This book was published in 1916 by Benaras Hindu University...
Not available now. All the copies got destroyed. One copy was available in the library of California University, which has been digitised by Microsoft. It is a beautiful introduction to Hinduism, without any school affiliations. It is especially suited to youth. You may go through at leisure. It has 304 pages and share it further with your known younger generation kids. This is a rare book on “Sanatana Dharma” - Please READ and share it to our youth group as much as possible... https://t.co/pKkRmqtP6d
In defense of Indian 🇮🇳 democracy!
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi most successful visit to Norway a minor incident happened. A Norwegian journalist demanded that the prime minister starts holding press conferences. She claimed that Indian democracy is in bad shape.
May be its time to pause? May be its time to be a bit curious to the world’s largest democracy?
Two weeks ago five Indian states and territories held elections. The turn out in the battlefield state of West Bengal was 94%. In the last local election in Norway it was 62%, in many European local elections turn out is below 50%. Can voting in massive numbers be a signal Indians trust their democratic process?
In the same election BJP won big in Assam and West Bengal. It lost even bigger in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Can this diversity be a signal that Indian democracy is reflecting the will of the people?
The journalist referred to a democracy ranking putting India at 157 in the world, behind many dictatorships and deeply troubled states. When a ranking is so obviously contrary to common sense, why not ask critical questions to those making the ranking rather than demand that leaders shall comment on nonsense? I recommend Salvatore Babones book “Dharma democracy”. The book debunks convincingly the flawed methodology of these rankings.
It was referred to a ranking claiming it’s very dangerous to be a journalist in India. Reality is that it is more dangerous to be journalist in the US and far more dangerous in the vast majority of other nations in the world.
Let’s be real. India is not perfect. Of course there are incidents. India has a population the size of North America, South America and Europe combined. But India is much more peaceful than Europe or the Americas. That’s remarkable - given the ethnic, language and religious diversity of India and the many development challenges.
Unless we consider democracy a form of government only suited for some very small, peaceful and homogeneous Western European nations, may be we should commend Indian democracy?
India is the only major former UK colony which became and has remained a democracy. Its sometimes claimed that the Brits taught India democracy. If that was the case why isn’t Myanmar or Pakistan or the Gulf kingdoms democracies??? Reality is that Indian democracy is both homegrown and extraordinary successful.
I would join the condemnation of the AAP defectors for betraying the values and ideals of AAP if anyone could tell me what the values & ideals of AAP are. I can’t seem to find any
🚨“The Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked until $11 trillion in frozen Iranian assets are released. If no proposal is presented within the next 48 hours, the ceasefire may end.” Abbas Araghchi
We Gujaratis would feel honored if anyone ever claimed that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was one of us.
But we are equally proud to acknowledge that he belongs to Maharashtra.
Because beyond all identities, Gujarati or Marathi, Veer Savarkar is a brave son of Bharatvarsh.
And nothing can ever diminish that truth or the respect people hold for him.
I watched Border 2 last night, film might have been a box office success but IMO was a dud compared to the original one in everything from acting, music, script and specifically filming was poor.
Behind the viral video of a Baloch woman fighter lies tragedy. In 2024, her two minor sisters were abducted by Pakistani Islamist soldiers, their bodies later found after rape and murder. She then joined the BLA, vowing to free Balochistan.
Dear @ICC,
If a T20 World Cup seat opens, Uganda is ready - packed and padded.
Passports warm (not ice). No bakers leaving ovens or ships U-turning.
Heat, noise, pressure? We’ll bring the bold kit.
Yours,
Ready when you are 🇺🇬🏏
Is this a story of “Sour grapes”?
It is interesting to see that those who could not take decisions because they had no connect with the people on the ground are today making a virtue of not doing anything. Our people have paid immense costs for this lost opportunity. Our country has lost valuable jobs, income and growth and people have rightly punished this inaction many times.
1️⃣: What puzzles me is that when the whole world is calling it the “mother of all deals”, my friend thinks it is hugely hyped. Is the combined GDP of $25 trillion, combined global trade of $11 trillion and common market of 2 billion people, $33 billion of India’s labour-intensive exports going to zero on day 1 a hype? What is also unfortunate is that my friend missed a basic fact that we are both largely complementary economies. It is not a zero sum deal but a win-win deal which will power our economic growth and create plethora of opportunities for our businesses and people.
2⃣: I can say with confidence that our Government has taken up the issue of CBAM, interests of our exporters in steel, aluminium and all other sectors like no one ever has and identified pathways to find solutions. We have found creative ways of handling these complex and sensitive subjects through dialogue, trust and support with our partners rather than “my way or highway only” kind of immature, illogical and rigid positions.
3⃣: All countries, including India reserve their right to regulate for health and safety reasons. No one cedes them in a trade agreement. They are disciplined in a manner that they do not become unnecessary and unjustified impediment to trade. The ways to ensure that, are adequately provided for in the Agreement. IPR obligations are similar to what we have in TRIPS at the WTO. They emphasise flexibilities for public health, need for transfer of technology, recognise India’s traditional digital knowledge library project and preserve our policy on data exclusivity. The commitments in Services are as per India’s domestic regime and we hope that some of these capital-intensive sectors such as maritime and financial services will attract EU’s investment, technology and innovation and grow these critical infrastructure services, bringing more efficient, innovative services to our businesses and people.
4⃣: I hope that my friend can devote more time to understand the auto sector and what we are intending to do. Our quota based, premium segment focused and phased auto offer (with a time lag of 5 years for EVs from EIF) is with an intent to boost Make in India. Liberalising CKD imports will encourage EU’s OEMs to set up local assembly lines. This serves as a stepping stone, moving foreign OEMs from "importing" to "assembling" and eventually to "full localisation" as they build local supply chains. This brings high-end manufacturing processes, quality standards, and advanced R&D practices into the Indian ecosystem. It will also create new demand, benefits consumers by expanding choice with faster access to global models. It also enhances safety and tech standards.
5⃣: The point on refined fuel is linked to extraneous reasons. Our Trade Agreement with EU is a long-term strategic engagement based on trust and mutual respect which will strengthen our trade routes.
I only hope my friend will shed this negative and pessimistic approach which is unable to see our aspirational people raring to go out and do business with the world. Let’s work to open opportunities for them, rather than act as roadblocks in their quest for prosperity.
People often ask me why I speak publicly about grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation, and why I hold MPs to account regardless of party.
This is why.
In 1998, my teenage sister was abducted and subjected to hours of rapes and sodomy, he left her for dead. What was done to her changed the course of her life. She lives with severe mental illness and addiction, which are recognised consequences of prolonged childhood sexual trauma. She has received no meaningful, consistent support since the offence occurred.
Because of that trauma, her children were removed from her care. I know this intimately, because I fostered two of them. They are my niece and nephews. Our family has lived with the impact of this crime for more than 27 years.
The man responsible was convicted of multiple offences involving underage girls. At the time of sentencing, in open court, he shouted that he would come back and sexually assault every woman and child in our family. That threat was made while judgment was being passed.
He was given a lengthy prison sentence.
Since then, I have been repeatedly drawn back into the justice system through parole reviews. During the pandemic, Humberside Police’s serious crime unit contacted me to inform me he was again being considered for release.
I provided a victim impact statement on my sister’s behalf, because she is not well enough to do so herself.
What is less often understood is that the harm did not end with my sister.
Because of the threats made in court, and further conduct over time, I required legal protection. A non-molestation order and an exclusion zone were put in place to protect me, my children, and other women in our family.
I am now also formally recognised as a victim of his actions.
After serving over two decades in custody, he was released and then recalled to prison within months for breaching his licence conditions. He is currently back in custody. I am never told the full details. I am simply summoned again, year after year, to repeat the same process.
This is not a political position I have adopted.
This is not something I have joined late.
This is my family’s lived reality.
This is why I speak.
This is why I refuse silence.
This is why safeguarding and accountability matter to me.
When I talk about child sexual exploitation, I am not speculating. I am describing a life my family has lived for more than two decades.
My position is clear.
Life should mean life, I will continue to fight for life without parole for child rapists.
Today we join India in celebrating Republic Day.
Our partnership is built on a shared goal to tackle the world’s greatest challenges.
As we look forward to tomorrow’s EU-India Summit, we are ready to take our next step together. 🇪🇺🇮🇳
At 88, when most people slow down, Inderjit Singh Sidhu steps out with a broom.
Every morning at 6 am, the former IPS officer—once a Deputy Inspector General—walks the streets of Chandigarh, picking up litter with his own hands.Not because it’s his job.
Not because anyone asked him to. But because he couldn’t stand watching his city lose its dignity.
After retirement, Sidhu complained to the authorities. When nothing changed, he chose action.Armed with a bag, he began cleaning alone.
People laughed. Some called him “crazy.” He kept going.
Slowly, something shifted. Neighbours joined in. Family members stepped out.
A solo act of conscience became a community movement.
Chandigarh’s “City Beautiful” found one of its quietest, strongest guardians.“There is no shame in cleaning.
Cleanliness is next to godliness,” Sidhu says simply.
This Republic Day, India honoured him with the Padma Shri in the Unsung Heroes category.
A reminder that ranks retire, uniforms come off, but purpose doesn’t.
#RepublicDay #PadmaShri #Chandigarh