Simple, Well-Articulated Vision can Work Wonders.

A nice article from one of my most favourite colomnists Rajeev Srinivasan.

Indians have the processes to manage anarchy, more or less. If a couple of ingredients can be added to the pot, such as discipline and, perhaps most importantly, self-confidence, there will be no stopping India.

Discipline and self-belief arise from a strongly internalised set of beliefs, the moral equivalent of the American vanity of 'manifest destiny'. If we believe, we can work wonders. And the belief has to be straightforward and easy to understand. Some of the best examples come from the world of business; and since business is in effect war by other means, the lessons learned there are useful in statecraft, too.

http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/24rajeev.htm

Lest we forget this day - 23rd March

Today March 23th, is the day, A Man turned a legend, His life became a way of living for some and inspired many more to fight for Swaraj and suraj. A symbol of bravery and a synonym for patriot. The man who was a terror to the british, sent nightmares in their minds came to a drastic and a dramatic end on March 23rd, 1931.

*** Bhagat Singh ***

The most famous, the most dashing, the most heart-breaking of our revolutionaries. Hanged for bomb-throwing, at the age of 24, along with co-conspirators Rajguru and Sukhdev. Epitome of one's glory. It is sweet and proper to die for one's country.

Let us not forget him and this day, shall we?


A small tribute
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One evening a boy of three was out for a walk with his father. There was also an elderly man with the father. Chatting they walked on and went beyond the village. Green crop delighted the eyes. The elders were walking along the edge of a field. Not hearing the footsteps of the boy, the father looked back. The boy was sitting on the ground and seemed to be planting some thing. The father became curious.

"What are you doing?" said he.

"Look, father, I shall grow guns all over the field" was the innocent reply of the boy. His eyes shone with the strong faith that guns would grow in the field. Both the elders were struck with wonder at the little boy's words.

The boy was Bhagat Singh who later fought like a hero for India's freedom and sacrificed his life.

Family of Patriots

Bhagat Singh was born in a Sikh family of farmers in the village of Banga of Layalpur district of Punjab (now in Pakistan) on September 27th of 1907. His family stood for patriotism, reform, and freedom of the country. His grandfather Arjun Singh was drawn to Arya Samaj, a reformist movement of Hinduism, and took keen interest in proceedings of the Indian National Congress. Bhagat Singh's father Kishen Singh and uncle Ajit Singh were members of Ghadr Party founded in the U.S. in early years of this century to route British rule in India. Both were jailed for alleged anti-British activities. Ajit Singh had 22 cases
against him and was forced to flee to Iran. Thereafter he went to Turkey, Austria, Germany and finally to Brazil to escape Black Water (Kalapani) punishment for his revolutionary activities in India.

The Jalianwala Bagh Massacre

Young Bhagat Singh was brought up in a politically charged state of Punjab which was left with a seething memory of the Jalianwala massacre of more than 400 innocent lives and thousands injured (1919). As a lad of fourteen he went to this spot to collect soil from the park of Jalianwala (bagh) in his lunch box, sanctified by the blood of the innocent and kept it as a memento for life.

Bhagat Singh was studying at the National College founded by Lala Lajpatrai, a great revolutionary leader and reformist. To avoid early marriage, he ran away from home and, became a member of the youth organization Noujawan Bharat Sabha which had memberships of all sects and religions. He met Chandra Shekhar Sharma (Azad), B.K. Dutt and other revolutionaries. They used to print handouts and newspapers in secret and spread political awareness in India through Urdu, Punjabi and English. These were all banned activities in India at the time, punishable with imprisonment.

The Simon Commission, Murder of Lala Lajpatrai and the Revenge

Anti-British feelings were spreading; Indians wanted some proper representation in running the administration of their country to which British reciprocated only on paper. Noticing restlessness was spreading, the British Government appointed a commission under the leadership of Sir John Simon in 1928, to report on political happenings. There was no single Indian member in this commission, and all the political parties decided to boycott the commission when it planned to visit major cities of India.

In Lahore, Lala Lajpatrai (picture) and Pandit Madan Mohan Malavia decided to protest to the commission in open about their displeasure. It was a silent protest march, yet the police chief Scott had banned meetings or processions. Thousands joined, without giving room for any untoward incident. Even then, Scott beat Lala Lajpatrai severely with a lathi (bamboo stick) on the head several times. Finally the leader succumbed to the injuries.

Bhagat Singh who was an eye witness to the morbid scene vowed to take revenge and with the help of Azad, Rajguru and Sukhadev plotted to kill Scott. Unfortunately he killed Mr. Sanders, a junior officer, in a case of mistaken identity. He had to flee from Lahore to escape death punishment.

Bomb in the Assembly

Instead of finding the root cause for discontent of Indians, the British government took to more repressive measures. Under the Defense of India Act, it gave more power to the police to arrest persons to stop processions with suspicious movements and actions. The act brought in the council was defeated by one vote. Even then it was to be passed in the form of an ordinance in the "interest of the public." No doubt the British were keen to arrest all leaders who opposed its arbitrary
actions, and Bhagat Singh who was in hiding all this while, volunteered to throw a bomb in the central assembly where the meeting to pass the ordinance was being held. It was a carefully laid out plot, not to cause death or injury but to draw the attention of the government, that the modes of its suppression could no more be tolerated. It was agreed that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt would court arrest after throwing the bomb.

It was a forgone conclusion in 1929 April 8th at Delhi Central Assembly. Singh and Dutt threw handouts, and bombed in the corridor not to cause injury and courted arrest after shouting slogans Inquilab Zindabad (Long Live, Revolution!)

Meanwhile the killers of Sanders were identified by the treachery of Bhagat Singh's friends who became "Approvers." Bhagat Singh thought the court would be a proper venue to get publicity for the cause of freedom, and did not want to disown the crime. But he gave a fiery statement giving reasons for killing which was symbolic of freedom struggle. He wanted to be shot like a soldier, and not die at the gallows. But, his plea was rejected, and he was hanged on the 23rd of March 1931. He was just 24. Is it an age to leave this world? But, he thought that it is sweet and right to live and die for one's motherland.

Bhagat Singh became a legendary hero for the masses. Innumerable songs were composed about him, and the youth throughout the country made him their ideal. He became a symbol of bravery and a goal to free India.

Pakistan an endemic disease

India, Pakistan cross swords at UN

Pakistan has this endemic disease. It will never get cured. Not with this Indian Appeasement. Inspite of giving so much consessions and confidence building measures, They talk so rashly in UN.

On one hand its president is playing the cricket diplomacy. When we invite him, he refuses to come. On the other end, its Permanent representative in Un is talking as though they are some holy ****. When the chairperson gave the time to "Right to Reply," the Indian delegates did not respond to the Pakistani statement. What is this? We should have frowned at them.

First of all, they have no right to talk about that in the UN. If so, it is Pakistan who should withdraw from POK, before a plebisite is held. Why didn't the Indian delegation talk all these? ****ing crooks. Today we are in a war of words age. Words have to be fought with words.

Pakistan is never sincere in its efforts to remain at peace with us. A failed state by itself, it is trying to ruin the entire South Asia with its endemic disease of Jihad and Bleed thy neighbour policy.

Atleast in 1993, we had a good Congress leader who acted on his intuition. But today, we have his student at the top but without neither his intuition nor his power. What is the use of his integrity while the other two are not present ?

Whom should we blame for all this mess? Fate? No. I beg to differ. Its we people who have failed ourselves. We need another Kautilya Today. And the same Arthashastra.

If we continue our appeasement, this will be the result and the price the next generation pays will be much more.

- Murali

Modi Denied Visa by US Administration

A totally unprecedented and unwarranted move by the US administration. We should never start a tug of war. If we are presented with one, we should never miss it. US is using this as a tool to subvert. It is upto the GOI to take necessary action. It is a superb oppurtunity to raise our international stature. Grab the oppurtunity before the forelock.

A democratically elected leader of a state is denied a visa, while a self proclaimed leader who grabbed the throne through military coup from Pakistan and the leaders of red china where there is absolutely no freedom for religious practise are accorded red carpet welcome.

Only Strength respects Strength. If only we stand heads straight and tall, even cowards will respect us. It is time, we do that. The Indian Govt should shed its political strains with the BJP and act swiftly in the larger interest of the nation. If this can happen to Modi, it can happen to Sonia tomorrow for her husband's alleged involvement in 1984 Sikh riots. Whatever it may be. It is our Internal problem and we should solve it ourselves. We don't need any lessons from US for religious freedom. People might have forgotten But History will always remember US's alleged role in Chile or El Salvador or their recent actions in Iraq and their Human rights violations in Afganistan. Its not their mistake. Its ours. This is what we get in return for our appeasement.

Stand straight or get stink. Its time we hit back.

Why this undue importance ?

I grew up playing cricket like everyone else in India. I like watching it as much as playing. I hardly played hockey or football. But still, I don't understand why people are so crazy about this game. Here is a genius who has shed his brutality with the bat and has started playing for records. And on the other hand the neighbour is trying to use the game as a way of diplomacy. And above all, our Govt is trying all its might to woo the Man in uniform.

If he wants to watch a game, let him. Let him apply for a visa in the Indian embassy in Islamabad or use his diplomat passport, come to India, watch his men get crushed and go back. Nobody is preventing him. But, why this gossip about he wanting to come to India and our PM grabbing this as an oppurtunity to invite him.

Fine, after Manmohan invited him for the match in Kochi, how dare Mush refuses it? If he can't make it, let him go to hell. Let him forget the dream of coming to India.

This should be told loud and clear.

Only Strength respects Strength. Inspite of being a failed state, the head of the state is posing as though he is some ***. And our Pm is trying to appease. History repeats itself, if we don't pay heed. There is no point in wooing him.

All these in the name of cricket. Shun it. Let's start paying more importance to athletics, football, hocket, gymnastics and other games. Atleast other good sportsmen will get sponsored, who might in turn fetch us olympic medals.

- Murali

UPA: Performance Appraisal

I am very disappointed with the way the government acted last month. (Feb 2005)

I cannot imagine Congress could go to this extent. Totally attrocious. Even after all this, will the People of India, ever realise the peace and the relative political freedom they enjoyed in the last 6 years? I doubt it.

What is Manmohan doing ? It seems, he was in Kashmir when the results in Bihar and Jharkand were announced. And when Advani called and asked him to intervene, he said, he was yet to know the results and promised to get back immediately after talking to Patil. But, after 4 more hours, when Vajpayee called him to again enquire, Manmohan has told that he couldn't get patil on the phone. I really don't know what to comment on this. What is he, when being the PM, he is not able to talk to his own deputy?

I am happy that Manmohan is on that hot seat. Instead of some crackpot, he is better. But, apart from the finance ministry, he is not bringing any dignity to either the PMO or his seat. But for this, I think it would have been better for the future of the country, had Sonia herself had sat in that seat. Though, it would have caused irrevokable embarrassement to the nation, and a literal slap on our face, people atleast would have realised the blunder they had committed. But, now, It is worse.

On the other hand, the way Natwar has handled the Pakistan and the Nepal situations is also pathetic. How can he compromise in the bus route without insisting on the passport's requirement or how did NDA allow that without any opposition or any discussion in parliment? They were busy fighting on Goa and the state elections and has allowed the nation to go to gutters. And our PM was ill advised on the Nepal front also. We have shut the doors to Nepal. We can neither talk to the King nor to the Maoists now. On this crutial moment, we have lost our best advisor J.N.Dixit.

Not even an year has passed, this govt has squabbled the whole situation.

The only console in the whole of last month was a decent budget from P.Chidambaram. Even he has introduced a ridiculous transaction fee of 0.1% for every transaction worth Rs.10,000. But for that, he has tried to address others with a sane approach.

This month has started with a positive note. With the UPA recommending Governor's rule in Goa and President's rule in Bihar. I hope the law and order in Bihar will improve and the Maoist's will come to their knees and Bihar will start seeing peace and development.

- Murali