SHYAM G MENON

All stories by SHYAM G MENON

Will Pinarayi Vijayan Survive Ally Anvar's Attack?

Will Pinarayi Vijayan Survive Ally Anvar's Attack?

Rediff.com6 days ago

At a time when none in Kerala's Left politics questioned the chief minister's authority, MLA P V Anvar hurled a series of accusations against Pinarayi Vijayan's government, notes Shyam G Menon.

What Will Israel Do Next?

What Will Israel Do Next?

Rediff.com25 Sep 2024

In days of smart, networked technology and no shame over collateral damage, what will blow up next -- cars, mobile phones, TV sets, refrigerators? And where?, asks Shyam G Menon.

Why I Mourn Sitaram Yechury

Why I Mourn Sitaram Yechury

Rediff.com21 Sep 2024

There are few leaders in the Opposition line up who can claim a path to party leadership like Sitaram Yechury and certainly, very few who blended that ascent through student politics with awareness about non-elite real India, urban India and liberal politics, as he did, notes Shyam G Menon.

How Should Rahul Gandhi Have Spoken Abroad?

How Should Rahul Gandhi Have Spoken Abroad?

Rediff.com20 Sep 2024

'I would think that India faces less damage from opinions voiced overseas compared to the damage it suffers if the right to free speech of its citizens is curtailed in the name of image management,' asserts Shyam G Menon.

What Mahabali Won't Hear

What Mahabali Won't Hear

Rediff.com13 Sep 2024

Questions that the state had come to recognise over time but consistently delayed treating seriously because doing so requires an overhaul of perspective and lifestyle, notes Shyam G Menon.

The Menace Of Road Rage

The Menace Of Road Rage

Rediff.com3 Sep 2024

I am happy I didn't knock anyone down, driving recklessly or trying to show off. However, in one instance of road rage (the consequence of arguing with a driver who disrespected my right to cross the road peacefully) I did find a man in a SUV taking his anger out on me by driving his vehicle over my feet, recalls Shyam G Menon.

A Small Line Of People Crossed Into India

A Small Line Of People Crossed Into India

Rediff.com19 Aug 2024

When I asked Krishna Gopal Sengupta, who had travelled through Bangladesh from Chittagong to Petrapole if the interim government had made any impact at ground level, he said, "it's been only a couple of days. They will need some time." Shyam G Menon reports from Petrapole, India's entry point with Bangladesh.

There's More To Life Than NEET

There's More To Life Than NEET

Rediff.com4 Jul 2024

Beyond a point, competition is boring. The fun is in the doing, irrespective of outcome. By the time I was in college, I knew I valued awareness more than success, notes Shyam G Menon.

Has Modi Learnt Nothing From Election Result?

Has Modi Learnt Nothing From Election Result?

Rediff.com29 Jun 2024

On June 26, for the likes of me, the music died. Any impression of potential change held forth by the outcome of the 2024 general election, was vaporised, reveals Shyam G Menon.

Vishwaguru And Arundhati Roy

Vishwaguru And Arundhati Roy

Rediff.com20 Jun 2024

The go-ahead given to prosecute Arundhati Roy would be seen by supporters of freedom of speech as an announcement that the Right-Wing doesn't feel humbled by the results of the elections, argues Shyam G Menon.

The UFO At Rashtrapati Bhavan!

The UFO At Rashtrapati Bhavan!

Rediff.com13 Jun 2024

One would have expected Rashtrapati Bhavan and not the Delhi police to settle the Unidentified Feline Object issue. In its absence, the four legged-visitor spanned in imagined identity, anything from a domestic cat familiar with the palatial surroundings to a swashbuckling Puss in Boots visiting from the outside or indeed a Bagheera from Jungle Book, notes Shyam G Menon.

Thiruvananthapuram's New Political Reality

Thiruvananthapuram's New Political Reality

Rediff.com12 Jun 2024

Even as the dust settles on one election, glory in Thiruvananthapuram has come with a new question on the horizon: Who will be UDF's candidate in the next Lok Sabha election given Shashi Tharoor has said 2024 would be his last? It isn't a vacancy that can be easily filled, points out Shyam G Menon.

How BJP Won 1 Seat In Kerala

How BJP Won 1 Seat In Kerala

Rediff.com6 Jun 2024

At least one commentator felt that both the BJP's reach and popularity had been underestimated in Kerala. They have shown systematic gain; one that seems personality-neutral and therefore institutionalised, explains Shyam G Menon.

Column: Why Modi Should Not Get 400 Plus Seats

Column: Why Modi Should Not Get 400 Plus Seats

Rediff.com3 Jun 2024

'Imagine what the BJP's urges would be if India's electorate awarded it truly brute majorities like the 400 plus seats the prime minister called for in the 2024 general elections?' asks Shyam G Menon.

Oh, To Be Lucky Like...

Oh, To Be Lucky Like...

Rediff.com31 May 2024

Who else do we know who meditated so with such impeccable timing (much of the Lok Sabha elections over and with only the last phase to go) and hordes for unsolicited defence of the grand meditation at public expense? asks Shyam G Menon.

Why BJP Is More Guilty Than Sam Pitroda

Why BJP Is More Guilty Than Sam Pitroda

Rediff.com15 May 2024

If Pitroda's blunder cost him his office, what should the BJP's unrepentant attitude cost it?, asks Shyam G Menon.

A Tale Of Two Poorams

A Tale Of Two Poorams

Rediff.com8 May 2024

If you have an appetite for crowds and the visual spectacle of many focused on one task or activity, a pooram will engage you, notes Shyam G Menon.

'Can you imagine a Thrissur Pooram without fireworks?'

'Can you imagine a Thrissur Pooram without fireworks?'

Rediff.com21 Apr 2024

Devaswoms are meant to manage temples, not the faithful. Why didn't they simply stick to their set of responsibilities and execute it well and efficiently?, asks Shyam G Menon.

Wayanad May Not Be A Breeze For Rahul

Wayanad May Not Be A Breeze For Rahul

Rediff.com16 Apr 2024

Wayanad will continue to support Rahul but not to the same extent as in 2019, when his margin of victory had been enormous. Articulate, to the point and speaking in fluent Malayalam, CPI's Annie Raja, had the people who gathered to see her, listening in rapt attention, notes Shyam G Menon.

Vadakara: The Most Important Contest In Kerala

Vadakara: The Most Important Contest In Kerala

Rediff.com16 Apr 2024

Shailaja Teacher, arguably the most famous Covid warrior in India, versus former student leader Shafi Parambil who defeated 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan in the last assembly election. Shyam G Menon reports from the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency, which some feel is the most politically important contest in Kerala this election.

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