Narendra Modi is a Narcissist; Can he Lead India Forward , No

When I heard and read as well as saw photographs that Narendra Modi wore a a Rs 9 lakh suit to receive Obama, the US president , it struck me that here is  man who is not only vain, but more in love with himself. The US President commented that Modi was like a Mumbai film star. We have not seen or read of such costly dresses being worn by simple plebian leaders of people , though royalty is an exception. One can associate such a dress with the pomp and show of a king or empress, but certainly not with a plebeian leader.

Modi has some serious identity problems. He claims he is a backward caste to win  votes, but again his antics and to use the words in hindi " Harkat" , are not of a man belonging to a lower strata of society. Could be, he uses his back ward caste origin only for votes and has no real empathy for the downtrodden and destitute. In case he was really concerned would he give 3 billion dollars gratis to nations like Bangladesh and Mongolia, from we may get nothing in return.?

Modi has lead the party, the BJP on some glib slogans. These slogans are what they are, simply hollow and meaningless. A look at his slogans and speeches and the promises he has mad will make a man die laughing on a bed of nails. A few choice ones are brought out  below

>  I will not allow corruption, nor will I allow anybody else to benefit from corruption
>  I will ensure that One Rank One Pension is sanctioned forthwith
>  I will ensure that proprietary is maintained in Public life

There are many more, which Modi has only mouthed, because it suited him. Perhaps that is the game of all politicians , but certainly not the stuff which leaders who make a name in history indulge in. Obviously Modi will not be a mover or shaker in world history and his aim seems to be to just live life in a regal manner and look sombre and serious. It's a mask and those who  wear a mask are always seen for their true worth later on.

Let me advice Mr Modi that he has Saturn in his 12th house, showing meteoric rise and precipitous fall. It's known as the house of Napoleon and we all know what happened to Napoleon. So the future and God may yet cut Modi to size.

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Narendra Modi and Non-Approval of One Rank One Pension

OROP ;From Here to EternityThe bell tolls on its Non Approval

Recently I read a very brave letter written by Lt Gen TS Bahri to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The general has minced no words in reminding Narendra Modi of his promise to the nation and soldiers to honour One Rank One Pension. Its a wonderful reminder, but I wonder if it will have the desired effect. OROP seems to be slipping from the grasp into a quicksand and once it goes under may never surface.

A look at past history and the approach of the government does not inspire confidence. Right from the time when Lieutenant General Kulwant Singh was superseded by Nehru and a man beholden to him General Cariappa appointed as COAS, the forces have always been at the receiving end. Merit and legitimate demands have very little meaning. One can recollect that General Kulwant in a 1952 study had clearly mentioned that China would go to war against India in a few years, but Nehru did not like the report and Kuwant found himself superseded by Cariappa. 

 Cariappa as army chief  has a lot to answer.  His tenure marked the first steps when the down gradation of the services took place. The general was  beholden to Nehru for being made the COAS and he just demurred. There is also no record that the general ever in any study or note cautioned the Congress government and Nehru about the threat from China. I bring this point out as part of my argument that successive Chiefs of Staff of the army have not done much for the man in uniform for a variety of reasons.

There are tens of examples of the spineless approach of the  general staff and the incident in 1962 when the Army Chief general Thapar accepted an order signed by a Joint secretary to throw the Chinese out must take the cake. This man demeaned the rank that he held of a force that had a checkered history of 200 years.

I do not hold the Air Force chief and navy Chief  as culpable as the army chief, for the simple reason that they represent a force that is basically of use in a war and has nothing to do with day to day activities of law and order. The army chief is the man who heads the largest organized and disciplined force in the country and he  and he alone must bear the weight of the world like Atlas.

Over the years the governments have studiously ignored the legitimate demands of the armed forces. One reason is the failure of successive Chiefs of Staff of the army to pressurize or represent the army point of view forcefully.

There is no difference in a Congress government and the BJP government as one can see from the approach of the government in not paying legitimate dues approved by the Supreme Court for pension. The court had  held that revisions of pension would be applicable from 2006 ( 1 Jan) and yet though the civilian counterparts are paid the government ( BJP ) counsel Pinki Anand has expressed inability to pay and is dragging  its feet on a matter approved and judged by the Supreme Court. What does it show ?

The total cost to the state exchequer is just Rs 1500 crore in this particular case. In case  the government cannot pay 1500 crore, where is the chance that it will pay 8500 crore , which is a conservative estimate for OROP. It does not seem likely at all.

Let us be clear that blaming the civil services will not go far, for if Modi and his colleagues want to sanction OROP, then which civil servant will oppose them ? This is self delusion and the fact is that government led by the Finance minister wont pay, knowing fully well that the services will hem and haw,but not bite. This is the crucial point, the government is convinced that it can drag its feet on OROP  with the hope that  an exasperated  service may accept something lesser. This is a devilish game.

One must remember that this government from the time of Nehru to Modi do not understand the language of reason and what they understand is a reaction. It is for the army chief to put the cards on the table and if necessary resigning from his post. It will have an effect. We had a sad case of an army chief going to the Supreme Court on his age, the same man is a minister in the government now. Could he go to court on OROP?  I am afraid nothing is won by a conciliatory attitude. The Hindus lost to the Muslims for they lacked the iron will and resolve and abhorred violence .

The case of OROP is a classical case of the services , the defender of the integrity and unity of India being given short shrift.Mr. Jaitley the FM is the main stumbling block and I wonder whether  he has read Mao ? political power comes out of the barrel of a gun. He better realize as the bell tolls for Modi and his government and that includes the FM.

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Stalin will Remain a great in Russia

Stalin seized power after the death of Lenin in 1924 and ruled Russia with an Iron hand till his death in 1953. His climb to power in 1924 was marked by a lot of blood shed. Most of his opponents were executed and some like Leon Trotsky who was exiled, was done to death by killers with his sanction in far away Mexico in 1940.
Stalin and the Totaltorian StateStalin and the Great War
Stalin is blamed as a double crosser for his signing the no aggression pact with Hitler, but the western powers themselves made a sell out deal with Hitler at the famous Munich conference. But the German attack in 1941 brought out the finest in Stalin. We cannot overlook his contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany. His mettle was seen as with the Germans barely 30 miles from Moscow; he refused to abandon the city and stayed put there. This was a great morale boost for the Russian troops who were into a bitter battle with the Germans.
Stalin and the Rise of the Soviet Union
The end of the war saw the Soviet Union emerge as a super power. With England and France the colonial powers on the wane, the void was filled by the Soviet Union, which now emerged as a power to challenge the United States. One thing that cannot be denied is that the Stalin era ushered in a period when the Mafia and related crimes were non existent. Russia also moved ahead in Industry and the quest for Nuclear weapons.
Stalin died in 1953 and a succession of rulers who followed him did not have his iron will and Charisma with the result that in just about 3 decades of his death the Soviet empire broke up into a number of states. Perhaps we can blame Stalin for this as he failed in establishing a permanent state and conventions that could stand the test of time. But it cannot be his fault only as his successors perhaps were not men with his caliber and efficiency.
Stalin’s Place in Russian History
Where do we place Stalin now? Russia is a democracy and is still a powerful nation that packs a mighty punch. But Crime is on the upswing and it is not safe to venture out unescorted in Moscow after dark. One of my friends who visited Russia recently told me that he had met a lot many Russians, who were nostalgic of the past and Stalin when peace and order was the watchword.
Another point that must never be forgotten is that the basis of the present Russian state can be traced to Stalin. To deny him a role in the build up of Russia as a world power would be a travesty of history. It is fashionable to condemn Stalin, yet his contribution to the development of Russia as a super power cannot be brushed away. Perhaps Stalin was a necessary episode in Russian history. Maybe a hundred years down the line, he may be equated with Ivan the terrible and other greats of Russian history.

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Why were Adam and Eve Expelled from Heaven ?

 The story of Adam and Eve is famous all over the world. God created Adam in his own image and as he was lonely gave him a partner. He created Eve from his rib and both lived in idyllic surroundings.  Adam and Eve  lived life happily, but they broke a cardinal promise of God. They as per popular mythology ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The result was that God banished them from heaven and they came down to earth. The man to earn his bread by toiling and the woman to bear children and attended suffering. This is the tale that is generally accepted by all people (mostly Christians ) all over the world. But references to this tale in some form are in all religions, but for Christians it is part of their sacrosanct belief.

This tale is simple and popular. By the reason that God expelled Adam and eve could be something else. I will venture a conjecture. If one reads Genesis2:9 it reveals a little bit of something else. It says “And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now, therefore, lest perhaps he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. And the Lord God sent him out of the paradise of pleasure, to till the earth from which he was taken”  this is the literal translation without any change.

An interpretation of the above  is that Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden not because they ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but in order to prevent them from eating from the tree of life - both forbidden trees as  in Genesis 2:9 - which would have made them eternal and Gods.

The crucial point is that God feared that Adam and Eve would eat from the Tree of life and thus become an immortal. So perhaps God feared that Adam would  become immortal  and than you cannot have two immortals ! So maybe God feared competition.

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General Ayub Khan: Best President Pakistan Ever Had

Pakistan is the warped image of India. Both countries have a similar heritage and ethos, having been created from British India. But here the similarity ends as Pakistan is more a Frankenstein, a mutant ugly and full of sores, while india has comparatively moved forward. During this period of turmoil, Pakistan has had rulers who were ego centric and failed to see the good of Pakistan. Leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who helped break Pakistan and General Zia ul Haq, who ushered in islamic mores and encouraged terrorism.

 In this turmoil only 2 men of some standing emerge namely general Ayub Khan and General Musharraf. Unfortunately Musharraf has soiled his hands with a treacherous attack in Kargil. Ayub is the thus the sole Pakistan leader who brought a semblance of stability in Pakistan. General Ayub ruled for 10 years and during this time he kept Pakistan relatively modern. He deserves credit that during his 10 year rule he saw Pakistan remain relatively free from sectarian violence. I vote for General Ayub Khan as the best President Pakistan ever had.

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EX -Servicemen will hold Massive Rally for OROP on 1st February 15

OROP( one rank one pension) is not sanctioned by the Modi government despite promising it in their election manifesto and also after MOdi himself went to the roof top to announce that OROP is approved. This is a double cross and shows the Modi government in poor light. It is true that the mountain appears blue from afar, hence Modi looked like a shining knight when he was climbing upwards towards the seat of power. Once safely ensconced, Modi forgot all about OROP and despite the passage of 9 months OROP is not approved.

I wonder when this promse will bear fruit. Now we have no choice but to agitate and the Ex Servicemen under the able leadership of General Satbir Singh have decided on a Mha meeting at Jantar Mantar to highlight the perfidy of the Modi government. I hope the rally is a success and OROP becomes a reality

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The Magic Words In All Of Us | Mollie Strongbloom

The Magic Words In All Of Us | Mollie Strongbloom

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Just Because I Am Different From You Doesn’t Mean You Are Better Then Me | Mollie Strongbloom

Just Because I Am Different From You Doesn’t Mean You Are Better Then Me | Mollie Strongbloom

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Our Final Resting Place | Mollie Strongbloom

Our Final Resting Place | Mollie Strongbloom

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Book reviews "The Granny" by Brendan O'Carroll

Brendan O'Carroll is man with multifaceted qualities. He is a writer, actor, producer and director. He is Irish and is presently 48 years old. He was born in 1955 at Dublin. O’Carroll hails from Ireland and is best known on the world stage as the Irish matriarch Agnes Brown in Mrs. Brown's Boys. Brendon had 10 siblings and his mother who was a labor MP greatly influenced him. O Carroll is a self made man. He never completed his schooling and struck out on his own. He got his big break in 1993, when he was introduced into The Late Night Show. O'Carroll is also a gifted writer. Seven novels have been published by O’Carroll. Some of his novels have become popular and have been translated into at least 12 languages. His debut novel was “The Mammy” which was published in 1994. The book received favourable reviews and the world realized that there was more to O’Carroll than just acting the role of a comedienne in films and on stage. His latest book “The Granny” is in reality the third in the series of Agnes Brown tales which commenced with”The Mammy”. Brendon O’ Carroll uses his vast repertoire of comedy and roles to good effect to write this delightful book. The heroine is Agnes Browne, buxom and sweet. Though she is 48 she has a lover. In addition she also has 6 children in their twenties. One of the six is in jail serving a sentence. She loves her family and so does her lover, who loves her. Agnes also has a grandchild and that is how the book got its title. Her lover is from France and has the French touch. He is keen that Agnes Browne show cases her sexuality and the lady is on the horns of a dilemma. The family are full of love but short on cash and finance. They take a fateful decision to spread out and earn money. The writer has other ideas and there is a tragedy. This is a pivotal moment in the novel as this brings the entire brood home. Agnes welcomes them back and all realize that what joins them is love. The family live happily ever after. The ending is more like a fairy tale and all credit to O’Carroll for having written a lovely book, which is a best seller. Brendon O Carroll writes a simple tale, but the beauty is in its delineation which is superb. Here is a book that will enthral readers both young and old. It has elements of humour and a lovely story line, very well presented. O’ Carroll proves that he wields the pen equally well as he acts on stage. O’Connor’s is a BAFTA award winner. His life is equally colourful as he married his long time sweetheart in 1977. The couple had four children. The marriage floundered and the couple separated in 1997 and later divorced in 1999. O’Carroll married again in 2005. She is the actress Jennifer Gibney who has acted in many serials.

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