The nation is not at peace. News of violence and protests have become routine. The result is diversion of the nation’s energies from tackling urgent long term national and international challenges that are piling up with implications for national well-being.
It's not so much being rooted in the past as the desperation to reaffirm tradition — even as contemporary life erodes its foundations — that makes Diwali crackers vital for many
One little Diwali tradition was the art of making 'gharondas' -- houses made of clay decorated with natural colours made with rice flour, hibiscus flowers and turmeric.
Historically subjected to marginalisation and stigmatisation, this community has witnessed a remarkable shift in its societal status with the use of the title ‘Valmiki’
It is easy for a leader to work with hope when the party is on the rise and things are going well. It is far more difficult to maintain equanimity when the party is in decline. It is not easy to build alliances with those with whom one has ideological differences while maintaining one’s ideology which is contrary to that of the others. As it is, being Left in a capitalist system is difficult at the best of times. Perhaps JNU played a small part in making Sitaram Yechury what he was – an affable democrat who was widely admired.
In India sports hasn’t been given the due it deserves - it is, at best, considered as an extracurricular activity while in most other nations sports is considered equivalent to studies and kids who show potential are taken under professional training.
While no one can counter that the world needs more and better science, tech, engineering and math grads, liberal arts and humanities studies are just as important.