BJP is getting it wrong

on FDI in retail.

Such meaningless prose...

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/Zd7VBjwyKJy9QMQfSdFqUJ/The-spotlights-on-the-winner.html

Interesting piece of history...

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/bO9Ma9Sb2g4aUvIUT29fCP/Why-we-love-to-hate-Tipu-Sultan.html

Not the right solution

scrapping long term infra-structure projects to support subsidies - remember how India got into this mess in the first place!

Nice piece...

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/FVyAd9UiwSJP8lT183vOkN/Stanislas-Wawrinka-From-aam-aadmi-pro-to-Grand-Slam-champ.html

As Indians do we have no shame at all

Everyday there is at least one story of a girl raped, assaulted and/or killed. India is a male dominated society - I get that, but what kind of dominance is hurting these poor women. It just establishes that we are a sick society. That's all!

This is such a sorry state of affairs.. it is not worth arguing about

Sambit Bal on the BCCI induced remake of ICC here. Some excerpts

That cricket needs a shake-up is beyond dispute. In drafting this document in stealth, and in assuming they are the fittest to rule and awarding themselves a major chunk of the projected earnings, the Big Three haven't shown themselves to be model leaders, but they may be owed a round of thanks if this draft paper stirs the entire cricket world into action.
However, I am not holding my breath. The cricket world has always been governed by self-interest and expedience. Compromise is easier than confrontation. South Africa are leading the resistance simply because they have been left out of the main table. It is improbable that they would have refused an invitation had it been extended. The voices that have railed against the proposal have nothing to lose. The boards will weigh their risks and cut their deals. The decision will perhaps be delayed and the draft tweaked in some ways.
But that will be that. A revolution is not at hand.

Australian Open

Well, well, well - Stanislas Wawrinka is the Australian Open Champion. When Federer lost the semi-finals (once more.. I know) to Rafael Nadal I assumed Rafa would win his 14th slam and reduce the gap. But I digress - the blog is about Wawrinka - a mere mortal who in his own opinion was never supposed to win a grand slam. He genuinely believed his role was to come play hard, compete and yet never win. I love that attitude - knowing and accepting your fate and yet fighting to your ultimate best. Some days when you least expect it you will be rewarded for your perseverance. Today I have heard somebody articulate what most individuals in this world are scared to admit. Your life, most of the time, has no difference; you will be forgotten in history of time; but you can still live, fight, struggle because you know what you do and that is its own reward.

Stanislas has a tattoo on his body (from here)

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail Better.” — Wawrinka’s tattoo.

More of his interview here

I wish I can emulate this in my life and my career. At least that is the struggle. Oh btw -- congratulations to the new grand slam champion and world no. 3 Stanislas Wawrinka (also the new top ranked Swiss player..). 

Have to agree with this view

as described by Anil Padmanabhan.

In the final analysis, it should be evident that Kejriwal is pursuing a deliberate strategy. The more he is cornered, especially a ganging-up by the organized political parties, the greater will be his appeal to his base and deeper the class conflict—and given the numerical superiority of the bottom of the pyramid, this is undoubtedly a challenge. Acknowledging his political acumen would be the first step for his opponents to derive the antidote for the new force of Indian politics. Mere hand-wringing and public rebukes of the AAP is living in denial and will achieve only the exact opposite outcome.

Arvind Kejriwal is playing clear politics in the name of "removing" politicking from the system. Until the major parties recognize this and handle him carefully Arvind's reputation among the poorer sections (who contribute to majority of the votes) will only be enhanced. At the end of the day Arvind Kejriwal entered into politics to come to power. Moreover, he is very astute in ensuring that happens. So, until the parties play their cards carefully 2014 elections will be a real messy - particularly for the BJP and Modi. There are three possibilities - a) AAP receives very few meaningful votes i.e. 10-15 seats all over the country, b) AAP reduces the Congress votes significantly assisting BJP in two competition seats and c) AAP gathers so many votes from the Congress and BJP groups that it wins a large number of seats (50-70) - becoming the king maker. Scenarios a and b are going to be ok for a stable govt at the center while scenario c will ensure a fractured mandate with a coalition government that will destroy already fragile economic situation in India.

Coming from Hindu... this is a big deal

Read an article here by Vidya Subrahmaniam

Excerpts

This was a fit case for the AAP to sit on a dharna over — but on behalf of the wronged women, not to protect the illegal act of detaining them by a minister too drunk with his own powers. The irony is difficult to miss. The incident reeks of the same ministerial arrogance and highhandedness that till now formed the core of the AAP’s clean-up campaign. The evidence was against the minister but the demand was for the removal of the police officer who insisted on due process. Even assuming there was sex trafficking, the women required being treated as victims and not as offenders.

What else do you expect

Here you have an appeal to a particular community. Why was there no letter for other communities. The wording that now AAP is the non-communal alternative? Seriously. So, AAP is the new congress except that they are more "honest"! This is really appalling - I mean if you stoop down to any level to get votes you have no right to call yourself a real "alternative". But well I might be an odd one, who expects a lot before calling something truly revolutionary - when it is not; I just hope AAP followers realize this before it is too late!

So true

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/pL6DFPSxx6uSaPYeghiquJ/The-insurgent-government-of-Delhi.html

A good read

http://tgs.nationalinterest.in/2014/01/22/media-watchdog/

Good advice

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/BBVkSO3XwJKgMmufQ1SuzH/India-Japan-and-a-broader-Asia.html

Sad

It is sad to hear somebody passed away. Even more so when they are young. It is hard to believe one of our batch mates has passed away. We are just in our 30s and already so many deaths for various reasons. I only hope they are in better places now. I mean these are individuals who are some of the brightest around with a life full of opportunities and in a second it all ends. It makes you wonder. 

So many flaws... Yet it is considered an alternative

http://tgs.nationalinterest.in/2014/01/19/the-meaning-of-a-a-p/

I am sorry but people are intellectually lazy to even think. This makes it hard to go for the best alternative. Seeing AAP .. Maharastra govt is cutting power prices. The irresponsible decisions of AAP have implications everywhere. I mean they are encouraging even more populist behavior.

What about the attack on African folks? Seriously! I am stunned that educated individuals are blind to the obvious and destructive flaws of AAP. Dont even get me started on their Dharna. Oh God - Have some mercy on India.

If Congress is reformist compared to you.. Its definitely a problem

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/HotVNqZjiuzj4ClfbB2hZM/AAPs-decision-on-FDI-in-retail-irresponsible-Anand-Sharma.html

Exactly

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/phNxEyVwOyiHSTqlrLA2qL/Baffling-changes.html

AAP and its future

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/t18yJzmaPbxpBq9MFBfpjN/AAPs-muddled-horizons.html

The lost decade alright!

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/pJn6VtNuSyLCIkQFwx5OqN/2004-to-2014Indias-lost-decade.html

Nice Move

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/nwBND0yZdTlT2YgXAS9miO/AAP-govt-launches-helpline-in-Delhi-to-cope-with-corruption.html

My point exactly...

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/Zn6oW29Qx494wcCyObi5AL/On-AAP-and-subsidies.html

Well... its official

It sucks but that's life. 

Irrespective of whether you agree or not

Mukul Kesavan has a way with words. Really pleasant reading here.

Excerpts

Cheteshwar Pujara at 25, with an average in excess of 65 after 17 Test matches has them murmuring again about a second coming. After this brilliant series against the best fast bowling attack in the world (that too in foreign parts), these middle-aged murmurings are threatening to become a roar.

 

I dont expect people will learn

but there are at least some sensible people around like this writer

The roadway to hell is paved with the best of intentions and AAP is driving rapidly on that highway and I really hope people are not as blind to it this time as in the past. The idea of honesty in public service is laudable and is something that needs to be an important issue in governance. But the idea of subsidies and the way they are being handed out is purely wrong. The AAP is just replacing Congress's sole approach with another of their own.Well, one can only shout so many times! I am getting tired of the lack of intellectual honesty among AAP members and followers. I agree that there is idealism in the AAP crowd but idealism without a brain is nothing but a route to regressive politics! The idea of an efficient system is one where it does not require individuals to ensure progress - you just need the system to function well - the objective for that is get the state out of services it has business in - this and this alone will reduce corruption. Until Indians relaize this simple truth we are stuck with buffoons masquerading as intellectual leaders! 

Oh BTW ... Happy New Year to all.