ical life extolled by none other than Manmohan Singh. However there shouldn’t be any doubt on role played by young Gandhi. He must take responsibility. This blogger is happy that NDA has not done that badly and remains an effective opposition. Clearly extreme views and actions make people uncomfortable and insecure. They are looking for secure and peaceful life. Fundamentalists of any kind have no space, whether it is religion or market. How congress negotiates minority fundamentalism will be keenly watched as also in the name of development how exploitative system is unleashed for the benefit of few. Equally true how BJP negotiates majority fundamentalism in the next few days, a party cornered can give more voice to vicious elements. Clearly five years from now NDA, or the extreme right Hindu groups, could come back with renewed vigor if mistakes of past are repeated. BJP’s spectacular growth in last few decades need be noted, and how it was able to attract vote has been studied by many scholars. So when Sonia Gandhi says that “people make right choice” the choices of last few decades needn’t be forgotten and shouldn't be taken for granted. Indian voters as also common people in common situation don’t make choices which are disruptive -that is basic nature of Indian society. Hardships of daily life are more than enough. It is some vested interest who generally creates problems.
This blogger expresses grave concern over extreme forms of secularism that is being attempted in recent times. This reactionary approach is dangerous and divisive. Since it works on emboldening the fundamentalists, and remains a threat in future. This is a western construct, an understanding that is alien to us. Also to posit that the election verdict is above religion and caste is quite illusionary as you will gather from the factors that decide the choice of candidates in most (not all but most) seats. Azharuddin wouldn’t have contested from
Of course Manmohan Singh is an established and scholarly economist with incredible qualifications. But this blogger remains a skeptic of GDP driven macro economic growth as also market pleasing short term measures. I say this as a man on the street- also referred to as common man- with not much understanding on economics nor has any qualifications to show. But seems to have an intuitional understanding that GDP driven growth is not suitable indicator of growth (more than a decade back I was so frustrated hearing GDP every time that I wrote a poem “GDP and bhelpuri”!!. I have started a “poems blog”-go to link. You can read this poem there).
This blogger is grievously concerned about the Left parties. They are effective opposition, and a weakened left is bad for the country. Clearly the Left have themselves to blame. The writings were on the wall for anyone to read. Left parties have a very significant role to play. The elite in left seem to be keen on changing with time. But this changing with time shouldn’t be for convenience or connivance. Market driven growth definitely has some serious shortcomings and this is where Left has to play its role. Left cannot take
The Singur lessons: this blogger doesn’t expect Budhadeb Bhattacharya to resign. Threaded types are sturdier breed and when
you are a commie the shame is on bourgeoisie. The spin is admirable comrade. Jai ho!! (Incidentally the ad blitz jai ho was regrettable, I gather they discontinued it. It is trivializing common people by using movie song. It is a shame, it was like
The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) sometime back found that 40% of farmers expressed their desire to opt out agriculture if there is another option open to them. Also note younger generations are hardly keen on farming in rural
