OpEd: 'Will Delhi Get Its Honour Back, Atleast This Time?'

By Chetan Bhagat (Star Guest Writer)

WEEKEND SPECIAL  Few cities in India, if not the world, have a past as glorious as Delhi. The Lodhis, Mughals, British and even us in present day India, have chosen this city-state to be our capital. Even after factoring in my bias, being born and brought up in Delhi, i can still say Delhi is one of the greatest cities of our country. 
    
And yet, Delhi has lost some of its honour. First, it is considered the hotbed of corruption. Partly due to Delhi’s importance, India’s biggest scams have originated here. Second, the most horrific cases of crimes against women have come from Delhi. Today, few talk about Delhi as glorious and great. Many talk about Delhi as corrupt and unsafe. 

Tribunal Verdict: Is It Beginning The End Of Jalayagnam?

By Ramesh Reddy | Hyderabad

NEWS IMPACT  The final judgment of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal allowing Karnataka to increase the height of Almatti dam appears to have dealt a blow to Andhra Pradesh. Though on paper the state was allocated the “highest share” of the waters of the Krishna river, irrigation experts pointed that the gain is notional as it has been worked out on the basis of an erroneous calculation of yearly river yields. 
    
INN Live published the series of stories in these columns sometime back 'Jalayagnam News Reports', the impact is in the verdict. The verdict is perceived to be harmful to the interests of the state though on paper the tribunal has allotted 1,005 TMC to AP, that is 195 TMC more than what was allocated by the Bachawat Tribunal award earlier.

Unbelievable Story: Starving Syrians ‘Eat’ Lion From Zoo

By Hamed Al Zuhalfi | Damascus

Unbelievable but true. An image of Syrians cutting up a lion is being shared widely on social media, with activists pointing to the picture as proof that the nation’s besieged citizens are now so hungry they are having to kill zoo animals to survive. The picture shows three men next to a dead lion, with one man cutting up the animal’s hind quarters and another next to the lion, holding up its head. 

The image has not been independently verified, but many are reporting they slaughtered the lion from Al-Qarya al-Shama Zoo, in East Ghouta, for food. It is being circulated as an example of the levels of sheer desperation many have reached in the war-torn capital.

Indian Politics - 'From Insurgency To Electoral Democracy'

By M H Ahssan | INN Live

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS  Accommodative politics, combined with political incentives, helped pave the way for the Mizo National Front to turn into a mainstream political party.

If grievance ever had legitimate reason to be translated into political rebellion, it was in Mizoram. The Mizo National Front (MNF) was an insurgent group that emerged from the Mizo National Famine Front in 1959 — a formation protesting the widespread famine caused by a regular failure of the bamboo crop due to mautam, and the failure of the Indian state to send adequate relief.

Do We Really Need These 'Big Fat' Indian Weddings?

By Simran Brar (Guest Writer)

WEEKEND GUEST COLUMN  I stood at the centre of an opulent hall. To my left, a troupe of flashily attired dancers was gyrating synchronously to loud Bollywood tunes. Men in suits and sherwanis crowded boisterously around a huge bar towards my right. Adjacent to the crowd was a sumptuous, multicuisine spread where the womenfolk had congregated, glittering in their bejewelled best. Unable to spot any familiar face, I turned around, just in time to see the bride make her entrance, decked up in an elaborate designer lehenga and shimmering gold jewellery. 

The NRIs: A life Of Sadness And Full Of 'Bundled Dilemma'

By Sriram Bala (Guest Writer)

WEEKEND GUEST COLUMN  I have been living abroad for almost half of my 24 years of existence. Being an NRI for a substantial amount of time, I know the kind of lifestyle's that most of them lead. Well, to start with, they are just a bunch of normal people who live abroad (not necessarily “developed” in the holistic sense).They can be split broadly into two distinct categories: The Never Return to India and The Now Return to India.

Commentary: The Use, Misuse And Abuse Of 'Cell Phone'

By D B N Murthy (Guest Writer)

WEEKEND GUEST COLUMN  Sometimes, the mobile users are so grossly engrossed in their talk that they forget the world, much to the annoyance of those who are around them.

What is amazing is the extensive use of the mobile/cellphone all over the world. A report suggests that 1,000 new users are being added every minute globally. We in India have an impressive growth rate. It is claimed that about 4 million subscribers jump on the mobile users' bandwagon every month.

Opinion: Old Is Gold — Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow

By Sivamani Vasudevan (Guest Writer)

WEEKEND GUEST COLUMN  Old is gold, it is always said. When I was a five-year old, some 55 years ago, my elders said their olden days were gold. Today, my son, who is around 30, says, “old is gold.”

I always wonder why everyone's olden days are better than their present. Old music and songs were good. Old films were outstanding. Old clothings were of better quality. Old craftsmanship was worthier. Old silk sarees were good. In the olden days, food was of high standards. Old vessels and wares were of high quality.