Can't help but post these

pieces that have Viru in great company! One more here

India After Gandhi

Just completed reading the book "India After Gandhi". A fantastic book on Indian history after 1947. I was very wary of starting this book because of my opinion (don't know how it came into existence) that old authors are generally pro-Congress or pro-Nehru-Gandhi family. However, I am happy to admit I could not have been more wrong! The book is wonderfully written summary of most important events in Indian history. In fact, I believe its a must read for all Indians.

Prior to reading this book, I thought India, as a nation, is a moderate success. I always believed we could have done a lot better. But after reading this there is a change in my perception. In spite of so many adverse situations India faced since independence it is simply remarkable that we are in the current state. For India to face

• Partition and the consequent riots
  
• Kashmir and Punjab secessionist movements,
  
• linguistic upheaval, 
• Nehru's death,
  
• Emergency,
  
• Operation BlueStar,
  
• Indira Gandhi's assassination and the subsequent Sikh riots,
  
• Rajiv Gandhi's assassination,
  
• Lack of foreign reserves,
  
• Gujarat riot

all the above and yet survive as a single nation is simply astonishing. As been pointed out in the book nobody gave India a chance! Yet here we are celebrating our 60th year as a republic and 63 years as an independent nation. Long live the country!

The author Ramachandra Guha deserves great praise for providing such an elegant and unbiased account of contemporary India. It was a delightful experience reading all the 771 pages of this book!

How ridiculous can these

people get! Sehwag's comment on Bangladesh being a poor team will influence Indo-Bangla politics? You got be kidding me! See this article if you don't believe me!

I really

hope either Man Mohan Singh/Chidamabaram/or any of their advisers are reading this piece by Antha Nageswaran! The article outlines necessary steps for the Indian economy to pursue! I hope the financial hotwigs in India are at least investigating these options!

I have to

agree with Vadukut on this one. We did waste a lot of our time since the partnership between Srinath and Kumble on that day. I watched it live too :P

Whats going on?

When I read news articles all I can see is stupid policy making.
For example, the agricultural minister Sharad Pawar acts in such a way that he increases supply mismatch resulting in price increases. Then he will step in with a retrograde scheme to bring the prices down! So smart politically but suicidal to the economy. Well why will he care
Then, the Congress-NCP government imposes a rule that you need to read/write marathi and have lived in mumbai for 15 years to get a taxi license. For heaven's sake we are talking of being a taxi driver! Not a defense head of the country. We live in a country where a person not born in India can become the prime minister but the same person wont be able to drive a taxi. Does this make sense? What are the policy makers trying to do? Simply political gain. Screw all the poor people emigrating to Mumbai trying to survive.

In AP, the growing nonsensical handling of Telengana. Give it or don't give it make a decision Damn it! If you give a separate state make sure the rest of the state is appropriately supported for creating a new capital. If you intend not to give it, provide telengana region with an increased funding for sometime to improve it. Just don't drag it on forever and disturb lives of common people who really don't care.

All these above issues are simply because of the spineless behavior on the part of the Congress. But guess what I dont see how there will be any change. There is no viable political alternative. Forget about alternative, I don't even see somebody standing up against these stupid policies. All political parties are acting in a way that is outright disgusting.

I think it too optimistic to expect sensible behavior on the part of these power mongers.

Lets wait and see!

Back after a very

long time!
Was traveling for the last 2 months pretty much. Very soon stable life should begin and with it my regular cribs and other issues!

Before I leave.. a very nice post by greatbong on Jyothi Basu who just passed away. Have to say pretty damn good one!