aditya kumar's weblog

There is a misconception among a lot of people about free speech. Being rude and terming it as “free speech” is common. Neither can abusive language be used and described as freedom to express. Free speech, at least to me, is the freedom to express my opinion and at the same time, it is expected that I respect the opinion of others. I may disagree, yes, but I should still respect an opinion. Free speech is the basic element of secularism. That’s what free speech is.

When exploited, this often takes a form of personal attack.

To me, a “personal attack” happens when the commenter goes completely off-topic and talks about something that is bound to offend the author, by means of personal allegations. This is often done using abusive language. There lies the difference between healthy criticism and being rude.

As a blogger, I have started to believe that there are always people who do not like what you say and are often against the stands taken. There is nothing wrong in that. But there are a few of them who are so obsessed about their own point of view that they start making personal attacks to prove their point and some even land in your inbox. That will remain. As a blogger, there is nothing much I can do about them.


Most people, readers and writers included, do not take blogging seriously. Some do. If you happen to be one of those who takes it seriously, my advice to you is this — Be prepared to take criticism in your stride as well. When I say “criticism”, I mean criticism of things that you do not like to be talked negatively about. If you don’t, you are the kind of person I would like to stay away from.

If you happen to be one of those who don’t take all this so seriously, my advice is — Listen to U2 and Chill ;)

Like many other blog authors, I may not talk about all the pleasant things in life or use this medium to discuss my favourite colour. It is only a matter of time that you may disagree with one thing or the other I talk about. When that happens, dear Reader, treat it as my opinion and bear with it. Why? Because I bear with and respect, yours.

And there are, of course, ways to convey your displeasure without being rude and nasty.

This is in reply to a hate comment that I received.

Let me make this clear: On this website, I shall write what I want, when I want. If you have a problem with that, go away. I must remind you that you do not have to read this weblog if you do not subscribe to the opinions expressed here.

Also, it will not help matters, leaving hate comments and baseless criticism. Either I will delete your comment or if I decide to keep it, it will stay so for the readers should know your sick state of mind. Either way, you will end up making a mockery of yourself. Other than this, I cannot guarantee any special treatment.

My employer (if any, that is) has nothing to do with this website. Dragging my work, my vocation, my employer (or like in this case, my relatives!) adds a dash of uselessness to your comment(s).

Visitors are tracked hard and hate-commentors are tracked harder. So more often than not, I have an idea who you are, where you are. Be it Nepal, Sri Lanka, Amsterdam or UK, it’s not a big deal to find out all that information. Really.

Comments will be moderated for some time.

My latest acquisition:

An Official Pan American Airways Aircraft Replica!

I had my own doubts about the recently concluded India-US Civil Nuclear Deal. The administration of both countries insist that this has nothing to do with the Bomb but the critics say otherwise. I am not a critic of the whole Nuclear deal per-se, but yes, I am concerned and I have my own doubts about the same. Since I am still reading all the material I can get on it, I am yet to arrive on a conclusion of my own. On the whole, I hope that the critics are wrong.

Yesterday night, rediff.com organized a chat with Dr. Sumit Ganguly. SG, as he prefers to calls himself, is an expert in the political affairs regarding the Indian Subcontinent. He is the “Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Indian Cultures and Civilizations”, and also Professor of Political Science, at the Indiana University. His articles have been published in publications like “The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists” and “The Washington Quarterly”.

I went to the chatroom with my questions, and to my pleasant surprise, Dr Sumit answered all of them. Understandably, his answers were precise and to the point. Here, I would like to post our conversation.

Truman asked, Dr.Ganguly, why does this deal matter so much? Nuclear Energy would amount to a maximum of 6-7% of India’s total need of energy.

Sumit Ganguly answers, No, the estimates are considerably higher especially if one can modernize existing plants and add new ones. Energy efficiency in India is extremely low.

Truman asked, Thanks for replying to my question, SG. Do you think a Nuclear Bomb equipped India is better for America?

Sumit Ganguly answers, Not really. India should have its nuclear arsenal for its own strategic reasons.

Truman asked, Dr.Sumit, then the theory of “powering India to counterbalance the ‘China’ threat” is flawed? Does it exist in the first place? Because if it does, then I am sure a Nuclear (read Bomb) powered India is what America needs.

Sumit Ganguly answers, Yes, it is. Because I doubt that very many Indians want to play that role even while they perceive a legitimate threat from China.

Truman asked, SG, then would it be safe to conclude that the Nuclear Deal has NOTHING to do with the bomb? And you also mentioned that you do not see China offering a similar deal to Pakistan. Why not?

Sumit Ganguly answers, It has to do with accepting the reality of India’s nuclear status, its role as a growing regional power and with an interest in India’s markets.

Truman asked, One last question sir. Why don’t you see a similar deal in offing for Pakistan from China?

Sumit Ganguly answers, Largely because the Chinese do not wish to provoke the United States and also they have their own misgivings about Pakistan.

So there. The full chat transcript can be found on rediff, here.

Owing to some problems that have been hindering me for sometime, I may not be able to update the blog as I usually do. Just not in the frame of mind to spend time here and besides, things continue to get complicated, the hits just keep on coming.

So, I don’t know when I shall post next. It could be sometime this week, or the the next week, or the month after. Hopefully shouldn’t take much long but for now, I just don’t know. Sorry.

In case you may want to listen to this song, drop me an email and I shall send it across :)

Note:This was written on my way to Goa, about 2 weeks ago.

In the long journeys that I undertook for 2 years when I travelled from Indore to Goa during my graduation, I hardly remember travelling on a confirmed ticket. Most of the times I was at the mercy of fellow passengers (Heck, I have even travelled in the Pantry car). But for going home, pains could be taken, should be taken. Scorching sun up above baked the land around me in a shade of plain brown, as Mangla Express paved its way through the Konkan landscape.

The most awaited station in the 36 hour itinerary was Ratnagiri, almost 3 hours before Goa. Ratnagiri was (and is) the only main station on the Konkan track before the train touched Goa. It became almost like a custom, buying myself a 500ml Coca-Cola pet bottle with 2 vada-paus at Ratnagiri. That signified a celebration of sorts. Since it was the only main station before Goa, this was almost homecoming. I could spend all my money at Ratnagiri and not care a thing. As there was no big station throughout the journey, I would be too hungry by the time Ratnagiri came. Besides, starved of Vada-Paus in Indore, here was a treat to have and nothing less.

I am currently going home and writing this in the train, from Bangalore to Goa. So if you are reading this, that means this sloppy, shaky handwriting has finally made it to the blog.

The 14 hour train journeys that I usually undertake to go home to Goa usually happen in the nights. Bombay, Pune or Bangalore, all trains to Goa are usually in the night. There is this certain thing, about travelling by train in the night. It is so much in contrast to a day journey. If you take out the chorus generated by the metal wheels clanging with the shiny tracks, the odyssey is mostly quiet and sometimes full of questions. In the middle of the night, on a railway platform, the only evidence of a (not so) orderly world is the occasionaly chai-wala, booming full of enthusiasm, almost running on the empty veranda. At this odd hour, he is the busiest businessman around, seeking to sell a cup of tea to a train full of asleep people who are conveniently oblivious to something as basic as his existence.

I look out of the window, see the black, moonless sky full of stars and constellations. Far away, I see a hut, or so it seems, with a single bulb burning bright. There is no other light in sight, no other evidence of man’s mediation with nature. If there could be a middle of nowhere, this would be it. I look at it, as it slowly passes by the horizon and I wonder how would it be to be there.

With no pantry car in the train, I wonder what I would be eating for dinner. The train arrives at Davangere and I am able to lay my hands on a soft drink bottle. It seems under these circumstances, this is my best bet. Just then when the hopes are about to fade away, comes a railway-catering man selling Lemon rice, neatly packaged in newspaper sheets. Before I know, I give in and find myself asking for one of those. This is Godsent. A chai-wala hops in too and eyeing a prospective customer in me, comes forward, offers me a cup gesturing towards the kettle he is carrying. I, too glad to have the lemon rice in my posession gesture towards the soft drink bottle on my right. So, we are even. He breaks into a smile, carries on, his shrill voice, chanting “chai-chai”, guranteed to overstep in the sleepy worlds of the people around him.