'Aaj Aane Ki Zid Na Karo': India Deserves Better Than Rahul Gandhi

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

There's a growing realisation within the Congress that whatever Rahul Gandhi's showing as the party's de facto leader, it appears that the Congress has no choice but to embrace his leadership. But here's the thing...

Rahul Gandhi's umpteenth threat of finally becoming president of the Congress reminds me of a famous ghazal by Fayyaz Hashmi popularised by Farida Khanum: Aaj aane ki zid na karo (Don't insist on coming today).

History Revisited: Was Veer Savarkar Really A Brave Fighter?

By AJAZ ASHRAF | INNLIVE

Savarkar was chargesheeted in the assassination of Gandhi but exonerated, largely because no corroborative evidence of his involvement was furnished.

On May 28, India will commemorate the 133rd birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who was born on this day in 1883. Bharatiya Janata Party leaders will recall his valour, because of which he has been given the honorific, Veer.

But, really how veer, or brave, was Veer Savarkar?

For 'Make In India' To Work, India First Needs To Become Globally Competitive

By LIKHAVEER | INNLIVE

A survey of industrial clusters in four states shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's big idea isn't exactly working.

Bhoday Sales Corporation is tucked inside the industrial zone of Ludhiana. A small machine tooling factory with a net worth of not more than Rs 10 lakh, it makes manufacturing equipment for other plants in the city.

Of late, it has fallen on bad times. Sales are down. At one time, says its founder, 68- year-old Maan Singh, the company used to make four power presses a month. It now makes one a month.

Two Years On: PM Narendra Modi's Report Card On Govt And BJP Performance

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

The performance of Narandra Modi as an individual, the functioning of his government and the narrative of his RSS-backed party during the preceding two years calls for a dispassionate analysis that's done without any fear or favour. But believe it or not, it's too difficult a job for the simple reason that the man of the moment, his government and his party look like three different entities.

And analysing the performances of the three put together would present a confusing, indecipherable picture.

Dynastic Politics: In Politics, It's All About Loving Your Family, But Voters Won’t Have It Anymore

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

As the results to the Assembly polls show, dynastic politics have cost political parties dear, especially the Congress.

Hindu mythology is littered with references to the obsessive love that parents have for their children. Bollywood has drunk deep from that wellspring, the “mere paas ma hai” school of thought reigning supreme over many decades.

Special Report: Another Meat Debate - Poor Pakistani's Are being Sold 'Horse And Donkey' Flesh?

By RABIA BASRI | INNLIVE

In a country where class mobility is inaccessible to most, questionable approximations of all sorts burgeon. The Pakistani love affair with meat has been a long and enduring one. In decades past, every neighbourhood, rich or poor, featured a butcher shop, whose front prominently featured a fresh carcass swinging from a hook. Housewives would debate quality with the butcher or argue over the price or the freshness or the cut.

Focus: Why India Should Stop Celebrating Teacher’s Day?

By RAGINI KHANNA | INNLIVE

We have all had great teachers who have shaped our lives. Yet, we can’t pretend that India’s education system is not broken. Most of it has to do with teachers. Indian school students famously don’t ask questions in class. If you ask questions, you are a problem child. When there is rote learning to see you through examinations, why do you need to ask questions?

'Bharat Bandh' On September 2, Over Labour Reforms May Hit Banking, Transport, Factories And Trade In India

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

In India, nearly 150 million workers from 10 central trade unions will go on strike on Wenesday, September 2 against the government’s proposed labour reforms with the protest likely to shut down banks, factories as well as auto, taxi and flight services in many parts of the country.  

The nationwide one-day strike, according to the trade unions, is supposed to be the biggest strike ever in the country. The protestors are striking against the anti-worker economic policies of the government. 

Special Report: Why Do 'Indo-Pak Talks' Repeatedly Fails?

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

India and Pakistan cancelled a high profile National Security Adviser meet this last weekend, much to the disappointment of many who were expecting to finally see a thaw in bilateral relations. 

The run-up to the cancellation was filled with much acrimony, some of which has in fact been unseen since hostilities following 26/11. Officials say that there have been as many as 52 violations of the border ceasefire so far this month. This comes at the back of repeated cross-border infiltration of terrorists into India and terror attacks in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir.

Special Report: Did Mumbai Attacks Mastermind, Pak Terrorist Hafiz Saeed Plan 'Gurdaspur Terror Attack'?

After establishing the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the July 27 Gurdaspur terror attack, Indian intelligence agencies are trying to pinpoint the involvement of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

The three terrorists killed in Dinanagar were speaking Punjabi when slain senior Punjab cop Baljit Singh had challenged them to come out in the open before they killed him. 

Opinion: 'Hanging Yaqub Memon Will Change Our Country'

By Jyoti Malhotra

Before his execution, certain gloating has accompanied the rejection of each appeal and every petition that lawyers and counsels for Yakub Memon put up before the Supreme Court over the last few days. And drastically faced 'rejections' to his pleas.

From some members of parliament to journalists - leave alone the understandable anger of families of the 257 victims of the 1993 Mumbai blasts - a certain bloodthirstiness has taken over the national mood. 

Yakub Memon, actually, stood little chance. And got the bitter result of his goodness, advocacy and gentle behavior and a perfect cooperation with investigators and government.

Gurdaspur Terror Attack: Revival Of Khalistan Or ISI Plot?

By Likha Veer in Delhi

On a clear day, the dome of Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur is visible from the rooftop of Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahab in Pakistan. It would be, naturally, tempting for Pakistan to eye Gurdaspur as a soft target.

Geographically, Gurdaspur is vulnerable to infiltration. On paper, anybody willing to enter the town from Pakistan would just have to navigate the Ravi and cross into adjoining Dinanagar, the third largest municipality of Gurdaspur and erstwhile summer capital of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. This is the route terrorists currently holed up inside a police station in Dinanagar seem to have taken.

Wanted: 'Pregnant Decoys' To Save The 'Girl Child' Project

SPECIAL REPORT: Ignoring societal pressures, a few brave women are helping activists nab doctors who assist in sex selection. Will their numbers increase?

Dr Sarawati Munde took less than five minutes to conduct a sonography and determine the sex of the foetus, recalls Prerana Bhilare of their meeting five years ago. When the doctor wrote “16” on the case papers, Bhilare asked her about her child’s sex. “Can’t you read the paper? It is good news. It is a boy,” came the reply.

Higher Education Scenario: On Offer At Private Varsities Are Heated Pools, Gyms, Stadia, Salons And Malls

The contrast with state institutions is particularly glaring during admission season, even though many of them have a much better academic reputation.

Like many government-run entities, public universities in India often get criticised by students and their parents for their poor infrastructure, ranging from overcrowded hostels to stinking toilets. Some campuses are located several kilometers away from a town, making the commute for students both tiring and unsafe. This, however, does not seem to deter students who flock from across the country to take admission in premier institutions, such as Delhi University, whose students have protested against the inadequate living conditions.

Do India Have 'Anti-Corruption' Agenda In 'Health' Sector?

Updated File Story

The conduct of election of members to the Medical Council of India and its subsequent actions over the past year have underlined the brazen corruption in the regulatory body. Developments in the health ministry raise doubts over whether these issues will be tackled at all.

The Medical Council of India is a statutory body established in 1933 and entrusted with the responsibility of establishing and maintaining high standards in medical education and practice. It registers doctors to practice in India, gives accreditation to medical colleges, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice in India.

Breaking Bread: Reinventing The 'Naan' And 'New Making'

By Ruchi Mehta 
Group Feature Editor

Subject to the capricious whims of the nation's palate, the naan was in danger of fading into the background. The last few years, though, have seen considerable reinvention and a grand revival.

It is a rare north Indian meal that can fly solo without the comforting presence of a hot naan, fresh off the tandoor. But while we may have embraced the teardrop-shaped flatbread, it is not Indian in origin. No matter, because, much like some versions of biryani and even kebabs, the naan that we eat can arguably be considered India’s gift to the culinary world.

Archaeologists believe that the leavened bread could have been a part of the subcontinent’s diet during the Indus Valley Civilisation (3,300-1,300 BCE) because of the discovery of earthen pots and pans. But one of the earliest written references to the naan appears only centuries later, in 1300 AD, in the notes of Indo-Persian Sufi poet Amir Khusrow. 

Sperm To Slaughter: The Shocking Abuse Of Bulls In India

In March 2015, two Indian states criminalized the sale of beef and the slaughter of all bulls, cows and calves, ostensibly guided by the ethic of cattle protectionism enshrined in Hinduism. 

Typically, religious and political cattle protectionism tends to focus on slaughter prohibition and the last stages of the cattle's lifecycle, ignoring the enormous scale of abuse and exploitation that cattle endure from birth for their labour, and products drawn from their bodies. The object of protectionism is also usually the cow, given her iconic status as Mother Cow and her visible role in dairy production.

The Inside Story Of Pakistani Pigeon Spy Arrested In India

Last week, Indian authorities “arrested” a pigeon on charges of spying for Pakistan. The bird was spotted by a teenage boy in an Indian village close to the border. Since it had a message written in Urdu on its feathers, the pigeon was detained by the police and X-rayed. While nothing suspicious turned up, the bird was reportedly registered as a “suspected spy” in police logs.

From Pakistan, here’s a caricature of what was truly a ridiculous episode of law enforcement. 

Last week, border tensions between two South Asian countries flared up once again as a Pakistani spy pigeon was apprehended in Indian territory. Police immediately sent the avian agent to a polyclinic.

Meet The 'Icons Of Telangana' On Anniversary Celebrations

Every region has contemporary heroes who define its culture. Here is a look at some from India's newest state Telangana which celebrating its formation day week (June 2 - 7 June 2015).

Telangana, India's newest state, celebrates its first anniversary. Though both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh share the Telugu language, their trajectories, particularly in the 20th century, have been quite different, leading to very different socio-economic conditions in the two regions, said Gautam Pingle, a Hyderabad-based pro-Telangana political economist. While Telangana belonged to the princely state of Hyderabad, ruled by the Nizams, the rest of Andhra belonged to Madras Presidency, governed by the British.

Special Report: Brain Behind Modi's 'Chai Pe Charcha', Coins 'Nashte Pe Charcha' For His Rivals

On April 8, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy launching Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana in New Delhi, a few kilometres away his chief strategist and blue-eyed boy Prashant Kishor was busy in a presentation. 

The power-point presentation 'Citizen's Alliance' was for Modi's key opponent Nitish Kumar's election campaign for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The state is slated to go for polls in September-October this year.