More in Short Posts
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The politics of tears
It is bad enough that I have to discuss an essential American issue in a blog-site that seeks to start a conversation about center right viewpoint relevant to Indian situation. The context here is the unfortunate shooting in a Newtown (Connecticut) school and death of twenty children and six adults....
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Rhetorical Swiss-knives: Part 3
Hammer of Intellectualism Let us begin with a quote: But I would go further. One of the principal lessons of our tragic century, which has seen so many millions of innocent lives sacrificed in schemes to improve the lot of humanity, is-beware intellectuals. Not merely should they be kept well...
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The Benefits of FDI In Retail to Indian Farmers and Consumers –Busting the Myths
From the day the Government of India notified FDI in Retail allowing foreign companies to have 51% stake, there has been a flurry of opinions both for and against allowing Big Retailers like Walmart an entry into India. Though most of the opinions have been in support of the move...
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Hard Talk Needed To Defend Free Speech
A very recent television debate hosted by Tim Sebastian of Bloomberg TV on the topic - “Free Speech Under Serious Threat In India” has been received very enthusiastically by both the TV audience and those on the social web. It is quite clear that both the studio audience and the larger viewing...
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Of Rights and Wrongs in a Non Moral Sense
I tend to incline towards the Right side of the political spectrum and I’m wrong by default. How could I? A stray soul, a politically incorrect aberrant, a deviant who defiles the shrine of academia, a misfit…Oh! How could I dare to contaminate the sanctum sanctorum of Liberal Arts that...
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How Bangalore cracked public transport and Mumbai missed it?
Each time I visit Mumbai – I realize that the public transport scene has not changed in the last 12 odd years. By much. Mumbai incidentally was the first to introduce Air Conditioned buses – as early as the late 90s. But over the years, they have somehow not been...
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Celebrating Diwali, Celebrating Wealth!
Diwali is one of most auspicious festivals in India. On this occasion, we Indians worship and welcome Lakshmi Maa (Goddess Lakshmi) in our homes and lives. “Lakshmi” literally means wealth and Lakshmi Maa is a symbol of wealth and prosperity (both material and spiritual). Every year, Diwali season sees a...
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From the Archives
Below is a scanned document located in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. It was located in a 2009 research visit in the midst of some files on nuclear security (private papers of PN Haksar if I remember correctly). In any case, the document below DOES NOT provide any evidence...
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Modi, interrupted? (Updated)
Update at the end Note: As a recovering political junkie, I avoid electoral politics, but this issue has broader implications. With his expected victory in coming Gujarat elections, Shri Narendra Modi is nearly certain to be BJP/NDA prime ministerial candidate for coming Lok Sabha elections. However I am not...
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Show Dont Tell
Much of my original posting on CRI has been in way of criticism without offering any positive alternative or solution, one reason for this, as the cliché goes, criticism is easy, other is my own political views are still work in progress (As Oscar Wilde said, “I am not young enough to...
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Humble appeal
Not that anybody is going to listen to me but still… Please, for love of God, stop pretending/deluding yourself that we have some intellectually coherent “right” in India. I know why you are doing that, you have a ready-made template of political categorization in American politics, it is so much...
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You sanctimonious turkey!*
Note: Usually I refrain from posting as this will drag down the quality of CRI especially since the infamous Julio-Claudian supporter joined it but this time …. well I cant control you are forewarned! Yes Sherna Gandhy, there is nothing demeaning about calling Uma Bharati “Sexy Sanyasin”, or publishing innuendos about...
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Announcement: Jijnasa Charcha
Announcement from the broader Right/Centre-Right community * * * * * Dear All, In line with our ambition to nurture a culture of healthy debate, we are, starting this month launching a series called “Charcha” under the banner of Jijnasa. “Charcha” will essentially focus on internal...
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Thoughts on Naroda-Patiya Verdict
Verdict for Naroda-Patiya has been pronounced and as court has delivered justice to riot victims. The reaction to court verdict on all sides is on expected lines with Teesta brigade (of riot cottage industry) hailing this as closure for riot victims; the secular brigade sees this as victory of Indian democracy &...