NB: A gripping and very informative account of the intertwined crises that led to war and global confrontation in 1970-1971. I was a small witness to it from the Indian side of the border; and was caught up in the political cyclone which became the central theme for my novel Revolution Highway. Indeed, it was… Read More The Vortex
Without alignment between military capability, strategic doctrine and civilian decision-making, India’s deterrence posture will remain asymmetric and operationally hollow. What remains really indispensable is political honesty. The suppression of Naravane’s memoir itself has become emblematic of this failure. A government unwilling to level with parliament or the public about how close India came to escalation… Read More Naravane Exposé Reveals Delhi Runs on Narrative
A plutonium-packed generator disappeared on one of the world’s highest mountains in a hush-hush mission the U.S. still won’t talk about. By Jeffrey Gettleman, Hari Kumar, Agnes Chang and Pablo Robles Photographs and videos by Atul Loke. – Dec. 13, 2025 The mission demanded the utmost secrecy. A team of American climbers, handpicked by the C.I.A. for their mountaineering skills —… Read More How Did the C.I.A. Lose a Nuclear Device?
NB: There seems to be Sino-Indian unity on torturing the innocent. DS Arrested in 2013 on India’s Himalayan border after fleeing Beijing’s ‘genocide’ against Muslims in Xinjiang, the siblings have been imprisoned indefinitely ever since then On the evening of 12 June 2013, according to court documents, three “Chinese intruders” were arrested by the Indian… Read More How three Uyghur brothers fled China – to spend 12 years in an Indian prison
NB: Either you’ve never heard of these events and happenings – or, even if you have, they are not spoken about much. The younger generation, the ones who will live through more of this century than I will, may find these matters to be necessary knowledge. I will add to this list from time to… Read More Things the mainstream don’t talk about
This officially sanctioned system of privileges will breed resentment among those who have spent their lives in those institutions and have a potentially demoralising impact in the long term. A “substantial set-up grant” only makes the funds available. Procurement is another story altogether. Shobhit Mahajan A recent newspaper report (IE, October 22, ) mentions that… Read More Reversing the American brain drain: Is the Indian government’s scheme enough?
Zhang Yadi was due to begin a degree in the UK but the activist vanished on holiday amid tensions over Dalai Lama Jessie Lau As Zhang Yadi toured remote villages in the Chinese province of Sichuan last year, she updated her friends with messages and photos of lush forest landscapes, colourful streets and locals wearing… Read More ‘She didn’t realise how dangerous it was’: London-bound student held in China over Tibet support
Nuno P. Monteiro and Fritz Bartel, eds., Before and after the fall: world politics and the end of the Cold War, Cambridge, 2021 Reviewed by Lorenzo Cladi In this volume, Nuno Monteiro and Fritz Bartel bring together a vast array of scholars. They all get to grips with the issue of continuity and change with… Read More Before and after the fall: World politics & the end of the Cold War
Bharat Bhushan With its dream of reaching greatness by hanging on to the coattails of the United States going bust, India needs to radically rethink its foreign policy. Rather than the ongoing tentative recalibration, it needs to be redesigned from the ground up. Although Indian political leaders value loyalty to a fault, this cannot be… Read More India’s Foreign Policy Is In Need Of Fresh Stewardship Columnists
On Doval–Wang table: LAC situation, next steps to repair ties; visits taking place in run-up to SCO summit in China, possible visit by Putin to India NB: During the 1960’s the RSS hailed the American war of agression against Vietnam as a dharm-yuddha, or ‘holy war’: manifesting their visceral hatred of socialism and of communist… Read More Jaishankar heading to Moscow, Wang to Delhi amid strain in India ties with US. Remember Nehru’s non-alignment?
After the truth-shower 