News for 'educational freedom'

'Pakistan knows its game is up'

'Pakistan knows its game is up'

Rediff.com26 Aug 2019

'We have to stay one step ahead of Pakistan'

Student Of The Year

Student Of The Year

Rediff.com5 Mar 2016

Shekhar Gupta has a question for Kanhaiya Kumar, but a bigger, more vital, one for the honourable judge.

'Don't make my Kashmir a graveyard'

'Don't make my Kashmir a graveyard'

Rediff.com4 Nov 2019

'The decision of August will have to be taken back. This is our resolve. When it will happen, how it will happen, the judge of our case are the people of this country.'

'Zaira Wasim episode is taking Islam backward'

'Zaira Wasim episode is taking Islam backward'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2019

'Why should she involve Islam in it?' 'We are living in a secular democracy and she has the right to do what she wants. but why bring Islam into it?'

How Hindus for once used the legal system well

How Hindus for once used the legal system well

Rediff.com13 Feb 2014

'The book was NOT banned. There were NO book burnings. There were NO riots. The author was NOT sent death-threats. On the contrary, the plaintiffs pursued due process. The case is a textbook example of how to proceed with civilised, democratic dissent,' says Rajeev Srinivasan.

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.

Chalein saath, saath: Forward together we go, US tells India

Chalein saath, saath: Forward together we go, US tells India

Rediff.com30 Sep 2014

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the White House for the private dinner hosted by President Barack Obama, India and the US on Monday issued a vision statement "Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go" that called for a joint endeavour for prosperity and peace.

'More people must speak up against toxic polarisation'

'More people must speak up against toxic polarisation'

Rediff.com18 Dec 2018

'The problem here is not that one community's deity has suddenly become another community's meal.' 'Hindus and Muslims have been peacefully coexisting with their cows for centuries now.' 'The problem here is that a section of Indians has been suddenly made to realise that it makes great political sense to degrade each one of the 170 million Muslims to a potential cow-killer, lynch a few of them to keep the heat on, polarise and win elections.'

Dialogue and terrorism can't happen at the same time

Dialogue and terrorism can't happen at the same time

Rediff.com25 Jul 2019

Pakistan's 'approach is one of getting even, an eye for an eye, or death by a thousand cuts.' 'The entire effort is to be the equal of India. Unfortunately, the reality is that this can never be the case.' 'India will always be the bigger, economically stronger, technologically more self-reliant country.' 'Therein, lies the dilemma Pakistan faces which leads it to perennial enmity with India,' notes Ambassador Gautam Bambawale in the Air Marshal Y V Malse Memorial Lecture 2019.

'By 2025, we will be corruption free'

'By 2025, we will be corruption free'

Rediff.com14 Aug 2017

'I feel now we have a leader who is non-corruptible.' 'But he needs time as corruption is deep-rooted in our society, and people have no shame about being corrupt.' 'It will take at least 7 years to make some changes.'

'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.

How Bihar changed under Nitish Kumar

How Bihar changed under Nitish Kumar

Rediff.com9 Nov 2015

What is Change really like in Bihar? Once seen as India's basket-case, what is its turnaround story like?

India, Australia ink pact to expand counter-terror cooperation

India, Australia ink pact to expand counter-terror cooperation

Rediff.com10 Apr 2017

During their talks, the two leaders decided to significantly expand their ties in several key areas including defence, trade, energy and education.

US varsity returns $3 million grant; claims donors were 'Hindu right-wingers'

US varsity returns $3 million grant; claims donors were 'Hindu right-wingers'

Rediff.com23 Feb 2016

A top US university is "walking away" from the $3 million grants it received to establish endowed chairs in India studies after alleged that the donors had "extreme right-wing notions".

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

Rediff.com25 Jul 2017

'I bow to the 125 crore citizens of this great nation and promise to stay true to the trust they have bestowed on me.'

'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.'

'Human rights are being curtailed systematically'

'Human rights are being curtailed systematically'

Rediff.com13 Apr 2016

'Human rights violations are there in rural areas and in cities. In rural areas it is crude and in the open. In urban areas it is well hidden.' 'Awareness has grown several fold. India has 160 national and state human rights institutions. No other country in the world has this.' 'Unfortunately the right to association, right to assembly, freedom of expression, right to protest and discuss are all being curtailed systematically one by one.'

'We are not fighting for sex, but for love'

'We are not fighting for sex, but for love'

Rediff.com7 Sep 2018

'If people understand the love between boy-boy, girl-girl or transgenders, then that is the first great step for society to change.'

How to kickstart your career after a break

How to kickstart your career after a break

Rediff.com17 Dec 2015

Ugrade your skills. Tap on to your network. Choose the right company for you.

Kumaraswamy to expand ministry on Wednesday

Kumaraswamy to expand ministry on Wednesday

Rediff.com5 Jun 2018

Sources said while the Janata Dal-Secular will have nine new ministers, the Congress will have nearly 12 of its legislators inducted into the cabinet. Lone Bahujan Samaj Party MLA N Mahesh will also be a part of the cabinet expansion and will be given a key portfolio.

A school where teachers don't 'teach'!

A school where teachers don't 'teach'!

Rediff.com3 Oct 2017

Some 230 kilometres from Kolkata, in West Bengal's Birbhum district, 500 children stand out because of their 'unconventional' education, says Anjuli Bhargava.

'BJP has no principle, thinks through only one person'

'BJP has no principle, thinks through only one person'

Rediff.com29 Mar 2014

Hitting the campaign trail in Assam for the first time this election, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party as a "party that divides the people and thinks through only one person."

I'm glad that an Indian & Pakistani can be united in peace: Malala

I'm glad that an Indian & Pakistani can be united in peace: Malala

Rediff.com10 Dec 2014

At 17, Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel laureate. She was conferred the joint Peace Prize along with India's Kailash Satyarthi at Oslo on Wednesday. Here is the full transcript of her speech.

'Mandela practised Yoga to deal with prison brutalities'

'Mandela practised Yoga to deal with prison brutalities'

Rediff.com10 Jun 2016

One of the last surviving freedom fighters from that era, Isu Laloo Chiba, shared this in a message to support the Indian missions' plan to celebrate the second United Nations-sanctioned International Day of Yoga on 21 June in South Africa.

What I want for Bihar

What I want for Bihar

Rediff.com10 Sep 2015

'What I want is not for the elected to tell me what they did in the 1990s or for the past 5 years,' says A Bihari Abroad. 'I would rather know what they plan to do in the next 6 months and give the people a report on the progress of these initiatives. Perhaps, a presentation on their performance and their future plans, to the electoral public, who they represent and are actually answerable to.'

Pics: Miss World beauty queens are talking about periods in India

Pics: Miss World beauty queens are talking about periods in India

Rediff.com9 Feb 2018

Miss World winners are touring India to talk about periods.

'The past has a knack of exploding in our faces'

'The past has a knack of exploding in our faces'

Rediff.com19 Sep 2018

'People beat their chests when the Babri Masjid was brought down, not realising that it was just one event in a chain going back centuries; to look at the last link or two in isolation is absurd.'

55 years later, a beloved classic gets a sequel!

55 years later, a beloved classic gets a sequel!

Rediff.com4 Feb 2015

Harper Lee to publish sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird more than five decades after it was first published.

Why the BJP 'worships' Congressman Patel

Why the BJP 'worships' Congressman Patel

Rediff.com5 Nov 2018

'This is basically aimed at vilifying Nehruvian ideals.' 'Why?' 'Because, Nehruvian leadership is seen by Hindutva forces as the one which did not let them have their Hindu Raj.' 'The Hindutva proponents have always assumed that had Sardar become the first prime minister, India could never have become a secular State,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

'Yeddyurappa's swearing-in is a farce'

'Yeddyurappa's swearing-in is a farce'

Rediff.com17 May 2018

'This minority government will be for only 15 days.' 'By that time, its motion of confidence will be defeated, and it will have to resign.' 'Therefore, the swearing-in is a waste of money, energy and time.'

When the South rose against Hindi

When the South rose against Hindi

Rediff.com14 Jun 2019

'In the hands of a majoritarian government, with utter contempt for the cultural plurality and diversity of our great nation, the pipe dream of making Hindi the sole official language takes on nightmarish proportions.'

COVID-19: 'We are lucky it came later to India'

COVID-19: 'We are lucky it came later to India'

Rediff.com29 Jun 2020

'People are getting admitted to hospital two to three days before their death in a very serious respiratory compromise state and they are passing away within 48 hours.' 'Those who are coming early in the disease, the minute they are suspicious that they have COVID-19, the recovery rate has been much, much, higher.' 'The moral of the story is: We must destigmatise COVID-19.' 'People should be told: 'Look, if you have anything like this, please come immediately'.'

Why Mayawati is wary of 'Ravan'

Why Mayawati is wary of 'Ravan'

Rediff.com4 Oct 2018

Mayawati has accused 'Ravan' of being a BJP agent who is dividing the scheduled castes.

Om Birla unanimously elected as new Lok Sabha Speaker

Om Birla unanimously elected as new Lok Sabha Speaker

Rediff.com19 Jun 2019

A total of 13 motions were moved in support of Birla.

'COVID-19 is a man made pandemic'

'COVID-19 is a man made pandemic'

Rediff.com6 Jun 2020

'Wild animals lived in their natural environment.' 'So, viruses could not be communicated.' 'Then came mass production and mass quartering of animals -- whether it be poultry, pigs and cattle -- which gave rise to bird flu, SARS and the mad cow disease.' 'Vast amounts of animal produce are also being flown from one part of the world to another, which has helped to spread the virus.' 'All these changes have led to a new and deadly mutation of the virus that has immobliised human beings.'

Writers step up protest, 1 quits Sahitya Akademi, 3 more return award

Writers step up protest, 1 quits Sahitya Akademi, 3 more return award

Rediff.com11 Oct 2015

Three eminent writers from Punjab announced that they were returning their Sahitya Akademi awards, while Kannada writer Aravind Malagatti resigned from the body's general council, joining the growing protest by litterateurs over "rising intolerance" and "communal" atmosphere.

Tolerance as a duty is a pre-requisite to making India

Tolerance as a duty is a pre-requisite to making India

Rediff.com12 Jan 2015

If democracy is to survive and thrive, duties have to be as important as rights and tolerance must be the foundation of public and private life.

'For Tagore, human beings were far more important than the concept of a nation'

'For Tagore, human beings were far more important than the concept of a nation'

Rediff.com8 Mar 2016

'Tagore repeatedly denounced the "My country, right or wrong" attitude.' 'We often use the phrase "unity in diversity" like a cliche and often make diversity secondary, giving precedence to unity.' 'You do not have to shout from the rooftops that we are very tolerant.'

'Only a nation that respects its women can become a global power'

'Only a nation that respects its women can become a global power'

Rediff.com25 Jan 2015

'Where have we failed, as parents, teachers and leaders, that our children have forgotten all tenets of decent behaviour and respect for women?' President Pranab Mukherjee asks the nation on the eve of Republic Day.

Consumers, Wake Up!

Consumers, Wake Up!

Rediff.com14 Aug 2016

Harshala Chandorkar, chief operating officer, CIBIL, explains your rights and duties as a responsible consumer