Saturday, December 31, 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Societal morality to constitutional morality

Societal morality to constitutional morality:

Kalpana Kannabiran's Tools of Justice: Non Discrimination and the Indian Constitution is reviewed by Z M Yacoob, a Justice of the Constitutional Court in South Africa. Yacoob in his review examines Kalpana's thesis in the context of his own experiences in South Africa. Though I have not gone through the book it appears from the Review that Kalpana thinks that non-discrimination is not equality. In fact, non-discrimination and equality are the two sides of the same coin. Non-discrimination is a facet of Equality and gels well other rights like Liberty, Religious Freedom etc.

Monday, December 26, 2011

The C in Congress - Indian Express

The C in Congress - Indian Express:

Four Cs were used to describe the nature of India's Congress Party -- corrupt, casteist, communalist & criminal. Now PB Mehata has added a new C - cynical. In fact, the INC is responsible for most of the ills bedeviling Indian polity.

Black Money and the poor UPA -2 Police! Cartoon for the day.. on Twitpic

Black Money and the poor UPA -2 Police! Cartoon for the day.. on Twitpic:

Lokpal and Constitution Amendment Bills

The Hindu : News / Resources : Lokpal and Constitution Amendment Bills:

A Lokpal( Ombudsman) bill was first introduced in India in 1968. Nothing happened. Many more Bills were brought, nothing happened. In 2011 after the disclosure of several scams a movement led by Anna Hazare, India Against Corruption, engulfed India demanding Jan Lokpal( People's Ombudsman). The Govt.'s bill is not what what Anna has been asking for. In conformity with Third World Countries' penchant for form over substance Govt of India is proposing to amend the Const. to give constitutional status to Lokpal.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Invisible Censorship: How the Government Censors Without Being Seen

The Future of History | Foreign Affairs

The Future of History | Foreign Affairs: Francis Fukuyama

After predicting the End of History Francis Fukuyama is now anxious to know the Future of History. The future of history is as good or bad as the future of mankind. In fact in this article Fukuyama is examining the impact of the weakening/ strengthening of middle class on the future of democracy. Since the time of Aristotle Political Theorists have argued that it is the Middle Class which imparts stability to the political system. The broadening of Middle Class is co-terminus with the spread of democracy. However, in countries like India in order to broaden their vote bank some political parties are targeting the Middle Class which may prove counter productive in the long run. 

Saturday, December 17, 2011

debt by david graeber - bookforum.com / daily review

debt by david graeber - bookforum.com / daily review:

David Graeber should have confined himself to the problem of Debt in present times only. In trying to show his erudition in going back to " original ... moral and cosmological notion" of debt in Axial Age civilizations ( Karl Jaspers' label to describe the period between 800BC and 600 CE of China, India and Greece ) Graeber has exhibited only his ignorance. Graeber writes that in India it was about our debt to gods, in China it was about debt to our parents and in Greece "and sometimes in India" it was about our debt to the cosmos. In fact in India we talk about three debts which must be repaid: Dev rina (debt to gods), Rishi rina ( debt to the sages) andPitri rina ( debt to forefathers) . We repay Dev rina by performing Yagnas, Rishi rina by spreading their noble ideas, imparting knowledge to others and doing good work, and Pitri rina by producing children so that the family cycle goes on.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Against abuse of the contempt power

Against abuse of the contempt power: V R KRISHNA IYER

Although the Courts themselves have realized the anachronism inherent in the power of contempt, Justice Iyer's opinion is always valuable.


Trust the people, Madam

Trust the people, Madam:

Why has the Family Brand / Dynasty been distrustful of the people of India? A masterly analysis by Nalapat.

Return of Buddha - The Times of India

Return of Buddha - The Times of India

Friday, December 2, 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

HUMANITIES Magazine: November/December 2011: The Islamic Scholar Who Gave Us Modern Philosophy

HUMANITIES Magazine: November/December 2011: The Islamic Scholar Who Gave Us Modern Philosophy: IBNA RASHD

It is very distressing to know the limited knowledge of Western scholars. They think that philosophy began with the Greeks like Plato & Aristotle. Who will tell them that Philosophy like Algebra, Arithmetic and Zero began in India?

The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers | Foreign Policy

The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers | Foreign Policy:

Do these listings serve any purpose? Are they objective? In this diverse world is it possible to choose global thinkers ?

Monday, November 28, 2011

Animosity between PC, Swamy spans decades

Animosity between PC, Swamy spans decades:
Pathan vs Sicilian
A brilliant analysis of the reasons behind the acrimony between Swamy and Chidambaram by M D Nalapat, one of the impartial journalists of India. Nalapat reveals that Chidambaram boasted about his association with Swamy at Harvard. Nalapat interestingly says that while Chidambaram acts like a Pathan, Swamy acts like a Sicilian.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Most people in India are of 'very low intellectual level': Katju - Indian Express

Most people in India are of 'very low intellectual level': Katju - Indian Express:

Discretion is not the forte of every ex-judges and other celebrities.

Don't bring judiciary to disrepute because of few erring judges: CJI - Indian Express

Don't bring judiciary to disrepute because of few erring judges: CJI - Indian Express:

CJI S H Kapadia is one of the most honest and admired CJIs . His call to name corrupt judges is admirable, but unworkable because ordinary citizens can't collect evidences against powerful persons like the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Taking a big gamble - Seema Sirohi

Taking a big gamble - The Times of India:

History is replete with instances when leaders in their naivete compromised the national interest of their countries and ultimately harmed the cause of international system and world peace. Man Mohan Singh's utterances and policy towards Pakistan prove his naivete in matters of foreign policy.

Corey Robin for Democracy Journal: The Politics of Fear

Corey Robin for Democracy Journal: The Politics of Fear:

When will the day come when terrorists will not be focus of our life but simply a nuisance?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Triumphalist | The New Republic

The Triumphalist | The New Republic:

The Origins of Political Order: From Pre Human Times to the French Revolution --- Francis Fukuyama--- A Review

Monday, November 7, 2011

Theory and Practice

Theory and Practice: Ramchandra Guha is a historian with a cause and Prakash Karat is a practicing politician and General Secretary of CPM of India. Here is a debate between the two on the past, present and future of Communism in India.

With mother at Rameshwaram

Posted by Picasa

Sunday, November 6, 2011

                                                       देवोत्थान एकादशी

ॐ ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रैरभिवन्द्यमानो भवानृषिर्वन्दितवन्दनीयः!
प्राप्ता तवेयं किल कौमुदाख्या जागृष्व जागृष्व च लोकनाथ !!
ॐ मेधा गता निर्मलपूर्णचन्द्रः शारद्यपुष्पाणि मनोहराणि !
अहं ददानीति च पुण्यहेतोर्जागृष्व जागृष्व च लोकनाथ !!
ॐ उत्तिष्ठोतिष्ठ गोविन्द त्यज निद्रां जगत्पते !
त्वया चोत्थीयमानेन,   उत्थितं भुवनत्रयम् !!

Today, the eleventh day of the bright phase of Kartik, is the day when according to Hindu belief the Lord, Bhagavan Vishnu, rises from his sleep and auspicious works of Hindus begin to be performed. The hymn mentioned above is an entreaty to the Lord to rise and let the three worlds -- earth, heaven and the nether world -- rise with Him.
                

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

A saint in our midst

A saint in our midst: St. Sonia Manio Gandhi

A brilliant review by MD Nalapat

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Wars They Have Seen - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Wars They Have Seen - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education:

Gertrude Stein suggested in 1934 that Nobel Prize be awarded to Adolf Hitler.

AN UNEXPECTED ALLIANCE | More Intelligent Life

AN UNEXPECTED ALLIANCE | More Intelligent Life: The two intellectual giants - Groucho Marx and TS Eliot take on each other in the strangest of epistles.

Kone Nakshatra › Dharma & Lean

Kone Nakshatra › Dharma & Lean: Lean Management and the concept of Dharma. An interesting read on Dharmic take on Management.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Three nations, one voice

Three nations, one voice: कलौ: संघे शक्ति: In Kaliyug power vests in associations. IBSA -- India, Brazil and South Africa's grouping -- provides the members clout which individually none would have.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Love and Anarchy - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Love and Anarchy - The Chronicle Review : Emma Goldman, born in 1869, admired Michael Bakunin immensely but did not agree with his view that a revolutionary should not have any other passion. Emma supported sexual liberation, birth control etc.She did not like revolutionaries to be monomaniacal. 

» Anarchism and Al Qaeda Middle East Strategy at Harvard

» Anarchism and Al Qaeda Middle East Strategy at Harvard

www.international.ucla.edu/cms/files/JamesGelvin.pdf

www.international.ucla.edu/cms/files/JamesGelvin.pdf Jihadi Terrorism or what has been called as Islamo-Fascism is different from Anarcho-Terrorism. How are they different? See for yourself.

Monday, October 24, 2011

THE MYTH OF ARYAN INVASION

THE MYTH OF ARYAN INVASION: Aryan invasion of India is a myth, given currency by those who have not taken pains to understand the mainstream Indian view on this matter. Had the Aryans come from outside India they would also have their holy places outside India. All our scriptures describe only the places which fall within the idea of a greater India.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

The Hindu : News / Resources : Justice Katju interacts with mediapersons

Justice Katju interacts with mediapersons:
Justice Katju seeks guidance from the very people who are accused of bias, misdemeanor and are responsible for much of the defects that is bedeviling Indian polity and society. Hannah Arendt said that access to true information is the sine qua non of democracy, but the media gives us views wrapped as news.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Gandhi and South Africa | The Nation

Gandhi and South Africa | The Nation: Martha C Nussbaum is not burdened with truth, objectivity and fair play in describing the unfortunate incidents of Godhara and retaliatory actions.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Should gods, goddesses have caste identities? « churumuri

Should gods, goddesses have caste identities? « churumuri:

Many Ramayanas

Many Ramayanas "d0e1254":

Raymond Tallis Takes Out the 'Neurotrash' - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Raymond Tallis Takes Out the 'Neurotrash' - The Chronicle Review - Raymond Tallis claims to have the Socratic wisdom of knowing that he did not know, yet rubbishes neuroscience and Darwinism.
1) If you are to provide for a year plant paddy, if you are to provide for a decade plant trees and if you are to provide for life educate.           2)If you invite a person to share fish, he will eat once; if you give him fish he will eat fish the whole day, but if you teach him fishing he will eat whole life.                                                                                                       3) Faintest of ink is more reliable than the sharpest of memory.                                                                          4) If you can't help being raped lie down and enjoy it.                                                                                                                                Chinese Proverbs                                                                                   

Inflation and the Moral Order | History Today

Inflation and the Moral Order | History Today

Inflation and the Moral Order | History Today

Inflation and the Moral Order | History Today

Frederick the Great's Erotic Poem | History Today

Frederick the Great's Erotic Poem | History Today:

Dr.swamy's letter to PM to drop the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence (Prevention) Bill

Dr.swamy's letter to PM to drop the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence (Prevention) Bill:

Monday, October 17, 2011

Why Anna Hazare may fail

Why Anna Hazare may fail: Rajinder Puri, a great cartoonist, shares his views about Anna movement.

Top babus back CAG audit of government policies - The Times of India

Top babus back CAG audit of government policies - The Times of India: Had the Constitution been worked well, institutions been manned by persons of integrity and institutions allowed to perform their assigned functions there would not have been much need for institution like Ombudsman/Lokpal.

Book extracts: Sonia’s story « readiscover

Book extracts: Sonia’s story « readiscover: " When Sonia got angry with a friend she put a hot spaghetti on his head." Can't she control her anger?

Thursday, October 6, 2011

God's soldiers: Pakistan army's ideology

God's soldiers: Pakistan army's ideology: Pakistan was created due to a hate - India mentality. Pakistan is not yet reconciled to the fact that out of the whole India, over which its ancestors have ruled, only a moth-eaten Pakistan was created. Pakistan still considers the business of partition of 1947 as unfinished. People outside Pakistan still do not understand as to who rules Pakistan -- the govt , the Army, the ISI ! The green Book compiled by the Army contains the doctrines, thinking, strategies or what Praveen Sami calls ideology of Pak Army regarding India . The Army believes that there are many vulnerabilities of India and if Pakistan works on those vulnerabilities India is bound to totter and collapse . Praveen Sami in The Hindu has made a brilliant analysis .

Decline of the Left: A Critical Comment

Decline of the Left: A Critical Comment:

Is any thing left of the Left ?

Method in Madness: Urban Data from 2011 Census

Method in Madness: Urban Data from 2011 Census:

Monday, October 3, 2011

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : To put the Republic back on the rails

To put the Republic back on the rails: We had known A S Appu as an efficient and honest IAS officer . But his contribution in The Hindu raises serious doubts about our own ability to assess people . Appu is not only economical with truth in his description of the present political situation in the country but appears to be heavily biased against the BJP . Appu says that in 1967 non-Congress parties came together only to grab power and make pecuniary gains . He has overlooked the anti-Congressism of the day . The Bharateeya Jan Sangh , CPI , CPM , SSP of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia did not come together only to grab power . Giving such colour to the events of 1967 is to deprive the present generation an opportunity to learn about the period and the turning points of our post independence history . Similarly , Appu says that L K Advani's first Rath Yatra was only to advance his communal agenda . This is far from truth . Advani took the Yatra to foil VP Singh's attempt to divide the Hindu society on caste lines , to stress the need for cultural nationalism  and to rouse public opinion against pseudo secularism . Instead of pleading for a two - party system Appu advises the Left to join hands with the Congress to queer the pitch for BJP .

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Saturday, October 1, 2011

The judicial system: The feeblest branch | The Economist

The judicial system: The feeblest branch | The Economist Contrary to popular perception that the US Judiciary is the strongest branch of its government , the author argues that it is the weakest .

Monday, September 26, 2011

The collapse of neoliberal capitalism - War Room - Salon.com

The collapse of neoliberal capitalism : It is a bit premature to talk of collapse of neo -liberalism . Rolling back the state is , after all , not such a bad idea . Minimum government and maximum governance is the need of the day .

Letter to NAC on Proposed Communalism Prevention Bill | Hindu American Foundation (HAF)

Letter to NAC on Proposed Communalism Prevention Bill | Hindu American Foundation (HAF): A Response to the Proposed Obnoxious Bill by educated and proud Hindus living outside India

Sunday, September 25, 2011

A divisive Communal Bill | | | The New Indian Express

A divisive Communal Bill | | | The New Indian Express : Ram Jethmalani --- The Bill is not only divisive and unjust , but heavily loaded against the majority community .

Saturday, September 24, 2011

How the two-party duopoly operates - David Sirota - Salon.com

How the two-party duopoly operates - David Sirota : Students of Political Science have been knowing since their sophomore days that American political parties are like two empty bottles with different labels .

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Richard Dawkins, an Original Thinker Who Bashes Orthodoxy - NYTimes.com

Richard Dawkins, an Original Thinker Who Bashes Orthodoxy - NYTimes.com: The Hindu saints , sages and philosophers have been asking questions like who we are , from where have we come , where shall we go , what is the purpose of life , etc ? History seems to have come to a circle as Richard Dawkins raises these questions .

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Dalai Lama's War | The National Interest

The Dalai Lama's War | The National Interest:

Ram Chandra Guha is a historian with an ideologically coloured view . In describing Neville Maxwell's India's China War of 1962 (without an acknowledgement) and Nehru's role in this Guha shows his bias . He talks about Hindu Right's criticism of Nehru . Here Guha sounds so absurd that it is impossible to believe that such absurdities have come from the pen of a historian of such eminence .

Wilhelm Reich, Victorians, and Sexual Revolutions : The New Yorker

Wilhelm Reich, Victorians, and Sexual Revolutions : The New Yorker:

Advaita Vedant

Advaita Vedant:

Bricks in the Wall: How far does RTE go?

Bricks in the Wall: How far does RTE go

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Friday, September 9, 2011

A Brief History of Corruption in India

A Brief History of Corruption in India Dr Gould has presented a more or less accurate and objective account of  corruption in modern India . Had Dr Gould as a historian widened his canvas to include ancient and medieval India the study would have been more useful . In his study what Dr Gould could not understand was the fact that the present conflagration against corruption was the people's way of showing its disenchantment with and distrust of the present ruling regime .

Culture wars over London riots

Culture wars over London riots: There was definitely a cultural dimension to British street violence

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Jan Lokpal Bill and Parliament

Jan Lokpal Bill and Parliament: Parliament has power to legislate over any matter which is not enumerated in the State List .

Thinker's Pad: Apolitical!

Thinker's Pad: Apolitical!: In ancient Greece a person who did not take part / interest in politics was considered an Idiot as politics concerns the life of every citizen .

Friday, September 2, 2011

What's wrong with our universities? by James Piereson - The New Criterion

What's wrong with our universities? by James Piereson - The New Criterion: Democratizing and spreading higher education is taking its toll . The points raised in the book need serious consideration .


Hannah Arendt's challenge to Adolf Eichmann | Judith Butler | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Hannah Arendt's challenge to Adolf Eichmann | Judith Butler Hannah Arendt , one of the most original political philosopher of the 20th Century coined the phrase " banality of evil " to describe the holocaust . Is " banality of evil " confined to a particular society ?

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

New Statesman - India's assault on democracy

New Statesman - India's assault on democracy:

This is one point of view , the point of view of a minuscule minority .

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Anti-Corruption Crusade

The Left _ Liberals weltanschauung is different from us ordinary mortals . They take pride in thinking differently . This editorial of The Economic and Political Weekly sees Anna's movement as affording an opportunity to the Right political space . The Anti-Corruption Crusade:


Inside Our Supreme Court

Inside Our Supreme Court:


Kazin’s Complaint « Commentary Magazine

Kazin’s Complaint « Commentary Magazine:

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Is UPA Surging or Crumbling? Two Polls, Two Projections

Psephology has not yet arrived in India .India Today had predicted the 1984 poll results correctly , but since then no poll survey has been that correct .Is UPA Surging or Crumbling? Two Polls, Two Projections

Saturday, August 13, 2011

India's Only Communalist -- A Short Biography of Sitaram Goel

India's Only Communalist -- A Short Biography of Sitaram Goel

Spiritual Bedfellows | OPEN Magazine

Spiritual Bedfellows | OPEN Magazine

Supreme Court will get one more woman judge

 Supreme Court will get one more woman judge The Supreme Court collegium  has approved the elevation of Justice Ranjana Desai to the apex court . Justice Desai along with others who have been cleared for elevation are distinguished judges . However The Hindu headline said that another woman judge has been elevated to the apex court . Appointment as a Supreme Court judge should be made only on the basis of ability , not on the baes of gender , class , caste , religion or region .

Friday, August 12, 2011

Sentimentality or Honesty? On Charles Taylor | The Nation

Sentimentality or Honesty? On Charles Taylor | The Nation Charles Taylor , a pupil of Isaiah Berlin and a rare breed of philosopher statesman tries to blend liberal democracy , multiculturalism and ethnic chauvinism . Our intelligentsia and chatterati need to go through this brilliant piece .

Hegemony with Chinese Characteristics | The National Interest

Hegemony with Chinese Characteristics | The National Interest

Thursday, August 11, 2011

World Affairs Journal - Iggy Pops: The Michael Ignatieff Experiment

Plato's ideal of Philosopher Kings cannot be realized simply because theoreticians cannot stoop to the level practitioners of politics stoop to without blinking an eyelid .World Affairs Journal - Iggy Pops: The Michael Ignatieff Experiment

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Article | First Things

Article | First Things Irving Kristol --- Father of Neo-Conservatism

Saturday, July 30, 2011

TV news: all talk, little news : Medium Term

TV news: all talk, little news : Medium Term These days TV news channels are in fact no news channels , they are rather views and opinion channels , where favourite guests are called to shout at each other and the anchor is plaintiff , jury and the judge .

Friday, July 29, 2011

Political lethargy tarnishes India’s lustre - FT.com

Political lethargy tarnishes India’s lustre - FT.com Rahul Jacob is not fair in his assessment of legislative logjam in the Indian Parliament . It is not simply political point-scoring as alleged by Mr Jacob . It is more about the functioning of our political system .Similarly , giving credit for liberalisation solely to Dr Man Mohan Singh is not fair . As Finance Minister he was merely implementing the policies of P V Narsimharao .

Petition Calls Op-Ed by Harvard Summer School Instructor Offensive to Muslims | News | The Harvard Crimson

Petition Calls Op-Ed by Harvard Summer School Instructor Offensive to Muslims | News | The Harvard Crimson

Saturday, July 23, 2011

The Pioneer :: Home : >> Why Modi magic continues

The Pioneer : Why Modi magic continues Before he became the CM of Gujarat I had the opportunity to listen to Narendra Modi on a TV show . He didn't impress me as a man of imagination , not to talk of vision . He spoke like a local level politician . But , now as he has completed ten years as the CM of Gujarat , it is incumbent upon us to try to find out how has he managed to face the combined onslaught of the liberals , the left , the secularists , the Hindu baiters , the BJP baiters and sometimes the India baiters .

The Spirit Is Willing, and So Is the Flesh - PageView - The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Spirit Is Willing, and So Is the Flesh - PageView - The Chronicle of Higher Education The title of the book does not convey the seriousness of the subject discussed in the book . From Indian sages to Plato thinkers have been seized of the matter and there has been a consensus that the control of libido is necessary to uplift one's spirit .

Monday, June 27, 2011

13 Scariest Curses Ever Photo Gallery - King Tut's Tomb - Conspiracies on truTV

13 Scariest Curses Ever Photo Gallery - King Tut's Tomb - Conspiracies on truTV

Lens on News

Lens on News   The Indian Un- National Congress has been playing  the communal card since its inception . The division of India and the creation of Pakistan were the consequences of the Congress's communal card . In order to sustain its vote bank the Congress goes to any extent , but its latest move could boomrang on it .

Monday, April 11, 2011

The Jan Lokpal Bill: Good intentions and the road to hell - Yahoo! News

The Jan Lokpal Bill: Good intentions and the road to hell - Yahoo! News The Jan Lokpal Bill has thrilled the common Indians . The corrupts have made the life of people miserable and any voice against corruption sooths the Indian mind , but there are issues which may pose problems for the country if the PM isalso brought under the ambit of the proposed bill .

Monday, April 4, 2011

Famous Books Banned in India - Galleries - The Daily Beast

Famous Books Banned in India - Galleries - The Daily Beast

Book Review: Great Soul - WSJ.com

Book Review: Great Soul - WSJ.com Andrew Roberts , in his review of Lelyveld's Great Soul , has been very unkind both to Gandhi and History . No doubt , many of the actions of the Mahatma appeared to be weird both to his admirers and detractors , but to accuse Gandhi of racism is a bit too much .

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Joe Lelyvelds of this world don't lie

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Joe Lelyvelds of this world don't lie We must forsake our habit of reacting without knowing the whole truth , in this case condemning Joe Lelyveld without reading his The Great Soul and knowing his point of view .

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Letters suggest Gandhi was bisexual: Pulitzer Prize author

Letters suggest Gandhi was bisexual: Pulitzer Prize author The truth behind Gandhijee's sexual orientation will never come out .The writers try to publicise their works with such controversial descriptions . The book is bound to generate enough controversy to serve the purpose of the writer .

Monday, March 28, 2011

The Pioneer :: Home : >> India shrinking

The Pioneer :: Home : >> India shrinking In this review it has been pointed out that India has not only lost its territory in the last so many years but has also lost its most valued gift to the world -- the ability to guide the world .

The curious case of Ramachandra Guha | Vijayendra Mohanty — Storyteller

The curious case of Ramachandra Guha | Vijayendra Mohanty — Storyteller

Saturday, March 26, 2011

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Opinion | Delusions of grandeur

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Opinion | Delusions of grandeur Ramchandra Guha , a historian , talks of the delusions of grandeur of Narendra Modi . But when we go through the article , it appears that the writer himself is suffering from the delusions of grandeur and passes judgments on leaders like L K Advani and Narendra Modi . A scholar is respected for his objectivity , but when the scholar dons the mantle of an opponent and a pamphleteer , he only draws the derision of his readers. His Makers of Modern India shows his bias and this article only reinforces it . Please see The Curious Case of Ramchandra Guha , posted on this blog for further proof of Guha's bias .

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Manmohan Singh is misleading country: Assange

Manmohan Singh is misleading country: Assange Lying in politics is not uncommon , but when the liar is an honest person in popular perception ,the damage he  can do to the system is catastrophic. In the US, a President   had to resign when it was found out that he has been lying to his people . This episode inspired a great mind of the twentieth century , Hannah Arendt , to examine the issue of lying in politics . A weak person resorts to lying in order to hide his/her failings . But by lying about "cash for vote" and questioning the veracity of Wikileaks , Manmohan Singh has not only outdone himself , but has brought ridicule for himself and the country he is ruling , even by proxy .

The Emperor Elagabalus by Leonardo de Arrizabalaga y Prado, reviewed by Mary Beard - TLS

The Emperor Elagabalus by Leonardo de Arrizabalaga y Prado, reviewed by Mary Beard - TLS

Western ideas of beauty by Keith Miller - TLS

Western ideas of beauty by Keith Miller - TLS

Monday, March 21, 2011

Condemned to Joy by Pascal Bruckner - City Journal

Condemned to Joy by Pascal Bruckner - City Journal     The western concept of happiness and the Indian concept of Anand are very different . The Indians aspired for SAT+CHIT+ANAND = SACCHIDANAND . This is the state of pure bliss .

YOGA BODY by Mark Singleton reviewed by Wendy Doniger - TLS

YOGA BODY by Mark Singleton reviewed by Wendy Doniger - TLS For the Indians Yoga is not only an instrument of remaining fit and alert but the means to unite with the Almighty . The Yoga that is being popularized in the West is not the real Yoga , but a caricature of it .

Saturday, February 26, 2011