Ravi S. Iyer: Worldly

Last update on 16th Dec. 2016 We have the famous saying that history is written by the victors which I think would have been true for 19th century and earlier, dominant historical accounts of many of the 19th century and earlier wars and empires. Perhaps that holds good for some of the 20th century wars and empires/countries as well. But today in the early 21st century, especially with the proliferation of social media and independent social media writers (I like to think that in the past few years I have become one of them :-)), it is not so easy for victors either in wars, or political campaigns, or in succession struggles to business empires or even spiritual movements, to suppress truth about negative aspects of the winners and positive aspects of the losers, and provide a dominant historical narrative of their war/succession struggle/political campaign which is only their view of what happened. But for those who want to be part of the winning dispensation and enjoy and exerc...

Shashi Tharoor strikes back at the British Raj, by Salil Tripathi, http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/LaKl8M7mYQo7lfHKI7qcAN/The-empire-strikes-back.html , Nov. 29th 2016 The bald truth is — the Raj ruined us, by Uday Balakrishnan, http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/books/uday-balakrishnan-reviews-an-era-of-darkness-by-shashi-tharoor/article9391768.ece , Nov. 27th 2016 Here is the webpage for the book at its publishers website, http://www.alephbookcompany.com/book/an-era-of-darkness-the-british-empire-in-india .

Last updated on 1st Dec. 2016 Today's The Hindu had extensive coverage of tributes to Fidel Castro, and some coverage of celebration in Miami USA over Castro's death. The striking article for me was this one: Cuba loses its El Comandante, India a friend by Natwar Singh, former External Affairs minister (foreign minister) of India. The article is subtitled, "India held a special place in the heart of the revolutionary icon, with a succession of Prime Ministers experiencing the warmth of his friendship". Here's the link: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Cuba-loses-its-El-Comandante-India-a-friend/article16707820.ece . The author writes that Nehru surprised young Castro by going to meet Castro in the hotel in Harlem, New York city, that had welcomed him after he was denied hotel accommodation in upmarket parts of New York city, at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the UN in 1960. But it was under Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi that India and Cu...

Last updated on 14th Dec. 2016 Clinton campaign will participate in Wisconsin recount, with an eye on ‘outside interference,’ lawyer says, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/11/26/clinton-campaign-will-participate-in-wisconsin-recount-with-an-eye-on-outside-interference-lawyer-says/ , Nov. 26th 2016 The above article states that the Clinton campaign will participate in the Wisconsin recount, which has been initiated by Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. Stein is also attempting to have a recount in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Clinton's campaign lawyer Elias said that if Stein succeeds in having a recount in the latter two states, the Clinton campaign would participate in those recounts too. But Elias also indicated that the possibility of a recount changing the general election for President outcome is low. He said, "We do so fully aware that the number of votes separating Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the closest of these states  ...

Given below are the short contents and pics from USA Embassy in India's Facebook post, https://www.facebook.com/India.usembassy/posts/1138905942892100 , dated Nov. 26th 2016. Resiliency in the face of terror. Remembering the brave Indians and Americans who lost their lives 8 years ago in Mumbai. #26/11 Above pic: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visit a memorial for the victims who died in the Nov. 26, 2008 terrorist attack at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 6, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Above pic: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama signed a guest book at the memorial for the victims who were killed in the Nov. 26, 2008 terrorist attack at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 6, 2010.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Message of above pic in text: We will always remember the events of 26/11; not only the sorrow, but also the courage and humanity ...

Donald Trump's Son Visits Temple in Orlando - Full Video | Eric trump visits temple, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8idyKgK1bY , around 4 mins, published Nov. 6th 2016 Ravi: Hmm. It is nice to see Mr. Eric Trump even offer Arati to Hindu deities. That does show a willingness to reach out to people of religions other than his own (Christianity). I appreciate that outreach of Mr. Eric Trump. Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me having voted in these elections.

Republicans Divided Between Romney and Giuliani for Secretary of State, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/24/us/politics/donald-trump-mitt-romney-rudy-giuliani-state.html , Nov. 24th 2016 A short extract from the article above: The most publicly vocal faction has been the group opposed to Mr. Romney, which has questioned whether he would be loyal after his searing criticism of Mr. Trump during the campaign. But Mr. Trump himself has told aides that he believes Mr. Romney “looks the part” and would make a fine secretary of state, a senior Trump official said on Thursday. Mr. Trump, who is always difficult to read and is capable of changing his mind at any minute, has also praised Mr. Giuliani in recent conversations with acquaintances. --- end extract --- Ravi: As an Indian living in India, I think the most important position in Mr. Trump's cabinet, after President Trump himself, that would influence India's relations with the USA, is that of Secretary of State. So I am par...

Interesting profile of designated USA ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Nikki Haley’s Path: From Daughter of Immigrants to Trump’s Pick for U.N., http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/us/nikki-haley-donald-trump-un-ambassador.html , Nov. 23rd 2016 Ravi: As an Indian, I find this to be a very interesting development. When she does become USA ambassador to the UN I think it will be the most influential position in USA government a person of Indian origin would have held in USA history. [She is born in the USA. Her  parents are Indian immigrants to the USA from the North Indian state of Punjab.] And, since it is the UN, her role will influence the world, to some significant extent. As the article notes, she came into international spotlight with her pivotal role in getting the South Carolina government to remove the confederate battle flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House, in the wake of the horrific ki...

This post has some disturbing content. Readers who prefer to avoid such content are advised to skip reading the rest of this post. Ravi: I condemn the views espoused by Richard Spencer in a recent speech in Washington D.C. (close to the White House) whose speech transcript snippets I have given below. I decided to provide these transcript snippets to clearly show the danger that Spencer's alt-right movement represents to USA and perhaps to some European countries as well where some of their white supremacists are looking up to USA's alt-right. I have given some additional comments of mine at the bottom of the post Richard Spencer - NPI 2016, Full Speech, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq-LnO2DOGE , 32 min 37 secs, published Nov. 21st 2016. Around 21 min: The Left couldn't decide this year whether America was already great or whether it was never great. Is America some noble, multi-racial experiment that belongs to the entire world? Or is it the product of conquest a...

Last updated on 22nd Nov. 2016 Tech Worker Visas Face Uncertain Future Under Trump, Sessions, http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tech-worker-visas-face-uncertain-future-under-trump-sessions-n686631 , Nov. 21st 2016 The article above describes possible challenges that Indian tech companies may face in getting H1-B visas for their tech workers to work in the USA, under a Trump administration with Senator Jeff Sessions as the Attorney-General. The article states that 65,000 H1-B visas are issued every year by the USA to foreign workers (mostly or entirely through companies having those workers as its employees). Another 20,000 foreign graduate-student workers are also admitted to the USA per year under H1-B visa. Sessions has long wanted to cut down on these visas, according to the article. It quotes Sessions as saying in February 2016, "Thousands of U.S. workers are being replaced by foreign labor". The article mentions major Indian software consultancy firms, Ta...

Last updated on 21st Nov. 2016 The article, Ringside With Steve Bannon at Trump Tower as the President-Elect's Strategist Plots "An Entirely New Political Movement" (Exclusive), http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steve-bannon-trump-tower-interview-trumps-strategist-plots-new-political-movement-948747 , dated Nov. 18th 2016 has some important words of Mr. Stephen Bannon, announced as a senior White House aide to Mr. Trump in his near-future presidential administration. Mr. Stephen Bannon says in the interview, "I'm not a white nationalist, I'm a nationalist. I'm an economic nationalist". I think that makes Bannon's stand quite clear. He implies he is not a white supremacist. He holds an "America First" kind of nationalist view which I think is very much in line with Mr. Donald Trump's election campaign. Bannon adds, "The globalists gutted the American working class and created a middle class in Asia. The issue now is ...