If independence is the ability to do what you want, when you want and where you want, then let me start by breaking down the basic notion of independence for you. Are you really independent? Can you really be independent? Will you really want to be independent? Before everyone jumps to the obvious answer, I […]
The dream of a two-party system seems not so far away. It is undoubtedly because of BJP’s relentless efforts to appease the Gods above. Seems like the beef ban, or the ‘tapasya’ we all endured when we stood in those long ATM lines during demonetization – everything has contributed to the arrival of a day […]
A political party that once controlled the country. A political party whose proud history is parallel to the history of the country, not to mention the two blurring together at times. The Indian National Congress also known as the ‘Grand Old Party’ has seen a golden period. Navjot Singh Sidhu is right when he says, […]
As we are ushering into the 71st year of Independence, I want to take time for us all to explore the meaning of independence in a bit more detail. Have you ever wondered what independence really is? This blog is specifically to explore the meaning of independence as it does for a country. The next blog will explore it from an individual perspective.
India gained her independence on 15th August, 1947. So, what did it really get?
Wikipedia says: Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory. The opposite of independence is a dependent territory.
But what does self-government or sovereignty mean?
I have asked this to many a nationalist reveling in the idea of the nation called India, but haven’t received a convincing answer. I have asked others and the notion of independence for a country is devoid of a foreign ruler.
In my view, independence for a country is simply the notion that from now on all resources in the country will be optimized for the benefit of the nation. (Please note the word is optimize, not maximize).Continue Reading
“Have you ever heard of Harry Houdini? Well, he wasn’t like today’s magicians who are only interested in television ratings. He was an artist. He could make an elephant disappear in the middle of a theater filled with people, and do you know how he did that?
Misdirection.
What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes.”
Today, I am reminded of this famous quote from the movie, Swordfish. Perhaps Travolta’s best work after Pulp Fiction.
Seems like Donald Trump got his training from Harry Houdini himself. The latest decision to quit Paris Climate Accord seems clearly like a misdirection.
The best part of it is, we all will still fall for it. Under pressure from all corners about variety of legal, illegal and unethical issues, Trump has done what any seasoned politician will do. Change the Subject!
For the last 24 hours, no one seems to care about Russia or hacking or any other issues that have clouded Trump’s presidency over the last 3 months.
What I found particularly fascinating is the role that social media plays in it. There was a time when I thought about the digital audience (the cool microbloggers on Twitter) as a discerning lot. Those who can separate the wheat from the chaff.Continue Reading
Let me begin by congratulating Narendra Modi and the NDA government for successfully completing 3 years. I am extremely glad that things in India are much better in 3 years than the 3 months of the newly elected US government.
Even the staunchest opposition to Narendra Modi and the current government will agree that his ability to connect with the masses is strong and effective. The working of the government is a miracle at best and a very well run marketing machine at the worst. This is where closer analysis need to be done.
This government so far has much lesser serious scams, though a lot more newsable discussions.
Everything from intolerance to cow-slaughter to caste/religion and other aspects have kept this government on its feet and points to a less than effective control.Continue Reading
He must be the most unique personality of the post independent India. Nobody has gained as much popularity during this time, much bigger than Anna and AK, perhaps bigger than JP Narayan, perhaps as big as Indira Gandhi. He has become the symbol of non-corrupt, developing Indian, a true statesman. Even his biggest critics can’t take this away from him. The only true statesman of significance I can think of in the last 20 years. Anna may be in the list but was very short-lived & hence insignificant.
But the confounding question is: Who is he and where is he headed? To answer this question, we perhaps need to delve deeper into the human psychology and the past of Narendra Modi.
Let’s start from the beginning. Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician. He comes from a lineage of megalomaniac Indian politicians who have spent their lifetime working their way through the dirty milieu of corrupt and extremely complex Indian politics. He has trampled over bodies, he has broken, bent and misused laws and everything he could muster. He has been part of an amazing crony-capitalism that stands in India. Truth being told, you can’t reach to where he is without going through all this. It’s a part of the process. Let me take it one step further: I am sure he was part of the Godhra riots. I am sure he was one of the core participants back then. Everything that he has been blamed for before 2014, he has done.
The business capital of Delhi, Connaught Place, is all set to become a no-traffic zone from 1st February. While some may dismiss this decision as juvenile, it seems like a very calculated move to attract media and attention. Is there a need to control traffic and its movement in CP – YES. But the solution being proposed it […]
Rich getting richer while poor suffers – this is considered a key evil in the society. This is what keeps us from providing equality. But what’s the cause?
The constitution declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. But we have done little to achieve a better socialist society. Socialism here means equal opportunity, equal rights and equal ability to be able to live well, NOT equal pay. It is equal pay based on work done irrespective of all other factors.
If looked closely, socialism would essentially mean that rich shouldn’t be able to get richer just by the virtue of being rich and because we as a society provide equality. However, India, as an economy, suffers from an extremely high interest rate problem. A high interest rate means rich can live out of just being able to lend money and earn more. Money attracts money. It also makes it more difficult for businesses to flourish and makes entrepreneurship more difficult.Continue Reading
History is for us to learn, not judge!
George Washington had 100’s of human slaves. Blacks that were part of his property. Yet, he is one of the most renowned libertarians of all time. Yet, he is one of the founding fathers of the place we know as United States of America. Here, locally in India, I used to jump traffic lights when […]