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Quotes: Extreme democracy
A fifth form of democracy, in other respects the same, is that in which, not the law, but the multitude, have the supreme power, and supersede the law by their decrees.This is a state of affairs brought about by the demagogues. For in democracies which are subject to the law...
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Aphorism: Intellectualism
Most of the times intellectual discourse amount to debating choice of cutlery on a sinking ship. The difference between a drunk and intellectual is that while former looks under lamp post for key misplaced somewhere else, later actually insists that keys should have been misplaced under lamp post
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Talking about Islam (Another take)
(Note. From my old blog, a rather rambling post, originally titled Faithful, beseiged. Posted here because it is somewhat relevant to the thought provoking posts (I & II)by Satyananda. This post doesn’t directly contradict what he said, but puts the matter in a different light) I think it should come...
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Frankly, Mr Dhume, I don’t give a damn.
(This post contains profane language) Now, compared to your typically ethically challenged journalist/public intellectual, I have a rather favourable opinion of Sadanand Dhume, which is why I am sort of nonplussed with where exactly he is going when on eve of 26/11 he reminds us that many in Pakistan (presumably liberals) were appalled by the...
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(One) Hand vs. (Other) Hand
On the one hand, I don’t find reports of Smt. Kiran Bedi inflating invoice of her air fare particularly upsetting. Sure, this may not look good on her, but as far as corruption goes it is least of our worries, in fact, we can only wish for the day when...
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Passion and Politics of Mahatma
Passion of Mahatma It was on 30th of January sixty years ago that Mahatma Gandhi fell to the bullets of Nathuram Godse, thus ending an important era in Indian history. An era which witnessed Mahatma emerging as focal point of not just politics, but also of social and cultural churning....
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Politics (as understood by Indian Middle Class)
1. Diarrhea is as bad as terminal cancer. Exactly same. No difference. “Sab Chor Hai” 2. One way to cure headache is decapitation. “I am against violence, but Naxalites have legitimate grievances” 3. If you want to lose your weight, then you must binge on even more Samosa. “Lokpal Lokpal. Anna is...
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Lokpal Jokepal
Dear people 1. Singapore doesn’t have an ombudsman (Lokpal), Hong Kong has 2. Singapore doesn’t have official poverty line so there is no official data. 3. That said it is obvious Singapore is more prosperous than India, as is (Hong Kong). 4. That is because its economy is liberalized. This...
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Chesterton’s Fence
In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate...
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How Democracy Works
Note: Reposted From My Old Blog. Excuse the use of jargon. Also all the reference to “DataNazi” are meant in humourous vein. I have been meaning to comment on this post (and its follow up) byDataNazi, which ostensibly on Nuclear deal, is actually commentary on Indian democracy. I have somewhat similar take. The chain...
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Center right tangle
Note: Reposted From My Old Blog. This is a old post written in the immediate aftermath of 2009 elections. However it is still relevant. Featured image of David Frum For those coming late, we continue from where we left . Here are the rules, I will show the error of Center right...
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Mirage Of Assertive Hindutva
Note: Reposted From My Old Blog. This is a old post written in the immediate aftermath of 2009 elections. However it is still relevant. A well accepted maxim among those who work in any sort of team is that while success has many fathers failure is always other man’s bastard...
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Wisdom Of Chacha Chaudhary
[Reposting old post from my other blog] Reproduced from one of the many illuminating episodes of that great sage of wisdom Chacha Chaudhary. Once, it so happened that Chacha hired a servant “Ramu” whose sole duty was to give him one glass of milk before sleeping. Since Ramu was health...
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Why Barkha Dutt hates Hindus ?
(In view of what happened on the Sunday, reposting this old post from my other blog) Of course here Barkha Dutt is just a stand in for the whole sec-lib establishment, so the question really is why sec-lib establishment hates Hindus. Essentially this question is answered by my previous post, but...