Posts Tagged ‘India’
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.”
New Evaluation System for P.M. Singh’s Cabinet
Manmohan Singh is re-defining official accountability during his second term as India’s Prime Minister. In a unique move, P.M. Singh has requested his ministers to submit a performance report detailing their specific operations during the past six months. In the Parliamentary system of India, where MPs are use to facing the electorate every five years, this mechanism of intra-institutional review is indeed welcome.
However doubts remain over whether the Ministers will oblige the P.M. and what options does the P.M. have in reprimanding non performing Ministers? Will the performance reports be made public?
Though the move is commendable, it requires streamlining to move beyond political rhetoric into emerging as a genuine tool of official accountability.
Pakistan’s 26/11 Anniversary Gift to India
After a year of vehement denials the Government of Pakistan has charged seven suspects involved in the 26/11 terror siege in Mumbai. The most high profile name among those charged is Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, head of the banned militant group Laskar-e-Taiba. The secret trial and timing of the charges against Lakhvi and others should create unease rather than relief among the Indian diplomats. Ilyas Siddiqui, lawyer to one of the charged suspects is preparing to contest the verdict as he opines that the prosecution does not have the evidence to support the charges it has framed. Since the trial is being held in secret, there is no possibility for Government of India or the international community to question the legal proceedings if Lakhvi and others are let off the hook or handed minimal sentences in the follow-up trial.
Pakistan has contested India’s assertion that the ten terrorists who killed 170 people in Mumbai last year had any Pakistani connection. India is awaiting response to the 7th dossier on investigations into the terror operation, but no major surprises are expected. However, the statements of an FBI officer at the recent session of a special prison court provide the much needed third party perspective to the case. According to FBI electronics engineer and forensic expert, data recovered from a satellite phone and three global positioning systems recovered after the attacks establish the fact that the attack was being coordinated from Pakistani soil.
It is naïve to expect that Pakistan will allow any investigation or action on the 26/11 attacks that exposes the role of any Pakistani official agency. And with the sloppy investigations by the Indian authorities there is not much hope that Pakistan will be confronted with undeniable evidence. Even after questioning Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist who survived 26/11, for almost a year the investigators had no clue on David Coleman Headley. Kasab was questioned on the Headley connection only after the latter was nabbed by the FBI. The HBO documentary Terror in Mumbai portrays Kasab as a misled Pakistani boy who taken for a ride by his trainers. If this was true to any extent then he would have revealed Headley and other such covert connections. Kasab is simply following the instructions of this commander, “prolong this as much as you can.”