News for 'Universal Just Action Society'

Tanushree Dutta: '#MeToo will never die'

Tanushree Dutta: '#MeToo will never die'

Rediff.com22 Nov 2018

'Because of the impact the movement has had, people will think twice before misbehaving because you don't know who will turn out to be another Tanushree Dutta.'

'Why promote silly characters like Mickey Mouse and Goofy?'

'Why promote silly characters like Mickey Mouse and Goofy?'

Rediff.com11 May 2016

'Children should be brought up connected to our culture and should be introduced to characters from our mythologies. What is this Baa Baa Black Sheep?'

CM Mehbooba Mufti visits victims' families as tension prevails in Kashmir

CM Mehbooba Mufti visits victims' families as tension prevails in Kashmir

Rediff.com16 Apr 2016

Mehbooba Mufti said that incidents like the ones at Handwara and Nathnusa are "unacceptable" and come as a major setback to the efforts of the state government in consolidating peace dividends in the state.

Sridhar Srinivasan: A life dedicated to the working class struggle

Sridhar Srinivasan: A life dedicated to the working class struggle

Rediff.com29 Sep 2015

'Sridhar had the ability to paint a vision, for an activist faced with the toughest personal problems so as to see a way out by combining one's personal desires with the needs of the movement.' Arun Ferreira remembers his fallen comrade Sridhar Srinivasan.

FULL TEXT of PM Modi's I-Day address

FULL TEXT of PM Modi's I-Day address

Rediff.com15 Aug 2019

Following is the full text of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 73rd Independence Day.

Kirron Kher faces resentment from local BJP leaders

Kirron Kher faces resentment from local BJP leaders

Rediff.com20 Mar 2014

Actor-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Kirron Kher on Wednesday visited former MP Harmohan Dhawan at the latter's residence in Chandigarh apparently to seek support for her candidature, but failed to win over the sulking leader.

Can AAP be the nucleus of a Third Front govt at Centre?

Can AAP be the nucleus of a Third Front govt at Centre?

Rediff.com25 Feb 2014

For the third front to become a reality, it needs a party that has a pan-India presence and wins more Lok Sabha seats than all other parties in the front, say experts.

Celebrating azaadi: Listening for the concern behind the complaint

Celebrating azaadi: Listening for the concern behind the complaint

Rediff.com10 May 2016

'We live in a time when hideous anger easily flares up, particularly on identity-related issues.' 'Often advocates of harmony and compassion fall victim to the same anger and end up hating the 'haters'!' 'This changes the moment we are able to turn the slanging match into a conversation.' 'More often than not you may find that there is agreement on a fundamental truth -- respect for the life and dignity of all.'

Right to Privacy and the Bhagavad Gita

Right to Privacy and the Bhagavad Gita

Rediff.com28 Sep 2017

The verdict in the right to privacy case is historic and of global significance because it establishes dharma, righteousness and destroys adharma.

Right to Privacy and the Bhagavad Gita

Right to Privacy and the Bhagavad Gita

Rediff.com28 Sep 2017

The verdict in the right to privacy case is historic and of global significance because it establishes dharma, righteousness and destroys adharma.

Full text of Modi's address to US Congress

Full text of Modi's address to US Congress

Rediff.com8 Jun 2016

Here's the full text of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the United States Congress.

The fight against superstition gathers momentum

The fight against superstition gathers momentum

Rediff.com19 Oct 2017

Though the list of superstitious beliefs is long, often dissolving distinctions of class, caste, religion and education, Karnataka's anti-superstition bill is seen as a big step ahead.

ISIS and the period of anarchy

ISIS and the period of anarchy

Rediff.com7 Jul 2016

Everything about ISIS had indicated that this would be a violent Ramzan. A violent, divisive Ramzan sends out exactly the message that ISIS wants to send to religious Muslims outside its folds: It plays on their faith and fears, says writer Tabish Khair.

Why a planet was named after Sahithi Pingali

Why a planet was named after Sahithi Pingali

Rediff.com30 Jun 2017

Nikita Puri introduces the Indian teenager who has joined the league of innovators with celestial bodies named after them.

Are YOU your own worst enemy?

Are YOU your own worst enemy?

Rediff.com24 Nov 2015

Ask yourself these six questions -- perhaps the answers hold the key to your success.

Is an anti-wrinkle pillow the secret of this Hollywood star's beauty?

Is an anti-wrinkle pillow the secret of this Hollywood star's beauty?

Rediff.com14 Apr 2018

What 32-year-old star Mandy Moore's actions tell us about anti-ageing regimes...

New York City Hall welcomes Nisha and Udai

New York City Hall welcomes Nisha and Udai

Rediff.com20 Mar 2014

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced the appointment of Nisha Agarwal, one of the leading advocates in the city for the immigrant communities, as commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Is Tamil Nadu the new epicentre for honour killings?

Is Tamil Nadu the new epicentre for honour killings?

Rediff.com15 Mar 2016

Caste-based violence is on the rise in Tamil Nadu, but the state government stays in denial, says R Ramasubramanian

You could tell Dr Kalam was unhappy when he said...

You could tell Dr Kalam was unhappy when he said...

Rediff.com4 Aug 2015

Dr P K Menon, Chief Scientist and CEO, Optimal Synthesis Inc, who worked with Dr A P J Abdul Kalam early on in his career, recalls what it was like working for his first boss.

'We refuse to be bullied into silence'

'We refuse to be bullied into silence'

Rediff.com10 Jan 2019

MUST READ: The speech Nayantara Sahgal was not allowed to give.

Will these India-China army exercises achieve anything?

Will these India-China army exercises achieve anything?

Rediff.com14 Oct 2015

'The focus on countering terrorism brings to the issue Beijing's non-serious approach in this regard. India's permanent representative at the UN has raised in vain the issue of funding and the release of 26/11 suspect Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi. But China has blocked these objections since December 2014 at the UN even after 'highest levels' in India intervened,' notes Srikanth Kondapalli, reviewing the India-China military exercises in Kunming.

With TN bypoll cancellation, Centre gets more than a toe in

With TN bypoll cancellation, Centre gets more than a toe in

Rediff.com10 Apr 2017

The Rs 89 crore question before Tamil Nadu now is what shape a central intervention would take, and if there would be any role whatsoever for acting governor, Ch Vidyasagar Rao, in it, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Bleeding hearts! Don't bleed the nation!

Bleeding hearts! Don't bleed the nation!

Rediff.com25 Feb 2016

'All their idealism, intensity of emotions, acute sense of right and wrong, and burning passion for public causes can never serve as justifiable grounds to be touted by students of any country, let alone of India, with all its fragility and vulnerability, to question its unity in the name of freedom of expression,' says B S Raghavan.

SC to probe allegations that judge sexually harassed intern

SC to probe allegations that judge sexually harassed intern

Rediff.com12 Nov 2013

The Supreme Court has constituted a three-judge committee to go into the woman's claim.

Dalai Lama snub and India's plans to reset China ties

Dalai Lama snub and India's plans to reset China ties

Rediff.com8 Mar 2018

'If, as appears to be the case, India is on way to 'mending fences' with China, and China is equally desirous to 'reset' the relationship, this could be a self-reflexive moment in India's positioning vis-a-vis not just the Dalai Lama, but also the Tibetan issue and China as a whole,' points out China expert Alka Acharya.

Pistorius cleared of murder, culpable homicide verdict to come

Pistorius cleared of murder, culpable homicide verdict to come

Rediff.com11 Sep 2014

Oscar Pistorius was cleared on Thursday of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp but the Olympic and Paralympic track star faces a troubled night after the South African judge adjourned for the day before ruling on a charge of culpable homicide.

'Great danger India will waste its demographic dividend'

'Great danger India will waste its demographic dividend'

Rediff.com14 Apr 2016

'... for two reasons: the poor quality of education, and the low rate of female participation in the labour force.' 'Unless something is done quickly to remedy these problems, India will just have a large population of low-skill, low-wage, males trying and failing to feed their families adequately.'

A warrior prince rises in Arabia

A warrior prince rises in Arabia

Rediff.com22 Jun 2017

The Middle East's power house is about to get a new ruler who is only 31 and he may lead Saudi Arabia for decades, says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

'Modi's marriage is a Shakespearean tragedy'

'Modi's marriage is a Shakespearean tragedy'

Rediff.com11 Apr 2014

'If 17-year-old Modi wanted to get out of the marriage, which was imposed on him by a socially backward society and his family, it's not only ethical but his right to walk out of the forced marriage...' 'Jashodaben, a highly conservative woman who understandably, by the social standards of India of the 1960s, opted to remain confined to the marriage instead of kicking Modi out from her life for not starting the marriage in the real sense...''In spite of media pressure, if she does not speak against Modi, it suggests that Modi has not ill-treated her or exploited her after parting ways.' Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt speaks to people in the know about the controversy over Narendra Modi's marriage.

'Ram Temple NOT demolished by Babur, but Aurangzeb'

'Ram Temple NOT demolished by Babur, but Aurangzeb'

Rediff.com29 Jun 2016

'Babur has been facing gross historical injustice for the last two centuries, when he had no role either in the demolition of any temple or in the construction of the so-called Babri mosque at Ayodhya.'

To appreciate Raman Raghav 2.0, you will have to surrender to it

To appreciate Raman Raghav 2.0, you will have to surrender to it

Rediff.com30 Jun 2016

'There is no way you can view the movie from a distance, from a moral high ground, and get to its core.' 'To truly appreciate what Anurag Kashyap is trying to do here, you may have to lose a part of yourself to it, first,' says Sreehari Nair.

What happened to Priya Pillai could happen to many of us

What happened to Priya Pillai could happen to many of us

Rediff.com16 Feb 2015

'No private citizen can be prevented from holding or propagating in India or abroad, a view contrary to that of the government of the day. The government, it seems is misreading the mandate in the Lok Sabha as being a mandate to crush dissent. In times when ruling parties have brute majorities in Parliament, the true test of safeguarding democracy is its ability to allow dissenting voices to be heard,' says Indira Jaising, the former additional solicitor general.

FDI in retail and 'Two Cultures'

FDI in retail and 'Two Cultures'

Rediff.com22 Apr 2014

The e-commerce marketplace is like an information intermediary these days.

Why the law on sedition needs to be scrapped

Why the law on sedition needs to be scrapped

Rediff.com16 Jul 2018

'The best remedy would be to scrap Section 124-A of the IPC, a colonial vestige, altogether.' 'However, if legislators don't want to do so, they can do two things.' 'They can formally amend Section 124-A to bring it in line with what the Supreme Court has said about sedition.' 'The words which stand on the statute book today were inserted in 1898.' 'The Supreme Court's words are not a part of Section 124-A.'

Remembering Kalam: 'When a problem arises, become the captain of the problem and defeat it!'

Remembering Kalam: 'When a problem arises, become the captain of the problem and defeat it!'

Rediff.com27 Jul 2016

'We have 200 million families. Parents have the responsibility to make their children righteous -- where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character.' 'Only three people can give a good citizen before s/he turns 17. Father, mother, the spiritual environment and the primary school teacher.' President A P J Kalam on India becoming a developed country by 2020-2022, the heroes he admired; how 90 per cent of India's space programme is intended for the people and the individual's potential to become unique.

Hamid Ansari goes to bat for secularism

Hamid Ansari goes to bat for secularism

Rediff.com5 Apr 2016

How has the Indian State, in principle and practice, given shape to the essential ingredients of the secular principle and composite culture?

She wants to raise Rs 20 crore to save refugees

She wants to raise Rs 20 crore to save refugees

Rediff.com11 Sep 2015

Moved by three-year-old Aylan Kurdi's death, Vidhya Ramalingam has kick-started a crowd-funding campaign to buy a rescue ship for immediate action in the Mediterranean.

How girls are duped into 'bonded labour' in India's textile mills

How girls are duped into 'bonded labour' in India's textile mills

Rediff.com6 Aug 2015

Brands such as Gap, Primark and C&A which source some of their garments from Tamil Nadu say they do regular audits to ensure their suppliers comply with their codes of conduct.

The scary messages from the Saran riots

The scary messages from the Saran riots

Rediff.com17 Aug 2016

'Consider this image of today's youth in Bihar -- armed with a bike, a smartphone and possibly some illegal arms too, imbibing incessant stream of images from the Internet and television.' 'Some of them would turn into gau bhakts, some would listen with interest the exploits of Salafism, dig deep into the Internet to come out with images which cry vociferously that their respective religions are in danger.'

'There is no evidence that Modi ordered the killings'

'There is no evidence that Modi ordered the killings'

Rediff.com10 Feb 2014

Lawyer and scholar Vinay Sitapati says the 'Get Modi' strategy largely misses the efforts to prosecute people evidently guilty of violence and murders in the Gujarat riots in favour of "a narrow quest to stop one man from becoming prime minister."