Do it yourself

Thought for the day “If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost.” -           Aristotle (Greek, 384-322BC) Word for the day Knave (n) An unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest person. (Source: Dictionary.com) Teaser for the day The JP began his “total revolution” from Bihar. As things appear today, his disciples in Bihar will only end it . Utopia: The political problem “For indeed any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at war with one another; and in either there are many smaller divisions, and you would be altogether beside the mark if you treated them all as a single State.” (Book IV, The Republic, Plato) At country level the regional socio-economic disparities and cultural differences are wel...

  Thought for the day “Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” -           George Bernard Shaw (Irish, 1856-1950) Word for the day Columbine (adj) dovelike; dove-colored (Source: Dictionary.com) Teaser for the day 2014 elections are all about poison and blood. Would elections mark the end of it or just the beginning. Utopia: State of the union This is to initiate a larger debate on the desirable social, political and economic order for the country. The author had been accumulating some thoughts on this for past couple of years. We are presenting these thoughts in an open source like series from which you may pick whatever you like, debate it, improve it and introduce back in the stream. It is important to clarify that we do not claim any proprietary rights over these thoughts. The author claims to have liberally...

Mandate 2014: Decisively transformative The goal post for 2014 elections has shifted much further and higher both in terms of quality (agenda) and quantity (vote share & seats). In summer of 2013 Rs100cr (one billion) in box office collection was indisputable benchmark for a Bollywood blockbuster. A few months later, Salman Khan starrer “Jai Ho!” earning little over Rs100cr is a major disappointment. What has changed? Amir Khan starrer “Dhoom-3” has shifted the goal post dramatically higher to Rs500cr. Remember, this is same Amir Khan who had earlier set the Rs100cr benchmark with 3-Idiots and Ghajini. A somewhat similar script is being played out on Indian political stage. The goal post for 2014 elections has shifted much further and higher both in terms of quality (agenda) and quantity (vote share & seats). This election in our view is going to be definitely transformative. What has changed? 2014 elections are most important since 1977. ...