2018

by Swabana Mamtaz
This article was sent to us quite sometime ago but could not be used earlier due to unavoidable reasons.
I. Introduction
While the Muslims all over the world have a common religious identity, there is also extensive diversity among them relating to their socio-economic-cultural and political spheres. This creates their different social identities with the common feature, their religion. Therefore, it appears that the folk-cultural life of the indigenous Muslims of (…)

by Mohammad Ashraf Khwaja
During the heydays of European colonialism,

by R.G. Gidadhubli
On August 12, 2018 a meeting was held in the Central Asia’s port city of Aqtau in Kazakhstan when all the five states of the Caspian signed a new convention on its (Cospian’s) legal status. There are multiple factors which makes this event of global significance.
Firstly, this is an important geopolitical development considering the fact that the Caspian is surrounded by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan. The Caspian has also geographical (…)

How can Rafale be a scam, Unless Arvind Rai says so first? And public money in private hands Is always in the national interest.
That was a time of paralysis, Now decisions are made mid-air; When gratis comes from the top It can never be less than fair.
Cabinet, Parliament, Committees

by Murzban Jal
To write poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric. (Nach Auschwitz ein Gedicht zu schreiben, ist barbarisch).
Theodor Adorno, Prisms
The Greeks might seem to have confirmed the death of the sage and to have replaced him with philosophers

COMMUNICATION
The four-lane expansion of Parwanoo-Solan highway was supposed to curb traffic jams, reduce travel time and improve safety but it is time to ask whether the reverse of what was supposed to be achieved has actually occurred. The kind of landslides that are being seen now were never seen earlier. When looking at some of the landslide sites it appears as if a big disaster is just waiting to happen. Thousands of trees have been cut mercilessly. Local people say that the number is (…)

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK
The Indo-US Defence Deal was signed in New Delhi today. It draws India closer into the US orbit. We are of course threatened by a hostile China. The US wants to build up India militarily as a bulwark against China’s expansionist policy. This brings the interests of the two countries to convergence. But India will have to pay for this deal. New Delhi will now have to import advanced military hardware from Washington. How far it will impact on the government’s “Make in (…)

It has been clear in recent days that the RSS is seeking to enhance its political footprint. To this purpose it has been staging meetings and conferences to which people from outside the sphere of the Sangh have been invited, including some who have never seen eye to eye with its ideological agenda. Although it is effectively running the present-day state via its political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party, its ambition now seems to find greater legitimation and more direct occupancy in power (…)

DOCUMENT
In the wake of all kinds of things being spoken and written about former PM A.B. Vajpayee by leaders and followers of the Sangh Parivar after his passing away, it is worthwhile to recall the homage that Vajpayee had paid in Parliament to Panditji on May 28, 1964 following the latter’s demise (May 27, 1964).
Sir, a dream has been shattered, a song silenced, a flame has vanished in the infinite. It was the dream of a world without fear and without hunger, it was the song of an (…)

by Ram Puniyani
Recently anti-Dalit atrocity laws were first diluted inserting the clause of anticipatory bail. Following this there were serious protests all over. In these protests, the anti-Dalit nature of the present ruling dispensation, the BJP-led NDA, was highlighted. Under the pressure of the protests, the government had to bring in a Bill to restore its previous provisions. The Lok Sabha on August 6, 2018 unanimously passed a Bill to reverse the effects of a Supreme Court order (…)