A Bold Agenda for United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Harimau , Ankit,

Its the same old Congress culture coming to fore. Have thugs and murderers join as ministers and never appreciate or work towards a coalition.
When has congress ever understood coalition culture, when their own party is headed by a dictator.
This government has the most brilliant cabinet of all. Laloo, Tytler, Taslimuddin holding portfolios and claim to be secular, corruption free and efficient government.

God knows what has happened to saner voices in the media too. Everyone is comparing sonia to mahatma or jesus or vedantic ideals.

Adios

Train to Pakistan 2004: Just Another Touristy Day. Harimau # 47,

Putting the onus squarely on Nehru alone would not suffice. Having said that I don`t take it as a north vs. south issue, like jay. But my objective was to clear up jay`s delusion, who thinks everythig thats wrong is due to northeners and everything right is due to southerners. He should go and sit in the paki government office for strategic planning for such nonsensical and idiotic thinking.

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Train to Pakistan 2004: Just Another Touristy Day. Jay #30,

Delusion and Manic Depression...

Last time the cabinet was influenced by a south indian.. we lost a war in 62.

Keep that south-north nonsense in your head. I can see rest of the nation thankfully not plagued by the same delusion of north v.s south.

Adios

A Bold Agenda for United Progressive Alliance (UPA) kaurasuch #33,

Had the same thing been written by an indian, he would have been trashed as a right wing hindu fanatic.

kabuliwalah #6,

And this is supposed to be a victory for the secularists.

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A Bold Agenda for United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Dost-Mittar,

FRom early 80`s onwards, people in india have been fooled in the name of religion, castes and region. Successive politicians have proposed policies to divide the nation in the name of welfare of minorities or low castes. What VP singh did and LK Advani did were simply to polarise the nation on different lines. What indira gandhi did was to polarize the nation in terms of central vs. regional parties at every opportunity.
For once i would like to see someone come up and declare that policies will be directed towards all the people in equal measure. The only pre-requisite required would be the citizenship of india. I don`t believe any government on earth can push a community or individual against their age old dogma or belief system to reach the level of success defined by them. If Indian government can provide an equal opportunity platform for all, I believe it would be sufficient and become a unifying force too.
Discrimantion against anyone is deemed illegal, and should be enforced rigourously. The same goes for negligence of duty in protecting life and property of citizens of india.
If, Post Godhra, the state government of gujrat had the sense of duty and law, they would have pursued the perpetrators of train burning to any ghetto and brought them to justice. Instead they chose to stand by and let the murderers go on a rampage across the state in an act of ``revenge``. Is it possible for any government in india to simply follow the law and not be bothered by religion/caste etc. of the perpetrators? Do you think we need policies that apply to one section of population and alienates others?
I see many indians being bothered about minorities all the time. Just look at US, where muslims are living happily and not complaining, despite the fact that they are not allowed to do Ajaan for namaz on loudspeakers. Can you think of having a similar situation in india? I think secularism in india has come to mean bending over backwards publicly for minorities, while screwing them up otherwise.
Sorry for the long post.

Adios

Sonia Gandhi and the Coming of Age of the Indian Nation My my... I can definitely understand my Paki friends` concern about majority voice. After all that was how the great tradition of pakistan was founded upon and continues to shine its beacon to the world. Have to admit though, that they are the most altruistic people on earth. They worry about kashmir, chechniya and now the voice of majority of indians.

sparchus,

I agree with you on congress` analysis. Actually from the time that indira gandhi took over the reins of congress, both india and congress have been going downhill eversince. Rajiv only continued in his mom`s footsteps. When seasoned politicians like sharad pawar and others have had to break away from congress, due to encouragement of incompetency and sycophancy, the writing was on the wall. The culture in congress has become one of gandhi worshipping which has no alternative. When i saw this man holding a revolver to his head and threatening to shoot himself for sonia`s sake, i was ashamed of being an indian.
Its time some parties in india openly come out and blame the congress for kashmir, punjab, N.E and other looney policies. They just cannot understand regional aspirations within a country and respect them.

Adios

India Votes - and How! Frauk # 307,

It seems the rumours are true after all.
Sonia as a person perhaps has her feet firmly planted on ground to make such a decision despite the sycophant party workers threatening suicide. I think she recognises her experience and expertise lies not in politics. If anything, her husband`s assasination would have prompted her to believe that no matter how much boot-licking, Gandhi worshipping your party workers are, who are hell bent upon proving that you are the best leader for the country, it does not qualify you to become head of state w/o any political experience. At the same time, time will tell us, if she infuses a more democratic culture in the party by allowing senior leaders to take charge of now defunct congress culutre. There`s a great element of luck too, which favoured her in this election. It was the anti-incumbency factor and the ``india shining`` campaign on the poor of india that did the trick. Many people blame the hindi belt for congress` reversal of fortune, but a look at the numbers will tell you that congress is mostly third in UP, Bihar etc. It`s in Delhi, AP and other places that the hero-worshipping of congress culutre has shown its effect.

On Manmohan Singh, what can i say but be just plain glad and thrilled if he were to become PM. I`ll truly consider ``India shining`` if a minority becomes PM and sets a precedent that its abilities that matter for such a position. My only concern is that he`s no conniving politician, and may require good advisors around him to tackle cheap ploitics and politicians (biggest of all being his own party workers).

I think, rest of the reaction has been shown by the stock market just today.

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Mama Mia! We just voted! Jay,

Its not the cow belt which propelled congress to power. In UP and Bihar congress is placed 2nd and 3rd respectively, with very few seats. Check the numbers from AP, Delhi and other places.

Adios

India Votes - and How! Aniruddha,

Cong, BJP or Left wing, I don`t care. I do know however that India has won in this sectarian, fascist, religious right environment of the world. No other so called ``illeterate`` or educated and civilized people have ever voted a foreigner and a minority religious person in office this way. To me this shows the strength of institution over individual. A very positive sign indeed.
i think you have gone overboard with this congress victory. Let me just remind you that Punjab problem, 84 sikh riots, kashmir problem and babri-Ram janambhhomi all started when your beloved party was in power. If you think that cong. will make conceesions in kashmir, then you need to get a sanity check up done fast. It`s due to the Gandhi dynasty`s imperious ways that kashmir problem started.
I think personally, Vajapayee still could make concessions and get away with it on kashmir.
Well, lets hope for the best.
Definitely this will spur the parties to perform if they have to survive, as opposed to carrying on with corruption and inefficiency.
Adios

Karachi Blast - The Untold Story There`s nothing new in this ``Untold story``. This has been told and repeated every time incidents like this happen. This has been happening since Abraham smashed the sculptures in Babylon and threatened the gullible with the wrath of God.
His successors have tried to outdo each other in more ways than one.
This is God`s army, who himself remains unseen and unproven and yet demands proof of loyalty from his followers. How can you stop it? You are part of it too.
Its for the same god that three religions arose to serve him. Each sacrificing the blood of other in his name. When the world should become just one nation under one god, that would not be the end of miseries, rather its beginning. It would be like pakistan today, perhaps with a different religion. But who cares except for the mighty god. Thats his game you see. I know you don`t though.
A tool is a tool and shall always remain so. Unless it develops eyes to see who`s hurling him in the furnace.
Adios

Karachi Blast - The Untold Story IN THE NAME OF GOD-

1. Martin Luther and Pope Leo fought aginst each ohter and against the jews,
2. Crusaders wrecked middle east
3. jehadis scoured the world for heathens,
4. Missionaries exported slaves from africa,
5. Inquisition took place,
6. Animals sacrificed in millions
7. Nations carved
8. Men turned aginst another to commit multiple genocides

And you show concern for the preist who`s sacred to offer prayers to the same god.
On the other hand you should fear, fear itself.
Isn`t it the same fear due to which pakistan was created?
Or the same fear which wiped out the minorities in pakistan or in arabia?
Replace this fear, if you want a society free of sucides and further deaths.

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A Song for the Lord of the Hills Hamid mian #31,

``faith is a personal matter between man and his demons ``

Just loved it!!!

``kind of like a divine peep-show ``

Thats what an archana is. Just that the preist alone gets to peep and in some cases money too.

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Murder on Helm Street rajsinghi1 # 676 & 674,
Thanks for the excellent posts. What is the source of this information?


``Since you are one of the most well read/informed person (I am not being sarcastic), try to go back to the days before the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi, in India. What was India like at that time? Forget the British but just look at Indians only (of course, today`s Pakistanis too). Was there really any freedom struggle going on? ....... ``

In my opinion, it did not make any difference to a commoner in india, whether he/she was ruled by zamindars, british or raja/nawabs. Their lot was pathetic with no hopes for any say in their lives. Not just their lands, but their lives were dependent upon the whims of their masters. Freedom struggle to replace one set of masters by another did not make any sense to them. I think Gandhi changed all that, by awakening the masses to take control of their own destinies, be it caste related discrimantion or nation`s subjugation. He was instrumental in ``informing`` the people that freedom does not just come by overthrowing the brits, but also all other shackles burdening their lives. That rings a bell with a commoner. People in india are mistaken that he was just a religious or idealistic nut. He was a lot more intelligent and pragmatic than many people can understand.

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Train to Pakistan 2004: The Journey Outbound Veeresh,
Perhaps this series is your best written ever.
Waiting for the last one.

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The Kumbh Mela of the South Harimau,

Good article.
Keep writing with interesting details and observations like this one.
Glad that ASI is trying to take care of so many ruined temples. Near my hometown (Udaipur), temples belonging to the Nagaditya dynasty (11th century) have been looted down to the last deity. Recently a guy from jaipur was caught smuggling items from these and other temples. The destination of these smuggled goods is usually Sotheby`s, who care least about vandalism and theft.

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Bus Sucheta,

Beautiful!!
The boredom and tedium of life for common women and men in india finds temporary relief in bollywood flicks or such close and physiological encounters. Wonder what the village dwellers resort to.
Adios