Funding Democracy Fairly: Proposing a Rawlsian Model of Electoral Funding in India
Get a hard copy delivered at your doorstep: Terms & Conditions:
Funding Democracy Fairly: Proposing a Rawlsian Model of Electoral Funding in India Read More »
An Open Letter to 2025 Diwali Ad-Makers: Do not normalize family fragmentation and commodity fetishism in the garb of Diwali
When commodities like paints and sweets are glorified as replacements for the joy of children visiting their parents, the very essence of Diwali as an occasion of family get-together is diminished. Emotions get marketized. Employees’ commitment towards their employers during Diwali, at the cost of their families, is now being normalized. Where are the ads
Netanyahuism: The Zeitgeist of Our Times?
The humanitarian crises unfolding in West Asia and Eastern Europe, along with the inability of the international community to enforce peace in these regions can be captured in a larger phenomenon engulfing the world today – ‘Netanyahuism’. Netanyahu’s approach of ‘eye for an eye’ has become popular all throughout the world. The taboo against the use of instrumentality of military actions to achieve foreign policy objectives is declining. The international community must show moral courage and start calling out the militaristic approach of both Iran and Israel. Solutions need to be found on the diplomatic table, not on the battlefield.
Netanyahuism: The Zeitgeist of Our Times? Read More »
Electoral Bonds, Kejriwal’s Arrest, Congress Accounts: The Funding of Elections and the Role of Civil Society
Bond Disclosure Sparks Debate on the common thread that holds together all seemingly disparate events which is the omnipresent ‘corruption’.
Clean Drinking Water: A Necessity Increasingly Difficult to Fulfill
The paucity of an essential invisible – clean drinking water – is threatening the very existence of homo sapiens. India finds itself at the 120th rank among 122 countries in the Water Quality Index. Three-fourths of rural households find it difficult to get drinking water in India. In large tracts of remote and arid regions of India having high solar irradiance, especially the Thar Desert, Solar Thermal Desalination technology can play a crucial role in fulfilling the needs of the local communities. Strong local institutions and community participation would become the key to their success. The government must encourage private players to provide technological solutions to tackle the water crisis while ensuring that the accessibility of clean drinking water remains a basic and universal right, instead of becoming a paid service.
Clean Drinking Water: A Necessity Increasingly Difficult to Fulfill Read More »
New India: What to focus on – ‘Positivity Rate’ or ‘Positivity Drive’?
Rather than crediting all positives to the regime, and all negatives to the ‘enemies of the state’, we, as a democracy and as ideological inheritors of our freedom fighters, have the moral responsibility of taking the society forward while accounting for the positives as well as the negatives of all the governments democratically elected by us – we, the people!
If the reality is ‘negative’ news, let’s face it. If the reality is ‘positive’ news, let’s rejoice in it! But, let’s not ‘build’ positive news by concealing the reality!
New India: What to focus on – ‘Positivity Rate’ or ‘Positivity Drive’? Read More »
India’s Treatment of the Dead: Shame on Humanity or Shame on Governance?
How come our society has stooped down to such levels? Is this incident a rare outlier in our so-called ‘culturally rich and diverse society’ or is it a feeling being identified by many? Are social conventions above the survival of a human?
It is indeed an appalling reality of our civilisation which we need to face point-blank keeping aside the so-called excuse of ‘negativity all around in pandemic era’.
The earliest realization of the fact that the large size of India’s population is reeling under penury is the only way to catalyse the government for strategizing jobs/source of livelihood to every hand.
India’s Treatment of the Dead: Shame on Humanity or Shame on Governance? Read More »
Should Incumbent Ministers and Chief Ministers Campaign for Civic Body Polls?
As of late, it has been observed that many charismatic leaders across major political parties of India, who happen to be incumbent Ministers of Union and Chief Ministers, have started campaigning even for civic body polls for their favoured candidates. However, should these individuals holding constitutional offices really campaign for their parties?
Should Incumbent Ministers and Chief Ministers Campaign for Civic Body Polls? Read More »
Agri Bills: Why are Farmers Protesting even after PM’s Assurance?
The government needs to view the issue through the perspective of a farmer. The small farmers of today need safeguard from exploitation along with greater choices. Although the bill promises them more choices, it doesn’t attempt to strengthen the safeguards. This is what the farmers of today are protesting against!
Agri Bills: Why are Farmers Protesting even after PM’s Assurance? Read More »
Beginning of a new Cold War
As we reach the midway of 2020, the year is giving no respite from its wrathful events. Apart from the pandemic, the year 2020 will also be remembered as the year of the beginning of a new Cold War. The COVID-19 pandemic has become the flashpoint as both countries blame each other for the devastation caused by the virus across the world. To avoid falling into Tacitus Trap, both the countries are playing the nationalist card to regain their lost legitimacy.
Beginning of a new Cold War Read More »
Democracy 2020: Are new ‘gods’ in the making?
Democracy 2020: Are new Gods in the making ?
The growing numbers of “devotees” instead of “supporters”, is not healthy for a democracy as vibrant and diverse as India where every voice should be respected
Democracy 2020: Are new ‘gods’ in the making? Read More »
Muskuraiye! Aap Lucknow mein hai!
Not everything is so bad in the most populous state of India. Shining out of the congested crowd, divisive politics, casteism, fundamentalism, poverty, illiteracy is a city worth visiting, breaking up whose name into two parts means “Jackpot”. Yes, you guessed it right – Lucknow – the capital city of the erstwhile Kingdom of Awadh
Muskuraiye! Aap Lucknow mein hai! Read More »