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Get modern, shed old shibbolethsThe tardiness of India’s defence ministry and the government in establishing a sound information policy is proving a detriment to good governance. more...J&K: 2013-15 and BeyondJammu and Kashmir stand at the brink of change. The rail link could spark an IT and food processing boom. more...Waltzing on the brinkPolitical drift and non-functional coalitions defy good governance, which is what India needs above all. The tonic is greater and more honest federalism. more...Half Loaf Worse Than No BreadThe Government must also stop trying to parley with and placate Anna. Governance cannot be outsourced to the streets. more...Better Governance Not New SystemParliamentary style or Presidential, it is not the system but the manner in which it is administered that counts. more...Luddites and NaysayersPakistan continues to be afflicted by political turbulence and military assertiveness in governance. more...Troubled Pakistan’s Uncertain FuturePakistan continues to be afflicted by political turbulence and military assertiveness in governance. more...Too Much Politics in PoliticsParliament must be allowed to function for the democratic process to work. “Civil society” can be uncivil, incoherent and authoritarian. more...Perils of Untrammelled Freedom of ExpressionNewspapers once had a mission. Editors have altogether disappeared or been reduced to being high level public relations men. more...The Kudankulam FactorNeither Kudankulam nor Jaitapur nor any other existing or proposed nuclear power plant site in India is in an earthquake zone of the same magnitude as Fukushima. more...Falling HDI But Silver LiningsIt’s not lack of availability but lack of access that is the cause of a continuing and growing crisis for the poor. more...Blockades of Many KindsA road blockade by the Kukis has been trumped by the Nagas who control the upper hill sectors. It is time for the Centre to act. more...Myanmar is Becoming BurmaAs the Thein Sein government opens up to foreign investment and collaboration, India is presented with an opportunity. more...Low Signal to Noise RatioPolitical muddles persist at home and across the border Pakistani infiltrators continue to cross the LOC on murderous missions. more...Muddled ResponsesNaysayers perhaps are unaware the Koodamkulam reactors are products of a newer and far superior technology than Fukushima. more...Martyr Modi’s Mystic MakeoverDespite the air-conditioned antics and fast, there has been no exoneration by the Supreme Court. The trial will proceed, with Modi among the accused. more...Anna’s Balance SheetAs Anna ended the fast, joy on the streets was appropriate. However, interpreting this as a famous Anna victory and a humbling of Government is incorrect. Team Anna charged through an open door. more...Tragedy or Triumph?A positive feature of the Anna movement is that it has energised a large section of people who abhor corruption. But the onus of shaping safeguards must lie with institutions. more...A Governance DeficitThe country's fundamentals are good but there are still too many "buts". It's time to tackle these gremlins once and for all. more...People, Parliament, Process, Politics, ProbityThe best way to move forward is to let Parliament function and not derail debate at every turn through noisy intervention and street action. more...Dangers of Right Wing TerrorSome in India would extenuate a little bit of Hindutva terror on the side as against the more vicious “mainstream” Islamic terror. This is a dangerous illusion. Terror is terror. more...Breaking News: More Political CapersThe UK Parliamentary Committee failed to press home the advantage and let the Murdochs and Brooks off. Elsewhere the soul searching begins. more...Breaking News: More Political CapersBoth hawks and doves are aflutter. As the PM spoke quietly to editors, the BJP sought a return to its narrow Hindutva roots. more...Innovative Northeast SolutionsThe new Mamata Banerjee-brokered Darjeeling Agreement is a useful step towards a wider Northeast solution if braver hearts prevail. more...Some Fast, All Lo(o)seThe country’s young school graduates scratch their heads as admission cut-offs climb higher still. Elsewhere, “unconstitutional” fasts unto death continue. more...The Politics of BlackmailAll talk of fasts must end. The country can do without coercive politics and competitive humbug. more...New Indo-AfPak EquationIndia has a role to play in a regional combine to wage peace in Afghanistan. It could help broker progress in Pakistan’s tribal belt and, perhaps, between Palestine and Israel. more...Beyond Do Bihga ZaminPoverty is India’s greatest polluter and ecological enemy. To provide a rescue 10 percent growth over the next decade, land will be needed for development. more...Compounding FollyRabble rousing is not constructive politics. Rahul Gandhi is a not-so-young man in too much of a hurry. Congress should be wary of hollow politics. more...Towards New BeginningsWith the Left trounced at the ballot, Congress can now demonstrate fresh leadership at home and abroad, renewing it’s peace talks with Pakistan. more...Outlines of a J&K Road MapTwo rounds of panchayat polling in J&K notched up a healthy 80 percent turnout despite calls for a poll boycott. What lies ahead? more...Infamous and UnflatteringThe so-called Guantanamo File of 700 diplomatic papers dated between 2002 and 2009 published by WikiLeaks makes grim reading. more...Waging War on Corruption: New StrategiesElectoral funding needs to be strictly curtailed and politicians held accountable. Corruption is a web that must be attacked from all sides. more...Wrong Way to Right MattersFasts unto the death, well intentioned as they may be, ultimately undermine due process. Meanwhile, the hype surrounding sports highlights the need for moderation and balance. more...Now We Are 1210 MillionThe decadal population growth rate is down 3.9 percent despite overall numbers rising by 181 million. Now India needs to create 10 million jobs annually. more...Dangerous GamesmanshipThe BJP has been indulging in some very dangerous gamesmanship in trying to destabilise the Government for petty political gain. more...Bumbling Along, Chalta HaiMuch of what passes for lofty decision-making constitutes just bumbling along. Now the Supreme Court has removed Thomas as CVC as a result of bureaucratic mishandling. more...Causes and Cures of Left Wing ExtremismFifth Schedule and other “difficult” areas are treated as punishment postings. Maladministration or non-administration have followed. How then to tackle the Maoist issue? more...Thoughts on PakistanWhither Pakistan? In a finely nuanced book, “Tinderbox: The Past and Future of Pakistan”, M J Akbar has traced its Islamist fantasy and takeover by the military-mullah combine. more...Remembering Gandhi While Negotiating the FutureMahatma Gandhi envisaged Independent India as a decentralized, participative and inclusive society. Are we? And why Gandhi remains relevant today. more...Wrong Premises, False StartsThe Supreme Court reduces the sentence of death on Dara Singh, found guilty of burning alive Graham Staines, an Australian missionary, and his minor sons. more...Another Republic DayDespite the pessimism and cynicism there is room for optimism as another year of the Republic rolls by. more...Darkness Falls on PakistanThe deepening political gloom in Pakistan is fast darkening into an uncertain night of barbarism that threatens its very coherence and the neighbourhood. more...Freedom From HumbugThe BJP and the Left raucously muzzled all parliamentary debate, ostensibly to save democracy from misgovernance. This is Humbug of a high order. more...Pakistan@In-Denial.ComThe second anniversary of 26/11 has rolled past. It suits Islamabad to appear unremitting in pursuit of justice but to let matters drift. more...Nitesh’s Great Half VictoryThe Naxals clearly lost out. The ballot box triumphed over the bullet but that battle is not yet fully won. more...Forging A New RelationshipNow that the dust has settled, Obama’s visit can be properly adjudged a success. Now as the two democracies move forward, why re-hyphenate Pakistan? more...Babble, Babel: Look Under KashmirJ&K acceded to India on October 26, 1947 but was never “merged”. It retains its own constitution. This does not mean J&K is not an integral part of India. It is. more...Tackling Corruption Head OnA Lok Pal with jurisdiction over the prime minister, ministers, and MPs is a positive initiative. But why restrict the bench to judges? more...Damn It All: Imagination Runs RiotAmong imagined downstream impacts of cumulative dams are rivers running dry in the lean season and monsoon deluges following openings of floodgates. more...What Next in J&K?Contrary to established punditry, the J&K “crisis” is bottoming out and could soon register movement towards normalcy, hope and reconciliation. more...No “Dispute” in Agenda for J&KIndia went to the UN on a question of aggression by Pakistan. Cutting through all the cant, this was upheld by the UN Representative and endorsed by the UN Security Council. What next for Kashmir? more...Finding a New BalanceEnvironmental concerns are important and cannot be wished away, but “the environment cannot be protected by perpetuating poverty”. more...Leaks, Literature, Lies, LiabilityThe Wikileaks flood offers further evidence of collateral damage and a curious abdication of responsibility as the USA jockeys to “manage” Pakistan. more...Tackling Maoism Another WayRehearsing the past does not answer the challenge of the future. Where then do we go from here as the Maoists keep tormenting state and society with people’s war and class annihilation? more...Loose Cannons Volley and ThunderFrom junior ministers sounding off out of turn and sordid influence peddling for control of the airwaves to “paid news” scandals, a litany of disorder. more...Bizarre Classification PolicyIt is time to declassify material and open it fully to public scrutiny. Only then can we have an “Indian” version of history. more...Good Omens for a Naga ResolutionAny agreement with the NSCN-IM is likely to exercise a profound influence on other warring groups. more...Lament for the MediaThe “sale” of paid news packages for slanted electoral coverage has gone from low-level viral outbreak to full-blown epidemic. more... |
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SPOTLIGHT Another urgent and important matter that the Task Force needs to consider is the astonishing and continuing absence of an integrated communications policy in the Government at any time since Independence. more... |
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