India’s First Woman President?

Qasmi Saab, Excellent article.

Yes, we can rightly be proud of a strong, secular & democratic India. However for this election, the overwhelming majority of Indians want Dr Abdul Kalam back as President, notwithstanding the fact that the people cannot vote in a Presidential election. Ironic really.

#1 Agreed.

Burhanuddin sahib, it`s such a quandary for marathi manus, especially for the supporters of BJP. On one hand first marathi person is getting a chance to be a prominent figure in national politics- where ghatis are treated nothing better than kaamwali bai in Mumbai- but on the other hand she is corrupt woman who supported Indira during emergency. Dilemma, dilemma!!

As usual, rote-learning masquerading as analysis plus some choice bits of racist and hate-speech:

[quote]
And even today the Brahmins of India are like that of the Jews for the world-- exploiting maximum power and recourses in their favour in disguise of quality, intellect and so-called Vedic or Biblical boons bestowed by god upon them.
[ quote]

This in a time when India`s largest state is ruled by Dalit lady (supported by all classes of people including brahmins) and the main cause of violence against dalits are land-owning OBCs!

As for the garbage about jews - heh, heh, why not add Hitler to your name, bevakoof!

Kahain se nikal aatey hain yeh numoona...

Well, Misra Shahib

To make a strong, secular & democratic India, we need to accept that three things.

1. Brahmins of India are like that of the Jews for the world-- exploiting maximum power and recourses in their favour in disguise of quality, intellect and so-called Vedic or Biblical boons bestowed by god upon them.

2. Islam is the only true faith, Allah the only god and Mohammad his prophet.

3. Deoband and Aligarh are the twin founts of Indian secularism, liberalism, and strength.

---

I am sorry, I have no interest in such India, but almost every other Hindu is. Good for them and for their India. :)

If Ms Patil wins the election, it would be quite a climb-down from the incumbent. Too bad, the Left agreed for a mediocre instead of agreeing to give Dr. Kalam a second term that he so richly deserved. Dr. Kalam is arguably the best President India had and used this largely ceremonial post as a bully-pulpit to inspire and motivate a nation and, especially, its youth.

SalmanBKhan:

I agree. In fact I am all in favor of retaining Kalam Saab as Rashtra Pati and making Ms Patil the Rashtra Patni. Kalam Saab can sleep with her as much as she can.

The post of the President like any other government post is what the incumbent makes of it. Dr. Kalam brought to it dignity, objectivity and activism that it had lacked for a long time. He showed the necessity of the office when many wanted the post to be scrapped. It is a person`s ability and character and not religion or caste that has to be the determining criteria.

Both Pratibha Patil and Shekhawat have faced smear campaign because their past carried a lot of muck. But the Congresss led UPA and the BJP-NDA have sunk to the lowest form of politics to avoid Kalam being re-elected. In an ideal world, informed citizens would have effected an intervention. In the real world, the only thing they can do is haul up the parties for the real reason that they vetoed Kalam: they did not want a man of integrity to do his job (eg., the office of Profit Bill controversy), one who listened to his ``inner voice`` than be guided by the Council of Ministers who blindly followed the writ of the Congress headquarters.
What does not befit informed citizens is to cover the politicians` true motives by giving the time-old excuse of them being guided by religious or other such considerations.

This a-hole knows diddly about how the power structure in India has reshaped. Brahmins may be like the Jews but with neither the money nor the clout. Has the fool seen how Brahmins have been cleaning toilets in Delhi? Has he ever seen a Jew do that? On what basis does he make this half-a$$ed claim? Just because he thinks no Brahmin will retaliate?

Symbolism is meaningless. Real empowerment of women does not require merely electing one to position of power - symbolic or otherwise. In fact, such moves are counter-productive because they produce the ``feel good`` effect without actually doing anything about the underlying, systemic weaknesses which lead to the exploitation of women.

#8 Harish

You got to distinguish between tongue-in-cheek comments and between outright exclamations of idiocy - both of which get doled out aplenty on this web-site - the latter mostly packaged as articles. :)

#8 bjkumar

You see ``suck``-ular a*holes like this bevakoof are allowed to say anything they like - it can be hateful, fascist and the most violent language. No problem !!!

The worst hypocrisy of these people is that if you say a single thing about their own background they will immediately start screaming ``anti-islam`` ``religion of peace (!)`` and what not. But they feel comfortable about saying hateful things about any other group !!

And this moron thinks he is an ``intellectual`` !! Soft of like a monkey immitating a person writing with a pencil...

I`m afraid that the only country still practising a form of apartheid is our India........Leading to massive brain drain.........but despite that Brahmins still continue to shine after all hurdles in their path.........

When are we going to see a Brahmin President in tandem with a Brahmin PM.......:))

#11 Mishraji

Ama yaar, even the bewakoofs of the world need a forum! :)

(Psst: I sometimes wonder what I am doing here!) :(

As a woman, I don`t see anything great in a woman becoming president of India if she, like many other ``netas`` has got a murky background. Other than the usual cries of ``smear campaign``, if there is any truth in the allegations against Madam Patil, they should be investigated and aired before she is chosen to office. The law should be the same for men or women and she, as a presidential candidate, should be an untarnished person (possible,you think?!). Whether she becomes the first woman (for God`s sake, this is not a Guiness book item!!) or whatever her religious or other beliefs maybe, is of secondary importance.

Re: # 15

Thats right........but what happened........the real PM (SG) wanted a right PM (MS) and has now anointed Ms Patil as her President.......both being her ``chelas``

Dr Abdul Kalam will remain the people`s choice...........for a long time to come.........

May he continue to develop more potent missiles against our jehadi neighbours...............

Re: # 17

yes, while we dont have a hand in this election......the new president, he or she faces the almost impossible task of living up to the standards set by Prez Kalam......and the citizens will be doing the comparison.....

Re: # 15
Absolutely, but unfortunately the janata don`t get a direct hand in this. It has become a free-for-all with all the fat cats jockeying their preferred candidates into position to get to the presidential chair.
My only hope is that given Dr.Kalam`s down-to-earth approach, self-driven ideas and initiative, he will probably continue to be active as an expresident.Let us hope that he is able to go on with the programs he initiated as president, especially regarding technology, children and education.

Dr Kalam should have been given a second term in deference to the wishes of the vast majority of India`s citizens