My thoughts about the nuclear deal

Let me start from the very starting and explain why I think, what I do think.

This Indo-US deal basically states that the US of A will make some ammendments in its own Nuclear control and export laws specifically for India, lifting curbs on export on nuclear fuel and ~technology that had been imposed way back in the late 70's (don't know the exact year..) India, which has shown an impressive record of non-violation of any international laws pertaining to nuclear armament save a couple of nuclear testings, and which has shown to the world that it is indeed a responsible nuclear nation, will according to the treaty be bestowed all the privileges of a globally accepted nuclear nation and that too without signing the NPT. All that India has to do in return is to agree to be placed under the same scanner as the other nuclear nations. This includes, among other things, a complete separation of India's military and civilian nuclear programmes and henceforth, placing the civilian facilities under the IAEA safeguards.

Now this is where the problem arises. The bone of contention is this separation of the civilian and military facilities. The problem is two-fold.

One, who decides as to what's civil and what's military? India (rightly) thinks that it is their prerogative. The US think otherwise. According to them the civilain list must include all facuilities including experimental & research installations, which are not directly related to nuclear weapons. This choice has to be made carefully, keeping in mind the strategic importance of India's military nuclear programme and the fact that in India , both civilian and military programmes are, well, quite entangled, which takes us to the second problem.

In India, never has nuclear research been classified into civilian research or military research. Our scientists don't exactly work full-time on either. Our nuclear programme is one monolithic mass encompassing all aspects of nuclear science that are currently of any significance to the country. Scientists, presently, work on their own research projects and whatever reults are thrown up are incorporated into the approppriate technology/field, be it for civilian purposes or for military ones. This is not to say that there is no larger plan being followed, it's just that we don't have any clearly demarcated civilian or weapon related installations or programmes. All of our military programmes are but individual resarches that have been carried out by certain teams within the larger framework of academic and civilan research.

Now, do you see the problem?? If US has its say, it will put all of our nuclear establishments into the civilian category. And what would that do?? Place all our establishments under the purview of the IAEA, which is what no country can ever accept!!

Indeed, some version of this has long been US' aim and its only now that they have got around to try and fulfill it. And coupled with this is the fact that they badly need a prospective superpower in South Asia to counter their biggest emerging threat, CHINA. It is an open secret that the US, in the longer run, sees India as nothing but a strategic partner to counter the effect of China. And the irony of the situation is the fact that the Indian think-tank is well aware of it, but can't do a thing, as at this moment India badly needs US support to further its nuclear programme whihc is on the verge of an untimely death due to lack of enriched fuel.

Indeed, even if we had been in Manmohan Singh's place, we would have been as hard pressed as he is to find any alternative for a way out of the current scenario. Reject the help offered by US, and ,well, I don't need to say what the consequences might be. Accept it and, well, we might get around to seeing that soon, won't we??

What's gonna happen next in this wierd scenario?? Wait and watch !!

What perspective?

I was under the impression that this blog was created for all of us to get to know EACHOTHER better, on a deeper, more personal level...
As far as my previous post goes, it was written in a jocular vein and I hope nobody took it too seriously.
I for one am an apolitical person and therefore, totally detest discussing things such as the Indo-Pak issue and their ilk. I would, however, like to discuss more meaningful issues that concern humanity in general... religion, spirituality etc..... let's see if we can turn the discussion towards such issues. I am aware of the fact though, that Gaurav and Danish - two of the most vociferous debaters on political issues whom I am aware of - are a part of this blog, but I still think that you people still have time to reform! ;)

nuclear deal

quote
"From what little I have been able to gather from the various tit-bits that keep making guest appearances in the newspapers, the agreement does not really give India many opportunities to develop its indigenous nuclear-enabled power generation and associated (or otherwise) research??"
unquote

From what I understood, the agreement says that nuclear facilities which recieve fuel and/or technology from other countries have to be placed under international safeguards. The rest can continue as India pleases, also new plants can be established and if these do not recieve any inputs (in terms of fuel or technology) from other countries, any kind of work/research can be done in these facilities. In the facilities under international safeguards we should be able to do some research( I am not very sure if the agreement prohibits this or not).

But whatever the case may be, the fact is power infrastructure in the country is in a very bad shape. When the capital itself reels under frequent power cuts, one can only imagine the situation in the rural areas. This deal enables India to obtain necessary fuel and vital technological inputs from abroad. Hence all in all I consider there are more positives for us than negatives, if any.

Lets have some perspective Guys!!

First of all, what's ROFL?? And second of all, let's just close this discussion about my cribbing completely. We could go on for ages, and besides this is not what I had in mind, while agreeing to anish about the blog.. We have ample time in college to talk about this seeing that we haven't been attending any classes even if we are at college.. So, let's take the discussion there instead.

Waise, was talking to Danny abouyt it some time back. Am I alone in thinking that the US is actually taking India for a ride in this nuclear-deal?? I mean, yeah, the foreign ofiice, the PM et al have brains, but aren't we losing perspective?? From what little I have been able to gather from the various tit-bits that keep making guest appearances in the newspapers, the agreement does not really give India many opportunities to develop its indigenous nuclear-enabled power generation and associated (or otherwise) research??

Your views guys...

P.S. : Maddy, if you really want a laugh, I'll get you some more of Mithun's movies. They would definitely be more amusing than my posts. Plus, I'll throw in Himanshu's PC too. So u could really have a laugh while crashing it...!!!

ROFL!

Obivan's last post just has me in splits! And by the way, Obi ol' boy, that post of yours just weakened your position by many notches.
Okay, you're called a cribber by everyone but that doesn't mean that you go on explaining why you shouldn't be called so... you almost have an essay there! And use all the euphemisms that you may ("I don't crib, I complain"), the bottomline is, you do crib. The post before the previous one is proof of that...
The problem with you is that you take everything too seriously... okay, you didn't do well on a mock test, big deal! You didn't get a job in company X, get over it! You have every right to be disappointed, by don't go harping on about these things... and most of all, don't go on berating yourself... that is the worst thing to do. The faster you ACCEPT the obstacles that come in your way, the faster you can find a way AROUND them. And please, do something about our sensitivity to failure.

ag and john at it again

hmm... you two never stop!

abhinav you do crib a lot, more than most people, but its not such a bad thing. i think your cribbing makes you work harder and hence be successful. and as you said, you are also quite modest for a capable person like yourself. so keep cribbing.
so i suggest that instead of calling him a cribber, lets stick to 'clc' and his being g**!

waise today mush's book is coming out, and with it many new contoversies, many of them just amazing.

Fine, fine

make the blog whatever you will...but there should be no need to constantly justify its use. A person can have any number of reasons for maintaining a blog - why keep arguing whether the prime reason is correct or not? What is 'correct' here anyway?
Think of it the other way - perhaps, someone would actually like to hear from you. Maybe, what you really want to say is also useful for other people. Or, ermmm...it helps you discharge your tension in a people friendly manner. All I am saying is, there is no reason to hold back just because you think youll be perceived so-and-so, and therefore when you do write, preempt the possible attack by justifying oneself, or deflect attention through sarcasm etc(I know, I know!) - this is not a real-time strategy game!
And of course, totally agree with Abhinav on the innermost private thoughts vs public domain conflict - one must exercise self-censure, "Do unto others what I'd have them do unto me", modesty, or what-have-you.
@Obivan: You didn't spare any oppurtunity for launching "...attacks on me..." either, did you:)

And also the time to...

... clear up some misconceptions. First of all about the paradoxical-finger-pointing thingy. I agree that at times one feels the need to discharge any pent-up anger or anxiety, or a phaadu new idea or even some gossiping. After all, my last post is nothing but a superb example of the stated fact. But, I also do vehemently believe that a better place to do so, as danny also agrees, is in one's own private diary, and not, as I've said before, in the public domain. And that is not (just) because people like me, might believe, or at least be tempted to believe that the piece of literary brilliance u've just churned out is just an audacious attempt (mark my use of words john.. trying not to be too judgemental) to get the 15 minutes of cyber-fame. Instead, it is to prevent anybody from prying into my personal life which i would rather like to keep personal, thank you very much. And sometimes you can do a lot of harm by a seemingly innocuous but impulsive piece you write and publish on the net, which would have been perfectly harmless had it been confined to your mind or ur little diary (or maybe the pensieve, if only it was actually thr... (sigh)!!)

Sometimes it is much better to keep your thoughts private and even if you do feel the need to discuss, then better later than now. In fact, as the age-old adage goes, "Future generations would one day regret the use of live media. They would be saying to many things quickly that would be akin to putting their exceptionally large feet into their even larger mouth".. or something in that vein..

Well, this is what i think, or at least thought till some time back. I haven't given up this line of thinking, but if you re-read my first post, u'll see what I've written at many places. Words like "..I used to think.." and "..lately, I've been having doubts.." I hope that this does convey to you the turmoil in my brain regarding to what I believe about blogs and their need, especially as far as my need is concerned. And what I realised was this, I guess I should have mentioned it earlier only, that for quite a lot of people, a blog is definitely all that I have ever thought it to be. But, there are many many others for whom blogging is serious business, as u have mentioned in your post john. I agree with that now. To an extent, at least. And that is the reason why I actually did create this blog in the first place. Because I realised that your intentions, at least, were correct. Hope this clears everything up.

Now a second thing, which I feel the need to straighten up. And that is this reputation I seem to have acquired for cribbing non-stop. Now give me a break here guys (as this is for everybody, seeing that almost everybody who's decently close to me, reckons me to be some version or the other of the king of cribber world or something..). Let's clear this mess up. First, the simple and obvious fact. I do not crib. I complain. Verbally. Why do I do that? Why can't I keep the complaining to myself? Because that is how I discharge my tension, my anxiety (and not by blogging..). This is the only way I know to make my heart lighter because I need to hear other people's reactions and gather their advises to find out where I stand, to see whether what I feel is correct or not. I am used to thinking aloud in such situations and depending on the person whom I am talking to, I have to decide what to say:

a) If it's someone whom I am pretty close to, like our gang, then I simply tell the truth, whatever I feel. And what I feel is disappointment. So I let it out. And please don't even bother to tell me that you have never felt disappointment. You might be adept at concealing it, but i am not, and labelling me a cribber because of that.. nahhh, i don't think that's too fair, is it??

b) If it's anybody else, I try to be modest. And the only way I know to behave modestly is by appreciating the other guys and make them seem to be better than me on any day, at any given time. But sadly, here too, I am mistaken to be a cribber, a thoroughly dis-satisfied person who can't ever be content with what he has got. And hence, the nickname again.

Now, tell me. Is it really fair to call me what you do call me. OK, sometimes it gets excessive, but that's rare. I regard myself to be pretty OK in that respect, and I believe that I still do possess enough mental faculties to be able to decide the appropriate time to stop any such (cribbing) activity.. As I said earlier, Give me a break guys!! It's past the joking or teasing stage now. Its getting too much..
And yeah, u'll see my hidden talent, whatever it might be that you are searching for, once you stop cribbing about calling me a cribber.. ;-)

Waise, it did take me about 2-3 minutes to figure out that it was you john, with your new profile name and all. Pehle I was quite confused ki yeh kaun aa gaya aur aise jaanlewa shabd kaun use kar raha hai while at the same time attacking me. But the sarcasm at a few points showed me the way nevertheless..

Time to.....

...provoke some more people into responding via blog(understand the mazaak now, Deepak;)
Hmm...now, what had I thought of saying. Yes, all that about the self-obsessed, attention-seeking profile of a blogger, which everyone seems to believe in(and yet, doesn't count oneself guilty while pointing fingers at the other). I protest.
I don't think it's inherently misguided to attempt to bare one's thoughts on an online medium, accessible to all who care enough to click. I know, it's really easy to be misinterpret, to take offence at something written when half-asleep or really-mad, but sometimes, having something to express your views at is really cathartic (Abhinav take note - it means 'Emotionally purging' here, otherwise can also imply a 'strong laxative':)
I don't now about you, but there are lots of times when I really feel riled up about something or am very upbeat due to some other thing...but can find no one free to hear me out. Or when you feel really strongly about something, and wish you could do something about it - but don't know how justified your take on the subject is. Or you might have gotten some insight into something you feel might be useful for others. for Or you just got to know some juicy piece of er...news, and really have to share with someone. Or countless other little things that pop into your head at odd hours(in the AI class, in the shower, some crazy day-dream-sequence you had on the bus...) but can find noone else to share it with at the time(ok, that last might seem a bit self-obsessive...but I think I just defined most 'thass' there:) As long as no-one takes himself or what's written here very seriously, I think a blog can be a useful post-it board, where we float ideas not for someone else's approval but for their perusal - "that's what I feel, what do you think about it"....if nothing else, at least an interesting social experiment...
And Abhinav, I am still waiting to see your hidden talent(besides the not-so-well-hidden cribbing of course:)

Horrible horrible horrible day!!!

Whata perfectly horrible day!! Abe mera english me kuch karao!! scoring 14.5 in a test where everybody else is scoring atleast 25 with ease is a huge shock!! Mera kuach karao bhai log... :( :(

so johnny has finally succeded

Good work Johnny.

Though I detest typing and I agree with Ag and Maddie on blogs, still a community blog seems a nice idea, at least worth a try.

And before anything else, "glaring down donkeys" - Yeh kya Mazaak hai.

Hmmm.... I dunno actually

Now you've done it! Finally! After all that raving about creating a team blog, however useless I may find it, you have finally gone and done it! As Obivan says, quite correctly, that blogs are for people who are emotionally needy. I say, ((attention hungry)AND(net addict)OR(drowned in self pity) = blogger); it's not even a derivable law, it's a bloody axiom. I mean, who in his/her right mind would spend even five minutes a day on the internet, creating a so called "log" of sorts of their general rantings? For empathy you say, wrong! For attention. In fact, worse are the people who go on reading the blogs of random people, I mean, get out of the virtual world and get a REAL life for God's sake!
All said and done, if we really are to keep in touch, I doubt how far this blog idea will go, though it's worth a try. I mean, if Danish is coding the latest app, Deepak is looking at asses (don't mind the pun Pinky - I just reiterated what Johnny said), Gaurav's taking over STM, Obivan is cribbing his way to the Chairmanship of some company and I'm designing a Machine Translation System for all possible language pairs of the world (along with Johnny, at the same university; considering how things are going), who is going to have the time to post here?
Enough blogging about blogging... I've just wasted 10 whole minutes of my precious time on this God forsaken activity. But, you can count on me doing so in the future as well ;)

well begun is half done....

yes Obivan, definitely more interesting than the usual drivel you crank out:) And I do agree with most of what you said - in fact, I think I must have thought up some of the arguments myself, trying to convince you guys of the idea some time ago(when all everyone could say was, hmm...interesting, let's see how long Johnny keeps this up if I ignore the suggestion altogether;)

I especially agree with the thing about sticking together, no matter where we be at the moment - so though Danish may be coding the next hot-mobile app in Gurgaon, Deepak be glaring down some donkeys in his cubicle next-door, and Gaurav be teaching the STM log the Six-Sigma way, it'll be great if we can still keep in touch on a regular basis. And this way, Madhav can even give e-classes on how to keep negative emotions at bay to all of us, all the way from Stanford or someplace(what say, Maddy?;)

I believe it's really worthwhile to invest some effort and time to get used to writing for a blog(rather than dispensing our ideas and thoughts to the winds, at the back of the bus, for all co-passengers to frown at, eh Gaurav?) and I think this is a great start - anything that gets Abhinav to think positively about something is great, right? So, I hope to see more of our people using this medium in the future to express, vent and thrust their views etc - at least we have a written record of who said what?!

Now what??

Well, here it is. At long last. After so many ppl berating me for being against this whole blog phenomenon, I have decided to relent. But only so....

For long I have been one of those who believd that blogging was for the attention-seeking, or for the emotionally-deprived ones who seek to find solace on the net, while unabashedly assuming that I wasn't either. To be frank, I still do believe that I definitely not among the first kind. But of late, I have been having doubts.. Anyways, I digress.. So, I was saying that I definitely did not perceive myself to be an individual who would like to drown himself in a chullu bhar of sorrow (atleast publicly) or gloat in his own acheievements. Nor am I a sort of person who would like to disclose his life to anybody and everybody. What then is the purpose of this blog??

Well, that was the question holding me back, until the grt UC of UC, his majesty, his royal righness, the great purveyor of all deeds done and undone, suggested a nice idea. Hey, what abt a team blog?? Me, the blog-ignorant, self-confessed Tolkein loyalist and pseudo-religious fool (as some ppl describe me, not least ze divine master), was utterly bemused..

"A team blog??!! What good would that do?? Don't we all meet everyday and chat and chat abt everything under the sun (well, atleast the sun that shines over our college, so we ultimately talk abt books, cricket, rant about the exams, and some arbit discussions on israel, and the indian army) ?? Why do we need to create another apothecary of our uncherished dreams and desires? What could we possibly talk about?? Or would you like to make some apocalyptic disclosures and expect the other to do the same?? nd last but definitely not the least my dear, why do you want to subjugate the innocent reader who might stray accross our page to unending sarcasm and scathing and delirious remarks and rebukes??"

Of course I never got down to putting these thoughts down, until now. All that I managed to say then was a measly "are you crazy?? Let's study for the placements.." But since then, I have had time to think, seeing that that's all I have been doing of late. We rarely do talk about the stuff talking about, do we?? Once in a blue moon, when we both happen to be going back together (seeing that u have been getting lifts from everybody nowadays), we might talk about some new book, or something equally mundane. But nothing much constructive. Not just that, we hardly know much about each other except what we might have done in the last 4-5 years of our lives..
And before long both you and mads would have left cahsing your dreams abroad and then maybe orkut would be grossly inadequate.. ;)

So yeah, I thought it would be nice to keep a blog which we can all access, and talk about stuff.. We can all properly communicate, which we haven't really until now. And maybe the army nd navy dudes can start discussing anythng they want about the armed forces without us getting vehemently bored and feeling either suicidal or tempted by murderous thoughts.

So, as I said, here goes. And enfin I finish what I had to say. And dedicate this blog to us all. What we choose to do with this is in our own hands. But what it will ultimately become, I have not the answer.. There, sounding larger than life again, so I'll simply say ki chalo, atleast we have started, and at the risk of sounding incredibly cliched "aage aage dekhte hai hota hai kya!!"

CHEERIO!!

AB