Modern History of India and its relevance in current context

Today's talk

Hello friends, the topic for today is Modern History of India and its relevance to current contest.

I would like to continue on the theme that Falguni had started in the earlier talk regarding how the situation of India is not as despairing and the future gloom and doom as perceived by the public and the media and I believe we are slowly but surely on the path to economic and social success.

If we look into our history, there has always been social/economic advancements in every instances of public unrest, protest or uprising and has altered the path of the country for the better.

Starting with the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or which is also known as First War of Independence, the changes were dramatic in the sense that the British East India Company was dissolved and the ruling powers went to the British crown. The new reform movement included integrating people of ruling class into governance, abolishing attempts to westernization, stopping land grabs and religious tolerance. It sowed the seeds of unity among caste, religion and culture. It also led to social and economic reformation.

Emergency in India (June 1975- March 77), (21 months)
It was one of the darkest hours of Independent India in which elections and civil liberties were suspended. Raj Narain who was contesting against Indira Gandhi lodged cases of Election fraud in Allahabad High Court. The court declared her election null and barred her from contesting for the next 6 years. Strikes by labor unions, trade unions, student unions and govt. unions spread across the country. Protests were led by leaders who later on went on to play leading roles in politics. JP Singh, Moraji Desai, Charan Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K Advani. 42nd amendment was passed which stated that though Constitution was amiable to amendments, tinkering with its basic structure can not be made by the parliament.
Moraji Desai became the first non-Congress prime minister of India. Charan Singh, Moraji Desai, AB Vajpayee went on to become PMs of the country.

Present Scenario
We are in a political situation in which there is growing resentment against the ruling elite. There are different ways to change govt. but public feels that the opposition is no better. So the void is filled up by new comers. All over the world, citizens are demanding improved governance and are overthrowing dictators by protesting taking to the streets.
We have a political system in which the best and the brightest shy away form politics and the void is filled up by people with ulterior motives and are often incompetent. There is no proper way to representation for young men to join politics. This is changing greatly. More students are getting involved and that is the reason I believe the current protest is good in the long run.

I am singing like this now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUMwu_gXK7Q&feature=player_detailpage

Rajesh and his travels

So this one guy was different than all the others in his class. He had a strange passion. He liked to travel. Just anywhere. It did not matter if it was a place he had visited twenty times before. If anybody asked him to go to any place anytime, you can be sure he was willing to give company, be it 1'o clock in the dead of the night.

Rajesh had just started eating his tiffin in the evening when he got a call from a friend asking him if he was willing to travel 350 kms to his village to attend to a medical emergency. Abhi's grand father was in his last breath and his family had called for his presence at the time of his departure. Rajesh was ready in no time and was waiting alone outside his hostel as Abhi arrived in his trusty old Hero Honda. So our guy got behind Abhi and began to speed away towards the destination. He glanced at his watch. It was touching 9 in the night. Anyway, the mood was gloomy and the wind chill. He tried to cheer up Abhi saying this was the way of life and everybody has to go one day. So, they better think of the future and at least make up their mind and plan to give a decent farewell to the man who had done so much for his community and was the binding force in his family.

A few hours had went by and the calls became frequent to Abhi's phone. As Abhi was driving, Rajesh attended the calls on his behalf as they kept on riding. The voices were trembling as they asked for their current location and pleaded to hurry up. Slowly the calls too faded. Rajesh began to fear for the worst but kept his thoughts to himself as he did not know how to handle Abhi in case he broke down in the middle of the road in the dead of the night. They had passed the highway and were on the rural roads without streetlights and without a creature in sight. The foliage began to get denser and the mood heavier. No matter how much they worry, there was nothing they could do. Leaving the outcome to god, they began to talk of other things. The only noise they heard were of insects and an occasional bark of a dog.They must be travelling at 80 km/h and the only light was from the head light of the motorbike. It was then that they saw her.

As they exited the corner, there she was, in the middle of the road. Carring a lantern with one hand and straight facing them. She made no effort to move out of the way. Rajesh had involuntarily gripped the shoulders of Abhi and could feel Abhi's muscles tighten as he pulled the brakes. As they darted towards the girl, Rajesh had shut his eyes and prepared for the fall.

What happened was totally unexpected. His friends had pranked him. Rajesh was missing out in his studies due to his useless trips and did not listen to his friends or family, no-matter how much they tried to persuade him to travel less. They decided to teach him a lesson. He could hear familiar shouts and opened his eyes to see prankster Sanjay get out of the dress he had wrapped around himself. After this, it took less persuation and Rajesh promised to stop wasting time doing pointless trips. Everybody spent the next day in the nearby popular picnic spot and returned talking about the experience.

Wedding video

Amazing skating in india

Jack Sparrow (feat. Michael Bolton)

Just came across this gem. Takes entertainment to the next level. Check out other videos of the user. Hilarious.

Want to get undivided attention ??

You don't want to get this kind of attention. This is creepy. -