I AND MY WORDS

Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh at Saharanpur Rally in Uttar Pradesh on May 26, 2016 (Courtesy: Indian Express) The Narendra Modi government has completed two years in government . 2014 general elections were a watershed moment in several ways, and it is safe to assume that posterity will look back at the year as a defining moment in terms of a pre-Modi era and a Modi-era of politics in India. Just like melting ice cream, we are seeing our political and business start-up scenes exhibiting several over-hyped duds and sparse successes melting down. However, comparisons apart, there are a few observations about the Modi government and the politics in general that one can notice. These observations pertain to the overall political scenario as well as the general economic environment that seems to be shaping up (though repeating it seems history all over again). 1. It is certain that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister even in 2019. There is tremendous energy in the Bharatiya ...

Rani ki Vav in Patan Gujarat - a Classic Example of Beauty Meeting Utility (Source: Wikimedia Commons) There has been much consternation from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India about the ‘reluctance’ of states to tackle drought like situation in India. However good the intention may be, the expressions of displeasure do belie a sense of disconnect that people living in plush environments with little to worry about have from the ground realities. A drought like situation is an annual phenomenon, and every summer there is a water shortage of ‘gigantic’ proportions. The directives to create a drought management fund are well intentioned, but the problems of federal structure and the lack of seriousness towards the Supreme Court’s ‘encroachment on the executive domain’ can easily render any such measures ineffective. Water shortage and drought like situations are not new to India. It is possible that even as far back as the days of the Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilization (Indus Valley), we fi...

Generally I avoid recommending books to read, for being a bibliophile I believe it is very cruel to add on to the mental burden of other voracious readers. However, I had tweeted a short list a while back. This list in my opinion is a must read for all those Indians who have lost out on their identity thanks in much to the deep influence of western liberal thought, leading to the marginalization of original Indic thoughts. These writings are across various times, but are real, original contributions to a truly Indic thought, and if  we really need to prepare intellectually for future battles, we should be familiar with what we are going to fight. The order does not rank the books in any way; it is just a function of my ability to recall names.  So here is the list. I will not explain the reasons for exploring them; I leave it to the discernment of readers to judge by themselves the merit of the list. Gora by Rabindranath Tagore Ghare Baire by Rabindranath Tagore Parva ...

Lord Ayappan Swamy's Temple in Sabarimala (Courtesy - Sabarimala Temple) With the ongoing brouhaha over the entry of women into lord Ayappan Swamy's temple in Sabarimala, Kerala, one can only see how the Supreme Court of India has repeatedly reinforced what can only be called an apartheid regime concerning the Hindu majority of India. Temple control has been a very touchy topic for many Hindus, and state administrations have usurped control of most temples across India, and the traditions involved with the traditions are being trampled upon with little consideration repeatedly by governments pretending to be secular or by hordes of deracinated judicial officers who have zero understanding of tradition and of the concept of sacred, since the Commonwealth civil law that is applicable in our country is deeply rooted in Judeo-Christian traditions, and wrongly perceives the relation of the temple and the state to be same as the Church and the state. Such is the deracination...

In March of 2014, an incident had taken place in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, that had made a huge splash across newspapers. A bunch of Kashmiri Muslim students were 'suspended' and 'charged for sedition' because they deliberately cheered Pakistan's victory. They raised pro-Pakistan slogans and had deliberately provoked other students into a brawl. Much sympathy was splashed across the media by our eminent journalists on how students need to be counseled and such harsh measures were unnecessary. Cut to 2016, and we are witnessing a case beyond proportions. Only the scales have tilted. A bunch of Kashmiri students in Srinagar deliberately provoked non-Kashmiri students after a cricket match that India lost. The offended students decided to take a peaceful march out in response carrying the Indian tricolor. What has happened since is a matter of utmost concern. Kanhaiyya Kumar dominating headlines for the utter garbage that he keeps speaking, and the conspiracy of s...

मोहे नैनन प्यास बुझायो रे तू बरसाना रंग आयो रे तेरे श्याम रंग से धुला आकास मुझे हरि रंग नहलायो रे तेरे प्रेम की आस में भटक रही बन कान्हा पग पग बिलक रही तू मिलन भक्त से आयो रे मुझे हरि रंग नहलायो रे हैं पीत वस्त्र और मोर मुकुट नथ में कुण्डल तू डारियो रे कर में कंकण सोने के झलक कस्तूरी तिलक तू धारयो रे कुण्डल मोती और केश घने अंखियन जोति और ब्रह्मतेज बेणु तू मुख से लगायो रे मुझे हरि रंग नहलायो रे बाजे ताशे और ढोल मृदंग पखवाज की लय, मचे हुड़दंग टोली बृंदावनी आयो रे मुझे हरि रंग नहलायो रे है अमिट प्रीत, अनंत प्रसंग राधा-रमणा हो हरि का रंग मुझ गोपी को तू सतायो रे मुझे हरि रंग नहलायो रे बरसे हैं पुष्प के अनंत रंग स्वर्णिम श्याम, जमुना तरंग धीमी गति बह वो देख प्रसंग कजरी नैना में समायो रे गोकुल संग न रही अब सुध बुद्ग और रास रचाय वो मंत्रमुग्ध जन्मों की प्यास बुझायो रे मुझे हरि रंग नहलायो रे

courtesy: WIkimedia Commons   उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य हिमाद्रेश्चैव दक्षिणम् । वर्षं तद् भारतं नाम भारती यत्र संततिः ।। "The country (varṣam) that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bhāratam; there dwell the descendants of Bharata." —Vishnu Purana A lot of energy has been expended of late to understand what nationalism means to various people. The problem however has been addressed in a narrow, restricted manner. The definitions employed in the whole debate thus far are of a western construct. As Rabindranath Tagore wonderfully explained it in his pamphlet Nationalism, the construct used rests entirely on a concept of nation that is dominated by economy and polity only. It is a social contract amongst people based on these two pillars, and is validated by the principle of symbols representing this contract. Much of these contracts are a result of reactionary movements that seek to react to the actions of the Church that has long interfe...