MUST SEE: 2012, The Year That Was
Rediff.com looks back at 2012 through a series of lists -- showcasing the good and the ugly, the serious and the quirky -- in a commemorative special. Year-end special: The people who mattered in 2012
As 2012 draws to a close, rediff.com takes a look at the international personalities who hit headlines around the world. 'Does our government even know that we are prisoners?'
India is one of the few friends Iran has in the world. So how come 29 Indian fishermen have been detained in an Iranian prison for over two months? Why Modi was not so triumphant at his Vijay Sabha
Instead of a steamrolling 150 seats tally, terrifying the Bharatiya Janata Party high command into an abject surrender and hailing him as a prime minister-in-waiting, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra got 115 seats, 2 short of his 2007 score(117), enabling his party rivals to deny him what he covets the most, says Arvind J Bosmia Gujarat diary: '110 cr Indians want Modi in PM post'
While BJP workers gleefully celebrated the victory of the party and its leader Narendra Modi for a third time, Congress workers could barely hide their feeling of dejection. Sonil Dedhia and Prasanna D Zore were present at the BJP and Congress headquarters to witness the celebrations as well as the disappointment. Modi's Patel card will be Congress rebel Narahiri Amin
"The Congress is in the hands of a few people. Rahul Gandhi, C P Joshi, Mohan Prakash, Ahmed Patel, Shaktisinh Gohil and Arjun Modhwadia have decided on all the 182 seats. Once again, our leaders are plotting to defeat each other. They have made a mess of the Congress's improving fortunes. Like 2007, the Congress will lose both the election and prestige." The Untold Story: How US came to India's aid in 1962
The story of the 1962 war with China has all the elements of a dramatic historical event. Nehru's handling of the crisis and panic reactions were in marked contrast to the cool and confident Kennedy. The generous and prompt response by JFK made him an icon in India. But the US State Department, under pressure from Pakistan and with British support, scuttled the chances of a more lasting India-US alliance, say Colonel Anil Athale (retd). Sanand diary: 'Allah Narendra Modi ka bhala kare'
Ashrafbhai Pathan of Sanand, Gujarat, is an ardent Narendra Modi fan. "Ask any Gujarati today what Narendra Modi means to them and the future of the next generation and hear them articulate about Modi's achievements and vision," he tells anyone who cares to listen. Prasanna D Zore and Reuben NV report 'Gujarat's Muslims have no option but to talk to Modi'
'The biggest damage is inflicted not during the riots, but after the riots. The curfews and inactivity brings misery to survivors of the riots. In every riot, some 3,000 Muslim families slip below the poverty line. Nobody talks about them.' Zafar Yunus Sareshwala, who speaks in Narendra Modi's favour and has initiated the dialogue between Modi and Gujarati Muslims, tells Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt. Shweta Bhatt: Congress puts up meek fight against Modi
The Congress has done a disservice to its party leaders and workers by fielding a non-entity like Shweta Bhatt to take on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, feels Sheela Bhatt. Chetan Bhagat, Ajit Balakrishnan discuss the Info Age
Bestselling author Chetan Bhagat discusses the Information Age with Rediff.com Founder, Chairman and CEO Ajit Balakrishnan to mark the launch of his book The Wave Rider. Don't miss this event, which will be live streamed at 3 pm IST on Monday, December 3. Core committees notified for implementation of DCT
In a move that shows the urgency and seriousness with which the UPA 2 is planning the execution of first phase of direct cash transfer scheme before the January 1, 2013, deadline it has set for itself, the Union government has notified formation of two core committees -- called Mission Mode Committees -- tasked with rollout of the scheme. Prasanna D Zore reports from New Delhi. The full Ponty: A rivetting story of naked greed
How did a smalltimer from the interiors of Uttar Pradesh come to head a multi-crore business empire with interests spanning liquor trade to paper mills and real estate? Sharat Pradhan unravels the Ponty Chadha saga that outdoes any Bollywood potboiler 'We can't live in fear, we have to move forward'
Amrita Raichand and her family were rescued from the Taj Mahal hotel while it was under attack. Recounting her experience to Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar, she feels Kasab's execution is a beginning in the fight against terror. Asif Ibrahim as IB chief: Reading between the lines
Asif Ibrahim's appointment as Director of India's Intelligence Bureau has stirred considerable interest. Observers believe the UPA government has chosen the new heads of the IB, the Research and Analysis Wing and the Central Bureau of Investigation, keeping in mind the next Lok Sabha election, reports Sheela Bhatt. On 26/11, Kavita Karkare believes nothing has changed
'How can we know why so many officers went there unprepared and got killed? Why was there was an absence of coordination and cooperation from the Mumbai police control room?' asks Kavita Karkare, slain Anti-Terror Squad chief Hemant Karkare's widow. 'Policemen who faced 26/11 bravely were blamed'
The 26/11 chapter is not over yet for Vinita Kamte, police officer Ashok Kamte's widow, who is preparing to reveal fresh facts about what occurred that night, discovers Devidas Deshpande. Don't forget the IAF's role in the '62 war!
China declared a ceasefire on November 21 and kept Aksai Chin as its trophy. The sinews of the IAF were not muscular enough to retake Aksai Chin. What matters is what we have done since 1962. Air-minded, we are, but are we strong-minded? asks M P Anil Kumar. 'Even hangman did not know who was being executed'
'The night prior to his execution Kasab did not sleep and was seen praying. He told an official that he repented what he had done and sought Allah's mercy. He also told one guard that he would never be forgiven for what he had done. He was a nervous wreck and spent the entire night sitting.' Exclusive: 'Kasab chapter may not be closed'
'The idea was not just to kill those hundreds of people,' historian Ramachandra Guha tells Sheela Bhatt, 'the idea was to provoke people against Muslims. It is really shocking that Pakistan is in denial about what happened in Mumbai.' BJP, CPI-M lukewarm over Mamata's no-trust motion
Opposition parties are wary that any such attempt that is likely to fail or is even potentially risky will end up helping the Congress eventually, says Sheela Bhatt. The dangerous world of Ponty Chaddha
Clearly knowing which side of the toast to butter, Ponty Chaddha could cultivate sworn political rivals like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati or opposing political parties like the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. 'He gave Maharashtrians a sense of belonging'
Writer Shobhaa De, whose latest novel Sethji is focused on Indian politicians, speaks about Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy and what she remembers most about him. 'Bal Thackeray was a fabulous human being'
'At his shakhas you would meet all the small people of society...' remembers journalist Olga Tellis who knew the Shiv Sena leader for many decades. 'He gave them an identity. He helped them feel relevant in the city, and his people loved it.' Suu Kyi and Rahul Gandhi's common link at Congress HQ
For two years beginning 1961, the Congress party's headquarters in New Delhi played host to Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel laureate and leader of the non-violent movement for human rights and democracy in Myanmar (the erstwhile Burma), who is currently on a visit to India. Suu Kyi was barely 15 when she arrived at 24 Akbar Road with her mother, recounts Rasheed Kidwai Special: Legacy of faith in times of Diwali
Bringing Indian festivals home for the second generation Special: The growth of Sonia, Rahul's 'non-profit' firm
How did not-for-profit firm owned 76 per cent by Congress chief Sonia Gandi and her son Rahul possess real estate worth hundreds of crores? N Sundaresha Subramanian and Kavita Chowdhury report RSS's dilemma: To oust Gadkari without losing credibility
While it is almost certain that Gadkari won't get a second term as BJP president, the RSS wants to ease him out without diminishing its own clout within the saffron pariwar. Sheela Bhatt analyses the situation. Army chief to brief CCS on China-focused mountain corps
The China-focused mountain corps will include three mountain divisions (20,000 soldiers each), complete with tactical airlift capability, armed with necessary armoured regiments and artillery components, and deployment of C-130J Hercules aircraft, reveals R S Chauhan. Thanks to Marans, the 'Sun' rises in Hyderabad
For those who have been observing the phenomenal growth of Sun TV in the last decade and more, its acquisition of the Indian Premiere League franchise for Hyderabad will come as no surprise, says S Murari 'Rahul sees himself more as Cong's management consultant'
'In any ministry headed by Rahul, we will see a lot of talk of accountability, meritocracy and efficiency. But all these things will impact Indian politics in a positive way if they are a means to an end, and do not become an end in themselves as it has with the revamp of the IYC and the NSUI,' Aarthi Ramachandran tells Sheela Bhatt Into the mind of the rapist
Why makes rapists do what they do? Abhishek Mande speaks to psychologists to try and profile them 'Time for Kripashankar Singh to get sleepless nights'
Tulsidas Nair, who has been granted protection by the courts, is the latest cause of worry for the embattled Kripashankar Singh, former chief of the Congress party in Mumbai, reports Prasanna D Zore It's Final: Rahul not to join government
Rahul says no, but wants a youthful look for Manmohan Singh's government. NEVER forget the valour of the Indian soldier!
'Fifty years down the line, she still remembers her son and feels proud of the fact that he gave up his life for the nation...' Tarun Vijay salutes the memory of Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in that unequal war of 1962. Why we must salute the heroic saga of Joginder Singh
Fifty years ago this day, October 23, Subedar Joginder Singh began the battle of his life. On learning that Joginder Singh was a Param Vir Chakra awardee, the People's Liberation Army, in a mark of respect for which the Chinese are not renowned, repatriated his ashes with full military honours. No tribute can be greater than an avowal of valour by the enemy. M P Anil Kumar pays tribute to one of India's brave heroes. Explained: How Kejriwal's campaign affects Congress, BJP
Arvind Kejriwal and India Against Corruption have shown India that 'having power' is not really 'being powerful', says Sheela Bhatt 'War on terrorism can't be fought in Afghan villages'
Shaida Abdali, the 33-year-old ambassador to India believes that Delhi and Kabul have to do much more to secure the region, says Jyoti Malhotra Exclusive: What provoked the India-China war?
Colonel Anil Athale (retd), the official historian of India's 1962 war with China, pin-points the reasons for the clash between the Asian giants 50 years ago and the series of blunders that led to India's military humiliation. The tragedy of being related to the rich and famous
There is a long and sad history of the not-so-famous relatives of celebrities who have to deal with a stack of issues that almost seem to come with the territory: odious comparisons, extraordinary public scrutiny, accusations of nepotism and a parasitic existence, low self-esteem and low self-worth. Al Qaeda: What's wrong about Malala shooting?
Al Qaeda claims that Pakistan's civilian and military leadership is trying to divert the public attention from the 'lost' war in Afghanistan by dwelling on the assassination attempt on activist Malala Yousufzai. Tahir Ali reports from Islamabad. Attack on Malala a WARNING sign for Pak forces
The dastardly attack on Malala Yousufzai is a disturbing sign that Taliban militants may be regrouping in Swat valley, warns Tahir Ali The house from where Vadra's realty magic was spun
The first floor of 268, Sukhdev Vihar, a nondescript white and grey bungalow, houses the headquarters of at least three companies/businesses owned by Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Vadra, who had been renting the premises for seven-odd years, has recently bought the property. 'Let's ensure our elders can live a life of dignity'
Elders surveyed have spoken of suffering disrespect, neglect, verbal abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. The survey finds that the most abused are those above 80. Are Christians being discriminated against in Kanyakumari?
In the rest of Tamil Nadu, Christians are six per cent of the population but in Kanyakumari they constitute 44 per cent of the population. So why is there a high rate of rejection of permission to build prayer halls/churches in the district? A Ganesh Nadar finds out Back to wall, Chandrababu Naidu pulls out his last weapon
The biggest challenge Naidu will face during the padyatra will be himself. Hand him a mike and he gets into speech mode immediately. And worse, focusses on 1995 to 2004. Reminding the farmers of his rule is hardly going to help. It is this 'I, me, myself' mode that Naidu slips into, that could cost the TDP dear, says TS Sudhir Why do India, Pakistan treat their fishermen like fish?
When a security force finds the vessel of another country within its maritime borders -- with no "objectionable materials apart from a large cache of fish" -- why can't they simply ask the vessel to return, asks Shivam Vij '30 years next to a nuclear plant did not affect us'
Dr Suresh Moses Lee and his wife Suseela who have lived at the township built near the Kalpakkam nuclear power plant for three decade, ally fears of people living near nuclear plants. A tragedy called Sivakasi
A Ganesh Nadar visits the site of the firecracker tragedy in Tamil Nadu and finds that little has changed despite such tragedies happening regularly FAQ on the Land Acquisition Bill
We present a FAQ on the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill, which the government hopes to table in the Parliament after being held-up for three years because of in-house differences. Exclusive: Antony's silence on FDI means Sonia's nod
A Cabinet minister tells Sheela Bhatt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken a gamble on the FDI in retail issue and insists that the Congress party is with him. 'We find some of the hesitations in India frustrating'
Asia Society-organised a Q-and-A session between Nancy Jo Powell, America's first woman ambassador to India, and society president Vishakha Desai. Vaihayasi Pande-Daniel, who attended the interaction in Mumbai, presents an excerpt from the hour-long interaction Home Minister Shinde's formula for eliminating terror
"Take prompt notice of every piece of intelligence as it is received, develop capacities for addressing the threats posed by terrorism, share experiences and create an overall milieu of collaboration wherein there should be no distinction between central agencies and state police forces," Shinde told DGPs/IGPs conference. CAG needs to CLEAN UP muddy hydropower projects
The CAG's audit of hydropower projects seems to be an effort for status quo that does not do justice to the formidable reputation it has attracted through some of its exemplary work Letter to Modi: Malnutrition and figure-conscious girls
In an open letter to Narendra Modi, activists Rohit Prajapati, Trupti Shah and Nandini Manjrekar have questioned his contention on malnutrition and young girls' figure-consciousness PM on NAM: Different views, common destiny
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh outlines the relevance of the Non-Alignment Movement in today's emerging geopolitics, at the XVI Summit of the organisation in Tehran, Iran Naroda Patiya ruling shows India's pluralism is safe
While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's moral argument has been severely weakened by the judgment, on the political turf he is unlikely to lose, or gain, from it. However, the story is not about politics but justice, says Sheela Bhatt How to pack for Iran?
The dress code is quite strict for women, so I have to pack with care. The contents have to be carefully selected and placed so that my bag is not opened at the customs counter and its contents displayed in front of everybody, says Smita Prakash Comrade Hangal: A devoted communist
We have lost a devoted communist who was ready to sacrifice anything for the people and the party, says Shameem Faizee, recollecting his meetings with comrade A K Hangal. The importance of bilateral ties with Iran
Sheela Bhatt explains why Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Iran for the Non-Aligned Summit will be closely watched around the world. '67 yrs on, govt can't go on sitting on secret Bose files'
Anuj Dhar, author of the book India's biggest cover up, tells rediff.com that controversies surround the death and assassinations of three of our prime ministers and yet the cumulative interest in them is not a patch on the Bose mystery. READ: PM's address to nation on 66th Independence Day
Here's the full text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address to the nation of the occasion of India's 66th Independence Day. Independence Day Special: The Hero of Tiger Hill
Yogendra Singh Yadav survived 15 bullets while capturing Tiger Hill in the Kargil War and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest award for gallantry. On the eve of Independence Day, the 32-year-old soldier relives that night when he and his fellow commandos won one of India's most historic military victories. 'The situation in Assam is worse than Gujarat in 2002'
If the apathy towards the plight of Muslims in the north-east continues it will disturb the peace of the region for a long time to come, SP national secretary Kamal Faruqui tells rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt. Understanding Gujarat: Why the Patels won't be decisive
The battle to win the minds of around 37 million Gujarati voters will begin soon after the monsoon. Chief Minister Narendra Modi is at the centre of this crucial electoral battle that is as politically important for Modi as the Uttar Pradesh assembly election of 2012 was for Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. Modi's election PR blitz worries Cong before it starts
Print ads and films, campaigns on Twitter, Facebook and maybe a special deal with YouTube... Gujarat Chief Minister Narenda Modi is leaving little -- including expenses -- to chance. No wonder the Congress is worried! 50 years later, what has the GoI got to hide?
After the defeat in the 1962 war with China, the Indian government requested Lieutenant General Henderson-Brooks and Brigadier Prem Bhagat to prepare a report. Fifty years later, it remains one of India's most secret documents. What on earth has stopped the government from revealing the report to the Indian public, asks Claude Arpi. Pak: Dissident disappears; ISI, MI chiefs in the dock
For the first time in Pakistan's history, the police has booked the all-powerful director generals of the Inter Services Intelligence and the Military Intelligence on the charge of kidnapping. Amir Mir reports from Islamabad. 17 yrs later, the mystery of Mast Gul's escape remains
Former army, R&AW and IB officers say they were unaware of any deal being struck with the dreaded terrorist Mast Gul during the Chrar-e-Sharief siege in Kashmir in 1995. Vicky Nanjappa reports. Modi's taint will remain: Editor who interviewed him
If Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi wanted to launch a new image or change his brand through his interview to me he will not be successful, Nai Duniya editor Shahid Siddiqui tells Sheela Bhatt PM Singh likely to visit Pakistan in November
Manmohan Singh will be the first Indian PM to travel to Islamabad since 2004. Amir Mir reports Assam: It's time to stop the clock and look back
In Assam, says Arijit Sen, it is almost like a pre-programmed, horrific video game people are killed, schools turn into shelters and school benches are used to distribute food The Last among our Liberals
The nation has many individuals like Kuldip Nayar to thank whose idealism and honour has helped keep the country on the path of freedom and democracy. India 2012: Swearing-in of a President, swearing at him
Metres away from the pomp and regalia of Parliament's Central Hall, at the time the 13th President of the republic was being sworn-in, a bunch of battle-weary protestors were girding up to take on the might of the Indian State, reports Sheela Bhatt Watch: Pranab Mukherjee's first speech as President
Pranab Mukherjee was sworn in as the 13th President of India today. Here is the full text of his speech Political tensions in Maldives causing alarm
The Commonwealth has called for all parties to "show restraint and restore calm", while the European Union has expressed "deep concern" over the continued political unrest and the heavy-handed response of the security forces. India has appealed to all political parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from actions that might have an adverse impact. Shubha Singh reports. FAQ: How is the President of India elected?
Are you confused about how the President is elected? Click HERE to have all your queries answered Special: Ministers miffed with 'rude' SPG at PM's house
Union Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jairam Ramesh and G K Vasan have complained to Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth about the rude behaviour of the Special Protection Group personnel at 7 Race Course Road. PIX: Barack and Michelle Obama's special moments
We bring you a few special moments that the first couple has shared in the past that were caught on camera. New Al Qaeda leader Shinwari backs terrorism in J&K
Al Qaeda's leadership has a habit of appointing men affiliated to Kashmiri militant groups in positions of leadership, says Amir Mir Special: How Congress used Mayawati to checkmate Mamata
Mamata Banerjee changed her stand on the presidential election because the Congress and Pranab Mukheree, at different levels, worked hard to make her understand that the 'Vote for Pranab' is a win-win situation, reports Sheela Bhatt The CIA mole that got away from the clutches of R&AW
R&AW Special Secretary (retd) Amar Bhushan's upcoming book won't be just a 'semi-fictional' story but will throw welcome light on a sad chapter in the history of Indian intelligence, notes B Raman. After cameo comment, Khurshid says it with mangoes
At Law Minister Salman Khurshid's party, there was a lavish spread of sweet mangoes and spicy gossip. Sheela Bhatt shares some notes from the soiree Pak all set to lose another PM in clash with judiciary
Political observers see in the continuing executive and parliament versus judiciary clash in Pakistan all the necessary conditions for a derailment of the democratic dispensation once again, reports Amir Mir from Islamabad SPECIAL COVERAGE: 13/7 triple blasts, one year on
A year on, rediff.com correspondents walk down the memory lane with survivors and re-live the fateful evening that was smeared with blood, agony and fear. Bagmati river: From holy river to flowing filth
In this two-part series, Dinesh Kumar Mishra highlights the challenges faced by the much abused Bangmati River in Bihar because of solid waste, industrial effluents, encroachment and rampant construction along the river's banks. Pranab Mukherjee's all-powerful advisor Omita Paul
Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be advised on crucial issues by Omita Paul once he moves into Rashtrapati Bhawan, writes Santosh Tiwari. God particle? But the devil is in the details
With the confirmation of the Standard Model or perhaps a modification of it, we have a reason to remain hopeful that maybe we are a step closer towards realising the holy grail of physics, says Vidya Ramanathan Special: Pakistan government to finally clip ISI wings
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari plans to not only disband the political wing of the spy agency but also make it accountable to his country's parliament, reports Amir Mir Ex-servicemen's one rank, one pension demand goes to PM
Indian defence veterans, dismayed and appalled by the mistreatment given to them by the bureaucrats of the defence and finance ministries over issues of pension, have now written to the prime minister as a last resort and have threatened to intensify their four-year-old agitation What really led to the Vimeo blocking?
'Their action in asking for blocking of entire websites is a mis-representation of a judicial order to cause indiscriminate blocking of these web-services throughout the country.' 4 high-profile cases will test Army's Northern Command
The chief of Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik -- has in a message to the rank and file made it clear that no deviation from laid-down procedures or indiscipline will be tolerated in his area of responsibility Did Pranab Mukherjee play a role in the Netaji mystery?
The latest book by journalist Anuj Dhar on the mystery of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's death/disappearance points to a discouraging role by Pranab Mukherjee in resolving it, writes Vicky Nanjappa Did Naxals use tribals as human shield in Chhattisgarh?
Security forces will need to retool their strategy to ensure that innocent lives are not lost in anti-Maoist ops, reports Vicky Nanjappa January - June 2012 | January - June 2011 | April - December 2010 | February - March 2010