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

Former Civil Servants Bemoan 'Complete Breakdown' of Governance in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi: A group of former civil servants has written an open letter condemning the ‘complete breakdown’ of governance and blatant violation of the rule of law in Uttar Pradesh, saying the Yogi Adityanath government has “ushered in a model of governance which swerves further and further away from the values of the constitution and… Read More Former Civil Servants Bemoan 'Complete Breakdown' of Governance in Uttar Pradesh

Dilip

Book review: Michael Wolff’s third Trump book is his best – and most alarming

The 45th president is out of office and Michael Wolff has brought his Trump trilogy to a close. First there was Fire and Fury, then there was Siege, now there is Landslide. The third is the best of the three, and that is saying plenty. Three years ago, Trump derided Fire and Fury as fake news and… Read More Book review: Michael Wolff’s third Trump book is his best – and most alarming

Dilip

Farah Naqvi: Father Stan, UAPA and the Performative Solidarity of Politicians

“Stan Smith (84) passes away. The system sucks. UAPA. No bail. Little hope of early trial. Others too languish in jail. Lawyers , Academics , Social Activists ….raise their voices for the voiceless. They too are now “voiceless”. The State calls them “ terrorists,” Kapil Sibal, Congress MP, tweeted on July 5, 2021. Sibal got the name wrong.… Read More Farah Naqvi: Father Stan, UAPA and the Performative Solidarity of Politicians

Dilip

Terry Bell writes from South Africa: The challenge of real democracy

The political elite elected ostensibly to represent the majority, is effectively — and often all too obviously –  under the influence, if not direct control, of elements of the monied minority. It is a classic case of who pays the piper invariably calling the tune. If the “tune” – the policies and decisions affecting the… Read More Terry Bell writes from South Africa: The challenge of real democracy

Dilip

Danny Postel – The Other Counter-Revolution: Iran’s Role in the Shifting Political Landscape of the Middle East

Saudi Arabia’s role as a counter-revolutionary force in the Middle East is widely understood and thoroughly documented. Historian Rosie Bsheer calls the Saudi kingdom “a counter-revolutionary state par excellence,” indeed one that was “consolidated as such.” The Saudi monarchy has gone into counter-revolutionary overdrive since the onset of the Arab uprisings, scrambling to thwart popular… Read More Danny Postel – The Other Counter-Revolution: Iran’s Role in the Shifting Political Landscape of the Middle East

Dilip

Bharat Bhushan – Rafale deal: Could French investigations turn up a Bofors?

A judicial probe has been ordered in France into the corruption surrounding the Rafale fighter jet deal with India. In India, the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor General have already given a clean chit to the Narendra Modi government in the deal. The Parquet National Financier (PNF) responsible for tracking down complex economic… Read More Bharat Bhushan – Rafale deal: Could French investigations turn up a Bofors?

Dilip