News for 'Historic letters'

'The Mahagathbandhan is for personal survival'

'The Mahagathbandhan is for personal survival'

Rediff.com12 Aug 2018

'The Opposition has no option but to make it an 'All versus One' fight to even think about winning.'

Prasad, Tewari under a cloud over retainer service to Reliance

Prasad, Tewari under a cloud over retainer service to Reliance

Rediff.com19 Dec 2014

The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded the dismissal of Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleging a conflict of interest that has prevented him from issuing a notice to Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio on the 4G issue, a charge vehemently denied by Prasad who said he never gave advice or appeared for the company.

'Netaji was the reason why the British left India'

'Netaji was the reason why the British left India'

Rediff.com27 Jan 2016

'The non-violent movement would not have brought freedom to the country, that had to be an armed struggle.'

'Chanting Ambedkar's name makes Dalit leaders cross over to BJP'

'Chanting Ambedkar's name makes Dalit leaders cross over to BJP'

Rediff.com31 Aug 2018

Why Dalit leaders cross over to the BJP

World's biggest rogue traders

World's biggest rogue traders

Rediff.com30 Apr 2015

A common factor that binds all these men is greed.

Devyani row: Strong Indian response shocks US officials

Devyani row: Strong Indian response shocks US officials

Rediff.com29 Dec 2013

India's unusual tough stand on the arrest of its diplomat Devyani Khobragade has forced the United States to initiate an "inter-agency review" to look into the lapses that happened in the high-profile case that triggered an uproar in India and strained bilateral ties.

When US presidents came calling to India

When US presidents came calling to India

Rediff.com20 Jan 2015

President Obama's coming visit to India has created quite a buzz, here is a look at all past visits of American Presidents to the country

'Nehru was as much to blame as Jinnah for Partition'

'Nehru was as much to blame as Jinnah for Partition'

Rediff.com28 Jan 2016

'Nehru had multiple chances to make compromises, that would have preserved a united India, and he chose not to,' Nisid Hajari tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com

Manohar Joshi and his tumultuous ties with the Shiv Sena bosses

Manohar Joshi and his tumultuous ties with the Shiv Sena bosses

Rediff.com18 Oct 2013

To some the public humiliation of Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi at the party's annual Dussehra celebrations in Mumbai may have come as a shocker, but his relationship with the party and the Thackerays has always been rocky, says Neeta Kolhatkar.

CAG gears up to audit books of 5 private telcos, Delhi discoms

CAG gears up to audit books of 5 private telcos, Delhi discoms

Rediff.com7 Jan 2014

Lt Governor says discoms must cooperate or face cancellation of licences. Ficci cries interference.

The hero who won a Param Vir Chakra on Siachen

The hero who won a Param Vir Chakra on Siachen

Rediff.com11 Feb 2016

Honorary Captain Bana Singh won the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest ranking gallantry award, for recapturing a Pakistani post on the Siachen Glacier. Living a retired life in a quiet village in Jammu and Kashmir, he makes you feel that his act of phenomenal courage was part of a soldier's day at work.

Here all in silence, let them sleep their sleep

Here all in silence, let them sleep their sleep

Rediff.com3 Feb 2016

Right in the midst of bustling Kolkata lies what might be the most prominent population of Britons in India.

Lady Gaga and Elton John turn designers for charity

Lady Gaga and Elton John turn designers for charity

Rediff.com29 Apr 2016

The latest news on models, designers and actors from the world of glamour and fashion.

Why banks are unwilling to support the sugar industry

Why banks are unwilling to support the sugar industry

Rediff.com14 Mar 2015

ugar mills in UP owe thousands of crores to cane farmers.

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.

BJP's latest act may leave it marooned in Tamil Nadu

BJP's latest act may leave it marooned in Tamil Nadu

Rediff.com27 Nov 2014

Why is the BJP playing 'competitive politics' where there is scope or room for none? The release of 5 Indian fishermen on death row in Sri Lanka was a victory for India's quiet diplomacy of long years in the matter -- and not for loud politics by parties in the country.

Brooks Report: Four failures that led to the 1962 debacle

Brooks Report: Four failures that led to the 1962 debacle

Rediff.com21 Mar 2014

It is well-known, and the Brooks-Bhagat report vouches for it, that the real failure for the 1962 debacle against China was not military, but political, says Ram Madhav.

Jayalalithaa leaves a tough legacy

Jayalalithaa leaves a tough legacy

Rediff.com7 Dec 2016

Now that Tamil Nadu's tallest politician is no more, it remains to be seen how new political re-alignments could shape up, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

The blunder of the Pandit

The blunder of the Pandit

Rediff.com18 May 2014

Nehru's sentimental attachment to the Mountbattens deeply vitiated the Kashmir issue. It was certainly the most important factor for the failure to find a solution in the first years of the conflict.

For Kolkata, Mother Teresa was always a saint

For Kolkata, Mother Teresa was always a saint

Rediff.com3 Sep 2016

When Pope Francis canonizes the late Mother Teresa at the Vatican on September 4, she will officially be recognised as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. However, for her followers in Kolkata, the title is a mere formality.

Indian American surgeon general nominee counters GOP critics

Indian American surgeon general nominee counters GOP critics

Rediff.com5 Feb 2014

In a stellar performance, Indian American US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy took on one critic after another at the Senate confirmation hearing. Aziz Haniffa reports.

Why US Reps aren't buying decision against inviting PM Modi

Why US Reps aren't buying decision against inviting PM Modi

Rediff.com5 Sep 2014

The debate over Prime Minister Modi's nixed Congressional address continues. Aziz Haniffa has the scoop

India's infrastructure action on the Twitter route

India's infrastructure action on the Twitter route

Rediff.com18 Dec 2013

From Kudankulam to the Land Bill, the author takes the Twitter route to capture the infra action of 2013.

Cabinet gives nod for Telangana; Hyd to be joint capital

Cabinet gives nod for Telangana; Hyd to be joint capital

Rediff.com3 Oct 2013

The Centre on Thursday evening took the first significant step towards creation of a separate Telangana state from out of Andhra Pradesh and decided that Hyderabad will be the joint capital of the two states for 10 years.

'I will not win unless Hindus vote for me'

'I will not win unless Hindus vote for me'

Rediff.com9 May 2016

'People are losing their freedom to eat, speak, write and practise their religion.' 'All that is said in the Constitution has been taken away.' 'Does every Muslim or Christian or Hindu have to say I am a patriot every morning and repeat it in the afternoon and at night?'

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.

'Countries that forget their history cannot have a future'

'Countries that forget their history cannot have a future'

Rediff.com17 Nov 2014

Mahesh Rangarajan, director of the historic Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi, tells Sheela Bhatt how the first prime minister will always remain relevant, and the efforts being made to keep his legacy alive.

India is in a timidity trap with China

India is in a timidity trap with China

Rediff.com2 Apr 2014

'The Panchsheel Agreement is unique in the annals of international relations as it stands out as a bizarre illustration of a prime minister trading his country's crucial national interests solely to buffer his personal international image,' feels R N Ravi.

He brings the gods back home to India

He brings the gods back home to India

Rediff.com14 Oct 2015

'There are hundreds of items from Madhya Pradesh, Andhra, Rajasthan, Gujarat in Subhash Kapoor's loot. The Tamil Nadu Idol Wing wants to just prosecute Kapoor for three cases and close it. To me that's myopic.'

Rajan takes on critics in a hard-hitting speech

Rajan takes on critics in a hard-hitting speech

Rediff.com20 Jun 2016

"The poor will not suffer disproportionately due to bouts of sharp inflation, and the middle class will not see its savings eroded," Raghuram Rajan said.

'India has a vital stake in the digital renaissance'

'India has a vital stake in the digital renaissance'

Rediff.com5 Jun 2015

'Everywhere our younger computer professionals are in the forefront, defending our national interest in every forum and keeping our flag flying high.'

'India woke up to this threat long before the US did'

'India woke up to this threat long before the US did'

Rediff.com25 Sep 2014

'It is vital we should form an international coalition against ISIS, because their brutality and the use of the Internet for jihadist activities is a reminder that the entire world community has to be in this together,' US Congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tells Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com in an exclusive interview ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit.

Legendary investor Jim Rogers: My biggest disappointment is how little Modi has done

Legendary investor Jim Rogers: My biggest disappointment is how little Modi has done

Rediff.com9 Sep 2015

Global investor and author Jim Rogers, who recently sold his India investments, talks about his disappointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic reforms, why he is betting big on the US dollar and the Chinese Renminbi and what will bring him back to India some day.

The good samaritans of Hashimpura

The good samaritans of Hashimpura

Rediff.com14 Apr 2015

The families of the Muslim youth from Hashimpura who were shot dead 28 years ago had some committed supporters in their long struggle for justice.

'The killing of the last terrorist is most problematic'

'The killing of the last terrorist is most problematic'

Rediff.com3 Mar 2015

'It is a very hard won situation that the army has brought about in J&K in 25 years, we don't want to fritter it away...' 'By 2010-2012 the terrorist strength had come down to 300, 400. From a high of 3,000 to 4,000 to 300 to 400 was no mean achievement for the army,' says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

Kal Penn: I would love to shoot five Bollywood films simultaneously

Kal Penn: I would love to shoot five Bollywood films simultaneously

Rediff.com4 Dec 2014

'...But my strong suit will not be dancing,' Kal Penn tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com, in the concluding part of the interview.

Jairam Ramesh: 2014 land Act will take us back to 1894!

Jairam Ramesh: 2014 land Act will take us back to 1894!

Rediff.com5 Mar 2015

'Give time to the 2013 Act to work. I not only think that the 2013 law is workable, I believe that the 2013 law is a compromise, a balanced middle path and protects the interests of land owners and livelihood losers.'

Nehru's niece: 'I don't think one family should rule India'

Nehru's niece: 'I don't think one family should rule India'

Rediff.com9 Dec 2014

'This term -- "Nehru-Gandhi" family -- is a misnomer. Nehru was not a dynast; he did not even name his successor... The big mistake she made was to push forward Rahul Gandhi who is a dead loss as a leader,' says Nayantara Sahgal, whom Sonia Gandhi calls 'Tara Masi.'

'We assist to bankrupt ideology of violent extremism everywhere'

'We assist to bankrupt ideology of violent extremism everywhere'

Rediff.com21 Jan 2015

In his penultimate State of the Union address, Barack Obama said that the economy is improving.

From our archives: The Khushwant Singh interview

From our archives: The Khushwant Singh interview

Rediff.com28 Oct 2004

'In her insecurity, she destroyed the institutions of democracy,' says Khushwant Singh.