2020

by Mahendra Ved
Poets and poetry are boundless and eternal. India’s ongoing turmoil has people, particularly the young, from all classes and communities, giving vent to their anger and aspirations through words and verses, reviving some old and long-forgotten, and creating new ones.
Grannies and mothers with babes in arms braving biting cold have come out in this winter of discontent.
The media last week captured a diminutive sociology student, Gayatri Borkar, sitting amidst the (…)

On the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 123rd birth anniversary on January 23 this year, we are carrying the following excerpts from Netaji’s speeches and writings while remembering that stalwart of our freedom struggle.
This is Subhas Chandra Bose speaking to you over the Azad Hind Radio.
For about a year I have waited in silence and patience for the march of events and now that the hour has struck, I come forward to speak.
The fall of Singapore means the collapse of the (…)

by Suranjita Ray
Thousands of men and women across the country have poured into the streets to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019. Despite assurances by the government that no Indian Muslim will lose citizenship, the new citizenship law is widely opposed by the large majority of people. We see increasing anxiety, insecurity and helplessness amongst the latter. Widespread fear and anger amongst the ordinary people, particularly the Muslims, was usual, but what the (…)

A tough old race of ancient men,
Kin to the dynasaur,
Now return to recharge the earth
With ablutions of gore.
Not a tree that does not bend
To the whisper of their tread;
Not a bird of free discourse
Who is not full of dread.
What were cities and high-rises
Are lethal caves and grottos;
I see mammoths stomp the streets
Where used to be autos.
Monkeys with monster tails
Are sentinels to nations;
Creatures with elephant heads
Preside over deliberations.
For (…)