Archive for the ‘India’ Category
The Need to Strategize India-Pakistan Dialogue
“To Indians, cycles constitute the basis of life and stand in stark contrast to the Western linear view of time….in the Indian view, the cosmos also goes through repeated cycles of creation, decay, destruction and recreation…a cyclical view suggests no past and no future, just a continuing series of cycles.”
Though, I mostly disagree with George Tanham’s much famous analysis of India’s strategic culture, I could not but think about these words of Tanham before and after the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan met on February 25.
Who Will Defend India’s Defense Forces?
India expects the highest standards of professional conduct from its Armed Forces. And rightly so. The discipline and dedication of the Armed Forces are critical for ensuring the safety of our nation. But are not Indians too unrealistic in their expectations from the nation’s Armed Forces? Mere phrases like “We are proud of our Jawans”; “We have a military that thoroughly follows orders of the civilian leadership;” and wreath laying ceremonies at the Amar Jawan Jyoti are not enough to show our respect for the military personnel. Even the Amar Jawan Jyoti does not have the name of a single Indian soldier who scarified his life for independent India. The 90,000 names etched at AJJ are those of soldiers belonging to the British Indian Army who died during World War I and the Afghan Wars.
Coming back to the issue that motivated this post, the court martial of Lt. Gen. Awadesh Prakash.
India and NPT: Change or Continuity?
According to a recent analysis by David P. Fidler and Sumit Ganguly, India wants to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a Nuclear Weapons State (NWS). Is such a development feasible or even desirable?
At 60, Phir Mile Sur Mera Tumhara
Indian Republic turned 60 today. Being a young Indian, living in the United States, January 26 did not have any special meaning for me. It was not a long weekend; had to go to work as usual. Moreover, for the past few days I was mentally confirming to the idea raised by many intellectuals in India that the Republic Day parade was unnecessary pomp and should be done away with. Moments after watching the Republic Day parade, I felt special…felt special because I was Indian. I was smiling and enjoying as the parade moved down Rajpath. And felt relieved to realize that I had not lost the connection to my roots. Here is something I want to share with all who cherish their lineage to India. Click to continue…
Who is Over-Reacting: India or Australia?
The Government of India’s advisory for ethnic Indians in Australia has offended more people in Australia than the number pleased in India. Referring to someone as ‘racist’ is considered to be the greatest insult in contemporary times; India is seen as accusing Australia for being tolerating racist attacks against Indians, especially students. This is bound to upset the Australian Government. So which side is over-reacting?
India’s 2009 Moments
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” - T.S. Eliot “Little Gidding
Before another voice can be heard, here are words and events that dominated India’s language in 2009.
Rationale behind Telangana State?
The Indian National Congress is aware that in some large states the persistence of intra-regional imbalances in development has given rise to the demand for separate states. While it has introduced several programs to redress these disparities, recognizing the legitimacy of these concerns and acknowledging that the solution may vary from one state to another, the Indian National Congress will find pragmatic solutions to deal with these demands.
This promise in the UPA’s 2009 election manifesto is about to be realized. Following Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Chief, K. Chandrasekhar Roa’s 11 day hunger strike, the UPA Government was ‘forced’ to concede to the demand of a separate Telangana state, carved out from the ten districts of Andhra Pradesh. Rationale for the demand is a simple one: Telangana’s economic development has been neglected in favor of the richer and more powerful Andhra region - and that a new state is the only solution.
While Telangana as a separate state is yet to become a reality, the ‘decision’ has raised some vital concerns. Click to continue…
Häagen Dazs in India but not for Indians!
For an Indian-American visiting Delhi there is good news: Häagen Dazs has opened its first outlet in the city. But I am not sure that your indulgence would result in the same satisfaction as always did. Not because the ice cream would taste any different, but simply because you as an Indian-passport holder do not qualify to even enter the new Häagen Dazs outlet in Delhi!
Rajesh Kalra’s piece in the Times of India carries the shocking story of post-modern discrimination: a store in India’s Capital city owned by an Indian selling an international brand bars entry of Indians.
The banners outside the outlet said: Exclusive Preview for International Travellers. And under that, in an even finer print, the real bombshell: Access restricted only to holders of international passports.
Protests in social media on the issue finally led the outlet’s franchisee to state that there never was any restriction on anybody entering the outlet. So now you can enjoy a Häagen Dazs in Delhi even if you are an Indian.
But my question is: Are you celebrating or feeling irritated?
UPDATED: December 17, 2009 - Häagen Dazs Offers Apology
Media Statement from: Mr. Anindo Mukherji, Managing Director, General Mills India
There have been some reports alleging that the recently opened Häagen-Dazs shop denied access to Indians. We vehemently and categorically deny this. Häagen-Dazs products and our Häagen-Dazs shop in India are and will always be for our consumers in India.
The recently opened Haagen-Dazs shop is open to one and all, and there’s no question of barring entry to anyone on any basis. The pre view on Thursday, 10th December had a morning media event which was attended by journalists of repute from Indian media. The same evening we had a launch party for our friends and families, less than 5% of who were foreigners. Also, during the mock training days at the shop leading up to 10th December, a lot of interests were generated and hundreds of walk-ins were given samples of our ice cream.
The poster in question was part of initial local store communication at a few locations within the same mall announcing the opening of the new Häagen-Dazs shop in the mall. The message was intended to suggest that you can enjoy, for instance, a taste of the French Riviera without traveling to France – by enjoying Häagen-Dazs. Unfortunately the reference to the international passport holder on the poster may have led to a significant miscommunication. This was completely unintended and we apologize for creating the misimpression that may have hurt our sentiments as Indians.
Media Coverage for Sale in India
Anuradha Raman’s recent article, News You can Abuse in Outlook is scary. Anuradha details how editorial space in newspaper is available for sale and political leaders can access favorable coverage in exchange of cash. Here is a sample of what Anuradha offers to her readers: When Outlook sounded out Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda about allegations doing the rounds that he paid for favourable news during the assembly elections in October, he was surprisingly candid. “When I noticed the leading paper of my state printing baseless reports on its front page day after day,” he said, “I called them up and offered money to print the right picture. The paper in question apologised. They even returned the money taken from my rival to publish news items against me.”
Shashi Tharoor’s Impressive Take on India’s Soft Power
At TEDIndia, Shashi Tharoor, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs shared his views on what makes India a leading soft power across the globe. In Tharoor’s words, “In today’s world, it’s not the size of the army that wins. It’s the country that tells a better story”. And India through it pluralism and social development at home and over-arching reach of its cultural components abroad has been telling better stories, stories wrapped in awe and admiration that continue to surprise many across the globe.
For Tharoor, India is not a nationalism of ethnicity or religion, but nationalism of an idea. India is not a land where all people agree and abide by a consensus; but all agree on the ground rules of how to disagree and live without consensus.
Tharoor come across as one of the rare, articulate and knowledgeable politicians in India. No wonder he contents that Governments usually don’t tell the best stories. It takes a story writer and intellectual like Tharoor to voice an evident but understated fact about India’s potential.
Shashi Tharoor’s TEDIndia speech – a must listen for all Indians!