More in Short Posts
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Mediocre players, Terrible Game
After such a dismal performance of the UPA 2.0 any electoral victory of the Congress party should seem remarkable. And rhetorically speaking, if that victory comes from Uttar Pradesh, the triumph will presumably be lapped up emphatically enough for it to be viewed as a catalyst for Rahul’s accession to...
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Hate Filled Article of Tehelka – Scary Distortion of Journalism Values
Recently a story titled Hindutva Lab 2.0 appeared in Tehelka. For those of you, who have not read it; please feel free to indulge in the exercise. However, you are cautioned against taking the content seriously. Why not? The write-up reflects the frustration of Tehelka when a nationalist movement garners momentum. The...
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Terror Which No One Reports
On 28th of January, in an audacious attack which could be considered as a gross reminder to the complacent Indian government regarding religious and ethnic complexities of North-East, suspected terrorists( yes, not insurgents) of National Socialist Council of Nagaland –Ishak Muivah NSCN – (IM) killed 5 people in the Chandel district of Manipur....
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Do demographics support Priyanka’s comparison with Indira Gandhi?
There seems to be a misplaced view among Congress party workers, supporters and detractors alike that PriyankaVadra is like a second coming of Indira Gandhi or someone who closely resembles her grand mother in looks and style that it will boost Congress electoral fortunes by reminding people of her grand...
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Kapil Sibal: Unsurpassed Buffoonery
The Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology (and HRD as well, for good measure) Kapil Sibal had another of his sensational press conferences post the landmark Supreme Court judgement revoking a large number of 2G spectrum licenses approved by the UPA government. He came up with a set of claims...
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On the alleged vindication of our Prime Minister
“Unfortunately, those who were expected to give proper advice to the PM and place full facts and the legal position before him failed to do so. ” So observed the Honorable Supreme Court, in a landmark judgement yesterday. The judgement was given pertaining to a case filed by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy questioning the delay in the Prime...
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In Defense of Absolute Free Speech
Much has been spoken about Article 19 of the constitution along with it’s various clauses and restrictions, made palatable with word “reasonable”, that it imposes to the freedom of speech and expression. The freedom of expression came bundled with the original constitution, the restrictive clauses were added as part of...
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Confusing And Subverting Free Speech
The Indian left found itself badly exposed in the recent Salman Rushdie saga. The so called progressive part of the minority community openly broke ranks with the established left and left-liberals and made no bones about demanding that Rushdie be denied entry to India. Individuals from academia and theater alike, continued to...
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Fear and Loathing in Switzerland
(Note: Reposting orignal post from my earlier blog, relevant again in context of possible ban on Niqab by Dutch Govt.) So what exactly is my problem with Swiss minaret ban? Now all crypto Hindu fascists are more or less gloating over the ban and I think that’s wrong. Before I...
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The Warped Minority Debate
“All of us sitting here on stage have been outspoken advocates of secularism & the rights of Muslims” said a prime time TV news debate anchor on a panel debate at Jaipur Literary Festival. It is quite an interesting quote. Read it again. Much of the debate on minorities and...
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Fear The Secular Fatwas
The year 2012 has started off with a series of rude shocks to those Indians who cherish the freedoms promised to the Indian citizens by the Republic. While most of the debate and discussions have been hi-jacked by this ”protest” by the Darul-Uloom Deoband to the India visit of Salman Rushdie...
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The 1962 Sino-Indian War: 50 Years on
50 years Since the Indo-Sino War: Will We Let China Commemorate it With Another Successful War? As a kid, the one song I remember which was frequently played on loud-speakers on streets on Independence and Republic Days was Md.Rafi’s Kar Chale Hum Fida Jaanotan Saathiyo from the Indo-Sino war movie...
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The State Of Manipur
In the trouble torn state of Manipur yet another assembly election has arrived. Election is a beautiful opportunity in a democratic set up where one gets his due chance once in five years to exercise his rights. But the question is how far it holds true in our state? State...
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The Truth Of Indian Politics
(Reposting from my previous blog) Words have meaning, therefore they should be used only when we intend the meaning and not something different. This is basic rule of debate. Similarly care should be taken in misusing the word. The word should be misused in order to undermine the opponent’s...