DARK INTERLUDE : THE EMERGENCY AND INDIA’S DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA
Fifty years ago, India witnessed a seismic jolt to its democratic foundations when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a national Emergency on June 25, 1975. The move, widely regarded as a dark chapter in India’s constitutional history, suspended civil liberties, muzzled the press, and stifled dissent for 19 months. Today, as the nation reflects on […]
The Real Threat to the Constitution Lies Not in Its Words, But in Their Denial
A Point-by-Point Rebuttal of the BJP-RSS Attack on “Socialist” and “Secular” in the Preamble The Constitution of India is more than a legal document—it is a moral compass forged through consensus and commitment to democratic pluralism. Yet recent statements by key figures in the ruling establishment—RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa […]
Muharram: A Saga of Sacrifice and Unity in the Indian Subcontinent
Commemoration, Not CelebrationAs the crescent moon heralds Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, a question arises: Is Muharram a festival to celebrate or a solemn occasion to commemorate? Far from a festive event, Muharram is a time of profound reflection, particularly for Shi’ite Muslims, who mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husain ibn […]
Jim Masselos (1939–2025): A Historian Who Mapped Mumbai’s Heart
Celebrating a Scholar Who Wove the City’s Stories into a Tapestry of Empathy and Insight Jim Masselos, the eminent Australian historian whose life’s work illuminated the intricate social and urban history of Bombay (now Mumbai), passed away on June 25, 2025, in Australia, aged 86. A pioneering scholar, Masselos spent over six decades exploring the […]
Delhi University’s Syllabus Purge: A Step Backward for Academic Freedom and Critical Inquiry
Delhi University’s recent proposal to remove courses on Pakistan, China, Islam, and caste-related topics from its postgraduate curricula in Political Science, Geography, and Sociology has ignited a fierce debate about academic freedom, pedagogical integrity, and the role of universities in fostering critical thinking. The decision, driven by the university’s Standing Committee on Academic Matters, reflects […]
50 Years After the Emergency: From Midnight Knocks to Silent Erosion
As India marks five decades since its most overt democratic breakdown, observers warn of a deeper, subtler crisis unfolding under the guise of normalcy. Remembering the Night Democracy Was Gagged At the stroke of midnight on June 25, 1975, India—then the world’s largest democracy—plunged into its darkest constitutional hour. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, facing political […]
Can Iran’s Nuclear Mission Be Derailed by America and Israel?
The West’s double standards, the crumbling NPT, and the defiance of a besieged nation A World Armed, A Nation Accused The Federation of American Scientists (The World in Maps) paints a stark picture of global nuclear disparity.As of 2025, only nine countries possess nuclear weapons. At the top of the list are Russia (4,309) and […]
The Language of Control: Maharashtra’s Hindi Flip-Flop Raises Old Ghosts, New Questions
In the name of NEP 2020, the Maharashtra government’s ambiguous stance on Hindi stokes political dissent, cultural anxiety, and historical unease in a multilingual state already reeling from the neglect of its own tongue . The Maharashtra government recently issued a directive mandating Hindi as the “generally” applicable third language in Marathi and English medium […]
Embracing Unity Over Division: The Enduring Role of English in India
Polarizing Remark Sparks Controversy At a book launch in New Delhi on Thursday, June 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ignited a linguistic firestorm by asserting that a time would soon arrive when those speaking English in India would “feel ashamed.” Shah emphasized that India’s native languages are the “ornament of our culture, stating, “Without […]
Ayatollah Khamenei : The Last Line of Resistance in a Lopsided War
Hasnain Naqvi in Doha- As Israel launches a surprise military strike and the U.S. aligns with Netanyahu, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stands unflinching—alone yet defiant in the face of overwhelming odds. In a region plagued by geopolitics, preemption, and power play, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emerged as an unlikely fulcrum […]
