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Vivek Sinha  twitter: @viveksinha28 Quite often when a product has shortcomings its manufacturer resorts to deceptive marketing. It creates a smoke screen over the product’s limitations and marketing managers take it further by confusing and corrupting the minds of gullible people into believing that the product is not flawed, rather it is fabulous. That this is a common practice for corporations and businessmen is known, what is unknown is the fact that even historical events are subject to such devious designs. While this may sound strange, a look at the recent propaganda on Jammu Kashmir confirms this belief. The state has been a victim of countless propaganda yet the recent efforts are subtle and have the ability to confuse all and sundry. It is a historical fact that the erstwhile princely state of Jammu Kashmir acceded to India on 26 October, 1947. Yet, in the month of August this year, Congress Parliamentarian Dr Karan Singh said that Jammu Kashmir acceded to India on ...

Vivek Sinha  twitter: @viveksinha28 Certain events in a nation’s history are etched deep in its collective consciousness and have the potential to set the tone for future narratives. Quite often, we Indians have squandered away the positive opportunities presented by history and clung on to the negatives, only to remain as a self-doubting country that debates and discusses frivolous concerns and skirts the real issues. Great civilizations are built only when public opinion is shaped by historical events and the discourse is turned towards cohesive national development. As a nation, we must learn to identify and build upon such opportunities. Indian Army’s lethal strikes on September 29 on the terrorist base camps in PoJK (Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir) is one such historical opportunity. These strikes happened within days after the Pak-Army trained mercenaries attacked the Indian Army camp at Uri, in Jammu Kashmir. The counter-attacks by the Indian Army gave the message loud...

Vivek Sinha  twitter: @viveksinha28 Oftentimes perceptions are contrary to the truths. This happens, when systematic efforts are made to create a smokescreen to hide the real picture and then dole out camouflage as reality. Nowhere is this more visible than in the Kashmir Valley. Over the years a ‘perception’ has been assiduously built that local Kashmiri, especially the youth of Jammu Kashmir, is alienated with India and they support and endorse terrorist attacks like the one in Uri on September 18. This ‘perception management’ has been going on for several years, thanks to the well-oiled network of spin doctors and opinion managers across media houses in the Kashmir Valley and in Delhi. The arrangement works in such a way that opinion, especially the Separatists’ viewpoint, is passed upon as news from the Valley. It is hardly reported that these Pakistan sympathiser Kashmiri Separatists are a mere handful and they do not enjoy the support of the masses. This misinformation c...

Wilful corporate defaulters need to be rooted out from the public sector banks to reduce their NPA and create a business friendly environment for entrepreneurs Vivek Sinha NPA (non-performing asset) has always been a dreadful word in the banking industry but these days this three-lettered acronym is giving sleepless nights to India’s top bankers. The banks, especially public sector ‘sarkari’ ones, have been at receiving end both from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and economists for mismanaging their bad debt and even as debates and discussions focus on the lost wealth another crisis is just looming on the horizon. And this is the  possibility of a slow and painful demise of entrepreneurial spirit. Dreadful as it may sound but the prospect is real and requires urgent steps. Loan disbursal and business-growth are closely related as all enterprises require money. But when debt-repayments do not come back, banks become wary of further lending thereby stifling a source of capital requ...

Vivek Sinha Simmering undercurrents, if left unaddressed, quite often leads to sudden and disastrous outbursts. A case in point is the ongoing conflict at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar. In what could have been a minor scuffle among students over India’s loss in the T20 cricket tourney, has now been turned into a battleground by secessionist forces at the engineering college in capital town of Jammu & Kashmir.   The trigger came in on March 31st, when West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons lofted a six in the last over to beat India in the semi-finals of a nail-biting cricket match. Across the world Indian fans felt dejected. Ditto at the NIT campus where students appeared crestfallen at India’s loss and mood at the institute turned gloomy. At the same time, NIT campus also echoed with slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad”, “Hindustan Murdabad” and "Azadi". Very soon crackers started bursting. So, if the hosteliers were morose, the local Kashmiri Sunni students ...

Vivek Sinha I vividly remember that Sunday afternoon when I was loitering in the neighborhood along with other children. We were school students then and apart from cricket the other topic of our passionate discussion was the ongoing agitation at Ayodhya. A few minutes into our discussion, we saw a hefty man running towards us. He was panting. Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he repeatedly yelled  “Jai Shri Ram”.  Before we could react, several others in our locality had joined in and roared back  “Jai Shri Ram”.  Within minutes almost everybody, including me and my friends, were chanting  “Jai Shri Ram”  in unison. This day was December 6 th  1992. The Babri Structure at Ayodhya had been demolished and news spread like wild fire. Conch shells were blowing, sweets were distributed,  diyas  and candles were lighted. This was the scene and extent of celebrations at a small colony in Kanpur an industrial town some 220 kilometers f...