News for 'Happy South Asia'

Is the Modi government scared of this man?

Is the Modi government scared of this man?

Rediff.com10 May 2016

'Defaulters like Mallya can't be offloaded, but activists like me are. And that too for raising questions.' 'Today, what is the meaning of development?' 'Take over land, water and forest from the Adivasis and hand it over to corporates.' 'I am surprised how a minister who is supposed to protect the forests and the environment is happy reaching out to investors for more and more clearances.'

World leaders react with caution to Trump's triumph

World leaders react with caution to Trump's triumph

Rediff.com10 Nov 2016

World leaders are reacting with caution to Donald Trump's jaw-dropping victory in the US presidential election, with some of them reminding him of the democratic values and the global responsibility he carries.

Indian designer wins International Woolmark Prize

Indian designer wins International Woolmark Prize

Rediff.com15 Jan 2016

Fashion designer Suket Dhir has bagged the International Woolmark Prize for menswear, becoming the second from India in four years to win the Rs 48.5 lakh worth prestigious prize.

Tricky forty-five minutes that could change world football's fate

Tricky forty-five minutes that could change world football's fate

Rediff.com21 May 2015

When Sepp Blatter is not comparing FIFA to a boat in calm or choppy waters he often uses football analogies to illustrate his point so it might amuse him to think he faces a tricky 45 minutes at this month's Congress.

These students from a UP village did yoga for the first time on Sunday

These students from a UP village did yoga for the first time on Sunday

Rediff.com23 Jun 2015

On International Yoga Day, South Delhi-based yoga teacher Saudamini Chandra found herself shepherding the young girl students to their first taste of India's heritage that was being celebrated across the world. This is her experience.

Did you know Nehru was first PM to address US Congress?

Did you know Nehru was first PM to address US Congress?

Rediff.com1 Jun 2016

'India may be new to world politics and her military strength insignificant in comparison with that of the giants of our epoch.' 'But India is old in thought and experience and has travelled through trackless centuries in the adventure of life.' 'Throughout her long history she has stood for peace and every prayer that an Indian raises, ends with an invocation to peace.' Jawaharlal Nehru's memorable speech to the United States Congress.

China drives India into the arms of the US

China drives India into the arms of the US

Rediff.com13 Jun 2016

'If the dimensions of the strategic partnership worked out by India and the US seem like a grand alliance targeted at you-know-who, China had better realise that it has fathered it,' says B S Raghavan, a long time observer of China.

Why Test cricket needs to thank Virat Kohli

Why Test cricket needs to thank Virat Kohli

Rediff.com16 Oct 2018

'Test cricket is so fortunate that today's cricket's biggest brand -- Virat Kohli -- loves Test cricket and puts his heart and soul into it,' says Sanjay Manjrekar.

Sports Shorts: Advani retains Asian Billiards title

Sports Shorts: Advani retains Asian Billiards title

Rediff.com24 Mar 2018

A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday

Balika Vadhu: An insider speaks

Balika Vadhu: An insider speaks

Rediff.com8 Jun 2016

'We felt why not have the hope that is intrinsic in every child's life, embodied in our happy protagonist and let viewers see the world full of double standards and confused adults around her through her innocent and questioning eyes?'

Truly, an extraordinary fellow

Truly, an extraordinary fellow

Rediff.com19 Mar 2019

'Overlying his idealism was a hatred of war and of all things military. He gave no deep thought to politico-military matters and this prevented him from making sound security decisions.'

Does India have the solution to climate change?

Does India have the solution to climate change?

Rediff.com31 Aug 2016

'I would like to believe that out of this struggle (to effect climate change) will be born a generation that will be able to look upon the world with clearer eyes than those that preceded it; that they will be able to transcend the isolation in which humanity was entrapped in the time of its derangement; that they will rediscover their kinship with other beings, and that this vision, at once new and ancient, will find expression in a transformed and renewed art and literature.'

Rajapaksa concedes battle again, but the war may still remain

Rajapaksa concedes battle again, but the war may still remain

Rediff.com18 Aug 2015

Unlike in the presidential polls, victory might not have been complete, at least as yet, for Mahinda Rajapaksa's electoral rivals. While his one-time aide and confidant, Maithripala Sirisena, became president without any issues after defeating him, incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who again may not command an absolute majority in the 225-member parliament, would have to count on his 'national government' concept to carry the day and the nation with him, this time round, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Why the battle for Sanskrit needs to be joined

Why the battle for Sanskrit needs to be joined

Rediff.com20 Jan 2016

'It is a great misfortune that the Nehruvian Stalinists of India have colluded with the grand project of demeaning and destroying Sanskrit. Today, the number of Sanskritists in India is low, and falling,' says Rajeev Srinivasan.

'Music has the power to spread love and peace'

'Music has the power to spread love and peace'

Rediff.com26 Jun 2015

What matters is that you live the moment and remain strong. It doesn't matter which form of music you love. Irrespective, one must spread music because music has the power to spread love and peace, says sensational pianist Stephen Devassy

Chocolate connoisseur? Interesting facts you must know

Chocolate connoisseur? Interesting facts you must know

Rediff.com20 Jan 2015

Currently a ton of cocoa costs about $1,845 (1,500) at the exchange, $25,610 (20,821) at big chocolate producers like Barry Callebaut and $32,082 (26,083) in the shop.

Sports Shorts: Kenya's Chepkoech smashes women's steeplechase world record

Sports Shorts: Kenya's Chepkoech smashes women's steeplechase world record

Rediff.com21 Jul 2018

A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday

Muhammad Ali, 'the greatest', remembered as boxer who transcended sports

Muhammad Ali, 'the greatest', remembered as boxer who transcended sports

Rediff.com5 Jun 2016

The death of Muhammad Ali, the former heavyweight champion known as much for his political activism as his boxing brilliance, triggered a worldwide outpouring of affection and admiration for one of the best-known figures of the 20th century.

My Daughter Mithali Raj

My Daughter Mithali Raj

Rediff.com9 Nov 2018

'From the beginning (I have told her) "Whatever it may be -- you are losing or winning -- on the ground you're not going to cry!" She never cried.' '"I don't want you to project that you are a loser. You are a winner".' Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com speaks to Leela Raj about her famous daughter, now in the West Indies for the women's T20 World Cup.

The man who can't resist challenges!

The man who can't resist challenges!

Rediff.com1 Aug 2016

Satyarup Siddhanta has just one mountain to go before he completes the Seven Summits, the tallest mountains in each of the seven continents.

'I could never sell myself'

'I could never sell myself'

Rediff.com28 Nov 2016

Pavan Malhotra, one of our finest actors, shows us another side of Bollywood.

India-China relations can't be normal till Tibet issue is resolved

India-China relations can't be normal till Tibet issue is resolved

Rediff.com12 Sep 2014

'Tibet remains a prickly issue between the giant Asian nations. China still claims more than 80,000 sq kilometres of Indian territory in the Northeast. Why? Just because Beijing refuses to acknowledge the McMahon line which separates India and Tibet, and this, simply because the 1914 Agreement delineating the border was signed by the then government of independent Tibet with India's then foreign secretary (Sir Henry McMahon),' says Claude Arpi.

'Even if the PM grants OROP, the trust is fractured'

'Even if the PM grants OROP, the trust is fractured'

Rediff.com4 Sep 2015

'Modi has entered blunderland as he does not understand the army. He has actually meddled with the army, which is much more damaging than the ignorance of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.' 'People had an impression that the BJP was different. Now it has been made very, very, plain that it is not.' 'Look at the contrast in the behaviour of the prime minister. When they burnt buses in Gujarat for an unjust demand, the prime minister addressed them in Gujarati while the army veterans were on relay hunger strike for the 74th day on that day, but no word on this from the PM.'

What India should learn from the Manipur ambush

What India should learn from the Manipur ambush

Rediff.com9 Jun 2015

Manipur needs an integrated politico, military, socio-economic approach, says Sanjeev Nayyar.

Good/Bad/Ugly: What will Obama's visit be like for India?

Good/Bad/Ugly: What will Obama's visit be like for India?

Rediff.com22 Jan 2015

'The real test will be in defence-related deals, for instance the Javelin anti-tank missile: Is the US willing to co-develop something with India, on terms that will support the 'Make in India' initiative? Is there defence technology transfer? Or will it dump old junk on India?' asks Rajeev Srinivasan.

The man who stole India's past

The man who stole India's past

Rediff.com9 Oct 2015

'It was only relatively recently that Subhash Kapoor was able to secure the sources in India, Afghanistan and Cambodia, that allowed him to get the really highest level objects, and that helped propel him in recent years up the ranks.'

'Absolutely brilliant response from the government to free our sailors'

'Absolutely brilliant response from the government to free our sailors'

Rediff.com6 Nov 2014

The last seven Indian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates were released October 30. Chirag Bahri, Indian coordinator for the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme that aids piracy survivors and their families, speaks to Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com on how the near-impossible was achieved.

The story of Marans: Sun King and his brother

The story of Marans: Sun King and his brother

Rediff.com30 Aug 2014

The man who led this journey is 50-year-old Kalanithi Maran, chairman and managing director of the Sun Group.

The amputee who helps other amputees scale mountains

The amputee who helps other amputees scale mountains

Rediff.com21 Dec 2017

Meet Mona Patel, one of CNN's Top 10 Heroes of the Year.

'Say, isn't this stuff that is going on in Kashmir terrorism?'

'Say, isn't this stuff that is going on in Kashmir terrorism?'

Rediff.com11 Feb 2015

'US counter-terrorism policy was encouraging and emboldening the Indians to deal with the problem of Pakistani-supported terrorism once and for all.' 'The US had been trying to browbeat Pakistan into doing what it wants, with very limited success.'

Indian equities most attractive on a 5-yr basis, says CLSA MD Christopher Wood

Indian equities most attractive on a 5-yr basis, says CLSA MD Christopher Wood

Rediff.com18 Nov 2014

Despite the rally, on the basis of valuations, Indian markets aren't too expensive, says Christopher Wood, managing director and equity strategist at CLSA.

The Indian Spring: Lessons for the world

The Indian Spring: Lessons for the world

Rediff.com30 Dec 2013

The Indian Spring represented by Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign, which has culminated in the Aam Aadmi Party's impressive electoral debut in New Delhi, began around the same time as the Arab Spring in 2011 but they led to different outcomes in India and the Arab world, says Ramesh Ramachandran.

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.

Street art: From the margins to mainstream

Street art: From the margins to mainstream

Rediff.com10 Apr 2015

Street art has emerged from its rebellious underground existence to a growing art genre in its own right. Ritika Bhatia maps the Indian leg of the movement.

Situation in India's banking sector is not grim at all: K V Kamath

Situation in India's banking sector is not grim at all: K V Kamath

Rediff.com17 Oct 2016

Several factors seem to have corrected in India in the past six months, says the president of New Development Bank.

Exclusive! 'By 2012, we brought China boundary row to point of solution'

Exclusive! 'By 2012, we brought China boundary row to point of solution'

Rediff.com10 Aug 2015

A sensational interview on India-China ties, with the man most qualified to answer.

Exclusive! Saving the Apu Trilogy

Exclusive! Saving the Apu Trilogy

Rediff.com29 Apr 2015

The journey of the digitally restored version of The Apu Trilogy is packed with dark stories and years of near detective work by those determined to preserve some of Satyajit Ray's finest works.

India at Asian Games: Saina, Sindhu cruise; Dushyant wins bronze

India at Asian Games: Saina, Sindhu cruise; Dushyant wins bronze

Rediff.com24 Sep 2014

A round-up of Indians' showing on the fifth day of the 17th Asian Games, in Incheon, on Wednesday.

'Common sense is shrinking in India today'

'Common sense is shrinking in India today'

Rediff.com9 Dec 2014

'We saw how vigorous democracy was when it dislodged authoritarianism under Indira Gandhi. We saw its vigour again when it voted Mr Modi out of humble origins as prime minister. It was Nehru who laid that foundation for India and what is worrying today is Modi's rather imperial style of functioning,' says writer Nayantara Sahgal.

'The Naxalites only want to kill the police and CPI-M'

'The Naxalites only want to kill the police and CPI-M'

Rediff.com5 May 2006

'They do not want us to construct roads or to conduct health camps. I see no logic in their demands,' says West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.