Comments on: Happy Sixtieth!

Happy Sixtieth!

hadjiboy — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:03:40 -0800

The largest democracy in the world celebrates its 60th anniversary, in a year which saw horrendous floods, the election of its first woman president (previously mentioned here), the signing of the 123 Nuclear Agreement, and the recent victory over England after a span of 21 years.

By: Gyan

Gyan — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:27:42 -0800

That wasn't a victory, it was a tie, since the first match wasn't really a draw. Yeah, but since the series score reads 1-0, the Indian team's going to gloat over how they kicked Pommy ass.

By: Gyan

Gyan — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:36:54 -0800

Also, hadjiboy, did you see yesterday's TOI cover? Cheesy.

By: hadjiboy

hadjiboy — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:18:25 -0800

since the first match wasn't really a draw Yeah, that one was going Pommy's way:)

By: The Salaryman

The Salaryman — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:28:02 -0800

I find the massive voter turnout at Indian elections quite shaming - politics matters and people in the West seem to take it less seriously. It takes an amazing nation to hold together and stay free despite all the pressures and problems it faces.

By: markdj

markdj — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:34:38 -0800

Well you beat me too it, so here's a few more links: New Yorker: The Legacy of Partition. The Guardian: Voices of the Nations. BBC: India & Pakistan 07 & video archive. Waggah border ceremony.

By: DenOfSizer

DenOfSizer — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:08:33 -0800

Happy Birthday, India! Don't blow anything out except candles, ok?

By: octothorpe

octothorpe — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:55:16 -0800

I know that India has it's share of problems but the fact that they have managed to run a functional democracy for sixty years with over a billion people just amazes me. Especially given the level of language, cultural and religious diversity that they have to work with. Americans should be ashamed that we seem to think that tiny little accommodations to diversity like Spanish language choices on our ATMs are going to ruin our "culture".

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:35:12 -0800

Happy birthday to India, happy birth.... Here, have some yellow birthday cake (it doesn't matter that you haven't signed one of those pesky NPT's).

By: Poolio

Poolio — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:35:45 -0800

By: hadjiboy

hadjiboy — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:48:32 -0800

Thanks for the links markdj!

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:16:24 -0800

VANDE MATARAM! BHARAT MATA ZINDABAD! (times one point something billion)

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:21:02 -0800

I find the massive voter turnout at Indian elections quite shaming - politics matters and people in the West seem to take it less seriously. voters in the west would take voting more seriously if goondas hired by the strongest community were doing their utmost to persuade you to vote for their man...

By: amberglow

amberglow — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:11:08 -0800

To India! (and to my hopes of them as an effective and strong democratic counterpart to China in this century)

By: Gnostic Novelist

Gnostic Novelist — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:00:28 -0800

Would be nice to see India effectively address that suicide problem. It's not surprising that such a rapid shift to market-democracy brings about such things. If people think Americans are off-kilter, give the Chinese, South Koreans, and Indians another generation or two.

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:05:41 -0800

pet peeve - why do people always say first woman president? Shouldn't they say first female president? People always do this when they talk about Hilary Clinton, and it kinda gets on my nerves. Anyway, to prove that I can do something in this thread other than nitpick, here's an interesting article from Slate comparing the partition of India to the situation in Iraq.

By: pax digita

pax digita — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:18:17 -0800

recent victory over England after a span of 21 years Oh. Cricket. Yeah, test matches...kewl. I was hoping it was football. (Or soccer, as we say 'round here.) I haven't heard much about the Indian national team.

By: bookish

bookish — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:31:18 -0800

Dear India, Congatulations on 60 years of post-colonial freedom. Yes, you've been around, in various forms, for thousands of years, but surely you appreciate the unprecedented importance of your current status. Free, united, democratic, up-and-coming, technologizing, modernizing, moving fast, influencing the world. I know we've had our differences, India. Days when I raged and hated you and called you things like "backwards" and "insane." And I still think you have a lot to work on: the treatment of women, the lack of equality and social mobility, the identity politics. But I want you to know I still love you. You changed me and humbled me and taught me so much. I still think about you all the time. I think about all the things about you I still don't understand. I'm awed by your survival, that a country so big and diverse and complexly chaotic can even be a democracy. I'm awed that you don't just exist, you thrive. Happpy birthday, India. I miss you.

By: The Light Fantastic

The Light Fantastic — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:27:48 -0800

Happy Birthday India! You're amazing.

By: pax digita

pax digita — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:51:04 -0800

Oh, and India...thank you for all the incredibly cool, talented, friendly people you've produced whom I've gotten to work with.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:01:01 -0800

Happy Birthday India

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:20:53 -0800

Hang on, doesn't this make Pakistan 60, as well? *chants* Pakistan ZINDABAD! Pakistan ZINDABAD!!

By: hadjiboy

hadjiboy — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:11:54 -0800

A belated Happy Birthday to Pakistan as well!

By: amberglow

amberglow — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:23:35 -0800

Pakistan is the evil twin. ; >