An Indian view on history, current affairs and politics

March 27, 2023

Author: NitinMishra

Nitin is contributor with experience in reporting on technology and current affairs. As part of a self help group that helps research students get access to information needed in their area of research, he is in a unique position where he gets exposed to and works with in depth research level information on a range of issues. His twitter handle is @curiousindian13

Recent Articles

What’s all the fuss about Supreme Court verdict on homosexuality

: Society : Written by : 12-12-2013

Supreme Court

Most of you would have already seen the vociferous reactions to the SC ruling on Media. There is almost unanimous condemnation of the ruling in print, main stream and social media. Headlines ranged from why all Indians should despair to India is enraged. Is India enraged? Frankly No! Most of the Indians either remain opposed to the idea or are plainly indifferent. Before i’m labelled homophobic, let me make it clear, that’s not the case. I’m the indifferent one. To me, what transpires between two persons consensually within confines of four walls is none of my business. However, the question …continue reading

AAP The road ahead

: Domestic : Written by : 12-11-2013

kejriwin

This article was submitted by Rakam Singh Bhati, an AAP volunteer from Trilokpuri Delhi. Published after minor semantic changes approved by the author. The underdog has performed. David Kejriwal has slayed the mighty Goliath Sheila. The work that started under Anna three years back, blossomed into a political movement last year. The blood and sweat of thousands of volunteers over last one year has paid off. Based on the reactions we got from public, we knew AAP has a chance but to see it trump the congress and stop the BJP is a real achievement. For the first time people have a …continue reading

Burning with Jealousy, the sad case of Nitish Kumar

: Domestic : Written by : 12-10-2013

Nitish-Kumar-Narendra-Modi

“Ye sirf blower ki hawa hai (blower’s wind), koi leher nahi hai (not a [Modi] wave)” screamed the headlines of national dailies, quoting Bihar’s Chief Minister and JDU Chief Nitish Kumar taking a jibe at Mr. Modi after results of Delhi elections were out. These days his only claim to media space is a comment on Modi. He conveniently missed out the fact that despite his massive rallies, only one of his 27 candidates won in Delhi. The one who won had joined JDU just before elections and had earlier won on JD, JDS and LJP tickets. It is a …continue reading

The obsession with dismissing the Modi wave

: Domestic : Written by : 12-09-2013

narendramodi

By Sunday evening, the results of elections in the states of Rajasthan, MP, Chattisgarh and Delhi were out. The results were nothing short of spectacular for BJP. Yet, predictably the Indian media was churning out stories by dozens as to how the so called Modi effect failed. Political pundits, journalists, even congress spokespersons were at pains trying to prove how a Modi wave did not exist. Newspapers the next day were littered with same stories. Media space was mostly shared between singing paeans on AAP and Kejriwal and disproving a Modi effect. While this partiality is baffling, it is not …continue reading

The 2013 Delhi election stalemate

: Domestic : Written by :

Delhi Elections

So the final tally in Delhi stands at BJP 32, AAP 28, Congress 8, Others 2. What are the options for government formation in Delhi. Two clear messages that have come out do not elicit any hopes. AAP has, understandably, denied either taking or offering support to either congress or BJP. AAP has recieved the mandate based on Anti Congress BJP plank and it would be political harakiri if they attempted that. AAP also hopes that the current results will help it gain more votes in case of a reelection. The non BJP votes and those who have voted for …continue reading

Why AAP’s brinkmanship maybe it’s Achilles heel

: Domestic : Written by :

kejri

“Sheila gone, Modi next”, screamed headlines of a national daily quoting AAP leaders. Buoyed by their unexpected success, the exuberance of AAP leaders is understandable, however going by their utterances on news channels, seems they’re taking this seriously. AAP’s debut in Delhi is spectacular given that they’re just a year old party. A party made up entirely of volunteers, although a sting earlier by media-sarkar showed this may not be true, campaign driven by nukkad sabhas, concerts and massive social media propaganda seems to have conveyed the message to their targeted audience. They need to be congratulated for this performance. …continue reading

The Magnificent failure of Rahul Gandhi

: Domestic : Written by : 12-08-2013

rahul_1358501205_540x540

To an external observer, the obscene amount of time, money and effort spent by the massive congress propaganda machinery in propping up, praising and defending Rahul Gandhi was more than enough to turn your street corner paanwallah into Tom Cruise. Yet, the Shahzada, as lovingly called by Modi, appears as dry, as lame as ever. There is absolutely nothing in his personality that appeals to the common Indian. The only claim to fame Rahul has is increasing congress tally in 2009 elections in UP to 21, however with the benefit of hindsight it can very well be called a fluke. …continue reading

Narendra Modi magic works wonders for BJP in elections 2013

: Domestic : Written by :

modivic

While the results of the provincial elections in 4 states of Delhi, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are still coming in, the trend that is clearly evident is that congress is getting routed everywhere. Narendra Modi’s message of “congress mukt” Bharat is getting realized. BJP has got more than 2/3rd majority in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Way beyond anyone’s predictions. There were voices both within and outside BJP that Modi’s elevation as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate will hurt party’s prospects in assembly elections. Political pundits, media and political parties were unanimous is stating how this would tun into a referendum …continue reading

Narendra Modi and a billion aspirations

: Domestic : Written by : 12-05-2013

Narendra Modi

What is it about Narendra Modi that makes him invincible against seemingly impossible odds? Never before in the history of independent India has a man, let alone a politician, been attacked, slandered, maligned, abused and insulted the way he has been. An extremely hostile central government with all its might, so called secular parties, a largely biased mainstream media, civil society members and NGOs with vested interests and ulterior motives colluded to unleash decade long Gobblesian propaganda full of hatred, misinformation and disinformation to discredit the beleaguered man. The hate campaign wasn’t just limited to India but had international reach. …continue reading

Mirror mirror, Kejriwal!

: Poems : Written by : 12-03-2013

Ramdev-Anna-Kejriwal

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the honest of them all Dare not say Modi honest among all, name our leader Kejriwal He is so honest, he is so smart He is topping all the chart He is so cunning, he is so clever Even Anna got fooled when they were together He led an agitation, asked for donation When the time came, used it for election He is an IITian, He was a commissioner Never got transferred in all those year He is a visionary, he is fun His only philosophy, accuse and run He is the leader …continue reading

Sting for hire !

: Science and Technology : Written by : 12-02-2013

facebook-1-big

Last week an interesting sting titled #operationbluevirus was presented before Indian media by an investigative portal named cobrapost in an elaborate press conference covered live by few channels. The sting through a series of secretly filmed discussions tried to build up a case that social media in India was being controlled and manipulated by select IT firms and it wasn’t really as independent as it seemed. From fake followers, fake likes to running online propaganda in favor of or against political parties or their candidates, IT firms seem to do all that for a fixed sum as per the sting. …continue reading

Fall of Tarun Tejpal, Pharaoh of Tehelka

: Domestic : Written by : 11-25-2013

BL21_TEJPAL_1660183f

Tarun Tejpal, the editor in chief of Tehelka magazine can very well be described as one of the pharaohs of the Indian mainstream media. Having earned money, fame, repute and awards for a brand of investigative journalism that mainly depended on hidden camera sting operations, Tejpal was surely at the pinnacle of success when an alchemy of desires overcame his senses. Tejpal and Tehelka, his brainchild, was cited as everything that was right about Indian media. Tehelka was seen to be fighting for poor, oppressed, minority, women rights, corruption and promoting the idea of secularism and equality. Curiously though at …continue reading

Nirbhaya, mother i did not want to die

: Poems : Written by : 09-14-2013

damini

This poem is a tribute to Nirbhaya/Damini, The December 16, Delhi gang rape victim who died a painful death. Her death eachoed around the globe and brought much needed awareness towards rape victims in India. May she rest in peace. She lay naked, battered and bruised next to the highway where sedans cruised the pain was intense but she could not scream for a moment she thought it’s just a horrible dream she can see her friend rolling in pain begging for help, all but in vain as she lay on the ground trying hard not to cry she saw …continue reading

Motherland

: Poems : Written by : 09-12-2013

india

Below is an emotional attempt to put my frustration at today’s India into a poem My heart bleeds for you my beloved country But i won’t call you motherland any more For what we’ve done to our women  We don’t deserve to call you mother any more In the land of intolerant bigoted fools who don’t miss a chance to be misguided into putting a blade into each other’s hearts In the land ruled by greedy, conniving, khadi clad imbecile gasbags who don’t miss a chance to put people into categories and assign them tags where children are poisoned and …continue reading

The Syrian war for Dummies

: International : Written by :

Mideast Syria

If you wage a war long enough, no country can remain aloof to the sound of beating war drums. The crisis in Syria is no longer an internal conflict. It has consumed nations far and wide. With over 100,000 killed and more than a million displaced, the human cost is staggering and set to rise as western powers are getting ready for their piece of action. It all started in March 2011. Years of drought and burden of over a million Palestinian refugees had set the ideal grounds for a popular uprising. Arab spring ignited it. The ruling regime of …continue reading

The Snowden Affair

: International : Written by : 09-10-2013

snowden_dad_1501516f

India was the first country to reject Edward Snowden’s request for asylum, among a bunch of 21 countries that he applied to. The rejection came within hours of receiving the request at its foreign office mission in Moscow. Considering how the Indian bureaucracy works, this was surprising. With its inefficient administration and usually directionless policies, India takes excruciatingly long to take a decision on anything important, and here we were taking a quick decision on Snowden pretending to have thought it through. Snowden’s leaks revealed that India was fifth largest target of NSA’s electronic espionage. Given this, there was widespread …continue reading

What went wrong with the India growth story !

: Economy : Written by : 09-08-2013

hn2

I still remember the TV debates about double digit growth that India was poised to attain as the world was coming out of a global recession. This was barely two years back. So what went so wrong in last two years for the economic discourse to take an abrupt turn? From stock markets to political debates the overwhelming sentiment is one that of despair.  Investor confidence seems shaken and flight of capital is evident across the board. India’s Current Account Deficit is at 4.8% of GDP, a record high, While rupee has depreciated 20% annually to touch a record low …continue reading