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At the University of Toronto, waiting for RAMACHANDRA GUHA to show up. I've written my question up already. Let's see if the host presents it to the guest. 
Just spotted Haroon Siddiqui, (formerly?) of the Toronto Star. He is from Hyderabad, not Sindh, Deccan! But his love for the idea of Pakistan is boundless!!
Guha just walked in & greeted Siddiqui like a long lost friend!
It has just been announced that Guha has been appointed a (U of Toronto) Munk School Distinguished Fellow.
Guha says he is going to make the most controversial statement of his life, and proceeds to say this "The Republic of India is the most reckless (social?) experiment in the history of mankind".
Guha batting for India's linguistic pluralism! 😯 Says it is a counter-intuitive achievement in itself. On this, I am with him.
Guha just said that MK Gandhi's assassination by a Hindu bought 2 decades of peace between Hindus & 'slims (Hindus were ashamed of it), as there were practically no riots between Hindus & 'slims. There were lots of other riots, but no Hindu-'slim riots from 1948 into the 1960s.
Guha is talking too excitedly, animatedly. Missing some of his words as he speaks. Wonder if it is his normal talking style?
"Caste system is mandated by Hindu scripture, as is mistreatment of women"!! 😯😯 The one-(jaundice)eyed preaching to the Blind?
"Tribals in India are invisible. Have been thrown off their land by a modernizing India. Dalits are better off, as they have the example of BR Ambedkar to emulate, as well as plenty of other successful Dalit icons."
Talking about India's environmental degradation now. "Earlier, environmental activists were labeled CIA agents. Today they are labeled KGB agents."
Moving on to Failure of Indian Institutions - "State capture of Indian Institutions was started by Indira Gandhi but that trajectory has intensified since then. Today, Indian Institutions are in the pocket of the ruling party."
Moving onto audience questions now. Luckily not too many questions.
MINE IS THE FIRST!! 😯🙂
Answer "NO! As Stanley Thambaiah said of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, Indian Hindus suffer from a 'majority minority' complex. Not likely to become minority in 500 years!"
LIAR!! 😠😡
MINE IS THE FIRST!! 😯🙂
Answer "NO! As Stanley Thambaiah said of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, Indian Hindus suffer from a 'majority minority' complex. Not likely to become minority in 500 years!"
LIAR!! 😠😡
Next question was about Freedom of Indian Press - "it's still kinda free, but is losing its freedom".
Next question is about foreign policy - Damn! Lost his answer, but I think he said India screwed up wrt Nepal, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, but not really wrt to India & China.
Next question is about foreign policy - Damn! Lost his answer, but I think he said India screwed up wrt Nepal, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, but not really wrt to India & China.
Next question is about law. Sarcastic answer - "Its surprising how lawless we are, considering there's so little crime out there".
Are these 4 faultlines applicable to other countries, say the USA? "Older democracies are learning from younger democracies the CULT of the STRONGMAN". Referred to Trump's attitude , which is - "I don't have to listen to anyone 'cos I can go directly to the people."
Role of Civil Service in motivation of fault lines - "Civil Service has become weak. Cultivates alliances with political parties"
Have ntellectuals failed to motivate the young? - Yes, but the answer to it is not anti-intellectualism. Abusing India's Education Minister for highlighting Hindu achievements at convocation ceremonies. Lamenting departure of Raghuram Rajan & Urjit Patel. Trashing Demonetization.
India's dont learn from outsiders wrt treatment of Adivasis. Adivasis suffer from vacuum in leadership, & therefore Maoists took over. Indian Govt does not implement Constitution wrt Adivasis. Grabs their land instead of making them partners in progress.
"Indian Intellectuals should not be romanticizing Maoists."
Guha is evading questions about India's judiciary. Finally says "India's Supreme Court has become timid, especially in Habeas Corpus cases". Suggests a few authors to read on the subject, saying he is not an expert on it.
Mocking India's desire to be VISHWA GURU, calling it Hindu Hubris. Also says India can never be sweet, little, Denmark.
Repeatedly making fun of Denmark, while apologizing profusely for doing the same.
Should Gandhi be stripped of title "Father of the Nation"? Can more Gandhis arise?
Answer - There were a lot of Great Indians during Gandhi's time, but he was the greatest. Ambedkar is more relevant to India than Gandhi. Rest of world will love Gandhi, Indians will reject him!
Answer - There were a lot of Great Indians during Gandhi's time, but he was the greatest. Ambedkar is more relevant to India than Gandhi. Rest of world will love Gandhi, Indians will reject him!
Is BCCI control of ICC bad for cricket?
Answer - (attributed to his son) India's BCCI is to world cricket, what USA is to world politics. Better answer in my memoir!
Answer - (attributed to his son) India's BCCI is to world cricket, what USA is to world politics. Better answer in my memoir!
End of talk & interactive session. Only 2 people showed up with a book for Guha to sign. Couple of other long time admirers perhaps, lining up to take selfies.
Pressed Guha on this point after talk, one-on-one. He again reiterated that Hindus dominate everything. Hindus have nothing to fear. Hindus will never become a minority. 'Slims will stabilize at 17% of Indian population. 'Slims are the new Dalits. ☹😠😡
Sorry.
This should read "Political Experiment", not "Social Experiment".
This should read "Political Experiment", not "Social Experiment".
Looks like RAMACHANDRA GUHA is gonna be in the Toronto area for another day. eventbrite.com/e/four-argumen… He's got another speech scheduled for tomorrow, Thurs, 09/19/2019 at Mcmaster U in Hamilton, ON. I cannot make it. In any case,don't think I can sit through another Guha lecture.
Seems Ramachandra Guha really loves the Greater Toronto area in Canada. After appearances at the University of Toronto & Mcmaster University, he's got a talk scheduled at the University of Guelph tomorrow, Friday 09/20/2019 news.uoguelph.ca/event/hopper-l…
And Ramachandra Guha has a second event scheduled in the city of Guelph on Saturday, 09/21/2019. Dude is really milking this trip for all its worth! guelphtoday.com/local-news/ren…
Why are only HAROONs love Ramachandra Guha? Here's two of 'em welcoming Guha in the Toronto area. What about VARUNs? Why are no Varuns welcoming Guha? Looks like India & Hindu hating 'slims have captured space in Canadian Universities, while Hindus were NOT aggressive enough!
