INDIA GOES TO MARS!!!

Tags

china, ESA, India, ISRO, Japan, Mangalyaan, MARS, Mars Orbiter Mission, NASA, ROSCOSMOS, russia, Star Trek, Star Wars

WE DID IT! Third country in the world, fourth space organisation in the World! Against all criticism and ridicule! And ahead of China and Japan, being the first Asian country!

So much was said, about poverty and priority, as if the Europeans didn’t spend money on ships and colonising and instead made toilets in the seventeenth century…about money badly spent, about a “third world” country not having the same technological rights or capabilities…but now is not the time to reply to those arguments. Ignore the morons.

1. This mission is one tenth the cost of NASA, ESA, or Roscosmos. It will bring immense tech commerce from other countries using our cheap and affordable technology. There’s a reason NASA wants to partner with ISRO for this mission’s data.

2. It provides job to over 30000 people in different capacity within India.

3. It helps in ballistic missile technology, and future deterrence.

4. It gives us bragging rights.

But no point…you can’t make everyone happy. Some people will be imbeciles anyway.

So, here’re two memes…which will probably show what we Indians feel about this Mars Mission.

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All we can say is, any technological milestone is a great day, a “giant leap” for humanity. And a proud day for Indians everywhere.

” Space…the final frontier… ”

Here comes the Earthlings!!!

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Update about yours truly…

Tags

Economics, India, Israel, navy, russia, Sumantra Maitra, syria, USA

I’m alive!

Shifted to Auckland, working in a newspaper…blogging for another…and still planning a PhD…also writing a massive journal article/book chapter. So yea, all’s well!

Here are two of the highlights!

1. Started Blogging for Times of Israel, and here’s the first one, on the “Shameful British vote on Syria“.

2. Op-Ed for Indian Weekender, where I work presently…taken up by the Ministry of External Affairs, India…which is basically a fancy name for the Indian foreign ministry, and published in their official website.

3. Two more op-eds, one on Indian Navy, and the other on Indian economy.

That’s all for now, so long! Have fun, cause I don’t have time for that anymore!

BRICS – India’s the biggest loser

Tags

Brazil, china, Development Bank, IMF, India, russia, South Africa, United States of America, World Bank

(Published in USINPAC)

Among other interminable dross that were churned in the recently concluded 5^th annual BRICS summit in South Africa, was the idea of a Development bank, by the five ever-rising economic powers. Although the details are vague, like any other diplomatic summit declaration trying to obfuscate the deep fissures within this coalition of unequals, the fact that India agreed to this disaster in the making is a new low in the foreign policy of a country, which is not much known for rational and realistic choices. The idea behind the development bank is indeed noble, “to address…the infrastructure gap in developing countries…”, especially in Africa. But the intention to make it successful or meaningful or the national interest of each member of the coalition is not clear. One thing, which is however clear, is Indian ambivalent skepticism about bandwagoning with any power simultaneously coupled with the Nehruvian idea of being a “messiah of the mass” and trying to be a leader of the third world, which reflects the mindset of Indian bureaucracy and ruling elite, is increasingly drawing India into a dilemma.

The BRICS is not an alliance. It is an arbitrarily formed group, mentioned in passing by an ex-banker, which was so captivating to the ruling elite of the grouped nations that they thought of formalizing it in an institution. Initially starting as rising economies, a perceivable counter balance to the G-8, these economies are no longer rising, with deep structural and institutional flaws, different modes of governance, deteriorating law and order situation and freedom of expression and censorship issues, different economic fundamentals and most importantly, absolutely different and divergent world view and interest. Joshua Keating pointed out why the BRICS couldn’t be more different than each other. The last addition to this coalition, South Africa, is the messiest of them all. The selection of South Africa is ofcourse controversial and political, regarded often as a quota position from the African continent, as it leaves out far more competent and growing economies like Indonesia, Turkey and South Korea. This comes when BRICS are accused of neo-imperialism, and banners like “don’t carve out Africa” were found everywhere near the summit in Durban.

It is well known, that the primary drivers behind the ideation in the BRICS are Russia and China. Russia wants to bandwagon with China to balance the influence of United States. The motivation and Great power nostalgia of Russian elite is simple enough to fathom. The Chinese interest is however far more complex. As a growing hegemon, China actually has interest in Africa, both geo-politically and economically. The resources of Africa are mostly still unexplored, and the market potential of cheap Chinese manufactured goods is enormous. This however comes at a time, when China is increasingly viewed with suspicion in Africa. The last couple of years have seen the murder of Chinese engineers by disgruntled and exploited African labourers, incessant strikes in Chinese operated industries and mines, and the now infamous op-ed by Lamido Sanusi, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, where he accused China of having neo-colonial ambitions. China now wants to portray itself as a benevolent and altruistic force, and therefore wanted to soothe Africa under the BRICS front. India, for all its independent and non-aligned foreign policy, is legitimizing Chinese actions.

It is puzzling to fathom why India is following Chinese and Russian lead. For a start, Russia is not what it used to be. It clearly views China as a far superior partner than India, and a market for superior weapons and technology, ironically at the same time when India received massive aid grant from Japan. India and China are not really partners, and as I wrote here before, will probably not be in the near foreseeable future. Nor is Indian business interest in Africa that important, scalable or maintainable. For example, assuming that India invests in some African country under the BRICS development bank, tomorrow if there is some kind of unrest, is India capable or willing to defend its business interest? India never showed any willingness to aggressively promote or defend its business interests, be it Afghanistan, Maldives, or South China Sea, and there is no reason to believe India would do that in Africa. India also lacks such far off power projection capability. Which brings us to question the wisdom; do the benefits of Indian investment in Africa outweigh the cost? What is the incentive of pledging tens of billions of dollars, all Indian taxpayers’ money, in a region which is beset by uncertainty, instability and conflict, or starting a monetary organization, potentially rival to IMF/World Bank which will not be of any direct benefit to the already slowing economy and growth rate?

On the other hand, India will eventually be viewed as just another neo-colonial resource grabbing power like China, if it continues to be with the BRICS. The respect that India enjoyed in Africa, and the goodwill as a potential democratic competitor of China will fade away, with India just being a satellite of Chinese ambitions, a satisfied mid level power in an institution guided by Russian and Chinese geo-political interests. Nor is Indian interest, in the BRICS assisted conflict resolution in Central African Republic understandable. Again, the question is geo-political, what IS India’s interest? Tomorrow if Russia leads the BRICS into conflict resolution in Syria, will India be willing to commit its resources?

As this Economist essay explains, India is utterly confused about its growing clout and new found respect as a rising power, lacks a political will, strategic culture, a status-quo bureaucracy, and timely and fast decision making infrastructure. Added to that is the notorious ambivalence towards aligning with the West, even though being perfectly aware that in the great scheme of the game, China stands as the largest potential rival. This ambivalence and skepticism stems from the utterly discredited NAM mentality which is still somehow widely followed among the Indian foreign policy circles, and the moral, altruistic, socialist Nehruvian world view, without any long term planning or Realist Raison D’etat. With the BRICS now attracting countries like Egypt, a slow and painful repetition of the outdated Indian NAM policies are in the process. Everyone knows how NAM turned out. One can only hope that India’s policymakers realize soon where her interests lie.

For those who fell

Tags

china, Congo, India, Indian army, lebanon, pakistan, Piracy, somalia, south china sea, South Sudan, United Nations peacekeeping, UNMISS

This is not a long post. Just a respect for our troops, who are fighting the battle for all that is good and civilised in some of the darkest corners of the World.

This past week, five Indian soldiers for the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, while escorting UN vehicles. More than 160,000 Indian soldiers served in UN missions across the World, in the past 60 years, with more deaths while peacekeeping operations than any other country.

This post is for all those brave soldiers we often forget, who sacrifice their today for our tomorrow…in our borders with China and Pakistan, in the highest battlefield on Earth in Kashmir and Siachen, guarding our seas and our ocean, maintaining the flow of commerce and trade near Somalian coast, Strait of Malacca and South China sea, guarding ships against pirates, in Congo, in Lebanon, in South Sudan.

The flag of Daily World Watch is halfmast.

Cultural purity, you say?

Tags

Afghanistan, Crimes against women, Gangrape, India, pakistan, rape, South Asia, taliban

A 39 year old Swiss tourist, with her 29 year old companion lost way in a central Indian jungle. The woman was gang-raped and the companion beaten up, and robbed. This happened, adding another glorious chapter in Indian cultural superiority. This comes barely a couple of months after the Delhi Gang-rape.

A supremely hypocritical culture, where people can pee in public, but not kiss.

Here’s what everything is wrong with India, Indian mindset, and culture. And not only India, this mindset is noted in every other South Asian culture, every other South Asian country.

Best of Indian culture and mindset

Yes, Indian villagers. Apparently they are pure, and it is the city, corrupt Westernised liberal capitalist city dwellers that is harming the pure Indian culture. Where have we heard those type of talks before? Yes, the Talibans.

Well, Indian villagers, just like their counterparts in all other South Asian countries, are no better than Talibans. It is South Asia after all…how different will be the mindset of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans and Afghans?

The “Indian Renaissance”, (The whole of British India, not the one we see today) which started during the British rule, by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, was due to the Western liberal democratic education system. Otherwise India would still be in the dark medieval age with Jizya tax and Sati. Those who deny that, deny history.

 

We owe everything modern to the British Empire. However much we want to deny history, from an anti-western “revisionist” point of view, the fact that we have modern education, technology, railways and industry, English language which helps us in being World leaders in different sectors like service, manufacturing and trade, doctors and engineers and modern medicine, is due to the Western education system and Indian cultural Renaissance from 1860 onwards. The freedom that we have, the democracy that we cherish, the liberty that we espouse, all due to the Western education and thought process.

Two hundred years after the whiff of fresh air that was Western education, we risk going back to the dark days of cultural conservatism again. The forces of Tribalism, Religious Sectarianism, Chauvinism, Conservatism, Historical revisionism, and Fanaticism are pulling us back to the dark days of Feudal Subcontinent, a rotten, static, stagnated, socially backward time of superstition, Witch burning, casteism, social stigmatization, where Science, human rights, equality of sexes and modern progressive thoughts were not welcome.

And yes, to call a spade a spade. It is a fight between the urban, western educated liberal secular cities, and the culturally conservative villages. Regardless of Hindus, Sikhs or Muslims, Sub-continental villages are a den of fanatic male religio-chauvinist extremism and cultural conservatism. A simple fact check and stats would show the difference in crime pattern in villages and cities.

It is about time, we acknowledge the truth.

To stop the practice of “Sati”, we needed men like General Sir Charles James Napier, who knew when to use force to wrong a right, a system, which was vile, evil and despicable. Here’s what he said, “You say that it is your custom to burn widows.  Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”

We stand at a similar crossroad. And to stop another evil, like crime against women, we might need to use force again, and take up arms if needed. The war is against cultural conservatism, and forces which are pulling us towards the medieval dark days, all across South Asia. We need to amputate that gangrene, to save the rest of the body.

 

Some new reading materials for your weekend…

Tags

Asia Pivot, Autarky, Balance of power, bandwagoning, capitalism, centralised economy, china, diayou, East China sea, Economics, FDI, Foreign Direct Investment, Foreign Policy, Game of Thrones, Globalization, India, International relations, Japan, Poverty, Protectionism, Realism, senkaku, socialism, south china sea, stolper samuelson theorm, Sumantra Maitra, Trade Liberalization, United States of America

Hey guys, hope everything’s alright? I’m okay here, new semester starts, new students come…it is a great feeling to see so many fresh mind, eager and enthusiastic to learn and share new ideas, and not fixed like some older fools surrounding us.

My paper recently got published in United States – India Political Action Committee, on Trade Liberalization, protectionism, Foreign Direct investment, and poverty. I show with data correlation how trade liberalization helped in decreasing poverty in the third world, and how liberalization helped countries like China and India to grow and become market rulers, using their comparative advantages. I also try to answer why simultaneously other countries are not so successful in reaping the benefits of globalization.

There are often arguments we hear from activists, politicians, media and general public about how Globalization and trade liberalization is either good or bad. Both the arguments are wrong, misguided, misunderstood, shallow, naïve and ultimately extremely irresponsible. To claim a single formula to be good or bad for every country in the planet, regardless of their geographical position, resources, economic fundamentals, taxation and revenues, health, weather and temperature and other factors, shows a lack of understanding of the problem, oversimplification and ultimately lack of academic rigueur. Here in this paper, I briefly try to touch up on these points to explain why ultimately trade liberalization is a good thing, and why Protectionism can never be a sound policy.

The paper : Part 1 and Part 2.

Also, two of my essays on Realism and Indian Foreign Policy, and Chinese Security Dilemma got published, where I try to make sense of the growing Geo-political scenario playing out between the two Asian giants.

Will keep you updated with more papers about to be published!

God bless!

On India and US alliance

Tags

Asia Pivot, CFR, Council of Foreign Relations, Foreign Policy Magazine, India, USA, Utter panicky morons who are employed in US think tanks

Yo everyone! Everything working fine I hope? I’m usual…a tad busy with work…like always. Been a mixed week! On one hand England topped Euro Cup group! Whoa! Imagine?! Who would have guessed? Merry Olde Englande!!! Onward, march on mates! God save the Queen!

But…on the other hand, closer to regular life, totally disgusted with numbskulled analysts and policy wonks trying to fathom the US shift in Asia and the alliance formation with India. Hang on people, too fast!

The Good BRICS, eh?

Tags

BRICS, china, democracy, Foreign Policy, Human rights, India, Interventionism, neo liberals, russia, syria, USA

Occasionally there are times, when you read something that is so utterly devoid of depth, lacking unbiased analysis, filled with pretentiousness and holier-than-thou hubris, that you almost pity the imbecile who wrote it in a fleeting moment of emotional rush. Then you find out that the person who wrote that is not some first year student of diplomacy, or an activist in some obscure NGO, but a quite respected middle aged gentleman who is member of a number of policy think-tanks. And your outrage gives way to hopelessness, you lose your sense of humour, and patient disposition. You instantly understand the cause why the World is heading from one woollyheaded disaster to another.

This article, by James Traub, in Foreign Policy magazine was one such.

Esther’s story, and some other pieces…

Tags

Esther Friede, feminism, literature, lots of links so patient reading required

Hey guys…wordpress is constantly reminding me to shift to pro…about time…but I decided that will do that once I shift to Dunedin in some months.  (Meanwhile don’t forget to join this page!)

I was busy covering a fascinating story…story of Esther Friede…a Canadian lady, battling the land mafia in small town North India, risking death, with no mainstream media covering it. I think people should read, write and share about it more…

Meanwhile, I found some brilliant blogs, all by women, or about women…which I am listing below…so we can call this post, a tribute to the women on top (no pun!)…

On Kingfisher Airlines

Tags

capitalism, Churchill, Kingfisher, subsidies, Vijaya Mallya

God, I get seriously sick watching News debates these days…bloody prevarication of facts…

Check the headline, and the first sentence of Hindustan Times. Asking for bailout, and asking for help in bailing out are two entirely different things! Kingfisher didn’t ask for Government bailout! It asked for bank loans!

Them or the striking pilots of Air India...your choice...

Here are a few pointers: