Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

• Remembering Marx under the condition of lockdown: Going beyond the “Corona” Paradigm

  9 May 2020

  by Maya John
  On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Karl Marx, the greatest intellectual of the millennium, it is best to steer clear of hero-worshipping. Instead, let us commemorate Marx’s ideas by re-enacting his way of knowing things. Much can be drawn from his writings wherein we can see Marx reinvigorating the revolutionary agenda at a time of deep despair and defeat. Reflecting and writing after the failed revolutions of 1848, Marx provided an introspective critique of unfolding (…)

• 75th anniversary of Victory over fascism in WW II

  9 May 2020, by Anil Rajimwale

  This year, world celebrates 75th anniversary of the Second World War (WW II), which ended with victory over fascism, on 9 May 1945. The most destructive war in human history, it caused 5 crore deaths, two crores of them from Soviet Union alone. Soviet Red Army was in the forefront of the struggle and victory.
  The greatest lesson it taught us was not to underestimate fascism. Humanity paid a heavy price for letting fascism and Nazism come to power. The western imperialist powers US, Britain (…)

• Lockdown and Crackdown

  9 May 2020, by Humra Quraishi

  Musings
  May 6, 2020
  Together with stating what ‘activities’ are to be allowed or disallowed in the red and orange and the hot spot zones of the country, its best if the establishment also puts forth what’s to be spoken out and what all is to be camouflaged or throttled! If a student or an activist or a scholar speaks out beyond the unwritten dictates or against the unwanted political ploys of the day, there’s that possibility of getting slapped with FIRs! Unfortunate and (…)

• AITUC strongly condemns the move of some state governments to take away labour rights of workers. Demands black laws to be withdrawn

  9 May 2020

  All India Trade Union Congress AITUC Bhawan: 35-36, DDU Marg, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi – 110002 E Mail: aituchq[at]gmail.com Tel: +91 1123217320
  The following statement was issued to the press by Amarjeet Kaur – General Secretary AITUC today
  08.05.2020
  AITUC strongly condemns the move of some state governments to take away labour rights of workers. Demands black laws to be withdrawn
  AITUC first of all pays homage to all the migrant workers who were crushed under (…)

• How the Poor Survive?

  9 May 2020, by Arup Kumar Sen

  In an interview in 2014, the eminent political philosopher of our time, Giorgio Agamben argued: “Public power is losing legitimacy. A mutual suspicion has developed between the authorities and the citizen”.
  This is very much evident in contemporary India in the wake of coronavirus-induced national lockdown. Thousands of migrant workers thronged Anand Vihar bus terminus on the Delhi-U.P. border with their families, including children, at the end of March, 2020, in a desperate bid to return (…)

• The State of Indian News Media in the Times of Covid 19

  9 May 2020

  by Naren Singh Rao
  In a democratic set-up how should news media function in the times of crisis such as Covid 19? Should it function as the watchdog, functioning as the fourth estate, as conceptualised over the course of the maturation of the idea of democracy? Or should it function in coordination with governments claiming to be ‘‘waging a war’’ against ‘‘national/humanitarian crisis’’, which, interestingly, all governments howsoever oppressive they are always claim to do without fail? (…)

• Martin Khor, Third Worldist

  9 May 2020

  by Jomo Kwame Sundaram
  PENANG, Apr 3 2020 (IPS) - Martin Khor Kok Peng passed away just after the end of the first quarter of 2020. He leaves behind an unusually rich legacy. Atypically for people mainly working in the worldideas, he was also a very practical and pragmatic activist who successfully built and sustained several important initiatives which will live on after him.
  Martin was widely well known,both in Malaysia and internationally,and will be remembered for his commitment to a (…)

• India’s total lockdown to counter Covid19 has provoked a crisis - Recommendations for an economic stimulus package by Rahul Gandhi

  9 May 2020

  Statement of Shri Rahul Gandhi, MP
  May 08, 2020
  It’s now 45 days since India was first put under lockdown. Even as the battle against the Covid19 virus continues across the country the reality is that the total lockdown has unleashed on India an economic tsunami of unimaginable proportions.
  It is clear that we are not going to be able to get our economy moving again, without a massive economic stimulus from the Government. Most countries around the world have already announced huge (…)

• Any Takers for Water Wisdom ?

  9 May 2020

  Book Review
  by Zulafqar Ahmed
  This book “Towards Water Wisdom Limits, Justice, Harmony" has been written by Ramaswamy R. Iyer is really a path-breaking exercise. There are several books in his account which has been written on water issues. He has served as secretary of water resources in the Government of India under that capacity he played a leading role as a principal draftsman of India’s first National Water Policy 1987. This book comprehensively discusses the existing mainstream (…)

• QUARANTINE

  9 May 2020

  Lockdown: time seats heavily
  within confines of the walls;
  even the corners seem to be sealed.
  After the daily chores attended to,
  mind wants to fly off through windows
  of laptops, smartphones,
  sending messages, narrowing
  the mental distance that separates
  dear friends, each in his own cell.
  Everything seems to be brought
  to a grinding halt;
  attitudes range from
  keeping calm and carrying on
  to fears that pandemic might leave
  a cruel, crushing effect.
  Take refuge in poesy, (…)