Some excerpts below from an intensely thought-provoking article by Radha Rajan. Although I do not agree with everything in the article, I believe it will trigger a debate that we all need to have but are shying away from:
*** Excerpts from Mumbai terror probe – silence of the conspirators ***
There is a growing feeling among a small section of political commentators and the politically well-informed that there is a sinister silence in certain quarters of the media and the Indian intelligentsia about the core details of the Mumbai’s terror attack …

From Minority rule in Andhra Pradesh by Dr T.H.Chowdary*, these extraordinary examples that probably test the limits of minority appeasement:
On the 18th of Oct a number of Christian organizations under the leadership of Archbishop Rev. Joji of Andhra Pradesh met the Chief Minister and thanked him for conceding their demand and creating a separate department for Christian welfare and a separate Christian Finance Corporation in the government of Andhra Pradesh…According to the census 2001, Christians constitute 1.44% of the people of Andhra Pradesh .
Some actions of the government of the Andhra Pradesh …

Some of you must have read the news from two days ago regarding a call by some Muslim leaders to form a “Muslim political front“  that would also align “secular forces”. Quite how a religious front can align secular forces is beyond me but I felt a deep sense of unease as I read this piece of news…
In some ways it was reminiscent of the background that eventually led to the formation of the Muslim League just over a century earlier in Dhaka. The mood amongst Muslims at the time was captured …

…Muslims need to look within their own community and build reforms within it.
Last weekend, I finally managed to read the entire transcript of the Karan Thapar – Shabana Azmi interview and stumbled upon this bit in which she comments on the need for reform within the Muslim community:
Karan Thapar: Today, not just abroad but even in India, people say that Muslims have to take on the onus of changing the image of their religion and the image of the community. Is that a fair thing to say?
Shabana Azmi: I think it is. …

Courtesy “Son of Devaki” by Tarun Vijay, this amazing table that provides a glimpse into how the populatoin in the Kahsmir valley has been rewarded at the expense of the citizens in Jammu.
Please read and circulate widely.
The step-motherly treatment of Jammu

Sr. no 

Jammu region 

Kashmir valley region 

Area

26293 sq kms 

15948 sq kms 

Total revenue generated

75 % 

20% 

Total voters

3059986 

2883950 

Assembly seats allotted

37 

46 

Voters per seat

66521   

49728

Area per assembly seat

710.6 sq kms 

346.6 sq. kms. 

Loksabha seats

2  

3

Cabinet ministers(till 7th July,08)

5 

14

Districts

10 

10

Area per district

2629 sq. …

….and the world remained silent….
For those of you who are not old enough to remember how it all started, here is a brief excerpt from The bushfire of Hindu rage (emphasis mine):
…For the benefit of those who have come of age in the last two decades, among them many of the 24×7 news channel anchors who talk utter gibberish while donning an air of supreme confidence to camouflage their limitless ignorance, let me recount the events of January 1990, which mark the beginning of the latest crusade against the Hindus …

Great article by Tarun Vijay in today’s TOI: Reclaiming India.
*** Excerpts below (emphasis mine) ***
“None should say Omar is not allowed in Jammu. Let him come, listen and speak. Like any other Indian should feel free to visit Kashmir or any other part of the nation. He is welcome to visit my home even if he denies me a piece of land in Kashmir. Why should a few words uttered by him make me change my Indian-ness? If he spoke in Parliament as a Muslim, asserting his Islamic identity, let …

Amidst the outpouring of years of pent-up anger in Jammu, I came across this vivid, very sad and intensely poignant first-hand account of living in the shadow of terror and the forced migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley… Please read and circulate widely…
*** Cry of the Valley ***
A cold winter night has fallen outside and the power cut makes it all the more gloomy inside. Huddled together in the warmth of blankets and a kerosene lamp we just sit silently watching each others expressions. I am too young a kid to …

This is probably a less lucid post than most of what I write…In spite of that it has taken me a very long time to draft this.
Last Sunday, after hearing of the blasts in Ahmedabad, I asked myself…what would I have done? What should the Government do? What can we do…as concerned, anxious and angry citizens?
I decided not to write anything more about the attacks until I had some idea of the answers to this questions…This post is an attempt in that direction…It mainly deals with what the government should do/ or …

…or has he relied on some half-baked research presented to him as a backgrounder?
I was alerted today to this excellent analysis of ”Rama Setu in Padma PurANa” by Sh Sarvesh Tiwari.  I sincerely hope that Sh Nariman reads this…although I am not very hopeful.
Regardless, the lie about BhagwAn Shri RAm “destroying” the Rama Setu needs to be nailed…(remember, a lie told often enough will become the truth etc…?)
But do you think any of the mainstream media (or the TV anchors) are going to take notice of this? I bet not.
*** Excerpts Begin …