India Ink discussions about INDIA LARGEST DEMOCRACY IN NY times EVERYDAY

September 8, 2011, 11:21 AM

Welcome to India Ink

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Welcome to India Ink, The New York Times’ first-ever country-specific site for news, information, culture and conversation.

With an expanded team in India and a line-up of great contributors, India Ink will provide more in-depth, on-the-ground coverage of the world’s biggest democracy — and of a people who know that no matter how far they roam, their hearts will always be Indian.

We’ll be reporting from the Ram Lila grounds in Delhi to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley, tracking the triumphs and frustrations of daily desi life and the changes sweeping the nation. As we do, we plan to collaborate with readers in new ways, spark new debates and re-think old ones — all while producing more of the high-quality news that The New York Times is known for.

We’re at IndiaInk@nytimes.com or on Twitter at @nytindia, and we’d love to hear from you.

In defense of USA( note to a friend)

Farzana,
Having lived and studied the America and its systems.One has to admire its constitution.Free and universal education till grade 12.By the way average expenses of this education is ten thousand dollars per year.Education and laws to protect and give opportunities to handy capped people.

System which takes care of its problems.While Khaddafi and Fidel are still in power America has had 10 president in the meantime.Wisdom of its systems makes up for individual drawbacks while even Russia finds it tough to retire Putin.

World has many things to learn from older societies but America the experiment in democracy is a wonderful experiment still being explored.Newer democracies can learn from this experiment without doing all the mistakes.Two things come to mind Forming a upper house on similar basis as senate in US.Restricting candidates to represent their residency with local residency requirement.This will eliminate some people running from more than one constituency.

The US constitution prohibits government to make any laws regrading religion.US government has no power to ban a book.When you read that a book was banned somewhere in America.It is individual library chose to ban it it without any real effect.
Many times we have not treated our own citizens fairly but all those faults still leaves me hopeful.Finally it is truly an international nation.


According to Tocqueville In 1835 USA and Russia were similar countries and it is the freedoms of America and character of its people(Not race) is responsible for making a breed of autonomous people.

Dalai Lama new missionary of democracy.

It is great symbol and recognition of religious Dalai Lama that in defiance of China's hard lined and belligerent treatment of Tibetan leader and their religion he has been invited to Taiwan(democratic China) to console the victims of natural calamity.He promotes peace and better relations with China and tells the people of Taiwan it is important for them to be a closer to PRC (China) and they should hold on to the democracy which they have earned and developed in their nation.

No leader any where has said this in such clear and peaceful terms before .

He can be recognised as the major leader of minority rights for any minority in the world .He may be most important activist for his people,in the 21st century.If china chooses to be a democratic society and appreciate its diversity of cultures and languages Dalai Lama's contribution for it will be a beacon in a sea of darkness.It is so important for the human race as China has fifth of humanity which is becoming a financially secure.

I am more impressed by this monks dignity,humbleness ,self control and ability to smile even when some small things go wrong.Yesterday i watched on TV he was to read a prayer from a book when the table fell apart he smiled and then i saw two monks hold the book on a shawl in a cradle and he read the prayer and blessed the assembly.

Confucious would be proud of this man's diginty and would say "Manhood at its best,manhood at its best indeed".