Harsh V Pant
The dead deserve a better sendoff, surely
Despite all views about afterlife and such, it matters little to the dead how he or she is disposed of, says Mahesh Vijapurkar. Archives Harsh V Pant
India-Iran relations: A tangled web
A close examination of the Indian-Iranian relationship reveals an underdeveloped relationship despite all the spin attached to it. India would like to increase its presence in the Iranian energy sector because of its rapidly rising energy needs, and is rightfully feeling restless about its own marginalisation in Iran, says Harsh V Pant. Archives Vivek Gumaste
Why objections to the Vande Mataram are not valid
In a pluralistic society like India it is imperative that religious fervour be tempered to suit the common good, say Vivek Gumaste. Archives Claude Arpi
Was the Chinese intrusion really a PLA strike against Xi Jinping?
Could some frustrated Chinese generals have decided to teach India a lesson to sink Xi Jinping's world dream, asks Claude Arpi. Archives T V R Shenoy
The PMO, the coal scam, the missing sentence and the CBI
Did the principal secretary to the prime minister authorise the controversial meeting a joint secretary at the PMO had at the CBI headquarters to discuss the coal scam report, asks T V R Shenoy. Archives T V R Shenoy
BJP follows Congress path of ruin
'If the activities of the BJP government in Karnataka fostered dissidence, the Gadkari era saw the same sin crop up elsewhere, notably in Uttarakhand. (Both states would see multiple chief ministers in the course of five years.) Gadkari's leadership saw the BJP drift away from its moral moorings,' says TVR Shenoy. Archives B S Prakash
Which planet do you live on?
'We had been talking for two hours about India and America and we stopped and looked at each other. "The issues are the same," said my hyper-successful and patriotic NRI friend, his hidden Indian self somewhere wanting to empathise. Yes, I agreed, only the planets that we inhabit seem different, notes B S Prakash. Archives Dr Sanjay Nagral
Why is Mumbai abandoning its civic hospitals?
By deserting public hospitals we are dismantling our public health-care system, says Dr Sanjay Nagral. Archives T V R Shenoy
Why India's top law officer is under attack
'On April 30, the Supreme Court spoke on the need to further insulate the CBI from political interference. Come May 8, perhaps their Lordships could also extend protection to the law officers too -- simultaneously sending out the message that the Attorney General is much more than a professional doing his duty to the ministry of the day, that he owes a higher duty as an officer of the court,' says T V R Shenoy. Archives T V R Shenoy
Why should the people of Bengal suffer lung cancer?
Mamata Banerjee has announced a Rs 500 crore relief package to assuage those who lost their money to the Saradha chit fund. As West Bengal is dancing on the edge of bankruptcy, this money will be raised from taxes on tobacco. Having already seen their savings go up in smoke the people of West Bengal must now puff away whatever is left, says T V R Shenoy. Archives Gurmeet Kanwal
What the Chinese gameplan against India is
The military gap between India and China is growing steadily. Clearly, China's negotiating strategy is to resolve the dispute when the Chinese are in a much stronger position in terms of comprehensive national strength so that they can dictate terms, says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd). Archives B Raman
Chinese intrusion is a matter of concern, not alarm
We have seen greater Chinese activism in the South and East China seas, but not across the Sino-Indian border. If the Chinese troops stay put in the Burthe area and construct defensive structures, that will be an indicator of their deciding to follow a similar policy of activism across the Sino-Indian border, says B Raman. Archives Ajit Balakrishnan
Legitimising myths about gold imports
The massive buyers of gold in the past two years have not been the distressed farmers or the manual scavengers. Archives T V R Shenoy
Strange Salman, the Saudis and Kerala
The Saudi leaders were willing to walk the extra mile to solve India's problem, but the external affairs ministry in New Delhi wanted to dawdle. Why did External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid not find time for his Saudi counterparts, and that too on a matter that is of great interest to Indians, asks T V R Shenoy. Archives T V R Shenoy
Elections soon after Diwali!
The state of the economy which is in a far worse condition than the government wants us to know; the UPA's instability and the Robert Vadra factor may force a Lok Sabha election this winter, predicts T V R Shenoy Archives T V R Shenoy
Marines and chopper deal: 'Italian Hand' at work?
'We seem to be reliving the sleaziest days of the 1980s,' says T V R Shenoy. 'Defence purchases are made under controversial circumstances, and nobody is held accountable... Shoddy staffwork leads to suspects leaving India, and it is virtually impossible to lay hands on them again once they are out... The same shabby acts of commission and omission. The same stale excuses...' Archives Tarun Vijay
View: Why the Italians take India for granted
One can say the Italians are rogue, they belong to an irresponsible republic, but what about the great democracy and the Republic of India that shows shameful pusillanimity or connivance with favoured foreigners as a pattern and not as an exception, asks Tarun Vijay Archives M K Bhadrakumar
India, Italy can still reconcile, and should
'Indian diplomacy should be allowed a free hand and politicians should step aside. It is difficult to see that happening, but it can happen -- and it should in the spirit of a mature democracy,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar. Archives Dr Aseem Shukla
Wharton and Modi: Political gamesmanship won over business savvy
'I agonise for these students that only desired to create a platform to discuss India's challenges and opportunities for growth. They shot themselves in the foot and the students and Wharton administration must learn the lessons of consequences even as they seek redemption that can be theirs with the right moves forward, argues Dr Aseem Shukla. Archives Bhaskar Menon
A reality check for David Cameron's India quest
Bhaskar Menon explains why for India it cannot be business as usual with the British. Archives Mahesh Vijapurkar
For cities, small is not beautiful
To make anything manageable, both the intent and the will to manage is important, not empty words. This is missing from all those involved in operating a city where budgets as they exist ought to provide good results only if politics and politicians' objective of pelf do not lead to poor execution and large-scale drain of resources. That is why even small is not beautiful, says Mahesh Vijapurkar. Archives Colonel (retd) Anil Athale
Remembering the Mighty Shivaji, truly a world leader
Shivaji revolutionised the art of warfare in India. His approach to the use of violence was radically different from that followed in the preceding 1,000 years. He was one of the great personalities of world history, says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd). Archives Harsh Pant
China's Gwadar plunge, and India's confused reaction
China's new naval strategy of 'far sea defence' is aimed at giving Beijing the ability to project its power in key oceanic areas, including and most significantly the Indian Ocean. China has fired the first salvo. Others will have to react seriously if they want to retain their role in the region. Archives Sushant Sareen
Afzal Guru's execution: Propaganda, politics, portents
It would be a real shame if after having demonstrated strong resolve in acting against terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru, the government was to fritter away the gains on the altar of politics of appeasing fringe groups, says Sushant Sareen. Archives Mohammad Sayeed Malik
View from Kashmir: The lengthening shadow of Afzal Guru's gallows
The impression in the valley that Kashmir is not only 'expendable' for buttressing New Delhi's partisan interests, but also a preferred choice to do so, is getting strengthened, feels veteran Kashmir commentator Mohammad Sayeed Malik. Archives Tarun Vijay
Afzal Guru's hanging: Move on, and make India terror-free
Unless we learn to forget our differences and stand together as Indians first, earnestly believing that the cause of the Motherland is bigger than the interests of our groups and parties, the terrorist network cannot be rooted out, says Tarun Vijay. Archives Seema Mustafa
Hanging could have damaging repercussions
'The only logical explanation for the sudden hanging of Afzal Guru,' feels Seema Mustafa, 'is the fact that general elections are around the corner. And the Congress in its usual cynical manipulation of votes is trying to eat into the majority constituency with this action.' Archives Vicky Nanjappa
How Afzal Guru spent the last few years of his life
The gallows was merely 30 meters away from the 16 by 12 feet cell in Tihar Jail in which Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was lodged. Afzal was, at all times, surrounded by security guards as he was a high-profile prisoner. Archives T V R Shenoy
The BJP needs to declare its PM today!
If a party is indecisive while in the Opposition, what does it say about its capacity to govern effectively, asks T V R Shenoy. Archives C Uday Bhaskar
When the home minister speaks, every word has to be carefully chosen
Distorting facts in relation to politics and religion and appeasing extremist ideology has grave long term implications for India's security, feels C Uday Bhaskar. Archives Praful Bidwai
View: Why Rahul's strategy will fail
The Congress could have regained some lost ground had it returned to welfare and a pro-poor platform. Instead, it has moved in the opposite direction. Rahul Gandhi's upper middle class-based political mobilisation strategy is likely to fail badly, says Praful Bidwai. Archives Tarun Vijay
How Shinde spoilt Rahul's good beginning
If the home minister knows anything unlawful about the RSS or the BJP, who has stopped him from taking the sternest action? But to blame nationalist forces without any proof is a sin against the very idea of India, says BJP MP Tarun Vijay. Archives T P Sreenivasan
Why India needs Young Pravasis
'The subsequent generations of Indians abroad are free from such baggage of the past. They may be intolerant of the mosquitoes and the heat when they come to India, but they are proud of their heritage and the achievements of their parents abroad. India, to them, is a brand, which gives them added advantage in their highly competitive environment,' says T P Sreenivasan. Archives Shreekant Sambrani
Rarely has India faced Republic Day in as somber a mood
The general disaffection of masses arises from a widely shared perception that those in power have stopped listening to them and are content to pursue solely their own interests, says Shreekant Sambrani.. Archives T V R Shenoy
Why I'm pessimistic about Congress or BJP coming to power
The decline of the two national parties is palpable. Neither can hope to reach the mark of 272 on its own. One can only hope that India is spared another 1996-1998 experiment where the prime minister's party has fewer than one-tenth of the seats in the Lok Sabha, says TVR Shenoy. Archives Nilanjana S Roy
A woman alone in the forest
Five stories of rape and sexual assault from the epics are particularly useful in offering an insight into the way rape works in India, says Nilanjana S Roy. Archives Chirag Shah
What drives the Indian male to rape?
The Indian man needs to learn that he isn't in control, that he is no one to control and that it is not he who is more than a woman. There isn't a competition between the sexes, says Chirag Shah. Archives Raghothama C
How to shame the shameless sexual predators
It'll be another sad day if the outrage over the Delhi gangrape withers away without achieving anything, says Raghothama C. Archives