#225

As a neutral observer from so far away, who has no real stake in the Supreme Court nomination in the United States, I'd rather believe in the testimony of Ms. Christine Blasey Ford than the angry defense of Judge Kavanaugh. I think no self-respecting woman would come out with such a serious accusation of sexual assault and subject herself to a circus-like atmosphere of the Senate hearings on Capitol Hill unless she has a compelling reason to do so. What really struck me was not what Brett Kavanaugh said in his defense, but how he singled out some Democrats for trying to sabotage his nomination. For all practical purposes, he's as good as laid his cards on the table as to which side his bread is buttered. This is no ordinary nomination. Brett Kavanaugh is in his fifties, and since there is no retirement age for the Justices in the U.S. Supreme Court, his nomination would decisively shift the balance of power to the right for generations in the highest court of the land. Very unwelcome prospects indeed.

#224

It is important to keep visiting the classics from time to time, and ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' is one of the most enduring classics in more than 150 years.  Published in 1852, the novel was instrumental in raising an outcry against the inhumanity of slavery practiced in the Midwest and the deep south of the United States.  In fact, when the civil war finally broke out in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln went to meet the author, the diminutive Ms. Harriet Beecher Stowe, and gently said to her, 'so, here is the lady who started the fire!'

#223

The prime minister doesn't speak to the people of this country, he lectures like an insufferable school teacher, mostly giving sermons about useless things.  He is always silent on substantive issues affecting the public discourse in India.  There is not a shadow of a doubt that a grave impropriety has been committed in the Rafael fighter aircraft deal between the governments of India and France.  Why have an otherwise so voluble Mr. Modi on ''Mann Ki Baat'' maintained a studied and embarrassing silence on this?  What is stopping him from coming out in the open and deny that there is anything suspicious about the purchase of the aircraft?  Why can't he plainly say in public that no pressure was brought to bear upon the French government to give the offset contract to his friend Mr. Anil Ambani who incorporated his firm just 12 days prior to the signing of the agreement between the two governments?  If you don't have anything to hide, then you should bring everything in the open.  This is surely raising an almighty stink.  Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

#222

Former French president Francois Hollande has no reason to be economical with the truth.  He's got no ax to grind with the Indian government, nor does he need to curry any favors with them.  I would be willing to believe him far more than these liars like Mr. Jaitly and Ms. Sitharaman.  It's a clear case of crony capitalism, where a major defense offset contract was awarded to a bankrupt company with zero experience in manufacturing of defense hardware.  All this because the owner of the company happens to be a close buddy of PM Modi.  The defense minister needs to resign, and the prime minister must answer questions.  He cannot stand aloof and apart like an Olympian god.

#221

The five judges of the Supreme Court of India, by delivering such a historic verdict yesterday decriminalizing homosexuality in the country, have not only struck a massive blow in favor of the basic constitutional and human rights of the sexual minorities in India but have also enhanced the prestige of the nation in the whole world.  I especially take my hat's off to the only woman justice on the bench Justice Indu Malhotra, who said that history owes an apology to all the people, who over many many years have been brutalized, ostracized, humiliated, and casually discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.
   What is truly a sad aspect of all this is that it took the highest judiciary to nullify the section 377 of the Indian Penal Code; which has become an instrument of Victorian morality to harass and persecute the members of the LGBT community.  If only our political leadership had taken the initiative in repealing this obnoxious law in parliament, now that would have been a real progress.  But even as their Lordships were enunciating such a remarkable and far-reaching judgment, barring a few honorable exceptions, there was an uncomfortable radio silence from our elected representatives.
     I did not expect the BJP government to come out in support of the striking down section 377, but it's no small mercy that they did not actively oppose it because, in this country, the heavy hand of the state is present in virtually every sphere of a citizen's life.  This is a significant milestone in terms of equality and human rights.  Every battle is important.  Every victory, big or small, matters.  The next goal should be the right to have a civil union between the same-sex couple.  If that were to come to pass some day, then our brothers and sisters belonging to the LGBT community will have been fully integrated into the social fabric of our nation.