India was an imagined idea:PM Manmohan Singh

[ajtr]

Consider the very creation of this blessed Republic of India. India was an imagined idea. We were a sub-continent divided at the time of independence. But through hard work, through wise leadership we have became a nation united.

'As Prime Minister, I sometimes feel like a high school student' - Rediff.com News

 

[StingRoy]

Imagined idea... A reality today

 

[LaBong]

Republic of India is one of a kind. We will fight to end against right wing loonies of every society, cast and faith to make it a reality, if it's already not one.

 

[darkhand08]

Yes agreed....Right Wing Nationalism and Discrimination has to be contained before it empowers more.......also more emphasis on Education which is the single most important factor which will actually make the youth of India resourceful and united...

 

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

'As Prime Minister, I sometimes feel like a high school student' - Rediff.com News

i will have to disagree on this concept of "imagined" india.

india was always there many many centuries before christ. remember "MAHABHARAT".

the word bhaarat is derived from name of famous king "bharat".
we were united for many centuries. india as a nation was there in "maurya" and "gupta" times.

if u have read chanakya's texts he uses words "bhaarat" on many occassions.

we lost our way in middle ages wen smaller states were created.

 

[LaBong]

i will have to disagree on this concept of "imagined" india.

india was always there many many centuries before christ. remember "MAHABHARAT".

the word bhaarat is derived from name of famous king "bharat".
we were united for many centuries. india as a nation was there in "maurya" and "gupta" times.

if u have read chanakya's texts he uses words "bhaarat" on many occassions.

we lost our way in middle ages wen smaller states were created.

We are talking about 'Republic of India' here.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

"All the forces in the world are not so powerful as an idea whose time has come."

- Victor Hugo

 

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

We are talking about 'Republic of India' here.

i still dont think anyone "imagined" india.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

i still dont think anyone "imagined" india.

He's talking about the "Republic of India", not the cultural/historical India.

Sort of like the "People's Republic of China" which only officially came into existence in 1949. It's a political thing, not a historical thing.

 

[Laughing Buddha]

What World now thinks about India !!

An ancient civilization of science and innovation. A fundamental faith in human progress. This is the sturdy foundation upon which you have built ever since that stroke of midnight when the tricolor was raised over a free and independent India. And despite the skeptics who said that this country was simply too poor, too vast, too diverse to succeed, you surmounted overwhelming odds and became a model to the world.

Instead of slipping into starvation, you launched a Green Revolution that fed millions. Instead of becoming dependent on commodities and exports, you invested in science and technology and in your greatest resource-the Indian people. And the world sees the results, from the supercomputers you build to the Indian flag that you put on the moon.
Instead of resisting the global economy, you became one of its engines-reforming the licensing raj and unleashing an economic marvel that has lifted tens of millions from poverty and created one of the world's largest middle classes.

By US President Obama

These were some of the vision of our Great Freedom Fighters who laid down their lifes... just for these.

 

[Rig Vedic]

Republic of India is one of a kind. We will fight to end against right wing loonies of every society, cast and faith to make it a reality, if it's already not one.

The real danger is from left wing loonies.

 

[Nair saab]

Republic of India is not a idea...Its a dream where a people of various religion & ethnicity can live in peace & harmony... where ideas can be shared...every one has freedom of speech...where no one sleeps empty stomach...where secularism is the religion & the Indian constitution is best available available text...& sad part is that we are still working hard on it but the happy part is that we are partly successful in attaining it...

 

[TechLahore]

What World now thinks about India !!
Instead of slipping into starvation, you launched a Green Revolution that fed millions. Instead of becoming dependent on commodities and exports, you invested in science and technology and in your greatest resource-the Indian people. And the world sees the results, from the supercomputers you build to the Indian flag that you put on the moon.
Instead of resisting the global economy, you became one of its engines-reforming the licensing raj and unleashing an economic marvel that has lifted tens of millions from poverty and created one of the world's largest middle classes.

By US President Obama

I just want to remind you to please analyze the situation for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Relying on the words of a US President re how your country is doing - and that too while he is on a sales tour - can be very dangerous and misleading. They will say things out of their own self interest, not because they actually believe them.

I bring this up not to throw cold water on your enthusiasm, but in a genuine and friendly way. As an historic parallel, have you read Carter's famous "Island of Stability" toast which he gave on his very famous, much ballyhooed visit to Iran? The US already knew that the Shah was probably going to be overthrown and many groups believe that they even had a hand in it, but Carter still spewed this nonsense to mislead the Shah and placate him. Examine the irony in these words in a historic context and consider that they were delivered when Iran was already being rocked by the growing revolutionary movement:

“Iran, because of the great leadership of the Shah, is an island of stability in one of the more troubled areas of the world. This is a great tribute to you, Your Majesty, and to your leadership and to the respect and the admiration and love which your people give to you.”

-- Jimmy Carter

Analyze each one of the statements. "Love which your people give to you". "Island of stability". "Great Leadership of the Shah". Each one of them, at the time Carter was saying these words, was a complete and utter lie. A great example of meaningless and non-genuine praise.

The unfortunate thing about US foreign policy is that it is always short term, the US tends to always lose interest and is thus unable to form longstanding relationships (please don't bring up the UK here, because we all know that clinging on to the coattails of the US is the only hope the UK has to remain relevant in today's world). In the words of Henry Kissinger:

“It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal”


The Big Apple: “It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal”

 

[LaBong]

The real danger is from left wing loonies.

They are also right wing in my definition.

 

[Kinetic]

i still dont think anyone "imagined" india.

Agree with you. Manmohan is talking from his imagination. India and her people were there for thousand of years. Not only 'Mahabharat' but the people of this region were known as Indian from early time of history. To foreigners and through out the our literature we were just Indian...



Some examples....

Greek ethnographer Megasthenes written the book 'Indica' on Indians during his visit to India during the time of Chandragupta Maurya ie 300 BC.

Persian scholar Al Biruni wrote the book 'Kitab fi Tahqiq ma li'l-Hind' (Researches on India).

Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang) wrtitten the book 'Hsi-yu chi' (Journey to the West) on his pilgrimage in India.

Another famous Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian (Fa Hien) wrote about his pilgrimage to India.


All they talk about their visits to India and her people, culture and religion. So Mamhom is not rite about the 'idea'.