Urban Mirror

As early as 1980s, the menace of drug addiction had become noticeable in some districts of Uttar Pradesh where I had the occasion to serve. By the early nineties, drugs...

Declining student enrolment and poor attendance in Government schools owe much to the apparent lack of fixed time of schools, teacher absenteeism and apathy towards students. Parents’ belief that English...

The human greed for even more wealth, more power, more territory to rule , more people to  subjugate has remained the sole cause for wars in civilization and remains the...

Corruption is not like an external growth or a carbuncle which can be clinically removed. It is a mindset, an attitude, a characteristic weakness of the human temperament which has...

The owning up to responsibility and accountability as individuals means that we reject the ‘mai-baap’ concept of sarkar, of government. Politics cannot be divorced from governance in a working democracy,...

India is still debating the relevance of promotion and relegation in its leagues, while the rest of the footballing world debates World Cup tactics and youth academies. We are still...

The challenge for governance in a strong democracy lies in the ability of governments at all levels to balance multifold, often even conflicting interests, all the while keeping in sight...

India today has nearly three times more people than it had just fifty years ago. Our cities are bursting at the seams, the sheer numbers make effective implementation of any...

  The prevailing situation needs to be altered at the earliest and beginning has to be made with overhaul of our current economic policy paradigm. Gone are the days for...

The fact that implementation of MGNREGA is mired in corruption is hardly contested. The ‘Scorpio’ or ‘Bolero’, which used to materialize almost magically after the election of Sarpanch, was largely...

Federalism as a basic feature of the Indian state gets another nail in its coffin as the states are only too willing to follow the Centre’s lead in this regard....

The manner in which JJM is currently being executed is no different from what had been undertaken earlier in different states. By and large, piped water supply schemes had failed...

“Operation Sindoor” has conveyed a salutary message to our western neighbor. The time has now come to make India militarily so strong that none dares to even think of usurping...

In India, we seem to have an instinctive aversion or distrust of these ‘conveniences’ meant for pedestrians. Subways are rarely clean, they are ill-lit and often unsafe. Anti-social elements, vagrants,...

PAI is much more than ranking of GPs, Districts or States. It is a call for action. GPs faring poorly are crying out for support. We need to not only...

Introducing the collegium system was  purportedly  to protect the independence of the judiciary, but  it had many flaws. The most troubling was its opacity- the absolute lack of transparency of...

 It is time to stop celebrating the individual and focus on strengthening the system mandated by the Constitution. Strengthening constitutional values, adhering to rule of law, promoting collective responsibility, having...

The recent decision of Government of Uttar Pradesh to provide subsidy to developers for constructing way-side amenities along newly constructed expressways and highways appears to be mis-directed. If the State...

The tax system remains as opaque as ever. At present, it’s only the large manufacturers and big companies who stand to gain. For medium and small enterprises, it has entailed...

The contribution Phules and Dr Ambedkar to overall social progress is so compelling which cannot be confined to only the victory of the oppressed class. It is a victory which...

Nehru’s firm commitment to and his championing of liberal democracy in India assured our country of civilised interaction, respect for diverse views, the authority of rule of law and the...

It is evident that platform workers in the Gig economy have virtually no power to negotiate with the platform owners. All terms and conditions are decided and set unilaterally by...

Unleashing our military might against a failed Pakistan state is unwise. The Indian state must bleed the rogue state by doing everything required to eliminate the terrorists and their supporters....

Good governance is the birth-right of all citizens in independent and democratic India must become the key sentence in party ideology. Strong political commitment to local governments should become the...

The United States’ approach to international trade, particularly under the “America First” doctrine, reflects a prioritization of domestic manufacturing, job creation, and trade balances over multilateral cooperation. However, in an...

Separation of powers and a system of checks and balances among the three arms and the three tiers of government are part of the constitutional mechanism laid down to prevent...

At a time when the two communities are at loggerheads, through this comparative study effort has been made to effectively highlight similarities in the two holy scriptures and bring both...

 In view of complex situation in Israel-Palestine tangle, declaring one side “right” is unpragmatic. Both have valid historical claims-which are still unresolved. The occupation and displacement have caused humungous suffering,...

The arguments of “Shia being heretic” is getting less audience even in western countries, which have now recognized the peaceful Shia faith. The annual congregations in Karbala and Najaf have...

During a visit to Najaf in February 2025, I could assess during my discussions with people that for Ayatollah Sistani the Shia revival at the global level meant building on...

India has to course correct immediately. The number of Indians, especially those who are educated and affluent, and are migrating abroad  from India, is increasing rapidly. A large number of...

The bureaucracy is well aware that passing of any order prohibiting practising of trade by any section of citizens in any part of India violates the Constitutional provisions in letter...

All historical writing, even the most honest, is unconsciously subjective, since every age is bound to see the past through its prejudiced present. As some thinkers suggest it would be...

Language can be freely learned, acquired and mastered by all. It is not a privilege or entitlement conferred by birth. It is this which makes it a unifier and an...

As of now the ruling Coordination Framework Alliance led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani appears to be firm in saddle but forces within and outside in the region and...

 It is said in that Qom is holding Shia Islam in the world because of its collections of books, manuscripts and scholarly presence over the centuries, writes M Hasan The...

 Rule of law is the veritable life force of a vibrant functioning democracy. Any elected government is a government of all people and not just those who voted for them....

Why indeed are political parties in India so anxious to adopt reservation of seats for women in legislatures? This is because they see in this move a brilliant opportunity to...

Significantly the 12th Imam Mehdi has also become subject of comparative study in Iran. Even as the Hindutav forces have been haranguing Islam, Ayatollah Khomeini seminary, Qom has initiated a...

Nishapur and Kashan are two major centres for lovers of Persian poetry in Iran. While Nishapur, also popular for Firoza stone, was home to versatile genius Omar Khayyam, Khashan produced...

As propagated in outside world I could not find “Talibani-burqa clad” woman. Jeans with tops covered with “Abaya” (Chador) seems to be dominant dress of Iranian women in the country...

Demons like Nimrood to Ummadyads, Abbasids and others have gone into oblivion but the progeny of Abraham is blossoming and holding flag of his religion aloft from Karbala, Najaf to...

No doubt Iraq has vast natural resources like other countries in the region but successive wars, dishonest saddam government and Salfi terrorism had not only made the lives of people...

 Vast sea of books in libraries of Najaf, Karbala, Mashhad and Qom, are pillars of Shia Islam in the world. Though Najaf in Iraq too have ocean of books, Qom...

it is time citizens and voters begin to realize that they need to hold political parties accountable for the promises made by them in their election manifestos. And this would...

This is the real world today. Our politicians readily promise the public to equally distribute what they do not have, and, then take away as much as they can, of...

In a democratic system, dissent plays an essential role in fostering critical thinking, ensuring accountability, and driving social progress. It is the mechanism through which citizens can challenge unjust laws,...

Indian Railways see no reason to fulfil their contractual obligations towards those passengers who have entered into a legitimate transaction with them and purchased a reserved seat or berth. The...

Most streets, even if they are side-streets or by-lanes are uneven, potholed and with a random distribution of open or partially open manholes. Then there are unexpected boulders, stray wires,...

It is high time that those who govern the country, at whatever level, understand that the average citizen cares little about whether the police profession in India suffers from a...

If we look at the number of women candidates who contested the general elections in 2024, then the situation appears more grim. Only 797 women candidates contested the Lok Sabha...

Education is the foundation of any progressive society. It shapes young minds, builds critical thinking skills, and equips individuals with the tools necessary to contribute meaningfully to their communities. In...

Whether horses are deemed athletes or equipment might come down to practicality rather than philosophy. But one thing’s certain: no matter how this debate plays out, the horses themselves couldn’t...

India stands at a critical juncture in its journey towards becoming a developed nation. With a young and dynamic workforce, vast natural resources, and a rapidly growing economy, India possesses...

The tyranny of merit, is not merely an economic or political problem but a moral one. It distorts our understanding of success, fosters social resentment, and undermines the bonds of...

‘The Parliament is a stage, and all the M.P.s are merely puppets: They have their shouting spells and their walk-outs; The pressure groups of the time  pull the puppet strings,...

  Constitution makers made judiciary independent to ensure that these higher ideals were made a reality. An independent judicial system was created with the sole purpose of delivering justice to...

The time has come to honor Major Dhyan Chand—not as a mere hockey player, but as a hero of India. Let us rise above politics, above complacency, and above forgetfulness,...

If one thinks hard and deeply about how to find a way out, the road to salvation lies in education, widespread education, education which opens people’s minds and encourages questioning,...

Video games are more than just a pastime—they are a reflection of our society’s creativity, ambitions, and complexities. They have the power to entertain, educate, and connect, but they also...

Politics is deepening the chasm between haves and have nots -which is portentous for the future of society-a peaceful world cannot exist with one third rich and two thirds hungry....

The transformation of Indian athletes into corporate salesmen is a disappointing commentary on the state of modern sports. While endorsements and sponsorships are not inherently wrong, they should never come...

The simple fact that there are limits to growth of any town for providing civic amenities even of passable standards, somehow, has been missed by the city authorities. Further, it...

 The leader of a nation, the public servant, must epitomise civic virtues: he must be honest, law-abiding and selfless. Instead of  speaking about justice, he must live it; not to...

This series is not merely a setback—it is a potential inflection point. Indian cricket has faced tough moments in the past and has emerged stronger each time, but only because...

This is a call for accountability, not just from the event management company responsible for this travesty, but from all of us. Diljit, I urge you to be a voice...

  The likely scenario that is going to unfold is that Census operations would commence in 2025 (with or without caste census), its figures would become available in 2026 and...

The real issue is the complete lack of attention to putting in place a democratic, accountable governance structure in place in these ‘industrial townships’! Existing NOIDA model is a classic...

 Effective steps should be taken by Government for data democratisation. Improved digital data flow system between the Union, State and Local Government and making data available to all users for...

 The majority of voters are facing the brunt of corrupt and pathetic governance even though these are the empowered people who make or mar the future of these wily politicians....

The significance of football in Mandela’s life extended beyond Robben Island. After his release in 1990, Mandela understood the deep cultural power of sport to bridge divides, a realization that...

 For any nation to survive in this competitive world with dignity and to be respected by other nations- having decisive economic and military might is a prerequisite. Obviously, no nation...

Vinesh Phogat’s story serves as a reminder of the delicate line between activism and politics. Her journey, once one of hope and resistance, now stands at a crossroads. Will she...

 The government should immediately withdraw the policy of scrapping old vehicles and work on strictly enforcing the pollution standards of vehicles, old and new alike. A study has proved that...

The Chief Minister's Cup is accompanied by grandiose but vacuous promises, with the Chief Minister proclaiming plans to build hundreds of stadiums and thousands of mini-stadiums across Uttar Pradesh. Yet,...

Despite tall claims made by successive governments of “zero tolerance to corruption”, our nation  is known for its widespread corruption rampaging across all sectors because of the thoroughly corrupt political...

  Of late there is increasing use of bulldozers in States by the authorities to raze the residential and business premises of the ‘accused’ who are yet to be proclaimed...

 It’s time to rethink how we allocate resources in Indian sports. Rather than focusing on celebrating individual triumphs with monetary rewards, we should invest in the broader sporting community. By...

The mafia ruling the medical education system are political heavyweights with humongous clout and tremendous wealth to not only influence but also to determine lucrative decisions. This  enables them to...

  For the past several years, social media platforms have become easy and very fertile ground for various religious, sectarian, extremists and political outfits to espouse their sinister agendas with...

The real tragedy lies in how this situation was allowed to unfold in the first place. How did we, as a nation, let one of our finest athletes, who had...

We need to heed the salutary advice of the great thinkers, philosophers and ethical leaders to be tolerant, just and compassionate, to live and let live. Then only will we...

The beauty about space and universe is that no matter what you say about it, no one can say that you are wrong since the entire universe is not explored...

This humungous coaching culture is the product of a mindless pursuit by question paper setters of UPSC to ask such complex questions which are beyond the capability of any normal...

Drug addiction has developed into a serious health pandemic now. It is not only destroying the abuser but his entire family, ravaging the society and the nation. It promotes anti-social behavior such...

M Hasan Lucknow, July 27, 2024: A sharp tussle has emerged within Shia community as Karbala battle has echoed in Palestinian fight aggressively during this Moharram. It was global phenomenon...

  M Hasan Lucknow, July 25, 2024: An intense debate has ensued in well-entrenched Shia community in India-Pakistan over some “objectionable” comments of Shia cleric Maulana Aqee-lul- Gharavi against world...

               These serious slippages have been showing  for decades but the people in power have either decided to close their eyes or were complicit in perpetuating...

  The magnitude of this Delhi excise scam and the brazen manner in which it was executed is mind boggling. How could the CM, Dy. CM, ministers of Delhi government...

Since independence, the country and its states have seen and tested many governments and  many parties, but all the governments and leaders knowingly or unknowingly, so far, seem to agree...

  People in every state, in every part of our country, irrespective of the party in power are still suffering at the hands of the corrupt bureaucracy and police. No...

      The current neo liberal economic policies have allowed free run due to the overarching influence of billionaires. The unbridled greed of the rich and powerful to accumulate...

  We have learned to rule as a mob, perhaps, but, not certainly, as an enlightened community. An eminent journalist of the sub-continent has described, rather aptly, the current democratic...

  The Muslim community victim of historical othering, social exclusion, violence and other prejudices during the last one decade under majoritarian India has this time resorted to “tactical silence” to...

  According to a recently published world inequality report inequality  in India has skyrocketed since the early 2000s, with the wealth share of the top one per cent of the...

    The media remained complicit and did not question Kejriwal on facts already in the public domain and laid bare before the courts by investigating agencies, which prove beyond...

  Day in and day out we find the newspapers full of advertisements from this breed of universities offering a whole spectrum of courses from liberal arts to engineering to...

  Democracy has to stand for, equality in terms of opportunity for education training, employment, and, business ventures, that is, complete access to every facility for development for every citizen...

  Higher education programmes therefore are not merely degree awarding exercises but meant to enhance perceptions, sensitivity and creativity. Unlike functional literacy, at the other end of the spectrum, the...

  This whole business of Madrassas has assumed proportions of a racket. UP and Bihar Madrassas overproduce Maulvis who are employed as Imams, Muezzins and Khateebs on petty salaries. They...

  Justice has to be accessible, justice has to be equitable and justice has to be swift, in order to be meaningful. The  judicial system is massive, stretching from the...

Undoubtedly, our ​democracy is imperiled today with the octopus like grip that black money has on impacting our elections at every level of our polity. In addition to that political...

Tinkering in the appointments to the top positions in various institutions of the governments like CBI, ECI, CVC, CAG etc. has not produced the desired results. There is always a...

Inflammatory speeches, intentional or otherwise, senseless reporting of events and even a casual remark communicated, now over the mob.is capable of creating unrest of dangerous proportions, and, has done so,...

  The issue is not whether Manu is a villain or a saint, nor that Manusmriti should be considered holy or should be burnt, but that whether it has any...

  While the BJP has vociferously publically opposed “caste census, caste politics” to consolidate Hindu vote bank, in Muslim community the party has “Pasmanda gameplan” to split the community. It...

Now the Places of worship Act of PV Narasimha Rao government is at the heart of the Gyanvapi mosque and Shahi Eidgah Masjid disputes. The Act that prohibits conversion of...

Vaccines are available to take care of the computer-machine viruses, but,as on date, no vaccine is available to counter the virus of dishonesty in men, to ensure cent percent reliability...

  There is a feeling in western UP that already 70 percent Jat community had moved to BJP in the last two elections (Lok Sabha and assembly). Thus Jat-Muslim combination...

The matter is straight forward. How far, a nation with millennia old culture, can go back in time to correct historical wrongs. Since emotions and sentiments can not be codified,...

Since science of argument, has no final end, With gowned pleaders ,likes of Sibal, Singhvi, to contend, Learned Judge should only grasp the facts, and, show them out, For the people to trust...

The inability to take a decision is not inherent in the individual or the authority, but is largely, induced by external forces of muscle, money and mob. Sadly, the political...

  During nearly 38 years in public service, I have noticed one thing clearly- that our ruling class, politicians and bureaucrats included, have one unwritten rule or understanding, whatever one...

  For the common citizen it is difficult to understand as to why, at all, there should be any need to consider remission of sentences in gruesome criminal cases. Cold...

  Pride is justified but, in the true spirit of Hinduism, there can be no room for prejudice. The reignited lamp should illuminate the greatness of the past and light...

  Nations, who shelter elements inimical to our national interests, need to be handled prudently and strongly. The debate about the moral way or otherwise are all subject to interpretation-...

  Over the years percentage of women in government jobs has remained below 12 percent and it has hovered between 20 to 25 percent in higher Civil Services like IFS,...

  Despite tall developmental claims India’s heath and education system is pathetic. Our villages and most towns are devoid of even basic civic facilities like sewage system, sanitation, clean drinking...

  The base issue to focus on, is not the division of the available opportunities, caste, community, colour, language, latitude, or, longitude wise, but on the creation of more and...

  Serious cases of murder, rioting, embezzlement, extortion etc continue to remain in an endless queue yet the cases of people with political God fathers or, Mr.Deep Pockets, continue to...

The brazen expenditure of crores of rupees in elections by various political parties and their candidates has become a norm. This truth cannot be denied now. The dominance of black...

  Recently a seminar was held in Nainital, a prominent hill-town, which is becoming unliveable for the permanent residents. The objective was to identify the reasons for the decline and...

  The people’s representative, elected (unfortunately?) by us believes that he/she, is a Don above all laws and regulations which apply to the common citizen. And the political parties, defeated...

The accomplishments of a ruling party may not be much to write home about, but, when neatly dressed smiling faces of the political leaders gaze at you from the front...

    As the youngest mountain range connected to half a dozen countries, affecting the geo-climate over a large region, the  little attention given to the integrated eco-friendly, development of...

The selection process of the judges through the Collegium system itself is a hush-hush affair and only the outcome is known to the public at large. On what grounds X...

    The logical question is that when money is extracted through illegal means to carry on the electoral campaigns of political parties -then in the eventuality of such illegal...

    The serious existential crisis looming over Mr. Kejariwal’s future as CM and his politics because of this excise scam is becoming graver every day. The facts which are...

  The comment that qualified hate speech was worrying as it indicated disturbing trend that has roiled the country in recent times. It is not only poisoning minds and polarising...

  The Opposition parties alliance named as INDIA has been stitched together with the same old tattered faces, tainted to the hilt, dyed with lack of integrity, devoid of morality...

  When political parties and politicians start spending billions of rupees to win elections, their proximity to money bags is the obvious outcome of this greatest sin in democracy. Hence ...

  The central and state Governments, in the light of the observations of Parliamentary standing committee, should immediately take corrective steps to bring the pattern of all the competitive exams...

  The culture of the blame game is all pervading. In the Parliament the opposition targets the government and blames it for the wrong policies being followed creating unrest, unemployment,...

  Even after seven decades of independence we remain bracketed in the category of corrupt nations and have failed miserably to provide clean, honest and efficient delivery and governance system...

      The unfortunate part of our nation’s life is that it remains deeply mired in all pervasive corruption and the worst sufferers consequently are the poor and marginalized...

  Anti student policies in admissions have pushed our education system to the brink of disaster and students are forced into the dragnet of flourishing coaching classes to qualify by...

Blowing hot and cold in the debates on supposed interference in religious precepts and practices, as well as, creating disturbances at the drop of a hat, on imagined affront to...

  The scams of the Delhi government exemplify the selfsame brazen looting. The story of 400 plus fake appointments by the current Delhi government is an astounding saga of lies...

  It is said that law is blind but in India, it appears, that it is colour blind. It recognises only black silk gowns and nothing else. There are any...

    The Kejriwal Government has spent Rs 1106.02 crore on advertisement, in the last three financial years which include Rs 297.70 crore in 2020-21; Rs 596.37 crore in 2021-22...

      Those castigating the current defection saga in Maharashtra need to reflect whether they were not, once upon a time, skilfully playing the same game of power grabbing....

        The preliminary examination of civil services exams conducted by UPSC has reached such a level of absurdity that now experts call these exams a kind of...

  In the ongoing violence in Manipur, the time has come to  expeditiously  end  the violence by acting impartially and taking stringent steps. Strong signals have to be sent to...

  While working in Uttar Pradesh, I came across several instances of medical college buildings built with hundreds of crores of rupees lying vacant. They had become the refuges of...

  Despite availability of these technological tools, it seems the system failed to adopt them to the optimum. This horrifying collision shows that the work on adoption of these technologies...

  The leaderless Muslim community under the control of Mullahs has already been politically marginalised during the last ten years and further caste division, as is evident glaringly, is threatening...

    The hackneyed slogans of garibi hatao , sarvajan hitaye, sabka vikas have failed to deliver to the populace which has been reduced to subsisting on doles and freebies...

  In the ongoing Karnataka election campaigns of contesting parties, it is back to caste, religion and freebies. Instead of debating the policies and programmes mentioned in their manifestos and...

    Today's Indian women are more literate and educated. They're enrolling in schools and colleges in greater numbers and staying in school longer than previous generations did. But that...

    In a highly criminalized electoral politics the pampering of criminals-turned politicians has assumed serious dimension with almost all political parties opening floodgates to criminals for electoral gains. In...

    Increasing the upper age limit for women candidates for competitive exams like Civil Services Exams etc to 35 years would be a first step in this direction which...

    The incompetence and inefficiency of the police administration is always blamed for such turbulences when the fact is that the police administration can control any situation if allowed...

  The unfortunate part of “history rewriting spree” is that it doesn’t serve national interest in any way. Ignoring true history and distorting it to serve the narrow political ends...

Corruption preponderates in our governance system and  taints public life. Our nation is governed  by the “rule of law” but in practice, it remains limited to being  on paper only....

  Rahul Gandhi has contented that the opposition is not allowed to raise issues in the Parliament and he is not given a chance to speak. The parliamentary records speak...

There is an urgent need to take corrective steps to change the deplorable conditions. For that it is essential that principled leaders start working indefatigably in the interests of the...

    The irony is that most of the leaders who have occupied prominent positions in our country have been so self- centered that after attaining power they have negated...

With the high and the mighty, transgressing the approved and accepted framework of law, laid down rules, regulations, and, procedures, wrong signals go to the common people. And, soon enough...

  The bed-rock of democratic governance is discipline. And, if the bed-rock, the very foundation, is missing all the structures, the legislature, the executive, and, the judiciary collapse, like a...

  To win elections the political parties find it easier to raise emotions and promise sops rather than put forth concrete program of development and outline the formidable efforts required....

  Opposition for opposition’s sake has been the guiding principle of political parties, and, frivolous, half true, and false statements, their main tools to create mountains out of mole hills....

    The yawning chasm between the rich and poor in visible everywhere in our country. It is callous that our ruling class and the well to do in our...

  To destroy a nation all one needs to do is to destroy the youth. The impressionable young minds can be easily programmed to accept illusion for reality, and perceive...

   Any system of governance which is devoid of truth and morality is bound to aggravate the misery of the people whom they govern. This all-pervading amoral culture of mal-...

    As the state of the nation supervisor, the media has immense responsibility since every wrong reporting, can and does, more often than not, lead to grave consequences soon...

In recent years, there has developed the common perception, that the guardians of the constitution, the Hon’ble Courts,  seem to be over reaching the functions and powers enshrined for them...

For the last several decades saving the environment has been the burning topic of the day, and, one international conference after another is being held in one country or the...

  A minuscule of officers dispose off the files in time, and, answer letters in time, however, the majority sits on the files, does not answer or even acknowledge letters...

  Stopping such Fellowships and such other rewards and fellowships will certainly demoralize deserving youth and deprive them of the consequential monetary support and adversely impact the nation’s march towards...

  History is a chronicle of man’s deeds and misdeeds, achievements and failures, kindness and cruelty. The only purpose of the study of history is for the people to learn,...

Maha Upnishad, holds that, the world is a family and Brihadaranyaka  upnishad prayer is, lead me from darkness to light. These, and, any number more, are the nuggets of gold,...

   The country has failed to recognize that the all-pervading corruption in all kinds of construction activities is at the root of these problems. Bridges do not fall on their...

   The unholy nexus and its octopus like grip over the nutrition supply system under ICDS is so formidable that several efforts by activists to elicit information regarding the contract...

  During my tenure in HRD ministry a paper on neighborhood school concept was prepared and a former Union Education Secretary was tasked to study this scheme and come up...

    The decades of inept leadership which has mired this great nation in the cesspool of corruption, poverty and deprivations of all kinds. These incompetent, visionless, corrupt, avaricious leaders...

  Anti Hizab movement is fast spreading in entire Iran. Thousands of women are on the streets.They are against the moral policing in the country.The protest was ignited after the...

    History’s lesson for humankind is that there are no friends when it comes to international relations. Its only self-interest which comes in the garb of “friendly relations “....

  The meeting of prominent five Muslim intellectuals who have served under different governments in the past and a Delhi Mosque Imam, should not be given much importance, writes senior...

Going back in Indian history there were a number of yatras organised by different people to achieve their political goals. In 1983 actor turn politician Late NTR had organised a Chaitanya...

    In India, the poor are nearly half the population and even after 75 years of independence are lacking the essentials of a civilized existence- food, potable water, education,...

     The official data analysis shows that the much-publicised ‘Delhi Model’ of AAP government is a blatant attempt to deceive the public through misrepresentation and misinformation with help of...

There are multifarious achievements which make us proud as a nation. But there are some slippages on some fronts, and these need to be ironed out before we announce attainment...

    Undoubtedly Kejariwal will be crying foul- as he has done in the past claiming that he is being framed to stop his march towards enlarging his political domain....

    Political largesse, from public funds, to further their selfish electoral ends has reduced the garib janata (poor people) to being a mendicant rather than a rational citizen exercising...

     The Lankan people have sent a powerful message for all those ruling various countries across the globe. Every ruler needs to remember that they are there only to...

    In the volatile and vicious environment that prevails, hate speech and a polarised discourse has gained humungous popularity. TRPs rule the roost and journalists are coerced into propagating...

  Once politics is purged of honesty, morality, ethics and integrity then oligarchs, crony capitalists, corrupt, sycophants, self-seekers, middlemen, dalals and even mafia dons, freely enter the public arena, writes...

  The Government should put Agnipath scheme on hold and continue with the old recruitment system till such time it succeeds in allaying all the fears and apprehensions of the...

A newspaper now, is no longer a service, but, a business which must make money, so the ads have to have priority, writes Prof H C Pande    At one...

  Hate speech, which has become the norm in our public discourse recently, has no place in our philosophical/spiritual thought, writes former IAS officer V S Pandey   The ruling...

The Russo-Ukrainian war, getting hotter, more destructive, and the hatred becoming colder, more extensive, with every passing day, write Prof HC Pande   Some say the world will end in...

    The culture of corruption has led to poor law and order, a corrupt jail system has become heaven for criminals and gangsters, writes former IAS officer V.S.Pandey  ...

  Nations who fail to record their history truthfully, live to regret their mistakes. Currently many nations are falsifying their history and will face the perilous consequences, write Dr. Smita...

Gyanvapi Masjid matter is an example of ignoring facts and stretching issues for no reason other than not being able to shut up, writes Prof HC Pande   Since verbal...

   In an organized world, not only nations, but, communities, and, individuals as well, are closely connected. In this situation any action at one point, can result in reactions everywhere, writes...

    In view of continuous tussle, the central government should undo the 69th constitutional amendment, dissolve the Delhi assembly and revert back to the pre 1991 situation. This is long...

  Why has the UP government denied the CBI permission to question the three IAS officers over their alleged role in the Rs 2,267 crore PF scam is inexplicable, argues...

  There are innumerable cases in Uttar Pradesh and other cadres , where IAS officers willfully  played truant  and  joined lucrative jobs without seeking any permission from the government, writes...

    In the light of the Punchhi Commission report and the existing constitutional provisions, powers of Governors to appoint VCs in state universities should be curtailed, writes former IAS...

  The decision of the UP Government to ensure that loudspeakers  are no longer a public nuisance and similar strict instructions regarding regulation  of religious processions deserve appreciation and should...

    Communal incidents are a wake-up call for the people to start the process of cleansing the divisive political system based on caste, religion, language, which is thriving on...

  Today’s political culture of hate, divisiveness, money and muscle power   will lead our country to doom sooner than later, writes former IAS officer V.S.Pandey   From time immemorial,  wisest...

  Indian politicians are adept at using names of national icons only to camouflage their misdeeds and cover their lack of integrity and honesty, writes former IAS officer V.S.Pandey  ...

Indian bureaucracy mired in inefficiency, apathy and a culture of non- performance, which needed urgent changes to improve governance, writes V.S.Pandey The elections to five states are over and the...

  Ukraine crisis has thrown open the contradictions in international relationships, treaties, groupings on one side and individual country’s self-interest on the other, writes former IAS officer V S Pandey...

           We have adopted the system of governance, prevailing across the seven seas, without understanding the possible pit-falls, writes Prof.             ...

  The steep fall in the journalistic moral standards has seriously jeopardized democracy and if media is to remain free, self-regulation is the only option, writes former IAS officer V...

  The increasing chasm between rich and poor is testimony to the fact that rulers have erred terribly in deciding the economic model, writes former IAS officer V.S.Pandey   Recently...

  Generations have passed waiting for governments to remove the scourge of corruption which has created an octopus like grip over our governance system, writes former IAS officer V S...

No country can prosper where the political class and governance system despise integrity and honesty and viciously hound those who speak truth to power, writes V.S.Pandey   It is very...

    When other sectors were allowed to resume their normal activities post the corona surges, schools should have been asked to come back to their normal routine also, writes...

    Despite CBI report in UP’s mining scandal and CAG observation in Noida land scam, there is no action against the real culprits who looted huge money from the...

  Agriculture being the mainstay of nearly 70 per cent of our population, any shortfall in supply or increase in the price of critical input like fertilisers is bound to...

               Our policy makers, with their clerical mind-set, would always think of numbers and nothing better can be expected from them. So     ...

            The transformer burnouts are generally due to inadequate,improperly rated,over-load safety devices in place,as also due to poor               ...

  Despite a road map laid out by the IIT Kanpur study to bring down the pollution levels in Delhi and NCR, very little was done by way of implementation...

  I had the opportunity to serve as head of the information and public relation department of Uttar Pradesh for several years. I cannot recall even one instance when advertisements...

    Unless the role of money power, mafia elements , use of caste and religion is  curbed in politics, things will remain as they are and country will remain...

After lapse of several decades we are still chasing minimal targets and  are still trying to  fulfil the minimum needs of our population, writes former IAS officer V.S.Pandey    ...

  The time has come for the central government  to unshackle the medical education system from the  avaricious  clutches of the vested interests whose only interest is pocketing billions at...

   Is Left, left in India? The point is, why perpetuate the fraud of leftism, when, in reality, all that is left, of left, is pure and simple, self-centrism, writes Dr...

    We should prepare our security systems in such a way that no external force or terrorists  dare meddle in our country and create law and order problems, writes...

  Looking at the hostile behaviour of countries around us, we have to build our military might to such a formidable extent that none will dare entertain any evil design,...

  The question is why governments shy away from debate or ordering an enquiry when they are in the right. Inevitably, it is the unethical action on the part of...

Since most of the political parties are neck deep in filth, dirt, corruption, immorality, untruth and falsehood, then snooping on others is the least of crimes they are capable of...

The administrator today has settled for the path of least resistance always saying yes to the political boss and no to the public. Remember the strength of a chain is...

  The Central vista project will prove its merit- provided it is executed with honesty and integrity. This exercise will be transformational only when the executors ensure that there is...

Despite people suffering hardships of all kinds, for generations, surprisingly these very political parties have been quite successful in ensuring that people keep voting for them for the same promises...

The bottom line is that the stock markets are totally out of sync with the performance of the economy and its poor health. Clear signals are emerging that something is...

The tragedy of our nation is that competence and integrity are seldom the criterion for appointments to position of power which, undoubtedly, matter the most in determining the direction of...

Unfortunately,it is near hopeless,to expect moderation from the politician,as,arousing emotions is his bread and butter.But,certainly the media can present the right picture in the right way.Or is it hoping too...

We, as a nation, do not lack in resources. We have the knowledge, we have the manpower, we have the road map to achieve these goals. Unfortunately, we have lacked...

Education is not filling a pail but lighting a fire and higher education is more so. Higher education programmes therefore are not merely degree awarding exercises but meant to enhance...

Our invaluable franchise has to be exercised to elect authentic, principled, transformational leaders-not these outworn masqueraders desperately capturing and then dishonorably clinging to power. Dr. Smita Pandey King Alexander the...

We have to burn the candle at both ends,one end for illuminating our past and the other to light up the path to the future.We have to clearly view and...

The cost of any product is based on the cost of production, licensing cost, expenditure on setting up the additional facilities, if any, required for manufacturing the product and such...

The scholarly report reflects sincere idealism and deep erudition.The only question is whether the ground truth of the problem has been understood so that a realistic solution can be attempted?...

Since Kurmi community is in dominant position in Purvanchal and central UP, moves are afoot in SP to bring it to SP fold as it was during days of Beni...

The faith of the people in the judiciary is the foundation of the third pillar and if the foundation gives way the entire edifice of democracy would come tumbling down....

The level of noise in the news-media, both print and electronic, has continued to increase over the past few decades, and, now it appears, that, the noise has overpowered the...

If the democratic governance in India has to be effective it is well past high time that responsible citizens be involved in overseeing the working of public institutions in a...

The elected have been changed from time to time but it seems to have made little difference. The reason is not hard to seek. From time to time Ali Babas...

The special skill of the politician consists in knowing what passions can be most easily aroused and when aroused how to prevent them from being harmful to himself and his...

The very idea of two Capitol establishments for Uttarakhand is not only senseless, but, an invitation to administrative and economic disaster. A summer capital for the resource starved state is...

Political shenanigans have clouded the fact that honest wages, for honest day's work, across the board, is the only key to national development and not any number of political promises....

Today, in the name of freedom of speech & expression, individuals mouth obscenities, slap unfounded charges, circulate fake news, indulge in character assassination, and, tell lies of every color, whenever...

The Samajwadi Party talks about concept of socialism but whenever it came to power in Uttar Pradesh it was far away from real concept of this ideology and its style...

All societies governed by rule of law have left very few choices to their people as laws themselves have clearly demarcated the boundaries between do’s and don’ts and specified the...

you would say the times have changed, and, old ideas are no longer relevant May be, but certainly, not all of them. Top leadership is more a punishment than a...

The ruling class has failed the nation by not governing the country honestly , sincerely and devotedly. We need to learn from our past mistakes and move on. V.S.Pandey The...

The problem of Covid-19 vaccination can be tackled with proper planning and efficient execution. We have both -the resources and the capacity. V.S.Pandey Currently the second covid wave is still...

For Netanyahu, Jerusalem and Gaza are the gift that keeps on giving. by Marwan Bishara (Senior political analyst at Al Jazeera). May 13 2021 Israel is a colonial war machine...

New Parliament building: One wonders about the genesis of this grand idea.Certainly,it can not be anyone in touch with the ground realities.In India one is not just in touch with...

Jumping the Queue is our national habit which is nothing but plain & simple short-circuiting. Clearly, when it comes to our own interest, fair or foul, we short-circuit our conscience...

The mental fatigue and hopelessness created by Covid-19, needs to be checked and the negative trend needs to be corrected at the earliest. The sports is the best way out....

The recent surge has started consuming the lives of people in villages. According to information in the absence of tracing and testing majority of deaths are being attributed to “fever...

The process of online registration for vax has to give way to house to house vaccination plan, as used to be the case earlier. We have enough trained manpower for...

The Delhi government is solely responsible for the mess it has created in treatment of covid patients including the supply of oxygen. Prof H C Pande The death toll continues...

The governments and health care system will have to work indefatigably to organise all the essentials and ensure that people have easy access to the basic facilities. V.S.Pandey The second...

In fact, elections and the Kumbh became the mega super spreaders of covid 19. But the leadership slept and woke up as late as January 2021. BK Singh brij.singhht@gmail.com Was...

A populist government in a developing country would always fail to address the basic issues and AAP is no exception. Prof. H C Pande Rousseau, over 200 years ago, had...

Top bureaucratic apparatus has failed to show the initiative, drive and commitment to handle the situation arising due to the current covid surge. V.S.Pandey The Country is at present facing...

With the current surge, our health system has crumbled, leading to panic. These shortages are all man made and should have been overcome without much difficulty. V.S.Pandey India is at...

The nefarious politics of money power, criminalisation, deceit and demagoguery has to be eliminated. Ethical people must come forward to fulfill the dream of our constitution makers. V.S.Pandey The nation...

Lack of vision, integrity and transparency led to failure in implementation of government schemes to uplift the poor people. V.S.Pandey Since 1970s, almost all the political parties have been riding...

Former Mumbai police chief has all the rights to move the court, but the core issues is rampant degradation in governance in our national life, which civil society is silently...

Our Governance has reached such a pass that honest officers in the system are useless, corrupt and pliable are welcome. V.S.Pandey Mr.Pratap Bhanu Mehta, newspaper columnist and public intellectual while...

In the free market system there is no ethics or morality, higher margins are the only driving force behind every action or practice. V.S.Pandey The farmers agitation is continuing, strongly...

India's administrative structure led by All India Services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS) adopted an approach of 5% vs 95%. VS Pandey...

Elimination of corrupt elements from governance is only way out to establish rule of law and restoration of honesty and integrity in the system. V.S.Pandey A few days back Prime...

It is high time that either NDA government should convince the farmers about the utility of the three laws or withdraw them in larger national interest V.S.Pandey The farmers agitation...

It is high time for the Modi government to undo the mistakes of previous governments, listen to the farmers and take immediate corrective measures. V.S.Pandey Even after 80 odd days,...

There is need to examine the prevailing situation in the agricultural sector in the larger context of the direction of economic policy framework. V.S.Pandey The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, while...

An impractical budget which doestnot provide any road map for welfare and overall development of country V.S.Pandey Yesterday the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the annual budget for the...

The People have every right to demonstrate to press for the acceptance of their justified demands and want themselves to be visible while doing so, so are hapless farmers. V...

Welfare of people in right direction is impossible if dishonest and selfish advisors occupy the high position. They are basically curse on the system. V S Pandey Good, honest, benevolent...

These farm reforms are going to cause more pain than relief to millions of poor farmers across the country. V S Pandey, Akanksha Pandey The farmers agitation is going to...

M Hasan Lucknow, January 11: With forthcoming panchayat and 2022 UP assembly elections almost all political parties have resorted to sewing up winnable caste combination in the state. The issue...

While political row over Covid vaccination drive is unfortunate, the government of India should launch it free of cost and without further delay. V S Pandey For past several days...

The nation has been paying heavy prices for ill-conceived policies and lack of clarity in decision-making over the decades. The three farm laws, which are no different, also show same...

While farmers have genuine apprehensions over farm laws, it is paramount duty of the government to reply satisfactorily to their grievances. V S Pandey and Akanksha Pandey Farmers agitation has...

Governmental slackness in filling the rural-urban gap in online education has adversely affected the students. Further delay would only worsen the situation. Er. Akanksha Pandey These are COVID times. Lives...

The central government should sympathetically look into the grievances of farmers to resolve them in the larger interest of the nation. V S Pandey Soon the farmers agitation is going...

With the Centre and West Bengal Government heading for a show down over transfers and postings of officers of civil services it is necessary to resolve the issue within the...

With sheer lack of trust between the agitating farmers and the NDA government, it is advisable to shelve the controversial farms laws. V.S.Pandey Democracy is all about looking after the...

HC Pande Notwithstanding a thousand & one national development projects unable to take-off due to insufficient funding, the government has planned a spending spree to the tune of Rs.10,000 Crores...

With trust deficit towards leadership, half-hearted farm sector reforms are unlikely to benefit the farmers and help solve their problems V.S.Pandey Farmers agitation is hitting the headlines for past several...

If the country is to realize its unlimited potential, then time has come to embrace ‘new politics’ – a paradigm shift in the way politics is conducted in the country....

The best bowling of the finest ideas is ineffective on a dead pitch. Our representatives are neither philosophers nor moralists, and can resist, in the words of Oscar Wilde, anything...

Analysts suggest Biden administration could end the near-unconditional support that Riyadh has enjoyed over the years. Abubakr Al-Shamahi US President-elect Joe Biden has made his position on Saudi Arabia and...

How seriously corruption in our system has influenced our lives is an issue that has not been documented properly. VS Pandey Even as India is passing through multiple crises, the results...

Nitin Gadkari’s ire against NHAI officers is just tip of iceberg V S Pandey The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently blasted the bureaucrats of National...

Kuwait faces a wave of bankruptcies as the COVID-19 crisis wreaks havoc on the emirate’s economy, which is in desperate need of reform. Al-Monitor Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber...

By Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker (Foreign Affairs) In our essay “Chronicle of a Pandemic Foretold,” for the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs, we described the struggle against COVID-19...

Neither Pressure Nor a Narrow Nuclear Deal Can Succeed on Its Own By Elisa Catalano Ewers, Ilan Goldenberg, and Kaleigh Thomas (Foreign Affairs) Only nine months ago, the United States...

Marwan Bishara (Al Jazeera) As we approach the second anniversary of the state-sponsored assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia continues its retreat, losing direction and influence in the...

The labour reform bills that replace archaic labour laws with codes have been pending for a long time. V S Pandey Nobel laureate Douglass North wrote that institutions are made...

ANDREW BACEVICH In this year’s presidential election campaign, candidates have largely sidestepped the role of armed force as an instrument of U.S. policy. The United States remains the world’s preeminent...

The three farm reform bills are structured on the recommendations of a state agriculture ministers panel that submitted its report in 2013 V S Pandey Farm sector reforms such as...

The coronavirus pandemic has given us an opportunity to think afresh and take some major steps to turn the tide. V S Pandey India’s battle with coronavirus is on, with...

India has been ranked at 103 out of 119 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2018 with hunger level in the country categorised as serious. Unfortunately, the country’s ranking has...

Long cherished hopes of judicial settlement of the decades-old vexed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute now appears in sight, as the Supreme Court has fixed October 18 deadline for both parties to...

Even as Assam continues to struggle with finalising and updating National Register of Citizens (NRC) where 1.9 million residents have been excluded, various BJP-led state governments are toying with the...

Dr HC Pande Lucknow: The U.P. Government has just come out with a proposed umbrella act to ensure that the standards of higher education are not diluted with the expansion...

At the apex of his political career, Nehru chose to induct two bitter critics of the Congress into his cabinet. And even if it were Gandhi’s call, it was an...

M Hasan Lucknow, May 26: The newly appointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for carrying the Muslim minority together is unlikely to be materialised without satisfactory resolution to the Ayodhya...

By Rajan Kumar As Sri Lanka endeavours to overcome the enormity of the Islamic State (IS) coordinated terrorist attack which killed 253 people last month, there are reasons for the...

Alphabet Inc's Google has barred phone maker Huawei from some updates to the Android operating system, in a blow to the Chinese technology company that the US government has sought...

Alireza Noori (al-monitor) May 10 Amid rising US pressure, Iran and Russia appear to be gearing toward forging closer military and defence ties. Last week, the commander of the regular...

Dr HC Pande On 26th January,1950 the people of India took a vow,that for better or worse,it is democracy or nothing.Now in the 72nd year of existence as a democracy,...

Dr H C Pande With the general elections having been announced,the political haute-couture designer fraternity is having a field day,and,their order-books are over flowing.The Beautician,the Ghost-writer,and,the Ideology Bar-tender,are having whale...

Dr HC Pande It is said that the strength of democracy is the strength of the small man.In India,in its democratic scheme of governance,the small man is hugely conspicuous by...

VS Pandey (Ex-IAS) Former Secretary Government of India Recently newspapers have reported that central government is mulling bringing about changes in the process of allocation of services and the state...

Ankara : Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s coalition scored major points in the recent parliamentary elections with Sadr’s positions against virulent influence peddling and the presence of foreign military forces...

Dr. Smita Pandey The pictures exemplify the horrific reality in the village Teekar Zaraayal khurd, in tehsil Rudauli, Faizabad. This typical Indian village is not depicting colonial exploitation. It is...