Smita Prakash

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Musharraf thunders- even 2007 11 29

Nov. 29, 2007 (ANI)

The new President of Pakistan after taking oath of office promised the country "come hell of high water, elections will be held". Twisting his mouth derisively he said any talk of boycott should be ignored. Parvez Musharraf dressed in a black bandh gala suit was administered oath of office in capital Islamabad this morning by Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar. Breaking with convention, the new President decided to address the august gathering. Neither Benazir Bhutto nor Nawaz Sharif or his family members were present, but there was a large contingent of judges, several army officers and colourfully attired ladies, including the first lady Sahiba Musharraf.

Pakistan's new freedom at US midnight 2007 11 29

November 29, 2007 (ANI)

As most of the world watched with bated breath, the impossible happened. A highly emotional General Musharraf handed over command of the Pakistan Army to General Ashfaq Kiyani.

It was a historical moment for the subcontinent and the world. As America slept (paraphrasing India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru's historic speech on the occasion of India getting its independence from the British, and given the time difference), Pakistan awoke to a new freedom.

Symbolically perhaps, the baton got stuck in its groove as Musharraf, with shaking hands, struggled to pull it out. Kiyani bent forward to help, but by then, even the Gods, probably moved by the poignancy of the moment, came to the rescue of the two awkward generals. The baton moved and it was handed over by General Musharraf to General Kiyani.

Musharraf thunders- even 2007 11 29

Nov. 29, 2007 (ANI)

Musharraf sheds skin and leaves his mohabbat 2007 11 28

Nov. 28, 2007 (ANI)

As most of the world watched with bated breath, the impossible happened. A highly emotional General Musharraf handed over command to General Ashfaq Kiyani. It was a historical moment for the subcontinent, the world and hopefully Pakistan. As America slept (given the time difference) Pakistan awoke to a new freedom. Symbolically perhaps, the baton got stuck in its groove as Musharraf with shaking hands struggled to pull it out. Kiyani bent forward to help but by then even the Gods, probably moved by the poignancy of the moment, came to the rescue of the two awkward Generals. The baton moved and it was handed over by General Musharraf to General Kiyani.

Dollor plunging more than Mallika's neckline 2007 11 27

Nov 27, 2007 (ANI)

No seriously, how much lower will the dollar go? It's gone lower beyond Mallika's neckline and even Rakhi Sawant's décolletage seems nun-like proper in comparison to this plunge. Is that how low it goes or further?

78% of Americans say that the economy is getting worse according to a recent Gallup report. So we poor third world types better be ready for some tough times because the greenback today looks increasingly like what the Bangladeshi Taka looked like a few years ago. It’s safe then to say, "dollar to do takey ka nahi."

Why if Karzai is given a free hand, the Afghani will be equal to the dollar. The ISI can then trade their ill-gotten dollars with the Afghani.

Longest ever honeymoon for PM 2007 11 23

New Delhi, Nov. 23, 2007 (ANI)

Dont get me wrong, this has nothing to do with Mrs. Gursharan Kaur. Its got to do with the Prime Minister and the media. The Indian media has had the longest ever live in relationship with a Prime Minister to date. Not even Rajivji got this long a date. Agreed that the media in the giddy eighties saw young Rajiv as the bright beacon dragging a kicking screaming lethargic nation into the new millennium but then the gun happened. Remember the 'B' word. It just undid everything else. Even the "hum jeetenge ya loosenge" or "naani yaad dila denge" seemed cute in front of the barrage that the Bofors gun let loose.

Indian women, do say no to layering 2007 11 21

Mumbai, November 21, 2007

Fashion magazines in the west say that layering is 'in' this winter. Wasn't it 'in' in the summer too? And studiously Indian fashionistas decide to adopt this trend in the summer. Told us to layer in the 40 degrees Celsius temperatures.

Somebody tell them stop. We in India have been 'layering' for centuries. What else is a sari for heaven's sake? Its layers and layers of fabric that loving drapes over layers and layers of adipose. We discovered 'layering' a couple of centuries before the west discovered layering.

Somebody make Gowda PM 2007 11 16

Bangalore, November 16, 2007 (ANI)

What is Deve Gowda up to? Why is he silent? These are two questions plaguing all of Karnataka and all those associated with Karnataka in New Delhi. More so in the BJP offices at Ashoka Road. Somebody make him Prime Minister and move him to Race Course Road. He could cause lesser tumult than he does in Bangalore. The Silicon City then will have more billionaires than the measly four that Forbes listed out yesterday. Why even moffusil Pune has beaten the outsourcing Mecca of the world.... it has five billionaires.

Karnataka deserves better. Poor Yedyurappa looks over his shoulder more times than even General Musharraf these days. And Yedyurappa doesn't have the Taliban after him. He only has the Gowda family. Did I say "only"? This family beats the Bush's...they simply don't go away. And they are, like the Bush family, simple people. Very simple. Remember Deve Gowda's famous boast of being "mannina maga" which translated means "son of the soil" and very loosely translated means "one who reduces all to soil" !

Kanjeevaram and fur just don't go together 2007 11 13

Moscow, November 13, 2007 (ANI)

Several women in the Prime Minister's delegation to Moscow for his 24-hour visit and not one woman in fur. Not even faux fur. And this in a city that revels in its fur fashion. Mrs Gursharan Kaur wore a black woolen overcoat most of the day while the Prime Minister preferred a gray woolen coat. His colleagues were all men, no fur there. And the media team which had a record ten women teamed their outfits with leather or woolen coats to beat the -7 degrees Celsius weather. Not one of them owned a mink coat. It’s kind of hard to combine mink with Kanjeevaram or Banarasi sarees, which is as dressy as a woman Journalist gets.

But ask Russian women what is her idea of a perfect gift and you are most likely to get a reply " a mink coat". No apologies here for anti fur lobbyists. Russians love their fur. It comes in all colours and cuts and length. Calvin Klien, Jean PaulGaultier, Roberto Cavalli or Oscar de la Renta, most international labels have experimented with fur this year. Basic colours like black, gray and white are popular but one can even spot yellow and orange in shop windows this year.

Putin packs a punch 2007 11 13

Moscow, Nov 13, 2007 (ANI)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a man of few words. He isn't given to effusive sentimentality. He was very comfortable during his two-hour-long meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who like his host, has a sphinx like exterior but packs a deadly punch when needed.

Remember his "so be it"?

And so, while the Indian media and foreign office gushed about the Indo-US nuclear accord for the better part of two years, Putin waited and watched. And then delivered the 'solar plexus' blow yesterday when he pointedly remarked on Russia being a reliable partner for India, just in case the world's most populous country and chaotic democracy

forgot how Russia has stood by it through the Pakistan wars and Kashmir and Punjab secessionist movements and provided fuel for Tarapore.

Russian Troika is a happy meal that US won't like 2007 11 12

Moscow, Nov.12, 2007 (ANI)

India and Russia today jointly pledged to take forward the India-Russia-China troika forward to "promising heights." At the end of two hours of deliberations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the two leaders waxed eloquently on bilateral relations but were almost effusive in their plans for expansion of the scope of the troika. President Putin spoke of continued meeting of leaders of the three countries and Prime Minister Singh said "We attach great importance to India-Russia-China cooperation." He said the three countries have " civilizational links and there was need for new complements to this relationship." We have an obligation to work on areas of convergence" he said.

India, China and Russia account for 40 per cent of the world's population, a fifth of its economy.... a serious threat to the leader of the unipolar world of today. That is if the three countries can shed their mutual suspicion and work towards giving more concrete shape to the geo-political strategic combo. It’s a happy meal that will serve almost half the world's population. Surely worth a try. Even if the US cannot digest this happy meal.

PM lays wreath at Unknown Soldier tomb 2007 11 12

Moscow, Nov. 12, 2007 (ANI)

At the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in downtown Moscow, the Indian Prime Minister laid a wreath against the Kremlin Wall. In an essentially one-day visit, the Prime Minister had just two engagements besides his talks with President Vladimir Putin.

It’s all about energy 2007 11 11

Moscow, November 11, 2007

If there is a swagger in Vladimir Putin it has nothing to do with his six-pack, though going by photographs he could put Sharukh in OSO to shame. The swagger is due to his country's bulging oil profits and India with huge energy hunger has come abegging. Manmohan Singh knows that subsidies have to roll back and triple digit figures per barrel have India like China clawing at Russia's door. With the 123 agreement in the dock, India has to look simultaneously for other options. Russia is where it has always sought. Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu is the buzzword with the Indian delegation accompanying the Prime Minister. Two or four reactors, whatever is achievable will be worked at. India and the then Soviet Union signed an agreement in 1988 on building 2000 MW power plant at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, two are built and Moscow is offering to build four more. To build them India needs special approval from the 45 nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) because it has not signed the NPT.

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About me

I am the Editor News, at Asian News International (ANI), India's leading Multimedia News Agency and the India Correspondent for Channel News Asia, a Singapore based broadcaster.

	Bihar - Patna
	The ruins of Nalanda University lie 90 kilometres south east Patna city in Eastern India
	In India, Bihar is often called the 'area of darkness'
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