Opinion Idea Expressed
From a Nobel Prize winner and an Olympic champion to a former President,from leading politicians to successful professionals,from actors to writers,the Idea Exchange programme showcased talent,intellect and power. Facing a barrage of questions from Express staffers,they did not falter: they spoke freely,expressing their thoughts and ideas,leaving us with a year of memorable quotes. Here is the pick of 2009
august 30
PRANAB MUKHERJEE
Finance Minister
When asked about the row in the BJP over Jaswant Singhs book on Jinnah
Why cant (the BJP) allow history to remain where it is…what is the relevance of the evaluation of Jinnah in contemporary politics? Let historians do that job.
March 22
A P J ABDUL KALAM
FORMER PRESIDENT OF INDIA
If I address a group of youngsters and talk about the flag flying in my heart and how I will uphold the dignity of the nation,I can get them to dream. But if I talk to people who are 40,50 or 70 plus,it will not go down that well. Youth have fewer biases about their society as compared to the grown-ups.
December 13
OMAR ABDULLAH
J&K Chief Minister
When asked if he overreacted while
offering to resign over the J&K sex scandal
That is the way I am…I am human…If I react with a bit of emotion,it is good. For too long,politics has been
dehumanised in this country.
November 22
OM PURI
actor
on his wifes biography of him
If youre writing a biography,be honest,else dont write it. Even Mahatma Gandhi had written about his sex life as it was a part of his growing up. This never changed our respect for him.
november 15
VED MEHTA
writer
I wrote because I lacked self-confidence. As a writer,you can pretend you are a worm,you can disappear into the folds of a curtain and stay there. You can work out all the aggression,all the shyness,all the things you wished you had done.
October 25
KAPIL SIBAL
HRD Minister
On whether too many IITs will end up diluting the brand
You need to allow institutions to function,to build brands on their own. The moment you start building the brand for them,it will not work.
October 4
KAMAL NATH
Minister of Road Transport and Highways
We will build more roads in one year than the NDA built in five years.
July 26
SHASHI THAROOR
MoS (External Affairs)
When asked about his tweets
There is a difference between
openness and indiscretion…and I have had 29 years of practice in not crossing those lines….Show me one thing that embarrassed the government.
July 12
SURESH KALMADI
Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee
The money spent on the Commonwealth Games is not just for 15 days,it should be for the next 15 years. It brings in tourism during and post the Games.
September 13
JAIRAM RAMESH
Minister for environment and forests
Before the Copenhagen talks
The single most important message we need to give the world is that we…want a fair and equitable agreement in Copenhagen…Copenhagen is not the end; its the beginning of a long process.
September 27
P. CHIDAMBARAM
Home Minister
On evidence against Hafiz Saeed
If the Pakistan government throws up its hands and says it cannot or it is
unwilling to investigate (terrorists) on Pakistan soil,that is a very sad commentary on the Pakistan police.
June 7
BJP leader
After the Congresss win in the LS polls
In a democracy,dynasty is nasty,but its tasty to a considerable proportion of people in this country.
april 12
Nobel Peace prize winner and Grameen Bank founder
On the global financial crisis
Who is credit-worthy? The poor are the ones who are paying back and it is the rich who are not paying back. The current financial crisis has allowed the world to challenge the financial system.
August 23
Naresh Trehan
senior heart surgeon at Apollo Hospitals
On how hospitals and doctors in India compare with those in the West
There are some very,very good doctors and good procedures here. What we lack are systems.
July 19
RJD leader
After his partys debacle in the Lok
Sabha polls
In Delhi,if you do not come with the strength of large numbers,there will be no one to greet you,no one will recognise you even if you were friends earlier.
September 6
VIJENDER SINGH
Boxer,bronze medalist at beijing
I always wanted to appear on television and now this dream has come true. But I always
remember that I am a boxer first. You will find many actors in India but very few boxers who have done well on the world stage.
August 16
Praful Patel
NCP leader and Civil Aviation minister
When asked if Supriya Sule was the
heir-apparent in the NCP
She is certainly not the heir-apparent (in the NCP)…To say she is the leader and people like us are going to work under her,thats not going to happen.
May 10
SY Quraishi
Election Commissioner
My personal view is that democracy and compulsory voting cannot go together. Democracy is about making informed choices and we should ensure that maximum people come out to vote,encouraged by positive campaigning.
March 8
Thomas Friedman
NYT columnist
On the financial meltdown
We got away from the basics (of) our parents generation. What will our kids call us? The greediest generation? The dumbest generation? The most selfish generation? The brain dead generation?
March 1
TDP leader
Politics is not stagnant. In 2004,we were very clear that we wanted a united Andhra. But the Telangana sentiment is very strong. Instead of fighting over this issue…,it is better to associate with the problem and solve it.
May 24
David Frost
British TV journalist
on how difficult it is to do a tough interview
I am often the devils advocate.
June 14
D. RAJA
CPI leader
On the Lefts poor electoral performance
We are not holy angels,but we are not devils either. Sometimes people try to teach us a lesson. This time the people wanted to teach us a lesson,so let us accept it with all humility.
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