Espionage is described as ‘Intelligence’ gathering, securing of information about one nation for the benefit of another. Spying is a term used to describe clandestine intelligence gathering activity. Spying involves the use of spies or agents by a government to learn the secrets of other nations. Espionage involves obtaining information using spies, secret agents, and illegal monitoring devices.
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In government operations, intelligence involves evaluated information concerning the strength, activities and probable course of action of its opponents. The concept of intelligence is not new. The military treatise “Ping-fa”(The Art of War) written c.400 B.C. by military philosopher Sun-tzu mentions the use of secret agents and importance of good intelligence. To obtain knowledge of enemy’s intentions, intelligence systems have been in use from ancient times. The Intelligence Service of Red China belongs to Ministry of State Security.
At Special Frontier Force, I am familiar with Red China’s espionage and her intelligence gathering operations which often target individuals serving in Special Frontier Force to identify them with specificity. Intelligence gathering in cyberspace or cyberespionage is manifestation of digital age. At Special Frontier Force, I am trained to recognize Red China as an adversary, an opponent, and an enemy. I would not expect Red China to extend her cooperation to apprehend those criminals who with a series of computer hacks have stolen vast amounts of data from a database maintained by the Office of Personnel Management in the United States. While nations may face the compulsion to gather intelligence, stealing private information of millions of civilian employees is unfair, unethical, and is totally unwarranted. As such, I would recognize Red China as a Cyber Criminal and Red China has to bear full responsibility for criminal actions of her employees or agents she hired.
With a series of major hacks, China builds a database on Americans
American and Chinese flags are adjusted before a press conference in Beijing in 2012. (Feng Li/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
By ELLEN NAKASHIMA June 5 at 5:55 PM
China is building massive databases of Americans’ personal information by hacking government agencies and U.S. health-care companies, using a high-tech tactic to achieve an age-old goal of espionage: recruiting spies or gaining more information on an adversary, U.S. officials and analysts say.
Groups of hackers working for the Chinese government have compromised the networks of the Office of Personnel Management(OPM) which holds data on millions of current and former federal employees, as well as the health insurance giant Anthem, among other targets, the officials and researchers said.
“They’re definitely going after quite a bit of personnel information,” said Rich Barger, chief intelligence officer of ThreatConnect, a Northern Virginia cybersecurity firm. “We suspect they’re using it to understand more about who to target [for espionage], whether electronically or via human recruitment.”
The targeting of large-scale databases is a relatively new tactic and is used by the Chinese government to further its intelligence-gathering, the officials and analysts say. It is government espionage, not commercial espionage, they say.
China hacked into the federal government’s network, compromising four million current and former employees’ information. The Post’s Ellen Nakashima talks about what kind of national security risk this poses and why China wants this information. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)
“This is part of their strategic goal — to increase their intelligence collection via big data theft and big data aggregation,” said a U.S. government official, who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. “It’s part of a strategic plan.”
One hack of the OPM, which was disclosed by the government Thursday, dates at least to December, officials said. Earlier last year, the OPM discovered a separate intrusion into a highly sensitive database that contains information on employees seeking or renewing security clearances and on their background investigations.
Once harvested, the data can be used to glean details about key government personnel and potential spy recruits, or to gain information useful for counterintelligence. Records in OPM’s database of background investigations, for instance, could contain a complete history of where an individual has lived and all of his or her foreign contacts in, say, China. “So now the
Chinese counterintelligence authorities know which American officials are meeting with which Chinese,” a China cyber and intelligence expert said.
The data could help Chinese analysts do more effective targeting of individuals, said a former National Security Agency official. “They can find specific individuals they want to go after, family members,” he said.
The trend has emerged and accelerated over the past 12 to 18 months, the official said. An increase in Chinese capability has opened the way “for bigger data storage, for bigger data theft,” he said. “And when you can gain it in bulk, you take it in bulk.”
The Chinese government, he said, is making use of Chinese companies that specialize in aggregating large sets of data “to help them in sifting through” the information for useful details. “The analogy would be one of our intelligence organizations using Google, Yahoo, Accenture to aggregate data that we collected.”
China on Friday dismissed the allegation of hacking as “irresponsible and unscientific.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing wanted to cooperate with other nations to build a peaceful and secure cyberspace.
“We wish the United States would not be full of suspicions, catching wind and shadows, but rather have a larger measure of trust and cooperation,” he told a regular news briefing,
The OPM disclosed that the latest hack of one of its systems exposed personal data of up to 4 million current and former employees — the largest hack of federal employee data in recent years.
U.S. officials privately said China was behind it. The stolen information included Social Security numbers and performance evaluations.
“This is an intelligence operation designed to help the Chinese government,” the China expert said. “It’s a new phase in an evolution of what they’re doing. It certainly requires greater sophistication on their part in terms of being able to take out this much data.”
Barger’s firm has turned up technical evidence that the same Chinese group is behind the hacks of Premera Blue Cross and Empire BlueCross, which were discovered at roughly the same time earlier this year.
The first OPM incident has been linked to the health-care hacks by Barger and another security researcher, John Hultquist, senior manager for cyberespionage threat intelligence at iSight Partners. Hultquist said the same group is responsible for all of them, and for other intrusions into commercial databases containing large sets of Americans’ personal information.
“They would leverage this data to get to diplomatic, political, military and economic intelligence that they typically target,” said Hultquist, who declined to comment on who was behind the attacks.
Though much Chinese cyberespionage is attributed to the People’s Liberation Army, these hacks, Barger said, appeared to be linked to the Ministry of State Security, which is a spy agency responsible for foreign espionage and domestic counterintelligence.
Other Chinese entities, including the military, may also be involved in the campaign, analysts said.
Chinese government hackers “are like a vacuum cleaner” in sucking up information electronically, said Robert “Bear” Bryant, a former top counterespionage official in the government. “They’re becoming much more sophisticated in tying it all together. And they’re trying to harm us.”
Security researchers have pointed to a cyber tool or family of malicious software called Derusbi that has been linked exclusively to Chinese actors. One group that has used Dersubi is Deep Panda, a name coined by the firm CrowdStrike, which has linked that group to the Anthem hack.
Disclosed in February, that incident exposed the Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and member IDs of tens of millions of customers. No medical data such as diagnosis or treatment information was compromised, the company said.
Researchers note that in contrast to the hacks of Home Depot and Target, personal data that might have been stolen from the OPM, Anthem and the other companies have not shown up on the black market, where it can be sold to identity thieves. That is another sign, they said, that the intrusions are not being made for commercial purposes.
“Usually if there’s a criminally or financially motivated breach like that, we see the data making its way into the black market soon after that,” Barger said.
The big data approach being taken by the Chinese might seem to mirror techniques used abroad by the NSA, which has come under scrutiny for its data-gathering practices under executive authority. But in China, the authorities do not tolerate public debate over the proper limits of large-scale spying in the digital age.
“This is what all intelligence services do if they’re good,” said the China cyber expert. “If you want to find a needle, first you have to gather a haystack of needles.”
The massive data harvesting “reflects a maturity in Chinese” electronic intelligence gathering, the expert said. “You have to put in place structured data repositories. You have to have big data management tools to be able to store and sift and analyze.”
Barger said that “with a large pool of data, they can prioritize who is the best to target electronically and who is the best to target via human recruitment.”
The U.S. official noted that the Chinese “would not take [the data] if they did not have the opportunity to aggregate it.” And, he added, “they are taking it.”
Simon Denyer in Beijing contributed to this report.
Ellen Nakashima is a national security reporter for The Washington Post. She focuses on issues relating to intelligence, technology and civil liberties.
Jackals are wild dogs of Asia and North Africa. The word Jackal is often used to describe a person who does dishonest or humiliating tasks for one’s own gain. Jackal is the other name for a cheat or a swindler. I am specifically using the term ‘JACKAL’ to describe the nature of Red China’s statecraft or statesmanship. It helps my readers to recognize Red China’s sly, secretive, or wily nature. Sly implies a working to achieve one’s ends by evasiveness, insinuation, furtiveness, duplicity, circumvention, plot, subterfuge, stratagem, craftiness, subtle blandishments, ruses, cunning underhandedness, mischievous or roguish behavior. Red China could be called “FOXY” for its tricks are sharpened by experience. Red China deals with her neighbors using her proficiency in deception. Red China is subtly deceitful for she knows to defraud others by deliberately misleading them to obtain their rights and property. Red China often takes pleasure in demonstrating the gullibility of her victims.
At Special Frontier Force, we have personal experience of Red China’s sly, wily, cunning, dishonest, and deceitful nature.
Pentagon chief criticizes Beijing’s South China Sea
moves
Associated Press
By LOLITA C. BALDOR and MATTHEW PENNINGTON
SINGAPORE — China’s land reclamation in the South China Sea is out of step
with international rules, and turning underwater land into airfields won’t
expand its sovereignty, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told an international
security conference Saturday, stepping up America’s condemnation of the
communist giant as Beijing officials sat in the audience.
Carter told the room full of Asia-Pacific leaders and experts that the U.S.
opposes “any further militarization” of the disputed lands.
His remarks were immediately slammed as “groundless and not constructive” by
a Chinese military officer in the audience.
Carter’s comments came as defense officials revealed that China had put two
large artillery vehicles on one of the artificial islands it is creating in the
South China Sea. The discovery, made at least several weeks ago, fuels fears in
the U.S and across the Asia-Pacific that China will try to use the land
reclamation projects for military purposes.
The weaponry was discovered at least several weeks ago, and two U.S.
officials who are familiar with intelligence about the vehicles say they have
been removed. The officials weren’t authorized to discuss the intelligence and
spoke only on condition of anonymity.
The Pentagon would not release any photos to support its contention that the
vehicles were there.
China’s assertive behavior in the South China Sea has become an increasingly
sore point in relations with the United States, even as President Barack Obama
and China’s President Xi Jinping have sought to deepen cooperation in other
areas, such as climate change.
Carter delivers his speech about “The United States and Challenges to
Asia-Pacific Security” during the 14th International Institute for Strategic
Studies Shangri-la Dialogue, or IISS, Asia Security Summit, Saturday, May 30,
2015, in Singapore.
While Carter did not refer directly to the weapons in his speech, he told the
audience that now is the time for a diplomatic solution to the territorial
disputes because “we all know there is no military solution.”
“Turning an underwater rock into an airfield simply does not afford the
rights of sovereignty or permit restrictions on international air or maritime
transit,” Carter told the audience at the International Institute for Strategic
Studies summit.
China’s actions have been “reasonable and justified,” said Senior Col. Zhao
Xiaozhuo, deputy director of the Center on China-America Defense Relations at
the People’s Liberation Army’s Academy of Military Science.
Zhao challenged Carter, asking whether America’s criticism of China and its
military reconnaissance activities in the South China Sea “help to resolve the
disputes” and maintain peace and stability in the region.
Carter responded that China’s expanding land reclamation projects are
unprecedented in scale. He said the U.S. has been flying and operating ships in
the region for decades and has no intention of stopping.
While Carter’s criticism was aimed largely at China, he made it clear that
other nations who are doing smaller land reclamation projects also must
stop.
One of those countries is Vietnam, which Carter is scheduled to visit during
this 11-day trip across Asia. Others are Malaysia, the Philippines and
Taiwan.
Asked about images of weapons on the islands, China’s Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was “not aware of the situation you
mention.”
She also scolded Carter, saying the U.S. should be “rational and calm and
stop making any provocative remarks, because such remarks not only do not help
ease the controversies in the South China Sea, but they also will aggravate the
regional peace and stability.”
Carter appeared to strike back in his speech, saying that the U.S. is
concerned about “the prospect of further militarization, as well as the
potential for these activities to increase the risk of miscalculation or
conflict.” And he said the U.S. “has every right to be involved and be
concerned.”
But while Carter stood in China’s backyard and added to the persistent
drumbeat of U.S. opposition to Beijing’s activities, he did little to give
Asia-Pacific nations a glimpse into what America is willing to do to achieve a
solution.
He said the U.S. will continue to sail, fly and operate in the region, and
warned that the Pentagon will be sending its “best platforms and people” to the
Asia-Pacific. Those would include, he said, new high-tech submarines,
surveillance aircraft, the stealth destroyer and new aircraft carrier-based
early-warning aircraft.
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who also is attending the Singapore
conference, told reporters that the U.S. needs to recognize that China will
continue its activities in the South China Sea until it perceives that the costs
of doing so outweigh the benefits.
Carter delivers his speech about “The United States and Challenges to
Asia-Pacific Security” during the 14th International Institute for Strategic
Studies Shangri-la Dialogue (IISS) Asia Security Summit, Saturday, May 30, 2015,
in Singapore.
One senior defense official has said the U.S. is considering more military
flights and patrols closer to the projects in the South China Sea, to emphasize
reclaimed lands are not China’s territorial waters. Officials also are looking
at ways to adjust the military exercises in the region to increase U.S. presence
if needed. That official was not authorized to discuss the options publicly and
spoke on condition of anonymity.
One possibility would be for U.S. ships to travel within 12 miles of the
artificial islands, to further make the point that they are not sovereign
Chinese land. McCain said it would be a critical mistake to recognize any
12-mile zone around the reclamation projects.
The U.S. has been flying surveillance aircraft in the region, prompting China
to file a formal protest.
U.S. and other regional officials have expressed concerns about the island
building, including worries that it may be a prelude to navigation restrictions
or the enforcement of a possible air defense identification zone over the South
China Sea. China declared such a zone over disputed Japanese-held islands in the
East China Sea in 2013.
China has said the islands are its territory and that the buildings and other
infrastructure are for public service use and to support fishermen.
Pennington reported from Washington. AP news assistant Liu Zheng in Beijing
contributed to this report.
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THE EVIL RED EMPIRE – RED CHINA – A JACKAL .
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56th ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY ON MARCH 10, 2015 :
THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : SEEKING SOLIDARITY OF GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM IN OCCUPIED TIBET .THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY . SEEKING JUSTICE IN OCCUPIED TIBET . OCCUPATION IS UNJUST, ILLEGAL , AND IS A LIE IMPOSED BY CHINA .THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY, MARCH 10, 2015. SEEKING PEACE AND HARMONY IN OCCUPIED TIBET .THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY, MARCH 10, 2015. THE BATTLE WILL CONTINUE TILL THE OCCUPIER IS EVICTED FROM TIBET .
THE TYRANT WILL ALWAYS FIND AN EXCUSE FOR HIS TYRANNY.
This story was told by Aesop, the legendary Greek story-teller. Once upon a time, a Wolf was lapping at a stream. When looking up, the Wolf saw a Lamb just beginning to drink a little down the stream. “There’s my supper,” thought the Wolf. The Lamb looked so very helpless and innocent. The Wolf felt he ought to have an excuse for taking its life. Then he called out to the Lamb, “How dare you muddle the water from which I am drinking?” “No, Master, No,” said the Lamb; “if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me.” “Well then,” said the Wolf, “Why did you call me bad names this time last year?” “That cannot be,” said the Lamb, “I am…
MY THOUGHTS ON PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S INDIA VISIT :
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Barack Obama shared their views in a radio conversation titled “MAAN KI BAAT”(Mindful Conversation) that was broadcast on January 27, 2015. I am sharing the transcript of this radio conversation. Both the leaders speak about shared values and the basis for friendly relations between both countries in very general terms. They want to speak directly from the heart and share some personal thoughts on issues without specifically touching issues such as foreign policy. It is claimed that enough information on policy matters was shared in the joint press conference. However, I am of the opinion that there is no transparency in their conversation. There is no Peace, there is no Freedom, there is no Justice, there is no democratic governance, and there is no free flow of information in the occupied territories of TIBET and the problem is of great concern since early 1950s. When the 34th President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower made his five-day visit to India from 09 December to 14 December, 1959, he expounded the need for relentless effort to secure Peace through promoting Freedom. He used the term “CRUSADE” to communicate the intensity of struggle and sacrifice that is involved if people have to find Peace in their personal lives. There is really no Peace until man enjoys his Natural Right to Freedom. Since 1959, India has been hosting the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, and I am totally surprised to note that these two leaders have not said a word about the plight of Tibetans and their military oppression.
Transcript of the special episode of ”Mann ki Baat”: PM Shri Narendra Modi and US President Shri Barack Obama share their thoughts on Radio
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Today, Shri Barack Obama, President of the United States, joins us in a special programme of Mann Ki Baat. For the last few months, I have been sharing my “Mann Ki Baat” with you. But today, people from various parts of the country have asked questions.
But most of the questions are connected to politics, foreign policy, economic policy. However, some questions touch the heart. And I believe if we touch those questions today, we shall be able to reach out to the common man in different parts of the country. And therefore, the questions asked in press conferences, or discussed in meetings – instead of those – if we discuss what comes from the heart, and repeat it, hum it, we get a new energy. And therefore, in my opinion, those questions are more important. Some people wonder, what does “Barack” mean? I was searching for the meaning of Barack. In Swahili language, which is spoken in parts of Africa, Barack means, one who is blessed. I believe, along with a name, his family gave him a big gift.
African countries have lived by the ancient idea of ‘Ubuntu’, which alludes to the ‘oneness in humanity’. They say – “I am, because we are”. Despite the gap in centuries and borders, there is the same spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which speak of in India. This is the great shared heritage of humanity. This unites us. When we discuss Mahatma Gandhi, we remember Henry Thoreau, from whom Mahatma Gandhi learnt disobedience. When we talk about Martin Luther King or Obama, we hear from their lips, respect for Mahatma Gandhi. These are the things that unite the world.
Today, Barack Obama is with us. I will first request him to share his thoughts. Then, I and Barack will both answer the questions that have been addressed to us.
I request President Barack Obama to say a few words.
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Namaste! Thank you Prime Minister Modi for your kind words and for the incredible hospitality you have shown me and my wife Michelle on this visit and let me say to the people of India how honoured I am to be the first American President to join you for Republic Day; and I’m told that this is also the first ever Radio address by an Indian Prime Minister and an American President together, so we’re making a lot of history in a short time. Now to the people of India listening all across this great nation. It’s wonderful to be able to speak you directly. We just come from discussions in which we affirmed that India and the United States are natural partners, because we have so much in common. We are two great democracies, two innovative economies, two diverse societies dedicated to empowering individuals. We are linked together by millions of proud Indian Americans who still have family and carry on traditions from India. And I want to say to the Prime Minister how much I appreciate your strong personal commitment to strengthening the relationship between these two countries.
People are very excited in the United States about the energy that Prime Minister Modi is bringing to efforts in this country to reduce extreme poverty and lift people up, to empower women, to provide access to electricity, and clean energy and invest in infrastructure, and the education system. And on all these issues, we want to be partners. Because many of the efforts that I am promoting inside the United States to make sure that the young people get the best education possible, to make sure that the ordinary people are properly compensated for their labour, and paid fair wages, and have job security and health care. These are the same kinds of issues that Prime Minister Modi, I know cares so deeply about here. And I think there’s a common theme in these issues. It gives us a chance to reaffirm what Gandhi ji reminded us, should be a central aim of our lives. And that is, we should endeavour to seek God through service of humanity because God is in everyone. So these shared values, these convictions, are a large part of why I am so committed to this relationship. I believe that if the United States and India join together on the world stage around these values, then not only will our peoples be better off, but I think the world will be more prosperous and more peaceful and more secure for the future. So thank you so much Mr. Prime Minister, for giving me this opportunity to be with you here today.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Barack the first question comes from Raj from Mumbai
His question is, the whole world knows about your love for your daughters. How will you tell your daughters about youre experience of India? Do you plan to do some shopping for them?
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well first of all they very much wanted to come. They are fascinated by India, Unfortunately each time that I have taken a trip here, they had school and they couldn’t leave school. And in fact, Malia, my older daughter, had exams just recently. They are fascinated by the culture, and the history of India, in part because of my influence I think, they are deeply moved by India’s movement to Independence, and the role that Gandhi played, in not only the non-violent strategies here in India, but how those ended up influencing the non-violent Civil Rights Movement in the United States. So when I go back I am going to tell them that India is as magnificent as they imagined. And I am quite sure that they are going to insist that I bring them back the next time I visit. It may not be during my Presidency, but afterwards they will definitely want to come and visit.
And I will definitely do some shopping for them. Although I can’t go to the stores myself, so I have to have my team do the shopping for me. And I’ll get some advice from Michelle, because she probably has a better sense of what they would like.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Barack said he will come with his daughters. I extend an invitation to you. Whether you come as President, or thereafter, India looks forward to welcoming you and your daughters.
Sanika Diwan from Pune, Maharashtra has asked me a question. She asks me, whether I have sought assistance from President Obama for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Mission
Sanika you have asked a good question. There is a lot of worry because of the sex ratio in India. For every 1000 boys, the number of girls is less. And the main reason for this is that, there is a defect in our attitudes towards boys and girls.
Whether or not I seek help from President Obama, his life is in itself an inspiration. The way he has brought up his two daughters, the way he is proud of his two daughters.
In our country too, I meet many families who have only daughters. And they bring up their daughters with such pride, give them such respect, that is the biggest inspiration. I believe that inspiration is our strength. And in response to your question, I would like to say, to save the girl child, to educate the girl child, this is our social duty, cultural duty, and humanitarian responsibility. We should honour it.
Barack, there is a question for you. The second question for President Obama comes through e-mail: Dr. Kamlesh Upadhyay, a Doctor based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Your wife is doing extensive work on tackling modern health challenges like obesity and diabetes. These are increasingly being faced in India as well. Would you and the First Lady like to return to India to work on these issues after your Presidency, just like Bill and Melinda Gates?
(Hon’ble Barack Obama):
Well, we very much look forward to partnering with organizations, and the government and non-governmental organizations here in India, around broader Public Health issues including the issue of obesity. I am very proud of the work that Michelle has done on this issue. We’re seeing a world-wide epidemic of obesity, in many cases starting at a very young age. And a part of it has to do with increase in processed foods, not naturally prepared. Part of it is a lack of activity for too many children. And once they are on this path, it can lead to a life time of health challenges. This is an issue that we would like to work on internationally, including here in India. And it is a part of a broader set of issues around global health that we need to address. The Prime Minister and I have discussed, for example, how we can do a better job in dealing with issues like pandemic. And making sure that we have good alert systems so that if a disease like Ebola, or a deadly flu virus, or Polio appears, it is detected quickly and then treated quickly so that it doesn’t spread. The public health infrastructure around the world needs to be improved. I think the Prime Minister is doing a great job in focusing on these issues here in India. And India has a lot to teach many other countries who may not be advancing as rapidly in improving this public health sector. But it has an impact on everything, because if children are sick they can’t concentrate in school and they fall behind. It has a huge economic impact on the countries involved and so we think that there is a lot of progress to be made here and I am very excited about the possibilities of considering this work even after I leave office.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Mr. Arjun asks me a question. An interesting question. He says he has seen an old photo of me as a tourist outside the White House. He asks me what touched me when I went there last September.
It is true that when I first went to America, I was not lucky enough to visit the White House. There is an iron fence far from the White House. We stood outside the fence and took a photograph. White House is visible in the background. Now that I have become Prime Minister, that photo too has become popular. But at that time, I had never thought that sometime in my life, I would get a chance to visit the White House. But when I visited the White House, one thing touched my heart. I can never forget that. Barack gave me a book, a book that he had located after considerable effort. That book had become famous in 1894. Swami Vivekananda, the inspiration of my life, had gone to Chicago to participate in the World Religions Conference. And this book was a compilation of the speeches delivered at the World Religions Conference. That touched my heart. And not just this. He turned the pages of the book, and showed me what was written there. He had gone through the entire book! And he told me with pride, I come from the Chicago where Swami Vivekananda had come. These words touched my heart a lot. And I will treasure this throughout my life. So once, standing far from the White House and taking a photo, and then, to visit the White House, and to receive a book on someone whom I respect. You can imagine, how it would have touched my heart.
Barack there is a question for you. Himani from Ludhiana, Punjab. Question is for you ……:
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well the question is “Did you both imagine you would reach the positions that you’ve reached today?”
And it is interesting, Mr. Prime Minister, your talking about the first time you visited White House and being outside that iron fence. The same is true for me. When I first went to the White House, I stood outside that same fence, and looked in, and I certainly did not imagine that I would ever be visiting there, much less living there. You know, I think both of us have been blessed with an extraordinary opportunity, coming from relatively humble beginnings. And when I think about what’s best in America and what’s best in India, the notion that a tea seller or somebody who’s born to a single mother like me, could end up leading our countries, is an extraordinary example of the opportunities that exist within our countries. Now I think, a part of what motivates both you and I, is the belief that there are millions of children out there who have the same potential but may not have the same education, may not be getting exposed to opportunities in the same way, and so a part of our job, a part of government’s job is that young people who have talent, and who have drive and are willing to work for, are able to succeed. And that’s why we are emphasizing school, higher education. Making sure that children are healthy and making sure those opportunities are available to children of all backgrounds, girls and boys, people of all religious faiths and of all races in the United States is so important. Because you never know who might be the next Prime Minister of India, or who might be the next President of United States. They might not always look the part right off the bat. And they might just surprise you if you give them the chance.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Thank you Barack.
Himani from Ludhiana has also asked me this question – did I ever imagine I would reach this high office?
No. I never imagined it. Because, as Barack said, I come from a very ordinary family. But for a long time, I have been telling everyone, never dream of becoming something. If you wish to dream, dream of doing something. When we do something, we get satisfaction, and also get inspiration to do something new. If we only dream of becoming something, and cannot fulfil the dream, then we only get disappointed. And therefore, I never dreamt of becoming something. Even today, I have no dream of becoming something. But I do dream of doing something. Serving Mother India, serving 125 crore Indians, there can be no greater dream than this. That is what I have to do. I am thankful to Himani.
There is a question for Barack from Omprakash. Omprakash is studying Sanskrit at JNU. He belongs to Jhunjunu, Rajasthan. Om Prakash is convener of special centre for Sanskrit Studies in JNU.
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well this is a very interesting question. His question is, the youth of the new generation is a global citizen. He is not limited by time or boundaries. In such a situation what should be the approach by our leadership, governments as well as societies at large.
I think this is a very important question. When I look at this generation that is coming up, they are exposed to the world in ways that you and I could hardly imagine. They have the world at their fingertips, literally. They can, using their mobile phone, get information and images from all around the world and that’s extraordinarily powerful. And what that means, I think is that, governments and leaders cannot simply try to govern, or rule, by a top-down strategy. But rather have to reach out to people in an inclusive way, and an open way, and a transparent way. And engage in a dialogue with citizens, about the direction of their country. And one of the great things about India and the United States is that we are both open societies. And we have confidence and faith that when citizens have information, and there is a vigorous debate, that over time even though sometimes democracy is frustrating, the best decisions and the most stable societies emerge and the most prosperous societies emerge. And new ideas are constantly being exchanged. And technology today I think facilitates that, not just within countries, but across countries. And so, I have much greater faith in India and the United States, countries that are open information societies, in being able to succeed and thrive in this New Information Age; than closed societies that try to control the information that citizens receive. Because ultimately that’s no longer possible. Information will flow inevitably, one way or the other, and we want to make sure we are fostering a healthy debate and a good conversation between all peoples.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Omprakash wants me too, to answer the question that has been asked to Barack.
Barack has given a very good answer. It is inspiring. I will only say, that once upon a time, there were people inspired primarily by the Communist ideology. They gave a call: Workers of the world, Unite. This slogan lasted for several decades. I believe, looking at the strength and reach of today’s youth, I would say, Youth, Unite the world. I believe they have the strength and they can do it.
The next question is from CA Pikashoo Mutha from Mumbai, and he asks me, which American leader has inspired you
When I was young, I used to see Kennedy’s pictures in Indian newspapers. His personality was very impressive. But your question is, who has inspired me. I liked reading as a child. And I got an opportunity to read the biography of Benjamin Franklin. He lived in the eighteenth century. And he was not an American President. But his biography is so inspiring – how a person can intelligently try to change his life.
If we feel excessively sleepy, how can we reduce that?
If we feel like eating too much, how can we work towards eating less?
If people get upset with you that cannot meet them, because of the pressure of work, then how to solve this problem?
He has addressed such issues in his biography. And I tell everyone, we should read Benjamin Franklin’s biography. Even today, it inspires me. And Benjamin Franklin had a multi-dimensional personality. He was a politician, he was a political scientist, he was a social worker, he was a diplomat. And he came from an ordinary family. He could not even complete his education. But till today, his thoughts have an impact on American life. I find his life truly inspiring. And I tell you too, if you read his biography, you will find ways to transform your life too. And he has talked about simple things. So I feel you will be inspired as much as I have been.
There is a question for Barack, from Monika Bhatia. (Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well the question is “As leaders of two major economies, what inspires you and makes you smile at the end of a bad day at work?”
And that is a very good question. I say sometimes, that the only problems that come to my desk are the ones that nobody else solves. If they were easy questions, then somebody else would have solved them before they reached me. So there are days when it’s tough and frustrating. And that’s true in Foreign Affairs. That is true in Domestic Affairs. But I tell you what inspires me, and I don’t know Mr. Prime Minister if you share this view – almost every day I meet somebody who tells me, “You made a difference in my life.”
So they’ll say, “The Health-Care law that you passed, saved my child who didn’t have health insurance.” And they were able to get an examination from a Physician, and they caught an early tumour, and now he is doing fine.
Or they will say “You helped me save my home during the economic crisis.”
Or they’ll say, “I couldn’t afford college, and the program you set up has allowed me to go to the university.”
And sometimes they are thanking you for things that you did four or five years ago. Sometimes they are thanking you for things you don’t even remember, or you’re not thinking about that day. But it is a reminder of what you said earlier, which is, if you focus on getting things done as opposed to just occupying an office or maintaining power, then the satisfaction that you get is unmatched. And the good thing about service is that anybody can do it. If you are helping somebody else, the satisfaction that you can get from that, I think, exceeds anything else that you can do. And that’s usually what makes me inspired to do more, and helps get through the challenges and difficulties that we all have. Because obviously we are not the only people with bad days at work. I think everybody knows what it is like to have a bad day at work. You just have to keep on working through it. Eventually you make a difference. (Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Indeed Barack has spoken words from the heart (Mann Ki Baat). Whatever position we may hold, we are human too. Simple things can inspire us. I also wish to narrate an experience. For many years, I was like an ascetic. I got food at other people’s homes. Whoever invited me, used to feed me as well. Once a family invited me over for a meal, repeatedly. I would not go, because I felt they are too poor, and if I go to eat at their place, I will become a burden on them. But eventually, I had to bow to their request and love. And I went to eat a meal at their home. It was a small hut, where we sat down to eat. They offered me roti made of bajra (millet), and mik. Their young child was looking at the milk. I felt, the child has never even seen milk. So I gave that small bowl of milk to the child. And he drank it within seconds. His family members were angry with him. And I felt that perhaps that child has never had any milk, apart from his mother’s milk. And maybe, they had bought milk so that I could have a good meal. This incident inspired me a lot. A poor person living in a hut could think so much about my well-being. So I should devote my life to their service. So these are the things that serve as inspiration. And Barack has also spoken about what can touch the heart.
I am thankful to Barack, he has given so much time. And I am thankful to my countrymen for listening to Mann Ki Baat. I know radio reaches every home and every lane of India. And this Mann Ki Baat, this special Mann Ki Baat will echo forever.
I have an idea. I share it with you. There should be an e-book made of the talk between Barack and me today. I hope the organizers of Mann Ki Baat will release this e-book. And to you all, who have listened to Mann Ki Baat, I also say, do participate in this. And the best hundred thoughts that emerge out of this, will also be added to this e-book. And I want you to write to us on Twitter, on Facebook, or online, using the hashtag #YesWeCan.
• Eliminate Poverty – #YesWeCan
• Quality Healthcare to All – #YesWeCan
• Youth empowered with Education – #YesWeCan
• Jobs for All – #YesWeCan
• End to Terrorism – #YesWeCan
• Global Peace and Progress – #YesWeCan
I want you to send your thoughts, experiences and feelings after listening to Mann Ki Baat. From them, we will select the best hundred, and we will add them to the book containing the talk that Barack and I have had. And I believe, this will truly become, the Mann Ki Baat of us all.
Once again, a big thank you to Barack. And to all of you. Barack’s visit to India on this pious occasion of 26th January, is a matter of pride for me and for the country.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AHAM BRAHMASMI – UNITY VS IDENTITY :
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : WHICH HAS COME FIRST ??? THE CHICK OR THE EGG ??? SPIRITUALITY IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDING OF THINGS. IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT EXIST IN THE PRESENT.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : THE HUMAN ORGANISM RUNS ITS LIVING FUNCTIONS AS IF OPERATED BY A PRECISE TIMEKEEPING DEVICE OR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK. MAN’S EXPERIENCE OF TIME IS RELATED TO SUN’S APPARENT MOTIONS IN THE SKY. MAN KNOWS THE REALITY OF TIME BECAUSE OF AN ILLUSION THAT CAUSES DAY AND NIGHT GIVING MAN THE PERCEPTION OF SUN’S APPARENT MOTION WHILE CONCEALING THE REALITY OF SUN’S MOTION IN THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DO PLANTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW ??? PLANTS KNOW ABOUT LIGHT, THE LENGTH OF DAY, AND THE DURATION OF DARKNESS CALLED NIGHT. THERE IS NO “INTELLECT” INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF KNOWING. THE ABILITY OF KNOWING LIGHT OR PHOTORECEPTION IS EXPLAINED BY PHOTOCHEMISTRY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, LIFE AND LIVING IS ABOUT KNOWING MATTER AS SELF OR NON-SELF. THIS IDENTIFICATION OF MATTER INVOLVES THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE MOLECULES OF MATTER . TO LEARN THE ART OF KNOWING, MAN HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR EXISTENCE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – WHOLE YOGA : SPIRITUALITY IS ABOUT FINDING PEACE, HARMONY, AND TRANQUILITY IN THE LIVING, HUMAN CONDITION. THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE CALLED YOGA WILL GIVE PEACE AND HARMONY IF MAN IS “YOKED” WITH THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DOES THE HUMAN ORGANISM KNOWS ABOUT ITS OWN LIFETIME ??? THE AGING PHENOMENON IS RELATED TO MAN’S PERCEPTION OF TIME. HOW IS TIME CONTROLLING OR OPERATING LIFE EXPERIENCE ???
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : BLAISE PASCAL(1623 – 1662), FRENCH SCIENTIST AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER CLAIMED THAT MAN IS INFINITELY REMOVED FROM COMPREHENDING THE EXTREMES ; THE END OF THINGS AND THEIR BEGINNINGS ARE HIDDEN.
