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.

Adios

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.

Adios

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.

Adios

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.

Adios

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

Adios

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.

Adios

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

Let Cricket Inspire India and Pakistan Satyamvada # 86,

All this pyaar vyaar is fine between people of both nations. I believe it`s a positive development. On the other hand, the treatment meted out to Lt. Kalia and his men before operation vijay will not be forgotten by millions of indians like me.
I don`t think the indian government has stopped buying arms coz of their lovi dovi relation with pak today, and hope they won`t. Educated pakistanis argue that both nations harbour extremists. They believe this arguemnt brings a sense of parity between the two nations. Unfortunately they forget, that our extermists are not allowed to wreak havoc on their innocents, while theirs are institutionalised and thrown in india to meet jiahd objectives.
Lets not forget that the same paki army refused to accept their own dead during kargil, leave aside honoring them. Now how much of trust should be accorded to them is a point i`m sure the indian politicians haven`t overlooked.
I remember a pakistani friend telling me once, that kashmir is not an issue. The issue is removal of hatred between the two. And i agree. Only that institutionalised hatred needs to be checked before the two governments can trust each other.

Adios

Some Hardtalk for Indians Ravikanth,

Glad someone has finally stated the facts as they are (about myths 1 & 3). Although I`m not sure about some myths you mention as being so prevalent in india.
Anyway, i think the journey to success for india has just begun, but some people have already started behaving as if we`ve reached the destination.

P.S: Myth 5 sans the previous karma is republican party`s core ideology. The poor are poor because they deserve to be, are lazy and a load on society.
Adios

The Nuclear Noose Around Pakistan’s Neck Rsridhar # 189,

What you mention about India is true as well for china, but for the communist perood which i see as an anamoly in chinese history. You are right that today`s china under communism is a threat to a good extent. Tahmed gave china`s example so that india should not be scared of it. The same applies to pakistan vis a vis india. Even today`s india has never been the aggressor with pak. All four wars were initiated by pak. China initiated the war in 62 as well. Seeing these facts i believe that india still maintains its old ethos, whiule china is set with an anamoly.
Given these facts i find it difficult to digest that anyone should parrot india`s hegemonistic designs. If they had any, it would have been clear during 71 and 74 after exploding the bomb.

Adios

The Nuclear Noose Around Pakistan’s Neck Tahmed #156,

Butting in your interactions with rsridhar.

Every point you have made about China is equally applicable to India as well. Culturally and historically invasions and expansionists have always been from west of India-China. These two countries have never invaded each other and have maintained a healthy exchange of ideas between themselves throughout history.
Both of these nations are unique due to their cultural attitutde of being satisfied within themselves. Greeks, Romans,Turks, Arabs revere those leaders who sought to conquer the world and did so to some extent. In India Ashoka is revered due to renouncing the throne and his symbol of four lions still adorns the embelem of India.
I`ve always maintained on chowk, that India and China are unique and extremely similar by virtue of being the birthplace of non-violent and objectively secular spiritual philosophies. They have been invaded countless times, never been invaders themselves. the birth of communism in china has set an anamoly in the chinese culture. As long as this anamoly exists, there will be some friction between the two neighbours.
India is waiting perhaps to see the course US takes vis a vis itself and some other nations. They are strengthning ties with China, rightly so. US is the mai baap of the world but may prove to be problematic for nations who wish to carve out their own destiny too. Thats is where i see the ptractilaity of indian leadership in not jumping heads first in the lap of US.

Adios

The Nuclear Noose Around Pakistan’s Neck Dr. Hoodbhoy seems to be a lone crusader in the pakistani scientific establishment to rid itself of corruption and association with army mullah nexus. It`ll be way to diificult tjough given the fact that for paki people too such characters are national heroes.

A.Q Khan is playing the same game that pak army has always feast upon the fear of paki people (real or imagined).

Adios