مرحبا جميعا

رمضان كريم و كل عام وأنتم بخير ،جعلها الله ايام خير و بركة لكل المسلمين والعالم أجمع


مع خالص الود

تالا النابلسي

When I see you found my heart
His Eminence happy with those who
His Eminence is not to extend them if
What we poured number
Fuad atmosphere of love
Actual longing is always
Valencia morning terms above
Eye dazzling beauty happy
BOOM, which has been in self-defence
Photos by Hassan benefited
Moody and never grow
Continued to give birth in the life
Khalid miracles in our father
Of the tender is not ready
People each year in contravention
Date because it does not find
Add creativity in
Sunan nice life breeds
How rosary reverse trend DNA
Does not wish installations sings
Like waves in Seaor Find
The night turbulent threaten
Magnificence of creativity without cause
Pedestrian criticizes a grudge
Grandchildren may slip in the environment
It always corrupts Bmkr
Nima described formed
After witnessing years of effort
Nwabg of creativity
Always inspire renewed
Kprh Abe to find
Solutions that do not include Ldd
We have all the people admitted to me
Like a prince to seek Gereida
Having won the task
Egypt gave birth breeds pride
He surpassed his production, which
They have prevailed a generation removed
The extent to which ago
Decade us pave
As much as had secured together
The spirits of insured pay
If God was informed that
Samsung created the universe unique
Despite the high rank
Hoey had with those who denied
Preferred endorsed by forbidding
Will see the true to life
Adib courage fair
In his words fairly criticisms
Genius brought renewed
Approach to life dispel
Petrified with tradition
People in the community might away
Each Jeddah, as if it were
Waft which missed sings
Poems of high-chanting
Rueda degrees happy
Eloquent judgement may contain
Treasures of the works is available
Discover terminated boy
His genius guide
Gifted eloquently Dent
Such methods are the stars
And love that had been concluded
In the heart after birth
Comprehensive security if there is no
Manie, which threatens two hours
Creators had a ball
DNA dispel shining light
The darkness of night, which withdrew
From the place of faith may seek
Surprised by the beauty of
Aromatic basil credit
I have admitted my Ulloa forbidding
They testified on my
Impartially nominated Cloud
Spray leaf guide
From the fruits produced in an environment
Aston airspace does not spoil
The magnanimity of redress
Cram worth of not running out
Everything had been made available without me
Any requirement may insulator away
The talents of its greatest extent
Stars under pressure-fired
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Ray will guide us how
Lost to correct the prevailing
We may find a good encroachment
If I thought it Envier
Shannan by commend
The eloquence of her poems have
High value devil
Their meaning increased chanting
Over their understanding not unite
Shannan plagued feelings
Preoccupations that threaten
Health expensive on the
May dearest Ha principal happy
Might create the principle of poison
For the unemployed to worship the gods






Greetings Yes, the love that is sincere
J who have given birth genius who plundered the time
Without their creations
Despite the shortfall compared Despite the demands of living
Which does not favour one because it is one of the ways of life
Yes, that every person is not hard unless flag
It pounds of the money behind expensive taxi or
Protected from the pain of poverty
== Contract only those who are doing creative
Their best to please others
Creative fonts, which brings happiness
Suggestive words like water lilies
Fine happy that both deem
And mitigate the crises which had been dismal for the crisis ..
Draw life as grief and learn from them
As the parents of those who Thank you Eulogists Feast

The mainstream freedom movement of this country definitely had a vision for an egalitarian society. A society in which each family would be able to earn their livelihood with dignity and accord the same respect to every other member of the society that they would expect for themselves. People would be able to live in an atmosphere free from fear. There would be mutual respect for diversity of ideas. India would lead the world towards disarmament and peace and would help establish a just and humane global order.

The development policies adopted by the Nehru's government, completely ignoring the principles of Hind Swaraj put forward by Mahatma Gandhi, later further aggravated by the economic policies of liberalization, privatization and globalization have resulted in dual development stream in this country. A small minority of the society which possesses a purchasing power can afford the latest fruit of modern technological development available in the global market. The industrialists are allowed unhindered to produce material items for the consumption of this class and this class is allowed to consume things unbounded. Just like the American society nobody cares a damn about global warming or any such thing coming in their way of a global lifestyle. On the other hand for the vast majority of poor, devoid of the magical purchasing power - which doesn't accrue from one's capability alone - the country's parliament has passed a National Rural Employment Guarantee Act which bars machines from being used in work offered to them for the fear of causing a threat to the employment of the poor. In spite of Prime Minister's advice in a CII meeting, the CEOs resist the idea of placing a ceiling on their salaries whereas the poor earns a maximum wage of what is described as minimum daily wage. So, obviously there are two sets of policies one which allows unlimited growth and unbridled indulgence; and the other which tends to restrict.

This is not just limited to the field of economy. It extends to all other areas of human life. The elite of the country resist the idea of common school system ever since the Kothari Commission gave a recommendation in its favour in the mid '60s. Even the child of a government school teacher goes to a nearby private school. Same is the case with health care system, access to electricity, potable water, transportation, communication, etc. We have a system offering better services to the rich and another for the rest where people are asked to make do with subhuman conditions. A good example would be people who can pay a higher amount can travel in reserved coaches of the railways and those who cannot afford it are relegated to animal like travel in the general unreserved coaches.

As if things were not bad enough. The shining India now aspires to be a military power, in the august company of the country which is the single biggest threat to the sovereignty of various nations around the world. More people have probably died in India pre-maturely because of disease, poverty and debt-related suicides than would die because of dropping of a nuclear weapon by an enemy country. Through a stupid deal on nuclear energy, which has been rejected as an option for producing electricity by most of the developed nations, we're entering into a strategic tie-up with the US which will make it more difficult for us to resist exploitation by their MNCs of our natural resources and the market, will create more enemies for us in our neighbourhood and unnecessarily involve us in wars which the US will fight in this region and elsewhere. Already, our Prime Minister appears to be committed to fulfilling promises made to the US President at the cost of ignoring the priorities of people of this country. This is a serious departure from our policy of non-alignment and self-reliance. From being a leader pursuing the agenda of global peace until as late as 1995 in the International Court of Justice, we've now slipped down to being a military ally of the US in making.

It is not a coincidence that the terrorist incidents in this country have seen a rise since we decided unilaterally to join the US's war against terror in 2001. After the demolition of Babri Masjid, the first major terrorist incident which marked the arrival of right wing politics in India, there was a lull until the mysterious attack on our Parliament just before the passage of POTA Act. Since then there have been a series of incidents which have engulfed this country in an unknown fear. As we raise more brute power to crush the problem of terrorism, or for that matter Naxalism, the cycles of violence continue to grow. The government policy of acting with vengeance, instead of trying to solve the problems politically through dialogue, ends up in targeting innocent individuals like Syed Abdul Rehman Geelani and Binayak Sen. Our response to a Irom Sharmila who has been fasting for eight years now to demand repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act is to charge her with attempt to suicide and jail her in the hospital ward in Imphal. The Indian state doesn't know how to deal with its people except for a small elite segment loyal to it for its own vested interest. Farmers and labourers fighting to save their lands from corporate take over, for example in the name of SEZs, are labeled as Naxalites.

It is quite clear that majority of India doesn't know what it means to be 'independent'. It lives as a second rate citizen of this country, denied the fruits of modern development or of the basic human rights, working hard day and night to make two ends meet. The police, military, nuclear weapons, intelligence agencies, laws of the land and increasingly the development juggernaut do not instill a sense of security in her, rather they appear as ominous threat to their very existence.

by

Sandeep pandey

(Author has won the 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Emergent Leadership category for work towards empowering the poorest of the poor and lending the underprivileged in India a voice- from education to grassroots democracy to peace to promoting local ownership of resources)

Q: Who swore in Pt Jawaharlal Nehru as India's first Prime Minister?
A: Lord Mountbatten

Q: When did Lord Mountbatten, the last British Governor-General of India, announce the partitioning of the British Indian Empire into India and Pakistan?
A: June 3, 1947

Q: "At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again." Who made this historic statement and when?
A: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at stroke of midnight on Aug 15 August 1947

Q: Who was India's first Deputy Prime Minister?
A: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Q: Who was the first Governor General of India?
A: Lord Mountbatten

Q: Who replaced Lord Mountbatten and when?
A: Chakravarti Rajagopalachari; June 1948.

Q: When did the Constituent Assembly complete the drafting of the Constitution?
A: 26 November 1949;

Q: When India was officially proclaimed Republic?
A: 26 January 1950

Q: Who did the Constituent Assembly elect as the first President of India?
A: Dr Rajendra Prasad

Q: Who was the last Governor General of India?
A: Rajgopalachari.

Q: Who Goa was liberated from in 1961?
A: Portuguese control

Q: When Pondicherry ceded to India?
A: 1954

Q: Pondicherry was earlier a colony of which foreign country?
A: France

Q: When was the first general elections held in India?
A: 1952

Q: What was the voter turnout in India's first general elections?
A: Over 62%

Q: When India became the world's largest democracy?
A: 1952

Q: From where does Prime Minister of India hoist the National Flag on August 15th?
A: Red Fort, Delhi

About 35 km from the impressively housed memorabilia of the Nehru family at Allahabad's Anand Bhawan is Phulpur, the Lok Sabha constituency of independent India's first prime minister, who was elected thrice from here. But today, Phulpur appears to be in a time warp, a place trapped eternally in the Sixties.

The mobile phone network is about the only thing that functions in Phulpur; the SDM's office doesn't even have a landline. It was disconnected after unpaid bills ran into tens of thousands of rupees. The SDM keeps in touch with his district on cellphone, but keeping it charged is a challenge. Electricity, assured for 18 to 20 hours in Allahabad, is never available for more than five hours a day here. But its people can't even complain: their voice in the Lok Sabha, don-turned-politician Ateeq Ahmed, is cooling his heels in Naini jail nearby.

It's a jail that resonates with history. Nehru and numerous other freedom fighters did time here. They fought for freedom and the Brits threw them in Naini when their satyagraha and non-cooperation became too hot to handle. But Ateeq is here for violating, brazenly and crudely, the very laws that this jail's illustrious time-servers framed after India gained freedom.

Beyond its lifeless streets, algae-infested drains and garbage piles however, Phulpur is buzzing with talk these days. The big question is who will contest from here and who will win. Will it be Kapil Muni Kawariya, just nominated by the BSP? Or will it be the don himself or, if he doesn't walk free, his wife Shaista Parveen? Who will be the Samajwadi Party's candidate? Will Phulpur go unchallenged by Congress following its astonishing alliance with SP?

The answers will be known in time. But there's a larger question no one seems to have quite got the hang of: How did Nehru's Phulpur become the playing field of a don who defies everything that the maker of modern India stood for?

In many ways, Phulpur represents the fragmentation of Indian politics in the backyard of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Ateeq may not belong to the Congress, but he is a product of the nexus between crime and politics, a practice first developed by the Congress and later perfected by others.

Asked about this degeneration in public life, UPCC president Rita Bahugna Joshi feigns naive wonderment. "We never believed criminals would get voted to power," she says. Congress bosses say that when criminals began asking for election tickets in return for ‘services' rendered, they were obliged in the hope that they would lose! "We couldn't foresee that casteism, communalism and criminalisation will become predominant in politics. To that extent, Congress should take responsibility for how the political system got devalued," Joshi now says.

One of Phulpur's generation of old-timers is M L Jaiswal, 74, who was often part of Nehru's local entourage when he came visiting. "He had a special fondness for his jail mates at Naini, one of whom was Krishna Chand Vaid. Nehruji stayed at his house whenever he came here. So did Indiraji," says Jaiswal, who was Phulpur panchayat chief in the '70s.

Asked whether anybody ever dared to ask Nehru why his constituency was not getting the fruits of development, Jaiswal says, "Vaidji did ask once. So Nehruji sent him to Orissa and Bastar. When he returned, Nehruji asked him what he saw, and Vaidji replied that he saw hunger and deprivation. Nehruji then said, 'Isn't Phulpur better off? People here at least have food to eat, houses to live in and clothes to wear. My concern is for people who have nothing.' Vaidji fell silent. Panditji had the whole nation to think about, not just Phulpur."

After Nehru's sister Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, none of the Nehru-Gandhis has contested from Phulpur. But as Nagesh Kumar Vaid, 48, a descendant of Vaidji, points out, "Perhaps they realized they could not give anything to this place, nor take anything from here." The great nothingness that the great patrician signifies in today's Phulpur is best symbolised by the ruins of Vaidji's house that Nehru made his home here. "We've seen it all, from the sublime to the ridiculous," Nagesh adds. "We took pride in Nehru and find Ateeq an embarrassment."

Ashok Vajpayee, son of late Congress leader Rajendra Kumari Vajpayee, says the decline of Congress began when the party broke its unwritten pact with the people. Vajpayee, who says he was expelled from Congress a year ago for reasons unknown to him, has since joined BSP which is fielding him for the Lok Sabha from Allahabad.

"Until Mrs Indira Gandhi, the top leadership of Congress was accessible. Indiraji met 2,000 people a day and knew the churnings at the grassroots. Today, the party's political dogma has collapsed; it's playing second fiddle to SP whose political base is goondas," says Vajpayee. "The family left its kul deohri (family base) that is Allahabad and Congress is dead because it allowed votebank politics to overshadow issue-based politics."

The flip side of such vote politics was a 'bank run' on Congress - first by the OBCs with Mandal, then the upper castes with Mandir, and the Dalit votes with Mayawati. These numerically powerful sections turned away from the party, cutting its vote percentage in the region down from 40% to around 8%. Kailash Ram, 45, from the numerically strong Patel community, was a typical Congress supporter whose vote always unquestioningly went to the party. Today his entire clan supports BSP.

Kailash shuttles between Phulpur and Allahabad where he works as a waiter. "It's because there are no factories or big businesses here that our children had to look for work in Mumbai. They were humiliated there. At roadside dhabas, they were always the last to be served. My two boys were beaten up and thrown out of Maharashtra. What did we get from voting for Congress?" he asks.

Meanwhile, bhai (as Ateeq is known among his supporters) still has his votaries who point out he has done a lot for poor Muslims in the last 15 years.

In the thoughtfully appointed lounge of SP MP Saleem Shervani's old mansion near upscale Alkapuri in Allahabad, a large portrait of Nehru adorns one side of the wall while on the other hangs one of Mulayam Singh. Perhaps nothing else underscores the 'sangam' of the lofty with the profane. Families like Shervanis, of old money and loyalty to the Congress, left the party in the '90s but still continued to win elections.

Says Shervani, "I wouldn't have won on a Congress ticket in 1996. I spoke to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Rajesh Pilot, Arjun Singh and others. They said, and I am not trying to sound vain, that it's important that people like you get elected to Lok Sabha, never mind the party. I believe the situation today calls for a Congress-SP tie-up."

"Between too early and too late, there's never more than a moment," goes a quotation on Shervani's Gautier-esque desk. The quote, from Franz Worel, is strangely apt for Congress as it negotiates with its blemished present, sadly not on its own terms but on the terms of its political adversaries and enemies.

happy independence day
Following is the text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address from the Red Fort on the occasion of the nation's 62nd Independence Day:

My dear countrymen, brothers, sisters and my dear children

Greetings to all of you on this happy occasion of our Independence Day.

This is a sacred day for every Indian.

Today we remember the sacrifice of those who under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi fought for our freedom from foreign rule.

Today we remember the hard work and dedication of all those who have toiled to build a free and modern India. And we re-dedicate ourselves to that cause.

We remember our farmers, our workers and our teachers. We remember our soldiers - who defend our borders in snowy mountains, in deserts, in jungles, on the shores and in the oceans.

Brothers and Sisters,

Four years ago, on this day, I stood here before you and spoke to you about our government's new vision for a new India.

I said to you that it is our desire to build an India that is just and humane;

an India that treats all its citizens as equals;

an India that is prosperous;

an India that lives in peace;

an India in which everyone can find work suited to his or her talent and can work for his or her brighter future.

An India that is secular, that is fair and just to all its people. An India united in its diversity.

It has been our sincere endeavour to work for the building of such an India.

Brothers and Sisters,

Four years ago I stood here and said to you that I have no promises to make, but I have promises to keep.

The implementation of the National Common Minimum Programme, was our promise to keep;

To give a 'new deal to rural India', was our promise to keep;

To make our economy and society inclusive was our promise to keep;

To take India to its rightful place in the comity of nations, was our promise to keep;

It has been the sincere endeavour of our Government to keep each of these promises.

We have given a new deal to rural India.

Through the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana we are investing Rs. 25000 crore in agriculture;

To provide relief to our debt distressed farmers we have waived loans taken from the banks amounting to about Rs.71,000 crore;

In the past four years we have increased bank credit for agricultural sector from Rs.81,000 crore to Rs.225,000 crore, and have reduced the interest rates for farm loans;

In order to improve the economic conditions of farmers we have steeply increased the procurement prices for food grains; 50 percent for wheat and 30 percent for paddy;

The National Food Security Mission has been set up to enhance production of rice, wheat and pulses;

Irrigation, watershed development, rain fed areas development, and flood management have received our special attention;

Our effort at increasing investment in rural areas and reducing the debt burden of farmers has turned our agricultural economy around.

After almost a decade of stagnation especially from 1998 to 2004, investment in agriculture is increasing and there has been a revival in this area. We have had record production of foodgrains, cotton and sugar in 2007-08.

Our farms are once again green. Our godowns are once again filling up. Our farmers are once again hopeful about their future and their welfare.

Brothers and Sisters,

I spent the first ten years of my life in a village that had no electricity, no drinking water supply, no doctor, no roads and no phones. I had to walk many miles to a school. I had to study at night in the dim light of a kerosene lamp. After independence there has been considerable development in rural areas, yet many of our citizens still live a life that I lived in my childhood.

That is why when our government took over, we launched Bharat Nirman, to build rural infrastructure. Our government is committed to transforming rural India. In these four years we have taken important initiatives. I am confident that a new and prosperous India will be built due to our efforts.

My dear Countrymen,

Four years ago I spoke to you about our 'Seven Sutras' - the seven priorities for our Government - agriculture, water, education, health care, employment, urban renewal and infrastructure.

In each area we have taken important initiatives. I have already spoken about our initiatives for agricultural development and farmer's welfare.

The second important area of development has been infrastructure development. There is a new dynamism in our railways. New roads are being built. New seaports and airports are being developed.

More and more of our people now live in our cities. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Mission has been funding urban development and modernization of our cities.

The National Rural Health Mission has been expanding public health facilities and services in rural areas.

As someone who started his professional life as a teacher, I feel proud to say that our Government has been giving special attention to the development of education in our country. There is a massive increase in public investment in education at all levels. In elementary education, in secondary education and in higher education.

We have strengthened Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and expanded the mid-day meal programme upto upper primary level in all districts of the country. About 14 crore children are being provided mid-day meals under this scheme.

We are establishing 6,000 new high quality model schools, with at least one school in each block. 373 new colleges are being opened in backward districts. We are opening 30 new universities, 8 new IITs, 7 new IIMs, 20 new IIITs, 5 new Indian Institutes of Science, 2 Schools of Planning and Architecture, 10 NITs, and 1,000 new polytechnics.

I have called the 11th Five Year Plan our 'National Education Plan'. We want every section of our society to get access to education. Every child belonging to a family of SC, ST, OBC and all Minorities, every single child, boy or girl, must have access to modern education.

Our government is implementing several new scholarship schemes for the educational development of our children. Schemes for pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for children hailing from SC, ST, OBC and Minority families are being implemented. Special scholarships for meritorious students from SC, ST, OBC and Minority families have also been launched. Scholarships for overseas studies are being given to SC and ST students. National merit-cum-means scholarships for children hailing from economically weaker sections and children with disabilities have also been approved.

We have established a new Skill Development Mission which will work under the supervision of the Prime Minister. A Skill Development Corporation will be created by the Government with the active participation of the private sector to give special training to our young men and women, our workers and our technicians.

I am happy to say that we are sincerely implementing most of the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Committee Report on social, economic and educational empowerment of our Muslim community.

India will be transformed only when every Indian is literate, well fed, healthy and can secure gainful employment.

I want to see a modern India, imbued by a scientific temper, where the benefits of modern knowledge flow to all sections of society. This year we hope to send an Indian spacecraft, Chandrayan, to the moon. It will be an important milestone in the development of our space programme.

Brothers and Sisters,

Providing employment has been a special priority for us. Our policies for agriculture, for industry, for infrastructure development and for skill development, will all promote employment.

Our beloved former Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi had said, 'Garibi Hatao'. Our leader Shrimati Sonia Gandhi has given us the slogan, 'Rozgar Badhao'. Our Government is making special efforts to create 'rozgar' to fight 'garibi'.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme is a historic initiative of our Government. Today the entire country is covered by this programme. The NREGA is providing minimum livelihood support to the crores of neediest among us. It is aimed to soften the sharp edges of poverty.

To create more employment we need more investment in agriculture, in manufacturing and in infrastructure. We need a new wave of industrialization to generate more employment. If industrial development has any adverse impact on some of our rural folk, we will ensure that there is reasonable compensation and proper rehabilitation. A new Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy has been formulated and we will seek Parliament's approval for it.

We have introduced a bill in Parliament to provide social security to the workers of the unorganized sector. Our Government has launched the Aam Aadmi Beema Yojana, under which one member of each landless family in rural areas will be insured. We have also started a programme to provide health insurance to Below Poverty Line families of workers in the unorganized sector. Citizens above 65 years of age, living below the poverty line are being covered under the Indira Gandhi Pension Scheme.

My dear countrymen,

In the past four years we have seen a sharp increase in the rate of investment. This has contributed to an increase in the rate of growth of the economy.

For the first time in history, we have had four years of nearly 9.0 percent economic growth. India is among the world's fastest growing economies.

But there are new challenges that we face. We have the challenge of inflation. I know how much each one of you is concerned about the recent rise in prices. The inflation we have seen this year is basically due to external factors. All over the world and in global markets the price of food, fuel and other commodities has been rising. In many developing countries the rate of inflation is double that in India.

Our government has worked hard to ensure that in India the rate of inflation is not as high as in many other countries. We have also taken special measures to insulate the poorer sections of our society from the full impact of rising food and fuel prices. Our government has not raised the price of kerosene and fertilizers. We have not raised the issue price of wheat and rice under PDS.

We are taking determined measures to bring prices under reasonable control. I have urged all Chief Ministers to improve and strengthen the PDS to ensure availability of essential commodities to the common man at reasonable prices. The Reserve Bank of India is moderating the growth of money supply in the country so that inflation can be controlled. However, while making these efforts we should avoid doing anything which hurts our growth.

Brothers and Sisters,

Today, while speaking about the achievements of our government, I wish to make one more promise. We have done much, but I realize that there is more to do. The problem of malnutrition is a curse that we must remove. Our efforts to provide every child with access to education and to improve health care services for all citizens will continue. We need to take forward our initiatives for giving equal status to women and for their social and economic empowerment. I promise to you that we will continue striving for the development and prosperity of our country. We will work hard to take the country to greater heights in all fields.

Brothers and Sisters,

We must apply modern science and technology to find long-term solutions to our energy problem. Our crude oil and gas reserves are limited. We must find alternative energy sources. I would like our scientists and engineers to find ways in which we can make better use of solar energy, wind energy, bio-gas and other sources of energy.

Our economy must grow at the rate of at least 10 percent every year to get rid of poverty and generate employment for all. A basic requirement for sustained growth, and for the development of our agriculture and industry is availability of energy, particularly electricity.

All over the world, there is growing realization of the importance of atomic energy to meet the challenge of energy security and climate change. It is a clean, environmental friendly and renewable source of energy.

India's atomic scientists and technologists are world class. They have developed nuclear energy capacities despite heavy odds. But there are handicaps which have adversely affected our atomic energy programme. We have inadequate production of uranium. The quality of our uranium resources is not comparable to those of other producers. Many countries have imposed sanctions on trade with India in nuclear materials, nuclear equipment and nuclear technology. As a result, our nuclear energy programme has suffered.

The nuclear agreement that we are negotiating with developed countries will end India's nuclear isolation. It will open up new opportunities for trade in dual-use high technologies and nuclear materials and equipment, opening up new pathways to accelerate industrialization of our country. It will enable us to provide electricity to meet the needs of our farmers, our artisans, our traders and our industry.

Brothers and Sisters,

Four years ago I said to you that an important challenge we face is the challenge of providing good governance. We have taken several steps to make government transparent, efficient and responsive. The Right to Information Act was one major step. We have initiated reform and modernization of Government. The National e-Governance Plan will make it easier for all our citizens to deal with the various agencies of Government.

We have completed the examination of the report of the Sixth Pay Commission. We have gone beyond the recommendations of the Commission in increasing emoluments of government employees. While doing this we have taken special care of the interests and welfare of our armed forces and paramilitary forces, and government employees working at lower levels in our civil services. This is one more step in making government more efficient.

We need more reforms at all levels of government. We want to improve our schools, our hospitals and other public services. The Panchayati Raj Institutions have an important role to play in decentralization and reform of Government. We must enhance their administrative and financial powers. I appeal to state governments to take all possible steps for improving governance and to help in the central government's initiatives.

My dear Countrymen,

Terrorism, extremism, communalism and fundamentalism have emerged as major challenges to the unity and integrity of our country. The recent terrorist attacks in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and other parts of the country have shocked the nation. What words can I find to condemn such acts of barbarism. I share the sorrow and grief of people affected by terrorism. The government of India will take concrete steps to rehabilitate and help such families.

I commend our security forces and intelligence agencies for the dedication with which they are dealing with the problem under difficult circumstances. But I agree that we have to further strengthen our intelligence agencies and police forces to deal with the problem of terrorism.

We will examine the functioning of our intelligence agencies and police and security forces and take all possible steps to equip them to tackle this challenge. Whatever resources are required, will be provided. Whatever manpower is required will be provided. We are firm in our resolve to meet the challenge of terrorism.

I urge the state governments, all political parties, civil society groups and social and religious leaders to cooperate with us in rooting out terrorism from our country.

Brothers and Sisters,

I am confident that we will overcome these challenges. But this requires hard work and unity of purpose. This requires a politics of consensus, not confrontation. This requires dialogue among communities, not discord.

The challenge of communalism, of extremism and of terrorism cannot be won by a nation divided.

The challenge of environmental and ecological destruction cannot be won by a society divided.

The challenge of economic modernization and social development of all, of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, of Other Backward Classes and Minorities, cannot be won by a people divided.

Brothers and Sisters,

I have said on a number of occasions that I am greatly concerned about the problem of regional imbalances in development. Some parts of our country are doing much better than others. Some States are being left behind. This pattern has persisted for far too long. We must ensure that the less developed States catch up with the developed ones.

We must pay special attention to the development of the northeastern region. Our Government has taken several initiatives to increase public investment in the northeast and in Jammu and Kashmir. We are investing in infrastructure and in education in these regions to encourage development and generate employment.

Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern region require an era of peace for them to catch up with the more developed parts of the country. We have been taking various initiatives to promote peace and stability in these States. These initiatives will be taken forward.

The recent incidents in the state of Jammu and Kashmir are a cause for concern. In this hour of crisis, divisive politics will lead us nowhere. I appeal to all political parties to keep the long-term interests of Jammu and Kashmir in view and come together to find a permanent solution to the problems of the state.

The sacred shrine of Shri Amar Nath inspires all Indians to march together. This shrine is a shining example of our secular tradition, where Hindu pilgrims have been looked after for years by their Muslim brothers. Issues related to this sacred place, especially the issue of providing the best possible facilities to pilgrims, can only be resolved in an atmosphere of peace and goodwill. Dividing people in the name of religion can complicate these issues further which can also pose a threat to the unity and integrity of the country. I appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to cooperate with us in establishing peace in the state. It is my conviction that all issues can be resolved only through dialogue and peaceful means.

Brothers and Sisters,

Our ancient Himalayas are under environmental threat. If the Himalayan glaciers recede, the flow of water in our sacred rivers will go down. Climate change can disrupt our economy in several ways. Some of our coastal areas could be submerged. Our monsoon pattern may change. We need long-term solutions to such threats. A national consensus is also required for the Government to evolve effective policies to deal with these problems.

Our government has come forward with a National Action Plan on Climate Change. This plan shows how each of us must adapt our ways of working and living and how we must treat our natural resources, so that our carbon emissions remain within reasonable limits and our environment is protected.

My fellow countrymen,

Our goal in South Asia is to seek a peaceful, stable and prosperous neighbourhood. We seek to accelerate the pace of social and economic development in our country and our region, while safeguarding our national security. Our foreign policy has been based on these principles.

We wish all our neighbours well. We welcome the strengthening of democratic forces in our neighbourhood, especially in Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan. The recent blasts in our rmbassy in Kabul have cast a shadow over our efforts to normalize relations with Pakistan and to bring a lasting and honourable peace in our region. I have personally conveyed my concern and disappointment to the Government of Pakistan.

If this issue of terrorism is not addressed, all the good intentions that we have for our two peoples to live in peace and harmony will be negated. We will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives we want to take. The terrorists and those who support them are enemies of the people of India and Pakistan, of friendship between the two countries and of peace in the region and the world. We must defeat them.

In the last year we have strengthened our relations with the major powers, Latin American countries, Arab countries and African countries. We will continue our efforts in this direction, keeping in view our national interests.

India is today viewed with respect as one of the world's fastest growing economies. People of Indian Origin are engaged in diverse activities around the world and their capabilities are recognized the world over. Their achievements inspire us. The world today expects India to regain its due place in the comity of nations. This is a moment of opportunity for us.

We are rapidly marching forward to regain our rightful place in the comity of nations. But to reach that goal we have a lot of work to do at home. We have to overcome each of the challenges I have spoken about. We have to forge a greater unity of purpose between various political parties, between different communities, between all sections of our society, rich and poor.

We have to manage our natural and financial resources more prudently. We have an obligation to our future generations. We cannot think only for ourselves. We cannot think only about survival from day to day, from year to year and from one election to another. We have to think about the welfare and well-being of our children and grandchildren, their grandchildren and future generations.

If we resolve to work together as a nation, and work hard and with commitment to the welfare of all our people, there is nothing that we cannot do.

Let us resolve today to stand together, to strengthen the unity and integrity of our country and to stand firm in our determination to build a new India of our dreams.

My dear children, please join me in saying Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

Jai Hind!

I think if someone were trying to sum up this whole Georgia-Russia-South Ossetia situation then 'Look what I can do!' would be pretty close to it. Because when Georgia started bombing South Ossetia a few days ago it was sort of saying: 'Look what I can do South Ossetian separatist groups and your Russian supporters! I can bomb you until "order is restored"!' Then when Russia retaliated it was sort of saying: 'Look what I can do Georgia! I'm a much bigger military power than you are and I'm not afraid to march right into your country and bomb your civilians right back!' Then Georgia said: 'Go ahead! I'm trying to join NATO and the US and Britain both think I'm great!' Russia: 'Try me!' And so on.

Obviously it's a little more complicated than that.

So did Georgia think that NATO was going to come to its defense? Because in the end - despite all Russian meddling in South Ossetia - (to the best of my knowledge) Georgia reacted with force first. Which to Russia pretty much translates to: 'Bring it on!' Maybe Georgia's President should have taken a good long look at Chechnya before inviting Russia to come on over. He might also want to check out Afghanistan - and then he might have realized that NATO (of which he is not yet a member anyways) is pretty busy at the moment.

Obviously nothing excuses the amount of force used by either side - whatever the situation - and the high amount of civilian casualties, displaced peoples and homes destroyed.


There are a couple of Georgia-Russia Discussion threads on TIG if you want to join in:
Russia-Georgian War in the Current Events Forum and The Conflict in South Ossetia and Georgia in the Peace, Conflict and Governance Forum.


Also if anyone has any sites where first-hand accounts from people in the region are being posted in English please leave me a link!

Do you hate soup? Or think that dressing like a cat will get you everything? Or that Batman might be gay? If it’s a yes to the last one, you are joining those who’ve questioned the sexuality of Batman’s alter-ego — the billionnaire Bruce Wayne — as far back as 1954.

Much before Christian Bale rasped some respectability into the Dark Knight and before the late Heath Ledger changed how the viewer/reader perceived The Joker.

As for hating soup, there’s a 10-second rap song by that name and a yet-to-start website (ihatesoup.com) that promises to be up soon. Then there’s the TypePad (typepad.com) blog, Lux Lotus (luxlotus.com) that talks about how dressing like a cat might be the best way for you to get whatever you want. The point being, whatever it is you dig, dish, hate or sublimate, there’s a blog or website that caters to it. No matter how bizarre, there’s someone out there who’s doing it and someone else blogging about it.

The blogosphere is a good way to validate yourself, to know that no matter how silly a thought, you have company in the world wide web. If nothing else, finding others with your interests or even different ones from yours can lead to good laughs. Like discovering that there is an entire blog dedicated to icing mistakes on cakes. While Russia and Georgia tank each other out in a real-life simulation (oxymoron, eh?) of Empire Earth III, there are cakes being baked and decorated the world over and those who are botching them up too.

When real life goes horribly wrong, you read about it and when professional cakes go horribly wrong, you blog about it.

Or at least so does Cake Wrecks (cakewrecks.blogspot.com) that comes up daily with pictures of professional cakes that have something horribly, hilariously wrong with them. Like a cake with naked babies riding carrots (why indeed?) or a cake that says ‘Happy November & December Birthday’s — abbreviate Nov & Dec if you have to’. As the blogger says on Cake Wrecks, “sometimes stupidity takes so much effort.” Look at the history of war for instance (globally please, not just the USA).

Sometimes life is just worth a laugh, before the bombs get us all. As Jenn Thorson says on the header of her blog, Of Cabbages and Kings (cabbages-n-kings.blogspot.com), “Life’s funny. Embrace the nonsense.” As part of her embracing nature, Jen blogs on topics as varied as summer jobs, to Ouija boards and how every other blog on earth has some sort of voting/rating system on it. Oh, and every post of hers is followed by a ‘vote for this post at Humour blogs’. Life’s funny, bloggers funnier still.

On the outskirts of Chandigarh, on the road that runs to Patiala, you can't miss the Bindra farm in Kishanpur village. Security men and trained dogs guard the lush-green 30 acre estate of Abhinav Bindra, India's first Olympics individual gold medallist.

The palatial farm house, with seven bedrooms, is visible only after you drive further through the estate.It looks like a dream world; nothing here matches with the real world of India. The opulence of the house, set deep within a large manicured garden, its magnificent facade, luxurious fittings and object d'art collected from all over the world; European paintings facing the visitor from every corner of the house, the well-stocked bar, heath-spa, the Olympic standard shooting range, the elegant bedroom of Abhinav and some dozen servants who keep moving in and out of the kitchen -- all amid the divine Guru Granth Sahib in one silent corner of the house -- make Abhinav's home the stuff of fairy tale. The warmth of Abhinav's parents and his extended family greets everybody who visits the house to offer congratulations following their son's gold medal-winning feat in the 10-metre air rifle competition at the Olympics in BeijingThe parents, it seems, are overwhelmed by "God's grace", but not at all surprised about their son's success in Beijing. The family, including her daughter Divya and her sister-in-law Dolly Lamba, "were waiting for this day to happen since the last 14 years".

Divya, a fashion designer, is married into the wealthy Kapoor family of New Delhi which manufactures Atlas Cycles.

Apjit Bindra's sister Dolly says, "I am the favourite of my brother and Abhinav is my favourite! Both Abhinav and Divya love to hear bed-time stories from me. Our family members are very close to each other."

Pointing out that Abhinav doesn't have many traits of his father, she says, "He has got the softness and patience from his mother." Abhinav maintains a gruelling schedule. Every morning he attends his own private health club, which is on their estate. Then, after breakfast, he starts his shooting practice, which goes on till lunch. After a little rest in the afternoon, he resumes practice.t is far too apparent that Abhinav's mother is the soul of the Bindra home. Her family migrated during partition from Gujranwala, Pakistan. Her great, great grandfather was the legendary Sikh warrior Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, who, as the Commander-In-Chief, led the army of Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Abhinav belongs to the fifth generation of Sardar Hari Singh. Some British historians have regarded Nalwa as the greatest warrior of all time because he was a statesman combatant. He won Multan, Kashmir and Peshawar for Ranjit Singh. His victory brought him international fame and, in the local folklore, drew comparison with Napoleon.

Ranjit Singh awarded him Gujranwala for his stupendous services. Some historians have estimated that, 'had he lived longer and had the resources and artillery of the British, he would have conquered most of Asia and Europe'.
Abhinav's Olympic gold medal has come after 14 years of hard work.
Abhinav's father adds, "Our road to success was not smooth. Abhinav had a back injury. He could not play for two years after the Athens Olympics. After losing the last Olympics in Athens, he got quite depressed. He was in a shell.

"The medal had slipped out of our hands due to technical reasons in spite of him breaking the Olympic record. We went to the best physiotherapist in Germany and got him treated."

He adds, "My son doesn't like certain businesses. We are a representative of the world's top rifle-making company, Walther. I am in agro-business, and also in meat processing, but he doesn't like many of my businesses. He likes hotels, rifles and computer business."
Everyone present in the Bindra home is quick to point out that the Indian government, Sports Ministry and Indian Olympic Association had no role in Abhinav's success.

"The IOA has no role in Abhinav's achievement," declared the proud father.

Asked whether he spent lakhs of rupees to get the medal, he shot back: "Not lakhs; we spent crores to win the gold medal."
He added, "In 1997 we bought a rifle for $1500. Then his game advanced; he won many tournaments, so he needed more weapons. Then he needed custom-built weapons. A professional rifle costs Rs 2 lakh and some even cost Rs 5 to 6 lakh."

He emphasised, "Paise se hi kam hota hai. Paisa to chahiye [All his can be achieved only with money. Money is required]. If you want a coach, weapon, equipment, then you need money. If you want to go abroad you can't fly, na? You need money to travel. His traveling and hotel bills run into lakhs of rupees. We have given all types of training -- mental, physical and pressure-building -- to Abhinav. Two months back, he got training to keep up his self-confidence.'

"Abhinav has not come home since last the two months. He was attending training classes in Germany and getting advice in confidence-building."

Informing that Abhinav had two coaches -- Gabriele Buhlmann and Heinz Renkleimier - and a physiotherapist from South Africa to help him, he called upon the government to nurture talent in country.

"'When talent is found, irrespective of background or sportsmen's financial capability, the government must nurse the talent and support it all the way through. That's what I did," he said.

Abhinav's mother urged all mothers to encourage their children in the endeavours.

"I would like to tell mothers of India: 'encourage whatever your child wants to do. Let him have focus. And never ever pressurise your child to achieve success. His hard work and passion will get him success. Please, don't pressurise your children. You should become the emotional support'."

I know that this blog was supposed to be about my road to the marathon, but today's entry is not really about running--more like my lack of running these days.  At the moment I just feel so overwhelmed, useless, and all round tired (emotionally and mentally more than physically).  I haven't slept more than two nights in my own bed since July 29th and won't sleep in my own bed again until August 25th.  My diet is thrown off and I can't eat where or when I want.  Am just worried about if I will actually fulfil my goal and my dream at this point.  Agh am way too emotional.

The game had its origin in India and was called Moksha Patam or Parama Padam or Mokshapat. It was used to teach Hinduism and Hindu values to children. The British renamed it as Snake and Ladders.


Now, when and who created this game? Most people believe it was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. There are certain references which take the game back to 2nd century BC.


The ladders represented virtues and snakes vices. In the original game square 12 was faith, 51 was Reliability, 57 was Generosity, 76 was Knowledge, and 78 was Asceticism. These were the squares were the ladder was found.


Square 41 was for Disobedience, 44 for Arrogance, 49 for Vulgarity, 52 for Theft, 58 for Lying, 62 for Drunkenness, 69 for Debt, 84 for Anger, 92 for Greed, 95 for Pride, 73 for Murder and 99 for Lust. These were the squares were the snake was found.


The Square 100 represented Nirvana or Moksha.


The British took the game to England in 1892 and named it Snake and Ladders and changed it according to Victorian values

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2006/11/snake-and-ladders-had-its-origin-in.html

Lord Jagannath and the English Word Juggernaut

The English Word Juggernaut, which means ‘a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way’, is derived from the name of Lord Jagannatha. Actually from the Puri Jagannath chariot procession. The chariots pulled during the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra are really huge and earlier people used to get crushed under the big wheels while pulling it. Friar Odoric, a Franciscan missionary, witnessed one such accident in 14th century and wrote about the huge chariot in a European journal.


Christian Missionaries have contempt for all cultures and the description that Friar Odoric gave of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra was of one that evokes fear and contempt. He wrote that people jumped in front of the chariot and performed an act of human sacrifice. People began to associate large objects that could not be controlled with the chariots mentioned by Friar Odoric. The word developed a negative undertone.


The word Juggernaut is a mispronunciation of the name of Lord Jagannath plus the result of the wrong spelling entered by Friar Odoric.
http://www.hindu-blog.com/search/label/InterestingFacts

On Growing Old


Be with me, Beauty, for the fire is dying;
My dog and I are old, too old for roving.
Man, whose young passion sets the spindrift flying,
Is soon too lame to march, too cold for loving.
I take the book and gather to the fire,
Turning old yellow leaves; minute by minute
The clock ticks to my heart. A withered wire,
Moves a thiun ghost of music in the spinet.
I cannot sail your seas, I cannot wander
Your cornland, nor your hill-land, nor your valleys
Ever again, nore share the battle yonder
Where the young knight the broken squadron rallies.
Only stay quiet while my mind remembers
The beauty of fire from the beauty of embers.

Beauty, have pity! for the strong have power,
The rich their wealth, the beautiful their grace,
Summer of man its sunlight and its flower.
Spring-time of man, all April in a face.
Only, as in the jostling in the Strand,
Where the mob thrusts, or loiters, or is loud,
The beggar with the saucer in his hand
Asks only a penny from the passing crowd,
So, from this glittering world with all its fashion,
Its fire, and play of men, its stir, its march,
Let me have wisdom, Beauty, wisdom and passion,
Bread to the soul, rain when the summers parch.
Give me but these, and though the darkness close
Even the night will blossom as the rose.

John Masefield

The spaces between your fingers were created
so that another's could fill them in.

- Author Unknown -

Look out for TakingITGlobal's staff conducting quick interviews with WYC delegates! We'll be recording your thoughts about the Congress and the sessions that you're looking forward to. Videos will be uploaded to this virtual congress page, so stay tuned!

If we capture you on camera, you might be able to get a nice gift!