Author: Atanu Dey

Economist.

The Iron Lady who Fought for Freedom

“Freedom, freedom, freedom . . . Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, A long way from my home,” sang Richie Havens at Woodstock. Lots of people struggle for freedom. What are they seeking freedom from? From other people. We have to remember this: People need to leave other people alone. Do what you will and don’t impose your will on others. That should be the totality of the law.

Below the fold, the text of my recent column at NitiCentral.com, “The Iron Lady who Fought for Freedom.” But first here’s Richie Havens in 2009 singing that song which he sang in the 1969 music festival held on Yasgur’s farm near Woodstock, NY.

After 40 years, the man still retains his voice. Watch him at Woodstock here.

Continue reading “The Iron Lady who Fought for Freedom”

Rediff Ballot: Who should be India’s next PM?

Go click on the poll at rediff.

As of around Tuesday 9th April 6:30 PM IST
As of around Tuesday 9th April 6:30 PM IST

I am guessing that the numbers for Modi will drop and Pappu’s number improve on the rediff poll. The #twitterNREGA people have yet to get on the ball.

Another Idiot Pinning Terror on the Poor

Most people realize after a little bit of observing and thinking that terrorism is not a matter of poverty. In most cases, the terrorists themselves proclaim their motives quite loudly which does not ever include poverty. The poor may have legitimate grievances against the others but they don’t resort to the indiscriminate killing of people as a result. Every act of terror is ideologically motivated and in most cases it is an intolerant vicious desert religion which promises terrorists rewards in their afterlife. But there are people who are either afraid or too stupid to acknowledge that; instead they blame poverty — and therefore the poor — for terrorism. That is insanely immoral.
Continue reading “Another Idiot Pinning Terror on the Poor”

QUOTE: Stanley Kubrick “However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.”

kubrick_quote

The complete quote appears below:
Continue reading “QUOTE: Stanley Kubrick “However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.””

Hey, Congress, Leave that Pappu Alone

So the big news is that the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) had a meeting which was addressed by the appointed prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the son of his Italian madam, the half-Italian Mr. Raul Vinci who goes by the name Rahul Gandhi.

Appointed PM Dr Singh pondering -Pic courtesy The Unreal Times-
Appointed PM Dr Singh pondering

Referring to Raul/Rahul as “Pappu” is becoming popular. The name pappu (pronounced ‘pup-poo’) has a passing resemblance to ‘puppy’ but in many parts of north India, pappu is a term of endearment used for very immature little boys. Continue reading “Hey, Congress, Leave that Pappu Alone”

The IITs are not really what they are cracked up to be

It is time once again to lay that old chestnut to rest. The specious claim that the IITs are better than some of the best universities in the world is beyond slack-jawed silliness. I am reminded of that by this tweet by my friend @KiranKS

Continue reading “The IITs are not really what they are cracked up to be”

India Policy Institute Conference-workshop on India’s Governance Apr 13-14th, New Delhi

Sanjeev Sabhlok, Exec Dir of India Policy Institute, is having a conference on “How can India’s governance become world class?” in New Delhi on 13-14th April. Shri Gurcharan Das will give the inaugural address and Sanjeev Sabhlok will present the keynote address. Details are here (pdf). Who should attend?

All Indian citizens who want to learn about good governance principles and practices which are commonplace in the West, but almost entirely absent in India, are a suitable audience for this conference. Participants will learn about a range of intuitive (and some not-so-intuitive) solutions to India’s problems, enabling them to directly address such issues if they have a direct capacity to implement such solutions, or demand that such issues be addressed in India.

I regret that I won’t be able to attend as I am not in New Delhi on those dates. I wish IPI and Sanjeev great success in the event and the mission that he is on.

Open Thread: Say what you will

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, comrades and friends. (Hitchens favored that greeting at many public events.) Sorry for the relative silence around here. Things are in a mess. But there’s hope. Anyway, do leave a comment with your thoughts. I just want to point out a 2008 blog post, “Blaming the Victim“. Comments are closed on that post. So please leave a comment here if you wish.

On Immigrants’ Love for their Old Country

Image stolen from the web I live in the US and call California home. Yet, I am an Indian; having being born one, I will always be one. The US is home but so is India. I owe loyalty to both countries. I explored that thought in my recent piece on NitiCentral.com. (I do not take responsibility for the title used for the piece.) Here it is, for the record (with a different title.)
Continue reading “On Immigrants’ Love for their Old Country”

AAP’s Prashant Bhushan’s Extraordinary Claim

An extraordinary claim made despite all the contrary evidence, just as contrary to all evidence, Islamic terror is dismissed with the facile statement that “terrorism has no religion.”

In India, Hindu sponsored terrorism is at its peak. As long as these Hindu terrorists exist, Kashmiris are not safe in any corner of this country. -- Prashant Bhushan, Aam Aadmi Party
In India, Hindu sponsored terrorism is at its peak. As long as these Hindu terrorists exist, Kashmiris are not safe in any corner of this country. — Prashant Bhushan, Aam Aadmi Party

The English translation says,

“In India, Hindu sponsored terrorism is at its peak. As long as these Hindu terrorists exist, Kashmiris are not safe in any corner of this country.

Prashant Bhushan, Aam Aadmi Party”

AAP is Arvind Kejriwal’s political party. Bhushan is endorsing what Raul Vinci aka Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party claimed — that the greatest threat to India is from “Hindu” terrorism. That’s not the surprising bit. The surprising bit is that some Hindus will certainly vote for AAP. This is part of the big pattern: Hindus acting against their own long-term interests. As long as this goes on, the future is bleak for Hindus — and for India.