I also found the following NGOs and non-profits at the Sneha Santhe organized recently in Bengaluru.
And here's a list of orgs that I have trusted in the recent past.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Giving Issue
Mint, my favorite paper has once again come up with a list of good NGOs to goad people to give. Here's the list from my visual parsing. And you can find last Deepavali's list here.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Chola Desam
The famous south gopuram of Srirangam. There is no God to absolve me the crime of using the 250 rupee shortcut darshan!
Kaveri beside the Thiagaraja Swami Samadhi at Thiruvaiaru. I see the water levels in Kaveri are kept deliberately high for canal irrigation, thereby depriving its distributeries, esp Kollidam.
A couple of residents of Umayalpuram, who helped establish this school in 1897, may not be amused to know that education has utterly escaped one of their great grand sons.
My ancestors on my grand mothers side lived on this street facing the Perumal Kovil, while my grand father's house was on the next street.
Darasuram. Pity, in a town full of temples (Kumbakonam), this umbilical cord with the Golden age of the Cholas, has tourists outnumber locals.
Big temple at dusk!Itinerary:
Friday: Bus to Trichy from Bangalore. Checked out Srirangam and Thiagaraja Swami Samadhi at Thiruvaiaru on the way to Umayalpuram, our ancestral village. Stayed the night in Kumbakonam.
Saturday: Darasuram in the morning. Went to Saraswathi Mahal and other museums at the Thanjavur Palace before spending the evening at the Big Temple. More pics from my previous trip there.
Note:
Chola Desam's infrastructure seems incapable of servicing such high population density. Not to mention the huge influx of religious tourists and the Tam-Brahm community which flocks back to get a glimpse of their roots.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Chalukya Sojourn
The year was AD 750. Chalukyan King Vikramaditya II and his Queen Lokadevi are visiting Pattada Kallu. Master Sculptors Anivaritha Gunda and Sarvasidhi Achari are showing off their spectacular creations to the royal couple. I can imagine the pride, happiness and gaiety that must have been in the air.
After all, Vikramaditya had just wiped the Pallavas clean and undone the ignominy of the freak defeat of Pulakesi II at the hands of Narasimha Pallava, a full hundred years earlier. While Pallavas got a solitary Vatapi Ganapathi, who now rests in Thiruvarur and a song to boot, the Chalukyas tried to outdo the Kailasanatha temple and seem to have pulled it off quite well too.
1259 years later, this Pallava subject walked thru those very temples. And ofcourse, I couldn't quite find Sivagami. Well, she ofcourse was Kalki's rip off from the legendary Buddhist Ambapali. The Vaishali royal courtesan turned love interest of Magadhan King Ajathasatru, who later received and hosted Buddha Siddhartha Gautama.
Vatapi aka Badami
Pattada Kallu (Redstone)
Pattada Kallu, we are told, is one of the rare places where Rekha nagar style (like in Orissa temples) co-habitates with the Dravidian style. See the above pic.Sidhlephadi Cave
ASI claims to have found evidence of human habitation in this cave since the mesolithic age by recovering primitive stone tools used for hunting. Modern day Neanderthals have made ASI's job easy. They just leave their phone numbers.
Aihole aka Aryapura
I was quite surprised at these exquisite Tombstones for soldiers. Other than the Indic inscriptions, the ancient tombstones hold the secrets of India's pre-Aryan past.
Itinerary:
Saturday: Reached Badami by bus. Checked out the four caves, Bhuthanatha Temple and some recent fortifications added by Tipu Sultan. Don't miss the museum. A deity from the fertility cult might stun you.
Sunday: Spent almost the whole day in the Pattada Kallu group of temples. Briefly checked out the Mahakoota Temple. Later, in the evening hiked upto the Sihlephadi cave near Badami. About 10 kms round trip.
Monday: Stared the day by visiting Siddhana Kallu. Then roamed around Aihole village. Walked up to the Megutti temple atop the hill nearby to soak in the excellent views. Don't miss this small climb. You'll understand why Chalukyas moved their capital here after the Pallava sacking of Vatapi.
Note: Pigs, monkeys and the people of Vatapi seem to be living in perfect harmony. While I can understand the pigs, afterall Varaha is the Chalukyan Insignia, I wonder why people have to live like this.
Before you celebrate Vijaya Dasami
1. Bride snatching was one of the most common ways of getting married in the ancient times. Krishna helped Arjuna to snatch Krishna's own sister.
2. After Krishna's death, when the royal entourage vacated ancient Dwaraka (not the one in Gujarat), the women folk, both married or otherwise, had to be protected from bride snatchers.
3. Ravana is worshiped by Jains as a man of honor who didn't touch Sita without her consent. Contrast this with Rama who supposedly banished her to the jungle as an 'impure' woman.
4. Ravana is ofcourse celebrated as a great Saivaite. The greatest 'Hindu' temple ever built in the history of mankind (?!!), the Kailasanatha temple, cave 16 in Ellora has a gigantic sculpture of Ravana moving Mount Kailash. The Chalukyas and several other dynasties celebrated Ravana in their temples.
5. People who celebrate 5 men sleeping with Draupati and then gambling her away, criticizing Ravana is quite hypocritical. Remember, one of those five was the recipient of Bhagwat Gita, 'the god's own words' (?!!).
6. Some versions of Ramayana mention Sita as the sister of Rama. Contrast the way Ravana treated Sita and Lakshmana treated Surpanaka (Ravana's sister).
7. When Rama met Sukriva in the jungle, he had been driven away by Vali. Why? becos Sukriva had earlier taken his elder brother Vali's wives and kingdom. Rama helped that Sukriva by killing Vali from behind.
Applying 21st century morals on ancient stories is a dubious exercise. Especially in a country where men marrying 4 women is legal for nearly 1/6th of the population.
Somebody supposedly returned triumphant on this Dasami day. But Dharma most certainly wasn't accompanying him. Victors write histories and epics. Celebrating victors, irrespective of whose side Dharma was on, tells a lot about us.
Disclaimer: I believe Krishna, the philosopher mentioned in the Chandognya Upanishad and who likely wrote the Gita, must have lived several hundred years after the flood of Hastinapur.
2. After Krishna's death, when the royal entourage vacated ancient Dwaraka (not the one in Gujarat), the women folk, both married or otherwise, had to be protected from bride snatchers.
3. Ravana is worshiped by Jains as a man of honor who didn't touch Sita without her consent. Contrast this with Rama who supposedly banished her to the jungle as an 'impure' woman.
4. Ravana is ofcourse celebrated as a great Saivaite. The greatest 'Hindu' temple ever built in the history of mankind (?!!), the Kailasanatha temple, cave 16 in Ellora has a gigantic sculpture of Ravana moving Mount Kailash. The Chalukyas and several other dynasties celebrated Ravana in their temples.
5. People who celebrate 5 men sleeping with Draupati and then gambling her away, criticizing Ravana is quite hypocritical. Remember, one of those five was the recipient of Bhagwat Gita, 'the god's own words' (?!!).
6. Some versions of Ramayana mention Sita as the sister of Rama. Contrast the way Ravana treated Sita and Lakshmana treated Surpanaka (Ravana's sister).
7. When Rama met Sukriva in the jungle, he had been driven away by Vali. Why? becos Sukriva had earlier taken his elder brother Vali's wives and kingdom. Rama helped that Sukriva by killing Vali from behind.
Applying 21st century morals on ancient stories is a dubious exercise. Especially in a country where men marrying 4 women is legal for nearly 1/6th of the population.
Somebody supposedly returned triumphant on this Dasami day. But Dharma most certainly wasn't accompanying him. Victors write histories and epics. Celebrating victors, irrespective of whose side Dharma was on, tells a lot about us.
Disclaimer: I believe Krishna, the philosopher mentioned in the Chandognya Upanishad and who likely wrote the Gita, must have lived several hundred years after the flood of Hastinapur.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Play the Great Game
As expected Obama wants to vote 'Present' on the AfPak war. By questioning the strategy of celebrated US generals, including Gen. David Petraeus, he is pitting the liberal anti-war democrats against his Generals. This is what happens when you put a community organizer (aka a radical) as commander in chief. A C-in-C is not supposed to publicly question the strategy of his own Generals.
Some Republicans have openly wished for Gen. Petraeus to be the Conservative candidate against Obama in 2012. It looked very unlikely a few weeks ago. But if Obama tries to betray his Generals in public, Petraeus may well take the plunge.
But this post is not about American political games. Its about the Great Game. Played as always in Central Asia, Iran and now in AfPak. What is India's strategy in the Great Game?
As I suggested few years ago, a nuclear armed Iran is in India's best interests and will stabilize the region. In anycase nobody can argue against Iran's inherent right to protect itself against Israeli and US aggression. The only problem is that Iran hasn't yet opted out of NPT, signed by its pre-revolutionary Shah government.
On the AfPak war, we need a bold long term strategy. The goal is to balkanize Pakistan and take parts east of Indus for ourselves. As I wrote here, we want Kashmir, Punjab, Sind and Gandhara to return to the Indian Union and Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and Balawaristan to become Independent.
Manmohan Singh's sellout on Baluchistan in Shram-al Shek and his silence on the recent Pakistani moves in Gilgit-Baltistan are well documented. So I don't expect him to do anything in Pakhtunkhwa. Anyway here's my plan.
India should propose a SAARC peace keeping force for Afghanistan. Europeans want a way out of Afghanistan and we shall provide one. SAARC countries should deploy not less than 3,00,000 troops in Afghanistan. Remember, Afghanistan is also a member of SAARC.
Just as NATO forces have divided duties across Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Lanka and Nepal shall take responsibilities in the non-Pashtun areas of Afghanistan. And guess what, we should let Pakistan takeover the Pashtun areas. Let US and Pakistani forces continue to operate in Pakhtunkhwa. If US pulls back and lets Pakistan to install a Talibani regime out of Kandahar, so be it.
Its a win-win situation for all. 1. Europe gets out. 2. US either plays and wins or gets an alibi to cut and run. Namely blaming Pakistan. 3. Pakistan gets to talibanize atleast half of Afghanistan and get its strategic depth back.
Now what do we get? We get a hold in Afghanistan proper. Afghani is a persian word which doesn't necessarily include Pathans. Lets try to protect the non-Pashtun areas from the Taliban. Afterall, we supported the erstwhile Northern Alliance.
But more importantly, Pashtun nationalism is the surest way to unravel the Pakistani non-state. Remember we once 'threw Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Khudai Kidmadgars and the Pathans in general to the Pakistani wolves'. Now let us help Pathans on either side of the Durand line to come together. In anycase, Baluchis have proved ineffective and Balawaristan seems a long shot.
Ofcourse its a gamble. Will the unified Pashtuns eventually turn against Pakistanis and demand separation or continue the vegetative state in which they live now? But whats wrong in trying. After all, this is the Great Game and we ought to gamble.
Some Republicans have openly wished for Gen. Petraeus to be the Conservative candidate against Obama in 2012. It looked very unlikely a few weeks ago. But if Obama tries to betray his Generals in public, Petraeus may well take the plunge.
But this post is not about American political games. Its about the Great Game. Played as always in Central Asia, Iran and now in AfPak. What is India's strategy in the Great Game?
As I suggested few years ago, a nuclear armed Iran is in India's best interests and will stabilize the region. In anycase nobody can argue against Iran's inherent right to protect itself against Israeli and US aggression. The only problem is that Iran hasn't yet opted out of NPT, signed by its pre-revolutionary Shah government.
On the AfPak war, we need a bold long term strategy. The goal is to balkanize Pakistan and take parts east of Indus for ourselves. As I wrote here, we want Kashmir, Punjab, Sind and Gandhara to return to the Indian Union and Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and Balawaristan to become Independent.
Manmohan Singh's sellout on Baluchistan in Shram-al Shek and his silence on the recent Pakistani moves in Gilgit-Baltistan are well documented. So I don't expect him to do anything in Pakhtunkhwa. Anyway here's my plan.
India should propose a SAARC peace keeping force for Afghanistan. Europeans want a way out of Afghanistan and we shall provide one. SAARC countries should deploy not less than 3,00,000 troops in Afghanistan. Remember, Afghanistan is also a member of SAARC.
Just as NATO forces have divided duties across Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Lanka and Nepal shall take responsibilities in the non-Pashtun areas of Afghanistan. And guess what, we should let Pakistan takeover the Pashtun areas. Let US and Pakistani forces continue to operate in Pakhtunkhwa. If US pulls back and lets Pakistan to install a Talibani regime out of Kandahar, so be it.
Its a win-win situation for all. 1. Europe gets out. 2. US either plays and wins or gets an alibi to cut and run. Namely blaming Pakistan. 3. Pakistan gets to talibanize atleast half of Afghanistan and get its strategic depth back.
Now what do we get? We get a hold in Afghanistan proper. Afghani is a persian word which doesn't necessarily include Pathans. Lets try to protect the non-Pashtun areas from the Taliban. Afterall, we supported the erstwhile Northern Alliance.
But more importantly, Pashtun nationalism is the surest way to unravel the Pakistani non-state. Remember we once 'threw Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Khudai Kidmadgars and the Pathans in general to the Pakistani wolves'. Now let us help Pathans on either side of the Durand line to come together. In anycase, Baluchis have proved ineffective and Balawaristan seems a long shot.
Ofcourse its a gamble. Will the unified Pashtuns eventually turn against Pakistanis and demand separation or continue the vegetative state in which they live now? But whats wrong in trying. After all, this is the Great Game and we ought to gamble.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Alvida BJP!
August 17, 2009 was always meant to be melancholic. It was my 27th birthday. I mean, at this age, one tends to reflect back on life and see how I wasted it!
But little did I know, the day would trigger an event or two, that'll end my association with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Jaswant Singh released his book on Jinnah and gave out interviews that precipitated his expulsion from the party today, the 19th August.
This afternoon, I sent out my resignation from the Karnataka BJP IT cell. I had been a member only 6 months but I have felt one with the party for atleast 17 years. It all comes to a sad end today. For, having witnessed the staggering decline in its behavior, I do not hope or expect the BJP to be worthy of my vote let alone my active support in the foreseeable future.
But I shall remain a conservative and any other party or individual who can live upto my expectations, can bank on me for vote and non-trivial support.
The following are some memories of the BJP I have. I know this post is a bit vain, if not narcissistic. But its my blog and this post is important to me.
1. About a week after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, I remember buying a copy of the Tamil edition of the India Today (5 rupees) and eagerly perusing it. I clearly remember being frenzied and was perhaps even happy. I'm ashamed of it now. I guess this 27 year old man can forgive that 10 year old boy.
2. Sometime (1995?) during Narasimha Rao's reign, I remember Nitish Kumar speaking in Parliament amidst pandemonium. Some Bihari politician (Lalu Yaday?) shouted that a Bihari shud become the PM. Nitish countered it saying, "a bihari will definitely become the next PM, but it will be Atal Bihari!". BJP MPs went "ab ki bari, atal bihari!". I was sufficiently political and pro-BJP at that age to appreciate and rejoice at that scene.
3. I can vividly remember the 1996 swearing-in ceremony and the 13th day resignation speech of Atalji in parliament. Around this time, I fell for the charm of Pramod Mahajan.
4. The day after the results of 1998 elections were announced, I clearly remember the discussion in my moral science class. My 11th standard class teacher who also took this early morning class, mentioned that Pramod Mahajan's defeat was a shock to the BJP. I concurred and offered that Jaswant Singh's defeat in Chittorgarh was equally shocking. My teacher didn't know who Jaswant Singh was.
5. One evening, around 4.27 PM, I resturned home from school to catch the recap headlines of the Hindi news on Star Plus. 'The Wonder Years' was due at 4.30 PM. Pankaj Pachauri was ending his bulletin and wrapped up saying, "we will have more on the nuclear tests, India has carried out today, in our 7 PM bulletin". I could hardly believe my ears and lept in joy. Ofcourse to this day, I'm undecided whether those nuclear tests were the morally right thing to do.
6. A saturday afternoon, I believe in April 1999, I came out after writing my first paper in the Engineering entrance exam. I eagerly asked my dad waiting outside, "what happened?". He said, "they lost by one vote". Atalji's government had lost the confidence vote. I still wonder how I spent that night and went back to write the second paper next morning. I actually did well in that paper. I wish this 27 year old could stay focused like that 16 something teenager.
7. No matter what anyone thinks, I maintain that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government (1998-2004) was the best India has ever had. I was witness to it and can brag about it for the rest of my life.
8. I only have fleeting memories of the Gujarat carnage in 2002. Brain does remember only what it wants to! But I recollect watching the burning train in the evening bulletin on Doordarshan. I can also recollect Atalji crying as he visited the riot victims later on. I vaguely remember the BJP Executive meeting (in Goa?) where the dubious decision directing Narendra Modi to seek early re-election was taken. However I confess that I buried my conscience and not until after the 2009 elections did I convince myself that Modi cannot and should not become PM.
9. I have lost relatives, friends, neighbors and have attended funerals. Infact a bit too many of them in the last two years. But Pramod Mahajan's death in May 2006, remains one of the few that made me feel really low.
10. Early this year, after having spent four years observing the US Republicans, I decided that I can no longer stay away from active politics and campaigned for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. I thought the party might just scrape through but on the eve of counting, I tweated defeat was certain. But I hadn't lost hope yet.
11. I continued my association with the BJP IT cell, even advocated internal democracy by writing emails that were frowned upon, created and contributed to rightnews.in, made a fan page for Sushma Swaraj, sought new direction for the party, portrayed a war between Integral Humanism and Hindutva and fought blog wars on the former's behalf.
12. Few months back, I was invited by lkadvani.in folks (Anupam Trivedi) to a national level brain-storming session in Delhi involving senior most BJP leaders like Advani, Jaitley and Kulkarni. Ofcourse, mine was supposed to be one of the rank outsider's views on the Lok Sabha defeat. So, nothing to brag about. The meeting was botched by Rajnath Singh who ruled no 'chintan' can take place before the National Executive meeting.
I have never accepted Hindutva but understand that Religious Right is an integral part of the larger conservative movement. I'm very opinionated if not dogmatic. But I believe debate and disagreement also enrich democracy. By expelling Jaswant Singh for having a different opinion, BJP has crossed a line. Perhaps an umbilical cord. I'm cutting it. Its all over.
But little did I know, the day would trigger an event or two, that'll end my association with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Jaswant Singh released his book on Jinnah and gave out interviews that precipitated his expulsion from the party today, the 19th August.
This afternoon, I sent out my resignation from the Karnataka BJP IT cell. I had been a member only 6 months but I have felt one with the party for atleast 17 years. It all comes to a sad end today. For, having witnessed the staggering decline in its behavior, I do not hope or expect the BJP to be worthy of my vote let alone my active support in the foreseeable future.
But I shall remain a conservative and any other party or individual who can live upto my expectations, can bank on me for vote and non-trivial support.
The following are some memories of the BJP I have. I know this post is a bit vain, if not narcissistic. But its my blog and this post is important to me.
1. About a week after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, I remember buying a copy of the Tamil edition of the India Today (5 rupees) and eagerly perusing it. I clearly remember being frenzied and was perhaps even happy. I'm ashamed of it now. I guess this 27 year old man can forgive that 10 year old boy.
2. Sometime (1995?) during Narasimha Rao's reign, I remember Nitish Kumar speaking in Parliament amidst pandemonium. Some Bihari politician (Lalu Yaday?) shouted that a Bihari shud become the PM. Nitish countered it saying, "a bihari will definitely become the next PM, but it will be Atal Bihari!". BJP MPs went "ab ki bari, atal bihari!". I was sufficiently political and pro-BJP at that age to appreciate and rejoice at that scene.
3. I can vividly remember the 1996 swearing-in ceremony and the 13th day resignation speech of Atalji in parliament. Around this time, I fell for the charm of Pramod Mahajan.
4. The day after the results of 1998 elections were announced, I clearly remember the discussion in my moral science class. My 11th standard class teacher who also took this early morning class, mentioned that Pramod Mahajan's defeat was a shock to the BJP. I concurred and offered that Jaswant Singh's defeat in Chittorgarh was equally shocking. My teacher didn't know who Jaswant Singh was.
5. One evening, around 4.27 PM, I resturned home from school to catch the recap headlines of the Hindi news on Star Plus. 'The Wonder Years' was due at 4.30 PM. Pankaj Pachauri was ending his bulletin and wrapped up saying, "we will have more on the nuclear tests, India has carried out today, in our 7 PM bulletin". I could hardly believe my ears and lept in joy. Ofcourse to this day, I'm undecided whether those nuclear tests were the morally right thing to do.
6. A saturday afternoon, I believe in April 1999, I came out after writing my first paper in the Engineering entrance exam. I eagerly asked my dad waiting outside, "what happened?". He said, "they lost by one vote". Atalji's government had lost the confidence vote. I still wonder how I spent that night and went back to write the second paper next morning. I actually did well in that paper. I wish this 27 year old could stay focused like that 16 something teenager.
7. No matter what anyone thinks, I maintain that Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government (1998-2004) was the best India has ever had. I was witness to it and can brag about it for the rest of my life.
8. I only have fleeting memories of the Gujarat carnage in 2002. Brain does remember only what it wants to! But I recollect watching the burning train in the evening bulletin on Doordarshan. I can also recollect Atalji crying as he visited the riot victims later on. I vaguely remember the BJP Executive meeting (in Goa?) where the dubious decision directing Narendra Modi to seek early re-election was taken. However I confess that I buried my conscience and not until after the 2009 elections did I convince myself that Modi cannot and should not become PM.
9. I have lost relatives, friends, neighbors and have attended funerals. Infact a bit too many of them in the last two years. But Pramod Mahajan's death in May 2006, remains one of the few that made me feel really low.
10. Early this year, after having spent four years observing the US Republicans, I decided that I can no longer stay away from active politics and campaigned for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. I thought the party might just scrape through but on the eve of counting, I tweated defeat was certain. But I hadn't lost hope yet.
11. I continued my association with the BJP IT cell, even advocated internal democracy by writing emails that were frowned upon, created and contributed to rightnews.in, made a fan page for Sushma Swaraj, sought new direction for the party, portrayed a war between Integral Humanism and Hindutva and fought blog wars on the former's behalf.
12. Few months back, I was invited by lkadvani.in folks (Anupam Trivedi) to a national level brain-storming session in Delhi involving senior most BJP leaders like Advani, Jaitley and Kulkarni. Ofcourse, mine was supposed to be one of the rank outsider's views on the Lok Sabha defeat. So, nothing to brag about. The meeting was botched by Rajnath Singh who ruled no 'chintan' can take place before the National Executive meeting.
I have never accepted Hindutva but understand that Religious Right is an integral part of the larger conservative movement. I'm very opinionated if not dogmatic. But I believe debate and disagreement also enrich democracy. By expelling Jaswant Singh for having a different opinion, BJP has crossed a line. Perhaps an umbilical cord. I'm cutting it. Its all over.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Bengal
Gorgeous looking girls, delicious Shingoras (samosas), kurthas and the Ganga just about manage to obfuscate a state/people in a time-wrap.
The first time, I got a glimpse of the city proper, coming out of the M G Road metro station, I was like "you've got to be kidding me. this must be some 18th century movie set!". Probably in that disbelief, I forgot to take pictures of the streets. The other places I went also disallow photography. So not much to flaunt.
The temples above stand on the places where Vivekananda, Sarada Devi, Brahmananda and Ramakrisha were cremated.
Itinerary:
Friday: Flew into Kolkata. Took the metro and got down at M G Road. Walked all the way to Howrah savoring all sorts of street food. Went to a friend's wedding.
Saturday: Took the Ganadevata Express to Bolpur, some 140 kms away. Roamed all day in Shantiniketan.
Sunday: Spent the morning in the Ramakrishna Mutt. Took a ferry across the Ganga to Dakshineshwar and back. Went to the Indian Museum in the afternoon.
Notes:
1. Ate some citric fruit which only one of my Bengali friends has been able to identify, though not by name. Apparently his mother once scolded him for eating such junglee fruit!
2. Bengali Brahmins eating fish is a myth. They eat all animals!
3. Humans and auto-mobiles live in perfect smoky harmony. While men maintain the puff levels in buses, temples, ferries and trains, commies apparently have never heard of such things as emission control.
4. Its very depressing to see people smugly sit in a man-peddled cycle rickshaw without any apparent struggle of conscience. Thankfully I didn't come across a man-pulled rickshaw.
5. The Indian Museum has an amazing collection. Nearly all Indian schools of architecture have items on display. The 2nd century BC Sunga dynasty stone archway (brought from Bharhut in Madhya Pradesh in 1878) is awesome until you realize what is it doing here instead of being returned to Bharhut.
The first time, I got a glimpse of the city proper, coming out of the M G Road metro station, I was like "you've got to be kidding me. this must be some 18th century movie set!". Probably in that disbelief, I forgot to take pictures of the streets. The other places I went also disallow photography. So not much to flaunt.
The temples above stand on the places where Vivekananda, Sarada Devi, Brahmananda and Ramakrisha were cremated.
Itinerary:
Friday: Flew into Kolkata. Took the metro and got down at M G Road. Walked all the way to Howrah savoring all sorts of street food. Went to a friend's wedding.
Saturday: Took the Ganadevata Express to Bolpur, some 140 kms away. Roamed all day in Shantiniketan.
Sunday: Spent the morning in the Ramakrishna Mutt. Took a ferry across the Ganga to Dakshineshwar and back. Went to the Indian Museum in the afternoon.
Notes:
1. Ate some citric fruit which only one of my Bengali friends has been able to identify, though not by name. Apparently his mother once scolded him for eating such junglee fruit!
2. Bengali Brahmins eating fish is a myth. They eat all animals!
3. Humans and auto-mobiles live in perfect smoky harmony. While men maintain the puff levels in buses, temples, ferries and trains, commies apparently have never heard of such things as emission control.
4. Its very depressing to see people smugly sit in a man-peddled cycle rickshaw without any apparent struggle of conscience. Thankfully I didn't come across a man-pulled rickshaw.
5. The Indian Museum has an amazing collection. Nearly all Indian schools of architecture have items on display. The 2nd century BC Sunga dynasty stone archway (brought from Bharhut in Madhya Pradesh in 1878) is awesome until you realize what is it doing here instead of being returned to Bharhut.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Kalinga
Water, Paddy, Mandirs and more and more of it! Orissa is truly enchanting!
Beripada village, near Soro
Went to my friend's cute little village in Balasore District. More on 'The Herbivore's Dilemma', shortly.
Dhauli, near Bhubaneshwar
The Kalinga war was fought somewhere in the vicinity of Dhauli. One of Asoka's rock edicts is here. The curious sculpture of the 'Elephant emerging from the rock' indicates the significance of this place. As mentioned by bloggers, the stupid crowds skip the 2250 years old rock edicts and just visit the Shanthi stupa recently built by the Japanese!
Konark
As always happens in such places, hype ruins the experience. But I wud any day celebrate a society that worships the Sun. Learnt a cool name, Nairuti from the Konark Museum.
Puri
Besides the Jagannath Mandir, checked out the beach and the Govardhana mutt established by Adi Shankara.
Udayagiri and Khandagiri
Within years after Asoka, Kalinga was recovered by the great Jain king Kharavela. He supported these Jain monasteries.
Ratnagiri
'Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihariya - Aryabikshu - Sanghasya' aka Ratnagiri Monastery is the kind of place that sends shivers down your spine. Its a 5th-13th century monastery associated with Tathagatta and refered to by Hiuen T'sang as Pushapagiri. This ancient university made immence contributions to Tantric (Vajrayana) Buddhism. Avalokiteśvara celebrated here is the Buddha later adopted and claimed to be 'incarnating' as the Dalai Lamas.
'Rajarani' Mandir, Bhubaneshwar
This temple made of Rajarania rock is elegant. Lingaraj Mandir is very impressive.
Notes on Orissa:
1. The state surprisingly has very good infrastructure. Or atleast, the central government funds are being well utilized. No wonder Naveen Patnaik is back for his third term.
2. Public Transport is non-existent. No kidding. There aren't any government run buses!
3. They are cultivating Paddy in every inch of Orissa! A Tamil farmer will scarcely believe the amount of water available here. Mahanadi made me dizzy.
4. That Oriya society is uneducated is palpable. People spit (betel, tobacco?) and urinate wherever they like. I guess more hands needed to till the land keeps people away from college.
5. Non-brahmins or specifically Nayaks also wear and flaunt the 'thread'. While this infatuation is amusing, tribal gods like Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra being taken over by Brahmins angers me. Puri joins the list of places like Sabarimala which I have vowed never to visit again.
6. There is an acute shortage of 'change' in Orissa. Its a nightmare. RBI obviously is not supplying enough currency in proper denominations.
Beripada village, near Soro
Went to my friend's cute little village in Balasore District. More on 'The Herbivore's Dilemma', shortly.
Dhauli, near Bhubaneshwar
The Kalinga war was fought somewhere in the vicinity of Dhauli. One of Asoka's rock edicts is here. The curious sculpture of the 'Elephant emerging from the rock' indicates the significance of this place. As mentioned by bloggers, the stupid crowds skip the 2250 years old rock edicts and just visit the Shanthi stupa recently built by the Japanese!
Konark
As always happens in such places, hype ruins the experience. But I wud any day celebrate a society that worships the Sun. Learnt a cool name, Nairuti from the Konark Museum.
Puri
Besides the Jagannath Mandir, checked out the beach and the Govardhana mutt established by Adi Shankara.
Udayagiri and Khandagiri
Within years after Asoka, Kalinga was recovered by the great Jain king Kharavela. He supported these Jain monasteries.
Ratnagiri
'Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihariya - Aryabikshu - Sanghasya' aka Ratnagiri Monastery is the kind of place that sends shivers down your spine. Its a 5th-13th century monastery associated with Tathagatta and refered to by Hiuen T'sang as Pushapagiri. This ancient university made immence contributions to Tantric (Vajrayana) Buddhism. Avalokiteśvara celebrated here is the Buddha later adopted and claimed to be 'incarnating' as the Dalai Lamas.
'Rajarani' Mandir, Bhubaneshwar
This temple made of Rajarania rock is elegant. Lingaraj Mandir is very impressive.
Notes on Orissa:
1. The state surprisingly has very good infrastructure. Or atleast, the central government funds are being well utilized. No wonder Naveen Patnaik is back for his third term.
2. Public Transport is non-existent. No kidding. There aren't any government run buses!
3. They are cultivating Paddy in every inch of Orissa! A Tamil farmer will scarcely believe the amount of water available here. Mahanadi made me dizzy.
4. That Oriya society is uneducated is palpable. People spit (betel, tobacco?) and urinate wherever they like. I guess more hands needed to till the land keeps people away from college.
5. Non-brahmins or specifically Nayaks also wear and flaunt the 'thread'. While this infatuation is amusing, tribal gods like Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra being taken over by Brahmins angers me. Puri joins the list of places like Sabarimala which I have vowed never to visit again.
6. There is an acute shortage of 'change' in Orissa. Its a nightmare. RBI obviously is not supplying enough currency in proper denominations.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Chargesheet on Modi
The following is a comment I made on journalist Kanchan Gupta's blog. He has removed this comment claiming its vituperative and uses intemperate language.
BJP supporters and those who follow current affairs closely may associate development with Modi. But others, thats about 80% of the country, sees him only as a mass murderer. How BJP supporters view Modi is immaterial. Rest of the country neither has the patience nor the necessity to forgive Modi.
BJP is not Modi's private property. We should only think whats good for BJP and the country. What happens to Modi is his problem.
Why can't Modi stay in Gujarat and deliver some 20 seats to the BJP which he has never been able to do? To borrow his own rhetoric, why is he batting at 65% strike rate against a weak Congress in Gujarat when Raman Singh is batting at 95% strike rate against the might of Ajit Jogi and the Shuklas.
And say, why can't he become party president and let someone else become PM candidate in 2014. I concede that Modi excites party workers. So why can't he do stuff that suits him instead of chasing voters away in a poll.
Instead of delivering in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa, he went on a ego-boasting, [2014 pre-cursor?] whirlwind tour of the country. And is now plotting [with help from Swapanda etc] to divert any criticism of him in the party. Hardly the sign of a leader.
In 1996, Advani, despite being the champion of the Ayodhya movement, realised that no Indian in his right mind will vote for BJP with Advani as the PM candidate. Hence he whole heartedly backed Atalji. Why can't Modi emulate Advani?
The national BJP and the Sangh have done so much for Modi. Taking him from a lowly clerical job in the party office to making him CM, forgave his murders at great image loss to the party and allowed him to destroy the careers of several Gujarat leaders. But what has Modi given back to the party?
Besides what are the contributions of Gujarat BJP to the national party? Apart from perhaps money, where is the human resource from Gujarat? The only notable leader from Gujarat is Amit Thaker who hardly seems to be doing anything. Even Prodyut Bora, a cell convener has done a lot compared to a morcha head!
Aside: You may also wanna read what I wrote about Modi in October 2007 here. I see my position has changed a bit. Thats the lesson I have learnt from the 2009 elections.
BJP supporters and those who follow current affairs closely may associate development with Modi. But others, thats about 80% of the country, sees him only as a mass murderer. How BJP supporters view Modi is immaterial. Rest of the country neither has the patience nor the necessity to forgive Modi.
BJP is not Modi's private property. We should only think whats good for BJP and the country. What happens to Modi is his problem.
Why can't Modi stay in Gujarat and deliver some 20 seats to the BJP which he has never been able to do? To borrow his own rhetoric, why is he batting at 65% strike rate against a weak Congress in Gujarat when Raman Singh is batting at 95% strike rate against the might of Ajit Jogi and the Shuklas.
And say, why can't he become party president and let someone else become PM candidate in 2014. I concede that Modi excites party workers. So why can't he do stuff that suits him instead of chasing voters away in a poll.
Instead of delivering in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa, he went on a ego-boasting, [2014 pre-cursor?] whirlwind tour of the country. And is now plotting [with help from Swapanda etc] to divert any criticism of him in the party. Hardly the sign of a leader.
In 1996, Advani, despite being the champion of the Ayodhya movement, realised that no Indian in his right mind will vote for BJP with Advani as the PM candidate. Hence he whole heartedly backed Atalji. Why can't Modi emulate Advani?
The national BJP and the Sangh have done so much for Modi. Taking him from a lowly clerical job in the party office to making him CM, forgave his murders at great image loss to the party and allowed him to destroy the careers of several Gujarat leaders. But what has Modi given back to the party?
Besides what are the contributions of Gujarat BJP to the national party? Apart from perhaps money, where is the human resource from Gujarat? The only notable leader from Gujarat is Amit Thaker who hardly seems to be doing anything. Even Prodyut Bora, a cell convener has done a lot compared to a morcha head!
Aside: You may also wanna read what I wrote about Modi in October 2007 here. I see my position has changed a bit. Thats the lesson I have learnt from the 2009 elections.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Kanchipuram
My dear wish to visit this eighth century Pallava temple for Kailasanatha, cost my friend his wallet and displeased another friend whose wedding reception initiated the trip in the first place (we were late)!
About the photos:
1. Its from my new point and shoot and I didn't take 3 of the above!
2. I know very little about this temple, which probably is the oldest in Tamilnadu. I'm ashamed.
3. I'm guessing, the 6 (+1 not in picture) smaller structures just outside the temple are tombs of royals. Becos they are outside, each have a Shiv ling and this was supposed to be a private royals only temple.
4. I don't know if the paint in the last photo is from the 8th century, but bear in mind that Ajantha and Ellora influenced the Pallavas and the later Chola paintings in the inner sanctum of Thanjavur (11th century) still survive.
About the photos:
1. Its from my new point and shoot and I didn't take 3 of the above!
2. I know very little about this temple, which probably is the oldest in Tamilnadu. I'm ashamed.
3. I'm guessing, the 6 (+1 not in picture) smaller structures just outside the temple are tombs of royals. Becos they are outside, each have a Shiv ling and this was supposed to be a private royals only temple.
4. I don't know if the paint in the last photo is from the 8th century, but bear in mind that Ajantha and Ellora influenced the Pallavas and the later Chola paintings in the inner sanctum of Thanjavur (11th century) still survive.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Hindutva
“A form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with Hindu decline, humiliation or victimhood at the hands of Muslim and Christian rulers/evangelists and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants [Sangh], working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites [Upper castes/royals/rich], abandons democratic liberties [like justice, minority rights] and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing in Gujarat and Kandhamal and external expansion into places like Pakistan.”
I just wrote the definition of Fascism in the Indian context. We call it as Hindutva.
I just wrote the definition of Fascism in the Indian context. We call it as Hindutva.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The New Right
BJP is at the cross roads. The People of India have soundly rejected it.
In order to remain relevant in Indian polity, I believe BJP has to choose between Integral Humanism (as proposed by Deendayal Upadhyaya and practiced by Vajypayee and Sushma Swaraj) and Hindutva (as proposed by Savarkar and practiced by Sangh Parivar, Advani and Modi). Riding the twin horses is no longer possible.
The following are according to me, the founding principles of a conservative, humanist, right wing party in India. But there is little evidence that BJP is interested in becoming one. We shall see.
1. Espousing free market principles.
Abolition of all monopolies including and especially Government monopolies. Every PSU shall be listed on the stock markets. Government will not stand in the way of business. Ex: allow private players to enter terrestrial broadcasting. Government recognizes the fierce urgency of alleviating the poverty of its citizens in their own lifetime.
2. Conservative Economics and Fiscal responsibility.
Low interest rate regime. Discouraging immoral loans like Credit cards, Home loan, car loans etc. And instead ensure easy credit for farmers, industry, students and self-help groups.
3. Secularism.
Government recognizes no religion and will not interfere in the religious activities of its citizens under any circumstance. No tax benefits for religious institutions. Temples like Tirupati to pay 35% corporate income tax on their earnings. Abolition of Haj Subsidy and Waqf boards. Having said this all religious places of historical importance shall be owned by the government but run by autonomous bodies.
Governmet re-affirms the right of Indian nationals to preach and convert others to whatever religion they like. But foreign nationals found in missionary activity shall be arrested and deported. Foreign donations to Indian religious institutions will be illegal.
4. Uniform Civil code.
All citizens of the country are equal in the eyes of the law. All citizens shall be subject to a Uniform civil code concerning marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance.
Gays cannot adopt/raise children even if the child is born of the sperm/womb of one of the parents. But homosexuality is not illegal. The state has no role to play in the sexual preference of its citizens. Its only concerned about the emotional and social upbringing of child citizens of India. State recognizes marriage as the union of a male and female (one each) citizens.
5. Rule of Law and the Constitution.
Maintaining the checks and balances inherent in our constitutional framework. No more abusing Election Commission, CBI, Governor's post. Supreme Court will not be allowed to legislate from the bench. The state shall not make any law that cannot be implemented.
6. Recognizing and adhering to the federal nature of the Indian Union.
Abolition of article 370 and 356. No central govt can dismiss a state govt. Governors appointed by Central govt will have to be ratified by the respective state legislature with a two-thirds majority. India shall remain a union of Linguistic and cultural nation states.
7. Respect for life.
Abolition of death sentence. Espousal of ethical eating. Recommending the killing of animals and plants (for food or any other purpose except in self-defense) to be treated as a punishable offense.
8. Practicing caste system of any kind punishable by law.
No educational institution can ask any student which caste or religion he/she belongs to. A campaign against using caste and varna names as surnames (yadav, jha, sharma, gupta, verma, thakur).
9. Freedom of speech.
Abolition of laws that inhibit the freedom of speech like “speech provoking communal disharmony” etc. Citizens are free to burn the national flag and the constitution, if they want to.
10. Humanism.
Non-violence and peace as foreign policy tools. Disclosing the current stockpile of nuclear weapons. Signing the CTBT. Signing the NPT provided they let us replenish our constant and pre-disclosed nuclear weapon stockpile.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Campaign beat - Part 2
- If and when BJP comes to power, they shud ban dog ownership. They are such a nuisance to campaigners.
- Campaigned for sitting MP Vijayashankar in Mysuru. If I were a voter there, its very unlikely that I would have voted for him. Such hypocrisy!
- A state minister asked us to not worry about the low turnout in Bangalore. He said something which I understood as "care has been taken to delete large number of Muslim names from the electoral rolls". And I campaigned for such people, hmm ...
- Met a fellow campaigner from the Merchant Navy. He comes from a family of sea-farers and has visited almost all the countries that have a coast. He had been to both the Arctic Tundra and Antarctica!
- According to him, while the whole world derided Bill Clinton for the Monica Lewinsky affair, Latin Americans were mighty impressed that he scored at 50+ years!
- Gave water and later fanta (?!) to the victims of a motor-bike accident near Attibelle. Called 108 for ambulance and sent them to the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. I'm never sitting on a motor-bike again.
- Met a ABVP activist from Kasargod who lives in Bangalore. He and his fellow Sangh volunteers had sent 6 bus loads of Mangalore voters living in Bangalore to vote back home in Mangalore! No wonder BJP is confident of retaining that seat.
- He explained how he became student president in his Mangalore college. They had 4 voters in their Bangalore campus of which 2 were certain to vote against him. Voters needed verification letters from the department heads and had to be in Mangalore on the voting day. He spoke to the Sangh friendly dept head and ensured that the head was suitably late in giving letters to those 2 opposition voters. They couldn't reach Mangalore in time and were blissfully unaware that their Professor had gamed them.
- Went to some remote villages in the tri-junction of TN, KA and AP near Bagalur (north of Hosur). Seems half the farms here are owned by Jayalalitha. Her erstwhile Bargur constituency is nearby.
- How did I live for 5 years in Chennai? I don't think that place is fit for human habitation let alone election campaigning. Temperature there must have been about 600 degrees. And the people are so rude.
- Met one of my Aunts while campaigning in Besant Nagar! Luckily she hasn't called too many relatives to pass on the message. Atleast not yet.
- Went to some dumb Tamil movie with a Mumbaikar simply bcos we wanted some cool air in the afternoon campaign break. Left during intermission. Need to look up pics of that new heroine.
- I was organizing some people and the party had given me 1000 bucks for their lunch. But it cost only abt 500 since few went home for Lunch. In the evening I returned the money and the guy was surprised that I didn't keep it for myself. hmm ...
- And finally, I spoke to (or atleast introduced myself to) the following leaders: Karnataka BJP President Sadananda Gowda, Organization Secretary Santoshji (RSS man on deputation), TN BJP President Ila Ganesan, Karnataka Law Minister Suresh Kumar, Former Union Minster Dhananjay Kumar, Party candidates Janardhana Swamy (Chitradurga), P C Mohan (B'luru Central), Vijayashankar (Mysuru) and Balakrishnan (Hosur), Malleshwaram MLA Aswathnarayan, MLC 'Mukhayamanthri' Chandru, Former TN BJP President Lakshmanan.
Campaign beat - Part 1
I suspect I'll be in a foul mood from Saturday. So let me write trivia when I'm still interested.
- Campaigning is hard physical labor. No wonder political workers get about 200 bucks per day besides food.
- Assuming I spoke to about 500 people each day, in 12 days its 6000. On the whole, we spoke to about a hundred thousand voters.
- Campaigned in five languages! Kannada, English, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu, in that order. In Telugu, I only managed "vote veyandi".
- We start conversing in a language based on the TV channel people are watching. Some funny "anti-demon" symbol hung outside houses also gives away the lingustic profile of the voter.
- Why do people advertise their religion on their front doors? In our home, there is no 'God' outside the Pooja room.
- Muslims are much more politically aware than the average voter. And they were very nice to us despite the Saffron baggage we carried.
- While we 'volunteers' had easy access to leaders, the local party workers aren't that lucky. Hierarchy matters in politics.
- I wish Vijayakumar, our local in-charge in Chitradurga, gets third time lucky. He has unsuccesfully contested Municipal elections twice (spent > 100 rupees per voter!).
- Didn't visit the Chitradurga fort even though we were campaigning all around it.
- Apparently BJP spent about 100 crores on the Bellary seat. Neighbouring Chitradurga's budget was 40-50 crores.
- Visited the seer of the Basava (Lingayat) Mutt at their sprawling campus in Chitradurga. The first thing he asked, "howz the situation?".
- The money I donated to the party election fund was used to buy Advani masks. A campaigning method that I can scarcely approve.
- Met a girl and apparently her mom-in-law in Domlur, outside their unbelievably huge house. They had atleast half-a-dozen cars and said they'll never vote for the BJP :)
- A local leader in Domlur was to arrange our lunch in a restaurant. We hardly required 6000 rupees. He gave a large bundle of cash, coolly said "call me if you need more" and left. I wonder what happens to the rest of the money.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Mighty Vote!
1. Voting for BJP's Ananth Kumar in Bangalore South.
2. 12 days of door-2-door campaigning, meeting about 6000 people in their homes. (6 straight weekends in Chitradurga, Bangalore Central, Bangalore North, Mysore, Hosur and South Chennai.)
3. Hacking up a rails application for the BJP state IT cell. (hasn't gone live yet)
4. Contribution to the party election fund.
5. Participation in 'Friends of BJP' and 'Advani @ Campus' events.
I have done whatever I could, to support BJP in this election. I hope I have done enough to save the life of atleast one fellow Indian from the terrorists and their chamcha Manmohan Singh. If I haven't and the Congress returns to power, please let me feel a fraction less guilty.
2. 12 days of door-2-door campaigning, meeting about 6000 people in their homes. (6 straight weekends in Chitradurga, Bangalore Central, Bangalore North, Mysore, Hosur and South Chennai.)
3. Hacking up a rails application for the BJP state IT cell. (hasn't gone live yet)
4. Contribution to the party election fund.
5. Participation in 'Friends of BJP' and 'Advani @ Campus' events.
I have done whatever I could, to support BJP in this election. I hope I have done enough to save the life of atleast one fellow Indian from the terrorists and their chamcha Manmohan Singh. If I haven't and the Congress returns to power, please let me feel a fraction less guilty.
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