Tihar-style bhindi fry, and the wait for slow-motion justice
In May 1983, I was one of 350-odd JNU students who ended up in Tihar jail. I dont recall what it was about, but it led to the president of the student union being expelled...
Pillar-1 Food: Gluten, soy & salt
Gluten: Is it unhealthy? The belief that gluten is unhealthy has been debunked by numerous plant-based whole food (PBWF) doctors. This myth, along with the misconception that carbohydrates are detrimental to health and contribute to...
No BFFs in geopolitics. Spying on friends is a symbol of power
Over the last seven months, numerous articles in the western media have called on democracies to re-examine relations with India because of its alleged hand in the killing and attempted killing of Khalistani terrorists in...
Behenjis fightback: Mayawati tries to retrieve lost relevance in national politics
While travelling around Dalit bastis and hamlets in villages and in urban slums, one hears two popular narratives first, jo free ration dewe, vote wohi ke jaye (the party which distributes free ration will...
Deport anti-Semites to protect America
Youthful idealism represents the conscience of the future. The famous photograph of a high school student offering a chrysanthemum to American soldiers while protesting the US occupation of Vietnam defined hopes stand against injustice. In just half a century, the protestors profile has changed from gentle symbolic defiance to rabid anti-Semitism. Worse, the heads of college unions, mostly of Muslim lineage or liberal hatemongers, are supporting pro-Palestinian mobs that have taken over campuses. There were arrests and some of them are suing Harvard for violating their rights to free speech; like for example: Death to the Jews! Ironically, reverse racism has infected the rallies. Black Lives Matter calls for the destruction of Israel; many of the Hamas kidnappers were African. The campuses of Harvard, Columbia and Yale are occupied by hateful anti-Semites, mostly Asian, Black or from the Middle East. Racist and sectarian elements populate the protests, going by the countless hijabs, keffiyehs, skin colour and rhetoric of the agitators. In America, international students on F-1 visas must obey federal law and policies, the state law where the university is located and the varsitys own policies in order to keep their student visas and scholarships. However, the picketers have support from medieval fanatics who have infiltrated the highest echelons of American academia; a statement signed by Harvard professors reads, We pledge to urge the university to end material and political support for Israeli apartheid and colonial occupation. We recognise the national movements that support the plight of the Palestinian people and endorse the 2005 call issued by Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. The protests are so well coordinated and sophisticated in scale and organisation that US law enforcement believes Islamic subversive outfits are coordinating the hikois. Unless Joe Biden, FBI and Homeland Security identify and deport the protestors to their home countries, American society and its values are doomed. Europe is learning from its past self-destructive immigration policies while the UK is bound for civil war, perhaps a decade away. This is election year in America and Biden must keep in mind that polls show 80 per cent of Americans support Israel against Palestine. Jan Rose Kasmir, the chrysanthemum girl, recalled years later that there were communists, White Panthers, Black Panthers and many other factions among the anti-Vietnam War protestors. But nobody was violent or called for death. The backlash against the anti-Israel protests will scald America. White supremacist violence is on the rise, provoked by the racist and religious nature of the current revolts. They arent Jew lovers either: from 1942 to 1945, Irish Catholic youths attacked Jews in Boston and New York, as cops stood by. The Palestinian mobs are dividing America and the impact could fling the US back to the Jim Crow days as angry right-wing nationalism jostles for the political driving seat. When Narendra Modi said its not Harvard but hard work that pays dividends, he was mocked for his prejudice against elitism. A Harvard four-year degree course costs about Rs 1.9 crore and an MIT degree is about Rs 71 lakh. Many of the Palestinian subversives are hiding their faces with scarves to avoid identification and lose prospective jobs in blue chip firms. The American dream is turning into a Sharia nightmare and the US is on track to follow the UK to social suicide. Liberals are being hoisted on their own petard, exposed as anti-Semitic radicals. So much for the Statue of Liberty.
Putin vs the West: Lessons from 800+ days of war
Sunday marks 801 days since Vladimir Putin ordered Russias invasion of Ukraine. The war has unleashed catastrophic destruction , displaced millions, resulted in forced conscription and ukhyliant or draft dodgers, claimed lives and cost billions. Prospects of a peace deal in the fall of 2022 were dashed and Hail Mary offensives have flailed. It is a war where defeat and victory defy definition. It is true the war refurbished unity among the West and NATO. It is equally true that the effort of the West to weaponise economicssanctions that are at best a slow puncture and freezing of reserveshave spluttered and flattered to deceive. This week, days before May 9 Victory Day in Russia, the West presented Putin cause for celebration. For nearly a year, the US-led G7 confabulated on using the frozen assets of Russia to fund Ukraine. The G7 last week reached a private consensus to take the idea of using Russian money against Russia off the table. It is a real-time illustration of the power of realpolitik realities. Interestingly, news of the private consensus within the G7 first appeared in a news portal specialising in oil and energy, and was followed by Russian news agency TASS and RBC-Ukraine . The details of the ideawhich troubled many developing nations and raised questionsand its collapse merit attention. In February 27, 2022, over a weekend, the G7 led by the US imposed sanctions on Russian entities and froze access to over $300 billion of reserves . The use of Russian assets was always a seductive idea. In February 2024, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen observed at a G20 meeting in So Paulo that there was a strong international law, economic and moral case for using Russian assets and added it would also incentivise Moscow to negotiate peace. The idea was propelled to the table by the struggle to fund the Ukraine war effort in the wake of the polarisation and dysfunction in Washington and disagreements in a divided Europe. In July 2023, US Congressman Michael McCaul introduced the REPO for Ukrainians Act . The bill, passed on April 23, 2024 and signed by Joe Biden the next day, authorised the president to confiscate, transfer or vest any Russian assets within the US jurisdiction. The urgency, in part, seems to have stemmed from fears of a possible Trump presidency and the former presidents differentiated view on the war and on aid to Ukraine. The decision to enact a law to confiscate was less complicated for the US than for Europe. Across the Atlantic, the enthusiasm for the idea was unsurprisingly muted and faced pushback. The devil of distress and distrust is embedded in the location of the monies. The bulk of the Russian assetsover $207 billion of the $300 billionare in Euro assets. The assets are parked in the Belgian clearing house Euroclear . The ideators toyed with three optionsoutright confiscation, leverage of the assets as collateral to borrow against and fund, and use of accrued returns for Ukraine. All three options trigger and bring into focus questions of ownership and legitimacy. Lieve Mostrey , CEO of Euroclear, slammed the idea and said, Using assets that dont belong to you as collateral is pretty close to an indirect seizing or a commitment to future seizing, which could have exactly the same effects on the markets as a direct seizing. Euroclear, already facing cases in Russia, would be vulnerable to more suits. There is also the issue of retaliationthe Leave Russia campaign lists over 1,600 transnational companies still operational in Russia. Beyond the legal challenges to Euroclear, there is also the potential of macroeconomic consequences for the Eurozone. The Euro is the preferred currency for over $2.2 trillion of sovereign reserves. A confiscation would trigger distrust. ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that the move to confiscate and dispose of assets needs careful thought as it would start breaking the international order that you want to protect, that you would want Russia and all countries to respect. For now, the grand idea to use Russian money against Russia seems to be off the table. But the consequence of the vagaries of geopolitics is visible in the commodities markets. The rising trend of central banks buying goldover1,000 tonsin 2022 and 2023 as per the World Gold Councilrepresents rising distrust and the unravelling of the rule-based world order. The calling off of the geopolitical adventure attempted by G7, of using Russian money against Russia, reveals the limitations of deploying economic measures as instruments of war in an interdependent world. The inefficacy of systems and inadequacies of politics in halting aggressors is haunting the West. The USas the anointed guardian of the rule-based world order and leader of the G7is confronted by new realities. It has battled in a hot war in Korea, seen spectacular retreats from Vietnam and Afghanistan, experience of the Pygmalion effect in its dealings with China and the cold war with the Soviet Union. Its ability to navigate is challenged by politics at home and strongmen abroad. The frontiers of war are open and expanding. Can the current tool-kit serve the purpose if and when China moves to annexe Taiwan? The 20 th century playbook is worn out and can at best contain conflict. The Putin vs West saga represents a template in lessons for the future. Shankkar aiyAr Author of The Gated Republic, Aadhaar: A Biometric History of Indias 12 Digit Revolution, and Accidental India (shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com)
Ensuring pensions in Indias booming economy
The disparity between Indias fastest growing economy status and its neglect of robust social security measures demands transformative solutions to dignify its ageing population and align policies with economic growth. As the Union Government continues...
Why Goldman Sachs investment bankers are so impressive
Goldman Sachs has a well-earned reputation as one of the worlds most elite investment banks. It is also widely regarded for hiring some of the most talented professionals in the finance industry. As a former...
I was watching TV this Saturday morning and suddenly I heard someone screaming in the balcony summer vacation started Hurry! I opened the door, rushed to the balcony and saw my 7th standard son...
Europe hopes barbed wire will keep migrants out. It wont
Politicians feel compelled to respond to voters concerns
Papa lun, Papa lun, fast fast lun, my son screams excitedly while riding the balance cycle. Balance cycles are the ones without pedals or support wheels. You ride them, pushing with your legs, and learn...
Efficiency unplugged: Strategies for staying efficient away from the office
In our professional lives, there are moments when we step away from our familiar work environments, whether due to business trips, unexpected health issues, or managing urgent responsibilities in diverse locations. These situations present unique...
History Headline: How Indias first voters got their ballot box
From Harvey Weinstein and Brij Bhushan Singh to our workplaces women will fight the backlash
India needs to beware of the Chinese agents in white-collars
The International Liaison Department (ILD) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operates as a secretive arm of Chinas foreign policy apparatus, tasked with advancing the partys interests and influence on the global stage. While shrouded in secrecy, the ILD plays a pivotal role in shaping international perceptions, fostering strategic partnerships, and promoting Beijings agenda abroad. []
Misconstrued polyamory and lying men: Why I am off dating apps
PM Modis remarks are a massive fall from Vajpayees era
Denied funding, Congs Puri candidate returns ticket
Bhubaneswar: Congress candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, Sucharita Mohanty, has returned her party ticket after being denied party funding to support her campaign in the election. In an email to AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, Mohanty stated that her campaign in Puri parliamentary constituency has been severely affected as the party in-charge for []
Janhvi Kapoor opens Chennai family home Airbnbs Icons experience
Mumbai: Airbnb, the renowned accommodation booking platform, has launched Icons, a new venture that provides exclusive access to the homes and experiences of renowned personalities, including Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor, who will open her familys estate in Chennai. As part of the Icons category, Airbnb users will have the extraordinary opportunity to stay at Janhvi []
EC ready for May 7 LS polls in Maharashtra
Mumbai: Voting for the 11 constituencies in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra is scheduled for May 7 and State Chief Electoral Officer cum Principal Secretary S. Chokkalingam says the poll body is fully prepared. In his press statement issued Friday, he said in view of the heat, instructions have been given []
397 nominations filed for 5th phase in Maha: EC
Mumbai: A total of 397 candidates have submitted their nominations for 512 seats in 13 Maharashtra state Lok Sabha constituencies on the last day for the fifth and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in the state, the poll panel said. On last day, Friday, 42 applications were received for Dhule Lok Sabha []
Reflecting on one year after Manipur violence: People seeking healing and justice
It has been one year since the tragic events that unfolded in Manipur, leaving scars of violence, loss, and anguish in their wake.The violence, which erupted amid tensions over land disputes and ethnic rivalries, triggered by the intent to dominate the reported Rs 70,000 crore narcotics trade and perpetrated by the proscribed terror groups in []
Be open, get richer: Bidens clumsy statement contains some home truths
Joe Biden is gaffe prone. To dump India, Japan, Russia and China together as nations economically held back by xenophobia was bizarre. But theres a case to take a closer look at his messy observations....
Ladakh makes it large: This cold constituency promises a hot battle
Expect 100% turnout here? Five electors. One family. A poll booth all their own. Indias northernmost poll booth is at village Warshi in district Leh. At an altitude of 15,000 ft, Anley Pho-296 poll booth...
Where is the freedom in poverty or fear?
The Road To Freedom :Economics and the Good Society by Joseph Stiglitz, makes the case that economic and political freedom are inseparable. It seeks to take back the rhetoric of freedom from conservatives and libertarians....
Elections bring up memories. One of them is a quotable quote delivered by Dominique de Villepin in 2002, when he was visiting India as Frances foreign minister. When asked what it felt like to trounce...
Ram Nath Kovind writes: Why elections should be conducted in better weather conditions
The elegant Godrej split: A blueprint for India Inc?
The Godrej reorganization is marked by elegance and could serve as a model for others. Indian business groups should also examine models used in the West and East for ways to ensure that ambitions of gaining size and going global are not compromised in the process.
May 4, Forty Years Ago: Atal, Charan Held
Rahul Gandhi gets it right this time
For a man who has often been accused of getting his theme song, tactics and timing all wrong in politics, Rahul Gandhi has got it just right this time by seeking to fight the Lok...
Long, dry spell: Drought conditions could cause food inflation
#Eldersibling syndrome: Social media trend is just copying writers
Lok Sabha ticket to Brij Bhushans son is a moral failure
Ram Madhav writes: How social media is making us all clowns
With Knife, Salman Rushdie fights violence with the power of love
Sexual crimes and videos: On the Prajwal Revanna case in Karnataka
The sexual assault cases in Karnataka must be investigated with sensitivity
Bullying and Hectoring: Why West cannot lecture India and East
When American and European countries lecture to us in the East with their -so called- Judeo-Christian values, it denies that Asia has a much longer tradition of secularism and human rights that existed much before...
Even this result will pass away
It is that time of the year when board examination results are likely to be announced soon. Millions of students wait to see their fate sketched before their roll numbers. As the results loom on...
Salman Rushdie's latest book | The razors edge
Salman Rushdie's latest book | The razors edge
Celebrating K.G. Subramanyan | Centennial man
Celebrating K.G. Subramanyan | Centennial man
F. Baltazard Solvyns exhibition in Mumbai | Portraits of a people
F. Baltazard Solvyns exhibition in Mumbai | Portraits of a people
Paradise regained celebrates landscapes
Palette Art Gallery in Delhi, openedwith an exhibition Paradise Regained that runs through the month of May. In the stunning show arelandscapes thathave beenmined and re-envisioned asthe memoirs of experience as well as fantasy in...
Governments new PhD guidelines will make universities more elite
Side effects of AstraZeneca vaccine: Medicine is clear now to the courts
Rivers older than the flow of blood in our veins
These sustainers of life and cradles of civilization are suffering from both climate change and human neglect. They predate the evolution of our species by millions of years and we must awaken to the rights and protection they deserve.
Eye for an Eye: How BJPs Terrorism Pitch & Pakistan Policy Under Modi Evolved?
The 2019 air strikes were the most important step in the evolution of Indias approach to Pakistani terrorism.
Want to bring back politics of service and truth: Priyanka
Amethi (UP): Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said that her party wants to bring back the politics of truth and service. Addressing the public during a roadshow for Congress candidate from Amethi and close confidant of Nehru-Gandhi family, Kishori Lal Sharma, Priyanka said, While Rahul Gandhi will contest from Rae Bareli, []
Heavy security checks in Mumbai ahead of LS polls
Mumbai: Security has been increased in the Mumbai suburban district in the wake of the Lok Sabha elections, and large-scale spot checks are being carried out by stationary and mobile teams. According to a press release issued on Thursday night, the administration has appealed all to cooperate in the inspection process. During the election period, []
White House feels media heat over Bidens xenophobic remarks for India, Japan
Washington: The White House was hard-pressed to explain President Joe Bidens description of xenophobic for the US Quad partners India and Japan, and managed to ward off pointed queries from the media by saying the president has focused on those diplomatic relationships during his term. Cornered by a media person who wanted to know whether []
BSF recovers 20 Pakistani drones, arms, narcotics in last 15 days
Chandigarh: BSF troops have successfully recovered 20 Pakistani drones, 15.340kg of heroin, 3 pistols, and seized 42 rounds in the past 15 days. BSF has apprehended four Indian smugglers, one armed Pakistani intruder, and one Pakistani national, along with seizing Rs 1.10 lakh in drug money, a BSF spokesman said on Friday. BSF has achieved []
Dhananjay Munde campaigns for Pankaja, promises developed Beed in 5 yrs
Parli Vaijnath (Maharashtra): Maharashtra state agriculture and guardian minister of Beed district Dhananjay Munde has promised to develop Beed at a similar pace under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India is moving towards becoming a world Guru. While India is riding a development wave, Beed district will also be developed in the []
J&K: OGW arrested in non-local cab driver attack case in Shopian
Srinagar: J&K Police said on Friday that it arrested an overground worker during the investigation into a last months attack on a non-local cab driver in the Shopian district of south Kashmir. On April 9, the taxi driver, Paramjit Singh, a resident of Delhi, was fired upon in an apparent targeted attack by militants in []
Nearly 50 killed by heavy rains in Rwanda in past two months
Kigali: Disasters triggered by heavy rains, including landslides and lightning, have killed at least 49 people and injured 79 others across Rwanda in the past two months, an official said on Thursday. About 12 people were killed by lightning while others died after their dilapidated houses collapsed on them, Minister in charge of Emergency Management []
Hindutvas southward journey: How BJP emerged as a major player in Karnataka
Bidens take on Indias economy is both bizarre and bothersome
On the campaign trail, the US President said xenophobia was responsible for stalling economic growth in India, China and Japan. His comment is puzzling, especially in India, which has the worlds fastest-growing major economy and prides itself on inclusivity.
The Go First case: India's insolvency court needs an understanding of aviation
The prolonged delay in Go Firsts insolvency case hasnt helped Indias campaign of ease of doing business in the country
S Jaishankar writes: How India is making friends and influencing the world
Divorce can be the true test of marriage. This was one takeaway from a case SC judged this week. It was hearing a couple that on its path towards divorce, took a singular leap, and...
The US Federal Reserves monetary policy meeting concluded on Wednesday by retaining status quo on interest rates. A subsequent explanation contained the all-purpose reason given by central banks: uncertainty. Stress tested by the RussiaUkraine conflict,...
As the third phase takes polling from Karnatakas southern regions to the northern, it enters a very different political terrain. For BJP, the election moves from Vokkaliga-dominated constituencies where it needed an alliance with JDS,...
Equality of wealth is a bad idea
To imagine wealth can only be created through unfair means and therefore its fair to expropriate it, is unfair to anyone who adds value to their enterprise. Only a handful inherit their wealth in India....
The Earth is ablaze with red, and the sky swoops down to encircle the flames with blue. The fire is the vivid flowering of the gulmohur and the blue, the bloom of the jacaranda, both...
Desireless performance can produce the best results
By- Swami Nirviseshananda People often question whether anybody can work sincerely and efficiently without desire. Sincerity becomes natural, and efficiency peaks when actions are no longer motivated by desires. Desire makes the mind cling to...
May 3, 1984, Forty Years Ago: India battles epidemic deaths in multiple states
Good news for Indias healthcare system
In Viksit Bharat, what does viksit mean?
Biden is off the mark on xenophobia
US President Joe Biden clubbed India with China, Russia and Japan as countries he claimed were too xenophobic for their own good. Such statements lose him credibility, especially when Americas own vaunted openness seems in such bad shape.
Why a Mumbai school principal should not be sacked over her social media posts
The difficulty of learning how opinions are shaped
During elections, it is a challenge to separate the voters own personal experience or opinion from propaganda
My journey with the Tridevi: Creating a graphic novel series
Imagine standing amidst the bustling energy of the National Childrens Literature Festival, clutching a prize for a short story titled Healing of Wounds. That moment sparked an exploration into the realm of childrens literature, eventually...
Heading: Hand of God in democracy
Religion is all-too-often a refuge for scoundrels, an American journalist Neal Boortz had once reminded us. His warning is coming true in the worlds oldest and largest democracies. In Boortzs homeland, Donald Trump, whose personal...
According to recent reports from the UK media, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has issued a warning that the United Kingdom is expected to have the lowest economic growth rate compared to...
Zendayas Challengers begs the question: Where is desire in Indian films today?
Congress fights for women, BJP reduced them to election jumla
Covishields rare side-effects: In election season, dangers of politicising the vaccine
Indian agriculture as fascinating as ever despite all odds
Cultural history tells us that Adi Shankaracharya with barefoot travelled from the tip of Kanya Kumari to the tiff of Himalayas. If one dares a similar attempt, one will hardly witness the enchanting forest wealth...
Video Of UP CM Adityanath Questioning PM Modi Is Doctored But Not A Deepfake
BOOM found that the video has been doctored by cutting and pasting different portions of his speech but is not a deepfake.
What obituaries about Paul Auster have missed: The answer may lie in one of his books
Self-driving Teslas cant sneak around the US-China silicon curtain
Elon Musks visit to China got Tesla a deal with Baidu, but will it help? The EV race in Asia this year will be won by the cheapest hardware, not the most cutting-edge software.
Trying to predict what the Indian voter will choose: A weathervane job?
Indias anti-defection law made elections about picking political parties more than individual candidates, which in turn has meant which way the electoral hawa or wind blows can make a significant difference to outcomes.
Suvendu greets people of Nandigram to mark his 2021 assembly
Kolkata, May 2 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday greeted the people of Nandigram with a salutation to mark his 3rd anniversary of winning against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the last state assembly poll in 2021. Pranaam Nandigram on the 3rd Anniversary of my []
Unemployment: The berojgari riddle
The persistent spectre of unemployment, berojgari in Hindi, has been haunting both the nation and our state for generations. The residents of Uttarakhand, particularly educated youth and skilled artisans, had pinned their hopes on the...
J&K: Police attach properties of drug peddler under NDPS Act in Baramulla
Srinagar: Police on Thursday attached the properties of a notorious drug peddler under the Narco Act in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district. Police on Thursday said that properties including 9 Marlas land and a double-story residential house worth approximately Rs 50 lakh of a notorious drug peddler identified as Shabir Ahmad Sofi, a resident of []
Jeremiah Manele elected as Solomon Islands new PM
Honiara: Foreign minister Jeremiah Manele was elected as the Solomon Islands new prime minister by members of parliament on Thursday, Governor General of the Solomon Islands David Vunagi announced. Manele defeated opposition leader Matthew Wale in a 31-to-18 vote in the newly elected 50-seat parliament, Vunagi said following a secret ballot on Thursday morning. One []
Colombian president says to break diplomatic relations with Israel
Bogota: Colombia will sever diplomatic relations with Israel on Thursday, said President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday. Speaking to a crowd in the capital Bogota, the Colombian president referred to the Israeli government as genocidal. The era of genocide, of the extermination of an entire people before our eyes, before our humanity, cannot return, said Petro, []
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief criticises Modi
Kolhapur: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to put pressure on the countrys judicial system by making statements like his (Thackeray) Shiv Sena as nakali (fake) one. Addressing a public rally on Wednesday in the city in presence of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar for Shreemant Shahu []
Police debunks WA messages about bomb recovery from Delhi schools
New Delhi: Refuting false claims being circulated on WhatsApp regarding the recovery of bombs from some schools in the national capital, the Delhi Police on Thursday urged the public to check the veracity and source of information of such messages. Delhi Police PRO Suman Nalwa in a social media post said, Fake news in the []
Indias manufacturing PMI dips to 58.8 in April from 59.1 in March
New Delhi: On the back of strong demand, Indias manufacturing activities continued to expand in April 2024 but the pace of growth moderated during this period, as per a survey findings published by S&P Global on Thursday. The HSBC India manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, fell to 58.8 in April this []
