My Malice and Bias

Often civilizations are known in history by the names they are called by their contemporary civilizations. The sacred land of North-West India that we know as Punjab today has been named with various names over times by the civilization that interacted, communicated, traded, or warred with the people of this sacred land – Sumerian, Persians, Greeks, Chinese, and other regions of India. Figure1:   Greater India and Punjab  I am going to go through these names in chronological order that describes this geographic region. Its important here to note that the definitions are not just limited to the Republic of India but also includes neighboring countries as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, Tibet, and many countries in Central Asia as well as SE Asia. Most of these political nations were carved out of India fairly recently relative to the history of the region. Meluhha - Sumerian Name for Indus Valley The oldest ever identity of th...

Afghans awoke on last week to a country with absent U.S. forces. The future of the country is uncertain with Taliban 's harsh ideology — one that restricts women from education and employment, and metes out swift justice to anyone who breaches the group's harsh interpretation of Islamic law. ISIS-Khorasan Rise of ISIS-K But trust me, Talibans look moderate compared to the new menace in this accursed land of anarchy, the ISIS-K . This menance has reared its ugly backside with a loud fart as the terrorist attack on Kabul airport that took lives for over a dozen US marines, tens of Taliban fighters, and dozens of innocent Afghan citizens.  Afghanistan has long been a base for radical Islamist movements from Mujaheideens to Taliban. Isis-K was formed by members of A l-Qaeda ’s Pakistan branch as well as defectors from the Taliban and the Haqqani network, an ultra radicalgroup. The K refers to Khorasan , an area encompassing NW Pakistan, Afghanistan, central Asia, Southern Iran an...

  Ninja Policeman in India charging on 80 year old Farmer Something is morally wrong with the image of a young Indian policeman wearing protective guards and helmet hitting an 80 year old unarmed farmer during the farmers protest against the now publically tarnished farm bills. The policemen is demonstrating his trained skills to subdue the comman man with brute force.  So, whats wrong with this picture? Authoritarian oppresssion displayed in this picture reminds me of the 1907 ballad of defiance penned over a century ago to inspire farmers against the expoitive policies of the British. Punjab farmers who have dig in their heels against Centre at Delhi’s borders are experiencing the same oppression, propoganda, and malice sadly from their own government in an independent India.  The similarities between the two historical events is astounding and worth a discussion here. Farmers from Punjab, Haryna, and Western UP feel that farm laws passed by Indian parliament will ult...

Semiramis Queen of Assyria Did you know that Semiramis , the queen of Assyria attempted to conquer Punjab almost 500 years before Alexander? In fact she was the inspiration for Alexander the Great to invade India. Who was Semiramis .. and when did she come to Punjab? Who was Semiramis? Archaeologists have found evidence to piece together biography of Semiramis . In the ancient city of Nimrud (Iraq), two statues mention her name. There are also two stelae, one from Kizkapanli (Turkey) and another from Assur (Iraq) that mention her. Shammu-Ramat , more famously known by the Greek version of her name Semiramis , was the queen of the Assyrian Empire (811-806 BCE). She was married to King Shamshi-Adad also mentioned as King Ninus who reigned from 823 to 811 BC, and was the mother of King Adad-Nirari . Semiramis was a captivating beauty who was married at a young age to Onnes , an official from Syria in the Assyrian court. Their wedding was attended by King Ninus who fell in love with the...