Kanchan’s Blog

True leaders lead, inspire trust, focus on people. “To devote your life to the good of all and to the happiness of all is religion,” says Swami Vivekananda.  At cross-roads today, India needs to pick the right leadership and regain its faith in ‘Satyameva Jayate’. Kanchan Banerjee True leaders lead, inspired by their beliefs, which form a religion on its own Yes, it’s ideas trapped in the minds of most powerful humans that have liberated the world forever. Good and bad. Hitler and Mandela: one wanted to enslave, the other to free. Einstein wondered if future human societies would be wandering in posterity if not for Mahatma ...

By Kanchan Banerjee The lure of India is historic. One can trace the journey over the centuries and how western people came to view India. Gone are the days when voyagers from Europe went searching for India, for a brighter future by sailing across seas. Remember that Europe especially people of England around 15th century, was poverty-stricken, controlled by the orthodox churches; hence there was an urgent need to go out in search of  religious, economic and political freedom.  With that as prime force, and a dash of adventure, many courageous souls sailed out for the unknown. Christopher Columbus missed ...

The land of Chanakya is often undermined by her people who have less faith in its bureaucratic culture. Many times people say that no matter what, a communist country like China and a capitalist nation like the US can be an epitome of patriotism. Sometimes the democratic formalities may appear to be a form of dictatorship by the ruling and the rich few, aided and abetted by unscrupulous bureaucrats that hurt their feeling towards the government and the nation – a thought shared by many Indians privately. ...

Just like the new technology in this day and age, science fictions are losing their shelf life faster. We are used to Gen-Ex fictions in our life today. The development of science and technology, and the tools available even to those in the lowest economic strata at times allow experiencing the mixed feeling between science and fiction. Imagine a rickshaw-puller, on his cell phone, is checking Delhi’s weather forecast early in the morning to plan his day! Many such tools are available to people that were unimaginable about 50 years ago. There hangs the tale of using Nature’s hidden power ...

The Indian ‘festival of lights’ Diwali is being celebrated worldwide now and it has become official event at the House of Commons and the White House. Diwali is a joyous celebration of the triumph of good over evil. However to many it is just another occasion to enjoy life, and the responsibility of fighting the evil is delegated to some god! Today I find a reason and an opportune moment to introspect. A seven-year old girl, innocence glowing on her face, hands shaking, tears welling up in her eyes and speechless meets her father for the first time, who just ...

The United States recently gave another billion-dollar aid to Pakistan, the key ally in its war against terror, within a few hours after Michael Mullen, recently retired US Navy admiral who served as the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — lashed out at Islamabad for its complicity with the terror network. His candid comments hinted at — ”we are funding a terrorist state”. Afterwards, former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Peter Tomsen said: ‘The United States cannot afford to indulge Pakistan’s support for terrorism any longer. The risks of sticking with the status quo are greater than the ...

Apple founder Steve Jobs, who did not care to share his physical pain induced by pancreatic cancer as much as he did his creativity and innovation to which he dedicated his life, died at a relatively young age of 56. In the face of things, it’s a great loss. However, he leaves behind a telling message, an inspiration – ‘life is worth living’. He proved what Swami Vivekananda said: ”…how long is this life for? As you have come into the world, leave some mark behind. Otherwise, where is the difference between you and the trees and stones?” (Vivekananda’s impact ...

Fasting has become fashionable these days in India. And political motives are outscoring religious ones, thanks to Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and Narendra Modi. Young people are getting the taste of the homegrown Gandhian tool. An American friend of mine told me that it would be a great idea in America, if a large number of obese could observe this regularly. My answer was that India had already joined the band wagon of obesity. Fasting is already a part of religion and culture of India, but obesity is increasing! ...

When the whole world, particularly the US prepares to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 911 terror strikes, the news of Delhi High court attack captures headlines for a couple of days and then fades away to the recesses of history. As if people are immune to insane killings, mainly because they have accepted it as a fact of life. Many, however, see in it an utter surrender to the evil works of the ancestors of the terror leaders of past. The history or terror, that the Indian subcontinent has dealt with started with Bin Qasim and then came Ghori. ...