25 years of economic reforms

You can see them around you all the time. They cut across geography, gender, caste, class, community and religion. Almost all of them have tell-tale signs – they are young, generally between 13 and 25 years; they own swanky smartphones; wear weird but smart clothes; have similar hairstyles, and; walk with a swagger that says that they own the world. These are the Children of Reforms, whose lifestyles, mindset, and attitudes are shaped by the impact and consequences of the giant economic reforms unleashed in India 25 years ago. This is why the real way to understand the impact of reforms is through these post-reforms children.
READ: Children of Reforms

The bearded and affable Prabhat Patnaik, a Marxist economist, taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University from 1974 until his retirement in 2010. A Rhodes scholar, he has authored several books including Time, Inflation and Growth as well as Economics and Egalitarianism. He spoke about why India hasn’t changed for the better after 1991.
READ INTERVIEW: I believe the neoliberal regime is also reaching a dead end: Prabhat Patnaik

Yashwant Sinha has a critical role in the story of India’s economic reforms. It was he who was at the helm when the economy was in the worst crisis, keeping the vigil before the dawn of the reforms. In his second innings, it was again he who dispelled the speculations of the continuity of reforms when the NDA came to power after an interval of political instability. 
READ INTERVIEW: “If I was not forced to present an interim budget I would’ve also made the same speech”
 

Gujarat Dalit Protests

At least a dozen youngsters from scheduled caste (SC) communities have attempted suicide this week in various small towns in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, protesting against the state government’s alleged inaction after a group of SC men were attacked for skinning dead cows earlier this month. For the Anandiben Patel government, this opens up yet another social division when the Patel community is on warpath demanding job quotas.
READ: In Anandiben’s Gujarat, dalits are lining up to die
 

Violence in Kashmir

Burhan Wani was just like any other youngster who loved to spend time on the social media. But, there was a sinister, dark side to him. He joined the ranks of terrorists and became the Hizbul Mujahideen commander. He was killed on July 8, triggering violence that has savaged Kashmir for the past fortnight.
READ COLUMN: Can’t you see that my beloved Kashmir bleeds