We have been witnessing the turmoil in the establishment of a watch dog (of a Jan Lokpal) for checking the corruption of omissions and commissions in governance of this country as a democracy -- at different levels of the executive, ju
The image of the Indian prime minister, like the American president, is that of a chief executive. But in reality, the title of "chief executive" is a highly misleading one -- actually a misnomer. Under no circums
Anna Hazare, the celebrated Gandhian and a new icon for the Indian youth has set in motion a historic process which is likely to transform permanently the state’s response to corruption in the government. It is widely believed that at presen
Barack Obama`s decision to withdraw U.S. troops (ISAF- International Security Assistance Force) from Afghanistan by 2014 has created a flutter in many parts of the world and several policy analysts from various parts of the world have voiced stron
Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Rivers, Dams and People (SANDRP) has been writing to environment minister Jairam Ramesh on the issue of the environmental impact assessment exemption for some dam and river projects. Thakkar counters the c
Of the people, by the people, for the people – is a popular line that many in India hold to be a sort of credo for the country’s democracy. Of course, ‘people’ here refers to all the people of the country and not ju
A fresh biotech graduate from IIT-Kharagpur is overly elated at the prospect of earning more than half a lakh every month at a reputed software firm; Saurabh Kumar of NIT Durgapur, a first year undergraduate in computer science says that he would
India remains a dangerous country for journalists and even more so for those working in the northeastern state of Assam. While 27 journalists have been killed across India in two decades, Assam alone has lost more than 20 journalists and nobody ha
In the last week of April, I participated in a seminar organised by a group of civil society members. They have long been demanding that the age of children covered under the Child Labour Prohibition and Rehabilitation Act – 1986 be increase
The recent global slump is seen by many as a business cycle inherent in capitalism and market economy. Contrary to these beliefs, it was actually man-made as the leadership wholly responsible for it lacked professional ethics. Take the fin
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has scripted his success story as the second politician after BP Chaliha to lead the government for the third consecutive term. Soon after his oath-taking on May 18, Gogoi commented that the voters of Assam elected
Following the many horrendous setbacks from political circle, public life at large in India is confronting the serrated edge. Domino effects of corrupt nexus among politicians-corporate and most odiously of media chocking every tint of idealism an
India is a democratic country where each and every person has a right to elect their representative and live life as they want. But Is India really democratic? Is India really growing? Is India really rising? All these questions alw
Contrary to what happens with most major national news events, the discussion of the death of Osama bin Laden in the mainstream and new media did not shift quickly to political winners and losers. An analysis of hundreds of thousands of stories an
The International Congress on Gandhian Activities (ICGA), which has centres at San Jose, London, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, is organising a conference from from August 1, 2011 to January 30, 2012. The struc
It is possible to construct roads which require overlay not before eight to 12 years. It can save our mountains and hills, huge quantity of fuel, plant and machinery and can earn carbon credits. Innovative solutions and products are
India`s triumph in the cricket World Cup and Anna Hazare`s crusade against corruption - two things that could make an epoch of the first half of this year. But where is the Bengali bhadrolok (BB) in all this? Is the absence of the BB accid
Long after independence, women continue to be disrespected.We, however, make the right noises with our "Stop Women`s Trafficking" and other sloganeering. Even before our policymakers ensure 33 percent reservation for women in Par
When society is changing with the new spirit of the young generation, there should be a change in our law and its implementations. It’s a shame that in India law is not equally applied in villages, towns and cities. The first issue t
