kasmenon

  The contrasts and similarity between two sons of Gujarat. One a Mahatma and another a megalomaniac. Both leaders. Making a comparison between them may invite harsh criticism. This is needed for everyone on whom the nation’s future rests. 1. Gandhi was from the merchant class who became a barrister at law and set up a practice in South Africa where the noble class from India migrated to. Modi, aka Feku, probably never went to a college and also was from a merchant class, who sold tea. 2. Gandhi was shy. Not a very good speaker. Modi loves to have the public applaud him and is a good speaker. 3. Gandhi used simple messages and symbols to communicate. However, he imbibed in himself the essential principles he espoused. Like wearing a loin cloth similar to that worn by the poor, cleaned his own home, practiced ahimsa and truth, principles he tried not to dilute, ever.  Modi was comfortable with the rich, wore clothes that the rich wore and spend lots of time finetuning his ...

  TWO WOMEN: THE CONTRAST AND THE GLARING SIMILARATIES This is a tribute to one and a hug to the other , both women, one who passed away few days ago and another waiting, by her own admission, to accompany her. Two women from different parts of the world, of vastly different status and different cultures. One a queen for over 70 years another my mother. Both of almost the same age. The departed Queen 96 and my mom just a year older. The queen ruled Britain and the commonwealth as a monarch, shouldered huge responsibilities of guiding a nation and carving a moral pathway for it. She had to, all by herself, face tumulus times and challenges. This was all enacted in the public domain.  A deeper look at the life of both and the similarities are visible. Mom, played the role of a mother to her kids, a bread earner and a care taker, all alone. Her responsibilities and challenges far outweighed her training and background. Her world, hardly a score and twenty near and dear ones an...

  CRY MY BELLOWED COUNTRY! Why does this land consisting of modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or even south east Asia, have always ended up being a weak region on the basis of economic, scientific and military power. For over 3000 yrs. this land mass had political dispensations that consisted of several fiefdoms. The people identified themselves on caste or religion and allegiance to the rulers was more a result of sub judication and necessity.   The communities were always divided and sub-divided into identities that constantly were in conflict with each other, lending it to become a fertile land   for conquest by powers from outside the region. It was easy to ignite passions through religious, caste or greed of power and wealth. The latter two factors, however, was universal and drove many rulers of the nations of the world to the path of conquest. The south east Asia regions lacked this attribute and remained tied down by their internal divisions. This trait is sti...

  INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND OPINION FRENCH ELECTION The Presidential election began in France today morning. It will be completed by 8pm. Emmanuel Macron, the current president, is aiming for a second term. He is seen as a centrist, representing En Marche party and attracting voters from the right and left.  Le Pen, his rival is from the far-right National party The left does not want Le Pe, for obvious reasons, and thus ends up supporting Macron. Both fought the first round with other candidates. Both fought the last election too. Le Pe and her party is similar to Modi and BJP. She is against minorities, has a race bias and very pro-business houses. She supports Putin though (again similarity with home) while Macron is, obviously, against. Opinion polls have put Macron ahead. Also, latest projections too. France does not depend on exit polls (unlike other EU countries, where exits polls are allowed while voting is on). Once polls close, a sample of polling stations ...

  THE DISTORTION OF NETAJI Another     attempt by RSS/Modi combine to divide the country and create perception of a rift between Gandhi/Nehru and Netaji. Another attempt to steal freedom icons, to compensate for the lack any one of their ilk, of any stature, and contribution to national cause, over the last hundred years or more. This is similar to their attempts to steal Patel and   Tagore. Firstly, it needs to be mentioned, unequivocally, that all these three stalwarts were staunch votaries of religious tolerance and equality. None of them had any ideas that were whatsoever similar to the ideology of the RSS! In fact, it was diametrically opposite. Netaji had an exemplary tract record standing up for communal harmony. He was not sympathetic to the Hindutav cause.   He called the Hindu Mahasaba as extremist whose ideals were against the idea of India!! Now about the attempt to pitch Gandhi/Nehru as enemies and against each other. It’s a matter of histor...

  . ... HOW I WONDER WHAT YOU ARE ...🔭🔭 The quest to unravel the secrets of the universe was so eloquently conveyed in the ever-green nursery rhyme "Twinkle twinkle little star..." by poet Jane Taylor.    Ever since, as a young child, I heard this recited by my kindergarten teacher, I had been curiously gazing at the night sky.   The child's curious mind never had stopped asking for answers. Partly this, and partly, at my dad’s insistence, the habit of reading and listening to news around the world, got me hooked to the mesmerising endeavours of humankind to explore the heavens. The equations describing laws that govern how nature works always made me wonder about what kind of    an intuitive meaning could be attached to it. That led me to spend more time understanding them. It often led to experiencing a feeling of great euphoria when I managed to unravel some of this, occasionally. Mathematics and physics became more of a passion and less of lesson...

  It was called the "  the graveyard of the invaders" for good reasons. A land that saw many dynasties occupy it  for a while only to lose control. The Russians found that truth and left, though they realised it early. The Americans , often too carried away by their  military power, took over two and half decades to accept failure and has now almost left. The  countless death and destruction, the alienation of people of several Islamic states, the fueling of terrorism across the world all of no avail. But for lining of the pockets of manufacturers of military hardware.  It took Taliban just few months to overcome all the capability built by the Americans  among its choosen local Afgans.  The US  tried to preserve its influence by propping up a governement lead by Karzai and then by Ashraj Ghani. That was possible only with the presence of American boots on the ground. Now that the troops have left, Afghanistani Taliban has taken control of ma...