Mummi's Interview on Indian Elections

My quick Political analysis

Its the Big Boss month again! I mean its Indian elections that many of us still treat as a reality show. But this time it is different. There is no wave because a leader was assassinated. There is no wave because our democratic lifestyle was challenged. There is no wave because someone promised us a temple. This time its about feeling the pinch on matters that mattered the most. Its about frustrations that we could have done so much better but did not. It is about Billions that were siphoned off out right in front of our eyes. It is about being a leader with a vision or act like a CEO of a political corporation.
Again there are many leaders in the foray, some new and some old trusted, tested, rejected and accepted. One thing for sure with no psychological wave, electorates this time have clear opportunity to think straight and clear. Following is my assessment of leaders and parties and what pisses me the most about.

• Bhartiya Janta Party
• At any cost they should not have released dreaded terrorists like Masood Azhar. People lives in danger blah blah yes but they had ample opportunity to not let the situation slip off their hands before it became political gut impossible to handle if not its capacity.
• Gujarat riot still haunts. Revenge in any context is not a good word to use. Protecting the lives of innocents is the utmost responsibility of a government and you lose a moral right to continue if you fail to do so. 

• Congress
•  Why did you screw it up so bad?
• Rahul with no Gandhi surname has zero credentials. His sincerity does not justify the mess Congress created in last 10 years. 
• They had a wonderful opportunity in MMS - An educated economy master, a Sikh, and a secular leader. His blind eye to what was happening and Gandhi family feet lickers belittled this Man to a point that he is now being ridiculed not just by opposition but by his own party members. Calling Rahul his replacement is the biggest slap on his face. He forgot he was a Prime Minister of India. He should have learned from Narsimha Rao on how to be a non-Gandhi leader in a Gandhi party.
• I will be surprised if Congress or UPA ends up in a position to form the next government. Not this time at least.

• Aam Aadmi Party
• They should have not quit Delhi. Jan Lokpal in manifesto, no moral right to continue blah blah alright but no they had an opportunity in Delhi and they screwed it up. Either they should not have formed the government or if they did should not have quit it in haste. 
• People are still looking for a level of administrative and political maturity from its leaders and they are being disappointed. Leaders who seem ineffective in managing their own domestic issues and losing effectiveness to connect with a bigger mass of people can how be trusted to run our foreign policies? 
• They have not spelled any policy vision other than anti corruption and anti dynastic politics. They should know in India people have accepted good dynastic politicians in the past as long as they see them as delivering. Crusade against dynastic politics is not enough. It is better to have learned it from the family than to come on stage speechless and vision less.
• Your win in Delhi was your biggest undoing. We know what you stand for. We knew it by last September. Repeating it again and again while your ineffectiveness in leadership is getting exposed every day is only annoying people.
• They still have some good and passionate leaders so they better get their act together. It will be very easy for them to call it a quit saying oh we came together for blah blah and blame it on Kejriwal's leadership. This is a time to get serious.

• Third front
• Seen as a front with ego centric leaders and opportunists and political dalals for the lack of any better words. 
• Has some real good leaders who know the ground realities and pulse but are wasted by a lack of national vision. 
• They should have been doing what Aam Aadmi Party did. It is shame that a nascent AAP has given a better and more credible third front than the parties that called themselves the same for years. They lack sincerity.
• Ideally they should suffer the biggest loss. Third front has failed the people of India more than ineffective governments. 

Anna's show a big flop in Mumbai - Think!

Anna called off his fast in Mumbai due to a poor response from people he thought he was fighting for. Stop. When Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa he did not just fight one war with British, he fought three. One that he fought against himself to get rid of pretentiousness, ego and bias and this constant battle of self cleansing continued till he died. Second was in fact against the Indian people itself. This was the war to wake them up - not just the lawyers in Mumbai but to awaken people in villages who did not even know what human dignity and self rule meant. It was a war because the majority were even afraid to get rid of the British empire fearing even bitter rule by some of their own brethren's. Unless you awake people and show them what they would be looking for how could you even think of fighting his decisive war against the British? And these three wars were chaotic, bleak at times and hurtful but remained physically non-violent.
What happened in Mumbai is no surprise. A poor show for Anna is no reason to get disheartened. It only shows people are not ready, they are not awakened yet. Instead of getting rid of a corrupt system they see it as an opportunity to join and loot. This has become a diamond mine that people think queuing on is unnecessary, instead chance to get in and loot. And don't forget Mahatma's bugle did not sound from a podium in Mumbai it sounded from a place called Champaran that no body even knew it existed where people did not discuss if a choice is good or bad but a place where there was no choice at all. Anna has to find his Champaran.

How to defame a movement in India?

1. Its just a regional demand
2. Nah South India doesn't care
3. Its leaders are corrupt
4. Its alienating Muslims
5. Its a fascist movement
6. No safeguards for and is against the weaker sections

I am glad Anna overcame all these hurdles before Congress could read any more pages from "How to rule India - By British Empire" hand book.

Anna (अन्ना)

We Indians needed a Guru to tell us what we already knew but tell us the same with Vinamrata (a must watch):

In support of Vastanavi

I did not know who Vastanavi was not until a few weeks ago. I am no fan or a supporter of Modi either. In fact I don't like him. I have lived in Ahmedabad for a few years and am quite familiar with its dynamics. I also have some opinions about political parties now reacting in response to Vastanavi controversy and above all I always have had a respect for Darul uloom deoband as an institute because of its unquestioned contribution to Indian freedom struggle in spite of its theologies being associated to one militant form of Islamic belief. Darul Uloom has always had a pro-India stance that very few Islamic institutions come out very vocal on. I am also concerned with a slow poisoning of Islamic educational system with a strict form of religious fanaticism. That said, financial situation of a common Gujarati irrespective of his religion is better compared to any other state. This is not something you would have to talk about just go and see it. And if this is acknowledged by Vastanavi then where was he wrong? In spite of Gujarat witnessing one of the worst and deplorable religious riots of recent times there does exist an environment for growth and there is nothing wrong in acknowledging that either. Indian Islamic Institutes have to decide if they should take a progressive path or go back in times. Calling water a water is no crime making it drinkable is a challenge.

Migrants cause increase in crime. Hold on!

My dream to work in a research organization took me to a job in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. I never felt more UPian than when I used to catch a train back to Lucknow. I still remember horrific scenes at railway platforms. Direct trains from Ahmedabad to UP neither got any respect nor did its passengers. I used to rent a place in Gandhinagar - a relatively clean and an organized city. I once heard someone complain of increase in theft since the influx of migrant laborers from UP and Bihar. No it was not a Police report but one native's perceptions. BTW, during those days we also used to see roadside colonies of native tribes that even some of my Gujarati friends were skeptical of. Safety is a major social concern and migrants often bear the brunt. All my friends from UP and Bihar were Engineers and Scientists some with degrees from USA. I could have trusted them with my wallet full of cash. As I could not afford flight tickets I traveled by trains where I met regular hard working families. People who were more concerned of the money they saved and taking it back than stealing someone else's. Even though I did not travel in general compartments but the train itself used to make me feel a migrant laborer. I have never stolen a thing.
Then one day I decided to migrate again. Mumbai consulate had a huge line waiting to get Visas to US. I was astonished to find that the majority names ended up in Patels. Gujarati is a hard working community and mostly business owners in United States. Likewise laborers from UP and Bihar is a hard working lot. Migrants chase a better life. A life that is safer and prosperous for their children. Be it leaving stark poverty of eastern UP or a dream to own a motel and restaurants in United States. There are and will always be gray elements in any part of the world. The recent economic depression has proved bigger thieves in white collars than those sweaty laborers. Migrants don't increase crime, they increase competition.

PS: The blog is in response to Chidambaram's derogatory remarks against migrant workers in Delhi. I used Gujaratis to showcase a trend and my experiences from the days I worked in Ahmedabad.

Where Naidu failed, Nitish succeeded

Bihar election results were stunning but not an eye opener. It was somewhat expected. Its a victory of sincere effort to govern over the same old caste based, psychological crap game so far played by Congress and RJD combined. Years ago when Chandra Babu Naidu lost the Andhra elections it was a shocking defeat. In spite of all the industry that Naidu succeeded in bringing in and bringing Hyderabad on a global map, the wealth did not reach the poor. Nitish kept the goals in sight and not necessarily in just impression building. It was not just Patna shining - Every city of the state has seen growth. Not every citizen may have an email address but they now do have roads to places they want to go to. Social and political situations in Andhra is very similar to Bihar and one lesson to learn is - "In the world of technology, it is very difficult to master people". Just don't lose the sight from the people.

I disagree with Nitish Kumar though I like him

Rahul Gandhi is a force to reckon with. Most non-congress state governments do not like him. So much so that they pass personal comments against him. No denying people do like him. Where ever he is going he is connecting with people and this is what worrying the state governments who may not be in immediate danger but as the grass-root shifts will be in dire need of survivability. That said I like Nitish Kumar. I am not from Bihar but have always been awestruck with its potential and sad for its painful state and hateful attitude of some parts of India towards its people. I also disagree with when Nitish Kumar asked Rahul Gandhi that he should become a CM first before targeting the PM post. Was this what Nitish Kumar had in mind? If so I warn him. India's history is very clear. Prime Ministers who had been CMs have miserable track record more so plain forgetful. All successful Prime Ministers were never been Chief Ministers of a state.

Arundhati Roy is not just Ignorant she is an Idiot!

Booker got one thing wrong - Arundhati Roy. She has been (or wants to be) in limelight for all wrong reasons. Her brush with stupidity started with her comments in support of Maoists and now her blabbering on Kashmir. People like hers should go learn and study history before trying to become a champion of subjects they talk about. Kashmir has always been an integral part of India or the ex-Greater Indian that includes the Indian subcontinent culturally and administratively. Kashmir historically has been a center of Sanskrut scholars and study. "History of Kashmir" was written in the 12th century by Kalhan. According to Mahabharath, Kambojhs ruled Kashmir. The place Peer-Panjal which is very much Kashmir comes from the word Panchaal (you know who Paanchaali was, don't you?). It has been under Mughal, Sikhs and Hindu rulers. What India she talks about? Here is some history -

• Emperor Ashok founded ShriNagari (Today's Srinagar)
• Akbar reclaimed Kashmir in 1588
• Ranjit Deo (1780's)
  
• Gulab Singh (1846-1857)
• Ranbir Singh (1857-1885)
• Partab Singh (1885-1925)
• Hari Singh (1925-1949)
  

Republic of India historically has always been a federation of independent states very similar to today's Afghanistan. Communities fiercely independent and regional but all recognizing the border integrity of the country. If she dares why can't she go and ask Pashtuns if Nothern regions were not Afghanistan. May be she should have been on the east Bengal when the country was divided by the British. We will still be glad to swap her with Taslima Nasreen.

Why Indian muslims should not feel second class citizens

Even though with some delays, the High Court has given its verdict on India's most controversial and complex case that involved faith, known and unknown history, emotions and a serious prospect of religious tensions. At the end the verdict acknowledged an existence of a Temple underneath the mosque, its usage both by Hindus and Muslims as a place of worship and land ownership by three contesting party. I and many Indians are very pleased by the decision as it did not turn out be a verdict of victory or loss. The shear fact that there exist a Temple underneath the place of content should be enough to respect it. There should not be any need to go to Supreme court. Babar or any of his lieutenant were no Islamic saints they were barbarians who could not see freedom of religious practice as a core essence of the country they migrated to. No one has to prove where Ram was born. And Muslims in India are as Indians as any of its Hindus and they reserve the right to same freedom that everyone enjoys. Now all the parties should come together and work towards an amicable solution that gives dignity and safety to all the citizen and a salute to the judges who tried to solve a problem of 483 years.

Lets see how sane Indian Muslims and Hindus are!

September 24th 2010 an Indian court will give its verdict in once seemed never ending case - Ayodhya. Both Hindus and Muslims are wary of violence and Government seems taking it very seriously or may just be creating hysteria. This may not be a final verdict and it can still be stretched to another lifetime but it has a potential of igniting another riot. What needed to be seen is how sane has young Hindus and Muslims of India have become since the last riots that claimed thousands of life in early 90's.

Here are some historic sequence:

• Year 1528 - First Sunni Muslim king of India, Babar or his lieutenant Mir Baki razed a Hindu Ram temple and built a Mosque over the land, probably to celebrate the arrival of Islam in India or to thump their authority. So did they do at Krishna Temple in Mathura and Shiv temple in Somnath - three most revered deities of Hindus.
• Next few centuries on and off attempts were made by Hindus to reclaim the land but all such attempts were crushed heavy handedly.
  
• By 1857, the year of India's first war of Independence or a mutiny against the British rulers, Hindus and Muslims prayed together in proximity - Muslims inside the Mosque and Hindus just in its periphery. 1857 was also the year Hindus and Muslims were closest and hand-in-hand fighting a "foreign" aggressor together.
  
• After the failed attempt of 1857 to claim Independence from the British, the differences between Hindus and Muslims grew wider and in 1947 India was split in two nations in the name of religion and Pakistan was born.
  
• In 1949 Hindus tried to reclaim the land and Idols of Lord Rama and Maa Sita were installed inside.
  
• Then came a series of law suits till mid-1960's with none ever resolved.
  
• 1992 turned out to be a black year in Indian history when the amity between the two communities was broken when some Hindu mob tore town the 350 year old tomb. By then the place was in central governments control and only Hindu priests were allowed to perform limited Puja. 100s and thousands of lives were lost after ensuing riots and retaliations with clear "foreign hands" being exposed in exploiting the situation.
  
• After realizing the futility of hatred and pending court case, Indians moved on. Political parties at front of enticing communal riots lost over next years.
• Hindus and Muslims of Ayodhya never got involved in riots and continued to live together with their daily chores. Muslims continued to be involved in small scale industry that makes offerings for deities and Hindus never threatened them in this temple town.
  

What now?

• Pakistan and now increasingly Chinese intelligence agencies are continually looking for opportunities to exploit any communal situations and destabilize the country.
• Kashmir valley is boiling again this time rather more seriously.
• We know how much peace is important to India.
  
• Neither Hinduism nor Islam teaches violence and killing innocents.
  

Its time to prove that Indians are sane citizens and no one can ignite violence between us no matter what the verdict would be. Its time to leave past behind and build our shared future on mutual respect and dignity together.

Kashmir is in pain - Government's apathy or incompetence

"Stone pelting mob fired upon by security forces" - A problem many nations are facing today and no one seems to understand that bullets cannot be an answer. Security forces can do very little but to fire but it only shows the incompetence of the state as well as federal governments that they seem clueless of finding ways to control the situation. Chidambaram may have been a good finance minister but is an incompetent home minister. He seems to have no answer to Naxal issues and seems again clueless on Kashmir. Not every time foreign forces can be blamed in fomenting trouble in the state. If you want Kashmiris from valley to be Indian citizens then treat them like that. There will always be foreign elements taking advantage and fueling unrest but its the responsibility of the state and what the federal government cannot shy off of, to bring people in the mainstream. If grievances and stones are met by bullets even in the Hindi heartland it will only fuel more unrest so more protests in Kashmir is not something unexpected. Its not Security forces but the incompetence of Obdallahs and this Congress government which is alienating Kashmiris from valley even further. Blood of an Indian - Kashmiri or any other cannot be this cheap. If current governments see no value in it then they have to go. Period.

Mr. Chidambaram - Indian life cannot be this cheap

When a country like India should be working day and night with all its resources in eradicating diseases and spending in Infrastructures that provide safety to life, life of an Indian is getting less and less secure by shear in-action of the current Government. We cannot accept insecurity as part of our daily life as we have accepted corruption in our system. Today anti social organizations like Maoists can blow up tracks and cause massive loss of life and your Government continues to sit idle with no replies to increasing boldness and challenges to our Nation's integrity and the safety of its citizens. And what do we see? Leaders of UPA give statements that "Maoists only kill people who spy on them". Did you dare to ask these Naxal elements in your UPA how many spied who lost their life in yesterday's train sabotage? And why don't you have guts to put these elements in Jail who directly or indirectly support these anti-national elements? Indians today demand your report card on what have you and your Government done to make us more secure? Why an non-combatant's life so insecure? Why terrorists and criminals are allowed to get away so easily? Why has this government become a government of spineless representatives? Don't forget we have always found the alternatives. If you don't believe us ask those who once said we were shining.

What is BJP doing wrong?

Its heart breaking to see as a keen self proclaimed political analyst how day by day a national party is dying under its own weight. The recent slap being from Shibu Soren's JMM. So what is this once beloved political front doing wrong?

• Lack of leadership
• Coalition of opportunists
• Inability to prove why Congress is bad for the nation
• Losing its key constituents to regional parties
• Becoming agenda-less secular front

So how could they ever come back?

• Find leaders with mass appeal - The ones who represent not necessarily smart
  
• Delhi - You win Delhi, you win India
• We all know corruption exists. Prove why it hurts?
• Become secular when you are in power, not when you are out.
  
• Grass root Grass root Grass root
  

Five Pakistanis I wish were Indians

These are Five Pakistani celebrities who I respect a lot and would have love to have as Indians:

• Wasim Bhai Akram- He has been more pain in the neck for India than even a well trained Pak SoG soldier. A guy to salute, what an awesome bowler he has been.
• Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - A real maestro. His songs has united more Indians and Pakistanis than a series of CBM meets.
• Shoaib Akhtar - For some reason Bollywood and hence the rest of India loves to see a flamboyant and a little arrogant talent. What if his name sounds "show aib", so be it.
• Shoaib Malik - A guy who took away the heart of someone who the entire India loves. He must be someone.
• Ghulam Ali - He had put Ghazals back on the table in Hindi Cinema. We had more of his cassettes than any Hindi movie's. Don't hear him much these days though.
  

Thanks Congress for giving BJP what they wanted... An Issue

Burdens of past should not drag the wishes of future. Ram Temple is a similar issue that has become a playground to gain political mileage. Its in the news again and of course thanks to Congress for giving BJP an issue, once again. You would be politically naive to believe BJP leadership had no knowledge of plans of bringing the disputed structure down while in power in the state where it happened. Level of involvement of its leaders could be debatable but their ignorance is something that can not be believed. It can not be believed in a similar way as if the structure was a center of any relevance in the middle of a Temple town, the birth place of Ram. The disputed structure was less of a religious importance to Muslims in India than being a relic of the history. It neither represented Islamic culture nor an icon of introduction of Islam in India other than a thumping sign of Victory of a Muslim King over the local Hindu rulers. The place also called Masjid-i-Janmasthan was a place where till late 19th century Hindus and Muslims prayed together peacefully. Today more than a few centuries later we have a constitution to respect and abide by that is key to the survival of Indian democracy and is also the life line of our individual identities. BJP who championed the cause of reconstruction of Ram temple, after losing a series of recent political battles and thoroughly rejected by people sees this issue as a life source of its own existence. This is what BJP wanted and so does the Samajwadi Party who got rejected by its own traditional Muslim electorate in the recent elections. BJP is not for Hindus, so not SP for Muslims and Congress is no champion of secularism either. So it is now up to the common mass to scream and let them know that one of the most pious places of Hindu religion can't be used to spill blood of any fellow Indians irrespective of their religious beliefs or its bloody past.

BJP must have done something real bad to be rejected like this

So it looks like when it comes to elections, the story BJP is hearing is the same again and again. There must be something new brewing in electorate's minds these days. Aren't these the same guys who got carried away with religious sentiments just a few years back? So what has changed since? We still go to Churches, Gurudwaras, Temple and Mosques. Aren't we Hindus or Muslims any more? So why are we rejecting BJP and beating it like this? There is a reason and the reason is BJP can't seem to see the new realities of India and if they can see it they can't seem to find a leadership who can promise and deliver new frontiers for the nation. Otherwise Mumbai where one of the worst security lapse occurred and caught the state and federal (Congress) governments totally off-guard still would not have rejected the nationalist BJP/Shiv Sena combined. Congress with its new astute and young leadership has seems stuck a chord with this new India. They are struggling to solve problems but still seems sincere to resolve them. Its the truth in their tone which now is making it a "party with a difference". BJP has failed and it has failed in numerous ways. LK Advani has become Kapil Dev of politics. Sitting at the leadership role for as long as possible, not delivering and not allowing new blood to take over either. Kapil was sensible as he knew how much to extend and when to throw in the towel. Advani seems struggling with it. RSS who knows how to disassociate themselves from BJP are only pretending to be a separate entity. They are not. If RSS had an answer BJP would not have been in this quagmire. The disciplined party workers of BJP were never so disciplined after all. In fighting has taken over their regional units and this list goes on and on. At the end by now BJP should see they have been outright rejected in a shape they stand today. When it comes to Congress the truth is we only consider to vote them out when we get disenchanted with its leaders not because we love the other option. And if they continue to do what they are doing I see no reason why even in future elections there will be any new challenges for them.

I am glad BJP lost

Because if they don't know how to run a party then how could they have run a country? This party has to reinvent itself. I see a new opposition emerging by next elections most probably under Nitish Kumar with these breakaway BJP liberals. Under Advani and Rajnath BJP has dragged itself back to its dark ages. Except once I have always voted for BJP but I won't even go near them in what they are today. Even Mayawati knows how to run a political party than these guys do. This lauh purush is a joke. He is a living example of age should not be a criteria of leadership. He rode on Vajpayee's charisma and conveniently projected himself as his heir when he has never been able to prove his administrative abilities. What a disaster he has been for BJP. If RSS can't find BJP a new set of leadership who are genuinely rooted in its beliefs then they are better off gone. Sonia Gandhi who was targeted by this party with a difference on being naive, a foreigner, a dumb and what not has kicked their butt for a second time in a row. Leaders prove their mettle by demonstrating results not by some BS talk. Their loss has indeed saved India.

Blaming the heroes

India is in a row over Jaswant Singh's book on Jinnah, the founding leader of Pakistan. He praised him for his secular credentials that later got a supportive argument from K Sundarshan, the retired RSS chief himself. While BJP battles internal unrest bitten by two consecutive defeats in national polls, this new political upheavel becomes important. First, it came out of BJP a political avatar of Hindu Mahasabha that has its roots planted in denial of two nation theory that many blame Jinnah for. Second the leaders who said and gave support to this argument have been associated with BJP for more than a few decades. This episode is also important as it challenges the history that is being taught in schools at both sides of the border. Today as we see it, probably partition was a good thing at least for India. The cancer that has spread across the world emanating from a region of Pakistan, even though has victimized India but not to an extent that it would have been if India and Pakistan were a one big nation. It is also unfortunate that heroes are judged on the decisions they made generations ago. Maturity of a nation is when it knows, admits and corrects the blunders of leaders of past and moves on. As it turns out Jinnah changed himself to what he was not and never believed in, because of indifferent attitude of some of the leaders of the then freedom movement. While Gandhi saw an opportunity in garnering support of Muslims for freedom from British rule in Caliphet movement of Turkey, Jinnah took a more pragmatic approach and opposed it on the grounds of no association of Caliphas with Indian muslims. It was not because he wanted the British rule but because it had no Indian roots in it. This position should be saluted. Personalities collided and decisions were made based on egos. As much one theory failed the other succeeded but neither of the two sides of leaders were responsible for either its successes or failures. Decision to not buy an umbrella because it did not rain can not be used as an argument to prove of one being a visionary. Every human has a Ram and a Ravana inside him, but he is judged based on when he brings out who. While Jinnah was a hurt soul, Nehru a stubborn visionary, Patel had to save what was to be left. They all had to play a role in history and they did for never to be forgotten. Now what? Pakistan is a reality and India is a reality only the truth is not real. It is time to move on as the past fades away in oblivion.