We the Rapists....

Disclaimer: Friends, there have been extremely emotional responses vis-a-vis the latest gang-rape incident in Delhi. The blog is based on it but no particular incident has been earmarked as the foundation of this blog. The details and personalities will vary and have no connection to real life people. The views presented are to be seen in a general light and not case specific unless otherwise mentioned. As any person will be, I was pained too to hear what had happened. The attempt of this blog is not to condemn or criticize - may it be the criminals, the government, the police, the media or us fellow citizens. The purpose of this blog is to make a few statements and ask a few questions; I will call it thought provocation because as an individual, as a patriot, as a living being, (I am careful enough not to be arrogant and say "as a human being" for I have received ample proof that animals are more capable of love, mercy and compassion - which I guess Derek O' Brien disagrees with!) I am merely requesting my fellow countrymen to think over these statements in a hope that these statements and their subsequent follow-ups will help the readers as they have helped me. My intention is not to hurt any sentiments involved but to ask a few blunt questions which need not be answered publicly because I believe that those answers work best which are directed to the self's soul.

I find Ratna Kapur's article in The Hindu as one of the best as far as this incident is concerned.

Rape is defined as "to destroy and strip of a possession"; the blog is my take on what has been raped, who has been raped and who exactly have raped.

Reform, but Resolve too....

In the wake of major economic decisions by the Government of India many emotions, passions, opinions and expressions are flowing around. It is indeed commendable to what is happening - or rather most of it. Today, I am thinking of visiting in short all the major decisions of the past few days trying to explore as I see them and inviting opinions and counter-arguments if any. At the end of the blog today, I have shared a discovery of a unique and beautiful model; a middle-ground between the warring arguments of FDI in Retail. While doing so, I believe we can also dwelve on the difference between Idealistic & Practical schools of thought, the importance of a dual front - short and long term.

Life, Liberty & Lebensraum Assam....

Finally I have got the space and time needed to write again; the frequency of my posts is dwindling by the passing moment and even if I face a barrage of thoughts at times, I find myself with inadequate time, energy and concentration required to pen them down. Well, today I have thankfully and the best I could think off was the ongoing Assam conflict. I had spoken of the demographic invasion once before on the blog (Demo-Demographics) and while the underlying theme is the same, there are some additions and alternate angles which need to be highlighted in the light of what is being telecast on our news channels. It is important that a few facts be brought to light if not known or be focused upon - whichever is applicable.

The Heavier Burden....

There has been some time since I have returned from Hyderabad after a fulfilling and enriching two months experience with men who have a deep insight into their work. My internship reminded me, as has happened through other events many times before, that the depth of the ocean can never be gauged. Knowledge has no limits and no boundaries! In one word - Magical ! The word "limit" has also churned a few thoughts here and there but that will be a separate blog later though a starter would be in this blog itself. Today, I want to share a story which I have already shared on my facebook page but was yet to share my understanding of it as it has a leeway to be interpreted in a way I would not like us youth to. Well, the story goes as --

Critics, Cynics, Curses and Crusades

Events evoke reactions; most people react and very few actually end up responding. The trouble starts when the response too is pessimistic, degrading and downright alarming especially in the light of the event being noteworthy and positive. I am talking about Aamir Khan's Satyameva Jayate. Critics carry a massive power - the power to make or break an enterprise. Thus, if critics are also cynics - the condition is grave. This blog is not about what great initiative has this man & his team launched (It is beyond the shadow of doubt that he has), but about how the reactions it evoked reinforced a common observation of human psychology. The blog is based on a few write-ups by critics, the reactions to their write-ups from the youth and the the picture it paints; it is my attempt to churn our thoughts and cause us to dive deep in our own minds.

Operation Entebee (part II)....

continued from Operation Entebee (part I)....

In part I, I have narrated the events taking place during the mission of the IDF-Mossad; I have mentioned few tactical points which were shared by Shri. Avinash Dharmadhikari but are not easily found in literature available on the internet. These points infact, would be helping us the most as far as understanding is concerned. Men acted in the way they did during these tense days and they have left behind wisdom for all of us to gather - similar to plucking fruits of a big tree.

Operation Entebee (part I)....

4th of July is a day globally remembered as the Independence day of USA; 4th of July was also the day when the world learnt one of its best lessons ever from the land of Israel. A day prior, late night 3rd July 1976, Israeli commandos flew over 4000 kms into Africa to execute one of the best hostage rescue missions ever - Operation Entebee (also known as Operation Thunderbolt or retroactively as Operation Jonathan in the memory of KIA that night - the older brother of current Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu,  Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu who was also the commander of the ground troups). That was the day when Israel reminded the world that it will not take any aggression upon its freedom lying down. It will strike back and it will also strike first if need be. The raid speaks volumes of what a nation possessed can do. I heard this daring raid as part of Shri. Avinash Dharmadhikari's lecture series on eprasaran.com. It touched a core part within me and I thought it would be a great way to terminate my 52 day hiatus from Livin' Free - a celebration of sort for the end of one of the most difficult academic phases of my life. It brought back the bitter memories when we kneeled before terrorism in a similar scenario - IC 814, Kandahar 1999/2000. I draw inspiration from the dagger like nation of Israel (both literally and figuratively) and in a hope that it does the same to my countrymen, to my readers - I present what I gained from Shri. Avinash Dharmadhikari.

Veer Savarkar - a "Mrutyunjay" Tribute....

5 years back, i.e. at Bhagur in 2007 (a small village near Nasik) - the birthplace of Veer Savarkar, I did not say much but looked into the lively, energetic and powerful eyes of Veer Savarkar's statue at his ancestral home (a "waada" to be accurate) and promised him one thing - to put my life on the line; every moment from today would carry just one objective - freedom of my motherland and the rebirth of a nation unbounded - the emergence and establishment of a superpower. Every action of mine, every decision would henceforth reflect a target, a milestone somewhere important and crucial for the greater good; I knew I was going to break a few hearts, hurt a few people here and there and my karma would punish me for it - but then, that is a choice I had made and accepted the consequences as well without any regret or remorse in hindsight after 5 years. Today, I feel the same with words failing me as in the past - overwhelmed by the tremendous source of energy that Veer Savarkar is and hence this blog is not mine but shared from someplace else. It is a gentle, yet strong reminder, a testimonial to the countless fighters of our cause, courtesy www.savarkar.org; On the death anniversary of one of the greatest men ever to tread through the dust, the blood, the sweat of our motherland and embrace it with all that he ever had, I share it with my fellow countrymen. We continue through our actions towards the betterment of this beloved nation and that alone would be an apt tribute to this great soul; but till we achieve impact of that acceptable magnitude, something through words we put forth to let him know wherever he is, that we are fighting, and we are fighting hard. (The following text is the write-up I share)

Ghost Lines (part III) ....

continued from Ghost Lines (part II) ....

I have already given an outline as to the Governance side solution to the problem to a certain extent in my blog Elixir to Governance Paralysis. Since my focus of this blog series is on the major solution of education, I won't deliberate further on the other one but conclude the series with the education angle today.

The love for the nation and a sense of duty towards its people, the society and its liberty can't be trained but has to be inculcated. It is not a feeling which comes by hammering it in and mugging it up - it is in the form of a burning passion from within; there is always a flame inside every child and keeping that flame burning irrespective of all adversities externally is what the education system must do - if we ensure this today, we can be rest assured that such a child will never forget his roots, his culture and his ultimate duty as he travels through life - becomes a teen, then a man - the pure flame keeps burning day and night - never giving up! This is the crux of the solution I have in mind - Amar Jyot, Amar Vichaar, Ek Amar Desh. So, by making conditions suitable for an eternal burning of this inner flame can we achieve a long term change in the attitude of our nation leading to a recovery from our current injuries. How to do this? Cleanse the system of education !