The Lotus Juggernaut has rolled on. This time in the south . With landslide victories in Gujarat and Himachal… Its time South contributed to the BJP’s tally. Three cheers to BJP. Even though it is not a landslide victory, BJP has emerged as the single largest party. It’s a good news in the sense that there will not be any need of coalition to run the state. Certainly no need of Deve Gowda who has held hostage the previous Coalition governments. BJP which is often associated with playing the Hindutva card, have clearly demonstrated their willingness to deliver on issues of overall development and social welfare of the state.
While basking in the glory of Karnataka election results, BJP has to keep in mind that they have to do similar preparations for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh elections which are due in the later half of the year. They need to carry the momentum. All the three states have incumbent governments which have loads of issues against them not to forget the current Gujjar tribe issue in Rajasthan.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Quid Pro Quo?
Kudos to Mr Home Minister. Its yet another time he has created confusion, probably stirred up a controversy, Thanks to prime accused in the Parliament attack case ,Mohammad Afzal. I have never felt Shivraj Patil to be an able administrator especially considering the nature and importance of his post and his statements without regard for consequences. There is certainly no clarity of articulation in his statements.
Even though I am not qualified enough to assess whether our Home Minister Shivraj Patil is competent enough to be one , what I can tell you is equating Sarabjit Singh and Afzal Guru is height of stupidity.
Considering the nature of the case of Afzal, which has had to be handled with utmost delicacy, Mr Home minister has created unwarranted confusion .This is the last word I could say, especially when foreign ministers of
Afzal guru was found guilty on 2001 parliament attack case and also his death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. The supreme court had clearly held Afzal to be the prime conspirator behind the Parliament Attack case. Also Afzal is an Indian National . I really cannot understand where is the need for the home minister to compare Sarabjit and Afzal.
Sarabjit Singh has been accused of espionage and terrorism. Though the case of Sarabjit Singh might be a case of mistaken identity, as reported by the Pakistan Human Rights Commission, there could be no denial of his involvement in espionage. Whether he is a spy or saboteur is really not known. The Indian Government has no locus standi on this issue. Mind that the Indian Government is appealing to
There are thousand others languishing in the
Coming to the point, there are more serious issues about the terrorism that needs to be addressed. There is a growing incidence of naxal violence across the country, growing terrorist presence. There is a need for changes in the policy in dealing with terrorist. Case such as that of Afzal,
When such serious issues are present, it is quite unwarranted on the part of home minister to cook up a controversy comparing sarabjit and afzal. He has to remember that his views are the policy of the government and needs to act responsibly.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Who is the dominant Species?
There is a recent report prepared jointly by the World Health Organization & World Economic Forum that
The report suggest that chronic diseases like heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes which are ailments of long duration and slow progression will dent into peoples earnings.
What is more alarming is the fact that this will affect more economically active people and almost half of the people who die from these related ailments will be in their productive years. Incidentally
The only silver lining is the fact that
Now an interesting story….
Once Aliens visited the earth and wanted to conquer it.. And they decided that if they can conquer the dominant species present in earth, they can conquer the whole of earth. So they sent two aliens to watch the activities happening in earth.
The two aliens began watching the activities and the daily happenings on earth.
Early Morning a guy (Cleaner) comes and takes out a beautiful Car from the shed. Cleans it up. Then another guy (Driver) comes . Checks the car. Fill it with Petrol. Takes the owner of the car to his office. Then evening drops him down at his home and keeps the car in the shed.
The Conclusion the aliens made? The Car is the dominant species on Earth.
Why so?
The Car is given a special place to rest. It has a servant to clean it up, a servant to feed it and take it outside. Last but not least… It has a servant to earn and constantly feed it!!!
The conclusion… strange this may sound… is what is happening to most of our lives. Are we becoming slaves to technology?? Consider the fact that there are already days like “No E-mail Day” “No cell-phone day” (Courtesy Google.) Isn’t such things height of madness??
There is always a concern for social implications of all these endeavors (To create new technology). Is the new technologies and machines releasing us from the endless toil of the centuries? Or is it in a way limiting us from being the dominant species? Its true that technology is there for the betterment of our lives.. But are we using the way it should be?? The reports from WHO & WEF suggests otherwise.
I just conclude with words from American writer and critic Henry David Thoreau…
“We’ve become the tools of our tools... One day, something vast and cool and strange may read these very words – and chuckle with amusement. Welcome to tomorrow.”
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Pink turns Scarlet
Lights... Action....Boom..Wham..Bang!!!! There is blood everywhere...
And yet another time they(terrorist) have striked,this time in Jaipur painting the Walls of Pink city in Red. The city changes . The modus operandi changes. The motive remains the same. And its the umpteenth time we have heard our honurable Home Minister Shivraj Patil saying "We will have Zero tolerance against terrorism.The designs of terrorists will be thwarted boldly and their attempts will be foiled" But the people of this country have not till now seen any concrete combative action against the nefarious designs of terrorists.
The role of Intelligence agencies have almost reduced to Police which we have seen quite a lot in the Cinemas of the Mid 80'S & 90's where they arrive much after the incident have took place.
The same old story we hear from the Intelligence agencies(In the case of Jaipur Blasts agencies say they have sent the possible terror attack 45 days back).It appears such statements have become more of a political gimmicks with the Intelligence agencies wanting to save its face. There is no doubt about the ability of the Intelligence. But when bureaucracy has its say in things(for cheap political mileage) pertaining to Security of the nation rather than allowing Competent people to take care of the situation,the situation is quite alarming .
The United States of America needed only one incident of terror in its land to show the world what they can do when it comes to taking tough stand especially against terror.They are inimical when it comes to terror and dealing with terrorists. Its high time we adopt similar approach in dealing with terrorists.
The government at the center is caught in cross-roads appeasing minorities at one hand and appeasing the Grand Old Man.. Ahem.. Ahem.. Karunanidhi and his coterie..
The myth goes like this.. Lord Yama has a sword hanging above his head to cut his throat incase he gives any wrong justice. The present day government has Communists and Karuna above its head incase it does any good thing :)
The government is got caught in eternal dialemma like that of Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra whether to take tough stand earning wrath of alliance partners or to appease them earning wrath of people . Perhaps some one like Lord Krishna is the need of the hour to give some food for thought and clarity of purpose. Some one like krishna is the need of the hour to take some tough stand.
Someone like Lal Krishna(Oops Did i get it right??) Advani.
And yet another time they(terrorist) have striked,this time in Jaipur painting the Walls of Pink city in Red. The city changes . The modus operandi changes. The motive remains the same. And its the umpteenth time we have heard our honurable Home Minister Shivraj Patil saying "We will have Zero tolerance against terrorism.The designs of terrorists will be thwarted boldly and their attempts will be foiled" But the people of this country have not till now seen any concrete combative action against the nefarious designs of terrorists.
The role of Intelligence agencies have almost reduced to Police which we have seen quite a lot in the Cinemas of the Mid 80'S & 90's where they arrive much after the incident have took place.
The same old story we hear from the Intelligence agencies(In the case of Jaipur Blasts agencies say they have sent the possible terror attack 45 days back).It appears such statements have become more of a political gimmicks with the Intelligence agencies wanting to save its face. There is no doubt about the ability of the Intelligence. But when bureaucracy has its say in things(for cheap political mileage) pertaining to Security of the nation rather than allowing Competent people to take care of the situation,the situation is quite alarming .
The United States of America needed only one incident of terror in its land to show the world what they can do when it comes to taking tough stand especially against terror.They are inimical when it comes to terror and dealing with terrorists. Its high time we adopt similar approach in dealing with terrorists.
The government at the center is caught in cross-roads appeasing minorities at one hand and appeasing the Grand Old Man.. Ahem.. Ahem.. Karunanidhi and his coterie..
The myth goes like this.. Lord Yama has a sword hanging above his head to cut his throat incase he gives any wrong justice. The present day government has Communists and Karuna above its head incase it does any good thing :)
The government is got caught in eternal dialemma like that of Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra whether to take tough stand earning wrath of alliance partners or to appease them earning wrath of people . Perhaps some one like Lord Krishna is the need of the hour to give some food for thought and clarity of purpose. Some one like krishna is the need of the hour to take some tough stand.
Someone like Lal Krishna(Oops Did i get it right??) Advani.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Salutations
I have been wondering how to start writing my first blog until i found this magnificent piece from Srimad Bhagavatham. It is a hymn spoken by dhruva in the presence of Lord Vishnu who appears before him in recognition of his severe Tapas(penance) and touches dhruva's right cheek with his divine Counch. What then came out of Dhruva's mouth were perennial words of wisdom flowing like the eternal Ganges. The touch of the divine Counch sparked the little boy to speak who, till then was astounded and dumbstruck by the presence of Lord Vishnu before him. The verse inspired me to write this blog.
Albert Einstein remarked “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning."
But over the years as i grew reading his writings among other things, i understood i was caught in perpetual loop of words thinking of his jargons and modes of expressions . Getting more conditioned by his way of thinking. I felt i was going nowhere.
That helped he look at things objectively and as it is. Wanted to understand things more rather than getting caught up with fancy of words. Wanted to experience things. Wanted to shed my arrogance.Arrogance of my assumptions and rejections.
Just want to quote from J.K few quotes which kickstarted the questioning. Even though I never understood(Still the same ;-) ) the meaning of these lines I was quite fascinated by his way of thinking
"Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect"
"The unknown is not measurable by the known. Time cannot measure the timeless, the eternal, that immensity which has no beginning and no end"
Now as I listen to Bhagavatham and and other Hindu Philosophical Text, I understand the core of all the teachings are one and the same trying to inculcate the same truth in different ways they understand (The comparison is a mere intellectual exercise and nothing more than that :-) ) I have been following, even without my knowledge ,quite unconsciously,the teachings of these Ancient saints and seers.!!!
Perhaps that might me the reason why hair stood on ends when i was listening to Dhruvas Pinnacle of Praise on the Ultimate Reality. Perhaps some other reason out of reach of my intellect.
Science, has been, on its part trying to understand the origin of life ,creation ,universe.
Both science and religion are trying to know the same thing but taking their own path towards a common goal. To know the Reality!!!
There are too many questions than answers in my write up. So whatz the big deal in writing these things.
Perhaps trying to consciously Understand and Experience things is the plausible reason i can think of.
y'ontaH praviSya mama vAcaM imAm prasuptAM
sanjIvayaty-akhila-Sakti-dharas svadhAmnA
anyAMSca hasta caraNa-SravaNa-tvagAdhIn
prANAn-namo bhagavate purushAya tubhyaM
The meaning for this verse goes like this.
I prostrate before the (Purusha)lord who entered into me as my inner soul and making me speak. I prostrate before the lord who makes my ears hear,my eyes see,my hands work,my feet walk,my senses to feel,my life to vibrate and absence of whom/which will leave me mortal.
The first time i listened to this verse, my hair stood on ends. Hmm... well... really dunno why that happened. :-). The very inspiration made me name my blog with Dhruva's name and write this one.
There have been too many questions i have been asking myself like Who is GOD/Reality. Where is he. Does he (for convenience sake i use Masculine Gender.. Any Feminist reading this dont be up in Arms :-O ) have any form. Why there is a need for any religion. Why there are so many religions. If the purpose of religion is to promote peace, then why there is lot of killings in the name of religion. Small revolt from within. I now know its easier to ask questions than get an answer.
There is one another person in my life who perhaps made me think on these lines. A great thinker and philosopher Jiddu.Krishnamurthi. Even as a school boy i was fascinated by the questions he posed and his way of thinking. Salutations to him,for if he had not been there,I would have never started questioning from within.
The meaning for this verse goes like this.
I prostrate before the (Purusha)lord who entered into me as my inner soul and making me speak. I prostrate before the lord who makes my ears hear,my eyes see,my hands work,my feet walk,my senses to feel,my life to vibrate and absence of whom/which will leave me mortal.
The first time i listened to this verse, my hair stood on ends. Hmm... well... really dunno why that happened. :-). The very inspiration made me name my blog with Dhruva's name and write this one.
There have been too many questions i have been asking myself like Who is GOD/Reality. Where is he. Does he (for convenience sake i use Masculine Gender.. Any Feminist reading this dont be up in Arms :-O ) have any form. Why there is a need for any religion. Why there are so many religions. If the purpose of religion is to promote peace, then why there is lot of killings in the name of religion. Small revolt from within. I now know its easier to ask questions than get an answer.
There is one another person in my life who perhaps made me think on these lines. A great thinker and philosopher Jiddu.Krishnamurthi. Even as a school boy i was fascinated by the questions he posed and his way of thinking. Salutations to him,for if he had not been there,I would have never started questioning from within.
Albert Einstein remarked “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning."
But over the years as i grew reading his writings among other things, i understood i was caught in perpetual loop of words thinking of his jargons and modes of expressions . Getting more conditioned by his way of thinking. I felt i was going nowhere.
That helped he look at things objectively and as it is. Wanted to understand things more rather than getting caught up with fancy of words. Wanted to experience things. Wanted to shed my arrogance.Arrogance of my assumptions and rejections.
Just want to quote from J.K few quotes which kickstarted the questioning. Even though I never understood(Still the same ;-) ) the meaning of these lines I was quite fascinated by his way of thinking
"Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect"
"The unknown is not measurable by the known. Time cannot measure the timeless, the eternal, that immensity which has no beginning and no end"
Now as I listen to Bhagavatham and and other Hindu Philosophical Text, I understand the core of all the teachings are one and the same trying to inculcate the same truth in different ways they understand (The comparison is a mere intellectual exercise and nothing more than that :-) ) I have been following, even without my knowledge ,quite unconsciously,the teachings of these Ancient saints and seers.!!!
Perhaps that might me the reason why hair stood on ends when i was listening to Dhruvas Pinnacle of Praise on the Ultimate Reality. Perhaps some other reason out of reach of my intellect.
Science, has been, on its part trying to understand the origin of life ,creation ,universe.
Both science and religion are trying to know the same thing but taking their own path towards a common goal. To know the Reality!!!
There are too many questions than answers in my write up. So whatz the big deal in writing these things.
Perhaps trying to consciously Understand and Experience things is the plausible reason i can think of.
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