On Bastards and Old Witches

Recently de-classified US State Department documents show Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger using foul language while discussing India and Indira Gandhi on the eve of the Bangladesh war.

Statements include a reference to Indira as "that old witch", and to Indians as "they are all bastards anyway". The Indian Express editorial puts it in context.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A historical perspective of India

Excerpts from what promises to be a brilliant book by Ramachandran Guha. The great 19th-century poet Ghalib thought that God was indeed on the side of India. All around him there was conflict and privation, but doomsday had not yet come. "Why does not the Last Trumpet sound?", asked Ghalib of a sage in the holy city of Benares. "Who holds the reins of the Final Catastrophe?" he continued. This was the answer he got: The hoary old man of lucent ken Pointed towards Kashi and gently smiled. 'The Architect,' he said, 'is fond of this edifice Because of which there is colour in life; He Would not like it to perish and fall.'
Read more

Act of Courage

Advani's comments about Jinnah have raised a firestorm, with both the extremist right (VHP) and the center left (Congress) condemning it. However, this presents a historic opportunity for the liberal elements of Indian intelligencia. On alternative (unfortunately the likely alternative), is that the liberals will gloat about the hawk becomming a dove, call it a false facade that Advani has put up to 'soften' his image, and generally discredit and skirt the entire issue that Advani has brought up. This of course will hand the BJP on the platter to the VHP types and in the long run, cause incalculable damage to Indian polity. Another alternative is for the left to stand by him and use the debate as a weapon for peace and reconciliation with Pakistan. We shall watch closely to see which way the left leans. Indian Express has already made the right sounds in its editorial .
Read more