Ajay0

Just as in conflict-prone Baluchistan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir had also shown resentment towards pakistan for denying them political autonomy and rights over the regions resources. https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/making-sense-of-recent-mass-protests-in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir/ Even in Indian Kashmir indiscriminate shelling of border areas by Pakistani army in Kashmir have led to the deaths and injuries of many kashmiri muslims and consequently there is not much sympathy for Pakistan amongst them. An Indian Kashmiri muslim was among the 26 killed in Pahalgam, when he tried to stop the killing of the tourists. A major reason for east pakistan/bangladesh rebelling and gaining independence from pakistan was mainly due to poor and unfair administrative policies that prioritized west pakistan over east pakistan, and the unequal distribution of resources and political power. Without a fair and impartial administration one is bound to forment grievances and disloyalty. The Mohajirs, a collective name for the Indian muslim immigrants to Pakistan, have been similarly treated as second class citizens and have complained of political marginalization, persecution and discrimination. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Persecution_of_Muhajirs Sunni-shia riots in Pakistan is commonplace and has resulted in a large amount of deaths and bloodshed, but these are rarities in India and mainly unheard of . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectarian_violence_in_Pakistan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Shi'ism Similarly the Ahmediyas are a sect of Islam based in Pakistan and are known for their renunciation of violent jihad and focus on scholarship and learning instead. The only Nobel prize laureate from Pakistan and the Islamic world in physics is Dr.Abdus Salam who is a member of the Ahmediya community. However the Ahmediyas have been subjected to heavy discrimination by the sunni majority, and Dr. Abdus Salam was even discriminated against in Pakistan during his life-time for superficial prejudices. When Salam visited India, he was treated with due respect and honor by the Indian establishment considering his scholarship and Nobel Laureateship prompting him to say that he was prouder to say that he was Indian rather than Pakistani. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Ahmadis Similarly sufi shrines in India are visited by both muslims and hindus for blessings, and sufi music and dance are usually portrayed in Indian movies due to their aesthetic nature. In pakistan on the other, attacks on sufis are also commonplace by Islamic extremists resulting in considerable bloodshed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Sufis#:~:text=injured in attacks.-,Pakistan,majority nations%2C such as Pakistan.

To contrast the Pakistani killing of unarmed civilians, India has prioritised the attacking of terrorist infrastructure as well as Pakistan military assets in Pakistan and did not attack Pakistani civilians or civilian institutions. Obviously we don't want to create fodder for Pakistani propaganda mechanisms ourselves. The large number of terrorist attacks the US and Europe have faced is mainly because of this same lack of prioritization. The Anglo-American invasion of Iraq with its shock and awe strategy, obviously means there were heavy civilian casualities involved. The US even took out an Iranian civilian airliner with surface to air missiles from an American cruiser, killing over 290 Iranian civilians, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655 This is unprofessionalism and incompetence at its peak. India, in addition to its 2.6 million strong army, also have a 2.5 million strong paramilitary force to take care of any insurgencies. This along with good and fair administration, along with eradication of Jihadi madrasas and radicalising mechanisms with their replacement by schools and universities, mean that the same conditioning mechanisms present in pakistan or elsewhere is not present in India to a large extent. There are however instances where Indian muslims had been radicalized abroad and had participated in jihadi attacks against western targets such as the 2007 Glasgow Airport attack. These are but rare instances and the majority of terrorists attacking western targets have come from Pakistan. Former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam was also a highly skilled technocrat who played a major role in the development of Indian missile and space rocket system. The indian muslim population is around 14 % of the indian population and due to lack of radicalizing agencies in India, and tend to be coherent and well established in business and professional occupations. At one time, a muslim businessman and billionaire named Azim Premji was the richest man in India.

Pakistan has admitted of providing nuclear weapons technology to north korea. North Korea has developed nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles targeting American bases in eastern asia. It has now unveiled its first nuclear submarine, possibly with chinese help, capable of targeting american cities and military bases in north america. Both Pakistan and North Korea have good relationships with Iran meaning that Iran will probably be gaining such capabilities in the future. India however has a good track record of non-proliferation of technologies related to weapons of mass destruction.

Pakistan has good propaganda and conditioning mechanisms, and this is a reason why the Pakistani military establishment is well set in Pakistan inspite of six defeats against India. The british and american press has taken up pakistani claims of downing rafales, because they are sore that India did not buy the euro-fighter and F-21's offered to India, and will obviously take a chance to disparage the rafale. It is just politics as usual. Losing a rafale is not a major thing for India if the loss comes after attainment of strategic objectives. The Indian economy is the fastest growing economy on earth for years, and can easily replace any downed jets. This is not the case with pakistan which has a very weak economy at the moment surviving on aid and loans for a very long time.

Pakistan uses mainly Chinese equipment, around 80 % , but it had still suffered a heavy defeat against India. Some Pakistani-chinese missiles like the famed Pl-15 landed in India intact without exploding and was recovered intact by the Indian military and research scientists. So chinese support did not make much impact on the war. Due to participation in BRICS, momentum of ancient civilizational ties, and Chinese interest in the Indian market which is the largest in the world , diplomatic relations have improved between India and China. Also China is wary of the increasing hostility of US and Europe, due to a highly possible military confrontation over Taiwan and ally North Korea, and does not want to be on the wrong side with India as well and a war front over there.

India has comfortably cruised to its sixth consecutive victory over Pakistan. Cruise missile atacks on 11 Pakistani air bases destroyed much of their infrastructure and aviation assets leaving them operationally non-functional. Pakistani air defences and radars and an AWACS had also been taken out which meant that it had no defence against Indian jet attacks. It was at this point that Pakistan ended its retaliatory posturing and immediately called up the US and Saudi Arabia to persuade India to a cease-fire. India, having attained its strategic objectives, agreed to the cease-fire. Since Pakistan is noted for its military coups transplanting its democratic governments with military dictatorships, this new heavy defeat will greatly reduce the prestige and influence of the Pakistani military, ensuring no military coups and military dictatorships for the time being.

But why didn't the French extend their revolutionariy principles of 'Liberty, equality and fraternity' to the black people, emancipating them after the revolution. This would have meant that Haiti would have continued to be an overseas French territory, and goodwill created would mean that the war and massacres would not have happened.

Interesting indeed. He sounds a lot like Putin. If I may ask, did the white French treat the blacks as their equals and treated black women and children with dignity and respect they deserve, as opposed to the black supremacists .

An interesting part of all this is that the Americans, for all their talk of freedom and democracy, hypocritically engaged in a policy of diplomatic isolation of neighboring Haiti, as there were fears that the successful Haitian independence movement might bring about a similar independence movement among the black slaves in the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/External_debt_of_Haiti

Haiti successfully gained independence from French colonial rule and exploitation in 1804. What wrecked Haiti was the huge debts the French demanded from them later on in return for diplomatic recognition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_independence_debt Obviously this meant that will be no investment in infrastructure related to government institutions necessary for a stable society and progress.

The west should focus on reversing its NATO expansion into the very borders of Russia ignoring the promises made to Gorbachev, and thereby inciting war and conflict in uKraine, and also creating the potential for a nuclear war and holocaust that can wipe out the Americans, Russians and Europeans from existence any moment. India relishes its strategic autonomy and is a member of the non-aligned movement, created to ensure a buffer space during the cold war to prevent the belligerents from all-out nuclear attack. India however, has a right and obligation to protect its citizens and foreign tourists from terrorist attacks and is duty-bound to eliminate the perpetrators to ensure justice.

This is not a proper generalization of all Indians or Israelis for that matter. India had a large Jewish population for milleniums and many of them are brown and keep their connections with India intact. The white Jews probably may be influenced by the colonial attitudes of european countries that had colonised asian, african and south american nations and maybe seeking to imitate it. This will obviously will not pay dividends. One of the reasons why a large number of African nations have supported Russia in the ukraine war is because of the resentment they had against western invasions and exploition of Africa as well as colonial racist attitudes. The western labelling of Nelson Mandela as a terrorist till 2008 is a notable example. Perhaps by substantially increasing aid to African nations and investing in education, healthcare and infrastructure and related issues over there, the west can turn around vital African diplomatic support to itself.

Sister Aruna Ladva of Brahmakumaris expounds on the Greek terms Akrasia and Enkrateia for better goal-setting and accomplishment. https://www.itstimetomeditate.org/akrasia/

Vernon Howard on harmful habits... https://archive.mail-list.com/secretsoflife/message/20250409.090000.825ef4e8.en.html

A short but insightful article by Vernon Howard on spiritual exercise....

A yazidi woman who survived abuse from ISIS and rescued from Gaza, arrived at Germany on on Tuesday, February 18. https://www.voanews.com/a/yazidi-woman-enslaved-by-islamic-state-relocates-to-germany-months-after-rescue/7979829.html The UN, European parliament, Swiss and German parliaments have recognized the ISIS crimes against the Yazidis as genocide. https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/12/swiss-parliament-recognizes-isis-crimes-against-yazidis-as-genocide/

There is more to life than increasing its speed. ~ Mahatma Gandhi A mind that is fast is sick. A mind that is slow is sound. A mind that is still is divine.” ~ Meher Baba “All negative thoughts – anger, fear, passion,compulsive craving -- tend to be fast. If we could see the mind when it is caught in such thoughts, we would really see it racing. But positive thoughts like love, patience, tenderness, compassion, and understanding are slow - not turbulent, rushing brooks of thinking, so to speak but broad rivers that are calm, clear, and deep.” ~ Eknath Easwaran When we go slower, we are more patient and when we are more patient we have a choice in how we respond. ~ Eknath Easwaran An unhurried mind brings the capacity to make wise choices every day - choices of how we use our time, of where we place our resources and our love. I am not just talking about avoiding the rat race, but about a life full of an artistic beauty - a life that has almost vanished from modern civilization, but is quite within the reach of everyone. ~ Eknath Easwaran “As meditation deepens, compulsions, cravings, and fits of emotions begin to lose their power to dictate our behavior. We see clearly that choices are possible: we can say yes, or we can say no.― Eknath Easwaran

Mod is an excellent administrator but to call him spiritually advanced or enlightened is hyperbole. Under him, India has become the fastest growing major economy in the world, the fourth largest economy and the fourth strongest military power on earth. However , he lacks the statemanship , diplomatic skils and oratory of former prime minister Nehru who were the co-founders of NAM and had attemted to position NAM as a buffer zone between the western and Soviet bloc, so as to prevent the likelihood of a nuclear war that could wipe out both sides in mutually assured destruction. Nehru could have mediated successfully the current crisis of Russia-Ukraine war and ensured that Russia and NATO would be bound to pledges and treaties of non-aggression and non-expansion respectively.

Insightful article on Buddhist perspective on nihilism.. https://buddhaweekly.com/buddhism-has-nothing-to-do-with-nihilism-and-everything-to-do-with-experiencing-why-emptiness-and-nothingness-are-poor-translations-of-shunyata/

Ethical conduct in the form of right speech, right livelihood and right effort are considered to be vital practices leading to enlightenment in Buddhism or Buddhahood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path https://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/about-buddhism/buddha-s-basic-message/a-full-buddhist-life-the-eightfold-path/the-three-trainings Ethical conduct is also emphasized in the religious philosophies of Hinduism, Jainism and Sufism for attaining enlightenment. This itself is a refutation of the nihilist and existentialist premise that life is meaningless and all values and virtues are but abstract mental contrivances without any relevance of their own.

This happened in later times when the caste system became regimented and rigid. Drone was partial to his disciple Arjuna and did not want a superior warrior Eklavya in comparison. And yes, Drona was a teacher of martial arts, and is not considered a sage or saint for that matter. He ended up fighting against Krishna and Arjuna in the Mahabharatha war later on. Guru Ravi Das who lived in the sixteenth century was an enlightened sage who belonged to the lower castes and had a spiritual guru in Ramananda who belonged to the Brahmin caste. Ravi das himself had disciples belonging to the upper castes like Mirabai.

Not so. Caste system in India is a feudal system similar to that in Europe, Japan and Korea. (Even now, European aristocrats tend to keep themselves distinct from the commoners and marry among themselves as a rule.) The caste system has no sanction in the Vedas, the original Hindu scriptures which preaches the equality and fraternity of all human beings. Majority of the Vedic sages came from the lower economic groups . The Vedic sage, Satyakama Jabala, who composed portions of the Vedas, was the illegitimate son of a prostitute. He was taken as a disciple by his Guru on account of his character and honesty which the Guru perceived as signs of merit even though he was of illegitimate lineage. The caste system came up later on as a social system in order to preserve, consolidate and develop knowledge systems of each profession. Universities were not wide-spread in ancient times, and it was easier for the father to teach his sons and nephews the technical details of his profession. This enabled a certain specialisation of disciplines. For example, mathematics as in the numeral system, zero and basic mathematics used around the world commonly were developed in India. I am not an advocate of the caste system as it is obviously obsolete in today's world, but it had its relevance in ancient times as a practical system. In todays world however, you can choose any profession, and the best universities in the world teaching that course by virtue of enhanced transportation and logistics.

Ukraine is neither a member of G7 or G20 , and Zhelensky has objected to being ignored in recent G20 summits. However, it can be a member of BRICS and use the opportunity to improve diplomatic relations with Russia to the point of peace and friendship, and also better relatons with the Global South and improve its economy in the process.

The Brazilian government announced that the next BRICS summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025. https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2025/01/03/brazil-takes-over-the-brics-presidency-and-will-host-the-bloc-s-summit-in-rio/ In 2024, the BRICS countries overtook the G7 countries in terms of GDP share and now accounts for over 46 % of the world population.

The scientists of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, India have discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn size with a mass of 78.5 Earth masses and a radius of 6.41 Earth radii in a wide binary system. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indian-researchers-discover-new-exoplanet-toi-6038a-b-heres-all-about-it/articleshow/118295180.cms?from=mdr