'My Name is Khan' - The Sequel

US Democrats gave Khizr Khan a prime speaking slot at their convention. He's a Pakistani immigrant and father of a US soldier Humayun Khan who was killed in Iraq. And of course Mr Khan used the opportunity to condemn the "Islamophobia" of Donald Trump, while the Left-wing media lauded him and his family as heroes, calling it the "7 Minutes Which Shook the Convention".

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/29/politics/who-is-humayun-khan-son-of-khizr-khan-trnd/

https://theintercept.com/2016/07/28/khizr-khan-father-american-muslim-soldier-killed-iraq-shames-donald-trump/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/khizr-khans-loss-a-grieving-father-of-a-soldier-struggles-to-understand/2016/07/28/18e8139a-552d-11e6-bbf5-957ad17b4385_story.html

Mr Khan even took a small copy of the US constitution out of his pocket and held it in front of him, calling for Trump to read it and learn how to treat minorities. It would have been better if Mr Khan had waved this constitution under the noses of those he left behind in Pakistan - because they could use such lessons far more than Donald Trump. Apparently, the jubilant Democrats applauding Khan for lecturing Trump couldn't be bothered to remember Bill Clinton's own notorious record as a draft-dodger.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/07/31/khizr-khan-muslim-dad-tells-cnn-terror-nothing-islam/



Unlike the Shahrukh Khans, the Sadiq Khans, or the Khizr Khans, we Indians never seem to be able to speak up. Whenever we try, some Left-wing caste-baiting Jaichand will quickly interject to remind us of some alleged Original Sin which we have yet to cleanse. We'd better get our act together to speak up more, because others are speaking so loudly that we're being drowned out.

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/my-name-is-not-khan/

You can actually download a copy of the Indian constitution off Google's Android app store, just in case you want to wave it in someone's face.

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=india%20constitution&c=apps&hl=en

Quick notes: Startup mortalities, Shifting pollution...

• Start-up mortalities: India's struggling startups.



• Start-ups lean on temporary jobs to sail through tough times: Rather than hiring people and firing them after six months, it is better to hire with transparency that people will only be associated for a particular duration.



• High Frequency Trading: India is having its own 'Flash Boys' moment. 40% of all stock trading volume on NSE coming from high frequency and algorithmic transactions.



• Sea of automobiles: Can Delhi's pollution be shifted to cleaner places?



• E-bikes: Battery technology driving e-bike boom



• Elby e-bike: Sweat-free biking



• Smartphone addiction: How technology hijacks our psychological vulnerabilities.



• Forgetting real heroes, celebrating filmi ones: Few remember the sacrifices of our soldiers



• Ding-Namaskara:

namaḥ̱ prācyai̍ di̱śe yāśca̍ de̱vatā ̍ e̱tasyā ̱ṃ prati̍-vasantye̱tābhya̍śca namo̱ |
namo dakṣi̍ṇāyai di̱śe yāśca̍ de̱vatā ̍ e̱tasyā ̱ṃ prati̍-vasantye̱tābhya̍śca namo̱ |
namaḥ pratī ̍cyai di̱śe yāśca̍ de̱vatā ̍ e̱tasyā ̱ṃ prati̍-vasantye̱tābhya̍śca namo̱ |
nama̱ udī ̍cyai di̱śe yāśca̍ de̱vatā ̍ e̱tasyā ̱ṃ prati̍-vasantye̱tābhya̍śca namo̱ |
nama ̍ ū ̱rdhvāyai̍ di̱śe yāśca̍ de̱vatā ̍ e̱tasyā ̱ṃ prati̍-vasantye̱tābhya̍śca namo̱ |
namo 'dha̍rāyai di̱śe yāśca̍ de̱vatā ̍ e̱tasyā ̱ṃ prati̍-vasantye̱tābhya̍śca namo̱ |
namo̍'vānta̱rāyai di̱śe yāśca̍ de̱vatā ̍ e̱tasyā ̱ṃ prati̍-vasantye̱tābhya̍śca namo̱ |
namo gaṅgā-yamunayor madhye ye̍ vasa̱nti̱ te me prasannātmā naściram jīvitaṃ va̍rdhaya̱nti̱ |
namo gaṅgā-yamunayor muni̍bhyaśca̱ namo̱ namo gaṅgā-yamunayor muni̍bhyaśca̱ namaḥ ||
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

Rah, Rah, Trump-Putin

Caught red-handed by the leak of emails exposing the rigging of their party's electoral nomination process in favor of Hillary Clinton, the US Democratic Party leaders are now baring their Atlanticist fangs by claiming that it was Russia which hacked these emails and leaked them to WikiLeaks in order to benefit Trump's election campaign. The Democrats are now suddenly accusing Trump of having business ties to Russian oligarchs, while further alleging that Trump is a stooge for Vladimir Putin.



Apparently, the Left still wish to prove that patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels, by screaming "The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!" to distract attention away from their own corruption which has undermined the US electoral system. Unlike India, the USA does not have a constitutionally independent Election Commission, and has to rely on investigation by the FBI, which like India's CBI is a "caged bird".

Trump is cheekily, irreverently responding by calling for Russia to hand over the missing emails from Hillary's private email server which she ran illegally from her basement:





The spectacle of all of this is easily upstaging the Democratic National Convention, and dominating the headlines - which probably plays into Trump's hands.




Oh, those Russians...

tulsi gabbard bravely nominated bernie sanders. this lady has guts

she pointed out that as a racial and religious minority she was appalled at the efforts to use religion to defame sanders. she had also resigned from the DNC sometime ago.

unfortunately, #deepstate will ensure she will lose her next election. there goes the only hindu (and one who is unabashedly and even militantly hindu) in the US congress.

#respect to her, though.

the yahoo! buyout is an sad end to a pioneer

http://swarajyamag.com/business/yahoo-verizon-deal-another-silicon-valley-legend-bites-the-dust 

delighted to hear about #DNCleak that surely will piss off bernie's fans

the wikileak of Democratic national committee emails (20000 of them) show how far they all went to neutralize bernie sanders. 

this should be great fun at the democratic convention.

i think this is the last straw: shows crooked hillary as the nixon of our times.

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sent from samsung galaxy note3 neo, so please excuse brevity

Fwd: Indian Ocean To Become Focus Of Trade And Warfare: Is India’s East Coast Prepared?

my piece on the deep south and need for a major airbase

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: S G Naravane


http://swarajyamag.com/defence/high-time-to-strengthen-air-defences-along-indias-east-coast

Rajeev Srinivasan - July 25, 2016

An Indian Air Force (IAF) plane, AN-32, is missing on a routine flight from Chennai to Port Blair, and nobody has any idea about its whereabouts. Some time ago, Malaysian Air MH 370 disappeared over the Indian Ocean, and we would have no idea even if it appeared close to the southern peninsula. So far as I know, the only military radar we have in the area is somewhere in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands chain, and it is not turned on all the time.

Now imagine if enemy aircrafts, from, say, Pakistan, or from a Chinese aircraft carrier coming through the Strait of Malacca attack the East Coast of the peninsula. There are sensitive civilian and military establishments there, including the Koodankulam atomic complex, Thoothukkudi port, Mahendragiri (ISRO's rocket testing station) and further north, Sriharikota rocket launching station.

India is woefully unprepared for any enemy activity on the East Coast. And the deep south is not far from the shipping lines in the Indian Ocean, and there will be increased infiltration by both Chinese naval vessels and submarines. As is rather clear, the Indian Ocean (through which 80 percent of oil shipments pass already between the straits of Hormuz and Malacca) will increasingly become a focus of both trade and warfare.

India needs to be prepared for both. On the one hand, Thoothukkudi port has been refurbished and upgraded, and it should enjoy increased traffic as the national highways from Bangalore and Chennai have become functional. However, it suffers from its location, which requires a bit of a detour, discouraging larger vessels from docking there. But it could be perfect for smaller feeder craft.

On the other hand, two major ports are coming up on the West Coast, both near Trivandrum: Vizhinjam container transhipment port (in Kerala), and the recently-approved deep-water Colachel port (in Tamil Nadu). There is some confusion about their relative merits and how they can complement each other as Chennai (in TN) and Ennore (north of Chennai) do. Colachel could be a deep-water conventional port, and Vizhinjam the container port, and both can share the local infrastructure, being close to Trivandrum international airport and railway divisional headquarters. With goods and services tax (GST) close to becoming a reality, the state boundaries will cease to be bottlenecks.

But a more interesting idea would be to connect the coasts with a freight and industrial corridor from Vizhinjam and Colachel to Thoothukkudi, via Nagercoil and Tirunelveli. As part of the Sagarmala initiative, all this would need is a widening of the existing Trivandrum-Nagercoil National Highway 66 (which is already in the works), and also the doubling of the Trivandrum-Nagercoil railway line (also being surveyed now).

The road connectivity from Nagercoil to Thoothukkudi on NH 44/138 is already quite good, and there is a rail link, but that would need to be upgraded. Bulk cargo can then be shipped to/from either coast, and from both the north-south Golden Quadrilateral trunk routes are only 50 kms away.

This could lead to a few industrial clusters in the sparsely populated Tirunelveli district, which has plenty of vacant land (but is semi-arid, lacking much by way of fresh water sources). This would also be a boon to both TN and Kerala (which can design, say, electronics products in crowded Kerala, but manufacture an hour or two away in Tamil Nadu).

In addition to industrial clusters, it should also host a large airbase with long-range radar as well as P3-C Orion-type submarine hunter killers patrolling the sea, keeping an eye on traffic to and from Colombo as well. If you remember, Chinese submarines docked at Colombo last year.

Besides, even though the Southern Air Command is in Trivandrum, most of its aircraft sit elsewhere: in Car Nicobar, in Sulur (Coimbatore) and Port Blair. This, I presume, is due to lack of available space in Kerala. But if a large new airbase can be set up in the Tirunelveli area, the flight time from there for emergency operations in the Indian Ocean will be barely minutes, as compared to half-an-hour from Sulur. Indeed, the fate of the AN-32 aircraft, which was on a mission from Chennai to Port Blair, falls directly under this Southern Air Command, and its inability to locate the debris in the Indian Ocean points to be urgent need to upgrade its capability.

As for industrial clusters, the most obvious would be an aerospace cluster. There is Mahendragiri; then there's Thumba and Valiamala in Trivandrum. There is also talk of setting up India's second launch pad at Kulasekharapatnam, an old port in Tirunelveli district. Between these centres, most of India's manufacturing and testing of launch vehicles happens in this general area, and possibly now some launches as well.

Let us go back the specific case of the IAF aircraft. Startlingly, nobody seemed very interested in its fate, or that of the 29 personnel abroad. It was shocking to see that the mainstream media, as well as social media, were full of self-congratulatory stories about the release of hostage Judith D'Souza from Afghanistan, but there was virtual silence about the IAF personnel and others on board the ill-fated plane. Shame on us, when the lives of 29 military personnel do not seem to matter at all, but the rescue of a civilian who ignored travel advisories to work for a wealthy NGO is big news.

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sent from samsung galaxy note3 neo, so please excuse brevity

Fwd: J&K gets 10% of Central funds with only 1% of population

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: S G Naravane

J&K gets 10% of Central funds with only 1% of population

July 24, 2016

TCA SHARAD RAGHAVAN

J&K gets 10% of Central funds with only 1% of population By TCA Sharad Raghavan Jammu and Kashmir has received 10 per cent of all Central grants given to states over the 2000-2016 period, desp...

The State has received Rs.1.14 lakh crore in grants over sixteen years

Jammu and Kashmir has received 10 per cent of all Central grants given to states over the 2000-2016 period, despite having only one per cent of the country's population, analysis by The Hindu of Central and State finances shows.

In contrast, Uttar Pradesh makes up about 13 per cent of the country's population but received only 8.2 per cent of Central grants in 2000-16. That means J&K, with a population of 12.55 million according to the 2011 Census, received Rs.91,300 per person over the last sixteen years while Uttar Pradesh only received Rs.4,300 per person over the same period.

Even among the special category states, Jammu and Kashmir receives a disproportionate amount of Central assistance.

The state received Rs.1.14 lakh crore in grants over the sixteen years under review, according to the Union Finance Ministry's data, which is more than a quarter of the Central funds disbursed to the 11 special category states in that period.

"In general, the special category states get a higher share of central grants, and Jammu and Kashmir being one of them will also get such treatment," Tapas Sen, a professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), and a long-time researcher on state finances, told The Hindu. "But even among them, Jammu and Kashmir is getting a higher share due to its disturbed status and its border with Pakistan."

Experts on the subject also say that this larger share could work as an incentive to ensure that the state remains with India.

CAG report

This seeming imbalance in Jammu and Kashmir's finances — with Central grants accounting for 54 per cent of the state's total revenue and 44 per cent of its expenditure in FY16 — assumes significance in light of the fact that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in 2015 castigated the Jammu and Kashmir government for the pendency of a large number of inspection reports and observations highlighting "serious financial irregularities" in the state.

"There were persistent errors in budgeting, savings, excess expenditure and expenditure without provision," the CAG report on the State's finances for the year ended March 31, 2014, said. "Anticipated savings were either not surrendered or surrendered at the end of the year leaving no scope for utilising these funds for other development purposes."

The report has entire sub-heads titled 'errors in budgeting process', and 'unrealistic forecasting of resources'.

Apart from the political reasons, there are also some fiscal reasons for Jammu and Kashmir receiving a larger share of Central grants.

Fiscal reasons

... deleted

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sent from samsung galaxy note3 neo, so please excuse brevity

Fwd: Plebiscite in Kashmir: Is Jyotiraditya Scindia missing the 'Crown'? by sanjeev nayyar in FIRSTPOST.COM About Plebicite & Accession of j&k

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjeev Nayyar

Taking off from a comment made by Scindia in the Lok Sabha that there should be "plebiscite" in Kashmir as the situation in the Valley has deteriorated and the PDP-BJP government has "insulted" the "crown" of India this piece examines events prior to the accession of J&K to India and thereafter. Eventually it takes a dig at the former uncrowned Maharaja of Gwalior, hence the title.

 

Plebiscite in Kashmir: Is Jyotiraditya Scindia missing the 'Crown'?

By Sanjeev Nayyar 25.7.16

http://www.firstpost.com/india/plebiscite-in-kashmir-is-jyotiraditya-scindia-missing-the-crown-2914020.html

According to a PTI report of 20 July, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said in Lok Sabha that there should be "plebiscite" in Kashmir as the situation in the Valley has deteriorated and the PDP-BJP government has "insulted" the "crown" of India.

"In Kashmir today, there is a need for plebiscite," he said using Urdu word 'rai shumari' while initiating a discussion in the House on Kashmir situation.

Probably realising the gravity of his statement, Scindia said, "I have never said there should be plebiscite. I have said there should be dialogue."

One would expect the scion of the princely state of Gwalior to weigh his words carefully. Scindia should note.

One, the "crown" ceased to rule India post independence. Two, it is the state of Jammu and Kashmir, not Kashmir which occupies only 15.73% of the state's area. Three, there are certain conditions precedent before a plebiscite can be held. Four, according to India's former high commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarathy, "The Simla Agreement signed in 1972 after the Bangladesh conflict, by then Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, stated that the issue of J&K would be settled bilaterally between India and Pakistan, discarding recourse to earlier UN Resolutions." Five, there is a democratically elected state government voted in by the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.

For long, Pakistan has asked India to hold a plebiscite. A recap of events that led to the accession of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir should clarify India's position.

Find below extracts from author's E book 'All you wanted to know about the Kashmir problem'.

The State of J&K had an area of 2,22,236 sq kms in 1947. Of this only 46% is in India's possession today, the balance is under forceful occupation of Pakistan and China.

*http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/basicfacts/tour/figures_ii.html

Prior to partition in 1947, British rule over India comprised two separate geographical regions. One comprised of various provinces administered by the Viceroy of India (constituted more than 60 percent of the land area of the country referred to as British India). The other comprised provinces ruled by Maharajas, Princes, Nawabs etc. There were 562 princely states of which 327 were petty states. All of these were collectively designated as "Indian States". For these States, the British looked after the areas of defence, foreign policy and communications whilst they were allowed governance in internal matters such as law and order, civil liberties, health, education and economic development. The State of J&K was one of them.

On 20 February, 1947, His Majesty's Government announced that British India would become independent. Facing the state's rulers on 11 July, 1947, Mountbatten said, "The Indian Independence Act releases the States on 15th August from all their obligations to the Crown. The States have complete freedom-technically and legally they are independent." (4 pg 411) At a meeting held on 25 July, 1947, Mountbatten advised the princes that they should accede to one of the two dominions, keeping in mind the 'geographical contiguity of their States', while surrendering power over three specified subjects, without any financial liability.

By 14 August, 1947, most states signed the IOA.

On 12 August, 1947 the Maharaja of J&K proposed a Standstill Agreement with India/Pakistan on matters pending (existing arrangements to continue) his final decision regarding the future of the State. Pakistan accepted whilst India asked the Maharaja to send its representative for discussions. The Pakistan government started putting pressure on the Maharaja on join Pakistan. It also started an economic blockade from Pakistan.

Whilst the government was pleading special reasons for inability to supply Kashmir with essential commodities, 'Dawn', the Muslim League's official organ, wrote on 24 August, 1947, "The time has come to tell the Maharaja of Kashmir that he must make his choice and choose Pakistan." Should Kashmir fail to join Pakistan, "the gravest possible trouble would inevitably ensure." (1 pg70) Pakistan had made its intent clear.

Q. Can Maharaja Hari Singh be accused of procrastinating on whether to join India or Pakistan?

A. The Maharaja is criticised for delay in taking a decision on accession but 'few have cared to ponder on the implication of the very first advice given by Mountbatten to the Maharaja not to join any Constituent Assembly until Pakistan set up her own'. (7 pg 65)

'Twice in September 1947 the Maharaja offered accession to India on the conditions that his reservations with respect to Sheikh Abdullah be respected. On both occasions Nehru insisted that Abdullah be released to head a popular government. As Hari Singh did not accept Abdullah the initiative proved abortive'. (8 pg 91)

Q. Why did Nehru dislike the Maharaja?

A. Briefly, KS Bajwa wrote, 'Abdullah launched the 'Quit Kashmir Movement' against Dogra rule. He was tried for treason and jailed for nine years on 20/5/1946. As a lawyer Nehru wanted to represent Abdullah but was stopped as he crossed into the state at Kohala. Nehru never forgave Maharaja Hari Singh for this action. On account of Nehru's friendship with Abdullah the Maharaja did not trust Nehru'. (8 pg 90)

Next in October 1947, Jinnah's personal envoy, Maj Shah, came to meet PM of J&K MC Mahajan to negotiate accession. Mahajan asked for blockade to be lifted but Jinnah refused pending settlement of accession issue. Failing in his efforts Shah warned of dire consequences. At that point, the Maharaja seemed tentative on accession to India. Guruji Golwalkar, Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, met the Maharaja on 17 October, 1947 and later apprised Sardar Patel of his favorable attitude.

Meanwhile, some 5,000 Pathan tribesmen invaded the State, on the night of 21/22 October; looting, killing and raping along the way. The Maharaja wanted the Indian Army to drive out the invaders for which he needed to sign the IOA. This he did on 26 October, 1947, which was accepted the very next day by India's Governor General, Mountbatten. Subsequent to Accession, Lord Mountbatten wrote a personal letter to the Maharaja, 'it is my Government's wish that, as soon as law and order is restored in Kashmir and its soil cleared of the invader, the question of the State's accession should be settled by a reference to the people'. (1 pg 76)

Note it was in a personal letter that Mountbatten asked for confirmation of accession by reference to the people of J&K.

However, Pakistan refused to recognise this accession.

Critics argue that this stipulation made the Accession conditional. 'Justice A.S. Anand believes that this statement does not and cannot affect the legality of the accession which was sealed by India's official acceptance. This statement is not a part of the IOA. Mr M.C. Mahajan, the former Chief Justice of India observed thus: The Indian Independence Act did not envisage conditional accession. The Dominion's Governor-General had the power to accept the accession or reject the offer but had no power to keep the question open or attach conditions to it'. (1 pg 76)

In the early hours of 27 October, 1947 began an operation that had never occurred in the history of warfare before. On 7 November, Indian troops won the battle of Shaltang, thereby removing all threats to Srinagar. Three days later, Baramulla was recaptured. The process of retreat by the enemy on all fronts began.

Indian Army soon realized that the only way to completely remove the raiders was by attacking their bases and sources of supply in Pakistan. On 22 December, 1947, India warned Pakistan that unless Pakistan denied her assistance and bases to the invaders, India would be compelled to take such action.

At that critical stage, Lord Mountbatten urged PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, about "the overwhelming need for caution and restraint". He stressed, "How embroilment in war with Pakistan would undermine the whole of Nehru's independent foreign policy and progressive social aspirations." (1 pg 81) On Mountbatten's advice, Nehru decided to lodge a complaint to the United Nations Security Council. That was done on 1 January, 1948.

On 5 January, 1949 the UN Commission for India and Pakistan proposed a resolution whereby the future of J&K would be determined by a democratic method of a plebiscite conducted by India under the UN's auspices but after Pakistan withdrew its troops from the State and disbanded Azad Kashmir forces. India declared a ceasefire on 1 January, 1949, occupied areas were not recovered.

Q. Why has India not held a plebiscite in J&K?

A. UN resolution provides that Pakistan was to withdraw its troops from the State (Mirpur, Muzzafarabad, Gilgit and Baltistan (POJK). Since Pakistan has not withdrawn its troops, India could not conduct a plebiscite. Note that the UN did not contest accession of the princely state of J&K to India.

Also Lt Gen NS Malik wrote, 'Similarly the so called "Two Nation Theory", under whose umbrella Pakistan was formed, applied only to British ruled India and not the princely states, and hence a state being Muslim majority did not disqualify it from joining Indian Union. (Note that Kapurthala in Punjab was a Muslim Majority State). In the same context, referendum in J&K is illegal as it was not agreed by Muslim League to hold referendum in princely states but left to their rulers to accede to India or Pakistan, contiguity being a criteria for the same.' (10)

Note that Nehru's promise of plebiscite was made in his All India Radio broadcast of 23 December, 1949. However, according to former CJI MC Mahajan the IOA and the Indian Independence Act 1947, of the British Parliament gave no legal or constitutional authority to Nehru or Mountbatten, the then governor general, to make that promise. Justice AS Anand presented a series of arguments to conclude, 'This position brings one to the conclusion that to hold a plebiscite would be repugnant to the Constitution of India and J&K'. (1 pg 85)

Externally, India has not used law, international institutions and inherent strength to make Pakistan vacate POJK.

Jyotiraditya Scindia's sister is married to the son of Karan Singh, the former Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. By reference to the 'crown' and 'plebiscite', what message is the uncrowned Maharaja of Gwalior giving to the people of independent India?

Is Scindia missing the 'Crown'?

(The author is an independent columnist. On Twitter: @sanjeev1927)

Read E book All you wanted to know about the Kashmir problem. http://www.firstpost.com/ebook_download.php?id=311

Also read by sanjeev nayyar:  How the Census in J&K has been manipulated http://swarajyamag.com/commentary/making-sense-of-jammu-kashmir-census-2011-numbers

References

1 The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir Its Development and Comments. Third Edition 1998 by Justice AS Anand
4 Patel A Life by Rajmohan Gandhi pg 2
7 Kashmir Crisis Unholy Anglo-Pak axis by Saroja Sundarajan pg 3
8 Jammu and Kashmir War, 1947-1948: Political and Military Perspective' by Kuldip Singh Bajwa pg 3
9 Kashmir and It's People: Studies in the Evolution of Kashmiri Society by MK Kaw pg 3
10 Solution to J&K problem lies in New Delhi by Lt Gen N S Malik http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/solution-to-j-k-problem-lies-in-new-delhi/.

Warm Regards
sanjeev nayyar
to unsubscribe write back

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sent from samsung galaxy note3 neo, so please excuse brevity

Quick notes: Temple loot, Solar ambitions...

• Temple loot moving in top gear: Devotees' contributions serve populist poll promises of Andhra Pradesh politicians.



• It's a global war:  Kashmir is India's frontier on the global war against Islamic terrorism, both militarily and spiritually, not a local issue.

Kashmir is India's frontier on the global war against Islamic terrorism, both militarily and spiritually, not a local issue.

— Dr David Frawley (@davidfrawleyved) July 18, 2016




• Can India Really Build 100 Gigawatts of Solar? Estimated losses of State-owned distribution utilities is $9 billion per year and an accumulated debt of $64 billion  



• Sperm Video: Smartphone microscope lets men test sperm health at home.



• Piplantri: This Amazing Village in Rajasthan plants 111 trees every time a little girl is born 



• Paris highway exclusively for cyclists: 28-mile stretch of open road being built in Paris is meant for bicyclists and bicyclists only



• A Hanoi Without Motorbikes?  “It’s great if public transport can be provided for the less well off. But not if it means the aim is to leave the roads for the wealthy.” Even Vietnam recognizes its traffic congestion will become untenable.



• Lesson for India: Stringent tailpipe emission standards make VW abandon Diesel in the US.



• Hoopy Is a Wooden Bicycle You Can Build at Home:

Fwd: A barometer of performance

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: S G Naravane

A barometer of performance

Bibek Debroy | Published:July 21, 2016

A barometer of performance Resolution of citizen grievances is an indicator of the performance of government departments.

Resolution of citizen grievances is an indicator of the performance of government departments.

Resolving citizen grievances is a job for the department of administrative reforms and public grievances (DARPG). The DARPG has a public grievance portal. For 94 central government ministries and departments, citizens can write in with their complaints. The awareness that this portal exists is evidently increasing. There were 132,751 complaints between May 2014 and September 2014. Between May 2015 and September 2015, that number increased to 466,406.

In gauging citizen evaluation of the Union government, this database can be used with three sampling biases. First, not everyone knows this portal exists. Second, citizens write in when there is a grievance. A satisfied citizen doesn't necessarily bother. Third, everyone doesn't have access to the internet nor does everyone with a grievance write in.

Data analysed was for a longer period — January 2012 to September 2015. Seventy-three per cent of the grievances concerned just 20 ministries/departments. In descending order of importance, they are: Department of telecom, the Railways, financial services, home ministry, central board of direct taxes, higher education, ministry of external affairs, department of posts, health & family welfare, petroleum & natural gas, labour & employment, defence, school education & literacy, personnel and training, road transport & highways, urban development, department of justice, central board of excise and customs, department of revenue, and the department of ex-servicemen welfare.

Sponsored: Pay 5% on booking & 1% per month till possession for semi-furnished homes @ Godrej Prana, Undri in Pune.

Let's pick one of these to see what the analysis tells us. The one department most people will readily relate to is possibly the Railways. During the period mentioned, there were 19,540 grievances against the Railways. Let's slice it further to see what sub-departments within the Railways attracted the most grievances. (Railways is actually a bad example to think in terms of sub-departments since, functionally, it is driven by 17 zones.) Seventy-one per cent of the complaints were against zonal railways, 8 per cent against the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and 5 per cent on passenger marketing issues. An even better idea is not to look at sub-departments but focus on the reasons for grievance. What service deficiency led to the grievance? You then find that 45 per cent grievances were about the inefficiency in the refund process, 34 per cent were about the delays in pension release, 7 per cent about the quality of service onboard trains, 2 per cent for unclean stations and 1 per cent for congestion on the IRCTC website.

... deleted

Fwd: Brexit And End of Globalisation?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vaidyanathan R

 

https://rvaidya2000.com/2016/07/15/brexit-and-end-of-globalisation/

 

14^th July 2016                                                                                       Prof. R Vaidyanathan

 

Brexit And End of Globalisation?

When Britain voted to leave EU [called British Exit—or Brexit] the Dutch Prime minister Mark Rutte said "England has collapsed politically, constitutionally and economically" [Financial Times 29-06-2016]

The vote by Britain has also impacted the unity of United Kingdom since Scotland and Northern Ireland wanted to continue in Europe while as England and Wales wanted out.

Younger age groups wanted to remain compared to older cohorts and poor wanted out compared to rich.

Throughout the seventies and eighties it was globalization [The G word] of manufacturing facilities that is for Product Markets.

The anecdotal evidence often told in many a business school classrooms used to be something like this. The doors of the Ford car are made in Barcelona and the seat cushions near Budapest and gearbox in the suburbs of Paris and music system in Osaka and the assembly is done at Shanghai and the car is sold in Thailand. So, what is American about it? It is transnational and the geographical boundaries are crumbling and think global and act local we were told, and the term "glocal" came into existence. This was the ultimate in the process of global integration of economic activities through integration of manufacturing facilities to reduce cost, take advantage of pool of skilled resources available in the emerging markets. It also argued about "standardization "of live styles –mostly the American standards— in terms of Jeans, processed food and cola drinks.

 

Then the nineties saw the globalization of Financial Markets, You want to set up a facility in Chennai then you can think of raising funds from New York stock exchange or European Banks if the project is found to be attractive. Funds were looking for markets and "geographical diversification" became the buzzword. The pension funds were one of the largest investors running into nearly 15 trillion USD and at least 15 to 20 % of this was in non-domestic markets. The Funds started searching for markets instead of markets trying to attract funds. The life expectancy in the Europe and US increased significantly and the pension funds were to earn for longer period since old people have to be provided for. Then came the idea of consumption led growth and greed as the norm. On May 18, 1986 Ivan Boesky gave the commencement address at the University of California at Berkeley's business school. "I think greed is healthy," he told his wildly enthusiastic audience. "You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself." A few months later Boesky was indicted on the charges that would land him in Southern California's Lompoc Federal Prison, also known as Club Fed West.

But greed continued to be the norm rather than the exception. The inter-temporal expectations became very large and waiting time became shorter and the so called "get rich quick" attitude took over. To achieve those aims domestic markets were not found to be adequate. Hence the search for "geographical allocation" wherein it was felt that risk should be reduced by spreading it across territories and across product lines. The more financial markets integrated the less they became attractive for diversification since the correlations were becoming more positive. But the melt down has impacted on the idea of globalization. Suddenly countries which are supposed to be de-coupled from the global markets are considered smart. Indian Central Bank is praised for keeping India "de-coupled" from integrators. Not only that –The US congress included a " buy American" clause in the USD 787 billion stimulus package particularly mandating the use of U.S –made iron and steel in stimulus –funded projects , it was clear that protectionism has trumped globalization. As a response China has a "buy Chinese" clause in its stimulus package of USD 586.

 

So the whole game is unravelling on the G front. But the third and most important dimension of globalization, is in the context of the Labor Markets,to allow free flow of human beings to carry out brown collar work in the west. There is a spectre haunting the West. It is the spectre of uncleared garbage, clogged drains and overflowing sewerages. West is facing an acute crisis in the area of brown collar labor. Labor to clear the garbage, remove plates in restaurants, clean the sewerages and treat the municipal and industrial waste. It cannot be outsourced so easily as that of white collar work since the later has significant content of software portion while as brown collar work still has requirements for human beings at locations. In the fifties and the sixties, millions of the Turks and Kurds and Iraqis went to Germany when that economy was booming and they were/ are called guest workers. Even today most are not given rights of Citizens and continue to be guest workers. The Algerians and Moroccans went to France and continue to be a significant minority in France and also active in their Soccer teams. Still, many of them are guest workers since France have this interesting idea of blood being important for becoming citizens– of course the "original" French blood. ! Hence French are rather frugal in accepting them! More than a million Mexicans in USA are called "undocumented"– euphemism for "illegal". These workers in France / Germany / USA etc. were mainly in the blue and brown collar jobs more so in the lower skill categories like cleaning restrooms and restaurants / meat cutting / grape picking/domestic help/ road laying/ garbage processing/plumbing/ handyman jobs; babysitting etc.

 

There was a mass of literature on "Social Cost" of having these migrants [in simple language the pain on the civilized west due to the brown and black people]Then came the economic slump in the late nineties and these European countries have erected fences and reject visas etc. for third world labour. Between England and France there is a huge camp [Sangatte camp] near the starting of the tunnel tube train on the French side and the main job of thousands of migrants held there, is to attempt to get into England and sometimes they get killed in the tube rails. But that is fine, since they are after all from lower forms of civilization. But the requirements are soaring in the brown collar area. We find that the municipal waste alone has significantly increased and the per capita waste or generation intensity for OECD countries is more than 600 kg per annum, which has increased many fold compared to their population. This coupled with industrial waste provide a very large challenge to the west since the brown collar work is not being preferred by the white Caucasians. Let us look at the demographic profile of Europe and US in the next few decades taken from UN population projections. The average total fertility rates in the year 2000 in developed countries was 1.57, and in developing countries it was 3.05.The rate for Europe is 1.4 and Japan is 1.3.USA is just 2.1, India at 3.1 and China at 1.72. It is felt a rate of 2.1 is an appropriate replacement rate, including some death of infants etc. For instance, in another forty years the German population would be lesser by nearly 30%. One third of the population will be more than65 and they will outnumber children by two to one. Italy's rate is 1.2, and in that Catholic country in another forty years more than 40 percent will be above 65 yrs. Over the next decades, the situation could worsen. Estimates suggest that in the next 50 years USA will grow by 100 million numbers and Europe will be less by 100 million numbers. In Russia, two out of three pregnancies are terminated before birth, and Russian women average2.5 to four abortions each, and their death rate is, believe me, 70 percent more than the birth rate. Putin warns that in 15 years there will be 22 million less Russians, that is, seventh of its current population. Japan is already facing the age crisis. Of course, the Whites in England are not having enough children, with London readying to have" ethnic majority" in a decade .One can go on.

 

This reduction in population is out of Choice in the post-contraceptive world unlike the reduction in the 16/17 centuries due to plague etc. The aging of the developed countries coupled with a desire of the labour class, including white collar workers, to work for lesser hours are creating a catastrophe. The best example is the term "Working French" "which has become an oxymoron. If borders are sovereign for labour then it is equally sovereign for financial flows also. If financial markets want a borderless world so be it for the labour markets but it is not acceptable by many in the west. West since they treat G as a one way street. Hence the presence of the "minutemen" in Arizona who will shoot illegal and rhetoric by Obama about Bangalore taking away the jobs from Buffalo and Italian police drowns illegal Africans.

In this context Europe had "integration" where in Polish and Romanians could move into France and UK. Europe does not have common language nor culture .But Project Europe was visualised by French and German "experts" trying to create an artificial entity.
It is important to note that all conflicts in the last thousand years emanated from Europe only and later spread to other parts of the world. Crusades and jehadis were centred on Europe and so is the 1^st and 2^nd world war.

The elites of the world who can be called Davos Junta or Cosmocrats wanted unlimited financial flows across globe and wanted to use Europe as a model.

They don't have loyalty to any country only to their funds and return on the funds. They don't have any specific culture other than the "global culture "of drink/eat and fornicate. They like global terrorists do not respect or recognise sovereignty of nations the so called Westphalian consensus evolved in 1648 ending the thirty year war.

The huge movement of people across Europe more so from countries like Romania/Poland etc. to France /Germany/UK created massive problems for small businesses in those countries.

A report in Financial Times [29-06-2016] in a way high lights this issue

Quote

"Alexandre a fifty year old builder in France supported Brexit– He complained about how builders from Portugal/Spain/Romania were winning small contracts that he had competed for and yet did not pay the same level of taxes or social charges that he faced in France"

Unquote

Couple with the movement of people within Europe is the huge influx of refugees pouring into Europe in the last few years from  war torn countries like Syria/Yemen/Iraq/Afghanistan and even Pakistan.This has created its own tensions in Europe due to religious and cultural conflicts.

Hence we find many right wing parties in France [Le Pen] Holland [Wilders] Austria/Hungary etc.  are not enthusiastic about EU and may initiate methods to leave.

Surprisingly Davos Junta and left groups are for EU which is a peculiar alignment of Global finance and Domestic labour. But the labour in England revolted and voted for Brexit. So Project Europe is in shambles and so is globalisation. The idea that one size fits all is losing its shine. Different cultures /Different communities have different aspirations and goals. It cannot be fitted in to an American or for that matter European model.

Also, it is difficult to compel people to live as per models. Much more important to model actual behaviour of people in different contexts.

It will take decades for the West to internalize that the axis of global economy has shifted to Asia. It will be globalization on the terms of the East. India is the most enthusiastic and eligible candidate for the G since India itself is a Globe but not realized by many Indians. In my class of hundred students—every year– I have at least eight major languages as mother tongues, six different cuisines and four major religions and multiple ways of saying "How are you?" Can any group be more globalised? India understands heterogeneity much better than the homogenization process of globalization thrust by the Weston the rest. Indian globalization is based on acceptance and not tolerance. That is the difference. That is the real Globalization. That alone will work. Even China is learning it the hard way by the revolt of the Uighurs which brings the issue of heterogeneity and China's ability to handle it.  Sooner the Chinese learn from India better for them

 

 

 

    ______________________         

                R.VAIDYANATHAN                                                         

                PROFESSOR OF FINANCE                                             

                INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT                 

                BANNERGHATTA ROAD

                BANGALORE

                INDIA_560076

                TEL: 91-80-2699-3086

                 FAX:91-80-2658-4050

                 e mail:vaidya@iimb.ernet.in

 

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Fwd: How must India respond to Geo-Political Challenges? by sanjeev nayyar in Indian Defence Review

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjeev Nayyar

How must India respond to Geo-Political Challenges?

By Sanjeev Nayyar 22.7.16

http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/how-must-india-respond-to-geopolitical-challenges/

 

The people of Kashmir Valley refuse to accept responsibility for their plight but blame the Central Government for their woes. They will not accept that Valley Muslims dominate and rule the State, hold maximum number of government jobs, are responsible for widespread corruption, terrorism drives away tourists and employment generating industry,  contribute negligible revenue to State by way of taxes, be sensitive to the needs of people of Ladakh and Jammu regions. An apology for killing of Pandits and driving them out of their ancestral homes is out of question!

 

In Pakistani eyes India cannot be seen as succeeding because it would mean question the reason for Pakistan's birth as a nation. This means as long as Pakistan exists, India has to be opposed.

 

Kashmir on the boil again. According to a July 8 report, "The Jammu and Kashmir police have initiated the process of withdrawing cases against 634 stone-throwers, out of the several thousand who have been charged with the crime during the past eight years, following the state's government amnesty order. The state government had earlier this week approved amnesty to 634 persons facing charges of stone-throwing following the Home Department's approval to withdraw 104 cases dating from 2008 to 2009.[1]" Look what happened thereafter!

 

Every time there is violence in the Valley commonly heard phrases are – situation returning to the 1990′s, youth unemployed, human right violations by security forces, dialogue is the only way to resolve the Kashmir dispute, separatists leaders reiterate their importance, outpour of sympathy for the innocent injured or dead. This is followed by high level meetings held in Delhi/Srinagar. With time the situation appears peaceful on the surface, so tourists visit the Valley, only to erupt again.

 

The sequence is familiar. Kashmir has become a pawn in the chessboard involving China, India and Pakistan.

 

This article first identifies realities, with respect to J&K and our neighbours, which India must accept and then outlines a way to deal with geo-political challenges.

 

TO READ FULL ARTICLE http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/how-must-india-respond-to-geopolitical-challenges/

 

Warm Regards
sanjeev nayyar
to unsubscribe write back

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Fwd: Blustering U.S. a PAPER TIGER in S. China Sea+China won’t begrudge India its influence in Africa+Understanding the violence in the VALLEY+Dahal set to return to power

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjeev Nayyar

1. Hard times for Nawaz 14.7.16 by g parthasarathy http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/hard-times-for-nawaz/265423.html

 

2. China's challenge to the Law of the Sea 13.7.16 by brahma c  https://chellaney.net/2016/07/13/chinas-challenge-to-the-law-of-the-sea/

 

3. Russia India to invest $ 4 billion each in FGFA 12.7.16 http://rbth.com/news/2016/07/12/russia-india-to-invest-4-bln-each-in-fgfa_610767

 

4. The Real Story Behind Beijing's Quest To Dominate South China Sea by s banerjee 13.7.16 http://swarajyamag.com/world/the-real-story-behind-beijings-quest-to-dominate-south-china-sea

 

5. China is our bitterest enemy 13.7.16 by rajeev srinivasan http://www.rediff.com/news/column/china-is-our-bitterest-enemy-today/20160713.htm

 

6. What does the South Asia ruling mean and whats next 12.7.16 http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/order-from-chaos/posts/2016/07/12-south-china-sea-adjudication-liow?utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=31580726&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8vsZY-FwSHME6R54TE3FBuS-Z9sZJ2IHuuSD0PL620iq2pBij8g_nG203nyCC7DiiXGevMJfgiJYP635Rtvm1m3g91hjR0PUTSrQifbAQMAb0cZVM&_hsmi=31580726

 

7. China won't begrudge India its influence in Africa by Hu W 14.7.16 http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/994158.shtml

Modi's visit to Africa has once again given India-Africa ties a pronounced leg up, but China has no reason to be jealous. If India's economic interaction with African countries can bring new momentum to local development, China can also benefit from such moves.'

My take – As China feels the heat on South China Sea we might see similar articles.

 

8. Blustering U.S. a PAPER TIGER in S. China Sea editorial global times 14.7.16

 

9. Understanding the violence in the VALLEY by col anil athale 14.7.16 http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/understanding-the-violence-in-valley/

A note of caution is warranted here while dealing with insurgency that has religious motivation. No amount of force or fear of death, destruction or deprivation can bring about a change of perception. The conflict is seen as one between God (and his true followers) and mere mortals. The only way out in these situations is to get the God or religion on your side.

The very existence of Pakistan nearby as an Islamic State is sufficient to keep the separatist cause alive. The fact that Pakistan continues to provide help, support and sanctuary is an added reason, but even without that the cause would survive.

A well-known Indian Muslim reformer, the late Hamid Dalwai had a similar tale to narrate when he mentioned that a simple Shikara (a small boat) man told him that while he had everything else in India, but he must also care for the flag of Islam. '

 

10. Dahal set to return to power 14.7.16 http://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/dahal-set-return-power/

 

11. All you wanted to know about the Kashmir problem E book by sanjeev nayyar Oct 2014 http://www.firstpost.com/ebook_download.php?id=311

 

Warm Regards
sanjeev nayyar

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Fwd: India and France are both targets of Islamist terror - my essay uploaded today

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jay Bhattacharjee

Friends :                                               18 July 2016

TWO COUNTRIES WITH COMMON VALUES AND WORLD-VIEWS ARE ALSO 

TARGETS OF ISLAMIST TERROR

MY ESSAY ON THE OUTRAGE IN NICE ON BASTILLE DAY

____________________________________________________________

http://swarajyamag.com/world/the-nice-bloodbath-a-wake-up-call-to-france-and-india

Jay Bhattacharjee

Fwd: Azaan is increasing the communal gap by Sanjeev Nayyar in Vijayvaani.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjeev Nayyar

<

Azaan is increasing the communal gap

By Sanjeev Nayyar, July 20 2016

http://www.vijayvaani.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=4018

 

During the holy month of Ramzan, a call to the devout awoke me at about 4.45 am every day. For the rest of the year the call rouses me between 5.15 to 5.45 am. For 365 days of the year azaan is done five times a day. Calls come from four mosques, sometimes simultaneously, or one after another.

 

Two of the four mosques are nearly a kilometre away; one is very close. Either way, the sound is very loud. The mosque closest to our building has installed new high powered loudspeakers which brings the call to the devout right into our homes. Some members of the residential society are forthcoming on how disturbing and irritating this is; others prefer to skirt the issue. Friends in the neighbourhood crib, the elderly, women and students being the most agitated.

 

Speaking to the police was an option; some wanted the lane association to speak with the local MLA. But others pointed out that the police, in the absence of political support, would avoid action.

 

Our area alone is not affected. During a meeting at Starbucks off Linking Road in Mumbai, a business conversation was disturbed by azaan. When we looked out, we saw a loudspeaker placed atop a hut in the adjoining plot. Ditto in huts close to Lilavati Hospital in Bandra Reclamation.

 

To understand the mindsets, the writer spoke to three Muslim taxi-drivers, saying loudspeakers disturb the neighbourhood and are giving the community a bad name.

 

The first lives in a Muslim area. He was critical of how early morning azaan spoilt his sleep and added that the devout could set an alarm on their mobile phones. The second wore a skull cap and short white pajama. He was adamant that loudspeakers would be used, come what may. The third, who lives in a Hindu area like ours, said he was helpless in front of the maulvi who said that the louder the call means shaitan bhag jayege(the devil will run). Appreciating his honesty, one pointed out that residents' anger could have a negative impact. He said fewer Hindus used his taxi nowadays.

 

To learn how educated apolitical Hindus feel, a quick whatsapp survey followed. The questions were, how do you feel about being disturbed by azaan? Has it changed your attitude towards the Muslim community?

 

One lady said, "I am against religious activity with loudspeakers. If one is truly devout there is no need to shout. I have nothing against the Muslim community. What about Ganeshotsav mandals? In Vridhachalam we heard temple bells and azaan." When told Ganesh festival is celebrated for ten days in a year while azaanis 5 times a day all year round with loudspeakers, unlike temple bells, she said, 'yes you have a point'.

 

... deleted

Fwd: The government’s economists must represent India

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Arvind 

http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-the-government-s-economists-must-represent-india-2236165

The government's economists must represent India

ARVIND KUMAR | Wed, 20 Jul 2016-08:05am , Mumbai , dna

Historically, international economic institutions have worked against India while helping the cause of Europe and America

The government's economists must not make the country subservient to any international system, but must facilitate the Indian ethos of saving money and working in a decentralized manner. Historically, international economic institutions have worked to the detriment of India while benefiting Europe and America. Now that the economies of USA and European countries are in a shambles, they want a new system so that Indian resources can be used to bail out their economies. The advocates of such a new system have articulated their objectives which will be destructive for India. According to their proposals, a new regulatory authority controlled by Americans and Europeans will control all banks in the world. Going by the name of Basel III, their measures will purportedly save banks from failure by applying economic theories taught at American universities.

Another plan is to impose negative interest rates, which is another way of saying that they will periodically deduct money from the savings accounts of depositors. It will not be possible to escape this system by withdrawing money from the bank because this system will be accompanied by what they call cashless currency, forcing everyone to use banks for all transactions.

The Western system is based on consumption and centralisation of financial power in the government and a few corporations resulting in one economic crisis after another. The seeming prosperity in the West is actually an illusion. 

... deleted

Fwd: NEW POST: A reply to Dr Zakir Naik – Maria Wirth

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ishwar Sharan

ॐ 

​

A reply to Dr Zakir Naik – Maria Wirth

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Admin 

If you are sincere, Dr Naik, you will realise that the wisdom of your ancestors scores high over the worldview and the mind-set of Abrahamic religions. The attitude of "We alone are right and you go to hell if you don't accept our religion" is doing great harm to humanity. It may be helpful for world dominion, but do you want to live in a world where everyone has to wear a straight-jacket? — Maria Wirth

Hindus generally don't criticise other religions in spite of the fact that Christianity and Islam not only criticise, but demean Hinduism badly. Zakir Naik is only one example. Do Hindus know what is preached in the innumerable churches and mosques across India? I know for sure that Hindu gods are called devils by Christian missionaries. Yet Hindus neither defend their gods nor challenge the Abrahamic dogmas in spite of having a solid philosophical basis for their beliefs, which is lacking in Christianity and Islam.

Some years ago, Zakir Naik had ridiculed Ganapati and thrown a challenge to prove that Ganapati is God. I assume he means by God the Supreme Being that Muslims call Allah.

Now what do we know about Allah?

Foremost, Allah is great and merciful, and the faithful as well as the unfaithful are loudly reminded of it five times a day. He also knows what all human beings are doing, but is separate from them. It is claimed that Allah has communicated his final words to Prophet Mohammed. Those words are in the Quran. Allah declared that Islam alone is true. So, all human beings must follow Islam because other paths are wrong. And they must hurry up, because every human being has only one life.

Those, who do not accept Islam during their lifetime, will be thrown into eternal hell-fire where "boiling water will be poured over their heads that not only melts their skin but also the inner parts of their bellies…." (Quran 22:19-22)

Clearly, here is where Allah's mercy ends. He does not brook any dissent. And theazan, which started compassionately, ends with: "Oh Allah, guide us to the Right Way. The Way of those whom You have favoured, not of those who have earned Your wrath…." (Al-Fatiha 1)

This means, Allah is merciful only to his followers who are called Muslims and he is wrathful to those who are not Muslims.

Dr. Zakir Naik, I am confident that I got the concept of 'God' in Islam right because Christianity has a similar concept. And I dare to claim that it is not true. Can you prove (and this challenge goes also to Christian clerics) that Allah / God is indeed so unfair and divisive? Can you prove there will be this huge cauldron of fire where billions of people will burn for ever after Judgment Day? Do these claims of "eternal hell-fire for unbelievers" not rather have the purpose to keep the flock in check? To divide and rule?

There are about two billion Christians, who are told they have to remain Christians, otherwise they can't go to heaven. And then there are about two billion Muslims who are told that they have to remain Muslims, otherwise they can't go to paradise. Both religions had plenty of time to sort out which one is true, but they did not do it. Why? Because they cannot prove it. They can only make claims and counterclaims and fight among themselves, between Muslims and Christians and with heathens or infidels. They do this for the last 2000 years.

Under these circumstances, can anyone claim that Islam or Christianity is beneficial for humanity? Is it not time to have a thorough check of what REALLY is the truth?

... deleted

a services-based, SME-based, platform-based view of the future from nilekani

http://www.slideshare.net/ProductNation/an-alternate-view-of-the-future?ref=http://pn.ispirt.in/an-alternate-view-of-the-future/

what do you guys think? makes sense? of course, the IT services business model is now truly dead and buried.

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