Dev Anand dies at age 88

Dev Anand died at age 88 on December 3 in London (December 4 India time).

Source: cinemachaat.wordpress.com via Julie on Pinterest

I had to include this because my husband had a crush on Tanuja.

Sad day for the music world

Jagjit Singh dies at age 70




Thanks to my brother-in-law for locating this video.

Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power

Namaste, 

I discovered the book Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power by Robert D. Kaplan through updates from the Asia Society.  Its premise is that the locus of power will shift from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to the Indian Ocean.  America will have to share power in the Indian Ocean.  Monsoon also regards China's maritime ambitions as benign, which is nonsense.

These opinions are actually superfluous to the book itself, which focuses on the author's travels to countries in the Indian Ocean region.  While I read the book from cover to cover, I have to say that I was turned off after Chapter 6, The Troubled Rise of Gujarat.  The author describes the Muslims who burned Hindu pilgrims alive at Godhra as "victims of taunts."  Who, then, were the Hindus pilgrims, many of whom were women and children, if not victims?   It reminded me of the reporting of Rajiv Chandrasekharan (now National Editor of the Washington Post), which was tantamount to blaming the victims.

Kaplan also ponders, is Narendra Modi a fascist?  Kaplan ultimately comes down on the side that Modi is not a fascist, but calls him the "most dangerous politician in India."  He also says that Modi suffered setbacks when the BJP did poorly in polls.  This is not true.  Modi continues to be popular, and those who live outside Gujarat see the good governance that he has provided to Gujarat and would like for him to become PM.

I would like to point out that Breaking India reported on a seminar hosted by Asia Society on, Is India Becoming a Fascist State?   No wonder Asia Society promoted Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power.

Jana Gana Mana

Namaste,

Yet another overwrought version of Jana Gana Mana, featuring well-known singers and instrumentalists. The extreme close-ups are annoying.  Still I choke up. It is like a prayer.

The Silent Indian National Anthem

Namaste,

You've seen the video of A.R. Rahman's overwrought production of Jana Gana Mana and the video of the little child's word-perfect rendition of Jana Gana Mana. Now watch as hearing-impaired children sign Jana Gana Mana. I choked up.   

Happy Republic Day.