What is happening in Ukraine right now is replete with obvious parallels from recent history — parallels from which Russian President Vladimir Putin ought to take lessons, as should policymakers in capitals such as New Delhi. One obvious parallel is the Cuban missile crisis. Like President John F Kennedy in 1962, Putin has dug in […]

That Prime Minister Modi concentrated on attacking the Congress in his public rally in Goa on Thursday clearly indicates that the ruling party sees its major challenge in that state from its traditional rival more than from the newer options. At least until the last week or two, the campaigns of major newer entrants, TMC […]

It defies belief, but several among the separatist ranks are pleased with the way the delimitation commission wants to realign seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Consider this: the only new constituency they’ve created in the Kashmir Valley comprises people who, by and large, have been pro-Pakistan. The very name of the constituency sends a tingle […]

It’s ironic that JNU Vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar was rewarded this weekend with the chairmanship of the UGC, just when the anniversary of the explosive controversy over anti-national slogans on the JNU campus is round the corner. One wishes Left and liberal academics would take stock of just how much ground their cherished values have […]

Various opposition-ruled state governments have every right to protest against the Centre’s move to take over unilateral authority to post officers at the Centre, or wherever the Centre pleases. Only, if those regional parties’ point is that India’s federalism is being undermined, they are being hypocritical. If they really valued federalism, they would have stood […]

The hopes of US President Biden’s supporters when he took office have been dashed. The fears of those who thought the then 78-year old was already too advanced in years to provide a dynamic presidency have begun to seem well-founded. His first priority—correctly—was to combat the pandemic. His administration rolled out vaccinations for US citizens […]

Reactions to the online ‘auction’ of Muslim women have ranged from revulsion to compassion (yes, for misguided youthfulness), but most observers seem to have taken for granted that those who put up those names and photos on the internet were just having a lark, albeit a wicked, criminal, or disgusting lark. Too few seem to […]

Vikram Misri has vital experience on the entire triad of security challenges — China, Pakistan, and Kashmir. It must be put to full use. As a relatively junior diplomat, with only a little more than a decade’s experience, Vikram Misri held the fort as India’s ranking envoy in Pakistan when the high commissioner and deputy […]

Silent. That’s the word that best describes the current mood in Kashmir. Some would prefer the word ‘calm.’ They could even call it ‘placid’ — for so it is now, like the surface of the dead Dal Lake. Others would want to say ‘silenced’. That works too, for the connection between crime and punishment has […]