News for 'Hinduism'

Exclusive! What the head of US Congress' India caucus wants

Exclusive! What the head of US Congress' India caucus wants

Rediff.com27 Mar 2017

US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, newly elected co-chair of the influential Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, discusses her vision for US-India ties with Rediff.com's Monali Sarkar.

Mahatma's grandson: I am against the construction of any statue, whether Patel or Gandhi

Mahatma's grandson: I am against the construction of any statue, whether Patel or Gandhi

Rediff.com22 Jan 2014

'These were great people who lived and died attempting to create a world of love, compassion and understanding, and not one of hate, prejudice and competition,' says Arun Gandhi, the Mahatma's grandson.

Balakot air strike: What can India do next?

Balakot air strike: What can India do next?

Rediff.com12 Mar 2019

'For Pakistan, the comfortable old calculations and certainties are no longer valid.' 'Strikes on Indian targets now carry a high risk of retaliation and escalation,' notes Ajai Shukla.

The politics of vegetarianism

The politics of vegetarianism

Rediff.com19 Mar 2018

'The non-vegetarian share of the population fell from 75 to 71 per cent between 2004 and 2014, no doubt in anticipation of the lotus blooming.' 'Three years of saffron authoritarianism may have thinned the non-vegetarian ranks even more,' says Sunanda K Datta-Ray.

NYT edit asks Modi to break deafening silence on religious intolerance

NYT edit asks Modi to break "deafening silence" on religious intolerance

Rediff.com6 Feb 2015

'It gives the impression that he either cannot or does not wish to control the fringe elements.' the NYT said.

Is seeking votes in name of religion corrupt practice, asks SC

Is seeking votes in name of religion corrupt practice, asks SC

Rediff.com26 Oct 2016

Religion or caste is a key part of India's political discourse, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday and asked whether seeking of votes on that basis would amount to "corrupt practice" under the election law.

Why Priyanka Chaturvedi left the Congress

Why Priyanka Chaturvedi left the Congress

Rediff.com22 Apr 2019

'These guys did not even issue an apology to me and were taken back into the party.' 'They were reinstated on the grounds that they will contribute to the Congress campaign.'

Don't need to pray in prayer room to be a Hindu: Madras HC

Don't need to pray in prayer room to be a Hindu: Madras HC

Rediff.com1 Nov 2013

A division bench comprising Justices N Paul Vasanthakumar and K Ravichandrababu stated on Thursday this while quashing an order for cancelling a community certificate issued to a Dalit panchayat president who reconverted from Christianity.

Conversion to Islam solely for marriage not valid: HC

Conversion to Islam solely for marriage not valid: HC

Rediff.com19 Dec 2014

In a significant judgment, the Allahabad high court has ruled that the religious conversion of girls "without their faith and belief in Islam" and "solely for the purpose of marriage" to Muslim boys could not be held valid.

Why Rajini's 'Periyar row' is not a vote-catcher

Why Rajini's 'Periyar row' is not a vote-catcher

Rediff.com22 Jan 2020

If the Congress lost in Tamil Nadu in 1967, never to return, or the DMK and the AIADMK have kept their place in power and electoral politics since then, it owes not to their love or hatred for gods or for one religion over another. Instead, they had always been linked to performance and incumbency/anti-incumbency factors. There may be something in such constructs for Rajini's strategic team to consider, especially if the superstar is to enter direct politics by around this time next year. But then, they would need to brush up their homework more than at present, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Phir ek baar Cameron sarkar': UK PM woos Indian-origin voters

'Phir ek baar Cameron sarkar': UK PM woos Indian-origin voters

Rediff.com5 May 2015

Cameron, on the last leg of campaigning for the May 7 general election, also hailed Modi as a 'dynamic' leader who is 'taking India forward'.

Did the Last Queen of Kashmir have a message for the present?

Did the Last Queen of Kashmir have a message for the present?

Rediff.com26 Aug 2016

The solution to the Kashmir problem does not lie in India speaking to Pakistan; it does not lie in the Indian government speaking to the separatists; it lies in the Kashmiris talking to their inner selves. They need to trace their history to include their rich cultural heritage of Hindu Saivism and Sufi mysticism. Only then will Kashmiris be at peace with themselves, says Vivek Gumaste.

'There is no such thing as a Hindu. He is a political construct'

'There is no such thing as a Hindu. He is a political construct'

Rediff.com10 Jun 2019

In this May 2014 interview with Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com, the politically conscious Karnad spoke of why he is concerned about Modi coming to power.

UPA denied separate religion tag to Lingayat in 2013: Ananth Kumar

UPA denied separate religion tag to Lingayat in 2013: Ananth Kumar

Rediff.com20 Mar 2018

The Union home ministry is expected to forward the proposal to the Registrar General & Census Commissioner for a detailed examination and suggestions, a ministry official said.

Karnataka govt agrees to recommend Lingayats as separate religion

Karnataka govt agrees to recommend Lingayats as separate religion

Rediff.com19 Mar 2018

Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats are those who believed in the philosphy of Basaveshwara, 12th century social reformer

'Supreme Court ruling strengthens the values of secularism'

'Supreme Court ruling strengthens the values of secularism'

Rediff.com4 Jan 2017

'Unfortunately, the judges chose not to address the issue of whether Hindutva is an appeal to religion.' 'From the moment the judgment is delivered, it is the law of the land.'

Amnesty slams Modi sarkar's rights record

Amnesty slams Modi sarkar's rights record

Rediff.com25 Feb 2015

Amnesty highlighted poll-related violence in the lead up to the May 2014 General Elections, communal clashes and failure of consultation on corporate projects as key concerns.

'People don't trust Modi anymore'

'People don't trust Modi anymore'

Rediff.com19 Dec 2017

'Modi's charisma has started fading.'

'This is Modi's biggest political challenge'

'This is Modi's biggest political challenge'

Rediff.com19 Dec 2019

'They don't have a political strategy so they are going to try to deal with it purely as a law and order problem.' 'They will try to use the same strategy they have repeatedly used since 2014 in Kashmir.' 'Mr Modi has landed in a situation where he faces the possible prospect of not only being unable to Indianise Kashmir, but his actions may end up making the rest of India a virtual carbon copy of Kashmir.'

No law says woman's religion should change to that of husband's after marriage: SC

No law says woman's religion should change to that of husband's after marriage: SC

Rediff.com7 Dec 2017

The bench said it was only the woman who can decide about her religious identity by exercising her right to choice.

'India was never, ever homophobic'

'India was never, ever homophobic'

Rediff.com6 Sep 2018

'Societal acceptance is the surround-sound of the socio-economic political compass that we live in. This is the first step.'

RSS chief Bhagwat again roots for Hindu rashtra; invokes Tagore

RSS chief Bhagwat again roots for Hindu rashtra; invokes Tagore

Rediff.com18 Jan 2015

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday made an appeal for turning the country into a "Hindu nation" saying Hinduism believes in the principle of "unity in diversity" as visualised by the Nobel laureate polymath Rabindranath Tagore.

Why is there no Mann Ki Baat to stop lynchings?

Why is there no Mann Ki Baat to stop lynchings?

Rediff.com2 Jul 2018

'If lynchings are happening frequently in India, it is the responsibility of those who lead the country to try and end them, not promote them,' says Aakar Patel.

Ensure religious minorities are protected: US lawmakers write to PM Modi

Ensure religious minorities are protected: US lawmakers write to PM Modi

Rediff.com27 Feb 2016

'We also urge you to take steps to control the activities of groups, such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,' said the letter signed by 34 top American lawmakers.

When Adi Shankaracharya met the chandala...

When Adi Shankaracharya met the chandala...

Rediff.com29 Jun 2018

Pavan K Varma, diplomat, writer and politician, embarks on a quest about Hinduism's great thinker's stay in Varanasi.

Nehru's niece Nayantara Sahgal returns Sahitya Akademi Award

Nehru's niece Nayantara Sahgal returns Sahitya Akademi Award

Rediff.com6 Oct 2015

Acclaimed writer Nayantara Sahgal, the niece of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, has returned the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award to protest against the "vicious assault" on India's diversity and the government's failure to protect cultural diversity.

The Hindu girl who challenged Haryana govt to marry a Muslim

The Hindu girl who challenged Haryana govt to marry a Muslim

Rediff.com8 Aug 2018

'They told me that the marriage registrar would send a letter to my parents informing them about my marriage.'

The monk who declined Rajya Sabha membership

The monk who declined Rajya Sabha membership

Rediff.com9 May 2016

Pranav Pandya, head and mentor, All World Gayatri Pariwar, says he's not inclined to accept

'I can't help if people want to love a dictator'

'I can't help if people want to love a dictator'

Rediff.com7 Oct 2015

'Modi is an uncivilised person who is ruling a fascist regime.' 'This is not a one religion country. We are a country of many religions many cultures. India is not a country it is a civilisation and that is what they are trying to destroy.'

Freebies are the new god in Tamil Nadu

Freebies are the new god in Tamil Nadu

Rediff.com14 May 2016

'The irresistible charm of Indian politics is it can always throw up surprises -- even when it looks as predictable as in Tamil Nadu,' discovers Shekhar Gupta.

'Nowhere in Islam does it say women should cover their face'

'Nowhere in Islam does it say women should cover their face'

Rediff.com8 May 2019

'I don't believe the talk of free will.' 'They are either forced to dress like this, or indoctrinated.'

Political war erupts over Uniform Civil Code

Political war erupts over Uniform Civil Code

Rediff.com13 Oct 2016

In the face of strong opposition to Uniform Civil Code by Muslim outfits, the Congress on Thursday said its implementation would be impossible while the Bharatiya Janata Party asserted that the move is aimed at moving towards a progressive society.

Why insistence on only one language must be resisted

Why insistence on only one language must be resisted

Rediff.com5 Oct 2017

An insistence on only one language will inevitably be resented as a form of imperialism and resisted.

SC quotes Hindu scriptures, travelogues

SC quotes Hindu scriptures, travelogues

Rediff.com9 Nov 2019

It further said that the epic Valmiki's Ramayana, whose composition dated back to the period Before Christ (BC), was the main source of knowledge of Lord Ram and his deeds.

Ram Temple: The Way Ahead

Ram Temple: The Way Ahead

Rediff.com20 Sep 2019

'It is best that an amicable solution to the dispute is found outside the precincts of the courts of law,' says former Union home secretary Dr Madhav Godbole.

They don't have the heart to watch Ravana burn!

They don't have the heart to watch Ravana burn!

Rediff.com27 Sep 2017

Meet the Ravana makers of Titarpur, courtesy Geetanjali Krishna.

Learning Partition's history from Amit Shah... What next?

Learning Partition's history from Amit Shah... What next?

Rediff.com5 Jul 2018

'Amit Shah and his fellow travellers need to realise that India was divided because of competitive communalism of forces like Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim League, prodded, aided and abetted by the colonial power,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

'India's spiritual power attracts me'

'India's spiritual power attracts me'

Rediff.com13 Jan 2017

The Dalai Lama headed Kalachakra Puja in Bodh Gaya has drawn devotees from 92 countries.

What you won't hear on Mann Ki Baat

What you won't hear on Mann Ki Baat

Rediff.com2 Feb 2018

'Modi maintains what has been called a 'strategic silence' on controversial topics,' points out Amulya Ganguli.

Time to keep religion out of politics

Time to keep religion out of politics

Rediff.com2 Jan 2017

Let India rise on the prowess of development, honest money and a non-religionist political discourse. That will secure our future and also make an impact on the theologically run sham democracies in our neighbourhood, says Tarun Vijay.