Why India should forget Afghanistan, Pakistan, ‘Terroristan’ & shift strategic gaze to the seas
India shouldn’t be paranoid about a weakened Pakistan creating a new ‘Terroristan’. This is the best chance to focus on maritime power and opportunity rather than overland threats.
3 fates await Afghanistan as US breaks it for 3rd time in 40 yrs. Afghans have say in none
This time, America didn’t just fight a war in Afghanistan but also invested a great deal of time, money and emotion in nation-building. Only to leave it like a possible Syria in South Asia.
Caste, ethnicity, religion – United colours of Indian hockey prove the game thrives in inclusivity
It's impossible to field an Indian hockey team that doesn’t reflect the diversity, the united colours, better than any other. Shows that a sport, or a nation, will prosper with growing inclusivity.
Why Mizoram vs Assam is a BJP project to ‘integrate’ northeast gone wrong
Assam-Mizoram violence is an outcome of BJP trying too hard to ‘integrate’ distinct northeastern states. This has unleashed latent regionalism.
Like them or not, Taliban are a reality. India can deal with them if BJP resets its politics
Befriending the Taliban is possible, and pragmatic. It’s just that it calls for a big reset in the BJP’s domestic politics — a formula that goes beyond polarisation.
Is India made of porcelain? Question CJI Ramana should ask Modi govt at next sedition hearing
Sedition law isn’t just a colonial hangover. It’s a convenient weapon for under-performing governments to conflate themselves with the nation and use against critics.
Did you mock the English bad of the Mansukh Mandaviya? You won the Modi votes more
Mocking new health minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s English underlines the political elitism Modi’s India has rejected.
Why have Modi’s rivals failed to challenge him? This survey of Indians’ religiosity has clues
Latest PEW survey on Indians and religion could be a handbook for the opposition as it struggles to understand why its message of secularism doesn’t have many takers.
Why Modi govt is suddenly ‘looking west’, talking to the Taliban and Pakistan
Talks with Taliban, J&K leaders, thaw with Pakistan are strategic imperatives for Modi govt. It can’t covet US as Quad ally in the east & work at counter-purposes with them in the west.
China’s Wuhan story unravels as world’s finest, including from India, nail Covid lab-leak proof
The global hunt for where the virus behind pandemic came from shows science, democracy and a sense of inquiry can overcome politics, ideology and omerta codes.
YourTurn
US summit of democracy is like ‘ashwamedha yagya’, India can offer alt vision to pause China
India might have been dubbed a ‘democratic backslider’, but it could offer a new vision of democracy based on Dharma and the Bhagavad Gita.
Govt order against blended ‘impostor’ can help reclaim glory of Indian tea, curb export dip
India's falling tea exports can be attributed to multiple factors, such as a dip in production leading to a surge in prices, making the commodity internationally uncompetitive, and blending.
Defence
From buyer of military goods, India wants to become Russia’s ‘development & production’ partner
India & Russia are looking at signing a defence logistics exchange pact when President Putin comes calling, with a ceremonial handing over of S-400 Triumf air defence systems likely too.
Yes, UPA’s dead. But here’s what Mamata, PK are saying about Congress & why that’s right too
Even in its second successive annihilation by BJP, Congress retained a solid block of 20% votes. That’s why all of BJP’s victims want the Congress at the core of their challenge.