The Palestinian Card

You probably think the flotilla is about the Palestinian people....

Well, yes and no.


For much of the last six decades, the Palestinian 'cause' has really been a Palestinian 'card' used by regional powers in the region aspiring for pre-eminence in the Middle East. This is the First Law of Middle Eastern Geopolitics-if you want to be the leader of region, you must first show your support for the Palestinian cause by poking Israel in the eye. The Second Law is that once you have played the Palestinian card, you can move on to your real agenda.

Egypt-once the "leader of the Arabs" in the 1960s-fought two wars with Israel before settling for a peace deal in the 1970s. It now gets large sums of money in aid from the United States. Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran then pressed its claims for leadership of the region, and promptly used Syrian and Lebanese proxies to strike Israel. Iran's Sunni Arab neighbours didn't like the idea of a radical Shia regime grabbing the mantle of regional leadership and Saddam Hussein stepped up to challenge the Khomeini's Islamic Republic. He even lobbed several Scud missiles towards the Jewish state, in return for which he received Yasser Arafat's endorsement. Iraq lost the war. So did the Palestinians actually, who became suspect in the eyes of the Kuwaitis and other Gulf Arab states. With both Iran and Iraq under sanctions in the 1990s, the mantle of leadership of the Middle East fell upon the sophisticated shoulders of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis, unlike previous claimants to Middle Eastern leadership, didn't launch tanks, proxies or missiles at Israel. Instead they launched a roadmap. It went nowhere-although, as they say in diplomatese, it is still on the table. Meanwhile the Iranians got caught working on a nuclear weapons project. The worried Saudis let it be known that they might not be averse to Israeli jets flying over their airspace just in case, you know, the Israelis want to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. That's because Riyadh calculates that balancing the Iranians is more important than is midwifing a Palestinian state. Despite appearances and rhetoric, the interests of Saudi Arabia and Israel are aligned over preventing Iran from dominating the region.
Neither Egypt nor Iraq qualify for a place at the top of the Middle Eastern league today. Thanks to the US wars that weakened its two big neighbours, Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran is certainly a contender. So is Saudi Arabia. Last week, Turkey announced that it has joined the race, and, in accordance with the diktats of the First Law, played the Palestinian card. The flotilla was a strategic masterstroke-the moment it set sail, Turkey won and Israel lost. If it had been allowed to pass through, Turkey would be seen has having broken Israel's will. If the flotilla were stopped, Turkey would be the leader of an international chorus condemning Israel for blockading the Palestinians.

"Turkey," Samuel Huntington wrote in The Clash of Civilizations, "has the history, population, middle level of economic development, national coherence, and military tradition and competence to be the core state of Islam. In explicitly defining Turkey as a secular society, however, Ataturk prevented the Turkish republic from succeeding the Ottoman empire in that role." One of the most astute -- if controversial-political scientists of the 20th century, Huntington noted that "[at] some point, Turkey could be ready to give up its frustrating and humiliating role as a beggar for membership in the West and to resume its much more impressive and elevated historical role as the principal Islamic interlocutor and antagonist of the West. But to do so it would have to reject Ataturk's legacy..." This was in 1996, six years before Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (AKP) came to power.

The AKP government is indeed engaged in a battle to overturn Ataturk's legacy-secularism is out, Islamism-of the 'mild' variety, we are assured-is in. Military dominance is out, democracy is in. And in foreign policy, alignment with the West is out, neo-Ottomanism is in. Ahmet Davutoglu, political science professor, AKP's foreign policy strategist and the current foreign minister, believes that Turkey must project power across its traditional sphere of influence. Last year, when the Chinese government cracked down in Xinjiang in the face of unrest between the Uyghur minority and the Han majority, the strongest international condemnation came from Ankara. Turkey has also sought a role in stabilising Afghanistan-Pakistan, ending the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme and brokering a deal between Israel & Syria.

Yet it was only when Turkey floated the flotilla to Gaza that people took notice. The successor to the Ottoman empire had announced its arrival. Turkey's move towards becoming the dominant power in the Middle East is, however, by no means guaranteed. As my colleague V Anantha Nageswaran told me, Western speculators can exploit Turkey's vulnerable bond and currency markets and bring the country down some notches. There is a small chance that the military-secularist old guard could yet eject the AKP from power. In all likelihood though, Turkey will be an important-if not the most important-player in the Middle East.

The re-emergence of Turkey as a major power offers India the opportunity to balance its relationships with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel. This calls for India to reorient its relationship with Turkey, identify common interests-managing China's influence in Central Asia, for instance-and convert them into cooperative initiatives. That will also require Turkey to look beyond its relationship with Pakistan. In fact, this is the issue that will answer the big question: is Davutoglu's neo-Ottomanism merely pan-Islamism or is it about Turkey's national interests? If it is the former, then Turkey will allow its relationship with India to be constrained by its ties with Pakistan. Not so, if it is the latter.

What about the Palestinians, you ask? Well, it took the Economist all of 74 words to describe the contours of a solution. That solution, which will give the Palestinians their own state, requires both Israelis and the Palestinians to compromise. To be constructive, international intervention must push both sides towards compromise. Demonising one side emboldens the other to be more inflexible than it might otherwise be. Yet that is what the flotillas have done. Turkey got its glory, Israel is in the dock and the United States doesn't know what to do. The people of Gaza don't get anything more than schadenfreude.

Do you still think it's about the Palestinian people?






[P.S.: This article is written by Mr. Nitin Pai. Nitin Pai is founder & fellow for geopolitics at the Takshashila Institution and editor of "Pragati - The Indian National Interest Review", a publication on strategic affairs, public policy and governance.]

(Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/columnist/nitin_pai/3/the-palestinian-card)

Issue of Stone pelting

For last few days it has been a common scene in the news bulletins all over..whenever there is some news about Kashmir.... the visuals generally show the so called "angry protesters" (mostly youths who even don't know what they are doing) pelting stones on the security personnels (Police and Paramilitary) who in turn try to prevent the mob from doing any harm to government properties with baton and tear-gas shells !!

It is very clear that these stone-pelters are being paid for doing this from various "agencies" (many from across the border too) as was stated by the State chief minister and many news papers. Hence their demands (stone pelters)are nothing but they are just puppets in the hands of these separatists who in turn are getting orders from their foreign masters.These stone pelters are just interested in earning money and for some else it has been justified by their religion. And if in cross stone pelting some kashmiri youth dies then these separatists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others get a chance to malign the security personnels.


Such stupids who eat and live in India but serve their masters somewhere else should not be given any mercy..those who support such mad stone pelting and compare it with Intifada and Palestine like protest should be ready to receive an Israel like repercussion from the Indian military.

There is only one solution for these stupids.... BULLET.

Faceblockistan

Although I am late in writing this stuff because the ban has been lifted already.. but still i feel both the parties included i.e Facebook and Pakistan (Lahore High Court bench to be precise) were at fault in some or the other way.

Its no doubt that the Facebook management is the main culprit for raising this issue and hence the prime accused because nobody in the civilised society (be it any individual or any organization) has the right to defame or malign any religion.
If something is treated as pious or prohibited in a particular sect than there is no reason for anybody else (having different religious tilt) to play with it or try to malign it. Since it is prohibited by Islam to draw caricatures of Allah or Muhammad then why on earth the facebook team needed to have that competition "to draw the Muhammad day".

Islam's followers too should try to understand that just like something is prohibited in their religion similarly there are certain things which are prohibited in other's religion too. Hence people like M.F. Hussain should understand this while drawing the extremely outrageous pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

If a rule is applicable on one (i.e. Facebook), then it should be applicable on all(i.e. likes of M.F. Hussain too).

The wrongdoing of Lahore High Court was that instead of blocking those few pages they blocked the whole website. Not only Facebook, they went on to block some other websites too like Youtube.

One more thing which i don't understand is that why Saudi-Arabia and other Islamic countries (except: Bangladesh) didn't acted similarly towards Facebook. Is it that Pakistan wants to prove to the world that they are the true torch-bearers of Islam and nobody else..

Mahakumbh - 2010, Haridwar (India)

Ardha Kumbha and Maha Kumbha are the occasions when millions of people gather to take holy dip in the sacred waters. This is main reason for one to attend the Maha Kumbha and the Ardha Kumbha festival. It is believed that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or Ardh kumbh takes human out of the circle of life and death and one attains Moksha. Devotees, saints/sadhus turn up in great number from all over the world to take a dip in the holy waters of rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythological Saraswati at Parayag (Sangam). According to traditions these holy rivers offers purity, wealth, fertility and wash away the sins of all those who take bath.

Bathing Dates for Haridwar Maha Kumbh 2010

14 January 2010 - Makar Sankranti Snan - First Snan (bath)
15 January 2010 - Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) - Second Snan
20 January 2010 - Basant Panchmi Snan - Third snan
30 January 2010 - Magh Purnima Snan - Fourth Snan
12 February 2010 - Maha Shivratri - Pratham Shahi Snan - First Royal Bath
15 March 2010 - Somvati Amavasya - Dvitya Shahi Snan - Second Royal Bath
24 March 2010 - Ram Navmi - Fifth Snan
30 March 2010 - Chaitra Purnima Snan
14 April 2010 - Baisakhi - Pramukh Shahi Sanan - Main Royal Bath
28 April 2010 - Shakh Purnima - Snan


(*Source: www.kumbhamela.net)


Kumbha mela (or the Kumbha fair) is one of the largest fairs in the world.. though i've never attended any Kumbha myself..but i've heard that it is one of the best spiritual experiences, one can get..
individuals (mostly Hindus) of every part of the world congregate for taking a holy dip in the pious waters of River Ganges.

It takes place in either of the four places viz.
Haridwar (Uttaranchal), (Banks of River Ganga)
Allahabad (Prayag, Uttar-pradesh), (Banks of River Ganga)
Ujjain (Madhya-Pradesh) (Banks of River Shipra)
Nashik (Maharashtra) (Banks of River Godavari)

Taj Mahal: Was it a Vedic Temple?

The link:
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/was_the_taj_mahal_a_vedic_temple.htm

It could be true too as per the information given on the website..
but can't comment as of now !!

Hinduism - A Scientific Religion

Yep….Hinduism is the most scientific religion till date mankind has ever seen….

But before writing anything on such a vast topic, I would like to put a disclaimer stating that these are my views as well as understandings and perceptions for the great religion called “Hinduism” – the “Satya” and “Sanaatan” Dharma.

“Satya” and “Sanaatan” i.e. the true and divine because Hinduism is based on the four pillars of “Anant Gyan” i.e. Infinite Knowledge which are the four Vedas namely – Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.

But the scientific world which is mostly based on the western aspects of knowledge and which believes in the power of marketing the pre-existent theories in the name of new scientific inventions has blindfolded the world populace at large regarding the absolute truth.
But still I respect the present western learning and inventions because they have made the understanding very simple.

Just take for instance that we all are aware about the big-bang theory regarding the formation of universe but if you will go through the Hinduism’s “Samveda” or the “Naadbrahma”; you will come to know about the fact that the life came into existence with a great “Naad” or the sound. This sound is “OM”. Because we all are aware about the fact that whenever a big-bang occurs, the sound generated will always be that of “OM”.

According to Hindu beliefs “OM” is the sound of Lord Shiva or “Mahadeva” who is considered as unborn and ever existent…..who was there even before the formation of the whole universe and will remain even after its end.
The Almighty….the most powerful Shiva or Mahadeva because he is above all Deva’s i.e. gods and goddesses.

One more generalization can be developed at this time since we know that Lord Shiva is considered as god of destruction and virtual end….who is represented as the phallic structure in black for revering and worshipping. This black phallic structure of Mahadeva Shiva is the representation of Black Hole, the place of getting Nirvana and Moksha because we all human beings of the 21st century know that whatever matter enters into a black hole can’t ever come back…..similarly it is said in Hinduism that when your soul or the “Aatma” meets the “Paramatma” or the almighty….you attain divinity and go beyond the cycle of birth and death.

Again there is a misconception and misrepresentation that Hinduism believes in multitude of gods and goddesses; which is not true to its core. Basically Hinduism revolves around the science of – (G)eneration; (O)peration and (D)estruction i.e. GOD whereby each part is specifically described and hence to put a head to all the three actions, the trinity of god is perceived i.e.
Lord Brahma for Generation
Lord Vishnu for Operation, and
Lord Shiva for Destruction

Now since generation and destruction are basically constant and not changeable as compared to operations hence Lord Vishnu is worshipped in various forms who appeared & reincarnated from time to time as per the requirements of different era’s and hence the saying:

“yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati bharataha
abhiyuthhanam adharmasya tadatmanam shrijamiyaham”

“paritranaay saadhunaa, vinaashay cha dushkritaam
dharmasansthapnaarthaya, sambhavaami yugay yugay”

Which means that whenever and wherever there is destruction of dharma i.e. truth and love in this world….I will come on this world to remove the miseries
Also the second shloka says that whenever there is destruction of “saadhu” i.e. the truth seeker and the love and order setter; I will come to put an end to the death and destruction…..I will take birth for setting the dharma i.e. truth, love, compassion and order in every era….every epoch….every time…..

Thus it has been seen that the god himself or in the form of his messenger sends the messiah from time to time on earth for setting an example; either in the form of Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, Mahatma Buddha, Paigambar Muhammad, Jesus Christ or Guru Nanak Dev….

And that is why there is space for multitude of gods and goddesses because Hinduism is not rigid but flexible to incorporate everything.

Hence wherever there is Hindutva on this world there is space for revering and worshipping of god in any form…..either in the form of idol or stone’s or human formation or symbols or in non-idol form.

Thus Hinduism is the religion and culture of scientific approach, universal brotherhood, love, compassion, coexistence and above all respect for each other……