Sali Tripathi discusses the problem with fundamentalists

here Some excerpts:

Divinities are strong enough to look after themselves. Artists and writers aren’t. They need our protection. But as Bart Simpson says on the blackboard: “South Park: We’d stand beside you if we weren’t so scared."

Everyone is scared. But nothing is sacred. Relax, it is just a sketch.

Have I really

completed my PhD. Seems hard to believe. It might take forever to sink in. But well it has happened. I successfully defended last friday and unofficially have fulfilled all the requirements for obtaining a PhD from University of Texas Austin. I am thrilled! Now all thats left is the small matter of what next!

A nice piece by Pratap Bhanu Mehta

on the infaltion issue here.
An excerpt

In part we are becoming victims of our own sophistication. In the old days, lines were clear. Government is responsible, and it better show it is so. Now, no intellectual, even on the pain of being right, could possibly say that. That is so seventies and so uncool. Better to talk of global trends, structural factors. All those matter, but the conduct of the state does as well. With government out of the picture, there is no object to fasten on. Poor old Albert Pinto’s tormentors were clearly visible: he could get angry at someone. We cannot get angry at our agriculture minister, since he has given us the best circus in town; we cannot get angry at the prime minister since he understands structural factors; we cannot get angry at the Congress president since she really does care about the poor through all these schemes; we cannot really get angry at any of the chief ministers since we might find our guy complicit as well. So Albert Pinto fends for himself, precisely because everyone is too busy looking after him.

ramachandra guha

makes an astute observation regarding the congress attitude when he remarks

Indians are an unhistorical people. It may be that it is ignorance rather than malign intent which will lead to these (and other) names from the Congress's past being overlooked in the party's ongoing celebration of its very long life. But the treatment of Narasimha Rao by the party he once led is another matter. To forget his achievements, but to remember his mistakes, is a product of cold and deliberate calculation.

Olbermann on Obama's assassination program

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

IF MSNBC starts criticizing a Democrat President then Obama is doing something seriously dodgy (Link via Glenn Greenwald)!

Pragmatic Euphony

provides a path for the government here:
Excerpts

The centre can no longer blame the society, the media, the political opposition and the leftist intellectuals for the Maoist menace. Time for such recriminations is gone. The onus is now well and truly upon the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to deliver smartly — effectively and efficiently — in this war against the Maoists. If they succeed, Dr Singh and Mr Chidambaram will be f�ted as national heroes; else they must be sacrificed at the political altar of national interest.

How will they respond?

What will the pseudo

liberals (read Arundhathi Roy) supporting the Maoist cause talk about this? You still support their cause? Why shouldn't the Indian Government use power to quell their threat. This is downright ridiculous!
Excerpts

Maoist guerrillas Tuesday carried out the worst ever massacre of security personnel by trapping and slaughtering 75 men in the
dense forests of Chhattisgarh, two days after Home Minister P. Chidambaram called them cowards. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a security meet.

"The death toll is 75 of which 74 are from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one from the state police force. Seven others are also injured," a senior CRPF official said here in Delhi.

"The security personnel from the 62nd battalion of the force were on regular patrolling when they were ambushed by the Maoists," the official added.

The officials refused to say how many personnel were missing after the attack in Dantewada in Bastar region. The number of missing personnel could be high as a company usually comprises 100-120 men.
....
In what appeared to be a meticulously planned operation, hundreds of Maoists -- one report put the number at about 700 -- bombed and fired at the CRPF personnel as they entered a hilly stretch of forest where the rebels have held sway for decades, running a de facto state.

An article B Raman on this here

Alec Bedser

passed way today. One of his interview from the past here
Some excerpts:

Cricket gave me a good life. It's been great. Wish I could do it again.

Is this the beginning of a fued?

between players and administration? Gambhir has taken an aggressive stance
Some excerpts

'I don't believe in saying things I don't mean. If you're looking for platitudes or banal gestures, I don't think you'll get that from me. I don't mean to sound arrogant, I'm not, but I also can't be a hypocrite. More pertinently, I can't be expected to get all worked up about comments made by people who have never picked up a cricket bat in their lives. If I listen to opinions seriously, it is from people who have played the game.'

Sounds fine to me!

Pleasantly surprised

to see the good work that Shakira is undertaking in Latin America for kids. Simply unbelievable and inspiring! Wishing more success in her efforts!

Hope the Indian government

responds appropriately to the Pakistan's ridiculous outcry on the sharing of river waters!