2012

‘From Birth to Death, our Lives are affected in countless ways by the Activities of Government.’ Stiglitz, Joseph E. (Nobel Laureate)
Prologue
The Union Budget for 2012-13 aims at addressing two primary concerns—the economic slowdown and unsatisfactory state of government finances. However, the means it employs are so cautious, and even contradictory, that the chances of success appear remote.
The Finance Minister kept in the people’s pocket an estimated Rs 4500 crores by a net cut in (…)

The most tragic common heritage of India and Pakistan is a memory of the massacre of thousands of Muslims and Hindus in the two countries following the partition of the subcon-tinent. This is not to find fault with the leaders of the two countries for wanting or agreeing to the partition of the subcontinent of India into two countries before the colonial power, the British empire, relinquished its rule. No doubt they did it with the best of intentions thinking that this would be the ideal (…)

by BIPLAB MAJEE
I never even thought in my dreams that I would visit Vietnam some day. In the seventies, when we were young, we organised rallies in support of Vietnam and used to chant slogans—‘Tomar nam Amar nam Vietnam Vietnam—Thy name my name is Vietnam Vietnam’. Both Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh were popular names in Bengal in those days. India being a non-aligned country supported Vietnam against the imperialist aggression of the USA.
On November 5, 2011 Gitesh Sharma, the eminent Hindi (…)

by ATUL KUMAR THAKUR
Neither Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian search for “maximum happiness” in a democracy, nor the Marxists’ approach for classless society within a complete socialistic state fits well to idealise the Samajwadi Party’s sudden, emphatic and unpre-cedented rise in the recently held UP Assembly election. Instead Machiavellian aspirations seem more closely working behind the modestly deserving transfer of the baton to what was once an unholy entity and is now a slightly better (…)

REMEMBERING TIANANMEN MASSACRE, JUNE 4, 1989 On the 23rd anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre this week, we are reproducing excerpts from the ‘Political Notebook’ by the Mainstream editor (who was then its associate editor) that appeared in this journal’s June 10, 1989 issue.
Figures have lost all meaning in the conditions prevailing in the People’s Republic of China today. The fact is that what began in the early hours of June 4, 1989 at Tiananmen Square in the heart of China’s capital, (…)

As we go to press there have been widespread mass protests across the country today against the steepest ever petrol price hike effected last week. The BJP called a Bharat bandh over the issue. The Left parties organised their own demonstrations against the price hike in different places including the Capital and their activists also courted arrest while registering their protest.
What is striking, however, is the Congress leaders themselves conveying their opposition to the move. (…)

IMPRESSIONS
Parliament’s shastipoorti passed off with no more than token celebrations—daylong ses-sions, a commemorative stamp and coin, some classical music, and that was it. It is no small achievement that democracy has survived in reasonable strength in our feudal and fractured society. But the threats we face are not small either which perhaps made the muted celebrations more appropriate. After all, how exuberant can we get when the honourable Members of Parliament have to compete with (…)

This is the season for speculation, some serious-minded, some naughty. Which is to be expected.
The thoughts offered here are meant to be strictly in the first category.
To put the matter plainly, it is this writer’s considered view that whereas Pranab Mukerjee may richly deserve to be elevated to the grand office of President of the Republic, such a course would entail for the Congress party and for the country a fine opportunity wasted.
The slot where the country needs him and where (…)

Corruption in South Asian countries has ceased to be news and people have begun living with it as if it is a normal practice. Not that they do not resent it but seem to feel that when the topmost leaders are part of it, they know there is probably no remedy.
India has been astir because one scam after another has tumbled out of the government’s cupboard. The democratic system and relatively free media in the country have instilled confidence among neighbouring nations that once the (…)

The recent controversy around the NCTC (National Counter-Terrorism Centre) as being violative of the federal structure of our Consti-tution has sparked a debate on Indian federalism or popularly called Centre-State relations in India. Due to vigorous protests by the non-Congress-ruled States on the unilateral decision by the Centre to establish the NCTC, the Centre was forced to keep the decision on hold and call a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss the concern of the States. It was a (…)