I don't know where to put this. What this is about is generating a list of short letters that can be cut-pasted in their entirety into the comments sections of blogs people visit. Please add you own.

It is with sadness i hear of the demise of DR. Jagatpati Joshi . May i express my condolences to friends and family on the loss of this scientist and historian to the community of Archaeologists , Historians and to the Republic of somebody who has made signal contributions to these fields. I have not had the pleasure of conversing with him and I cannot do justice to his many accomplishments , but i understand that he was instrumental in discovering Dholavira, one of the largest cities in the Sarasvati Sindhu civilization. Many feel that 1.5 million square miles is an understatement of the extent of this civilization, which dwarfs all comparable river valley civilizations of the ancient era and Dr.Joshi played a key role in the determination of the vast expanse of this civilization.

We were expecting him to play a key role in the ICIH 2009 conference but that was not meant to be.

It is because of the work done by dedicated ardchaeologists such as Dr. Joshi that we are able to piece together the history of the ancient era. Now the task begins of reconciling the vast amount of archaeological data with the equally large massive literary tradition that is the unique legacy of the Ancient Indics.

<!--QuoteBegin-acharya+Jul 22 2008, 05:17 AM-->QUOTE(acharya @ Jul 22 2008, 05:17 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Trust vote: BJP leaders take stock of situation</b>
Sources said the saffron party is in a fix and fears of a backlash in either situation of the government winning or losing the trust vote.

"The National Democratic Alliance is nowhere in the picture. If the government loses, the credit goes to Mayawati and the Third Front. If it wins then Mulayam would emerge as a winner and strategist," a leader of one of the NDA constituents told PTI.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think this is a psy-ops. It is obvious that NDA alone can not bring down the govt. They need leftists to bring it down, and BJP has to make them do that. If BJP becomes active, left may not do its task. So, the silence from BJP/NDA is also a strategy.

This thread is to show the low level harassment that
hindu temples face in the west

Also other opposition to hindu culture

Mostly and majority of Indians r Veges. Stroke incidence is higher in India. I associate it with consumption of Ghee. Here is another cause of it:
While 20% of Indians suffer from diabetes and high BP," says Dr Arun Garg, consultant neurologist, Max Hospitals, "incidence of homocysteinemia (increased levels of homocysteine, an amino acid) caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, is 70%. This is seen more among vegetarians as this vitamin is mainly found in meat and milk, if it's neither boiled nor pasteurised." In fact, deficiency of vitamins B12, B6 and folate causes two-thirds of strokes.

This risk is four times higher in vegetarians. As folate is found in vegetables and fruits, its deficiency is rare among Indians, but that of vitamin B12 is common.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthS...how/3227413.cms

I don't think so. As it is both the major parties BJP and Cong r already in election mode + Cong wants to leave NoClear deal for the next Govt to handle which I doubt will be UPA and needless to say BJP is doing it's overtures to BSP and other like minded parties like INLD, AGP and so on.
As if this is not enough, here is 1 more reason:
NEW DELHI: Admitting that ruling establishment is pulling all stops to get smaller parties and individual MPs to vote in favour of UPA during the trust vote, Left is also attempting to rally political parties so that the government can be toppled on July 22.

On Saturday CPM general secretary Prakash Karat had a meeting with party's parliamentary leadership to decide on the strategy inside and outside Parliament. [FONT=Impact][COLOR=red]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/artic...227525.cms

Analysis: The options before the UPA

July 08, 2008


The die is finally cast. With the Left formally withdrawing support to the government, the first task before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] is to win a trust motion quickly.

The government would not like to go to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which it was planning to do on July 28, as a minority government, for that signals a very different message to member countries of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Parliament may be called sooner than later, and the two dates under consideration are July 20 or 22 and the cabinet is expected to finalise the timetable on Wednesday.

The challenge before the Congress is to get its arithmetic right and mount an operation that is foolproof, particularly after the way things were botched up in Srinagar [Images]. Things had seemed to be under control, and Ghulam [Images] Nabi Azad had assured Delhi that he had the numbers, but he had to quit as chief minister without facing the assembly.

On the face of it, the Congress has worked out its support lines to compensate the loss of the Left parties, and the prime minister has ruled out early elections. The Samajwadi Party has publicly announced its support to the UPA. With the UPA accounting for 225 members, and taking into account SP's 39 MPs, the numbers add up to 264. But if you add three of Rashtriya Lok Dal, three of the Janata Dal-Secular and three from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the UPA will be just over the hump with 273 votes. If it also gets five independents, which it claims it has the support of, and some 'others', then it is home and dry.

Of course, there are many 'ifs and buts' in this scenario. First, there have been reports that there are around 10 Samajwadi Party MPs, who have reservations about voting with the UPA on the nuke deal, are in a mood to defy the party whip -- though Mulayam Singh Yadav has declared that all the 39 SP MPs are behind him. Some are Muslims and others have a sizeable Muslim population in their constituencies. Eleven SP MPs reportedly did not attend the meeting called by Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday.

With disquiet in the SP MPs, and with elections not far off, they would have jumped to the Bahujan Samaj Party, were Mayawati to assure them of BSP tickets in the Lok Sabha polls. From all accounts, Mayawati is not thinking of employing this strategy, even though she is keeping a close watch on the situation.

She will play on Muslim fears, having stated that the deal is anti-Muslim, but she may not go the whole hog to bring down the government on the nuke deal, even as she votes against the UPA.

The political grapevine is abuzz with stories about the price the SP will extract for its support, like ten ministers in the government! Essentially, the SP is worried about the series of cases that have been slapped against its leaders, particularly the disproportionate wealth case against Mulayam Singh Yadav.

UNPA or no UNPA, Mulayam cannot think of becoming prime minister, if there is a CBI charge against him. How the prime minister will "manage" this for Mulayam remains to be seen.

The Congress' main headache is to keep the UPA flock together and to 'manage' the demands made by a host of small and big parties, each demanding their pound of flesh in return for their support at a critical moment like this.

While the Congress is banking on the TRS coming around, the regional party had delinked itself from the UPA and it may demand some assurance on Telangana to justify lending support. Ajit Singh will want a ministry of his choice.

Shibu Soren, whose Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has five members in the Lok Sabha, has been sulking at being denied a cabinet berth which was given to Rameshwar Oraon at the behest of Lalu Yadav.

The Congress is planning to fish in the NDA waters, and hoping for support of the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal, or for these parties to abstain in the trust vote. Bal Thackeray had raised Congress hopes when he came out in favour of the nuke deal, but his son Uddhav ruled out support to the UPA, clarifying that his party would stick with the NDA.

The Akali Dal has also been silent on the nuke deal. Congress leaders hope they will back the prime minister, who is a Sikh, and because a large number of Sikhs in the US support the move. However, it is unlikely the Akali Dal will back the UPA and jeopardise their future politics in an election year.

The ally who could however be more promising for the Congress, and would help it make inroads into the NDA, is Mamta Banerjee, now that the Left has parted company with the Congress. Going with the Congress could have big dividends for her in West Bengal, though she too would have to worry about the Muslim factor.

This thread is to deliberate on India (and Hindus specifically), as a nation and a state and thus encompasses only the current practices that are related directly to the "Identity" and "Society". The presumption is it the Hindu identity (at micro level) and society (at macro level) has been defined and continues to be
redefined by everyone else and Hindus are not wising up to it. If they have, they are in minority.

Of course the presumption is that if micro (identity) and macro levels are (society and practices) not addressed and changed, we will self-destruct (SD) both as a nation and state. The scope of this thread is to explore changes that are needed for us to survive and flourish (SF). The goal is then to chart a way to SF from SD.

The seeds of destruction have been sown long time ago, by various vested groups, and we have ample threads to cover those effects, activities and aspects. But, we do not have threads to proffer and discuss ideas & steps to counter those. That however is not the scope of this particualr thread. Members, feel free to start discussions on that front. These discussions as such will be reactive.

The disucssions in thread, however are proactive, and will be on identifying what those changes could be, how they can be brought about (practical steps). Also feel free to disagree if one feels that nothing neeeds to be changed (back up such claims). In other words, we are already flourishing and there is no need to change anything in so far as Hindus' ability to pursue four purusharthas fearlessly and confidently in our own land (or elsewhere).

We may have to spawn off multiple threads depending on 3 or 4 such topics (changes that are needed either at micro and/or macro levels). The topics could be, for example: Developing Hindu (friendly) Media, Conversion to Hinduism, etc ....

There may be few tens of such high level topics, but we can pick 3 or so and focus on that for starters. Please also suggest how best we can structure the discussions.

<span style='color:red'>Conference on Challenges to National Identity and Security in 21st Century</span>
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation

July 05-06, 2008
Ashutosh Mookerjee Auditorium,
National Museum,
Chowranghee Kolkata

India's rising political, economic, and military might, her scientific and technological abilities, and entrepreneurial talent, all combine to make her a significant power in the world. Vast tracts of the world were historically deeply influenced by Indian culture and civilization, a truth immortalized by Zimmer in his memorable phrase 'Indian Asia.'

The pulsating vitality of Hindu civilization, its unmatched ability to be contemporary, has helped India march into the modern era with equanimity, carrying an immeasurably diverse populace into a democratic system that, despite odds and failings, strives sincerely to give a meaningful and dignified life to all.

India's very geographical location places her at the cusp of very difficult international crossroads, which impact upon her security, and often place strains upon her economic interests and religious demography. These challenges can only become more acute in coming times. The post Cold War power equations are being rapidly undermined by new emerging economic power equations and alignments, and India is well-placed to seize the opportunity presented by this nascent order, where old friends of the Cold War era are well represented. Missing the bus could certainly adversely affect India's energy security, and hence her economic strengths and emerging Asian power status.

The old international hegemonies are being rapidly undermined by larger historical forces, and nations well advanced on the path of economic decline cannot easily retrieve their declining fortunes. Nations that control natural resources as national (sovereign) rather than as private wealth, are on the right side of history. It is hardly an accident that in ancient India, all mineral wealth belonged to the State. Current narratives that peddle globalization as the only path to the future are already in disrepute.

Co-current with changing international realities are the intensified regional challenges arising from increased instabilities in the neighborhood, and posing a serious politico-security threat to India. The rise of China is self-evident, as is the instability of other neighbouring countries. India's is yet to formulate a cogent response which will determine its status in Asia and the world. Few challenges wither away themselves, and it seems this may have happened with the ill-conceived Indo-US nuclear deal, if only because of domestic compulsions!

The threat posed by terrorism, however, needs to be tackled head-on, at multiple levels, by security agencies, and by society and civilization. Terrorism is not merely a threat to life and property, a breadkdown of law and order, or a challenge to security agencies . It is an intentional insult to the Hindu-centric civilizational ethos of India, which provides honourable space and harmony for all constituent units of society, never aspiring for a dead uniformity, yet seeking unity in the throbbing vitality of diversity.

Calculated, calibrated, and motivated assaults upon this tradition cannot be allowed to succeed. The persistent nature of the challenge, the near-total concentration upon India for jihadi terror (with only stray incidents in other parts of the world), point to a larger gameplan to destabilize the world's only living non-monotheistic tradition. The security challenge is therefore, the least of the challenges, and one our armed forces are fully competent to meet.

Simply put, Indian civilization poses a continuing threat to Monotheistic traditions, and is thus being undermined at multiple levels. The real challenge is in the mind. India has to demonstrate the intellectual vigour to beat back the ideological challenge posed by jihad in all parts of the country, and spreading Maoist and other insurgencies, and more sophisticated and insidious threats from the West, which seeks to coopt India as a junior partner into its own renewed quest for world dominion.

In order to discuss the multiple issues impinging on India's national identity and security, we are organizing a two-day national seminar in Kolkata on 5th and 6th July 2008. The seminar will feature sessions which will seek to comprehensively address major issues and trends in the Indian security context; assess major challenges and suggest creative solutions for shaping policy options in the new century.

Following is an outline of the sessions to be held:

1. Inaugural Session: Challenges to National Identity and Security in 21st Century

2. International Factors Shaping National Identity & Security

- Jihad's Impact on India

3. Regional Security Challenges

- Unstable Neighborhood and Its Politico-Security Consequences

- Maoism in Nepal, HuJI in Bangladesh

- Growing Talibanization of Pakistan

- Dealing with Rising China

4. Emerging National Security Challenges

- Challenges to India's Nuclear Policy

- Nature and Responses to the Threat of Terrorism

- Emerging Military Threats & Defence Policy Options

5. Internal Security Challenges

- Insurgency Movements (Northeast & Kashmir)

- Naxalite menace

6.Concluding Session

<!--QuoteBegin-acharya+Jun 27 2008, 06:55 AM-->QUOTE(acharya @ Jun 27 2008, 06:55 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->
Hope you understand.
I have on the average around 100 posts to make every day in many forums in the wide internet world.

I sometimes do not have the links and will be unable to post it immediately. Sometimes I have to post 500 posts every day. You can understand my position with this kind of workload.

To make sure that the message and the post is not lost since I only post what is relavent I had to post without URLt. When ever I get some links I would not miss posting the links in the posts.
My apology if it has caused inconvenience to you that you had to find the URL yourself. I would be try my best to satisfy your request in the future.
[right][snapback]83406[/snapback][/right]
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<b>acharya Ji :</b>

My commiserations and facilitations at the hard task that you have undertaken and fully understand your limitations.

Posting Articles is of course mainly for the benefit of the “Members” of this Forum by way of knowledge and as such I would request you to keep posting - even without the “Link” as if such a stipulation was made then would lose out on some of the most important sources of information.

Please keep up your Good Work.

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->