The Eternal Timelessness of Mirza Ghalib
February 15 marked the 157th death anniversary of Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib (1797–1869), the crowning jewel of Urdu and Persian literature. A nobleman of the fading Mughal court and a witness to the seismic shifts of 1857, Ghalib was more than a poet; he was a philosopher of the human condition whose relevance has only […]
Parliament’s Sovereign Space: Modi’s Abdication of Duty A Prime Minister Too ‘Unsafe’ for His Own House
In a parliamentary democracy, the floor of the House is not merely a stage for rhetoric; it is the altar of accountability. The Prime Minister is not a sovereign ruler but the first among equals, tethered to the legislature by an umbilical cord of constitutional responsibility. When that bond is frayed by absenteeism or bypassed […]
Controversy Over Retired General M.M. Naravane’s Book & Its Political Fallout
Has a General Been Silenced to Shield the Prime Minister?The Real Scandal Lies Beyond the BookHussain Naqvi The controversy surrounding General M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir is not about whether a book should see the light of day. It is about the Modi government’s palpable alarm at the mere emergence of its excerpts—and the general’s conspicuous refusal […]
Nida Fazli Poets Of His Stature Do Not Disappear Into Memory
Safar mein dhoop to hogi jo chal sako to chalo* (The sun will scorch the journey—walk on, if you have the courage to walk.) On his tenth death anniversary, 8 February, Nida Fazli’s voice continues to move through our fractured times like a stubborn beam of light. A poet who chose to stay back when […]
The Erosion of Pluralism: India’s Descent into State-Sanctioned Majoritarianism
The foundational promise of the Indian Republic—a pluralistic sanctuary for all faiths—is currently weathering its most severe storm since Independence. What was once a series of isolated communal skirmishes has evolved into a systematic, widespread campaign of intimidation against religious minorities. As the world watches, the “world’s largest democracy” is increasingly being defined not by […]
Blood on Friday Prayers: The Islamabad Mosque Massacre
Blood on Friday Prayers: The Islamabad Mosque Massacre Another Chapter in Pakistan’s Sectarian Shame In the shadow of Pakistan’s gleaming capital, where diplomats convene and power brokers plot, a suicide bomber shattered the sanctity of Friday prayers on February 6, 2026. The blast at Khadijah al Kubra mosque-cum-Imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area claimed at least 31 […]
The Erosion of Pluralism: India’s Descent into State-Sanctioned Majoritarianism
The foundational promise of the Indian Republic—a pluralistic sanctuary for all faiths—is currently weathering its most severe storm since Independence. What was once a series of isolated communal skirmishes has evolved into a systematic, widespread campaign of intimidation against religious minorities. As the world watches, the “world’s largest democracy” is increasingly being defined not by […]
America’s Bargain, India’s Burden: The Modi-Trump Trade Pact Under Scrutiny
In a surprise announcement that bypassed conventional diplomacy, US President Donald Trump declared a “trade deal” with India on February 2, 2026, following a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump framed it as a personal triumph, crediting Modi’s “request” and “friendship.” Modi responded with measured praise, highlighting the reduction in US tariffs on […]
Teacher, thinker and scholar
The Sage of Sripuram: A Tribute to Andre Béteille, the Architect of Modern Indian Sociology With the passing of Professor Andre Béteille (1934–2026), India has lost more than a scholar; it has lost its most refined analytical lens. A founding father of sociology in independent India, Béteille was the bridge between European Enlightenment and Indian […]
Revisiting the 1986 Verdict That Reshaped India’s Future
Ayodhya Unlocked: The 1986 Blunder That Ignited India’s Polarized Inferno On February 1, 1986, Faizabad District Judge Krishna Mohan Pandey brazenly ordered the gates of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site flung open, greenlighting Hindu worship after 37 years of lockdown. This unchallenged judicial overreach didn’t just spark a fire—it unleashed a conflagration that scorched India’s […]
