Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

• Deliberative Democracy is the Answer

  13 March 2012

  Multiculturalism, Secularism and Politics of Veiling
  by Tamanna Khosla
  Multiculturalism has taken a back-seat in Europe, especially after the London bombings as well as the killing of Theo Van Gogh and the Madrid bombings. The two major countries where multicultural policies are part of the government policies, the United Kingdom and Holland, are putting it into question in its many different aspects. In England, the veil issue has become public and many people are pushing for some (…)

• On Secularism and Space for Religion in Politics in South and South-East Asia

  13 March 2012, by Ajay K. Mehra

  BOOK REVIEW
  The Politics of Religion in South and Southeast Asia, edited by Ishtiaq Ahmed; London and New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group; pp. 268.
  “For me, politics bereft of religion are absolute dirt, ever to be shunned. Politics concerns nations and that which concerns the welfare of others must be one of the concerns of a man who is religiously inclined, in other words, a seeker after God and Truth... God and Truth are convertible terms and if anyone told me that God was (…)

• Kuwait: Best House in Bad Neighbourhood

  13 March 2012

  In a region surrounded by democratic desert, Kuwait is a shining example of democracy albeit limited. On gaining independence from Britain in 1960, Kuwait took only a year to hold democratic elections for a Constituent Aassembly which drew up the Constitution. Through perio-dic competitive elections Kuwait has exemplified a stable and relatively open political system, which stands in stark contrast to the sea of authoritarianism that surrounds it. Kuwait has been a sounding board, so to say, (…)

• West Bengal: The Mukherji Commission Report on Sainbari Murders Revisited

  13 March 2012, by D. Bandyopadhyay

  The Government of West Bengal constituted a Commission of Inquiry into the Sainbari Murder Affairs under Justice (Retd) T.P. Mukherji on April 28, 1970. The Mukherji Commission submitted its report on July 27, 1970. The government, by a notification dated July 25, 1972, published the Report for general information. The Report is, therefore, in the public domain.
  The reason for revisiting the Mukherji Commi-ssion Report is that the present Govern-ment of West Bengal has constituted another (…)

• NGOs and Kudankulam Protests

  13 March 2012, by Bharat Dogra

  The recent controversy over anti-Kuodan-kulam (nuclear plant) protests and the filing of cases against NGOs has four important aspects. Firstly, the justification or otherwise of anti-nuclear power protests. Secondly, there is the question of whether NGOs can use foreign funds for such protests. Thirdly, there is the more specific question of whether those who were involved in anti-Koodankulam actually used foreign funds? Last but not the least, there is the wider question of international (…)

• Islamic Banking an Anathema to
 Pakistani Democracy

  13 March 2012

  A Rejoinder from Pakistan
  by Mohammad Farooq We have just received the following article from Karachi with a letter that reads:
  “Dear Sumit,
  I was so pleasantly surprised to read an article titled ‘Islamic Banking in India at the Service of Pan Islamists’ in the latest issue of Mainstream and it engrossed me so much that I wrote a rejoinder on the article which I just finished writing in one sitting and I am sending it to you for publication.
  “Mainstream remains the only link (…)

• Labour Strike, Kudankulam, Gujarat

  4 March 2012, by SC

  The last few days have been witness to several major developments capped by the February 28 general strike across the country the call for which came from all the central trade union organisations and independent federations. This strike, which incidentally brought into focus the trade unions’ all-in unity on specific demands of the common people and working class (although such unity had been forged earlier as well), evoked wide popular response in the urban areas in particular (notably in (…)

• Clean up Wounds, Tell the Truth, Ensure Justice

  4 March 2012

  by HOSBET SURESH
  The following is the statement of Justice Hosbet Suresh at a press conference held at the Gulberg Society, Ahmedabad on behalf of the Sabrang Trust and Citizen’s for Justice for Peace on February 27, 2012
  How does one live with the recurring memories of a gruesome past? Of the hideous acts of mass murder, rape and destruction of properties and livelihood? We have recorded all such stories, as each one, the victims, and all kith and kin of the dead, narrated with tears in (…)

• Whither Indian Politics/Elections?

  4 March 2012, by Rajindar Sachar

  Democracy is a basic feature of our Constitution. Parliament and Legislative Assem-blies are instruments created to give effect to the democratic content of people governing themselves. Political parties are the medium through which representatives are elected. It stands to reason that after the election, the implementation of the principles and policies continue or should continue to govern the programme. That is of course text-book teaching; but how close are these sound principles to the (…)

• No Guarantee of Food Security in Children’s Incredible India

  4 March 2012

  by RAZIA ISMAIL
  India’s decision-makers seem to find it difficult to see that there are children in the country. Being unable to see them, they are unable to perceive that they are hungry. In an age when we are able to use euphemisms like ‘under-nutrition’, this is perhaps not surprising. But it is disgraceful none the less.
  This country has a large population of children. Fortyone per cent of its total numbers. The national leadership has been unable to recognise them for what they are: (…)