2025

Letter to the readers, Mainstream, Jan 4, 2025
In what is known to the world as one of the worst industrial disasters

I was one of some 30 or 40 academics, scholars and journalists who went to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

India

2nd January 2025
As Khushwant Singh and I put together his book

The nation had the tragic coincidence of a huge nature being struck to it when it was about to celebrate in a big way the Centenary of Mahatma Gandhi having completed 100 years of his presiding over the only time as the president of he oldest national political party in the country, the INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, when one of its stalwarts, late Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who changed the face of the country a decade ahead of the last Century breathed his last.
The Congress had (…)

29th December 2024
I like to indulge in some broad reflections on the lessons of the year that is ending. My focus is largely on the political arena with some thoughts expressed on the direction of the economy, specially in view of the legacy of Dr. Manmohan Singh who passed away a few days ago and finally in the field of education, which is dear to my heart.
On the Political/electoral front:
My views on Politics in this write-up are influenced by the results of the Lok Sabha and (…)

The UK based steel multinational ArcelorMittal, has found favour with both Union and Andhra Pradesh (AP) state governments to establish a steel factory, located hardly a few miles away from the public sector Visakhapatnam steel plant (RINL). Both governments are actively working together to fast-track clearances for the steel plant largesse, including free power, land, water,

Living in a democracy seems to be a dream of every one world over. But keeping democracy a democracy has been of a greater challenge today than ever before. In India, the challenges to democracy are increasing both in terms of number and complexity, with the emerging overt political patronage to India

December 23, 2024
Autocratisation has no relationship with the per capita income of a country. Political ideas matter
The elections in India, Turkey and the US in 2024 point to the rapidly shrinking liberal political space in democracies.
Despite the enormity of the threat to a secular and inclusive vision of politics, the elections in India and Turkey, however, suggest that possibilities of liberal resilience do exist. The US, however, has failed the resilience test.
Opposition (…)

The recent fracas in the Parliament over the remarks made by Home Minister Amit Shah, on Nehru’s reaction to Ambedkar’s resignation over the Hindu code bill has sparked a debate in the public sphere. However, the entire issue remains shrouded in layers which form the basis of any truth. Apart from the fact that Ambedkar believed Nehru to be the most sincere among all Congressmen on the question of Hindu Code Bill, the fact also remains that the RSS opposed it tooth and nail. The home (…)