A true story: In 1957, the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, visiting the office of General Thimayya, the Chief of the Army Staff, saw a steel cabinet behind his desk and asked the general what it contained. The general replied that the top drawer contained the nation’s defence plans. And the second drawer contained the confidential files of the nation’s top generals. And what about the third drawer, enquired Nehru. Ah, said the general with a straight face, the third drawer contains my secret plans for a military coup against you. Nehru laughed, but there was apparently a tinge of nervousness to his laughter.
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Popular Essays (2024)
1. Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/forests-precede-civilizations-and-deserts-follow-them/)
2. The empires of the future will be the empires of the mind. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/the-empires-of-the-future-will-be-the-empires-of-the-mind/)
3. There is no path to happiness; Happiness is the path. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/there-is-no-path-to-happiness-happiness-is-the-path/)
4. The doubter is a true man of science. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/the-doubter-is-a-true-man-of-science/)
5. Social media is triggering ‘Fear of Missing Out’ amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/social-media-is-triggering-fear-of-missing-out-amongst-the-youth-precipitating-depression-and-loneliness/)
6. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/nearly-all-men-can-stand-adversity-but-to-test-the-character-give-him-power/)
7. All ideas having large consequences are always simple. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/all-ideas-having-large-consequences-are-always-simple/)
8. The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/the-cost-of-doing-wrong-is-less-than-the-cost-of-doing-nothing/)
1. Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/forests-precede-civilizations-and-deserts-follow-them/)
2. The empires of the future will be the empires of the mind. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/the-empires-of-the-future-will-be-the-empires-of-the-mind/)
3. There is no path to happiness; Happiness is the path. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/there-is-no-path-to-happiness-happiness-is-the-path/)
4. The doubter is a true man of science. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/the-doubter-is-a-true-man-of-science/)
5. Social media is triggering ‘Fear of Missing Out’ amongst the youth, precipitating depression and loneliness. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/social-media-is-triggering-fear-of-missing-out-amongst-the-youth-precipitating-depression-and-loneliness/)
6. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but to test the character, give him power. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/nearly-all-men-can-stand-adversity-but-to-test-the-character-give-him-power/)
7. All ideas having large consequences are always simple. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/all-ideas-having-large-consequences-are-always-simple/)
8. The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing. (Link: https://decodingworldaffairs.com/the-cost-of-doing-wrong-is-less-than-the-cost-of-doing-nothing/)
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Why does USA under Trump 2.0 want to negotiate nuclear deal with Iran?
[1] Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Iran: Even a minimal agreement could achieve "freeze-for-freeze": Iran freezes nuclear advances, the U.S. freezes new sanctions.
[2] Global Oil Markets and Inflation: Stability in the Middle East means more stable oil prices. Trump has always prioritized lower energy prices and economic stability, especially heading into an election.
[3] Foreign Policy "Win": Trump loves "deal-making." A renegotiated Iran deal would let him claim a tougher, "better" version of the JCPOA.
[4] Reduce Risk of War: Tensions with Iran—especially after the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in 2020—risk sparking wider conflict.
[5] Iran Is Closer Than Ever to Nuclear Capability: Since the U.S. pulled out of the original deal in 2018, Iran has boosted uranium enrichment to 60% purity (close to weapons-grade).
[1] Preventing a Nuclear-Armed Iran: Even a minimal agreement could achieve "freeze-for-freeze": Iran freezes nuclear advances, the U.S. freezes new sanctions.
[2] Global Oil Markets and Inflation: Stability in the Middle East means more stable oil prices. Trump has always prioritized lower energy prices and economic stability, especially heading into an election.
[3] Foreign Policy "Win": Trump loves "deal-making." A renegotiated Iran deal would let him claim a tougher, "better" version of the JCPOA.
[4] Reduce Risk of War: Tensions with Iran—especially after the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in 2020—risk sparking wider conflict.
[5] Iran Is Closer Than Ever to Nuclear Capability: Since the U.S. pulled out of the original deal in 2018, Iran has boosted uranium enrichment to 60% purity (close to weapons-grade).
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How Dr Ambedkar and Gandhi were different in principles?
[1] Dr. Ambedkar wanted a progressive post-war constitution based on a big state with the authority to ensure law and order, separation of powers to prevent overreach and a range of fundamental rights to capture the global move towards universal human rights for all. Gandhi found such a constitution “entirely Western” but grasped its prospect of consensus instinctively.
[2] Dr. Ambedkar believed that India needed a powerful state machinery that could ensure law and order at the margins of the country. Gandhi on the other hand believed that a large state would be too distant from the people.
[3] For Ambedkar, the state would be duty-bound to manage the economy and control industries for the common good. But for Gandhi, self-sustaining villages based on agriculture and cottage industry were the way forward.
[4] Centuries of feudalism, sectarianism and casteism would be uprooted, in Ambedkar’s vision, through fundamental rights to life, liberty and equality for every individual. Gandhi thought differently: history could not be undone by a policy document such as a constitution — it needed individuals to change themselves.
[1] Dr. Ambedkar wanted a progressive post-war constitution based on a big state with the authority to ensure law and order, separation of powers to prevent overreach and a range of fundamental rights to capture the global move towards universal human rights for all. Gandhi found such a constitution “entirely Western” but grasped its prospect of consensus instinctively.
[2] Dr. Ambedkar believed that India needed a powerful state machinery that could ensure law and order at the margins of the country. Gandhi on the other hand believed that a large state would be too distant from the people.
[3] For Ambedkar, the state would be duty-bound to manage the economy and control industries for the common good. But for Gandhi, self-sustaining villages based on agriculture and cottage industry were the way forward.
[4] Centuries of feudalism, sectarianism and casteism would be uprooted, in Ambedkar’s vision, through fundamental rights to life, liberty and equality for every individual. Gandhi thought differently: history could not be undone by a policy document such as a constitution — it needed individuals to change themselves.
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Understanding Dr Ambedkar beyond caste calculus
1. Principal Architect of the Indian Constitution: As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, Ambedkar played a central role in framing the Indian Constitution.
2. Opposed Article 370: Dr Ambedkar was the first person to oppose the idea of Article 370. He refused to construct it. That's why the task of drafting Article 370 was given to Gopalaswami Ayangar.
3. Advocated Uniform Civil Code: Today the demand for UCC has been on the table. Dr. Ambedkar was adamant for UCC to bring equity within the religion. Since the leadership didn't agree, he achieved at least Hindu Code Bill in return.
4. Champion of economic transformation: Advocacy for state-led industrialization and public sector enterprises. Also, he submitted recommendations to form RBI (Reserve Bank of India) through the Hilton Young Commission.
5. Anticipated Chinese intention much before: Dr. Ambedkar was critical of Nehru's friendly approach to Communist China and taking a non-alignment position preventing India to develop close ties with the democratic US. Today India is doing the same.
1. Principal Architect of the Indian Constitution: As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, Ambedkar played a central role in framing the Indian Constitution.
2. Opposed Article 370: Dr Ambedkar was the first person to oppose the idea of Article 370. He refused to construct it. That's why the task of drafting Article 370 was given to Gopalaswami Ayangar.
3. Advocated Uniform Civil Code: Today the demand for UCC has been on the table. Dr. Ambedkar was adamant for UCC to bring equity within the religion. Since the leadership didn't agree, he achieved at least Hindu Code Bill in return.
4. Champion of economic transformation: Advocacy for state-led industrialization and public sector enterprises. Also, he submitted recommendations to form RBI (Reserve Bank of India) through the Hilton Young Commission.
5. Anticipated Chinese intention much before: Dr. Ambedkar was critical of Nehru's friendly approach to Communist China and taking a non-alignment position preventing India to develop close ties with the democratic US. Today India is doing the same.
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