2020

In the midst of darkness, light exists—is a saying attributed to many great minds including Mahatma Gandhi. In the midst of so much hate, violent actions and speeches, feminists’ voices and actions rise like the lotus from the swamp. Muslim women have been sitting in various neighborhoods across India, peaceful, com-posed—the perfect Satyagrahis. No noise comes from there but once spoken to, they explain why they insist on calling attention, not only to the injustice but the ignorance behind (…)

On January 26, Republic Day, 2020, while protests simmered against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens throughout India, a dozen North American cities also witnessed historic protests. Indian Embassies have been witness to protests in the past. But this time it was different.
In Washington D.C., 800 Indian Americans, many of whom had driven hours from neighbouring states, assembled at the lawns on the south side of the White House. Marching towards the Embassy, (…)

I write this as a 79-year-old citizen with no formal political affiliation but a lifelong allegiance to the ideals of the anti-colonial freedom movement enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
I hold to the view that, contrary to the monochromatic Western models of nationalism, it was a monumental achievement of the leaders of that movement led by the Indian National Congress to forge a post-colonial nation and republic from an inclusive and pluralist vision.
I have also (…)

by Sanjoy De, Atanu Sengupta and Niladri De
Introduction
“I have no doubt that this habit of secretly burying the precious metals, and thus withdrawing them from circulation, is the principal cause of their apparent scarcity in Hindoustan.”
Travels in the Mogul Empire (AD 1656-1668) by Francois Bernier—A revised and improved edition based upon Irving Brock’s translation by Archibald Constable and Company.
Long ago in the Moghul era during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, French (…)

From N.C.’s Writings
To build a temple to mark the brithplace of Ram, a mosque was destroyed by deceit.
Those who swiftly and competently did the demolition job on Sunday (December 6, 1992), did so before the very eyes of those leaders who had been assuring Parliament and the public that the disputed structure would not be harmed until the dispute itself was settled by negotiations or through the due process of law. The UP Government, which was manned by the party which supported the (…)

You lifted one fistful of saltAnd an empire was shamed. LiftOne fistful of rubbleNowAnd pour it on our shameless heads.
December 6, 1992, Gopal Gandhi
(Published on December 13, 1992 in The Hindu from where it is reproduced with due acknowledgement.)

Dr Mubashir Hasan, 98, one of the most prominent crusaders for India-Pakistan amity at the people’s level besides being an outstanding champion of democracy in Pakistan, breathed his last at his residence in Lahore on March 14, 2020 leaving behind countless peace activists in both India and Pakistan who had been inspired by his tireless activities for Indo-Pakistan friendship and cooperation over the last 25 years. Dr Hasan was Pakistan’s Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs in (…)

TRIBUTE
Woh dekha jaye kab ye zulm dekha jaaye hai mujh se
(How shall I bear to see this, this injustice)
Ghalib*
Who was he?
Statesman poet writer ornithologist visionary?
His tall frame
Strode across South Asia
Rose to pinnacle of power
Rose and rose
Then easily gently
Let the power go into the void.
Soldier for peace
I saw him in halls and streets
Of Lahore Delhi Karachi Kolkata Bangalore
Amidst women and men who
With banners and songs
Asserted the (…)

TRIBUTE
Dr Mubashir Hasan, founder and the guiding spirit of Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy, is no more. The subcontinent has lost a great crusader for the rights of the poor and peace between India and Pakistan. Since 1990, India has been facing a mass revolt in Kashmir for Aazadi which was spearheaded by local militants. In order to suppress the move-ment, the Indian Government had saturated the Valley with military and paramilitary forces, empowering them to use (…)

by Arun Srivastava
Modi has himself to blame for the battering his image received in the wake of the communal riots in Delhi. What is really intriguing is even after this he has not taken the steps to tighten the screw and put the people indulged in the nasty game in the right place.
After the Delhi massacre accusing fingers were raised towards Amit Shah. But Modi did not take any action. He even ignored the demand for his resignation. On his part Shah is also not ashamed of the Delhi (…)