Author: Dilip

I'm a scholar, writer and teacher; and my blog is designed for intellectual exploration. It carries no advertisements and requires no cash subscription

From the Arsenal of Democracy to an Arsenal of Genocide / Six UNRWA workers among 18 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school

During the presidential debate, Kamala Harris was asked to explain what she would do about Israel’s war on Gaza, and she said, “Let’s understand how we got here. On October 7, Hamas, a terrorist organization, slaughtered 1,200 Israelis.” This is false. As anyone with a basic working knowledge of the conflict knows, this war is… Read More From the Arsenal of Democracy to an Arsenal of Genocide / Six UNRWA workers among 18 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school

Dilip

Georgia’s Emory University called ‘thuggish’ over unilateral protest rules

Timothy Pratt Atlanta’s Emory University began the new school year last week with the president Gregory Fenves unilaterally announcing a new policy prohibiting tents on campus, “building occupations and/or takeovers” and protests after midnight – in violation of the school’s shared governance policy, according to faculty members in positions of leadership who spoke to the… Read More Georgia’s Emory University called ‘thuggish’ over unilateral protest rules

Dilip

Israeli Society Has Truly Fallen to Cruelty, Violence and Apathy. Just Look at Us

Gideon Levy On Friday, 11 funerals were held in the Jenin refugee camp. Eight of the deceased were camp residents who were killed by the Israeli army; three died of natural causes. None of them could be buried during the 10 preceding days, on account of the brutal Israel Defense Forces operation in the camp.… Read More Israeli Society Has Truly Fallen to Cruelty, Violence and Apathy. Just Look at Us

Dilip

Gets under the skin

The last decade, defined by Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial tenure, has seen a concerted bid to make the rhetoric of Hindu supremacy normal. From the prime minister to the sangh parivar’s social media trolls, to frothing film stars, the right to be publicly hostile to minorities, particularly Muslims, has been energetically exercised. I notice that public… Read More Gets under the skin

Dilip

The Palestine Laboratory: How To Make Friends And Influence People, Israeli Style

Israel has made many friends in the international sphere by selling countries state-of-the-art defence technology that it ‘battle tests’ on Palestinian people Saleem Rashid Shah In February 2022, against rising tensions in the region, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited Bahrain to sign a landmark security cooperation agreement with the Kingdom. Bahrain was among the… Read More The Palestine Laboratory: How To Make Friends And Influence People, Israeli Style

Dilip

In Bangladesh, the Government Agenda is Taking an Alarming New Direction

Bharat Bhushan The political dynamics are moving into uncharted territory in Bangladesh as the agenda of the leaders of the student movement becomes clearer. It seems to be shifting towards an accommodation of Islamic ideology within the structure of the state. In a strategically significant move, the political guru of the students’ movement, Mahfuz Alam, a 26-year-old… Read More In Bangladesh, the Government Agenda is Taking an Alarming New Direction

Dilip

India and the End of Empire. Selected Writings of Daniel O’Connor

NB: The Rev Daniel O’Connor was pastor of St Stephen’s College during the years I was there, in the 1960’s. He and his dear wife Juliet befriended me and my comrades, at a time we were considered trouble-makers. They did not agree with our politics, but for all that, never withdrew their affection. One of… Read More India and the End of Empire. Selected Writings of Daniel O’Connor

Dilip

Paul Fussell, ex-soldier, literary scholar & critic of war (1924-2012)

First posted May 27, 2012 Out of the mass experience of pointless death, a new way of speaking and writing, devoid of euphemism, arose, a plain style we associate with Hemingway.. The Great War chronicles the loss of the old rhetoric, of high pieties, of sacrifice and roseate dawns, in favor of “blood, terror, agony, madness, shit,… Read More Paul Fussell, ex-soldier, literary scholar & critic of war (1924-2012)

Dilip