Bangalore Rising

While parts of Indian Kashmir is on the boil again, with national media focused on giving us an unbiased view, I paused to understand how different life was on the other side of the border, in what is euphemistically called “Azad” Jammu & Kashmir – an Azad J&K that some Kashmiris on the Indian side desire to be part of, through what Pakistan terms as a ‘UN plebiscite’. By the way, I learnt that the plebiscite, that has since been superseded by the post-war 1972 Gandhi-Bhutto Simla Accord which requires India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully and bilaterally, states unequivocally that Pakistan must completely demilitarize its side of the border, which obviously, it cannot, and will not let happen in the foreseeable future. Back anyway to what I gleaned about Azad Kashmir. Azad Kashmir is lead by the President of Azad J&K, who takes oath of office, swearing that his office is lower to the country and to the cause of accession to the State of Pakista...

It is but natural that we are a nation of cynics. Of course it is not at all surprising we are this way, since we have been governed by a bunch of corrupt, self-seeking megalomaniacs for a long time - primarily Congress in the centre, and a ragtag bunch of opportunists in the states, who denuded the state exchequer for personal gains.  We also are a generation of fools and cowards, who either stayed away from the political spectrum for fear of backlash, or were mere v oters who toed the family line - for stability, and safety. From the time our umbilical cords have been cut, we have been trained to obey, and never stray. Our parents drummed into our collective heads, that in order to survive, and possibly thrive, hard work and anonymity paid more dividends than independent thought and leadership. If middle-class India epitomised this culture, the average TamBram family took this as the holy grail and never strayed from this straight and narrow path. Of course, it served its pur...

India seems to be in the midst of a crisis. The string of bad news is never ending. The rupee is falling faster than a wet easter egg slipping out of a four-year old's hands. Prices are galloping faster than Rajnikanth's steed. And worst of all? Sachin fell six dratted runs short of his century of centuries. Can it get any worse? Nope, it cant. In India, it can never be all doom and gloom. There are always reasons to cheer. Like when 1.2 billion Indians collectively responded to the midwife's call to 'push...push....push'. And push they did...till a brand new bachchan popped out of moma Rai! Dad..oops..Grandad Senior Bachchan was seen beaming ear to ear. Junior Bachchan was seen sulking somewhere in the shadows, mobile phone in hand, mumbling something to the effect "no idea surjee". The UPA government waited for Baby B to gain some four pounds before announcing the opening of doors to Walmart and the likes. What fun! Ms. Rai will soon get the benefit...