Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

• Is the US Now a Third World Country?

  20 August 2011, by Ash Narain Roy

  All these years, the US sat in judgment over the economic crisis faced by the Third World countries and cited credit ratings agencies’ adverse reports to damn them. Latin America in particular, suffering from hyperinflation and astronomical debt, had grown used to receiving bitter medicine and sermons from the US. Ironically, Latin American economies are today flourishing and the US seems to be running out of money to service its mounting debt. Experts believe that the credit contraction (…)

• Geo-Politics of The Present-Day International Economic Crisis

  20 August 2011, by Kobad Ghandy

  [On April 16, 2011, “World Economy Splutters: Dark Clouds on the Horizon”, a piece by Kobad Ghandy, the Maoist leader, written from Tihar Jail No. 3 (where he is lodged), was published in Mainstream. It was written quite sometime back but reached us late. It was then stated that he had promised to write a sequel to it. That he has now written on July 23, 2011 and sent it to us for publication. It is quite a comprehensive piece bearing testimony to the Maoist leader’s capacity for a detailed (…)

• Forty Years of the Indo-Soviet Treaty: A Historic Landmark at the Global Level

  20 August 2011, by Ashok Parthasarathi

  On August 9 forty years ago, India and the Former Soviet Union (FSU) concluded a historic treaty on “Peace, Friendship and Cooperation”. For most Indians the Treaty is inseparable from the Pakistan-initiated war against us and the swift attainment of our goals in it, namely, the defeat of the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan and decisively helping in the birth of the new nation of Bangladesh. As the distinguished journalist, Pran Chopra, says in his book on the Treaty, “For India the (…)

• Text of the Indo-Soviet Treaty

  20 August 2011

  DOCUMENT
  The following is the text of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Co-operation between the Republic of India and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, signed in New Delhi on August 9, 1971.
  Desirous of expanding and consolidating the existing relations of sincere friendship between them,
  Believing that the further development of friendship and co-operation meets the basic national interests of both the States as well as the interests of lasting peace in Asia and the world, (…)

• Promise and Challenge

  20 August 2011, by Nikhil Chakravartty

  FROM N.C.’S WRITINGS
  India today, standing on the threshold of the twentyfifth year of Independence, is compara-tively more certain of her future steps when the world around enters a period of rapidly changing scene, domestic and international, which has shaken the nation out of a torpor, as it were. The process, started since mid-1969 of removing roadblocks in the way of social progress, has gathered a new momentum. Its own inexorable logic is pushing ahead even those who would otherwise (…)

• Essence of the Change that Mamata has Ensured

  20 August 2011, by Amitava Mukherjee

  LETTER FROM KOLKATA
  There are three important political milestones for the Bengalis in the post-colonial period. The first one certainly started with the independence of the country. Bengal was divided but it was certainly saved from the catastrophe which Sarat Bose’s plan of a united independent Bengal might have brought about. The second was the coming into power of the United Front in 1967. In every respect it marked the beginning of the downslide of Bengali life. This dark age (…)

• Rethink Slum Housing Scheme

  20 August 2011, by Bharat Dogra

  COMMUNICATION
  According to the details of the first phase of the scheme for allotting flats to Delhi’s slum dwellers, only 42 per cent of the 15,713 slum households were found to be eligible. What happens to the remaining 58 per cent who will lose their slum dwellings? There is a plan to provide them temporary rental accommodation for six months only after which they have to be on their own.
  Any scheme for the poor has to be based on the basic principle that the overwhelming majority (…)

• Issues that can Unite People—Ideas for the Mamata Banerjee Government

  20 August 2011, by Bharat Dogra

  When a charismatic leader unites people for a long awaited and widely celebrated election victory, conducive conditions are created for utilising the high levels of motivation for several constructive tasks. This moment should not be lost. It will not last forever. While the motivations of people are still high, some ideas and programmes with the potential to benefit greatly a very large number of people should be launched on a priority basis. These programmes should also have a strong (…)

• A Few Pointers for the Mamata Banerjee Government

  20 August 2011, by Sailendra Nath Ghosh

  Ms Mamata Banerjee came to power in West Bengal on the crest of a wave of popularity unprecedented in the annals of any State of India. The people of West Bengal have high expectations from her. The people of other States, too, look up to her for setting an example of corruption-free governance for a true and long-lasting upliftment of the people at the grassroots level. It is, therefore, necessary for every well-wisher to keep a watchful eye on her government’s moves—to support her (…)

• Russia Reaches Out to Iran

  20 August 2011, by M K Bhadrakumar

  A recurring feature of the Russian-Iranian relationship is that it mostly languishes on the horizon but can be trusted to move to the centre-stage whenever there is a criticality in the Middle East situation. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made a point recently in an interview with the Russian media when he described Iran as the “most significant neighbour” of Russia, which stands in the way of the Western strategy to encircle Russia.
  The message was unmistakable: “You need us (…)