Muslim Prez, Sikh PM, Christian Power Center: It happens only in India?!

U

UltiTruth

In pursuit...
Registered Senior Member
The current Indian President is a muslim and is one of the most adored people in the country. There are campaigns currently running to have him in the post for a second term.

The current Indian Prime Minister is a Sikh and is a respected economist, credited with economic reform of the country.

The president of the ruling Indian National Congress that the PM belongs to, and who is the real power center is an Italian Christian.

Chief ministers and governors of different states of the country belong to different faiths.

Not to mention, the country is secular, with a Hindu majority and fair representation of every religion on the earth.

1. Can this situation ever happen in any other country in the world- democratic or otherwise?

2. Do you see this a sign of maturity or that of a lack of long term vision?

Thanks.
 
Truly, this can happen only in India. :)

Thanks, I had not even realised it!

I think what this says is that Indians are truly secular and above petty minded insular thinking. We have elected to choose candidates of a party led by a woman who is not born in India and is an Italian Christian, a Sikh and a Muslim based on their merit for the post.

This clearly indicates that we are looking to the growth and development of the country rather than succumb to the fundamentalism that the rest of the world seems to be absorbed with.

But then we've never been a country that places religious insularity over national progress. Witness the ease with which divorce, abortion, stem cell culture etc have been adopted by Indians, inspite of our intensely religious culture. Those who wish not to adopt these practices simply choose not to do so, leaving available the option for those who wish to.

I am so proud to be a part of this magnificient culture!
 
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Why is an Italian ruling India? That sounds like Catholic conspiracy material to me :p
 
Zephyr said:
Why is an Italian ruling India? That sounds like Catholic conspiracy material to me
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You can take the Italian out of India, but you cannot take India out of the Italian. ;)

Before:
sonia_gandhi.jpg


After:
sonia%20gandhi.jpg
 
samcdkey said:
Truly, this can happen only in India. :)

Thanks, I had not even realised it!

I think what this says is that Indians are truly secular and above petty minded insular thinking. We have elected to choose candidates of a party led by a woman who is not born in India and is an Italian Christian, a Sikh and a Muslim based on their merit for the post.

This clearly indicates that we are looking to the growth and development of the country rather than succumb to the fundamentalism that the rest of the world seems to be absorbed with.

But then we've never been a country that places religious insularity over national progress. Witness the ease with which divorce, abortion, stem cell culture etc have been adopted by Indians. Those who wish not to adopt these practises simply choose not to do so, leaving available the option for those who wish to.

I am so proud to be a part of this magnificient culture!
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:)

And doesn't reality contrast a lot with the kind of image most people seem to be having of the country?
 
UltiTruth said:
:)

And doesn't reality contrast a lot with the kind of image most people seem to be having of the country?
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To be fair, its hard for people to understand what they have never experienced.

I just wish more Indians realised the inestimable value of the long and continuous Indian tradition of acceptance of all good things in other cultures without sacrificing the essence and diversity of our own.
 
samcdkey said:
I think what this says is that Indians are truly secular and above petty minded insular thinking.
But then we've never been a country that places religious insularity over national progress.
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How does that reconcile with the decades, perhaps centuries, of class-divided India in the past?
How do you say those things and still have a horrid history that included "The Untouchables"?

National progress? As I read it, India went to shit after the English left and they had a very bloody history until only recently.
National progress? What's the percentage of Indian citizens who don't even have sanitary sewer, potable water supplies and electricity to their homes?

National progress? Then why are so many Indians coming to America for a fine education?
National progress? How many Indians move to the USA ...and why, if India is such a great place to be?

samcdkey said:
...we are looking to the growth and development of the country rather than succumb to the fundamentalism that the rest of the world seems to be absorbed with.
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If that's true, then what's with the recent terrorist attacks in Bombay? And what of the open conflicts between the various religions in India that have recently sparked anew?

samcdkey said:
I am so proud to be a part of this magnificient culture!
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People should be proud of their country. But don't overlook the warts as you gaze upon her beauty ...you might find yourself shocked if they ever come to light for you.

samcdkey said:
Truly, this can happen only in India.
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No, it can and does happen in many countries of the world. Brazil comes to mind, of course, but there are others. No, Sam, India is a fine nation, but it's far from being the "only" nation.

Baron Max
 
Baron Max said:
How does that reconcile with the decades, perhaps centuries, of class-divided India in the past?
How do you say those things and still have a horrid history that included "The Untouchables"?
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That is precisely the contrast that is being talked about. Despite the greatly magnified image of a horrid history, the reality is quite different.
Baron Max said:
National progress? As I read it, India went to shit after the English left and they had a very bloody history until only recently.
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Yes, the british sucked all the sap and it did take a while to recuperate. But it is acknowledged that the comeback has been a fantastic story.
Baron Max said:
National progress? What's the percentage of Indian citizens who don't even have sanitary sewer, potable water supplies and electricity to their homes?
National progress? Then why are so many Indians coming to America for a fine education?
National progress? How many Indians move to the USA ...and why, if India is such a great place to be?
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You are talking about national progress in terms of physical development, where there is a lot yet to be achieved. What is being highlighted is the maturity of thought people have.
Secondly, national progress is relative to time. Hasn't there been a massive progress from the time of independence? Yes, many Indians do go to America for education - it is one of the many options available to them - and it is a miniscule percent. But aren't indian institutes much sought after? It is a question of demand and supply.
Baron Max said:
If that's true, then what's with the recent terrorist attacks in Bombay? And what of the open conflicts between the various religions in India that have recently sparked anew?
People should be proud of their country. But don't overlook the warts as you gaze upon her beauty ...you might find yourself shocked if they ever come to light for you.
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The warts and conflicts are definitely there. Just because there have been tube blasts in London, we cannot label London as a communally sensitive city, can we? Same with 9/11. I think we need to see the disturbances in proportion and isolation.
If the public at large had such narrow lines of thinking, would it have been possible to have these people at the helm?
Baron Max said:
No, it can and does happen in many countries of the world. Brazil comes to mind, of course, but there are others. No, Sam, India is a fine nation, but it's far from being the "only" nation.
Baron Max
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Can you state examples, please? This is interesting.

Thanks.
 
Baron Max said:
How does that reconcile with the decades, perhaps centuries, of class-divided India in the past?
How do you say those things and still have a horrid history that included "The Untouchables"?

National progress? As I read it, India went to shit after the English left and they had a very bloody history until only recently.
National progress? What's the percentage of Indian citizens who don't even have sanitary sewer, potable water supplies and electricity to their homes?

National progress? Then why are so many Indians coming to America for a fine education?
National progress? How many Indians move to the USA ...and why, if India is such a great place to be?
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All examples of how the British tore apart the fabric of the country (except for the untouchability which was a leftover from a corruption of the varna system and is quite definitely being dealt with. We have already had a Prime Minister who was from this caste, so what does that prove?)

In just 60 years since independence, India has risen above the religious divisiveness and extreme poverty and poor education that it was plunged into by the divide and rule British for 200 years. And right now, we are in the process of catching up with the rest of the world. Rest assured, we will do it.


If that's true, then what's with the recent terrorist attacks in Bombay? And what of the open conflicts between the various religions in India that have recently sparked anew?
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Yes, what of it? What news have you heard about these terrorist attacks. Can you tell me what the impact of these attacks has been on the political and foreign policy of the country?

People should be proud of their country. But don't overlook the warts as you gaze upon her beauty ...you might find yourself shocked if they ever come to light for you.
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Haha This from the person who does not want too many blacks and Muslims living too close to him:D

No, it can and does happen in many countries of the world. Brazil comes to mind, of course, but there are others. No, Sam, India is a fine nation, but it's far from being the "only" nation.

Baron Max
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Brazil has a Muslim prez? Or a Hindu/Buddhist/Sikh one? Who is he/she? What other examples are there? Do tell.:D
 
UltiTruth said:
But isn't and wasn't that her only qualification for the top post?
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I don't believe that. I remember people were clamoring for her to join the Congress following the assassination of her husband by a suicide bomber in 1991 and she refused. It was only in 1998 that she officially took charge of the party and has been working tirelessly to focus on the common person's plight and even after her party unexpectedly won the elections in 2004, she refused the post of Prime Minister.

Members of the opposition party have used her foreign birth, her change in citizenship only after 15 years of marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, her poor fluency with Hindi (which she has since overcome), etc to target her several times, but every time she has stood for elections she has campaigned on behalf of the common man and has won overwhelming support from the people. It was on her initiative and suggestion that Dr Manmohan Singh, an economist was selected as Prime Minister and we all know the strides the country has made under his leadership.

I think the fact thats she refused to capitalise from her husband's death, has opted to remain behind the scene and work for the country plus her visible efforts in conforming to expectations of propriety(she conducts herself like a conservative Hindu widow) and her strength, resolution and dignity in the face of mud slinging by the opposition have done far more to gain her the popular vote than her husband's death in 1991.
 
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UltiTruth said:
How is this relevant to the topic, Ayodhya? Can you explain please.
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Huh? How can it NOT be relevant? Are you saying/implying that bribery and corruption is okay in a government? And with such bribery and corruption, the national government of India can still be a great and wonderful government?????

Baron Max
 
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