India is firing the engine of war while preaching peace

Reports suggest that the weapons pipeline from India to Israel has surreptitiously kept flowing to meet war-shortages, in effect aiding genocide in Gaza GAZA casualties, live statistics Bharat Bhushan Both in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, India has projected itself as a potential peacemaker. Now, it turns out that India has been stoking the war in Gaza by supplying… Read More India is firing the engine of war while preaching peace

The Commodification of Indian Education and Loss of Moral Accountability

Both centralisation and privatisation have dismantled the future of higher education in India and the lack of moral positionality of the state has come out as a catastrophe for millions of students who aspire to follow higher education pathways. Vidyasagar Sharma Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (UGC-NEET) examination, the… Read More The Commodification of Indian Education and Loss of Moral Accountability

Indira Jaising on implications of the Modi years. Report on a talk at SOAS

NB: A perceptive talk by one of India’s most experienced constitutional lawyers. I will add that there are certain grievous matters that democratic-minded persons the world over should take note of, viz., the regular deployment of mob violence and political assassination in India (as also the rest of South Asia), which has been ongoing for… Read More Indira Jaising on implications of the Modi years. Report on a talk at SOAS

Ayesha Kidwai: The National Testing Agency is a scam – shut it down now! Punya Prasun Bajpai on scams and leaks as business model

With the latest educational scandal of the UGC NET exam being cancelled because the National Testing Agency admitted to gross violations of confidentiality, we see everything come to pass, that teachers all over the country foretold regarding the drastic changes made in the education system over the past ten years. Reasonably robust public universities have… Read More Ayesha Kidwai: The National Testing Agency is a scam – shut it down now! Punya Prasun Bajpai on scams and leaks as business model

Arun Kumar: Articles, talks & discussions on aspects of the economy

1.      Interview on Economic situation and policy changes required. Jan Chowk June 19. It is at: https://www.youtube.com/live/p8_PXswKwlo?si=KrNqNc2yYNeAfXbQ 2.     Article on Policy Change needed post election results to avoid instability. The Wire, June 15. It is at: https://thewire.in/politics/narendra-modi-policy-change-election-results-2024 3.      Article on what is a mandate and what is it in 2024?. The Leaflet June 11. It is at: https://theleaflet.in/general-elections-2024-what-is-the-mandate/ 4.     Federalism article: Centre is… Read More Arun Kumar: Articles, talks & discussions on aspects of the economy

In a Delhi heat ward, two workers fight a lonely battle for life

Unconscious, frothing in the mouth, holding ice packs: Migrant workers are the biggest casualty of India’s worst heatwave Anumeha Yadav New Delhi: On Thursday afternoon, the busy campus of Safdarjung hospital had patients and attendants trying to protect themselves from the searing heat in the shade of the building and under trees. A tall security… Read More In a Delhi heat ward, two workers fight a lonely battle for life

‘Most of Mainstream Media a Disgrace to Democracy’: Ravish Kumar at Peabody Ceremony

‘When a journalist becomes spreader of hate and lies, instigator of mob lynching, a cheerleader for the government, [they] become an instrument to kill democracy.’ Ravish and Vinay speak at award ceremony NB: Congratulations to both of you, and salaams to Ravish for his courage and commitment. DS Most of what is Indian mainstream media… Read More ‘Most of Mainstream Media a Disgrace to Democracy’: Ravish Kumar at Peabody Ceremony

Why an ancient Greek tragedy has resonance in politics today — in India and beyond

In Aeschylus’ ‘Persians’, Xerxes though defeated, was not dethroned. He went on to rule for another decade or more. But the spirit of freedom and democracy set alight by that struggle lived on for more than a century Vijay Tankha What could the earliest extant Greek tragedy have to say about the recent elections? Nothing… Read More Why an ancient Greek tragedy has resonance in politics today — in India and beyond

Guest appearance

To return to the G7: what is it and why is India there? The G7 is a Cold War relic. It’s basically six rich, white, Atlanticist powers along with one rich, honorary-white, Pacific nation Mukul Kesavan The morning’s paper had a picture of the prime minister hugging the pope. Not all pictures of Narendra Modi… Read More Guest appearance