An appeal to PM Modi seeking CSR funding for arts and culture

July 5, 2024

In a move that has resonated deeply within India’s cultural and artistic circles, Sundeep Bhutoria, a prominent figure in India’s arts and literature community, has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhutoria has made a passionate appeal for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support to bolster the cultural and...

Nationalisation of banks, Another Indira legacy

July 1, 2024

Indira Gandhi’s Left leanings were more radical than that of her father Nehru. Indira favoured a more aggressive brand of socialism and greatly admired the Soviet model of political centralisation. Her justification for nationalisation was to provide bank financing for the country’s marginalised classes, particularly the agrarian class as farmer...

Sanjay and Rukhsana—’Ice-cream buddies’

June 25, 2024

Maneka Gandhi defended her husband stoutly even after she left mother-in-law and then prime minister Indira Gandhi’s house and joined the right-wing BJP. According to her, the Emergency brought about order and discipline in the country. ‘There were no power failures, no strikes or lockouts, citizens went about without the...

Sanjay and Rukhsana—’Ice-Cream Buddies’

June 25, 2024

Maneka Gandhi defended her husband stoutly even after she left mother-in-law and then prime minister Indira Gandhi’s house and joined the right-wing BJP. According to her, the Emergency brought about order and discipline in the country. ‘There were no power failures, no strikes or lockouts, citizens went about without the...

An essential reading for a deeper understanding of India-Nepal ties

June 14, 2024

The book ‘Kathmandu Chronicle: Reclaiming India-Nepal Relations’ stands out for its blend of historical insights and forward-looking vision; Combining personal anecdotes with thoughtful analysis, the book goes beyond formal ties to explore broader avenues for collaboration In the intricated world of international relations, few bonds are as paradoxical as that...

Reliance on PM Modi, sidelining of regional satraps cost BJP dear

June 5, 2024

Verdict 2024 has something for everyone. But big credit should go to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Mamata Banerjee and Sharad Pawar. Together they provided a lot of strength to I.N.D.I.A bloc has given Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and a section of hawkish...

Current political class needs to draw lessons from Gandhi, Nehru

May 27, 2024

Both Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru believed in writing and airing their differences out in the open often in rather acrimonious ways. Nehru, twenty years younger and a self-confessed disciple of Gandhi, had serious differences with Gandhi’s approach towards village economy, non-violence, religion and economic thinking. In 1945 when the...

Airing differences without being acrimonious

May 7, 2024

Both Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru believed in writing and airing their differences out in the open often in rather acrimonious ways. Nehru, twenty years younger and a self-confessed disciple of Gandhi, had serious differences with Gandhi’s approach towards village economy, non-violence, religion and economic thinking. In 1945 when the...

Can Vadra join the league of Firoze Gandhi?

April 30, 2024

Can Robert Vadra join the league of Firoze Gandhi in becoming the Nehru-Gandhi family’s son-in-law turned politician? Vadra, married to Priyanka Gandhi in February 1997, has been knocking at electoral politics door since October 2010 when he had boldly told The Times of India that he could win an election...

Independents” or “also run” provide added flavour to our vibrant democracy but somehow they miss out on media and tv news attention they deserve

April 25, 2024

For 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India released a list of 190 such symbols for the independents. It includes many means of transportation such as auto-rickshaw, boat with man and sail, ship, truck along with road-roller and crane. Then there are a wide choice of food items...