Offstumped Community Portal

B Shantanu
Source: W’end Reading: Mossad, Rahul Gandhi, Sama Veda and Congress’ double-speak

Start this weekend with the story of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh’s assasination in Dubai.
Next, pl dwell on some insightful observations by Prof. Dipankar Gupta on Young Parliamentarians.

Move on to some thought-provoking mantras from the Sama Veda…
then to a remarkable initiative on the environmental front [...]

B Shantanu
Source: Lavan Vajra & The Art of Rain-making

I was alerted to this wonderful story by my brother-in-law, Prashant. An excerpt from Burnt tyres and salt leads to rain? (emphasis mine):
…Dr Raja Marathe, IIT Bombay alumni and a former Naxal leader who returned to India from the United States a few years ago, may [...]

B Shantanu
Source: From Britain, an extraordinary story of social re-engineering

As many of you would know, “Immigration” is currently a hot issue in Europe – including of course the UK. The issue was recently covred in Stratfor, the widely read commentary on strategic affairs and TIME Magazine had a cover story on this a few [...]

B Shantanu
Source: Exposing ExpressBuzz Op-Ed

A brief & hurried dissection of Exposing Indian democracy – the Op-Ed in today’s The New Indian Express. Comments and thoughts welcome, as always…

It has now become abundantly clear that Qatar has offered M F Husain citizenship, though it is not entirely clear yet whether one of India’s greatest artists [...]

B Shantanu
Source: Cups of Tea & Living in Hope: Notes from the road

Two things stand out from my visit to Bharat last week: lots of (sometimes too sweet) tea and a palpable sense of hope.
I managed to squeeze in four semi-public meetings during my 4-city trip, and several private conversations centred on political reforms and [...]

B Shantanu
Source: Very very bad militants…

*** A ROLL CALL OF SHAME ***
PTI News:
Army captain, jawan, militant killed in J-K encounter
Srinagar, Feb 23 (PTI) An army captain, a jawan and a militant were killed in an encounter between ultras and security forces in Sopore district of North Kashmir early today.
DNA India:
Gun battle ends, 3 soldiers killed [...]

B Shantanu
Source: My name is whatever…and I’m not a terrrorist

I may be an extremist, a militant, an Islamist, a fighter, a jihadi…but I am not a terrorist.
This post was prompted by a 1500-odd words long article in a recent issue of TIME, “Somalia, Again” by Alex Perry.
The article’s description of the situation in Somalia [...]

B Shantanu
Source: Pictures that say a thousand words

Snapped in Bengaluru, 930pm on 13th Feb 2010. Pl. click on the image to see in full size.

The banner reads:
Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swamy Mutt
Homam for Students Success in Examinations
On Feb 28-2010 @ 8.00am
…
As most of you would know, a “Homam” (also referred to as Havan, Yagya, Yagna, [...]

B Shantanu
Source: “Ambedkar’s Desiderata” – Excerpts

Excerpts from a thought-provoking essay, “Ambedkar’s Desiderata” by Ramachandra Guha (emphasis mine):
*** Excerpts begin ***
…In his last speech to the Constituent Assembly—delivered on November 25, 1949—Ambedkar issued three warnings that are compellingly relevant to the predicament that the nation finds itself in today. First, he urged his compatriots to [...]

B Shantanu
Source: Is India a “Failing State”? – Excerpts

Dear All, I am reproducing below some excerpts from a fascinating article that was forwarded to me last week by Sachin. It is deeply thought-provoking and raises a number of disturbing questions…
Please read and comment…The original article in full is here
*** CAUTION: Long Post ***
*** Excerpts from [...]