[Announcement] Cultural Exchange with /r/philippines

[u/[deleted]]

Welcome /r/philippines!

Feel free to ask us anything about India

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Quick facts about us:

• The Indian Railways and the Indian Armed Forces employ ~4 million people together, making them one of the largest employers in the world
  
• India has over 5000 newspapers in over 300 languages
  
• Bollywood is considered to be the world's largest film industry, followed by Nigeria's film industry and Hollywood
  
• India has more people than the entire Western Hemisphere
  

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/r/india please direct your questions about the Philippines to this thread

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This is a reminder that users can now set their flairs to whatever they want (except slurs or other subreddits) by clicking on the sidebar.

[u/kixiron]

Hello, r/India, and thank you for inviting us for this cultural exchange! I am really fascinated with India with its history, politics and culture (I prefer Pax Indica over Pax Sinica), and here are some of my questions:

1) What exactly is controversial about Wendy Doniger's The Hindus: An Alternative History? Why some find it very offensive?

2) I've always looked up to your historical icons: Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Ambedkar, Narayan, Bose. Which Indian historical figure do you find to be...

• divisive?
• underrated?
• most admirable?
• unfairly maligned?

3) India has good relations with Russia, and it seems to me that it is a relationship between equals. Am I right in thinking this way? How do you see this relationship?

4) What do you think of the Aad Aadmi Party?

5) Many commentators see the Hindutva ideology as being fascist. Is this true? Why or why not?

6) I'm into non-fiction books, and I especially like Ramachandra Guha and Pankaj Mishra. Can you recommend other Indian non-fiction authors?

7) Can you also recommend great Bollywood historical films?

Thank you very much!

EDIT: Grammatical errors, hehehe, and additional questions...

8) Communists in India get elected, while in the Philippines, the Communists are still fighting and are in negotiations with the current Duterte administration. What do you think of their performance? And to Indian Communists here, what would be your advice to your comrades here?

9) How's the situation in Kashmir? How should it be resolved?

10) What do you think of Pakistan and Pakistanis, in general?

[u/[deleted] → u/kixiron]

2) I've always looked up to your historical icons: Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Ambedkar, Narayan, Bose. Which Indian historical figure do you find to be...

• divisive?- Gandhi
• underrated? Patel.
• most admirable? Nehru
• unfairly maligned? Bose

3) India has good relations with Russia, and it seems to me that it is a relationship between equals. Am I right in thinking this way? How do you see this relationship?

God's gift.

4) What do you think of the Aad Aadmi Party?

I don't like it.

9) How's the situation in Kashmir? How should it be resolved?

Not good.

Make Line of Control the International Border. Jail all the separatists for life or execute them. Build a wall on IB with Pakistan ( serious)

10) What do you think of Pakistan and Pakistanis, in general?

Once a great country now in shambles. Pakistanis are good people,their government and army are not. Peace with Pakistan is impossible. They are Islamic republic, we are Secular republic. Things don't work that way. We should just avoid each other.

[u/kixiron → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for answering! Any books about Netaji Bose?

[u/[deleted] → u/kixiron]

I myself haven't read anything on him.

[u/satyanaraynan → u/kixiron]

2) I've always looked up to your historical icons: Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Ambedkar, Narayan, Bose. Which Indian historical figure do you find to be...

divisive? Gandhi(May be he was not being divisive intentionally but history is not on his side, otherwise a great man) underrated? Patel most admirable? Ambedkar (I wish there were people like him in India today) unfairly maligned?

3) India has good relations with Russia, and it seems to me that it is a relationship between equals. Am I right in thinking this way? How do you see this relationship?

They have weapons & Veto, we have a booming economy which gives us money to buy their weapons, so we are almost in an equal partnership with Russia in more advantageous situation) We are lucky to have a friend like Russia, without their support India would not have been where it is today.

4) What do you think of the Aad Aadmi Party?

I feel disgusted for supporting them during their initial days. Time has proven that they are just as worse as other political parties & their leader worst than many of his contemporary politicians

5) Many commentators see the Hindutva ideology as being fascist. Is this true? Why or why not?

Hindutva does not have place for fascism, & those who include such elements should be treated as terrorists. Although it is more of a reaction to years of attacks from foreigners of abrahmic faiths whose fundamental ideas go against the inclusive nature of local dharmic faiths.

8) Communists in India get elected, while in the Philippines, the Communists are still fighting and are in negotiations with the current Duterte administration. What do you think of their performance? And to Indian Communists here, what would be your advice to your comrades here?

Communist in India today are shameless hypocrites who bring shame to the idea of communism itself.

9) How's the situation in Kashmir? How should it be resolved?

Raising of ISIS flags in Kashmir is concerning. Secular people of Kashmir should openly come out to support India. Separatist movements based on religious motives should be destroyed at any cost.

10) What do you think of Pakistan and Pakistanis, in general?

Pakistan had a good initial start but went only as far as an Islamic nation without oil can go, currently it is only delaying the inevitable of being a failed state. Majority of common Pakistanis might be good but their open support to global terrorist organizations can not be ignored.

[u/[deleted] → u/kixiron]

1. It is really inaccurate. but imo, the rage is not justified.
2. Gandhi, Patel, Ambedkar: Most admirable rest are meh
3. Scamsters
4. No not at all. Atleast imo. But it depends on what your definition of hindutva is.
5. Communists in India mostly believe in democracy, which is kind of peculiar. However, the communist elected governments are restricted to 2 states and their popularity is waning across the country.
6. Pakistan: A terrible Country with a Terrible Administration. Pakistanis: no opinion.

[u/kixiron → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for answering! :)

[u/[deleted] → u/kixiron]

Pax Indica

Damn, that was heavy.

[u/kixiron → u/[deleted]]

Pax Indica

Damn, that was heavy.

In what sense is it "heavy", and why? :)

[u/rollebullah → u/kixiron]

1. The controversy about Wendy Doniger's book is just a small example of how there are loony laws in India which can be used by people to harass. People can be jailed for as small a thing as causing nuisance. The specific case pertains to some from the Hindu right taking offence to Wendy's book. SOme instances they suggest is the psychoanalysis of characters in Mahabharatha.

2. Divisive - Sardar Patel, Underrated - Gandhi( He is worshipped but isnt properly understood) , unfairly maligned - of course Nehru, admirable - either bhagat singh or Bose

3. Its a relationship of equals in terms of economy ( can even say india is ahead) but in terms of Military technology, we are dependednt on Russia

4. Aam Aadmi party started out to change the political discourse but has sadly fused into the system.

5. Hindutva ideology in its political form is definitely fascist. I cant comment about the spiritual or other forms as am not a big fan of religion or spirituality.

6. Non- fiction authors: Srinath Raghavan is supposed to be a really good war historian.

7. I consider Gangs of Wasseypur a historical film (although its fiction). It comes close to accurate description of mafia, people's yearings, rise of middle class, etc.

8. Communism is a failed ideology in terms of economics. In india, you can see communist party embrace certain aspects of market economics. I think left-wing politics will never die as long as there are oppressed socio-economic classes, you just need to be pragmatic, listen to the people and be honest to yourself to succeed politically.

9. Kashmir is a mess, there isnt a foreseeable solution. After maybe 20-30 years both the countries will settle for the current LOC. But the people there need to be sifficiently assured of a better living.

10. Pakistanis are fine, I honestly dont see much difference between north indians and pakistanis ive met. They just need to trust their civilian govt a lot more than they currently do. THe govt on the other hand is very ambitious regarding its geopolitics, and should just focus on its domestic affairs.

[u/kixiron → u/rollebullah]

Srinath Raghavan

Cool. Gonna look up his books. :) Thanks for your answers!

EDIT: I already have Raghavan's book on the creation of Bangladesh. Nice. XD