Guest guest Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 I don't usually have to time read your posts, but occasionally, I do. I couldn't come to the party due to an unexpected event. I think I met Amartya Sen at one point, when I was in the Harvard Economics Department as an administrative assistant. I'm not very involved in thinking about Indian politics, but this was a heartening post. Nandarani - vrnparker <vrnparker Friday, May 21, 2004 11:36 am [world-vedic] India's New PM:God has not Given up on India > "Asked about his vision for India, he responded optimistically, "I > don't know if Indians have faith in God, but God still has some > faith in India. While civilisations across the world are wiped out > over a period, our Indian civilisation, which is over 5,000 years, > has stood the test of Time and is still vibrant. This is what > gives > me hope that God has not yet given up on India." > > http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/may/22spec2.htm? > headline='I've~to~give~something~back:'~Dr~Singh > > It was in 1999 that I had the opportunity to meet Dr Manmohan > Singh > in Delhi on two occasions. This happened during the course of my > work as a journalist; I used to contribute to the Tamil weekly > Kunkumam. > > Once, I did an exclusive interview with him. > > The other time, I trailed him during his campaign for the 1999 > general election. He lost, but his personality was so > unforgettable > that the result seemed insignificant -- at least, I thought so. > > During the interview, I got a glimpse into his way of life, his > philosophy and his idea of governance. > > Asked about his vision for India, he responded optimistically, "I > don't know if Indians have faith in God, but God still has some > faith in India. While civilisations across the world are wiped out > over a period, our Indian civilisation, which is over 5,000 years, > has stood the test of Time and is still vibrant. This is what > gives > me hope that God has not yet given up on India." > > He said the dictum of Bhagvad Gita -- 'Do one's duty without the > expectations of results' -- has been his guiding light. > > "In fact, all our Indian scriptures, including our Guru Granth > Sahib > [the holy book of the Sikhs], emphasises this philosophy," he > explained. > > When I asked him which areas he would emphasise on if he were to > prepare the Union Budget, he said, "What is essential today is to > revive the people's confidence in themselves, in the country and > in > the government." > > And how did he plan to do that? > > "Undoubtedly, my first job would be to reduce inflation. It is the > duty of the finance minister to ensure that inflation doesn't hurt > the common man, even as he implements plans that focus on > improving > the economy. Some people argue that high inflation is the price we > pay for a robust economy. I don't agree with this. It is important > to bring down the inflation." > > It was Minoo Masani's book Our India that first sparked his > interest > in economics. > > His father wanted him to study medicine; in fact, Dr Singh had > already joined a medical college. But he soon realised his forte > was > economics and made the switch. > > Dr Singh said he felt indebted to society. "Since most of my > education was funded by some scholarship or the other, I feel I > have > to give something back to society. Although I have had several > offers from abroad, I feel my place is in India. In general, life > has given me everything that is good. I am contented with my life. > There is no sense of want in my life now." > > Other snippets from the interview: > > Amartya Sen was his senior in Cambridge. > > Besides economics, his interests include reading (politics, > history, > biographies, etc) and classical music (M S Subbulakshmi tops his > list of favourite musicians). > > He appreciates the simplicity of South Indians and enjoys South > Indian food. "It is tasty and has varieties too," he said. > > During his campaign trail, he came across as your next-door > neighbour. > > Party workers sang and danced as he moved from house to house in > South Delhi, the constituency he was contesting from. He actually > looked lost as, with folded hands, he moved with the aggressive > crowd. > > When there was confusion among party workers about the route they > were to take, or any other aspect of the campaigning, he stood > aside > silently and watched them sort it out among themselves. > > He was not overbearing nor did he throw his weight around. In > fact, > he absolutely lacked the airs and fancies of a politician! > > He cooperated completely with the party workers. > > When the crowd got beyond control, when they literally held his > hands and took him to some other direction -- another house or a > gurdwara -- he obliged with a smile and without making a fuss. > > He was a total greenhorn in electioneering, but the public didn't > seem to mind that. > > "He is one sane man in today's rotten politics," said one > bystander. > > Another extolled his honesty and simplicity. > > A shopkeeper remembered him as the person who revived India's > economy. > > If he had a drawback, politically speaking that is, it is the lack > of a mass base. But I think it is his sense of humility that keeps > him back from projecting himself as a leader of the masses. > > I hope his performance will speak for him in the future and give > him > the mass base that he needs. > > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor -------------------- > -~--> > Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 > http://us.click./Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/saOolB/TM > - > --~-> > > This is an information resource and discussion group for people > interested in the World's Ancient Vedic Culture, with a focus on > its historical, archeological and scientific aspects. Also topics > about India, Hinduism, God, and other aspects of World Culture are > welcome.Remember, Vedic Culture is not an artificial imposition, > but is the natural state of a society that is in harmony with God > and the environment.Om Shantih, Harih Om > > Links > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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