Mainstream Weekly

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• A Crisis in Governance

  14 March 2015, by Rajindar Sachar

  A deep somnolence, lack of direction and absence of commitment to the constitutionally directed philosophy of social justice seems to be enveloping the major existing political parties thereby enhancing the danger of the BJP’s policy of divisiveness and pro-capitalist outlook spreading in the country. This is shown by the lack of any response and consistent policy and programme from the Leftist and secular parties. That may explain the gushing congratulations they have showered on the Aam (…)

• Did People Opt for a High-Command Party? History Won’t Wait for Kejriwal. Nor Voters

  14 March 2015, by T J S George

  IMPRESSIONS
  There are two reasons why the split in the Aam Aadmi Party should not worry the general public too much. One is that this is, after all, politics Indian desi-style; for all the hopes it raised, the AAP is “maturing“ into the usual pattern of political parties—splitting as they grow and growing as they split. Secondly, the AAP’s electoral triumph was an expression of the people’s desire for change. That desire will continue and, if the AAP falters, the people will turn to others (…)

• Union Budget 2015-16:: Gender Budget: Unfulfilled Promises for Gender Equality?

  14 March 2015

  by Shahla Tabassum
  The recent Budget for the year 2015-16 is very special. The Budget is presented every year by the Finance Minister in Parliament, and thus some people may ask: what is special about the 2015-16 Budget. The speciality is about the feelings and aspirations of the citizens of this country who were not happy with the previous UPA-II Government at the Centre. The reasons are known to everyone, which is why for the first time after a long period of domination of coalition (…)

• Union Budget 2015-16: In Pursuit of the PM’s ’Make in India’ Vision

  14 March 2015

  by S.S. Sangwan
  The Central Budget 2015-16 appears to be focused on the Make-in-India and Skill-India vision of the Prime Minister rather than a balanced approach to appease all sections of the society.
  The make-in-India initiative was launched by the Prime Minister on September 25, 2014 at a workshop of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. It focuses on creation of employment and skill enhancement through 25 manufacturing sectors like automobiles, IT, pharmaceuticals, (…)

• Letter to NDTV by Women Activists and Others

  14 March 2015

  The following is a letter addressed to Dr Prannoy Roy, Co-founder and Executive Co-Chairperson, NDTV by several women lawyers, activists and others on the Nirbhaya rape film by the BBC, “India’s Daughter”.
  Dear Dr Prannoy Roy,
  On receiving a letter from Ms Indira Jaising and others, on March 3, 2015, which raised legal and ethical objections with respect to the telecast byNDTV of LesleeUdwin’s film “India’s Daughter”, a DVD of the said film was sent by you to Ms Jaising. Indira Jaising (…)

• Should White Women Make Documentaries about Rape in India?

  14 March 2015

  by Bina Shah
  I am puzzled.
  Five prominent Indian feminists including Urvashi Batalia wrote a letter to NDTV explaining why they objected to the BBC documentary, ‘India’s Daughter’, and explaining why they believed it should not be shown.
  On the one hand this could be an attempt by these women to reassert control over the Indian conversation about rape and women’s rights, feeling that British film-maker Leslee Udwin has taken it away from them with this film. That’s understandable, from (…)

• Editors Guild of India decries Ban on the Documentary ’India’s Daughter’

  14 March 2015

  The Government of India’s move in banning the telecast of the BBC documentary ‘India’s Daughter’ depicting the aftermath of the brutal gang rape and murder of Nirbhaya is wholly unwarranted, based as it is on a misunder-standing of the power and the message behind it. The documentary portrays the courage, sensitivity and liberal outlook of a family traumatised by the brutality inflicted on the daughter, the continuing shameful attitudes towards women among the convict as well as the educated (…)

• Tribute to Ninan Koshy

  14 March 2015

  TRIBUTE
  Dr Ninan Koshy (February 1, 1934-March 4, 2015) was a noted political thinker, foreign affairs expert, theologian and social analyst. He was born in 1934 in Thiruvalla. A former Director of the World Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, he was an LDF candidate from Mavelikkara constituency (Kerala) in the 1999 general elections. He was also well known as a political commentator, social activist, author and orator. He served on a committee to draft Kerala’s policy on (…)

• Neo-bondage in the Age of ’Make in India’ and Shramev Jayate

  14 March 2015

  by Dustin Robertson
  ‘Make in India’ is a spirited slogan and initiative coined by India’s new Prime Minister that aims to “Facilitate investment. Foster innovation. Enhance skill development. Protect intellectual property. And build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure.”1 At the same time, Prime Minister Modi has said that labour issues should be seen through the eyes of the (shramik) worker. However, when one considers the actions and labour reforms proposed, the sincerity of the (…)

• Ray of Sunshine

  14 March 2015, by Nikhil Chakravartty

  From N.C.’s Writings
  The following ‘Political Notebook’ by N.C. was written twenty years ago and appeared in Mainstream (March 4, 1995). It is being reproduced here against the backdrop of a two-day seminar in New Delhi (March 4-5, 2015) “Understanding Pakistan” (to mark the twentieth anniversary of the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy) that was attended by a large number of Pakistani scholars and peace activists working for restoring and strengthening Indo-Pak amity. (…)