Category: Current/ Political Affairs
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THE DANCE OF DEATH
This month of July I was privy to two deaths, one of someone very dear to me, and the other who was just a name in a newspaper report. I had many lessons to learn. Due to physical and financial restraints I can’t travel too much. But this month took me to two cities, Indore…
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AFTER NAMO, WHAT?
When Nehru was the Prime Minister of India, Welles Hagen wrote a book in 1963, “After Nehru, Who?” When Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister a similar sentiment emerged, the TINA factor. There is no alternative. History bears testimony that both Nehru and Rajiv were not indispensable. Presently, the BJP led by Narendra Modi (Namo) has…
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EMERGENCY, SURROGACY, SUFFOCATION
Trains and aircraft have emergency exits. Not so with politics. I vividly recall this day 50 years ago. I was attending a Youth Animators’ Training Programme in Allahabad, the epicentre of the Emergency earthquake. It was promulgated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25th June 1975. The day after the declaration a classmate of mine…
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DARK CLOUDS OVER ARUNACHAL
Arunachal Pradesh means the “Land of the Rising Sun”, because, being in the eastern most part of India, it is the first part of the county to be kissed by the rays of the rising sun. But now sinister dark clouds hover over Arunachal. Why? This 6th March thousands of Arunachalis in different parts of…
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LOVE MARRIAGE OR LOVE JIHAD?
The term “Love Jihad” is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. Jihad is derived from the Arabic word Jahada that literally means accomplishing a task or attaining a goal by strength and force, be it for propagating good or fighting evil. Assertion by force or strength is antithetical to love. St Paul describes it as…
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LONE WARRIOR FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY
There is a common belief that by one’s self one can do precious little to bring about societal change. Meet Himanshu Kumar (60) whom I had the pleasure of interacting with a couple of days ago when he pedalled into Kanpur. He was on a 40 day mission to spread the message of peace and…
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ALL FALL DOWN
Let’s go back to our childhood nursery rhymes. “Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses, A pocket full of posies; A-tishoo, A-tishoo, We all fall down”. And again, “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again”. This second rhyme is commonly associated…
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NEW DELHI – NEW YORK, VIA NEWCASTLE
# chhotebhai What’s new? In recent times, a lot. Let me begin with the adage “Don’t carry coal to Newcastle”. This is because Newcastle, in north east England, was known for its industry and coal fields. Hence any attempt to send coal there would be superfluous. Can New Delhi send something to New York or…
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AMERICAN – INDIAN ELECTION CONTRASTS
It is said that comparisons are odious; but we need contrasts. We keep adjusting them on our phones, TVs and PCs. Contrasts, however, are not limited to electronic screens. More importantly, contrasts, especially stark contrasts, help us understand many things in life. Comparisons and contrasts are perhaps the best way forward. Over the last few…
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YOUR SLIP IS SHOWING
Let me begin with a frank admission. From school days I have hated English grammar. On the other hand, my wife is a grammarian, knowing Wren and Martin’s grammar like the back of her hand. She compensates for my many inadequacies. The word “slip” is both a noun and a verb. The grammarian tells me…