2023

by K Gireesan and Chinmay Bendre *
Between 1950 and 2021, a record 756 Ordinances were promulgated by the President of India. Except in 14 cases, Ordinances were generally promulgated when neither House of Parliament was in session. Data shows that 75 Ordinances were allowed to expire and 37 Ordinances were repromulgated. While critics have attacked the Government for fostering an ‘Ordinance Raj’ attitude, examining the underlying causes that have led to the increasing practice of (…)

There have been several examples of introduction of new products and technologies leading to serious health and safety risks and hazards. This is something that people and authorities of various countries must keep in mind at the time of the spread of 5G telecommunications technology. This is associated with very powerful business interests and hence the need for caution is all the greater. The most important reason for caution is that children are most vulnerable to these risks. (…)

by Astha G Bhattacharjya, Anekal C Amaresha *
Many women of reproductive age suffer from the endocrine-gynecological condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome/disease (PCOS/PCOD). Currently, there is no effective treatment and there are only medications available to alleviate the suffering due to this condition. Medically, in the allopathic system of medicare, it is considered a ‘lifestyle disease’ and clinicians typically recommend leading a healthy lifestyle for prevention of (…)

by Girija K S *
Two recent incidents of sexual harassment have haunted me and made the conscious section of society think about where are we heading, and what message are we going to give to the future generation.....
The first pertains to the realm of sports and the second that of Kalakshetra, Chennai - a place where the rich cultural tradition (i.e. a place where music, Bharathanatyam) is taught. Both these have come to the forefront for the wrong reasons and people who are accused (…)

When I was a Judge in Allahabad High Court ( 1991-2004 ) I heard dozens of cases of Pakistanis visiting India who were served deportation orders for deporting them to Pakistan, but wanted to stay in India. They filed writ petitions against these orders, which came up before me. In all such cases I passed this order “ Until further orders the petitioner will not be deported from India “.
These Pakistanis were old people who had migrated from UP in India to Pakistan after Partition of 1947. (…)

by Jayanta Kumar Ghosal *
“The standard of living in modern civilisation has been raised far higher than the average level of our necessity. The strain which this entails serves at the outset to increase our physical and mental alertness. The claim upon our energy accelerates growth. This in its turn produces activity that expresses itself by raising life’s standards still higher.
When this standard attains a degree that is a great deal above the normal it encourages the passion of (…)

He had a long political career in Odisha politics. He created an image of intellectual politician. In reality he got involved with factionalism of local politics. He died recently at 83 age
Trilochan Kanungo is perhaps the most interesting and complex politician of Odisha politics. At state level politics he is an idealist and pursues value based politics. But at local level he is like any other politician who works through factions of the village. He works with the landlords and Maqdams (…)

Warm-hearted, witty, a pioneer sociologist, feminist and one of the founders and key persons of the Indian Association of Women’s Studies, Zarina Bhatty passed away on 28 April 2023.
Born an underweight baby in Lucknow on 9 August 1933 to Muslim parents, Fariul Haq and Mohammadi Begum of Barabanki she was not expected to live but she not only survived and rebelled but thrived till the age of 89. It was unusual for a girl to want to go abroad for studies at that time and her mother – who (…)

As Russia marks the Soviet Union’s defeat of the Nazis 78 years ago, Ukraine is preparing to launch a major counteroffensive, which has forced Moscow to issue an evacuation order for thousands of residents in areas occupied by Russian forces. Meanwhile, international actors are calling for negotiations, possibly brokered by China or Brazil, to end the war. For more on the prognosis for peace in Ukraine, we’re joined by Phyllis Bennis, author and a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. (…)

From: Chapter 13, L’Invention du quotidien by Michel de Certeau (1980)
I like the word believe. In general, when one says “I know,” one doesn’t know, one believes. — Marcel Duchamp, Duchamp du signe (Paris, Flammarion, 1975, p. 185)
Jews, Leon Poliakov once said, are French people who, instead of no longer going to church, no longer go to synagogue. In the comic tradition of the Hagadah, this joke referred to past beliefs that no longer organize practices. Political convictions seem (…)