Greetings on the occasion of 62 years of Independence for the Republic of India. As you know on the 15th of August, the Prime Minister of India, address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the enduring legacy of India's fight for freedom. This address, is akin to the State of the Union address of the President of the USA, in which he talks about the state of the country and the challenges it faces. On this Independence Day, as I am yet to recover from my Obama fixation, I am writing what I would say *if* I was the Prime Minister of India. As I say, these are my opinions only and any feedback, in terms of bouqets and brickbats, is more than welcome. So therefore, here we go....
“My fellow Indians,
63 years ago, on this day, the first Prime Minister of independent India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, stood on this very platform and announced that as the world slept, India would awake to life and freedom. In these 63 years, we have surpassed our own expectations in where we stand at this moment, as well as surprising our critics who held no hope of our growth. To this achievement, I congratulate all Indians who have worked so hard, and continue to work as hard as ever to show the world, what an Indian is capable of. I also take this moment to thank on behalf of a grateful nation, the soldiers and paramilitary forces, who stand guard at our borders, no matter how dangerous or how remote, ever ready to give their lives for the Republic. I would also like to make a thankyou to members of the Indian Police Services, who are still standing guard, lest this day of celebration be tempered by unsavoury incidents. Indeed, the nation is grateful for your continuing sacrifices.
Brothers and sisters, our nation stands at a great point in time. This is the last year of the first decade of a new century. A century, which has been described as Asia's century. A century which according to research from all parts of the globe, will belong to India. It is for no reason that we find ourself courted by many major countries from all parts of the globe, so that they may share our impending success. However, we have also seen through the previous years that we are in a very troubled time. The world is going through some upheaval and although the experts say we are on the path to recovery, this path is thorny, dangerous and long. Therefore, to ensure that the prophecy of India Shining is not false, I shall outline today some major initiatives that we shall take in the next few years, to ensure that India, comes out of this crisis stronger than ever before. These initiatives herald a major shift in many of our policies, a sign that in a new world, new rules have to be made. These rules may not be to everyone's liking, and in some of them, the Government has taken very hard decisions, but let me tell you this my brothers and sisters; the easy decisions are seldom right, and the right decisions are seldom easy.
A country, is judged first and foremost by the conduct of its parliament and the strength of its democracy. Indeed some few months ago, 65% of you gave us a mandate to govern. You braved all elements, natural and in some cases man-made, to speak in one voice, that you will control your destiny, and you will decide whither you will go and what shall be your goal. A majority of those elected are hardworking politicians, no, servants of the people. However, a minority, have gotten into power, not on the basis of trusty, but on fear. One third of those elected come from a criminal background. Speaking as the leader of the world's largest democracy, this is a shameful statistic. This will however, be a statistic no more. From tomorrow, I shall convey to the President, to institute a committee on the basis of the report from the Election Commission of India, which shall look into those MPs who have criminal antecedents and make a list of the names of MPs who are embroiled in criminal cases. These MPs, shall be immediately expelled from Parliament, and their seats will be up for a by-election. If these criminal cases are of a serious nature, they shall be disbarred from participating in any type of elections. My fellow Indians, we have had enough of criminals who see politics as a refuge. They must not be allowed to prosper, and with my decision, they will not be allowed to prosper. This committee, shall report back to me in exactly two months, that is on October 15. There will be no deadlines, and the hearings of this committee shall be telecast live on the national network, so all people will see who these MPs are. In our democracy, there will be no place for criminals. This is my promise to you.
Brothers and sisters, for us to function effectively as a government and for this nation to chart its future successfully, our laws need to be effective. This cannot be, when our Penal code is from a Victorian era, an era even before many of the freedom fighters alive today. 63 years after the tricolour was unfurled in this very hallowed ground, we still cling onto a set of laws that predates even the first war of independence. Is this the freedom Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmibai, Tatya Tope, Mahatma Gandhi, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shubhas Chandra Bose and many others fought for? No, my fellow Indians it is not. Therefore, I am also announcing today another Commission which will radically overhaul the Indian Penal Code, so that we follow rules of the 21st century. This Commission will take into account the existing laws in many other countries and bring about a plan to investigate laws which are no longer relevant to the new India. This Commission will conclude its report within the next two years, so when we celebrate 65 years of Independence, we can do so, by having laws that serve us, not rule us. This is my promise to you
Amidst these changes, I am also announcing a major shift in our thinking. For far too long, we have been basking in political freedom, not the true meaning of freedom. While the changes I have outlined thus far, will enable us to move closer to true freedom, a major change is enshrined in that single document which governs us all as a nation; the Constitution. Based our majority in both houses of Parliament, my Government is laying on the table, an amendment to the Constitution of India, which will no longer place restrictions on the personal freedoms. Each man shall have a right to express himself freely, within the boundaries of the law. The Government of India and the Republic of India shall move away from the business of ruling the people that elects it and move towards ensuring that its citizens are allowed their basic rights, without any caveats. My Government believes that adults, should be able to express themselves as they please, so long as they stay within the confines of the Law of the Land. This is our destiny, and this is my promise to you.
For many of us, 1991-1992 remains a watershed moment in the course of our Nation's rather short life. Faced with our biggest economic crisis, we realised that by trading with others openly and freely do we become truly independent. This culminated in the economic reforms that has led many of the present generation enjoy rapid rises in income and the opportunity of a better life, either in India, or abroad. However, this ia a job that we have left unfinished. For every Indian who capitalises on his or her opportunity and tastes success, there are hundreds and thousands who cannot, not because of their abilities, but because of a system that restricts them and suffocates them. We cannot allow, in the world's largest democracy, such inequality to occur, especially in the form of Government policy. Therefore I am announcing today, that we shall once again begin efforts to liberalize our economy in great earnest. One has to just look towards China, to see what Liberalization has done to them. At the time we gained our Independence, China was ruined by the war. Today, it is an economic superpower of Asia. If China can do it, under a socialist leadership, we most definitely can do with with a democratic leadership. I understand that many of our Left comrades are unhappy at this. While I can understand their fears, I must state that it is quite unfounded. For it is from competition that innovation is born, and it is the free-market economy that is the fastest and most efficient method of lifting people from abject poverty. My Government cannot spend lakhs and crores of rupees providing lifelines to Public Sector Units, when farmers commit suicide, unable to pay their debts. The Government is not in the business of signing blank cheques, brothers and sisters and those who hold leadership positions must take note of that. I want this nation be home to more Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis, Murthis, Premjis and Nilekanis. We have abundant resources, and I want to ensure that every Indian who has a dream, has the opportunity to fulfil it, without being stifled by rules and regulations. This is my promise to you.
I would now like to spend some time on matters related to the defence and the security of the Union. Earlier, in my address, I had talked about the numerous men and women, who guard our borders, who take the shape of soldiers, and policemen. These brave citizens, watch over us while we sleep, braving the harshest of conditions. Sometimes, as we see continuously, they pay the highest sacrifice so that we live to see the sun shining again. We can only remember their valour, now, but we can ensure that the future generation of soldiers have the latest technology at hand to protect us further. Therefore, I am instituting a Blue Ribbon Commission, which will have, our fellow citizens who have made a mark in the wider world as its members. Its task will be to come up with suggestions and recommendations to further improve our forces, militray, paramilitry, police forces and our intelligence forces. This committee will be formed by the end of this year, and from January 1, 2010, will start its work. These recommendations shall be on my table by August 15th 2011 and within three months, the outcomes shall be visible to all. When I, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, thrust a young officer from IMA Dehradun into battle, I want to do so, knowing that my country has given the young soldier, the very best of arms, ammunition, training and blessings. On another note, I shall say this to those who hold high positions in our neighbouring countries. India, as a nation, is peace loving. However, we also have limits. We cannot be expected to sit idly by holding onto the olive branch of peace, when other sides wantonly carry out acts causing maximum injury and death to our citizens in our Land. I strongly ask Governments in other nations to do all they can to stop terrorist activities within India. I was elected on a platform of providing security to all Indians, as directed to me by my guiding force, the Constitution of India, and I say to all those who are listening, I shall carry out this duty using whatever power I have. For those who see this as a warning or a threat, then so be it. We as a nation shall not be subject to a principle of "death by a thousands cuts". My country, our country, will not break apart into pieces. When we gained Independence, we became a symbol of Unity in Diversity, and nothing ever shall change this. This is my promise to you.
Finally, I say this to my fellow countrymen: the steps I have outlined are but small steps in a big journey. These steps, will require blood, sweat and tears. This is a journey that we must make immediately, or risk being forever a "developing nation". My dream, my fellow brothers and sisters, is to ensure that Bharat, is a name that will be forever spoken in glowing terms, and for that to occur, we must rededicate ourselves to our nation now, as a new battle of Independence is going to be fought in the coming years. We are at a cruical juncture in history, where we can learn from our past and apply it to better our future. Such moments, as Pt. Nehru said, "come rarely in history, where a voice, long supressed, finds utterance". Our voice is now slowly finding its true pitch. Let us not stifle it any longer, or we shall run the risk of being declared mute. So please join me, in dedicating our power to make India, the best it can be.
Jai Hind, Jai Hind, Jai Hind!!!!”
Please do leave your feedback.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Some videos to get into the Independence Day mood
Here are some videos to get into the Independence Day mode...JAI HIND :-)!!!
1. Jana Gana Mana
2. Vande Mataram - Flute
3. Vande Mataram - Maa Tujhe Salaam
3a. Vande Mataram - ARR
Vande Mataram - Maa Tujhe Salaam (A.R.Rahman) - Watch more amazing videos here
4. Mile Sur Mera Tumhara - Various Artists
5. Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
6. Aye Mere Pyaare Watan
7. Rising India anthem
8. Tum Chalo toh Hindustan Chale
9. Lead India - Amitabh Bachchan
10. Rising India - Amitabh Bachchan
... and last but not least ...
11. I am India :-)
1. Jana Gana Mana
2. Vande Mataram - Flute
3. Vande Mataram - Maa Tujhe Salaam
3a. Vande Mataram - ARR
Vande Mataram - Maa Tujhe Salaam (A.R.Rahman) - Watch more amazing videos here
4. Mile Sur Mera Tumhara - Various Artists
5. Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
6. Aye Mere Pyaare Watan
7. Rising India anthem
8. Tum Chalo toh Hindustan Chale
9. Lead India - Amitabh Bachchan
10. Rising India - Amitabh Bachchan
... and last but not least ...
11. I am India :-)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Here's the song "Delhi 6" from the movie "Delhi - 6"
(audio only)
(audio and video, audio quality is average)
And here's my tribute to Sydney :-)
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
{rap}
Basti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
Bada kas ke gale lagata hai
Dhadkan ki dhoom sunata hai
Iske baye taraf bhi dil hai
Iske daye taraf bhi dil hai
Yeh sehar nahi mehfil hai
Yeh sehar nahi mehfil hai
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Sydney 2 Sydney
Sydney 2 Sydney
KAbhi pyaar mein gali bhi deta
Kabhi gali mein pyaar bhi hota hai apni
KAbhi pyaar mein gali bhi deta
Kabhi gali mein pyaar bhi hota hai apni
Ankhon ki tara bhi yahan pyaar mein bilkul khota hai
{RAP}
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
{rap}
[Yeh Sydney hai
Yeh Sydney hai
Yeh Sydney hai Mere yaar] * 4
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Sydney 2 Sydney
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Sydney 2 Sydney
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
(audio only)
(audio and video, audio quality is average)
And here's my tribute to Sydney :-)
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
{rap}
Basti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
Bada kas ke gale lagata hai
Dhadkan ki dhoom sunata hai
Iske baye taraf bhi dil hai
Iske daye taraf bhi dil hai
Yeh sehar nahi mehfil hai
Yeh sehar nahi mehfil hai
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Sydney 2 Sydney
Sydney 2 Sydney
KAbhi pyaar mein gali bhi deta
Kabhi gali mein pyaar bhi hota hai apni
KAbhi pyaar mein gali bhi deta
Kabhi gali mein pyaar bhi hota hai apni
Ankhon ki tara bhi yahan pyaar mein bilkul khota hai
{RAP}
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
{rap}
[Yeh Sydney hai
Yeh Sydney hai
Yeh Sydney hai Mere yaar] * 4
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Sydney 2 Sydney
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Sydney 2 Sydney
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
BAsti hai mastano ki Sydney
Sydney
Gali hai deewano ki Sydney 2
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Yeh Sydney hai mere yaar
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaar
Saturday, July 04, 2009
4th of July
On the occasion of the 233rd anniversary of the adoption of the "Declaration of Independence" by the Second Continental Congress of the United States of America, I would like to congratulate my American brethren. The founding fathers of the original thirteen colonies were farsighted and precise against what they were fighting for, and who they were fighting against. Their views, are brought froth quite emphatically in the document, and one can clearly see the imprints of the great Thomas Jefferson, who was the primary author of the declaration.
The document, however "perfect" in its aims and objectives, was delivered by humans for the benefit of humans. It could therefore be argued that while its goal was of perfection, its implementation leaves a trail of imperfections. Indeed, the next great documentation to be born out of the Declaration of Independence, namely the US Constitution, had until 1865, a clause which stated that a slave, was three-fifths of a man. Moreover in a juxtaposition of sorts Thomas Jefferson, an avowed abolitionist, was himself a slave owner. In addition, the original draft listed the commerce of slavery as one of the violations that justify a break from England. The passage was stripped from the final version at the demand of the southern states, who would not vote for independence otherwise.
Some of my most favourite passages are reproduced below:
I find it particularly interesting that in this declaration, the drafters have inserted a clause which allows, nay commands the people to fight for their rights. I believe the citizens of the United States of America are incredibly powerful in knowing that in theory, they can overthrow their government, should it diverge significantly from these principles, or take a stand that is not synonymous with the concept and idea of democracy.
However, my question still remains: Is the nation, notwithstanding the election of the President of the United States of America, still living upto the ideas of its forefathers?
God bless the United States of America.
The document, however "perfect" in its aims and objectives, was delivered by humans for the benefit of humans. It could therefore be argued that while its goal was of perfection, its implementation leaves a trail of imperfections. Indeed, the next great documentation to be born out of the Declaration of Independence, namely the US Constitution, had until 1865, a clause which stated that a slave, was three-fifths of a man. Moreover in a juxtaposition of sorts Thomas Jefferson, an avowed abolitionist, was himself a slave owner. In addition, the original draft listed the commerce of slavery as one of the violations that justify a break from England. The passage was stripped from the final version at the demand of the southern states, who would not vote for independence otherwise.
Some of my most favourite passages are reproduced below:
"...When in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation..."
"...We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness..."
I find it particularly interesting that in this declaration, the drafters have inserted a clause which allows, nay commands the people to fight for their rights. I believe the citizens of the United States of America are incredibly powerful in knowing that in theory, they can overthrow their government, should it diverge significantly from these principles, or take a stand that is not synonymous with the concept and idea of democracy.
However, my question still remains: Is the nation, notwithstanding the election of the President of the United States of America, still living upto the ideas of its forefathers?
God bless the United States of America.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
An ideal speech
In the next few hours, India will have a new Government. Many parties in this election, seem to be claiming that they are the "change" that Indians want. If this is the case, then how would the leader of one such party speak, should he/she win the election? I have an idea of how this may be and I present it below. You may notice that the speech has been heavily borrowed from Barack Obama's victory speech, and I make no apologies for that because I wanted to reflect Obama's values of "change".
My Fellow Indians,
Today, if someone in our land still doubts that India is a place where anything is possible; or wonders if the spirit of the Father of our nation is still alive or questions the resilience of our democracy, today your doubts have been cleared.
This answer has been told not by me, or by my esteemed opponents, but through lines that stretched around schools, colleges, Mandal Offices, forests and jungles, by people who waited a long time. Many of these people voted for the first times in their lives, because they believed that an elected government must act differently and that they wanted their voice to be that difference.
This is an answer that has been spoken by rich and poor, the young and the old. It is an answer that has been spoken by Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and non-believers. An answer in unison by “Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha”. Today, Indians sent a message, that we are not just a collection of states, but we have been, are and always will be, “people of the Socialist Secular Democratic Republic of India”.
This is the answer that has led those who have been told for so long, by so many to be cynical, fearful and doubtful of what we as Indians, and as humans can achieve to put their hands on the pages of history, and turn it, towards building a better tomorrow.
It has been a long time, but today, because of what we did, in this election, change has come to India.
Over the past few hours, I have received gracious calls from Dr. Manmohan Singhji, and Shri LK Advaniji . All my opponents, have fought long and hard in this campaign, and these two have fought even longer and harder for the country that we all love. I congratulate Dr.Singh and Shri Advani for all they have achieved and I look forward to working with them, and all the other major poticial party, to renew the pledge of this nation in the moths ahead.
I would not be standing here today, without the support of my party, and my family and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. They have all sacrificed a lot and suffice to say, I would not have the courage to be on this pedestal if not for them.
Above all, I shall never forget who this belongs to. It belongs to you, the people of India.
I was never the most likely candidate for the responsibility the Office of the Prime Minister brings. We did not start with much money, or endorsements. This campaign was not hatched in the Lutyen’s Delhi, or the bungalows of the capital. This campaign began in the farms of Vidarbha, in the streets of Hyderabad and the gullies of Mumbai.
This campaign was built by middle-class people, who dug into what little they had to give; 1 rupee, 5 rupees, 10 rupees to this cause. It gained strength from the young people, who rejected this myth of apathy; from those who left their homes and moved to new towns and cities in the search for jobs that offered little pay, and even less sleep; from those who braved the elements to get our message across; from the lakhs of Indians who volunteered, and organised and proved that our government, is one of the people, by the people and for the people still exists after 60 years of Independence. This, is your victory.
I am not naïve to believe that you did this just so that this party could win the election and most certainly you did not do it so that I could be the Prime Minister of India. You have done it because you are fully aware of the situation that stares at us in the face. Even as we sing and dance today in celebration, we must look ahead and realise that the challenges we face tomorrow, are one of the greatest that this young nation of 60 years has faced; a planet in peril, a global financial crisis. Even as we all stand here today, valiant Indians are guarding our borders to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who, after their children sleep, wonder how they will make the repayments for their house, pay the bills of the doctor, or even save enough for decent schools. There is a new energy to be tapped, new jobs to be created, new institutions to build, new threats to be neutralised, new alliances to be built and old ones to be repaired.
This road ahead, will be long, and the climb, will be steep. We may not get there this year, or in one term, however India – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight, we will get there. I promise you – “we the people”, will get there.
There will be false starts and there will be setbacks. There will be many who will not agree with decisions I make as the Prime Minister of India, and we all know that government alone will not solve each and every problem. However, I always will be honest with you on the challenges we as a nation face. I will listen to you, even and especially when you disagree. Most importantly, I will ask you, to join the work of rebuilding this nation, the only way it has been done in the past sixty years of independence, and the previous ninety of the independence struggle, brick by brick, block by block and sweaty palm by sweaty palm.
What began a hundred weeks ago, in the start of the scorching summer, must not be swept away in the monsoonal rains. This victory is not the change we seek – it is only a chance for us to make this change. We have to be the change we want to see in the world, and this victory, is the first signs of that change. This cannot happen if we go back to the old adage of “chaltha hai yaar”. It cannot happen, without your presence and involvement.
Therefore, let us summon a new spirit of national pride; a spirit of service and responsibility, where each ones of us pledges to dig deep and work as hard as ever, and not look only after ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis has taught us anything, then it is that we cannot have growing Dalal Street, if our Rythu bazaars are declining. Within our boundaries, we rise and fall as one nation; as one people.
Today, let us pledge to resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness, immaturity and narrow-mindedness that has poisoned our politics for so long, and stunted the growth of this nation. Let us remember that the father of the Constitution, wrote it keeping the values of self-reliance, individual liberty and national unity. These are all values we share, regardless of party affiliations, and while our party has won a great victory today, we must do so, with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. In the spirit of Bapuji, let us demonstrate that we are not enemies, but friends. While our passions may have strained it, the bond of affection cannot break. And to those Indians whose trust I have yet to earn, I may have not won your mandate, but I hear your voices. I need your help and I shall be your Prime Minister too.
To all those watching now, from beyond our shores, from parliaments and castles, to those who are huddled around listening to radios in the corners of our world, our stories are unique, however we share a destiny, and a dawn of a new Indian leadership is at hand. To those who wish to tear this world apart, you shall be defeated. To those who seek peace and stability, we shall support you. And to whose who wonder if the American light burns as bright, tonight we have proved once again, as we did sixty years ago, that the strength of our nation comes not from the strength of our weapons, or the supply of our wealth, but from the enduring power of the ideals our forefathers set before us; liberty, democracy, hope and opportunity.
This is the true strength of America, that India can change. That India will change. This union of States, can be further perfected. What we have achieved today, gives hope for what we can, must and will achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts, and stories that will be told for generations. But a story on my mind is about a lady who cast her ballot here. She is not that different to lakhs of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing, Laxmibai is 100 years old.
She was born just two generations past the first war of independence; a time when neither there cars on the road, or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote, for two simple reasons, skin colour and nationality.
And today, as I think about all she has seen throughout her century in India – the heartache, and the hope; the struggle and the progess; the times that we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that Indian motto: yes we will.
At a time when the voices of Indians were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up, speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we will.
When where was despair, in the rice bowl of the nation, and a depressed psyche across the country, she saw a nation conquer itself with a deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we will.
When bombs fell on our shores, and tyranny threatened us, she was there to witness a generation to rise to greatness. Yes we will.
She was there for the reversal of the Bengal Partition, the arrival of Bapu, movements of non-cooperation, Jalianwala Bagh, Purna Swaraj, Dandi march, Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose. Yes we will.
A tryst was forged with destiny, new nations were carved, a new republic was born, and this world was connected with our own imagination and creativity. She watched, as some years ago, a Muslim president administered the oath of office to a Sikh Prime-minister, belonging to a party led by a Christian, to rule over a Hindu majority, with the ceremony overseen by a Dalit Chief Justice. Yes we can.
India, we have come far. We have seen much. Yet there is more to do. Today, let us ask ourselves, if our children should live to see the next children, if our daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Laxmibai, what change will they see? What change will they want to see? As Pandit Nehru said “Whither do we go and what shall be our endeavour?”
This is our chance to answer these questions. This is our moment. This is our time, to put our people into work and to open the doors of opportunity for our children; to restore prosperity and promote peace; to reclaim the Indian spirit, and to reiterate that fundamental truth – that we are a nation formed by Unity in Diversity and that while we breathe, we hope and where we are met with doubt and sarcasm, and to those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that eternal creed, that sums up the spirit of our people.
Yes we will.
Thankyou. Sare Jahan Se Accha, Hindustaan Hamara. Jai Hind!
My Fellow Indians,
Today, if someone in our land still doubts that India is a place where anything is possible; or wonders if the spirit of the Father of our nation is still alive or questions the resilience of our democracy, today your doubts have been cleared.
This answer has been told not by me, or by my esteemed opponents, but through lines that stretched around schools, colleges, Mandal Offices, forests and jungles, by people who waited a long time. Many of these people voted for the first times in their lives, because they believed that an elected government must act differently and that they wanted their voice to be that difference.
This is an answer that has been spoken by rich and poor, the young and the old. It is an answer that has been spoken by Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and non-believers. An answer in unison by “Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha”. Today, Indians sent a message, that we are not just a collection of states, but we have been, are and always will be, “people of the Socialist Secular Democratic Republic of India”.
This is the answer that has led those who have been told for so long, by so many to be cynical, fearful and doubtful of what we as Indians, and as humans can achieve to put their hands on the pages of history, and turn it, towards building a better tomorrow.
It has been a long time, but today, because of what we did, in this election, change has come to India.
Over the past few hours, I have received gracious calls from Dr. Manmohan Singhji, and Shri LK Advaniji . All my opponents, have fought long and hard in this campaign, and these two have fought even longer and harder for the country that we all love. I congratulate Dr.Singh and Shri Advani for all they have achieved and I look forward to working with them, and all the other major poticial party, to renew the pledge of this nation in the moths ahead.
I would not be standing here today, without the support of my party, and my family and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. They have all sacrificed a lot and suffice to say, I would not have the courage to be on this pedestal if not for them.
Above all, I shall never forget who this belongs to. It belongs to you, the people of India.
I was never the most likely candidate for the responsibility the Office of the Prime Minister brings. We did not start with much money, or endorsements. This campaign was not hatched in the Lutyen’s Delhi, or the bungalows of the capital. This campaign began in the farms of Vidarbha, in the streets of Hyderabad and the gullies of Mumbai.
This campaign was built by middle-class people, who dug into what little they had to give; 1 rupee, 5 rupees, 10 rupees to this cause. It gained strength from the young people, who rejected this myth of apathy; from those who left their homes and moved to new towns and cities in the search for jobs that offered little pay, and even less sleep; from those who braved the elements to get our message across; from the lakhs of Indians who volunteered, and organised and proved that our government, is one of the people, by the people and for the people still exists after 60 years of Independence. This, is your victory.
I am not naïve to believe that you did this just so that this party could win the election and most certainly you did not do it so that I could be the Prime Minister of India. You have done it because you are fully aware of the situation that stares at us in the face. Even as we sing and dance today in celebration, we must look ahead and realise that the challenges we face tomorrow, are one of the greatest that this young nation of 60 years has faced; a planet in peril, a global financial crisis. Even as we all stand here today, valiant Indians are guarding our borders to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who, after their children sleep, wonder how they will make the repayments for their house, pay the bills of the doctor, or even save enough for decent schools. There is a new energy to be tapped, new jobs to be created, new institutions to build, new threats to be neutralised, new alliances to be built and old ones to be repaired.
This road ahead, will be long, and the climb, will be steep. We may not get there this year, or in one term, however India – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight, we will get there. I promise you – “we the people”, will get there.
There will be false starts and there will be setbacks. There will be many who will not agree with decisions I make as the Prime Minister of India, and we all know that government alone will not solve each and every problem. However, I always will be honest with you on the challenges we as a nation face. I will listen to you, even and especially when you disagree. Most importantly, I will ask you, to join the work of rebuilding this nation, the only way it has been done in the past sixty years of independence, and the previous ninety of the independence struggle, brick by brick, block by block and sweaty palm by sweaty palm.
What began a hundred weeks ago, in the start of the scorching summer, must not be swept away in the monsoonal rains. This victory is not the change we seek – it is only a chance for us to make this change. We have to be the change we want to see in the world, and this victory, is the first signs of that change. This cannot happen if we go back to the old adage of “chaltha hai yaar”. It cannot happen, without your presence and involvement.
Therefore, let us summon a new spirit of national pride; a spirit of service and responsibility, where each ones of us pledges to dig deep and work as hard as ever, and not look only after ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis has taught us anything, then it is that we cannot have growing Dalal Street, if our Rythu bazaars are declining. Within our boundaries, we rise and fall as one nation; as one people.
Today, let us pledge to resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness, immaturity and narrow-mindedness that has poisoned our politics for so long, and stunted the growth of this nation. Let us remember that the father of the Constitution, wrote it keeping the values of self-reliance, individual liberty and national unity. These are all values we share, regardless of party affiliations, and while our party has won a great victory today, we must do so, with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. In the spirit of Bapuji, let us demonstrate that we are not enemies, but friends. While our passions may have strained it, the bond of affection cannot break. And to those Indians whose trust I have yet to earn, I may have not won your mandate, but I hear your voices. I need your help and I shall be your Prime Minister too.
To all those watching now, from beyond our shores, from parliaments and castles, to those who are huddled around listening to radios in the corners of our world, our stories are unique, however we share a destiny, and a dawn of a new Indian leadership is at hand. To those who wish to tear this world apart, you shall be defeated. To those who seek peace and stability, we shall support you. And to whose who wonder if the American light burns as bright, tonight we have proved once again, as we did sixty years ago, that the strength of our nation comes not from the strength of our weapons, or the supply of our wealth, but from the enduring power of the ideals our forefathers set before us; liberty, democracy, hope and opportunity.
This is the true strength of America, that India can change. That India will change. This union of States, can be further perfected. What we have achieved today, gives hope for what we can, must and will achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts, and stories that will be told for generations. But a story on my mind is about a lady who cast her ballot here. She is not that different to lakhs of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing, Laxmibai is 100 years old.
She was born just two generations past the first war of independence; a time when neither there cars on the road, or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote, for two simple reasons, skin colour and nationality.
And today, as I think about all she has seen throughout her century in India – the heartache, and the hope; the struggle and the progess; the times that we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that Indian motto: yes we will.
At a time when the voices of Indians were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up, speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we will.
When where was despair, in the rice bowl of the nation, and a depressed psyche across the country, she saw a nation conquer itself with a deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we will.
When bombs fell on our shores, and tyranny threatened us, she was there to witness a generation to rise to greatness. Yes we will.
She was there for the reversal of the Bengal Partition, the arrival of Bapu, movements of non-cooperation, Jalianwala Bagh, Purna Swaraj, Dandi march, Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose. Yes we will.
A tryst was forged with destiny, new nations were carved, a new republic was born, and this world was connected with our own imagination and creativity. She watched, as some years ago, a Muslim president administered the oath of office to a Sikh Prime-minister, belonging to a party led by a Christian, to rule over a Hindu majority, with the ceremony overseen by a Dalit Chief Justice. Yes we can.
India, we have come far. We have seen much. Yet there is more to do. Today, let us ask ourselves, if our children should live to see the next children, if our daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Laxmibai, what change will they see? What change will they want to see? As Pandit Nehru said “Whither do we go and what shall be our endeavour?”
This is our chance to answer these questions. This is our moment. This is our time, to put our people into work and to open the doors of opportunity for our children; to restore prosperity and promote peace; to reclaim the Indian spirit, and to reiterate that fundamental truth – that we are a nation formed by Unity in Diversity and that while we breathe, we hope and where we are met with doubt and sarcasm, and to those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that eternal creed, that sums up the spirit of our people.
Yes we will.
Thankyou. Sare Jahan Se Accha, Hindustaan Hamara. Jai Hind!
Friday, April 03, 2009
All's well that ends well
"Mr. Prasanna, just to remind you that your flight is scheduled to depart at 2350 tonight".
I guess there's no better way of putting the fact that I'm leaving tonight better than the above line, courtesy Singapore Airlines. It is with a tinge of sadness, a sense of duty and a great deal of contentment, that I leave India, after calling it home for the last 4.5 months. In this time, my life truly is a roller coaster, and while I will not say I have enjoyed every minute of it, I have been better for it. There have been high points, there have been low points but all of them have been a learning curve and I treasure each moment.
It would be wrong of me not to thank important people at this juncture, yet there are too many of them to thank individually. However, I like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Kale Balkrishna, Joint Managing Director, Retail Experts Software Pty Ltd for giving me the opportunity to complete my work experience in his company. It was truly a great booster to my studies and I'm sure the lessons I have learnt will be valuable in the future. I would also like to thank all the people in Bangalore, Tirunelveli and Chennai for keeping me company, when I visited these places. Truly some amazing times.
Well what next? For me, it will be back to Adelaide, and joining my career in a few months. After that who knows....
Thank you Hyderabad, and God bless India!!!
I guess there's no better way of putting the fact that I'm leaving tonight better than the above line, courtesy Singapore Airlines. It is with a tinge of sadness, a sense of duty and a great deal of contentment, that I leave India, after calling it home for the last 4.5 months. In this time, my life truly is a roller coaster, and while I will not say I have enjoyed every minute of it, I have been better for it. There have been high points, there have been low points but all of them have been a learning curve and I treasure each moment.
It would be wrong of me not to thank important people at this juncture, yet there are too many of them to thank individually. However, I like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Kale Balkrishna, Joint Managing Director, Retail Experts Software Pty Ltd for giving me the opportunity to complete my work experience in his company. It was truly a great booster to my studies and I'm sure the lessons I have learnt will be valuable in the future. I would also like to thank all the people in Bangalore, Tirunelveli and Chennai for keeping me company, when I visited these places. Truly some amazing times.
Well what next? For me, it will be back to Adelaide, and joining my career in a few months. After that who knows....
Thank you Hyderabad, and God bless India!!!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
To Chennai (once again)!
Well here I am, beginning my last domestic journey in India. Over the past three months, I have not travelled as much as I would like to due to personal problems. However, in the past 3 months, I sincerely believe that I have emerged as a stronger, resilient and braver individual. The circumstances by which this has occurred still go on and hence I do not wish to dwell on them too much. Today is a day I enjoy my love for Indian Railways, and feel proud to procure services from the world’s largest employer.
As I write this, I am currently en-route to Chennai via the 2760 Charminar Express. I had boarded at Hyderabad Station, and fulfilled another little personal milestone, that is to board a train at Hyderabad Railway Station. All I have remaining is to alight at Hyderabad station, before I can claim to have boarded and alighted at all the 3 important stations in Hyderabad, namely Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Kacheguda.
Tomorrow evening I shall board a train from Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli, the 2nd time I have done so in the past 3 months, and a record which I am not completely proud of. Once again, this is due to an extremely personal issue and I shall blog at length when I feel ready to. Today (18 th March 2009) also marks the fact that I have 16 days left in the Republic of India, before I leave for Australian shores. I shall write about this in detail.
This is a rather short piece, and so I shall take leave.
Before I do, some pictures. The first is of my face, after celebrating my first holi in India in almost 16 years, and the second is indicative of the snacks on offer on the Hyderabad - Chennai route!
As I write this, I am currently en-route to Chennai via the 2760 Charminar Express. I had boarded at Hyderabad Station, and fulfilled another little personal milestone, that is to board a train at Hyderabad Railway Station. All I have remaining is to alight at Hyderabad station, before I can claim to have boarded and alighted at all the 3 important stations in Hyderabad, namely Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Kacheguda.
Tomorrow evening I shall board a train from Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli, the 2nd time I have done so in the past 3 months, and a record which I am not completely proud of. Once again, this is due to an extremely personal issue and I shall blog at length when I feel ready to. Today (18 th March 2009) also marks the fact that I have 16 days left in the Republic of India, before I leave for Australian shores. I shall write about this in detail.
This is a rather short piece, and so I shall take leave.
Before I do, some pictures. The first is of my face, after celebrating my first holi in India in almost 16 years, and the second is indicative of the snacks on offer on the Hyderabad - Chennai route!
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Another instalment of my thoughts
It's been over a month since I had last posted my thoughts and so here goes:
Over the past four weeks, my life has been as normal as can be. I attended my internship (which is still fantastic and I'm really proud of what I've accomplished), as well as hung around friends and family. In the mean time, couple of festivals came and went, and one of two national holidays of India, Republic Day was celebrated. The significance of Republic Day is that it was on the 26th of January 1950, when the Constitution of the Republic of India, beginning with the hallowed words of "We the People…" was unanimously passed by the Constituent Assembly and India was "truly" politically free. I say politically free, because unlike some other countries, India still has a long way to go in providing basic freedoms such as "…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…" to her citizens. For those who wish to argue are advised to check up this and this. On that note, Amit Varma of India Uncut, adds something ingenious here. However, I am hopeful that eventually India shall claim her rightful place on the world stage.
January also heralds the start of the harvest season in India, and is marked by the festival of Sankranthi / Pongal in the Southern States. Apart from the worship of deities, a social norm is the flying of kites, either for fun or for the objective of "winning" other kites by friendly kite fighting. "Manja" is an abrasive thread used for the purposes of the latter. Manja comes in many varieties, with the least abrasive which can be held by hand, or more abrasive versions which can only held with leather gloves. Below are some pictures of the day and kites:
I also did some travelling, although nothing compared to my outings in the last two months of 2008. I visited Chennai to be part of a friend's marriage, and from then I went to Mangalagiri, 20km outside of Vijayawada, which is home to my family deity. The temple is on a hill which consists of 500 steps. The sight of the town from the temple is truly awesome. Finally on return to Hyderabad, I passed Bhongir Fort, which was built during the reign of the Western Chalukya Empire's King Vikramaditya IV. Due to the train passing through the point at high speed, the photos may not be too good, and for that I apologise.
I also had the opportunity to be involved with the functions of ITMS, a body I am associated with. Those who wish to find out more about the body or my involvement in it can email me. Thus, my annual "Republic Day" message was not written. It must also be said that at the time I was also suffering from writer's block.
Finally, the month also provided me with a genuine wake up call, with the hospitalisation of my grandfather due to high blood sugar, and the passing away of one of our close family friends. All in all, a very normal month, with a very sobering end.
Till next time!
Over the past four weeks, my life has been as normal as can be. I attended my internship (which is still fantastic and I'm really proud of what I've accomplished), as well as hung around friends and family. In the mean time, couple of festivals came and went, and one of two national holidays of India, Republic Day was celebrated. The significance of Republic Day is that it was on the 26th of January 1950, when the Constitution of the Republic of India, beginning with the hallowed words of "We the People…" was unanimously passed by the Constituent Assembly and India was "truly" politically free. I say politically free, because unlike some other countries, India still has a long way to go in providing basic freedoms such as "…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…" to her citizens. For those who wish to argue are advised to check up this and this. On that note, Amit Varma of India Uncut, adds something ingenious here. However, I am hopeful that eventually India shall claim her rightful place on the world stage.
January also heralds the start of the harvest season in India, and is marked by the festival of Sankranthi / Pongal in the Southern States. Apart from the worship of deities, a social norm is the flying of kites, either for fun or for the objective of "winning" other kites by friendly kite fighting. "Manja" is an abrasive thread used for the purposes of the latter. Manja comes in many varieties, with the least abrasive which can be held by hand, or more abrasive versions which can only held with leather gloves. Below are some pictures of the day and kites:
Your's truly flying the kite, using Manja
Our kite in the distance
Our armoury, at the end of the day
Our kite (closest) and our opponent's kite in the distance
I also did some travelling, although nothing compared to my outings in the last two months of 2008. I visited Chennai to be part of a friend's marriage, and from then I went to Mangalagiri, 20km outside of Vijayawada, which is home to my family deity. The temple is on a hill which consists of 500 steps. The sight of the town from the temple is truly awesome. Finally on return to Hyderabad, I passed Bhongir Fort, which was built during the reign of the Western Chalukya Empire's King Vikramaditya IV. Due to the train passing through the point at high speed, the photos may not be too good, and for that I apologise.
The scenery of India, just outside Vijayawada
More scenery
Our distant relatives!
Bhongir Fort 1
Bhongir Fort 2
More scenery
The customary railways picture
I also had the opportunity to be involved with the functions of ITMS, a body I am associated with. Those who wish to find out more about the body or my involvement in it can email me. Thus, my annual "Republic Day" message was not written. It must also be said that at the time I was also suffering from writer's block.
Finally, the month also provided me with a genuine wake up call, with the hospitalisation of my grandfather due to high blood sugar, and the passing away of one of our close family friends. All in all, a very normal month, with a very sobering end.
Till next time!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
A very happy 2009!!
Firstly, I wish all the readers of my blog, a very Happy New Year. I hope that this New Year brings you new dreams and ambitions and I pray that it gives you the strength to carry out these ambitions.
It has been just over a month since I arrived in India and the experience as always has been amazing. This time my experience also includes my work experience as an intern in a company providing retail solutions. I would not like to dwell on the exact nature of my work, nor shall I name the company in which I am interning. I have managed to work in .NET without many hassles and the credit for this goes entirely to my colleagues. They have patiently led me through what appeared to be a minefield at first, tolerating my irritating questions and pointless arguments. Once again, hats off to them for spending their time getting me up to scratch with .NET. My work is greatly challenging, yet I enjoy it as I have the opportunity to see if I can rise to this challenge. It is indeed a pleasure to rock up to work every morning, and at the close of day, I do feel satisfied in what I have accomplished.
Outside of my work, India provides experiences to savour every day. My month started off with attending my 2nd conference and the first in which I had presented some work. This achievement of mine was completely sidelined when India fell prey to terror once again on 26th November 2008. That day still remains entrenched in my mind to this day, even though it is 2009. In my opinion, Life is not a perfect filter, where a signal greater than the cut-off frequency does not pass. Although I remember those events vividly, I am determined to move forward, like many of my countrymen, especially those who were in Mumbai on that fateful night.
Post my travel to Mumbai, I had the opportunity to visit the South of India and see places such as Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur. These towns are costal towns. What is surprising about Tiruchendur is that despite having a temple and by extension a large township right on the edge of the shore, it was not affected at all by the Tsunami of 2006, whereas other costal cities and towns such as Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam etc, were severely affected. Below are pictures showing how close the sea is to the town.
As can be seen there is no distance from the temple town to the beach.
The horizon, right from the edge of the beach
Yours truly
I also had an opportunity to undertake a 15 hour bus journey, courtesy State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), a Public Sector Undertaking by the Government of Tamil Nadu, from Tirunelveli to Tirupati. As I said earlier, India has a lot of experiences. I treasure this experience, yet I would not like to recollect it! Finally, my journey culminated in a train trip from Tirupati to Hyderabad, photos which are visible below.
The scenery on the way to Tirunelveli
Yours Truly
Indian Railways. 150 plus years of bringing people closer
All journeys, regardless of the mode of transportation have been extremely satisfying for the senses, and I am more of a believer in the adage that the "journey is more valuable than the destination". Back in Hyderabad, I have caught up with my cousins and have watched movies on a couple of occasions. Photos shall be posted only after I have their permission. All in all, the past month has been extremely fruitful, and I look forward to what the next month shall bring.
PS: I shall attempt to keep blogging more regularly from now on.
It has been just over a month since I arrived in India and the experience as always has been amazing. This time my experience also includes my work experience as an intern in a company providing retail solutions. I would not like to dwell on the exact nature of my work, nor shall I name the company in which I am interning. I have managed to work in .NET without many hassles and the credit for this goes entirely to my colleagues. They have patiently led me through what appeared to be a minefield at first, tolerating my irritating questions and pointless arguments. Once again, hats off to them for spending their time getting me up to scratch with .NET. My work is greatly challenging, yet I enjoy it as I have the opportunity to see if I can rise to this challenge. It is indeed a pleasure to rock up to work every morning, and at the close of day, I do feel satisfied in what I have accomplished.
Outside of my work, India provides experiences to savour every day. My month started off with attending my 2nd conference and the first in which I had presented some work. This achievement of mine was completely sidelined when India fell prey to terror once again on 26th November 2008. That day still remains entrenched in my mind to this day, even though it is 2009. In my opinion, Life is not a perfect filter, where a signal greater than the cut-off frequency does not pass. Although I remember those events vividly, I am determined to move forward, like many of my countrymen, especially those who were in Mumbai on that fateful night.
Post my travel to Mumbai, I had the opportunity to visit the South of India and see places such as Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur. These towns are costal towns. What is surprising about Tiruchendur is that despite having a temple and by extension a large township right on the edge of the shore, it was not affected at all by the Tsunami of 2006, whereas other costal cities and towns such as Cuddalore, Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam etc, were severely affected. Below are pictures showing how close the sea is to the town.
As can be seen there is no distance from the temple town to the beach.
The horizon, right from the edge of the beach
Yours trulyI also had an opportunity to undertake a 15 hour bus journey, courtesy State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), a Public Sector Undertaking by the Government of Tamil Nadu, from Tirunelveli to Tirupati. As I said earlier, India has a lot of experiences. I treasure this experience, yet I would not like to recollect it! Finally, my journey culminated in a train trip from Tirupati to Hyderabad, photos which are visible below.
The scenery on the way to Tirunelveli
Yours Truly
Indian Railways. 150 plus years of bringing people closerAll journeys, regardless of the mode of transportation have been extremely satisfying for the senses, and I am more of a believer in the adage that the "journey is more valuable than the destination". Back in Hyderabad, I have caught up with my cousins and have watched movies on a couple of occasions. Photos shall be posted only after I have their permission. All in all, the past month has been extremely fruitful, and I look forward to what the next month shall bring.
PS: I shall attempt to keep blogging more regularly from now on.
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