Kashmir - aftermath

Fence sitters of the world unite! Let us stop talking of the Kashmir situation - this has been going on for 63 years, with no solution.

Most people don't carry their patriotism on their sleeve. And most will not actually take up a gun and kill just to put a name on mud and stone. Enough blood has been spilt already, and I am also talking of the security forces. Tragically, the colour is all the same.

I am disappointed with the people of Kashmir. I am disappointed because, they have failed to reconcile and deal sensibly with the unfortunate situation history has placed them in. I am alluding to the Muslims of Srinagar and the valley, who have kept this situation on the boil and simmering all through this 63 years. They kept chanting the mantra of "injustices" and "historical atrocities" and it has become a part of their gene and DNA, multiplying with each child, and reinforced with every orchestrated violence.

I am not disappointed with the Government. I never expected anything good from these puny gentlemen, we have inflicted ourselves with. They could have used this time to improvise the lot of the people and shown some real progress, which could have brought prosperity to the land and the people. Instead, they dealt with them in the only language they know. Draconian brutality with the aid of security forces on one hand and bribing another section of people who make the loudest noise, thus pouring in disproportionate wealth into the lining of pockets of the local aristocrats and crooks, to keep a select few happy, and ignoring progress altogether.

So, let there be a discussion on the realities of the future. Let us assume that a plebiscite is carried out and large sections of the valley opt for “freedom and secession”.

Let there be a debate on what the next steps should be, so that this is implemented within a short period of say, 1 year, with no liabilities on both sides. I am not advocating that this happen, neither am I averse to it happening - but let there be a discussion on that.

Let us also picture the scenery 10/20 years from now, whether the people of Srinagar and Kashmir valley would have actually realised their dream, or how far they would have traveled in their quest for utopia.

In a lighter vein

Some little known facts

·        The "huddle" in football was formed due a deaf football player who used sign language to communicate and his team didn't want the opposition to see the signals he used and in turn huddled around him.

·        Some biblical scholars believe that Aramaic (the language of the ancient Bible) did not contain an easy way to say 'many things' and used a term which has come down to us as 40. This means that when the bible -in many places -refers to '40 days,' they meant many days.

·        Rudyard Kipling was fired as a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner. His dismissal letter was reported to have said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language. This isn't a kindergarten for amateur writers."

·        There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today. However, about 2,000 of those languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers. The most widely spoken language in the world is Mandarin Chinese. There are 885,000,000 people in China that speak that language.

·        The word "honcho" comes from a Japanese word meaning "squad leader" and first came into usage in the English language during the American occupation of Japan following World War II.

·        Of all the languages in the world, English has the largest vocabulary about 800,000 words.

·        According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Finnish word SAIPPUAKIVIKAUPPIAS a soapstone seller is the longest known palindrome in any language. (reads the same forward and back)

·        "The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in English.

·        All pilots on international flights identify themselves in English.

·        In 2002, dogs have killed more people in the U.S. than the Great White shark has killed in the past 100 years.

Something wrong?

Sue Wong marries Lee Wong. The next year, the Wongs have a baby.

The nurse brings out a lovely, healthy, bouncy, but definitely a Caucasian, WHITE baby boy.

'Congratulations,' says the nurse to the new parents.  'Well Mr. Wong, what will you and Mrs. Wong name the baby?'

The puzzled father looks at his new baby boy and says, 'Well, two Wong's don't make a white, so I think we will name him... Sum Ting Wong

The Giving Pledge.

Less than two months back the Gates and their friend Warren Buffet, challenged the wealthiest people in the US to give away the bulk of their money to charity, the billionaires are starting to roll in and so far nearly 50 of them have enrolled and signed the pledge.

Of course, most of these are billionaires who are already doing a lot of Charity - but, now, some are pledging half or all their wealth!

"The Giving Pledge" is an effort to invite the wealthiest individuals and families in America to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.

The philanthropy advisers will create a series of at least two dozen documents advising donors of all levels on how to make the most effective use of their giving, all of which will be available for free on the Rockefeller website.

While the Giving Pledge is initially focused on the US, the Rockefeller philanthropy programme is targeting Europe and Asia, both initiatives may well end up having a more global scope.

Can you imagine the scene in India?

Most people in India who have earned their money legally are already doing some charity. Some publicise it, other's don't. Most other's who earn it illegally do deposit in "hundis" of temples, which are managed by trusts. These trusts work like magic, because the money does a disappearing act - and you don't see it anymore!

I hope some organisation of repute comes up with the above pledge and starts governing it like the Rockefeller in US. This should be managed by men of repute, so the preamble of the constitution of such a trust should disqualify any politicians from coming close to it - in any way, other than a being a donor, because, let's face it, they have the loot with them.

Now, most of the illegal wealth made by the Indian crooks - gangsters and politicians included, is lying outside the country in banks located in safe havens - (nearly 1.4 trillion Dollars). That is an amount all the rest of the world's billionaire's will not be able to match! Even a fraction of it coming back will be enough to wipe out our BPL, if properly administered!

Shouldn't the IT, Enforcement Directorate and Finance Ministry make some concessions to let these people get this wealth back to India - no questions asked - if it is for this purpose? The problem is, how will the politicians and their party expose their loot? That's a thought.

Tamil passions - wrong move

Srilanka (earlier Ceylon) was a very calm and peaceful island with very genial inhabitants.


Since over a few centuries, people from south India, mainly Tamils sailed across and settled there for livelihood. Obviously, they could find work and had a better lifestyle - at least, better than what they enjoyed in their own land. Large numbers of friends and relatives followed and made it home. As their numbers grew, they did inconvenience the locals to some extent, which did create local friction and bickering.


Having come in as uninvited guests, eventually they got the urge to have a "motherland" to be carved out within Srilanka. They got covert and overt support from the governments of Tamilnadu, and a lot of support from Tamils settled all over the world – in the name of Tamil self-respect. Then a leader emerged about 40 years back, who could win over the masses in the north. He became a cult hero and a revolutionary and his word became law in the northern part.


For about 40 years, these so called "liberation army" wrecked havoc on the peace of the island. They had a "government" of their own in the north, and savaged the people and the land bringing untold misery to everyone in the island. They collected “taxes” from the people, sent children to train in arms instead of schools, and used them as “suicide bombers” to wreck havoc with public life in Srilanka.


Their senior cadre settled down in comfort as “spokesmen” and “ambassadors” in major cities of the world canvassing for support. They found very safe sanctuaries in Tamilnadu, where all governments at different times, gave them all support. These people were not lax to settle scores brutally with break-away groups in Chennai – because, make no bones, this was a lucrative business.


For a time even Indian Government had their sympathies misdirected, due to internal political equations within India. In fact, the misadventure of the IPKF was height of their ignorance, where they ended up antagonizing all factions – with LTTE executing Rajiv Gandhi's assasination.


The LTTE got so powerful, the Lankan Government was left pleading with the rest of the world to bring some peace. All mediated peace talks failed. LTTE  refused to give up their violence against innocents in Srilanka. Sadly, a couple of generation of people in that peaceful land saw nothing but terror in their life.


Finally, what Srilanka did, to wipe out menace is an open secret. It is unfortunate, that this tragedy had to happen – I feel sorry for all the innocent casualties. However, peace returned to Srilanka. So, few people complained. In fact, many silently applauded.


Those who live by the sword should expect to die by it. They have lost the right to cry foul.


Once again, by circulating these pictures, the petty politicians in Tamilnadu are trying to whip up the tamil passion. Please understand, this is war, and war does not make a pretty picture. These pictures should scare anyone who takes up arms to kill, let that be the message. Don't try to whip up frenzy for your own political gains in India. Please stop it – lest you bring more misery to innocents all over again.

Crime in US - (enterprise in India?)

Three Indian Americans across America have been sent to Jail yesterday.

Noshir Gowadia, 66 years old, a former engineer with defense giant Northrop Grumman has been convicted for selling secrets relating to the B-2 stealth bomber to China. He is supposed to have designed a cruise missile component for China and got payment worth over $100,000 which he used to partly pay for his multi-million dollar house on the beach. Surely, he can wait to use that house if and when he survives his life term!

In the second instance, Randeep Singh Mann, an Arkansas based doctor, masterminded a car bomb attack on the head of the state's medical board in Feb-09. Dr Trent Pierce, a family practitioner, suffered serious injuries and lost an eye. Randeep's wife was also charged in the conspiracy. He is facing a life term.

In the third case, Sushil Bansal, president and CEO of Advanced Integrated Technology Corporation pleaded guilty to the charge of bribing public officials in the office of the Chief Technology Officer of the District of Columbia. He and his company paid over $700,000 in bribes to two officials in return for favours that included approving contractors proposed by Bansal and false approval of invoices.

Many here, may not blink an eye on their crime - because, this is normal business, in India, they would say. Look at Kalmadi and co. Even the government here has argued in Parliament, and outside that robbing up to 1.6 crores is not enough to send a member of Parliament to jail.

All three of them are naturalized Americans. All of them are aware of the laws of the land. All of them have got opportunities way beyond their dreams - and all of them, and their extended families back home must have prospered way beyond their imagination. Yet, they violated the decencies that a guest has to uphold in a land that has welcomed him. Moreover, they have shamed the land of their origin, and caused every Indian to be looked down upon, suspiciously by the world at large!

Of course, all of them will appeal. That's what the courts are for. The fundamental fact remains that they violated the law of the land, which accepted them as guests, and provided them with opportunities and rewards, far beyond their dreams. Alas, at last, their basic natures surfaced and greed got the better of them. Let the authorities lock them up and throw the keys for all I care.

Things that bother me - 1

Quick administration of Justice indeed!

Living in a secular democratic and tolerant country, I hope I can talk about it! In a land where open criticism of the Judiciary is an offence under the law, I hope appreciation is not illegal. I would hate to be hauled through our courts, for committing anything remotely illegal. Our courts do provide justice, most times, sometime even in our own lifetime. However, the interim period becomes very testing, torturous and as close to hell as could be, if there is one. Of course, if you have a large disposable income and willing to be flexible, then you have nothing to worry about the whole system. I fail on both counts. So, I have to be very careful.

However, when freedom of speech is guaranteed by our constitution, let me use that freedom to talk about things that make me uncomfortable. So, let me go back to the quick administration of Justice.

A small item of news in the inside pages of the newspaper today shocked me. Three days back the Taliban had "caught" an unwed pregnant woman. They imprisoned her and charged her with adultery, which is the normal course. The judgment was prompt as is normal in such cases. She was publicly flogged 200 lashes which is normal in such cases. And yesterday in public, they put 3 bullets into her head, which is also normal in such cases. Case closed.

Now, why do I get horrified and revolt when normal justice is delivered so quickly - when I am a strong proponent of quick justice. Well, there are large numbers of people who may or may agree with the above dispensation and celebrate. There may be few who feel nauseated, and puke into their personalised kerchief - because, that's the diversity that we all admire! Be that as it may, why am I not comfortable with that justice?

Well, the woman got impregnated, right? Now, how did that happen? Was it a lover, who wooed, courted and showered her with gifts and poetry? Had he promised to marry her? That element is a missing, so it does not go to make a great Leila Majnu story.

Was she cornered in some lonely place, and beaten into submission and made a sex-slave by a horde of brave Taliban soldiers - and subjected to months of torture to satiate their lust – till she became pregnant and so sick, that she was of no further use? This story is also not told, so we cannot chronicle the war dairy of the brave Taliban soldier, either.

However, the story is told that a man responsible for making this poor woman to commit such a horrible, unpardonable crime, attracting only the ultimate punishment - torturous death, was let off free. No reason is given for this too, as is normal in such cases.

The question that bothers me is this. Was this outlandish deliverance of justice, an act to please God or man?

For my own benefit someone please tell me, does Islam have any part to play in this - even remotely?

Switzerland - dreamworld?

Why don't we sometimes look to Switzerland for inspiration? It is a small country in Europe with a population which is less than 8 million (about 80 Lakhs). Many would ask me why, with such a rich cultural heritage, should we look up to this miniscule country? What is so great about it and what can they offer us?


Well, to start with, it is a country that always fascinated me. In the days, not so far long back, when Indians only dreamed of travelling out, Switzerland was always the dream place to go to. Ask anyone of my generation, our dream extended far beyond the 8 Dollars per day foreign exchange our Government grudgingly provided us in case we dared to go out into the world! We were too poor a nation.


Hence Switzerland was a place that only occupied our dreams and reading. Now, let me share what impresses me about that country.


It is a landlocked country across the Alps, sharing borders with many countries like Austria, Germany, France, Italy and another small country Liechtenstein. Yet, it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815.  It did not join or take sides during the World Wars which raged on all sides. It did not join the United Nations until 2002. It has remained a neutral country - as a policy. It boasts of 2 globally famous cities in Geneva and Zurich. It is one of the richest countries of the world with a per capita GDP of about US$-70,000. (Rs.35 Lakhs).


Switzerland is home to many international organisations, including the World Economic Forum, the International Olympic Committee, the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization, FIFA, and the second largest UN office. On the European level it was a founder of the European Free Trade Association. Notably, it is not a member of the European Union, nor the European Economic Area.


Switzerland comprises three main linguistic and cultural regions - German, French, and Italian, to which the Romansh-speaking valleys are added. The Swiss therefore do not form a nation in the sense of a common ethnic or linguistic identity. The strong sense of belonging to the country is founded on the common historical background, shared values (federalism, direct democracy, neutrality) and Alpine symbolism. The establishment of the Swiss Confederation is traditionally dated to 1 August 1291; Swiss National Day is celebrated on the anniversary.


It has no official religion - though the population is predominantly Catholics and Christians. Yet, almost 27 percent of the population do not believe in God and over 4 percent are agnostic!


Now, let us see how they government works. It has Flat-top structure which, has been functioning all the way back from 1848. Here is what the Swiss do to form a government. Broadly, there are three main governing bodies on the federal level - the bicameral parliament (legislative), the Federal Council (executive) and the Federal Court (judicial). The Federal Council constitutes the federal government, directs the federal administration and serves as collective Head of State. It is a collegial body of seven members, elected for a four-year mandate by the Federal Assembly which also exercises oversight over the Council. There are 8 Cantons (equivalent to our States) - all of which have equal status and governments of their own.


The Federal Council of 7-member has equal power vested in all its members. The Executive does have a position of chair (similar to a PM), which is rotated among its members every year. The chair has additional responsibility to receive foreign heads of state and represent Switzerland in international forums; however, during a meeting of the Executive the chair has a weight that is no more than that of any other member. 


Now, note how the 7 members are chosen. For the last 60 years or so they have had the golden rule of electing two representatives each from the largest three parties and one from the fourth largest. Together the four parties generally account for more than three fourth of the parliament. With a population of 75% German ancestry, 20% French, 4% Italian, and 1% Romansch, they also make sure to elect one Italian representative, two representatives with French mother tongue, and four have German as their mother tongue. The 7-member Executive divides up various governmental departments among themselves; however, they meet every week to discuss all important things and try to reach consensus as much as possible.


Over and above all this, they have what is called the "Direct Democracy". The instruments of Swiss direct democracy at the federal level, known as civic rights, include the right to submit a constitutional initiative and a referendum, both of which may overturn parliamentary decisions! By calling a federal referendum a group of citizens may challenge a law that has been passed by Parliament, if they can gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. If so, a national vote is scheduled where voters decide by a simple majority whether to accept or reject the law. Eight cantons (states) together can also call a referendum on a federal law.


Similarly, the federal constitutional initiative allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote, if they can get 100,000 voters to sign the proposed amendment within 18 months. Parliament can supplement the proposed amendment with a counter-proposal, with voters having to indicate a preference on the ballot in case both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in Parliament, must be accepted by a double majority of both the national popular vote and a majority of the cantonal popular votes!


Well, this is fascinating - but there are many other features that you may find out for yourself - or wait for it to appear here. What do you think we should take from this?