Returning back to my blog after 4 years. I thought it would have been removed or deactivated. But it is still alive. Will try to pen my thoughts more frequently.

What people think about us

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Whatever great things we may say about our country but this is what others think about us.
And what they think is very true.
Things have gone to such an extend in this country that we require a revolution to set things right.

Talks resumed with Pakistan

Yesterday I returned back to Delhi after attending my cousin's wedding. When I switched on the TV, the first news I heard was that New Delhi has agreed to resume talks with Pakistan. I was disappointed but not surprised. This has now become a ritual. Pakistan slaps India, India pauses engagement with Pakistan, talks resume after few months - one year this time. Nothing changes during these months nor anything changes after talks are resumed. Then there is another terrorist attack in few months or year and the cycle repeats.

I fail to understand why we don't have any long term policies/strategy when it comes to foreign affairs or defense. Why we always react to events and never try to preempt events to happen to our liking. I understand that political bosses in this country are a useless lot (most of them). But we do have IAS officers who are supposed to be the best brains of this country. Why have they not been able come out with a long term startegy to contain Pakistan. Are they not competent (can't help remembering Sharm El-Sheikh fiasco) or they are too pre-occupied advancing their own career by pleasing their political bosses.

Whatever be the case, all this is very demoralizing for the nation. People feel venerable to repeated terrorist attack from Pakistan and our government's inability to do anything about it.

Republic Day

Yesterday was 26th Jan 2010 - our Republic Day. I still remember when I was a kid, this was the most important celebration for me; even more than Diwali or Holi. Reason - I loved seeing smart army jawans marching, loved the display of Tanks, fighter planes, naval ships and was owe struck by the air display.

All this made me feel proud of my country and more than that gave me a feeling of security that my country is capable of defending itself, no one can do us any harm.

But now I don't even bother to have a passing look at the TV when republic day parade is in progress. I really feel all this is a facade. We are wasting our time and money on it.

This change in my opinion started around 10 years back. I was totally taken back by attitude of successive Indian governments (of any party) in response to attack on Indian people by terrorists. Every one knew that it was Pakistan which was launching all these terrorist attacks but no government bothered to give it a suitable response. We had numerous blasts, thousands of people being killed but the response that we got from government was a warning to Pakistan and at the most stopping any engagements with them for few months. Even the provocation of attack on our parliament was not enough for our government to give Pakistanis a befitting response. Army was mobilized by the BJP government but they were kept on border as decoration pieces. They did not have the balls to use them.

So what is the point in having third largest army in the world if you don't have the guts to use it to protect your citizens. Let apart using the army for military response, our government doesn't even use them in their diplomacy with Pakistan. After Mumbai attacks, governments made it a point to repeatedly say that military option is not on the table. That is, you are telling your enemies before negotiations that you don't have the balls to respond militarily. So then what is the use of keeping such large armed forces if you are not ready to use it in any way. It is a white elephant for us. Instead India should come under military umbrella of USA(anyhow India still runs to US after every major terrorist attack by Pakistan). This will spare us billions of dollars that we spend on our armed forces. We can use it for uplifting millions of poor people of our country.

It is really ironical that on one hand we have country like America which after single terrorist attack on 9/11, waged war on two countries thousands of miles away and on other hand we are not able to handle even one country despite our military advantage over it.

Its a SHAME.

IPL and Pakistani Players - Controversy

Finally we have hit where it hurts most. Pakistan is simmering with pain and it gives me at least some comfort. The blow may not have come from our Indian government (Nor do I have any expectations from them) but at least some one has given them - intentionally or otherwise - what they deserved.

I know I must be sounding like a hawk, an uncivilized unfriendly person. After this incident, the self proclaimed moral police of this country - Press (TOI), NDTV etc - started often repeated chant of good relation with Pak, politics in sports blah blah blah. These were the same guys who a year back crusified Pakistan for their role in 26/11. Now they want peace, friendship etc etc.

Even there was a comment from ShahRukh Khan that we should have taken Pakistani players in IPL and we should treat them as good neighbors.

I fail to see any reason in these arguments. I just want to ask one question to these friendly and nice people - Is their attitude same in their private life? Will they call their neighbor "Friendly" if he has the habit of knocking their door and slapping their face very month or so. Will they go out for movies and music concerts with him even if he is a nuisance? How will they handle this in their private life? What will be their attitude towards this guy who after repeated talks, warnings has failed to mend his ways. I am sure it won't be what they preach in their editorials and news discussions.

Then why this moraly high stand for Pakistan? Because these guys are not directly involved in it. Their personal lives are unaffected by it. Because none of their near and dear one has ever faced a suicide attacker or a terrorists bullet. Because it happens to someone else in this billion people country called India. There are always two rules - one for India and one for themselves.

Pakistan can never-never be a friendly country. Not after what we have done to them in 1971.
Their whole politics and physic revolved around anti India sentiments.
So what happened to Pakistan in IPL was what it deserved. WE DON'T NEED TO BE APOLOGETIC ABOUT IT.