Mainstream Weekly

Modi Era: Creative Resistance | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2025-08-17T00:41:32Z

[fond noir][blanc]BOOK EXCERPTblanc]fond noir]*
[This is part three and the final excerpt. See parts one & two published earlier]
__0__
The New India is a conjurer

- 2025

Modi Era: India of Nightmares | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2025-08-09T12:07:23Z

[fond noir][blanc]BOOK EXCERPTblanc]fond noir] *
The fusion of religion and politics has adversely affected both spheres. A Leader won power in 2014 to protect Hinduism and Hindus. Ironically, Hindus lost self-confidence because they were constantly bombarded by politicians with the warning that they are endangered. The Polarisation Project which split society on religious lines also divided Hindus between the Hindutva warriors and liberal Hindus. The differences among the Hindus based on (…)

- 2025

Modi Era: Old Land, New Miracles | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2025-07-26T00:52:30Z

[fond noir][blanc]BOOK EXCERPT *blanc]fond noir]
The New India, like the old one, is a land of miracles. Western visitors admired Indians for walking on water and the rope-trick. Now, they love its Nonbiological Being (NB) who claims in human voice that he is not human! Moses split the sea. Prophet Muhammad split the Moon. NB split society, a feat no less than splitting the atom.
Indophiles, who come to explore exotica, find that the New India is not beguiled by modernity. They interview (…)

- 2025

Indian Sophias: A Distinct Breed | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2025-06-07T08:40:56Z

An unusual Sophia Saga marked the latest Indo-Pak armed conflict. Reports were floated, then denied, that Col. Sophia Qureshi

- 2025

India bestirred, a political era ends | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2024-06-07T22:08:27Z

Modi promised a political earthquake after June 4. What came was not the tremor he had in mind. He had expected an overwhelming electoral mandate to enable him to establish a Hindu Kingdom sanctified by his Godhood and a Congress-mukt Bharat! The voters denied a majority to Modi's party, though gave victory to his NDA coalition.
June 4 marked the end of a dismal political era. Even the mixed poll results relieved millions who feared a rampaging unbridled horse. They hold Prime Minister (…)

- 2024

Playing Politics On Stage | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2024-02-17T04:04:35Z

All India's a stage upon which the performer plays many parts. “The play's the thing/ Wherein I'll catch mass consciousness”, intones the hero. Gesturing vigorously, he makes his words come alive, giving them the desired meaning. He appears in traditional attire, accompanied by priests and supported by a prominent prop, be it Puja Thali or Sengol, sceptre representing righteousness. Showing the symbol of virtue makes up for the lack of virtue in politics. Vedic chants provide appropriate (…)

- 2024

The Empire Strikes Back | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2022-09-16T17:20:03Z

by L K Sharma
India continues to loom large in British imagination. The national dish of Chicken Tikka Masala is an old story. This year, first came the unbearable Indian summer. Then in the prime-ministerial race, a politician of Indian origin reached the semi-final. And now comes the new King whose thoughts resonate with Indian traditions.
King Charles III has spiritual leanings. He has a philosophical bent of mind and a deep interest in nature, environment and organic food. In the (…)

- 2022

Panic-stricken Tories look for a Saviour | LK Sharma

L K Sharma — 2022-07-29T17:10:49Z

by L K Sharma
Captured Conversations
The End Is Nigh
10 Downing Street
Prime Minister Anthony Boswell: Welcome to the Conservative Core Group's crucial meeting. Great Britain is on its deathbed. We face an existential crisis.
Sir Pax Flumox-Lloyd: The communists said that for years about capitalism that marched on relentlessly.
Prime Minister: This Scepter'd Isle is endangered!
Sherman Wiseman: We have lived with this fear for long.
Prime Minister: Didn't we lose our Empire, (…)

- 2022

Those magnificent men with beautiful minds | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2021-07-02T19:22:07Z

Reviewed by L K Sharma
__0__ Space. life. Matter: The Coming of Age of Indian Science
by Hari Pulakkat
Publisher: Hachette India Print ISBN: 9789389253801, 9389253802 Print ISBN: 9789389253801, 9389253802 eText ISBN: 9789389253801, 9389253802 https://www.hachetteindia.com/TitleDetails.aspx?titleId=47092
__0__
Independent India's scientific achievements fascinate the common man and impress the global community of scientists. Scientific endeavour in India has had a tremendous impact (…)

- 2021

A Country of Political Godmen | L K Sharma

L K Sharma — 2021-06-11T23:48:10Z

by L K Sharma
Signs of fake modernity proliferate in an India trudging back towards the medieval era. A number of Godmen have been exposed in recent years but many continue to make hay. Laughable “scientific” statements are made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders, reflecting the diminishing scientific temper. Miracle remedies gain popularity. Some BJP leaders claim that faith can banish Corona, devaluing the role of modern medicine and the importance of following Covid (…)

- 2021