'Before going to battle, Captain Anuj Nayyar gave me the engagement ring and photograph of his fiance.' 'I told him, "Why don't you keep it? It will motivate you to fight'.' 'He said he did not want the photograph to fall in the dirty hands of the enemy.' 'I wondered why he was giving it to me. Did he feel he would not return?'
'The moment the Army approved the script, they told us that they will give their full support and asked us for our full dedication.'
'Why can't the Supreme Court say that secularism is part of the basic structure of the Constitution, and therefore, steps must be taken to operationalise it?'
'I am grateful that this film has happened, it makes me so proud of the country and of the Indian Army.' Brandy Batliwala, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw's eldest grandchild, on the man behind the hero.
'We have to be prepared on the borders to withstand Chinese expansionist designs.'
'The purported claim that Israel can defeat Hamas and everything 'would go back to normal' is completely absurd.'
An army of government staff all over India conduct the world's greatest democratic exercise. Archana Masih/Rediff.com glimpses how they do it in the pivotal Saran constituency in North Bihar.
India is celebrating one of its biggest festivals commemorating the victory of good over evil. In Bihar, which is in the middle of its biggest election campaign, festivities are in full swing. Archana Masih set out to capture the mood on the street of small town India and discovered some things that one no longer finds.
The Ashokan Pillar in Kolhua, Bihar, is one of India's best maintained historical sites.
'The unfolding events indicate a dangerous internal security situation in Manipur and the region. It can have external ramifications also.'
The elegant architecture, tree-lined roads, delightful gardens, delicious food, art and military history make Chandigarh an ideal short-trip destination.
'And Joshimath has already shown the dangers ahead.' 'We have to acknowledge that our mountains are still young babies.' 'You don't put an extra load on the back of a growing child!'
At a time when Manipur is burning, voices like Colonel Sapam's serve as a healing balm. 'These are voices that need to heard and their stories of peace and reconciliation must be retold -- over and over again.
'Conrad Sangma is an interesting mix of charisma, ability and has emerged as a capable leader.' 'Neiphiu Rio is very unassuming, quiet, subtle and stands out among all Naga leaders today.'
General Bipin Rawat was given the guideline by the prime minister to achieve the integration of the three forces by the 75th year of India's Independence. This should be carried forward with utmost speed.
'We have to work for our victories.' 'We have to offer a better alternative governance model.' 'Not just criticise the current government.' 'You have to build bridges, learn from what has gone wrong and create a party for all people.'
'The BJP's defining character is Hindutva. The party's political strategy is based on a combination of Hindutva+Development.'
'The India-China relationship has deteriorated greatly over these past two years and it is set to deteriorate further.'
'With the abrogation of Article 370, the Constitutional integration of Kashmir is complete, but whether there has been emotional integration of the Kashmir Valley is a question mark.'
When elected on July 18 -- which is almost a certainty, given the NDA's numbers in the electoral college -- Droupadi Murmu will be the first President born after Independence.
'India and China are already in a warlike situation.'
'If I talk about my parents' sacrifices, this conversation will never end,' says Lieutenant Loveneet Singh.
'China seems more intent on creating a new world order rather than shaping the existing one.' 'India is of course, at this moment in time, aligned with the West-led order because of China's full-spectrum aggressive behaviour towards India.'
More rural women are having babies in government hospitals. Facilities have improved, but Bihar has is a long way to go in public health.
'The BJP's real weapons are Hindutva, organisation and finance.'
'This is India. We have allowed ourselves to be dictated by the narrative that the BJP has set for itself.'
'The next war will be fought by China-Pakistan against India and we have to fully be prepared. We must read the writing on the wall.'
'Terrorists who are active in Poonch and Rajouri are not relying on random locals for logistics, guidance etc.' 'They are being supported by a selected few who are being vetted, cleared and directed from across the LoC.'
'...through the will of the people and commitment of leaders.' 'It may not happen today or tomorrow, but it will happen.'
'All hydropower projects in the Himalayan region must be stopped.' 'Joshimath is not alone.'
'The worry among many international actors is whether there will be stability to provide assistance to the government because the political developments in the last few months are a real concern.'
'We should not allow ourselves to be surprised in any manner in future on the border.'
'On the LAC, China can undertake military action at any place with much fewer resources. It can do 'salami slicing'.'
'They have to be seen as being responsive to the employment woes and economic stagnation afflicting many young people.'
'Tibetans don't have jobs, and the military provides a job offer.' 'But the issue is whether China really trusts Tibetans.'
'We shouldn't allow it to become a rallying point for others in the region against the army.'
'The senior army leadership has no interest in reconciling with Imran Khan, and no interest in seeing him return to power.'
Captain Shiva Chouhan is the first woman army officer to be deployed at 15,632 feet in the Siachen Glacier. 'It has been a memorable journey,' says the 25-year-old who has gone where no women officer has gone before.
The fight for freedom was long and hard and that is why it is important to go back to the monuments that celebrate those who fought the good fight.
'...despite not being ideologically aligned with a vast section of the people of the north east.' 'But the results in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya show that no party, including the BJP, can say that it has really done well.'
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