Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

• Indo-US Nuclear Deal and a Cock-and-Bull Story | Sukla Sen

  13 August 2021, by Sukla Sen

  by Sukla Sen
  The Deal, it may be recalled, had been clinched - at the conclusion of a (tension-filled) process stretching over more than three years, back in 2008 October .
  Close to thirteen years have elapsed.
  Now - out of the blue, a cock-and-bull story has surfaced after the lapse of short thirteen years!
  In quest for a lucrative appointment?
  Knowing the influence that the Left parties wielded in the United Progressive Alliance government of Dr Manmohan Singh, China perhaps (…)

• 

  Book Review: Kobad Gandhy’s Prison Memoir | Gabriele Dietrich

  13 August 2021, by Gabriele Dietrich

  reviewed by Gabriele Dietrich
  __0__
  FRACTURED FREEDOM
  A Prison Memoir
  Kobad Gandhy
  Roli Books
  (Address: Roli Books Pvt Ltd, M-75, Greater Kailash II, Market, New Delhi - 110048)
  2021
  316 pages
  ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8194969166
  ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8194969167
  Available in Hardcover and in Kindle editions
  Available here
  __0__
  This is indeed a story of passion, commitment, and a search for justice and freedom. It is the narrative of the building up of engagement and empathy, (…)

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  The Earthly Fragrance of Social Science | Avijit Pathak

  13 August 2021, by Avijit Pathak

  BOOK REVIEW
  by Avijit Pathak
  __0__ Social Scientist in South Asia:
  Personal Narratives, Social Forces and Negotiations
  Achla Pritam Tandon, Gopi Devdutt Tripathy and Rashi Bhargava (eds.)
  Routledge India
  2021 - 274 Pages
  ISBN 9781032045924
  more information
  Available on Taylor & Francis eBooks
  __0__
  As a humble student, I have never felt comfortable with what I regard as soulless academic enterprise. And I loathe the fetish of ‘objectivity’—the ‘science’ that seeks (…)

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  When Indians Traded Along Silk Route | M.R. Narayan Swamy

  13 August 2021, by M R Narayan Swamy

  BOOK REVIEW
  __0__
  India and the Silk Roads: The History of a Trading World
  by Jagjeet Lally
  HarperCollins India
  Pages: 415
  ISBN-13: 978-0197581070 ISBN-10: 0197581072
  Available here
  __0__
  It was probably because of Chinese influence that they came to be known as the Silk Roads. But this was misleading because a number of commodities moved in a number of directions in the bygone era, not just silk, playing a major role in the Asian economy. London-based academic Jagjeet (…)

• The Peasants’ struggle needs widespread support | JVS Murthy

  13 August 2021

  by JVS Murthy*
  Among the struggles going on all over the world, the Peasants Struggle in India has a distinction of its own. Though the farmers are fighting for their rights since a long time, it is only last year that it has attracted national and international attention. It is a popular perception that it is only the working-class that had lead most of the great revolutionary movements, and peasantry played only a supportive role. But history tells us that one single section of the (…)

• Vinoba Bhave - Apostle of Peace - His relevance today | B P Mathur

  13 August 2021, by B P Mathur

  India’s ancient culture is deeply embedded in spiritual values and cherishes humanistic values such as non-violence, truth, compassion, sharing and service to fellow human beings. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, India won freedom from British rule, on the strength of her ancient values of ahimsa and satya- non-violence and truth. One of the most ardent disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, who practiced his philosophy in letter and spirit was Vinoba Bhave. Leading an ascetic life of a sanyasi, (…)

• Is Mamata Bannerjee a viable alternative to Narendra Modi? | Tarun Kumar Basu

  13 August 2021

  by Tarun Kumar Basu Is Mamata Banerjee the face of a united opposition in 2024? The Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Bannerjee herself is not sure about the face of the opposition parties, despite her initiative to form a nationwide alliance against the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Some of the national leaders, except BJP, have aired the name of TMC supremo as the leader of the opposition. The whiz has grown after a landslide (…)

• Marxist desperation to retrieve the lost ground in the backdrop of Hindutva narrative of RSS | Arun Srivastava

  13 August 2021

  by Arun Srivastava
  The big brother of the Indian communist parties, the CPI(M), is in the process of reinventing its relevance and existence. While its Kerala unit has managed to maintain its identity by winning the assembly election and forming the government in the state, its Bengal unit is completely in disarray and groping in the bind.
  It is said that the CPI(M) has become the victim of worst nature of personality clash between the Bengal Line and Kerala Line, the fact is the party (…)

• See to it that the fabric isn’t ruptured | Humra Quraishi

  13 August 2021, by Humra Quraishi

  MUSINGS 11 August, 2021
  Hate and hatred-laced speeches and slogans have reached right up to New Delhi’s Sansad Marg. All out in the open. Last week-end several Hindutva communal brigades and their promoters and organizers reached right up to that significant central spot of this capital city and rendered anti-Muslim hate filled slogans and speeches. In fact, this was a repeat of what took place a week back at Delhi’s Dwarka locality where a Hajj House is coming up.
  Such blatant (…)

• Sports Policy Should Aim to Promote Health, Joy and Team-Spirit | Bharat Dogra

  13 August 2021, by Bharat Dogra

  Some of the most heartwarming memories of the recent Olympic Games for India will remain of sportspersons from humble backgrounds overcoming very heavy odds to perform very well at the biggest international sports event. Whether their hard work and perseverance resulted in medals or not, the great effort they put in won widespread admiration.
  The most obvious example is that of the women’s hockey team of India which gave such a splendid performance and displayed such a spirit to fight (…)