2017

Islamabad has asked the World Bank to honour the Indus Water Treaty executed between India and Pakistan in 1960. This is in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that India is free to use the water which flows into the sea. This is not correct because, according to the Treaty, India cannot use more than 20 percent of the Indus water.
The World Bank spent many years to persuade New Delhi and Islamabad to reach an agreement. I recall that after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and (…)

by Swati Sehgal and Divyanshu Patel
Dangal: the Sport and the Metaphor
The title, Dangal, literally meaning a wrestling competition, holds on to multiple meanings in the movie. As the narrative evolves, it signifies a range of emotions that move from angst and rebellion to commitment, failure and will to excel. Remarkably, without whining about the status of sports in the country, the movie showcases the inner world and life challenges of sportswomen/men. Without engaging in reduction of (…)

by R.G. Gidadhubli and Sanjay D. Deshpande
All the five Central Asian States (CAS), namely, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have celebrated the 25th anniversary of their sovereignty and independence after the break-up of the former Soviet Union. In this context the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to three CAS on February 27 and 28, 2017 was significant as it also marked the 25th anniversary of Moscow’s diplomatic relations and by that he wanted to (…)

The Indian Army suddenly stopped teaching its men the Chinese language at its Joshimath Brigade headquarters last year. It, however, continues to teach the language at some other centres.
Joshimath is in the middle sector of the India-China border, some 20 kilometres below the border, called Bara Hoti, across which China maintains its Army posts, from which its soldiers keep coming on patrols into Indian teritory and then return to their camps across the border, after completing their (…)

IMPRESSIONS
Education in India is in tatters because of horrendous corruption. This is making the country wobble like a skyscraper detached from its foundations. The authorities ignore the crisis because they are themselves either the destroyers or protectors of the destroyers. Frauds and scoundrels have been having such a field day that it is difficult to imagine the country rising to its potential in the foreseeable future. So much for our glorified development.
How can there be any (…)

BOOK REVIEW
Essays of Inclusive Growth and Some Reminiscences by C.H. Hanumantha Rao; published by Academic Foundation; 2014; price: Rs 995.00.
The prime quality of reviewing a book is objectivity. The reviewer should be able to scan the book with complete neutrality. But being an ordinary person, I can’t claim that I am above normal emotions. I write this because Prof C. H. Hanumantha Rao is not only known to me but I consider him as my friend. So I may not have that objectivity on (…)

MUSINGS
As an Indian Muslim I’m sitting not just apprehensive but very upset. I don’t feel I’m living in a democracy, as Hindutva forces have begun ruling this land. Camouflages are off. Stark realities stare. Henceforth, I should get used to living in a Hindu Rashtra, to be ruled by pracharaks and maha-pracharks, their dictates unleashed on me on a daily basis. Humiliating me, throttling my very spirit, diluting my identity. Nah, I cannot revolt; otherwise there is the danger of getting (…)

The following is a press statement issued by the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy on March 28, 2017.
It is a matter of serious concern that more than hundred fishermen from India have been arrested by the Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (MSA) on March 25, 2017. Along with this, 19 fishing boats have also been seized.
The number of arrests is extremely high and this has not happened in the recent past.
In the Saurashtra region this is affecting the economy in a (…)

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK
After the elections in five States, the country has seen a disturbing trend of growing lawlessness. During the election campaign the charge against the Akhilesh Yadav Government was that under it Uttar Pradesh had become a lawless State—a goonda raj had been established. Those who brought this charge won the elections and are now in power. Under the new raj, slaughter houses, whether ‘legal’ or ‘illegal, have been targeted and forcibly closed down. A BJP MLA has publicly (…)

The following statement has been issued by Debabrata Biswas, the General Secretary of the All India Forward Bloc, on March 20, 2017.
By appointing Yogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has sabotaged the people’s verdict and openly challenged the democratic practice of the nation. It could have been democratic if the BJP leadership dared to announce his name as the chief ministerial candidate before the elections.
The Gorakhpur MP, Yogi Adityanath, was known for (…)