https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/mynuscript/the-us-leaves-afghanistan-is-it-abandonment-defeat-or-realization-36917/ Over the last two or three weeks, a stunned world has watched the Taliban sweep almost unopposed across the length and breadth of Afghanistan, while the US scrambles to evacuate its citizens, troops and allies from the country. In almost all such cases, the US automatically becomes the world’s scapegoat. It is being blamed…
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How world’s two largest democracies differ in their approach to warfare – my blog in the Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/mynuscript/how-worlds-two-largest-democracies-differ-in-their-approach-to-warfare-37203/ On Dec 13, 2001, Pakistani terrorists attacked the Indian Parliament, which had been in session and had just adjourned a few minutes back. It was reported that more than a hundred Members of Parliament including India’s senior leaders like Shri LK Advani were in the building. If the police and security personnel stationed there…
I am US citizen and I have every right to opine on India!
My article published in The Quint today! https://www.thequint.com/voices/blogs/taking-up-foreign-citizenship-should-not-bar-right-of-opinion-on-indian-matters A few days back, I was ticked off by a friend when I voiced my concern over the state of politics in India. I had taken up American citizenship, he said, surrendered my Indian passport in the process and stayed out of the country for almost 25…
The passing of an old man
When I see the kind and number of vicious and malevolent messages on social media about the death of Fr. Stan Swamy, my mind goes back to the time when Indira Gandhi was murdered. She had a lot of haters too, millions on millions hated her, especially after the atrocities during the Emergency. And yet,…
To block or not to block is the question – my article in the Times of India Reader’s Blog
Millions of activists from all over the world make social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter their second home, if not the first. They cover every aspect of human life on earth, be it professional, social, cultural, economic or political. These activists usually position themselves as ‘thought leaders’ for their ideology, cause or political party…
Publisher surrenders freedom of speech!
Freedom of speech is the freedom to say anything that does not threaten or incite violence. It includes the freedom to lie and misinform and mislead by speech. Without that, freedom has no meaning. It is the right and duty of the public to criticize and in this case they have done so effectively, which…
SC scores a self-goal!
The SC is not a sacrosanct or divine body. As long as there is no threat or initiation of violence, they too can be criticised. Maybe the criticism is wrong or unfair or even biased, but that cannot be the basis for a contempt of court charge. SC judges are as human as anyone else…
Stop them BEFORE, not after!
Frankly, while I greatly appreciate these gestures and there have been quite a few on all sides, wouldn’t it be better if all communities form human jails around the unsavory elements and mischief mongers amongst them and stop them from doing these things BEFORE they do them?! Then there would be no need for protecting…
Kamala Harris is first African-American, Indian-American last!
As expected, the Indian community in America and all over the world is agog with excitement and pride over the selection of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s running mate. So are most people in India. Self-congratulatory messages are flying over the internet as we Indians pat ourselves on our back for a great collective achievement,…
Thumping our chests for nothing we did!
We Indians immediately thump our chests and become ‘proud to be an Indian’ whenever people like Sundar Pichai or Satya Nadella make it in other countries, as though all 1.3 billion of us are collectively responsible for their rise from mediocrity to eminence. Sorry to disappoint you, guys, but actually, their ‘Indianness’ has nothing to…