Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

The largest democratic excise in the world is again upon us. As we prepare for the General elections,2009 more than ever before the entire political setup is in flux. The largest parties have failed to get their act together and are sown by infighting and unreliable allies. We have a third front who have come together without any common agenda but just ti flex their muscles and make themselves relevant nationally. India entered the coalition era when the congress lost it's foot hold and the appeal to the grand old party got waned in the popular mind. The first test of the third front was the Janatha Party led Government in the 70's which for the first time ousted the Indira Gandhi led Congress which at the time was resented by the people for the infamous emergency. But that experiment did not last long and the people again returned the Congress to power led by Indira Gandhi. After the death of Indira Gandhi, the mantle of power was taken over by her son, Rajiv Gandhi. Later th

Well, I am back with another blog, my second this year. Lately my professional commitments had kept me well away from the net. Many things have happened in world during this time, The Satyam Fiasco, The Malegaon probes, the advent of the Hindu Social Moral enforcers and many more. I hope to deal with the subjects in detail in the future. As my first subject, I am dealing with the rise of Taliban in Pakistan.The Pakistan Government has given control of a large part of the country to the Taliban. The Taliban, literally meaning "Students" are a band of rag tag militia that found it's origin in the Afghanistan and was one of the predominant force there until ousted by the American lead operations post 9/11. These militants are dominated by Pusthoon tribals . Notorious for the following of the strictest following of Islamic laws which is even severe by normal standards, they never got recognition in Afghanistan and soon became very unpopular due to their brutal ways. they als

My first blog for the new year, what a day to start off the year than this day when my mother land celebrates her 60'Th year as one of the best, most prolific and one of the most successful democracies in the face of this earth. India has come a long way since 1950 when we became a full fledged republic. We have problems but with such a diverse country like ours, the gains that we have made is remarkable. India today stands at the cross road, treading the path few have taken before in the process joining the galaxy of nations that have made a mark for themselves in the history of humanity. Even though we claim a history of over 3000 years, India as a nation is quite young. We are still in the infancy of nation building. 60 years in the history of humanity is a Milli second and in the history of earth a nano second. We have many challenges. Poverty, hunger, malnutrition, infant mortality, providing basic necessitates  to her population are some of the challenges faced by us today. F

As India bounces back from the horrors created by the terror attacks in Mumbai , one is left wondering what is next. I know it is a little late to write about the attack but I held myself back so that I can write with an independent mind free from the pain, anguish and anger that every Indian felt deep in their hearts. India had been reeling under the repeated terrorists attacks for many years. Over the years, the audacity of these merchants of death have increased many fold. But to this day, our government have failed to device ways and strategies to successfully quell the menace of terror. What is required is a total over haul of the entire system and conceiving new strategies to deal with terror. Indian politicians have failed to deliver. You had a home minister who despite repeated terror attacks could not take any steps to counter the same. Anyway even though Sivaraj Patil was unfortunate to be in the wrong seat in the wrong time, it is undeniable that we have to take

January-20'th,2008 will be a red letter day in the history of The United States of America as Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44'th President of The United States of America. He becomes the first person from the Afro-American community to adorn the Oval office. There has been expectations on the new President as the entire world has tuned into watch each and every step of the great race for the White House. Every body knew that this election would in any way create history. It would either give America it's first Black President or would give America her first women President. And in the end it turned out be one of the greatest movements in American history. The blacks also have come a long way. From the days when they were subjected to discrimination due to their colour, the Afro-American community has over the years excelled in almost all walks of life. Now they are a dominant force in almost all fields of life that includes sports, movies, music, poli

This day today, the 22'nd day of October,2008 will be written as a red letter day in the history of Indian Space Exploration. It is because it is the day when India for the first time has launched it's space craft to the moon. In the process India joins the select league of six nations that has accomplished this might. India joins the high table of the mighty space faring nations, the envy of the world. India has stunned the world by pulling off this feat in such a short time.Even though it will take the space vehicle a good 15 days to reach moon a time that is critical, India has completed the first leg that is the successful launch on PSLV, India's tried and tested work horse. Critics question the validity of India undertaking such a mission?They argue that India which they say is poor can ill afford to invest in such a useless venture.Such persons if any are far off the mark. There are many reasons for this. The fuel resources in the earth is fast getting deplet

Well, I have been away from blogging for almost a month now and when I start up again, I would like it to be about my mother and the mother and protector of the of the Universe, Devi Durga as it is Navarathri and today being Vijayadhashami. Vijayadhashami is the day when in Kerala your ones are initiated into the world of learning with the Saraswathi Puja. Navarathri in Sanskrit means nine nights, nine nights of dance, music and celebration. If Navarathri is celebrated as Durga Puja in Bengal, then the same is celebrated as Dasera in Karnataka and and as Vidhya Arambha in Kerala. It is the celebration of the Goddess Durga, the reverence of motherhood in Hindu philosophy. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NAVA (NINE) The number nine has huge significance in Hindu tradition. There are nine planets. Like wise the Navarathri is a festivity conducted in nine nights and ten days. Each night signifies one incarnation of Durga, the Navadurga. They are: Shailaputri : May the illustrious Shailaputri Durga w

As Kerala starts preparing for celebrating the national festival of Onam, I wanted to dedicate this blog entirely to that celebration that is so integral to the life's of the Keralate. To the uninitiated, Onam or Thiruvonnam as it is rightly phrased is the celebration to commemorate the return of Mahabali. Mahabali is an ancient mythical king who was believed to have ruled Kerala in ancient times. In his kingdom, it is said that there was no hunger, no poverty and no sadness. People lived as equals and there was prosperity all around. He was so immensely popular that Lord Indira, the king of gods got jealous of him and coerced Lord Vishnu to do some thing. Under the persistent prayers of Indira, Vishnu adorned the guise of Vamana ( one of his avatars) and reached Mahabali's castle. Mahabali at that time was conducting a yaga for world domination. At that time, he was obliged to give whatever ones asks him to give. Vamana approached Mahabali and asked him for three feet

It is a historic day for India. It is the day when India got the long awaited weaver from the NSG ( Nuclear Suppliers Group). It is historic on many counts. NSG which was set up as a reaction to India's first test in Pokharan in 1974. Now that same organisation has given India a weaver that allows international commerce in nuclear and other sensitive and restrictive technology despite the fact that India's strategic weapons program remains untouched and out of bounds of the International community and agreements. India is now free to do trade in nuclear and other sensitive technology with all the major powers of the world which includes France and Russia. It is in a way acknowledgement of India's status of a responsible nuclear power. Despite India possessing advanced nuclear technology having started it's nuclear program well over five decades ago, India has never proliferated the highly exclusive technology, in other words, India has never given or tra

As the Indian Air Force wraps up the Red Flag exercise in USA and the Indian Navy starts preparation for the annual Malabar Series of Excise, let us take a movement to analyse the evolving strategic relationship between two of the world's largest and the most powerful democracies. India's relationship with the USA started picking up pace from the lowest ebb after the Shakthi series of nuclear tests conducted by India in the deserts of Rajasthan. Over the years the relations have grown in complexity and strategic reach. This year the Americans are bringing it's newest Nimitz class Aircraft Carrier, The USS Ronald Reagan along with a nuclear submarine for the annual excise code named "Malabar Excise". An Aircraft Carrier and a Nuclear Submarine are two of the greatest assets in the American Navy. To bring these assets to the war games with India shows the extent of importance the American's has for a strategic relationship with India. India on it's part i

The curtain comes down on yet another Olympics. Yet again India has come out with just one gold and two bronze medals. I hate to say that but my earlier predictions about India's performance has come true. Let us for a movement compare India with China. What is that makes China tick with over 50 gold to their credit? Is it that they are autocratic and do things better and in a more disciplined way. That seems to be the answer that one get from the India media and public at large. They say that the Chinese example of grooming it's athletes will not work in India because India is a democracy. They say that nothing can be achieved in a democratic coutry. Bit I would like to pose one simple question? Isn't USA also a democracy? The how is that the Americans have become the second largest grocer of medals in the Olympics? One thing is sure. There is something fundamentally wrong with our system. Nobody should blame our athletes. We have some of the finest athletes in the world.