MEDIA

   By Vijay Darda | 03-03-2025

Is 68-year-old Shashi Tharoor, who reigns in the hearts of the youths, rebelling against the Congress these days? I don’t think so at all. He is a good friend of mine, and I know his nature very closely. Shashi Tharoor is a highly outspoken person who ...

   By Vijay Darda | 17-02-2025

If I say that our culture is under attack through sex, it might sound strange to you. Some of you might even call it an exaggeration, but this is the reality. The kind of shameful remarks made by YouTuber Ranveer ...

   By Vijay Darda | 03-02-2025

Trump… Trump… Trump..! Right now, the entire world seems to be fixated on just one name. The fear of Trump has gripped the world. From businessmen to rulers and administrators of various countries, everyone keeps wondering what de...

   By Vijay Darda | 20-01-2025

Donald Trump is all set to assume the US presidency for the second time today. Much has changed in the world since he handed over power to Joe Biden at the end of his first term, but Trump’s fiery demeanour remains intact. I...

   By Vijay Darda | 23-12-2024

This might sound strange, but it’s a fact that we journalists are almost always occupied with election coverage. As one state’s Assembly elections conclude, another state’s polls begin. After that, local bo...

   By Vijay Darda | 09-12-2024

I recently attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Maharashtra. The event was jam-packed. Alongside industry and film personalities, a large number of common people and enthusiastic ‘Ladki Bahins’ were pr...

   By Vijay Darda | 25-11-2024

Today marks the 27th death anniversary of my father, veteran freedom fighter Jawaharlalji Darda alias 'Babuji'. Coincidentally, politics in Maharashtra is also at its peak. Elections have concluded, and a government is on the v...

   By Vijay Darda | 11-11-2024

With Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, everyone is calculating the impact of his return to power on the world. America is a country that influences the entire world in some way, so such analysis is natura...

   By Vijay Darda | 28-10-2024

Diwali traditionally starts with Dhanteras but my proposition to share the joy with friends and the vast Lokmat family begins a bit earlier. When I use the word ‘family’, it includes the thoughtful readers and all those who have given me immense...

   By Vijay Darda | 14-10-2024

Have you ever noticed how, even if we exclude small regional festivals, we Indians celebrate more than 30 major festivals every year? Some of these are grand celebrations. No other country in the world celebrates as many f...

   By Vijay Darda | 30-09-2024

You never met Gandhiji, and I never met Bapu either, but I understood and learned about him from my father, veteran freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda. If you want to truly understand Bapu, you must visit Sevagram. Even today, Bapu lives ther...

   By Vijay Darda | 16-09-2024

When noted filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, known globally for his critically acclaimed film ‘The Kashmir Files’, declined to participate in an Oxford Union debate last week, it made headlines. But do...

   By Vijay Darda | 09-09-2024

The country at present is outraged over the heinous rape and murder of a doctor in a Kolkata hospital. The situation is extremely serious, given that the President of India, distre...

   By Vijay Darda | 19-08-2024

Not only me but every person and political party in Maharashtra was hopeful that Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana would be held before Diwali. This hope stemmed fr...

   By Vijay Darda | 05-08-2024

I am deeply disturbed by the dance of death and destruction. The landslides in Wayanad have claimed the lives of more than 250 innocent people. Meanwhile, the mountains from Himachal Pradesh to Uttar...

   By Vijay Darda | 08-07-2024

What happened on Friday with the world’s largest computer operating system reminded me of an old saying: “When the fence itself starts eating the crops, who will guard them?” That’s exactly what happened. No one laun...

   By Vijay Darda | 08-07-2024

I had read a short story a long time ago wherein an engineer was worried about financing a car for his young son. He couldn't figure out how to arrange the funds. News about roads being washed away and bridges collapsing due to f...

   By Vijay Darda | 24-06-2024

In global politics, several events started unfolding in quick succession so unexpectedly in the last few days that they have left even the foreign affairs experts astonished. However, it is ...

   By Vijay Darda | 10-06-2024

Last week, in this very column, I wrote that democracy has not lost, it has won again. I wrote this because I have never doubted the maturity of the Indian voter’s judgment. Voters assess politi...

   By Vijay Darda | 27-05-2024

I am sad, I am in pain, and my heart is crying. I am taken aback, amazed and filled with extreme anger. It is rare for so many emotions to surface all at once in one’s mind! However, the recent inc...

   By Vijay Darda | 13-05-2024

Before starting the discussion, let me narrate a historical anecdote. History is witness to the fact that the Bajaj and the Birla families have made remarkable contributions in the freedom struggle. Ramnath Goenka once asked Ma...

   By Vijay Darda | 29-04-2024

We all know that the model code of conduct is in force across the country. During the campaigning, neither the religious symbols can be used nor votes can be solicited on the basis of religion, caste ...

   By Vijay Darda | 15-04-2024

Every time I step into my office, my eyes are immediately drawn to a captivating artwork created by the renowned painter Syed Haider Raza. Written on it is a priceless phrase... ‘Bindu’ - infinite p...

   By Vijay Darda | 04-03-2024

People often ask me, when would I leave? Haven’t you jumped ship yet? I find this slightly amusing and can only reply that I have been hearing this for the past seven to eight years. I am still here. Tomorrow, God ...

   By Vijay Darda | 25-03-2024

I cannot recall exactly which year of age it was when Holi touched my heart, drenching my life in vibrant colours. Undoubtedly, it must have been a tender age, when the mind begins to weave every experience into the fabric ...

   By Vijay Darda | 11-03-2024

It is so easy to lose humility when one acquires a small amount of wealth or gains a bit of fame. Such people strut around with a false sense of pride, a misplaced sense of achievement. They fail to appreciate the power of time and cannot ...

   By Vijay Darda | 19-02-2024

I have not come across any other instance in the democratic history of the world when a candidate has relinquished the seat after his victory saying that rigging was done to make him win! However, this ex...

   By Vijay Darda | 05-02-2024

It is highly unlikely that in the history of diplomacy, a Prime Minister has ever sat in a relaxed posture on a chair on the seashore of his country, taken a dip in the serene waters, and caused ...

   By Vijay Darda | 22-01-2024

The world’s first republic was born 2.5K years ago in Vaishali, India, during the Licchavi rule

Recently, a news story regarding Kishore Kanyal -- an IAS officer stationed in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh -- asking a trucker, kya aukaat hai tumhari? (What is your worth?) was widely circulated. This question was po...

Will Congress be able to muster enough support to defeat BJP through its yatra from Mizoram to Mumbai?

Hectic activities are going on in the Opposition camp in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections this year. Two of these activities are more significant than the others. The first one is Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jod...

   By Vijay Darda | 18-12-2023

Considering challenges that terrorism pose, another lapse in the security of Parlt is a very serious issue

Vijay Darda

   By Vijay Darda | 4-12-2023

Vijay Darda

Elections are an internal matter of any country. The world keeps an eye on what the results of the elections will be because they affect foreign policy. However, if a country’s election becomes a source of contenti...

   By Vijay Darda | 20-11-202

Vijay Darda

The Indian team’s determination was invincible and 140 crore Indians expected it to win the World Cup! In this background, it is difficult to digest the defeat of the Indian team, but that is the reality. All players in form, one wi...

   By Vijay Darda | 05-11-2023

The retaliatory bombs killed over 4,000 children in Gaza; they had done nothing wrong!

It's Diwali next week, but a moving story from the Gaza Strip has left people terribly restless. A young girl was discovered by rescuers in the wreckage of a structure that had been hit by multiple bombs. Who was this girl, co...

   By Vijay Darda | 16-10-2023

The savage Hamas paraded women naked and beheaded children; it is imperative to exterminate these barbarians

What would that country do if a terrorist group fires hundreds of rockets at it, enters its borders, slaughters innocent people at a music festival, decapitates children, parades women naked and then kid...

   By Vijay Darda | 02-10-2023

Sanjiv Mehta: Hindustan Unilever head who scripted a new chapter on corporate social responsibility

As a matter of fact, I almost never write about a specific person in this column. The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have been the only exceptions whose personalit...

   By Vijay Darda | 18-09-2023

Two remains of aliens were displayed before Mexican Parliament; does US really know the secrets of aliens?

The presence of aliens, or mysterious creatures from another planet, is being debated once again. Discussions concerning aliens are rekindled whenever some UFO (unidentified flying object), also known as f...

   By Vijay Darda | 04-09-2023

India began its democratic journey with simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas!

Imagine going to the polling booth on election day and electing your MLA and MP simultaneously! At present, we have to vote separately for the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. But it is crucial for ...

   By Vijay Darda | 21-08-2023

If someone asks you if there is any need to change the Constitution of India, most of you will, no doubt, look with astonishment at the person asking such a question. I was also taken aback when Bibek...

   By Vijay Darda | 07-08-2023

Supreme Court has stayed the sentence of Rahul Gandhi; will his comeback give a new twist to politics?

The implications of the Supreme Court staying Rahul Gandhi’s sentence are unquestionably wider. This will undoubtedly have an impact on Indian politics. This issue will definitely come up in the forthcoming ...

   By Vijay Darda | 24-07-2023

Over 150 deaths in two-and-a-half months and 60,000 people rendered homeless; rioters turned rape into a weapon in Manipur!

This is my third article on the violence in Manipur in two and a half months, but the incident of two women being paraded naked on the streets and gangraped has torn my heart out. My mind ...

   By Vijay Darda | 10-07-2023

Those who were granted asylum on French soil in the name of human rights became enemies

You must be wondering why France, known for its magnificent culture, excellent artistry, amazing artworks and wonderful literature, is so enraged over the death of a youth? Why are there so many incidents of arson in French ...

   By Vijay Darda | 26-06-2023

A grave and crucial question amid uproar over distasteful & controversial dialogues

Vijay Darda

A barrage of protests is raging around the dialogues from the film Adipurush. This tempestuous reaction is justified as the issue revolves around the language, for language is more than just a means of communication...

   By Vijay Darda | 12-06-2023

The purpose of live-in relationship in Western countries is to understand each other, whereas it’s a disguise to satisfy lust in our country

Vijay Darda

I’m terribly upset. The headline of the news is distressing: ‘A man in live-in relationship kills his spouse... cuts her into pieces... cooks the body p...

   By Vijay Darda | 29-05-2023

You can never understand farmers’ problems by sitting in air-conditioned rooms; you must go to the farm!

Vijay Darda

   By Vijay Darda | 08-05-2023

Apex court rulings have put an end to confusion in Maharashtra, provided relief to Delhi govt

I usually express my point of view on a specific topic and analyse it in this column. However, the Supreme Court last week pronounced two significant judgments that may have far-reaching effects. Moreove...

   By Vijay Darda | 01-05-2023

Bihar jail manual itself was changed in order to release Anand Mohan, who murdered a district collector!

That awful day of December 5, 1994, flashed before my eyes as soon as news of the release of Bihar's ‘Bahubali’ leader Anand Mohan Singh trickled in. On that fateful day, Gopalganj collect...

   By Vijay Darda | 14-04-2023

We will neither be afraid nor bow down... Vibrant Village programme begins at Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, close to Chinese border

In India's internal politics, the government has always been accused of not being as strong in its response to China's assertive policy as it is against Pakistan. No m...

   By Vijay Darda | 03-04-2023

Enact such a law and implement it in such a way that there is no room for corruption in the entire system

Vijay Darda

A Central government directive has recently sparked a debate in the administrative circles. The common man is likewise keeping an eye on this directive and is curious to know what it means and ...

   By Vijay Darda | 27-03-2023

The sentencing of Rahul Gandhi has once again brought the critical issue of propriety of language to spotlight

Vijay Darda

The context is, of course, Rahul G...

   By Vijay Darda | 20-03-2023

Afghan singers, instrumentalists and musicians who took refuge in Portugal wield weapons of their art

Vijay Darda

Just imagine how boring life would be if there was no music in human life. So, imagine what those folks whose lives have been robbed of music must be going through. Life must have been horrible wit...

   By Vijay Darda | 13-03-2023

Is there anyone to tighten the screws on this uncrowned king and clever dictator?

Vijay Darda

Do you know that the Communist Party of China, which has been captured by country’s supreme leader Xi Jinping, who has emerged very rapidly in the economic and military fields of the world, was the same party that h...

By Vijay Darda | 13-02-2023

The multi-storey buildings in Turkey were not earthquake resistant, causing massive destruction to life and property

Vijay Darda

Scenes of thousands of buildings reduced to rubble in Turkey’s devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake have forced the whole world to think as to how prepared we are to deal with the unpr...

   By Vijay Darda | 30-01-2023

Let’s learn lessons from past incidents but remaining stuck in them will do no good

The BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ has created an uproar in several parts of the country over the last few days. This documentary is based on the 2002 riots in Gujarat. Although it has been block...

   By Vijay Darda | 16-01-2023

Hate speeches and vitriolic debates on TV channels are causing serious damage to the social fabric of the country

Last week, the Supreme Court made a very serious remark on the news channels. Justice K M Joseph and Justice B V Nagarathna categorically stated that hate speeches have become a major...

   By Vijay Darda | 02-01-2023

Supported by Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban's growth is terrifying

Vijay Darda

At a time when we all are welcoming the New Year with great enthusiasm and new vigour, I am discussing a topic that is not only a matter of grave concern but also points towards a dreadful tomorrow. Before discussing those who di...

   By Vijay Darda | 19-12-2022

Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto’s uncivilised outburst against PM Narendra Modi is height of meanness

Vijay Darda

The statement made by Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto against our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is so vile, shameful and indecent that I don’t want to mention it in this co...

   By Vijay Darda | 05-12-2021

The desire for freedom from the whims of rulers is the real trigger behind rebellion in China and Iran

Vijay Darda

   By Vijay Darda | 21-11-2022

Prime Minister Modi held Indian flag high with his diplomacy and no-nonsense approach at  G20 summit

Vijay Darda

The picture of the US President Joe Biden saluting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 17th summit of G20, a group of 20 powerful and influential countries of the world, is going viral. In f...

   By Vijay Darda | 07-11-2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given a message to the world by praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Vijay Darda

The whole world knows that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not talk without any rhyme or reason. He always sticks to his guns. He always uses his words carefully because he knows how muc...

By Vijay Darda | 25-10-2022

Mallikarjun Kharge is a capable leader but it is not easy to heal the ailing Congress

Vijay Darda

Of course, the election in Congress is a big political development and undoubtedly, all credit goes to the G-23 leaders. Had they not raised the issue, not spoken harshly, not discussed it and not expressed displeasur...

   By Vijay Darda | 10-10-2022

From Bollywood stars to the common man, no one is able to escape from stress and depression.

As Deepika Padukone talked about her depression on the sets of Amitabh Bachchan's programme Kaun Banega Crorepati, everyone lauded her courage. Actors Tiger Shroff, Anushka Sharma and Varun Dhawan were al...

   By Vijay Darda | 26-09-2022

RSS’ meetings with Muslim intellectuals are being held since the time of the fifth chief of the RSS, K S Sudarshan.

Everybody was in the dark about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s outreach meeting with prominent Muslim intellectuals in Delhi’s Jhandewalan area last month until it became known rec...

   By Vijay Darda | 12-09-2022

‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ has raised expectations, but will this pan-India yatra provide the much-needed ‘Sanjeevani’ to Congress?

Vijay Darda

Congress’ ambitious ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ covering 12 states and two Union Territories has got off to a flying start. Rahul Gandhi is on a padyatra and will cover...

   By Vijay Darda | 29-08-2022

If Congress is to be saved, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s allegations need to be seriously considered

Vijay Darda

   By Vijay Darda | 15-08-2022

We are lucky to be born in a free country. Ask about the value of freedom to the people living under dictatorship

Vijay Darda

   By Vijay Darda | 01-08-2022

You cannot even imagine how difficult the life of soldiers is on the snowy peaks!

Vijay Darda

There is deep gorge on one side! So deep that if your vehicle slips even slightly, there is no chance of survival. And on the other, there are tall mountains which pose the danger of stones rolling down every moment. ...

   By Vijay Darda | 18-07-2022

Why is some word blamed for being unparliamentary? Is this justified?

Vijay Darda

The list of unparliamentary words comes out every year but the list declared this year has led to a furore. The opposition parties have reacted strongly to the list alleging that the government was trying to suppress their voice....

P   By Vijay Darda | 04-07-2022

Political upheaval should not impede development; it is very important to pay special attention towards farmers

Vijay Darda

Last week, I aired my anguish over the turn of events in the politics of Maharashtra through this column. My distress was not about any particular political party at all. My approach has...

   By Vijay Darda | 20-06-2022

Damaging government property while protesting against Agnipath scheme should not be tolerated under any circumstances; clarity is necessary before announcing any scheme

Vijay Darda

There is a storm-like situation in several parts of the country following violent protests against the proposed Agnipath scheme wh...

   By Vijay Darda | 06-06-2022

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has aptly stated that trying to find Shivling in every mosque is not right

   By Vijay Darda | 23-05-2022

A strong Opposition is necessary to protect democracy; will Congress be able to stand this test?

The day Congress' three-day Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir concluded in Udaipur, the BJP's two-day Chintan Shivir began in Ahmedabad. A discussion over these two camps is quite natural. Every person who bel...

   By Vijay Darda | 09-05-2022

Lord Shiva drank poison to save the universe, but today poison is being spread in the name of religion

Vijay Darda

I am deeply perplexed over two incidents. One incident is from Hyderabad where a Hindu boy Nagaraju married his best friend Sultana. The girl’s family and community could not tolerate this and N...

   By Vijay Darda | 25-04-2022

India has been successful in maintaining an independent and strong image in the world, no one can dare ignore us

Vijay Darda

Just see how the world changes and how fast it does! Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of Britain, which ruled our country until 75 years ago, comes to India on a two-day visit with grea...

   By Vijay Darda | 11-04-2022

Amid corrupt politics, failed bureaucracy and terrorism, people pin their hopes on the judiciary

Vijay Darda

Yes, India is a sovereign country. It has its own impartial foreign policy. India is neither scared of anyone nor does it scare anybody. Imran Bhai, you are right. I am happy to hear all this straight f...

Save Maharashtra’s image by probing Devendra Fadnavis’s ‘pen drive bomb’ allegations.

Firecrackers will be lit during Diwali, but in Maharashtra, the crackers of politics have already started exploding! In Ukraine, Putin is detonating real bombs. In Mumbai, Devendra Fadnavis, the Leader of the Opposition i...

   By Vijay Darda | 14-03-2022

Why did the BJP succeed in retaining power? AAP given a chance in Punjab and why did the Congress collapse?

Vijay Darda

   By Vijay Darda | 28-02-2022

Though the war between Ukraine and Russia is raging 5000 kms away, it will not leave us unscathed

Vijay Darda

By Vijay Darda | 15-02-2022

Love entangled in lust, smoke of gunpowder!

Vijay Darda

Before waxing eloquently on the topic of love and affection, I would like to talk about the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. In 2007, when the last survey was conducted for the selection of Seven Wonders, India’s Taj Mahal came at number one. From the tech...

By Vijay Darda | 31-01-2022

Vijay Darda

We all should be grateful to the Maharashtra government, its chief minister and the entire Cabinet that they have made an extremely visionary arrangement to brin...

By Vijay Darda | 17-01-2022

It is very difficult to predict at this point whether this is the result of political wind or part of a strategy to get ticket

Vijay Darda

In the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the news of turncoat politicians switching their allegiance from one party to another is coming in every day. Since BJP i...

By Vijay Darda | 03-01-2022

I am filled with expectations, aspirations and ambitions but how do I welcome the New Year?

Vijay Darda

I had cherished so many dreams about the New Year while going to bed on the last night of the year gone by. At the stroke of midnight, I too welcomed the year 2022. I celebrated the occasion with traditional gai...

   By Vijay Darda | 20-12-2021

Banaras is a confluence of antiquity and knowledge; a different perspective on Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor...

Vijay Darda

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inaugurating the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor last week, I was visualising the narrow lanes of Banaras, the smoothly flowing Ganga river and a ...

   By Vijay Darda | 06-12-2021

Bharat Ratna Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, wanted to establish an egalitarian society

Vijay Darda

Indian civilization is so great and noble that even gods and goddesses living in heaven envy it and desire to be born here! A legion of great men and spiritual avatars were born in...

   By Vijay Darda | 22-11-2021

We have been celebrating ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women’ for the last 28 years but is it making any difference?

Vijay Darda

On my recent visit to Switzerland, I also visited Liechtenstein, a small country in its neighbourhood, and met the people there. Before telling you t...

   By Vijay Darda | 08-11-2021

Spontaneous support of common man to economy and Prime Minister’s Diwali on the border is an expression of our spirit

Vijay Darda

Ever since I became aware, I have fallen in love with Diwali! I am greatly fascinated by this festival which radiates energy. From the religious point of view, this festival has i...

   By Vijay Darda | 25-10-2021

The vicious circle of politics and drug cases has vitiated the atmosphere in Maharashtra and defamed the state

Vijay Darda

Nowadays wherever I go, in the country or abroad, people ask only one question: What is going on in Maharashtra? How do I answer this question? It just hurts and breeds anger that because ...

   By Vijay Darda | 11-10-2021

India is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of drug consumption; substance abuse is ruining the young generation!

Vijay Darda

The arrest of Aryan Khan, son of film actor Shah Rukh Khan, is the most hot topic of discussion right now after the Narcotics Control Bureau’s raid on Cordelia Cruises�...

By Vijay Darda | 27-09-2021

Why are China and Pakistan upset by Modi’s trip to US for Quad?

Vijay Darda

If you have watched the live telecast of the meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, you must have noticed Modiji's body language. You must have also paid attention to his simple statements. It was fe...

   By Vijay Darda | 13-09-2021

Jain principles and philosophy are a wonderful amalgamation of nature, science and humanity

I consider myself fortunate that I have got an opportunity to be associated with religious scholars and knowledgeable persons from different religions. From the early days of my life, I have been curious about knowing an...

   By Vijay Darda | 30-08-2021

Emergence of a powerful Islamic State in Afghanistan rings an alarm bell for us, for Taliban is an enemy too.

Vijay Darda

The dreadful apprehensions about the future emerging from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is primarily the reason why I am discussing Afghanistan for the second consecutive week in this...

   By Vijay Darda | 17-08-2021

The film ‘Shershaah’ made on Captain Vikram Batra’s bravery is an amazing saga of inspiration for the youth

Vijay Darda

I always make it a point to watch patriotic films, the ones which inspire the youth and all of us. I recently watched the movie ‘Shershaah’ and got lost in the bitter memories of Ka...

   By Vijay Darda | 02-08-2021

Politics heats up after Mamata Banerjee's meeting with Sonia Gandhi; they are giving slogan 'Save democracy, save nation'

Vijay Darda

Even as Mamata Banerjee went to meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at their residence during her Delhi visit, I recalled the West Bengal election! For Mamata, it was a matter of...

   By Vijay Darda | 19-07-2021

Rahul Gandhi says those who are scared are free to leave the party. What does it imply?

Vijay Darda

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement that 'those who are scared should leave the party' has stirred the hornet's nest in the political circles. People are analysing why he said that those who are cowards o...

   By Vijay Darda | 05-07-2021

In our quest for materialistic progress, we do not even think about the soil from which we are born, to which we will all return

Vijay Darda

When President Ram Nath Kovind bowed down and applied the soil of his village on his forehead saying that motherland is greater than heaven, it sparked a flood of memorie...

   By Vijay Darda | 21-06-2021

Milkha Singh wished to see an Indian win Olympic gold medal in athletics

Vijay Darda

I salute and bow down to the legendary sprinter Milkha Singh who got the sobriquet of Flying Sikh. On his departure, two thoughts come to my mind. First, will we ever see a runner like him again? And the second, when will Milk...

   By Vijay Darda | 07-06-2021

From cooking oil to petrol and diesel, the prices are skyrocketing. The government must step in!

Vijay Darda

The unprecedented Covid-19 crisis might not have left any household without a loss of income! Be it rich or poor? Everyone has been hit. Livelihood of crores of people has been affected. Some have lost ...

   By Vijay Darda | 24-05-2021

Doctors and paramedics risked their lives battling pandemic but some hospitals tarnished image of this noble profession

Vijay Darda

Indian culture elevates medical profession to nobility. The doctor is looked upon as a representative of God. The patients expect compassionate service and humanity from the docto...

   By Vijay Darda | 10-05-2021

Your body can remain healthy only if you're mentally calm and composed even under critical conditions

Vijay Darda

Corona... corona... corona..! My head begins to spin hearing this word repeatedly. I'm scared! I see death and I suddenly start cursing the PM, CM and DM. I am not able to get a vaccine... I cannot...

   By Vijay Darda | 26-04-2021

One nation, one vaccine price for everyone is the need of the hour; many states will not be able to buy costly vaccines

Vijay Darda

People are constantly calling our Lokmat office seeking help to secure beds in hospitals, obtain oxygen cylinders from somewhere or arrange some medicine or the other. The situati...

   By Vijay Darda | 12-04-2021

Corona is filling the children’s world with severe depression and I am afraid it may well lead to psychological problems among children!

Vijay Darda

The ongoing power struggle in Maharashtra, the furore in the police department, the Naxalite rampage in Chhattisgarh, people in West Bengal and other states tur...

   By Vijay Darda | 29-03-2021

It’s neither Aghadi’s nor BJP’s victory in the aftermath of the Vaze case, it’s Maharashtra that stands disgraced

Vijay Darda

Diversity of viewpoints is a natural process in a democracy and it is also essential for a healthy democracy, but the spectacle of low politics in Maharashtra has hurt my feelin...

   By Vijay Darda | 15-03-2021

Next year, India will be celebrating 75 years of its independence; we all need to understand the value of freedom.

Our country is going to complete 75 years of independence on August 15, 2022. Just 75 weeks before this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the 'Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav' from Sabarmati. A Dand...

   By Vijay Darda | 01-03-2021

Despite umpteen ceasefire agreements, Pakistan continues to provoke us

This is not the first time that India and Pakistan have signed a ceasefire agreement on their borders to give peace a chance. After the fierce Kargil War of 1999, there was peace on the border for sometime, but it was short-lived. By 2003, w...

  By Vijay Darda | 15-02-2021

Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prime Minister Modi’s speeches in Rajya Sabha displayed the highest level of parliamentary maturity

My friendship with Ghulam Nabi Azad might be some three decades old and the biggest reason for this closeness is his charming personality. Another major reason is his preoccupation with the d...

By Vijay Darda | 01-02-2021.

The Covid-19 pandemic has picked everybody’s pocket and ruined the economy. Let’s nurse a hope for a better future

Preparing this year’s Budget must not have been an easy task because the Covid-19 pandemic has ruined the country’s economy. Industries, which have been stagnant for months, have still not r...

By Vijay Darda | 18-01-2021.

Vaccination drive is a turning point in the crusade against Covid-19. Yet, self-protection is the key.

The world’s largest vaccination campaign to prevent Corona has started in India. In the meantime, some confusion too prevails and surely it needs to be resolved. Keep in mind that vaccination is an importan...

The coronavirus outbreak not only frightened the common man but also destroyed the health of the industry.

At the outset, I would like to convey unlimited good wishes for the New Year and best wishes for the future. As I wrote in the previous column, the year 2020 was fraught with challenges. It was the year of ...

  By Vijay Darda | 21-12-2020.

No matter how serious and extraordinary the circumstances, it’s not proper to suspend any session of Parliament.

The government’s announcement that the winter session of Parliament will not be held has shocked one and all. Naturally, opposition parties have flayed this move in one voice but it does not ...

  By Vijay Darda | 07-12-2020.

Unstable Congress and weak Opposition… and our secular country creaking under its weight!

The BJP grabbed the attention of the entire nation for the way it contested the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election. This was for the first time that the national leadership of the BJP had deployed its full...

Let me tell you a story of Mukesh Ambani’s vision. Reliance Group has a huge petroleum refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat. A large area was lying barren around it. Mukesh Ambani felt that if trees and plants are planted ...

Even in the moonless dark night, when a lamp burns silently, it does not let the darkness remain anywhere near it. And when thousands of lamps are lit, the darkness vanishes into nothingness. When thousands of lamp...

Right now there are two important elections being held in the world. Firstly, the US is going to elect its president who will 'rule' the world, and secondly, an election is going to be held in Bihar which will play a crucial...

When the Shaheen Bagh dharna and protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) started getting prolonged, everybody seemed to ask as to why the Delhi police or the government was not doing anything to...

Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji,

You are the only person who can obliterate drug menace from India and save the younger generation from drug abuse. If the younger generation survive...

I am astonished by the way Kangana Ranaut’s case has received such prominence. Is she such a big social or political celebrity as to cause a storm by her irresponsible statement? I am displeas...

The miserable plight of the Congress is a matter of great agony for anyone who believes in democracy and secularism because a strong opposition is a very essential element of democracy, without which any government coul...

When the massive explosion rocked Beirut, prima facie it appeared to be a terrorist act. However, the investigations revealed that 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored at this port for the last six years. ...

The jawans of Assam Rifles in Manipur have been ambushed and three of them martyred in the same Chandel district in which the militants had launched a deadly attack on an Indian Army convoy in June 2015, killing 18 ...

The news about hacking of accounts dominated the last week’s headlines which made us realise the seriousness of the growing threat of cyber warfare. The twitter accounts of several veteran politicians and ...

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at Leh airport early on July 3, his visit became a talking point the world over. It was a surprise visit. No one had any clue until the previous night. The wor...

The world celebrated International Yoga Day on June 21. It is in this context that a timely and elaborate discussion was held, first with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji, founder of the Art of Living and crusader of peace and bro...

The ruthless killings of a pregnant elephant cow in India and football player George Floyd in America are deeply disturbing, to say the least. My heart bled for lakhs of migr...

Appearances are always deceptive. There is always more to it than what meets the eye. A lot of stories are hidden behind it and a lot of conspiracies exist. It is quit...

Wherever you go, people today ask, what was the hurry to reopen the liquor shops? Brother, this query is fundamentally wrong. Just because you don’t drink, does it mean the government should not care about our boozards? Why not, bro...

There is always light at the end of the tunnel, goes the old adage. And the whole world is expecting the same in these tough times. Tomorrow holds a big hope for us if we are ready to take advantag...

The decision of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to extend the lockdown in the state till April 30 was the need of the hour and shows his fortitude and vision. The way coronavirus has been...

It goes without saying that the situation due to coronavirus is very critical at the moment. Experts say that we are fast moving towards stage-3. If we failed to check the spread of corona now, the very...

We all know what political drama is going on in Madhya Pradesh. Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. At ...

At present I am abroad. There are two burning topics of discussion here. One is that India is developing a vaccine for tackling coronavirus and the second relates to the communal conflagration t...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to invite Donald Trump to India last year and also wanted him to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations but the US President was too busy so he could...

We all know that the stock market is normally closed on Saturday, but this time it was open as the Union Budget was to be presented on that day. After the presentation of the Budget, the Sensex plunged 988...

It is an irony that the culprits of the most barbaric, brutal and diabolic gangrape and murder which shook the collective conscience of the country, are evading the noose by exploiti...

If viewed from the American point of view, it has eliminated a person who was believed to be responsible for the death of about 500 US soldiers. From the point of view of Iran, ...

Unless the country is taken into confidence and an atmosphere of trust is built, even the most well intentioned move would evoke resistance. The atmosphere has become so vitiated as if the country is in a state of ...

The anger against the police after the brutal crime of rape and murder of a vet in Hyderabad culminated with killing of the accused in an encounter. It also made the people jubilant to such ...

May be you are thinking that this week my column will be on the political situation in Maharashtra, which has become the focal point of debate in the country. I feel very upset when I think about and see how political par...

The moment for which we all waited for years has finally arrived. A legal dispute being contested for more than 134 years, has finally been decided by the Supreme Court of the country. The Constitution Bench of five judges ...

Ever since I became politically savvy, I have not seen such an election when Congress simply gave up without even a struggle. Congress did not fight in this election. It had neith...

Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu had been the historical port for trade between India and China in ancient times. So when the Chinese president Xi Jinping and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent two day...

While Narendra Modi was waiting for the US President Donald Trump at the event of the American-Indian community in Houston, many Indians felt that our Prime Minister was being made to wait. The general feel...

I rarely watch TV news channels because of my preoccupations, but whenever I do, I feel that the language of Hindi news channels is deteriorating fast. Especially in these days ...

The Ganesh festival brings a new energy every year. It is not only a festival of devotion but is also the symbol of social harmony. This is the reason why Ganesh idols are installed...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the dream of one nation, one Constitution and one nation, one flag. Jammu and Kashmir has neither separate Constitution nor flag now. Both will now be in the history books only. Th...

The Unnao rape case and subsequent happenings are not just a crime story. This story is the story of a shabby system where a domineering MLA is not only accused of rape but he is also accused of destroying the g...

When many people in India stayed awake on July 15 to see the Chandrayaan-2 blast off into space, I was in Austria and it was not even midnight there. By the time I turned to the TV, I got the news that d...

At last, Rahul Gandhi had his way. He declared that he is no longer the party president. With this announcement, he also wrote an open letter. Personally, it is a very painful episod...

Parliamentary democracy has its own dignity and no one can be allowed to tamper with this dignity or hurt it in any way. Whatever be the direction of politics, maintaining the dignity ...

The AN-32 transport aircraft that vanished in Arunachal Pradesh over the region bordering China shortly after taking off from Jorhat in Assam last week still remains untraceable. There were 13 ...

First of all, I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this tremendous victory. I also want to congratulate the Congress president Rahul Gandhi for renewing the Congress ideology and tho...

Dushmani jam kar karo lekin ye gunjaaish rahe

Jab kabhi hum dost ho jaaye toh sharminda na ho!

These lines from the eminent Urdu poet Bashir Badra has become very relevant in this election beca...

The serial blasts in Sri Lanka should not be looked at in isolation as just another terror act, but it needs to be seen as terrorist expansion in this region, especially, when the dreaded terrorist outf...

The country is clearly realising that the system designed for the common man is not functioning properly. People are not getting administrative justice and therefore, they feel obliged to go to the co...

Last week, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the successful testing of anti-satellite missile system that destroyed a satellite in the space by a missile blasted off from the earth, the scien...

Some incorrigibly optimist people in India were expecting that China could cooperate with the International Security Council to announce Masood Azhar as the global terrorist this time around. Actually it is difficult to imagine such...

At a time when the whole world is worried about the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, the electronic media of these two countries is busy ratcheting up...

Muze Na Tan Chahiye, Na Dhan Chahiye

Bas Aman Se Bhara Yah Vatan Chahiye

Jab Tak Jinda Rahun, Is Matrubhumi Ke Liye

Aur Jab Maru To Tiranga Kafan Chahiye

These lines spring from the heart of eve...

‘Gajab Kiya Tere Wade Pe Aitbar Kiya

Tamam Raat Kayamat Ka Intezar Kiya’

The striking contrast between the promise made in 2014 of creating two crore jobs every year and the...

Just remember the situation after the Karnataka Assembly elections. By winning 104 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the largest party. After the election results, the Congress had declared unconditional suppo...

Last year, when the UN talked about striking Bangladesh off the list of underdeveloped countries by 2024 and upgrade it to the rank of developing countries, Sheikh Hasina became a talking point all over the world. In the meantime, elec...

Congress president Rahul Gandhi who had held out a pre-election promise to the electorate in three states, fulfilled the same soon after winning the elections. Loans of farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Raj...

The killing of police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh of Syana Kotwali police station in Bulandshahr is not just an accident. This incident conjures up a horrifying picture of bloodthirsty mob going crazy. The mob lynching throws ...

You must have seen the signboards at myriad shops claiming that pure ghee, pure oil or pure milk is available here! Or unadulterated spices are available here! Advertisements also...

Jabalpur was probably the first among the cities which needed to be renamed soon after India gained independence. The British used to pronounce the name of the city as Jubbulpore according to the colonial pro...

Regardless of how many times allegations have been made that political parties use CBI in their own right, the reality is that when the police can not solve any issue, then the demand is made that the matter sh...

There was a river called Saraswati. It vanished 4,000 years ago. It used to flow in the regions of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Nobody knows how it vanished but our faith towards the river is so str...

I have always been a strong supporter of women’s empowerment. I have often advocated the fact that every Indian woman should become so powerful that she should rub shoulders with her male...

This is the festive season of Ganeshotsav. The holy festival of Lord Shree Ganesh has charged the atmosphere with enthusiasm, energy and excitement. The joyous shouts of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ are...

Whenever I visit any country, I try to explore and get to learn about the civilisation, culture and life there. I meet the common people. I had the opportunity to visit many ...

Memories of the first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur around 43 years back are still fresh in my mind because my Babuji freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda was...

I am deeply troubled by some of the incidents that have occurred in the recent past. Girls between seven and 18 years in age were repeatedly raped in a shelter home in Muzaffarnagar, Bihar an...

It is difficult to comprehend as to what has happened to our country? Mobocracy is taking over. Any issue is enough to trigger an attack, and the crowd goes berserk. The victim is beaten to death. The term ‘mob...

Rain in Mumbai..Mumbai helpless! Rain in Nagpur..Nagpur helpless! Rain in Delhi..Delhi helpless! Whenever any city experiences a little more than average rainfall into cesspool..! A stampede on the railway bridge in Mumbai last year, a bridge ...

Three news reports which have come within a week are extremely worrying. The first news was that the government has written off bad loans worth Rs. 1,44,000 crore. Generally it is calle...

Even as Dr Pranab Mukherjee came under sharp criticism from all quarters for accepting the invitation to attend the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) programme, he refused to answer any questions. He said ...

Reviving the hope of opposition unity, important leaders of opposition parties came together on a single platform during the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka,...

The fate of the candidates has been sealed in the EVMs and who will win and lose in Karnataka will be revealed when the election results are declared tomorrow. People...

Eminent poet Nida Fazli has penned a wonderful couplet:

Dushmani lakh sahi

Khatm na kije rishta

Dil mile ya na mile

Haath milate rahiye!

Personally, I share the se...

It is so horrifying that an 8-year-old girl belonging to a nomadic tribe was kidnapped and brutally gang-raped for seven days and later murdered in the Kathua region of Jammu. But in...

Students all over the country are fuming with anger. The way question papers of the examinations are being leaked one after the other, the students and parents feel highly trau...

The back-to-back debacles suffered by the BJP in the by-polls have certainly come as a ray of hope for the opposition parties. Opposition parties feel that the common man is not happy with the BJ...

A serious incident happened last week. On the first day of the Budget Session of the Maharashtra Legislature, immediately after governor C Vidyasagar Rao’s joint address to bot...

Be h...

The BJP government has made several important announcements in its last full Budget, especially for the villages and the farmers. It’s a good development. A majority of Ind...

In my column last week, I had mentioned that Israelis love India immensely. Wherever I went, I was received with great warmth by all the people but one question they definitely asked me was: W...

Last night the whole world was engaged in ushering in the New Year. You too might have celebrated a lot. You must have celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm, and you might have made some new resolutions...

In the glorious history of Congress, Rahul Gandhi has the privilege of being elected as the president of the party at a young age. The critics may say that he is from the Nehru-Gandhi family, so ...

Had the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi imagined the kind of politics in independent India as we are seeing these days? Would Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Babasaheb Ambedkar...

The hue and cry raised over the film Padmavati and the use of intemperate language by some outfits and their leaders in opposing the film has astonished me. What an irony that the fi...

After the release of World Bank’s ease of doing business index, a buoyant impression is being created that reaching 100th rank from 130th position means that everything in the country has changed and foreign i...

The death of Santoshi, an 11-year-old girl from Simdega in Jharkhand, due to hunger has horrified the entire nation. The tall claims and promises of development are causing indignation. What kind of development...

Every government claims that it is sympathetic to the issues of farmers, but the reality is that the farmers are still deprived of their rightful dues. Politicians ask for votes in the name of farme...

The neglect of the elderly is on the rise and many of them are forced to spend their twilight years in the old age homes. In such a situation, the Assam Assembly has passed the Pronam ...

Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and now Gauri Lankesh..! There is a commonality among these four; that they were free-thinkers and expressed their thoughts with courage and zeal. All four of...

It is believed that the blue whale comes to the seashore to die or commit suicide. In the name of this blue whale, a Russian student Philipp Budeikin has created the ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ game. This game...

Signs had started appearing long back that the distance between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi is reducing and the bonhomie with the NDA is growing. The whole country was realising this situation, but t...

First the story of Iraq..! Just three years ago, a man from the Islamic State Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi declared himself the Khalifah of the world from Mosul city of Iraq. Earlier, he occupied a large part of Iraq and ...

To understand the latest controversy between India and China, first take a look at the eastern part of India’s map. You will see a thin strip from the Siliguri area of West Bengal...

When the Narendra Modi government sacked 129 officials and employees on allegations of dereliction of duty and ordered 1,800 others to quit, I suddenly remembered a TV serial, Offi...

Before discussing the latest step of US President Donald Trump, let's take a look at some of the environmental issues released by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), a reputed scientific institution in ...

I have closely watched Gadkari for last many years. I have seen his formative years too. He is a totally transparent and honest politician, a rarity today. If he wants to appreciate someone he would do it publicly or if he is displeased with someone he would express his displeasure also publicly. If he is unhappy ...

Kitni Khubsurat Ye Tasveer Hai

Mausam Bemisal Benazir Hai

Ye Kashmir Hai... Ye Kashmir Hai..!

Some 35 years ago this song of the Bollywood movie Bemisal was a super hit. That time we used to hum this song often. But n...

There is no hesitation in saying that Narendra Modi is the most powerful Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Both at national and international levels. But there is a big difference too. At the time of Jawa...

The date of April 16 is very significant in the history of India. On April 16, 1917, Mahatma Gandhi sowed the first seeds of satyagraha against the oppression of farmers in Champaran, Bihar. On that day,...

News is here that the government of India has banned 3000 porn websites that displayed the child porn content. Definitely this is a good move but the biggest question is: W...

It is worth noting that the Congress has the youngest leadership in the form of Rahul Gandhi but the youth of this country is relying on 66-year-old Narendra Modi an...

A traumatic situation of intolerance is prevailing these days. An ideology is evolving rapidly that is not just rejecting all other ideologies but also boasts of finishing them off soon. I have seen several eras from childhood to the present age. I was a member of the Rajya Sabha for 18 years and I saw divergent o...

When something happens in UP, Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh or any state in west, north and south India, the entire country is shaken. From print media to electronic media, all are alert but let anything happen in seven northeastern states and nothing happens. There is no scare! I a...

The stakes are high for each political party in the elections to the five states. For instance in Punjab, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance is battling a two-term anti-incumbency in the face of a two-pronged challenge from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. The Congress chief ministerial candidate Ama...

Now that Donald John Trump has been sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America, the least he deserves is a fair chance in office. He is the elected leader of the world’s richest democracy and the unelected leader of the free world. Besides, the office of the American President is an instituti...

Last week I was in Israel. What an amazing country it is! I have seen many countries of the world and tried to understand them, but no other country has impressed me as much as Israel! From agriculture to country’s se...

When dealing with events it is best to savour the pleasant moments of the past and hope that time the great healer would provide a balm to the wounds. It is with this sentiment that I wish a good bye to 2016. As for 2017, I look ahead for smoother ride that would usher us in to an era of better overall life, and a...

I have spent long years in the Parliament, and have witnessed many disruptions in the House. Almost invariably, these are caused by recalcitrant opposition members who want to draw the government’s attention to some issue of pressing concern. But this winter session of the Parliament would go down in the history...

Legend has it that Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa was referred to as “Ammu” by her mother Sandhya and her mentor and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M G Ramachandran. But by the time the 68-year-old breathed her last, she had become “Amma” to millions of her followers across the state. Her adult...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs1000 currency notes has literally stunned the country. It is his declared intent that the decision has been taken to unearth the black money that is eating into the vitals of the economy. The reality is that there is no reason to oppose the decis...

The American establishment and by its extension the rest of the world was preparing for an era where a woman would be the president of the oldest democracy. This was supposed to be a natural transition in a modern country that had elected a ‘black’ Barack Obama for two terms. There is a feeling of regret that ...

It seems that by some unwritten law the long standing chief ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party have to graduate as efficient administrators through a rite of passage - ruthless encounters. The bar had been set by the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to show that he had the steely resolve to take on a...

A small reference has been made in the autobiography of former foreign secretary of the country Shiv Shankar Menon, published, recently. He writes that soon after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008, the UPA government was contemplating a direct attack on Pakistan. But it was thought that observing restraint instead ...

After the Uri attacks, shocking as they were, we have seen a surge of jingoism in almost all walks of life. The hysteria in some sections of the electronic media would have us believe as if there is real war going on across the border. Yes, it is true the violence from across the border had been stepped up which s...

Do the elected office-bearers of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) think that this institution is their landed property and they have the ownership rights over all its assets and sources of revenue? Sitting on the cash-rich body, these people have got so much enamored of the wealth, power and prestige t...

After ten days’ blissful stay, the Lord of wisdom Ganpati has left for his spiritual abode promising to come back early next year. He is the one who removes all obstacles. But does he remove the obstacles all by himself and fill the world with joy and happiness? He gives us the wisdom to do all this, because he ...

There is an old adage in Marathi that says how man is becoming brutal and how he is developing animal instincts. For the last few years, the country is facing a piquant situation, which indicates how man, who is considered to be the highest creation among all living creatures, has started behaving like a beast. Ma...

Going by our previous performances, we should be glad that our athletes have performed well in Rio Olympic 2016. Even when some of them have not won medals, they have delivered a performance that is quite creditable even in the international arena. In terms of medal, the silver for shuttler P V Sindhu is a truly g...

We have a Dalit crisis since time immemorial. It is not that we have done nothing to solve it, but the fact remains that it persists in spite of all our efforts. Whenever an incident takes place of Dalit atrocity, the responses may be on partisan lines, but these are usually politically correct. When it comes to l...

Temperamentally, I am an optimistic person. I can find positivity even in some of the most difficult situations. After all it is optimism that makes all of us get past all the hurdles in life. But of late, I am discerning that there is a growing negativity all around us, and this is almost getting institutionalise...

Just take a look at this bit of information. India and Africa account for 2.5 billion people and yet neither has a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Of course there is a history behind this distortion. When the UNSC was formed in 1945, neither India nor most of the countries in Africa were independent n...

The management of Yavatmal Public School immediately suspended the two monsters who committed an extreme atrocity against the minor girls of the school. The matter was reported to the police authorities as soon as all the information became available. Everyone has taken...

In historical records Mahatma Gandhi was murdered on January 30th 1948, his killer was recorded as Nathuram Godse. The name Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh does not figure among the Mahatma’s assassins. Now nearly 68 years later when Raghuram Rajan has been denied a second term as the governor of Reserve Bank of Ind...

I have met and interacted with Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on several occasions and can take the liberty of calling him a friend. He is a professional diplomat - warm knowledgeable, friendly yet firm and persuasive. It was at a dinner for the visiting delegates of the Pakistan Institute for...

In a democracy, the periodic elections serve many purposes. Through their mechanism, we not only choose the governments that would be running our affairs, but we also get a sense of their hopes and aspirations. It is through the choices that the people make at the electronic voting machines that we get an idea of ...

Last week, I completed 18 long years of my parliamentary career. In the customary tradition of the Rajya Sabha, I had the opportunity to deliver my farewell speech. It was a moment to look back on these years spent in the temple of democracy. To say the least, I was simply overwhelmed by the magnitude and the impo...

We all know that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was the first non-European to win a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, for the English translation of his own poetic work Gitanjali - An Offering of Songs - in Bengali. We also know that he is the creative mind behind our national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana...” But we do...

When the royal couple from Britain Prince William and Princess Catherine recently visited the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan they presented a new rose “Queen of Bhutan rose” to the hostess queen for her English garden. It was fitting tribute to a kingdom that is fiercely protective of its culture, festivals, monk...

For all of us April 14th is a red letter day. It was on this day that India’s liberator par excellence Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar was born in 1891 in a poor family. As we remember him reverentially we salute him for all his contributions. He is the crowning jewel in the long tradition of the great Indian lead...

Sometime in January this year at an international event, Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif told his audience: "Pakistan has paid a very heavy price in terms of lives. There is a huge economic loss also. But our resolve to fight against terrorism is getting stronger every day. " Prime minister Narendra Modi has ...

When we think of Mother Teresa our mind almost compulsively also recalls Princess Diana. Though we know that physically there is no comparison between the two. The Princess was tall, elegant and simply charming, Mother was short hunched and perhaps born old. We remember her wrinkled hands in prayer and Diana’s g...

Last week we witnessed one of the wonders of Indian democracy. A 28-year-old young student whose name would not have even ring a bell hardly a month ago, emerged after three weeks in the Tihar jail on an alleged sedition charge, and within two hours saw that his extempore speech to his student friends was beamed l...

If the crisis managers of the Modi government were to sit back and take a detached and relaxed look at the events that have followed since the arrest of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar under sedition charges, they would be the first ones to accept that this is a self-goal. T...

The game of cricket is the real secular religion of India. Its millions of fans follow the course of every ball, and every wicket taken and every run scored with passionate zeal. It is the devout Indian cricket fan across the globe whose commitment to the game has brought untold riches to the body that controls cr...

Atrocities on Dalits are not an unusual occurrence in our society. There was the incident when two dalit children were burnt to death when their family was attacked by their upper caste rivals near Faridabad. There is that infamous Khairlanji incident that shocked the collective conscience of the society some year...

It does appear that the six Pakistani terrorists embarked on their mission to attack the Pathankot airbase with the idea of derailing the peace process that was highlighted with much fanfare by the Christmas day dash to Lahore by prime minister Narendra Modi and all that followed in the media glare. To the extent ...

Several years down the line, when we shall look back at the route followed by the world to fight climate change, the agreement in Paris among 196 countries would look like the easier part of the battle. The more difficult part would be implementing it. To begin with the Paris agreement has very modest goals. It ai...

The good news first. Our external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has travelled to Pakistan. She is the first foreign minister from India to go to Islamabad after the long forgotten S M Krishna in September 2012. Better news still awaits us when in nine months Prime Minister Narendra Modi could well become the firs...

Aamir Khan is an iconic Bollywood actor. He is also well-known as thinking actor, and the entire clutch of his movies is beyond the song and dance around the trees routine. Right from his debut film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) that got him the best male actor award to the present he has a string of films through...

As the year-long 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India and rightly called the architect of our modern nation, conclude today, my mind goes back to an event that took place in the mid-fifties. At that time in 1958, Pand...

When it comes to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, first impressions and looks could be deceptive. With an almost boyish, cherubic face he does not look like a ruthless boxer in the arena of power politics. Besides, his academic curriculum vitae does not cut him out to be the practitioner of the art of...

Last week a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court with a 4-1 majority delivered a momentous judgement. It made headlines and a message got conveyed that the court’s verdict was a setback to the government’s efforts to change the way in which the judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts are appointed. Th...