'There was state-sponsored distortion of history in Bangladesh'

Q&A


As the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's war of liberation arrives, Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Bangladesh's deputy high commissioner to India, spoke with Rakhi Chakrabarty about preserving this struggle's history, deep ties between India and Bangladesh - and how a film festival aims at strengthening links and memories created from this war:


Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

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

Budget Blitz

No country is as obsessed with the FM's annual hisaab as India is

Budget Blitz

Jug Suraiya elaborates the period during the budget when the whole of India finds itself hooked to the Finance Minister's accounts. 

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

Those White Papers

When you want change, don't write one

Those White Papers

During the proceedings of the recent Budget 2012-13, Pranab Mukherjee promised to produce a white paper on black money. But history suggests that a production of white paper in the public domain seldom creates action and, subsequently, change.

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

Handle With Care

Child welfare must be the priority in the custody case in Norway

Handle With Care

It is seen from the fresh details pouring in, that the Bhattacharya's had not been forthcoming about their domestic problems. At the same time, neither have Norwegian authorities been proactive in explaining their stand. 

However, what remains important at the end of it all is the welfare of the children. 

-The Times of India, March 23, 2012

The Common Touch

It's something Mitt Romney and Rahul Gandhi are trying too hard to show they have

The Common Touch

"There is one person standing in the way of dynastic power grabs. Some patronizingly refer to him as the "common man""

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Montek's poor joke

The flip-flop on poverty beggars the imagination, and many more

Montek's poor joke

Bachi Karkaria writes on the Planning Commission, and its outrageous cut-offs as qualifiers for benefits. Recently the figures were reduces further and made beyond outrageous.

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Where's The Change?

A troubled start for SP regime in UP

Where's The Change?

As soon as the Samajwadi Party was declared as the majority party, violence broke out in several areas, and the ones responsible for it, or at least some of them, have been reported allegedly as party's own members. That even a life was lost in a celebratory fire wasn't a good sign of things to come. However, the party needs to take the necessary action to maintain the popular goodwill that has brought it into power in the first place.

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Jet, Set, Go

Give aviation a level playing field and watch it fly

Jet, Set, Go

"Reform-based steps are in order" in the aviation sector. The editorial recommends that the Air India enjoy no more privileges, and that if they "can't do without coddling," they should be privatized, so as to create a level playing field.

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Afghanistan as "Lost Cause"

"The idea that liberal democracy is alien to the country, now being used to legitimise early western withdrawal, is racist libel."

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Afghanistan as "Lost Cause":  Powerful voices in western geo-strategic discourse had long railed against efforts to build a secular-democratic order in Afghanistan after 9/11. Now, the notion that liberal democracy is in some way alien to Afghanistan has become a pervasive meme. In order to legitimise early withdrawal, the anti-democratic politics of the Taliban is being marketed as an authentic voice of Afghan tradition. The ideological underpinnings of these ideas need extremely careful examination.

Feed the needy, not nuclear ambitions

"The crucial test for North Korea and the U.S. will be how the tussle over the DPRK's nuclear programme and the supply of food aid are resolved." 

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Feed the needy, not nuclear ambitions: North Korea's statement last Friday that it would launch a satellite into space as part of the celebrations next month on the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il-Sung has again thrown a spanner into the works.

Just two weeks ago, an agreement had been reached between North Korea and the United States on the resumption of food aid in return for suspension of nuclear activities. The U.S., Britain, Japan and South Korea responded immediately, urging the North not to proceed as it would violate the United Nations ban on nuclear and missile activity.

Former Karnataka Lokayukta on mining scam

"If no one appeals the Karnataka High Court judgment, the case will go uninvestigated, says former Karnataka Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde."

The Hindu : Opinion / Interview : 'I was given a sweeping mandate to inquire into all aspects of mining illegalities':  It is too early to say whether the 2011 report by former Karnataka Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde on illegal mining in Karnataka will have the huge impact on the way the industry operates in the State — and elsewhere in the country — the 26,000 page document is possibly the most exhaustive, carefully-researched investigation into corruption and its linkages with industry and politics that has been compiled in India.

A recent judgment by a division bench of the Karnataka High Court on a petition by former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa challenging the First Information Report filed against him by the Lokayukta police has been widely viewed as a setback to the legal fight against corruption.

Congress without Trinamool

"Mamata Banerjee will do anything to enhance her political image, even if this means humiliating her senior colleagues. By obtaining the resignation of Railway Minister, she is hoping to project herself as the sole champion of the poor, as someone who is able to push and prod the UPA into working for the greater common good. "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Congress without Trinamool:  Each time, as she maximises her political mileage, the Congress ends up looking a clueless pivot of a rudderless government.

Stem cell science is already saving lives

 "Blood donated from healthy babies' umbilical cords is in focus."

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Stem cell science is already saving lives - The cells that are being collected from the placenta are magic cells, miraculous cells. They're the blueprint for all the different cells in the blood — so for someone whose own bone marrow isn't working properly, they can be a real lifeline.

Let good sense prevail

"After a Norwegian court placed two toddlers in permanent foster care, their parents' plight has generated indignation in India and led to high-level diplomacy between Oslo and New Delhi. The parents have alleged the children's removal stems from a deep cultural bias. The Child Welfare Service (CWS) in Norway has consistently denied this, saying the children were removed for far serious reasons related to their delayed development."

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Let good sense prevail:  The strains of negotiating a foreign culture and environment are evident — both for the Bhattacharyas and for the Norwegian authorities — but the fact that the family needed assistance is undeniable. On its part, the CWS is not without blame. It has shown cultural insensitivity and made serious mistakes in handling the case.