Comments on: Freedom at Midnight

Freedom at Midnight

infini — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 13:55:43 -0800

Freedom at Midnight - At midnight, on the night of August 14th 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru claimed Independence from the British in New Delhi, India. 58 years later today, India along with China is in the mainstream news media as a "super power to be". While there is much discussion on how exactly all of this will play out in the near future, there are also some concerns as to whether this is nothing more than an updated version of the "burgeoning middle class of 140 million people" that sent numerous multinationals to unsuccessfully launch new products in this emerging market. However this tryst with destiny plays out, Happy Birthday India.

By: Gyan

Gyan — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:20:14 -0800

India should never have been.

By: MikeKD

MikeKD — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:41:46 -0800

You could have also mentioned India's neighbor which is also celebrating its independence today.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:50:32 -0800

Gyan? Happy Anniversary India, from another former outpost of Empire.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:51:44 -0800

India's neighbor, under a miltary dictatorship from a coup, and chockful of radicals, has less to celebrate, i think.

By: Gyan

Gyan — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 17:10:45 -0800

India's a faux identity and coherency. A result of the Mughal & especially British rule. There should have been a looser confederation, like the EU, which should have included the regions of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal...etc

By: mk1gti

mk1gti — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 17:18:57 -0800

And so the torch passes to another, or others as the case may be. Here's hoping they do more with it and allow it to burn brighter than the previous bearers did.

By: infini

infini — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 18:11:31 -0800

I'm with Gyan on this, the concept of "India" is closer to the EU than to a single sovereign nation. sunil khilnani's book, the idea of india is pretty good at pulling that together. btw, what neighbour?

By: MikeKD

MikeKD — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 18:16:53 -0800

India's neighbor, under a miltary dictatorship from a coup, and chockful of radicals, has less to celebrate, i think. C'mon, at least mention Pakistan. Oh, and it's not like Indian is free of its own radicals.

By: .kobayashi.

.kobayashi. — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 00:41:58 -0800

"I was born in the city of Bombay . . . once upon a time. No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. And the time? The time matters, too. Well then: at night. No, it's important to be more . . . On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact. Clockhands joined palms in respectful greeting as I came. Oh, spell it out, spell it out: at the precise instant of India's arrival at independence, I tumbled forth into the world."

By: Asparagirl

Asparagirl — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 02:14:27 -0800

I've been meaning to read that book...

By: infini

infini — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 11:18:39 -0800

Excellent book!

By: goodglovin77

goodglovin77 — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 21:02:27 -0800

I wonder if there's still an old lunatic trying to find his way to Toba Tek Singh... But hey, happy thoughts, happy thoughts...

By: goodglovin77

goodglovin77 — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 21:06:06 -0800

And happy birthday, to both of you (now just settle down before both of you make mom any more upset) and really Pakistan, why can't you be more like India and get into some of that call-center money and do something with yourself... oh shh! here comes Bangladesh and I don't want to hear a word out of either of you! Yes, yes, amar sonar bangla, very good...

By: madman

madman — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 22:44:45 -0800

Gee, thank you. Not exactly popping the champagne here 'cause there's lots I'd like changed in the country.

By: vodkadin

vodkadin — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 20:03:46 -0800

Infini I see you've been keeping up with your "word of the day" :u)

By: infini

infini — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 19:59:21 -0800

darn...unfrocked or is it cognitoed? :P