Vladimir Putin is the Tallest Leader Around * 61

It was treat to see at last a world leader taking the centre stage of attention at UN General Assembly session. Though small sized yet athletic he definitely came out a giant among all. Rational, logical and fascinatingly simple in demeanour Putin had his way on all issues that he tackled during his speech and interviews especially those for American public by Charlie Rose the intrepid American journalist. Putin was cool, straightforward mincing no words about who is responsible for the Syrian catastrophe, its genesis and purpose of ISIS as we know an entirely American enterprise engaged in toppling a legitimate regime and creating refugee floods . His nutshell view of  growing friction in global environment is the  American obsession for hegemony backed by projection of power conditioned only to consolidate a uni-polar  world;  an absurdity thus root cause of international crises.  

All this with  back ground of heavy Russian air strikes ( SU 34, 35 dramatic action videos on internet ; an interesting aircraft documentary about Russian air force military aircraft that some believe are the worst nightmare of the us air force- why are we falling for Euro rubbish called Rafael when Russians are our tested partners ! ) against ISIS in Syria following a one hour notice to Americans to vacate Syrian air space  which  Americans did coolly then  deployed search and rescue teams on ground!  Apparently to pick up their battered ‘moderate’ militants. 

A new term coined by Americans to cover their ruse. It is also reported that Pentagon is mulling putting ground troops against Assad as they have been stumped by the boldness of Russian intervention and also  fear back lash from their ‘moderates’ ! In response Putin has conveyed that he would bomb Saudi Arabia! Russians are not just fair weather friends and will stand by their commitment as we saw during 71 War. Only we tend to buckle out with an eye on advantage of the moment! An interesting snatch from a break during his question answers session when his assistant gleamed through questions on lap top. One was a tweet from inveterate mischief maker Senator McCain predicting that Russians would go the way Gaddafi did!  Putin picked it and gave resounding reply. Gaddafi was murdered by US Special Forces without a trial Putin explained . Said  he recalls meeting Mc Cain in Munich Security Conference  . This man he added  has his hands dipped in civilian blood up to his elbows. Was a PW not kept in a cage but put in a hole in earth where he stayed the rest of his time ! Recall McCain is a great admirer of Modi and so are tycoons Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump! Birds of same feather flock together!    

 With ground situation in Syria worsening for ISI, Daesh and Takfiri , was it that the shooting in US school which led to mass killing with attacker picking up Christians by selection was an act of warning by one of these outfits! Quite logical terrorism breeds its Frankenstein   to avenge its creators. We have our examples too both the ex PMs ! It was  Americans who created Taliban to fight Russians !                                                                                                           Are we heading for a new cold war?  

Seeds of Japanese Imperialism began in 1894-95 * 58

The seeds of Japanese imperialism lay in its subjugation of Korea. In 1894 the Imperial army invaded Korea which called for help from China. The poorly armed and trained Chinese army was no match for the Imperial army and was decisively defeated. The 1894-95 war is thus water shed in the history of East Asia and marked the rise of Japan as an imperial power.

Japan and its Tryst with Fate as a World Power

Imperial flag

The Japanese Imperial dynasty has always dominated East Asia. In other parts of the world the imperialist powers were Great Britain and to a lesser extent France, but in the East Japan held sway. As part of the imperialistpolicy of Japan a clash with China was always on the cards. China also fancied itself as the dominant power in East Asia and Japan was intent on enforcing its writ over all areas under Chinese domination. The power struggle between the two culminated in a clash in Korea. This was after the self imposed isolation of Japan was over in 1853. The Japanese in a matter of decades established their hegemony in Asia and the Korean peninsula.

As part of this imperialist drive the Sino- Japanese war of 1894-95 is extremely important. It was after this war that Japan was recognized by the west as a world power. The next logical step after the defeat of China in Korea was the 1902 mutual defense pact with Great Britain, which effectively recognized Japan as a world power.

The Japanese policy of imperialism resulted in an invasion of Korea. The Japanese imperial army after some skirmishes was able to capture the Korean emperor and install a puppet regime in Seoul on 23 July 1894. The new dispensation at Japanese behest terminated all protocols and agreements with China and Japan became the dominant power in Korea. The Government in Seoul also asked for the unilateral withdrawal of the Chinese Beiyang Army from Korea.

The background to the Japanese involvement in Korea was the Kabo farmers uprising. The Japanese on the pretext of safeguarding their nationals landed troops in Korea. The Emperor was confined to Seoul. The Korean government requested troops from China. The Chinese army got ready to face the Imperial army. The war of 1894-95 between China and Japan was a one sided affair. Three columns of Japanese troops converged on Pyong-Yang from Seoul, Gen-san and Sak-ryong. The Imperial army inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chinese army and the Chinese lost over 35,000 dead. On the sea front the Japanese navyearned a decisive victory as well. In the famous battle at the mouth of the Yalu river called the Battle of Yellow Sea the Chinese fleet was decimated. The Japanese also captured Port Arthur with a land invasionand the humiliation of China was complete and Korea became firmly in the Japanese Sphere of influence

The last battle of the war was the naval engagement at Port Arthur. The Chinese fleet was ingloriously sunk and by February 1895 essentially the war was over, leaving Japan as the sole power in East Asia. This resulted in the Treaty of Shimonoseki (17 April 1895) and gave the Japanese the same powers the western nations were enjoying in China

The 1894-95 war was a key element in defining the power structure in the east and marked the rise of Japanese Imperialism and for the next 50 years Korea was no more than a colony of Japan. It became a protectorate of Japan in 1905 and was annexed in 1910 and the world powers could do nothing about it.

Rare Scotch as a Present. * 80

Memoir: Blast from Past An American Love sends me Rare Scotch

Old Flame, Yet Not so Old

Friends on Wiki and my blog will recollect a memoir I had written of a romantic interlude when I was the project director of the UN Tribal welfare project at Palghar under the aegis of the WHO. It was one of the rare moments of my life that I can relive a 100 times and goes with my philosophy of flying supersonics and loving fair women.

It was a tempestous affair with a young doctor , an American who wasattached to the project. But like all good things this affair ended as she left and I continued on my way and now landed in the UAE.

The post can be read at http://www.wikinut.com/a-page-from-the-past%3a-an-unforgettable-memoir/2nn8cnnp/ldruo-65/

Despite being away she would ring me as a bond had developed between us. She rang me up the other day and told me that as I liked good scotch she was presenting me with 2 bottles of Single Malt rare scotch. I was surprised , but the gift came the other day by courier and I was thrilled to open the package.

The Ardberg

scotch first malt

Two bottles emerged from the package. The first was Ardbeg, which is advertised as the ultimate Islay Single Malt Scotch whiskey. It is guaranteed as 10 years old and distilled at the Arbeg Distellery at the Isle of Islay, Argyll, Scotland. The Arberg distellery lies on the most southerly part of Islay and situated right on the rugged shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Arberg whiskey is non chill filtered and has a strength of 46%., thus retaining maximum flavor. This is supposed to be the ultimate single malt whiskey which all other whiskies aspire to be. Its a great drink, but I have drunk it very seldom.

The Duthac

rare scotch

The second bottle was Glenmorangie special brand the Duthac. This whiskey is supposed to be inspired by King James IV who made an annual visit to the distillery and the inventor of this concotion Dr Bill Lumsden set out and created this whiskey for the king.

The whiskey I am told has a special taste , but I will confess that I have never tasted it earlier. What a girl, to pick up a rare scotch which I had never tasted earlier. The wiskey is around for long years and is marketed only in limited quanties to the elite. Its a deep bronze whiskey and am looking forward to drink.

I will add that I rang my girl and thanked her for it and mentioned that she knew my taste also included fair women. She said she is coming for a holiday and friends what better that a holiday at the Mercure Resort on the Jebel Hafeet mountains in the UAE. Great place to bring alive old memories with rare scotch.
Photos by me

Memorable Scenes from Louisa May Alcott's " Little Women"

Louisa May alcott

Louisa May Alcott was an American writer of young teen fiction. She was born in 1832 and died of 55 in 1888. Louisa may Alcott is remembered for her novel ‘Little Women’ and its sequels ‘Good Wives’, ‘Little Men’ and ‘Jo’s Boys’. All these books are considered mini classics and in the world of English literature that have a niche of their own.

Louisa May Alcott

Little women

‘Little Women’ was published in 1868. It was the first in the series of the books she wrote. The novel is based on an account of her childhood and experience with her sisters. It is a story of four sisters namely Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy and is still widely read as a classic. Louisa Alcott modelled the character of Jo on herself, with a subtle difference. In the novel Jo marries, while in real life Alcott remained a spinster and never married.

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Personal Love

It will be however wrong to conclude that she had no emotional attachment to a man as she had a romance with a Polish gentleman named Ladislas "Laddie" Wisniewski, who she met while on a visit to Europe. She made entries about him in her diary, which she deleted just before her death. This is typical of the morality of that period where it was not thought good to leave a memory of unrequited love.The character Laurie in her books is perhaps based on Wisniewski.

Christmax Time

Alcott was brought up in not a very affluent house. She experienced shortages during her younger years. This is manifest in the opening scene of the book which starts with Christmas and presents for the sisters. The girls do not have any new clothes, but Amy the youngest of the girls says with a sniff that at least they have father and mother. There is thus an element of anger in the novel and Christmas is the time when the girls realize that they are relatively poor.

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Christmax scene and Tone of the Book

The Christmas scene is adroitly used by Alcott to showcase her characters, the young heroines of her novel. Alcott lived during the period of the civil war (1861-65) and she was a staunch protagonist of rights for Negroes. She describes Christmas during the tumultuous war years. Though the family is poor, the girls rally and in the true spirit of Christmas donate their breakfast to a poor family as well as make presents for dear Marmee. Marmee is their mother who brings up the girls as their father was away as a Chaplain during the war. This is one of the most memorable Christmas scenes in English American literature.

Louisa May Alcott and her sisters were brought up by parents, Abigail May and Amos Bronson who were transcendentalists. Transcendentalism has been influenced by Asian religions particularly Hinduism and this has been acknowledged by Thoreau in his book ‘Walden’. Transcendentalists believe that people flower to their capability when they are self reliant and independent. This belief influenced the life of Alcott and finds expression in her book ‘Little Women’. In fact the opening Christmas scene in the book sets the tone of the novel.

Last Word

Louisa may Alcott had contracted Pneumonia and she was treated with mercury, which never left her system and could have been the cause of her death. She died relatively young at the age of 55, an age at which the genius of most writers flower. The novel ‘Little Women’ is still popular and has an important place in American English literature. It’s a book that is read all over the world and has immortalized Louisa May Alcott for all time to come. The Christmas scene can be read and re- read to realize that Louisa was a genius.

No Sharia in Goa * 68

Statutory Law:The Portuguese Civil Code of 1867 is Valid in Goa and the Sharia Takes a Back Seat

The Portuguese ruled Goa for 400 years and have left behind a universal civil code applicable to all residents of Goa. Personal law of Hindus and Muslims is not recognized. After 1961 all Portuguese era laws were repealed by an Act of the Indian Parliament, except the civil code of 1867. This is valid even today and is a beacon to the rest of India.

Goa was a colony of Portugal for 400 years till it was liberated from Portuguese rule by the Indian army in 1961. During these 400 years the Portuguese enforced their own laws. After 1961 all Portuguese era laws lapsed and the Indian Parliament extended all Indian laws to Goa. However the Portuguese civil code of 1867, Law of marriage 1910 and Laws of Divorce of 1910 and the family laws were not repealed and continue to this day.
When the British ruled India they did away with the Sharia in all matters except personal law. Thus the inheritance of property and the marriage laws remained as per the Sharia. The Portuguese went one step better than the British and enforced a uniform code in all aspects including personal law for all citizens of Goa irrespective of the fact that a person is a Muslim, Hindu or Christian.
Some of the basic provisions of the Portuguese civil code which have survived Portuguese rule are
a)      The first is the concept of absolute equality irrespective of the fact that you are a Hindu or Muslim.
b)      All marriages in Goa are not valid till they are registered.  In Goa, marriage is a contract and civil registration of marriage is mandatory. Thus a marriage solemnized under Hindu custom or Muslim law will be deemed valid only after the marriage is registered. A Muslim whose marriage is registered in Goa cannot take another wife.
d)       The Sharia law of divorce and 4 wives is not recognized in Goa. A Goan has perforce to have only one wife till he divorces as per the civil code and marries again. All contentious forms of divorce like triple Talaq are not valid in Goa.c)       The Portuguese civil  code recognize that every Goan marries under a system called Communion of Assets, whereby  from the time of the marriage  the spouse acquires half undivided rights in the assets of the other. The Muslim law as per the Sharia is not valid in Goa.
e)      Another aspect of the civil code pertains to property. Under the Uniform Civil code parents cannot disinherit their children as at least half of the property perforce has to be divided amongst all children.
However one aspect of the Goa family laws is contentious. As per the code of 1867 Canonical marriages are not entitled to a divorce and the appropriate authority is the Church. But this law is declared ultra vires of the Indian constitution and the courts have not applied this proviso of the code. Interpretation of Portuguese era laws is difficult as they are drafted in Portuguese language and have not been translated into English.
The Goa (Portuguese) Family laws are a step ahead of the rest of India. The law is applicable to all citizens of Goa who are subject to a uniform civil code unlike in India where separate personal law governs the Muslims as per the Sharia.

Gandhi : Does he Deserve the title "Mahatama"?

Gandhi,the Obverse View of Blacks and Untouchables

Madan Singh

Gandhi is respected as a great leader, but many are oblivious to a facet of his character where he was not well disposed to Blacks and Untouchables.

Mahatma Gandhi is a much respected figure all over the world, particularly in America. In real terms Gandhi's nonviolence made him an icon to the American civil-rights movement. Martin Luther King was greatly influenced by him. But most blacks in America who adopted Gandhi’s philosophy are perhaps not aware that he was a racist to a degree. This can be discerned from his days in South Africa.

Gandhi spent nearly two decades in South Africa and fought for the rights of the Indian settlers there. In addition his stay there brings out many interesting facts. In one of his campaigns for the rights of Indians settled in South Africa he is reported to have complained against Indians being sent to prison intended for Kaffirs. He further commented that he understood that Indians could not be classed with whites, but he could not countenance them being put up with Kaffirs or the natives (blacks). He further commented that the natives (blacks) were as a rule uncivilized as well as troublesome, dirty and lived like animals. In fact in an open letter to the legislature of the Natal Province in South Africa Gandhi reportedly objected to the Indian race being dragged down to the level of the Kaffir( Black). His opinion of the Blacks was that their only ambition was to buy some cattle, a wife and then live their life in idleness and nakedness.

It is also worth examining Gandhi’s views on the lowest of Indian castes, the untouchables. To a visiting missionary in 1936, he is reported to have remarked that the untouchables are worse than cows in their understanding. He rounded of the discussion by commenting ‘Would you teach a gospel to a cow?”. His other comments on untouch ability are revealing. He was in favor of abolition of untouchability, but stated that abolition of un-touch ability would not entail higher caste Hindus dining with untouchables at the same table. In fact in his massive rallies attended by thousands against untouchabilty during the thirties of the last century,the untouchables were themselves herded together in separate enclosures away from the higher caste Hindus. It should not also not be forgotten that Gandhi was against the lower castes having their own reserved seats in parliament. In fact he launched a massive fast to press this point in 1932.

Gandhi was a man who believed in self promotion. Even his statement that Islam was religion of peace after thousands of Hindus had been massacred by Muslims in Bengal in 1946-47 does not add to Gandhi’s stature. Sometimes I wonder with all this evidence ranged against him, how Gandhi could get away with being called a Mahatma (great Soul). Perhaps at some distant point in time the correct evaluation of Gandhi will take place.

Harkback to the Past: Hitler's Command Post

Hitler's Command Post During the Battle of France(1940)

Historians are aware that Hitler controlled the Western campaign from a command post close to the French border. It consisted of a set of low buildings with a bunker. Called the Falsenenest or Rocky Eyrie it was located at Bad Munstereifel, a place near Aachen. This place is also fairly close to the area of operations.

The Second World War is a long way off.  It ended nearly 7 decades back. One battle that heralded the rise of Germany as a super power on the European continent was the battle of France in 1940. This is considered by many historians as the decisive battle of World War II and resulted in total defeat of France. Known as the battle of France it lasted exactly 42 days and led to armistice treaty which was signed at Versailles.  The British who were fighting on the side of the French with their Expeditionary Force had to make an ignoble exit. The quantum of the defeat can be gauged from the fact that 1.9 million French soldiers were taken as POWs.

 The battle of France was discussed by Hitler threadbare with his generals in Berlin. He studied the Schiffillian and made slight modifications. But it must be understood that it was Hitler alone who took the decisions and thus followed the principles of war as enunciated by Clausewitz in totality.
Now historians are aware that Hitler controlled the Western campaign from a command post close to the French border.  It consisted of a set of low buildings with a bunker. Called the Falsenenest or Rocky Eyrie it was located at Bad Munstereifel, a place near Aachen. This place is also fairly close to the area of operations.

He entered the biggest room which had large operational map showing the position of the German army divisions with their commanders. He gave the signal to advance by telephoning Field Marshal Von Rundstedt, the overall commander of the Western front. He also kept himself abreast on the progress of the battle on his operational map and often talked to the field commanders including Rommel, Guderian and Von Manstein.Hitler’s command post was fairly Spartan and consisted of 4 rooms and was bomb and shell proof with use of special concrete.  The war headquarters was inspected by the German army and the Gestapo and cleared for use of Hitler. The leader drove down from Berlin by car in the dead of the night and reached Falsenenest at 3 am. This was an hour earlier from the slated time of assault at 4 am.

 Hitler’s two advisors from the OKW, Field Marshal Jodl and Keitel were with Hitler.
 The invasion commenced at 4 am when the German army moved against France bypassing the Maginot line through the Low Countries. The rest is history as the French sued for an armistice. Hitler controlled and plotted the progress of 10 Panzer divisions and 136 infantry divisions. It was a formidable force.
Hitler never used Falsenenest again and this was its sole use. It will however be always connected with the battle of France.