Could India face a sectarian civil war? sundayguardianlive.com/opini…

📢'I have a simple proposition in this essay. India’s toughest decade since the one that preceded its independence from colonial rule in 1947 is upon us. There is a very simple way to understand this. If this decade goes well, India will hit approximately $10 trillion (US dollars) in GDP and increase per capita income to $5-6,000. It will do this while expanding one of the largest militaries in the world with both nuclear weapons (a fully functional and growing triad), ability to conduct space warfare (anti-satellite capability) and with elite weaponry like supersonic and hypersonic missiles. Once this point is reached, India will become a near peer competitor of China and attain the ambition and goal of becoming a near peer competitor of the United States. No matter how many times it asserts and demonstrates its peaceful rise, at these levels of economic and military development, this would lead to the biggest reworking of the world order since at least the late 18th century. This gets more interesting in PPP (purchasing power parity terms)—by approximately 2040, give or take a couple of years, India and China together will clearly outweigh the US and Europe combined in purchasing-power terms. In market-dollar terms, India alone will be approaching the size of the eurozone’s core economies, though the West’s dollar lead will persist well beyond 2040.' LINK - sundayguardianlive.com/edito…

Saute garlic & oregano (or mixed herbs), toss in boiled potato wedges, add salt as per taste. Optional: chilli flakes & chopped jalapenos. Super quick, super easy, super yummy.

Sharing my opinion piece on the QUAD in @SundayGuardian today 🇮🇳 🇺🇸 🇦🇺 🇯🇵 @SandeepUnnithan @chakranewz @eeta @adgpi @MEAIndia sundayguardianlive.com/edito…

sundayguardianlive.com/news/… The US has its own domestic requirements and reasons for wanting the deal concluded. India does not have the same compulsion to sign an agreement simply because Washington wants it done quickly.

My opinion ‘BJP Must Reinvent Itself’ in the @SundayGuardian

Just to set the records straight… For all non-Bengalis who confuse Durga Puja (of Bengal) with Navaratri (outside Bengal), there's a simple big difference in the way it's celebrated. While Navaratri could be religious (as people claim it to be), Durga Puja is a cultural festival. There's a remarkable difference between religion and culture. Why is Durga Puja not religious, but cultural? Here's a Bongs take! 1. For most Bengalis, they have nothing to do with devotion, and everything to do with celebration. Religion (as it has become) is an organized way to deal with devotees, and the Bengalis are far far away from any sort of blind beliefs. 2. God/Goddess is an image that's alienated from family of our own lives and seen as an authority. To Bengalis, Durga is just a part of our family. She could be termed as the Goddess, but never seen with a God-like image. There's way more love than devotion. It's a very human connection. She's the daughter of the house who's come for Autumn break to her parents house with kids and friends 3. While people outside Bengal may fast as much as they like, Bengalis will continue to feast on Mutton Biriyanis and all sorts of delicious non-veg food (even at Puja premises where organizers often arrange for meals). Had there been any religious angle, things might not have been so simple. 4. Durga Puja as a festival is deeply connected to arts, crafts, music, theater, films ... everything! It's an all-round celebration. Only a very tiny percentage of people would bother to offer prayers. For the rest of us, Durga and the spirit of Durga puja is all in our heart. Even if we offer 'Anjali' (a prayer), our eyeballs hover all over the surrounding beauties in laal-paar-sada-sarees (a beautiful dress that ladies prefer to wear). 5. Durga puja is all-inclusive. Many Muslims in Bengal celebrate it too. Even there are religious Muslims who are the Presidents and Secretaries of Puja committees. No 'religious' festival could ever break these barriers! 6. There are hundreds of government and private awards given for 'Best Puja'. Not a single parameter in judgement relates to the devotion aspect of it. The Best Puja judgement takes into consideration the artistic finesse of the idol-making, the decorations around it, the lights, the sound, the safety measures, the theme, the concept, the social relevance of the theme, etc. It never considers how devotedly people offer prayers. So, devotion doesn't even come in our way of celebrating Durga Puja. For those who have never witnessed Durga puja in Kolkata but have a lot to comment on it, please do make a visit. Your idea of a festival will change. Our country had no religion, but we thrived on our culture. It's time we pack religions into the sacks and throw them back to the western world (from where it has come) and fall back on our all-inclusive cultural ways of celebrating life once again. Originally penned by Niilanjanaa Daschakraaborty

Regime change operation will not succeed in India: Savio Rodrigues youtu.be/kVLBR3VxJaA?si=7euF… via @YouTube

I need a break.