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

Centre-left politics has been dealt a crushing blow in Greece. What can we learn from it?

Marina Prentoulis New Democracy’s victory was not unexpected, but the eye-watering share of the vote the party received is a different matter. The conservative government often points to its record of growth and investment, backed by European Commission forecasts, but the proceeds of this have not been felt evenly: a growing number of Greece’s population over… Read More Centre-left politics has been dealt a crushing blow in Greece. What can we learn from it?

Dilip

A scandal in Kathmandu rocks the Prachanda govt and threatens the system

Bharat Bhushan Indians, obsessed with Pakistan going down the tube, seem unable to smell the rot that has set in Nepal’s polity and administration. Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka Prachanda, is facing one of the worst corruption scandals to have hit the country since it became a democracy. If he acts against the… Read More A scandal in Kathmandu rocks the Prachanda govt and threatens the system

Dilip

Alternatives to the nationalism of the conspicuously ignorant: Markha Valenta

First posted July 14, 2012 The word ‘nationalism’ itself dates from the early nineteenth century and marked the increasing use of national identity in order to make political claims. So to argue that national identity is pre-political is itself a political statement.  It is becoming chic among some of Europe’s young elites to call for… Read More Alternatives to the nationalism of the conspicuously ignorant: Markha Valenta

Dilip

Jimena Canales: This Philosopher Helped Ensure There Was No Nobel for Relativity

First posted June 06, 2016 Henri Bergson’s debate with Albert Einstein reached and swayed the 1921 Nobel committee. NB – it is remarkable that the Roman Catholic Church banned three of Bergsons books in June 1914; and the Nazi’s banned Einstein after Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 – DS This Philosopher Helped Ensure There Was No Nobel for… Read More Jimena Canales: This Philosopher Helped Ensure There Was No Nobel for Relativity

Dilip

Modi Gov’t Ignores Internal Warning On Health Risk, Forces Fortified Rice On Poor

The Modi government is experimenting with the food being served to 800 million Indians. The poor are the guinea pigs. The Reporters’ Collective It has begun serving rice fortified with micronutrients to the poor, saying the food will bring down anaemia and other micronutrient deficiencies rampant in India. But documents reviewed by The Reporters Collective… Read More Modi Gov’t Ignores Internal Warning On Health Risk, Forces Fortified Rice On Poor

Dilip

Pratap Bhanu Mehta: Brazen and ominous, Centre’s Delhi ordinance defies the SC, bodes ill for democracy

By negating the court’s ruling to take over services, the government has intentionally created a full-blown constitutional crisis. The Supreme Court will be damned if it does (react) and damned if it does not. The Government of India’s ordinance to take over control of “services” in Delhi is an act of breathtaking brazenness. It bodes ill for the… Read More Pratap Bhanu Mehta: Brazen and ominous, Centre’s Delhi ordinance defies the SC, bodes ill for democracy

Dilip

Microfinance Institutions in West Bengal: A Death Trap?

Madhu Sudan Chatterjee The word ’Sir’ in some areas of West Bengal represents officers of microfinance institutions (MFIs) who come to collect money from low-income families. If these families cannot pay, they are allegedly met with continued threats. In some ways, this was depicted in a 2017 movie by Nila Madhab Panda called ’Kadvi Hawa’.… Read More Microfinance Institutions in West Bengal: A Death Trap?

Dilip