hill worth emulating by our neighbours.

Why?

Nepal is a classic example. For decades we have had a close relationship with the Nepalese ruling class, be it the monarchy or the elected dispensation. But lately, India seems to have lost the mojo for Nepal or more importantly the other way round!

For all the continues engagement between the two countries for decades, somehow Nepal seems to have taken to Maoism now. Why?

Now lets move on to Bangladesh. In the 70's, India militarily intervened to aid the Mukti Bahini to gain independence from Pakistan. That perhaps was the highest point in the relationship between the two countries. After that it has been a bumpy ride downwards. Bangladesh has been alternating between military rule and an elected government ever since. Not much influence there from its western/northern/eastern neighbour!

Pakistan. Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan. Newspaper columnists in that country sometimes look across the fence when they wish their government learn some lessons from across the border. But that's about it.

Sri Lanka is a case by itself. Though Sri Lanka practices democracy quite regularly, that country stands accused of ethnic cleansing, by its Tamil minority. A governing model based on India's federal setup has been proposed for a long time now. Hopefully something similar will come up soon that will satisfy the urge for equal rights for its Tamils.

I could go on. But the above examples are enough to show a pattern. India has tremendous influence on all its neighbours. However, all for the wrong reasons. Being the largest multi cultural democracy in the world, shouldn't we be exporting our ideas, values and solutions to these smaller countries that are so desperately in need of a good workable governing model.

Its sad to see our newspapers reporting maoist violence during elections. Even China has moved away from the socialistic policies of Chairman Mao. Inspite of this, even in our country we have the threat of maoist violence rival the threat of terrorist violence today.

What are the missing pieces here? Why aren't our neighbours saying - Why can't we be like India?

Why don't our neighbours look upto how we practice democracy in such diversity? Why isn't the Indian governing model worth emulating or learning from?

Why are we not yet that bright shining country upon the hill in this dark dark sub continental night?

image courtesy: jagrutindia.com

Its my tamil new year...

2009-04-14T19:01:00.002-05:00

I was mad. Really mad. When I heard the government of my state of Tamil Nad, India had decreed(yes, decreed) that the Tamil new year will no more be celebrated in the month of Chithirai (April) instead it will from now onwards be celebrated in the month of Thai (January), I was irritated.

Who the hell is the DMK government to decide when the new year should begin? Who do these politicians think they are? For a minute I was magically transported back in time when emperors and kings ruled by decree and cared less for public opinion. The government and the Chief Minister perhaps mistakenly believe that they reign over the Kingdom of Tamil Nadu.

Decades ago, an egoistic Congress party equated India to Indira and Indira to India. We all know what happened. Be you ever so high the law of the land and the people are always high above you.

A party that preaches godlessness and shuns beliefs and faiths, should keep away from playing with centuries old traditions and cultures. I have no problem with the party of non-believers. Ours is a democratic country and people are entitled to their own ways of life. A political entity, just because it occupies the seat of power for five years, does not give it the right to meddle. What next? Will we be celebrating the CM's birthday as Tamil Day?

The leader of the party, Kalaignar Karunanidhi, is a wise man. I have always respected him as one of our finest leaders. However today I disagree with him. This is my Tamil new year's day and no one can change it.

photo courtesy: wikimedia

Prez Obama walks up to the PM...

2009-04-02T21:01:00.012-05:00

Yes, that was in the Indian press and media today. That President Obama "walked" up to the Indian Prime Minister excited the Indian press that it was quoted verbatim across much of the media. Apparently one of the members in the delegation saw this happen!

Indian culture puts the onus on the younger person to approach the elder and more experienced one as a mark of respect. Jolly good indeed! Totally another matter that in these gatherings everyone walks around greeting everybody else. Well, in the west its called socializing.

Interpretation for sound and show purposes apart lets simply look at the schedule of President Obama at the G-20 on Wednesday and Thursday. Here below are two links to the 2 day schedule released by the White House Press Secretary.

President Obama's Wednesday G-20 Official schedule

President Obama's Thursday G-20 Official schedule

Let me pick out a few engagements from both these schedules.

On Wednesday:

11:45AM The President meets the Russian President @ Winfield House
02:00PM The President meets the Chinese President @ Winfield House
05:35PM The President meets HM Queen Elizabeth II @ Buckingham Palace

All of the above are very important engagements. The fact that Mr. Obama chooses to meet the Russian and Chinese leaders at his residence in London on the same day that he meets his host the Queen speaks to the importance that the administration attaches to these countries.

On Thursday:

08:00AM The President meets the South Korean Prime Minister @ the summit sidelines
09:50AM The President attends the G 20 plenary session
03:45PM The President meets the King of Saudi Arabia @ the summit sidelines
04:30PM The President meets the Indian Prime Minister @ the Summit sidelines

Now there are two ways of looking at this. Either the glass is half full or half empty.

The half full glass is that the President did choose to meet the Indian leader at the G20. On the whole he perhaps met only a handful of leaders among the 20 or so leaders attending the summit.

The half empty glass is that the US is not going to give as much importance to India as it got from the previous Bush administration. It simply showed when the US leader met only the Russian and Chinese leaders on the first day. For all the achievements that India has made post 1991, we still have a long way to go before our voice is heard at such forums.

The Bank of China Governor publishes an essay on the Bank's website and it catches wildfire all over the world. Our opinion is barely heard even in the Indian press, which is more concerned with silly things like who walked up to whom.

Pakistan's Quid Pro Quo, India's headache

2009-03-28T18:24:00.007-05:00

Renewed focus on the Afghan war theatre was welcomed by the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. And its not difficult to understand why.

US President Barack Obama, breaking away from the laser sharp focus on the economy, brought out the much awaited new Afghan policy. And this is what Pakistan's Prime Minister had to say.

"We also want a regional approach because regional issues can be resolved with the support of regional powers. We are in favour of this policy. They (Americans) have accepted our position (that) army action alone is not a solution for all these problems."

Why would he not want a regional approach. America's renewed focus will give Pakistan another reason to milk the American cow. And this time it will be more than just money.

A lot has been written about Obama's Afghan policy and what he is willing to give Pakistan for cooperation. During the Bush years, India enjoyed an hands-off Kashmir American policy. But now, the Indian leadership is working out all possible nightmare scenarios for Indian diplomacy in the coming years.

The US point person for Afghanistan-Pakistan when asked about US interests in the Indo-Pak row, said the US was not interested in interfering. That put to rest any immediate American adventurism. However that does not rule out Pakistan asking for its pound of flesh when pushed against the wall.

These are tough times for the next government in India. Whether they like it or not, the "Global War Against Terror" is expanding into Pakistan right onto its border with India, especially on the Jammu and Kashmir side. Just as the Taliban retreated into the Afghan-Pak border to regroup amid supporters, the renewed pressure from America could push them to explore other safe havens or trouble spots. China's restive Muslim dominated provinces could be one and so could Jammu & Kashmir laden with sympathizers.

So, India will need all of its diplomatic skills to keep American at bay but when it comes to containing the spillage from across the border, India will need something more innovative.

Walking the Iranian Minefield

2009-03-26T19:16:00.007-05:00

In an interview earlier this year, the IAEA Chairman Mohamed ElBaradei compared the Iranian's to traders or bazari's. This according to him sums up Iran's relationship with the west particularly America.

Iran has a sense of history. They are an ancient civilization dating back to the Greeks and Romans. Not mentioned most of the time is their pre-Islamic past. Until the Europeans found a way around the middle east, Iran was a big trading nation apart from being an advanced civilization. Iran is not like the other typical Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia whose existence does not pre-date the second world war. So understanding Iran and its reactions to the west must be seen through this prism.

The axis of evil conjured up by the former Bush administration does a great disservice not only to Iran but to America itself. Putting Iran and North Korea in the same basket exposes one's ignorance or perhaps arrogance.

While North Korea behaves like a child craving for attention whenever it feels the world is not paying any attention, Iran on the other hand behaves very differently. Most readers would notice that while the Iranian leaders sabre rattle sometimes, they do not push their luck. They know when to up the ante and when to cool things down. And they have wisely kept in touch with the European governments and not hesitated to cooperate with the US (clandestinely) in Afghanistan.

So all this talk by the right-wing punditry that Iran is the next looming danger is utter nonsense. Unlike North Korea or even Pakistan, Iran is not a failed or failing state. Unlike North Korea or Pakistan, Iran has an elected government. May be not the way the west wants it to be but nevertheless it is the closest to a democratic country in a big list of Islamic countries.

The Iranian's, rightly pointed by Elbaradei, are traders. Which basically means they will haggle until they get the right price. People familiar with haggling will know what I mean!

The US must understand that haggling with Iran is a very sophisticated game. The Iranian's are masters at this by sheer experience. The US must be very very careful while dealing with Iran or it risks loosing the game.

Sec. of State Hillary Clinton has her task cut out for her. In fulfilling the President's campaign promise to deal directly with Iran, she has already revealed few of her cards. Iran knows that the current administration is committed to a dialogue of some form and will try its best to get Iran to play ball. After all, the administration will not want the hawks to say - "We told you so!".

Iran will extract the maximum from the west for every step it takes to meet them somewhere in the middle. This directly fits into the supreme leader's hawkish posturing on the no-change that he sees in America's attitude towards his country.

Mrs. Clinton will do good by advicing her boss to use both the carrot and stick judiciously and not trip over himself trying to reach out and grab the Iranian hand.

An Angry President

2009-03-24T20:35:00.003-05:00

I just finished watching President Obama's news conference. And like most others was struck by his rather "not so cool" answer to CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry's follow up question on AIG.

I used to always wonder how the President and for that matter any President would remember lengthy questions with multiple add-on questions tagged along. But they do. Sometimes they answer in the order they prefer rather than the order in which the questions were asked, nevertheless they still get to them.

But in this case when Ed Henry asked two questions, one dealing with the budget and the budgetary deficit projected by Congress and the other dealing with AIG. The President neatly side stepped the second giving a lengthy answer to the first one. And when Ed pressed him on it, he just lost his cool.

Though his answer was logical, it was'nt genuine. And this begs the questions - What did you know Mr. President? And when did you know it?

While pundits kind of agree that he had no choice but to side step the question, I tend to disagree.

While commentators like Paul Begala and Roland Martin trumpet his so called being in touch with the people strategy, I always believed he will drop this strategy when it was of no use to him. And he did just that. Instead of coming clean and open, he shut the lid on Ed's question tight.

The President, from the beginning, should have stayed out of this "I am outraged" tournament in Washington DC, conducted in the AIG Stadium. It should have been handled at the Treasury department instead of at the White House. But by jumping deep into it just to please the gallery before trying to make a quite exit, came off clumsy.

Mr. Obama should not play to the polls.

Blame AIG Carefully

2009-03-18T21:25:00.003-05:00

I happened to see the congressional subcommitte (Capital Markets, Insurance, Government Sponsored Enterprises) hearing on the AIG bonus issue today. And I was surprised by the opening lines of the Chairman Paul Kanjorski of the committe.

He was effusive in his praise of Mr. Liddy and went on to say that he was saying all this just so that its part of the records. Well, Mr. Liddy anyways deserved that praise, for being the CEO without pay of AIG.

However, late in the evening, it became apparent that the culprit was the very congress and administration that was playing holier than thou.

Congressmen and the administration officials, including the President himself were tripping over each other taking potshots at AIG and how greedy these people were. Going so far as asking them to kill themselves like the Japanese!! How dramatic!

When given a chance to set the law straight, the administration and the democratically controlled congress bailed out on their responsibility. But today act as if they had nothing to do with any of this. How lame!

And why may I ask is the President jumping into each and every decision made by each and every CEO? What is his Treasury Secretary there for? Warm his bench? Actually no, he is busy drafting bills which will come back to bite him later!

Its best for the President to concentrate on bigger items and leave the handling of errant companies to his cabinet.

Otherwise he will be dragged into every hiccup before eating his own words.

Time to fight is over

2009-02-27T17:03:00.004-05:00

There has been a big hue and cry over the current impasse in Sri Lanka. The tamils in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu feel for the tamils in Sri Lanka and their struggle for equal rights.

Its after all a worthy cause since the Tamils in India themselves enjoy lot of freedom and contribute immensely to the Indian nation. Alas! the Tamils in Sri Lanka have been treated as second class citizens first by the majority Sinhalese, post independence from Britain and then as pawns in the violent power struggle by the militant LTTE.

I have been having back and forth conversations with a friend who is a die hard supporter of the tamil cause and is annoyed with the current Lankan crack down on the LTTE.

And every time I tell him this. Do not confuse the tamil cause with that of the LTTE. The LTTE is part of the tamil movement in Sri Lanka and not the other way round. The LTTE has tactfully made it look like that, but local Lankan tamil parties do not see it that way.

There was a time in the past when the utility of an armed struggle was very much in relevance. A kick in the back side of the ruling establishment was very much the need of the hour and they got it.

However, the utility of an armed struggle has passed and the law of diminishing returns has kicked in long ago.

Now, the fight is not only hurting the government but also the very people the struggle had sworn to protect.

After all, we all must remember the prime objective of all this. The prime objective is to get equal rights for the Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka. While a separate Tamil Eelam is one way to get that, its not the only way.

The Tamil Eelam is a classic example of the means hijacking the end goal.

If the tamil cause can be achieved through a negotiated settlement today without further violence, it should be explored.

The armed tamil groups should give up violence and join the political mainstream, as equals. The Sri Lankan government must push through political reform and devolve powers to the states. An Indian governing model is the best bet for Sri Lanka.

So what should the tamil parties in India do? To start with they should stop using this cause like a political football game. If they really were so interested in the tamil cause, they would not have waited until the LTTE got cornered by the Lankan forces.

Its shameful that they sleep for years and then wake up when the Lankan army makes advances. Were not the tamils in Lanka suffering all this while? What stopped the tamil parties from asking the LTTE not to violate the earlier ceasefire agreements? Why did they not condemn the LTTE when they killed other tamil party cadres.

The tamil parties in India have long confused the welfare of the Sri Lankan tamils with that of the LTTE.

Its about time they stepped up and addressed the actual cause.

A smooth landing with President Obama

2008-11-15T23:15:00.013-05:00

This year's US Presidential election gave the people two beautiful choices.

A veteran with the country fist selling point versus a change candidate with a breathe of freshness.

Whatever may have been the reason for voting for either of the candidates, it is time to consider the unintentional consequences coming out of either of the candidates ascending to the Presidency.

America is at a crucial junction. A cross road on its super power highway.

The current President George Bush perhaps unintentionally through his twin wars has hastened America on the road far too quickly that should have been done.

Consider this, there are two motions going on in the world today. One is the slow but steady movement downwards for America from its current position as the world's only super power (post 1991) and the other is slow but steady movement upwards for the world's other potential powers.

The consequences of the two wars and the economic meltdown has sucked the power levels of America. The US is unable to flex its muscle and push its interest around the world today. So, the US, is faced with a dilemma on which road to take given that both those roads will eventually lead it to an age where it would share power in a multi-polar world.

How does this fit into the Presidency of these two men - Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain ?

Given the eventual decline in power, the choice will impact the choice of the road.

Which road should America take ?

The choice is between a road where America will try everything necessary to keep her hold on power for as long as possible. Basically when the time comes, she will have to be dragged down kicking and screaming. Simply put, there are those who believe that since power is anyways going away why not enjoy its fruits as long as possible.

The other road is where America realizes that whichever road she takes, time is still running out. So why not use this opportunity to work out an understanding with the other potential powers right now when she still has the strength to push her interests rather than later when not only will she be weaker but the othesr will be stronger. The flip side of this is that the pie has to be shared starting now.

Given the state in which the country is in today, it cannot afford to go down the first road. It would be akin to a drowning man's last gasp for air.

A McCain presidency in my humble opinion will be more inclined to take the first road. While the Obama presidency, simply to be different from Bush's policies, is more inclined to take the second.

Whatever may be the reason, the era of reckless flights of American power is about to end.

The choice of Obama will ensure a smooth landing.

Congrats America

2008-11-04T23:45:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to America on her first African American President in history.

Sen. Obama ran a tight ship and was amazingly on message and sharply focused. And the current President's unpopularity helped push his ship even further.

Sen. McCain, against all odds tried in vain to get around the anti-incumbency factor. He would have made a good President.

Good luck to the new President for he has a lot of promises to keep.

India's Mission Moon

2008-10-21T22:51:00.005-05:00

Awesome launch. Really fantastic. It makes every Indian proud.

Congrats to all the scientists @ ISRO for their tireless efforts towards making this launch a success.

Innovation, Discovery and Exploration are the only keys to a Nation's future.

If the western powers in the 16-17-1800s (Spain, Portugal, UK, etc) had not allowed their people to undertake brave new missions in search of lands beyond the high seas, the world would have been different and some of these nations would not have become dominant powers in the previous century.

There are lessons to be learned from every page of colonial history.

I will close this post with those famous lines from my favorite Star Trek series :

Space... the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Dont oversimplify it Ms. Campbell Brown

2008-10-14T11:26:00.008-05:00

Commentary: So what if Obama were a Muslim or an Arab?

This is a very obvious question. And any person, we should assume, will say - NO.

No, it does not matter what a person's religious belief is. No, it does not matter what his or her faith tells them. No, it does not matter what edicts guide the person in troubling times. No, it does not matter how he or she had reacted to crisis in his or her life and how faith played a part in it.

None of the above matters because the liberal Campbell Brown says so.

Campbell Brown, to suit her own ideas, is over simplifying it and so makes it look like a no brainer question. Unfortunately it is not.

A nation like America was founded on the principles of a New World for the free, by the people escaping Europe's generational indulgence by the Monarchy, Aristocracy and the Religious.

So, in today's world. Lets assume I as a voter was given a choice between two people, one who's faith has gone through the rough and tumble of history, a faith at one point in time was used to rally people for a common cause, a faith that has now mellowed down and adjusted to modern interpretations and the other who's faith still believes in eliminating non-believers, a faith that disagrees fanatically with anyone or any entity that does not agree with its interpretation of God's words, a faith that clashes with other religions at the drop of a hat be it Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism.

Now tell me, should it matter ?

Someone said in the comments section - Its not like the Sharia law will be implemented the next day ? Its true and he is right. But just because the threat of Sharia is not imminent does it mean I should vote for someone who's faith preaches exactly opposite to what I believe.

Its as ridiculous as saying that a candidate's economic plan does not matter when voting for him or her. The candidate's plan tells us what he believes will work for the country and its people. It tells us which direction he will take the country. And his believes, not just his religious beliefs, gives us a fair idea of how he would react when the sky comes crashing down.

So, it does matter Ms.Brown. Maybe not to you. Perhaps in your eagerness to show off your liberal secular credentials, you might turn a blind eye. But there are others who might find it disconcerting when a candidate believes in things that might be harmful to the very foundation of this country.

Biden's Gaffes

2008-10-04T23:00:00.004-05:00

Like most of you, I was glued to the television on Thursday night watching the Vice Presidential debate.

Throughout the debate, I was watching out for those gaffes from Senator Joe Biden.

Here below are the few I spotted.

Instead of saying Polar caps...he said "Polarized caps" !! :-)))))

Next gaffe....

He said Pakistani missiles can reach Israel ! That is not true. If Pakistani nuke missiles could reach Israel...we all know what Israel would have done by now !!

Next gaffe...

Biden quoted a US General in Afghanistan as saying that the surge wont work there.
Then Joe said...quoting the same general that he instead asked for more troops !!!!
Whats the diff ? either its a Biden gaffe or the General's gaffe !!!!

Case for an Indian Confederate

2008-09-13T23:54:00.004-05:00

The recent and continuing terror attacks against the Indian nation seems to have exposed the utter failure of the Indian nation top to bottom.

Fractured parliament, reflecting the fractured people, has not been able to put partisanship aside to tackle this ever growing gangrene. They are short of sense, a vision, and leadership. Sixty years after independence and the creation of the republic, India is still groping in the darkness trying to turn the light switch on. And every time she tries, she accidentally sticks her finger into the power socket, getting a big power jolt. Selfish reasons is preventing the so called leaders of the country from using their "soul light" to illuminate the path.

The immediate fallout of these blasts is panic and fear. Followed by a political blame game. The media would gleefully chime in. The government will try to act all serious until the media attention fades.

The long term fallout is political and economic instability. Some of the more economically prosperous states will feel the heat. Governments will feel inadequate to protect the state's interests alone and will look to Delhi for help. And Delhi, unfortunately, has been on vacation for a few decades now.

Progressive states, unable to tackle the menace successfully on their own and with no help from Delhi will come together on a common cause - Economics & Security.

To begin with the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh with setup a coordinating police committee to coordinate investigation and intelligence. These states would then attempt to pool in money to strengthen this arrangement into a full fledged security apparatus.

In the meantime, other states encouraged by the success of this model, will opt to join in. States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana will join this informal security structure. This bonhomie will then expand to coordinate on economic and finance matters.

Slowly but surely a sub-nation within the Indian republic will take shape. New Delhi, unable to get its act together will prove too weak to address this challenge.

One fine day, the Chief Ministers of these states will meet in Mumbai to form what could be the new Confederate States of India (CSI).

A new constitution will be established giving considerable powers to the member state governments. A quasi-parliament will be formed, similar to the Continental Congress, to handle foreign policy, Internal security and Economics. The rest will be state subjects.

Wild imagination or a possible nightmare ?

Unless India wakes up and acts fast, we will see something similar to the above very soon.

Jai Hind.

Vande Maataram

Whither the Indian Security establishment

2008-09-13T10:58:00.002-05:00

Yet another shocking serial blasts in New Delhi, the national capital. I cant find a better word than shameful to describe the security apparatus in the country. Barely a few weeks after the recent blasts across the country, the terrorists attack us at their whim.

What more is needed to kick the useless security establishment in its behind ? Do they need a nuclear blast from the country's own stockpile to kick some much needed but totally lacking sense between their ears ?

If this continues, the Indian state would eventually decay and whither away and perhaps would be shortest united Indian nation in history.

Perhaps we really need outsiders to keep us together and united (the British and the Moguls). I really hope I am dead wrong.

Passing of the baton - Cheney to Sarah

2008-09-07T22:49:00.002-05:00

I just realized that the incumbent Vice President Dick Cheney and the Republican contender hoping to replace him have one very important thing in common.

Guess what ?

Both are avid hunters !

Sarah Palin is a self proclaimed moose hunter from childhood.

However, VP Dick Cheney on the other hand is, apparently, a quail hunter.

Remember the episode when the VP "accidentally" shot a Texas attorney during one of his hunting expeditions.

Well, I really hope the VP hopeful, Sarah, has better aim than her predecessor !

Musharraf fails his first test

2008-09-06T19:15:00.002-05:00

Remember Pervez Musharraf, the former President/CEO/General of Pakistan.

Remember one his major selling points when he overthrew Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ? It was to clean up Pakistani politics and bring about genuine democracy. Well he just failed his first test.

What is ironic about all this is that the very position Musharraf gave up is now going to be occupied by the very same kind of person who the General vowed to root out of public life.

Public life and public promises have finally come a full circle for the former President.

Tale of two conventions

2008-09-04T22:17:00.006-05:00

With McCain's acceptance speech, the battle right royal for the White house begins. Each party has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged the other for a duel. November 7th, we will know.

However one thing I noticed between the two party conventions kind of surprised me. Both parties more or less had the same goal for the convention.

The democrats had one main goal - unite the party behind Obama.

So what did they do ? They brow beat Hillary into falling in line. Pushed President Clinton to retreat for now. They then orchestrated a unity of sorts and then brought in Biden to solidify the blue collar, small town voter base. They needed to do all this so that Obama could launch himself with the party's traditional solid base in his pocket.

On the other hand, the republicans had one main goal - unite the party conservatives behind McCain.

So what did they do ? They change the whole subject and theme of the election. Cleverly, they bring in Sarah Palin. A total conservative, with introductory pictures and videos showing her firing a gun, electrifying the party base. Up until this time, the hard core conservatives of the party were one foot in and other foot out of the Straight Talk express. But with this VP pick, looks like all are on board now.

This leaves McCain to take the high ground and play the reach out across the aisle game. Sarah's speech yesterday left no one in doubt who will be the lead attach dog and McCain's speech made it quite clear which group he will be targeting - Independents & Hillary Democrats.

Its very ironic that both candidates in this so called historic election have more or less the same issue - locking in their party base.

History is made - back to back

2008-08-30T18:37:00.016-05:00

And finally, as smooth as butter, the Democrats elected Barack Obama their first black nominee for President of the United States. A forgone conclusion, though the media would have loved to see some on stage drama during the actual process. None of that happened.

It was historic for both the Democratic party and the United States.

The very next day, the Republicans came back with their space in history. A little known Governor Sarah Palin, of a far off land named Alaska was named McCain's running mate. In an instant the Democratic side was eclipsed with this shocker cum surprise pick.

In the next weeks and months, we will get to know more about Sarah and see if McCain's choice for VP was based on political or other considerations. If he did not take into account the media hyped tiff between Hillary and Obama while picking Sarah, its certainly not obvious !

By all readings, McCain's attempts to pull in Hillary supporters may not work. Sarah is no Hillary and Hillary fans know that. I dont think they would be taken in by an imposter !

Hillary supporters will certainly not vote for Sarah for two reasons. One, Sarah is a hard core republican who is pro-life and pro-guns. Two, supporters of Hillary will not vote for Sarah and let this little known person take Hillary's place in history.

If McCain were to win this year then 2012 could possibly see a battle for the White house between Hillary and Sarah, if McCain chooses not to re-run.

An all woman's final !? Another history in the making.

Biden completes Obama

2008-08-24T16:34:00.011-05:00

Good pick by Obama. Sen. Joe Biden makes up for the foreign policy lacking in Obama.

It became a forgone conclusion once the electrifying foreign trip of Obama did not bring in the swell in poll numbers. Somehow the glorifying in Europe did not enthuse America.

Obama was left with to choose someone who would help blunt McCain's onslaught on foreign relations or pick his nemesis Hillary Clinton.

Personally I think the Obama camp, by not actively engaging with the Clinton camp, is walking a political tight rope. Obama, perhaps, thinks that the Clinton era is finally over and its now that of the new generation led by him. By not realising this the Clintons perhaps are not seeing political reality, according to Obama.

On the other hand, the Clintons especially Bill does not take too kindly Obama's attempts to wish away and ignore 8 years of his presidency. They probably are miffed that he would hark back to the Kennedy era rather than anything recent. This probably has forced them to dig in and wait.

Essentially both are gambling politically, Obama his presidential bid and Clinton his presidential legacy. If Obama is able to pull it off without Clinton's blessings, he would have pulled perhaps the greatest change over in the party's modern history. If he does not, as the Clintons had predicted during the primaries, it would not only bury Obama, it would revive the Clintons.

All this depends on how deftly Hillary handles herself and her die hard supporters. Any suspicion that she even indirectly encouraged her supporters and kept up the anti-Obama feelings in them, would come back to bite her. I don't believe she is stupid. I am sure she would play along until the right time comes about.

And so picking Hillary as his VP candidate would have been an unwise choice for both Obama and Hillary, Obama wanting a clean break and Hillary not wanting to do anything with his campaign if he were to loose in November.

Given the choices he was left with, Biden is the best one he could have picked. Biden would certainly fill in his foreign relations gap leaving Obama to concentrate on the economy.

Think about it, whenever McCain steams ahead in his foreign policy boat guess who would be there to stop him - Joe Biden. It will be quite funny and interesting to see Presidential candidate McCain having dog fights with his opponents running mate.

Squeaky squeaky soft

2008-08-06T20:42:00.014-05:00

Remember those soft toys children play with, the squeaky variety. The ones that are soft and squeaky when pressed much to children's amusement.

Well, thats exactly how India should feel right now.

Bangalore, Jaipur, Bangalore again, Ahmedabad, then Surat, the list goes on. And everytime there is a blast, the government squeaks up these "strong statements". "We shall not be cowed down". "We will give terrorism a tough reply". Blah Blah Blah !!

That one big wuss sitting and heading the Home Ministry should be unceremoniously stripped off this post. Shivraj Patel has been a utter miserable failure.

The Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi visited the injured in the hospital. A routine journey that has little meaning these days.

So what should we do to tackle this recurring senseless violence ? I am no security expert but I have seen violence long enough and have seen other nations tackle it effectively and I have learnt a thing or two from it.

So here is my money's worth.

First - We need to respond to every attack with a counter attack. The counter attack need not be like what the BJP government did after the Parliament attack. These counter attacks should be punitive, quick and precise. Ever watched the movie Pearl Harbour ? After the bombings, the US took months to prepare before entering the war. But President Roosevelt called upon his nation to report to duty with these words.

...From Berlin, Rome and Tokyo, were have been described as a nation of weaklings and playboys who hire British or Russian, or Chinese soldiers, to do our fighting for us. We've been trained to think we're invincible, and our people think Hitler and his Nazi thugs are Europe's problem. We have to do more. Does anyone think that victory is possible without facing danger? At times like these we all need to be reminded who we truly are. That we will not give up or give in.

Note the words in bold. The President not only spoke but he acted. The Americans flew a one-way bombing mission over Tokyo and landed in China. Roosevelt likened it to pin pricks but nevertheless pin pricks right into Japan's heart.

The one thing great powers dont do is not respond when attacked. Not responding will only embolden the attacker to come back for more. Indians know that quite well. Thats exactly why Israel never lets a punch go unpunished. The Gandhian / Buddhist philosophy perhaps will never work against a fanatical enemy. The British were a different kind. For all their faults, they were still human.

Second - India needs to strengthen her internal security structure. Which means she needs to overhaul the CBI. Give it more powers, more funds and expand its access. Right now the CBI requires an invitation from the state government. The new law should do away with it. I am advocating something similar to the FBI. I would like to further propose that the IB and the CBI be combined into one federal crime investigating and intelligence agency - answerable to Parliament.

Third - The right wing needs to tone down the anti-minority rhetoric. Its not helping. While they may be right in some areas, but this is not the time. There are other ways to express one's views. Btw, this goes both ways. Just as the Muslims expect magnanimity and understanding so should they also be prepared to give the same when required. The current problem in J&K about the Amarnath Shrine is a case in point.

Finally - The whole nation should be sensitized to the threat of terror. Whenever I get into the metro station here in Washington DC, I always here a polite voice over the public address system, announcing instructions on what to do to be a vigilant citizen. The general public are always on the alert looking for suspicious objects or people. Its no small wonder that mainland United States has not been attacked even once after 9/11.

I hope good sense prevails and the government finds the guts to push through much needed reform to revamp and revitalize the police force, crime investigating wings and the judiciary.

Appeasing the Chinese dragon

2008-06-18T20:34:00.006-05:00

The Chinese have done it again. Another stroll across the border aka LOAC in the Sikkim state have got the media chatter to high pitch.

"Chinese transgress into Sikkim again" headlined Rediff. "After Pranab visit, another Chinese violation in Finger Area" screamed the Indian Express.

The headlines themselves predict a pattern. Not of the Chinese but the Indian government. Inept, spineless, risk averse bunch of wusses. And mind you, this character is taken on by any and every party that comes to power in New Delhi. Be it the BJP, the Congress or the third front, they all wear bangles and sport around in skirts when it comes to China.

The Chinese are more than aware of it. And like the big bear licking its fingers dipped in honey, the chinese keep coming for more and India and its leadership obliges every time.

Any student of history would recall Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler's Germany. Hoping the problem would go away if they closed their eyes, the British buried their head in the sand wishing the ghost of Nazism would disappear. By the time Britain realized its mistake, Germany was well on its way toward total domination of mainland western Europe.

As Churchill once said "A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it" fits India beautifully. We never learn from our own history nor do we learn from world history. Thus we are doomed to repeating it and paying a very heavy price.

We have no dearth of leaders who are scholars. All of them can quote historical events even in their sleep. So, awareness is not the issue. Its application of that awareness.

A leadership that is risk averse is doomed to failing its people. India's leaders have failed her people time and again when asked to act and call the Chinese bluff. But they wont. They cant.

The tiger is too terrified of the Dragon. Lest it offends its northern neighbor, India desists from even using strong language leave alone force.

Everytime a news item like this one breaks, its the victim (India) which tries to downplay the news instead of the aggressor. This is so unusual. The guy who gets beaten up grimaces in pain but would not scream, lest it offends the ears of the aggressor.

Advice to the Chinese - please for heavens sake make more border violations. Why, take a whole battalion for a walk across the border. Do some shopping (duty free ofcourse) and on the way back send post cards from Sikkim to your party bosses.

The Runaway candidate

2008-06-11T19:49:00.005-05:00

Senator Obama is at it again. He has now dropped James Johnson from his Veep team after news of his personal finances found its way to the press.

The Senator reversed course after a failed attempt to resist pressure to act, something that has become his trademark response to anything and everything.

Deny Deny Deny, then cave in. He did that when the NAFTA-Canada story broke out, he did that with Reverend Wright, he did that with the Trinity United Church of Christ, he did that when his "bitter - cling" comments broke out, he did that when Rev. Michael Pfleger mocked Hillary and now this.

Surely the Republicans are going to see an opening here. The Senator seems to be giving a dozen sticks to the McCain camp to beat him with.

This is what happens when a "once in a life time" candidate comes by, sets lofty goals and righteous ideals, preaches like a pontiff and then eventually stumbles on this own steps.

Will Sen. Obama learn from his mistakes like he has been learning on the job these past months ? Time alone can tell.

Hillary's tactical retreat

2008-06-07T20:32:00.009-05:00

When she stepped onto the podium and endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee, it looked almost sad.

Sad for the millions of Hillary supporters. A huge relief for the delegates in the Hillary camp raring to endorse Obama. And the coming down of the primary curtains for the Obama campaign.

Obama can now finally look forward to the general election. He, for now, has the entire democratic party including Hillary's half right behind him.

However, having won 18 million votes, Hillary is a leader in her own right in the party now. She has now stepped out of her husband's shadow and will be a formidable politician in the American political arena for years to come.

People are already talking of her next avatar. Would she be the VP ? Would she contest for the Governorship of New York State ? Perhaps she would relaunch her bid in 2012 or 2016. Anythings possible.

Knowing the history of the Clintons, there is no soul who believes that America has heard the last of the Clintons, especially the tenacious fighter in Hillary.

A tactical retreat, for a bigger launch soon.

A historic moment

2008-06-04T14:49:00.005-05:00

A historic moment for the Democratic party. The first African-American candidate to clinch the nomination of a major party in the western world finally came about.

Senator Barack Obama, the Democrats and the United States are well on their way to complete the unfinished agenda of Dr. King and his movement.

The 'eyeStreet times' wishes the Senator and the party the very best for the general election.

Just as the Senator and his campaign never ran a campaign agenda based on racist division but on racial inclusion, so will the eyeStreet times base all its judgements on the Senator's achievements and policies alone.

Let the games begin.

Clinton defiant !?

2008-06-03T21:15:00.007-05:00

Finally the democratic primaries have come to an end. Just a few hours ago, Obama jumped over the magic number 2,118 to clinch the nomination.

A couple of minutes ago Hillary Clinton wrapped up her speech in New York. A much touted concession speech fell much short of the mark.

I did not believe she would concede defeat. Why should she ? She has more votes than Obama eventhough the wise superdelegates decided to go with Obama.

As I write this I am listening to Obama's speech from Minesotta. He just mentioned Bill Clinton's name, the second flattering remark about the former president in his speech. How unfortunate that he would not talk about the Clinton years during the primaries. This new found love for the 2 terms of democratic rule from the White House sounds puzzling yet interesting.

Hillary in her speech very clearly said, she will decide her future course of action keeping in mind the best interest of the party and the country. That is perhaps the best option she had and the best half concession she could have announced today. Nothing more, nothing less.

Calling this an act of defiance is nonsense. The MSM's love for the Obama phenomenon is unbelievable. They find fault with Hillary for not extending a bunch of flowers to Obama and begging for his acceptance. They forget that Clinton is no push over. She has a large following and a strong base in the party, spin it which way you want. Her supporters outnumber Obama's and he better take good note of it.

Any apparent slight towards Hillary or her supporters would cost Obama dearly.

Political expediency wins over new kind of politics

2008-06-01T13:10:00.009-05:00

So, finally Obama has succumbed to political expediency.

He just announced that he was walking out of his Church of 20 years. Oh! what a fall from grace for the Church.

Obama received wild and wide praise for this balanced speech on race just over a couple of months ago. The speech where he disagreed with his pastor's views but refused to disown him, the speech where he threw his white grandmother under the bus, the speech where he very ably tried to walk the tight rope.

That was the Obama his supporters loved. Any other politician would have dropped the hot potato for political reasons but not the great new leader. He would speak his mind to the people and the great american public would understand and forgive him. Luck him, they did then. They gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Couple of days ago, another pastor goes on the rampage from the pulpit of his church, yet again. This time people started wondering - why does Obama keep company with so many of these people who have opinions outside of the american mainstream ? Is there a pattern here ? Is there some dark secret about Obama we all dont know yet ?

Swiftly, the Obama campaign put lot of distance between their candidate and the pastor. Obama himself condemned the comments followed by the pastor himself apologizing. Compare this with the dance Obama did when Rev. Wright's comments came out earlier. Obama and his people have come a long way. No tight rope walking, no sermons on how good the pastor is otherwise, etc, etc. A surgical strike to take out the issue before it blew up any further.

And then they over did the kill.

Obama then quickly went even further and resigned from the Church. WHY !?

What happened now that did not happen in the past 20 years that he pushed himself to get out of his Church ?

Well, not much on the side of the Church but a lot on the side of this Church-goer. Right up until his Church did not hurt his presidential run, he stuck with it. Refusing to disown the church and his pastor using eloquent words and lofty ideals, he convinced the MSM and the people of his sincerity.

But as I had mentioned in my earlier blog, he pushed Rev. Wright out of his bus as soon as the Reverend used the "politician" word on him. How dare he (Obama) be called a politician when he touts his new breed and change mantra !

The problem with Obama is that he and his campaign have set themselves up to such a high level of expectation that any fall from that height would be near fatal. My humble opinion is that he will regret this if he did not tune down the rhetoric on this "Change & Hope" mantra.

This larger than life candidate could eventually be just that - too good to be true.

Why no to Obama ?

2008-05-07T16:57:00.004-05:00

Fresh after the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, I re-evaluated by support for Hillary against Obama.

Whatever the spin doctors may say, Obama has withstood the onslaught of the past weeks to win NC and to come within striking distance in Indiana.

So is the game over finally ? Obama supporters have been screaming for the past few months asking Hillary to quit so that Obama can sprint to the finish line and begin the race for the general election.

Personally I think the above is all bullshit. If Obama really thinks he is the nominee of the democrats then he should have done what McCain did to Huckabee. He should have a knocked her out of the ball park long time ago.

Instead he crawls around, allowing her to make repeated comebacks, leading to a suspicion that he lacks the deal closing trait.

Well supporters will argue that he did that this time. Well, I dont think so.

However this does not mean that Hillary is winning either. She still swings between near death and life. So her claim to the nomination is still weak.

Its interesting to note that for the democrats, choosing between two strong candidates battling it out, is not much different from choosing between two weak candidates who are not able to knock the other one down.

What a year for them when all assumed that the Presidency was destined for the democrats.

Just the other day, I was talking to my friend after Obama publicly distanced himself from his pastor in the strongest words yet.

Think about it. Whether it was last year when the Obama campaign began or the beginning of this year when the Jeremiah Wright controversy broke out in the press or even the recent speech by the pastor, I did not see or hear anything new that the pastor said or did that he has not said before from the pulpit.

The Obama, who did not find it necessary to condemn him last year, or even this year in this "race speech", suddenly found it necessary to condemn him after his recent speech at the press club. Why ? His pastor did not say anything new, except calling Obama a politician !

That did the trick. Obama got offended for being called a "politician". A term he uses for his opponents while declaring himself above such things.

It is shocking that this candidate who would not distance himself from his pastor earlier, would instead throw his grandmother under the bus just to prove that he straddles across races.

A person who doesn't loose half a chance to portray his so called non-politician credentials, plays politics when it comes to his association with his church and pastor.

A typical Barack Obama style of denying any wrong doing at first then making an almost apology before defending his earlier comments as a misread of what he actually meant.

No Sir. Even if I could, I would not vote for Obama.

Global Integration

2007-12-03T23:22:00.001-05:00

For the past few weeks there has been a discussion going on between me and some my friends on what truly constitutes global integration.

It basically started off with my assertion that Indian companies have a long way to go before they can call themselves global brands. Particularly global companies integrating with the global supply and demand. The Chairman of a leading Indian software major made an interesting point that his company was now a global player after it won a major European contract.

I was surprised to see how people use the "global" word so loosely. Just because one has clients outside of the country, rake in USD, Euro's etc and have presence across the world it does not automatically mean you are a global company.

My definition of a global company is how much of your workforce is global. How easily is your workforce able to integrate with newer markets and people. Does your company still pull from a monolithic work pool and pays only lip service to the global workforce agenda.

A vast majority of the companies do not pay much attention to cultural integration. At least this one company I know does not.

The part of the iceberg thats under water is the vast majority of the workforce that fumbles with working with non native cultures. The tiny minority that is visible above the water surface gets most of the visibility and so pulls in the credit for the company being global !

Well, this does not mean things are not changing. Yes, it surely is better than before. We have come a long way since the last 20-25 years.

However just as India likes to pride itself as a upcoming global power without much power to pack into the punch, so do our companies love to throw around the Global word without actually being anywhere close it.

So lets shut up and get to work !

India's powers of Seduction

2007-08-26T00:47:00.000-05:00

...coming soon.

Terror strikes and intelligence failure

2007-08-25T13:55:00.001-05:00

Yet another blast rocks India and Hyderabad.

It has, for most Indians, become a routine. Some years ago we used to hear of such incidents only in J&K. It later spread to the national capital and surrounding areas.

Now, finally it has moved down south. The south always escaped such terror strikes but now even this region is not spared.

I have been reading the comments by rediff readers expressing their deep anguish with this act and their anger at the Indian governments impotency. The need to use an Israeli model of retaliation is more and more gaining ground.

One relevant fact I would like to point out at this juncture is Intelligence. After the terrible 9/11 attacks, there has not been a single strike against the US mainland. It is not just the threat of retaliation that has prevented this, it is the intelligence gathering system that has worked overtime to prevent the attacks.

The terrorists, have now moved on to other weaker targets like Europe and Australia so as to hurt America indirectly.

The point I am making here is the lack of Intelligence information or leads that could have been used to stop such acts in India. After all, the plotters and attackers do not come from far away lands. They live amongst us in the country or are from our neighboring countries.

If our Intelligence system is not able to get vital actionable intelligence information from our neighbors then I really dont understand what is it that they are up to.

What is the point in being all muscular when our most vital 'organ' wouldn't help us when needed the most !!

All this bullshit of being a regional power and getting a seat in the UN, etc is all tall talk. We need to get our act together. Islamic militancy and the Naxalite problems are eating the core of the Indian state and all that we can do is morn and groan.

If we don't have the guts to retaliate then we should at least have good intelligence agencies that are able to provide early information so that these attacks can be prevented in time.

The IB is busy spying on the opposition leaders at the governments behest and the RAW is busy covering its "A" with high profile defections from its ranks.

Perhaps, I am being too hard on these organizations. But at the end of the day, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. No point gloating over past successes when the present is all messed up.

We need credible intelligence please.

Open the door in the name of the Parliament of the Republic

2007-08-18T01:39:00.000-05:00

A lot is being discussed in the media about the pros and cons of the 123 agreement and the resulting impact of the Hyde Act on India's possible future option to test.

Whatever is the outcome of th current rambling, I am happy to see Parliament after so many decades has finally started taking back whatever it lost to the executive.

Ideology or political posturing. Call it whatever you want. The current impasse in Parliament is a welcome break from the monotony of foreign and defense policy agreements and treaties sailing through the cabinet without ever reaching Parliament for approval or discussion.

Parliament should not simply approve money bills, amendments and budgets. They should increasingly question the executive in all areas of their operations. Even in those areas where Parliament was not involved before.

Parliament should take suo moto action wherever it feels that the executive is simply having too much of a free hand. This includes a lot of foreign policy areas sans Pakistan and the South Asian neighborhood which anyways find their way into Parliamentary discussions owing to their regional political connections.

Parliament should go into the DRDO's financing and operations, given that all these years tax payers money is being pumped into this white elephant without Parliamentary oversight.

How about pulling up the external intelligence agency (RAW) and questioning its operations or lack of it. I am surprised Parliament did not summon officers of this organization when a major spy leak was revealed much to the government's embarrassment. RAW was not created by an act of Parliament which should not stop it from being answerable to the legislature.

I am not a political left person. I am more right off center. However, the present stand taken by the left in Parliament is a good one. And I hope the BJP too is able to drive home their point without sounding too political or vindictive.

Vande Maataram

2007-08-14T23:58:00.000-05:00

India celebrates her 60th independent year and 150 years since the First Battle for Independence.

Wishes and Greetings to my countrymen.

Jai Hind.

The Indo-US nuclear energy deal, neatly explained

2007-08-13T01:36:00.001-05:00

A very nice analysis of the Indo-US nuclear energy deal. The author lays out the pro's and con's and discusses the fallout of the agreement, if accepted or rejected by India's Parliament.

Please do not forget to check out the "Related Posts", top right, on this articles page.

Read on.

Banning Orkut !!??

2007-06-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

Yeah ! I know, it sounds laughable !!

In this age of progressive liberalism and free speech, we have a few regressive elements in society who are in perennial reverse gear.

Everyday they come up with innovative surprising ideas that ages ago could have, perhaps, been progressive. Way back in B.C times !!

And now this ! This from the stables of Shiv Sena.

I feel sorry for these guys. Its a pity they can't tolerate differences of opinion. Its a pity they can't find passive forms of protest.

Love for one's motherland is one thing but stretching it to violent proportions is totally another.

Anyways, why should these "Hate India" messages be given free publicity.

Having preached all the above, I do accept that I too feel hurt when artists in the name of freedom violate religious sentiments of people. Be it the cartoons of the Prophet (pbut) or the paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses by M.F. Hussain, test the boundary's of religious tolerance.

But again there is a thin line between intolerance and acceptance.

We, in India, must raise the bar to higher levels.

Beyond the Presidential look !!

2007-06-03T20:35:00.000-05:00

I just finished watching the Democratic Presidential debate '08. It was held at the Saint Anselm College, Manchester in the State of New Hampshire.

All the expected issues were discussed. The Iraq war, troop withdrawal, Health care reforms, Immigration reforms, deficits, surpluses, state of the economy, global leadership of the US, etc etc.

Frankly, I don't have an opinion on most of the issues listed above save the war and immigration reforms.

Anyways, the only reason I watched the debate was to see how many of the candidates were straight shooters. I did not care much for the differences of approach and opinion between the candidates.

All I wanted to see was this - Did they answer to the point or did they beat around the bush.

For me, the person who took the 'beating around the bush' cake was Barak Obama. I must agree. He does look Presidential and imposing. But beyond the Presidential look, he did not impress me at all.

Most of his answers had a lot of "hmms" and "aahs". Seemed like he was forming an opinion in his mind as he was attempting to answer the questions. Not impressed at all.

However, I must add that most other candidates never gave answers to the point. For example, the question about what would you do in the first 100 days of office once elected, brought out answers that were 100ft above the ground.

Candidate Bill Richardson's answer was the most surprising. He said he would first deal with education reform, knowing that the questioner was a teacher.

Senator John Edwards said he would go around the world !! What ? Go around the world in the first 100 days ? That seemed like a backup answer to a curve ball question. So much for being a successful lawyer.

Only two candidates answered to the point. One of them was Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Another question was from a National Guard who wanted to know if his serving in Iraq was for a purpose or was completely a waste of time. Governor Bill Richardson went round and round without ever answering the question. In comparison, Sen. Clinton answered well and to the point.

The two candidates who impressed me most was Sen. Clinton and Sen. Biden. Both candidates came up with smart and forceful answers rather than verbose ones.

Senator Biden came out forcefully on the Iraq war and the need for the United States to act quickly to stop genocides and save helpless people around the world.

In the end, there was nothing Presidential about Barak Obama after he opened his mouth.

courtesy : pictures from CNN

Why ? What's wrong with the current President ?

2007-05-27T00:18:00.000-05:00

The Communist party of India wants the next President of India to be a secular, political person !

This is how Rediff, put it -

The Left criteria for a presidential nominee is that the person must have a political background and firm secular credentials. The future President must be able to exercise judgment to maintain balance between the Parliament, Executive and Judiciary.

I find that disrespectful of the current President. First, they declare to the press that they are not interested in a second term for President Kalam. And then they go on to add the above.

What's that supposed to mean ? Isn't President Kalam secular ? Do they think that the President has failed to maintain equilibrium between the three governing structures ? Or does it simply mean that he has not been obliging enough to the politicians.

If at all there is someone to blame for the imbalance in the activism of some of the governing structures, its Parliament. A body that simply does not have the guts and fortitude to legislate over important issues effecting the nation.

Parliament has simply degraded itself to becoming a body that passes populist harmful legislation. Simply put, Parliament simply kisses the 'A' of certain sections of the society.

The Communist party, a party that is present in a mere two states in the country has the audacity to pick issue with the country's favorite president and absolutely nothing can be done about it.

And I shudder when the name of the Lok Sabha speaker is thrown up for the post of President of India. Nothing personal but there is something not right about having a communist President. I'd rather have a President from the RSS, who cannot be accused of having extra-territorial affiliations than have a political President from one of those left parties.

I really hope good sense finally prevails and President Kalam is selected for another term in office.

White mutiny

2007-04-22T00:50:00.000-05:00

According to Indian historians, 1857 is known as the year of the first Indian Independence struggle. For Indians it was the first War of Independence, fought against the British to throw them out of India.

According to the British Archives :

The largest rebellion against British rule took place in 1857-58. It was known in Britain as the Indian Mutiny. This was because it began with a rebellion by Indian troops (sepoys) serving in the army of the British East India Company.

The 1857 war is extensively covered in the Indian school books. And every Indian knows it by heart.

Did you know that there is something similar to the "Indian Mutiny" ? It happened a full 25 years after the "Indian Mutiny" of 1857. It has been sighted as the most important event that triggered the Indian independence movement. It single handedly pushed the Indian social class of all colors to take a unified stand against British Rule.

In 1880, the British government appointed George Frederick Samuel Robinson, Earl de Grey and Marquess of Ripon, as Viceroy of British India. As soon as Viceroy Ripon arrived in India, and he set about initiating a major overhaul of the Indian covenanted civil service. During those years, even though Indians were very much part of the civil service, they were not permitted to conduct trials of white defendents in criminal cases. Ripon promptly set about drafting a legislation under which suitably qualified Indians would be allowed to try defendants regardless of the colour of their skin. The legislation was called the Ilbert bill, drafted by Courtenay Peregrine Ilbert, Law member of the Viceroy's council.

Promptly, it kicked up a huge backlash.

The British in India would have nothing to do with anything like this.

The atmosphere became charged up with a volley of inflammatory speeches.

"Under these circumstances is it any wonder that we should protest - if we would say that these men are not fit to rule over us, that they cannot judge us, that we will not be judged by them ?"

"Truly and verily the jackass kicketh at the lion. Show him as you value your liberties, show him that the lion is not dead; he sleepeth, and in God's name, let him dread the awakening."

Viceroy Ripon's reasoning was straight-forward and simple. Was India to be ruled.."for the benefit of the Indian people of all races, classes and creeds or in the sole interest of a small body of Europeans ? "

His reasoning rang no bell nor did the protests die down.

Letters to the editors of leading dailies abounded.

Wrote one to the Englishman -

"One's wife may be walked off for an imaginery offence and...what would more please our fellow subjects - than to bully and disgrace a wretched European woman ?...The higher her husband's station and the greater respectability, the greater the delight of her torturer."

Wrote another to the Madras Mail -

"Are our wives to be torn from our homes on false pretenses to be tried by men who do not respect women, and do not understand us, and in many cases hate us ?...Fancy, I ask you Britishers, her being taken before half-clad native, to be tried and perhaps, convicted..."

Loved by Indians but hated by his own countrymen, the Viceroy finally caved in.

But the damage had already been done. The attitude of the English and the contempt with which the natives were treated by them was now in the open. The blunt and no holds barred backlash had brought in the open what until then was a delicately balanced relationship between the races.

This single act on the part of the British had done irrepairable damage to the foundations and future of the British Raj in India. From now on there was no turning back.

The Indian Mirror said -

"For the first time in modern history, Hindus, Mohammedans, Sikhs, Rajputs, Bengalis, Madrasis, Bombayites, Punjabis, and Purbiahs have united to join a constitutional combination. Whole races and classes, who never before took any interest in the affairs of their country, are taking it now with a zeal and earnestness which more than atone for their former apathy."

Unknowingly the British had lit the fire that caught on to the hearts and minds of the Indians to form the Indian National Consciousness.

Sicked with the backlash and its fallout, an Englishman with the Indian Civil Service, sought to defuse the native anger and discontent. Two years after this incident, he called a meeting of the natives so that it might help them to vent and channel their frustrations.

And thus, the Indian National Congress was born.

The first meeting was attended by stalwarts Motilal Nehru, Janakinath Bose, Dadabhai Naoroji, Ranade, Pherozeshah Mehta, K.T. Telang, Dinshaw Wacha among others in Bombay in the year 1885, the 28th of December.

Said Dadabhai Naoroji, Lahore, 1893 -

"... I am an Indian and owe duty to my work and all my countrymen. Whether I am a Hindu or a Mohammedan, a Parsi, a Christian, or of any other creed, I am above all an Indian. Our country is India and our nationality is Indian."

Allan Octavian Hume is the founder of Indian National Congress.

Non lethal weapons perhaps ?

2007-04-20T19:10:00.000-05:00

The news of the massacre of students at Virginia Tech came as a shock early this week.

I come from a country where loss of life is daily news and most of us heave a sign, nod our heads and move on.

Nevertheless, a massacre so close to home and in the state I live in, was terrifying. My heart goes out to the students of VA Tech and the victim's family and friends. These are difficult times we live in.

I listen to WTOP radio while driving to work. And needless to say the news was all over the media that day. News reports, new findings, discussions, condemnations, condolences were going back and forth. And its in the midst of this came the words from the NRA's.

"The National Rifle Association joins the entire country in expressing our deepest condolences to the families of Virginia Tech and everyone else affected by this horrible tragedy.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.

We will not have further comment until all the facts are known."

I am not sure why they had to add the last line, perhaps it was due to a slight tug on their souls. A slight guilt perhaps ?

"Guns Dont Kill People, Its People Who Kill People", they say.

"No Gun Control. Its Self Control", says another.

I was doing some reading on the Second Amendment to the US constitution which states :

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

So what is the necessity to have a citizen's militia ?

Apparently in 12th century England, the King mandated all freemen to possess certain arms for defense. This was because 12 century England did not have a police force nor did it have a regular army. So the armed citizenry performed the duty of both.

But today, in the 21st century, both these conditions don't apply. America has a police force which is one of the best in the world. A police force that responds, protects and maintains law and order. A national army that is the strongest in the world. An army that protects America from any threat from any where in the world.

So what is the rational behind continuing to maintain the 2nd amendment in the law books, I fail to understand.

If the common man is equipped with such weapons, surely the police force would have to be sufficiently equipped to meet any challenge from such people who are armed.

Its only logical to keep deadly weapons away from the people and perhaps explore the option of replacing them with non-lethal weapons for self protection.

This option is certainly worth exploring.

Constituent Assembly - 2007 !!!???

2007-01-23T23:10:00.000-05:00

In his January 20, 2007 address to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala urged the Union government to rewrite the constitution of the Indian Union that was drafted and approved in 1950.

"...this government urges the Union Government that the Constitution of India should be rewritten afresh, having regard to the changing needs, while preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation..."

And the reasons that the government of Tamil Nadu gave for such a demand was...

...to ensure social justice...to provide for minority and gender rights...to implement true federalism...in the Indian Union.

This is what I told a colleague in office and I say that here too.

The constitution's drafting committee in 1947 was headed by a person from a humble beginning who rose to become a revered lawmaker. The constituent assembly was filled with freedom fighters, intelligentsia, legal luminaries, social activists and statesmen but no politicians.

If we cannot live and work with such a rule book designed by demigods, pray what would happen to this country if we allowed today's mortals in Parliament to scrap the present rule book and rewrite it all over again from scratch.

And my colleague responds - This very same people, with the very same ideological background, decades ago called for the state seceding from the Union. And their present call to rewrite the constitution isn't that dramatic anyways !! So whats the surprise !!

I hope India's destiny does not come to such a pass.

Parliament - Shame Shame !!

2006-07-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

What a bunch of self serving, sub-standard jokers. Sorry, but I am unable to find a word in the english language that could sufficiently express my disdain and disgust for our "great" parliamentarians.

I am at a loss. Readers are free to help me find that one adjective that could describe this ONE act of parliament forcing the President of India to sign on the dotted line. Forcing the President of India to give his assent to the "Save us parliamentarians" bill 2006 !!

No changes made in the Office of Profit Bill

Our founding fathers would be rolling in their graves. The only institution that is standing tall is the office of the President. The one institution that has been confered with the least powers, so as to prevent that one person institution from acting arbitrarily, has come to the country's rescue. The President is left to save the "spirit of the constitution" from the arbitrariness of the combined might of Parliament. What a shame !

Never in their wildest dreams (or should I say nightmares) our founding father would have imagined such a situation.

This is truly a black day for our country.

I do remember, when during the Prime Ministership of I.K Gujral, the government had recommened the dissolution of the UP assembly for what seemed like political gain. The Prime Minister had warned his cabinet that the then President of the Republic, Shri K.R. Narayanan would never give his assent to it. However the collective will of the Cabinet prevailed and the dissolution order was sent to the President for his assent.

The President promptly returned it back to the Cabinet for its reconsideration. Subsequently, good sense prevailed and the Cabinet backed down.

But in the present scenario, there seems to be total lack of any good-sense and probity in this act of Parliament. Our elected members in the Lok Sabha and our "wise elders" in the Rajya Sabha have let our country down. They have failed us, they have dishonored the founders of the Indian republic and burdened our future generations with this black mark. Shame on them. Do they even have an "inner voice" left.

Readers, please give vent to your feelings on this. We need to build as much support as possible.

Our Parliament must be stopped.

Our President needs us.

He can use all the support he can get and we jolly well give it to him.

(courtesy : pics from answers.com)

Information Censorship by the "democratically" elected Government of India

2006-07-19T15:42:00.000-05:00

What an oxymoron !!

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, Oxymoron means...

A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined.

We dont let half a chance pass by to gloat over our democratic credentials. How many times have we thrown the "we are democratic" phrase at our western neighbour. And how many times have our scholars reminded the americans that we are more natural an ally of the US simply because we value freedom and free speech, unlike China !!

Are you guys scrambling for cover now ? Its eat your words time, folks. The Government of India thinks it has this god given right to prevent its citizens from viewing certain internet content.

Yes, they think they know whats right and whats not. They are like the guardians to the gateway that leads to the information super-highway. Well, you can be forgiven for thinking that I am talking about an oppresive dictatorial regime here. Naah ! Its India. Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic of India !!

Here's a thought. Why dont you government guys censor the whole internet instead. And just give a list of sites that are allowed in to these ISP's. Easier for you and easier for the ISPs too. So that way we can go back to the Doordarshan days of Uno-Channelo !

And you know what ? I am trying hard not to take a pot-shot at the Prime Minister. But damn its getting too tough. Here is a technocrat who is totally alone in the cabinet. Each ministry doing as it pleases. No collective responsibility. Honestly I thought our first big experiment with coalitions under the NDA was a mess (at times) but this UPA coalition sequel is worse than messy.

The dept. of Telecommunications, who does it come under ? Is it again a minister from the south ?

We shall overcome some day...

2006-07-11T22:17:00.000-05:00

Scenes of chaos, pain, confusion and helplessness. Terror struck India's Mumbai megapolis July 11, 2006 and it struck hard.

I watched the clips published in the CNN website . The scenes of mangled metal and bodies being carried away was heart wrenching. What madness, what maverick heartless entity could have done this ?

Shame on them. Shame on whoever did this. Shame on their ideology (if any). If at all there is Judgement Day, these animals will pay.

As a concerned citizen of the republic, my heart goes out to my fellow countrymen.

Mother India, We shall overcome someday......

Audit the White Elephant

2006-07-10T23:32:00.000-05:00

Two snags in quick succession. The GSLV F1 and the Agni III missile. It must have been rather embarassing for the Defence Minister in whose presence the nose dive happened.

Anyways, I suppose setbacks are a way of life in the RnD field. Especially involving such complicated systems. Congrats to the scientists and wish you better luck next time.

Having said that, I must add that I am rather amused at the holy cow treatment that is given to the various defence and scientific establishments in the country. Be it the DRDO, the ISRO or the HAL and others.

Everytime, everywhere we read only news that praises their achievements but falls well short of asking hard hitting questions. Why ?

What is so sacred about these establishments that raises them above accountability and scrutiny.

Take for example the LCA (Light Combat Aircraft). Where are we on that project ? Very little is revealed except during the Republic Day parade when a model of the aircraft is dragged down Rajpath. I have not seen any movement or demo of the aircraft being reported. No news on user trials. Nothing whatsoever. Has the project been scrapped ?

Close on the heels of the LCA is the ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter). No news. What happened ?

Then we have the Trishul missile (if I am not mistaken) that went through a number of user trials before it was reported that the project was shelved. Quickly the government scrambled its media mandarins to deny this. The mandarins insisted that the project was alive, breathing and healthy.

Some years ago a news item surfaced alleging irregularities in the Nuclear Submarine Project. This was during the sacking of the Navy Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat. Apparently his request for a technical audit of the project was rejected by the Defence Ministry. Why ?

And you have others like the Sagarika submarine launched missile and perhaps others that are hush hush.

The Agni III missile that slammed into the sea apparently cost the exchequer Cr 1300Rs. A whopping amount to be left unquestioned. I am sure the GSLV and the satellites that it was to carry, have a heft price tag attached.

My point is not the cost. My point is where is the accountability ? Who is asking the tough questions ? Who is being grilled for the failures ? Why is Parliament sleeping ? Afterall, it was parliament that approved the budgets for these programs, so shouldnt they pull up the directors and question them ?

Bottomline, its the tax payers money that is going into these projects. Yes, they are laudable initiatives that are vital to the security and prestige of the country. But, that does not mean they can claim immunity. The whole idea of an audit is to keep check. And not only that, the audit should be tabled in Parliament and the relevant committees should go into these reports and taken action where necessary.

The media should be asking the tough questions rather than merely printing the press releases as news items. We need to ask hard questions and get open and bold answers.

Is someone listening ?

(pic courtesy Bharat Rakshak)

Kudos to the left parties in India

2006-06-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

I am not a great fan of the Indian left. My outbursts, in my previous blogs, against the left's attitude and ideology is ample proof to that.

So the title does not mean a change of heart.

Having said that, I should congragulate the left as they have demanded that parliament should be given more powers of supervision over the executive.

For the uninitiated, it looks like Parliament does not have any say when governments go about signing treaties that bind the country and the future generation to the "rules" of such treaty. Unlike in the US and other countries where Congress / Parliament / legislature should give their stamp of approval before it can take effect.

I am not a constitutional pundit. So, I dont know why such a big gap was left open in the rule books by our founding fathers. Nevertheless, it a big gapping hole that needs to be fixed urgently. Else the executive would take the legislature for a ride.

Case in point, the present Nuclear deal being negotiated between India and the US. The US law requires Congressional approval before anything can be done, but on the other hand in India, the government can go ahead and sign the treaty without Parliament even discussing it. At least thats the picture I get.

The lefts demand to amend the constitution to require all important treaties be approved by Parliament, is laudable. This would prevent the executive from walking over the head of the legislature.

I am sorry, but I have to mention this. ....

What in gods name is the principle opposition party doing ? How come the BJP is not coming up with such wise ideas.

At this rate, I am sure next time around, the left would form the government at the center and the Congress and the BJP would have to share the opposition benches !!

Welcome judgement

2006-06-24T00:50:00.000-05:00

I really cannot understand why government's in India interfere in every damn business / activity taking place in the country. They think its their god given right to legislate on everything. No matter how trivial it is.

I was pleased to read the news that the AP High Court quashed the AP Government order banning the screening of the movie - Da Vinci Code.

I am not going to get into the merits or demerits of the movie itself. That is for historians and theologians to debate about. And I am sure its going to be a perennial debate.

I am also not going to chide a section of the population for taking this movie too seriously. If you dont like it, there is nothing much I can do about it. I cant force you to see the movie or like the movie if you are dead against it. Its your whim and I totally respect it.

However, its none of your damn business to tell me NOT to watch the movie. Unlike everyone else, I have not read the book nor do I intend to. But the movie, I will watch. And there is no way on earth you can stop me or anyone wishing to watch the movie.

Enter the AP Govt. So protective of the offended section of the society, that it promptly bans the movie. Well, I should also add that I was peeved to learn that the censor board had invited these very sections of the society to watch the movie and give their opinion before it was certified.

How dare they ? The censor board did the same thing when it came to certifying 'Rang de Basanti'. Every movie would have someone objecting over something, but that does not mean you hand them a veto. This is plain bad policy.

It is as simple as this - You like it, you watch it. You dont like it, you dont watch it.

If you feel so strongly about the theme of the movie, why dont you go around educating the public as to why you think the movie is humbug. You could perhaps request them not to watch the movie. But a ban is no way to go about doing this.

The Vatican did not call for its ban. France, a catholic country, did not ban the movie. So why should India ? Are they more Christian than the European's !?

I am happy good sense finally prevailed and the ban was lifted by the Hon'ble Andhra Pradesh High Court. I hope governments in the other states like Meghalaya would lift the ban too.

Bottomline - Governments have no business regulating the personal choices of citizens. Nor should one set of the community do the same on the other through their so called unofficial special status.

Two words for the governments in India - Back Off.

How about a veto Rashtrapathi ji ?

2006-06-09T17:47:00.000-05:00

I just love it when all checks and balances in our democratic system fail in one go.

First it was the government. Then it was the opposition parties. Finally, it was the legislature, our parliament filled with elected members and elders. I did not see any judicial activism either.

Just when we thought all was lost, lo! we have our last hope in the system stand up and stand by the country when needed the most. All the others shamefully turn the other way leaving the President to step in and prevent injustice from being done.

The President very rightly sent back the Bill that attempted to save the seats of big wig political leaders from the Office of Profit law. For this Mr.President, I salute you.

Less said the better about the BJP led opposition. Its a crying shame that they are yet to get their act together. They jump into the streets for all sorts of minor issues but for this, they seem so paralysed. A few words here, a few words there is all that one hears.

The system of checks and balances that our founding fathers established has collapsed. Guess they did not imagine a day would come when even a coalition governemnt would be able to get away with acts of ommision and commision. Parliament has disgraced the country.

For all the tall talk that our beloved speaker of the lower house throws at anyone passing by, it is shameful that he is benefiting from this. And our very own Saint Sonia who is believed to be the sanest person in the congress today, has little to say. Where has her so called saintly advice gone ?

The Indian National Congress should rename itself has Indian anti-national Congress and the BJP should become the Biggest Jokers Party.

In all this tamasha, its left to the Rashtrapathi to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the country. And his logic for sending back the bill is water tight. And the next day we have our great law minister saying - the bill would be returned back to the President in its present form. What a character !

Its anyones guess what the President would do if its returned back to him for his assent.

Many legal minds have opined that the President would then have to sign it. While others say he could perhaps just sit on it. Like President Zail Singh did on the Postal Act.

And if the President did just that, we would have a grand crisis of sorts landing smack down in New Delhi.

What would the EC (Election Commision) do then ? Would they proceed to disqualify the members of Parliament ? Then would one disqualified member approach the Supreme Court asking it to direct the President to give his assent to the bill ?

I am quite excited these days. When democratic institutions cross turfs and clash, it is very interesting to watch. Wait and watch, promise there is bound to be fire works. Perhaps even a threat by the President to resign if he is forced to do anything against his "inner voice".

Anyways food for thought. Should the President be given veto powers. Should he/she be allowed to refuse assent to bills unless approved by 2/3rds of Parliament. Meaning, if the President veto's a bill presented to him by Parliament, the only way Parliament can negate the veto is through a 2/3rds majority vote for the legislation.

Keeping the fizz away from schools

2006-05-03T22:48:00.000-05:00

The recent agreement signed by the top three beverage companies to keep all fizz drinks away from schools is a welcome step. I was presently surprised to read the agreement, brokered by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, was finally concluded and agreed.

The report said that the elementary schools students would now be served only bottled water, low-fat and nonfat milk, and 100 percent fruit juice in servings no bigger than eight ounces. Certainly a much healthier option in comparison to the carbonated drinks that young adults really love.

Back home in India I remember, not too long ago, when a wave of 'pesticides in beverages' hearsay spread like wild fire, the sales of the top fizz beverages slumped like crazy in India. And the recent Consumers forum slapping a fine on one of the beverage company's holding them liable for a condom in one of the bottles sold !

India certainly may not be up there yet when it comes to regulating and monitoring hygenic conditions of their consumables but Indians sure could hold back on their most consumed/favorite drinks when reports surface questioning the quality of the drinks they consume.

We could very well start off by taking a leaf out of the AHG agreement and ban all fizz drinks from educational institutions. And perhaps our railway minister could then have them replaced with butter-milk in earthen pots.

A summit, A handshake , A few catch Phrases

2006-03-04T05:32:00.000-05:00

Summits between global leaders these days have become a media affair full of sound bites and catch phrases. Gone are the days when summits could be held in conference rooms behind closed doors. No amount of security or wall of secrecy can prevent details from finding their way out to the ever nosy press and media.

So why hide. Instead keep the press occupied my continuesly giving them information that keeps them satisfied. A gesture here, a few words there and smiles and handshakes everywhere, keeps the media bouncing around in glee. All part of a carefully orchestrated circus.

So, ended the media tamasha surrounding the Bush-Singh summit at India's capital New Delhi. And what a dramatic way to end the summit with a well written speech, eulogizing India and her democracy, delivered amiably by the President at the historic Purana Qila (old fort) of Delhi. The setting, to say the least, was breath taking.

And to add to the drama, Bush walks to the podium from behind the stage like an Emperor walking out of the Purana Qila in the background to address the gathered people. Whoever choreographed this one, should be congratulated. Good job. (Comrades should take the above description on the lighter side)

Anyways, a summit of such extravagant proportions surely belted out a few catch phrases and words that caught the media's web and also could be heard echoing off everyones lips.

The most hackneyed word was "Perpetuity". In the run up to the summit even before Bush had entered the South Asian airspace, this word was thrashed all around in the print and visual media. Would the reactors be open to inspections in perpetuity, would nuclear fuel be available in Perpetuity, should India even be accepting this Perpetuity clause, etc etc.

Arundhati Roy's "...pint of blood..." phrase that she used to describe Bush's visit to the Raj Ghat made a impression on me. And it was negative. Its totally within your rights to express your opinion but for a booker prize winner to use such dramatic words seemed a bit awkward and crude, to say the least.

Ofcourse the twin words of "Imperialism" and "Bush go Back" kept up the protests till the very end. Surely the Lefts love for age old concepts and outdated phrases is quite apparent with the usage of words like "Imperialism".

News just in, the magic words that Bush conjured up to get the deal through - "I want that Deal". This magic incantation, according to the media, was whispered into the Indian national security advisor's ears by Bush, as soon as he alighted from Air Force One !! Word of caution, this magic incantation does not work for everyone, it works only when uttered by a person holding the post of US President.

"Namaste", the fist word the President uttered from the Purana Qila. His apparent attempt to Indianize his speech as much as possible, worked. An applause followed.

"God Bless India", the last words the President uttered from the Purana Qila. I was hoping for a Jai Hind, but this is good enough.

India has entered the "World Stage", according to some media interpretations of this historic civilian nuclear deal. One of the most widely abused words. So much that it has become a joke to use such words nowadays.

Has India "matured" ? A naive question put to a three member panel in a TV program discussing the just clinched deal between India and the United States. The day India stops saying that the US would help her become a global power, that is the day when we can call ourselves mature. Interesting reply from one of the panelists.

Until then, India would still be in her teens, quipped Omar Abdullah.

To deal or not to deal, that is the question

2006-02-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

I have been watching the news and discussions on the Indian national TV networks about the imminent arrival of President Bush to India. Completely peppered with discussions on the Civilian nuclear energy deal, there is no dearth of analysts with opinions.

However, I wanted to hear it from the horses mouth. So I turned on the Doordarshan channel telecasting the Rajya Sabha proceedings where the Prime Minister was making a statement on the progress of the deal with the United States. Unfortunately, I couldnt make out a word of what the PM was saying. So I turned to the proceedings of the Lok Sabha where the PM was making the same statement after finishing off at the Rajya Sabha. No luck there.

Fortunately, the newspapers next day carried the PM's statement. So I went over it once again. Reading it line by line to find out why according to the PM's "enlightened" national interest should India be inking this hyped deal.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The statement was as general and vanilla as possible. The only possible essence I could gather from the PM's text was that he did not want India to miss this historic opportunity to get back onto the nuclear mainstream after so many years in the wilderness. Apparently, the government believed that India's nuclear winter was about to get over.

To be honest, I had earlier come across similar sentiments expressed by one of our leading strategic experts Mr K Subramanyam in one of his earlier columns. But my key question is what is it that India will get once it becomes part of the mainstream.

In chorus they say - civilian nuclear technology. Oh well ! thats a no-brainer. But what, pray, may I know will we do with this technology.

I was hoping the Prime Minister would tell the "august house" and through them the country the merits of such a deal. Instead of the wishy-washy words, I was hoping to get some information on the concrete advantages that would accrue to India.

The Hindu news daily carried an opinion piece that talked about exactly this. France's 75 % energy needs is presently being fulfilled by its nuclear power industry. So may be the Indian government was looking to emulate such a strategy. However, calculated the author, the amount of power energy that would be generated using imported nuclear fuel and technology would be miniscule even when extrapolated to year 2050, that it absolutely does not make sense to go through so much trouble to ink this deal.

The advantage, says the author, is for the americans who are looking to revive their dormant nuclear energy industry and also to get a fresh influx of new talent in the form of the Indian scientific establishment.

If this were true, then I would believe that India's scientific and nuclear establishment would become an important part of any future nuclear advancements and inventions. This looks very tempting. Usage of such advancements in space exploration, and other fields would be tremendous.

However, I am still waiting for the government to come up with the clinching arguement that would slam shut the case. The american president is arriving tomorrow and I am still waiting.

Needless to say, I am not going to sway either way based on some anti-americanism that so much plagues the leftists, muslim groups and other interest groups in our country. The same Hindu news daily carried the opinion of Arundhati Roy. With all due respect, the opinion piece lacked substance though it was high on English. Judge for yourself, though.

The american involvement in Iraq or the so called imperialistic designs that colours all analysis made out by some political interest groups in India, is not going to guide my opinion on this issue.

Its Supreme National Interest, nothing else.

Will the Prime Minister please enlighten us ?

Mr. Prime Minister you are summoned !

2006-02-13T01:31:00.000-05:00

Living around the Washington DC area, I have had the privilege of watching from close quaters, the workings and trappings of the world's most powerful democracy. And I must say that I have come away with the opinion that the World's biggest democracy can learn a few from the world's most powerful one.

Yes, I know. The above paragraph would have provoked howls from the leftist in India - Calling it a sell out. But honestly, doesnt our dharma teach us to learn from whoever has something to teach ? So why all the fuss ?

Anyhow, from quite sometime now, I have been greatly enthused by the concept of seperation of powers between the various arms of a country's pillars. As every school student knows, the three arms of democracy are - the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. In India, the Legislature is Parliament, the Executive is the President and the Judiciary is ofcourse the Judges.

Unlike in America, where the seperation of powers is - thicker. In India, the seperation between the Executive and the Legislature is not - that finely defined, in my humble opinion. The Executive is actually the President and his/her Cabinet Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The Cabinet and the Prime Minister are ofcourse members of Parliament. Whereas in the American case, the President and his/her cabinet are not part of the legislature.

Anyways, my point being that in the US, the Congress (parliament) always acts as a check against the President misusing his/her powers or over stepping his duties or getting overzealous with a few laws.

The present spying case going on is a case in point. Congress has summoned various "cabinet ministers" to question them on this case. Any of you interested can watch it on C-Span.

Alas ! in India I dont see any of this "Parliamentary" activism. I was hoping to see parliament take cognizance of the oil-for-food scam involving a senior minister and so order an enquiry conducted by one its standing commitees. Why should the opposition clamour for an enquiry by the government. They should have asked the chairman of the relevant Standing commitee to summon the involved minister and various department heads in the foreign ministry to get to the bottom of this.

Take the case of the French vessel anchored off the Indian Coast, waiting for the Supreme Court's verdict. What is parliament doing. By parliament, I mean Parliament. Not the government, not the council of ministers but the legislature. There surely should be a parliamentary committee on environment or health that looks into these issues. Why is that committee sleeping. Should'nt it summon the Shipping minister or commerce minister and give him/her an earful.

So that brings me to an interesting point. Two parliamentary sessions have passed but the Prime Minister in his infinite wisdom has not kept parliament informed of the Indo-US nuclear energy deal and the draft that is being worked on. Imagine that happening here in the United States. The Congress would have pulled up the relevant departments and given them a through dressing down.

But in India, what do we see ? The leftist threaten to disrupt parliament. The BJP led NDA seems to be clueless. And no prizes for guessing what would happen at the budget session of parliament. MPs would use their lung power to stall parliament until one side blinks first. And then its all back to normal until the next storm builds up.

Truth be damned, until some concerned citizen files a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court !!

If the opposition wishes to embarass the government they could still do so at the parliamentary committee hearings. The hearings could be open to the press and media. The members of the commitee could summon department and ministry heads and grill them. The left could even demand that the Prime Minister be summoned since he holds the additional charge of the Ministry of External Affairs. All this in the full media glare.

The founding fathers/mothers have empowered parliament with the power to pass legislation. Parliament alone can do it. The President cannot pass laws unless and until parliament concurs.

Its time Parliament became activist like the Judiciary. Else the present trend of the Judiciary eating into Parliaments domain would continue unchallenged.

Its time to serve a Parliamentary summons to the Prime Minister.

Rang de Basanti

2006-02-05T16:22:00.000-05:00

Yes, that is the movie title. And no, I dont generally make movie recommendations on my blog. But this one really blew me away.

Fantastic story line. I loved the retro-modern fitting of the Jallianwallah Bagh massacare with modern Indian state's high handedness. It has been depicted and stitched together seamlessly and perfectly.

Rakesh Mehra has done a wonderful job.

Ofcourse, there were a few incidents in the movie that I found intriguing. The movie seems to be taking a dig at the previous BJP led NDA government. This was clear when the ruling party men were cast running around with saffron robes around their necks.
Pic: MiG-21bis in the skies over Bangalore. [Copyright: Wing Commander R. Nambiar]

And ofcourse the other one where in, the Raksha Mantri was adviced to don an Air Force uniform and take a sortie in a MIG fighter jet to prove that the MIGs were Air worthy. Oh! What an open dig at George Fernandez !!

However what pained me was the total incompetence of the media in the movie. All that they were doing was reporting incidents. No investigative reporting at all.

Sad part is that its true even in reality. Hand outs from the various ministries seem to be passed off as hot news, when in reality these newsies behave like propaganda organs of the various arms of the government or parties.

For all the wasteful mannerisms we ape from the west, an activist media is something we are yet to ape. So much for crying hoarse about media freedom and freedom of speech and expression, I am surprised to see the Oil-for-Food scandal and the Mitrokhin episode fade away even from the media's memory. No scoop, no dramatic revelations, no deep-throat findings.

Anyhow, going back to the movie that took potshots at the previous government - is that why, the Raksha Mantralai led by the UPA government, not press their demand for tonning down the heat on the flying coffins (MIGs) !!??

Courtesy : Internet Movie Database, Bharat Rakshak

Societies fail because...

2006-01-19T22:33:00.000-05:00

I got the opportunity to listen to a lecture by the author, biologist and biogeographer Prof. Jared Diamond, on his recent book Collapse : How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.

An amazing lecture on societies and the how and what of their collapse. I am not going to get into detail on the whole lecture. But there were a few points that blew me away, which I would briefly mention below.

When one in the audience asked if he would recommend democracy over dictatorship as a remedy to society's ills, the author quickly said that it did not matter if it were a democratic or dictatorial leadership. As long as they were in tune with the society's changing wavelength and acted fairly quickly to their needs, it really did not matter what kind of governance was practiced. There were dictatorial leaderhips that performed quite well and there were democracies with very poor governance records too, he said.

He mentioned that great civilizations simply collapsed because the ruling elite were totally removed and shielded from the people they ruled over. So when the people suffered due to a drought, the elite would simply not understand the pain and suffering because they never got effected by such calamities. Until such as time when the people got disgusted and revolted.

So how do we find out if a society is going to fail. Is there any signs or symptoms ? Well, apparently there is. A secret american agency is working on this very same project, to predict the collapse of a society even before it actual started down that slope. If they could predict that, then one could effectively try to intervene and stop the downslide. This could help prevent the birth of destabilizing and violent forces from within these collapsing societies that could have the potential to unleash violence throughout the region and the world.

Apparently, the development indicator that gave an idea of a society's impending collapse journey was - Infant Mortality.

According to the agency, high infant mortality obviously meant that the leadership of the society did not care for the future generations of its own people. Sick and dying children forced mothers to stay home to take care of the children and that greatly reduced quantity the work force.

Moreover, an inadequate health facility would lead to low life expectancy for the general population of the society itself on the whole. So, as seen in some african societies where life expectancy is around 40, by the time an individual reaches 30 when he is part of a fully trained work-force, he has only 10 more years to contribute to the economic growth of the society. This compares very poorly with societies with life expectancy around 60 or 70 years where the individual contributes to the society for longer years.

I am sure his latest book on Collapse of societies is going to be very interesting. He is a highly recommended author by a good friend of mine and so I recommend this book to you all too.

Happy reading.

Independence is not an option

2006-01-14T14:23:00.000-05:00

Recently the MJC (Muttahida Jihad Council) a conglomerate of jihadi groups based out of Pakistan, met to discuss their kashmir strategy. Interestingly the group decided not to press for the implementation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir adopted by the UN security council more than fifty years ago. Instead they decided to plump for the "Independent Kashmir" slogan.

How innovative !!!

Meanwhile the President of Pakistan comes up with his usual sound bite solutions. This time is to have the Indian army move out of certain areas in JnK thereby assuring in peace in these regions. Oh! what a dead giveaway. Just stopping short of saying, we would rein in the jihadis.

Then we have our good old APHC (The All Parties Hurriyat Conference) that just does not know what it wants. All that it keeps saying is that JnK is a disputed territory and that its an unfinished agenda of partition. All words picked up from the Pakistani Kashmir doctrine, verbatim. All decisions to be taken keeping in mind the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Not sure what this "keeping in mind" means. Who should keep it in mind ? They, the APHC or the elected JnK government or the folks across the border in PAK and POK !

So here we have the major players from across the border and on the wall who have hidden agenda's but play with words to show that they are united. Pakistan wants to "liberate" and annex JnK as part of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The MJC now wants an independent Jnk (I suppose it also includes the AJK - aka POK). And the APHC wants the people to decide what they want although the people they are refering to are the ones on the Indian side of the LOC and not the Pakistani side.

The quandry that APHC is in, is understandable. They not only have to be different, they should also seem different to the people of JnK. They cannot be seen toeing the Pakistani government line, they cannot support the MJC and nor are they willing to listen to their own people through elections.

In the meantime, groups such as Lone's People's Conference, Yassin Malik's JKLF (JnK Liberation Front), Abdullah's National Conference are chipping away at the APHC block. Added to this the Indian government has allowed them to go every year to the OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) to plead their case before fellow muslim nations with dollops of help from Pakistan. And ofcourse every year they come back satisfied that the member nations have given them a patient hearing, only to be shown as Pakistani puppets.

Would they ever learn !?

One, JnK has no oil. So the conflict in JnK does not hurt the economy of any major country.

Two, the major sponsor of terrorism in the region, Pakistan, is not in good shape. Especially after Sept 11 when the United States threw out its bosom buddy in Afganistan. Added to that we have our friendly neighbourhood AQ Khan who has gone around the world Nuke shopping and nuke selling. Pakistant now has absolutely no credibility.

Three, an independent Kashmir which lies at the center of four nuclear powers not so well disposed to each other and with the world's super power breathing down heavily close by, makes one wonder what new great game could be in the making.

I come from India that gained independence from colonial UK. And it would be damn silly to compare India's freedom struggle to that of JnK. For one, India is not colonial UK nor is JnK a British India. There is a vast difference and for starters India was not equal to England or Scottland in the UK parliament. Whereas, JnK is fully represented in the Indian Parliament. India also had a Home Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister from the state. Why, one day we could also have Prime Ministers from the state of JnK.

People yearn for Independence when they are subjugated, not treated equally but as second class citizens. When their distinct culture and faith are progressively or violently eroded by the subjugating country or majority people. If one were to find places in the world that fit this description one need to only look for flash points in autocratic and dictatorial countries. Places like Tibet, Stalinist Russia, Pre War Germany, etc.

Not in democratic India. India invites the very leadership that nutures the ambition to secede from the Union, for talks. The very separatist group whose aim is to dismember the republic. Think of something like this happening in any one of the OIC countries. What would the Saudi leadership do ? Have they ever realized just how lucky they are to be talking to tolerant leadership.

Speaking of tolerance, the suggestion of Germany's pre-war leader comes to mind. He suggested that the only way Britain could keep her crown jewel India from getting away is to round up all the top leadership of the Indian National Congress and have them shot. And when the second rung leaders propped up, round them up too and have them shot. And go on shooting the upcoming leaders until none is left.

Perhaps even the so called hawks in India would not subscribe to such methods of crushing a separatist movement.

The APHC only needs to look at the Baluchi movement in Pakistan and how it is being crushed with an iron hand by the army. I dont hear even a whisper from the Americans !!

So what should the JnK people be offered. They have three options -

1. An Independent JnK. Which, due to its unfortunate location, would forever become the playground of the worlds major powers.

2. Get annexed by Pakistan. A country that did not have a democratic past, is not having a democratic present and has an uncertain future. A country that is the bedrock of terrorist violence that could soon possibly engulf its own sponsors.

3. Integration into the Indian Union. A democratic India where all cultures are respected and revered. Where all get their space to practice their faiths. An India that is economically growing lifting its poor out of poverty. A country where every state in the Union participates and contributes to advancing India closer to her tryst with destiny.

People of Kashmir, the choice ofcourse is yours but think with your head not just your heart.

courtesy : College of Liberal Arts - California Polytechnic State Univ, Univ of Rochester.

Should there be a 'Prime Directive' ?

2006-01-04T00:35:00.000-05:00

The Star Fleet General Order # 1 - The Prime Directive is...

The noninterference directive, prohibiting intervention in the normal development of any society. It also mandates that any Starfleet vessel or crew member is expendable to prevent violation of this rule.

This policy of non-interference prevents Starfleet from influencing the normal development of any civilization, particularly those that are pre-warp drive.

However, we have seen many episodes of Star Trek where the captain of the ship USS-Enterprise is forced to bend this Order or atleast create work arounds.

In today's world, we see this happening every where. Post industrial revolution and post colonialism when the concept of nation states and nationalism have taken deep roots, we look around and see nations around the world overtly and covertly pushing their ideas and advancing their interests.

And when questioned, these nations come up with wonderful ideas and answers that stump even a seasoned journalist.

At home, we see a direct involvement from across the border that fuels home grown disturbances into full fledged acts of terror and violence. And when questioned, these countries either completely deny involvement or simply say "we only extend moral, social and diplomatic support" to the cause.

Let us take a case thats more familiar. The western nations ganged up post-september to invade or liberate the people of Afganistan and Iraq from their authoritarian regimes. And when questioned, they give a moral answer, that beholdens all humans irrespective of nationality to come forward and relieve these nations from tyranny.

Well, they did that during the cold war times in Afganistan and now they are at it again.

Another case is Sri Lanka. India had, allegedly, initially financed tamil rebel movements in the island nation. And when questioned, India came up with the Tamil solidarity card. However, India got its fingers burnt trying this stunt and has not recovered yet.

Yet another case would be the Soviet involvement in keeping the eastern bloc of Europe under "friendly" regimes. And ofcourse the american involvement in proping up "friendly" governments in South America.

In each case, interfering governments came up with moral answers to cover their actions.

I for one, do not buy these answers. But for arguments sake let us assume that these nations did mean what they said.

So, would that still justify inteference.

However, noble the cause for interference may be, does that still justify the interfering nations right to get involved in the "normal" course of events shaping the history of the aggrieved country ?

Let us look at some more examples.

Lets us take africa. There are numerous conflicts that are plaguing the continent - The wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Human rights issues in Sierra Leone, Conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Genocide in Rwanda and so on and so forth. Some of them are results of external interference. But should the world watch as thousands of people die due to mal-nutrition, disease and AIDS. Should the world allow history to take its normal course and let the suffering peoples fate be decided without any alternative.

On the home front, should India been seen as being sympathetic to Baluchi resistance or to the Burmese democratic movements or should India back off and let destiny decide.

Should we have a Prime Directive ingrained in the nation's foreign policy ? Or is the Prime Directive a moralistic posturing that can never be implemented ?

Or perhaps, the World is not ready yet to make sci-fi policies, a reality.

India should resist Sri Lanka's overtures

2005-12-24T14:35:00.000-05:00

21 May 1991 - Rajiv Gandhi was campaigning in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was to address a rally at Sriperumbudur when a tamil tiger suicide bomber walked up to him, did a traditional indian salute, bowed low and hit the button. The waist strap-on, blew up the former prime minister and with it India's foreign engagement confidence to bits.

India's southern seaboard has been the most peaceful compared to the other two border conflict zones in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East. This has been the case for quite sometime now though this region had been a bloody mess years ago. India's hands-off approach on Sri Lankan affairs brought about by externally triggered incidents and by a risk-averse leadership has paid off handsomely.

Part of the credit also goes to successive governments in Tamil Nadu that have cracked down on the rebel menace and have been successful in keeping it that way. The present chief minister of Tamil Nadu state J.Jayalalithaa has been at the forefront of this effort.

Cut over to the present elections in the Island nation. The tamil tigers have strategically pushed the country to elect the hardliner Mahinda Rajapakse as its President by calling for a poll boycott by the Tamils. Now, it seems as though the Sri Lankan people have elected a sinhalese nationalist to head them.

I am not sure what the intentions of the rebels are nor do I understand the path the new President is taking Sri Lanka through.

The Sri Lankan President who is to visit New Delhi on Dec 27, has indicated that he would request the Indian leadership to play a more active role in the peace process. India should become an active part of the quartet - US, EU, Japan and Norway, he opines.

This offer by the President is very tempting. Given that India would love to jump at any chance to prove itself a regional power. I am afraid India would jump into the deep end without proper gear.

I am sure the security analysts would come out with a bunch of reasons for India to get involved.
Chief among them being:

- This is not the late 1980s when India was experimenting with regional power status
- India is now in a better financial and economic position to take on the role
- The world now sees terrorism in a totally different light
- Moreover India is now a nuclear power with an international status
- And importantly, it is in India's interest to have a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka, as its neighbour.

Given all those reasons and perhaps more compelling ones, I have a few of mine against India going the whole mile.

India pulling out of the island nation was due to lack of trust on both sides in the peace process. And with the two year old peace process once again faltering, its all back to square one.

(Pic on left : Soldiers of the IPKF leaving Sri Lanka in March 1990)

Both the waring sides should have some degree of confidence on the Indian "interference" that its only for their good and not for any self interest. That was not there then and I dont see it now.

The Buddhist monks and the Sinhala Nationalist JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) continue to oppose Indian intervention. And since the JVP is an important constituent of the present government, I dont see any light there.

But the one reason I still hold out higher than the ones given above, is the capacity of India to handle yet another hot spot on its borders.

One should remember that India is already fighting low intensity conflicts in the North and East. And one should read the series of articles by Ramananda Sengupta in rediff on the rise of Bangladesh as India's major trouble maker in the East, to understand what India is going to face in the coming years.

Adding to these two is the maoist violence in Nepal that has links to the naxalite violence in many of the Indian states.

Its quite a miracle that the southern seaboard has been remarkably quite and peaceful inspite of the Sri Lankan conflict.

The Indian government is duty bound to keep it that way and I dont see how its going to help if at all they decide to get involved in the Lankan conflict.

I really hope the Indian government and its security establishment resist the tempation to flex some muscle and continue the present course of passive support to the peace process and Sri Lankan national integrity and unity.

Mr. President (Sri Lanka) we would love to help but unfortunately we have our hands full for now.

Good luck.

courtesy : CR (Conciliation Resources), Net Photograph

Modern India's greatest singing legend

2005-12-11T12:22:00.000-05:00

What a stellar life for MS Subbulakshmi, the Nightingale of India.

Born Sept 16, 1916 and died Dec 11, 2004 - MS regaled music lovers with her divine voice.

Let us all join the nation in paying rich tributes to the great melody queen.

Should prostitution be legalized in India ?

2005-12-09T21:45:00.000-05:00

Well, for some of us the answer is quite obvious - is'nt it ? What is there to even discuss about ? In an ancient civilization such as ours......

I was reading this news piece in the BBC - India sex workers protest laws. What was the protest all about ?

"... law now proposes to "punish" people who are found in brothels for sex, among other things..."

I am not going to get into the moral angle of this profession (if I may take the liberty to use that term).

In the past fews years, the much abused SW's have come together in various parts of the country to form unions and associations to protect themselves and their way of lively hood. Something akin to union formation by industrial workers to protect their rights as workers, from being exploited by the employers.

This is perhaps, a very positive development since this single big step by itself signifies that the SW's no longer wish to remain in the sidelines of society hanging their head in shame. They no longer wish to be pushed around and pushed under. They would like their "employers" to treat them better.

The associations have time and again come together to protect their rights...

- when they took a huge May day procession in 2001, protesting the action by the Census Commission which included them in the list of beggars, vagabonds and street children.

- when they have educated and encouraged SW's around India, to refuse service (inspite of abuse) if the client did not wish to use protection.

- when they have come together to learn and spread AIDS awareness.

- when they have launched protest rallies to express their constitutionally guaranteed right to protest any government imposed law effecting them.

- when they have reached out to associations from the across borders to discuss solutions and common problems.

- when they have come up with measures to prevent trafficking of vulnerable woman

Like any other economic activity, this profession too has similar problems and issues that needs to be addressed by the government of the land. Governments in India have taken a very medieval view of this profession whenever they have been forced to take a stand on it. They almost always turn a blind eye to a profession which needs to be regulated by law and the rights of the workers to be protected from mafias and human trafficking goons.

With India being a very conservative country, this profession has been looked down upon for decades. And this has greatly hampered prevention of child prostitution and increased the spread of STD's.

Taking a liberal stand in this issue and recognizing this profession as an economic activity would greatly help the law of the land to step right in and sort out the mess.

Today, the government allows manufacturing of cigarettes but at the sametime has banned smoking advertisements and has passed laws ensuring cigarette manufactures display the "Statutory Warnings" in all packages. Somehow these two acts of government dont seem contradictory. May be we should take a leaf out of this book !

But the big question is, Is India and her people prepared for this giant leap ? Has Indian society attained those levels of liberal thinking that would enable forward movement on such issues ?

That, only the people can answer.

Natwar, please go !

2005-12-04T14:34:00.000-05:00

This is a simple request from a blogger to the Minister without portfolio in the Indian Union cabinet, to resign. There are several reasons why I dont want you as my foreign minister and in the Union cabinet and the Volcker report is just one among them.

Why should you leave ? Well, here are the reasons.

- You are an old war horse. Belonging to an old world. We need someone who pushes India into her new avatar rather than drag her into the mud-pit of cold war rhetoric.

- You dont seem to have any new ideas or vision. You are mouthing the same old Russia is our brother, beware of the west, lead the NAM, and love the middle east despite a zero ROI.

- Seems you report to Sonia more than your actual boss, the PM. Now, thats inappropriate and rude to Shri Manmohan Singh who is a new wine in an old bottle (thats a compliment to him, just in case you did'nt get it).

- Your demeanor is arrogant. And it has been so for a very long time. Even when you were in the opposition and were head of the Congress Party's foreign affairs cell. Your answers to questions from the media on television was downright rude and patronizing.

- Just because you belong to a Royal family does not mean you can walk like a peacock (thats a figure of speech).

- You are unelected just like some of your other colleagues in the cabinet who occupy important ministries. So your claim to the post - well what claim ? You are there because Soniaji wished it.

- When the PM, the PMO and the NSA (MK Narayanan) seem to be dragging India into the 21st century onto the high pedestal of powerful nations with innovative ideas, you seem to want to drag her back into the stone ages. Arent you a sore thumb in the foreign policy establishment ?

- About The Mitrokhin revelations ? What have you done about it other than debunk it.

- And finally the Volcker report. Lets see what you have said about the report -

"My record in public life for the past 50 years and more has been an open book. My personal integrity has never been questioned. I will, of course, examine the report in detail on my return and meet the prime minister and the Congress President.

"This is obviously part of the continuing campaign to malign the Congress party and its senior leaders ad functionaries."

"I have no objection to any probe."

"The report has as much validity as the report by the CIA director about the alleged existence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in Iraq"

"I am also aware that if I do that (resign from the Cabinet), it will not stop with me. The Opposition will use my resignation to further tarnish the reputation of the Congress Party. I will not let this to happen."

Classic case of a drowning man, clutching at a straw !!

Update : Natwar Singh has announced his decision to resign from the Union Cabinet Tuesday evening. This sudden change of stance by the embattled Minister is attributed in no small measure to a particular blog calling for his resignation, "Informed Sources" said !!

Whose domain is it anyway ?

2005-11-19T17:03:00.000-05:00

I have been reading with fascination the present trend of the internet and the fight that has been going on over its control.

Well, control may not be the apt word but I am not sure what else to use. The World Summit on the Information Society was held in the Tunisian capital Tunis this week and looks like for now the Original owner/creator (if I may say so) of the Internet, the United States, has come out victorious.

Its a given that it was the pioneering efforts of the US government agencies, the Universities and corporations that brought about the age of the internet. The size of the internet today is so huge that its impossible to fathom.

But what amuses me is the continued US effort to somehow keep control of this behemoth even after it has matured out of the US shores and spread its wings world wide. The baby no more belongs to the mother but is now free to spread its wings and sore to new heights.

This continued effort by the US to keep other countries out of the domain control agency only strengthens the suspicion in the minds of other coutries that the US would never play as a fair team player. To have the final say in the domains would give it virtual control over the uncontrollable web, they claim.

Whether that is true or not, I am can pretty much predict that its only a matter of time before the US would have to accomodate and share the domain controls levers.

The words of Kimberley Heitman, Director of Electronic Frontiers Australia sums up this fear beautifully.

"The capacity to shut down the internet is beyond the capacity of any government, including the US. It's like two fleas arguing over who owns the dog."

Space, the next frontier

2005-10-22T23:40:00.000-05:00

SPACE, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Star Ship Enterprise. Its continuing mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Ever since the first episode of the Star Trek sci-fi series where Captain James T. Kirk of the Star Ship USS Enterprise blasts across the universe in search of new life, I have been completely mesmerised and fascinated with space and its infinite possibilities.

I was awed to read about the first man in space, the first man on the moon and the first space station. Its like a whole new world out there. Full of opportunities, possibilities and a whole new set of rules. It just gets more interesting and exciting.

Its common knowledge that the United States and Russia rule the upper atmosphere and space areas. And they have been the predominant powers in inner and outer space for well over half a century now.

In October 2003, China launched her first piloted space flight into earth's orbit. These were exciting times. A developing country had broken through into the space club.

This is what the Times of India editorial had to say about the launch.

"It would be better to call it China's Late Creep Forward, given that Beijing is attempting to showcase a four-decade-old technology....If this is China's idea of arriving, then it's come at a time when the other two spacefaring nations have left it light years behind."

And this is what the BBC had to say.

"...it does spell out to the world that China has the know-how and financial clout to put a crew into space."

Anyways, my fascination with space exploration came to a harsh test last week. I was at a lunch with my entire office team. It was a nice Italian place a few blocks from my office. It was quite a big group and me along with three other colleagues were seated at the end of the table which pretty much gave us the space to get into a private group conversation.

We were as usual discussing the current happenings in the world. Our chief discussion being the earthquake in South Asia. The topics then turned towards developmental issues, politics and ofcourse whatever was going on with the Katrina victims.

And then I passed an innocuous comment on China's second space launch and how India now needs to compete and get its act together.

And that was the last time we had a sober and civil conversation.

Immediately people took sides. I was accused of wanting to waste India's precious capital on a wasteful expense such as space exploration.

I was aghast. How could someone say something like that. For me, space exploration is by default in India's list of To Do's. It never struck me, that there would be people who would look at something so adventurous as this to be a waste of money. How un-scientific and non-visionary could one get !?

I was not going to give in so easily. And fortunately for me, one other colleague in the group was on my side. And we happily closed ranks to trounce the opposers.

If the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal had thought of sea exploration in the same way then would the UK have become the largest and most powerful empire on earth ever, I asked.

In the United States, the commercial spin-offs from the defence and space industry into the civilian areas is immense. Should'nt we too explore the positive effects of this synergy, I reasoned.

In the 1970's and 80's when India began its space program with the launch of its satellites into space, a crowd of people with similar beliefs and ideas called it a wasteful expenditure for a poor country like India where people could'nt even afford one meal a day. But today, nobody questions India's need to launch satellites into space, beamed my colleague.

Anyways, said he, India should'nt have gone Nuclear if at all this logic were applied.

Those are defence issues and India needs to defend her people, was the return volley.

What people, I questioned. The very same people who cannot afford a days meal, who dont have a roof over their head, who dont have clean drinking water or proper sanitation ? Are you saying we should build a mammoth arsenal to defend people who are dying of hunger, I blasted back.

I got an eye to eye glare for this remark, followed by a, "Do you think I am stupid ?", question. I gulped hard, smiled and beat a hasty retreat. Not because my point was off the mark, but because the question was from my client !!

I had boldly gone where probably no consultant had gone before !!

However, having made my point, I decided not to press further. The rest of the conversation was more between him and my other colleague. I was a passive listener and my only participation in the conversation were frowns, head nodes and smiles. That was good enough for me.

Anyways, my client called me into his office a couple of days back and to my surprise said he had been thinking about what I had said about space exploration a while ago.

And guess what, he agreed with me !!

Sorry Iran, our bread is buttered on the other side

2005-10-16T15:26:00.000-05:00

We are a nation of the overly moralistics. We reason using morals and age old dogma's of righteousness. Sometimes making us look stupid and extreme, at times, sacrificing our own national interest at the altar.

After months of crying hoarse at the attempts by the western nations to reprimand Iran in the IAEA and refer it to the UN security council, we finally voted with our heads than with our hearts.

The government lead of Dr. Singh put national interest right where it belongs. We did not simply abstain, we voted. We voted for the resolution proposed by the EU-3 (Britian, France and Germany) at the IAEA.

And lo! and behold - the left had a heart attack.

We have left a friend high and dry they reasoned. The government has buckled under the american pressure tactics, they screamed. We would loose face with the third world and have back-stabbed the Non-aligned movement.

Here are two words for you folks - GROW UP !

Its a quid pro quo damn it.

And yes, thats how nations operate. Thats how foreign policy is played out. Its as simple as you scratch my back and I scratch yours.

With great fanfare and difficult negotiations, the Indian government had finally coaxed the americans into sharing Nuclear knowledge with us. We finally convinced them that we are responsible enough. And its in their interest to cozy up to us.

Yes, its as sweet a deal to us as it is to them. Its not a one way street. We get what we want from them and so in return we give them what they want.

And so we gave them what they wanted. A yes vote in the IAEA.

But remember, its not only good for them that the resolution passed but its good for us too.

I do pity Iran. India does not have anything against the people of Iran. But one must accept that its their stubborness and lack of ideas that has put them in this quandry.

When one barks, one must be willing to follow it up with a bite, if needed. Decades earlier, India too was in such a quandry. But we did not bark because we knew that when push comes to shove, we will not be able to follow the bark with a solid bite. So we layed low. We lived to fight another day.

And today. Its a totally different ball game. Everybody knows that even if we dont bark, we can jolly well bite badly.

Remember the first gulf war. When the last photo-op was our foreign minister IK. Gujral giving Saddam a bear hug. That was the last of it. In the name of third world solidarity, we supported the losing side. And that was the last of it. We completely lost out on even the smallest part that we could have contributed to the mid-east and shape it destiny.

We surely were'nt going to make that mistake again. Even the countries that support Iran, Russia and China, abstained. What happened to the solidarity of the muslim countries. Where did all that evaporate ? Venezuela was the only country that voted against the resolution !! Oh! what a surprise there !!

Here are a few words of advice to the left in India. Anti-americanism is not an attractive policy any longer. The world has moved on. Even their mentors, the chinese, have moved on. They realized decades ago that it does not pay to antagonize the world's super-power.

If you want to become big and enter the big nations club, you cannot do that by fighting all the way to the top. Thats madness and stupidity.

And one more word of advice. Stop playing the muslim vote bank politics. Dont even for a second think that your protest is buying any brownie points with them. What the govenment did was in accordance with India's supreme national interest. Everybody should know that and understand that. Personal religious and faith affiliations have no part in it.

I am reminded of an answer given by one of our leading national security expert's - Mr. K.Subrahmanyam in an interview to a leading indian news portal. He was posed a question -

"...India has the second largest Shia community; don't you think that could be one of the reasons for consideration, if not the major consideration?".

and pat came the answer -

...I am not going to say that domestic Muslims should not be sympathetic to Iran. But I am saying I have to think of the overall national interest. I (being a Tamilian) cannot say that just because there are Tamils in Singapore or Malaysia -- where Tamil is a national language and isn't in India -- I should be with the Tamilians there. I am not in favour of the LTTE in Sri Lanka because I think of India.

Very aptly put Mr.Subrahmanyam.

Support Freedom of Speech and Expression

2005-10-16T03:45:00.000-05:00

No matter what, the freedom to express one's ideas and opinion is sacrosanct and non-negotiable. Whatever may be the medium of expression - speech, print or vision media, or the internet.

Lately, an incident has occured that has threatened this freedom. Incidents between IIPM and the bloggers has caught the attention of everyone.

So please Support the Freedom of Speech - Freedom of expression.

Will the violence stop now ?

2005-10-09T13:20:00.000-05:00

Massive quakes have struck the Jammu and Kashmir landscape. Lives and property have been lost on both sides of the border. An already suffering people are tested yet again by the forces beyond human control.

As of writing this post, atleast 19,000 people were declared dead in Pakistan. Such a massive scale of death and destruction in the Indian subcontinent soon after the Tsunami that took its toll is disheartening.

Somehow the people of that beautiful piece of land have had lots of bad luck all these decades. Starting with partition, wars, violence and terrorism and now this. Its interesting that before today, all destruction were man-made. Man started them, so its up to man to end them.

The violence should stop now. It must. The people have had enough. Whatever grudges they have, we should find someother way to solving them.

The foreigners pumped into JnK must be asked to back-off. This moral, social and diplomatic support extended from across the border must stop. The JnK leadership, both the elected and self-proclaimed one's, should say enough is enough. Its now our problem. People of AJK and JnK would decide respectively with their own governments.

External threats bring about internal unity. This has happened before when terror struck London and the IRA responded. China struck India and the DK responded.

Now a quake has struck JnK-AJK. Who is going to respond ?

India was up for sale !?

2005-10-02T13:07:00.000-05:00

I have been resisting comment on the flash revelations in the book "The World was Going our way" from the Mitrokhin Archives.

I wanted to write about it after I read the book. I bought the book last week but am yet to start on it though.

Anyways, I no longer could wait. The reason being the latest statement / request by the leader of the opposition to the Govt and Prime Minister asking them to institute an enquiry into the allegations. See below an extract from the letter :

The voluminous exposures, made in these KGB papers add up to an extremely disturbing scandal, calling for a comprehensive inquiry by a Supreme Court judge. Let the truth come out and if during the inestigations it is found that there was no basis for these allegations, then the government should encourage individuals to file defamation suits against the writer and publisher of the book who have sullied the image of India, giving the impression that India was on sale in the 1970s. The papers also claim that the KGB had even penetrated into the Intelligence Bureau and 10 officers of IB were on their payroll. Was this the kind of access they had to our administration system?

Given all our sceptisism to such enquiries, I am going to steer clear of it. My target are the communists who have time and again been caught having extra-territorial affiliations ! For them leaning on the so called US side of foreign policy is anti-national but to side with the Soviet or Chinese side of foreign policy is in the best national interest. What a bunch of low-life morons.

Here below in an extract from the reaction to Advani's statement on the Mitrokhin revelations :

"...slanderous and baseless...He has no other issue to raise for the people of the country...I pity Advani. He is crestfallen in his organisation and is trying to beat a dead horse by which is not going to gain anything"

First, we dont know if the allegations are baseless or not. We have to find out.
Second, it does not matter if the BJP is in disarray or not. The issue still remains.
Third, they should try to address the question at hand about the allegations rather than find motives behind Advani's statement.
Fourth, if they can waste tax payers money to appoint a commission to go around and find out if Subash Chandra Bose is alive or not, they sure can appoint a retired judge to probe these allegations.

I have never understood India's left. They always talk as if they are India's consciouns keepers, the Guardians of everything that makes India. Whenever I see leaders like Harkishen Singh Surjeet and Sitaram Yetchury on Television, I squirm in my seat. What a bunch of characters.

Anyways, if India was up for sale in the 1970's and if we were indeed a "client state" of the former Soviet Union, these guys have a lot of answering to do. We have no bloody business looking at Pakistan with a smug look on our faces whenever a US delegation visits them.

And we jolly well ask the left to shut its mouth when it points finger at the ManMohan Singh govt, over the US-India Nuclear deal and Iran issue.

Which brings me to one of our Former PM's (Deve Gowda or PVN, not sure) statement about the Sangh Parivar and its political outfit the BJP - "The only crime you can accuse them of is Over-Patriotism".

Protest comes in all shapes and sizes

2005-09-24T20:09:00.000-05:00

No, I was not part of the protest held on Sept 24. I was in Washington DC for the Annual Book Festival conducted by the Library of the Congress. It was inaugurated by the President's wife and first lady Laura Bush at the National Mall.

At the Franconia Springfield metro station, we had to wait for over an hour to catch our train into DC. This has never happened before. Reason - track maintenance. Thats rubbish. The Metro authority knew very well that 24th is going to be heavy rush day because of the Book Festival and the protest. But they still went ahead and shut down one section of the tracks. I suspect they did that in order to prevent more protestors from getting into the city !! (conspiracy theory, huh !!)

The station was full from one end of the platform to the other. People from all shades covered the entire real estate. Saw someone with hair shaped like the Legionary Helmets of the Roman army and another with a bullet strip (dont know what its exactly called) tied around his waiste. hmm! protestors I thought.

The train finally left the station and moved through stations in its way collecting more and more people before it arrived at the Smithsonian Station. Wow! it was jam packed.

And there we saw, hordes and hordes of banners. Impeach Bush, one screamed. Another had his picture with "Liar" watermarked across it. There was one asking him to concentrate on Katrina victims rather than the war.

People going to the Book Festivel and to the protest rally, all alighted at the same metro station. Interestingly there were signs directing each group and also volunteers who were announcing and directing - " Book Festivel this way, protest this way" !!

Each group orderly went their way.

I was amazed to see protestors in all shapes, sizes and age. There were the frail 70+ to the naughty 10 yr olds. Firm to the freaky looking ones, working people to college students.

There were banners plastered with eye catching slogans and pictures. There were whole families, father mother and kids, wearing similar tee shirts with slogans. There were little kids with protest stickers on their backs and tattoos on their faces.

People had used their talents every where. We saw intersting props being carried around by people. They should have really put in effort to create such interesting ones !!

The protest was not just made up of the war-opposing people. There were people who supported the administration too who wanted to see and hear what the rally's message was. There were republicans present too who did not support the administration on this one point. They called themselves - Reformed Republicans.

There was this interesing incident when we were boarding the train back home. As usual it was packed to the seams. We managed to squeeze in. There was this one lady with a banner standing at the doorway of the train looking for space where there was none. She asks the guy standing next to me - "Is there space ?" and he looks at her banner, smiles and says -"Sure, we have enough space for a Reformed Republican !!", grabs her arm and pulls her right in, with the train doors closing.

I do not know how many people in the country share the complaint that the protestors lodged that day. Nor am I sure if this would change the policy of the administration. I also dont know if the protestors had a point at all.

But one thing, its really great to see people from all walks of life taking time off to come to the capital, from far away places, to express their opinion to their elected representatives.

It really does not matter who you are or what your profession is. When it comes to expressing an opinion, you are a citizen.

The Rising - is falling

2005-09-18T20:58:00.000-05:00

I am not an expert on India's struggle for freedom. Whenever I get a chance to read about it, I jump at it. Recently my friend lent me the book titled "Freedom at Midnight" and asked me read it so that I could find some answers to some of my nagging questions on India's freedom struggle. He is btw a Rajajian !! (sorry dude I had to rub that in)

So given my unquenchable thirst for anything to do with India and her struggle, I was only too eager to watch the Aamir Khan blockbuster - "The Rising".

The movie was released in the D.C area a few weeks back. Promptly, a few of my colleagues in office had trooped to the movie theatre, only to return back bruised !!

I was walking down the corridor at my office building, when I bumped into a colleague who announced to me that he was one of the few who had actually got darshan of the movie.

"So how was it ?", I quizzed.

Bham !...he burst out with witty anger at Mr. Pandey's present generation, who had filed a case at the courts to stop the screening of the movie.

"I wish they had filed the case earlier, I wouldnt have gone through the torture of watching the movie !!", he lamented.

"Oh what a Pity !", I thought to myself. With a smug look on my face (hah!! I hadnt watched the movie yet ) I indulged him in small talk -

"Btw why this movie on Mangal Pandey, nobody in India knows about him anyways", I tease.

The scene change was dramatic. From a face with a tortured look, it turned into an aggressive one.

He burst back - "You south Indians anyways wouldnt know about him. Are you guys even part of this country !!?".

ooopppsss !!What did I unleash here. This situation had to be contained.

"C'mon man ! Lets not start a regions war here.", I protest, rather meekly.

Followed that with an awkward grin, wave of my hand, a quick turn round and scoot. Sheesh !! that was close.

Anyways, I was working last weekend Sunday and as luck would have it, another colleague in office was watching the movie at his desk. I was retiring for the day, so I decided to drop by his office and sneek a peek at this most talked about movie.

In all I would have watched the movie for about 15 minutes. 15 minutes because I was waiting for Rani to come on scene. Oh ! she looked ravishing as always.

Anyways, after I ploughed through the movie for 15 minutes, I decided I had had enough of this bullshit. I was so disappointed.

I am not a very voracious reader. Atleast not like some of my friends Siva, Raman and Arvind. Short cut to reading a book on a subject is to watch movies taken on that subject. So you learn faster and its interesting too.

But "The Rising", I heard, was just beyond bounds.

I would rather read about Mangal Pandey and escape the wrath of my northerner colleague than go through a lousy movie which leaves a bad after taste.

Freedom at midnight, here I come.

Designed Intelligently

2005-09-16T01:33:00.000-05:00

I was religious. Deeply religious. Its almost unbelievable now, even to me.

I come from a modern, quasi-religious Hindu Brahmin family, where the women folk are the backbone of the religious fervour and the men folk just step in and out.

Anyways, for some reason my father decided to take the plunge and turn into a religious purist. This was during my high school days. And needless to say, I got sucked into the vortex. I used to perform my "Nithya Karma" three times a day. Each time reciting the gayathri mantra thousand eight times. And apart from that I had been initiated into other japaas as well. So before I left for school in the morning which was around 8:30, I had to complete all my religious duties starting at 5:15 in the morning right upto 8:00. Similar routines would follow once I was back from school in the evenings.

And then it all stopped. It stopped abruptly in my last year at high school and I have never looked back since. Now, I am areligious. I am oscillating between an atheist, a non-believer and an agnostic but my religious passions flare up at times too.

I still go to the temples occasionally. I get worked up if someone insults my religion. And feel the pride rising in me when I receive the spam mails that praise Hinduism for its tolerance.

So though I might sound confused and at war within, I am not. I feel perfectly ok and do not think this apparent lack of clarity is anything to worry about.

Anyways, so when Science began to explain the phenomenon's around us in a rational and factual manner and began to debunk the age old theories of God's will being the reason behind these natural occurrences, the purist and the religious-orthodox began to feel threatened. This was primarily in the west. Because I do not think religion in India felt threatened by these explanations and incursions. Nor did the Indians feel compelled to choose between the two.

For decades now, the "Evolution" theory has been holding forth and no theory worthwhile has come about that could even dream of dethroning Darwin's pet theory.

So what did the religious do ? They found a back door entry.

Years ago I recall reading a book by Erich von Däniken titled 'The God's from Outer Space'. It was really a compelling book that left a lasting impression on me.

The question was simple. How could man evolve from a monkey if the level of intelligence exhibited by man is vastly superior to that exhibited by a monkey ??

If evolution is a step by step process over millions of years. If species' on earth today can be neatly fit into each of these steps. Then how did evolution take this lone giant leap when stepping from the monkey to the man. Does not make sense.

According to the book, this giant leap from monkey to man could not have been accomplished but for an invisible helping hand from outside.

Thats when "Intelligent Design" gingerly stepped in.

Its not evolution they cry out. Evolution came only as far as the monkey. The leap from monkey to man was the design by intelligent beings. Otherwise by the present evolution theory it would take much much longer.

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of furore this created in the media and the US educational system. The religious screamed that evolution was anti-god and so should not be taught in schools. And if it was continued, then the students should either be told in no uncertain terms that this is just a theory which could possibly be wrong and that there were other theories too. Or better still, yank the whole thing off the text books.

I was really amused to read the arguments and counter arguments by each side. And to understand both sides of the issue, please read The New York Times piece titled "In Explaining Life's Complexity, Darwinists and Doubters Clash".

With a smug look on my face I said to myself - I still cant understand what this fuss is all about. I really dont. Is this a case of taking things just too far, too seriously ?

International Blog Day

2005-08-31T21:31:00.000-05:00

August 31 is International Blog Day.

My Blog Recommendations : See the SideBar

No handouts please !

2005-08-30T23:24:00.000-05:00

Its an annual ritual when Finance Ministers of the states in the Indian Union march to the Planning Commission in New Delhi to put up their case for central fund allocation. Its a yearly ceremony when the centre allocates money to the states to run themselves.

Under the Indian system, I suppose its not possible for states to be even partially self sufficient in raising funds at the local level. Last time I checked, the centre allocated around 30% of the annual revenues to the states (combined).

So during revenue collection, money moves from the bottom to the top passing through various levels and from the top to the bottom in reverse when allocating to the states. This back and forth movement of capital is perhaps the greatest breeder of corruption and in-efficiency. With leaks everywhere at every level, no wonder this is called the trickle down effect. Its really a trickle when it reaches the lowest level.

Anyways, I would like to highlight an interesting comparison. I got a mail from the "Department of Tax Administration" of the County of Fairfax, Virginia. It was time to pay my taxes for holding a vehicle. They call it the Personal Property Tax Bill. And it neatly mentiones the Tax period, the Tax Amount, the Car tax relief, etc. And also tells me what all ways I have to pay the bill.

Along with the bill is a Tax Department addressed envelope incase I wished to mail the payment. And along with that I found a brochure titled "Tax Facts". Its was a neat write up of various taxes and licenses in the county and other nice to know information.

And then there was this "Fairfax County FY 2006 General Fund". It was a pie chart and thats what caught my attention.

The chart simply shows "Where the money comes from...." and I was astonished to see that the total Receipts for Fairfax county (equivalent to a district in India) was to the tune of USD 2.9 billion !!

And what is more interesting to note is the percentage of receipts from external sources namely the state and federal level -

According to the chart :

Revenue from The Federal Government is just 1.5 %
Revenue from the State (Commonwealth) is just 2.7 %

The county generates all its revenue, all by itself, at the local level with very scarce contribution from the federal and state levels.

I am not an economics student but I suppose anybody would agree that in India too, the ritual of annual handouts should be done away with and slowly be replaced with local level revenue generation and utilization instead of the back and forth in practice now.

And by this I not only mean at the state level but right upto the village panchayats that need to be financially independent to take up development activities without looking back over their shoulders.

And for your reference see below the Disbursement pie chart showing how this money is spent by the county.

Media management - India needs to learn

2005-08-25T23:48:00.000-05:00

Inspite of having immense talent in our foreign and defence policy establishments, the one thing India lacks is effective public relations. Our skills when it comes to handling the media glare and information dissemination is dismal to say the least.

We absolutely do not know how to handle even our own media. Most of the top leadership of the country think that yapping in accented queen's english means effective media management. Its bullshit.

And when it comes to media management, one congressman comes to my mind immediately. Its none other than our Jaipal Reddy ji. Nothing personal against him, but whenever one places a mic before him, he at once lapses into a verbal diarrhea. Complete, quality, hundred percent non-stop nonsense. And his every line smacks of arrogance written all over.

Another person who I admire a lot, nevertheless had very poor media relations. Its our very own late former PM Shri Narasimha Rao ji. In all his years as PM, the media would try all the trick in the book to get him to talk or just smile. Nope. No success there. He is perhaps the most non-media friendly PM ever !

Ofcourse our Vajpayee ji is a class of his own. Famous for his pregnant pauses and witty one liners, he was the darling of the media. But unfortunately his prowess did not extend into the english language media though.

Among all politicians, one person stands tall. Its our Laloo Prasad ji. Whatever may be his drawbacks, media management is certainly not among them. The press just loves him and his style. Something so earthy about him that endears him to every reader.

Anyways, our neighbouring country somehow seems to always come out ahead of us in the media war. Especially under the present president, they seemed to have perfected the art of propaganda. All bullshit is beautifully sugar coated, dipped in chocolate and wrapped wonderfully that it sells like hot cakes (no pun intended).

And when it comes to information management and distribution through the internet - we falter big time.

I have visited some of the Indian government websites like the The Parliament of India - Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister's and President's, etc. None of them have information organized in such a manner that a visitor could reach them easily. Information is scattered all across. There is no proper information flow, no specific color scheme, no proper page layout or bahaviour. Its all there but completely disorganized.

India is the place where the world goes for IT !!

Take a look at the Pakistan President's website. I was pretty impressed. Very neatly arranged and categorized. Information flow has been tuned well. A very 'usable' site. As I said all sugar coated, dipped in chocolate...

Check it out when you folks find time.

Vande Maataram

2005-08-14T22:54:00.000-05:00

Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long supressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.

- Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru moving the transfer of power resolution in the house.

Read the actual proceedings at the Constitution Hall of Parliament that commenced at 11:00 PM 14 August, 1947 and culminated with the transfer of power to the Constituent Assembly of India.

When external threats bring internal unity

2005-08-13T12:12:00.000-05:00

Many countries in the world face internal threats to national unity. Whether they are the newly created post-colonial states or the centuries old imperial states themselves.

Disgruntled individuals are always present in enough sizable numbers. And by disgruntled individuals (or Mis-guided youths, as the JnK CM would like to call them) I mean citizens who have from minor complaints against the acts of the State or other citizens to major threatining quarrels with the nation-state itself.

These complaints / quarrels would or could manifest themselves in various forms starting from a simple letters to the editor or a public interest petition to violent acts of terror.

In countries that practice democracy, democratic institutions and structures provide a ready made pressure release valve that periodically let out steam. This prevents the build-up of pressure to threatening levels.

In countries that do not practice democracy, the situation is far worse. Any act by the citizenry that even remotely seems to question the acts of the state is deemed threatening and hence provokes the state into taking measures to neutralize such threats. Even a casual look into today's newspapers would reveal such acts in many of the African and middle eastern countries and also in a few countries in south and east asia.

Whenever the threat level against the state reaches alarming levels, these countries which do not have any other mechanism other than repression to control the situation, resort to sabre-rattling and to cooking up of external threats to the nation. This immediately produces the desired effect of temporarily supressing the internal threat to managable levels.

Our western neighbour, who is in a perenial mode of anti-indianess, every once in a while up's the ante to reap the desired benefit. Afterall, a country born out of anti-indianess should atleast be expected to reveal its true birth behaviour every once in a while !

Even a country like Iran, with which we enjoy friendly relations, every once in a while throws an anti-western tantrum to legitimize the continued existence of the power structure that was established in the wake of the revolution about a decade ago.

Anyways, with the threat-external being practiced in almost every non-democratic state, we should probably analyze if such tactics have worked for democratic states too.

Lets look at two examples. One which happened in the recent and the other in the past.

Soon after the London terror attacks, when the whole of the United Kingdom was reeling under the post-terror trauma, came the good news. Following is an extract from the IRA's full statement :

"The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm [1600 BST] this afternoon. All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All Volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever."

Yes, a lot of readers may argue that this was coming and signs of this was visible for quite sometime. But I am sure the recent T.attacks in London would have surely weighed on the minds of the leadership before hastening to announce the laying down of arms.

The second example is more closer to home.

Most regional parties in Tamil Nadu have their origins in the Justice Party established in 1916 by non-Brahmin social elites and the development of the non-Brahman Self-respect movement by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker in 1925. In 1944, EVR as leader of the Justice Party renamed it to Dravida Kazhagam (Dravidian Federation). The primary goal of the DK was the establishment of an Independent state of Dravida Nadu.

It is well known that the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) was established by CN. Annadurai after breaking away from the DK. And the primary goal of this party was to achieve Tamil Nationalism through democratic means.

Then came the sudden and rude invasion from the North by the chinese. The chinese came right down the NEFA and the administration of the state of Assam hastily flew out of the state leaving the people of the state high and dry. Recall the statement by the then Prime Minister Pt. Nehru "My heart goes out to the people of Assam. I don't know what is in store for them".

The situation in the entire country was tense and rumours were flying around that it would be only a matter of weeks before the invading PLA would reach calcutta.

It was this very external threat that brought the DMK to withdrawing its demand for a separate Dravida Nadu. C.N. Annadurai, as member of the Rajya Sabha, proclaimed in a very eloquent and emotional speech that his party would stand up for the integrity and unity of the motherland.

The buck stopped right there.

I bow my head in shame.....

2005-08-11T23:01:00.000-05:00

"When a giant tree falls, the earth below shakes", commented Rajiv Gandhi on the genocide that engulfed the national capital after Indira Gandhi's 1984 tragic assasination.

Thousands are believed to have died in inter-religious riots with the administration and the local police looking on as mere spectators. Even the army was left to cool off until effective deployment on November 3.

But the damage had already been done. Even the then President who belonged to the massacared minority community did little.

And now, an apology. A statement of regret, for the events that engulfed a grief striken nation, 21 years late. But still an apology thats better late than never.

Our present Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh rose in Parliament on Aug 11, 2005 to deliver as our representative, the true sentiments of all Indians.

Find below a few extracts from that speech in parliament that holds the punch.

"Mr. Speaker, Sir, I strayed into politics by an accident but I have been a lifelong student of politics and I have always believed that politics is a purposeful instrument of social, political and economic change. Politics which departs from that path and becomes a servant of narrow, parochial, silly, things loses its wider societal role...."

"...Both the assassination of Shrimati Indira Gandhi and subsequent events leading to anti-Sikh riots and all those ghastly happenings should have never happened. They are blots on our national conscience. On this, there is no difference of opinion on any side. But the question arises: “Where do we go from here?...”

"...Mr. Speaker, Sir, what happened, I say once again, was a national shame, a national and a great human tragedy...."

I am really happy and relieved that finally the Congress party has had the wisdom to come before the people and say sorry we screwed up. And who better to deliver that apology than Dr Singh. Bravo ! Mr. Prime Minister.

As a closing note, I would like to caution that just because an apology has been tendered, it does not mean that the people guilty of inciting the mob fury should be let off.

The law should take its own course. The guilty should be punished. A memorial, in remembrance of the massacared Sikhs, should be raised which would serve as a constant reminder to our future generations.

BJP, are you listening ?

News Portal's old wine in a new bottle

2005-07-30T15:04:00.000-05:00

Most of us would have read the offshore news piece titled - India has only 0.6% jobs from US firms or India, China get limited offshore US jobs.

This is good news, given the hoopla of all jobs in the americas being sucked away to third world countries including India.

Anyways, thats not my point.

I searched around the web to get my hands on the report on which this news piece is based on. I was not able to. What I found was the following two, by the authors mentioned in the news piece - Raymond Mataloni and Joseph Carson.

Offshore Outsourcing and Multinational Companies (PDF)
J. Steven Landefeld and Raymond Mataloni
WP2004-06
July 16, 2004

and

Manufacturing Payrolls Declining Globally: The Untold Story
By Joseph Carson, Senior Vice President and U.S. Economist
October 10, 2003

See the dates when these were released. One is July 2004 and another is October 2003.

hmmm !! Interesting. The news portals have flashed a one year and two year old report today as news. What were they doing when they were actually released. And why are they putting old reports as latest news. Beats me.

Can anyone please explain. Am I missing something here ? or Is the actual report on which this news is based hidden someplace else ?

Most powerful Indian woman, where is ?

2005-07-30T00:25:00.000-05:00

Forbes Magazine has released its list of 100 Most Powerful Women. Number one spot went to Condi Rice. Guess there was no surprise there. Some even say she is President material.

Great going Condi !

Anyways, I browsed through the list, top to bottom. But could not find any.

What was I looking for ? I was looking for an Indian woman. A woman from a country of over a billion population. There was none, zilch, zero, nil, nada, cipher....

There were three from China, one from Sri Lanka and one from Bangladesh.

But none from India.

I was hoping to see atleast one from my country. Well, atleast our de facto Prime Minister Smt Sonia Gandhi should have made it to the top 100 but that was not to be !!

Consolation prize - Ranked at number 28 , Indra Nooyi, President and CFO of PepsiCo.

The Majesty of the National Capital

2005-07-27T20:06:00.000-05:00

New Delhi, as it is presently called, has a long history. History dating back thousands of years.

The present day Delhi area has had atleast 7 cities that previously existed in and around it.

1. Qila Rai Pithora built by Prithvi Raj Chauhan;
2. Siri, built by Alauddin Khilji in 1303;
3. Tughluqabad, built by Ghiyazudin Tughluq (1321-1325);
4. Jahanpanah, built by Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351);
5. Kotla Firoz Shah, built by Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351-1388);
6. Purana Qila built by Sher Shah Suri and Dinpanah built by Humayun(1538-1545);
7. Shahjahanabad, built by Shah Jahan from 1638 to 1649, (Lal Qila and Chandni Chowk).

It is also believed that the ancient city of Indraprastha existed exactly where Delhi is today. It is believed to have been founded by the Pandavaas ca.1400 BC.

The city of Delhi, with so much history to it, is truely splendid. The designers of present day Delhi (the British) built it with such extravagance that any visitor to the capital would be dumb-struck seeing the sheer arrogance that is Delhi.

Though a southener, I was born in New Delhi and so have a special birth link to the place. So when I went on a month long vacation to India earlier this year, I made it a point to go visiting my place of birth.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Instead of writing away on my visit, I have put up pictures. Pictures I snapped when I went round the place. So, if any of you have not visited the National Capital, there is no time to lose. For Delhi will pick you right off your feet and transport you to a totally new world.

Historic Pictures

The Delhi Durbar of 1903.

On New year's day 1903, Edward the VII was declared Emperor of India. The occasion was marked by a grand ceremony held at the Delhi Durbar - a spectacular and elaborate festival organised by the British government. The Durbar was intended to highlight the supposed glory of the monarchy and its Empire. The festivities involved an enormous procession which included a line of Indian princes riding on jewelled elephants.

The Invitation to the Coronation that was sent out looked like this.

Inaugaration of the Rashtrapathi Bhavan / Viceroy's Residence / Lutyens Buildings 1931

The building gave the impression, in the words of a critique, the setting of a perpetual Durbar. The building and its surroundings were supposed to be 'an empire in stone', 'exercising imperial sway' and containing in it, "the abode of a disinterested elite whose rule was imposed from above". That 'empire in stone' and the perpetual Durbar was transformed to be the permanent institution of democracy on 26th January 1950.

Present Day Pictures

The historic Laal Khila (Red Fort)

The Indian Army at the Red Fort. The list of regiments that served out of the historic Red Fort.

Rashtrapathi Bhavan after the Beating the Retreat Ceremony

The supposed doors of the Somnath Temple. The British claimed that they had won back the famed Somnath Temple's doors to redeem Hindustan's lost honour. This was an apparent attempt to get the local populace on their side. It was later proved that this was not the door of the famed temple. This door lies in the Agra Fort.

The view of the Taj Mahal from the Agra Fort, with the dry yamuna in the foreground. This is the view that the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan got of the Taj during his dying days. He was confined to the Agra Fort for the rest of his life when his son Aurangazeb deposed him as ruler.

View of the Red Fort from the Chandni Chowk's business area. The Chowk was built in 1650 AD as an accompaniment to the Red fort. It was designed by Jahanara, the Emperor Shah Jehan's favorite daughter. The story goes that on a moonlit night, the new complex and the pool lay shimmering; as a result, it acquired the name of Chandni Chowk- "the moonlit square".

The famous Delhi fog. The picture was taken enroute to Agra from Delhi.

The Qutb Minar. Seen here through the ruins that surround it, stands proud and stands tall. The guides there would tell every visitor, that the minar was initally the brain child of Prithvraj Chauhan, the then ruler of Delhi.

The Alai Minar, a gigantic structure of rubble to the north of the Qutb Minar is the 25.5 metre-high unfinished base of a mammoth tower. Alauddin Khilji had planned to build this tower as a rival to the Qutb Minar when he returned in triumph from his Deccan campaign. However, the Sultan died even before the first storey was finished and the project was abondoned. Seen here with the Qutb Minar peeping in from the side!

The seat of Mughal power. The seat of the last Mughal Emperor. The seat that started many a wars and changed the lives of millions of Indians. This was the place where the famous Peacock throne once resided !

Courtesy : Online British Library, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Asian Art Resource, Wikipedia, Delhi Tourism

When Ads crossed the limits of decency

2005-07-06T00:45:00.000-05:00

EMPIRE - by Niall Ferguson, is a very interesting piece of reading material which talks about the Rise and Fall of the British world order and the lessons that america could learn about global power and dominance.

There was an interesting piece in the book where the author talks about British Imperialism and how imperial Britian did not have to pay to get herself "popularized". In this context he mentions the imperial leitmotif of the Pears' Soap Manufactures (Andrew Pears).

The first step towards lightening
The White Man's Burden
is through teaching the virtues of cleanliness.
Pears' Soap
is a potent factor in brightening the dark corners of the earth as
civilization advances, while amongst the cultured of all nations
it holds the highest place -- it is the ideal toilet soap.

Similarly, there were other products during that period that capitalized on colonial and imperialistic themes to drive home the advertisements - Parkinson's Sugar Coated Pills, Chlorinol, etc.

I was particularly interested in the other advertisements of such nature brought out by Pears Soap during those days and this is what I found :

- Ad. campaigns between 1890-1920 promised that the use of Pears would "civilize" and "whiten" a person.

- Another one showed a South Asian man standing on a ladder with a bar of Pears' and scrub-brush, beside an elephant, with the caption "The Real Secret of the White Elephant."

- Humorous Ads. like a little white girl commenting about another black girl, "She needs to use Pears" !!!

It was quite a surprise to discover product manufacturers would ride on their country's political themes to advertise without realizing the damage this could have on the other communities or even their own country's reputation.

Perhaps today, product Ads. are more sensitive to local senstivities and one would hardly find such blunt and rude Ads.

However it would be worth a search to find hidden subtle meanings in today's Ads. !

Censoring the darkest period

2005-06-24T20:11:00.000-05:00

June 25, 1975 Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, declares a state of emergency.

June 25, 2005 - 30 years hence we have forgetten. We have forgotten the dark days. We have forgetten the lessons. We have forgotten the learnings.

Post Independence a lot of events in the Indian history have been covered in the Indian school text books. But we dont find any worth while mention of or extensive discussion of the emergency days. Those days have been censored. Those days have been blacked out from public view.

Today we gloat - India is the largest democracy in the world. More than a billion people exercise their right to vote every 5 years. And despite every reason to abandon the democratic experiment, we have not done so.

But June 25, 1975 we almost did. The Allahabad high court had disqualified Indira Gandhi's election to parliament and had barred her from holding office for 6 years.

Indira Gandhi, then started to undo the democratic systems so painfully built and established by her predecessors. A state of emergency was declared and India was ruled by decree. Every opposition was quashed, every independent institution like the judiciary and the press were conquered and subjugated.

But today we dont mourn those 18 months. We dont stand in silence or pay tribute to those murdered institutions of democratic India.

The emergency rule has been completely censored. The people today, the present generation, are not aware of how close we came to dictatorship, how close we came to becoming like the rest of the non-democratic countries around us, how close we came to loosing freedom.

We mourn the assasination of the father of the nation. We mourn the death of soldiers in wars. Why, we even mourn the death of the leader who clamped down the emergency. But alas ! we forget to mourn the 18 months of agony faced by the nation.

15 minutes of separation

2005-06-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

"How long will it take to get to the airport ?", I ask. "It should be around 15 minutes", reply's my friend.

It was around 5:30 in the morning and I was on my way to catch the 7:00 AM flight back to Washington D.C from Chicago.

I step out of the car, onto the airport's departure area.

Time 6:53 AM !

Two reasons why I landed at the airport late. One, to start off we took the wrong route. To put it blunt, we drove in the 'opposite' direction towards indy. And it took us quite sometime to discover that. Second, we got caught in the monday morning traffic heading into Chicago. So what was to be a 15 minute cruise became an hour's ordeal.

Time 6:53 AM. I step out of the car, rush to the boot and pull out my luggage. Rush back to passenger side and wave a goodbye to my friend. He responds with a 'Go NOW' look.

I rush to terminal 2. In front of me, I find glass panels to the entrace. No signs to the door. I look around to find no opening or door handle or even a sign saying "Enter". Confused, I try the brute force approach. I stand in front of every glass panel hoping it would be the sliding door and would open. First and second attempt no luck. Third attempt success ! The door slides open. As rush in, I notice someone giving me a grin !!

I heave my luggage to the airline counter. The agent looks at me. "I have to catch the 7:00 AM flight to DC", I tell me. He calmly puts out this hand. I reach for my e-ticket print out and hand it over to him. He looks at it and returns it. "I dont need this, please give me your ID", he says. I reach for my wallet and the damn thing would'nt come out. Of all the time in the world, it has to find today and now to play tough with me ! Wretched thing.

I manage to pull it out and hand over my ID. After a few clicks he hands me the boarding pass. He then looks at me and says "Sir, you are late, surely you are going to miss your flight". I went completely livid. "I know that smart-ass", I say to myself. And what do you know, the guy does'nt stop. He proceeds to give me the next available flight information and that they would put me on it. I was like "NO!". By God I was going to catch this one. "Is that all, can I proceed" I ask. He says yes and instructs me to go through security check. Parting shot, I hear him say "But anyways you are sure to miss it". I ignore him and run to the security check point.

As I expected. Long line. Uttering a million "Excuse me"'s I manage to jump the long lines and get to the security officer and tell her that my flight leaves in another 7 minutes. She looks at my boarding pass, points to another officer and instructs me quickly go to her, in Hindi. No time for a thank you, I cut lines and jump bags to get to her.

Handing over my boarding pass to her I ask, "My flight is leaving in another 7 mins, could you let me through a little faster please". She looks at me and asks, "How many minutes did you say ?", I repeat "7 minutes". And she goes "Sir, if your flight is leaving in 7 minutes, do you know what that means ?" and I am like "What ?". She - "It means you have already missed your flight !!!".

Unbelievable. Could this be happening to me!!?? How could two people, in a span of few minutes, be so negative. I dont budge. She dismisses me to the end of a shorter line. Only 2 people in front of me. Security check done, I run. I run for my 'flight'.

Which gate ? The boarding pass said E10. And I was in...E1. God! Could it get any worse than this.

Carrying my luggage I run. The damn thing seemed so heavy. Oh ! why did I have to buy all those Formula One stuff in Indy, I curse myself. Gasping gasping...panting panting I look up to see where I was. The sign read E4. What! So much running and just E4. My legs plead , I cant...I cant run anymore. I slow down to a brisk walk. Thats the best I can do, and if the flight cant wait so be it.

From E6, I see a sign that read "destination". I could see E10. But no, I still could'nt pull myself to make the last dash.

Finally, I gasp my way to the agent at the E10 counter. She looks at me and asks "Are you the guy going to DC ?". Surprised, I manage to force a nod. She, "Please proceed to E12...".

Oh Noooo!! 2 more gates to go ? When is this going to end.

"...I will be with you in a few to open the door", she continues.

Ah ! finally the gates of heaven. I drag my poor self to E12 and wait. A few moments later she comes by, tears off my boarding pass, takes my luggage, opens the chute door and says "You can proceed to the aircraft, Sir".

I thank her and run to the door, into the waiting flight.

"So finally, you decided to join us....welcome aboard", greets the steward.

Hmmm...that was welcoming.

As I walk down the aisle, I hear a voice say, "Ah ! Photo finish entrance !".

It was Shiva. And he was all smiles.

I walk by him, find my seat, flop into it and pass out.

The French Non

2005-06-14T00:51:00.000-05:00

The French have overwhelmingly voted against ratifying the EU Constitution in its present form. After the spaniards voted rather closely, ratifying the treaty, the french were the cat on the wall.

I was so hoping the french would say Oui. I must admit that I am a great fan of the EU experiment. And you know why. It reminds me of India. Europe today so much resembles the different states that make up today's India. And the EU is nothing but a European form of the Indian experience. Readers would be tempted to compare the formation of the EU with that of the U.States. But I disagree. The thirteen colonies that joined together to declare independence and create the U.States were no where close to being as heterogeneous as the EU or India for that matter.

Anyways, when I read about the French non, I was deeply disappointed. How could this have happened. Was'nt the advantages of a stronger EU quite apparent to the voters in France ?

Who better to answer this than the french themselves. So I set of to put this question before a french colleague in office. I ask him - "So you guys voted No ? Why ?".

He looks at me and says - "Its crazy". Puzzled, I say - "Explain". And he gives me his version.

He believes that its best for the French to the join the EU. He whole heartedly supports a stronger EU. And he believes that a stronger united EU would serve as a balance to the U.States. And he tells me, that the present generation of the french have voted for the constitution and it was the previous generation that pulled it down. I could see visible disappointment in his face.

I was so tempted to slip in the next question, which I did !

Perhaps the old generation is worried that france would loose its identity, I say. The french identity could get diluted in a larger possibly emerging european nationalism.

He looks at me and says "screw it". If you want to survive, you should be willing to accept change else be left behind. The world is moving towards globalization and so france should also adjust accordingly.

I felt guilty for provoking him into saying this, so I change the line. Moving on, perhaps UK may not vote at all, I mention. And with the mention of UK, he turns ballistic. I will leave it to the readers imagination on this one.

Anyways, at the end of the conversation, I walked off with the satisfied feeling that the EU experiment was not floundering. That the present generation does recognize the pitfalls of being divided instead being united both economically and politically.

This round goes to the eurosceptics but the match is not over yet.

Curious fallout of Advani's faux pas

2005-06-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

I have been following the latest developments on the Advani front, keeping myself up to date with every breaking news. Lest I get the news late, I have been scanning the news portals for any and every tit-bit. And whats more, I have also been reading some of the comments posted by readers in some of the news sites. And what do I know, I was pleasently surprised by what I read.

The Advani episode has thrown up a peculiar pattern of comments that I have noticed in many news sites. Something that could not have happened few years ago, is now shaping up .Though it might be a temporary phenomenon, its nevertheless a turning point.

Fashion these comments from the BBC's news portal :

...If Mr Advani rightly tried to pacify the situation nothing is wrong in it. Even in Pakistan the people have different opinions whether Quaid-e-Azam wanted Pakistan a secular or religious country. Mr Advani is right in his observations.
Bashir Ahmad Malik, Pakistan

I strongly believe that the founder of Pakistan was a moderate, secular leader ... Mr Advani has been true in expressing RIGHT things about this great Islamic republic's founder.
Asmar Ahmad Atif, Pakistan

India is considered secular and democratic ... If Indians cannot tolerate positive comments for the founder of Pakistan from their leader, how can peace be restored or confidence can be established between Pakistan and India.
Saqlain, Pakistan

All the above quoted comments are by real people from Pakistan. Curiosly, most of the comments coming from Pakistani's are more or less supportive of the embattled Indian leader. Pakistani readers being supportive of a known hindu nationalist hawk was unthinkable before. That too, for citizens of a state, that is moving towards a more rigid form of religious interpretation, to be supportive of an indian leader who calls their father of the nation a secularist is surprising by any standards.

Everybody would have expected them to tell him not to play politics with partition. That if he was looking for a change to be seen as a moderate he should do it in an election rally in his own country and not drag the Quaid-E-Azam's name into petty politics.

But they did not do that. They instead appreciated him and expressed shock when he was taken to task for committing heresy in his own country.

On the other hand, many Indians questioned Advani's judgement. Quite a few comments were harsh on him.

Mr. Advani's resignation smacks of the usual Indian political drama of getting sympathy votes...preparation for the coming state assembly elections. Hey Ram.
George, Uk

Advani, enough of your nonsense. You have shown your true colours. BJP must take this opportunity and select a new, strong & vibrant leadership. If not, BJP, you are doomed, 100% guarantee!
Kapil, US

Though there might be quite a few Indians who are in agreement with the essence of what Advani is conveying, the 'could'nt care less' attitude of quite a sizable number has drowned it out.

That is really a pity. Because may be this time around Advani is genuinely trying to speak out and change course but unfortunately the electorate just would'nt want to listen.

Advani crosses the lakshman rehka

2005-06-09T23:50:00.000-05:00

1947 British India was partitioned. This is common knowledge. Many in the then undivided India did not want partition. But what do you do if a sizable number of your own brethren feel insecure and demand a seperate homeland for themselves. You could advice them and try to make them see reason but in the end if they dont relant you cannot do much.

The 2-nation theory has not been accepted by India till today. Moreover, India stood vindicated when the 2-nation theory came crashing down when Bangladesh was created out of what was then E.Pakistan. Nevertheless, Pak continues to exist as a seperate sovereign republic.

Leader of the opposition and BJP president goes to Pak. He is well received. His every move is watched and every word he utters is listened to and analysed. He then visits the mausoleum of Quaid-E-Azam Jinnah. Goes round the place for almost 2 hours. He then comments and signs in the guest book.

"There are many people who leave an inerasable stamp on history. But there are a few who actually create history. Quaid-E-Azam Jinnah was one such rare individual." wrote Advani.

No problems with that. As the hardline leader of BJP and a leading hindu nationalist, he was telling everyone in India, hawks and doves alike, that its time we moved on. Its time we come to terms with partition. Its time we recognize that a strong democratic and prosperous Pakistan is, in the long run, good for India. Its time we realize that we cannot change geographic reality, that we cannot and should not undo partition. What has happened, has happened and we ought to make the best use of what we have.

The message according to me is more louder and clearer that his "saddest day in my life" message that he has been harping ever since Dec 6 of that fateful year.

For this Mr. Advani has to be congratulated for being bold and realistic.

Unfortunately he did not stop with that. If he had, then my title would have been different. Writing on, he described Jinnah as secular.

Jinnah's "...address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947 is really a classic, a forceful espousal of a secular state in which, while every citizen would be free to practise his own religion, the state shall make no distinction between one individual and another on grounds of faith. My respectful homage to the great man."

After that, all hell broke loose.

Headlines scream....

Sify : "Jinnah favoured secular Pakistan:Advani"

Hindu : "RSS questions Advani's remarks"

Parvin Tagodia VHP internationl general secretary : "If Jinnah's secular, why did Advani flee Sindh"

Whether Jinnah was secular or not is an academic debate. We would never know what was going on in his mind when he demanded a seperate Pak. We would never know if he had a change of heart post-partition. We would never know if he regreted partition during his last days.

We would always be guessing, second guessing and double guessing his true intentions which he carried to his grave, never to be revealed.

To come from a person like Advani, who understands and has gone through the pains of partition, was the unkindest cut of all. Unkind to the families who suffered due to partition, including his. How could he use the word secular for a man who was responsible for creating the Islamic republic. Even the name suggests a theocratic state.

Advani either bungled his carefully orchestrated hawk to dove roadmap or he has shown unimaginable insenstivity to the many Indian's who still have deep unhealed residual scares created due to partition.

Mr Advani, you just crossed the rubicon.

Me "Night" rider - target for cops

2005-06-06T22:34:00.000-05:00

I am a good driver. Honestly. Ask any of my friends. They all tell me that I am a safe driver. I follow the road rules to the last period. I do not get road rage. I do not take short cuts when it comes to safety. I have been driving in the united states for almost 3 yrs now and have been driving for about 10 years in all.

Day in and day out while I drive around I see rash drivers. Drivers who dont have time to follow the rules. Drivers who cut short the rules and cut the safety corners. All just to get ahead. To get wherever they want, a wee bit quicker and earlier. Just not worth it in my opinion.

Some folks in my friends circle do this too. Always driving around at the edge of the law. Every once in a while (too often actually) tip toeing in and out of the line. For some its a sport, others its a way of driving and still others do it simply because they have a powerfull car with that vrooom !

Anyways, I have always observed that the drivers who routinely disregard the law hardly ever get caught. And its the one's that inadvertently step out that get lighted. Does'nt matter if its the first time that they ever did it.

Fortune favours the brave gets a whole new meaning here.

Let me narrate two such incidents that happened to me. Both these incidents happened in a gap of a month. And both occured almost at the same time - late night early morning hours.

>> It was around 1:30 AM in the morning. I had gone to office to pick a friend who was working late. We were returning back home through the I-66 interstate. Hardly any car on the road. I passed a few and then there was none except a distant shining light behind me. My exit to 495 was coming up, so I switched lanes when I noticed the flashing lights behind me. Holy crap !! It was my first encounter with the long arm of the law.

I dutifully pulled over and patiently waited for the inevitable. The cop(s) walked up to my window and asked me the regular questions - where I was coming from, where I was going, etc. And interestingly one cop quized - "Are you drunk or something ?". I managed a chuckle and replied in the negative.

He then listed my violations :
- Speeding. Averaging at around 69m when speed limit is 55m
- Weaving while driving
- Switching lanes without an indicator.

Oh god ! I was done for. So many violations, I thought he was going to impound my license. But just between you and me I had explanations for all of the above which ofcourse I did not share with the law enforcement officers.

- Speeding : It was late at night and I freaking wanted to get back home asap. So whenever a downhill came I did not pull back my galloping "horse" to slow it down, just allowed it to slide down with the slope. Explains the speeding.

- Weaving : My car had an alignment problem which I had noticed a few days back. It kind of drags to the right. So I have to conciously keep pulling the car to the left to keep it kind of steady. Could have caused the weave.

- No indicator : This is the interesting part. I have to confess, I did it on purpose. I have always noticed in the highways some cars change lanes without indicating. They dont jump lanes or force in. They neatly and seamlessly merge with the traffic of the next lane without causing any disturbance to the source and target lane. Its amazing when they do that. Seems really kewl. I always wanted to do that. And what better place and time to try it out than at an empty I-66 during the late hours of the night. I jumped at the chance.

Anyways, I was sitting in my car waiting for the gavel's strike. I was sure when this got out, I would be the ridiculed by my friends circle. Quite a few of them would have a smug and triumphant look on their face. All this was running through and clouding my mind when the cop came back.

I was lucky. The cops, I can only guess, through some divine intervention, let me go. I was speechless. Not that I would have had anything much to say anyways.

I was given a verbal warning and asked to bugger off safely (in cop parlance). I profusely apologized, geared up my car and sped away (figure of speech only).

I had been delivered by providence.

Once bitten twice shy goes the saying. Well for most people it does. But for me, I guess not.

(to be continued).

Lamy Wolfowitz : A quid pro quo

2005-05-26T23:22:00.000-05:00

The WTO has a new Director-General. The decision was taken by "consensus" at the General Council meeting. Pascal Lamy will be the WTO's 5th Director-General. The present/outgoing Director-General is Supachai Panitchpakdi.

Just a few months back, the US had proposed Wolfowitz's name for the presidency of the World Bank. But there was unusual quite in the European capitals on this. The french authorities had only "taken note" of the nomination. This was unusual, because Europe and the us relations was not in the pink of health. At least thats what its seemed like.

But like hunters who get together to share the spoils, so did the two get together to share the top posts. And the rest of the world was once again left watching as mere spectators.

The us appointed paul as president of the bank and as a quid pro quo, agreed to support Lamy's ascendency to the top job in the WTO. And ofcourse the IMF goes to the eurpean's anyways.

This just leaves one more to complete the spoils. Yes, its the UN. And its the us's pocket borough. With Europe looking the other way, we will soon have another administration official presiding over the great UN.

Looks like the us and eu have finally started the kiss and make up routine.

How romantic !!

Where have all the Tsunami pledges gone ?

2005-05-22T23:32:00.000-05:00

It all happened five months back. Giant waves struck havoc across the south and south east asian land mass. Thousands of lives lost, millions of lives changed, forever. Millions of people around the world, moved by the vastness of the tragedy, pitched in. Relief operations, donations, money, condolences poured in. It was heartening to see that the world cared.

First, it was rescue. All those who were trapped but still alive were to be rescued. That was the top most priority. Then came the relief operations for the survivors. And finally the reconstruction had to begin, to piece together the shattered lives.

The world's 19 wealthiest nations met in Paris. Public and private aid pledged worldwide for the countries hit by the tsunami disaster had crossed $10bn mark. Out of which public aid made by governments totaled around $8bn and private donations around $2bn. This was remarkable indeed.

This was about 5 months ago.

Cut forward to today.

Headlines and news reports scream...."Almost two-thirds of the money promised by governments to help the millions of people affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami has not yet been received by the UN, confirming the fear that many countries would try to wriggle out of their commitments."

Says a New York Times report "...Waning government support and shrinking resources could delay the identification of thousands of victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami indefinitely..."

Where have we gone wrong. All the wealthiest nations in the world not to be seen lagging behind in their donations, jumped over each other to give. Even the US, which started out with a lazy 11 million, increased it to 35 million after criticism and finally notched it up to 350 million. But they were all just pledges.

Now they are all wriggling out. Like all other forgotten victims. The memory of the public is indeed short.

Sun signs and foreign policy

2005-05-19T19:02:00.000-05:00

Have you ever tried to deduce the dynamics of country to country relationship based on Sun Signs (Zodiac). Just like people, country characteristics and their relationships can also be observed through their sun signs. Lets look at a few country examples.

Republic of India
Date of Birth : 15 August 1947
Sun Sign : Leo
Sun Sign Symbol : Lion
National Emblem : Lion (saranath)
Characteristics : The Leo, are grand, confident and generous, although they tend to be egocentric and can be somewhat overbearing. They can be rather stubborn and resistant to imposed changes. This stubbornness, which they prefer to think of as consistency and determination is, however, dictated more often than not by their ego! Leos are generous and enjoy being the centre of attention. They have a reckless courage, but they never fight unfairly, no matter how great the stakes. In victory they remain unselfish, and in defeat stand unconquered.

Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Date of Birth : 14 August 1947
Sun Sign : Leo
Sun Sign Symbol : Lion
National Emblem : Crescent, star, shield, Wreath and scroll motto.
Characteristics : The Leo, are grand, confident and generous, although they tend to be egocentric and can be somewhat overbearing.

People Republic of China
Date of Birth : 1 October 1949 (People's Republic established)
Sun Sign : Libra
Sun Sign Symbol : Symbol of Balance
National Emblem : Tiananmen under the light of five stars, framed with ears of grain and cogwheel
Characteristics : Libra is outgoing in its energy. A Cardinal (assertive and creative) sign, Libra governs partnerships, the arts, and making sense of self in relation to others. Librans have charisma and an easy way about them. Combine this with their desire for popularity and the approval of others, they will never compromise principle in order to gain approval, they know the danger of taking such shortcuts. Anger is rarely expressed but, when it is, it's as though a tornado has gone through a room.

United States of America
Date of Birth : 4 July 1776
Sun Sign : Cancer
Sun Sign Symbol : Crab
National Emblem : Bald Eagle
Characteristics : Cancer is reactive in its energy. They are emotionally intense and deeper than they appear on the surface, while quite impressionable and understanding once you get through their tough exterior. The shell, represents the crust or armour which hides extreme sensitivity and shyness, as well as physical and psychological vulnerability. Completion is not a reality for them until they are able to lavish their protectiveness on the family. Because of their strong need for security, they will do whatever is needed to establish and serve that security.
They are noted for their diplomacy and seldom fail to achieve their goals. However, when they are hurt, they may behave in a senseless manner, being unable to collaborate with others. At times they can behave extremely childishly and stubbornly. Although they appear gentle and tranquil, their inner thoughts are difficult to fathom. Since few ever really comprehend how Cancerians feel, they rarely get the understanding they need from others.

Newsweek's irresponsible reporting

2005-05-16T21:24:00.000-05:00

I have been following the reporting (misreporting) drama unfold in the media recently. The Newsweek magazine had reported in its May 09 issue that us military investigators had found evidence that us guards at the detention center in GBay had committed infractions in trying to get suspects to talk, including in one case flushing a holy book down the toilet.

Any rookee would know what such a report is bound to cause. A respected and widely circulated news magazine such as newsweek should have verified its sources and double checked before releasing the news. Instead they went ahead and released it, only to get their fingers burnt.

I cant find words to describe how shocked I was to find out that the report turned out to be unsubstantiated. We already have the administration still reeling under the effects of the Abu prison scandal. The popularity ratings of the us in the world crashed and the administration had to sweat it out to put things back in order. And now this.

I do understand that its the job of the newsies to put the powers that be, on the mat. But there are limits to throwing shit around and later issuing an apology note.

Do they even realize what irrepairable damage this has done. The people who protested, dont even need half a lame chance to point fingers. And the magazine not only gave them a big fat reason but also a huge bat to beat with. Now since it suites them, they obviously wont believe the retraction. Fits well does'nt it.

Issuing an apology note followed by a retraction is not going to help. The newsies should be made to understand that such half-hearted corroboration efforts to earn publicity and increase circulation will not be tolerated.

Its equivalent to lying in the people's court.

Living in an enemy state

2005-05-04T21:42:00.000-05:00

I have always wondered what it would be like to live in country that has a declared state policy of enemity with the country from which you hail.

The country I come from, India, has been, for a good part of its independence from the U.K, at logger heads (to put it mildly) with its western neighbour.

People say its territory, some say its idealogical, others sibling rivalry. And there are some who also say its the unfinished business of partition thats keeping it going, as if by some miracle if that business were to be solved tomorrow, the hostility would end !

I have always read in newspapers how Indian diplomats are routinely mistreated in that country. And I have also read in their online news portals, how their diplomats are treated worse.

But never have I heard from anybody who has been part of any of these incidents, until a few days back when I was talking to one my friends in office.

Once I got to know that his father was part of the diplomatic corps and was also posted to that country, my interest peaked. I quizzed him if there was any truth in the newspaper stories.

Following are a couple of incidents he narrated.

He had done some three years of schooling there. And he would always be singled out for "special" treatment by his teacher. Schools are supposed to be beyond politics and inter-state rivalries but apparently the teacher did not think that way. He would pull up my friend on purpose and would ask him rather gleefully to point out where Kashmir was on the map !

One day when a class was going on, a peon entered the class room and whispered something into the teachers ears, glancing over to the indian students in the class.
The teacher called out all the indian students and asked them to report to the principals office at once. Not knowing what was going on, they all trooped down to the principals office, where they were given the news. India's PM Mrs.Gandhi had been done away with by her own body guards.

Apprehending trouble, the school wanted all indian students to go home as soon as possible. So all were bundled off. On his way home, my friend saw in the streets, massive celebrations. People were celebrating India's tragedy by distributing sweets.

If this was not enough, the next day when he went back to school, he witnessed utter hostility. Folks in the schools said India deserved this and what happened to its PM was right.

No offence to the peaceniks who always blame the rigidity of the respective government positions as the reason behind these two countries continuing to be in perputual hostility, but I feel the problem is more deeper.

There IS latent hostility that sinks deep into each nations populace also. Its totally another thing that each nation finds its own ways to express this hostility. But hostility is there and there is no denying it.

So clamping artificial solutions to so called territorial problems might solve the problem for the short-term but in the long-term people will find some other grudge from goodies bag to quarrel over.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. European countries have gone through bitter rivalries and world wars. But today the European Union is slowly becoming a reality.

Will todays SAARC mature into an EU for South Asia tomorrow ?

No Chinese support for India's bid to the UN Security Council

2005-04-13T00:22:00.000-05:00

So much for all the hindi-chini bhai bhai. The Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran shot off his mouth declaring that China understands and supports India's bid to become permanent member in the revamped UN Security council.

Here is what he said :

"China understands and supports the aspirations of India to become a permanent member of the Security Council,".(Yahoo News)

I fail to understand why the foreign secretary has to say something so out of step with what the chinese have actually conveyed.

Nobody believes that China is going to support India's bid for the council seat so easily. Its illogical for China to do so without extracting any concessions from India.

A look at the Joint Statement of the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China dated April 11, 2005 would amply make China's stand on India's bid clear. Read this :

"XVI. The two sides reiterated the importance of the United Nations in global peace, stability and common development .... Both India and China agree that reform of the United Nations should be comprehensive and multi-faceted and should put emphasis on an increase in the representation of developing countries. The Indian side reiterated its aspirations for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. The Chinese side also reiterated that India is an important developing country and is having an increasingly important influence in the international arena. China attaches great importance to the status of India in international affairs. It understands and supports India’s aspirations to play an active role in the UN and international affairs. The two sides reaffirmed their readiness to conduct close consultations and cooperation in the process of UN reforms."

The underlined portion is the operative part. All that China has said is it supports India playing an active role in the affairs of the United Nations. The word "council" or even any words/phrase synonymous with "top UN bodies", etc are totally absent.

China has not changed its earlier stand calling for a consensus mechanism to be used to pick the new set of permanent members. And India has not been able to do anything about it.

I am sure once the Chinese Premier winds up his visit and heads home, the chinese foreign ministry will issue a series of clarifications to put things in proper perspective.

India should stop hunting mirages.