The D-Day for Bangalore is just around the corner – Thursday, 23^rd April is the day when we go to the polls and guess who’s competing from Bangalore’s most prestigious constituency?

Captain Gopinath

Known for enabling the dream of the common man to fly, this entrepreneur, who’s now turned as an independent had a very interesting blog on IBN Live. Explaining his rationale for going it alone, he made it amply clear that he didn’t have a fascination to compete the elections for power or money. With assets to the tune of nearly 50 odd crores, Gopi’s clear that he is not in this for the money. Detailing his vision for the country, he’s got the educated elite of Bangalore rooting for him.

Leading the charge is Mohandas Pai, the HR head of Infosys.

Pitted as the “battle” for South Bangalore, this independent takes on the big wigs – BJP’s Ananth Kumar, a traditional winner from this place and a rising young Congressman, Krishna Byre Gowda. It’s certainly going to be an interesting battle and I really look forward to this outcome.

As someone who will vote day after for this constituency, here are a few thoughts that come to my mind:

1. Being an election for the Parliament, the key outcome to my mind is who is going to be the Prime Minister. Choosing to vote for the BJP or the Congress will mean that I have a clear choice as the final outcome with the PM candidate. While I personally believe that one is better than the other (now don’t ask me who), how does voting for Gopinath make a difference to the big picture?
2. I’ve seen the state of several independent candidates in the past – while they somehow manage to make it, they get bought out. But knowing Gopi, I’m assuming he won’t, or will he eventually?
3. I love the value proposition that he brings to the table – India needs a change and some responsible politicians. Mindful of the fact that change is never an overnight thing, should I just kick start that change and vote for him?

The campaign trail has been a very interesting one though. I’ve not had a chance to catch much of this as I have been on the road myself. That said, I have been reading a lot about it on the internet. The big three ( BJP, Congress & JD(S) just love the dirty game of mud slinging. Having a bitter rival in the current CM of the state to come and campaign for him, Ananth tried to cover up the huge divide that exists in the party’s leadership. Not wanting to lose an opportunity, the grand old man of Karnataka, Mr. Deve Gowda used this opportunity to say what a mess that BJP was in, revealing a snippet or two about how some of the BJP top brass wanted to quit and join him! Not wanting to be left behind, the Congress caught on to the “young” India campaign, bashing the idea of having an 81 year old as PM. Interesting to say the least!

Elsewhere, someone has been going about the campaign with ease and class – drawing the educated class into closed rooms, Gopi’s campaign is a fact based & non emotional. Driving into work this morning, I heard this first time voter from an engineering college come on the radio to campaign for Gopinath. His message was very simple – we need change and we know what Gopinath can do – give him a chance! Even before I could get up to work, my phone goes off with an SMS from Gopinath. It goes like this – “The BJP is not winning!, Captain Gopinath”.

Thursday is a real test. Bangalore has sworn to vote and vote in large numbers. Will they vote for a change? I’m not guessing the outcome of this one, but know for a fact that I will vote!

Popularity: 36%

Well, we have heard of Hung Parliament enough to know what a chaos that is going to be. When India had its share of hung parliaments in the last decade, the government did not last long and no one expected too.

This time around, Congress is facing an anti-incumbency factor in many of the states which it ruled – more so in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. In both these places people have been tired of politics, the associated corruption and the countless instances of crime that was witnessed in the last year. Be it the Satyam saga, or the Nagarjuna Finance issue or the Siris Pharmaceutical case in AP or the Mumbai massacre in Mumbai towards the later part of the year, few of the Congress governed states have had extremely poor governance. This coupled with the fact that the economy is in a recession, will only add salt to the wounds of an already bleeding Congress. It will take a miracle for Congress to be reinstated to run the government and Dr. Manmohan Singh as India’s Prime Minister

BJP on the other hand had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. And in 2009, just when it needed to put in all the efforts to show a non-communal face and gulp up as many allies (or strategic partners so to say), it seemed to be going all wrong for the BJP- The month of January saw a BJP ruled state i.e Karnataka facing the wrath of the public when a few radical Hindu fundamentalists, closer to the Sangh Parivar, led by Pramod Muthalik attacked innocent women in a pub. BJP tried to distance itself from this party, but the effort did not seem to have paid off due to the Sangh Parivar connections.

Roll over to March, just when BJP needed all the support from its past allies, BJD (Biju Janata Dal) seems to have backtracked from its alliance – that will be a huge setback for this party considering the ambitious goals it had set for itself in Orissa. Advani’s dreams of becoming India’s Prime Minister at a young age of 82 seem to be a distant reality, unless some of the allies flip their wings in the opposite direction post elections.

That leaves us with an option called the Third Front. The followers of Lenin and the preachers of Marx had often called for a government that is Non Congress and Non BJP. While that seems to be the ideal thought, it might be wishful thinking for CPI or its namesake CPI(M) to form the government with the support of its regional allies.

This is an era of alliance and one man who knows how to play it at the right time is our erstwhile sleeping Prime Minister a.k.a Deve Gowda. He seems to be an extremely serious contender given the fact that he was instrumental in announcing The Third Front along with some regional superpowers including TDP, TRS, CPI, CPI(M), JDU, BJD, Forward Bloc etc.

Will he stand a chance ? Not unless Mayawati, Bhajan Lal, Nitish Kumar et al gives up their claim to Prime Ministership.

Speaking of Mayawati and her ambition of India’s first Dalit Woman Prime Minister could soon be a reality. is someone who knows how to play the caste card very well and whether you like it or not, Mayawati and her identity politics is a thorn in The Third Front’s nest. She could very well be the dark horse waiting and watching.

With a hung parliament in the offing, India’s Prime Ministerial candidate too seems to be hung .

It will be an interesting few months to watch the Indian political scenario turning topsy turvy with every passing day. The question still remains – Who will be India’s Hung Prime Minister ?

What’s your prediction ?

Image Credit: Alykat

Popularity: 29%

Editor’s note: This article was originally written immediately after the blast that rocked Delhi on Sep 13th 2008.

I want to believe – Islamic anger against India is a myth! Hindu-Muslim conflict is manufactured by inhuman politics! There is NO Huntington’s clash of the civilizations in India. That is why I cant make sense of these bombings! Who are really responsible and what do they want?

The Indian Mujahideen is taking responsibility for all these attacks and sends emails just before the attacks. It sounds prankish and childish to me. Are we living in an Enid Blyton world where the criminal leaves clues behind for the CBI or the police to promptly trace? A report as recent as November 2007 says that Indian Mujahideen is a previously unheard of group – I am not suggesting any political conspiracy theory here, especially in light of the coming elections, however, I have trouble believing all that I read in the newspapers – the diagnosis and conclusions that come rather quickly.

What could be the result of bombings such as the ones we have experienced in the past few months be in our country?

It just kindles the Indian and specifically Hindu anger against Muslims and as a result all innocent Muslims get targeted as jihadis. I do want to state here, even though I am not a Muslim, and even if these bomb blasts are carried out by some Muslims, that they DO NOT reflect the sentiments of the majority Muslim population of the country. Please let us not politicize or communalize these events. Your Muslim friend and neighbour is still your friend and neighbour. Whoever is responsible for these attacks have stopped being human. Finding and punishing them is where our anger must be targeted.

Today yes, we have to agree, there is some friction and hate between religious communities in our country. Think deeper, aren’t they all reactions to attacks and events such as Delhi bombings of Sep 13th. The feelings of anger towards either Hindus or Christians or Muslims are not really deep rooted, they are reactions to the bad things we feel they have done to our community. Here, I am raising my voice to say please do not allow these events, however brutal, to change your views on your friends and neighbours who have nothing to do with these events. Because your friends and neighbours did not do these brutal acts.

I am extremely upset and so pardon my French thinking! Imagine TV channels interviewing a 11 year old for clues! What is wrong with our media?! Also the media should not carry news about compensation to victims immediately. It seems to portray as if money is going to make everything alright! For all those who have lost a loved one, 5 or 50 lakh make no difference in their sorrow tonight!

And for all the NGOs who have jumped in to help Rohit tell his story, please listen, if you are so damn concerned, 11 year olds should not be in the first place selling balloons in the streets of globalised Delhi. And our media reports Gujrat Chief Minister Narender Modi’s comments on warning the Primer Minister a month back about the attacks – it all sounds irritatingly childish and ridiculous. I wonder when will both our media as well as our politicians ever grow up. People are being slaughtered and we do not want some politician posing as the saviour of the Hindus to take advantage of this situation.

Pardon my venting but I have a deep sense, that we as a country need to grow beyond thinking communally. Tonight even as India sleeps, many including me are angry and upset. And none of the people we personally know irrespective of their religion or communal identity have done anything to bring about these feelings. And therefore, let us be careful that they do NOT become the target of our wrath and anger.

Let us weep with those who are weeping and channelize our emotions to stand with the weak and help those who are hurting. Let us dream of an India in which Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Muslims or Brahmins, Baniyas and Dalits all will freely love and cherish each other irrespective of their caste or religion. Where we will learn to celebrate our commonalities and respect our differences. Where we can give our daughters and sons in marriage to the other irrespective of their caste or religion. Where our love will transcend our differences and make our country truly a better place for our children.

Jai Hind!

Image Credit: Bird Eye

Popularity: 15%

I started working about a decade ago and bumped into this pretty girl from a state in India called Gujarat. She was hired to work for me and I must clarify that I had no role in her selection…these were early days you see!!

We got chatting about our lives one day when I asked her the question, “What gets you to Bangalore?”. She didn’t pause a second to think and replied pat saying “I am looking for a bright career in the IT industry”.

I was real cocky those days – cocky about the fact that my city was considered the Silicon Valley of India and was a real magnet in terms of attracting all these young people from different parts of the country. I’ve had countless conversations when I’ve raved about Bangalore and ridiculed her state for being “under developed”. I’ve even gone to the extent of ragging her saying “do you guys have roads, public transport etc back home?”.

Gujarat’s transformation from being one of those under developed states about a decade ago to being a top draw for investments has been phenomenal.

How did all this happen?

One man and his desire to make things happen – Narendra Modi. Here comes a leader who like most of his counterparts says, I will do X, Y & Z and unlike his counterparts goes on to deliver all of them. The result – public loves them and want more. To do what he did with the Tata’s to bring in the Nano was probably the tipping point in this state’s ascendancy.

His leadership and the state are raved about today. And why not?

A recent corporate summit had Sunil Mittal and Anil Ambani suggested that Modi’s prowess should get him the big job in the country soon – being Prime Minister. What baffled me the following day were the reactions that were expressed for Industry leaders making that remark. The party that he is a part of, itself, was in arms, needless the mention the Congress and the other numerous fingers and toe parties that are around the country.

That gets me to ask the question… WHAT THE HELL?

Here’s a guy who has done what he said he will – that is the fundamental principle of good governance and people like it. All that they want is someone to focus on development and do what he/she promises to do. India over the last 12 months has clearly seen and recognized this – If Modi won a second term and Sheila Dixit a 3^rd, it’s just the fact that the work they do speaks volumes for them. It’s a known fact that no politician is clean and I don’t want to even go there.

What people want is good governance, tangible signs of development and keeping up of promises.

As leaders running businesses, it is extremely frustrating to see the lack of this across the country. Case and point to this is what’s happened to Bangalore over the last decade. While Gujarat was on it’s upswing, the Congress with Dharam Singh and the Son of the s(p)oil, Deve Gowda but Bangalore and Karnataka into reverse gear.

Bangalore bursts at its seams with little to no development in the last decade – the results here to see in the form of crippled infrastructure, no new industries coming in and of course, traffic jams turn this city to a standstill at pretty much any time of the day.

I consider myself fortunate for not having to bump into that pretty girl often these days – she must be dying to give back to me some of the hell that I gave her!

Is it unfair for the people of India and the business leaders to ask for someone who’s proven himself at governance and delivering on his promises to lead them? I think we’ve had enough of the days of Presidents who can’t walk and Prime Ministers who can’t talk (we’ve had exceptions alright, but the need is for exceptions to become the rule).

Come on… these requests are not unfair at all – it’s not about being favorable to one party or the other.. it is picking someone who is the right man to drive the bus, and drive it forward of course!

Popularity: 15%

Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan called the Terrorist as Non State Actors. Subsequently, even the Prime Minister Gilani also came up with this term. Manmohan Singh, Condoleezza Rice followed suit.

I had this confusion as to who were these Non State Actors – Terrorists living in one’s country with no known state OR people acting on behalf of illegal entities OR someone who did not belong to a particular state or boundary ?

Hence decided to look the term on Wikipedia.

As per Wikipedia,

Non-State Actors, in international relations, are actors on the international level which are not states. The admission of non-state actors into international relations theory is inherently a rebuke to the assumptions of realism and other “black box” theories of international relations, which argue that interactions between states are the main relationships of interest in studying international events

The various types of Non State Actors includes

• Non Governmental Organisation
• Multi National Corporations
• Terrorist Organisations
• Criminal Organisations
• Religious Groups etc

Coming to the point – Zardari said these terrorists were Non State Actors. What it means is that they have State Actors, Non State Non Actors, State Non Actors and the many combinations.

Manas Chakravarthy of Hindustan Times explained it well , I thought. Do give it a read !

Image Credit: DarkPatator

Popularity: 9%

After the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, pressure is building up on Pakistan to take action against the terror camps operating from its land. Investigations carried out by Indian, US, British and Israeli officials proved that the attacks were planned by the Lashkar-e-Taiba   supported by ISI .

In spite of Pakistani denials (just for giving the impression that Pakistani Government doesn’t give in under pressure), United States, and other countries have applied a lot of pressure, and have urged Pak to take action failing which they will act.

Now what should be the course of action?  How should we respond?  Can we trust Pak when it says it will take action against any terror outfits operating from its land.

What should be done ?

Our politicians are highly gullible.  Even after it was proved that the terrorists are Pakistanis, what did they do? They spoke to Mr Zardari and asked the ISI chief to come to India.

For what?

If at all we want to call anyone we could have called the CIA, a few investigators from Britain and Israel who can give us credible evidence that this was masterminded by terrorists from Pakistan. They would have substantiated it as an act of war (they are very good at it and we all know that).  Mr Zardari promised to send ISI Chief to India to help investigation but took an about turn overnight.

Can we trust such a man?

Time has come for India to take strict action.  Resignation of Shivraj Patil or others is meaningless and a political stunt.  It’s the Government and Prime Minister’s actions that will speak on India’s position and strength in the International community.  Since we have proof that this was sponsored by Pakistan,  the Ambassadors of USA, UK and Israel should be summoned and presented with these.

India should make it clear that we take this as an act of war by Pakistan against India and we would deal with it in a similar way US or UK has dealt with.  As far as US, UK and Israel are concerned their citizens were specifically picked up by the terrorists and they should take it as an act of terrorism against them.  This would have forced them to declare Pakistan as a Terrorist State and deal with it accordingly.

“Give thousand chances to your enemy to become your friend, but don’t give a single chance to your friend to become your enemy”. This doesn’t hold well with Pakistan.

In 1974 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists during Munich Olympics.

What did Israel do?

It hunted down each and every one of them.  It showed the world that nobody can escape by attacking Israel.

Now look at what have we done – engage in a dialogue with our neighbor!  Discussions will not provide any solution with Pakistan. If it did, it would have provided long ago.  Pak has neither neighbors nor friends; they just use the situation and time to act.

They are one of the best friends of America and in another way they are the biggest threat as well. They are damn smart. Remember they have used Americans to act against America.

So with such a country how long will you keep discussing?  How many more blood baths will we have to face to learn?  Indian politicians and media have to change their mindset. Media is getting worse than the politicians.  Every news channel / paper seems to be backed up by one or the other political party.

In Pakistan democracy is nothing but a proxy of the military.  Military always holds the reins of that country and it is not possible to delink both.  It was born after a bloodbath, it is continuing the same way even now.  Army, Islamic Radical Groups,  ISI,  Elected Government,  Taliban – every group is a power centre. No one is responsible for anyone.

Everyone has their own beliefs, system, and agenda.  Terrorism is a business for them.  Look at the amount of aid they got from US for fighting against terrorism which was created by them.

We must step up pressure on Mr. Zardari until the following things are done by Pakistan;

1. Handover the terror suspects to India including Dawood Ibrahim,  Masood Azhar who was left free in exchange of Kandahar  passengers.

2. Stop financial and moral support to radical fundamentalists who propagate hatred against non Muslims.

3. Change the think tank of ISI

4. Stop training Islamic militants

5. Stop inducing venom into Muslims in India.

Pakistan knows for sure that in an open offensive against India they will be wiped off. Hence they continue this proxy war. They will never stop till we wipe out terror camps that are running in POK and in Afghan borders.  Time has come to say “Enough is Enough”.

Mr Prime Minister – Don’t just give statements.  Let’s get on with this war and finish off before this proxy war finishes us.  At least let our future generations live in a peaceful India.

Image Credit: Sameer5678in

Popularity: 21%

Change-It is a fashionable word these days. Obama steam-rollered into American and world consciousness with his clarion call for CHANGE. Most often, we perceive change happening only when it is accompanied by wave upon wave of public opinion, advertisement blitzkriegs, publicity and media overkill.

Just as wisdom does not come by chance, neither does change. In the history of the world there are a few handpicked individuals who have toiled hard for the progress of mankind. Yet, not all of them got or get their dues. Some rain makers are seen as mere shadows or side players lurking in the back ground of history’s unwinding.

India has undergone a metamorphosis during the past 18 years and indeed it has been a sea-change. A revolution of sorts. If we have to handpick a single individual for the greatest contribution, it will of course have to be Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Manmohan Singh, unlike Obama, does not rouse the people with charisma or eloquence. Yet, beneath his veneer of ordinariness and shyness, he has been the greatest architect of modern India. Here is a man who is incorruptible, humane, decent and secular to the core and extremely resourceful and determined when it comes to his clearly identified goals.

One of Manmohan’s greatest contributions has been his ability to float above pettiness, and bring about decency in politics. He taught his countrymen without speaking that it is possible for different cultures, religions and languages to live and thrive together without hatred. Above all, he nurtured and created the right climate for nation building – instilling a sense of pride and confidence in the minds of the citizens about the concept of India as a nation.

It has been India’s tryst with destiny that Narasimha Rao picked the most unlikely person -Dr. Manmohan Singh – to be the Finance Minister of our country in 1991. Then the sluice gates of controls and licences were opened, allowing for flow of fresh air in institutions riddled with corruption and favoritism.

As a Prime Minister, presiding over a booming economy for the best part of five years, getting the nuclear deal through – almost at the cost of sacrificing his government – and tackling terrorism with firmness are not the only changes you can credit this visionary with. He is farsighted enough to provide for decent outlays for education. Scientific and technological leaps culminating in the mission to the moon happened under his watch. And, Indians around the world are a respected lot these days.

It is a tribute to his courage, perseverence, readiness to dare and dream big – that despite his personal disinclination for petty politics and power plays – he has stayed on for 5 eventful years braving every storm that came his way, with poise and grace. He has been an example of calm and grace under pressure – an ideal he cherishes.

According to Jim Rohn, an influential thinker,

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.

All of the above attributes reside in Manmohan Singh in good measure.

The changes brought about by him are changes we can believe in. It is there for everyone to see. Yet it has come without any fanfare or loud words. They came unannounced, softly, unsung, just like Manmohan, the man. Who will say the the gentle, incessant rain pattering on the leaves is any less majestic than the grandeur of the distant thunder or the roar of the seas?  We are all prouder Indians because of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

May God Bless India!

By the way, scribes in our land are on the look out for the Indian Obama. Anyone want to venture a guess and help those poor, distressed souls?

Popularity: 17%