I AND MY WORDS

(Courtest: DNA) Dayashankar Singh's abhorrent comment on Mayawati, a self made woman leader and supremo of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Uttar Pradesh, is nothing but worth condemnation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rightfully suspended the leader for good , and it is good to learn that FIRs have been registered against him. That there is such sexism present in the politics is something that should be worrying to all of us. However, the way Mayawati tried to rake political mileage out of the issue through her show of strength in Uttar Pradesh and pockets of strength in North India was shameless to say the least. Sample some of the statements that have been stated in response: 1. 'I am like a goddess to them' - golden words of humility spoken by no less than Mayawati herself. 2. 'Dayashankar's family women are what they called Behenji - prostitutes' - an over eager (probably ticket seeking) loyalist Usha Chaudhary 3. 'Whoever gets Day

सूना कोना रंगमहल का धूप का आँचल रंग सुनहला गर्म हवा भी चले वहाँ पे निंदिया तू क्यों आई यहाँ रे सुस्त दोपहरी मन ललचाती अंखियन के नीर छलकाती सूरज भी आज यूं गरमाया गुस्सैल हो आग बरसाया रंग हरी का घूँघट ओढ़े चाल वक़्त की कुछ बलखाती धीमे धीमे हौले हौले दबे पाँव दिन यूँ चल आई

Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh at Saharanpur Rally in Uttar Pradesh on May 26, 2016 (Courtesy: Indian Express) The Narendra Modi government has completed two years in government . 2014 general elections were a watershed moment in several ways, and it is safe to assume that posterity will look back at the year as a defining moment in terms of a pre-Modi era and a Modi-era of politics in India. Just like melting ice cream, we are seeing our political and business start-up scenes exhibiting several over-hyped duds and sparse successes melting down. However, comparisons apart, there are a few observations about the Modi government and the politics in general that one can notice. These observations pertain to the overall political scenario as well as the general economic environment that seems to be shaping up (though repeating it seems history all over again). 1. It is certain that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister even in 2019. There is tremendous energy in the Bharatiya

Rani ki Vav in Patan Gujarat - a Classic Example of Beauty Meeting Utility (Source: Wikimedia Commons) There has been much consternation from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India about the ‘reluctance’ of states to tackle drought like situation in India. However good the intention may be, the expressions of displeasure do belie a sense of disconnect that people living in plush environments with little to worry about have from the ground realities. A drought like situation is an annual phenomenon, and every summer there is a water shortage of ‘gigantic’ proportions. The directives to create a drought management fund are well intentioned, but the problems of federal structure and the lack of seriousness towards the Supreme Court’s ‘encroachment on the executive domain’ can easily render any such measures ineffective. Water shortage and drought like situations are not new to India. It is possible that even as far back as the days of the Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilization (Indus Valley), we fi

Generally I avoid recommending books to read, for being a bibliophile I believe it is very cruel to add on to the mental burden of other voracious readers. However, I had tweeted a short list a while back. This list in my opinion is a must read for all those Indians who have lost out on their identity thanks in much to the deep influence of western liberal thought, leading to the marginalization of original Indic thoughts. These writings are across various times, but are real, original contributions to a truly Indic thought, and if  we really need to prepare intellectually for future battles, we should be familiar with what we are going to fight. The order does not rank the books in any way; it is just a function of my ability to recall names.  So here is the list. I will not explain the reasons for exploring them; I leave it to the discernment of readers to judge by themselves the merit of the list. Gora by Rabindranath Tagore Ghare Baire by Rabindranath Tagore Parva by S L Bh