The Sacchin Tendulkar Of Politics -Modi !!

I need not add to the adjectives that have been used to describe the speech of our Prime Minister .No words are enough .So lets get beyond that and move to what was the more substantitive part of what it did to all of us –at least to me .1. As a non resident Indian –it made me feel very very proud .When people phoned me up and told me that “your” Prime Minister rocks –it swelled my heart and chest .It is no secret that every non resident Indian is very emotional about his country .Never ,never has the National Anthem not given me goose bumps  like it did yesterday –even though Kavita Krisnamoorty sang it not too well .2. All od a sudden I realized what we as Indians had been missing for decades  –energy and optimism .Throughout Mr Modis speech ,I was imagining how Manmohan Singh would have looked like on that stage at the MSG .I could imagine a old scholar rambling with no strength in his arms and hands to wave and no timbre in his voice to make an impact .Would anyone have blown all those kisses to him ?3.The PM  outlined the vision in very very simple terms .While the rest of the world would be old by 2030 ,India would be young –we have 70 percent population below the age of 35 !! So the world is for our taking .We have huge markets that create demand .And boy I love the line when he said “Hum mouse ko bhagaate hain”!!.And of course when he said that in every state of America you will find every nationality of the world ,but you will find a Indian in every part of the world .4 .I loved the way how he accepted his background .” Mein chai peelaatein peelatein yahan tak pahunch gaya .Chotaa aadmi hun ,isleye chotti chotti cheezein ke baein meih soochtaa hun”!! So basic ,so grounded .There were many other highpoints of his speech –and he floored everyone .

One question remains –can he deliver ? He is a star .No two ways about that and if you don’t admit it –you are not seeing the obvious .But to get things in India moving requires more than a good ,brilliant speech .Amitabh Bacchan and Dilip Kumar are better speakers .And I would rate Atalji as a class apart as far as public speaking was concerned .Speeches are forgotten .At the end of the day work can be done only if it is first conceptualized  .Franklin Roosevelt wrote once

To reach a port we must set sail –
Sail,  not tie at anchor
Sail,  not drift.”

Many before Modi have have set sail .Many before him have remained tied to the harbor .Many have sailed –but drifted .Modi seems to have set sail and is not drifting !! As a Indian –I wish him good luck .He seems to be our Sacchin Tendulkar of politics .

Kulbhushan Kain

Namo -Start Batting Like Yuvraj And Not Pujara .!!

Every one should have a knowledge of history and economics .And of course political science .Its all the more important in a country like India which is a developing nation and needs to keep evolving all the time .It also helps us to understand the difference between hype and fact .

We all went ga ga over Namo .Here was a man who promised us the world .Here was a man who sold us a dream .Here was a man who could make you angry ,laugh or cry .(He even managed to do that to hard headed politicians like Ravi Shankar Prasad in his innaugral address to Parliament ).Was what he promised all hype ?

After 4 months of his government being  in office –I have no definite answer to the above question .But it does seem that a lot of his precious mandate has so far been wasted .Which party can you expect in the near future to come to power with such a huge mandate ? As I hit my 60s I doubt wheter any party   will  in my lifetime .He needs to do something real fast .What is he waiting for ? And what the hell is he doing by indulging in these foreign policy tasks ? SAARCH ,BHUTAN ,JAPAN ,CHINA ,USA ,BANGKLADESH ,-what has it got to do with India at the moment .Infact it’s a shame that he was talking to Xi when Chinese troops were sitting in our terrirory in the Chumar Sector .And then signing on a paper which showed Arunachal as a disputed territory .Can you imagine what would have happened if Man Mohan Singh would have done that ? Narendra Modi came to power by promising fast economic growth to create millions of jobs. So, it’s mysterious that he has spent so much time on foreign visits and receiving foreign dignitaries like Chinese president Xi Jinping. Foreign relations matter, but cannot create millions of jobs .It is true that he signed MOUs with the Chinese and the Japanese which ran into billions of dollars . Big foreign investments make big headlines. Yet India itself has a savings rate of 30% of GDP, and this once touched 37%. It is contributed mainly by households and unincorporated businesses. Foreign direct investment in India is barely 1-2% of GDP. This links India to global markets and technology, and so is disproportionately useful.But it is not the crucial driver of growth . That has to be local investment. Above all, it has to be investment by small and medium enterprises, which already contribute more to investment and growth than large corporations.Modi has not done anything as yet on that front .He may do it later –but better is if he had started it earlier .Months will just eat into the years and we will be back where we started .

And people may still be talking of acche din –because they will fall to the hype and because they don’t understand economics or history .However ,let me add one last line –he is still the best bet we have as a PM .!!

Kulbhushan Kain

The Power Of One -Vinod Rai

In the dismal political scenario that I  grew up  and lived in  ,I  have  often found myself  asking the question –is there nothing good about Indian political institutions ? How is it that politicians ,bureaucrats ,teachers and even Generals get away with everything  without punishment?

To be honest ,I did get a answer “yes”  to the question .Yes, there are some pillars that have stood up and got themselves counted .One is the Indian Judiciary at the highest level –Supreme  Court .The Indian judiciary has been guided by some brilliant men especially Justice HR Khanna  in the crucial years of our democracy .Later , Justice Verma ,Bhagwati ,and many more were some of the most honest men one could find anywhere in this planet .The second institution that one can be proud of is the Election Commission .Nobody ever thought how powerful it could be till TN Seshan a rather bull dog looking Brahmin from South India took over .We were lucky that he  had successors like Mr Lyndoh (whom Mr Modi very immaturely called “James Michael Lyndoh” in a very taunting way in a election  rally ) and Mr Rao (who took on the might of Lalu Yadav).Without their  intelligence ,the courage and the determination to bring about a change ,India would have been a failed state .

Another individual has now made a mark .And he is  Vinod Rai .The CAG Office  is the watchdog of the nation .It sees whether the money you and me pay as a tax to the government is being well spent or not .For years the office  was lying in limbo .It required the “power of one” to energize it and bring to the forefront the powers that the constitution bestows on it .Vinod Rai  has done a wonderful job .And it makes me feel doubly proud because he  is a very good friend of the family and the friendship goes back to the seventies .He and my brother are both from the same college (Hindu) and from the same batch of the IAS .We always knew about his honesty . I think he has given the CAG office enough courage to stand up and be counted .Notwithstanding the fact that people like Praful Patel or Sanjay Nirupam drag him to court .You cant beat a honest man .And you cant beat him in a system that has a Judiciary like we have in India .

I am hoping for the CBI to turn the bend .One Vinod Rai ,Seshan ,or a Justice Verma is needed .It all boils down to the “power of one” !!Yes in this case -one swallow does a summer make .!!

Kulbhushan Kain

Scotland -Searching For A Pub On the Royal Mile .!!

I was in Scotland about 3 years back  -albeit for a very short time –but enough to see Edingburh ,Glasgow and  Stirling Castle  .I was also able to take in the view of the beautiful,national park  and go on a ferry ride on Loch Lomond .Lochs (lakes ) are common in Scotland and some of them can be really big –you cant see where they end .I need not repeat but  everyone knows that Scotland is perhaps  one of the prettiest spots in the world .It is a part of the British Isles at the momemt –but awaits its tryst with destiny as people will vote on the 18 th whether they want to be independent of Britain .Its a touch and go agffair at the momemt with polls suggesting a wafer thin “ No “ to independence .But a aggressive campaing to swing the undecided voter to say “Yes” could mean the birth of a new nation .If that happens ,then the next time I go to Scotland (which I will ),I will need a visa to do so .For that reason –I wish and hope the Scots say “NO”to a separation from  Britain .

Scots are different frm the Brits –make no mistake about that .I am not going to go into those differences (and I have been a student of British and Scot History as a undergraduate in Delhi University ), but one thing you can expect in Scotland in a greater measure than in Britain –they love their whiskey .They produce the finest whiskey in the world  so much so that any whiskey that is good is always compared with the one produced in Scotland “ Bilkul Scotch jaise hai” people would say when passing judgement on a local brand .I want to recount a delightful experience with a semi drunk Scot .

The Royal Mile 

Every one who goes to Edinburgh goes to, the Royal Mile .The Royal Mile  is an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, pubs and visitor attractions .The thoroughfare, as the name suggests, is approximately one  mile long and runs downhill between two significant locations in the history of Scotland, namely Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace .The Edinburh Castle is the landmark of the city and breathtakingly beautiful .The Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the British Monarchs  when they visit Edinburgh .I walked the Royal Mile a couple of times during the day and even purchase  a sweater for my son and a jacket  wife .Besides I picked up a gift of small miniatures of the top brands of Scotch whiskey to gift to a friend in Ahmedabad .On my last day ,I decided to hit the pub on the Royal Mile .I had researched where I wanted to go and despite bad reviews settled for “The Ensign Ewart “ . It has the distinction of being the highest pub in Edinburgh. Consequently, it offers, that after a hard night in the pub, going home is all "downhill”.I was staying a couple of kms from the Royal Mile and “walking downhill” after a couple of drinks would help!!! .

It had got dark and I was finding it difficult to find the pub .Suddenly I found a Scot ambling towards me .I stopped him and after wishing him asked  

“I am looking for a pub by the name ……..” .He interrupted me and said

“ You want a drink ?”

“ Yes"  I said .

“ Here ,come and share with me .I am drinking good Scotch whiskey .You don’t mind having a swig from the hip flask ?”

Before I could say anything ,he had reached the inner pocket of his grey overcoat and brought out the hip flask

“ No ,no “ I pleaded “ I AM LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO SIT AND DRINK”

“ Ok .Come ,there is a bench just a few steps away . Come lets sit and drink.Where are you from ?“ he drawled with a very Celtic accent   as he walked towards a bench .

I was in a bind .He was a friendly soul and was obviously looking for company .But I wanted to have a drink at the bar .The drink would have been accompanied  with fish and chips .The pub also had a band which played music .I was in no mood to sit with someone on the Royal Mile in weather that was getting colder by the minute .What if the cops came and rounded us up .?I was blunt .

“ I want to drink at the Ewart Pub ,and I have a friend waiting for me there(I lied). Thank you very much .You are very kind .Do you know where is it located ? “, I asked  .

“ Oh , You have a friend waiting .You must not make the woman wait .You must go .But it’s a lousy place to take a woman to .”

Ha ha .So many presumptions .So many lies .So many judgements

I finally found the bar .As it turned out  it was really no place to take a woman to .The drinks were expensive –but the fish and chips were nice .But  the best part of it was –it was all downhill and it helps if you have taken in a lot of liquid .!!

Kulbhushan Kain

Divine Sea Food In Dubai .!!

We always eat out on a weekend .And we research well before we do that .This time we had a choice of eating either sizzlers at Kobe or Seafood .We have been eating north Indian food –butter chicken ,dal makni,pannier pasanda –quite a lot .And our last experience in Arabian Courtyard was bad .I can put myself down as a food critic and that’s because I cook more or less everyday .The moment I see the food ,I know whether its going to be good or not .The colour ,the aroma ,and the heat that emanates from its containers are enough indication of how the food is going to be before the first spoon goes to the tongue !!

We settled for Seafood and we decided to hit Mahesh Seafood restaurant in Karama .Yes it’s a branch of the same Mahesh in Mumbai which is legendary for its seafood .The traffic was chock a block as we winded our wy into one of Dubais most crowded localities –Karama .We had booked a table for ourselves and we barely made it in time .The ambience of the place was  nice .We asked the chef to suggest two dishes of fish without any bones .–one dry and one in gravy .He suggested Basa Malabar Tikas and Hammour Mallipuram fish gravy .We asked for appams (like small chappati sized  dosas ),rice and chappatis .

What we got was amazing .!!The tikkas were  wonderful and had such a aromatic  flavor to them ,and the fish gravy was out of the world .It was slightly thin and cooked in coconut milk .Like all south Indian dishes it had all the lovely ingredients –cardamom ,black pepper ,”daal cheeni”, “curry patta” .cumming seeds ,and what not .It was cooked as per our specifications –we wanted it to less spicy .While we waited we saw waiters flitting carrying live pieces of fish and showing it to the customers .Yes –they actually ask you to select a piece of your own choice which they cook subsequently .Of course one has the choice of depending on their choice –like we did .!!

It was a great weekend and if you are in Dubai and want to eat sea food  in a good restaurant which is not located within the confines of a 5 Star Hotel –then  go to Mahesh !! And before going –maybe you could down a glass of Red French Wine !!

Kulbhushan Kain

Fiddling While "Kashmir " Burns !!

In AD 64 for six days and seven nights the citizens of ancient Rome watched helplessly as their city burned. The great fire that engulfed Rome , spread quickly and savagely. After it was over, 70 percent of the city had been destroyed. According to the great historian Tacitus  "Of Rome's 14 districts, only four remained intact.”. Of the million-person population, an estimated half was made newly homeless .

As is usually seen in such mass tragedies, rumors began to wind through the devastated streets. Reports emerged that some men were seen fanning the flames claimed they were under orders. As a result of the tremendous losses, the Roman people, feeling the effects of paranoia, looked for someone who might be responsible for the fire. They blamed their emperor -- Nero.

In the light of the great tragedy in Kashmir –our good friends (led by the terrorist Hafiz Saeed) are blaming the Indian Government for the floods !! Of course that venomous idea of his , no one is going to buy (he used the word “water terrorism”!!). But perhaps the most interesting rumor that emerged from the great fire was that Nero (the Emperor ) had played his fiddle(violin /flute). while Rome burned .While the above is debated amongst historians bcoz the violin was invented 1500 years later ,the phrase “fiddling while Rome burnt “ has come to stay .In simple terms it means indulging in your favourite pastime while there is calamity all around you .Is Omar Abdullah fiddling while Rome is burning ? The way the Centre is involved  in the disaster ,and the way the separatists and the state govt are ABSENT  ,its safe to say “ yes – all  of them are ” fiddling while Rome is burning”!

Kulbhushan Kain

A Visit To The Gurudwara In Dubai .

I went to the magnificent Gurudwara in Dubai (Jebel Ali),some time back with a Principal friend of mine .While bending down to pay my obeisance my Ray Bans must have slipped out of my shirt pocket and fallen off .I was unaware of it .We went down to the "langar" and had a fantastic meal -black daal ,soya aloo ,kheer ,pulao and chappatis .We made our way out towards our car .Suddenly ,Sandhya ,the Principal friend of the family realized that she did not have her Samsung Smartphone .She had obviously left it behind in the Grudwara (i was still unaware of the loss of my Ray Bans !1).We rushed back ,only to be told by a a kind looking sikh gentleman that we should contact the office where things that are found unattended are deposited .We made our way and lo behold the old gentleman asked us " is this your phone " .Of course it was !! We were very relieved .But only for a short time !! I suddenly realized that my Ray Bans were missing !! So we made our way back to the Gurudwara .But this time the old gentleman who spoke in impeccable English told me that no one had come to deposit a pair of goggles ." Why dont you go to the prayer room and ask the sewadars .Sometimes they come back after their duties with things they find .Maybe its with one of them " .I made my way ,and sure enough got my goggles from a sewadar .!! Its amazing that the aam aadmi is so honest -and yet the "khaas aadmi " is so corrupt .The fight against corruption must be relentlessly pursued -and taken to its logical end .!!

Kulbhushan Kain