2020

On 27th October 2020 President of India late Shri K R Narayanan would have been hundred years old. Born in a small village in Kerala he hailed from a very humble background and had to walk several miles to attend school for education. His father was a Ayurvedic medical practitioner and his meager earning was not enough to support his family and children’s education. So, quite often Shri Narayanan could not pay school fees and had to face the wrath of the authorities who used ask him (…)

by Dr L. Mishra
In bureaucracy postings are purely matters of political and administrative expediency; a member of All India Service (IAS, IPS and IFS) has very limited option and discretion in the exercise of any choice of the same. Sometimes such coincidence, though un‐planned and un‐intended turns out to be beneficial for the common man‐ the poor, deprived, displaced, dis‐advantaged and marginalised.
So was it in case of Sri P S Krishnan (IAS 1956 RR Andhra Pradesh cadre).
Born in (…)

by M.R. Narayan Swamy
Title: I Could Not Be Hindu: The Story of a Dalit in RSS; Author: Bhanwar Meghwanshi; Publisher: Navayana; Pages: 236; Price: Rs 399
This book has come out at a time when the RSS has become the de facto ruler in the country courtesy the BJP. In this gripping work, a Dalit who was with the Sangh rips apart the RSS for what he says is its duplicity and for talking about unifying Hindu society while actively ensuring that no member of the depressed classes climbs its (…)

I kept watching the funerals of people killed by the brutal coronavirus in the global pandemic of Covid-19 on TV channels and read about them in newspapers. Those dead bodies who are described as Hindu are being quickly burnt without anybody around. The usual presence of the Brahmin priest to recite slokas are nowhere to be seen. Only the rich upper castes seem to have the wherewithal to have Brahmin priests, but that was also not seen in the times of pandemic.
The Christians and Muslims (…)

by Rajaram Panda
After Yoshihide Suga succeeded Abe Shinzo as Japan’s Prime Minister and formed his Cabinet, he chose Nobuo Kishi as his defence minister. Suga’s choice of Kishi has sparked diplomatic curiosity and discussion about his likely Taiwan policy. Known for his Taiwan-friendly stance, his policy could have significant implications on Japan’s relations with China and a clear departure from Abe’s accommodative position, notwithstanding the perceived threat that its giant neighbour (…)

Late in October 2020, Sri Lanka’s all-powerful Executive President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his eldest brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa together brought about a constitutional amendment which seeks to remove a recent handicap that was constitutionally placed on the presidential powers. Their move has since led to a turmoil in the country with significant sections of the population opposing it constitutionally.
The oldest democracy in South Asia, Sri Lanka has travelled through (…)

by Arun Srivastava
NIA is on the mission to accomplish the unfinished task of CBI. We all know how the CBI as used by the political system of the country to serve the interest of the ruling elite. The situation has reached to such a stage that the CBI was described as the “caged parrot” that sings the Centre’s tune. Professionally the CBI enjoys highest order of trustworthiness, but for its own misdemeanour of pleasing the political masters by agreeing to become an active partner in (…)

by Vijay Kumar
The confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett as an Associate Justice of US Supreme Court in the wake of vacancy arising after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September 2020 marks the advent of brute dominance of right after long time. The replacement of one female judge by another, however, is not without poignant touch of irony. Justice Ginsburg was quintessentially liberal, staunchly feminist and principled abortionist, whereas justice Barrack is confirmed atavistic, (…)

by Praveen Davar *
In an editorial a few days ago a leading daily suggested that India should explore the possibility of 1959 LAC as a permanent solution to the India - China border dispute. That it was taken seriously was amply demonstrated by the fact that many tv channels debated the issue on prime time the same day. Before commenting on this seemingly controversial proposal it is worthwhile to go back to the pre -1959 years and analyse whether this solution will be acceptable to both (…)

Today is Vijaya Dashami i.e. Dussehra Day! First of all, heartfelt greetings of Dussehra! Today, on the day of Dussehra 95 years ago, Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar had started a branch in the name of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Mandal with five volunteers in Mohite Wada, Nagpur. Its name today is Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The Sangh Parivar which began in Mohite Wada with 5-10 people today has its own units in every sphere of life and at least more than one crore committed Swayamsevaks. In many (…)