2023

Long back, two eminent Marxist thinkers, Harry Magdoff and Paul M Sweezy, observed how the massive growth of the financial sector, both absolutely and relative to the underlying productive sector, gave birth to speculative activity on an unprecedented scale. They also noted the dangers that lie ahead and the ineffectiveness of monetary authorities in this connection. (See Harry Magdoff and Paul M. Sweezy, Stagnation and the Financial Explosion, 1987)
The recent financial crisis in India, (…)

Jawaharlal Nehru is an intrinsic part of the nationalist legacy of Indian freedom; nor can the Indian socialist legacy be defined or recalled by excluding him. And on inter-communal questions, which have a bearing on the very definition of India, Nehru’s record is par excellence and second only to that of Mahatma Gandhi.
The massacre of unarmed civilians who had gathered for a protest meeting against the Rowlatt legislation at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, took place on 13 April 1919. (…)

by Pradip Baksi
Paresh Chattopadhyay/Pareshda was born in Rudrakar of undivided Bengal. That place is now located within the Shariatpur district of Bangladesh. He died in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
I had only one face to face encounter with him. It was sometime in 1966. I was then an enthusiastic supporter of the “Cultural Revolution” launched by Mao Zedong and some of his colleagues in Beijing and Shanghai. In those days Pareshda taught at the IIM, Calcutta and signed some of his (…)

by Anna Matveeva
13 February 2023
Almost a year in to the war in Ukraine, Russians seem to be seeking ways to distance themselves from the state
The Russian public was unprepared for the invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin felt no need to build any kind of patriotic momentum in society, apparently believing the war would be over within days. But now, as the war approaches its first anniversary, Russian citizens have had time to digest and react to this unprecedented situation. (…)

President Vladimir Putin probably thought – or was led to believe – that Russian forces would make mincemeat of Ukraine in no time. Unfortunately for him, it has turned out to be almost like the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. At least the Germans made great advances before the Russian winter and infrastructure bottlenecks forced them to pull back. In comparison, the Russian military has had much less success.
As the first anniversary of the Russian blitzkrieg nears, Europe is wrapped (…)

Diplomatic Lapse specifically with reference to Ukraine-crisis appears to be deliberately indulged in as at least at present there seem to be so sign of this war coming to an end. Of course, a lot of importance is being accorded by so-called friends of Ukraine to help it with arms and weapons. This certainly is likely to help only in further prolonging the war. Ukraine is also keen to be included in the European Union and NATO, prospects of which happening at least in near future are not (…)

Adequate investment in equality-based education is widely accepted as one of the key components as well as a strong base for the progress of developing countries. Despite this, educational progress in India has been impeded badly by low budgets as well as inequalities.
There is near consensus, even at the official level, regarding the need to take government educational budget to the level of around 6% of GNP (as stated in the National Education Policy as well), combining union and state (…)

I have no hesitation in saying that the way the Government of India has responded to the BBC documentary — India: The Modi Question — is pathetic. It reveals the essential paradox of all ‘powerful’ regimes. Yes, this sort of power and associated cult of narcissism or seeds of authoritarianism breed chronic psychic anxiety and existential insecurity — say, the fear of critical interrogation by those who dare to differ and dissent.
No wonder, a documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots so (…)

South Asian University is a university set up in Delhi by member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Maldives – which is open to students from all these countries. However, as SAARC is receiving little attention these days because of regional political dynamics, it appears as if SAU has lost significance too. Because of the hiatus in the peace process between India and Pakistan, the Board of (…)

by S. K. Saidapur *
Vice Chancellors (VCs) are responsible for smooth and efficient management of universities. Nevertheless, varsity governance is not merely about controlling or managing administration; it is equally about providing visionary leadership. Therefore, a person with a clear vision, a roadmap, and competency to accomplish the set vision and missions is needed to steer the university to greater heights. Hence, those with known leadership qualities, good academic and (…)