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Showing posts with label Narendra Modi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Narendra Modi. Show all posts

Friday, June 5, 2015

Narendra Modi’s Bubble and the Chumcha Culture

Prime Minister Modi is making all the classic mistakes of a man sitting inside the bubble, oblivious of the chaos outside the thin veil of the bubble. The men who keep him in euphoric status are called “Chumchas” – the “Yes men” of India who will ultimately let their bosses fall from grace.  

Their usual line is “Yes sir, your programs are working beautifully, there is no need to worry, everything is perfect, my hoon Na! (I am here to take care of you). Mr. Modi is so self absorbed, that he does not even question the veracity of the reports or may not even see the reports. His eerie silence does not bode well for India. 

The Chamchas bring the downfall of the leaders and kingdoms. Way back in 1799 the two chamchas of Tipu Sultan Poornayya and Mir Sadiq were telling him everything is alright, but they weren’t.  Girish Karnad writes in the dreams of Tipu Sultan that Tipu was aware of these men making deals with Lord Cornwallis behind his back, and that he was going to deal with them, alas he had done that.
 

George W Bush had his own reverend chumcha Cheney, who kept telling him, “Sir, everything is alright” and brought destruction to America and the world. Alas, God had gifted a brain to this dolt.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has a much thicker bubble around her, she had no idea what was going on, the chamchas including Siddhartha Shankar Roy  kept saying, “Madam, everything is going good, as you had wanted” and she almost turned India into the dictatorship through her emergency rule, I shudder at the thought of what would have happened to India – it would have spun us off the orbit of democracy. Thanks to the Journalists and the media persons who went to Jail to protect our freedom, and now we have many such heroes amidst us to protect us from Modi going the wrong way.

A powerful leader is the most dangerous person for a democracy, and a powerful media is a blessing to a democracy and guarding the rights of the people.

George Bush was a powerful leader, in the wake of 9/11; he frightened everyone including the gutless Senators, Congress persons and even the Journalists to question him. The destruction he brought upon us and upon Iraq, Afghanistan and the world could have been prevented, had the American Media asked the right questions. 

Here comes Modi – a partial replica of George Bush. Bush ruined it by his frightening talk, and Modi is doing it by his silence.  Both leaders were elected with huge mandate.

Shamefully, the Indian Media is flooded with the chumchas, who are ready to praise Lord Modi at every instance.  Here is Jefferson’s wisdom for them, "The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter…."  Thomas Jefferson.
Describing the role of the press, George A. Krimsky, the former head of news for the Associated Press’ and co-author of Hold the Press, writes, “In the wake of America’s successful revolution, it was decided there should indeed be government, but only if it were accountable to the people. The people, in turn, could only hold the government accountable if they knew what it was doing and could intercede as necessary, using their ballot, for example. This role of public ‘watchdog’ was thus assumed by a citizen press, and as a consequence, the government in the United States has been kept out of the news business.”   Indeed, a true journalist is someone who is not a chumcha of the government, and we the people should be skeptical of all the journalists who praise the government.

Modi lives in a bubble, there was a time he cried and was true to himself, shame on his chumchas, and he is not true to himself any more. His bubble is becoming translucent; he cannot see what is going on outside of it.

President Reagan advise to Modi would be, “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.” And he would add, “Trust but verify”. Ronald Reagan.

Indeed, his dream is being jeopardized by his own chumchas and may bring his downfall, if he skip the verify part.

 Sab ka saath sab ka vikas – that is, working together brings prosperity to all. His administration is doing everything to compel people not to work together and ripping their liberties and hell bent on dividing India. They are telling what an Indian can eat or not eat, believe or not believe.  The process of blatant discriminating against Muslims in employment and housing has begun, and on and on and on. Modi’s eerie silence on the issue is chilling, he is being told, and everything is alright sir. My hoon na!

Modi’s slogan, “We will build toilets and not temples” brought a lot of joy to the Indians. He is the first leader of independent India to even think and do something about it.  But his men and women are hell bent on forcing religious conversions, vandalizing churches and pushing a pluralistic Hindu faith into becoming a violent religion.

Does he want this or is he being bullied into silence? Whatever it is, he needs to tear the bubble and reconnect with people and speak up.  Indians are gutsy people and will bring him down as they did with the Almighty Indira Gandhi.

Skepticism is good and without which nothing good can come, and I understand the concerns people have.  In 2014,  I wrote, “I do connect with him now, and I will stick my neck out and say, things will get better under Modi Sarkar, good days are coming for every Indian regardless of his or her affiliation. “  I am withdrawing my neck now, until he comes out of the bubble and restores sanity and cohesiveness of India.

I thank Dr. Thomas A. Kodenkandath/Thommy, a Scientist by profession, and a cartoonist by hobby for drawing the Modi in Bubble cartoon precisely depicting the status of Mr. Modi. He is a graduate of  Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) and is a recipient of several awards, including the Kerala State Lalithakala Academy Award for editorial cartooning 
 Thank you

mike

Mike Ghouse, Speaker
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
........................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine, Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film " Sacred" to be released on 9/11 and a documentary "Americans together" for a July 4 release.  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day

Thursday, May 7, 2015

TIME - Exclusive Interviews with Narendra Modi: ‘We Are Natural Allies’

Two Interviews with Modi on TIME | www.TheGhouseDiary.com 

I am pleased to share the following two interviews of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with my own comments. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the most difficult persons to understand, I connect with him, and I could have written this interview in his behalf, he speaks the right words in building  a cohesive India.  He has all the ingredients to make a great leader of India. Thanks to the great visionary Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to preserve and pass on a great stable  secular pluralistic democracy to us while other nations are stumbling. Now Modi can take this nation further.

 There is however a major disconnect between his words and actions, and his eerie silence towards negative forces that are tearing the cohesive fabric of India do not match his words. He had it right when he said, focus on prosperity and not religion, but he has not done anything to stop his team from focusing on religion.
 

His dream, and the dream of every Indian to see a successful India will be short circuited, if the bus he is riding on has a few tires that have low air pressure causing the whole bus (nation) to slow down and reduce the chances of a safe journey, he has got to take the action.  He cannot ask those tires (Dalits, Muslims, Christians) to fill up themselves to be on par with the other tires of the bus, unless all the passengers come together to uplift the ones in ditches the journey will not be safe, secure and assured.  


If Modi can work on creating an India where no Indian is apprehensive of the fellow Indian, then he will become the second greatest leader in shaping India and I am with him, all I ask of him is to speak up to bring fruition to his own words.

Modi has the unprecedented power; all he has to do is speak up. Tell the Bhagwatis, Sadhvis and the others to shut up or take a hike, it will do it. But will he do it? I hope he does and realize his own dream and the dreams of a 1.27 Billion Indians.

He has to follow it up with the action to implement - that every Indian will have equal access to justice, education, employment, loans, housing, work, health care and retirement, and that every Indian is free to breath, eat, drink, wear and believe whatever the hell he or she wants to. 


Interviews at: http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2015/05/time-exclusive-interviews-with-narendra.html


Mike Ghouse prays for Modi to bring his words and actions together. Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on PluralismIslamIndiaIsrael-PalestinePoliticsand other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film " Sacred"  and a documentary "Americans together" .  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

# # # 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

India bans "India's daughters" a documentary about Rape. Shame on the leaderhsip

This documentary is about the shameless culture of rape and the courage of ordinary Indians to take a bold stand against it. The leadership thinks it is made to defame India and has banned the documentary. Those who are concerned about the honor of India, should defend the victims of rape rather than the rapists, and work on changing the ugly misogynistic culture than blaming and banning the documentary.

Shameful details at:


http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/2015/03/indias-daughter-educational-documentary.html

Mike Ghouse

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Is Hinduism a violent Religion?



The extremists among Hindus have hijacked the religion of peace and non-violence, just as the extremists among Buddhists, Jews and Muslims have done it with their religions. It is time for the moderate Hindus to speak up; if not, the new narrative would be Hinduism is a religion of violence, fascism and forcible conversions.

I urge you to read the whole article before drawing conclusions.


Hinduism is indeed blessed not to be slapped with 9/11-like terrorism label on it, despite the massacres of 3000 Sikhs in New Delhi by the violent Hindu mobs in just three days, for a total of 8,000 Sikhs within a week. Nearly a thousand Muslims were butchered by the fanatic Hindus in Gujarat within two weeks in 2002. Christian nuns were raped, their churches pillaged and some of the missionaries were burnt alive including Rev. Graham Staines. What is done to the Dalits, formerly known as untouchable, is unforgivable. The historic 500-year-ld Babri Mosque was destroyed in 1992 by extremists Hindu mobs.
No good Hindu should be offended by the above; they did no wrong. They would be wrong if they don't speak out against it.


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Save India from becoming an ISIS Nation

If Hindu Radicals have their way, no one will be a Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Jew, Buddhist or the other - they want to convert 100% of Indians to be Hindus. They'll adopt coercion and all other methods to achieve their goals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a record of not saying anything to his radical men and let them do the intended damage, and then he will speak. I was his supporter and I am not sure about his integrity any more, he is letting his own dream wrecked by his men, was that the intention?

His Promoters like Ashutosh Varshney, Madhu Kishwar are walking away and I am with them. 





All the major stories are in this link http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2015/01/ghar-wapasi-articles-radical-hindus.html and more links are on the right panel at www.MikeGhouseforIndia.blogspot.com 

Mike Ghouse
Picture courtesy - Dainik Bhaskar

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Is Hinduism a Violent Religion?

Is Hinduism a violent Religion?
The extremists among Hindus have hijacked the religion of peace and non-violence, just as the extremists among Buddhists, Jews and Muslims have done it with their religions. It is time for the moderate Hindus to speak up; if not, the new narrative would be Hinduism is a religion of violence, fascism and forcible conversions.

I urge you to read the whole article before drawing conclusions.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFbVbmj2Au68ZrXRYU-DrHrt0zM3su14PGnzdg1lVts5sO_AJSYbRVjpGE3tKlZpalJFa_353NsmVPP0R4K7oedS_UplVgiazJxiH7DOf5N_nUlJQHLXV8aEAq2mGgLiSjERE7Tq8llIV/s1600/HinduViolence-thumb.jpg


Hinduism is indeed blessed not to be slapped with 9/11-like terrorism label on it, despite the massacres of 3000 Sikhs in New Delhi by the violent Hindu mobs in just three days, for a total of 8,000 Sikhs within a week. Nearly a thousand Muslims were butchered by the fanatic Hindus in Gujarat within two weeks in 2002. Christian nuns were raped, their churches pillaged and some of the missionaries were burnt alive including Rev. Graham Staines. What is done to the Dalits, formerly known as untouchable, is unforgivable. The historic 500-year-ld Babri Mosque was destroyed in 1992 by extremists Hindu mobs.
No good Hindu should be offended by the above; they did no wrong. They would be wrong if they don't speak out against it.

--
Thank you

mike

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism
, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, cohesive work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up, and the process of making the film "Flames of Passion" has begun. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; regularly at Oped News and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.  

Monday, December 8, 2014

Obama's foreign policy talk to Indian Students.

It was a joy to hear him out, he and I speak the same language, to be inclusive and not to push people to dig in their heels. Indeed, it is in India's interest to have a safe, secure and stable Pakistan. A nation or individual's peace hinges on the peace around him or it.  

I hope our kids will not be poisoned by some of us with hatred for others. It is no good.

If you threaten others, I will guarantee you, you are not going to sleep in peace, and both sides will live in apprehensions. These stinky attitudes were part of the humanoids when they were hunters and gatherers, we don't need them. 


I hope Mr. Modi understands this along with those children, he has a chance to prove to be better than Nehru and he should strive for it. I hope and pray that he will demonstrate his abilities by pulling a peace agreement between the two nations. If we do that, our world would become bigger - we can seek the UN Security council seat.  

http://www.zemtv.com/2014/12/07/indian-student-questions-obama-why-doesnt-america-consider-pakistan-a-terrorist-state-watch-obamas-excellent-reply/

Bolo Barack Obama ki - Jai!

Mike Ghouse

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Decmocracy alive in Indian Parliament, thanks to Asaduddin Owaisi

INDIAN DEMOCRACY IS ALIVE - ASADUDDIN OWAISI
http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2014/06/decmocracy-alive-in-indian-parliament.html

I have criticized Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi in the past and will continue to do so for his approach. However, given that there is no spineful opposition in our parliament, we need to admire him for being critical of the government and question them.   We need to have men like MallikArjun Kharge and Asaduddin Owaisi to question and criticize, it is a sign of a healthy democracy.  Shehzada and others will probably speak nothing and do nothing.

As Indians we need to mature, and appreciate the men and women who question the government. I would say, the most patriotic Indian would be the one who keeps the government on its toes, like my friend Sean Hannity. If we don't keep the government in the line, they will become what we hated before, and before.

Today at the parliament he spoke up loud and clear.   Vajpayee had done it, Sushma had done it,  and so they do at the US Congress and Senate or any democratic system. Even the shouting responses are democratic, as they do in the UK Parliament. At least chappals were not flying.

As people, we need to appreciate the men and women who criticize our governments. I am sure Modi will speak up about it, and I hope and pray that he values dissent - the foundation of democracy.   


Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kmbn_Xu4Go

Asaduddin Owaisi and Shanavas baffle BJP in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI : Asaduddin Owaisi, President All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen and M.P. from Hyderabad created uproar in Lok Sabha during his address. He hit at BJP with his precise points. Even he sarcastically congratulated Narendra Modi for destroying myth of Muslim vote bank, and added that "in doing so you have proved there is a Hindu vote bank which can be consolidated". Further he said:
 
"I stand here as the son of Ehsan Jafri...
"I stand here as the brother of Ishrat Jahan...
"I stand here as the Uncle of Mohsin Sadiq Sheikh...
"I stand before you as the voice of those poor voiceless people affected by Gujarat genocide  and I want justice to be done with them.

Owaisi's remarks regards Babri Masjid and Gujarat riots evoked sharp reaction from BJP members who were heard shouting "shame on you". Unperturbed by the protest, Owaisi noted there are very few Muslim representatives from BJP in the Lok Sabha. “Where is the inclusiveness?” he asked and demanded that the Prime Minister make it clear what he proposed to do for the minorities. He didn't spare Najma Heptullah for claiming Muslims are not minorities.

Owaisi added that soon, this Parliament would nominate Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse for Bharat Ratna.

Congress MP from Wayanad M I Shanavas  in his address said despite the defeat, Congress would rise again. "Congress will never die. Congress can die only with the nation... Whatever may be your victory, victory is not all that matters. Hitler had won, Mussolini had won, Stalin had won, victory will not make all the differences. I tell you in this august House that the Indian National Congress will come back like a storm in this House itself," he said.

http://www.milligazette.com/news/10567-asaduddin-owaisi-and-shanavas-baffle-bjp-in-lok-sabha

Friday, June 6, 2014

Shashi Tharoor and Mike Ghouse on Narendra Modi at Huffington Post

Is there an Indian who does not want to hear the following statements from his national leader?  “125 Crore (1.25 Billion) Indians are my family” – “Sab Ka Sath sab Ka Vikas: everyone together, prosperity for all” - “I will not fall into the trap of looking at Muslim or Christian colors, but see everyone as my fellow Indian” - “Whether you voted for me or not, I am your Prime Minister” – “No one needs to fear the other” – Let’s build toilets before we build temples” and many such positive upbeat statements from Mr. Narendra Modi.






When Tharoor and I heard the above statements in a variety of expressions, we understood its depth and praised it. Even if he did not mean it, let the man define himself and live up to it. He has a reputation for discipline and in less than ten days, he has straightened the Parliamentary offices – if they know Modi is making the rounds, they clean up the offices and get their acts together. After all, Modi has quoted Mahatma Gandhi “we are the trustees of people” and we have to live up to it.


The accusations leveled against me and Tharoor is that we have changed, we did not!
It is actually Modi ……….. Continued at Huffington Post - to be posted before Monday at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/
 
 
References:

Links provided after each bullet and additional links, where you can link this as article.

"125 Crore [1.25 billion] Indians are my family."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/news/Full-text-of-Narendra-Modis-speech-in-Central-Hall-of-Parliament/articleshow/35420762.cms

   
"Sab Ka Sath sab Ka Vikas: Everyone together, prosperity for all."
http://www.narendramodi.in/sabka-saath-sabka-vikas-a-synopsis-of-11-years-of-shri-narendra-modi-in-gujarat-as-the-cm/


"I will not fall into the trap of looking at Muslim or Christian colors, but see everyone as my fellow Indian."
http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/election-2014/in-message-to-muslims-narendra-modi-says-will-reach-out-to-all-512357

"Whether you voted for me or not, I am your prime minister."
https://news.yahoo.com/modi-condemns-anti-muslim-remarks-colleagues-defiant-112857867--business.html

"No one needs to fear the other."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/17/world/asia/india-muslims-modi.html?_r=0

"Let's build toilets before we build temples."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Build-toilets-first-and-temples-later-Narendra-Modi-says/articleshow/23422631.cms 
 

Gandhi Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PQlAJgf8Tc#t=522


 
Mike Ghouse is Public Speaker, thinker and an author commited to building cohesive societies, and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Everything about him is at MikeGhouse.net and many links to media, websites and blogs.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Anti-Muslim and Anti-Christian Frisco meeting by Global Hindu Heritage Forum in Dallas, Texas

The Title should have been opposite of Anti-Muslim or Anti-Christian, as it turned out to be not-anti-at all. But since it is a continum of the letter, we kept the same title.

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/06/anti-muslim-and-anti-christian-friscy.html


An Alarming letter was posted by Global Hindu Heritage Foundation and held an anti-Muslim and anti-Christian rally in Frisco, Texas - so I went to the meeting. The agenda was not the same as it was in the letter.

I think Indians in general and Muslims in particular need to hear Madhu Kishwar, she will be in town through Thursday in New York. She threw me off with her perspectives, with a grain of salt and skepticism, I did hear her full one hour talk. A critique turned defender of Modi. A few notes for your to ponder upon. 

An alarming letter was posted by the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation at our forum, DallasIndians@yahoogroups.com . The letter was outright discriminatory, tearing India apart kind of letter, and was sent to India's newly elected Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. The letter was insane, and it was hard to believe that Indians living in America want to discriminate and deny equal rights to Christians and Muslims in India. I just could not fathom that most of the men on the list were Medical Doctors and PhD's.  The letter and my response to the letter is at: http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/2014/06/tearing-india-apart-hatefilled-mindset.html  
 

The occasion  was the 7th Annual Hindu Unity Day in Frisco. Unity of each community and Unity of communities must be appreciated.  By the way, the first Hindu Unity day in Dallas was organized by the Foundation for Pluralism on June 17, 2005 in Dallas.
I wanted to attend the event to understand what goes on. A few years ago they had organized a summit on Islam – and I had asked them if there was any Muslim on the panel, there was none, and they ignored my request and perhaps passed judgments on Muslims without the presence of Muslims. It is always good to be engaged and hear each other’s point of view; when it is about the each other.

The speakers were Madhu Kishwar and Dr. Graham Schweig. The first session before lunch included several Dallas based organization heads talking about their efforts in campaigning for Mr. Narendra Modi, and I missed the first speaker Kalyan Viswanathan, who might have delivered a negative speech. I did not hear Dr. Schweig’s speech as I had to leave.

Madhu Kishwar delivered a full hour’s speech “Modi and the Media – setting the record Straight” – it was a pleasant surprise, there was no hatred spewing out for Muslims or Christians. Usually fund raisers get people riled up against something or someone to get people to open their check books, and a lot of people fall prey for that. I have been to the fund raisers of right wing Jews, Christians and Muslims as well, and have spoken up against their rhetoric.

Madhu Kishwar was rather inclusive in her approach.

Whenever she mentioned a positive statement about inclusion of Muslims – people clapped out of their hearts.
I have always believed that humans instantaneously react with goodness, it’s only when they deliberate they get corrupted.   Indeed, in my response to GHHF letter I had mentioned that a majority of the signatories on that letter probably did not even read the contents and had simply signed it, for a few to carry forward. It is hard for me to believe that so many people in a group could subscribe to such vitriolic pronouncements,  and most of them would not have signed it, had they read it.

It was refreshing to hear her. She threw in a lot of information that I need to verify and absorb.  It is always good to verify before you believe, when the information is different than what we have heard it all along.  I ran into her again at the Sonu Nigam Show, and she assured me that her reports are legitimate and said the Nanavati Report was accurate.
Some of her points:

She was bashing the media for not agreeing to the clean chit by SIT - to me democracy exists because of the press, good, bad and ugly. There are some great statements by Jefferson and others on the topic.

Do you realize, both the left and right have exactly same complaint? That the media in on other's side.

She thinks - BJP was not convinced that Modi was not involved in the riots as accused, that hesitancy was reflected in the talks and acts of BJP.

Per her Modi has done a lot of good things, but never flaunted it.

50% of Muslims Voted for Modi in Gujarat on February 24th 2002 results.

The hell broke loose within a couple of days – she asks, why would Modi initiate riots when Muslims voted him so overwhelmingly?

28 Muslim Organizations headed by Kader Bhai in Rajkot had asked for a cemetery plot which Modi had granted, and Modi never claimed or flaunted about it.

He is not divisive as claimed. Sab Ka Sath; sab ka Vikas has been his slogan from the very beginning.
I really liked when she spoke my language – that is she will not accuse any one exclusively without seeing the same mistake in others.  Referring to Togadia, she said, Muslims are no exception; we have our own share of Danga-ee (trouble makers).  It was not Modi that needed the riots, but it was the Congress who needed it. (we have to assess this).

She claimed Army was called in immediately. And deployed on 3/1 – George Fernandez, the then Defense Minister apparently toured the riot torn place on 2/28 while the riots were still going on.  

I bought the book - but wont't be able to read it, as I have to wrap up my book without any excuse.

Because of the differences or dominance of Hindus, most  of  the Muslims, Christians, Dalits and Sikhs have stayed away from being a part of India based organizations.

All I ask Indian Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others to be involved with Indian organizations, we have to be a part of the society, and all others have to be a part of our lives. Otherwise, all of us would remain in shells not knowing what goes on, we will be harming ourselves and our nation by not being a part of each other. We have to live together, at least our relatives have to live together in India and we need to care for all.


Mike Ghouse is an Indian American Public Speaker, thinker and a writer committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Notes from watching Swearing in ceremony of PM Modi and his cabinet

Notes made while watching the Swearing in Ceremony of the PM and new Cabinet, it was a 90 minute event. This is raw, no grammar or spell check done.
·         Awesome event
·         Congratulations to Prime Minister Modi and his Cabinet
·         I don’t know about you guys- the Indian National Anthem has always made me feel tender and emotional, and frequently, I hear this version while working late or when I want to get a break. 
·         No Jai Hind after the national Anthem, even though I did not like Indira Gandhi for her emergency rule – but her voice Jai Hind have been engraved on my mind, I hear her every time, and usually, I am the one in gathering to say it out loud – Jai Hind.
·         It was good to see all people stand up for the National Anthem, of course, as Americans we have opened up, but apparently the TV people made a point about Nawaz Shariff standing up for the national Anthem.   
·          There is a false assumption that one should not stand up for other nations National Anthems, the problem is not with nations and the people – it’s the governmental policies. 
·         This the only glorious moment of the President of India
·         Modi’s swearing in started the roll – I was really hoping that Modi will take the oath, and then all of the ministers, together would take the oath collectively. It was too long to hear the exact same words except their names.
·         It would have been nice for the President and Prime Minister to speak 
·         Swearing in was in Hindi and English – Venkaiah Nadu from Andhra did it in English, followed by a few more including Najma Heptulla….. Ofcourse, they could have done in of the 28 languages
·         Uma Bharati walked out without bowing to the President
·         Good to see many women in the cabinet
·         Men shook hands with the president, women did not. 
·         Modi and someone leaned as if touching the feet
·         Most of them were around 62 – wonder what the median age was
·         Najma Heptulla is the oldest of all 74, born before independence 
·         Smriti Irani is the youngest of all - 38
·         Oddly, women’s age except Najma was not displayed
·         No western clothes were worn – except the shirt and pants by Mr. Gowda
·         As a pluralist I did not like the phrase “Sabhi prakar ke log” – translates to all kinds of people, it should have been “every Indian” and not all kinds of people. 
·         When Sushma Swaraj came – Barkha started talking in her boisterous voice- I have always liked her, but today I shouted her “Shut up Barkha” I want to hear them.  They did not have the sense to shut up. 
·         Disappointments
o   Too many Ministers, I was hoping Modi would cut the bureaucracy down
o   Nirmal Sitaraman should have been given the post of Public relations – she did very well in defending and speaking in behalf of BJP and Modi all these months.
o   Najma Heptulla should not have been given the minority affairs position, it should have been some oneelse who is aggressive and active in the market.
o   Too long – and a punishment of the guests to sit quietly… although many of them were “desis’ and talking with each other. 
·         Positive things
o   Great moment, great ceremony
o   Modi’s vision to be inclusive by inviting SAARC Nations, this is good step forward
o   Someone floated the idea of NAFTA – for Modi to do SAARC deal
o   It was good to see Rahul and Sonia in the audience – In a democracy; we have to learn to accept defeat gracefully.
o   None of the guests seem to have cell phones, and no one was checking messages, it must have been a punishment to Salman Khan, he was restless.
o   Glad they kept the age to be below 75 for Ministerial berths

These are the raw notes with no spell or grammar check

Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Mr. Narendra Modi’s hypothetical India speech on Monday, May 26, 2014

NARENDRA MODI'S HYPOTHETICAL INDIA SPEECH ON MONDAY 5.26.14

Mr. Narendra Modi will deliver one of his most memorable speeches on Monday, May 26, 2014 upon taking the oath of office of the Prime Minister of India, and I am going hypothesize the contents of his speech based on my embryonic understanding of him firmed up over the last few weeks.   



MR. NARENDRA MODI, INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER
This is the biggest historic moment in the world of governance. Never in the history of mankind, there has ever been an individual freely elected to govern by such a huge mandate, the largest number of people on the earth have voted Mr. Narendra Modi to lead the democratic Republic of India.  On Monday, May 26, 2014, Mr. Modi will take the oath of office of the Prime Minister of India. The theme of his speech would be simple: inclusive development.   


Mr. Narendra Modi’s hypothetical speech on Monday, May 26, 2014

Published at Oped news at
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Mr-Narendra-Modi-s-hypoth-by-Mike-Ghouse-2014-Elections_Bharatiya-Janata-Party_Governance_Historicism-140525-136.html


Other articles of Modi at: http://mikeghouse.net/Articles/Narendra-Modi-India.asphttp://mikeghouse.net/Articles/Narendra-Modi-India.asp

Mike Ghouse is an Indian American Public Speaker, thinker and a writer committed to offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day - wwwMikeGhouse.net
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Friday, May 23, 2014

A letter to my Prime Minister Shri Modi by Janab Ali Khan

A letter to my Prime Minister Shri Modi by Janab Ali Khan
URL - http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-letter-to-my-prime-minister-shri-modi.html

Kudos to Mr. Ali Khan for writing a thoughtful letter to the next  Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. As usual one of our right wingers,  a Kiran Mehta
see faults in it. Sadly,   the hardcore right and left are incapable of seeing another point of view but tearing up others – and of course their freedom must be valued without having to agree. In a democracy, the best thing to do is respond with a better answer. 

So, here is my response to Kiran Mehta’s five questions (at the very bottom of this entire note);

1.      He said, very few people – that is Muslims of India, have the honor and privilege of choosing their home land – compared to the 80% Hindu majority who did not have that option of choosing.
 
2.      He said, the new government will allow me to express my feelings of patriotism in my own language – that is Jai Hind, as opposed to Modi’s language he contrasted Bharat Mata ki Jai.
 
3.      Muslims, Dalits, Christians and other do not want any appeasements, handouts or favors, all they want is to have equal opportunities, access and equal say. Thank God India is a democracy that allows every one the freedom to speak  of which you and I are beneficiaries.
 
4.      He addressed the specifics – to be treated like an Indian as guaranteed in the constitution, but the right wing elements of India cannot see an India together, like the goon Giriraj, who does not treat other Indians as equals. Ali did the right thing by asking questions, that is the right of every citizen.
 
5.      Yes, Indian electorate has chosen development, and Muslims, Christians and Dalits have also chosen Modi in the same percentages as the Hindus.  Modi has the best answer for your question, he said, “whether you voted for me or not, I represent you, and I am your prime Minister’.
 
All Ali Khan letter must be admired, and I do hope that Mr. Modi invites him to the inauguration and gives him a hug and assures him that every Indian is his Bhai or Behan as he has repeatedly said.

What Ali Khan did was fulfill the duty of a responsible citizen to point out the flaws, so India can be flawless, that is Patriotism and we need to reward this guy for writing such a letter. Indeed, a true patriotic Indian is the one who takes the responsibility to tear down the government policies, if they are wrong, no matter who they are, God, Gandhi, Pundit Nehru or Narendra Modi.
  
More about Narendra Modi at my website site MikeGhouse.net.  I am getting convinced Modi is the right man to shape India’s rejuvenated destiny, when I read the letters like this.

Mike Ghouse
Dallas, Texas

A letter to my Prime Minister
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/counterflows/a-letter-to-my-prime-minister/