Hi All
Almost everyone who read my earlier blog H1 had asked me to write a similar one at the end of the year. Well 2008 has ended and now is the right time to look back and understand what it meant while it lasted and also chronicle the events, which I believe will be remembered and discussed for years to come.
The events of first half have been captured in my earlier blog H1. (All those who have forgotten can re- read it). I had asked a question " Do we realise what we are witnessing? and as I look at the events that have occurred in second half all I can say is that was just an interval in the movie 2008. Here I present my highlights for second half of 2008:
- Wall street became Fall street. Lehman Brothers fell and actually US govt did not save it. There is no thoroughbred Investment bank in the world today. Citi survived while AIG and others are on a life saver
- Being a government owned financial institution was no longer a taboo. Gordon Brown showed the world how state could save economy and how proudly everyone wants to serve at the pleasure of Her Majesty's Government. US and others copied the same
- Inflation fell to below 7% in India when no one expected it to fall after it had touched 12% in H1
- Petrol prices kissed USD 150 dollars and then fell to USD 34 before we changed the calendar from 2008 to 2009
- Abhinav Bindra finally won a gold for India in an individual event. Truly 1 in a billion!
- F1 had a champion decided in a last 5 seconds of the final race and with luck playing an important role.
- US finally has a black President in Barack Obama. What he did unthinkable is even before being sworn in, has included Hillary ( fierce contender) and Robert Gates (serving republican) in his cabinet in 2 of most important roles. Way to go !!!
- Kingfisher & Jet came together to redefine the Indian Air industry and who better than the aviation minister to play cupid
- Australia are no more the Kings of Cricket ... crown is up for grabs and surprisingly India is a leading contender to take it. (anyone remember the last world cup)
- K serials ended ( after 8 yrs) and Thank god for small mercy. Adding on Ekta kapoor made a serial which did not begin with a K. Need I say more.
- Sheila Dixit won Delhi for a record 3rd time. She cannot thank BJP enough for ensuring her win.
- Taj & Trident opened in record 21 days after the Mumbai attacks. No one can break the spirit.
- Terrorism is no longer an election agenda and Democracy is alive and kicking. Thanks to Jammu & Kashmir and other states.
and finally
- Indian soldier emerged as the Indian of the year for 2008. A Nation Salutes!
2008. Thank you. You will be remembered.
Welcome 2009. Lets see what you bring.
Wishing all my readers a 2009 full of joy , happiness and above all togetherness.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
I am still angry...
As I look around me today I see a lot of anger. My neighbour is angry, my friends are angry, my father who is a retired Colonel is angry, whole country is angry, Indians all over the world are angry and yes I too am angry.
Ever since 26/11 all of us have been angry. I have questioned myself many a times regards my anger on Mumbai attacks. Each time I always find something different and new for me to be angry upon: be it intelligence failure, lack of political will to tackle terror, lack of preparation to handle such attacks whatever, but things which remain constant are feeling of being mutilated, violated, helplessness and abused. It is not only me but a lot of us who are feeling the same. Check with your friends on facebook, orkut or around you and each one has many a emotions but one thing common is anger.
I have been wanting to write about Mumbai for sometime but have not done so thinking what is new that i can contribute? What will you read here that in some form or manner you would not have heard or read elsewhere. Agree that what you read from here on may not be new but it is my feeling and I am writing this to help myself. In our country where it has become a fashion to put self interest above national interest, I should at least be allowed to put my interest ahead of yours on my own blog if no where else.
Everyone has been blaming Pakistan for the attacks. Sure they are to be blamed but not fully? Before we look outward it’s important to look inwards. Its time to introspect. Despite repeated warning about terror attacks and also despite blast happening on a regular basis across the country Mumbai happened and question is why? We need to ask is how come after 1993 blasts, IC- 814 hijacking, attack on the parliament, Mumbai train blast, blast in Delhi, Jaipur etc we as a nation are not prepared? How did we allow the jehadi's to come? Why does IB, RAW, Armed forces intelligence not talk to each other? Why has National Security adviser, RAW chief not been sacked?
I come from a family where people have served the nation in Armed Forces. My father has himself fought 71 war and has suffered many a bullet injuries. I salute the soldiers who laid down their lives but I ask why have Director General Coast Guard and Naval Chief not been held accountable? Are they not responsible for protecting the country from sea? Why have we not sacked the Defence secretary or the home secretary? Is it because they are elite class of IAS and are beyond being accountable to the state? Holding Shivraj Patil , R R Patil or a Vilasrao Deshmukh accountable is not enough Mr. Prime minister, for the malaise has spread far and deep within the bureaucracy of this nation. Today every new government appoints bureaucrats and policemen who are aligned to its political agenda or caste and never on merit.
When 9/11/ happened in US there was no democrat or a republican agenda to counter it. They were united in their action plan and response. When will BJP and Congress understand this? BJP could do nothing better then release advertisements in national media about how it is better in tackling terror. They seem to have forgotten IC-814. I am ashamed when I think about it. Congress made the right noises about federal agency and NSG hubs. We ask why wait for 26/11? Actually both of them can go to hell for all I care or many of us care. Our leaders have failed us yet again. Militarily am sure we are prepared to wage a war or hit out at terrorist camps in POK but question that we should ask PM or Mr. Advani is are we politically prepared to wage a war to protect our nation?
I don't think its about religion anymore. Have we not grieved for the 19 Muslims who were among the 59 shot dead at CST? Have Muslims of India not refused to bury the terrorist in Mumbai? It’s about being Indian. Jihadi's were firing into soul of India not that of a Hindu or a Muslim. On the morning of 27 Nov as we all watched the carnage on our TV sets there was no Hindu India, Muslim India, Sikh India etc but only a nation united in anger, in helplessness and above all patriotism.
Many of us have marched with candles across cities, protesting, showing our anger, sharing grief and giving strength to each other. Media is full of campaigns on charter of terror and terror pledges and in their own way they are wanting to make a difference and wanting to keep the issue alive.
Today our politicians, bureaucrats, intelligence agencies all are waiting for us to get over our anger, our rage. They know in our bid to move on we will forget. We have done it in the past and there is nothing that makes them believe otherwise this time. Let’s prove them wrong. Let’s show them we are in no mood to forgive. They have to realize that with 26/11 our tolerance has been broken. We will not give up in a hurry and that we are willing to wait their inaction out. We need to tell them that we have been angry since 26/11 and plan to remains so for a long time.
I was told by someone 'give up your anger' for nothing will happen in our nation which has no political will to defend us and I will only hurt myself little each time that I am angry. Sorry my friend I am not listening. This time I want the hurt to continue, I want the fire to burn inside me and I want to continue being angry because I have had enough.
We Indians need to send a message not only to Pakistan and the whole world but also to our Government that enough is enough guys!
Ever since 26/11 all of us have been angry. I have questioned myself many a times regards my anger on Mumbai attacks. Each time I always find something different and new for me to be angry upon: be it intelligence failure, lack of political will to tackle terror, lack of preparation to handle such attacks whatever, but things which remain constant are feeling of being mutilated, violated, helplessness and abused. It is not only me but a lot of us who are feeling the same. Check with your friends on facebook, orkut or around you and each one has many a emotions but one thing common is anger.
I have been wanting to write about Mumbai for sometime but have not done so thinking what is new that i can contribute? What will you read here that in some form or manner you would not have heard or read elsewhere. Agree that what you read from here on may not be new but it is my feeling and I am writing this to help myself. In our country where it has become a fashion to put self interest above national interest, I should at least be allowed to put my interest ahead of yours on my own blog if no where else.
Everyone has been blaming Pakistan for the attacks. Sure they are to be blamed but not fully? Before we look outward it’s important to look inwards. Its time to introspect. Despite repeated warning about terror attacks and also despite blast happening on a regular basis across the country Mumbai happened and question is why? We need to ask is how come after 1993 blasts, IC- 814 hijacking, attack on the parliament, Mumbai train blast, blast in Delhi, Jaipur etc we as a nation are not prepared? How did we allow the jehadi's to come? Why does IB, RAW, Armed forces intelligence not talk to each other? Why has National Security adviser, RAW chief not been sacked?
I come from a family where people have served the nation in Armed Forces. My father has himself fought 71 war and has suffered many a bullet injuries. I salute the soldiers who laid down their lives but I ask why have Director General Coast Guard and Naval Chief not been held accountable? Are they not responsible for protecting the country from sea? Why have we not sacked the Defence secretary or the home secretary? Is it because they are elite class of IAS and are beyond being accountable to the state? Holding Shivraj Patil , R R Patil or a Vilasrao Deshmukh accountable is not enough Mr. Prime minister, for the malaise has spread far and deep within the bureaucracy of this nation. Today every new government appoints bureaucrats and policemen who are aligned to its political agenda or caste and never on merit.
When 9/11/ happened in US there was no democrat or a republican agenda to counter it. They were united in their action plan and response. When will BJP and Congress understand this? BJP could do nothing better then release advertisements in national media about how it is better in tackling terror. They seem to have forgotten IC-814. I am ashamed when I think about it. Congress made the right noises about federal agency and NSG hubs. We ask why wait for 26/11? Actually both of them can go to hell for all I care or many of us care. Our leaders have failed us yet again. Militarily am sure we are prepared to wage a war or hit out at terrorist camps in POK but question that we should ask PM or Mr. Advani is are we politically prepared to wage a war to protect our nation?
I don't think its about religion anymore. Have we not grieved for the 19 Muslims who were among the 59 shot dead at CST? Have Muslims of India not refused to bury the terrorist in Mumbai? It’s about being Indian. Jihadi's were firing into soul of India not that of a Hindu or a Muslim. On the morning of 27 Nov as we all watched the carnage on our TV sets there was no Hindu India, Muslim India, Sikh India etc but only a nation united in anger, in helplessness and above all patriotism.
Many of us have marched with candles across cities, protesting, showing our anger, sharing grief and giving strength to each other. Media is full of campaigns on charter of terror and terror pledges and in their own way they are wanting to make a difference and wanting to keep the issue alive.
Today our politicians, bureaucrats, intelligence agencies all are waiting for us to get over our anger, our rage. They know in our bid to move on we will forget. We have done it in the past and there is nothing that makes them believe otherwise this time. Let’s prove them wrong. Let’s show them we are in no mood to forgive. They have to realize that with 26/11 our tolerance has been broken. We will not give up in a hurry and that we are willing to wait their inaction out. We need to tell them that we have been angry since 26/11 and plan to remains so for a long time.
I was told by someone 'give up your anger' for nothing will happen in our nation which has no political will to defend us and I will only hurt myself little each time that I am angry. Sorry my friend I am not listening. This time I want the hurt to continue, I want the fire to burn inside me and I want to continue being angry because I have had enough.
We Indians need to send a message not only to Pakistan and the whole world but also to our Government that enough is enough guys!
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