Politics
Now You See It Now You Don't
India’s notorious bureaucrats, who were unenthusiastic about the OCI Certificate to begin with — save for the nearly $250 million dollars in application fees that the initiative has generated — have been working overtime to chip away at even its modest benefits.
The Red Beacon Raj
With the extension of Z Security to Ambani one can expect a new arms race among the country’s business elite.
Passage to Bihar
A series of high profile politicians from foreign countries make a pilgrimage to Bihar in search of their roots.
Romancing the Dollar
Chidambaram has ushered in a new wave of reforms and some of the anti-FDI moves of his predecessor — and now president Pranab Mukherjee — have been watered down.
India Liberates True Innovation
The fact is that the Indian Supreme Court is not rejecting the idea of patenting drugs. What it is repudiating is the attempt by pharmaceutical giants to use legal loopholes to extend the life of patents that have already expired.
The Orwellian School of Wharton
We wonder why these three astute advocates of democracy and their supporters feel so intellectually unequipped to engage Modi, who recently was reelected in a landslide, in an open public debate on these questions at a forum on their own territory.
The GOP Plot to Steal Elections
The GOP proposes to distribute the electoral college votes proportionately. That in itself is not a bad idea; indeed if it were implemented by all states, it would even improve the antiquated electoral college system.
Divided States of America
American politics has assumed many of the unhealthy characteristics of its Indian counterpart, such as communal vote banks divided along religious and caste lines — reflected by Southern evangelist and white voters on the Republican side, arrayed against minority and women voters on the Democratic side.
Republican Sunset
Indian Americans have not experienced the frontal brunt of the GOP’s hostile policies toward immigrants and minorities. Yet, Democrats enjoy far stronger support among Indian Americans than they do, for example, among Hispanics, who are significantly more impacted by the GOP’s uncompromising stance on immigration and welfare.
GOP Convention of Liars
The Republican Party, which has nominated an Ayn Rand faddist Paul Ryan as its nominee for vice president to placate the extremist wing of the party, recognizes well that the vision of dismantling the widely popular social safety net of social security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, etc., would be toxic and disastrous in an election.
McCarthyism Redux
All minorities and religious groups should be affronted and alarmed by these reckless and unfounded accusations against decent and honorableAmericans who happen to be Muslims.
Let's Celebrate Liars
Xavier Alvarez is one in a continuing line of outcasts -- anarchists, Communists, flag burners, racists, fringe religious and political fanatics -- to whom we owe an eternal debt of gratitude for keeping the embers of free speech alive.
Right Side of History
Economic forces and Pres. Obama’s legendary timidity in the first half of his presidency could yet doom the Democratic Party’s presidential and Congressional aspirations during this election cycle.
India’s Gutless Media
That a deep pocketed media house like the India Today Group folded its tent without resistance in the face of Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s legal threats, while an obscure activist with a checkered free speech history dared to resist, is a permanent blot on a storied media house, for which it owes its readers and the public an apology and an explanation.
The Dirty Video
As a bemused India watches the alleged shenanigans of a ruling-party lawyer-turned-politician who has finally quit public office, a fellow lawyer finds that Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s resignation statement hides more than it reveals, and that it has unwittingly triggered a timely debate on privacy issues in the era of YouTube, FaceBook and Twitter.
Free Speech’s Unlikely Champion
Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, the accidental champion of freedom of speech, has a history of suppressing the speech, sometimes violently, of people with whom he disagrees.
Delhi Court Bars Politician's Sex Video
A Delhi High Court judge has barred the broadcast of a sex video featuring a senior Congress Party spokesman in a compromising position and several media houses have pledged not to telecast it.
On Unsteady Ground
The judicial system is frequently irrational, unfair and even cruel.
Let Them Eat Cake
The extraordinary arrogance of Indian elites in dissing foreign aid for its poorest citizens and their chest thumping over India’s meteoric economic rise glosses over some glaringly painful realities.
Norway's Nanny State
Statistics Norway data show that an incredible 3 percent of children under 18 in the country were in the protective custody of its child welfare agency Barnvernet in 2010.
Protecting Sonia From India
The Indian public is under threat from satirical images of Sonia Gandhi? Really?
The American Behind India's 9/11
"David Coleman Headley, in my opinion, was a double agent. He was working for both the U.S. and for Lashkar and the ISI."
Sterilize the Rich
Local elites in many developing societies shared the Western sensibilities and often took draconian measures to limit population growth.
Flying Sandals and Bollywood Bombs
The sensational media reports based on U.S. diplomatic cables exposed by Wikileaks have glossed over the gross ineptitude and incompetence that they also expose of the U.S. foreign policy establishment.
Indian Origin MP Faces Electoral Probe
The India Tourism office is alleged to have donated 5,000 pounds for an election victory party.
WikiCables: Modi Vying for National Role
"Having recovered from the crisis invoked by our visa revocation and his tyrannical management style, Modi is positioning himself as a national leader by reminding people that Gujarat has done a fine job of economic governance, notwithstanding the black stain the (2002) riots left,."
Portrait of a Lady
A State Minister was "forced to do sit-ups in front of her as penance for not first asking permission to call on UP's governor" by Mayawati, according to a U.S. Embassy cable.
Bombing Afghanistan With Bollywood
In a page out of the Cold War, U.S. diplomats proposed recruiting Bollywood celebrities for the country's Afghanistan propaganda campaign.
2011 Feels Like 1980 Again
Casting a glance back at how India appeared to the outside world just a few months ago is rather like looking at grainy footage of yesteryear: a booming economy, IT whiz-kids making waves all over the globe, top ranking in international Test cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup in the bag, Bollywood on the roll.
A Carnival Called India
Wah India. Your myriad avatars, your million mutinies never cease to amaze. We try hard to hijack you. Some cry, "India is Indira". Others sing, "You are my Sonia". Still others chant, "Saffron Shining."
Gandhi's Revenge
For India to join the developed world it needs much more than eight-lane highways and spanking new airport terminals. It needs to drag its politics into the 21st century, along with the rest of the country.
Security Bruises
The infighting between the U.S. Secret Service and the Indian security agencies was a frequently entertaining and always frustrating backstory dogging Obama’s four-day India visit.
Bahoot Dhanyavad!
That’s how US President Barack Obama greeted the Indian Parliament on his recent trip, part of the cute exotica that all but turned Mumbai city upside down.
A Tight Embrace
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrapped his arms tightly around Pres. Barack Obama at every public event, visually symbolizing what Obama called a “defining partnership of the 21st century” between the two countries.
The Right’s Last Gasp
America was once their country. They sense they are losing it. And they are right.
Behind The Glitter
Behind the scene at the White House state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
The Indian guests at the three state dinners for Indian prime ministers during this decade are a study in contrasts and reflect the political bases and priorities of the hosting administration.
Abdul Kalam on Competition and Dependence
Former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, popularly known as the “Missile Man of India, is the youngest child of a Muslim boatman and best selling author of eight books, including his autobiography, Wings of Fire.
Mumbai Terror Attacks; Does Kasab Really Deserve Legal Aid
A debate rages on the ethics of representing the “Butcher of Bombay.”
The Reluctant Warrior
Obama struggles with the painful predicament that haunted Arjun in the Mahabharat.
The Wrong Lessons
Can we please halt the sappy musings about swinging a beer at Café Leopold or picking at samosas at Taj’s Sea Lounge?
Controversy Derails Sonal Shah
Under growing public pressure from progressive Indian American groups, Sonal Shah, a member of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition advisory board, who was rumored to be
Obama Trounces McCain 4 to 1 Among Asian Indians
A new national survey finds that Barack Obama has a lopsided lead over John McCain in the presidential elections among Indian American voters.
Obama's Promising Hope
After eight years of an administration that was openly contemptuous of intellectual thought, it will be a welcome relief should Barack Obama -- a man who brings intellectual curiosity and a nuanced understanding of the world to the enormous global tasks awaiting the next occupant of the White House -- win the race for the U.S. presidency.
Political Game Changer
The center of gravity of the Indian American political scene shifted this election cycle from the old guard in both political parties.
The Case For McCain
John McCain has been a strong and consistent friend of India and the Indian American community.
The Case For Obama
We need leaders who see our diversity as our greatest strength and globalization as an opportunity.
Political Dozers
If you are well-disposed to the American political orientation and have sufficiently lowered your expectations, then the convention speeches might be fun.
