News for 'Column'

Why Did Rohit Sharma Abruptly End Test Career?

Why Did Rohit Sharma Abruptly End Test Career?

Rediff.com8 May 2025

Was it a lack of confidence about whether he would perform in England that influenced his decision? asks K R Nayar.

Manipur violence: Govt issues shoot at sight orders; 55 Army columns deployed

Manipur violence: Govt issues shoot at sight orders; 55 Army columns deployed

Rediff.com4 May 2023

The Army and Assam Rifles were requisitioned in the night, and along with the state police, the forces arrested the violence by the morning, the spokesperson said.

Ahead of Modi-Trump meet, India revamps tariff structure

Ahead of Modi-Trump meet, India revamps tariff structure

Rediff.com11 Feb 2025

Anticipating US action on tariffs, India seems to have made the first move by revamping its tariff structure by reducing the slabs to eight rates, points out Mukesh Butani.

'Idiot' Trudeau empowered Khalistani extremists: Former Canada minister

'Idiot' Trudeau empowered Khalistani extremists: Former Canada minister

Rediff.com4 Nov 2024

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is 'sociologically and politically' an 'idiot' who has never truly understood that the vast majority of Sikhs are quite secular in their outlook and want nothing to do with Khalistan, according to a former Canadian minister.

Why The ISI Targeted Hindus In Pahalgam

Why The ISI Targeted Hindus In Pahalgam

Rediff.com6 May 2025

The ISI strategy has been to use its proxies to target Hindus in India. They want an outrage and counter-targeting of India's minorities. Further, even the whiff of it restores the Pakistan army's popularity, especially when it's in the dumps, like now, points out Shekhar Gupta.

Siraj getting stick from 'saints' of Australian cricket: Gavaskar

Siraj getting stick from 'saints' of Australian cricket: Gavaskar

Rediff.com15 Dec 2024

Sunil Gavaskar called out the double standards of the Australian cricket pundits for their criticism of Mohammed Siraj's aggressive send-off to Travis Head.

Uber Liable For Poor Service

Uber Liable For Poor Service

Rediff.com3 May 2025

Though Uber functions as a cab aggregator, the Delhi state commission ruled it should ensure timely and reliable delivery of services offered through its platform.

It's The Enemy's Flag. I Still Won't Step On It

It's The Enemy's Flag. I Still Won't Step On It

Rediff.com3 May 2025

'I'm not dismissing the anger that drives people to stomp on the enemy's flag. 'In times of collective grief and rage, that kind of expression is understandable, especially in the age of viral content. 'But must I do it too?' asks Nikhil Narayanan.

Will The Caste Census Boomerang On Modi?

Will The Caste Census Boomerang On Modi?

Rediff.com3 May 2025

The government has to specify what it intends to do with caste census data. It will be closely tracked if the government would simultaneously move towards removing the present 50% bar on reservations using means which are permitted in law. If this is not done, the entire exercise will become meaningless and could boomerang on the BJP, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

The Politics of A Caste Census

The Politics of A Caste Census

Rediff.com2 May 2025

While data can empower communities, it reinforces identities, making local politics more caste-centric, with decisions increasingly contested on the grounds of representation.

Such dynamics could lead to shifting alliances and, in the worst case, local governance getting paralysed as each group demands proportional power-sharing, explain Amitabh Kundu and Mehebub Rahaman.

Why This Banker Didn't Get Promoted!

Why This Banker Didn't Get Promoted!

Rediff.com2 May 2025

The bank made a Rs 67 crore net profit, up 21% from the previous year. Its deposits grew 8%, the loan book 10%. Net bad loans dropped from 7.53% to 6.07%. So why was the banker, who headed the bank, not promoted?

Has US Averted India-Pakistan War?

Has US Averted India-Pakistan War?

Rediff.com2 May 2025

The 'mediation' by the United States from behind the scene on the diplomatic track appears to be once again working, which calls on both Delhi and Islamabad to show restraint and pull back from a military confrontation, notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

India Should Tread Warily On Battlefield

India Should Tread Warily On Battlefield

Rediff.com1 May 2025

Pakistan has warned the international community that any military moves by India shall be 'responded to assuredly and decisively... onus of any escalatory spiral and its consequences shall squarely lie with India.' Implicit in the statement is a veiled threat that even a nuclear threshold may be reached if push comes to shove, warns Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Questions Tahawwur Rana Must Answer

Questions Tahawwur Rana Must Answer

Rediff.com1 May 2025

Tahawwur Rana has the answers to festering questions on the 26/11 terror attacks and the NIA must pry it out of him, even if they have to feed him biryani, advocates Athimuthu Ganesh Nadar.

Pahalgam Attack: Unfinished Battle Against Terrorism

Pahalgam Attack: Unfinished Battle Against Terrorism

Rediff.com30 Apr 2025

The Pahalgam massacre highlights the evolution of terrorism into a multi-domain challenge. India's response must similarly evolve -- from tactical retaliation to comprehensive strategic deterrence. To establish a credible and sustained deterrent, India must also carry out continuous kinetic operations, both overt and covert, suggest Sakshit Raina and Rahul Mishra. To establish a credible and sustained deterrent, India must also carry out continuous kinetic operations, both overt and covert, suggest Sakshit Raina & Rahul Mishra.

What Made Shaji N Karun A Master Film-Maker

What Made Shaji N Karun A Master Film-Maker

Rediff.com29 Apr 2025

With Piravi, Shaji N Karun joined the select group of great masters of film. Malayalam once upon a time used to produce such films. Today, it is only mindless violence, politics and grotesque humour. The films have no soul, although they are technically quite good. With Shaji's passing, and earlier with his mentor G Aravindan's untimely death, an era is coming to an end. Rajeev Srinivasan salutes the master, who passed into the ages on April 28.

Will India Have A Peace Keeping Role In Ukraine?

Will India Have A Peace Keeping Role In Ukraine?

Rediff.com18 Feb 2025

A peace keeping role for India is a distinct possibility. Indian military has both the numbers and experience to carry out this job, observes Colonel Anil A Athale (Retd).

Gavaskar expects Indian selectors to take bold decisions

Gavaskar expects Indian selectors to take bold decisions

Rediff.com7 Jan 2025

One of the factors that contributed to the downfall of the Indian team was the shambolic batting display throughout the series. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja thoroughly underperformed.

What Courts Gave Stalin From One Hand Took Away With Another

What Courts Gave Stalin From One Hand Took Away With Another

Rediff.com28 Apr 2025

In more than one way, it's a setback for the DMK and Chief Minister Stalin in political terms. The electoral fall-out, if any, will have to wait until the next summer, only when assembly elections are due in the state, explains N Sathiya Moorthy.

'3 loose shots': Shastri on why India collapsed at MCG

'3 loose shots': Shastri on why India collapsed at MCG

Rediff.com1 Jan 2025

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has attributed the national team's defeat in the fourth Test in Melbourne to 'poor shot selection on either side of the middle session' on Day 5.

Mood on the ground in Kashmir is against perpetrators

Mood on the ground in Kashmir is against perpetrators

Rediff.com26 Apr 2025

The dastardly dimensions of the attack are gradually sinking in even as the Government of India announced its immediate diplomatic and other retaliatory measures. It is generally expected to be followed up with punitive military action across the LoC, sooner than later, observes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.

President's Rule In Manipur: Need Of The Hour

President's Rule In Manipur: Need Of The Hour

Rediff.com13 Feb 2025

The solution to Manipur's problems lies in the government giving concessions to Meitis in jobs and education and to accept autonomy for the tribal dominated areas inhibited by the Kukis, suggests Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Liberation of Balochistan and Sindh must top the agenda

Liberation of Balochistan and Sindh must top the agenda

Rediff.com25 Apr 2025

Terrorism and insurgency in J&K had subsided when India demolished East Pakistan -- for the simple reason that Pakistan understands power. We need to follow Chanakya's dictum of Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed for strategising against Pakistan, asserts Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (Retd). The ground truth is that unless we are prepared to acknowledge our shortcomings, including massive intelligence failures, punish those responsible and take corrective actions, we will continue in the same vein, asserts Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (Retd).

Cylinder blast triggers fire at Maha Kumbh; 18 tents gutted, no casualty

Cylinder blast triggers fire at Maha Kumbh; 18 tents gutted, no casualty

Rediff.com19 Jan 2025

A fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Sunday, engulfing 18 tents in Sector 19. The blaze, which started around 4 pm, was caused by an LPG cylinder explosion. No casualties were reported, and the fire was brought under control within an hour. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Prayagraj to review preparations ahead of Mauni Amawasya, visited the site and instructed authorities to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Tariffs are integral to Trump's vision for US economy

Tariffs are integral to Trump's vision for US economy

Rediff.com23 Apr 2025

Trump may temper his approach from time to time, but to think that he will change his basic philosophy is delusional, asserts T T Ram Mohan.

'I Am Tired Of Seeing Dead Bodies'

'I Am Tired Of Seeing Dead Bodies'

Rediff.com22 Apr 2025

'Many of them are mutilated beyond recognition. Every day an encounter takes place.' 'Bastar has been burnt to ash.'

Trump Turns Up At Lit Fests All Over!

Trump Turns Up At Lit Fests All Over!

Rediff.com15 Feb 2025

The dramatic moves of Donald Trump, which have shaken up the global order, dominated the discussion. A sense of bewilderment prevailed, but there was also expectation that President Trump would settle down to a more traditional style of governance after a time of shock and awe, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan, an attendee at literary festivals in Calicut, Jaipur, Kochi, Sharjah and Thiruvanathapuram.

Trump's Tariff Tsunami: Will India Sink or Reform?

Trump's Tariff Tsunami: Will India Sink or Reform?

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

The Trump trade shock is a chance to push long-overdue reforms, rather than tinker with tariffs to appease the US, suggests M Govinda Rao.

Laxman Head Coach For South Africa T20Is

Laxman Head Coach For South Africa T20Is

Rediff.com28 Oct 2024

Since Head Coach Gautam Gambhir will travel to Australia with the Rohit Sharma-led Test team on November 10, he will not be available to coach the T20I team for the series that will go on till November 15.

Will Pakistan's Generals Never Learn?

Will Pakistan's Generals Never Learn?

Rediff.com19 Apr 2025

Asim Munir and his brand of short-sighted army officers give no inkling of paying heed, changing course or learning lessons from the past, observes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.

'Second Coming' For TN's Autonomy Panel, But...

'Second Coming' For TN's Autonomy Panel, But...

Rediff.com18 Apr 2025

Given the possibilities that next year's assembly elections could throw up, Stalin told the state assembly that an interim report had to be submitted by January 2026. The outcomes may well find its way into the DMK's poll manifesto, thus seeking to keep the electoral focus still on the BJP-ruled Centre and Prime Minister Modi, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Why BJP Still Hasn't Named Nadda's Successor

Why BJP Still Hasn't Named Nadda's Successor

Rediff.com18 Apr 2025

The prolonged delay over electing J P Nadda's successor possibly stems from the RSS leadership wanting a person who is at least equidistant from the Sangh as well as the Modi/BJP edifice, observes BJP-RSS watcher Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Vadodara flood situation alarming, 5k relocated; Army joins rescue ops

Vadodara flood situation alarming, 5k relocated; Army joins rescue ops

Rediff.com28 Aug 2024

Some areas were under 10 to 12 feet of water, said health minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel.

Can China Successfully Challenge The US?

Can China Successfully Challenge The US?

Rediff.com16 Apr 2025

If Beijing succeeds in this multipronged effort to challenge the current dominant power, it will have not just economic but political and security consequences. There is no let-up in the South China Sea nor any de-escalation moves on the India-China border. This portends to ominous signalling from Beijing, observes China expert Srikanth Kondapalli.

Which Pakistan General Will Deal With Jaish?

Which Pakistan General Will Deal With Jaish?

Rediff.com15 Apr 2025

The Pakistan army's Bahawalpur Corps has always had a special significance for India as it keeps an eye on the Jaish e Mohammed, explains Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.

BJP-AIADMK Tieup: Who Wins, Who Loses

BJP-AIADMK Tieup: Who Wins, Who Loses

Rediff.com15 Apr 2025

Over the medium and long term, the BJP hopes to devour the AIADMK, they having identified the party as 'ideologically not as sound as the DMK', predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Heeding Azad, Partition Could Have Been Prevented

Heeding Azad, Partition Could Have Been Prevented

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

Abul Kalam Azad chose not to contest Congress Presidency and to throw his weight behind Nehru, instead of Patel, a decision he would come to regret. Patel would have seen his plan through, while Nehru, in Azad's opinion 'gave Jinnah the opportunity to sabotage' it, notes Aakar Patel.

Lessons For Start Ups From UPI Success Story

Lessons For Start Ups From UPI Success Story

Rediff.com14 Apr 2025

Isn't there something significant in the UPI example for all of us to learn from and execute to enable world-scale success for our startups?, asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

His name will be written in...: Raut slams ex-CJI Chandrachud

His name will be written in...: Raut slams ex-CJI Chandrachud

Rediff.com24 Nov 2024

Raut claimed that by not deciding on the disqualification petitions, Chandrachud kept doors and windows open for defections.

What Manoj Kumar's Songs Mean To Me

What Manoj Kumar's Songs Mean To Me

Rediff.com12 Apr 2025

Shor was a masterpiece and the song Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai, Maujon Ki Ravaani Hai, Zindagi Aur Kuch Bhi Nahin, Teri Meri Kahaani Hai plays in my mind every time I think of my sweet wife, who passed away nine years ago. A Ganesh Nadar applauds the fabulous songs in Manoj Kumar movies.