News for 'Office of Religious Life'

A House of Horrors in the City of Joy

A House of Horrors in the City of Joy

Rediff.com18 Jun 2015

What went on inside Kolkata's 'house of horror'? Indrani Roy/Rediff.com reports.

California shooter received $28,500 before killings

California shooter received $28,500 before killings

Rediff.com8 Dec 2015

A $28,500 deposit was made to the account of slain gunman Syed Farook, a media report has said.

For Ram Madhav and RSS-BJP, Muslims will always be 'Yavana snakes'

For Ram Madhav and RSS-BJP, Muslims will always be 'Yavana snakes'

Rediff.com23 Jun 2015

BJP leader Ram Madhav's rant about Vice President Hamid Ansari's absence at the International Yoga Day celebrations goes deeper, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf, deep into their brain.

'David Headley has a very deep-felt hatred for India'

'David Headley has a very deep-felt hatred for India'

Rediff.com1 Aug 2016

If the radical Islamic movement had been largely peaceful, Headley would have probably found another way to ensure real life excitement.' 'But I really do believe that his relationship with radical Islam is real. Very real.' 'It was a match for his desires.'

Is it time to divide J&K into three?

Is it time to divide J&K into three?

Rediff.com10 Sep 2016

Since 1950 successive governments have tried various options but failed to reduce alienation amongst the people, for different reasons, of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. It is best to accept this reality and let each region charter its own path, within the framework of the Indian Constitution, says Sanjeev Nayyar.

When Hindus ate beef, India was NEVER conquered

When Hindus ate beef, India was NEVER conquered

Rediff.com24 Mar 2015

'There is a remarkable link between the eating of beef (or at the very least, tolerating the eating of beef) and India being a superpower.' 'In India, whenever an empire was strong, religion took a back seat.' 'Alternatively, whenever religion asserted itself, the main empire of India crumbled...'

'I am an ordinary activist, never wanted the limelight'

'I am an ordinary activist, never wanted the limelight'

Rediff.com12 Dec 2014

'It is for the first time the voices of the most deferred, the most neglected, the most ignored, the most abused, the most vulnerable - the children-- has been heard. It is a great moment.' 'I always wanted Pakistan and India to have good relationships because I believe that this is very important for the development of both the countries.' 'If children are taught hatred, if they are taught about sectarianism and prejudice, then we can see that there will be terrorism in society." Nobel Peace Prize winners Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai were given an ovation after they delivered their rousing speeches in front of a packed audience at a glittering ceremony in Oslo on Wednesday. A day later, they sit down for an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour and share their dreams, their hopes for the future. Read excerpts from the interview.

Illegal infiltration: Mamata and her double standards

Illegal infiltration: Mamata and her double standards

Rediff.com12 May 2014

Given her penchant for obfuscating issues Mamata is encouraging the false perception, parroted by her political hangers-on, that all refugees from Bangladesh would face the brunt of deportation once the BJP came to power. In fact, Didi's theatrics and those of all her extras, in the last few days, have been based on propagating this falsehood, says Dr Anirban Ganguly.

Modi@1: All that did not happen. The 'No's have it

Modi@1: All that did not happen. The 'No's have it

Rediff.com19 May 2015

'In the last one year, it looks like there were bad things that didn't take place, and there were good things that didn't take place,' says Rajeev Srinivasan.

Love jihad? What rubbish!

Love jihad? What rubbish!

Rediff.com16 Sep 2014

Just to be clear, "love jihad" -- a concept that claims that Muslim men court Hindu women to convert them to Islam purely to take over India -- doesn't exist, says Mitali Saran

How Ajit became a suave villain

How Ajit became a suave villain

Rediff.com21 Oct 2016

'My father became a very popular villain and in some films, was paid more than the hero. He was a very simple person. All he needed was six pairs of white shirts and trousers for the whole year, one or two packets of Dunhill cigarettes a day and books.' Shehzaad Khan on his famous father Ajit.

Pixar's desi star who may win an Oscar

Pixar's desi star who may win an Oscar

Rediff.com20 Oct 2015

'John Lasseter gave me such good advice. He said the reason why he wanted me to tell the story was because it was about my dad and me. He said if it is a father and son story, it will relate universally.' Star Pixar animator Sanjay Patel tells Aseem Chhabra/Rediff.com the back story behind his new film, Sanjay's Super Team, which features Hanuman, Vishnu and Durga as superheroes.

The unexplored foreign destinations that want Indian travellers

The unexplored foreign destinations that want Indian travellers

Rediff.com8 Nov 2017

Just an hour or so from the ones we commonly throng to, they promise a lot more for a lot less.

Award-winning images from the World Press Photo contest

Award-winning images from the World Press Photo contest

Rediff.com16 Feb 2015

The jury of the 58th annual World Press Photo Contest has selected an image by Danish photographer Mads Nissen as the World Press Photo of the Year 2014.

'A film is like a one-night stand'

'A film is like a one-night stand'

Rediff.com30 Aug 2018

'I'm a rascal, I'm going to play a paramahansa?!'

'Modi and the Indians just discovered the B-bomb'

'Modi and the Indians just discovered the B-bomb'

Rediff.com2 Sep 2016

'I believe Modi mentioned Balochistan only to embarrass Pakistan and also divert attention toward the situation in Kashmir.' 'I think from now on, India intends to raise Balochistan whenever Pakistan brings up Kashmir or upsets them on the issue of terrorism.' 'Balochistan is the least developed of Pakistan's four provinces. It is the least educated and least economically developed. People are agitated that a region so rich in mineral resources and a sea-port is still so poor.' Baloch political analyst Malik Siraj Akbar on why the province wants freedom from Pakistan.

'It is time to liberate our minds'

'It is time to liberate our minds'

Rediff.com7 Nov 2014

'We have won our political freedom, we have liberalised our economy and now it's time to liberate our minds also. That is why this film.' Director Ketan Mehta lists his reasons for making Rang Rasiya.

Quake aftermath: Exodus of foreign tourists from Nepal

Quake aftermath: Exodus of foreign tourists from Nepal

Rediff.com30 Apr 2015

Foreigners from various corners of the globe to move out of Kathmandu and others parts of Nepal.

5 things Modi needs to do quickly

5 things Modi needs to do quickly

Rediff.com11 Mar 2017

'The monumental first Modi wrought in 2014, followed by the miracle in Uttar Pradesh, is not a matter for celebration, but an ominous warning of the perils ahead.' 'There are 5 areas which Modi has to address immediately and relentlessly if he has to live up to all that the people are taking him for,' says B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.

Kunming knife attacks: China is playing with fire

Kunming knife attacks: China is playing with fire

Rediff.com3 Mar 2014

Domestically, China's 'strike hard' policy is alienating Uighurs further in Xinjiang. China's quid pro quo with the Taliban is hardly any lasting solution to the Afghanistan crises or to regional security, says Srikanth Kondapalli.

Nothing can kill Mallya's appetite for fun

Nothing can kill Mallya's appetite for fun

Rediff.com14 Mar 2016

For his 60th birthday in December, which he called his third 20th birthday, Mallya flew in Enrique Iglesias to perform at his villa overlooking the beach in Goa.

'Our children have only hunger written in their destiny'

'Our children have only hunger written in their destiny'

Rediff.com8 Oct 2016

In villages in Palghar district -- in Mumbai's backyard -- more than 254 children have died from malnutrition.

Exclusive! Cardinal tells PM: 'Walk the talk'

Exclusive! Cardinal tells PM: 'Walk the talk'

Rediff.com30 Mar 2015

'The BJP had ruled earlier too, but nothing of this sort happened then... I don't say the government is behind the attacks, but they don't do anything to stop the attacks.' 'The prime minister has to tell the perpetrators that it is not in the interest of the government that such incidents happen.' 'When somebody says all Indians are Hindus, responsible people should ask him to stop and assure the country that this is not the opinion of the government. But it is not happening and it is quite unfortunate,' Cardinal Baselios Cleemis tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com in an exclusive interview.

Dadri Lynching: Time for a Mann Ki Baat, Mr Prime Minister!

Dadri Lynching: Time for a Mann Ki Baat, Mr Prime Minister!

Rediff.com3 Oct 2015

'Mohammad Akhlaq's death isn't only about a Muslim being killed out of sheer communal bigotry, but also the denial of the Constitutional guarantees of "due process" under Article 21 and the freedom of choice,' says Shehzad Poonawalla, who has moved the National Commission for Minorities over the murder.

Chennai's story needs to be heard

Chennai's story needs to be heard

Rediff.com3 Dec 2015

No one imagined that this could happen to Chennai. We were just a happy little town content with our Kollywood and Coffee, but humanity has won over once again, says Pavithra Selvam.

'I see the genius of the Indian people'

'I see the genius of the Indian people'

Rediff.com1 Dec 2014

'Never lose your optimism. Never lose your aspiration and never -- even if India becomes a prosperous consumer society -- never ever lose that shining light in your eyes,' advises Dr Peter McLaughlin, headmaster of the Doon School.

Former hostage: 'Islamic State is bullshit'

Former hostage: 'Islamic State is bullshit'

Rediff.com5 Nov 2015

French journalist Nicolas Henin was captured by the terrorist organisation, the Islamic State, and spent 10 months in captivity explains how the growth of the Islamic State is result of the West's limitation in seeing the IS merely as a terrorist organisation while ignoring its political message and goals.

'My job is not to represent the world; my job is to represent the United States of America'

'My job is not to represent the world; my job is to represent the United States of America'

Rediff.com1 Mar 2017

The following is the full text of US President Donald Trump's first address to a joint session of the Congress on February 28, as prepared for delivery and released by the White House press office.

HC defers Kanhaiya's bail hearing; Delhi cops to seek custody

HC defers Kanhaiya's bail hearing; Delhi cops to seek custody

Rediff.com24 Feb 2016

Delhi Police on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that further custodial interrogation of JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar is required in the wake of the arrest of two other accused students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya in the sedition case.

'Never suggested overnight banning of high value notes'

'Never suggested overnight banning of high value notes'

Rediff.com22 Nov 2016

'There has to be an 18-month transition.' 'But if the government had some prior knowledge that the high value notes were being used for an imminent terrorist activity in the country, then we have to accept the step.'

Birthday Special: 20 Amitabh Bachchan collectibles we'd kill for!

Birthday Special: 20 Amitabh Bachchan collectibles we'd kill for!

Rediff.com10 Oct 2014

Sukanya Verma picks potential AB collectibles as Bollywood's most iconic star celebrates his 72nd birthday on October 11.

Exclusive! Why Tulsi Gabbard doesn't want Hillary as Prez

Exclusive! Why Tulsi Gabbard doesn't want Hillary as Prez

Rediff.com16 Mar 2016

'A vote for Hillary means a vote for endless wars of trying to overthrow governments and rebuilding foreign countries.' 'A vote for Bernie Sanders means an end to these interventionist wars, and instead spending our money and precious resources rebuilding our own country,' Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu-American in the United States Congress, tells Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com

Mann ki baat: Modi and Obama speak out from the heart

Mann ki baat: Modi and Obama speak out from the heart

Rediff.com28 Jan 2015

A special episode of the Prime Minister's radio broadcast Mann ki Baat featuring US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aired on Tuesday night. The 35-minute special broadcast of 'Mann Ki Baat', which marked the rapport between Modi and Obama, touched on issues ranging from public health and personal inspirations of the two leaders, both of whom have come up from simple beginnings to assume to top positions of the respective countries. What follows is a transcript of the Mann ki Baat episode.

'If anything happens to me, IB and government are responsible'

'If anything happens to me, IB and government are responsible'

Rediff.com19 Jun 2014

Anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar, who has been called a threat to the economic security of India by the Intelligence Bureau, speaks to A Ganesh Nadar.

The rise and fall of Sheila Dikshit

The rise and fall of Sheila Dikshit

Rediff.com8 Dec 2013

It is unlikely that Delhi's outgoing chief minister will be able to make a comeback in politics. For her, the innings is truly over, writes Pankaj Vohra.

50 Years On: Who was the real Veer Savarkar?

50 Years On: Who was the real Veer Savarkar?

Rediff.com26 Feb 2016

'One hopes the younger generation sees Savarkar him for what he was and does not view him through a distorted prism.' 'This is the least one could do for someone who devoted his whole life to Indian freedom struggle, elimination of caste, succour to Dalits, and instilling of strategic culture in India,' says Lieutenant General Ashok Joshi (retd) and Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Why Gorakhpur loves Adityanath

Why Gorakhpur loves Adityanath

Rediff.com15 Apr 2017

Almost everyone in Gorakhpur has a story about an Adityanath intervention that helped push through a piece of work that would've been otherwise impossible.

'If my politics is Leftist, it doesn't mean I am a Maoist'

'If my politics is Leftist, it doesn't mean I am a Maoist'

Rediff.com9 Mar 2015

'Is it a crime to be inspired by the Left ideology? Why can't I read a book on Marxist philosophy? Is it banned in India?'

PM's post: Married candidates need not apply

PM's post: Married candidates need not apply

Rediff.com22 Apr 2014

'There appears to be in the Indian polity a link between being Single and being of prime ministerial timber. It is a trend, a preponderance -- not a statistical verity,' says Dr Shashi K Pande.

Land reforms fail, only 5% of India's farmers control 32% land

Land reforms fail, only 5% of India's farmers control 32% land

Rediff.com18 May 2016

The average land given to the rural landless is small and falling, from 0.95 acres in 2002 to 0.88 acres in 2015 - a 7.4 per cent drop over 13 years-and a slowdown is evident in the process of taking land away from rich landlords, the RTI data reveal.