Soft Power to 'Smart Power' :::: India has started no doubt .... but Miracles cannot happen .... you need time, investments and in Info Communication and Technology ... Competition is huge

 We have started. But India is a late starter. 

Singapore was not bogged down by limitations. It has no adequate domestic market, but it has carved niches in chip design. India has a lot of catching up to do in Information Communication and Technology (ICT).

India is one of the world’s largest consumers of electronics, but it has no local chip industry and plays a minimal role in the global supply chain. New Delhi’s “Semiconductor Mission” aims to change that.

Hence, it is a high ambition and detractors may call it 'over' too. 

China's  State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) claimed authority over Intel’s proposed acquisition of Tower Semiconductor, withholding approval until the deal collapsed — retaliation for US sanctions. Japan is trying to reinvent its role in the technology era. 

Australia has poured a billion dollars into PsiQuantum and seeded dozens of start-ups and South Korea is famous for Sam­sung and SK Hynix into semiconductor titans.   

In India at least 10 semiconductor projects are currently underway across six states. A whopping  investment of $18.2 billion is on cards. The country wants to reduce dependence on imports.

But experts say neither the country's investment nor talent pool is enough to make India's chip ambitions a reality. 

The Govt will have to do something more to secure chips for strategic sectors, and capture a bigger share of the global electronics market shifting away from China. 

The fact of the matter is until now the desi chipmakers had no local demand for their product as there are hardly any electronic component manufacturing companies.

Only in May-June 2025, the central government added a new element to its chip ambition: 

--- A scheme to support electronic component manufacturing, addressing a critical bottleneck. 

And the good news is Fab companies from Taiwan and the U.K., and semiconductor packaging companies from the U.S. and South Korea have all shown interest in aiding India’s semiconductor ambitions. 

But analysts do point out the lapses and rightly so:   

"Our IT services companies have outstanding master craftsmen and super-skilled builders for global businesses but we are seen as absent at the foundations — the semiconductors, systems and infrastructure that power the digital age,"  

- noted former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao in a newspaper article. 

**** 

Extra info:

In China, Huawei and Alibaba are developing AI chips to rival Nvidia and have stepped up domestic manufacturing in recent years. According to reports, Alibaba’s AI chip could rival the performance of Nvidia’s H20 chips designed for the Chinese market. ​​

In the past year, at least two companies--C2i Semiconductors and Agrani Labs--have started developing AI computing chips in India, drawing investor interest.

The Journey :::   Under Modi Govt 

2021: Union Cabinet approved the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) with a ₹76,000 crore outlay to boost fabrication, design, and manufacturing.

2023–2025: Rapid setup of major facilities by domestic and foreign firms with significant investments. Total approved projects under ISM reaches to 10 with cumulative investments of around Rs.1.60 lakh crore in 6 states.

2025: India inaugurated its first centers for advanced 3-nanometer chip design in Noida and Bengaluru, an Indian first.

At the Global Investors Summit 2025, it was announced that India's first indigenous semiconductor chip would be ready for production this year. Five production units are under construction, signalling a significant milestone for domestic capability.

Madhya Pradesh has made a significant stride in the IT and electronics sector with the inauguration of its first IT campus, backed by an investment of ₹150 crore over the next six years.

In July 2025, Netrasemi, a startup supported under the government’s chip design scheme, has received Venture Capital (VC) investment of ₹107 crore. The company is working on making chips for smart vision, CCTV cameras, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

In fabrication, India is moving from traditional Silicon based semiconductors to the latest Silicon Carbide based semiconductors. In design, the roadmap is to introduce the more advanced 3D Glass packaging technology. Such technology is critical for sectors like defence systems, missiles, radars & rockets in space.

ends 

Of course Myanmar is heading towards a 'sham' election :::: Junta’s conduct reflect “inhumanity in its vilest form”

When march towards the darkness becomes a sprint; well one could be talking about Myanmar.

Since Feb 2021 when Aung San Suu Kyi regime was toppled in a coup; the junta did not have an easy time.

It faced armed resistance across large parts of the country. But it is also true the anti-junta forces — both political and ethnic —may not control as much territory as they claim.

India-Myanmar border : Longwa Village/Nagaland 

From New Delhi's point of view - according to strategic experts and retired military officers - Rakhine, Sagaing and Chin areas have their own significance. A few months ago; reports claimed near 95 towns and hamlets in the region are out of control of the junta. But that also means - the military still has control over 200 of them.

Mintha areas have witnessed some serious clashes and violence. Kukis and Zomi Revoluionary group have provided strong resistance and have done some consolidation.

Among other international players, of course the China angle is very special. 

Bangladesh and Japan will likely "consider" even a flawed election preferable to no election. Lately Australia also started to believe that engaging whoever holds power in Naypyitaw is better than to stay away. 

The military is trying to rebrand themselves as they did in 1997. The State Administration Council (SAC), established after the 2021 coup, has been formally replaced by a new governing body the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC).

(A view of Myanmar's side of the border from a bridge built over River Tiau. - UCAN News snap) 

This is like the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) of late 1990s.

Myanmar is a case that deserves a much closer scrutiny. That the junta there had suppressed people over the decades is a known fact. It is true 'historical responsibility' and contemporary obligation cannot be written off so easily.

Neither a stage-managed polls nor simply changing some names of 'governing bodies' can achieve that. 

International laws certainly will hold Myanmar's military accountable. 

** India is trying to handle the situation in Myanmar adopting soft approach and generally pragmatic ones.  

Mass youth exodus from Myanmar in Feb 2024 almost "justified" Home Minister Amit Shah's 'border fencing'

Border Fencing may not be the best way...but it is a "Pragmatic way"

                    (In this 2022 photo, protesters hold up pictures of detained Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi - snap  AFP/social media ) 

Myanmar’s government in exile is ratcheting-up the pressure on the military to release democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, saying there are “grave concerns” for her health.

The National Unity Government (NUG) said Suu Kyi, who was ousted as state counsellor by the military in early 2021, had been denied appropriate medical attention. “The junta’s deliberate refusal to provide the urgent and effective medical treatment she requires constitutes a politically motivated threat to her life,” the NUG said. 

@@

**

(On Border fencing by Home Ministry, India) 

"Government of India bhi pagla na hoe....(The Government of India cannot be so irrational)," reportedly said a senior Nagaland politician.

The explanation was that - there are some emerging security issues especially in the context of developments in Myanmar after the 2021 coup. There have been substantial number of Myanmarese citizens including junta army personnel who have sneaked into Mizoram and Manipur between 2022 and 2023.

 

On Friday, Feb 16, 2024, at Yangon, there were over 1000 Myanmarese youths lined up at the Thai embassy for paper works as young people sought to leave Myanmar after the junta said it would impose military service.

Two days before on Wednesday, Feb 14, the junta said that it would recruit 60,000 young men and women for military service under the "Conscription law".

Myanmar's military said it would enforce the law that says  men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 have to serve for at least two years (under junta) as it struggles to quell opposition to the 2021 coup.  The junta is facing widespread armed resistance to its rule after seizing power from the elected civilian government.

It suffered a series of stunning losses to an armed alliance of ethnic minority groups in various parts of the country.  In India, the Govt of India has decided to enforce border fencing and the move is being opposed by locals in Mizoram and Nagaland mainly.

A number of indigenous people organisation leaders met in Dimapur on Feb 16 (2024) and resolved to oppose border fencing and the scrapping of FMR.

The organisations wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "The decision to do away with the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and erect border fencing is not only impractical and dehumanizing to the communities living on both sides of the border but, such an approach may only diminish the prospects for peace and well being in the restive region.”

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs in Jan 2024 decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar to ensure the "internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure" of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar.

The letter from indigenous leaders to PM Modi addresses some of the complexities.

The Modi government's mantra has been “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (one world, one family), on ground, New Delhi is perhaps “dividing families” at the borders using security as the argument to justify the removal of the FMR.

“The security argument that your government has used to justify the removal of FMR stands in contradiction to the diplomatic and strategic outreach with the neighbouring countries and, more importantly, it violates the indigenous rights of the border communities. We strongly oppose the security-centric approach to border management,” it said. 

But multiple other issues remain like hanging fire. 

There exist border pockets in Mizoram and Manipur that are known for smuggling drugs and Chinese-made goods including cigarettes, besides the movement of armed militants.

Altogether, more than 31,000 people from Myanmar, mostly from the Chin state, have taken refuge in Mizoram following the military coup in the neighboring country in February 2021. The Champhai district adjoining Myanmar witnessed the most.  

(This Jan, 2025 photo released by the Arakan Army ethnic minority armed group shows a man standing near a burning house in western Rakhine state)

**

Myanmar’s human rights crisis is “plumbing new depths,” the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights Council earlier this week. Civilians throughout the country are “suffering the cruelest toll.”  In 2023, he described the country’s crisis as an “unspeakable tragedy,” and added that the junta’s conduct represented “inhumanity in its vilest form.”  

@@ 

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued a global arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the military. 

Min Aung Hlaing’s rise to power is closely linked to Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the former SLORC and SPDC juntas. Than Shwe, who took power in 1992, stepped down in 2011.

ends 

London wants to go to Sharia law, says US Prez who took Pak army chief on lap >>>>>> Taking Diplomacy to a 'new low' ... local ...... and 'self promoting politics' :::: That's Donald Trump !! He even found time to target local politician Sadiq Khan

Globalisation could not have it more crude and heartless !!

“If you don’t stop people that you’ve never seen before, that you have nothing in common with, your country is going to fail,” - thus spoke Donald Trump ... not in an election rally but at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 

The US Prez may have been speaking to the 192 other world leaders gathered in the United Nations, but the real target of his speech was Europe.

He hauled up Europe repeatedly as the whipping boy for an antiliberal, blood-and-soil polemic that renewed an assault on the transatlantic relationship.

In the meantime, we all know this has become a theme of his second administration.

In an hourlong address to the assembled world leaders and delegations, Trump told European leaders directly that they were destroying their own countries.

He urged them to be 'more' like the US as he condemned their policies on immigration, green energy and political correctness.

"These were not subtle digs. On migration, he told Europeans that “your countries are going to hell.” On Europe’s approach to climate change, he said it was “on the brink of destruction because of the green energy agenda”. On the war in Ukraine, he said Europe was “funding the war against themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?”," runs an analysis piece in 'The Guardian' of London.

He even found time to target local politicians such as Sadiq Khan, whom he called a “terrible, terrible mayor” and said that London “wants to go to Sharia law”. 

There was a barrage of claims about immigrants and questionable statistics about the prison populations in Germany and “beautiful Switzerland”. At moments, he would not have been out of place running for European parliament.

“If you don’t stop people that you’ve never seen before, that you have nothing in common with, your country is going to fail,” he said during the speech. 

“I’m the president of the United States, but I worry about Europe. I love Europe, I love the people of Europe. 

And I hate to see it being devastated by [green] energy and immigration, that double-tailed monster that destroys everything in its wake.”

“Let’s not pretend this is a foreign policy speech or dignify it by calling it one,” wrote Ned Price, a former deputy to the US representative to the United Nations during the Biden administration. 

“This is basically Maga madlibs. Trump is speaking to his political base, hitting each of his campaign trail hits, while addressing a room of leaders who’d rather be just about anywhere else.”  

Trump turned his gaze to the failures of the United Nations and other world leaders – in which an aide forecast that he would denounce “globalists”. 

US conservatives would have been delighted to watch Trump tear into European liberals, who were forced to watch and politely applaud as they were accused of gross mismanagement of their countries.  

Trump threatens new tariffs on Russia over Ukraine war

US president lectures world leaders on migration, climate change

Calls climate change a con job  

News agency Reuters said --  

U.S. President Donald Trump argued for lower levels of global migration and urged a turn away from climate change policies on Tuesday in a combative, wide-ranging speech to the U.N. General Assembly that leveled scathing criticism of world leaders.

The 56-minute speech was a rebuke to the world body and a return to form for Trump, who routinely bashed the U.N. during his first term as president. Leaders gave him polite applause when he exited the chamber.

"Stupid people" of Climate Change  

The vast majority of climate scientists have concluded climate change is happening, and that it is mainly caused by fossil fuel pollution. Already, the world is seeing its effects: Floods are becoming more extreme and deadly, droughts are more widespread and severe, and heat waves are more dangerous.

Trump was having none of it.  “All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong,” he claimed. 

“They were made by stupid people.”  

Notably, n a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of UNGA, Trump said he believes NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace. 

The comment is notable as the defense alliance confronts the potential for an expansion of the war, although Trump stopped short of saying the United States would join in the effort.

ends 

Changing Face of Indian Defence Forces :::: “Fauzi .... fauz nahi chhorega" ::: Soldiers are 'half-saint' ... very sentimental but strong, assertive and ruthless when it comes to Security of the Nation - Bharat

 

Achievements are easy to take for granted. But certainly they do not come up to your lap so easily. It is more so in the case of Armed forces – because the enemy is always stronger and better prepared than you might have thought.

The Commanders' conference in Kolkata saw among other things the release of the “Joint Military Space Doctrine”.

This marked a milestone in institutionalising Space as a key element.

**

I traveled to north east of India recently and met a few jawans and officers. It was all informal and personal level interactions.

At one point I asked a group of soldiers -- 

"Drone sey aap ke life mein kya changes ayen (What all changes came in the life of uniformed solider due to these drones) ?"

The response was unique. "It has changed the soldiers' Mind... In about a decade time; you will find the forces will be able to retain young and old officers and other ranks more and more”.

“Fauzi .... fauz nahi chhorega ....,” he asserted.

Soldiers are 'half-saint' ... very sentimental but strong, assertive and ruthless while guarding the nation.

Another person added: “Naya pan aa raha hae (Various kinds of new things are coming in)". 

I tend to agree because the 'level of job satisfaction' in the military is high these days due to multiple factors. One reason is Atmanirbhar Bharat -- the exciting push given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

 

But around Sept 15th, PM Modi landed in Kolkata and addressed armed forces Commanders Conference.  By Sept 17th (2025) - we could get some important information and decisions.

The Commanders' conference also saw the release of the “Joint Military Space Doctrine”, marking a milestone in institutionalising space as a key element of India’s national security strategy.

Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), said, "On the final day of the Combined Commanders' Conference (CCC) 2025, decision by all the Chiefs and Commanders for merging of education branches of three services to form single Tri-Services Education Corps was announced."  

"The decision on formation of three Joint Military Stations was also announced".

These were part of much talked about Defence reforms.

The education branches of the forces have generally been entrusted with the responsibility of enhancing the educational standard of the troops, and its cadre is posted at subareas (garrisons), headquarters, training centres, units, establishments, sainik schools, military schools, colleges, and selection centres.

The military stations are dedicated geographical areas housing equipment and personnel, and their families, where they live and train. India's war-fighting machinery and organisations are being reorganised to meet the needs of technology-led modern warfare.  

This year’s conference, themed “Year of Reforms-Transforming for the Future”, began with a demonstration by the joint operations command centre, followed by a live air defence drill showcasing advanced air surveillance, missile defence and counter-drone capabilities.

Some one says - "The army is able to make Drones and also repair ... the multi tasking thing is giving us a lot of excitement. The demands are on rise as various security installations in east and north east have understood the utility of Drones".  

I was told before my journey commenced in Delhi about anti-Drones. I was also briefed a bit about "modernization" process of Indian forces and how these are supported by

-- Focused approached for Indigenous development

-- Policy initiatives - the Drone Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

- and Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Swarm drone technology into tactical operations.

One source had alerted me about Rudra Brigades and Drone batteries. One co-passenger with me was from aviation industry.  He is himself an ex-serviceman and his daughter joined Indian Navy a few years back. As we chatted in certain details about ensuing elections in Bihar and states such as Assam and West Bengal -- he threw up his one-liner :

"When we talk of Indian army today .... and also of two other wings; we should speak about something called 'Sequel' to the success. We have reached that stage.

I am not merely talking about Operation Sindoor. Drone has made the army -Uudta Fauz."

 

Even in the remote corner of Arunachal Pradeeh in a firing range (otherwise a peaceful centre from the their point of view ) -- the soldiers are eyeing the cutting-edge indigenous defense technologies under realistic battlefield conditions.

"Gun training chahiye ... drone driving bhi chahiye" -- one soldier remarked in a jovial mood in Nagaland.

His superiors quickly understood the spirit behind.

They may not have ready answers. But one young officer recalls his girl friend's 'good morning' message -- "You cannot stop an IDEA whose time has come".

Now as an officer, he too realises his colleague is a very good shooter but he has an idea. Now that faceless young patriot also wants to become a dependable drone flyer. The 'idea' has germinated well.

Survivor and a Fighting Force:

The Govt is going ahead with its plans of Structural Overhaul:

Hence, Plans are underway to establish ITCs, unifying the Army, Navy, and Air Force under a single command structure to enhance operational efficiency and address specific regional security challenges.

• Rudra Brigades: New all-arms brigade concepts that consolidate infantry, armor, artillery, drones, and logistics into one formation for greater operational efficiency.

• Bhairav Light Commando Battalions: Specialized units equipped with advanced sensors and weapons for shock actions, designed to be rapidly deployable.

• Joint Military Stations: Establishment of joint military stations to improve coordination among the three services.

A major focus on incorporating technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, drones, and hypersonics into military operations. Expansion of capabilities in cyber and space domains, including enhanced satellite surveillance and electronic warfare.

Finally, it should be noted that Defence reforms are a dynamic and ongoing process. Defence reforms have their own sets of challenges and constraints to deal with.

India in the past decade since 2014 under PM Modi has made headway in the area of defence reforms certainly. Only time can tell whether the reforms have succeeded.

But strategic experts say Operation Sindoor shows things are track. We need further research and quicker results.

Ends 

Trumpism is Falsehood ::: US Prez again claims he 'stopped' India-Pak war and also six others :: There's more .... President, who hasn’t acknowledged 80th anniv. of UN flays the organization

 'It's empty words': Trump lambasts UN for lack of foreign policy help

The president, who hasn’t yet acknowledged the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, has begun criticizing the organization for not helping Trump with any of his foreign policy work.

Trump repeated his misleading claim that he’s “ended seven wars” since he returned to office. 

“The UN has such tremendous potential. I’ve always said it,” the president said. “All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war. The only thing that solves war and wars is action.”

The president then went on a tangent, denigrating the renovation of the United Nations complex.  

“In just 7 months, I have ended 7 unendable wars,” Trump told world leaders. 

“They said they were unendable, some were going for 31 years, one was 36 years. I ended 7 wars and in all cases they were raging with countless thousands of people being killed.”  

Trump, who has never hidden his desire to get a Nobel Prize, has on several occasions claimed to have played a crucial role in mediating a truce between India and Pakistan after a military standoff following New Delhi launching an attack on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.  

Trump went on to list conflicts he claimed to have brought to a close, including those involving Cambodia and Thailand,

Serbia, the Congo and Rwanda, 

Pakistan and India, 

Israel and Iran, 

Egypt and Ethiopia, and 

Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Trump pushes for Hamas to release hostages, without mentioning humanitarian crisis in Gaza

The president said that “Hamas has repeatedly rejected reasonable offers to make peace” since the October 7 attack.

While Trump briefly acknowledged that “we have to stop the war in Gaza immediately”, he didn’t mention the worsening humanitarian crisis. “We’ve got to get the hostages back. We want all 20 back. We don’t want two and four,” Trump said.

Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after talks mediated by Washington, the US President has trumpeted the claim at various conferences and state addresses, the latest one being at the UN.

India has consistently maintained that the understanding with Pakistan was reached through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries — without any foreign involvement.

In a rare public admission this month, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar echoed India’s position, 

telling Al Jazeera that 

--“India never agreed to any third-party mediation” on bilateral issues. 

He has further stated: 

“We don’t mind third-party involvement, but India has categorically been stating it’s a bilateral matter". 

In another tangent, Trump touted his move to federalize the DC police and deploy the National Guard. “My people have done a fantastic job,” he said. 

“Washington DC is now a totally safe city again, and I welcome you to come. In fact, we’ll have dinner together at a local restaurant, and we’ll be able to walk. We don’t have to go by an armor plated vehicle.”

In a speech that has gone well beyond his allotted time, the president said that he’s “here to tell the truth”.

“I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m in New York City,” he added.

'Your countries are going to hell': Trump scolds migration throughout Europe

The president has launched into a fairly lengthy tirade on rates of immigration throughout Europe.

 He urges allies to learn from his work in America: “We’ve taken bold action to swiftly shut down uncontrolled migration. Once we started detaining and deporting everyone who crossed the border and removing illegal aliens from the United States. They simply stopped coming.”

Trump calls the rate of immigration throughout Europe as part of the “globalist migration agenda”.  He issued a stern and stunning warning to the countries he sees as overrun by immigrants. “It’s time to end the failed experiment of open borders. You have to end it now,” he said. “Your countries are going to hell.”  

Trump threatens 'powerful tariffs' if Russia is 'not ready to end the war' in Ukraine

The president has said that “in the event that Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs.”

But he scolded European allies, and said that they would “have to join” the US by “adopting the exact same measures”.

He added:

You’re much closer to the city. We have an ocean in between. You’re right there, and Europe has to step it up. They can’t be doing what they’re doing. They’re buying oil and gas from Russia.

ends 

For talent and sincere executives ... Americans continue to bank on India :::: Two big US companies appoint Indian-origin CEOs amid H-1B crackdown

Amid H-1B tensions, two Indian-origin executives, Srinivas Gopalan and Rahul Goyal, rise to top US leadership roles, defying Make America Great Again (MAGA) hardliners and reshaping America's corporate landscape. 

Srinivas Gopalan (Left) has become the CEO of T-Mobile, while Rahul Goyal (Righr) has been elevated to CEO of Molson Coors. 

T-Mobile, the US telecom giant, will see Srinivas “Srini” Gopalan, 55, step into the CEO role on November 1. Gopalan.

An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, currently serves as T-Mobile’s Chief Operating Officer and will succeed Mike Sievert, who has led the company since 2020 and moves to the newly created position of vice chairman.  

This at a time when the Donald Trump-led US administration is tightening H-1B visa rules.

Many say two major American companies bucked the trend by promoting India-born leaders to top positions.  

Chicago-based beverage giant Molson Coors named Rahul Goyal, 49, as its new president and CEO, effective October 1. Goyal, who succeeds Gavin Hattersley (remaining in an advisory role through the end of the year), has been with the company for 24 years.

A native of India, he studied engineering in Mysore before moving to the US for business studies in Denver, and has worked across Coors and Molson brands in the US, UK, and India.

“I’m deeply honoured to take on the role of T-Mobile’s next chief executive officer. I’ve long been in awe of what this company has achieved — fearlessly reinventing wireless to serve customers in ways no one thought possible,” Gopalan said in a LinkedIn post.  

“After an extensive CEO succession process, it was clear Rahul brought the right experience and vision to drive our next phase of growth,” said David Coors, chairman of Molson Coors’ board.

Goyal said he was ready to meet challenges head-on while carrying forward the company’s legacy.

These appointments come amid rising political scrutiny over foreign-born employees, whom MAGA hardliners sometimes portray as “globalists” taking American jobs.  

Indian-origin talent leaders continue to head some of America’s most influential companies, following in the footsteps of Satya Nadella at Microsoft, Sundar Pichai at Alphabet, and others in Fortune 500 firms.   

Gopalan’s career spans continents and industries. Starting as a management trainee at Hindustan Unilever, he went on to hold senior roles at Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Capital One, and Deutsche Telekom, where he doubled growth, scaled fiber networks to millions of homes, and captured record mobile market share in Germany.

At T-Mobile, he has overseen the Technology, Consumer, and Business divisions, spearheading initiatives in 5G, AI, and digital transformation.

Sievert called Gopalan “highly skilled, passionate, and incredibly knowledgeable,” adding that he had full confidence in Gopalan’s ability to “take our employee and customer experience to the next level.”

   ends 

Is this last Durga Puja in Kolkata under Sickularism ?? By May 2026 .... stage may be set for departure of Trinamool regime !!

Durga Puja preparations in Kolkata ran into rough weather on Tuesday (Sept 23) as heavy overnight downpour inundated parts of the city.

Transport system crippled !!  

The 'aapa land's governance' and municipal arrangements stood exposed yet again. 

Rain cripples Kolkata 

Seven die of electrocution

Floodwater entered many buildings and residential complexes across Kolkata 

The city recorded a staggering 185 mm of rain in just three hours, the heaviest in years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).  

Overall, Alipore logged 247.5 mm in 24 hours, and several neighbourhoods reported extreme rainfall that submerged roads, houses and markets. The downpour disrupted rail and Metro services, rescheduled multiple long-distance trains, and dampened festive preparations.

Metro services were suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan after waterlogging between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarobar stations; truncated operations continued only between Dakshineswar and Maidan, with Metro staff working to pump out water.

The city’s festive spirit also dimmed under the looming threat of electrocution. In Tollygunge, residents urged Puja committees to ensure proper insulation of lighting wires. 

“Lighting isn’t completed in our locality. There is a big risk if wires are left open,” said Bhupen Gopal Dutta.  (reported 'The Telegraph') 

At least three deaths due to electrocution have already been reported in Kolkata. Around Ballygunge Circular Road, residents remained without electricity since 2am after a man died of electrocution.

ends 

Blunders, ..... Short comings of Modi’s Leadership :::: But there is another view that there is merit when PM describes his Hindu nationalist Govt as “Vishwamitra”, or "friend of the world”

Everyone is talking about Narendra Modi’s birthday – Sept 17th, 2025. Most analysts are talking about ‘positive’ aspects and achievements. But let us also take a closer look at some of his limitations and mistakes.  

The Govt has often been 'careless' and would leave the sleeping dog .... 'not bark'. 

::::: But some how close shave for Narendra Modi !!

The objective analysis is key to many things. Let us see how things moved. Under his regime there have been a few odd instances and quite serious ones. People stirred the communal cauldron in India.

As an example, we can refer to Karnataka where a few years ago there was a row over Muslim girls wearing the hijab. The BJP’s critics say this was done in 2022 with an eye on state polls in Uttar Pradesh

Take a closer view. The power of Indian electorate is not something gauged even by India's best poll strategist – that is Mr Narendra Modi himself.

Well, it is certainly not understood by many in the Congress and Rahul Gandhi himself. Is India’s grand old party solely banking afresh on the vote choir charge for revival?

But this may not happen. 

Rahul Gandhi seems to love the word 'chor and chori'. In 2019 – Rahul raised slogan ‘Chowkidar Chor hae’. It backfired.

In 2024, when Narendra Modi said he is 'sent' by God, the Congress called it “purely political". Importantly, they also said - Modi is aware this would go down well during poll season.  But ultimately it did not. The BJP strength in Lok Sabha came down to 240 from 303. 

India's rich-poor divide is widening

It goes without stating that the elite one percent in India corner benefits of economic  reforms, said one World Inequality Report a few years back. PM Modi has pushed welfarism and yet the system needs lot of changes. The government control on so many things of life of common people still remain very strong. The ease of doing business and ‘ease of living’ are yet to help the common citizens.

For example, KYC data updating of banks is one notorious thing and is much disturbing for day to day life – the Prime Minister must address these small issues. In 2024, during the peak of electioneering season, Narendra Modi said: he is "God sent” and that the energy he musters during his election campaign does not come from his “biological body”.

Rightly, it invited ridicule and such things should have been avoided by Modi – who is even otherwise very popular and is rated highly as a ‘performer’.. Looking back; in 2024, Modi said: "After my mother passed away, upon reflecting on all my experiences, I was convinced that God had sent me”.

“This energy could not be from my biological body but was bestowed upon me by God... whenever I do anything, I believe God is guiding me... I am nobody, I am just an instrument,” he added.  Opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said an average person saying this would be asked to “go see a psychiatrist.”

Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh said Modi’s remarks reflect “an unprecedented level of delusion and arrogance.” But many BJP leaders tried defending the prime minister by calling him “the epitome of hard work and dedication”. 

                  A woman stands on the balcony of a residential building with cut-outs of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and  God Ram, in Ahmedabad - 2024 before general elections 

                                     

                                                           

“He can work hard... He can address two rallies, participate in two road shows in the summer heat, and then return to Delhi and give full-scale TV interviews to senior journalists," said BJP leader Sanju Verma.  

Guwahati-based political analyst Ashutosh Talukdar believes that India’s English media and their Western counterparts will be mistaken if they try interpreting what Modi said through a Christian idiom. “Jesus is believed to be the son of God. Modi is nowhere saying so,” he said.

Talukdar stressed that the Prime Minister was addressing his countrymen, who believe “everything happens as destined by God and humans are merely an instrument or excuse. 

So, whatever is happening, or whatever I [Modi] am doing, is God’s wish.”

Modi's extremely shrewd appeal was and always is to encourage Indians to vote for his party and thus contribute to fulfilling God’s will.

A BJP leader in West Bengal, who did not want to be named, said comparing a leader with gods or goddesses was nothing new in India. He reminded how Idris Ali, a parliamentarian from Trinamool Congress had compared his leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning.

After the creation of Bangladesh in the 1970s when India defeated the Pakistan army, the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was compared to Durga, the Hindu goddess known as a slayer of evil, by her political rival Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Vidyarthi Kumar in Varanasi said Modi understands the importance of religion in India, especially among Hindus. “It is true that God and religion are dominant themes of the BJP’s politics,” Kumar explained.

Modi promoted Hinduism – deliberately: 

That PM Narendra Modi is pro-Hindutva is a well known fact.

He has almost legitimised the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram'. Today it’s a salutation even on Whatsapp. Perhaps the RSS’s 'mindset' on caste and social justice has changed over the decades. In 2015, Mohan Bhagwat called for a review of the Reservation policy. In the process, the BJP paid a heavy price electorally in Bihar. 

Now both the BJP and the RSS are all defending the continuation of the reservation policy. Modi has even agreed to Rahul Gandhi's demand for caste census. But overall the society and polity in India is deeply Polarised. 

This polarisation is also reflected in Hindu assertion.

Either you are pro-Modi or you are impressed by Rahul Gandhi's 'vote chori' charge. 

Either you are pro-Hindutva or maybe you are anti-Hindu.  

In 2014, after the Congress debacle, a noted Christian leader in the grand old party A K Antony said that the party has already got a tag 'anti-Hindu' and that has completely eroded its support base.  

In Manipur’s ethnic clashes since May 2023; more than 220 people, most of them Christians, have died.

Kukis tribal Christians have been fighting Meitei Hindus since May 3, 2024. Christians account for 41 percent of the hilly state’s 3.6 million population.

Since 2021, Christian-majority Mizoram has been witnessing the arrival of migrants from Myanmar after the coup of the civilian government by the Myanmar military. Myanmar, the world’s largest opium-producing nation, shares borders with Mizoram's three districts -- Hnahthial, Champhai and Lawngtlai.

Of course, the ethnic divisions in northeast are far more complex than it is merely understood. But a Government in office and a Prime Minister of Modi’s calibre was expected to handle these things better.

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The Myanmar coup took place in 2021 and the fighting also started. India should have handled boundary security much better. The fact that a large number of ethnic tribals (close to Kukis and Zo people) came to Manipur from Myanmar is also a bitter truth. 

Various security agencies and the state government in Manipur under BJP should have handled the situation better. 

There have been Global concerns over ‘Modi-fication’ of Indian elections.

Western governments, institutions and media appeared doubtful whether the ‘Mother of Democracy’ has been in good shape. Some of it is not without good reason even as Modi-bashing has been a favourite pass time of some western organisations.

India in 2024 conducted the world’s biggest election and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought a record third consecutive term in office. Here is an example one was referring to. In an editorial, London’s popular daily, ‘The Guardian’ had asked Indians to “think hard” about re-electing Modi.

BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta, also a former journalist, had reacted sharply. “If the June 4 (2024) results lead to the BJP decimating the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party yet again, Modi’s overseas critics will likely team up with India’s opposition to question the legitimacy of the triumph”.

Many like him in the BJP ecosystem believed that the Western media's larger objective was to sow doubts in the minds of business leaders and political decision-makers about India’s success story.

Dasgupta had further argued: “Modi is the real target (2024) and by tarring him with the brush of autocracy, his critics hope to envelop him in yet another murky controversy.”

Then a surprise warning about Washington wanting to “unbalance the internal political situation in India and complicate the general election” came from Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. “America continues to make ‘unfounded accusations’ about religious freedoms” and is also being “disrespectful” towards India, she said.

Though they come from different backgrounds, President Vladimir Putin and Modi have always had a good personal rapport. This was proved again in 2025. 

For his part, Narendra Modi has described his Hindu nationalist government as a “Vishwamitra”, or "friend of the world”.

In 2025, India’s diplomacy came under scanner after Trump played his tariff card. But in short, it is unlikely any major player in the comity of nations including China can ignore the new, confident India under Modi’s leadership.

But the old stories are also important episodes of life and geo-politics. In 2005, the US had denied a visa to Narendra Modi for his alleged complicity in 2002 anti-Muslim ethnic violence in western Gujarat state. But the paradox is in 2014, when Modi became prime minister, President Barack Obama received him with his native Gujarati salutation Kemchho (How are you).

In subsequent period, Modi’s relationship with Donald Trump and later Joe Biden also grew stronger. US Secretary of State under Biden administration; Antony Blinken had called Indo-US ties as an “extraordinary success story”. 

In 2025, it almost collapsed.  But corrective steps have been taken and Trump did call up his friend Modi in Delhi to wish him on his 75th birthday. 

There were other problems too. The US officials in December 2023 claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate an American on US soil for advocating a Sikh separatist state back home in India. Earlier, the then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

Last year, Dr S Jaishankar, a close Modi aide and India’s plain-speaking foreign minister felt that -- “these noises from the Western press” are only “because they lack information”.  He also alleged the western press and a few organisations “think” they are also political players in Indian elections.

Jaishankar further suggested, "It’s time today that we disabuse them, and the best way we do that is by confidence.”

Sanjay Das, a Congress leader from Meghalaya state in the northeast region, felt it is never easy to connect the dots. 

“However, Russia’s statement about US interference in Indian elections in 2024 may be a case in point to suggest that ‘India's Putin, Modi,’ is this time getting help and moral support from Russian czar Vladimir Putin.”

And since Russia is no democracy, the Congress fear was— India's parliamentary democracy may face some challenges.

The unsavory nexus between criminals and politicians is a permanent slur and exists across political lines and regions of India. “Criminalization of politics essentially means politicization of criminals and therefore is a serious matter that threatens the essence of our democracy,” says political analyst Ramakanto Shanyal.

The bigger worry is that this menace is often encouraged and exploited in democratic India.

Ends