Mainstream Weekly

The Unvanquished in Nandigram and Singur

SC — 2008-05-29T18:15:22Z

Once again it is the people's will, articulated through the ballot, that has triumphed over brute force. The panchayat elections in West Bengal have testified to the indomitable strength and power of the people—the ruling CPM's total rout in Nandigram and Singur in the Zilla Parishad elections has proved that in the ultimate analysis it is the people and not the totalitarian party machinery and its operators who will have the last word.
One such operator (Benoy Konar, a top leader of the (…)

- May 24, 2008

Current Inflation: Deconstructing the Underlying Social Factors

Arun Kumar — 2008-05-29T18:11:36Z

Introduction: Why Unanticipated?
Inflation is suddenly big international news. Till the other day, in the Economic Survey in February end and the RBI quarterly report in January, there was no indication that we were facing an impending sharp rise in the rate of inflation. “Overall inflation is likely to remain moderate in coming months, as the policy measures taken during the course of the year work their way through the system.” (Economic Survey, 2007-08, para 4.65, p. 84)) “These (…)

- May 24, 2008

Judgment on OBC Reservation

Rajindar Sachar — 2008-05-29T18:09:25Z

The Constitution Bench judgment on upholding reservation in higher educational Institutions has come on expected lines, in the light of the judgment in the Indira Sawhney case (1992). Though 27 per cent quota for OBCs was loosely challenged, but this plea was an empty one because Government of India's latest National Sample Survey data (2004-05) shows 41 per cent and 43 per cent constitute OBCs amongst Muslims and Hindus respectively.
Of course, everybody knew that the real issue was: (…)

- May 24, 2008

Political Parties besieged by Fatigue?

K Saradamoni — 2008-05-29T18:08:53Z

Punjab, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh—the recent elections gave all the three States to the BJP. The Congress spokesmen had no difficulty in telling us about the incumbency factor and that they have not done that badly. I thought that the Left parties, especially the major Communist Parties, would use the occasion for a serious introspection. Is it not time for them to remember that they had a not insignificant presence in Maharashtra, especially in the old Bombay, Punjab, UP, Andhra (…)

- May 24, 2008

Ahmadinejad's Visit: A Defining Moment

M K Bhadrakumar — 2008-05-29T18:07:42Z

The Indian Cassandras warned the country that the world would regard us as non-serious and whimsical if we befriended Iran. They said India's image was bound to take a knock if it engaged Iran constructively in a spirit of cooperation. That was some days ago, and it already seems light years away. The coming weeks will be interesting to watch. The high probability is that the international community will understand the course correction in our policy toward Iran.
President Mahmoud (…)

- May 24, 2008

On World Situation, Tibet and Nepal

Jawaharlal Nehru — 2008-05-29T18:07:11Z

[(Jawaharlal Nehru's fortyfourth death anniversary falls on May 27 this year. Remembering the architect of modern India on this occasion, we are publishing excerpts from one of his speeches on foreign affairs in Parliament (on December 6, 1950) that are of relevance in the present context. We are also reproducing, besides a piece (New Delhi Skyline) by N.C., three articles on Nehru by noted personalities that appeared in Mainstream (May 28, 1966).)]
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I have always welcomed a debate (…)

- May 24, 2008

Indira and the Legacy

Nikhil Chakravartty — 2008-05-29T18:06:33Z

One of the striking impressions of the AICC pilgrims returning from Bombay is about the Prime Minister' style in dealing with the critics of government policies.
This question is not something which came up all of a sudden at the Bombay AICC. In fact it has become the subject matter of avid gossips and discussions in the Capital for the last few weeks, particularly since the Prime Minister's return from the USA. From the person-to-person broadcast to the press conference, Smt Gandhi has (…)

- May 24, 2008

The Perpetual Struggle

Som Benegal — 2008-05-29T18:03:51Z

[(MUSINGS)]
The Jaipur terrorist blasts have brought on the usual recriminations, accusations and counter-accusations, the scoring of points, the utter helplessness and renewed assurances of strong action, the ruthless pursuit and punishment of the guilty. But all this misses the fundamental and basic point. Violence is the cardinal motivation of all living things in the world as we know it, on land, sea and air. Meaningless or meaningful conflict is the hall-mark of this violence. One (…)

- May 24, 2008

Reflections on Nehru

Sajjad Zaheer — 2008-05-28T18:45:48Z

I loved and respected him, worked with him and even followed him in many ways, and yet I was among his severest critics, and perhaps no one was a greater disappointment to me and to my group than Jawaharlal Nehru.
Our two families were known to each other, from Lucknow and Allahabad, so it was not difficult for me when I came back from England in 1935, an Oxonian and a barrister-at-law, to be taken under the protective wing of Nehru. He knew, of course, that I was a red-hot Communist, but (…)

- May 24, 2008

Nehru's Scientific Attitude

Anees Chishti — 2008-05-28T18:44:22Z

Science has brought all these mighty changes and not all of them have been for the good of humanity. But the most vital and hopeful of the changes that it has brought about has been the development of the scientific outlook in man. —Jawaharlal Nehru
Nehru's understanding of science in relation to the country's development was penetrating. He, unlike some of his senior contemporaries, viewed science with an unbiased and realistic attitude. His belief in the scientific method was unshakable. (…)

- May 24, 2008