…or how fair is Rs 125cr for Leh and Rs 1000cr for Nehru stadium? I stumbled upon this post by Rajesh Kalra yesterday. It is shocking…and sad. Read on (emphasis mine):
The devastation brought about by the flash floods, basically flood of wet mud, in Leh has resulted in untold misery for its residents. Almost an entire section of the old town seems to have been flattened with the river of mud wiping off everything in its way.
Now, Leh, among the highest inhabited town in the world, never boasted a civil …

Today’s post comes to you courtesy Milind Thatte. Milind is currently researching for his forthcoming book titled, “Our forests, Our people“. This is an excerpt from his work (emphasis added):
*** Excerpt from “The Land of Shabari” by Milind Thatte ***
Dang[1] is the southern district of Gujarat sharing its borders with two districts of Maharashtra on its east and south. Ambika and Khapri are the small rivers running like romancing snakes through the forests of Dang. The mountains of Dang mark the north-end of Western Ghats.
Dang has ancientness to its …

The day of coronation appears to be coming closer…The machinery seems to be working full-time to establish the dynasty in the “hearts and minds” of the people of India.
First you had the “celebrations” around the Prince’s coming of age. Last week we witnessed the pleasing face of the late patriarch beaming from hoardings, posters and advertisements in newspapers…Today, I was alerted to this painstakingly compiled photo album, courtesy NDTV that talks of (emphasis added):
“Priyanka’s aura…that definitely cannot be ignored

Wait there is more…
Her poise and elegance coupled with her settled attitude, …

I woke up yesterday morning to pictures of a beaming Rajiv Gandhi from the pages of various newspapers*, extolling his “greatness” and remembering his “quotes”. ToI had a full page ad, no less, sponsored by the Ministry for Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) (don’t ask me what connection MoFPI has with Rajiv Gandhi).
Does no one remember his tenure? or are we collectively choosing amnesia over hard reality?
As a Prime Minister, he lacked vision, came to power completely by accident, was more of a “reluctant leader” than anyone I can think …

Thanks to Sanjay for alerting me to this article in gfiles.com. It is shocking to say the least. Pl read the excerpts and share widely. Excerpts from The daylight rape of the public interest:
*** Excerpts begin ***
gfiles prayerfully brings to the Supreme Court’s attention..the inside story of how a national resource…has been systematically emasculated..(and) how, as part of a larger conspiracy, prime land worth Rs 98,000 crore belonging to the Government of India was gifted for profit to a consortium of vested interests in the name of “airport development”.
This …

On the ocassion of our Indepdence Day, I would like each one of you to just spend two minutes and think: What can you do today to make sure that 15th August 2011 is better for you, for our society and for our nation?
What can you do about your responsibilities towards the society that has made you what you are – and the nation that gives you your identity?
What can you do to help us break the paradigm of poor governance and ineffective leadership that is slowly eating away at …

Some of you may remember my recent posts from the north-east in which I had highlighted my concerns re. aggressive missionary activities in the region. Many of you would also know that there is a considerable amount of literature and news-paper reports on how foreign aid is being funnelled into anti-national activities in this part of India – at least some of it, finding its way to the numerous terrorist organisations active in the border states.
Below are two first-hand accounts and one short extract that underline the magnitude of the …

Sh Virendra Kapoor says it like it should be. An extract from Sh Kapoor’s article in Rediff (emphasis added):
The point is, despite having preserved the demographic character of the Valley, if Kashmiris continue to betray this country’s trust and abuse its largesse, only a foolhardy administration would continue to pander them even as they behave in a most treacherous, nay, traitorous manner.
It should be noted that in the current round of violence, they have forcibly cut the hair of a number of Sikh truckers while mercilessly beating Hindu truck drivers …

Continued from Part-I. Dear All: I am opening this thread to avoid overload of comments on the previous thread. The last few comments have been reproduced here.
Please continue the discussion on this new thread. Thank you.
***
Comment by Sid:

Just to add some discussion here:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100730/jsp/frontpage/story_12749135.jsp Note the last para:
“Attacking Hindu terror works fine for us. But taking on Muslim extremism is a very sensitive issue and so we should be careful. Achuthanandan is sounding like the Bajrang Dal and the central party is backing him,” said a senior …

Here is what I read this weekend….
First, a strong case by Prof R Vaidyanathan on why our “kirana” stores need to be supported (emphasis added):
…More than 125 lakh kirana stores provide a source of livelihood to 16 crore people…The retail trade comprises all kinds of people and formats — from street vendors to departmental stores of various types, shapes and characteristics.
More than 80% of trade is accounted for by partnership and proprietorship forms — often called the unorganised sector. The kirana shop adjacent to my home opens at 7am …

Please join us on Monday, 2nd August if you can at this discussion jointly organised by the IIT Delhi Alumni Association and Freedom Team of India.
6:30pm – 9:30pm
August 2nd (Monday) 2010
Location:  7th Floor Main Building, IRD Hall,
Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas

The discussion will focus on issues in “governance” in India, the present situation and how can it be improved. As one of FTI’s founder-members Sanjeev mentioned:
India’s governance shows no sign of improving, stumbling from one crisis to another. Our security is threatened, our economic growth stumbles every few …

There is a new kid on the block. (S)he is called “Hindutva Terror” (aka “Hindu Terror”).  Chances are you have heard the word before; Chances are you have got annoyed, perhaps just a little bit angry and moved on. Chances are you have never paused to think who – and what – is this “Hindutva Terror”? Until a few days ago, I was in the group of people who – when they heard the word – would get a little annoyed, perhaps a little angry and then move on.
हिंदी अनुवाद …

Thanks to Sanjeev for alerting me to this thought-provoking interview of Arvind Kejriwal (at JaagoRe.com). Excerpt from a response by Arvind (emphasis mine):
Last year in July, when a large number of MPs, during no confidence motion against Manmohan Singh government, crossed sides after taking bribes…I thought that was one of the darkest days for Indian democracy. If such large number of MPs could be sold and purchased, that means we are not an independent country.
Tomorrow any country can purchase any number of MPs and get …

Please share your thoughts on the Bandh AND what would have been your preferred strategy of protest and channelising public discontent.

<br /> <a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/3432260/” mce_href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/3432260/”>Was “Bharat Bandh” good for India?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;” mce_style=”font-size:9px;”><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/” mce_href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/”>customer surveys</a></span><br />
***
And what would have been your…

<br /> <a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/3432315/” mce_href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/3432315/”>Preferred strategy of “protest” and channelising public discontent</a><span style=”font-size:9px;” mce_style=”font-size:9px;”><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/” mce_href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/”>online surveys</a></span><br />
***
Comment and thoughts welcome.

Other Polls on || Satyameva Jayate ||
Should there be certain “selection criteria” for MPs?

What’s stopping you from joining active politics?

What should be India’s top developmental priority?
http://satyameva-jayate.org/2009/01/18/selection-criteria-for-mps/

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Vice President, All-India Muslim Personal Law Board on reservations for Muslims:

‘‘Koi bhi qaum baisakhion ke sahare hamesha nahin chal sakti…usme jaan paida karni hogi*..”
*Translation: No community can move forward on crutches…we need to instil life into it.

He further said:
Muslim quota will not prove beneficial in the long run. The Muslim leadership is responsible for illiteracy and backwardness of the community…
Muslim leaders should now atone for their sins by promoting literacy, creating better avenues for jobs and improving their lot instead of harping on issues …

This weekend, three excerpts – on three very different topics – sent to me by three friends.
The first is an excerpt from a keynote speech delivered by Sh Sam Pitroda on “India in a globalized world” at Nehru Centre, Mumbai (Thanks Prashant):
…Today, education is definitely on the national agenda. I believe that this is a great window of opportunity because we have a very large young population. We are prepared to invest on education. Our economy is growing at 8 to 10%. But, at the same time, don’t have big …

Sometime during the last 48 hours, the || Satyameva Jayate || page on Facebook crossed the 1000+ mark.
This is all the more remarkable considering that the page was started less than 8 months before…and considering that I have not spent a single Rupee in promoting this or advertising the group.
To all my friends, blog readers and Facebook Page Members, as I wrote in a related context few days ago, A BIG Thank You, धन्यवाद, நன்றி, ধন্যবাদ, ધન્યવાદ, ਮੇਹੇਰਬਾਨੀ, ಧನ್ಯವಾದಳು…

Although small, this is a significant milestone in our journey and this …

Dear Rahul,
First of all, please accept my warm wishes on your birthday.  Many Happy Returns and may you have many healthy and peaceful years ahead of you.
Today – as you turn 40 – must be a special day for you. I felt it was also an appropriate day to understand your thoughts and get your answers to some questions that have been troubling me for a while.
Like most of our fellow citizens, I have been watching your trajectory over the past few years with interest. I remember the sense of …

Home Secretary Sh G K Pillai, quoted on IBN

I think the blockade is totally illegal.
I think the illegal activity has to stop.
We have made an appeal..to ensure that the blockade is removed
…we cannot allow blockade to continue

Image courtesy: Babus of India
In the meantime, the Nagas appear to be in no mood to lift the blockade
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the maze that is Indian bureaucracy, Sh Pillai is the highest-ranking bureaucrat in the Ministry of Home Affairs that
discharges multifarious functions, important among them being …

Start your weekend with these excerpts from a conversation between Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and an IAS probationer, Shri Yuvaraj Karan in 1950, reproduced from the print edition of the monthly magazine “Secularism Combat” (thanks Jiggs).
…Shri Yuvaraj Karan, a former IAS Officer, who is also one of the escapees from Pakistan has written a book “Understanding Partition” published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. When he was at the IAS training institute in Dehradun, in the first batch IAS trainees, Jawaharlal Nehru was invited to address them. At the end of Shri …