2016

On an invitation from the Yunnan University (China), the author went to Kunming (capital of Yunnan, China) in the last week of July 2016. He had been asked to speak on the theme of India-China relations and related subjects. He presented the following paper to a select group of six Chinese scholars from universities and research institutes in Kunming. After an hourlong presentation the scholars debated the subject for another two hours. The author clarified at the outset that he did not (…)

The following article by eminent historian Ramachandra Guha was published in the Hindustan Times on November 20, 2016. Anil Nauriya wrote a sequel to the article the very next day (November 21) and sent it to the Hindustan Times for publication. But since he didn’t hear from the HT for long, he sent it to Mainstream for publication. We are publishing here both—Guha’s article (with due acknowledgement) and Nauriya’s sequel.
Faded Photocopy of the Original
Ramachandra Guha
On my last (…)

EDITORIAL
The economic dislocation caused across the country following the Modi Government’s thoughtless measure of pulling the high-denomination Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes out of circulation continues to adversely affect millions of our citizens.
The total currency in circulation throughout India is Rs 16 lakhs crores. The notes taken out of circulation amount to Rs 14.5 lakhs crores. This meant 85 per cent of the total currency was rendered useless over-night. The ostensible reason for (…)

Athough the general impression being created is that the worst of the problems of ordinary people related to demonetisation are over and the situation is returning to near- normal for most of them, three extremely tragic deaths and one suicide attempt related to demonetisation, reported in newspapers today (November 22), reveal problems of an extreme kind still being faced by the people of weaker sections in villages and slums of the country.
The Banda edition of Amar Ujala, a leading (…)

If the purpose of withdrawing bigger denomi-nation notes of Rs 500 and 1000 was to make it difficult for people to store and use black money, why have new big denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 reintroduced? The idea of withdrawal of big denomination notes was that it’ll become difficult for people to store and use black money easily. It raises a question on the motive of the government. Soon black money will be generated in new currency notes. It is unimaginable that all the (…)

Justice Rajindar Sachar, former President of the People‘s Union for Civil Liberties, has issued the following statement on November 19, 2016.
The two-day 4th National Convention of the Socialist Party concluded in Lucknow (UP) on November 15, 2016. The party, in the convention, once again resolved to throw out the yoke of neo-imperialism imposed on the country in the guise of liberalisation. I am of the firm opinion that the Socialist Party will soon attain its past glory by carrying (…)

COMMUNICATION
From November 19 to 25 a Communal Harmony or Qami Ekta Week is being observed culminating in a Communal Harmony Flag Day on November 25. The Babri Masjid-Ram Janma- bhoomi controversy created a false image in the public mind of Muslim rulers of medieval India as destroyers of Hindu temples. While a few wrong acts of intolerance may have taken place, the wider picture is one of a large number of temples being maintained or even built with the help of Muslim rulers. This fact (…)

by Chidambaram N.
The pronouncement of the highest judicial authority of our country has put the govern-ment in the dock for adding to the miseries of the general masses. The Supreme Court on the seventh day after a sudden ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, that is, on November 15, 2016, said that the desperate rush of people to stand in queues at banks and ATMs for cash was conclusive proof that there was some collateral damage. The Apex Court in fact did not mince words when it told the (…)

The debate over the demonetisation of currency reveals that real estate dealers have transacted business only to the extent of five per cent cash and 95 per cent promise. The gap is huge but it reflects the honesty and under-standing of both sides.
The Modi Government fails, however, to convey the impression of integrity. The motive is being questioned and the purpose doubted. And the debate, unfortunately, has got derailed because of too much emphasis on the inconve-nience, not on the (…)

by Arun Srivastava
It would be purely an act of naiveté to view the killing of eight SIMI cadres through the narrow prism of encounter. An insight into the incident would reveal it is a part of the RSS’ design to eliminate dissenters, silence the voice of dissent and pave the path for implementing its policy of Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra.
The police and government narratives of the incident give the impression that the so-called “terrorists” were out to commit hara-kiri and that was why (…)