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Dalit Politics in light of Rohith Vemula’s suicide

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It is unfortunate when anyone dies. More so, when someone commits suicide. Various reasons could be attributed – for which no answers can be proven true or otherwise. Rohith Vemula’s suicide is one such case. Our politicians didn’t disappoint though – they stuck to the script and immediately made a beeline to Hyderabad to start the tamaasha.

Rahul Gandhi, true to form, showed his naiveity by rushing immediately. Others like TMC, AAP and LJP too joined the party. Mysterious is the relative silence from the ruling TRS / TDP (I include TDP because Hyderabad is the shared capital). Why is no one pointing fingers at them? Though the university is under the purview on the HRD Ministry, student politics is usually local. Is there something more than what we are shown?

Having said that, it is necessary to filter the media madness. One of the main reasons why I believe this news is being played up is because of BJP’s increased focus for the SC/STs. It may be too simplistic to equate a death with politics, but that’s the way it is now. Let me elaborate.

Over a week though the spotlight was on #StartUpIndia, Modi government also launched the #StandUpIndia campaign. This campaign was to help people from the SC and ST categories, along with women. The #StandUpIndia campaign, along with the MUDRA scheme has the potential to change the dynamics of the dalit class. If more and more of the people from this class are self reliant, the damage to the “socialist” politics will be deep. With the middle class increasingly moving to the Right-side of the political spectrum, other parties are merely trying to fan the tension to win the dalit electorate over (especially, in light of huge number of backward class people voted for Modi in 2014).

This was evident when the impact of Modi’s policies on dalits was acknowledged by Left’s own folks. Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the DICCI (Dalit Industrial Chambers of Commerce and Industry) also sent out a clear message that this government believed more in empowering the dalit community, rather than announce a slew of freebies. With high number of dalit MPs, if the government has chosen this path – there must be sufficient political backing too.

Another symbolic task taken to completion by PM Modi along with Maharashtra CM Fadnavis was to buy the house in London where Ambedkar stayed. It was a long standing political demand for the government to buy that house in London. This house was bought for Rs 40 cr and the plan is to convert it into a international memorial and research center.

From the opposition perspective, this is not the first attempt to get the traditional share of dalit votes back. Rahul Gandhi, in particular, has been playing all cards up his sleeve. Ever since his Jupiter’s escape velocity for dalits comment was ridiculed all over, he has been trying to make amends. Right from visiting Ambedkar’s birthplace Mhow in Madhya Pradesh to eating in a dalit‘s house. Last year, his party even tried to create another rift when IIT Madras was dragged with the “Ambedkar- Periyar Study Circle” issue. As nothing came out of this, politics is being played around Rohith’s death. I am sure there is more to come before 2019, in terms of dalit politics.

As a side note, it is also surprising to see how the left wing ecosystem activates at the first sign of blood. Ashok Vajpayi started the “Degree Wapasi” nonsense. FTII also had a march in protest of Rohit’s suicide. You are not at fault for wondering the link between FTII and Hyderabad University. As usual, the mainstream media is always ready to give a helping hand. The opportunity to bash Smriti Irani and PM Modi on a single issue is just too tempting to let go by.

For me, the true test of this case will be to see how the news unfolds. Smriti Irani has already given a fiery reply to her opponents in a press conference. If this narrative survives the upcoming release of Netaji files on 23rd January, then Modi government will be in trouble. If not, Modi can just dust it out and continue with his job.

Rohith’s suicide note: What the leftists don’t want to read

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Before moving to my opinion, just read this quote from Carl Sagan, like whom Rohith Vemula wanted to become, a writer.

In science it often happens that scientists say, “You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,” and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.”

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Here is the full text of Rohith Vemula’s suicide note from Indian Express

Now, I personally always believed that politics should have been kept far away from educational institutes. Left has mostly misused the rational intellect as their political tool to water their ideology, to reach masses, a dangerous method which has now become a tradition and in some way has led to the death of Rohith.

The mixture of academics and politics has caused adultery in the purity of knowledge.

When politics & academics are combined, it leads to compromises, even when things are holy from either side. Let alone the fact that Indian politics is rather a ruler above academics. And the Left has been a real nuisance in politicking with academics.

Rohith’s suicide seems a disagreement of scientific mind with political one. He must would have faced a lot of casteism in his life, so it seems less feasible that someone a brilliant & rational like him can do suicide merely for being suspended or being called casteist or an anti national, when he had seen tougher days in terms of hard work he invested to reach there.

His half owned political ideals of SFI, which he compromised with his scientific mind, was more of a curse for him to have instigated him to commit suicide, which can be evidently derived from his last letter, where he points out that the man’s value was reduced to nearest possible vote and was never treated a mind. This point puts onus upon the SFI section on the very first instance, then moving to right wing.

His letter gives some references, crafted in poetic tone, which is being deliberately ignored by the left, which puts onus of explanation upon them.

I have no complaints on anyone. It was always with myself I had problems. I feel a growing gap between my soul and my body. And I have become a monster. I always wanted to be a writer.

That no complaint is actually a reference to the problems of politics being involved as a whole in academics. To say, he never blamed anyone rather called himself a monster and had problems with himself, so it is in some way referrence for choosing SFI, which in itself is so very pseudo-secular, which uses academic intellect every time to suit its political ideals. And that growing gap is surely the despondency & emptiness he felt due to dreadiness of every political wing including SFI. The emptiness of being unable to understand what, rather who is right? He actually wanted to be a writer and not do political mismanagement.

I loved Science, Stars, Nature, but then I loved people without knowing that people have long since divorced from nature. Our feelings are second handed. Our love is constructed. Our beliefs colored.

The man who loved pure nature or science, fell in love for people with adulterated political ideals. Who are they? Certainly not right wing. But yes, the left SFI. Feelings second handed. Yes, not from within but taken from other people, compromising our own ideals. Beliefs colored. Yes, colored in the political wing we compromised with.

The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote. To a number. To a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind.

In pure political context written, this emphasizes the misuse of socio-economically backward people, by every political section for nothing more than a vote or number of votes. Even those people, who are rather the light of the society, the intellectuals, who over the years have been used as political tool, not as the soul of society. Ironically, he fell under the same category, to be misused by left SFI. As I pointed out in the beginning.

My birth is my fatal accident. I can never recover from my childhood loneliness. The unappreciated child from my past.”

The reference towards his casteic childhood. The forced seclusion from the society. Our society, we are responsible as a whole.

May be I was wrong, all the while, in understanding world. In understanding love, pain, life, death. There was no urgency. But I always was rushing.

When can one be wrong in understanding the world? What was he rushing for?

Perhaps taking up a political ideology, which turned into a disagreement of his scientific mind with political one, for which he compromised with his own rational ideals of science, nature, stars. And then realized his urgency, his rushing into taking that decision. And then in turn understanding that any political ideology is really not rational. Not a single one.

I am not hurt at this moment. I am not sad. I am just empty. Unconcerned about myself. That’s pathetic. And that’s why I am doing this.

Just empty, a person feels empty because either he has no more desires, or he understands that nothing is like the way he expects to be. So he finds nothing good, so either the onus of his despondency falls upon everything or to be politically correct, on nothing.

One has to understand that a suicide is committed due to continuous regressive attitude, not one decision or event. Whoever be the culprit, the truth cannot be ignored that the Left itself has misused so much of rational intellect that any deprived person can take some sadistic decision for himself. Though the letter does not mention specifically responsible attitudes from anybody but it gives a sense that the politicking in academics has led to this, and the Left is no less a culprit. The high positions acquired by pseudo secular Brahmins in the Left have themselves done no good to their socio economically backward section, just for political misuse.

For the past 34 years the Left mindest in Bengal has ruled the academics. As a result of which, now Bengal sees no debate for national interest. All they debate is political ideology.

Why it has happened that despite being biggest democracy our academics are not top class? Well that is mainly for the fact that our academics never had independent mindset to research. Their works were always structured around political framework. Of them real cult has been left wing.

Romila Thapar carried on with false Aryan Invasion Theory for long, only for leftism. The IIT Madras students with affiliation to left wing protest regularly, moving away from core agenda of tech studies. The political wing in universities is basically to control research & analysis as per their own political benefits. And perhaps this mismatch of science & politics and him being used as a political tool for SFI were among primary causes for his suicide.

JNU controlled by left, regularly refutes any academic point in favour of right. Protest of Subramaniam Swamy’s seminar is a perfect example.

My argument would be incomplete without saying that these are not only students with political wing but professors as well, after all these are the students who become professors.

As a dropout of Presidency University, Kolkata, I have seen the Left mentality in a section of students, who will frame any academic narrative in their political perspective.

Any rational student would want to keep research & politics miles away. And a scholar like Rohith would want to do that but when he observes the rouges in politics & academics together being fed up by the casteic wrath, he will feel broken. That is where things go wrong.

Nothing is as simple as it may look. MSM ignores many crucial points. There are claims that Rohith was not a dalit but an OBC. He faked his identity to get admission. He is affiliated with SFI. How is it not possible that he was rather betrayed by his own affiliation? He did say that he fell in love with people without knowing them.

Now when the nation has lost a scholar, I will end my argument by quoting the very same quote I quoted at the beginning.

In science it often happens that scientists say, “You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,” and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.”

19 January 1990: The dark day of Kashmir which will haunt us for decades

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19 January 1990 is a date which lots of Indians would like to erase from the History of India, forever. 26 years back, mosques in Kashmir issued declarations that the Kashmiri Pandits were Kafirs; Kashmiri Pandits were left with only 3 options — to leave Kashmir, convert to Islam or to be killed. According to reports published by some papers/books, approximately 100,000 of the total Kashmiri Pandit left the valley during the 1990s. We might have cruised 26 years ahead of that gloomy night, but in reality, agony, pain and tears of tens of thousands of forcibly thrown Kashmiri Pandits is still echoing in the valley.

Governments after governments and political parties after political parties have used this as a tool to establish them in Kashmir, however, barely any concrete step is taken to provide justice to those who had to leave their homeland.  It is unfortunate for the nation that while a mild case of minority suppression creates frequent uproar and pandemonium in assemblies, rallies, op-eds, etc., the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits is sidelined to election dates.  It is disastrous for the nation that while Governments in Maharashtra is decided by their willingness to employ people from Bihar and UP,  the natives of Kashmir have to live like migrants and refugees.

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Refugee camps of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s

Temples were destroyed, people were killed, houses were burnt to ruins and millions became homeless. The horror of Kashmir will keep haunting us for decades. Social media remembered 19 Jan 1990. Here are some of the noteworthy tweets:

VIDEO: Rajdeep Sardesai’s hypocrisy on Malda exposed by a Twitter user

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A mob of 2.5 lakh (some reports suggest a conservative figure of 30000) Muslims who had come together under the banner of Anjuman Ahle Sunnatul Jamat (ASJ), went berserk in Malda, West Bengal on Sunday, 3 January 2016. Kaliachak Police station, block development office and public property were vandalised, Several vehicles were set ablaze and over 30 persons including police officers were injured. We had written how MSM had completely ignored this story for a good 3-4 days.

After consistent pressure from social media, mainstream media was finally forced to sit up and take notice of this large scale violence by a Muslim mob. But even then, all we got was spin and outright lies from our MSM.

Then too, Rajdeep Sardesai, who in a way symbolizes all that is wrong with Indian media, was ready with his equivalences and “moral compass” complying commentary. Having earlier attempted to justify the brutal murder of Prashant Poojary, Sardesai could now only talk about Malda while also raising Dadri, thus keeping his secular moral compass intact.


After a few days, Rajdeep Sardesai uploaded a video on his Youtube channel, once again trying to defend the indefensible: Justifying MSM’s stoic silence as Malda burnt to ashes. Rajdeep offered 2 excuses (which he later said weren’t excuses):

  1. Malda is just too far
  2. Media can do only 1 story at a time and the Pathankot Terror attack was that big story

But if social media can wake up a sleeping giant like the MSM, it can also show the mirror to liars like Sardesai. And that is just what one social media user did. He used Rajdeep’s own statements, his own videos and turned them against him beautifully. He first showed how the excuse of “Tyranny of Distance” which Rajdeep often throws around holds no good whatsoever:


While Malda is too far for Rajdeep and his ilk to go, flying to distant Montenegro to catch an interview with Lalit Modi is child’s play for journalists like Rajdeep. Of course the targets of reporting from Malda and reporting from Montenegro are totally different and so we can understand which way Rajdeep’s compass points.

Secondly, the user uploaded another video where Rajdeep claimed media can do only 1 story at a time:

We do not need real proof here because we see almost on daily basis, Indian media reporting on a multitude of stories. If any media would be doing just 1 story 24×7 then rest assured the channel would shut down or the Executive Editor would be kicked out.

These 2 videos once again have exposed Rajdeep Sardesai’s double standards when it comes to reporting uncomfortable truths. It is a miracle how such a journalist continues to be a “senior” in Indian media, but then that is the kind of level of journalism prevalent in Indian media. Just like it did in the Malda case, perhaps it is only social media which can hold such frauds accountable. 

Haryana’s daughters tell us how Haryana’s Sex Ratio at Birth jumped dramatically

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Haryana is relatively infamous in India for having poor sex ratios. Just last year a report suggested that Haryana had the 2nd worst sex ratio at birth (SRB) in the entire country. Sadly, this had been Haryana’s story for a long time now. In the early 2000’s Haryana’s SRB was a lowly 807. The story didn’t change much even till 2009 when the SRB was recorded at just 849 earning it the rank of 2nd lowest SRB among big states in India.

And then just a few days back we learnt about a very heartening news: the SRB in Haryana had crossed 900 for the first time in a decade. Haryana CM Khattar proudly announced that the sex ratio at birth in Haryana had shown an upward trend, as for the first time in 10 years, in December 2015, it had crossed the 900 mark with 903 girls per 1,000 boys.

We wondered what could be the cause of this sudden positive change in trend and we got responses from 2 daughters of Haryana who explained to us the underlying causes:

This is what Garima has to say:

Being born in the district of Rohtak, and brought up in Hisar by doctor parents, (a gynecologist mother), I very well know how the rural and business classes of Haryana are fond of a male child. My mother has struggled for years through the stress of refusing to do abortions. The reasons for unwelcoming a female child have primarily been – more financial burden, the carry forwarding of family name & business and the belief that boys take care of old parents while the girls are not able to.

Irrespective of individual political inclinations, people must come forward and appreciate this ‘focused assault’ on discrimination against girl children by the Haryana government. The state government implemented with zeal, the call for “Beti Bacho Beti Padhao” (BBBP) by PM, Narendra Modi, launched nation wide on 22nd January, 2015.

The formulation of state & district level task forces, leading to implementation of BBBP guidelines and strategies right up to village level seem to have been effective in bringing this change. As per the records and statements in Haryana Government and state WCD ministry websites, the CMOs, DCs and Panchayats’ cooperation and involvement was ensured, and villages which showed positive change were suitably rewarded.

Under the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act ( PCPNDT) which prohibits sex selection, and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, about 130 FIRs were registered since June 2015, and 7 people were even convicted. Sealing of ultrasound machines was done to punish the misuse of technology for gender selection.

Haryana government sought the cooperation of corporates, local NGOs, teachers, CII, FICCI by means of events to spread the general awareness of this campaign and bring sensitivity. Parineeti Chopra was appointed the brand ambassador of ‘BBBP- Call to Action’ by Haryana CMO. About 2500 awareness rallies and more than 1800 activities (like nukkad nataks etc), like the recent ‘Sashakt Beti Sashakt Bharat March’ were undertaken to effect change.

Schemes like ‘Aapki Beti-Hamari Beti’ which ensures life insurance policy for girl children, ‘Beti Bachao Asha Protsahan’ and ‘Sukanya Samridhi Khata Yojana’ encouraging people to invest in daughter’s name at higher interest rate and lower taxes, were launched. The overall perception of girl child being a burden is gradually undergoing a change at grassroot level. Haryana Govt also set up a ‘Haryana Kanya Kosh’ where individuals and organizations can donate for this cause.

Another daughter of Haryana, Veenu says this:

I have always believed that when something is done from heart, it does work. I say so today because something that seemed impossible for a decade has been achieved. It makes one curious as to what changed that we such an unexpected improvement. Yes, the government did change both in the centre and the state and new schemes were conceived.

When ‘Beti bachao beti padhao’ (BBBP) scheme kick started in January 2015, rightly from Haryana which has the lowest sex ratio among states, everyone was skeptical about what can be achieved through it. This project is believed to be something close to PM Modi’s heart. He has worked for betterment of girl child since a long time. He as a CM of Gujarat started ‘Kanya Kelavani Nidhi Fund’ from money generated by auctioning of gifts received by him. This money was used for funding of education of girls.

BBBP has many aspects with work spread over many ministries. It is one of the best mass awareness spreading drive which instills a sense of pride to have a girl child. One of the video of this campaign shows the effort of a ‘Divyang’ girl with congenitally missing arms. She not only learnt writing with her feet but also now teaches in a local school. Her struggle and courage inspires everyone that once encouraged females can achieve anything. Instilling such emotions are pivotal in creating awareness among audience.

I would not like to miss out mentioning another emotional initiative ‘selfie with daughter’. In June 2015, a sarpanch from Bibipur village in Haryana posted on facebook a selfie with his daughter. He also organized a competition for best selfie after observing that not many people of his village has pictures with their daughters. Even PM Modi has appreciated this innovative idea in his monthly radio address as well as in his overseas speeches. The Sarpanch himself believes that such appreciation boosts confidence of people working at grass root and spreads more responsiveness.

‘Sukanya Samridhi Account Yojna’ another aspect of BBBP scheme removes the traditional “burden” tag from the girl child. This account ensures proper opportunity for education, untroubled future prospects and provides a financial freedom to both the girl child and their parents. Building of separate functional toilets for girls in schools was another part of this amazing ‘BBBP’ scheme to limit school drop outs.

This scheme has uncountable merits which makes it a blessing for a girl child. As a female born and brought up in Haryana, I have not seen such all encompassing schemes and more over such a ‘will’ for their implementation. As I said in the beginning, something done by heart works, Khattar Government has worked a miracle by adopting the heart of a brilliant scheme. I am confident we are to see more such improvements in future. When I see a 5 year old telling his friend not to hit a girl classmate because “only bad boys hit girls”, I sense a change and see a bright future.

There is a new found optimism among Harayan residents and it can be seen in the CM’s statement as well. Khattar has now said a target to achieve sex ratio above 950 within the next six months had been set for the entire state. This may seem very ambitious but given their success in a short span of time, it is time Haryana takes up harder challenges and leads the way.

All you need to know about StartUp India: Opportunities and Concerns

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On 15 August 2015, PM Narendra Modi announced “Start up; Stand up India”, an initiative enabling start-ups and encouraging entrepreneurship in India, thus creating jobs. Yesterday, within 5 months of this announcement, we saw the details of this program being rolled out in a grand program in Delhi, where founders of India’s leading start-ups were present.

A detailed 40 page Action Plan was launched which threw more light on each of the aspects above. We would like to focus on some of the key points here and also some causes for concern.

The most important issue here is what is a “Start-Up”, because before you think of taking any of these benefits, you need to be eligible for them. The Action Plan has defined a Start-Up and some intriguing points come out of it:

  1. The window for an enterprise to be called a “start-up” is a rather generous 5 years. i.e. even a 4.5 year old enterprise can be a start-up
  2. The annual turnover cannot be above Rs 25 crore in any year, which again is a pretty high limit
  3. Only a Private Company or a Registered Partnership can qualify for a Start-Up
  4. A clause (rightly so) also bars any enterprise which has been formed by splitting up, or reconstruction, of a business already in existence, in order to avoid misuse
  5. The business of this start-up has to be “a new product or service or process; or a significantly improved existing product or service or process, that will create or add value for customers or workflow“. The key here is de-linking of the business from technology driven businesses. This is a good sign since it opens up the field for all sorts of new ventures.
  6. From the above, its is clear that the focus is on “new” or “significantly improved” products or services, not copy-cat ventures. The definition of “new” or “significantly improved” though maybe an issue since it is very subjective. But then the decisions taken by Venture Capitalists while investing in a start-up are also largely subjective. Also, as we will see later, this task has been outsourced to other agencies.
  7. The definition also says initiatives which do not have potential for commercialization or which do not add incremental value for customers will be out of the picture. This again is rather subjective and looking into the future essentially. We still do not know whether online retail will ever be profitable although they do add value for customers.
  8. Further, to be a start-up the enterprise has to be supported by a recommendation from specified Incubators or Funds registered with SEBI which endorses the innovative nature of the business. While this sort of a check maybe necessary to keep out fly-by-night operators, it may also lead to nepotism and corruption.

And if you do fit the criteria as above, there are loads of goodies coming your way, the significant ones being:

  1. Startups shall be allowed to self-certify compliance (through the Startup mobile app) with 9 labour and environment laws
  2. To promote manufacturing Start-Ups, the criteria of “prior experience/ turnover” will be relaxed for such units whenever a tender is floated by a Government entity or by a PSU
  3. A faster exit mechanism for failed Start Ups to wrap up their business
  4. Startups shall be provided an 80% rebate in filing of patents vis-a-vis other companies.
  5. A Fund of Funds with a total corpus of INR 10,000 Crore which will participate in the capital of SEBI registered Venture Funds which in turn invest in Start-Ups
  6. A Credit guarantee mechanism to be introduced to encourage Banks and other Lenders to provide Venture Debts to Startups
  7. Tax exemption shall be given to persons who have capital gains and if they have invested such capital gains in the Fund of Funds recognized by the Government. Also the existing tax exemption scheme on Capital Gains shall be extended to MSMEs. The concern here could be whether real-estate sharks could misuse this scheme. To avoid this, there must be a lock-in period with respect to investment made in the Fund of Funds.
  8. Profits of Startup initiatives will be exempted from income-tax for a period of 3 years provided they have a certification from the Inter-Ministerial board
  9. Tax Exemption for Investments above Fair Market Value made by incubators in the Startups. Here again there is some scope for misuse.

Other initiatives on the anvil are:

  1. National and International Start-Up Fests
  2. Rolling-out of Mobile App and Portal to enable Start-Ups to access facilities online
  3. Legal Support and Fast-tracking Patent Examination at Lower Costs
  4. Establishment of sector specific Incubators including in PPP mode, 500 Tinkering Labs, Pre-incubation training, Institution of Innovation Awards, Launch of Grand Innovation Challenge Awards under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
  5. Setting-up 13 Startup centres, Setting-up/ Scaling-up 18 Technology Business Incubators, Setting up of 7 New Research Parks Modeled on the Research Park Setup at IIT Madras
  6. 5 new Bio-clusters, 50 new Bio-Incubators, 150 technology transfer offices and 20 Bio-Connect offices will be set up for Promoting Startups in the Biotechnology Sector
  7. Launching of Innovation Focused Programs for Students
  8. “Incubator Grand Challenge” to support creation of successful world class incubators in India

Details aside, the entire Action Plan has numerous goodies for start-ups of all types in India. The aim is to encouage new innovative businesses and provide them support in establishing their business. The direction of the Government is also to minimize regulatory hurdles, although this will lead to challenges such as weeding out unscrupulous entities. Apprehensions of “license raj” could be overblown but there are some genuine concerns especially with respect to the certification of start-ups’ “innovation” by authorities.

The start-up boom is already 3-4 years old in India and one wonders what effect such an initiative woudl have had back then, but better late than never.

Rahul Gandhi’s comeback: Fail speech and inconvenience to Mumbaikars

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Rahul Gandhi is back in town from Europe, where he had gone for yet another vacation, details of which are unknown to Indian media. As a comeback announcement, Rahul chose to take up some events like speaking at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies and a Padyatra in Mumbai.

Even though he might have tried his best, he failed to make any impression. Firstly, his speech was littered with parts which ranged from the inaccurate to the outright bizarre.

At one point Rahul Gandhi lamented that the BJP, Jaitley and Modi blocked GST in Parliament for 7 years. Surely he knows Modi is in the parliament only now, but we can skip this minor gaffe. Secondly, his claim of 7 years of blockage is all but foolish. Considering that UPA left power in 2014, BJP must have blocked the bill from 2007 onward, for Rahul’s claim to be true. But fact is, the constitutional amendment bill for GST was first introduced by UPA in the parliament only as late as 2011, which was sent to a select committee. So if at all any party could block it in the Parliament, it is after 2011, not 2007. Lastly, Rahul Gandhi also deliberately hid vital information that even in the last one year of UPA, at least 5 Non-BJP states had voiced their opposition to the UPA’s GST bill, and out of these, 3 states were Congress ruled states.

Later Rahul Gandhi commented that the Government was not focussing on farmers. Maybe due to his vacation, Rahul was not aware that just 3 days back, PM Modi had launched an all-encompassing Crop Insurance scheme. A bit of homework would have helped here.

Moving on to the bizarre, Rahul Gandhi said one should now put labels on people, probably forgetting his own labels like “suit-boot ki sarkaar”

And the next bit is beyond explanation, you have to see what he actually said and try to make sense:


After this, he moved on to his padyatra through Mumbai and as expected, it caused a massive traffic problem in Mumbai. A move which was supposed to connect him to people actually earned him large scale hate from the millions of people stuck in jams caused by his event. A few of them vented their frustrations online:



All said and done, Rahul Gandhi has scored another self- goal here. We don’t know where Rahul Gandhi went in Europe and what he did, but he might have had some really good stuff there.

Our apologists made a romantic hero out of a cold-blooded terrorist, yet again

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Masood Azhar is back in news — this time because of confusions over his “protective custody” by the Pakistan police counter-terrorism department after the Pathankot attack. After the Pathankot attack, Pakistan, being exposed to continuous pressure from India as well as from the US and other nations, assured substantial actions on terrorism. But while the Indian Government, with the help of NIA and other investigative agencies, is pushing Pakistan to take firm actions, the apologist brigade — including many from media houses who were kept away from Pathankot investigations (for some obvious and some not so obvious reasons) have started sabotaging the ongoing mission by creating narratives to hold India responsible for the attack.

Recently, an article by Harinder Baweja on Hindustan Times titled, “Making of a terrorist: Babri demolition triggered Masood Azhar’s jihad” infuriated many Indians, but at the same time, it gathered support from many hardliners like Rana Ayyub and alleged liberals like Ramachandra Guha.

Masood Azhar

Surprisingly, this article, which has already been declared brilliant and insightful by our many people is nothing but a small paragraph of crippled argument mentioning, “Azhar may never have turned his attention to India or Kashmir were it not for the demolition of the Babri Masjid. He was content playing the role of a ‘journalist’ through a militant journal called Sada-i-Mujahid (Knock of the Mujahid)“, incoherently placed between emotional stories narrated by Masood Azhar. The more disturbing part of this childish article is that it glorifies Masood Azhar as a freedom fighter who is chivalrous, emotional, religious and respectful to women. I was so overwhelmed with frustration after reading this eulogy of a terrorist, involved in killings of many innocents, that I had to close my laptop for a break.

Even if we assume that the author has a soft corner for Masood Azhar (the tortured “donation seeking journalist”, as described by Harinder Baweja) because he treated her with respect, I fail to understand how and why intellectuals like Ramachandra Guha, who write pages on how to deal structure, substructure and superstructure of terrorism or who preach people not to complicate terrorism my mixing religious angles, jumped to affirm the theory with justifications like “Babri demolition was Bad, Masood Azhar is bad, so I will not oppose the argument” 


The blatant hypocrisy of this kind of liberals is not a new thing. They have built their career and credentials by emphasizing secularism to such an extent that it becomes impossible for them to decouple crime and religion before analyzing it. Rightly pointed out by many, if Babri demolition is responsible for the rise of worst terrorists, the perennial destruction of thousands of temples should have turned many Hindus into cannibals. Few days back, most of these apologists were singing rhymes of intolerance, but for Masood Azhar, they have reasons and sympathy for him to become a murderer. It is because of this palpable hypocrisy that “whataboutery” finds a space to grow. It is because of this hypocrisy that when Kiku Sharda is attacked for hurting religious sentiments of some people, other people find justifications from Malda.

Dear apologists, at least stand by your philosophies; at least stand by your arguments; at least don’t make those stupid logical fallacies which you mock others for; and if, you can’t criticize murderous terrorists like you criticize Hindu fundamentalists, at least don’t glamorize them as a freedom hero.

The making of a terror apologist; A tribute to the practitioners of this art

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This piece does not intend to be a rejoinder to Harinder Baweja on ”Making of a terrorist: Babri Masjid demolition triggered Azhar’s jihad”

If it was one, I would have told the author to feel a bit of shame before using the adjective audacious for a terrorist, one who sneaks through the border in dark, hoping to attack when victims are asleep and does not have the guts to face them face to face, man to man. The adjectives that are suitable are cowardly, dastardly and craven, instead.

If it was a retort, I would have asked her as to why does the phrase, “O Babri Masjid, ….. you were a sign of our glorious past and we will not rest till we restore you to your former glory” reveal the hurt cry of an invader, an erstwhile ruler whose war loot, converted into a mounted trophy, that was Babri Masjid, has been taken away by the erstwhile defeated, subjugated & ruled race and definitely not an anguished cry of a Muslim preacher whose place of worship has been demolished?

If it was a rejoinder to Baweja, I would have asked her as to whether a terrorist who exults with ecstasy when holding an AK 47 in his hand and feels that the gun was ready to talk to the enemy, dreams of falling bodies, should expect the securities agencies to shower him with rose petals after his arrest?

If it was a riposte to said piece, I could have argued that the religious strife in this part of the world did not stay frozen before 1992 as per the convenience of her logic, that the action-reaction theory does not find its origins in 1992 and everyone whose place of worship is wrecked or desecrated, does not become a terrorist either, or India would be a nation of terrorists, we had around 40000 reasons for being one, and more.

No, it is not a counter to the Harinder Baweja.

Instead, it attempts to be a tribute to the tribe of terror apologist, a salute to the undying spirit of those who try to beautify whom the world thinks as beasts and the insurmountable challenges they face while doing their task.

Believe me, defending a terrorist is no cakewalk. It is more difficult than say, even brain surgery. Let me explain.

Each time a brain is operated on the surgeon finds the cerebrum and the cerebellum in the exact same place each time. Each person’s brain is the same, regardless of sex or nationality. Each incision is made with the knowledge that precisely what lies below is going to be there. Each time.

The surgeon also has a whole battery of equipment that can be used to see through the skin and bones before the operation to help even more with the preciseness of the operation. It would be a bit more challenging for the surgeon (to say nothing about the patient) if the brain was different for each operation and there were no way to see into the brain.

The challenge for a terror apologist is much, much bigger.

While brain surgery is precise and exacting, the process of defending a terrorist is imprecise and unexacting. Where each brain is the same, each terrorist is different, with none ever the same.

Each terrorist brings his or her own level of extremism, militancy and criminality to the parlour (The objective being beautification, remember!). He may be a pathological hater, a deluded fanatic, a serial killer, a psychic criminal, a heartless slaughterer, it takes all kind, you know. Also for example, there is no way to know how the terrorist would react to a recital of his crimes, with proud confirmation or with a deceitful denial or whether he would take out his gun and shoot you!  But despite all these uncertainties, apologist has to deliver the final product in the standard form; an object of pity or sympathy, even respect.

Now, let’s look at what all has to be done to hide what is ugly and make the species presentable to the world.

Typically, the defender has to first find and focus on a physical attribute or personal trait which answers to adjectives like diminutive, soft, homely or an average Joe to set the tone of brief. It lays the foundation of building up the victim narrative later.

Next come the salutation, very important aspect in the business of image laundering; very important component of beautification. A respectful salutation has the power to negate all the killing and crime committed by the subject, in the public perception.

Then comes the most important part of identifying a life changing event which is the cornerstone of the apology, the main structure of the edifice; the narrative of victimhood. It goes something like, “The diminutive Maulana, angrily stamping the ground, squashing the Indian soil with his shoes, crying and saying….” Now the structure is ready.

Then the process of softening of how acts or events are defined begins, like a process of makeup; lighten the dark spots and the blemishes. For example, an exchange against hostages becomes flight to freedom, prying on the innocent people becomes turning his attention, collecting funds for terror activities becomes procuring donations, a cowardly, audacious strike, inciting people becomes a much positive phrase of motivating them, etc. The list is long and the effort needed on the part of the apologist is immense.

In short, a terror apology needs its author to be highly accomplished to be able to pull it off a credible piece.  Very challenging vocation, indeed!

What is surprising is that the literary world has not yet woken up to this genre that is neither fiction nor non-fiction, instead deserves a name and place of its own. Nor have Sahitya Academies instituted any awards in this field?

As a common man, only thing I can say is, “May their tribe thrive, forever”.

Who is behind the Twitter handle Adarsh Liberal?

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15 tweets. 10000 plus followers. Featured in multiple mainstream media stories. A part of the political lexicon in India forever. These are the vital statistics of the insanely popular anonymous Twitter handle Adarsh Liberal. After giving us the perfect adage to describe the unique species of pseudo liberals in India, this account went into a hibernation of sorts for several months, and yesterday he/she was back, with a bang:


This latest creation of Adarsh Liberal has once again gone viral and looks all set to break the account’s own record of most viral tweet. For a good measure of the popularity of this account, this tweet at the time of writing, had well over 2700 Retweets, as compared to less than 1000 Retweets for PM Modi’s last few tweets and around the 1000 mark for Delhi CM Kejriwal’s tweets. Add to this the fact that Modi has well over 17 million followers, Kejriwal has around 6 million, and this humble anonymous account has just breached the 10000 mark. And we are not even counting Facebook shares, Whatsapp messages, Emails etc

So who is behind this handle? Until now, the person has kept his/her identity secret. The account never replies to anyone, not even to enquiries to contact him from media. But from the tweets, one can hazard a guess as to what kind of person is behind this account.

Obviously, he has a deep dislike for the pseudo liberals of India. The “liberals” who back a Kiku Sharda’s freedom of speech but say Charlie Hebdo crossed the line. The “liberals” who demonize a Dadri and lend a deaf ear to Malda. The “liberals” who talk discuss animal cruelty over a beef steak. Such bigots masquerading as liberals have been exposed by this account several times:


And it’s not just dislike. A lot of wit, humour and sarcasm is an essential in everything this account puts forth. And this trademark sarcasm is what has led to this account becoming so popular. 

Take for instance this absolutely hilarious video which uses hard-core facts and a good deal of comedy to cut through the “Christians under Attack” narrative. 


 What it manages in a small video was being tried by so many portals through long essays, worth thousands of words. And yet, in all probability, the message from Adarsh Liberal reached more people more effectively than most other methods. 

Also, the person handling the account has a penchant for social media and knows what will work and what wont. Combined with a deep sense of timing and choosing the right issues, we get an account which creates viral content with remarkable consistency.

The various hilarious and ruthless memes apart, what this account has given the world, which will last an eternity is the phrase “Adarsh Liberal”. It encompasses everything wrong with Indian “liberals” and the phrase has got stuck on their back like a rash which just refuses to go away.

The effect of Adarsh Liberal has been so much that even typically Adarsh Liberal media houses like Indian Express were forced to cover the latest poster. But even here, Indian Express attempted to draw false equivalences, such as comparing Adarsh Liberal to the completely unknown counter campaign of Adarsh Bhakt, which never ever kicked off on social media. It also calls Adarsh Liberal “a Twitter account that makes it a point to mock the idea of liberalism”, whereas from all posters of Adarsh Liberal, its clear the person is targeting the Indian brand of pseudo secularism, which of course Indian Express also practices. 

We of course have approached this account multiple times, to get in touch with us. But true to its nature, the account just doesn’t respond. If you have any idea who might be running this account, share your guesses in the comments section