Shivaji -- Portrait of the King as Barbarian CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ IS ONE OF THE MOST REVERED AND LOVED PERSONALITIES AMONGST THE PEOPLE OF MAHARASHTRA, EVEN TODAY. HE ESTABLISHED THE `HINDAVI SWARAJYA`, NEARLY 400 YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE MARATHA EMPIRE, RUN BY THE PESHWA (PRIME MINISTER). THUS, `HINDAVI SWARAJYA` BECAME PESHWAI, YET THE LOVE AND REVERENCE FOR THE CHHATRAPATI REMAINS THE SAME TODAY. AS A MAHARASHTRIAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY:

#1 MAHARASHTRA, DURING SHIVAJI`S TIME WAS RULED BY THREE MAIN POWERS: THE ADILSHAHI OF BIJAPUR, THE NIZAMSHAHI OF AHMADNAGAR AND THE QUTUBSHAHI OF GOLCONDA. THESE POWERS RULED MAHARASHTRA BY FEUDAL SYSTEM i.e. JAGIRS (FIEFS) WERE CONTROLLED BY JAGIRDARS, WHO WERE MOSTLY HINDU MARATHA SARDARS. THEY CARED MORE ABOUT THEIR PLACE IN THE COURTS OF THESE KINGDOMS THAN THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR LANDS. SHIVAJI MAHARAJ ESTABLISHED THE `HINDAVI SWARAJ` TO BRING ABOUT A CENTRALISED ADMINISTRATION, THUS ENDING THE FEUDAL SYSTEM.

#2 CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ ESTABLISHED THE `HINDAVI SWARAJYA` (SELF-RULED STATE OF HINDUS:- A VERY LOOSE TRANSLATION), YET THERE IS NOT A SINGLE INSTANCE SHOWING THAT SHIVAJI MAHARAJ WAS AGAINST ANY RELIGION. HE WAS A STATESMAN, HE PICKED PEOPLE BY QUALITIES, RATHER THAN BY BIRTH. IN FACT, SHIVAJI`S PRIDE, HIS NAVY EMPLOYED A VAST CHUNK OF KOKANASTHA (FROM OR OF KONKAN) MUSLIMS. HIS ARMY CONSISTED OF A FAIR SIZE OF MUSLIMS. HIS FIRST ENEMIES WERE HINDU MARATHA SARDARS. WHEN CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ ESCAPED FROM HIS AGRA IMPRISONMENT, IT WAS MADARI MEHETER, ONE OF SHIVAJI MAHARAJA`S BODYGUARDS, THAT RETURNED THE PRECIOUS SHIV-LING, THAT SHIVAJI MAHARAJ HAD FORGOTTEN. HE HAD WON THE HEARTS AND LOVE OF MUSLIMS, ALSO!

#3 CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ UNITED THE DIFFERENT REGIONS OF MAHARASHTRA, UNDER ONE RULE. MAHARASHTRA IS DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING REGIONS:- KONKAN, MARATHWADA, WESTERN MAHARASHTRA (GHAT) AND VIDHARBHA. THOUGH EACH REGION HAS A SEPARATE IDENTITY, THEY WERE UNITED UNDER THE SAME OCHRE BANNER ( NOW USED BY THE SHIV-SENA).

#4 CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ HAD A PROFOUND RESPECT FOR WOMEN, A SENSE INCULCATED, FROM BIRTH BY HIS MOTHER, JIJABAI (WHO IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS MAASAHEB). HE USED TO `AWARD` THE MOST STRINGEST PUNISHMENTS TO THOSE WHO MOLESTED A WOMAN. THE CHHATRAPATI DID NOT EVEN SPARE HIS OWN SON!
HE USED TO REGARD WOMEN (EXCEPT HIS WIVES) AS EQUIVALENT TO HIS MOTHER AND SISTER. HE USED TO TREAT THEM IN THAT RESPECT, IN WORDS AND COMMITMENT. HE NEVER FAILED TO PUNISH EVEN THE HIGHEST RANKED OFFICER IF THEY SHOWED ANY DISRESPECT TOWARDS ANY WOMAN.

#5 CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ ESTABLISHED A KINGDOM, WITH A HANDFUL MEN, AT THE AGE OF SIXTEEN. AS A RESULT, HE VALUED HIS PEOPLE THE MOST. HE USED TO FEEL DEEPLY, WHEN ANY OF HIS PEOPLE WOULD GET KILLED DURING WAR. HE NEVER FAILED TO GLORIFY HIS MEN. THE LEGENDS LIKE TANAJI MALUSARE, BAJI PRABHU DESHPANDE, FIRANGOJI NARSALA, MURARBAJI, TO NAME A FEW ARE ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE MORE SKILLFUL THAN CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ HIMSELF.
HE NAMED THE GHODKHIND PASS AS THE PAVAN (PURE) KHIND, WHEN BAJI DIED FIGHTING, TRYING TO SAVE SHIVAJI`S LIFE. HIS UTTERANCE OF THE WORDS, ``THE FORT IS CAPTURED, BUT THE LION IS DEAD.`` WHEN TANAJI MALUSARE DIED, WHEN TRYING TO CAPTURE A FORT, IN THE MIDST OF THE PREPARATIONS OF HIS SON`S WEDDING SHOWS HIS PROFOUND GRIEF.

#6 HIS MILITARY GENIUS IS TO BE AWED. HE USED TO ROUT HUGE (COMPARED TO HIS FEW HUNDREDS, AN ARMY 50,000-STRONG CAN BE SAID TO BE HUGE) ENEMY ARMIES IN A MATTER OF DAYS, WITH LEAST MINIMAL LOSSES ON HIS SIDE, USING SUPERB GUERILLA TACTICS AND THAT, WITHOUT MUCH FIREARMS. HE ESTABLISHED HIS NAVY, BY DESIGNING HIS OWN WAR-SHIPS. HIS HEALTH ALONE STOPPED HIM FROM MAKING ANY SEA CONQUESTS, HIMSELF.

#7 SHIVAJI MAHARAJ IS LOVED FOR HIS STRENGTHS AS WELL AS HIS WEAKNESSES. HIS STATE OF DEPRESSION AND A LACK OF ADEQUATE PUNISHMENT TO HIS SON, SAMBHAJI, WHEN HE JOINED THE MUGHALS IS WELL KNOWN. HE HAD LITTLE TIME FOR HIS FAMILLY. HE TRIED TO BALANCE HIS LIFE AS A RULER AND AS A FAMILY MAN.
SWAMI RAMDAS ONCE SAID OF SHIVAJI MAHARAJ, THAT HE WAS A `SHRIMAN YOGI` - A PERSON WHO WORKS FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WORLD, YET IS UNDER THE EVERYDAY CONSTRAINTS OF A FAMILY MAN.

#8 THE GREATEST SIGN OF A MAN`S EXISTENCE IS HOW HIS PEOPLE CARRY HIS IDEALS FORWARD, AFTER HIS DEATH. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ`S UNTIMELY DEATH, PLUNGED THE FLEDGLING MARATHA KINGDOM INTO TOTAL CONFUSION. WITH THE MURDER OF SAMBHAJI, NO DEFINITE LEADER, AND THE MUGHAL EMPEROR, HIMSELF, LEADING THE WHOLE OF THE ONE MILLION-STRONG MUGHAL ARMY, WITH ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES, THE SOLE INSPIRATION FOR THE LONE MARATHA WAS CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJA`S AMBITION AND THE LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE, THAT LED HIM TO CARVE OUT A SEPARATE IDENTITY FOR HIS PEOPLE, PRIMARILY IN THEIR OWN HEARTS, THEN A PERMANENT PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF INDIA. AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF FIGHTING, THE NEW MARATHA EMPIRE WAS BORN.

CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJA`S TALES ARE A PART OF THE LOCAL FOLKLORE. IN VILLAGES, EVEN TODAY, SONGS, PLAYS AND STORIES ARE POPULAR. I FEEL THE HUMBLEST WHENEVER I THINK OF THE LEGEND, HIS PERSONA.

A Drunken RSS Man in Jassema THE R.S.S. IS STILL STUCK IN THE OLD, OUT DATED CASTE FORMULA, LIKE MOST OF HINDUS IN INDIA. BY GIVING CHANCE ONLY TO BRAHMINS, FOR THE TOP BERTHS, THEY CUT OFF NEARLY 80% OF THE HINDU POPULATION.

I THINK THE THAKERAYS ARE NOT BRAHMINS, THEY BELONG TO THE C.K.P. CASTE.
IT DOESN`T MATTER, THOUGH, THE SHIV SENA WAS CREATED PRIMARILY TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE NATIVE MAHARASHTRIANS.
THE SHIV SENA DOESN`T DISCRIMINATE MUCH ON THE BASIS OF RELIGION, CASTE OR CREED, IF IT WANTS TO OPPOSE ANYONE.
IT TURNED MORE TOWARDS RELIGIOUS ISSUES WHEN IT STARTED CONTESTING ELECTIONS, LOOSING MARATHI VOTES AND GIVING CHANCE TO OTHER REGIONAL PARTIES LIKE THE N.C.P.
NATURALLY, THE SHIV SENA IS TRYING TO LOCATE ITS ROOTS IN MUMBAI AND THE KONKAN AND BALANCE ITS HINDUTVA IDEOLOGY, BUT IT SEEMS NOT TO BE WORKING, WITH NARAYAN RANE LEAVING THE PARTY.


THE ARTICLE`S DEFINITELY A NICE READ. NAGRAJ GIVES ONE THE FEELING THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BREAK FROM THE STERIOTYPICAL BELIFS AND TRYING TO THINK BY THEMSELVES.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR Mr. NAMBIAR, WHY `BOMBAY` AND NOT THE ORIGINAL `MUMBAI`, WHEN THE CITY`S BEEN OFFICIALLY RENAMED A FEW YEARS AGO?

Dance of the wolves TRIVIAL? I DON`T THINK ANYONE CONSIDERS THIS ATTACK OR ITS POSSIBLE REPURCUSSIONS AS TRIVIAL.

THIS ATTACK ON THE RAM JANMABHOOMI COMPLEX HAS BROUGHT NEW POTENTIAL TO INCREASE COMMUNAL TENSIONS. BUT A FULL-FLEDGED RIOT? I DON`T THINK SO.

INCREASED SECURITY OF RELIGIOUS PLACES IS ESSENTIAL; THERE ARE CHANCES OF SUCH ATTACKS AND MOREOVER, WITH THE SAFFRON ALLIANCE THINKING OF CALLING A BANDH........... PREVENTION IS MUCH BETTER.

YES, THERE IS DEFINETELY A FRAGILITY IN PEACE IN INDIA, BUT THEN, IF IT WEREN`T SO, THE ATTACK WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

THIS ATTACK HAS OPENED FRESH WOUNDS:- GOOD CHANCES FOR POLITICIANS TO PLAY THEIR GAME.

IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THESE POLITICAL PARTYS (AND I MEAN BOTH THE CONGRESS AND THE B.J.P.) THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN QUIETLY SETTLED BY THE COURT.

VOTEBANK POLITICS? THE LAST THREE ELECTIONS IN INDIA HAD THIS AS THE PRINCIPAL ISSUE. (MORE OR LESS.) HADN`T RAJIV GANDHI REVIVED THIS ISSUE TO APPEASE THE HINDUS? THE SAFFRON ALLIANCE WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PLAY THE DEMOLITION SQUAD. THIS A MAJOR FLAW OF THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THE TERRORIST GROUPS ARE FRUSTRATED DUE TO THE CHANGING CONDITIONS IN KASHMIR. THEY ARE TARGETTING THE INDIAN HEARTLAND AND SENSITIVE AREAS THERE.

OBIVIOSLY, THERE IS ANIMOSITY AMONG THE HINDUS AGAINST THE MUSLIMS. STILL, THERE IS SOME AMOUNT OF SENSE IN THE GENERAL SECTION OF THE POPULATION; OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDST OF ANOTHER RIOT.
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THIS ISSUE, IT HAS BEEN DRAGGED FOR TOO LONG.

I THINK THE SAFFRON ALLIANCE IS BUSY UTILISING THE OPPURTUNITY TO TRY TO MEND ESTRANGED AND BROKEN TIES. OTHERWISE, THE SITUATION IN INDIA WILL REMAIN MORE OR LESS THE SAME, UNLESS SOME FOOL GETS ANOTHER TERRIFIC IDEA IN HIS HEAD.........

Advani in Karachi ADVANI WILL HAVE A LOT TO ANSWER THE B.J.P. CADRE AND THE SANGH PARIVAR. ALL WILL BE DECIDED AT THE MUMBAI CAMP (NATIONAL STUDY CAMP), WHICH BEGINS ON JUNE 10. THE B.J.P., RIGHT NOW, IS KEEPING QUIET, BOUND BY PROTOCOL, BUT ARE LIKELY TO RESPOND IN A FEW DAYS.
STILL, WHY DID ADVANI MAKE THIS STATEMENT, RIGHT NOW? IS THE B.J.P. RE-THINKING ITS `AKHAND-BHARAT` THEORY? CURIOUS..........
LETS WAIT AND WATCH...............

Poverty creation - Maharashtra ishtyle YOUR ARTICLE JUST SHOWS THE OUTCOME OF THE TROUBLE BREWING IN MAHARASHTRA. THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAD THIS COMING. THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT HAS QUITE A FEW (AN UNDERSTATEMENT) CORRUPTION CHARGES. ALL THE MONEY EARNED BY THE GOVERNMENT DISSAPEARS IN THE HANDS OF THE POLITICIANS. THE STATE IS REELING UNDER A DEBT OF SOME 11 BILLION RUPEES, THAT TOO IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
THE MIGRANTS TO MUMBAI, FROM OTHER STATES, HAVE PUT A HUGE LOAD ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BASIC AMENETIES, TRANSPORT AND THE ABSORBING CAPACITY OF THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. THIS ISLAND CITY HAS REACHED ITS LIMIT. IT CANNOT HOLD ANY MORE PEOPLE ANYMORE. MUMBAI ALREADY HOUSES ASIA`S LARGEST SLUM, THE DHARAVI.
I BELEIVE THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS FINALLY HEEDING TO THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CONGRESS GOVERNMENT HAD IGNORED AND DISTANCED ITSELF FROM, IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS. THOUGH THE WAY IT IS GOING ABOUT THE SITUATION NEEDS SOME EFFECTIVE PLANNING.

’Our Shiv Sena’ Re: # 19

THE FORMATION OF SHIV-SENA HAS TO BE STUDIED FROM THE FORMATION OF THE STATES OF MAHARASHTRA AND GUJRAT FROM THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.

THE CITY OF BOMBAY (MUMBAI) WAS TO BE A PART OF GUJRAT, INSPITE OF ITS GEOGRAPHICAL PROXIMITY TO MAHARASHTRA (IT IS A PART OF THE KONKAN STRIP).
AS SOON AS THIS DECISION WAS MADE, A WAVE OF PROTESTS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND VIOLENT INCIDENTS (TO PUT IN A NUTSHELL) OVERTOOK MAHARASHTRA AND MUMBAI. MUMBAI, THUS, BECAME A PART OF MAHARASHTRA, IN FACT, ITS CAPITAL (1950). THIS WAS THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AS THE SHIV-SENA CAME INTO EXISTENCE.

THE SHIV-SENA WAS PRIMARILY FORMED TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE MAHARASHTRAIN COMMUNITY IN MUMBAI. IT WAS A TIME WHEN AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE (FROM OTHER STATES, AND PRIMARILY FROM SOUTH INDIA) BEGIN IN MUMBAI (SAPNO KI NAGRI). THIS WAS ALSO A TIME WHEN A MOVEMENT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE TAMIL AREAS OF INDIA AND SRI-LANKA HAD BEGUN. THE SOUTH INDIANS THROUGH THEIR TALENT, HIGH QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND A PRIDE OF THEIR PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, OCCUPIED ALL THE IMPORTANT POSTS IN THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (MOST OF THE SENIOR OFFICERS IN HIGH OFFICES ARE MOSTLY SOUTH INDIANS). THEY REFUSED JOBS TO MAHARASHTRIANS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. THE PERCENTAGE OF MAHARASHTRAINS WAS SPEEDILY DECREASING. THE SHIV-SENA, THROUGH ITS OWN VIOLENT STYLE AND AND ITS USE OF MARATHI IN ITS NEWSPAPERS, ANNOUNCED ITS PROTEST. A HIGH POINT WAS THE ENTRY OF SOME SHIV-SAINIKS INTO THE R.B.I. GOVERNOR`s OFFICE AND MAKING THEIR DEMAND FOR 80% RESERVATION OF MAHARASHTRAINS FOR JOBS IN THE R.B.I.

THE SHIV-SENA WAS AT A HIGH POINT IN ITS POPULARITY AMONG THE MAHARASHTRAIN COMMUNITY:- AFTER ALL THEY NAMED THEMSELVES AS THE `ARMY OF CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI` (SHIV:- SHIVAJI, SAINIK:- SOLDIER), EVEN ADOPTING HIS OCHRE FLAG. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ HOLDS A STRONG EMOTIONAL AND HISTORICAL BOND AMONG THE PEOPLE OF WHOLE OF MAHARASHTRA, IRRESPECTIVE OF CASTE, CREED, RELIGION AND COMMUNITY.

THEN THE SHIV-SENA ENTERED POLITICS, ON THE BASIS OF ITS POPULARITY AMONG THE MAHARASHTRAIN COMMUNITY. IT WAS A BRILLIANT PLAN, BUT NOT WELL EXECUTED, A TACTICAL BLUNDER. IN ITS EFFORT TO ACQUIRE A VOTE-BANK, IT ENTERED INTO THE FRAY OF TRADE UNIONS AND COMMUNAL POLITICS. IT COULD EASILY WIN THE BRUHANMUMBAI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION (B.M.C.) ELECTIONS. HOWEVER, THE REST OF MAHARASHTRA REMAINED A CONGRESS BASTION (EXCEPT THE KONKAN-BELT) DUE TO STRONG POPULAR APPEAL OF INDIRA GANDHI.

THEN HAPPENED RAJIV GANDHI AND THE BABRI MASJID. THE RIOTS BROKE OUT. THE SHIV-SENA FOUND ITSELF IN A POWERFUL SITUATION. IT WON THE MAHARASHTRA STATE ELECTIONS THE FOLLOWING YEAR ON THE `HINDUTVA IDEOLOGY` POLICY. ONE OF ITS STRONGEST VOTE-BANK:- THE BIHARI AND UTTAR PRADESH BHAIYYAS (THE NORTH INDIANS), MOSTLY HINDUS.

HOW DID THEY FORMED SUCH A LARGE VOTE-BANK IN MUMBAI? SIMPLE. THE ONCE CHAMPION OF THE MAHARASHTRAIN CAUSE HAD REALISED THE POTENTIALITY OF COMMUNAL POLITICS. IT WANTED MORE HINDUS, SO ADD THEM. THEY PROVIDED FREE ACCOMODATION AND HOUSING FACILITIES TO THEM. THUS, THE UTTAR-BHARTIYAS ENTERED MUMBAI. THE MAHARASHTRAIN COMMUNITY HATED THIS INFLUX, YET THE SHIV-SENA STARTED LOOSING ITS TOUCH FROM ITS BASIC GROUND POLICY.

IT AGAIN WON THE ELECTIONS. HOWEVER, IT WAS IN FOR A RUDE SHOCK. IT FELL FROM POWER DUE TO LOSS OF MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, AND THE CONGRESS HAS BEEN IN THE POWER ALONGWITH THE NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY. THE SHIV-SENA REALISED ITS BLUNDER AND TRIED A FACE-SAVING POLICY:- IT BECAME ANTI-UTTAR-BHARTIYA AND PUT A CUT-OFF DATE AS 1995 FOR PEOPLE TO BE CALLED AS MUMBAIKARS i.e. PEOPLE RESIDING IN MUMBAI BEFORE 1995 WERE REAL `MUMBAIKARS.` (THIS CUTT-OFF DATE HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD TO 2000, BY THE CONGRESS).

THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT OF A POWER-TUSSLE BETWEEN THE BAL THAKERAY`S SON UDDHAV AND RAJ; THE LATER IS A `HARDLINER` OF THE ORIGINAL SHIV-SENA POLICY.IT HAS ALSO STARTED TO OPPOSE THE INFLUX OF THE ILLEGAL BANGLADESHIS AND THE BAR GIRLS. IT ALSO MADE A VOLTE-FACE ON THE UTTAR-BHARTIYA ISSUE, TRYING TO WOO THEM DURING THE RECENTLY HELD ELECTIONS, WHICH IT LOST BY A HUGE MARGIN.

THE MAHARASHTRAIN COMMUNITY HAS SUFFERED A SETBACK DUE TO THIS ATTITUDE OF THE SHIV-SENA AND HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A MERE 34% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION (1.3 CRORE) OF MUMBAI. MAHARASHTRIANS SOMETIMES SUFFER A SUB-ORDINATION FROM THE OTHER COMMUNITIES. THE STATE LANGUANGE IS HARDLY SPOKEN AND IS IGNORED BY MOST STUDENTS OF THE STATE BOARD. THE MARATHI FILM INDUSTRY, THE PIONEER OF THE INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY ITSELF, IS LOOSING ITS APPEAL (THOUGH `SHWAAS` HAS BROUHT NEW HOPE).

THUS, THE SHIV-SENA AND OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE BECOME FALSE HOPES FOR THE MAHARASHTRIAN COMMUNITY IN MUMBAI, YET THEY STILL VOTE FOR IT!

Gen. Musharraf Visits Delhi PAKISTAN PRESIDENT GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF HAS GOT THE RIGHT IDEA, BUT DOES HE HAVE THE RIGHT HEART?

UNKE NAYE DIL ME KITNI TAKAD HAI AB WAQT HI BATA PAAYEGA!

STILL, I THINK HE HAS BEGAN TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HIS RESPONSIBILITIES NOW. MILITARY SOLUTIONS HAVE NOW BECOME OBSOLETE. MOREOVER, HE HAS TO LIFT PAKISTAN UP HER FEET.

INDIA`S CASE IS ALMOST TOTALLY DIFFERENT:-

#1 INDIA, BEING A DEMOCRACY, SOME (MOST) PARTS OF ITS POPULATION WOULDN`T EVEN CARE WHOM INDIA`S HAVING A WAR WITH.

#2 INDIA REGARDS PAKISTAN AS EITHER:-
A TROBOULSOME NUISANCE OR, IF FREINDLY, THEN, AN IMPORTANT ALLY.

#3 INDIA WANTS TO EXPAND HER ECONOMIC CAPABILITIES, A REALIZATION THAT PAKISTAN IS RECENTLY WAKING UP TO.

#4 WHILE THE GOVERNMENT TAKES CARE OF THE FOREIGN POLICIES, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA (ESPECIALLY THOSE HAVING BUISSINES INTERESTS) HAVE THEIR MINDS INDEPENDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT`S POLICIES.

I THINK GENERAL MUSHARRAF IS DOING THE RIGHT THING:- HE IS TRYING TO OPEN UP PAKISTAN AND SEPARATE THE MILITARY FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND NORMAL CIVILLIAN LIFE. NO WONDER HE IS FACING SUCH OPPOSITION AS WELL AS FULL-HEARTED SUPPORT. HOPE PAKISTAN TAKES UP ALL GOOD LESSONS AND FOLLOWS THE PATH OF PROGRESS.

F-16s to Pakistan—Why Now? THIS SEEMS TO BE IN THE CONTINUATION OF U.S.A.`s POLICIES TOWARDS COMPETITION. WHEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN BECAME INDEPENDENT, THE ENEMY WAS COMMUNISM. THE USA, THEN TRIED TO WOO BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN AND EVEN OFFERED INDIA A CHANCE FOR A P.S. IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL.
NEHRU, HOWEVER, SOCIALIST AS HE WAS, IGNORED THESE OVERTURES, AND TRIED TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THE USA, BY ALIGNING WITH THE U.S.S.R., WITHOUT ADOPTING COMMUNISM. NEHRU ALSO RAISED THE SLOGAN OF `HINDI-CHINI BHAI BHAI` BUT DUE TO FAILED FOREIGN POLICIES:- THE INDO-CHINA WAR.
THE U.S.A., IN THE MEANWHILE, SUCCEDED IN ITS FREINDSHIP WITH PAKISTAN AND FOUND IT USEFUL. HOWEVER, NOW WITH CHINA BEING A MAJOR COMPETITION, THE U.S.A. FINDS INDIA, MORE THAN PAKISTAN, READY TO BALANCE THE POWER RATIO IN ASIA. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR PAKISTAN`S GOOD RELATIONS WITH CHINA, AND ITS ECONOMIC CONDITION, PAKISTAN WOULD HAVE BEEN BETER SUITED FOR THIS ROLE.
THE U.S.A. IS GOOD AT PICKING UP TOYS FOR ITS PLAY. BOTH COUNTRIES, INDIA AND PAKISTAN, MUST WATCH THEIR STEPS.

India Through Pakistani Eyes Re: # 611
Partition i.e. the division of the erstwhile undivided India, was initiated by the Quaid-i-Azam and his party, the Muslim League and was never supported by the Congress and had to accept it out of compulsion, due to the flaring up of communal riots. The British accepted the Partition only after both the parties had accepted it.
However, as you said the Partition occured and it is a fact. The Muslim Legue`s idea was:
Muslim majority = Pakistan, Hindu majority= India.

Yet some Muslims opted for India, for she had decided that :

India = Secular country, equal rights to all.

These Muslims decided to stay where they originally resided and formed Muslim - majority areas in parts of India, without showing any threat to the unity of India and without a desire to form a separate independent `Pakistan` wherever they resided. There are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan, as a result of this. The British had no objection with the decision of these Muslims.

So your Premises #1 and #2 and your proposition that the Partition occurred in a `certain degree` prove false, it got completed in and around 1947. Kashmir, on the other hand, was to be decided on a plebicite, which cannot be possible unless Pakistan stopps its cross - border terrorism and withdraws its troops.

India Through Pakistani Eyes Re: # 501
INDIA IS BUILDING HER MILITARY POTENTIAL BECAUSE:
#1 INDIA IS DEVELOPING AS A FORMIDABLE ECNOMIC POWER.

#2 SHE DOES NOT LIMIT HERSELF TO THE SUB-CONTINENT AND WANTS TO BE A KEY GLOBAL POWER.

#3 SHE IS THE SECOND-MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. HER SECURITY CONCERNS SHOULD DEFINETLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HER ENORMOUS POPULATION.

#4 INDIA IS NOT STUCK IN ONLY A PARTICULAR TIME FRAME, UNLIKE PAKISTAN. SHE WANTS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT, DEVELOPED ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER, THUS, MAKING THE WEST SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE OF THE NEW INDIA.

#5 INDIA HAS A DOCTRINE OF DEFENCE AND NEVER OF OFFENCE.

#5 BEING A DEMOCRATIC AND FREE COUNTRY WITH A PAST HISTORY OF ENSLAVEMENT OF NEARLY 200 YEARS, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY TERRITORIAL AMBITIONS AGAINST ANY COUNTRY.

#6 HER SECURITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED THREE TIMES IN HER HISTORY OF 58 YEARS OF INDEPENDENT EXISTENCE.

#7 SHE HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY TERRORISM AND INSURGENTS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.

AND SAYING SO, I INTERACT FOR THE FIRST TIME. GREETINGS TO ALL.