Two thirds majority in the Rajya Sabha for the J&K resolutions. Who would have thought? I admire the parties that stood with the NDA for their stand in the interests of the nation. BSP, TRS, AAP, TDP, YSRCP and BJD - you did the right thing by keeping aside political differences. Salute ! As for my friends on social media who see a Hindu conspiracy in this historic move - 1. You have neither read/understood Dr.Ambedkar nor have any respect for emotions and aspirations of common people. 2.You want all migrants to the North East be given citizenship irrespective of when the illegal migration happened, but you don't want lakhs of residents of J&K since 1948 be given permanent citizenship. 3.You oppose imagined majoritarian tendencies in the rest of the country and in Indian polity, but support the rabidly majoritarian Wahabi militant fascism in the Kashmir valley. 4.You agitate for the plight of the SCs and STs in rest of the country, but ignore the travails of Valm
'Mini Switzerland' - The Baisaran valley near Pahalgam has been the scene for dozens of Indian films. The four ponies we were on - all had their own individual character. The one I was riding 'Shera', and the one my wife was on - 'Mastani' - both were Amarnath yatra horses and used to carry heavy riders. Shera was circumspect in crossing little streams, and would take one gingery step first, and then do the crossing. Mastani, however, was a little more adventurous and would leap across, making Lakshmi worry for her balance and safety. But the real heroes were the ponies bearing my children. They seemed to be extremely well trained, and were enjoying themselves a lot, leading from the front, going away in a different direction, and then responding to their minders' calls, and coming back to join us. We were initially worried for the kids' safety because the minders just let those two horses do their own thing, and stayed with our horses. The chil