COLUMN
No middle ground for talks between Maldivian regime and opposition
Even as targeted sanctions by the European Union loom on the political horizon, the Abdulla Yameen government and the opposition in Maldives are nowhere near finding middle ground to hold talks to ensure a free and fair Presidential election slated for September 23 this year. The government as well as... More
150 hrs to a new dawn?
Though the usual feudal modus operandi for obtaining votes, particularly in the rural areas, is through outright coercion and/or intimidation, it also depends upon who counts the vote. Even more importantly, it is about who gets to collate it. With rigging/tampering with ballot and ballot boxes fairly widespread in... More
Is Modi making up for India’s shortage of diplomats?
Narendra Modi is India's most travelled Prime Minister. The opposition Congress recently wanted his name on the Guinness Book of World Records for the most travelled Prime Minister, mockingly writing," We are overwhelmed and”extremely happy to suggest the name of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has set the... More
India faces tough choices as the US sanctions Iran
For the Indian policy makers, one of the crucial questions today is of how to walk a balancing act between the US, their prime strategic ally, and Iran, their traditional regional ally and, of course, third biggest supplier of oil. The question has become even more significant ever since... More
Something is broken in Bangladesh: Will it heal?
There is something scared about the relationship between a University, its teachers and students. It is built on trust, obligation, mutual affection and much more. Its as if the teacher is the parent, the campus is the home. A relationship is inherently therefore written into this unwritten contract. It was... More
EDITOR'S CHOICE
India’s social-media ‘lynch mobs’ pose growing threat
Social-media platforms are often criticized for their susceptibility to toxic dialogue and vicious attacks. It is a problem that India knows well. Just ask External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, whose recent vilification by members and supporters of her own ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a case in point. Swaraj... More
The new trade order
Since the start of the year, U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at allies and adversaries alike on trade. Often, as with India, the U.S. has pushed for enhanced security cooperation at the same time it declared trade relations a national security threat. The belligerence has left many... More
One day does not an election make
The much-awaited Gazipur city election is over, the “we-knew-it-from-before” polls results are upon us, the “impartiality” of the police and the “neutrality” of the civil administration have once again been demonstrated, the never-too-late-to-follow “certificate” of the Election Commission has been delivered and, of course, our democracy now stands “strengthened”. As... More
The PDP-BJP coalition was an unnatural and opportunistic alliance
The BJP pulled out of the coalition government and the other partner, the PDP, had no choice but to resign. The BJP pulled out of the coalition government and the other partner, the PDP, had no choice but to resign. Only a few weeks ago I had poured out my... More
READER'S VIEW
Gorkhaland, Mamata and the Chinese factor
Just a few days ago I warned two young student leaders in Darjeeling of West Bengal, against the violent movement which has started there for a separate Gorkhaland. I told them in no way should they support this demand. This has multifarious geo-political risks. If a Gorkhaland state is... More