If Bush is around can the Verbal Terrorist be far behind? The hallmark of Roy’s polemic is no longer a secret: the pent-up fury finds full steam in this article. And as she says,
It’s not in our power to stop Bush’s visit. It is in our power to protest it, and we will.
I’m [...]

The excellent Primary Red points to a scholarly paper (highly recommended reading) dealing with the Pakistani army’s duplicity and observes:
By conjuring up images of an Islamist takeover of their nuclear prowess, Pakistani Generals have long fooled the world and smothered democracy at home. It’s time their bluff is called.
Actually, there’s very little difference between the [...]

For a backgrounder, please read my introductory post on Mahayana Buddhism.
Introduction
Shunyavadins were also called Madhyamikas meaning they identified themselves with the Middle Path realized by Buddha during his Nirvana. The Middle Path is named so not only because it avoids the extreme poles of existence–non-existence, affirmation–negation, eternalism–nihilism but chiefly because it transcends all these. [...]

Jessica Lal murdered, none found guilty.
The whole country–at least the cities–has risen in uproar ever since the honourable Manu Sharma was freed in the Jessica Lall case. There’s absolutely no cause for such uproar, people should grow up and accept reality.

From a columnist I’ve long admired: Sandhya Jain. Here’s the article, reproduced in full because the Pioneer link is… I don’t have to repeat it.
Communal catechism
Sandhya Jain
An unmistakable aspect of the controversy over the Danish cartoons caricaturing Prophet Mohammad is that the Christian West has been quick to give it a strong political and economic [...]

Rewards are announced for terrorist activities.
The Minister for Minority Welfare and Haj in the Mulayam Singh Yadav government, Haji Yaqoob Qureishi, has announced a cash reward of Rs 51 crore for anyone who beheads the Danish cartoonist who caricatured Prophet Mohammad.
All World Hail and Herald the Desi Khoemini, Mr.Haji Yaqoob Qureishi! And it is [...]

Preface
Whatever I’ve read on Shunyavada was several years ago and done in a semi-interested spirit. Add to it my phenomenal memory; all hazy, and muddled. Until recently when I felt compelled to turn the pages again, seriously this time.
I can’t exactly recall what compelled me but I think it’s mostly related to some blog (?) [...]

Debate on the Indo-US nuclear issue is slowly picking up if this Pioneer article is any indicator. Kanchan Gupta makes a marked departure from the grovelling likes of Rajaraman and Raja Mohan, specimens I had ranted about earlier.

Watched it at last. Only to regret.
Rang De Basanti must be the most slanted political movie ever to be made. I won’t bother about narrating the plot or dissecting the fine nuances and such other artistic rubbish. Rather, I’ll start with the reviews.

Like several prominent bloggers, this blog shares the perspective that the Indo-US Nuclear deal is hardly if ever debated. The fact that none of the movers and shakers of India have thought it fit to bring this to public attention gives credence to the gnawing feeling that bugs me: that the issue has been deliberately [...]