Saturday, December 20, 2014
Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Today India needs US more than Russia' that was published in Newsband
Today India needs US more
than Russia
Russian President
Vladimir Putin’s visit to India was a productive one. Many agreements were signed between the two countries. The deals touched oil, energy and infrastructure to military training. The opening of
India’s rough-diamond procurement policy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will
mean Mumbai can dream of becoming a worldwide hub for the industry. President
Putin’s offer of 12 nuclear reactors was good enough.
Putin refused to
address a joint session of Parliament. This could be because Russia has watched with displeasure as
India has diversified its military imports, especially when it comes to
helicopter and aircraft purchases. Last year a senior Russian official called
the decision to buy fighter aircraft and missiles from France, the U.S. and
Israel “illogical and unfair”.
India too was
outraged by the Russian decision to lift its embargo on defence sales to
Pakistan, and the first-ever Russia-Pakistan framework agreement that was
finalised last month. But India
still maintains about 70 per cent of its defence inventory from Russian
hardware, and is one of Russia’s biggest buyers.
Given Russia’s
growing isolation from the West, and India’s growing closeness to the U.S. —
President Barack Obama’s visit is coming up in January 2015 — their
relationship is bound to be challenged in many ways. The U.S. didn’t fail to criticize
the India-Russia deal.
The USA's
participation in defense production in India will result in America's major
role in India's mission against terrorism in India by the external agencies.
One can’t deny the fact that US is the sole superpower in the world and weakened
Russia is still its greatest enemy. For decades India was dependent on Soviet
Union for military and political support. Large sections of Congress and left
wing parties and universities were enthralled by the Soviet model. But one
should note the fact that the previous relationship was a stronger nation's
relationship with a weaker nation. Today we are closer to a more equal
relationship. This is what a balanced multi-faceted relationship with pulls in
different directions looks like. There is nothing testing or troubling about
it. Get used to it.
Russian technology
and economic model are inferior to those of USA, France, Japan and Canada. It
is as simple as that. Added to this for certain technologies like Nuclear
power, the safety standards are compromised in Russian technology. India's
close relation with Russia for the past 40 years has resulted in miserable
standard of living for common man because India followed Russian model for
industry and for economy.
The fact is Russia
is closer to China than to India. China is a threat for India. China is a tough
competitor for US on the international level. Hence it is natural for India and
US to join hands to prevent China from becoming a threat to India and at the
same time not let China go ahead of US. Thus it is clear that both India and US
badly need each other. India, the largest democracy in the world could gain
more benefit from the USA and its Western allies especially in terms of counter
terrorism, strategy, education, technology and, above all, employment to the
technocrats in all fields.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Book on Indian Constitution is the right National Book' that was published in Newsband
Book on Indian Constitution
is the right National Book
External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj proposed that Bhagavad Gita be declared a ‘national
scripture’. What Swaraj calls into question is the secular nature of India,
whether a holy book of one religious community can be imposed as the national
book of Indians of all faiths. BJP vice-president Dinesh Sharma too expressed
his opinion that the Gita is not a religious book, but is meant for the whole
of humanity.
Mahabharat is a Hindu
epic and Bhagwad Gita is the derivative of this epic and both these great works
were written when India consisted of only Hindus. Even Bible was written when
there existed only Christians at a place during a particular time. Koran was
also written at a place where only the Muslims existed during a particular
time. Similar is the case with all the other religious scriptures. But today,
almost all over the world, and in India particularly, people belonging to all
the religions co-exist. In such a case, it wouldn’t be advisable to have a
scripture of one particular religion as a National Book, particularly when there
exist a book for members of all the religions. This book is the Book on Indian
Constitution which has been written after considering all the religions of the
world. This book was written to enable people of all religions to co-exist
peacefully. When this is the case, introduction of a scripture of any one
religion as the National Book will have disastrous result. It is like going far
back in time which will be harmful for our country.
Freedom of
conscience that is guaranteed under the Constitution includes the right to
practise any or no religion, and seeking to elevate a sacred scripture of any
one religion as India’s national scripture is tantamount to undermining the
secular basis of the Constitution. If
indeed there is felt a need to hold up one book as a national book, then it
should be the country’s Constitution, and nothing else.
Bhagvad Gita is
definitely one of the most pristine philosophical books in the world. Nobody
would ever challenge the philosophical nuances of Gita. Gita is not a Hindu
religious text but rather a great book on spirituality - a rare book of solace
when some one is struck with a personal tragedy of loosing a loved one and made
to think deeply on life and death - the mystery that science cannot unravel
even after thousands of years. It is great book of humanity -every verse is
dripping with humanity and if world peace is goal then all leaders of every
country must read Gita. It is more of a book on psychology as there are several
chapters discussing mind. Gita is a national treasure Indians must be proud of.
The Gita is a
wonderful book-- full of both speculative and ethical wisdom. Countless people,
mostly Hindus but including some Muslims and many other non-Hindus find it a
fountainhead of thoughtful guidance in life. A former Muslim president of
India, Dr. Abul Kalam, was reported to be an admirer. Precisely for such
reasons, it's dangerous to "officially" proclaim it as the national
scripture of India.
Let’s put things
in simple words. Gita is a brilliant book, No one is against the Gita.
Secularism is defined and redefined by parties and groups for their own
benefits. Gita according to some might not be religious but a way of life but
the common man who usually reads a Gita is religious and belongs to Hinduism. A
national book should portray the nation as a whole. We as a one need
development and less of religion in the public sphere, only then we can be a
super power.
Declaring Gita a
national book can hurt people's sentiment in a secular country like India,
instead it must be a mandatory part of school curriculum which will serve the
real purpose.
Dinesh Kamath’s movie column ‘New movie released in Navi Mumbai’ (PK) that was published in Newsband
New movie released in Navi
Mumbai
By Dinesh Kamath
PK
PK is a 2014 Indian family
comedy-drama film directed by Rajkumar
Hirani, produced by Hirani, Vidhu
Vinod Chopra and Siddharth Roy Kapur,
and written by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi. The film stars Aamir Khan in the title role, with Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput, Boman
Irani, Saurabh Shukla, and Sanjay
Dutt in supporting roles. The film is a satire on "God and
godmen".
The film PK is the story that revolves around
the political concept. PK is a political satire, hitting
out at corruption in the country. Amir
Khan plays a kind of Godman in this movie.
PK is a comedy of ideas about a
stranger in the city who asks questions no one has asked before. Known only by
his initials, P.K.'s innocent
questions and childlike curiosity takes him on a journey of love, laughter and
letting-go. His questions bring about catastrophic answers. People who are set
in their ways for generations, are forced to reappraise their world when they
see it from PK's innocent eyes. In
the process PK makes loyal friends
and powerful foes. He mends broken lives and angers the establishment. P. K.'s childlike curiosity transforms
into a spiritual odyssey for him and millions of others. The film is an
ambitious and uniquely original exploration of complex philosophies.
Finally, it is a moving saga about a friendship between
strangers from worlds apart.
It is also a simple and humane tale of love, laughter and
letting-go.
The film has Aamir
Khan as PK, Anushka Sharma as Jagat
"Jaggu" Janini, Sanjay
Dutt as Bhairon Singh, Sushant Singh Rajput, Boman Irani, Saurabh
Shukla and Ram Sethi.
The film's soundtrack is composed by Shantanu Moitra, Ajay-Atul and Ankit
Tiwari with lyrics penned by Swanand
Kirkire, Amitabh Varma and Manoj
Muntashir.
The film has songs like Tharki Chokro sung by Swaroop
Khan, Love is a waste of time by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal, Nanga Punga
Dost by Shreya Ghoshal, Chaar Kadam by Shaan and Shreya Ghoshal,
Bhagwan Hai Kahan Re Tu by Sonu Nigam, Dil Darbadar by Ankit
Tiwari and PK Dance Theme which
is Instrumental.
Dinesh Kamath's news 'Celebrate this Christmas at the magical Toyland at Inorbit Malls, Vashi' that was published in Newsband
Celebrate this Christmas at
the magical Toyland at Inorbit Malls, Vashi
By Dinesh Kamath
Above: Inorbit Mall, Vashi
Inorbit Malls, Vashi has introduced mega Toy lands, an
exciting experience of fun and games from 19 to 28 December 2014.
Kids can post a special mail to Santa and he will come to
their home with gifts and goodies. Posting booth is open from the 19 to 24
December. They can also receive gifts from the Gift box Tree. Parents simply
leave the purchased gifts from the mall at the Gift box Tree from 19 to 24
December and Santa will personally handover all the gifts to the kids on 24 and
25 December at Inorbit Malls, Vashi.
This festive season of Christmas is not complete without
Christmas Carols; enjoy the rhymes on 21 December. Workshops have also been
organized on Christmas Greeting Cards, Wreath Making, Finger Puppets and Toy
making on the upcoming and next weekend.
A donation drive has also been set-up for all the underprivileged
kids so that they can also enjoy this Christmas season. People may donate gifts
for the NGO kids at Inorbit Mall. The NGO Kids will come for a special treat on
24 December and receive all the gifts from Santa. The kids will also be treated
for delicious meals and fun pact games.
Give your kids the ultimate Christmas experience at the
Toyland only at Inorbit, Vashi.
Venue: Inorbit
Malls, Vashi
Time: 12 noon
– 8 pm
Toyland: Open
from 19 - 28 December
Christmas
Workshops: 20 and 21 December, 27 and 28 December
Gift post booth
- Open from 19 - 24 December
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)