News for 'Friends of Free Media'

'You can build bridges or bombs'

'You can build bridges or bombs'

Rediff.com23 Mar 2016

'If some Europeans do not allow Muslims to assimilate into European national cultures, some Muslims also refuse to try and adopt and assimilate.'

'There is a lot in common between Gandhi and Mandela'

'There is a lot in common between Gandhi and Mandela'

Rediff.com6 Dec 2013

'Both resisted cruel white rule through non-violence. But Mandela's is a singular story. He never lost faith in his ideals and goal even when he was in prison for many years,' Anant Singh, who produced the Mandela biopic, tells Rediff.com's Arthur J Pais.

Sheena Bora Trial: A Tale of Two Witnesses

Sheena Bora Trial: A Tale of Two Witnesses

Rediff.com19 Jun 2018

Shyamvar Pinturam Rai and Pradeep Waghmare. Both erstwhile employees of Peter and Indrani Mukerjea. In the witness stand on Monday, Waghmare came across as a cheerful, straightforward man who is attempting to clamber his way towards prosperity. In the witness stand on Friday, Rai shed his customary jauntiness and broke down weeping, begging forgiveness from CBI Special Judge Jayendra Chandrasen Jagdale.

Kejriwal and the art of stopping Modi-Shah

Kejriwal and the art of stopping Modi-Shah

Rediff.com10 Feb 2015

'Kejriwal has shown that not only can Modi-Shah be stopped, they can in fact be routed... Today, as the Delhi votes are counted, it shows not only the AAP's victory or BJP's defeat. But also the Congress's final irrelevance.'

Netaji's grandnephew: 'Hard to reconcile Nehru with spying against our family'

Netaji's grandnephew: 'Hard to reconcile Nehru with spying against our family'

Rediff.com20 Apr 2015

'The evidence about a plane crash that killed Netaji as stated in the Shahnawaz Committee report, is quite strong.' 'None of the files that I read bear any evidence that it was Nehru who ordered this kind of intrusive surveillance.' 'The government's excuse that declassifying some files may affect India's relations with friendly foreign countries is not a credible one.' Subhas Chandra Bose's grand-nephew and Trinamool Congress MP Sugata Bose on reports that his family was under surveillance for 20 years and the rumours over Nataji's death.

India desperately seeks change and hope from a new govt

India desperately seeks change and hope from a new govt

Rediff.com18 Feb 2014

Shreekant Sambrani is confident that today's adversity will make the country emerge even stronger

'More attacks can be expected in Pakistan'

'More attacks can be expected in Pakistan'

Rediff.com23 Dec 2014

'What we need from the civilian and military authorities are clear strategies rather than an emotional decision to hang terrorists on death row.'

When the Royals came marching in

When the Royals came marching in

Rediff.com12 Apr 2016

Prince William and Princess Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, collected quite a few Mumbai hearts on a hot two days in April.

Will you kiss in Kochi too?

Will you kiss in Kochi too?

Rediff.com31 Oct 2014

A group of young women and men have had enough of moral policing in Kerala. On Sunday, November 2 they plan to meet at Kochi's Marine Drive and stage a somewhat unique protest that involves... kissing.

Mr Rashtrapati, please tell us how to repair the Republic!

Mr Rashtrapati, please tell us how to repair the Republic!

Rediff.com31 Jan 2014

'Since Pranab Mukherjee is the Custodian of the Constitution, he should present practical ideas to solve the problems he has been so outspokenly highlighting,' feels Sudheendra Kulkarni.

The Indian and Pakistani behind one of 2015's most important films

The Indian and Pakistani behind one of 2015's most important films

Rediff.com21 Apr 2015

Hemal Trivedi, a Hindu filmmaker originally from India, and Mohammed Ali Naqvi, a Muslim from Pakistan have made one of this year's most talked about films.

How Muzaffarpur was different from Muzaffarnagar

How Muzaffarpur was different from Muzaffarnagar

Rediff.com22 Jan 2015

'The horrific episode of January 18 in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, is quite different from what happened in Muzaffarnagar, UP, in September 2013. The Akhilesh Yadav-led administration in UP and riot-mongers among our political formations need to learn lessons from the response of the state and society in Bihar's Muzaffarpur,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Pakistan and its seven states of delusion

Pakistan and its seven states of delusion

Rediff.com27 Feb 2015

'Pakistan is full of 'religious entrepreneurs' like Hafeez Saeed who poison the minds of the young so that they can be motivated to become terrorists. They work in concert with the rulers of Pakistan. It is a private-public partnership.'

Will you buy a Made in India product?

Will you buy a Made in India product?

Rediff.com3 Nov 2016

'Will people who buy iPhones stop buying iPhones to help swadeshi models?' 'There should be some advantage for the consumer to make them buy a Made in India product.' 'Patriotism and nationalism are good words, but in business, it won't work.'

President Pranab Mukherjee's Independence Day Speech: Full Text

President Pranab Mukherjee's Independence Day Speech: Full Text

Rediff.com14 Aug 2014

President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday addressed the nation on the eve of the 68th Independence Day.

'India cannot be governed through macho men'

'India cannot be governed through macho men'

Rediff.com16 May 2014

'There was an overt campaign and there was a covert campaign. The overt campaign may be development, government, and all this nonsense. But the covert campaign, which Mr Amit Shah was doing, was far more important with the help of RSS cadres. This has been an RSS election. From day one I have been saying, this is not Congress versus the BJP, this is Congress versus the RSS,' says Jairam Ramesh, one of the key strategists of the Congress party.

The benefits of having a Gujarati prime minister

The benefits of having a Gujarati prime minister

Rediff.com13 Apr 2015

'Narendra Modi knows how to calculate and remain pragmatic. Take the unexpected Rafale deal - perhaps the first time a PM has considered the country's defence procurement as a priority, over the considerations of the babus... and over his own pet project 'Make in India',' says Claude Arpi.

When a seat at the White House table becomes meaningless

When a seat at the White House table becomes meaningless

Rediff.com18 Feb 2017

'Having a voice at the table means the other side has to show up to listen. It became clear that wouldn't happen,' says actor Maulik Pancholy, one of the 10 members who resigned from the US president's advisory commission on Asian Americans.

Twitter reveals rip-roaring growth, big losses ahead of IPO

Twitter reveals rip-roaring growth, big losses ahead of IPO

Rediff.com4 Oct 2013

The eight-year-old online messaging service gave potential investors their first glance at its financials on Thursday when it publicly filed its IPO documents, setting the stage for one of the most-anticipated debuts in over a year.

World Cup 2015: Know the Australia cricket team

World Cup 2015: Know the Australia cricket team

Rediff.com9 Feb 2015

Penpix of the Australia squad for the 2015 World Cup, which they are co-hosting with New Zealand.

AIB reacts: We never write with the aim of hurting people

AIB reacts: We never write with the aim of hurting people

Rediff.com4 Feb 2015

AIB break their silence.

Did the minorities 'fix' Mahinda Rajapaksa?

Did the minorities 'fix' Mahinda Rajapaksa?

Rediff.com9 Jan 2015

A double-quick analysis of the Lankan election results would show that the relatively narrow victory margin of challenger Maithripala Sirisena was made up by the three minority communities of Tamils, Muslims and Christians, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Why Modi could have a long-ish ride

Why Modi could have a long-ish ride

Rediff.com10 Jan 2017

'Modi is likely to make more announcements to win or retain popularity, and put himself at the centre of things even more than now,' says T N Ninan.

Future imperfect for Indian startups

Future imperfect for Indian startups

Rediff.com8 Sep 2015

India'sstartups have a good beginning but will they survive competition is a big questions which needs immediate attention.

10 MUST WATCH Movies, coming up!

10 MUST WATCH Movies, coming up!

Rediff.com19 Oct 2016

Aseem Chhabra's recommendations for the Mumbai film festival.

Why PC's son may be fighting a losing battle in TN

Why PC's son may be fighting a losing battle in TN

Rediff.com2 Apr 2014

In the 2009 election, P Chindambaram the Sivaganga seat by a narrow margin. Then the Congress was in alliance with the ruling DMK. This time his son Karti is battling the seat with the alliance. India abstention at the UNHRC on an anti-Lanka resolution will further fuel Tamil anger against the Congress party. This leaves the finance minster sulking and his son facing an uphill political debut, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Wow! Just WOW!

Wow! Just WOW!

Rediff.com9 Feb 2015

With the iPad Air 2, Apple has surprised again!

Former R&AW chief: How we can fix the Pak problem

Former R&AW chief: How we can fix the Pak problem

Rediff.com28 Sep 2016

'The response to terror is not always reciprocal terror, nor is launching a conventional response the best response.' 'The best response is to make the sponsor pay a price he cannot afford,' says former RA&W chief Vikram Sood.

Why Seinfeld's Mumbai show got cancelled: The Real Story

Why Seinfeld's Mumbai show got cancelled: The Real Story

Rediff.com16 Mar 2015

Vijay Nair, CEO and co-founder of Only Much Louder, released a statement about what exactly went wrong, leading to the show's cancellation.

The man who saved SpiceJet from going bankrupt

The man who saved SpiceJet from going bankrupt

Rediff.com20 Jul 2015

The task I had undertaken was by no stretch of imagination an easy one, says Ajay Singh.

Why it's tough to be a reporter

Why it's tough to be a reporter

Rediff.com9 Mar 2014

A journalist must perform various roles, be passionate yet detached, feels Gopalkrishna Gandhi

'He didn't deserve such a death...'

'He didn't deserve such a death...'

Rediff.com21 Oct 2015

As the Hindu Mahasabha shockingly threatens to celebrate the death anniversary of the man who murdered the Mahatma, we need to remember Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and the ideals he stood for. In this exclusive excerpt from Shobha Warrier's new book, His Days With Bapu: Mahatma Gandhi's Personal Secretary Recalls, V Kalyanam, the Mahatma's personal secretary from 1944 until January 30, 1948, recalls his murder in cold blood.

How Kejriwal rode the anti-Modi vote

How Kejriwal rode the anti-Modi vote

Rediff.com10 Feb 2015

'Kejriwal has taken a leaf out of Modi's campaign of 2014 and improved upon it.' 'That suit will haunt Modi till he exits politics.' 'Of all the factors that favoured Kejriwal, the biggest was the arrogance and over-confidence of the Modi-Shah led BJP.' 'What the Congress could not do in the last two decades in Gujarat, Kejriwal did it in no time in Delhi.' 'The BJP has behaved exactly like the Congress in decoding Kejriwal's politics.'

What makes these 10 companies the best to work for in India

What makes these 10 companies the best to work for in India

Rediff.com6 Aug 2015

A friendly working environment, special healthcare facilities, flexible work hours, work from home options, support and camaraderie among the team members keep employees highly motivated in these 10 companies.

'I want to be remembered as someone who never gave up'

'I want to be remembered as someone who never gave up'

Rediff.com16 Oct 2015

'When I was in Shrirampur I thought I would make it to the Indian team. There were a series of events that happened, and even if one link was missing, I don't think I would be here.'

Manali-Jispa: The magic of Nature

Manali-Jispa: The magic of Nature

Rediff.com22 Jul 2016

'As the night wore on, we could hear insects, see fireflies and slowly, the stars took over the naked sky.' 'For those of us who spend the largest part of our lives in a cement jungle and wake up to machine sounds, this was music.'

'They said my husband had sold me'

'They said my husband had sold me'

Rediff.com10 Dec 2014

'I told the lady I was two months pregnant, but that did not seem to bother her.' A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com visits the infamous cages of Mumbai's oldest red light district, Kamathipura, to find out how human trafficking has given India the awful reputation of the nation with the highest slavery rates in the world.

'If I was intelligent enough, I would not have dreamt of becoming an actor'

'If I was intelligent enough, I would not have dreamt of becoming an actor'

Rediff.com21 Jul 2016

Irrfan Khan's fascinating interview with Savera R Someshwar/Rediff.com.

'Trump will be tougher on Pakistan'

'Trump will be tougher on Pakistan'

Rediff.com21 Jul 2017

'If there's one administration that would be likely to put the squeeze on Pakistan, it's the Trump administration.' 'This is an administration that views terrorists as a black and white issue (kill them all, no questions asked), and will have little patience for Pakistan's selective policy toward terrorism.'

Mr Modi, make India shine again!

Mr Modi, make India shine again!

Rediff.com22 May 2014

'India could become the newest Asian tiger under Modi's dynamic leadership. Modi could become the Nehru of the 21st century, and re-establish a new Tryst with Destiny, by stating once and for all that Mera Bharat Mahaan is and will always be a truly secular and inclusive democracy in the best spirit of Bharatiya-tva,' says Ram Kelkar, offering an NRI view of the Modi triumph.