Myanmar's Future Is Now

India must strengthen bilateral ties as its neighbor starts on a new path

Myanmar's Future Is Now

Myanmar now finds itself engaged in the democratic process and in a rebuilding phase that hopes to propel the nation onto a new path. It is crucial, says Rajiv Bhatia, former ambassador to Myanmar, for India to strengthen its bilateral ties with its neighbor. 

"Suu Kyi articulates her criticism of India's engagement with the military regime, but seems ready to take a more positive view of its approach to Myanmar's transition to democracy"

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

Playing With Fire

The Congress is repeating old mistakes by exploiting the Rushdie issue for electoral purposes

Playing With Fire

-The Times of India, January 23, 2012

The Rushdie affair might have set grave precedents for further public restrictions, fears the writer.

"Like in 1986-88, the Congress is sedulously promoting the idea of Muslim distinctiveness - institutionalising into permanency a legal separateness (in 1986) and a political separateness (now)"

A Crucial Test

Political class must reject Deoband's call to block Rushdie visit


A Crucial Test

-The Times of India, January 11, 2012

Personal Review: The article outlines the call for blocking Salman Rushdie from attending the Jaipur Literary Festival as placing "Congress in a quandary." It also provides a history of "not getting over the past" even after the row over Rushdie's Satanic Verses had been subsided. Furthermore, it shows the proactive role India has played in opposing him and his books. 

Power, Not Principles

Anti-Congressism is the common plank of those motivated by short-term political gain

Power, not principles

-The Times of India, January 10, 2012

Personal Review: An article that traces the history of "anti-congressism" - in the form of political parties, and some other "groups" that have continually rose only to oppose Congress, and not to "get on with their work."

With Frenemies Like These...

Political bonhomie is a many-squandered thing


With Frenemies Like These...

-The Times of India, January 7, 2012