Late in February of this year, as I was desperately trying to catch some breath in the middle of an intense schedule, a close friend asked me when will I begin to slow down..I told him, I am not sure but I do not think it is going to happen anytime soon. The days leading up to late February and the several weeks after that have been a crazy whirl of activity. But things are about to “heat up” – once again!
Over the next few weeks, we will begin to …

What is the link between Z-category security, Zebra crossings and band-aids*?
Before I tell you the answer, here is a story. A few days back while driving on the Indore bypass, I noticed a strange thing. At the approach to an adjoining village, I noticed not one but two speed-breakers. I also noticed a zebra crossing – and there may well have been a traffic light too. While Indians excel at having multiple speed-breakers at all sorts of unexpected places, the 2 speed-breakers on a not-so-busy stretch of the bypass were …

I am beginning to dread Mumbai..
My favourite city when I was growing up has today become a place that I try hard to avoid. The reasons are not hard to find. Lack of an efficient system of public transport tops the list. Add to this, the traffic snarls. To this, add a humid climate and uncontrolled, chaotic crowds that jostle for space with shops, scooters, buses & cars.
Don’t get me wrong. There are still many things that keep me hooked on Mumbai. The spirit of enterprise, the numerous eating joints, …

Long time readers of this blog will remember my attempts going back several years aimed at bringing together groups and individuals involved in political & systemic reform in India. These attempts were best captured in the Hope Summit which was planned for January 2010, but got cancelled. It was rescheduled for Apr 2010 but unfortunately got cancelled a second time.
I think we are going to be third time lucky! 
In a few weeks from now, we will be unveiling the National Reform Summit in Haridwar, which hopefully will lead to a serious effort …

Close “non-political” friends who know me have been wondering whats keeping me busy since the last few weeks..I guess it is time to lift the lid! For the past many days, I have been working hard with some FTI colleagues and fellow activists on a concept called, “Sone Ki Chidiya”! 
What is ““Sone Ki Chidiya”?
It is a fledgling idea to reform Indian politics, the governance and systems we have. It may eventually evolve into a political reform movement but at the very least it will serve as an anchor to many ideas that …

Today is the 63rd anniversary of the Republic. On this day 63 years ago, the Constitution of India became the supreme law of the land. On this day, 83 years ago, our political leader resolved that India will fight to attain “Purna Swaraj”. For several years thereafter, 26th January was  observed as Independence Day of India.  But this post is not really about the history of the Republic or its Constitution. This is about the systematic subversion of the Constitution and assaults on our freedoms.
Can you guess the date of …

Excerpts from The liberal DNA by Pratap Bhanu Mehta (emphasis added):
First, liberalism places the freedom of individuals, their presumptive equality and claim to be treated with dignity at the centre of attention…our political culture far too often immobilises the claims of individual freedom in the face of community identity or group coercion, putting at risk assorted values, from freedom of expression to gender equality…Diversity should be an outcome of individuals freely exercising choices. The Congress cares for diversity but not freedom. The right cares for neither diversity nor freedom.
Second, liberalism has a …

..of a Young Restive Nation…
A friend asked me last week what was the greatest tragedy in Indian politics? I told him it was the fact that India’s population has a median age of 25 years while the average age of a Cabinet Minister is 65 (pl see graphic below). The two widely discussed contenders for the post of Prime Minister are 62 and 42.  Neither has experienced first-hand the life and times of a modern India –  fuelled by IT services, marked by malls, rising salaries, Hinglish and travel.

And I …

*** CAUTION: Long Post ***
In 2009, even as the governing body of Tirumala Tirupati was facing questions over 300 missing gold coins, a priest was arrested after confessing to stealing a deity’s two gold necklaces weighing more than a kilo. Governing body officials “said the priest was only a small fry and that there was a larger scam happening at the Lord Balaji temple – which is in possession of jewellery worth more than Rs 45,000 crore”. No inventory of the temple assets, controlled by the government, has been done since …

A few of you may have already read recent posts on my friend and FTI colleague Sanjeev’s blog about our visit to Haridwar and meetings with Swami Ramdev & members of Bharat Swabhiman. I was barely able to make the visit (planned in the middle of  my “Tirth12″) but in the end it was MahaDev’s wish that I be there and I did manage to spend a very fruitful albeit intense 1.5 days at Patanajali YogPeeth.
During the conversations with Swami Ramdev, I mentioned the 3 tenets that underpin my political …